Wouldn't It Be Nice?...

Comfy Claudette

...to just lie around all day, have someone bring your meals to you, and not have a care in the world? Oh, wait. Didn't I just spend weeks doing that while I healed my new knee? Granted, I was healing from surgery, but the rest of it definitely isn't all it's cracked up to be!

While this lump slept on a favorite spot on the sofa, Handsome and I were occupied washing windows and doing our fall farmhouse cleaning. The weather was perfect for it, even though the temperatures are already starting to drop. It is October, after all.

This morning I have a little pressure canning to do, but I'm going to stitch again this afternoon. I found chicken breasts on sale at our favorite store in Plymouth - about sixteen really meaty ones - for around twenty dollars. I couldn't pass up that deal, so today, I'm going to can them for the pantry for this winter.

Last night, I made a hearty chicken noodle soup using Amish noodles I picked up at the market near my brother's last weekend. They're wider and longer than usual egg noodles, and were perfect for the soup. I made homemade buttermilk biscuits as a side. I had three quarts of soup left over, so I'm going to take a quart up the hill, and another quart to Mum and my stepdad's, so they can enjoy it, too.

Well, it's time to make coffee. Handsome will give each of the big girls their yard workouts, and then I'll bring out the canning supplies again. This time of year, I don't bother to take things downstairs or out to the cabinets in the barn. Most everything stays stacked in the kitchen to save steps. I'll put everything away again after I finish preserving for the fall. Today is not that day. I'll share the rest of my canning list with you soon, and see you tomorrow!

It's Blooming Time Again...

The flowers are beginning to bloom again here at the farmhouse. English and French lavender...

and hollyhocks!

 Lots of hollyhocks.

I need to take a better photograph of these magnificent honeysuckle blooms. Now that the weather is hot, their fragrance permeates the air. The hummingbirds appreciate their nectar, and we appreciate their colorful, heady blooms. These are the honeysuckle that survived being transplanted away from the house. 

It probably wasn't my first choice for replanting them, as I just wanted to protect them from demo, but now that they're reestablished here, I'm happy with their placement. When my garden setup is complete, this location will place them at the entrance to the gate opening to all the flowers and vegetables. I suspect this will be a two year setup, but I'm looking forward to the process.

Today is Craft Day again in Portage. Adrienne asked that we not cancel, so we'll all gather together with our dear girl to create something beautiful with her. I'll share our project and group photos with you on Monday. I'm finished with my breakfast, grabbing a morning coffee, and heading out the door. I don't want to be late!

Tuesdays With Tag - It's Gonna Get Excitin' Around Here...

Brynwood Needleworks - Oh, Hi!

Oh, Hi Everybody!

You caught me remindin' Dad that it was time to feed the Corgi (and the Black Dog, too). If it starts to look like someone might have missed dinner time, I just jump up onto the sofa, run down to the arm of Dad's chair, and get up in his face. 

Usually a look is all it takes, but sometimes I have to get a little vocal. After Dad quits laughin', he or Mom get to the pantry and fill the dishes with tasty morsels. My technique works pretty well. 

So, this week I want to tell you that it's fixin' to get real excitin' around the farm. You won't believe who the center of the "storm" is gonna be.

Liljegren's Suncoast Bella

Yep. It's all about The Black Dog. Last weekend, she started smellin' funny to me. Then, she jumped up onto the sofa and left a little drop behind. Dad and Mom checked it out, cleaned and disinfected the sofa, and put a diaper on her (Bella, not Mom!). 

She's been checked at the vet, who says she's "pre-sumthin'", and she has to go back on Thursday for another test. She doesn't even have to study for it, but I know she doesn't like it. She told me it involves them doin' somethin' to her privates, and she won't even let me back there! She's pretty insulted by the whole affair.

Anyway, once we get the "go" from the vet, Mom's loadin' her up into the Explorer and headin' to Bella's betrothed, who's stayin' with Uncle Mike. They're gonna get hitched, and then he's gonna give her babies (her betrothed, not Uncle Mike. Stay with me now!). Then, Mom and Bella will pack up their stuff and head home to await the blessed event. It's all a little technical for me. This is all I know...

 

Brynwood Needleworks - The Hickory Hill (Doggie) Hilton

 

Mom and Dad assembled a new apartment for Bella and me in the barn. They've called it the Hickory Hill (Doggie) Hilton. Our kennels are in here, so I can help Boo get used to it (and she won't be lonesome). 

 

Next weekend, Mom and Dad are goin' to get somethin' called a whelpin' box. It's what Bella will sleep in when she's gettin' ready to have puppies. It keeps 'em all corralled in one place so she doesn't lose 'em.

Well, first things first. She's gotta get her system goin' so Mom and Dad can count off the days until she has to travel. Then, Mom's gonna have to get some quick drivin' miles in to get to southeast Florida in good time. After that...well, all I know is Dad and I will hang out at the farm on our own for a while. 

Don't worry. I'll let you know what's goin' on as soon as someone gets the info to me. It's just a stoopid waitin' game for now. That, and stayin' outside in our new digs once in a while. We do what we can to keep things excitin' around here. Just wait 'til there are puppies! (I can't!)

 

 I'll see you again in seven, 'til then...

"Live Like Someone Left The Gate Open".