Sadly They Go Away

Today it will snow.
We will have a fire, but inside.
Goodbye flowers until next year.

Neighborhood wine tasting porch

This home belongs to some friends of mine. It use to be a hat factory. This is a great meeting of the minds kind of porch.

Grandaughter #4 and Jimmy Buffet

Life was just a tire swing.
"Jambalaya" was the only song I could sing.
Blackberry picken'
eaten fried chicken,
and I never knew a thing about pain.
Life was just a tire swing.

Holy Pickles

This is a bowl of Rosemary I grew in my herb container garden. I didn't do the pickles, but the dill I donated to the couple that did. This was their thank you to me. Can you believe how beautiful it is? I'm saving it for Thanksgiving. The kids will go through this in a day.

Hillbilly Supper

It's been a fantastic fall. This is normal. Last year we had rain and snow early. Too early. These photos are from last week on the deck. We started a fire, and had a real simple meal. BBQ baby weiners. Famous Dave's spicey pickles, yum! Plus, horseradish cheddar cheese from Vermont. There's nothing like a fire and snacks.

Webs and Rain

It has been raining so much for such a hot summer. One evening it was really hitting the house. We opened the back door to check it out, and saw this staring at us. BTW, the next day part of the web was connected to the mirror of my truck that was parked way out in the yard. I busted it when I drove away.

More Hatch Peppers

I thought I lost these pictures. Just wanted to share our laid back way of canning.

Bluebird House

I wanted to share this photo of my bluebird house. My blog teacher Cindy and her husband came out for a visit. He knew we had bluebirds in our area so he built me this house for them. They both are really multi-talented. I love it! It was a little too late for the bluebird, and a wren moved in. A very sassy wren I might add. I also need to report our humming bird sitings. The butterflies and the HB's are passing through to go to their winter homes. We are lucky and have a honeysuckle tree off of our deck. My husband has been thrilled with their activity. Yesterday I sat on the deck talking on the phone and was watching the butterflies in the few of my flowers left. Oh my gosh is was a HB instead! It touched every little bloom on my plant. Then gone. Today, same chair, same deck, a zzzzzzzzz by my ear. It was the HB again in flight! Each time I was talking to my husband, and he would laugh through the phone.

Canning

I'm really new at canning. We did some back in the 80's to help out my parents. It was more of an assembly line though, and not a one on one. I got some items donated, and then we bought the 13 lbs of hatch chillies. Now we have corn, zucchini, and chili peppers. I found out it really is fun. I'm sure it would be a chore if I had acres of items. What the heck, it's just us, and we really don't need to waste.

Kids on Vacation

We didn't take a vacation this summer, but we never do. Our trips in the past are usually in October. Now how beautiful Is that? You can go anywhere that time of the year and the setting is perfect. Well, it didn't change the fact that the grandkids are always on vacation. I meet their mom half way and we exchange kids, suitcases, and vehicles. I have to have one or two points of interest before the week of me freaking out at the end. One is a place of worship along our interstate. It was funny, when the four year old commented, wow, you can see forever...

There is a reason for the season, they say. I just don't have one for my absence. I wish I can say I was away on some tour of some exotic islands, but I'm not young enough for that if you watch the news. Teenagers sailing the world alone. Now that's open minded parents. No drivers ed, no curfew, no lunch money, and heaven forbid, no sleep overs!

Has your summer been a scorcher? In the center of our usa it has been long. Long like our amazing past winter. I'm ready to start a fire in the wood stove though. Put on a sweatshirt, and cook homey foods.
Although, I did learn a few things. I learned to sew, and made a couple of curtains. Freezer canned zucchini and hatch chili peppers. I perfected my mom's potato salad (the only one I will eat). Tried new recipes I get from my customers, that are real keepers for my collection.
Now that I've bored the world, I will end for today.

Sunday Alone Can Be Complicated

This has been the laziest day! I'm a confused house cleaner. I start in one room, and before you know it, I'm messing with something in the other part of the house. Hold on. I haven't touched the tv room. I had to go fix the pillows and pick up a magazine. Now I have been everywhere. Does it look like it? No. Clutter, clutter, clutter.
I also started out being very kind to me. I had juice and blueberry yogurt for breakfast. French fried oven baked sweet potato for lunch. Then I discovered nothing to drink. My one soda of the day was not around. I would have to get out of my huge shirt and flannel pants and drive six miles to town. Then I found the lemonade in the freezer door. Wow, it's been awhile for that drink. I got the iced glass and guzzled it down. Yum. Then I read the label while enjoying the taste. High fructose, corn syrup, and sugar! 31 grams of sugar! Yikes...
I guess I'll go back to water. Then I discovered one lonely beer. I wish it was a Chelada. My husband calls that, steak in a can. Oh well, this little bottle and my vitamins should round out the day.
Ha! Just kidding, back to the house. Have a great day.

When we returned from shopping I decided to attack the main restroom and clean. We've been using items to clean that are green. Sorry if that term is over used. I'm convinced though. I found a green book at Barnes and Nobles. Wow, it's amazing what vinegar, baking soda, lemon, salt, and other items can do. Plus, cheap! When I shut the door to do the floor this scene hit me. There is a little winter inside the house. Look at all those flannel granny gowns! I swear, I dress like a brown paper bag!

Wow, there are six more days and then Thanksgiving. The farmers have been scrambling with harvest because October was so wet. We are so amazed with this weather in November. We decided to go grocery shopping, and have a lunch date in town. I walked off the deck and saw this. November 19th and I have flowers! I'll never remember these next year when I purchase my few plants. I even bought these at a sell out in a grocery store lot. Maybe they like the chives and fallen leaves they share in the container. It turned out to be a beautiful day.

GUESS WHAT THIS LITTLE GUY IS SAYING

Hello???
It was Easter and he picked up all the sea shells and greeted them. It was really funny.

FACE THE DAY

Did you ever have one of those days when your brain is so full that you can't concentrate on anything. You have all these plans to do something, then BLANK! I'm having one right now. I want to do some ebay, blank. I want to bake a pumpkin pie, blank. I want to do some environmental research, blank. So my few friends that know I have this blog. Face the day! Let that sun shine on you and show no fear. Concentrate on the warmth of those rays. Everything will fall into place. Organize those thoughts, and count your blessings. In the mean time I will turn on a lamp, and throw another log in the stove. You got to love winter...

I forgot I wanted to post this picture of this tree with leaves. Nice view.

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