Catching up…

I miss my blog friends!   Go grab a coffee or a tea or water, which is better for you anyway – we’ve got ground to cover!   I finally have a little time to sit down and read some of your blogs, that’s next, and I sure hope I find you are all well and staying sane.   I stay away from the news more often than not in recent months, just hate to see all the division that continues, all the fake news that flourishes,  makes one long for simpler times.  And so I’m trying to make my times… well, simpler.

The kids living nearby on the outskirts of this farm in their own homes is truly a blessing.  We all stay out of each other’s way enough so that we’re not tripping over one another or wishing to move elsewhere, and yet we chip in together to keep this place running and enjoyable for all. The farm animals are always a source of joy, and also a source of work!

We all benefit from the chicken coop and the gardens – this year the raspberries and blueberries were more than abundant, we’ve got a freezer full. Potatoes and onions are also stored in crates downstairs – (the purple potatoes are DIVINE!) and we discovered this year all the produce loves to live and grow on the hill behind the house, better than the two garden plots we have down AT the house. So.. that’s where we will garden from now on, up on the sunny hillside.

Kai, our newest rescue dog, is doing super!  He went from two years of feral living to completely well behaved house dog in a matter of months, smart as a whip, and just a joy to be around. We take many walks together, kai and I… and sometimes my kids with their dogs too.  Speaking of which – my son’s rottie, Leo, has grown into a bull, a big mush, a little bit of a bully, a LOT of dog to be sure, but a love just the same.  At just a year old, he’s still growing, too.

Stella by the Sea –  Welp, as much as we said we were going to spend a lot more time down there, like maybe even LIVE there a few weekends at least this summer, it just didn’t happen.  The farm and work demands keep us busy throughout the year, but my mom does get to live down there for short spirts of time and we all congregate for dinners, swims, kayaking, the occasional lounging around.  Soon it will be time to pack it all in and close up Stella till next year.  I dread the emptying of the refrigerator – just sayin.

 

The Mr. and I did manage to get away in the first week of August, to one of our most favorite places, Martha’s Vineyard.  We rented a cottage on South Water Street in Edgartown, an older home with loads of Vineyard Charm.  It was just the two of us, which is unusual, but the slowed pace and not having any particular agenda was nice.  We both came back feeling rested, a much needed reprieve.

With this season comes a renewed interest in fall recipes… this one I haven’t tried yet but I think I’ll give it a go for the Thanksgiving table instead of the traditional Pumpkin Pie, which some of us don’t even like.  (I do!)

Pumpkin Tiramisu from Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
  • 1 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
  • 2 packages (3 ounces each) ladyfingers, split
  • 1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • Additional pumpkin pie spice

Directions

  • 1. In a large bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; set aside. In another bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon pie spice and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Fold in whipped cream.
  • 2. In a small bowl, combine coffee and remaining pie spice and vanilla; brush over ladyfingers. In a 3-qt. trifle dish, layer a fourth of the ladyfingers, angling some up the sides of the dish if desired. Top with a fourth of the pumpkin mixture and whipped topping. Repeat layers three times. Sprinkle with additional pie spice.
  • 3. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours.

  Wishing you all good things this fall, Lord knows we all deserve it!  – Till soon, my dear blog friends –

12 thoughts on “Catching up…”

  2. It’s great to hear from you and I’m glad everything is going good there. I love the boat with the flag sail! And it’s nice that you had a getaway. We are so ready to spend some time at the beach but we are waiting. At least we have plenty of places to enjoy close to home. We hiked today! YAY! Love hearing about your family and your dogs and you look really great! I love that blue color on you!

    1. That boat is an icon on the Vineyard, her name is Tigress. She can be chartered for sails around the vineyard! Thank you for the kind words 🙂

  4. i live in a tiny house, with bob and beau and me, on a 100×100 lot and I blog because i have nothing else to do. the question is why would you blog with all that is in your life? If i lived where you do and had all your friends and family I would rarely turn on the computer. bob has his tv and me the computer. you are truly blessed

    1. Sandra, thank you for stopping in and leaving your thoughts. I blog to share recipes, photos, the beauty of nature, a good book, and I do have a job and it entails computer work. So I’m here in the office often, I don’t mind taking time out to share these things with anyone who wants to read my blog. I also have fibromyalgia and am hearing impaired – this is a nice way to interact with people without having to “hear” them, and I get to rest my hardworking body for a spell. Yes, I know how truly blessed I am and I wish you, bob and beau the very best.

  5. Its so wonderful to hear from you again. The homestead is looking lovely as ever. I’ve been a slackard this year and haven’t done a post on my blog since January 1. I’m glad that things are well with your family and home. Take care and stay safe.

  6. So good to see you back, your pictures are beautiful. Girl, you truly do live a charmed life.

  7. A wee tad envious of your Vineyard holiday. I really want to go back there — one of my favorite places in the world. And the farm! Well done! I can see how it keeps you terribly busy but the benefits it provides are wonderful. Look at those eggs and produce! And I see you still have your goats. Big smiles. Lovely photos, all!

  8. You guys live in Paradise; even though it’s really hard work! Staying busy keeps you young, youngun’ LOL

    Glad you and the mister were able to get away to your Martha’s Vineyard; the photo’s just like yours at home are beautiful.

    Be good to yourself and all those loved ones.
    xoxo

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