Tag: Family

Rambling Rose

 Because sometimes a post title just doesn’t come to ya. 
  Happy 22nd Birthday to my boy, who I adore more than it seems possible.  We’re so proud of the kind, responsible, hard working young man he’s become.  I’m one of those ridiculous moms who’s children are literally my everything. My children are truly my greatest accomplishment in life.  Is it ridiculous?  I don’t know, I bet most of you moms feel the same way most of the time.  ( we all have those “other” moments)   My life is busy with my editing work, farm chores, volunteer activities, my hobbies and family life – but “family life” is on the top of my importance list, always. 💗
  
   

     Since being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last year, I’ve been struggling with the diagnosis, which is a tricky thing because after all the tests and all is said and done, they can’t tell you why you’re experiencing so much pain and inflammation everywhere – it just is.  What??…. that’s frustrating. 
    If you suffer the same affliction, I can tell you this.  Diet helps.  Cut out the crap, literally.  Sugar and Gluten are not your friend if you suffer from fibro. Too much dairy consumption also isn’t great.  I’ve cut down big time on all three things (didn’t totally eliminate) and it has helped.  Also… exercise. That’s a big one.  It’s real hard to make yourself work out, go for long walks, run on a treadmill, insert whatever form of exercise you prefer… when your body is telling you OW THAT HURTS..with every move you make.  But.. it’s important to do so if you want to keep moving, and even feel better. 
    A wonderful physical therapist I was sent to this fall has taught me some very valuable tools. He said…. “Those who improve from this condition do the hard work – they keep moving, keep exercising, and work on their diet continuously.  Those who give in to the pain and don’t do the hard work,  don’t improve, they get worse.  Also, when you’re exercising, tell yourself that nothing is actually broken, even though your body is sending you pain signals.  Work through the pain, and it will gradually decrease.”   He was so right.  I have now been in a steady work out routine here at home for a few months and I am feeling better.  Not awesome, not perfect, not pain free – but better. Amen.   
     
     What I currently do is watch my diet (but I do slip up here and there – not much willpower, I love food!), I’m using the WW app to track my food intake, and I’m light weight training in the gym at least five days a week, have even increased the weight, three sets of 12 reps of a variety of lifts I was taught by a good friend (Joey), and I either take the dogs on a long hike or  sprint/jog/walk on the treadmill on crappy weather days (MANY LATELY!!). 
   What can I say about the current state of political affairs here in our country… Holy cow, what an absolutely bizarre point in our American History we have reached, on so many fronts.  
      For those who still embrace the 45 Cult,  man, I give you credit for standing by your  man. Sorta like Melania… can you imagine what their cosy evenings at home must look like now? And I’m not making fun of her, she didn’t ask for the three ring circus she now lives in.  Truly feels like he’s just throwing all the sh*t against the wall and hey, let’s see what’ll stick.    
     The thing about 45 is, I don’t totally disagree with some of the things on his “list to fix”.  He just can’t get past his giant ego and his sordid past to lead this country in any sort of respectable, commendable, responsible, honest way. Sad thing.  He is truly his own worst enemy.   That he knowingly had that past history, and didn’t figure out that it would ALL come home to roost for him if he won the presidency, is remarkable.  People in Cult 45 still clamor for 2020, but I bet 45 wants nothing to do with it, now that he sees what this position he holds has done to his and more importantly, his family’s formerly fabulous  unfettered life.  He and they are now in the fishbowl and who knows what price they have yet to pay.  What he did to Obama and others is now being done to him, tenfold. And he keeps asking for more.   Strange times. 
  33 degrees here in Connecticut today – I donned hat and gloves yet again, mid April! to do barn chores this morning.  Our friends in Canada and Vermont still have snow!  We planted seeds, which are now in their containers in the greenhouse – growing, growing, with nowhere to go until we see REAL spring temps.  The forsythia is trying to bloom.. weeks late… but the attempt is half-hearted. 
 Come on, Spring.. the world NEEDS you! 
 Till soon, friends… 
    
   

Couch sitting

    Mom and I went couch sitting yesterday.  That is, we went to a furniture store where I proceeded to covet so much stuff , I just wanted to redecorate my entire home. While doing the coveting we also sat on a bunch of couches to determine which would be a good fit in MOM’s  home. 
     When you’re short like us, (5’4″ – ish)  it’s important not to have a couch that’s too deep, or you end up looking like Shirley Temple swinging  your legs in the distance between your feet and the actual floor.  Either that or your feet are touching the floor but you’re all slouched back, gazing at the ceiling.   When you nap on it frequently, it’s important that the arms  aren’t too thin and hard or thick and high, so that you don’t snap your neck in the process of  the napping.  When you’re indecisive like my mom, (hi mom! Love you lots!)   it’s important that the couch in question be not too different than what you’ve had before, but maybe very different, yes, maybe, no, not sure, I don’t know, I don’t want to think about it now.  Also, there’s the issue of the color.  In mom’s case, a neutral color is far more scary than, say… LIME GREEN COUCHES and PINK WALLS AND CARPET.    That actually sounds scary, doesn’t it… and yet mom did this with vigor, and admittedly… it was a relative success in her home for a long while.  But now.. with the prospect of NEUTRAL… well, we’re all aquiver.  
     We did find what I believe will be a lovely couch in a neutral shade, and I hope that is what she believes when it eventually lands in her living room.  I’m especially hoping there was no perception of BULLYING whilst we made the neutrality decision.  We then had a lovely lunch in a nearby restaurant – the drinks exotic, the food divine, a perfect ending to our couch sitting experience. 
     Meanwhile,  the President gets his 30 million dollar military parade.  All the debt and all the issues we currently have, and this is where he chooses to spend thirty million dollars.  If the intention was to commend the military, how about putting that money toward Veteran mental health and regular health care, housing(so many homeless vets)  the Wounded Warrior Project?  Instead, he chooses a parade to feed his all consuming ego.  But.. if the constant lies and juvenile twitter rants and constant unethical-to-the-office-he holds-  slamming of everything and everyone who doesn’t applaud him  and really.. really poor judgement of  having unprotected sex with porn stars doesn’t bother you enough,  a parade is just a parade, right?   
    Man, you couldn’t make this shit up.  It wouldn’t fly in a sitcom because no one would believe it could ever actually happen.    Then again,  I’ve been binge watching Homeland… those folks live through being blown up, poisoned, beaten to a pulp, betrayed, shot, fired, rehired and blown up again more often than we change the sheets on our bed around here. ..and that’s once a week! 
After all that heavy – 
 I’ll leave you with this  … 

What a difference a day makes

    We had a lovely weekend – light jacket or no jacket weather. The Mr. and I did some Spring clean up at the cottage, raking the little lawn, clearing out the remains of last year’s perennial foliage… 
and I am happy to report all the stuff we planted last year is making a comeback.  Our dear friend, BJ, gave me some perennials from her garden just down the lane and I see the daylilies have already doubled as they come through the soil now. 
   We’ve noticed just how clear the water is in the cove – a sign that the Sound reaching out into the Atlantic is in relative good health – 
My guys planted seeds for the garden, which reside in my living room until
the temps warm a bit…
 … and we had a lovely small Easter Gathering ’round my kitchen table, where I used up much of my extra Weight Watchers points for the week eating ham, scalloped potatoes, string beans, and that orange cake I did make.. and I’m here to tell you – the frosting was delicious!!… and the cake very dense. Tasty but a tad dry.  I’m wondering if because I used regular milk instead of butter milk (the store was out) that was the reason.  The recipe I shared makes for one layer – if you want a two layer cake, double the recipe.  We were a small group watching our weight, so I didn’t double it. 
  As for Weight Watchers – just five days in and I LOVE it.  The points system is so easy to use, and I’m finding the 0 points foods you can reach for when you get hungry and need a little snack make it very do-able.  I’m a grazer, so I need to be able to do that.  I have not stepped on a scale yet, I know there isn’t enough difference to satisfy what I want to see on the scale, but I already feel less bloated.  It helps that I really like fruits and vegetables.  The phone App is awesome.  I’m doing the very basic plan, I have a page online and an app on my phone – that’s what I use for the most part.   I’m not interested in going to meetings (and there are meetings down near our cottage) … I’m doing this primarily by myself.. with a little help from my friend, Hilary (Crazy as a Loom).  She’s given me some great tips. 
    Also this weekend, while my girl is visiting Florida with her BF and his family, I’ve been taking care of her beloved Rex… who is missing his beloved Mom, terribly.   Oh, the WOE in his little fluffy face every time he hears the key in the door, only to find me on the other side of it.  He’ll be happy to see his mom once again today when she arrives home.  
   So we’ve enjoyed the arrival of crocus in the last few days… and it was beginning to feel like the Spring that it actually is.   Isn’t she a beauty?   When the crocus arrive on the lawn, I say hello to Elizabeth, the woman who lived here for over 40 years until she died at the age of 90-something.  She planted these crocus, as well as  the ancient lilacs by the shed, the old pear tree in the horse paddock and all the pines and cedars on either side of This Old House. 
   This morning, however… we awoke to this… 
   As soon as I publish this post,  I’ll pull out my snow pants and jacket, hat, scarf, glove,  and boots and I’ll trudge up to the barn and over to the coop for morning feed rounds –   I knew I should wait to wash them all and store them away. But I didn’t… Murphy’s Law and all that. 
 Till soon, friends.. 

The VIP Room

    
    We are lucky to live right up the road from a very good restaurant.   Our town used to be labeled as “out in the sticks”, but that’s not really true anymore.  We still don’t have a grocery store or an official post office, but we are fairly close to those things in the next town over and we do have local restaurants, a Dunkin, A Subway, a good bakery, a big hardware store, a few gas stations and packages stores (of course!)  and a bunch of other small businesses, with the bustling CT shoreline and outlet centers just three miles down the road. 
   Last night we gathered at that very good restaurant to celebrate a family member’s birthday, and because Wednesdays are a slow night and the owner appreciates our friendship and occasional business, we were given the VIP room, normally reserved for Very Important People.
   

   
      Being hearing impaired,  I tend to observe people more than participate in conversations in a situation like this.  What I saw last night where cousins and brothers and sisters and moms and dads an restaurant workers, patrons  and business owners relaxed and happy, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.  It didn’t matter what was being said… the mood was evident, refreshing, downright inspiring.  Remember that coke commercial back in the day?   “I’d like to teach the world to sing.. in perfect harmony”….   that.  
   I’m still riding that wave we all caught last night, and I plan to encourage it wherever I can. 
    We celebrate several birthdays at this time of year and I have cake in my thoughts and prayers, lol.  This one… oooh dear.  I think I’m gonna try it, gluten free if that’s possible.  Click link for recipe. 





   I’m in love with that jadite cake stand.

   Current situation at This Old House…  the storm two days ago brought about 10 more inches of snow, and there’s talk of another on the horizon next week.   Uncle. 
   
Till soon, friends – 

Heart Attack Snow, and some things you just can’t know

 

   You’ve heard of the term “heart attack snow”, right?  That’s what we got about a foot of during Wednesday night’s storm…..that wet heavy stuff  that soaks through your jacket five minutes out and feels like each shovelfull weighs a ton.
     Power, cable and internet was just restored a few hours ago on our road, and some folks are still waiting for it. Days without power is a scary thing when it’s cold outside and there are trees and wires down on roads, bad enough that some folks are still trapped in their driveway or at the end of their street, not able to get out, heaven forbid there were an emergency.  
      We lost about 7 or eight trees on the property, mostly in the cedar and pine groves on either side of the house.  I hate when that happens – they are like old friends, these trees.    The “giving tree”.. my beloved ancient half hollow pear that lives in the mini horses paddock has lost a large limb.  I don’t know how much more insult that poor tree can take.  With every storm I look up toward that tree on the hill and hope it’s still intact. 

 

 The Egg Plant below, covered in blasted snow.  You can see some of the trees bent over behind it.. four down on that side. 

 The girls looked bewildered yesterday when I let them out  and their coop yard was a muddy mess.

     You see those bewildered looks above?   They were making little half hearted and sometimes raised pitch clucks.   If it’s in the chicken dictionary, WTF is what they were probably saying. 
  This morning, my favorite girl child came over bright and early. We ate blueberry pancakes and headed out into the barnyard –  K mucked out the stalls while I cleaned up the coop and chicken yard.

     With grapes and spinach leaves to pick on and the sun shining bright upon melting snow, the girls quickly concluded all was right with their world once again. 
     The boys are out in the groves today clearing up all the broken trees.  Temps are supposed to drop tonight, say a little prayer for all those still without power.  
   Once farm chores were done for me and the girlchild, I called Dad at the nursing home to let him know I hadn’t forgot him and asked if he needed anything at the store… 

Two Things! he said…  Milkbones for the dog  and candy for the girls!   So I did our shopping and his. 
   When I arrived, he was playing cards in the rec room with one of his buddies. They looked very serious about the game in hand, coffee and danish at the ready.    I love seeing that.  While some (including me) cringe at the idea of living in a nursing home, for my father it  has been a blessing.  They take better care of him now than he ever did for himself.   While he was alone most of the time before moving there, he is in the constant presence of people, both friends and staff who are very, very kind to him now.  
     The milkbones are for a  therapy dog golden retriever who visits three times a week with his owner.  The dog knows Dad will have a treat for him, so as soon as he walks in the front entrance, he first checks Dad’s usual hang out at the front lobby, and if he’s not there he tugs toward his room just down the hall about 30 feet.  He knows where the  man-of-the-treats “lives”… and it thrills Dad to no end.  Since this has become a regular thing, I thought…    I’ll see your box of milkbones  and raise you a bag of Bacon strips.    So I brought both.  You’d have thought it was Christmas morning. 
     The candy bowl on his dresser  is kept stocked with tootsie rolls , T’s favorite! (my dad’s favorte! nurse) , smarties and wrapped chocolates that reflect the nearest holiday – today we filled it with Russell Stover foil covered eggs, you know the ones).  Dad loves attention, so he also loves to wear Tee shirts that say something funny.   The last one I brought him said Politically Incorrect.   Because Dad.   Today I stopped at the Bong Shop on route 1 just across the street from him.. yep, it’s a bong shop and holy hell does it smell like one… and picked up this tee for  him to wear in this month of St. Patty’s day. 
      He’s now in his second year of living at the home.  I can’t express exactly how emotionally draining that time was for all of us – his third heart attack, his further decline – the continued struggle with what was or wasn’t our relationship –  that ugly decision to sell his home and move him to that place.  It turned out to be a blessing, anything but the curse it felt like at the time.    His new life is a classic example of  this simple truth –  it’s all what you make of it.  While I didn’t think he had it in him, I sold him short in this way.  He’s doing just fine.   
Till soon, friends –

    
     
      

28! Plus Outrageous Truffles and the best Cider ever

  My girlie turns 28 this weekend! It seems it was not so very long ago that she was about to have her fifth birthday party.  I remember oh so clearly how I said to myself as I fastened balloons to the dining room chairs.. well, my first (and at that time only) child is about to be five… If I haven’t screwed up the parenting too badly by now, we should be good to go.   HA!!!  …. Oh, the times to come after that first five years.  Clearly I didn’t hear that little voice exclaiming…. you ain’t seen nothing yet, honey.    
   And that’s not to imply that it wasn’t anything less than a privilege or that I did or didn’t make my fair share of mistakes along the way.  I have been truly blessed to have and to hold and to raise and to scold and especially… to love these two awesome kids of mine. Bear with me while I brag on them just a little.. they’re kind, they’re considerate, they’re hard working and responsible.  Of course they’re also a pain in the arse at times, but truthfully, not often and only in the littlest of unimportant ways.  Hopefully the same can be said for their mother.  
 So today as I set the plates and fasten the balloons in the dining room, I’m saying to myself… Well, if I haven’t screwed up the parenting too bad by now, …heck,  I already know.. we’re good.  We’re more than good.. we’re blessed. 

 Two things I’ll be serving up with dinner this weekend –  These delicious and easy to make Pumpkin Truffles…

These are SOOO GOOD!! and easy to make – 
Dixie Crystals Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles. I recommend doubling the recipe unless you make your truffles tiny. Great to bring to a fall gathering of any kind, to set beside the pies at Thanksgiving, to bring to work to cheer up coworkers – to keep in the fridge for just you to pick on!
Plan For
3 hours chill time
Yield :18 truffles
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
2/3 cup crushed graham crackers, plus extra for garnish
1 ounce cream cheese
1 tablespoon Confectioners Powdered Sugar
5 ounces dark chocolate
DIRECTIONS
Cover a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave white chocolate chips for 30 seconds and stir. If not completely melted, microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth.
Add melted white chocolate chips, pumpkin puree, crushed graham crackers, cream cheese and powdered sugar to food processor. Pulse until a dough forms. Chill dough for 3 hours, or until it is easy to roll into balls (dough will still be sticky).
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place onto prepared cookie sheet. Chill balls in freezer for 15 minutes.
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave dark chocolate for 1 minute and stir. If not completely melted, microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth.
Dip balls into melted dark chocolate using toothpicks or a fork. Return to cookie sheet and sprinkle tops with crushed graham crackers for garnish if desired.
Let truffles harden on counter for 1 hour or in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

And… this cider recipe… served hot right out of the big pot on the stove.


Hot Buttered Cider with Rum

By 
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • Half-gallon (64 ounces) all natural apple cider
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Rum (or apple brandy)
  • Cinnamon sticks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring the apple cider to a simmer over medium heat in a large pot, then turn the heat down to low. Stir in the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Continue stirring until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved.
  2. Ladle the buttered cider into mugs. Top each drink off with a shot of rum and garnish with a cinnamon stick, if desired. Serve hot.

October in Vermont

  Jeanne P. – Miss Sally picked your name off the floor offerings – you’re my fall give-away winner!  You’ll receive a fall package in the mail shortly.   
  
   We had a lovely visit to Woodstock, Vermont last weekend. It’s our third trip to that town and Inn, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to experience New England at it’s best.  Many beautiful old homes pf stone, brick, or clapboard with slate roofs, shops from a very old fashioned General Store to upscale art galleries, a pub or two, a flannel shop like no other, gift and clothing stores galore, and the Inn itself has great accommodations and is family friendly.  It ain’t cheap… but if you’re looking to treat yourself for just a few days – this is a great way to do it.   A post on a previous trip HERE
 A magnificent sunflower head in the garden at The Billings Farm and Museum. 

We took a bike ride through some of the backroads around town.

Same covered bridge…

Harvest Festival at the Billings Farm… where the “kids” participated in the games…

We visited the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and saw some magnificent rehabilitated birds.

This old place below is absolutely beautiful, stately, located right on the main street near the Inn, and totally dilapidated.  It’s the only property in a total state of abandonment in this area and I can’t imagine why no one is willing to fix her up.  If only it were within our means to take it on.

 We had mom along with us, and what a trooper. She kept up with all the trudging around  and next visit she wants to explore the neighborhood  too.   
  The one odd thing… it was tee shirt weather all weekend.  Even with the occasional rain showers. 

The K List

   *the K list is my lazy way of finding a post title for a real  rambler.  Here goes… grab a cup of coffee or tea if you’re willing to get through this whole post.  
   So.. when we bought Stella by the sea, we initially thought renting it out for a few weeks of the summer would be a grand idea because owning a second home, even a little one such as Stella… costs money.  We weren’t keen on the idea of renting to strangers, but perhaps just people we know, or people who know the people we know. 
   Our first “guests” came to stay for just three days.  We didn’t know them, but we knew their relatives and they are indeed a decent crew. Good way for us to test the waters, right? 
     The three days went by and the following day I returned to Stella to clean up.   By “cleaning up” I mean.. I assumed… washing sheets and towels.  Vacuuming and dusting and disinfecting bathroom just because “guests”. 
     What I found was a little different.  There was leftover food left out and open  on the counter.  Empty drink bottles too. We have a white curtain on the inside of the bathroom door, which is an old glass pane door, so the curtain is needed for privacy. That curtain was filthy from little boy hands with dirt.. and blood.  Bandaid wrappers also strewn. Thankful the cut wasn’t too big, apparently.  One bed was left without being stripped, the other bed stripped and sheets left on our little Edith Chair with wet towels.  On the chair.  Wet.   There were crumbs left on the kitchen table and the kitchen sink was filthy with some dishes left there too… 
    A  lovely thank you l note was left in the guest book saying it was obvious we had put a lot of thought and time and creativity into resurrecting Stella, thank you for letting us stay. .  
    We won’t be doing that again.   I don’t think the “guests” intended any disrespect at all, to be clear.  I think they are just a little oblivious, perhaps due to their affluence or the way they were brought up. Someone else will take care of this.  I’ll leave it for the service. 
     While my husband dismissed it as “the typical way people leave hotel rooms”… I don’t really think so.   That’s beside the fact that our little cottage is not a hotel, not even a true rental property. When we stay in a hotel, before we leave, I put the wet towels in the bathtub or a neat pile on the bathroom tile floor.  I make sure we have not left any garbage strewn about, including drink bottles, crumbs from snacks, papers, etc.   My mother really didn’t have to teach me these things…. it’s just common courtesy.  She probably did teach me that, common courtesy.   People who work service jobs such as waitresses and waiters, bus boys, maid service in hotels, for example…. they deserve the respect of any other person – their job is thankless, truly.  

 Now that I got that off my chest…  the stress that pounds my body when I take in the daily news has crescendoed and I am taking a hiatus from it.. just a peek here and there at the headlines instead of devouring it and trying to make sense of the nonsense.  The world is going to have to sort this all out and I am just going to hope for the best.  
  We continue to enjoy Stella in between  work hours and farm responsibilities.  Most days I load Frasier and Sally into the car, we  ride past farms and stop at the  stands along the commute, grabbing some summer sweet corn,  with tomatoes and cucumber salad from the home garden. We walk the little island roads down by the sea, and prepare a meal for whomever shows up after work at the end of the day.  Occasionally we go for a swim when the tide is high.  There is a long list of people we would like to host for a relaxing evening and seaside supper… That will take some time. 
My nephews as we celebrated a  birthday… 
My son and I are the most avid swimmers… 
To give you an idea of the difference in water level at low and high tide… 
This is high tide.  My son is standing, I’m floating. 
At low tide, the water is at our knees in the same spot. 

  We don’t stay overnight just yet … often leaving in the peak sunset hour…. too many animals at home depend on us for their evening meal and tucking in. Someday when we have fewer animals to care for, we’ll spend summers living in the cottage. For now we’re very content to commute.  
     
Meanwhile, back home… another farm market in the books – and it was a good one.  

 I bought this apron, it’s now hanging in my kitchen.  One of our vendors makes aprons out of vintage feed and flour sacks among other things –  I love them!

Mom and my Aunt, her sister.   While the circumstances behind my aunt’s relocation are very sad ( her husband recently passed) , I love that they live next door to each other now and get to spend quality time together.  If there is a heaven, my grandmother Elsie is smiling big.

 Not only does my family support my farm market efforts by attending market and buying from local farmers and artisans… mom treated me to this recycled dress by one of my favorite vendors.  Marylynne of BH Upcycle Designs uses old sweaters, t-shirts, sweatshirts to make new pieces of clothing like skirts, dresses, shirts, etc.   This is one of those..

  Speaking of Markets.. our September market will include an installment of The Kindness Rocks Project.. have you heard of it?  I believe it’s happening in areas all over the country – but it’s in full swing for sure on our shoreline.  People are painting rocks with words of inspiration or kindness and pretty designs and placing them in random spots where others will find them.  They are showing up in places like post office drop boxes, town hall steps,  benches in parks, on hiking trails, in doorways to shops, etc…    My market partner, Linda, and I will host a rock party at the market – I’ve gathered smooth rocks from Stellas waterfront and painted them an undercoat.  We’ll provide the paints and brushes for whomever wants to show up and create their own “kindness” and place it somewhere in the world for another to find.   It’s the little ripples that fan out into the sea, creating change, right?  Rock on..

These are a few that I have already sent out …. message on back, design on front.

 These were found on the ‘net –
Great idea, no?  Something positive anyone can do –
I’ll end this post with a few shots of my beloved coneflowers –
they are so happy this year – must be all the rain and humidity. – bleh. 

    Whew, that was a long one.  Are you still with me?  It’s a new day, all.  Let’s not look at the newsfeeds.  Not once.  Maybe for a few days even.   I need to stay put this morning and catch up on cleaning duties here at the homestead –  This post is clearly a procrastination effort.  I’m particularly good at that.  

 Till soon, friends – 

It’s a beautiful thing

   So.. some happy news here to start off.  My daughter had to put her much loved rescued cat down last week after Phoebe had developed a rapidly growing mouth cancer.  While she is still grieving the loss and wasn’t looking to replace her,  a friend’s relative was in a tough spot with housing and school schedule and needed to find a home for her also much loved dog.  They asked if Kristen might be interested in adopting, as he was a very friendly dog who was used to apartment living and might be a great fit for K.   My advice was  that while she was still hurting over her loss and this was not intended to be a replacement for Phoebe, she should at least go meet the little guy in case there was a strong connection.  K loves to be a care giver to her animals and I knew she would miss having a critter at her feet to love on. 
    So, they met… and  just look at this precious face.  Needless to say it was love at first sight, and they are living together very happily as I type.  Rex is thrilled to be getting attention and regular walks, etc.. from not one, but two people – K’s BF loves him too…. and he’s even sleeping on their bed at night.  
 The BF, “D” is a big Star Wars fan.. and he sent me this… .. Our Dog, the Ewok. 
We had company here at the farm the other night and a visit with Florida cousins… family and friends we don’t see often.  
This picture is with my MIL, still a beautiful woman in her mid 70’s – 
 Our Florida Peeps… 
 Best Friend Cousins here since the very beginning…
We all smothered Baby A with cuddles.  Oh, those precious little toes… 

The cousins went out on a double date adventure… 

Wishing this new little family the very best. 
 Great to visit with them 💖

In between visits and work chores, etc etc… I’ve made my first ever peach blueberry jam, and I gotta tell ya, it is DELICIOUS.  So simple too, except also a lot of work preparing the peaches… the peaches are fresh off our tree in the yard.  The Ingredients are simple – many many peaches, blanched and chopped, blueberries, Sugar, Pectin, lemon juice.  All cooked together and put in sterilized jars, then processed again in boiling water for ten minutes.  I am loving that combination.  Are you a canner or do you love jam? What’s your favorite combination?  I’d give you my recipe but I really did just wing it. 
   We’ve had some beautiful summer days, and have been taking full advantage of Stella being so close by.  After work or farm chores or whatever is on each of our agendas, we head down there for an evening swim and dinner on the deck frequently.  The kids often drop in after work, too.  Mom is staying down there for a week right now and will have some friends join her as well.  
    If you’re contemplating a second home, a little getaway somewhere for respite, I highly recommend finding something not far away, believe it or not.  I’m finding we get much more use out of it because we can get there and back quickly.   It’s also easy to include friends/family as they are also nearby.  For us, anyway, that works. 

  Thanks so much for stopping by.  It’s a new day, all – let’s make it a good one. 

Life Boats

    Yesterday started out kinda lousy- just about every part of my body hurt from this damned fibromyalgia nonsense.  I was also concerned for my daughter, who was away for a few days with her boyfriend and family and would soon return to a cat sicker than just a few days before, her much loved Phoebe.. a cat she had adopted from a shelter several years earlier.  in the past month she had developed an aggressive mouth cancer.  Surgery would mean removing her lower jaw and then chemo and radiation.  Prognosis, 6 months.  K made the wise decision not to torture the cat with all that nonsense, but that meant soon, a time would come to end her misery.  
    The husband suggested we go down to the cottage after farm chores were done – to cut the grass and chill out for a while.  We did just that.  The humidity had disappeared and the temps were in the high 70’s, lovely breezes.  As soon as I saw the water, I decided to get in it.  Donned that bathing suit again!.. ( so proud of my new resolve to live every day fully and without apologies for my less than perfect self. That is SO silly and a waste of time – if you’re doing it too, stop.  Be. Do. LIVE). 
  The water was so refreshing, my muscles eased as my body relaxed into the salt water.. and I floated.  Stared up at the sky and said.. whatever will be, will be. Let go or be dragged – so I let go. 
   We sat on the platform as the water lapped at our feet (high tide) and the neighbor asked if we’d like to hop on his little boat and head out to tour the Thimbles…. and So We Did.   What a treat!  With the wind in our hair and the salt spray on our face, we cruised out and then slowly motored through the thread of islands – a fascinating place with so many houses, all different styles, and beautiful rock outcroppings – a few bridges spanning one island to the next too…  These pics below are not mine – taken from the internet as I had no camera onboard… 

      It was the shot in the arm I needed – a life boat for the day.  We came home refreshed.  
    Today, I accompanied my daughter to the veterinary hospital with her beloved cat. She made a very humane and selfless decision to end the cat’s suffering, even though she would miss her terribly and hated to let her go.   The veterinarian and her staff were so caring, so compassionate.  Another life boat. Miss Phoebe is now resting eternally among the pines on the side of this old house,  with no more pain.   My daughter is hurting, but grateful for the ability to release Phoebe from that awful disease. 
Rest easy, Phoebe girl.  In your last years you knew love. 
Spoiled, pampered, Love.  That – is a beautiful thing.