Off the Beaten Path

Even though yesterday was a "gray day" we still took our usual walk. This time we decided to go a little off the beathen path to do some exploring in areas we hadn't yet visited. We turned left instead of heading down our usual trail, and knowing the general area and how the roads ran, where the river was, in what direction the lake was etc. we headed straight into the woods.

We really do live in a beautiful wooded haven. Pine trees reaching high into the sky, maples dropping their varied colored leaves and ferns preparing for winter. My thoughts kept going back to the numerous hours spent playing in the woods and exploring as a child. I loved it then, and I love it now. You never know what's around that next corner, like a bucket hanging on a branch, way out in the middle of nowhere. I think it was there just in case someone like me came along with a camera, which I did. I've learned to pocket the camera for just such occasions.

We came across this beautiful little oak tree. The display of bright red against the browning leaves was brilliant, even for a "gray day."

It's quite obvious that our fall is beyond it's peak but there are still a few trees holding on as long as they can. Although we've already had accumulating snow that lasted a few days before melting; I'm like that tree, holding on to the hopes of a few more warm days to call autumn before succumbing to the wiles of winter.

Snow pics coming soon !

Chickens and Goats

They say that a good fence makes for good neighbors. Well ~ we put up a fence and it changed what used to be a tolerable old neighbor into a cantankerous old fart! The man just won't smile at us any more. Okay, okay ... So maybe it's the way my husband finds humor in staring at him as he tries to back his pontoon into his driveway, or it could be the fact that we put up a fence in the first place because he was treating our yard like his private parking lot. So being the good neighbors that we are, we measured out the limits set by the codes and we proceeded to build a beautiful split rail fence.
Of course this lead to the old codgers curiosity and he quickly sprinted to the best of his ability, to inquire as to what we were up to now and to inform us we were too close to his property... the humor being that we had already measured and knowing where the survey post is buried we were WELL WITHIN our limits. We even left enough room on "their side" of the fence (which is actually still our land) to enable us to use our riding mower on that side. So... back to my naming this post chickens and goats. When the old grump asked "what are you up to now?" I responded "We're going to get some chickens and pygmy goats." I don't know what made me say it but I thought they were going to faint. The way their heads spun around was like watching "The Exorcist!" I was laughing so hard inside, but I was still able to maintain a straight and serious face. My husband fell right into my joke and never cracked a smile ~ at least not within thier view.

Now mind you, WE DO LOVE ANIMALS and we would love to have goats and chickens but although we live on the outer skirts of what we laughingly call the "city limits" we are still within them, so we don't have goats or chickens ~ yet. But we might just check into that a little further and see what limits we can push. I do love my farm fresh eggs, and who can resist those cute little goats?

I woke up this morning snickering to myself after dreaming that when our snow-bird neighbors returned from wintering down south ~ we had chickens and goats. But it was only a dream.

Our Corner of the World

Fall seems to have taken a turn for the worse here in Upper Michigan. We've already seen snow and the cold set in long ago even though we're just now in mid-October. The leaves on our maple tree are green and changing ever so slowly. Leaves are falling off of it but its so much duller than last year due to our cool weather and early frosts.

Our maple tree this year ~

Our Maple tree last year ~

We raked and raked and raked today. Covering the flowers and raised garden beds with leaf mulch before the snows decide to stay. Brr... just too cold for this time of year.

The Scuffle

I've been having a scuffle amongst myself. My mind has such great aspirations but my my body lacks the ambition. Without the get up and go, what good are my ideas? Even in my dreams I'm doing fantastic things and accomplishing all my undone tasks; so why can't I get that burning desire to actually get things done?

Today I'll blame the dreary weather. Tommorrow I'll blame something else.

Maybe if I keep journaling about it, I'll get tired of my own prattling and take action.

So it goes...

A Hidden Treasure

As we wandered around the sales at the "Fall Harvest Festival", my dear hubby spotted the top of this little lovely, hidden behind a table displaying a huge set of dishes. He mentioned it to me, so I peeked under the table and immediately knew it was an interesting piece. When we asked the gentleman if it was for sale, he replied he didn't think so and that he would have to ask. Someone thought it was a prop, and then this sweet lady piped up " If someone wants to buy it, sell it for crying out loud." When she asked me what I thought it was worth, I named my price and she said "SOLD."

I immediately envisioned it standing in my garden however it's too fragile for the outdoors. He stands 3 feet tall and fits perfectly in our home.

I just love when you find a little something special, something you don't really need but it still fits into your life. But what I love the most is the fact that Thom thought of me when he spotted it, knowing I would love it.

I LOVE TO BAKE

I love to bake and it shows every time I step on the scale.

So I finally figured out a way to beat it

... I quit stepping on the scale!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake made with fresh pineapple!
Rhubarb Cobbler

Rhubarb Custard Pie with Streusel Topping


Good Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies

Blackberry Pie

There's no question how much I love food, but as I was looking through some of my digital photo albums it actaully took me by surprise just how often I photograph my food too,

combining my semi talents.

I guess a part of me is knows that I bake for consumption so this is my way of journaling a part of who I am and what I like to do.

I've heard it said that you eat with your eyes

~

so feast away and enjoy !

Family Updates

GREAT NEWS ~ all of our family members who have been hospitalized over the past month are home and on the mend. Believe me; there have been several.


AUDREY~ our 12 year old great neice had a one month hospitalization following open heart surgery. She exceded the doctors expectations but still has upcoming therapy sessions scheduled. We're all so proud of you Audrey!

MEL ~ my sister who occaisonally spends a day or two in the hospital just to keep her on the straight and narrow. Mel, I do pray you can stay out of those places and that you will have a great fall and winter.

BILL ~ our brother - in - law is home and back to work following a heart attack. Five stents and one month later my sister Darla is still trying to slow the man down.

KAREN ~ my sister - in - law is home and recouping well following surgery for a brain aneurysm .

CHARLIE ~ our nephew is home following a kidney removal

ZAK - our great nephew had surgery to lift his eyelid. He's a real trooper and keeps on keeping on.

CALLIE ~ our great neice (Zak's sister) had surgery to put a shunt in her brain to drain fluids

My apologies if I have missed anyone.

Our prayers continue for healing blessings.
Thanks for your prayers as well.

Our Great Niece Audrey was has been hospitalized since Aug 10 with open heart surgery. She was born with some health issues and has overcome many trials; becoming a true inspiration to many around her. This little sweetheart although tiny in stature, has a personality larger than her own being.

Before you ask, I will share that she is a trooper and even though she has a long recovery ahead of her, she has already surprised her doctors in how well she is doing by surpassing some of their expectations.

She loves RAINBOWS so I made a scrapbook page that I turned into a card for her. It was just a little way of sending my love.

Tapestry

I don't know what it is that indwelt my love for tapestry ~ but I sure do love it. Wall hangings, table runners, tote bags, purses etc.

I found this piece last week and without any logical reason for buying it, I just had to have it, darling!

I love the flowers in it and decided to hang it on my kitchen door, so I can enjoy it year round whenever I'm busying myself in that room.

I missed out on a beautiful large tote bag, simply because my eldest sister spotted it first... argh!!

Note to self ~ scope the area fast when shopping with others!

So now you know one more useless thing about me!

SLOW FLOWERS ~ FAST FLOWERS

The Morning Glories seemed to be very slow starters, but now that they're here I'm anxious to see the wire frame covered in flowers.

And here we have a few run away flowers... crossing their bounds.

Now this Hardy Hibiscus is another story. We just planted it four days ago. It's loaded with buds and today one showed its beautiful face. Just a hair short of 9 inches across.

I call this my "Mystery Hibiscus." Also loaded with buds ~ I would have sworn this was going to be a purple flower. However; I'm very pleased with the beautiful reddish bloosom.

I took the time to have a face lift... what do you think??? I've never felt so firm or happy. I just can't stop smiling!

Now here's something to smile about,

all my Grand - loves in one place at the same time.

Do you think my sister Mel and I look anything alike? She's the sassy one.

And NO MEL that's not a crown on your head, it's just the light.

Melon Mystery !

A friend sent me a photo stating they had a "melon mystery" ~ well you know me, I can never leave anything alone so I popped over to my Paint Shop Pro photo program and started messing around. This is what I come up with ~ I sent the photo back with this note:

"I Think I Spotted the Problem !"

ARBOR PROJECT IS COMPLETED

We've been busy as can be this summer, which isn't a bad thing because it keeps us out of trouble.

Our latest project was building an arbor. You know how it goes, one thing leads to another so our next project will be making benches to go in it, built from an old wooden slat bed. And I have an old table that would look nice in there too ~ given enough love and care. Time will tell, and so will the camera as things progress.

Flowers Around Our Yard

This is our first year growing roses. We were thrilled when we saw buds, and almost beside ourselves when they actually blossomed. So sad the single stemmed varieties don't last too long. I can't wait until the climbing roses fill the fence.

I'M BACK

PROJECTS and PLAYTIME

For those of you who still check in; I extend my apoligies for not posting this past month. We were very busy, then gone, and now busy again.

We started to build an arbor and first the weather was so hot, we could only stand to work a couple of hours each evening, then the weather took a turn to the cool side while we were vacationing with the kids. That'll be explained later but for now back to the arbor... we're back at it and weather permitting - it'll be done soon with picturess to follow.

As I said we took a little time and vacationed with the kids on a chain of seven lakes. They bought their pontoon along but because it was so cold and windy the last week of June, we didn't get on the water until the final day. After signing out of the lodge, we all loaded onto the boat and were able to enjoy at least one full day on the water. Most of the week was spent in the pool, the arcade and the rooms enjoying time with our little Grand-loves. Even though the weather wasn't the best of vacation weather; we have no complaints because any time spent with them is great.

Stroll With Me

Come take a quick stroll with me around our yard ~
First stop is just one of our many rhubarb plants. Yummy is all I can say! Then there's the little old bird bath with the picket fence backdrop. It is used on a daily basis by several different
types of birds.




And then there's the bluebirds. They've set up housekeeping in a house we built last year. Their fletchlings have been seen coming out this past week. But they still count on Mom and Dad to help feed them. Yummy ~ wax worms are a treat!

This little bunny thinks he's "hiding" behind a wooden box on the patio.

We've seen this porcupine crossing the yard in mid-day on more than one occasion . Too close for comfort in my mind; as you can see our house in the background.

It's Fawn Time Again

It's that time of year again when the fawns start showing up. I took pictures of this fawn last spring ~ right in our yard. She thought she was well hidden but there she was, right in the middle of the lawn, just a few feet from the road.

With a little coaxing she moved and "hid" in the longer grasses behind our property. Still within our view, but much safer.

Since living here, we've had at least one if not two does as frequent visitors to our yard sharing their babies with us. Come fall we have had as many as ten deer at the same time. Therefore; the garden fence!!

Small Pleasures in Life

BIRDS

It doesn't take much to make me happy. I find pleasure in the small things in life, things like watching the birds around the yard or baking bread.

We have several bird feeders throughout our yard and they are heavily used. The color ranges from the red on the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks to the irridesent blue of the Indigo Buntings to the striking yellow of the little Gold Finches and several other shades of nature.

BREAD

The scent of bread baking has got to be one of my favorite scents of all time. I loved it as a child and I love it as a Grandma. I baked some of the best bread ever just the other day. I'd have to call it a Sourdough Oatmeal Multi Grain bread. It started out with my hundred plus year old sour dough starter and then I added a bit of oatmeal, multi grains etc. I also made some of it into big ole' dinner rolls. I must say, I always believed that a recipe is a guide only so I never really follow any directions ~ making it a hit or miss and this one was a HIT!!