Life With The Crew

Four

Several times during the past week I have intended to sit down and write a blog post.  But then the day gets filled and there was no time.  Which is fine, really, and as it should be.  It makes me smile though to think back on all the free time I somehow had when the little babe was actually little and I wrote multiple blog posts a week.  Crazy.  However, our days are filled with goodness now and if I have less time to document it because I am actually doing it, that is fine.  And so many of the things that make up life now wouldn't necessarily make for a good photo, so let me tell you about some of them and you can make up your own image.

~Four quarts of homemade pickles in my fridge.  I have always struck out with cucumbers for some reason, but this reason I am the cucumber queen!  I have about ten vines and have never eaten so many cucumbers in my life.  My favorite way is super simple:  chopped cukes, hunks of feta cheese, a splash of olive oil and red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Crunch!

~Four skeins of silvery mouse gray bulky wool squashed into a bag with one skein of super bright pink bulky.  My next knitting project is the Mini Meow for my little cat lover.  After this, I will need something very neutral and soothing...

~Four milkshakes consumed by the little babe and I during four days at two different agriculture fairs in the area.  There were interesting horse events at both and we had a good time.  Did you know that you could get a "twist" milkshake (choc on bottom, vanilla on top)?  Yum!

~Four hooves jumping over low crossrails with a rider who has not jumped in twenty years.  Frank and I have started jumping and we are having a great time.  My smart old man knows exactly what to do and enjoys doing it - I simply have to point him in the right direction and hang on.  It isn't pretty, but it makes me smile.

~Four months left in this year.  September is almost here:  the sun is sinking earlier, even the little babe noticed it.  The mornings are cooler with more dew on the ground.  The tomato plants are still producing, but have slowed down.  The pumpkin vines are still vigorously taking over the trellis though.  

All good things.  Happy weekend folks.

 

August Goodness

I haven't done a Thankful Tuesday post in forever; just too much in life going on to post on a regular schedule.  Rain is falling right now, the roasted tomato and garlic soup is ready for dinner, I cleaned enough for the day, and the little babe is at the farmers market with her father.  So I have a couple of minutes to give thanks.

~A Sunday morning trip to the barn for the whole family.  It was a great morning for riding outside and I am only comfortable doing it if I have another adult with me.  I am thankful that my husband is willing to come along.

~Time with my Mom.  I'm thankful she is willing to make the drive up and over the mountain to see us.

~Hummingbirds!  We have a pair of Ruby Throated Hummingbirds that have been visiting our yard everyday and I don't tire of seeing them.

~Joe Pye Weed!  This Pennsylvania native plant is awesome and if you don't have any in your yard and you are interested in helping out pollinators or just getting a close-up view of butterflies, you should definitely plant some!  I have one bush that has gotten bigger every year and is now five feet tall.  It has been absolutely covered in bees and butterflies of all sorts.  Last evening there were three Monarchs and one Easter Swallowtail having dinner along with about twenty bees.  It is a pretty dusky mauve color with burgundy stalks and green leaves - I love it!

(This is been a hangout spot of the hummingbirds - they like the Bee Balm and then perch on the wire fence.)

(Little lady, gentle horse.)

(These smaller dahlia blooms have been a big hit with the bees also.)

Summer is still here, let the goodness continue!

And So It Is August

And so it is August!  The garden is producing, the cicadas are singing, the grass is browning, and we are back in the swing of things after vacation.  We had a fantastic time in Maine, as always.  The lake house is our happy home away from home.  When we returned home, things were good.  The garden survived, the pets were happy to see us.  But then this week, our cat Chickpea started going downhill.  He had been losing weight over the past several months and his stomach had been looking distended.  We decided on Thursday that it was time and so our wonderful vet came to the house and put Chickpea to sleep as he laid beside me on the floor.  Then we hacked back the weeds in the pet cemetery under the hot August sun, tried to remember what pet was buried where, and then my husband started to dig, hoping that it would only be chicken bones if he did find something.  We were in luck (no bones at all).  The little babe found a pretty piece of cloth to put in with Chickpea.  I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that the cat drove me crazy.  I cursed him almost every day for the past couple of years.  He was slightly neurotic and had bad bathroom habits - he would not pee in the litterbox, but on a pee pad beside it and then sometimes didn't hit that - but he was a friendly cat who kept to himself with the exception that he would greet me in the bathroom if I got up in the middle of the night.  Without fail, there would be Chickpea purring and seeking a couple minutes of love.

So now we are a "normal" household with only one cat, though we do still have the four dogs, one indoor very fluffy rabbit, chickens, and one horse.  It is strange to only have one cat and I think he is a bit glum and out of sorts now.  The rabbit would be friends with him, but he is afraid of her I think and runs as quickly past as possible.  

On another animal related note, we have been viewing a Sandhill Crane in a marshy cornfield on our way to the barn.  I also think there is a Glossy Ibis, though I am not so certain about this.  The crane is definitely recognizable with the red on its head.  If you are unfamiliar with them, check out this link.  

During vacation, I finished the knitting project that has been on my needles for over two months (a long time for me).  It is the Alanis Sweater by Elizabeth Smith.  I used DK weight yarn (Quince & Co Chickadee) instead of worsted so that it is more 3 season friendly.  It was not my favorite knit; I just couldn't get in a groove with it.  I wanted it done, because it is a practical addition to my wardrobe, but I think the lighter weight yarn just felt like it was too slow going for me.  The neckline is not perfect and it is different from the pattern.  I had a difficult time with the short rows and couldn't get it to look right, so I went my own way.  It works.

I now have nothing on the needles, no yarn in my stash that is calling my name.  We'll see where the knitting spirit leads me!  In the meantime, the garden is keeping me busy and I have a painting project - there is always something to do.