Seasons change...

 The weather has been quite nice, but I can feel winter coming. I want a jacket when I do animal chores, and often in the morning, the water hose is frozen.  I play a little game each year, trying not to turn on the furnace for heat until November 1st. I do light the woodstove, and that is usually enough, but there are always a few days that my fingers itch to turn the thermostat up and warm the chilly bones of this old house. 

Similarly, I balk at putting a quilt on the bed. We have a light bedspread that we use all year, and in the cold months, I add a warm quilt. Last night when we went to bed Chris complained about the cold. We had the window open a bit and I had to admit the air was chilly. I also knew that once he was in the bed for a few minutes things would warm right up. He's a toasty guy. I climbed in and he was rubbing his legs together like a giant cricket, trying to generate heat. He glommed onto me, muttering about how miserable he was. After a few minutes of listening to his pathetic complaints, I said "There's a quilt folded on the chair." I figured he wouldn't really want to get out of bed, but to my surprise, he hopped up gleefully. He nearly sprinted across the room and came back holding the quilt aloft like a prize. He carefully tucked it under my chin and spread it neatly across the thin bedspread. He got back into bed making happy sounds and was asleep in two minutes. Flirt was also pleased and burrowed under the blankets, tucking her spine into the curve of my waist. She stayed there all night, toasty warm. 

Despite a few hard frosts, a bunch of happy little Pansy plants have volunteered in one of our flower beds. They look like spring, even though the air feels firmly fallish. 

One of my customers walked her dog up the street before bringing him in for a grooming, and she took this lovely picture of the back of the house. The fall foliage will be gone soon, but there are still splashes of color to enjoy. 

The light was just right when she caught this picture. I love our home in every season, but most of all in the fall, I think. It is so cozy and welcoming as the weather turns chilly. 

Cooking this time of year takes on a special delight for me. In the summer I am all about enjoying meat on the grill, with grilled vegetables or a crisp salad. But in the fall I want hearty soups and stews, or a bubbling casserole. Today I am cooking up a big pot of 15 bean soup. I'll serve it with hot cornbread. It's been simmering away with a succulent ham bone for a while now and smells divine. 

Today I have time to myself. I've been happily puttering about, cleaning and organizing. A fire is crackling in the woodstove and I have to confess, I turned the furnace on two days early. I am going to go outside in the chilly rain and clean the animal houses. It will be so fine to come back inside this cozy abode feeling the warm air and smelling supper on the simmer. 

I am embracing the change of seasons, with all of its cold beauty. (This image from the internet.) 

Celebration time..!

 Readers of this blog probably remember that every year we host a big family Thanksgiving. When we realized that Rachel and Evans's baby was due to make an appearance in mid-November, we decided to change things up a bit. We decided to have a Fall Family Festival in October instead. To make things easier, I asked everyone to contribute to the meal, and boy did they! 

There were cakes and pies. 

Sourdough bread and deviled eggs with LOBSTER, of all things. Over the top delicious. 

Cheryl gave us a home-raised ham, and it was delicious. We made a huge pan of mashed potatoes and set up a "potato bar," with chili, chives, sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits. People could festoon their hot 'taters to their liking. It was very popular. We also had a big pot of baked beans, Brussel sprouts, green beans, carrots, tomato casserole, and more things I can't even remember. It was all quite tasty. The weather was nice enough that some people ate out at the picnic table, with a fire crackling nearby in the ring. 

We set up a big drink trough with wine, seltzer, beer, and soda. There was hot mulled apple cider and hot mulled wine, too, fragrant with fruit and spices. 

Deb came a day early to help us set up the dishes, platters, glasses, and service pieces, and prepare the food. There are a lot of moving parts to feeding a crowd... from laying in all the ingredients to prepare the food, to figuring out where to put everything for easy serving and dining. We start well in advance, chatting on the phone, making lists, and planning. Chris, Deb, and I make a good team pulling a party together. 

We took pictures of the "elder family" and the "younger generation." I was only a little horrified to fit into the elder group. 

Kurt, his wife cousin Chris, (holding Gabby, their new pup) brother-in-law John, sister Deb, Chris, me, and sister Donna. 

The new generation boasts Evans, Rachel and baby, Elyse and brand new husband Kevin, Aimee, Emily, Jeff, and in the front one little star and one little sunshine, (whose parents wisely prefer they not appear on social media.) 

While we were on a roll entertaining, we had a baby shower for Rachel and Evans the next day. 

A champagne and quiche brunch, with one spectacular cake, gifted by Evans's kind father. 

Rachel and Evans have given their baby the in-utero nickname "Groot," after the adorable tree character in the Guardian's of the Galaxy movies. Jerome paired with his cake artist friend to create this delicious and adorable treat for the shower. It delighted us. 

I wanted to gift guests with a little something and came up with the idea of letting each guest take home a bar of goat milk soap to remember the baby shower. Because, what goes with a shower? Soap!  A local friend/customer creates special soap and happily made me a variety of fall-scented bars, with a custom label, "1+1=3."  Deb, Aimee, and I decided to display the soaps in this vintage washtub, complete with "bubbles" and rubber duckies. It was cute, and I don't think a single guest left without grabbing a bar of soap (or two!) 

We cooked up lots of delicious quiches, baked brie, a bunch of appetizers, and let guests make champagne and juice drinks. 

The house was filled with friends, and they brought piles of generous, thoughtful gifts for the baby. 

We even got Rachel to sit down for a little bit! She has been so busy and working hard, it was nice to see her be still for a few moments. Opal pug approved and settled in for a nap. 

Aimee knit a tiny cap for the baby, and Opal modeled it. A beautiful quilt made by Rachel's Grandmama was sent all the way from Mississippi. 

Rachel is still wearing her pre-pregnancy jeans and looking beautiful. Here I am hugging my grandbaby. I'm already in love, can you tell? 

We have so very much to celebrate... family, fall, a new baby, and all the people who join us in our joy. Blessings all around! We are glad we took time to celebrate. 

"It's good to go away..."

Whenever we'd return from a vacation, as he turned up our long, wooded driveway, my dad would sigh deeply and quip, "It's good to go away, but good to come home again, too." 

As much as I loved my time in Maui, I am happy to be home. When it comes right down to it, this is my most favorite place to be. Much like my dad, I have great fun going away, but home is the place that makes me sigh with contentment. 

There is so much to love here. The foliage is at its peak, and there is beauty everywhere I look. 

A Great Blue Heron has been hanging out in our pasture for days, hunting. It's fun to watch as it stalks whatever it is hunting. Bugs? Mice? I don't know, but it must be finding something that makes it want to hang around. 

It's good to look out the window and see the goats. They seem to be enjoying the lovely weather. They were cuddling adorably today as they napped on Billy Goat Gruff Bridge. 

Since it's fall, I've been doing some seasonal cleaning. All the curtains have been taken down and washed, and the ace crew of window washers have been out to leave my windows sparkling.

While we were on vacation, I looked for a souvenir that would remind me of our time in paradise yet fit in with my funky vintage decor. I scored an antique bottle that delights me. 

It says, "Property of Maui Soda Works." I love the way the old glass bottles look when light streams through my freshly polished windows. 

I'm happy to be back at work, too. Today I groomed a string of extra cute dogs, including Pearl, one of my all-time favorites. She is a Kerry Blue Terrier, a breed I rarely get to work with. Her owners are delightful, too, the kind of people (and dog) that make me glad that I do what I do for a living. 

One thing I am not so thrilled about here at home is that in the fall, Deer Mice are looking for a place to stay for the cold months. They don't hibernate in winter or have the ability to store extra fat to see them over during the lean times, so they like to find a place that is warm and has a ready food source. Like my pantry. I think they are pretty cute, with their neat white feet and bellies and extra-large eyes, but NOT IN MY HOUSE. So I've declared war on them. I dislike using poison for many reasons, so employ snap traps. It is my hope that their last thought is happy, "Oooh, delicious peanut butter, my favorite snack!" an instant before they get sent to mouse heaven. 

In Maui, adorable little Geckos could be seen scampering about in the estate. MUCH cuter than mice. Maybe "away" is better after all. 

Wowie, Maui...

 Last spring sister Deb called and said, "I have NEWS!" You have to know something about Deb, she is endlessly kind. A teacher for 32 years, she also tutors children. One family she tutors for showed their appreciation for her work in an incredible way. They gifted her the use of their beautiful estate on Maui for a week this fall. And because my sister is so nice, she invited us to join her on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. 

We plotted, planned, and dreamed of Hawaii all summer. At some point during this time, my niece Elyse and her boyfriend decided it would be sweet to tie the knot in a tropical paradise, so planned a Maui wedding and joined in on the trip. They married overlooking an incredible vista of mountains and sea, and I only cried a little bit, remembering Elyse as a golden-haired toddler, not so long ago. 

The place we stayed far exceeded our expectations. A fabulous home nestled into the center of 4 flawlessly landscaped acres, it was wonderfully private. Guests could choose one of 4 bedrooms, each with a private bath. Two of the rooms were actually suites, with their own sitting area and kitchenette. An endless deck wrapped around the entire place, and an enormous koi pond with a bubbling fountain made for a lovely place to sit quietly and think peaceful thoughts. 

We picked oranges, lemons, and limes from the groves on the property. Absolutely the most delicious citrus I've ever eaten. There was a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, and tennis court to enjoy, and enjoy them we did. 

We drove a bit of the Road to Hana, and walked down to stunning Twin Falls, where Deb, Aimee, and I took a delightful swim. Cross that dream off my bucket list! 

We went to the beach as often as we could, my favorite was Baby Beach, where a small reef reduced the size of the surf, making it a grand place to frolic in the ocean. 

I wanted to see a sea turtle, and as we parked at Baby Beach for the first time a man said to me, "There's a turtle on the beach. It swam right past me and headed for the sand." I could hardly believe my luck. 

Sure enough... just past the pathway to reach the beach were some big rocks and an even bigger turtle. 

We saw it there on more than one occasion, sleeping peacefully in the sun. There were more turtles to be seen later, at a different spot. A whole "herd" of them warming themselves on the sand at dusk. 

Chris drove us to the top of Mount Haleakala, where we marveled at the amazing view spread before us. 

We had some memorable meals and lots of laughs. I relaxed deeply, and enjoyed time spent with family. 

Maui was marvelous.