a break in the weather!

Happy Wednesday, and yay, a break in the heat, humidity, and endless string of rainless days!

We've had sunrises that are lovely,

beautiful sunsets that signaled an end to a scorching day,

and thankful twilight time...when there was finally some relief from the heat.

During the days we've seen the change of seasons
around us...

field corn is just about dry,

neighbors are harvesting,

and friends have stacked firewood.

Kittens are growing (and always hungry!)

and every outing means a visit to say "hi" to friendly cows who can be found grazing happily at a nearby farm.

A quick trip to town last night and I spied the prettiest silhouettes of a windmill,

and barn.

And on the way home, the skies became dark & cloudy, and finally we received much-needed rain!

Next time I'll share photos of the living history farm we visited (had a little trouble uploading photos this morning) and a new picture of Bailey.

Yes, she has the all-clear and is heartworm free! While they'll retest in a few months, for now all looks good and she's LOVING her freedom to run, jump, and play again! 

It's been a long 4 months of "house arrest" as we called it, and while lounging around in a darkened room watching relaxing, anti-anxiety videos for dogs (so glad there even is such a thing) was nice I'm sure, I know she's so happy to be back to her regular routine.

Thanks so much to all of you who sent her good wishes and asked how she was doing...it means a lot.

Enjoy the day friends, I'm off to continue to deep clean the basement (doesn't that sound FUN?)

a note to say hi!

As I write, it's 87 degrees at 5 pm...too hot for me, and too hot for mid September! We've been teased with a few cooler days and nights, but Mother Nature always bounces back to that summertime heat. 

I am ready for it to be over! Ready for cozy sweatshirts and bonfires, crackling fires and bowls of chili, chocolaty cocoa and quilts. Secretly wishing for a long, brisk autumn and a cold, snowy winter that lasts until March!

Today I'm sharing a few snapshots of what the typical days have been like lately...the little happenings in my corner of the world and the days as I see them.

beautiful sunsets,

that brought forecasts of upper 30's overnight...

never, ever have I covered veggies in the garden! 

but I couldn't let the huge, volunteer pumpkins 

and watermelons freeze, 

or the Swiss Chard (I gave up on lettuce a couple of years ago, so tired of it bolting before I could get to it. While lots of people cook Swiss Chard, for me, it's the perfect lettuce replacement. It grows 2 feet tall and never bolts.

flowers are cheery alongside the coop,

and the kittens are growing!

this is TOO hot, 

and of course, it falls on canning day!

I bought this a couple of years ago, I just didn't want my 1950 Hotpoint stove cooking all day long...didn't think it would be good for her. I can't say enough, it's a great little canner. Then out came the pressure canner...why yes, the kitchen did look like a cyclone came blowing through.

pizza sauce, pasta sauce, tomato juice, salsa...first wave.

harvest happening all around

I tagged along as my daughter went to a concert a bit north of us, afterward, we spent the night at an Airbnb...pizza, episdoes of Dr. Who, and face masks, all with our feet up...a fun girls overnight getaway! Before coming home, we visited a living history farm, LOVED it, could move right into any of the buildings, I found lots of inspiration for decorating this old house,

and for trying new skills on my wish list

I'll give you a little tour next post, just in case there are a few kindred spirits out there...old-fashioned souls like me. 

The farm had terrific ideas for me to bring home...buildings were filled with antiques, a wool spinner who was kind enough to let me take a turn at her great wheel (huzzah!), heritage sheep, happy hens, flower gardens, and such wonderful history. 

Well, that's it for now...I try to keep Sunday a quiet day, so I'm going to make a few brownies and start a new book. 

Bailey has her heartworm check-up tomorrow morning...wish us luck. She looks good, seems to feel really good, and I can tell she's anxious to get outside again to run, jump, and play! 

She gets lots of TLC, and I can highly recommend the stuffed pig from IKEA as the perfect snuggle toy!

(and my son’s toes peeking out from under the blanket - not Bailey’s 😂 thanks Robin - still laughing!)

Have a good week, friends.