in the twilight...

The sun is starting to head off for the day.  The beautiful autumn temps are creeping in.  I long to put on my hoodie lounging gown, but it is probably a bit premature for that.  Although I will admit to starting this beautiful day in a sweatshirt.  The time is coming!

By this time tomorrow Hubs will have been home for a bit, he'll have had his dinner and most likely be in his recliner - although I will try to convince him to enjoy the beautiful evening with me.  I've missed him. Yep, I still treasure silence and stillness, but I treasure our time together even more.  Although, I am glad that he was able to make the trip this weekend.  He misses his sister so much and she lives a good bit away from us, down in Alabama.  I always tell him to make a plan and just go, but we also know she is busy and getting a few days together is tough.  

Enter a birthday party.  His niece had a milestone birthday this year, it became the perfect excuse to head south. His visit was kept a secret.  I'm sure it was a wonderful surprise just the same.  It worked out great.  He got to see his sis and celebrate his niece.  I would have loved to have gone, but leaving Beau is far too complicated and nerve racking.  Finding hotels that allow two hefty pups is a nightmare, and only having a few days meant it was too much to drag the camper that far.  

Surprise! Happy Birthday!

He flew solo this weekend. Pups and I have been hanging out.  I'd love to say I was super productive with my solo time.  That I created all the quilts on my list and finished up all the other little things that have been lingering. I wasn't. 

Mom, we need to talk...

Truthfully, I simply rested.  I guess I needed it.  Friday and Saturday ended up being lazy. Lounging on the deck in the cool of the day, playing with pups, taking naps, and basically just being.  I mean I did do some random things and I even got dressed and ate real meals.  Talk about adulting! I have a bad habit of popping some pop corn and not wasting energy when left to my own devices.  

I am thankful that he had the time to go, I am thankful that they made time for each other.  Time is flying past, minutes should not be wasted. 

Tonight sitting out here smelling the remains of a fire, wondering if someone is roasting marshmallows, or simply gathering with the family for the evening.  I am a bit weary and a bit lonely.  While my pups have zero problems conveying their needs and desires, the are not the greatest conversationalists.  

pleading for treats

I spent the day with people - running errands and stopping at the quilt shop, taking the pups for a walk with our friends, chatting with mom, a couple times with Hubs, messaging with the kids, after a filled day the sudden stillness feels empty.  

Belle's approach is
so much softer

It doesn't help that I am tired.  I caught up on bunch of the planned things today, the dehydrator is full of chicken paws (Beau is very much aware), the freeze dryer trays are loaded with beef tongue, hearts and liver (yes they are spoiled). Laundry is done, house is tidy, errands are run.  I'm really ready to put my head on my pillow and count some sheep, but that has to wait.  Medicine times haven't passed yet.  So needless to say I am going to find a few more chores to keep me alert as I wait. 

The sun has set, I can barely see the keyboard, it's definitely time to call it a night.

Remember to make time for what truly matters.  Most of the things that surround us are distractions.  Things that steal away those precious moments.  Focus. 

much love, b

changes coming...

The sun hasn't quite cleared the trees here in the treetop garden.  I've been out off and on for hours.  It's beautiful as the temperatures start to drop, 52° is the perfect morning temperature for hot coffee and light sweatshirt and the sunrise. 

The pups and I have been enjoying the morning.  We had a buck come out of the trees to enjoy munching on some flowers and greenery, he brought two young does with him.  Watching them sit and enjoy the morning was so precious.  The birdbath was empty as I hadn't watered yet, so needless to say they didn't get the refreshing beverage they were hoping for.  I feel like a bit of failure, although I did not realize they were partaking of the water in the birdbath - heck I didn't know any creature paid attention to it.  It was here when we moved in and we just left it. It fills with the rain or when we water, but it's outside the fence line and we pretty much ignore it also. 

The sudden downturn in temperatures has caused both the sassafras and mulberry trees to start turning on their autumn colors. The bright red and the golden yellow are always the first sign of fall.  

I'm taking some time to enjoy the beauty, semi-planning my day and trying to not get dive bombed by our rambunctious hummingbird friends. The ruby-throated hummingbirds are back in town, which means they will all be leaving in a few weeks. I have definitely enjoyed my time with all of them this summer. 

Hubs isn't home today, so it's just me and the pups.  Truthfully, I don't engage much in keeping track of time these days, a Saturday could feel like a Wednesday for all I know.  And honestly I'm really okay with that. Telling time is truly a construct of man and the longer I don't follow along, the more useless it feels. 

I have a list of things I would like to do, I just don't know where to start.  I will probably load the freeze dryer with some of my precious herbs, I always wait too long to preserve them and then mourn the fact of would've/could've/didn't. The basil, rosemary and thyme are full and bushy, and with freeze drying it would be the same as using them fresh all winter.  I could also snip a branch or two of the lemon verbana and holy basil to use in teas.  

As I look around the garden I am realizing that I have quite a few jalapeno's, and we are a bit low on the pineapple cowboy candy.  Might pick up a pineapple and get some of that canned up.  The cooling temps are causing the tomatoes to finally ripen, the Marconi peppers are growing and getting big, and even the okra has decided it is happier with the mild temps.  

Somewhere on the list is a desire to try my hand at a non-toxic bug spray.  My beautiful citronella plants have gone crazy this year.  As I was researching it yesterday, I was stunned to find out you can also use it in baking and other cooking recipes.  I have to admit, I learned something new.

I also need to decide if I am going to run up to the store and get more chicken paws to dehydrate for the pups.  The collagen is so good for them, and they absolutely love them. Belle, Beau and Piper go nuts when that jar gets opened. 

Are they done yet Mom?  I can smell them

I'm finding it less and less enjoyable to go out and about, people seem to be changing. Compassion and empathy seem to be falling away. Or maybe it is me? It's not so bad when I go out with Hubs. I just don't feel good when I go out alone, it's so different. 

She has greater patience than brother...

I've also been doing more research on using my freeze dryer to further limit the stuff we buy premade and prepackaged.  I don't want chemicals in my food, I want real food.  I have a huge bag of beef bones that I picked up at the Pan-Asian Market.  I will probably throw those in the oven and roast them, and then make a big pot of beef broth.  After spending some time learning, I now know how to freeze dry that and then grind it into bullion.  

I mean soup season has arrived, I also have a new multi-grain bread recipe that I want to try out. I made a chicken mulligatawny soup for the first time the other day.  Hubs and I had been out for lunch and the restaurant had it on the menu, you know we had to try it, as neither of us had ever heard of it.  One thing led to another, and we will definitely be making it a staple of the soup rotation.  

I will probably spend a fair amount of the day up in my sewing studio, although I am tempted to haul it all out here in the sunshine.  I only have 3 more out of state quilts to piece before I start quilting all of them.  The next clue of my mystery quilt comes out tomorrow, so I need to get with it.  Remember I am easily distracted. 

I definitely don't understand anyone being bored.  Connecting back to the earth has been so healing for me. It fills my heart and spirit in ways I can't describe. Connecting back to life the way I feel it should be has been even more healing. Walking in the gardens, picking the beautiful zinnias that are starting to fade, enjoying watching the pups playing with the neighbor's pup through the fence.  Simply soaking up life. 

Who knows, I might just grab a book and sit out here in the sunshine and cool breeze all day, or my spinning wheel... or... yeah the list is fairly endless. For now, I'm going to enjoy my coffee, and watch my pups play.  

Being grateful for it all...

much love, b