ONE STEP FORWARD~

As night falls so does the temperature...

I have spent the majority of last week flat smack on the living room couch...I fear a permanent indent remains...This virus is one where "one step forward and two back" applies...only rising to let Winslow Homer in and out...dare I say the television kept me company...Oh the things I have learned...Snooki delivered a baby boy named Lorenzo who's father feared when his son nursed the breast milk  would be chocolate milk, due to the fact that Snooki consumed too much chocolate...backwoods mountain moonshiners have their own television show, as well as people who attempt to catch  catfish by wrestling them in the muddy water, you have Preppers readying themselves for doomsday, TAPS  investigating paranormal activity...Sister Wives allows us into the world of polygamy...I admit here and now I watched a few minutes of each...you can get sucked in if you're not careful...honestly, I shake my head and wonder who the audience is that watches these programs...Tomorrow... thank the good Lord I am back in the world of Elmo...but sadly... even Elmo now has issues...what has become of our world...it makes me feel very sad...lost is the innocence of childhood...So...   I have had few ventures out into the world since coming down with the flu...Mr. Dog Trot escorted me to Walmart yesterday (the chickens were in need of collard greens and kale) and Tractor Supply for a seed block...during the winter months it is not unusual for hens to slow or even stop their egg production,  my girls have continued to lay quite nicely... seven to eight eggs daily...I believe in TLC and reap it's rewards...So there you have it my week in words...and may I offer a bit of advice...get yourself a flock of chicken and unplug that TV...stay well friends...

COUCH POTATO~

Drink plenty of fluids and rest...

sound advice... but... there is a drawback to such advise, you see the more fluids you drink the more frequent the  bathroom trips...so much for uninterrupted rest...I fear bed sores from all this lying around...and please tell me what daytime television is all about? really...Honey Boo Boo... it leaves my dry mouth hanging wide open...all I can say is thank goodness for PBS...so... I have just stumbled upon a Diane Keaton movie...I love Diane Keaton...she always wears the prettiest clothes and is so put together...I love her quirky personality... oh ...sorry...you can see my chap stick residue on my glass of SPLASH...lately my fluid of choice...

my little Valentine rug...

and a gift...Buddy...my daytime reading...at night I fall asleep reading stories of Stillmeadow, the books of author Gladys Taber...

Please...tell me who does not love the Beekman Boys, Josh and Brent? and tales of their goat farm... I have so enjoyed reading through this cookbook , with it's many luscious photographs, it makes me want to become a better cook...I can hear Mr. Dog Trot laughing...someday I vow to get myself to Sharon Springs...

Finally...a written warning to my husband... never leave your sick wife home alone with the latest Pottery Barn catalog...dangerous...very dangerous...you've been warned!!!...

THE SOUNDS OF HOME~

As I lie in bed...

 the wind howls and the house shakes...upon waking at dawn I notice  the shadow of tree limbs dancing across my bedroom wall...Don Juan and Ramon... my two roosters... announce the new day...a reminder for me to get out of bed...but not this day...Mr. Dog Trot...God bless him... is on duty. While lying in bed it is interesting to note the familiar sounds of one's home which you routinely ignore and take for granted...I hear Winslow Homer snoring happily asleep in front of the wood stove...I stare at an ant walking across the bedroom floor...Sadie Mae flies up and down the stairs... I instantly realize she has been into the catnip...Mr. Dog Trot cracks freshly gathered eggs for his morning breakfast...  I hear a click...knowing he has remembered to turn off  the kitchen stove burner... sleigh bells hung on the backdoor will  jingle as Mr. Dog Trot goes about his day...I rest...nap...dream...I dream of a brick walkway...one of which leads from  the front door of the homestead to the stone wall...something I have envisioned for quite some time...perhaps this dream will come true...Mr. Dog Trot wants me well...due to the fact that me lying in bed day dreaming is just adding to "our" "to do" list...and costing him money...but I receive a bouquet of tulips and an "I hate when you get sick" anyway...Soon it will be time for football...time for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots...I will be put on the back burner...I don't mind, I can daydream some more...GO PATS... 

FEVER INDUCED MORNING RAMBLE~

This second week of January arrives with it's highs and lows...

Monday the thermometer reached sixty degrees...Wednesday,we here in Maine were once again  covered in downy white...Thursday the temperature dipped into the single digits...it is Winter in Maine...and with winter comes the dreaded cold and flu season...I  type this post from the confines of my warm cozy bed...the flu has found me...my body aches from the top of my head to the tips of my toes...If you are wondering...yes, I did receive the flu vaccine months ago and have been diligently washing my hands...but, I guess when your number's up...it's up...

Being confined to one's bed may be good for the body, but for the mind I am not so certain...my mind tends to wander "helter skelter"...to the forefront comes all the indoor household projects I would like to get accomplished...it's the mundane items on my list which make me toss and turn...a kitchen ceiling to be painted...carpets to be shampooed... I succumb to a low grade fever and my thoughts travel to what it might be like to live in a large metropolitan city...with a fast paced life filled with shopping and dinners out...or perhaps living on the West Coast... dipping my toes into the Pacific Ocean...where the weather remains warm and dreamy year round...to reside in a villa in Tuscany where sunflowers encompass the ancient stone homestead...or to sit in a Parisian cafe  enjoying an afternoon aperitif...As the Tylenol kicks in I return to my reality...I dream of  gardening...most especially my  flower gardens...and the arrival of new chicks...

the return of  happy Daisy faces...

and birdsong...

and butterflies...these are the things that make me the most happiest...

and this eight month old...three and a half toothed...twenty-one pound... knee rocking... bundle of joy...

oh how I want to get up and vacuum...but alas... must close my eyes...stay well my friends...

TILL NEXT TIME~

 I cannot  prolong it any longer... the time has come to say goodbye to my old friends...friends that I cherish...

yes..it is time to stow away those much loved Christmas bobbles and bangles...

some crafted by loving hands...others received as treasured gifts...

Byers Carolers are carefully wrapped and lovingly placed in their designated tote...hidden away for another year... 

bits of fir now to be replaced with potted herbs and miniature ferns... 

 

a new friend arrived...a surprise...a gift from a dear aunt...Webber Bear is a Boyd's Bear... who has traveled all the way from Alabama...it makes it a bit easier to put away old friends when you have a new friend to welcome into the home...especially one given by a loved one...a gift for Travis...but one that will remain at Granny's for the time being...Travis and I will enjoy Webber together...

on this damp winter day...where the fog comes on little cat feet...Sadie Mae...makes sure she has the best seat in the house...one that is as close to the wood stove as possible...

"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language."
~MARY BLY~

THE QUIET OF THE MORNING~

In the early morning...when dawn is breaking... all is quiet around the farmhouse...

soon the stillness will be broken...Winslow Homer who waits patiently for his morning walk...and Sadie Mae's request for breakfast will soon be heard... outside the temperature is rising...the sound of snow sliding off the roof awakens one from winter's slumber...tucked away in the backyard  the chicken coop awaits  my early morning visit...the gathering of 

eggs.. my hens are indulged...treats of kale...spinach...lettuce...a seed block...keep them happy and healthy...my reward... glorious eggs...no slacking off in this hen house...seven to eight eggs daily...enough for Mr. Dog Trot's Big breakfast...

and a cranberry banana bread...the kitchen smells heavenly as this bread bakes...it has become a favorite recipe...from Janet at Olde Crow Primitives...

while the bread bakes...I will devote ten minutes to hooking...

a simple primitive heart...as the day progresses I hope to clamp on my snowshoes and head out into the quiet of the woods... I am grateful for this day...just a quiet simple day...

TEN MINUTES IS DOABLE~

Without doubt it never seems to fail... when Mr. Dog Trot heads out of town on business our internet service  acts up...so why should last night be any different...I did as per instructed... unplugged the modem... waited the required ten seconds and plugged it back in...no go...what else is new...there are moments when I feel like scaling this darn computer out the window...instead I grabbed my book and crawled into bed early... 

This evening things have returned to normal (thank you Mr. Dog Trot) and I am soon to catch up with every one's blog.  Before I do so, I have to tell you my devoted TEN MINUTES to rug hooking appears to be working... my mat is now complete...the mat is not as vibrant in person as in the above photo, but does have the appearance of  a stain glass window...I am pleased with the results and am ready to tackle my next hooking project...I am finding TEN MINUTES is doable...

~FAVORITE PHOTO~

Do you have a favorite photo from 2012? Here are two of mine. I captured this photo one mild March morning while looking out my living room window. A small grey squirrel had settled himself quite nicely while enjoying the remainder of sunflower seeds left in the bottom of a bird feeder...

As I watched...the little fella drifted off into a mid-winter slumber...

What wonders of nature you can find right outside your window?  All you have to so is look...

JUST TEN MINUTES~

First goal of the New Year...become a "TEN MINUTE" rug hooker...

desired wool...shades of red and green...

design...a Christmas fir...a small mat...

first project...

doable...



WINTER'S CHILL

Winter in Maine...you either love it or hate it...this morning's temperature...five below zero...the key to outdoor happiness...dress in layers...take up a winter activity that puts you smack in the middle of mother nature and all her beauty...winter hiking...snowshoeing...Nordic skiing...ice fishing...ice skating...

but most importantly... have a sense of humor...I guarantee spring will return as will the black flies...Goodnight from Maine...

~A NEW BEGINNING~

A New Beginning...

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice

And to make an end is to make a new beginning.

~T.S. Eliot~

 

Happy New Year everyone...It's a blustery winter day here in Maine, the old north wind is blowing, the snow swirling...but there is no where else I would rather be. "I suppose I am a Sparrow, a stay-at-home bird." Gladys Taber.

Have a lovely afternoon, Julie.