Right back on the job.

They passed their check ups with flying colors.
Bright eyes, clean ears, good teeth and sleek coats.
And a quick shot surely wasn't going to slow these 2 down.

Orion on the attic stairs.

Stella checking out the camera.

Renovation Update:

• 2 bedrooms finished
  
• bathroom finished
  
• office finished
  
• living room only needs two pieces of base board installed.
  
• attic master bedroom is now insulated, sheet-rocked, mud & primed. Ceiling painted. Wired and lighting installation 1/2 done.
  

Lots more painting upstairs. Flooring and trim to install upstairs.

Anywhere will do.

Quality Control crew. Everything needs to be just right and these two are always on top of it!
This photo was taken a few weeks ago. Stella & Orion are bigger and today they go for their vaccinations.

The perfect resting spot.

Early in the morning this bee just hanging out in a squash flower. It was like he had just woken and was washing and fix himself up for the day. Slowly getting going and in no rush.

Blackberry Custard Pie

I am forever looking for a recipe that uses up eggs. I only have 2 hens that lay now but that's still two eggs nearly everyday. This recipe came from EVERYDAY FOOD cookbook. Simple and quick and no water bath required.
Prep: 15 minutes Total: 1 hour Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS
• 3 Pears or Peaches, peeled, halved, cored, & sliced. Or berries.
• 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• cinnamon
• REAL maple syrup
• Confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; butter a 9-inch pie dish. Slice pears or peaches 1/4 inch thick lengthwise. Arrange slices, overlapping slightly, in dish. If using berries cover bottom of dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with maple syrup.

2. In a blender, process 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter, 1/3 cup each granulated sugar and all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 large eggs, 3/4 cup milk, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth.

3. Pour batter over fruit; bake until golden and firm to touch, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners' sugar.

Blackberry Pick'n

The ever-present "yard boss".

The blackberries are ripening nicely with the warm weather we've had.
I made a custard with some of the berries and froze some for use in smoothies.

Beach : Part 2

It was low tide at 5:40pm.

The gulls were very busy "clamming".

The water was warm and oh so relaxing.

Day Trip to Crane Beach : Ipswich Massachusetts

We arrived at the reserve at about 3:30 so it only cost $7.50 instead of $15 to enter.

There are mile of trails to hike.
The dunes were wonderful and only the sounds were of what looked to be swallows swooping overhead.
Yes, Bank Swallows; they dig into the side sand dunes to nest.
The trails lead in and out of wooded areas and eventually down to the ocean.

I spotted this fellow on the wire.
To our amazement he didn't fly...didn't flinch.

We guessed he was people watching.
(Birder pay-back?)

I'll leave you here and show you the beach tomorrow.

Got Corn?

It is hard for me to describe the excitement I get at the sight of a corn-field.
The farm daughter in me just can't resist stopping and trespassing into the rows of corn.
It is cool and shady in there. The smell is sweet and earthy all at once.

Childhood memories of my father and uncles cutting corn silage
to fill the silos for winter feed flood my mind.

Favorite little path.

This is where I enjoy a quick morning walk.
Our neighbor mows this path through his woods.

It's not too long and there are several paths to mix it up.
The birds flit about and chirp a morning welcome.

Neighbors walk their dogs here
and deer and turkeys have also visited.

I enjoy walking but really only when my feet are falling on soft earth.
I dislike paved roads, sidewalks and concrete malls.
I'll take the woods with it's bug any-day.

Guard Cats on the look out.

Well one of them anyway!

Purple Post

(Joe Pie Weed)
I was on a walk-about and saw bits of purple everywhere.

Eye-candy I caught at the local farm stand.

(Bee Balm)

If you look close there are bees buzzing about.

This hedge of Bee Balm makes its home at the edge of the parking lot at work.
It managed to sneak under the fence to our side.

Cone flower in the early morning light.

(Echinacia Purpurea)
Here with a daddy long-legs.

Ruby Tuesday : Happy Hound & Lovely Lilies

Wandering about Vermont

We happened upon this quaint public garden as we were passing through Grafton Vt.

A nice place to stop half way home from the Townsend Dam after going to the cousins party.
After fresh grilled corn on the cob, hamburgers and tons of salads the younger cousins had GIANT marshmallows. I have never seen them so large...the size of your fist.
Then we stopped at my mom's place and picked 2 quarts of her blueberries. Yummy!

I felt fine Saturday......where did the rest of the week go?

We went to a country wedding for our friend's daughter held on the lawn at their house. A marvelous party with wonderful food and the fun went all afternoon and late into the evening.
Sunday morning was quiet. After I mowed the lawn I had a hard time cooling off and my throat hurt. Monday morning just a sore throat and off to work I go. As the day progressed, ugh, headache and Congestion!!!!
The rest of the week I laid low. My head felt like it was in a huge clamp. I took medicine and slept. The cats thought it was great fun having someone home to nap with.


Last week was just a blur. Something good did come out of this: I realize I don't have to kill my self to get everything done all at once. Some things can wait and it's OK! Driving to work this Monday and even at work I had this feeling of peacefulness and calm.