Autumn in the Northwet

A story of an late afternoon, doing the animal chores and the adventure there within.

Man its wet... more than wet but I wouldn't know what to call it.

So we go out to do the animal chores..Jacket on..big ugly brown hat..yup. I go out with my clogs on..and come back in to get my Welly boots and put those on instead,,, then go back out to get the Alpaca's hay.
Look at the floor of the garage..think the next time we have a dry day I need to caulk the floor as the Garage door seal isn't working so well. Sigh ~~

So I trodge on to feed the alpaca's,,, drip goes between my eyes... my thoughts go rather like this.. DRIP... I didn't... DRIP.... remember to....DRIP ... re oil my.... Drip... fuee..fiff off the latest drop of water off my nose... my hat.. DRIP..... I sigh... again.. this time a bigger one.

Now the poor Alpaca's look like drown rats,,, do not think they liked me giggling at the way they looked but they got over it fast enough when I brought their hay and pellets out. Their shed.. thank goodness with the improvements I did over the summer, seems to be holding up. Get them put to bed and desided to take a look at the big main ditch.
(During this time,, DS is bringing in the horses from the main field.. even wet, they look less bedraggled than the Alpaca's do.)
and the big ditches are doing their job... So I slop back up the hill...I stop and stand there dumbly looking at the ground, while the water is rushing past my Wellies...... there is wayy..wayy.. too much water coming over the path. Have some french Drains around the house you see. Well anyway.. the Mole has been more than a bit of bother and blocked the last long run of the pipe up. Grumble.... grumble.. now to find something to unblock the rather impressive clay works this annoying little beastie has done. Well.. Da.. I think to myself.. I have a handy dandy cane... fast forward 10 minutes later, gone from just dripping to bloomin wet... I hear a satisfying.. slurp... and there goes that nasty little beasties clay works in a rush of rushing water...sounding a bit like a flushing toilet... LOL Hope the blighter drowns... as it sure isn't doing my leach field any favors either.

So I troudge onto the house Dripping all the way. Welcome to Autumn in the Northwet.. (Yes,, I know I miss placed the "S" ,, I think it floated down the hill) ..where the puddles have puddles and if you forget to oil your hat your head will get wet. :RollEyes

Makes me really wish for a nice big Barn, designed with a gimp in mind, with water and power, would make it so much easier and pleasant to do the chores.

Sorry no photos.. more like than not..the camera would of floated away.

Kitchen Hutch, Book and This and That

We were in bad need of more storage, for kitchen gadgets. Do not have a big house and the storage here is 1/2 what it was at the old place, even though the houses are the same size. Looked into possibly redoing the kitchen but decided that would cost way too much, even if we could do it ourselves. Have been eyeing this "Amish dry kitchen hutch" for awhile now and decided this would work just as well as a new kitchen, cost a whole lot less and it was on sale. Is nicely made American made Amish furniture and works just like I need it too. Now I have a place for my bread machine, food saver, handmade mixing bowls and my baking items. It also has a pull out butcher board, which will come in handy when I am cooking or putting up Veggies from the garden,as I normally do not have enough counter space to lay out the veggies to dry. Will also double as a writing desk when I do the bills.
For the first time since the accident I felt like I would be able to re arrange the living room...with a bit of help from the Men of the house of course. A good cleaning was an added bonus. I decided to move the TV hutch to the corner near the fireplace, moved DH old chair and so on. Can't tell you how nice it is to be able to finally, get at least part of our house, in order again.

DH hasn't had the time to add some short stories lately. He has been working long hours and little enough time for chores. Maybe as winter progresses...we can get him to write a story or two. But other than him being busy, he is doing well.

Everyone in the family loves to read.

Lately I decided to expand out to authors who's' I have never read before. My latest, is this really big Sci-Fi book from Peter Hamilton. Am about half way through and I have to say, this is really well written. Would recommend this one to anyone interested in Sci-Fi/Space sagas.

Bennington Potters in VT

I was in need of new mixing bowls,,along with a number of other things that have worn out..of course all at the same time.

But for today I would like to tell you about these mixing bowls.

Being tired of cheap quality chineses made products, that last maybe a year if you are lucky, I went in search for high Quality bowls made in the USA by folks that are born and live in this Country. I remembered Bennington Potters in VT from when we lived in NH. Of course, I remembered,, after.. I had spent hours on the internet not getting any where.

I really believe in supporting what craftsmen that are left in this country, that still make Quality products. Sure, you will pay a little more but the money is going to keep that craftmen/women going, keeps jobs in the USA and shows pride in what folks can make and design in America.

The top two pictures shows both the mixing bowls and the wooden spoon holder. I bought two sets of different types of mixing bowls, one big bowl and the holder. When you run your hands over the bowls you can tell that they are handmade... very well made in fact.

The Stamp of Pride as I call it, on the bottom of one of the big mixing bowls.

I also bought some Muffin pans. I have some metal ones made in China. :( ... Also have an allergy to metal now, for both those reasons I decided to replace them.

The Stoneware MP's are very high quality, just like the bowls.

It is very nice to have the option for buying goods in the USA that you know are safe to use and very high quality.

If you are interested in looking at Bennington Potters, please check out this link..

http://www.benningtonpotters.com/

Driving Miss Maggie~

Me, with a silly grin on my face.

Yesterday I rode Dyfra out bareback two times around the mini path DH made for me in the hay fields.

Today.. I decided to drive Miss Maggie. Something I haven't done in awhile. The new traces came in but they sadly, still aren't short enough but that is a story for another time.

Warming up around the house, walking, backing, bit of trotting and turning on a dime.

Asking Maggie to trot up.. note the fuzzy winter coat.

Heading to the front gate.

Only drove down to the neighbors driveway but that was a good start for this cart ride. If I had thought about it..should of given the camera to DS, so he could take better pictures of us trotting out. Ah well... maybe next time.

Sure was a beautiful day to be out.

When we arrived back home, unhitched Maggie,, had DS brush her down well and put her back in with the others. I decided to sit out and put some wax on my cart. Know I am healing a bit more now, because this is the most I have been able to do in one day. Another sign, is my shoulders and arms do not hurt nearly as much as they did before when I go for a cart drive. Whoo hoo!

Steeple Chasing ~

Here you can see DS playing with our newest family addition, Mia. She has almost doubled in size.

Steeple chasing kitten style.

Art Donation for the local Animal Shelter

"The Scholar", print came in yesterday. This is the one I am giving to the local animal shelter for their Annual Raffle/Auction. Brought it over to the shelter when it opened this morning. Am crossing my fingers on this one, that it will bring in a goodly amount of funs for the shelter.

The painting is of Nari, who we brought home from that same shelter.

If you are interested in going to this function or helping, check out... "Wizard of Paws"

http://www.columbiahumane.org/auction2008.html

Compassion, Courage and Friendship

This posting was for one boards I am on but I decided to post it here too, musings as it is.

While all this political up heavel was and is happening, tempers flaring, words being said, the hate and aggression, on a couple of Forums I am on and I am sure else where. ..........

This is what I was and am part of, am humbled by. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM8JOlLvx8M

I will not be part of the hate that is going on but I want .......
To help, to offer Compassion, Kindness and Hope, where there seems to be so little these days.

I am donating my Art to causes that need help, I have to buy my own Art to give. Including the one for Chances Miniature horse Rescue, it should bring more than it is. The lack of bids has me shamed, as it is the only piece not getting bids. The only place my Art has not helped.

I have been giving food to the shelters, to the local Elders and help when and where I can even though I physically find it hard. I will not let my inability to walk far or well stop me.
Donating funds for family Housing, for the familys with a loved one with Cancer. So they can be near their child, spouce, sister/brother or other family member during treatment.

My husband only has a contract job and we should be saving every penny but instead I am helping how and where I can.

So what are "You" doing that is positive? What hope and kindness have you done lately?

Want a good gift, showing hope, courage and kindness...
(I recieve no dividens for this book)

http://www.redbubble.com/store/compassion-publication