Walking

Today I took the dogs for a walk on the farmette. I was looking for a bit of fall color, because really everything has been looking a bit like the flower....brown. 

We found plenty of gold. 

Then, my Jack Russell found, "something", in the dirt that she just had to roll in.  I can only think that it was something....icky. 

We did find some Thistle going to seed, 

and some trees starting to turn, just a bit. 

We also found a butterfly still out and about.  Also, the bees were very busy.  They were loud, but very quick today, thus no photo. 

Finally  a bit of orange, which is my favorite fall color.  

Yellow, speckled leaves were everywhere......

a lot right here. 

Then, just a bit of red.  

The walk was complete when my Border Collie came up to me covered in what we like to call, "hitch hikers", or, "stick-tights".  

This will be the fourth time this week I have scraped them off of her.  

The joys of fall!  

I Brake For Fall

I brake for fall and for shiny buildings on the side of a country road. 

This afternoon marks the beginning of fall break for our school system. Though we start school at the end of July, (seriously), we take a week off during the first week of October. 

It is heaven.

 This chick is looking forward to a week with no alarm clock and some time with my camera. 

Wishing all of you a great weekend and week beyond.  

Thoughtful Thursday

Pretty hay all in a row.  

Linking up with.....

Brrrr........

And so it happened that last night the outside solid surfaces were chilled below the dew point of the surrounding air, thus resulting in frost. 

 Seriously, we had patchy frost on September 23rd. 

I am thinking this must be some kind of record for my area.  

This actually coincides with finding a totally black wooly worm this weekend.  The color black denotes bad winter weather.  A totally black wooly worm could mean I will be burning a lot of wood in the old stove. 

Oh dear......

Bees Galore

Yesterday was the most perfect first day of the fall season. Temps in the 70's, bright sunshine, and a light breeze. It felt like a good time to open up the hive and take a look. 

When I start taking the hive apart to check the frames, it always amazes me at how much the population has grown since the last time I checked in with them.  Bees were literally overflowing from the brood boxes. 

A positive sign, but bees were everywhere.  You can even see one flying right into my camera lens. 

At this stage I have 9 frames of honey, but they remain uncapped.  That means the honey still has some water content to it, and is not quite ready for consumption.  If I take out uncapped honey, it has the potential to ferment in jars.  Not good. 

And so, I closed up the hive.  But, the bees were not ready to say goodbye, as several stayed with me investigating my suit while I worked around the hive.  

All I can say is.....thank goodness for the bee suit.  

Shots From The Week

We are getting ready for our Football Homecoming Game tonight. A big deal here in our very tiny, small town. 

Was it yesterday that my son was a toddler and I followed him all around the house?  Now, I just drop him off on the side of a dirt road to hike out into the woods. 

My daughter, Toots, had her very own, "Marcia Brady", moment this week when she took a hit with a basketball during warm ups for a game.  She was wearing a pair of glasses and received some cuts to the face.  Naturally, this was the day before her debut in the Middle School Homecoming Court.  

Toots on the left, her dear friend on the right.  

Somehow, it didn't faze her in the least. 

Life is good!  

Crazy, but good! 

Thoughtful Thursday

A barn still making its statement by peeking out from behind some tall grass.  

Right Light, Right Time

"In the right light, 

at the right time,

everything is extraordinary." 

Aaron, Rose

film director 

Cow Days

Each year the third weekend in September marks the annual Cow Days festival here in Smalltownland. Originally started during the Great Depression, it continues to serve as a gathering spot for high school reunions, crafts, music and great food.

 In the beginning local merchants would give tickets for a chance on a cow to be given away during the festival. A big deal back in those days, and this raffle continues today with a calf being given away to a lucky winner. Our adventure typically begins by crossing the footbridge to get to the town square. My girl, pictured here, does not like crossing the footbridge. It does shake a bit! 

Vendors of all types converge on our local town square during this two day festival. 

The train ride has become a tradition and I have to tell you that the conductor drives at the craziest speed.  At the moment I took this picture traffic had not yet been blocked off for safety, but soon was. 

Many people come and just spend the day soaking up the music, food and fun. 

This local artist always attends with beautiful prints.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Annie, the fiberglass cow.  For fifty cents you can, "milk", her.  Each udder is a different source of liquid.  Kool-Aid, juice, soda, etc... 

This year we had many new food vendors and several Amish vendors.  One Amish lady sold delicious fried pies.  

A bit of heaven wrapped up in a plain paper towel.  

Mooooooooo......

Getting ready to celebrate this weekend with an historic Smalltownland Festival.  

Have a great weekend everyone!  

Thoughtful Thursday

Hidden, but not forgotten.  

Timeless Beauty

 She is like so many of her kind, but yet so different.  She rests on a hill with a majestic view of the surrounding countryside.  I see her each day as I drive into Smalltownland.  Depending on the season, she looks a bit different. 

Today she has her doors flung wide open to remove any moisture from the leaves that hang on her outstretched beams.  From my vantage point she always seems to taunt me.  Daring me to drive up the hillside to pay her a visit. 

With her doors open I ventured inside and was enveloped in a heady aroma of tobacco. 

As my eyes shifted upwards, I saw that no space of her timeless structure had been wasted. 

And so I left her in silence to do her seasonal duty. 

Already thinking that this is just the first of many visits to come. 

Joy in Small Things

Lately, it seems as though all I do is follow my children around from sporting event to sporting event. All of this happens after school, which can be a bit discouraging when you finally get home at around 9 o'clock in the evening. 

Yesterday found us in the big city in the early hours of the morning for a football game. To be honest, my attitude was a bit poor. I was tired and the only thing I could focus on was why in the world would there be a football game this early in the morning....and over an hour away from the farmette. 

This old bridge has nothing to do with this post. 

My attitude was soon adjusted when I visited the ladies room.  The toilet paper was chained, and padlocked, to the wall.  All I could think of was that I was so glad that I didn't live in a place where essentials had to be on lock down.  

No, my small town life is not perfect, but far from needing a padlock to keep it safe. 

A big amen for unlocked toilet paper.  

On the Treadmill

I feel as though I am on the treadmill of life. 

Has yet another week flown by already? 

Thoughtful Thursday

A partial wish, perhaps? 

Small Town Rounds

What happens when you have an extra day off AND it rains? 

. It's called the, "home improvement tri-fecta", I tell ya! Here is Secret Agent Man in his undercover best, because really....who would think he has a serious sort of job with this scruffy appearance? Before I snapped this pic he was gazing rather lovingly at the breaker box while talking on the phone with Southern Fried Momma's husband. Yes, receiving instructions on how to fix a bad breaker switch that controls an outlet.

 Before this the man had already repaired a gate in the barn AND the upstairs toilet. Nothing short of a holiday miracle, I say. In honor of his manly achievements I baked up some Small Town Rounds to pair with our spaghetti supper. Clipped from a magazine many years ago, this recipe never fails to please. 

Combine 2/3 cup of Parmesan cheese with 1/2 cup mayo, blend well. 

Mix in the following:  

1/4 tsp dried basil 

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp dried oregano

This will become rather paste-like in consistency.  You will need to spread 1 tsp of this mix onto canned biscuits that you have flattened out onto a baking sheet.  I know that using canned biscuits in The South is rather like committing a sin, but just work with me here. 

Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 11-13 minutes. 

Seriously good and even better paired with an Italian themed meal.  

Just don't tell Secret Agent Man that these have mayo on them.  He calls the stuff, "salve", and won't touch it.  

Please don't ask me why he calls it that. 

It's Time

My calendar tells me that the Fall Equinox doesn't arrive until the 22nd of this month, but as far as I am concerned Fall is here. Labor Day weekend always marks the true end of Summer for me. Even though Isaac is dropping a bit of rain here today and hampering my fall decorating, rest assured that the front porch of this old house will soon appear as such....possibly with more pumpkins from our field. 

I also can't wait until the trees in the pasture start to change color.  I have often thought how nice it would be to live at the beach on a permanent basis, but I truly know I would miss the change of seasons. 

What about you? 

Are you ready for Fall?