A Good Weekend

This past Saturday I turned 43.... 

No celebrations or parties~ just a nice quiet day at home, 

which for me is a perfect way to spend any day. 

I did splurge on a few things for myself..... 

Hubby took off from work on Friday so we could run some errands together 

and along the way I stopped at a neat little fabric/quilt shop that just opened in Knoxville. 

I bought some new fabric (*squeal*), some thread, and a couple of books. 

This place had such a wonderful selection of fabric that I could have bought lots more, 

but I was a good girl.... :)

I also bought a pair of appliqué scissors~ I've been wanting a pair of these for a while now. 

On Saturday morning, we had pecan waffles for breakfast.....

I spent the rest of the morning doing a little housework; 

once that was done, I sewed to my hearts content.

Lily likes to be lazy on Saturdays. Actually, she likes to be lazy every day.

On Saturday, football is the only thing on TV at our house....

It was a wonderful Birthday!

Storm update~ so far, we've just had lots of rain and strong wind from Hurricane Sandy, 

but the Smoky Mountains (which is less than an hour from us) has 2 feet of snow so far, 

with more to come.

Sending prayers for all those who were/are in Sandy's way.....

Fall Farm Randomness

 Not much excitement going on around here lately... which is really a good thing, I know; 

but it also means I don't have very much blog-worthy material to write about.

Fall has been beautiful here this year, and with the exception of some very warm days this week, 

our temperatures have been very cool and crisp- especially the mornings.

The shadows are lengthening.....

Don't worry- our house is not on fire.....

it's just the warmth of the morning sun burning a little frost off the roof.

And the warmer afternoon temperatures mean you will find the sheep enjoying the shade.

Although occasionally they wander outside to have their picture taken....

Our little garden spot produced a bounty of greens... 

I fixed what I could and put the rest in the freezer.

They are now too tall for us to eat, but we will cut them down and feed to the sheep and chickens.

We've already made a dent in our hay supply, and we still have a long way to go before spring.

My egg-laying girls have slowed down production due to the shorter daylight hours, 

so I've been letting them free-range most of the day to get in as much sun as they can. 

They seem to enjoy it tremendously, and I get a kick out of seeing them sneak under the fence 

of the sheep lot on covert bug-finding missions.

I just wish they would leave my flower beds alone.... *sigh*

I turn the Silkies out for recess every day to let them soak up the sunshine too...

That is Cecil in front of the coop... he doesn't like to wander far from home.

OOOOH~ fuzzy bottom alert!!!

*squeal*

It won't be long until the weather turns cold enough for our little honey bees to huddle up 

inside the hive and hibernate for the winter.... but for now they are still coming in and out, 

getting water at the birdbath and stopping off at any wildflower they can find.

I pray they have plenty of honey stored away to eat this winter....

Of course, in all the goings-on around here there is always time to find a nice sun puddle to nap in....

Happy Friday, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Suit

Friday Farm Fotos: A Fall Favorite

"Come, little leaves," said the Wind one day. 

"Come over the meadows with me and play;

Put on your dresses of red and gold, 

For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the Wind's loud call, 

Down they came fluttering, one and all;

Over the brown fields they danced and flew, 

Singing the sweet little song they knew.

"Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold, 

Mother will keep you from harm and cold;

Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade, 

Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

"Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long, 

Little brook, sing us your farewell song;

Say you're sorry to see us go; 

Ah! you will miss us, right well we know."

Dancing and whirling the little leaves went, 

Winter had called them, and they were content, 

Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds, 

The snow laid a soft mantle over their heads.

("Come, Little Leaves" by George Cooper)

Happy Friday, everyone.... it's nice to be back in Blogland!  :)