My Favorite Time of Year...

Dancing After Dark...

 

I went to see my girlfriend (and hairdresser), Wendi yesterday and went back to my sassy short hair. No muss. No fuss, and Handsome loves it short like this, so I'm good all around. When I got home, I headed straight to my studio to work on the frogs. I stopped shortly before dinner, and then went back to this project after we finished our after-dinner chores.

So, you know me. I don't just sit around most nights. I've been working on a new strawberry sachet. This one shall be an Autumn Strawberry, stitched in all the colors of the leaves outside. Even though we got all that snow for Halloween, there are still a lot of trees clinging to their fall finery, and I hadn't done a piece to celebrate those colors yet. I decided it was time.

That means, I'm frogging around during the day and needle dancing after dark. Just perfect if you ask me. I'll be doing more of this until the winners' frogs are ready to mail out, because I have canning projects waiting for me next week.

I hadn't said anything yet, but Handsome was originally planning to leave for Florida mid-November after my ten week post-op appointment with my surgeon. Instead, he said he doesn't want to be away from me for six months, so he's going to wait until after the first of January - just like last year. Four months apart is long enough for both of us, so I'm extra happy he'll be here with us through the holidays and our anniversary. He'll be playing with four different music organizations while he's there, and they wanted him for the whole season, but that would mean he's sitting on his hands when everyone shuts down for the rest of the month, and with holiday air travel being so erratic (and the fact that I loathe flying anymore), we wouldn't opt for either one of us to fly to the other. 

 

His change of plans means he'll be here to help me with all the lifting required for my canning projects now. I still have thirty to forty pounds of potatoes, some apples, mushrooms and all those frozen tomatoes to process. The tomatoes can hold off until later as they're already frozen, but the potatoes and apples can't wait. I still have to go to the mushroom farm to get those, so I'm good there until later, too.

 

Anyway, I'll be back to working on the frogs today. All the outlining is finished on the four I already have hooped, so I get to start the really fun part next...the sparkly bits. I'll share a photo update tomorrow.  Gosh it's already Friday, and I still have loads to do. Where does the time go? 

Oh, and speaking of time...Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour when you go to bed Saturday night! It's that time of year again, but just to be sure, I'll remind you again tomorrow. 

And So It Begins...

 

 

I awoke to the sound of birds flocking together in the woods behind the farmhouse yesterday, and watched them for quite a while as they chirped and foraged in our yard. Eventually, the flew off in a great ball of bird wings, and the woods became quiet again. I decided to take a short walk in our yard.

 

Every year in Wisconsin, we gauged the beginning of autumn by our annual Labor Day (Sunday) party at our previous home, Hawk Hill. In the beginning, it was our family and a few other friends. By the time we held our last party, prior to moving to Florida, we had about 250 people who would attend. Having company for the holiday was not an excuse not to attend. We just told people, "Bring them along!"

 

Each family would bring their own chairs and a dish to pass large enough for their own group. That way there usually wasn't a huge amount of leftovers, but whatever was left from the party was always packaged up and shared with the local Women's Shelter. They appreciated it, and we did, too.

 

Our parties were always headquartered in our 40' x 60' pole barn, and we had all kinds of tables set up inside. Handsome and one of our boys would get up early and head to the butcher shop in town where a mobile grill was waiting, along with a spit loaded with pork roasts supplied by our dear neighbor, Frank as payment for the land he leased from us every year. Once home, the guys would get the grill going (around 5 am), and by noon the meat was ready to come off the grill and head to our phalanx of Nesco roasters. Frequently, our old friend, Harry and our #1 Son would be in charge of slicing and shredding the roasts, and I think they loved the job as they got the first taste of Frank's world-class pork.

 

Another friend, who was one of my team instructors for Hunter Ed, was the son of a baker. He brought dozens of Sheboygan rolls (the best) as his contribution. Another friend brought the soda dispensers, and then the party would begin, as people parked, brought in their chairs and the delicious dishes to share.

 

Each year we had some form of entertainment, too. One year we hired a barbershop quartet, another we had karaoke, or the guys would bring instruments and set up to play live music. Our younger son is also a drummer, so his band played one year with Handsome sitting in on a number or two. Always music.

 

We would shoot clay targets over our field late day in a friendly competition. We had a sand volleyball court behind the tree line near our pole barn, where our boys and all their friends would play for hours. We even had a horseshoe area that Frank would set up so the adults could have their own competition. When the party ended, our kids and their friends (teenagers by then) would head up to our high ground woods, set up tents and camp overnight. 

Then, the next day, we fed a bunch of hungry campers who would help us with cleanup in the barn and store all our summer furniture away for the winter. The party always signaled the end of the warm weather as we prepared for the cold and white stuff to come.

 

Those were the days - and the things I contemplated as I walked around our yard yesterday. I admit I was a little misty-eyed thinking about it. Those parties over the course of seventeen years always foreshadowed the end of summer and beginning of fall. Some years were warm, and some years we wore "layers" to keep warm. Sometimes it was sunny, and sometimes we took shelter from the rain in our barn, but every year was filled with love, laughter, music and great memories. I reflected on these memories as I walked, with Claudette and Crystal mewing behind me.

 

It was cooler yesterday, so I was wearing comfortable sweats as I walked. The huge maple in our front yard is just beginning to turn, but this stately old girl is still mostly green. She's raised a litter of squirrels every year since we've been here, and likely for years before. They'll soon be preparing for winter, too, as they gather up their hickory nuts that have yet to fall. Like us, they're filling their stores for the inevitable winter ahead.

 

 

I checked on the garden, too. There are a lot of tomatoes that have yet to ripen and I'm hoping there's still enough warm weather for that. Just in case, I'll find some recipes for how to use green tomatoes, as I want nothing to go to waste.

 

The squash seeds I planted in July are now large plants with beautiful blossoms and tiny squash coming up. I have fennel, carrots, onions and some garlic that I hope to harvest yet this fall. There's still time, and they prefer cooler weather, so that's good.

 

In the meantime, I continue to heal. I tried to stitch for a bit yesterday, but quickly lost focus. I'll try again today. I also went to bed much earlier than you'd usually find me under the blankets. When Handsome checked on me at our usual bedtime, I was out cold. Still healing. (That accounts for the lateness of my post today.)

 

I guess today was a time to reminisce a bit. We've been blessed beyond measure in our forty two years together (thirty nine married), and it's fun for me to slow down to think about those years from time to time. I guess that's one of the up-sides of this recuperation. I'm forced to slow down, and I hope you've enjoyed reading about a little more of our life. 

 

I'm off to have a cup of decaf tea and perhaps attempt to stitch again. I do know that I'll be resting. That's Job #1 right now, and I'm getting really (almost too) good at it. See you tomorrow, dears.

 

After The Storm...

After The Storm

  

We had rain most of the past week, and after the rain rolled through on Thursday, this was our view from our porch. Do you see the double rainbow? It was beautiful - and HUGE!  That's a hickory tree in our front yard (to the left of the image). 

While there are lots of hickory nuts on the tree, this year the leaves turned all blotchy, and the nuts have yet to drop. The trees on our south tree line have been dropping nuts for weeks. Andy picked up ten five-gallon buckets in one day. That means, I'll get lots of shells for syrup if I need them. (I'm planning to make syrup this weekend!)

Sunset After The Storm

As the sun went down behind the woods, the western sky was equally glorious. Days and nights are cooler. Trees are changing color, and daylight is getting shorter. Such is Autumn in Wisconsin. I love this time of year. It's my favorite season.

The Colors of Autumn...

Brynwood Needleworks - The Colors of Autumn

I've been looking at images of quilts lately. Most of these happen to be photos taken by a friend of her home. I find myself drawn to the golden orange color in most of her quilts. (She changes out quilts from her vast collection for each season/holiday.) I think I need to make (at least) one in this color for the farmhouse.

I need to choose the pattern, and then pull fabrics from my copious fabric "collection" before I list more fabrics in my shop. 

What do you think? Are you as taken with this color as I am? Do you already have a fall quilt at your house? I'm suffering serious quilt envy here. I'm going to create something in this color soon...and definitely before next year!

September...

Brynwood Needleworks - September "Diary of A Country Woman"

 

We spent part of the day yesterday with Tag's "Uncle Mike" and Mrs. Mike, as they were visiting from Florida. The rest of the day was spent with a new specialist to address the issue of my continuing post-op pain (and its cause). There's hope on the near horizon.

I'm looking forward to a better September. Especially, because we're entering my very favorite time of year! Sweaters, campfires, and crisp autumn leaves. 

Farmhouse Renovation - Unplanned...

Brynwood Needleworks - Compass Barn Door (Before)

After working in the yard last Wednesday, we were unable to pull the old garage door down to cover the opening on the Compass Barn. Rats. We'd hoped to limp one more season with the old door, having just completed the porch project, but the door had other ideas.

I went online, did a search for "Garage Doors" in our area and picked one that was nearby. I made a call, and within an hour the owner was in our driveway, taking measurements and giving us a quote. We gave him the go-ahead, and the replacement installation was scheduled for Tuesday.

On Friday, he called to tell us that they cleared the current job earlier than planned, so they'd be here on Monday. He said they'd be here at 8:00 am, and the workmen drove in at 7:59.

Brynwood Needleworks - Compass Barn Door (Removal In Progress)

The guys got right to work removing the old door, which was ready to come down. The fiberglass model had long outlived its usefulness, but it did a good job keeping rain and snow out of the barn. 

Brynwood Needleworks - Compass Barn Door (Old Door Down)

The old door was down within minutes, and the guys set about framing up for the new door. They had taken down all the old tracks and hardware, so they made the new frame to close up the gaps in the original frame, and put up the new tracks.

Side note: If you look through to the opposite side wall of the barn, you can see daylight. When the owner made his initial visit, he asked us if we wanted an insulated door. This picture explains why we giggled, and declined, opting instead for a sturdy, uninsulated, metal door.

Brynwood Needleworks - Compass Barn Door (Bye Bye, Old Door)

They loaded up all the old door parts, and even hauled them away so we wouldn't have to worry about how to do that ourselves.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Compass Barn Door (After)

In a very short time, we had a brand new door installed in the opening for the Compass Barn, and it really looks great. Even better, it will keep the elements out of the barn, so our machines will be protected, and any visiting opossums will be toasty warm this winter.

I have to say that this company (Mid-West Overhead Doors in Fond du Lac, WI) is a true customer service oriented business. 1) Fast response on initial call, 2) Great pricing, 3) Great employees, 4) Great product. We'll highly recommend them to any and all who ask.

Brynwood Needleworks - Front Yard - Saturday

Brynwood Needleworks - Front Yard - Tuesday

You'll remember the photo I shared of our front yard on Saturday. When we woke up yesterday morning, this was the view outside our windows. Reports said we got about three inches of the white stuff. I admit, I laughed out loud.

I remember snowy Halloweens as a kid, but forgot how snow looked in October. By the end of the day, even with warmer temps, we still had snow on the ground.

Brynwood Needleworks - Honeysuckle (Saturday)

Brynwood Needleworks - Honeysuckle (Tuesday)

 

The honeysuckle blossom is under a snowy mantle, too. I think it's pretty either way, but I think I prefer it without the snow. 

 

Bella sees the specialist again today. She's getting around pretty well (even if we had to keep her on a leash because she badly wanted to run in the snow), but we want to make sure everything is healing right, and see how much longer we have to keep her from running. I'll keep you updated on her condition, but from our point of view, she's doing remarkably well.

 

If you've got snow, stay safe and warm. If you're in a warmer climate, please don't rub it in to those who aren't. (wink)

 

Sunday Scripture...

Image via Pinterest

 

Tuesdays With Tag - Yard Work...

Tag and Bella In The Leaf Pile

 Hi, Everybody!

The leaves are fallin' fast and furious at the farm. Mom wanted to rake for a while today, so Boo and I decided to help. Dogs are color blind, but Mom told us the leaves are really pretty this time of year. There's nothin' wrong with our sniffers, though, and we noticed all the good smells instead.

Our Front Yard At The Farm

Mom told us we aren't much help, 'cuz we love runnin' around while she's workin'. She just about gets a pile done, and we've gotta run right through it. She's mutterin' somethin' about "two steps forward, and one step back", whatever that's supposed to mean.

Anyway, I have a feelin' she's not gonna keep at it for very long. The wind is gettin' a little nip in it, and she doesn't have a fur coat like mine (or even Bella's!). She'll wimp out and head inside before I can even fetch a stick!

We're coming back tomorrow, too! It's Halloween, and you might need to see our costumes! So, you'll get to visit with us again. Don't forget! Trick or treat!!

 

 I'll see you again in seven tomorrow. 'til then...  

"Chase A Dream - Or A Squirrel".

 

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Tag and Bella - Fall At The Farmhouse

 

I've been busy cleaning my studio rooms (machine and fabric), as well as working outdoors to button things up for winter. Of course, there's still the rest of Autumn to enjoy, so I put together a little farmhouse vignette in the far corner of my kitchen garden.

I'm not going to completely pull out all the plants (and would never remove the perennials), so that there will be a place for the bees and mousies to sleep when the snow falls. Then, I saw these beautiful fall mums, and knew they had to come live with us. I'll move them to cold storage for winter, but the hay bales will stay in place until Spring.

 

The lighting was perfect to show off Bella's sleek coat and caramel-colored eyes, and Tag was happy to be in "his" light, too. I hope you like seeing a little bit of Fall at the farmhouse. It's like I'm in Heaven on earth, really. 

Fall Has Arrived At The Farm...

Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm Barns

It's my favorite time of year, and the farm is getting dressed in its autumn finery. I thought you might enjoy just a few images of the fall beautiful colors.

Farmhouse Front Yard

We have a magnificent, huge, old maple tree in our front yard. The squirrels (and we) love this tree. It's canopy rises taller than our rooftop. He's a majestic, old man. We love that we can see the gorgeous orange leaves from our bed in the morning.

The View From Our Front Porch

 

This was our view yesterday, right after the rainstorms passed. The sun was shining, and the clouds that carry the rains moved away to the east. 

 

The view is stunning from our vantage point, and the best part is that the trees will continue to change as Mother Nature paints this view in the most wonderful shades of orange, brown, and yellow. Every day brings a new view...each more beautiful than the last. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do.

Farmhouse Fall Day...

Farmhouse Fall Day

 

The leaves are falling, the squirrels are left to the rest of the hickory nuts in our yard, and our front porch is cleaned off, made ready for winter. I love that we live where we don't have to rake leaves. We can simply enjoy their color and the crunch under our feet when we walk through the yard. 

These days become cooler and shorter - even as the shadows grow longer. Winter is just around the corner, so we'll savor these days while we can. It's my favorite time of year in Wisconsin...glorious Fall.

Autumn Dress...

Brynwood Needleworks - Queen Anne's Late

  Queen Anne now wears her pretty, Autumn dress. All too soon, she'll slumber under a blanket of white; Resting, until she returns to dance again in her Summer finery.

Fall Is Coming To The Farm...

Brynwood Needleworks - Fall Is Coming

It won't be long before all the trees turn to glorious shades of brown, orange and red. Their Autumn  transformation has already begun.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fall Corn Crop

The corn in our field is waiting for rainless days to finish drying before it's harvested. Until then, it will continue to rest, sharing its golden color on the northern acreage of our property.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fall Dogs

The dogs love this cooler weather. Bella runs with reckless abandon, while Tag snuffles every inch of the farm. There are so many smells that are new to him here, and he doesn't want to miss a single one.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fall Dogs

Bella runs the property with such speed and skill that her feet barely touch the grass. Watching her is pure joy for me. She instinctively knows how to conserve her energy and cover the most ground. I'm constantly amazed by her athleticism.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fall Dogs

Tag will often do what herding dogs do...hunkering down in the grass to ambush her on her next pass. It's actually amazing to watch. It's the deeply inherent talents of each breed in action.

Here, they have the room to play and roam. They love the farm as much as we do. Fall isn't just my favorite time of year. None of us can get enough of the cooler, colorful days that come with this time of year in Wisconsin. We're savoring every minute.

Turning Leaves...

Brynwood Needleworks - Turning Leaves

Although the weather is still in the high 70s during the day, the temperatures are in the low to mid 60s at night. It's perfect sleeping weather with our bedroom window open, and the trees are turning toward Autumn in Wisconsin. 

 

I stopped to take photos of the maple leaves in our front yard, only to realize that they're falling onto beds of clover. Next time I go out, I'll be looking to see if I can find the elusive four-leaf variety, tucked in with our grass.

Brynwood Needleworks - Turning Leaves

This tall, slender maple is the only one in our yard that has begun to turn, but I know it won't be too long before the woods behind our property displays a riot of color. I'm looking forward to the sights and smells of Autumn. It's my favorite time of year.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hickory Nuts

 

Our hickory tree is nearly ready to share its bounty, too. Handsome purchased some 5-gallon buckets for me, so I can collect them this year. That's if I can beat the resident squirrels to them, of course.

Waiting For Fall...

Web Image

  Real estate photos today. I'm tired. I'm hot. I'm happy.  Tomorrow I play. I've earned it...in spades!