Day by Day....gentle living

Dearest Readers,

Today was just beautiful as temperatures hovered in the 60's.  I threw open the front and back doors as well as a window upstairs.  Laundry churned quietly while I tidied up our dear old home. 

I took time to look through my cookbooks and finalized my list for Thanksgiving.  I am going to can some delightful Cranberry Apple Relish.  I made this recipe last year (Ball Blue Book) and it was so good that once is not enough!  I plan to make enough relish to last throughout the year.  I also will make some smaller jars (1/2 pints) for my Darling Girl.  We stand alone in our love for anything "cranberry".  Our motto...."That's okay, it just leaves more for us!" is spoken loudly as the men in this house turn their noses up at the tasty red fruit.

We will actually have two Thanksgivings, one with extended family and one just for our little family.  Our Darling Girl will work Thanksgiving in order to have Christmas Day off, so we will have a second dinner on Friday.  I found a darling napkin ring craft that I need to make.  I will post pictures and the link as soon as I finish. 

The latter part of the day was spent folding laundry and cooking dinner.  We have fires in both stoves now, as a cold front is supposed to bring our temperatures down into the 30's by tomorrow. 

Well, Dear Friends thank you for stopping by here at Honey Hill Farm....we are always glad for your company!

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Blessed in My Nest.....

Dearest Readers,

Oh my, but the wind has howled this afternoon.  We live along the foothills here in Colorado and we specialize in WIND! Last night the gusts reached 60mph here on Honey Hill Farm.  I am thankful that our old house is a sturdy one and that everything is battened down.  (Last year we had gusts as high as 80mph...now that IS windy!!) A blustery day to be sure but I believe that it will bring a cold front and some long-awaited snow...

Dearest and I moved at a slow pace today, just tending to the little things.  I tidied up the parlour and dining room, put laundry away and just puttered.  Dearest had a delightful call from an old friend and he went into town to meet him for a visit.

I have been busy in the sewing room making scrub tops for our Darling Girl.  She works in Pediatric Oncology (childhood cancer) at our local Children's Hospital and likes to wear scrubs that entertain the children.  There are so many adorable prints these days that we have had a grand time.  She is such a blessing to these children and has such a dear heart for them, it has been a pleasure to help in some small way.

We are headed out to a local eatery for an impromptu supper celebration in just a little while! Our Darling Boy  just received word that he was accepted into the Master's program at the local University(where our youngest Darling is a freshmen).....now the two brothers will be together again....look out world!

I am truly blessed in my nest!  I hope your blessings are many dear friends....

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Making Things Cozy.....

Dearest Readers,

I have missed you so very much over these past days.  Please forgive my lack of posting....there is much work here at Honey Hill Farm.  We have begun the gentle task of making our dear home and farm snug in anticipation of the coming colder weather.

Garden tools have been cleaned and put away after a day spent re-organizing the garden shed.  We continue to add fallen leaves to our compost pile and look forward to the "brown gold" that will be forthcoming.

I like to go from room to room in the house and make sure each room is in the best possible shape before the first flakes fall.  First, all the curtains are washed and re-hung or, if they are summer-weight, they are carefully tucked away and the heavier curtains are brought out.  While the wash is churning, each window is cleaned and then caulked and painted (if need be).  Second, closets are straightened, with any outgrown clothing given to charity.  Next, it is time to dress the beds in flannel sheets and warm coverlets. Afterwards, a thorough dusting and vacuuming render the rooms sparkling clean.  Any painting, carpet cleaning or re-organization is completed and the house feels orderly and ready for a long winter.  

Dearest and I also take the time to inspect the outside of our 100 year-old home and make sure that it is up to the challenge of howling winds and blowing snow.  We have several outbuildings that need to be snuggled up for winter as well.  All in all, this can take several weeks of work, but it makes for a lovely winter as we watch the snow swirl about while we are cozy inside!

Now don't let all this talk of swirling snow and howling winds fool you, dear reader, as it has been quite warm here lately.  I soooo want to curl up in a nice warm sweater with a hot Pumpkin Spice Tea before a roaring fire...but alas, we are still wearing short sleeves and drinking iced tea next to the grill.  But now that it is October, we can pretty much count on snow by the end of the month! 

I still want to purchase long underwear and a burgundy turtleneck in order to round out my winter wardrobe.  I also hope to finish a skirt and a few jumpers, as well as a fleece vest and a new robe.  I have everything stacked in a neat pile in my sewing room...reminding me to get busy! 

So, with that in mind, I am off to do a little hand sewing......

Yours kindredly,

Shan

The photo was taken in my kitchen...my little towel rack...and a few cherished towels.

A Day In My Life.....

Dearest Readers,

As promised.......a glimpse of an ordinary day in my life here at Honey Hill Farm.......

No alarm here on the farm, just the gentle waking as the sun peeks in through the lace curtains. Down the stairs to the kitchen where I started the coffee, adding a pinch of cinnamon to make it special. 

It was cool and a bit breezy so I dressed in my favorite black long skirt, black turtleneck and a pretty dark rose Victorian sweater.  I added an old-fashioned black onyx and gold filigree bar pin to finish the look.  I left my hair long but pulled it up at the crown with large hair combs. 

Dearest and I went out for breakfast as we always do on Friday morning.  Then it was off to the Post Office to mail some bills and to the Bank to make a deposit. 

The Bank was having a Bake Sale to raise money for one of their employees who is battling cancer so we bought a lovely loaf of Blueberry Bread to have later in the day with a steaming cup of tea. (We will offer up a prayer for this courageous young man.)

On the way back home, we remarked on the price of gasoline, $3.09/gallon for regular unleaded!  We reminded ourselves, once again, that we have been so blessed to have sold our transportation company last year!  These prices would have surely put us out of business.

Back at Honey Hill Farm, I tidied up the kitchen, putting things into their rightful places....ahhhh..... On to the ironing, nothing much, just a few napkins for everyday use. The house was pretty tidy, so just a load or two of laundry called my name.

I spent the dearest part of the day studying my owner's manual for the digital camera that we bought in September.  I haven't tried out any of the settings really, and wanted to experiment with all the "bells and whistles".  I am NOT good with anything mechanical, so this was worth a giggle or two! 

Dearest made sure to have a nice fire going in the front parlour stove for me, as I am always cold......unless it is summer, then I am too hot!! (I have a 2 degree comfort range from 70-72F - LOL). At this point in the day, Dearest would like you to know that I almost put him in a coma as I tossed him things to add to the recycle bin.....oooopppps!

By 3:00pm it was time for Dearest to head to the soccer field (football for you Aussies) where he works as a referee.  He loves soccer and has been a referee for about 12 years now.  This season should pay just enough for him to purchase some long-sought-after woodworking tools.  I sent him on his way with a thermos of coffee and a large slice of the Blueberry Bread....brrrrr, it is quite cold!

The youngest and oldest Darlings are home by this time of day, so a snack is in order.  Our oldest opted for the Blueberry Bread, while the youngest thought some popcorn sounded fine.

An easy supper of leftovers tonight instead of tomorrow (as planned) fit the bill as we have plans with friends for supper tomorrow night....easy peasy lemon squeezy! Our Darling Girl always gives us a call each evening to let us know about her day while she is away at College. So now, with everyone now tucked in safely, it's a warm fire, cozy robe and slippers and an episode or two from our DVD of "Christy". 

Finally, thankful prayers for this gracious day are offered, followed by quiet slumber as we snuggle under our quilts. And that, my dearest friends, is a day in my life here at Honey Hill Farm......just a gentle, lovely day.

Kindredly,

Shan

Pictures:  Doll made by my dear Mother, wearing our Darling Girl's baby clothes. Baby bottle with goat nipple and some precious dishes make a charming display here at Honey Hill Farm.

Front Parlour stove, blazing away thanks to Dearest!