Welcome Jack!

This is Jack, our new little boy, Hubert and Jack like to play!
Jack thinks that Zeke's bowl is a good place to take a nap!
There they are, all 3 boys waiting to come inside!
Baby Jack! We are so happy to have him as part of our family!
Look at that little face! He has a HUGE personality, nick names, pixie dust, little man, happy Jack and hoodini! Welcome little Jack, I Love you!!!!!

Until we Meet Again Ruby,

My Precious Ruby has joined my Molly at the Rainbow Bridge, She charmed us for 8 short years and we will never forget her sweet, demonic, loving way! Ruby was so full of life and enjoyed every minute she had.
How is it that she has left so soon? Ruby had to go, was Molly needing her companionship more than I? Was their a plan I am not aware of? I miss here sweetness, she died June 14, 2011

11 months after My Molly, It has taken me this long to sit and face my blog to her, and words are escaping me, I can not express how sad I am without her.

Ruby, you fought a good fight, you tried to hang on to stay with me, I know you had to go, I am happy that you are no longer in pain, you are whole and healthy, running with Molly and from that I am given peace.

You will never be forgotten, the whole in my heart can never be filled. But knowing you like I do, I know you are not far away. You are in my heart and soul, I will carry you with me always.
Your sweet little paw print is ingrained in me. I will see you again, both you and Molly. Wait for me. Be happy, I love you always. Sweet Dreams my peanut.....

Chicken Eater, and More!

This sweet looking creature, is sweet and not so sweet! He has chewed my husbands slipper, 2 pair of my shoes, Ruby's toys, my cell phone, which we all know a girl can't be without, and he killed one of my chickens! Now in Zeke's defense, I do not believe the death of my chicken was a malicious act, Zeke is playful and well, he was a tad bit to playful with my Ethel.

I was close enough to my upgrade eligibility that I was able to get a new phone! A cool new android that does so much more than just let me yak on it! So that worked out to my benefit!

Zeke, thinks he's a lap dog, all 60 pounds of him, he snores and passing hellacious gas, and has the most expressive face!

I have 4 new baby chicks now, Zeke is curious about them as well as my demonic Ruby, so the new little egg machines are tucked in our bathroom, caged and under constant watch.

So for now all is well.

Is this a chicken egg?

Check out this egg, the one in the middle, it is from one of my chickens! It was so big, it did not fit into the egg container! It only had 1 yolk which I was very surprised! I do have eggs for sale if anyone is interested!

Baby, Its cold outside!

Hello Mother Earth, we live in the South! What is this white stuff? Southern Chickens do not like SNOW!
Trees covered with this ice cold blanket of white.
Trees, so heavy with snow, their branches cannot help but droop.
My Edith says, Mom, no more eggs until my toes thaw!
Even Mr. Tree is not happy with his face covered in snow!

Even though Mark and I really dislike the cold, snowy, wet weather, there is something inviting about the stillness of the world when it snows. Its as if there is a pause, when Mother Earth takes a deep breath, and relaxes. For just a brief time, all is quiet, and there is this beauty before the snow plows come and people start to emerge from their homes to play in the fluffy chill. Then all returns, until the next time.

And Winter Begins...

Saturday December 4th, we had our first snow fall. For some reason, this made me excited, like a child, the day before Christmas! I usually do not like snow, well, I think its pretty, I like the stillness and quiet of the snow falling, the beauty of the blanket of white on the trees, but how black the snow gets on the side of the road, the wind that rips through you like a knife, and the awful cold that makes me shiver just to look out the window, that is what I hate about snow.
Ernie and Ruby also prefer to stay inside during snowy days too! Cuddled up together to stay warm. Molly, my precious golden loved the snow, and enjoyed playing outside. These two not so much!
This is the hustle and bustle in my kitchen just moments before we all sit down to dinner! Thanksgiving, everyone helps, thankfully my kitchen is big enough for more than 1 cook at a time! Adam, my chef son, is such a help on these busy days!
Back to the snow story, Mark and I went out to our local Lowes (where we always get our tree) during this winter moment in the south! The snow flakes were huge and it was nice to pick out our tree for once not wearing shorts! We had warm clothes on and of course I was FREEZING!
The finished products!

A weekend inside, and the house and trees are decorated, we are ready to start the holiday season! This year, I am looking forward to this time of year, maybe because we are not doing a ton of shopping this year so there is less busyness and more time to just enjoy the days.

The Man Cave

This is our bonus room, when we had the house built, we had the builder leave the bonus room unfinished. It had only the studs.
My Husband Mark, built the entire room! Including the bar, poker table, bar back, and the shelves below the TV to house all the stuff a man cave needs!
We have beer on tap at all times, and plent of liquor!
Needless to say, the boys and their friends have taken over that room to play pool, darts, and video games on the big screen!
So we are party central, and enjoy having people over to hang out! I love this room, because I do not have to clean it! Come on over and sit a spell!

August Garden

Re-blooming!
I have a new niece, so I knit!
This is what I see out my bathroom window! The Morning Glories grew all by themselves and have covered a huge iron piece, now you cannot see it! The flowers are glorious in the morning, hence the name, Morning Glory!
Black-eyed Susans, are so happy and bright! I love them and have lots of them!
I guess I like Yellow, because I have lots of yellow flowers around!

It is still so hot that you sweat almost as soon as you step outside the cool air conditioning!

The evenings are starting to get a little cooler, high 60's low 70's instead of 80, which means summer is starting to give way to a change. Seasons change, and with everyone, there is something to look forward to. Summer however, with its lazy days, & bug filled nights, is so hard to let go of. The boys are back in school, a schedule is starting to form with the comings and goings of them and all their friends. Weeknights are quieter at the dilo household. Everyone seems to settle down a little earlier.

I am starting to think about soups and stews. I am a new vegetarian, about a month or so now. It wasn't something I decided, I didn't wake up one morning and say, hmm, I think I'll be a vegetarian, it just sort of happened. So the soups and stews will be new this year, I will have to plan and even study new recipes so I can make feasts that are meat free, but tasty and "normal" enough for the 2 man childs and Husband to eat. Any Ideas will certainly be welcomed!

Wish me Luck!

A Day on the Lake

Ruby, my sweet little demonic dog loved the water!
Ernie and Ruby, they are suppose to be the same breed. Not sure what happened there, but oh how wonderful they both are!
Ernie, our sweet problem child
Ruby, always ready for an adventure!
Mother Nature gifted me with a site so awesome I could have watched this eagle all day, but he had other ideas and flew the coop!

Mark and I spent the day on a lake in Virginia with some friends, we docked the boat and hung out on a little island, ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, doritios, and trail mix! Watched our dogs play and saw some really LARGE birds!

With the boys older and doing their own things, we seem to be left to amuse ourselves these days, good thing we still like each other!

What I have been up to

Molly died 3 weeks ago today, life is different without the pitter patter of her nails on the hardwoods. I believe she is with me, I have had visits from wildlife I have never seen in our garden. I feel as if it is Molly sending me things she knows will make me smile! A tree frog on our window!
Friends from very far away came to pay me a visit! Debbie and Rachel from NY, Sue and Millie from Australia! Thank you Ladies you brightened my weekend!
I made this delicious potato leek pizza from a new cookbook! Pioneer Woman Cooks! Buy it of visit her blog www.pioneerwoman.com! Most excellent!
Another sweet creature was in our backyard! Ernie thought it was a moving rock, I rescued him from Ernie's curiosity and then let him free in a safer area! Molly knew I wanted a turtle!
This is one of my last moments with Molly before she went to the rainbow bridge.

Each day I heal a little more, each day I try to find something sweet to make me smile, each day mother nature (and Molly) give me some sort of happiness.