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.

Molly Oct. 4, 1996-July 7, 2010

This is my precious Molly, for almost 14 years, she was my constant companion, quiet, gentle, and loving, always right there, close by but never, ever in my face. Molly was always just this gentle soul that was never anything but gracious. She begged for food, loved treats, walked with her leash in her mouth, was sweet with all creatures, and never did anything wrong. I loved her with all that I am. Molly loved the snow, and the beach, she was the biggest couch potato, and loved me with her whole being. I hurt more than any words can express, her passing was, very beautiful, if you can call it that. She left this world with help from a very gentle vet, who treated her with the most respect. My Molly will always be in my heart, and I know where ever she may be, she is no longer in pain, no longer fighting for every breath she takes. Animals are to me, one of Mother Earth's or God's most precious gift to us. We, who love them are blessed everyday by sharing our lives and our homes with them. Molly, you will always be in my heart, I will never forget you. I will always love you. Sweet Dreams sweet girl. Goodbye

a little bit of sunshine

part of the front garden
Chickens!
Scarlet
Mabel
Harriet

Life marches on here at dilodaze. I helped out last week at our Doctor's office answering phones and making appointments. I, Renee DiLorenzo have a new appreciation for my own job! Yes it is "just" a deli job, BUT! oh my how I love my job. The everyday hustle, the food, the new ideas of what to do with food, specials, soups, customers, and yes most of my co-workers are people I would invite to dinner. I did say most mind you, not all! What job, professional, or otherwise doesn't have that one person you could do without? With that said, I will not waste anymore time on said person. So this morning I go off to work with a new appreciation of my very own job. I am a "foodie" no doubt about it!

Our new family members, "the girls" Scarlet, Harriet, Lilly, Mabel, Ethel, and my fav Edith are doing well and getting big! I love watching them scurrying around the back yard eating bugs, and weeds, and anything else they find. They follow each other around and remind me of a school of fish! Such sweet little creatures!

I'm knitting up a storm as usual, A baby sweater and matching hat, 2 bibs and now I am on to a pair of socks for one of my precious children.

So until next time, enjoy the sunshine and the music Mother nature provides for us, and smile!

And time marches on.

Hydrangeas from my garden, They are all planted in red clay, I do not fertilize them nor do I give them anything to change their colors. They choose their own.
This is the chicken coop my sweet hubby Mark built for me! We are naming it, THE PECKER PALACE! Soon we will have eggs for sale!
The inside of the pecker palace! The girls will love their new home!
My Son Mark and his Girlfriend Olivia, Young love is so sweet and intense!
My children, from left to right, Adam-Michael, Corey, Taryn, and Mark Jr.

So now it is June, hotter than hot and wonderful! The garden is doing well, I got my very first tomato today! So far the fencing I put around my little container garden is keeping those pesky deer from having a fresh salad. We will get the chickens today and I am looking forward to that new adventure! Thinking it won't be long before I will not be able to eat chicken though. Eggs on the other hand will be plentiful! Hopefully I will be selling eggs soon!

The kids are all doing well, Taryn came up for a visit from Florida and it was so fun to have them all together! They certainly have grown into funny, smart, happy little beings! Each on a journey of their own. I am proud to be their Mom.

So here we go, starting a new summer full of possibilities!