Kitty Love

I've been so busy this year that I've neglected my Etsy shop as well as my reading and posts. Hubs went to England in June to visit family. I stayed home and had the central air repaired (cha-ching) and new cistern pump and pressure tank installed (cha-ching, cha-ching). Glad I didn't buy an airline ticket.

School started with me teaching a new class.......I have to study and brush up weekly now. I haven't gone to many auctions either :(

I had a great summer of gardening eating my last tomato on Thanksgiving. I had picked them green on Halloween before the first real frost. I have one onion left and loads of red potatoes and fingerlings left. AlThough,  the fingerlings are starting to sprout with most of them becoming my "seed" for next season's garden. I also planted garlic for the first time this fall.

I adopted a stray cat that has turned me into a crazy cat lady. I used to be allergic, but alas, this kitty has not triggered any episodes (and he sleeps by my head most nights. He is so laid back and loving.  The vet thinks he's 1-2 years old, Andy e may have to get a playmate soon. The dogs totally ignore him as much as he tries to play with them.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Tri-State Allergies!

When will it end? Soon I hope.

Today, I have called in sick due to my springtime allergies. I've made it every day this week with an intermittent bloody nose, sneezing attacks, poor sleep, sinus headaches, upset stomach, sore throat and really tired. This morning as I was getting my clothes out, hubs looked at me and suggested I stay home and rest. I said, "no," the musical is in the morning and it won't be too bad to work through the day. Then the sneezing started and I had a look in the mirror.......not a pretty sight. I don't think the puff fish look is in.

I took the dogs out, came back in, and it hit me. I needed to sit down....vertigo. So I logged in to the computer to schedule a sub.....I hope there was someone available, because by now it was 5:35. Wait a minute....school doesn't start until 7:30. It's just me that thinks 5:35 is late to be deciding if you're well enough for work.

I did have someone fill the slot and am glad I decided to stay home. I thought it was going to rain last night (which probably would have helped settle the pollen down), but it's only drizzled a little. Maybe it'll pick up during the day. The pollen forecast for today is "low" in contrast to the previous days of the week of "high." It's supposed to be back up tomorrow and Sunday.

It probably has not helped that I've been outside three nights this past week trying to get my garden planted. I've put in some spinach, lettuce (head and loose), peas (two varieties), carrots/radishes, beets, and white onions. I will not be able to get back out there until the rain/dry-out). I still have loads to do in the next few days: yellow onions and potatoes (four varieties). That will be it until next weekend after the ground has warmed a bit more. Then I'll put in my beans, cukes, zukes, and seed herbs. The plants I started will wait until the end of May to go in. I have loads of tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and herbs to plant then. I still need to get some red onions and beans (lima and green). I have some other types of beans, but I need to get some of my old faves. I'll wait to do my winter squash until a week into June. I can't wait to start harvesting, freezing, and canning this year.

Puppy Palace

Today I will giving my little foster puppy to his new mommy. I normally do not foster dogs since I work full-time during the school year, but I was "roped" into by my brother (who saved this poor little thing's life in the first place). He knew when I saw him I would not be able to resist. My brother really thought I would keep him for myself, but I have promised my husband no more dogs (we already have two). I did, however, agree to keep him until I could find him a good home. I knew it would only take a few days of networking....he's so cute and sweet.

This chihuahua actually had a waiting list of potential adoptive parents....I couldn't believe it. I was thrilled and believe that his new mommy and daddy will give him the good life he deserves.

Winter Greys

Having an additional two days added on to my school's winter break due to the "polar vortex," I was able to finish packing up all of the holiday cheer (including six trees ranging from 2' to 8' tall). That was the first calamity day due to frigid cold. On the second day, I made some rustic place mats and napkins made from vintage washed wool and shirting that I had acquired at an auction last year.

I only had enough of the wool to do four mats but had some bark cloth (at least I think that's what it is) to make a couple coordinating ones.

 

I've also been experimenting with my little digital camera to try and "whiten" up my photos. These were taken using the "cool" effect, but I don't really care for them. I'll something different next time. I may end up getting a better camera in the summer.

I will probably grab some pine cones from some of our trees this weekend to put around the lonely "twig" pot.

This one is a little fuzzy, but I still like it. I replace the Christmas wreath with a bare grapevine wreath.

I guess we are going to eat with our fingers (they were invented before forks) as I seem to have forgotten about them.

 

Christmas Gone Again

I have not written in such a looong time. Life gets so busy and writing a blog post gets tucked lower and lower on the the to-do list and then over four months have gone by.

This Christmas we had a lovely time with my two adult children, mother, brother and his family, husband, and dogs getting together on Christmas Eve for a lasagne dinner. We started out with a spinach salad complete with bacon, egg, and homemade vinaigrette....I converted my brother to a spinach eater! We ended with lemon cake and eggnog ice cream. (The empty plate is where my 5-yr-old niece was sitting, and I was not going to pressure her into salad ..... yet.)

The day before I made Scotch eggs (for my English hubby) to take to work. I "spice" them up a little as the regular recipe is a little bland for me. I also make the sausage layer thinner than traditional Scotch eggs.

We have been busy at the farmhouse with home makeover projects as well. More to come on that later.

With the New Year soon to be here, I have made three resolutions. One is to eat healthier and try to slim down a bit. I don't do starvation diets, but I do like the idea of making better choices. The second one is to write more posts as it provides a way for me to chronicle our lives here at Amelie's, and I do not want to forget any of it. The third is to improve my Etsy shop and figure out how to take better pics of my vintage wares. Here's hoping I can keep at least one of them!

Cheers!

Visit http://chateaudefleurs.blogspot.com and check out the 1930s canisters on the left side....from my little shop at www.ameliesfarmhouse.etsy.com.

Independence Day

What a great day we had today for this fine Fourth of July. My husband, being English, says the British call it Thanksgiving. I told him that he is not funny.

Anyway, we went to our neighbors' for a barbeque and other festivities. Our neighbor is over 1.5 miles away, but they are the next house on the right from us. Every year they invite friends and family for an antique tractor parade, games, and rides. Dinner this year was squeezed in at 1 pm. We didn't stay for the after dinner parade as we were having company ourselves and needed to get home. There were a little over 100 people there this year even though it was lightly raining (but the temps were in the high 60s/low 70s.....last year it was 96). Below are a few pics. Hope everyone had a great day!