Smokey

What a sweetie pie! Life here was pretty dull before Smokey came along.

Seems like just yesterday that we heard a tiny meowing in the woods. Someone had thrown out another kitten. A dirt path off the main highway is the perfect place for people to drop off unwanted animals.

For three days we searched for the kitten but as we walked his meows got further away. I was out feeding the animals one morning when the guineas came walking up the road and following them was this little grey kitten...he hid under the old dog house...

We slid bowls of food and water under for him and it wasn't long before he trusted us enough to come out and play...

It was along about this time that Poppy insisted, no more cats!!

He meant that too! Can you tell by the mean look on his face?

Guineas roam and I really believe they brought this kitten home for us to take care of...

The guineas checked on him every day.

It wasn't long before he found the porch and Eli...

 a warm furry blanket for when it's cold outside

betcha nobody bothers me now, said little Smokey. Just let those sorry folks who threw me out try anything!

riding in the wheelbarrow.


Wow! Look at me today! All this is mine...

and I am mama's boy!

Guess I had better get busy. This feels just like a Monday, doesn't it?

I will be around to visit and catch up...

Love,
Henny

Roughhousing on the newly upholstered chair!

Smokey wanted to play, Bickett wanted to be left alone. Kitty cats!!

I did finish the other patriotic apron, and will put this one in the little shop. It has a ruffle all around and large front pocket.

I had completely forgotten about this apron, finished a few weeks ago...

It is going in the little shop too.

I thought a big, old fashioned, red button would look cute on the front, but out of all the buttons in these old Mason jars... 

no two big red ones were alike...

anyhow, not much of post here.

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend! Poppy and I have nothing special planned.

I will be thinking about all the brave soldiers who fought and died for our freedom. It is sad to think about all that we have and enjoy in life every day, while so many soldiers never made it home to enjoy even another day. We thank you!

I leave you with Poppy, cutting the stir-fry broccoli... 

The more we cut, the better it grows. This stuff has been wonderful and we want to grow it again next summer.

Love,
Henny

Sunshine, Aprons, and Cats

Looking up toward the teeny tiny garden and greenhouse now, I can see the playhouse.

this was on Monday before the wet rainy weather came in. The bad storms and tornadoes missed us but we've had lots of rain. I'm anxious to get back outside!

It is, however, dry in the sewing room...

so, here's my latest apron. Patriotic! I should have had this one in the little shop weeks ago with Memorial Day coming up, but we have Flag Day and July 4th yet.

I have another apron almost finished, in the same fabric but in a different pattern.

Guess that's about it. We have sunshine today. Much needed sunshine! The chickens are walking in mud.

Oh, also on Monday while there was still dust on the road...

Bickett and Smokey making plans.

Bee, come on in! 

best way I know to get a good back scratching!

you need to roll over several times...

and remember, don't shake off until you get inside. Mom enjoys sweeping!

Thank you for visiting.

Love,
Henny

Playhouse/Potting Shed...Dream come true!

Come on in, the door's open...

Gosh, really there is no time for a post. It's almost noon, Poppy just left for work, and I've simply got to sweep and mop the kitchen floor, vacuum the house, and clean the living room carpet! Simply got to!

However, I really really wanted to show you the playhouse...

We actually made the two eight foot fence panels into a ten foot back wall and a six foot side wall. 

I've been gathering boards and bricks and things to build shelves. More stuff will make it prettier. Decorating is the best part!

Just this morning I said to Poppy, "I've got to decide where to put my little wood stove". "What wood stove", he asked. "The little wood stove I am looking to buy". "Don't you remember", I asked...

"in the little picture how the lady likes a spot of tea to ward off the chill, and her little wood-burning stove does just the trick"?

Here you can see both sides. Adding the fence panels sure toned down that long legged tower, didn't it. All this happiness, and from two 35.00 fence panels. The playhouse of my dreams. 

You know what else would be nice? A pretty little garden table with two small chairs. Oh my!

Okay, I'm off the get the mop and a bucket of soapy water. Hope to be back here soon.

Love,
Henny

So far, so good!

Thought you would like to know.

We have the six foot side section up! The ten foot section will go across the back...there behind the potting bench.

This work is hard. Poppy does the hammering, sawing, drilling , etc., but I run my legs off, going for things he needs. 

At one point I had been around the house and down near the pond to our stash of old boards and building supplies, looking for one more 4 x 4 post, which I found. Sweating, and lugging the heavy post up to the building site, I said to Poppy...

"I know one thing! Being the gopher is just about as much work as being the builder"!  Poppy said, "yes, but if it wasn't for the gopher, we wouldn't be doing all this"!  :)

Hopefully, tomorrow we will get the back section up and the playhouse will be done! I can move in!  :)

Thank you for visiting and for all your encouraging words.

Love,
Henny

Old sweet Eli still has his white eye lashes.

Catching up!

Wasn't it about two weeks ago that I said "tomorrow, I will show you the garden?" The days sure go by fast, don't they?

First day home from my little trip to Virginia, I bought wire and built a door for the front of the teeny tiny goat barn. Poppy bought the door hinges and installed them for me. That was the hardest part!

now these two spoiled little goats can be closed in, giving Eli some peace and quiet when he is inside the fence.

Sounds crazy, but Eli is so sweet and humble, the goats bully him...it started off being all fun and games, but now I am afraid the goats will hurt him. That's Eli's goat lot too! :)

Mother's Day turned out very very special...

it's Madison! She has the sweetest smile. Home from college for a couple of weeks, she and her mom and dad came for Mother's Day. Eli loved it! Yay! Finally, a young person! Somebody who can still run and play!

Madison brought me this sweetest coffee mug...

and Andee and Todd brought me these pretty New Guinea Impatiens...

I loved cooking dinner for them. Now that all the grandchildren are about grown, none of them visit much anymore. It was a special day for sure!

That's the little herb garden behind the old barrel and watering can, and hidden there behind rosemary. Things are growing...

of course, the mint in the center is growing best. Thankfully, it is planted in a buried pot...after all these years, I've finally learned. Some of the plants are still very tiny, but there is pineapple sage, broad leaf sage, German thyme, parsley, cilantro, chives, and dill. Don't know what happened to the basil, but I will plant more. Now, if I only knew how to cook using herbs. :(

we have little squash in the garden...

and the bean vines seem to like the wattle fence. The tomato plants are over to the left. Plants are still small but so far things are looking good. It is a teeny tiny garden, you know.

We've been enjoying the stir fry broccoli. Pepper plants are growing.

Oh my, I've got to get busy. It is hot this afternoon. The bunnies still need feeding and Eli needs a walk...before time to start supper. 

Today, I've sectioned off where the two fence panels will go for the playhouse...even started digging the post holes. Friday, we plan to TRY  putting the panels up. Gosh, those 6' x 8' sections are heavy! HEAVY! I had no idea! Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well. Poppy is not so sure this is a good idea. :[

Thank you, friends!

Love,
Henny

Happy Mother's Day

Sure do appreciate the nice comments you left on my last post and I really meant to reply to each one...now here it bedtime.

I did want to wish you all a happy Mother's Day. Mama is on my mind just about every day. She passed away in 2007 and I still miss her so very much.

I've posted this picture of her several times now...probably every Mother's Day, but it is my favorite. That's me in her arms and my sister Shelby standing beside her. She loved her children and we all loved her.

This morning Poppy said, Do you want to ride to Lowes and look at the fence panels. I sure did! and guess what! We bought two, and the four posts to put them up with. A Mother's Day present and I'm not even his mom! :)

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms!!

Love,
Henny