Summer is Flying!

I cannot believe it is about the middle of July. It has been a very busy summer.

We are enjoying retirement immensely! Although on a budget, we are able to take trips; Quebec Canada, North Carolina, and soon MI, are able to have a small garden, visit family, help care for parents with doctor visits and other errands, herding chickens, and of course play with the pups.

My pain management has improved but I have to tell you the hoops people have to jump through are ridiculous! But I am glad it is working and I am able to do a bit more.

I have been knitting, but have really got to knuckle down and finish projects instead of being online (with the exception of this blog!)

I have not rid out my closets yet (Pennsylvanian dialect, but is a word!), oiled and prepped my sewing machine or began my spinning as yet. I believe the end of August and into the fall will be my target date for that.

My DH has enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing this summer. And of course hanging out with me :)

One of my favorite pictures and visits from this summer was with our little man "O". Going to see him real soon and can't wait to spend time with him and my youngest son and daughter in law!

To view other pictures of our adventures like the epic bear hunt, fishing hauls, knitting, gardening and pups, I'm on Instagram as @thegardener63.

Sunny Sunday!

Soooo enjoying today! The sun is shining and warm. I can smell warm earth and grass. I can hear the Pheobe singing. This is February. Wow!

One walk already in for today.  Now on to sweeping winter debris off the front porch, potting a plant (thanks Leah) that has outgrown it's original home, hmmmm what else can I do ouside.....?

#livingdeliberately

Open your heart to a little love..

You may remember that after our basset boy Sampson passed away, Curly Joe came to visit for awhile. He was the guest who never left! We knew he had found his home with us, for good.

When our basset girl Honeydew passed on, she left a void in all our hearts. Not only did we miss her, we did not want to replace her. After a few weeks of moping, Joe finally bounced back. However, as both my husband and I both worked, we felt guilty leaving him home alone during the day.

In October of 2015, I was viewing rescue sites for a friend and came across this litter of springer spaniel mix puppies. Well the friend really wanted a poodle mix so that wasn't going to work.

But the puppies stayed on my mind. Over the next several days and weeks I would go back to see if any of the six had been spoken for and to follow their story (their rescue from an animal hoarder was pretty horrific).

Now you all know Bassets are my breed, and remain my favorites to this day. But due to health issues my husband and I were no longer able to lift or care for a heavier breed of dog.

Now I had never adopted from a shelter and figured I would not meet the requirements to do so, as I do not have a fenced yard although we do have almost two acres.

But, those puppies were calling my name. So I filled out the application. In two days my references were checked, my vet history was stellar and pending a home inspection , we would be the proud parents of the smallest and most laid back sweet pea of the litter!

It was love at first sight. It had to be because I tell you, she almost killed me in the first two weeks!!!!

Going from a 12 year old basset to a 10 week old springer is a real experience.  "Laid back" is very subjective terminology. She was laid back alright. Right up until 5 minutes after the shelter placement personnel left.

I am so glad we stuck with it. Sweet Pea is the dearest girl. Sensitive. Theraputic. Funny. An adventure. Curly Joe loves her dearly, they are best buddies.

Even the cat tolerates her and has never once, even when being deviled mercilessly,  ever bared her claws and put little Miss Sweet Pea in her place.

So while we still miss Honey Dew and Sampson, and cherish the memories made with them, it is never too late for more love...

It has been awhile...

It's been a while since I have posted anything here. For the first time in a long time, I feel the desire to begin posting again.

Maybe it is because life has slowed down, or I have learned to handle it a bit better, or both.

I do know that I am immensely appreciative of this stage of my life. Too much has happened, or changed to put it all into one post. Some good, some bad, some difficult and some entirely joyful - you know, life!

So for today lets just say, I am enjoying the simple things and appreciating beauty where I find it.