Bad Blogger

I have never been one to only blog once a week, or occasionally.  I blog regularly.  Almost daily, or at least several times a week.  But these past few months have been an exception.  I hope to get back to "normal" soon.  Whatever that is.

Isn't this a beautiful house?  I live directly across the street.  Inside that English Tudor, lives two wonderful people, Carl and Sue.  They built this house in the early 70's and raised their family here.  When we moved in, 21 years ago, their children were teenagers.  I have always been very close them.  Carl and Sue are near and dear to my heart.  One week ago today, Carl suddenly passed away.  His two sons lowered the flag to half staff.  I gulped back sobs when I saw that.  Carl was a Marine.  Big, tough guy.  Heart of gold.  One week and four days ago, Sue passed out, the ambulance came, and I took Carl and followed to the hospital.   Several days in the hospital, and many tests later, revealed that Sue would need a pacemaker.  Wednesday night she had this surgery, which went very well.  Carl came home and passed along the good news to us, about 10:00 PM as he was getting home from the hospital.  He said he would be bringing her home in the morning.  What a relief.
The next morning as I was preparing to take Noah to school.  I was startled to once again see the fire department, ambulance and police cars in front of their house.  The rest you can guess.  Carl woke and got ready to pick up Sue.  Their oldest son had arrived to pick him up and take him to bring Sue home.  But it was not to be.  Carl was called home.  I can't even begin to tell you how difficult this past week has been for my dear friends and neighbors.  I have stayed close to home, to be here for them.  The week has been a bit of a blur, and I have found myself standing in my picture window at the front of the house, looking out across the street to Carl and Sue's.  How much has happened in ONE WEEK.  How we just NEVER KNOW.  How precious this life is.  And how, just like that.....it can be over.  Less than two weeks ago, I sat out on the patio with Carl and Sue, and had a cup of coffee.  They called me over to come and get some of their beautiful pomegranates.  We had a nice long chat. Carl loved to cook like me.  We often shared recipes and talked a lot about food.  I will always remember that.  RIP Carl.  You will be terribly missed.

Because I don't want to end this on a sad note, I will share some photos of the past few days.   A friend of mine who also raises chickens, had told me that supplementing your hens with brewery grains is not only a great way to stretch the feed, but also a nutritional supplemental food for them.  She happened to have a friend who lived near me that brewed his own beer on a regular basis, and would throw the wet grain away, once it had been used in the brewing process.  I made arrangements to go pick it up, and boy am I glad I did!  This was 26 pounds of grain, before wet.

I packaged it into gallon size freezer bags.

I kept one in the fridge outside, to give the chickens a bit each day.  Then put the rest into the freezer.  I set the pan down for the first time, and they devoured it in a matter of minutes.

Now, they come running when I walk out there for their evening grains.

They eat, then follow me hoping for more.

Right out the side gate, and waddle on down to see what they can get into.  Mmmmmm, impatiens!

Look at that full crop!!!

If I let them follow me out of the gate often, my impatiens would be gone!

The driveway is littered with these pecan pods from the crows.  They pluck them from the tree, then fly to our roof.  Tap, tap, tap, until they have cracked the shell open and feasted on the tasty nugget inside.

These are macadamia nuts.  Much more difficult to crack open.   I suppose this is why they are so expensive?

The grove is beginning to take on the colors of winter.  The oranges are just beginning to show their color.

In a few short weeks, they will be glowing in all of the trees, like tiny Chinese paper lanterns.

The avocado trees are heavily laden with their twice yearly harvest.  Due about early December.

  Tonight, I walked to the way back, as we call it.  This is what I found.

Boneyard.  Weird.  That wasn't there the other day.  Possum maybe.

The coyotes that visit come in through the back of the property. This was taken standing at the back of the fence, looking to our neighbors.



I have spent a lot of time working on holiday items.  No boutique this year, but I will have my Etsy shop open.

We have to bring the boat down from the lake this weekend.  There has already been one snow.   Saturday night, we are going to a birthday party for a very special young man.  He is turning 21!!

His parents are having a costume Casino night.  It is sure to be a lot of fun.  Greg and I are going as farmers!
I will be back soon.
XO  Kris