QUICK UPDATE

We've been eating well, chard, summer and zucchini squash, cukes, a few little tomatoes... usually devoured before we make it to the house... and the berries... yummy.

We had enough berries to make some mixed berry muffins for church on Sunday.  I am using the "therapy garden" to help me cope with the craziness happening right now at work.  I must have a place of solitude after dealing with all the changes and "thinking" that is going on.

The wild raspberries are coming to an end *** sniff *** and the blueberries are about 1/2 way done.  The blackberries are going to be many this year and I hope to be able to freeze some and also make some blackberry jam... yum!

not my picture, but I will take some of our blackberry bushes if the bear hasn't gotten into them yet

Happy Tuesday... hope you all have a great week.

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

1. When I look at the sky I feel –

I’m always checking the sky to see what the weather’s going to be.  A couple weeks ago I went out on a Saturday morning and the sky was an incredible deep blue with not one cloud… at least over my head… and I was so happy to see that on my day off.  It wasn’t humid or hot, but just a breezy 75f and my clothes nearly dried before I got them all hung up.  What a day that was!

2. If you had to run for political office, which one would you run for? Do you have any real desire to actually do this?

I have no desire to run for a political office of any kind. 

3. What scent makes you think of home?

I love the smell of bread baking in the oven.  My parents didn’t make bread, but I do every weekend and it smells so “homey”.  My Nana’s house had a clean and “salty” smell since they lived close to the ocean.  I love that smell too.  I have some of her old furniture and it all has that smell still in the drawers and cupboards.  It has permeated the wood I think.

4. How often do you take a step back to think about where you're headed in life? Do you need more or less self-reflection? 

I used to reflect all the time on the future, but I don’t do that so much anymore.  I’m not sure why, but it just isn’t something I think about.  I used to have an idea of things I wanted to do.  Now I just want to make it through the day.  I often wonder about my children and grandchildren, what I can do to help them live out their dreams.

5. July is National Ice Cream Month...besides a cone, what's your favorite food item to top with ice cream?

I love bananas and ice cream.  Pretzels and ice cream isn’t bad either.  Hmmm homemade apple pie… the ideas are endless.

6. What might your autobiography be called?

“Outsider”.  I was one of those kids who never quite fit in.  I don’t really know why, could have been factors like moving many times,  just being a little strange, being an MK, being a friend of the underdogs, it doesn’t matter what the reason.  The Lord has used that in my life to make me more compassionate and determined.  I’m thankful, though while I was a kid it hurt, God used it for my good. 

7. Your least favorite mode of transportation? Why?

I like all sorts of travel.  I love to go on long trips.  I especially like traveling in a car ‘cause you can stop at places that look interesting.  Buses are a little stuffy, but if you need to get there a bus is good.  I just hate hauling a bunch of luggage, so if I can travel light a bus, train, or plane are good.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

It’s “hump day” yea… tomorrow I get the window fixed in my car.  I was able to weed some of the garden last night without being lame afterwards.  I can’t tell you what a relief it is to not have pain in my back.  It was so miserable not being able to even tie my shoes…  Mr. D had to wash my feet one day and help me get my socks and shoes on a couple of days.  It’s wonderful being able to walk around without limping along.  Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

It's a happy Friday to ya!!!

Hope you are all doing well today.  I have visited some blogs and it looks like everyone is enjoying summer.  There are so many things to do  hanging clothes on the line with Mrs. V . Moving into a new house with Mrs. H.  Making Raspberry jam with Monica, and Oh! the strawberries with Mrs T.  Even though it's winter my niece and nephew in Australia are getting fresh product as I see from their FB page and my friend Sharmayne from Australia is knitting up a storm in her new little crafters retreat.  I don't always leave a comment, but I do read your blogs when I have a chance.  

Our pastor even has a blog now which is always an encouragement.  

I've looked into some new blogs which I am enjoying very much:  Dianna at "Joyful in His Presence" ,  My Cup Runneth Over, and Tracy a friend of Sharmayne at Sunny Corner Farm.  If you want to meet up with some new friends, here's a start.  

I hope this weekend I'll be hanging clothes on the line and doing a bit of gardening.  As you can see the garden is doing quite well.  The tomatoes are as tall as me, the beans are beginning to climb (praise God after such a tough start), and the weeds are in full explosion.  I hope to get some help this weekend and catch up on the weeding.  I injured my back a couple of weeks ago and haven't really been able to do much in the weeding department... been to the "bone cruncher" a couple of times and am feeling quite a bit better today.

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God is good!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Garden progress.....

WELCOME TO THE MILLETT FARM

Some of the "everbearers" that survived this winter.  We've had a few to munch.

Tiny summer squash just starting.

Dill we will use for the pickles.

Small "jet star" tomatoes just beginning.

Kurly Kale - and a few weeds.  Just weeded this a few days ago!

Swiss Chard - "Bright Lights"

Blush on the blueberries

Brussel Sprouts

Cukes

the Squash we planted in tires this year.  Can't see the tires anymore.

Gonna be some heavy munchin' going on around here real soon!!!

God is giving the increase.

Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

My daughters have been actively looking for permanent housing.  Though the little camper in the woods has been great for 2, it's just not adequate for 4.  We've made it work thus far by having a tent set up for Brandon, but I'm quite sure he won't want to be there through the winter.

They were told by a friend of mine about a condo in Enfield and were going to look at it on Monday afternoon when we were all out of work.  I met up with them and loaded the grand boys into my car and the two of them went the other way to look at the condo.  I thought I'd have time to get to the bank in Cornish before it closed to deposit a few checks and take care of some other stuff.  I started off from Lebanon down 120 towards Cornish.  About 2 miles out a deer came barreling down through the woods and jumped out of the trees crashing into the side of my car.  I wasn't going too fast since the speed there is about 35/40, but she hit me pretty hard and I think she broke her neck doing it.  There was a family just down the street who were out and heard the crash and they called the police and game warden as she was not dead, but couldn't get up and was obviously in pain.  I pulled into their driveway and with their help I pulled the deer off the road onto the shoulder.  The police came and took a report and put the poor deer out of her misery.  We were able to take the carcass which fit neatly into my trunk on some plastic liners I had in there.  We had called Mr. D, but he never showed and we later found out that he'd had some trouble with a flat tire on his way so we met him on our way back.

We now have about 150 lb of venison in the freezer and are getting some estimates on the damage to the car.  

These things we are thankful for:

Accident could have been much worse.  She could have gone directly through the windshield, but God's timing was perfect for us.

We had collision insurance on the car... lesson learned from a previous accident caused by an uninsured driver that totaled our main commuting vehicle.

We were able to keep the meat.

We had some help there with getting the deer off the road. (very busy road)

No one was hurt.

Cost of getting the vehicle fixed only $100 deductible.

I'm still able to use the car till it is fixed.

Body shop is right across the street from us.

Joanna and Heather found a place to live that day and are moving in this weekend.

God is always good, but He was especially good this day to us.

After 40 some years driving on these country roads I've only hit two wild animals and one domestic.  This is the only one that died.  I'd say God has His angels watching over me all the time.

Notes from the appraisal  -  fix
Hmmm that seems like a "no brainer"

I can open the door, but not all the way as there's the dent in the fender.

Spring Trip to the Nature Center

This spring we visited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, NH.  We live very near, but never have gone since it is quite expensive for the whole family.  This was “opening day” so we were able to get in for FREE… yea!  The day was sponsored by New Hampshire Electrical COOP among other sponsers and because we are members we didn’t have to pay. 

They have very nice native animal displays…

I think the animals were shy, but many were out and about.  We saw Mountain Lions… this was the Mountain Lion display and they were in there, but just taking a nap.

Norman was showing Grampa where the animals were.

“Can you see her all snuggled into her cave?”, Mom said.

Grampa and Norman looking at the White Tail Deer… Grampa making sure Norman’s feet are in the right place.

It was a wonderful day and we had lots of fun looking through all the displays.  They also had a porcupine presentation and Owls… Norman’s favorite.