First snow

I raked the leaves last night at 8:30 when I found out it was going to snow today.

I am feeling like a smart cookie.

Grandma's bureau

I have this lovely bureau that has been passed around for years between my mother, my sister and myself. My mother remembers her mother having it and we don't know how much further back it goes. Every time someone has the perfect spot for it and the present owner no longer needs it, the bureau gets driven across state lines to it's new home. This time the bureau came to PA with me and I think it's going to stay here for a long time. 

Years ago my father stripped the paint off the top and the face of the first drawer. At some point it mysteriously lost a drawer knob and it has it's fair share of chips and scratches with a few child inflicted marker scrawls for flair. I love the unusual proportions; deep, short and narrow. I felt it was time to clean it up and after getting my mother's permission (technically it is still hers) and hoping my grandmother would approve, I painted it white.

Rick sanded the top as it had a big shellac spot and then he patched a few places with wood putty. I sanded the rest and discovered it had been painted three times before. My mom found new drawer knobs at Home Goods for next to nothing and I even have a few extra if one disappears again. I used high gloss white paint, the same paint I used on the bathroom cabinet since you can see in the master bathroom from the bedroom.

I am so happy with how it turned out! I think Grandma would be pleased.

Lola is a star!

Lola made it on to my favorite website.

http://cuteoverload.com/2012/11/20/a-place-to-weather-any-storm/

Fame has immediately gone to her head and she now refuses to enter any room without being announced, dinner must be warmed but not hot, new blankets in cream color only and please, no direct eye contact.

Cogsworth

We went to CT this past weekend to see my nephew perform in Beauty and the Beast as Cogsworth. He was fantastic and very funny, the audience really got a kick out of his performance so it wasn't just me as a proud auntie thinking he was aces. Afterwards we went out for Shirley Temples with extra maraschino cherries and Chinese food, Grandma's treat.

Cogsworth sans makeup and costume

Dame Dorothy

My friend took me out for a lovely belated birthday lunch. Being served steaming hot lasagna with freshly made noodles after eating cold, canned food for several days had me practically blinking back tears. We were so thoroughly warmed after the lasagna we took advantage of the free birthday ice cream and cake. Do you see that cake? It tasted even better than it looks, especially since it came with a dish of raspberry sauce, as if it wasn't rich enough already. 

How fantastic is my friend? She is in her mid eighties and does more than I can manage to in a day. 

The Barnes Foundation

What an unusual museum. I was completely overwhelmed and needed more time. So many, many paintings and items to look at. A few more trips are needed.

Wall outside museum. Even the plants grow in inspiring, creative ways.

Gorgeous low pond filled with river rocks in front of museum entry.

These Hans J. Wegner Wing chairs are my new obsession. They are massive and obscenely comfortable, I moaned audibly when I sat down. I rushed home and found them on DWR. 

Only $5,260.00 each. The ottoman is a steal at $1,740.00

One of my favorite paintings at The Barnes.

The Postman

Vincent van Gogh

We ate at the Parc Brasserie. Please go so I have someone to talk with in borderline pornographic terms about their creme brulee. 

Halloween

Trick-or-Treat night was postponed due to hurricane Sandy and I was either preparing for the storm or cleaning up after it and never got around to carving the pumpkins. Just before the trick-or-treaters came I managed to draw a face on the jack-o-lantern. It mirrored how I was feeling.

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy knocked out the power for several days but thankfully not much else at my house. Lola and I huddled under the blankets to keep warm. The power came back on late Halloween night so I woke up warm and toasty on my birthday. Best gift ever. 

Welcome to my meringue, please wipe your feet

The first pie I ever made was a lemon meringue under the watchful eyes of my mother and grandmother. The crust was greyish and the meringue was less than fluffy but with eyes closed it tasted delicious. I haven't made a lemon meringue pie in years and thought I would try again. Thankfully my crust making skills have vastly improved, my ability to make the meringue pile sky-high, not so much.

The meringue may be low but my oh my it sure tasted good

my new home.

Sunflowers

There is a roadside produce stand that always has lovely fruits and vegetables, I had to stop when I saw the sunflowers.

The fun part about this stand is that it's right in front of the barn so you get to peak in and say hello to the cows.

Any way you slice it

Rick makes beautiful furniture and will often take clients to the saw mill to see their wood being cut. I got lucky and was able to tag along this time.

This is the back of the saw mill.

What a gorgeous day. 

Today there were three massive logs to be cut. 

First they had to trim them to make the logs as straight as possible.

Measuring to make sure the log will fit under the blade.

The first log to be moved over to the saw.

Logs lined up waiting to be rolled onto the saw bed.

The saw blades are massive.

Measure twice, cut once!

The blade moving across the top of the log.

Pulling the board off the top.

Look at that beautiful wood!

Here is my mom with her earplugs in waiting for the next log to be loaded.

The third log was so massive it had to be placed directly on the saw bed.

Look how big those boards are!

The boards are moved and will be dried for almost a year before they can be used.

Thus ends your Richard Scarry-esq tutorial on how a log becomes a board.

You're welcome.

Disappearing act

I made a peach pie for Rick and my mom. I called that night to ask my mom to take a photo of it since I had forgotten to before I left. 

I got these photos two days later.

I think the pie plate was actually licked clean

Blooming spider

Did you know that spider plants had flowers?

I didn't.

Sigh

Just came back from the vet's and the ulcer on Lola's eye is still there, if it doesn't get better by next Friday then the next step is surgery.

Your Weekly Dose of Lola

Lola's eye is on the mend and the vet needs to see her one more time before she gets a clean bill of health.  She's still hiding behind a pillow though.

ohmigosh bunny!

Below are way too many bad photos (most taken through the window screen) of a little bunny that hopped right up to the side of the house. There have been four baby bunnies hopping around my yard all spring and I luf them!

June's blooms