Debbie's Day, Et. Al.

 

Rainy-day projects. 

The blueberry/huckleberry/raspberry jelly I made Friday did not set up. 

So, I took advantage of yesterday's nonstop rain, stayed indoors and redid the jelly yesterday morning.

Later, I drove to the store and picked up some flour so I could bake some bread.  I don't know why I don't bake on a regular basis because the recipe and preparation are so easy. 

Plus, it tastes heavenly.  It's just white bread with a little hint of rosemary.  

Once my indoor projects ended, so did the rain. 

So, I was thrilled to get outside, rake up and then pick up a whole bunch of leaves.  I almost hate to haul away the maple leaves because they are SO pretty on the green grass, especially after a rain. 

The next set of leaves to fall, along with the oak (which takes all winter) will drop from the poplar trees.  

And, it would be an understatement to say there are plenty of poplar leaves to go around. 

I'll be picking them up for the next couple of weeks or until snow fall doesn't allow it. 

With a dry day ahead, we are super excited to take Miss Bridie out to Robyn's to meet the sheep. 

We've had Border Collies long enough to know that, though they have a few similar traits, each one is an individual.  

So, we've gotten past the notion that our smart dogs are going to make champion herding dogs. 

We'll see what Bridie's instincts are.  If she has some good ones, Robyn is a phenomenal teacher.  

So, there could be fun times ahead.  Regardless of the outcome, we'll enjoy the experience of visiting Robyn at her farm. 

It's a special day for all of us who know and love Debbie Love, including her Border Collie pal Joe. 

Animals love Debbie and so do peeps. 

She's just that kind of human. 

Debbie has been our daughter-in-law for 23 years, and I can attest to the fact that everyone in her extended family thinks the world of her. 

Her cats and dogs do too. 

And, the people with whom she comes in contact on a daily basis, as director of the local food bank and tireless community volunteer, love her too. 

How fortunate we, as a family, and Sandpoint, as a community, are to know, love and appreciate Debbie Love. 

A special day for a very special person. 

Happy Birthday, Debbie.  We LOVE you. 

I changed the clocks mid-afternoon yesterday so we would not forget the extra hour overnight. 

When I changed the clock with the bird sounds (that don't sound anymore because we haven't changed the battery in years), I was tempted to put the hands on real time. 

For the past 15-20 years, the clock has always been about 90 minutes fast.  

Don't ask me why that number.  It just is. 

To make sure we were never late, my mother used to put the clocks ahead but usually for only about 15 minutes. 

I actually think this clock was originally put an hour ahead, but it gradually gained time on its own and then got tired at the 90-minute point. 

So, I've just left it that way.  

A few years ago, we hosted a first-cousins' reunion here at the Lovestead.  It involved a dinner after we had taken a cruise on the lake. 

Dinner went by and then dessert and then more visiting. Not too long into the visiting, my cousin Sue indicated that she was ready to leave. 

Her early exit really surprised me.  

When I asked why she was leaving so soon, Sue pointed to the clock and said it looked like it was probably time to leave.

The moment of revelation provided a stark and funny reminder that the scenes and habits and all the stuff we take for granted in our own home environment don't not exactly match with what others observe and think to be true. 

We all had a good laugh over that clock, and, in spite of that situation, I've never felt a need to put the hands on the correct time. 

After all, we know when we look at the clock what time it is, and we act accordingly.    

Loving the early light of this November morning.

It was SO neat to walk outside on my morning walk with Bridie. without a flashlight.  The daylight even led us to go for a walk in the woods. 

Even while carrying a flashlight, I'm a scaredy cat and I stay out of the dark woods and stick to the hay field.   

I'm looking forward to enjoying the next several mornings walking with Bridie in the daylight. 

Happy Sunday.