More Ahead

Hope is not wishful thinking.
Hope is the audacity to believe:
"After all I have been through, there is more ahead of me." 

-Morgan Harper Nichols

The garden is still producing - still hanging on - despite the August temperatures and general lack of any rainfall. At all. I walked the rows this morning, delighting over the swelling black eyed pea pods and colorful peppers and okra I had to jump to reach. (It's on my Instagram stories, if you care to see: @brinwisdom.)

We have farm kittens now. A stray wandered up in spring, starved for food and love, and it was our joy to give her both. Marble, as I named her, was pregnant, it turns out, and had her kittens one blistering day in June. There were seven. These two kittens, Exxon and Mobil, they're now called, were inseparable from birth. Their antics and adventures are equal parts hilarious and adorable. They're staying. Welcome to our little farm place you two.

I'm busy today trying to put up garden produce and batten down the hatches for Hurricane Laura, which is promising to visit us with wind and rain. There's a tropical storm warning (watch? I never remember the difference) in effect for our region, although technically they drew the red line zone 10 minutes from our house. Regardless, prayers are being said today for all in Laura's path.

Gardens... kittens... storms: all simple reminders that, even after all we've seen and been through, there is yet more ahead of us. <3    

Audaciously hoping you have a good Tuesday,

-Brin

December Already?!

It's December already, folks. December! Already! Can you believe it?

How was your Thanksgiving? Our Thanksgiving was a blur of blessings. Family, food, friends... it was crazy. I would give anything to be able to take Monday (today) off. That I-need-a-vacation-after-my-vacation thing, you know? Ah well. I'm grateful I have a job to go to!

Sunday afternoon, I was determined to get a great picture of Millie and Maggie for Christmas cards. A great one. Like, minted.com great. Well. Um. Ahem. No. Didn't happen. Millie rolled on the ground until her hat came off. Twice. Maggie's Santa hat either slid down onto her back or covered her head so well that once glance had you asking: What is that thing underneath that hat? Ha. In the end, I got this picture and decided to go with it. Merry Christmas, Christmas card people.

Pet photographers, you have my deepest admiration. 

My goodness, y'all. Can you believe it's December already?

Meet Maggie

 

We had already been discussing another dog. After all, maybe Millie could do with a pal, right? I contacted a local rescue and considered a few dogs but none seemed right. Then we got a call. A relative was housing a wiggly Yorkie-mix puppy but could we please take her? 

Turns out, the puppy had been trotting up and down a nearby road, and when followed, she took off towards what appeared to be an abandoned house. But it wasn't. An old man lived there and yelled at the puppy rescuers to take the dog, I don't want it. So they did.

She had a broken back leg. She was cold. And she was severely malnourished. We took her on the spot. 

Meet Maggie.

Once home, Maggie slept by the food bowl. It took several days for her to realize that the food would be there, always, and she didn't have to eat herself to sleep. It was heartbreaking. I carried her around like a baby. And while Millie initially avoided her, Maggie didn't let it deter her. She followed Millie everywhere. Millie's begrudgingly come to accept that her little shadow is here to stay. 

The leg's doing better. It didn't require extensive surgery, for which we were relieved. The veterinary surgeon is pleased with the "function" of the leg and aside from it being crooked, you can't tell she was ever injured.

And boy, is she rambunctious. The silly thing loves to be outside. Yesterday, after letting her out and not hearing from her after 10 minutes, I went looking. She was in the yet-untouched part of our yard, digging.

Busted.

I just discovered this little rascal is the source of that mysterious pile of dirt we saw the night before. But how can I be mad at this?:
 

How, indeed?

Little dog, you've been given a second chance. Welcome home.

 Love animal stories? Read another and Meet Millie here.

Millie, The Heart Catcher

What is it about dogs that completely catch our hearts and hold us captive? 
 

For the many who have asked, I want you to know that the Much Beloved Millie is doing well. She's still rounding up and catching hearts, giving a new meaning to the term dog catcher. The old girl is six now. Six in March. Ever the fan of riding in the back and trotting after tennis balls and trying to sneak things off kitchen counters.

She has me trained to give her string cheese on command. A week or two ago, I bought one of those jumbo packages of string cheese and shoved it towards the back of the fridge. Ha. They found it in no time. 

Me: [Looking intently in fridge]  Hey! Where in the world is all that string cheese we just bought?

Him: ... Well... it wasn't that much. But... uh... ask Millie. [Points toward the corner of the kitchen where she's sitting.]

[Millie wags her tail.]

She seems to be adjusting to all the changes fairly well. I say "all the changes" because back in February, we adopted Maggie, a tiny Yorkshire Terrier mix that was rescued off the street. She came to us severely malnourished, dehydrated and dangling a broken leg. We loved her instantly, even if Millie took a week or two to adjust.

So Millie and Maggie. Quite the pair. I'll round up the now-rambunctious Mags soon and introduce you. You'll adore her.

But first, Millie. I appreciate y'all asking about her. She sends her love but says she will keep your heart, thank you very much.

Sick Day

Sick, I think, so I'm taking a slow day.

Here I sit with the ottoman, covered with my chocolate brown blanket (a gift from the beloved Sall). Chai tea is steaming, tissues are nearby. I'm reading this. I'm flipping through this and making plans to copy the Ralph Lauren room for my new little study/home office. They look odd in this picture, but I adore those dark walls.

Also getting some knitting done. How appropriate that it's the makings of a hot water bottle cover? It's this one, by Sarah Dallas. I can't wait to finish and show you, but it may be a week or two.

(No, it's not your eyes. My camera's playing out on me. Must, must get a new one for Christmas!)

Millie's under the weather, too. A nasty allergy. Poor thing had to get a cortisone shot. I heard chocolate labs are prone to skin rashes and allergies. Is this true? She's at my feet, gnawing on a peanut butter-flavored dog chew. And sighing. Lots of doggy sighing down there.

The tea's cold. Going to risk getting up for a warm refill. The heat doesn't get turned on until Friday and I have to carefully plan trips outside my cozy cover comfort....

The Pup's Having Pups

There is no psychiatrist in the world

like a puppy licking your face.

-Bern Williams

Suppose I'm in for a lot of psychiatry soon, because Millie is pregnant. I happened upon this discovery Saturday while rolling around on the floor playing Getting Licked In the Face by My Dog. (What, you've never played that game? You should. I promise it lowers blood pressure faster than any bowl of oatmeal ever could.)

I think this is how it happened: while I was away at the bakery, Millie went to doggy daycare next door. Only... okay. Remember that fire on our street? Several weeks ago, an enormous oak tree, badly charred in that fire, came crashing down on the house next door. It took the doggy daycare fence with it. The dogs - Millie included - escaped and roamed the streets for the next six hours. It had to have happened then. Dang it.

Anyone going to be needing a chocolate lab/mix puppy in several weeks? I hear it's better than therapy....

Scissors and Lola, A Millie Story

Yesterday. Millie trotted over, closed her eyes, and sat at my feet all zombie-like. I glanced up, saw her pretend sleeping standing up, and took the little drama to mean, Mom, if you sit there any longer looking for jobs online, I'm gonna die of dog boredom.

So we loaded up and went to the dog park. Poor little lab needed some room to run.

And there she went. Two dogs caught her eye, running and wrestling as they were. Millie got close, then stopped. But she wanted in on it. I could tell she did.


She watches the dogs play, then wanders back over to me and sits at my feet. Millie! Get up and play with your friends! I encourage her. You can sit around at home!

Her brown eyes look back at me wistfully. Her two doggy friends prance by and Millie sits up. Then she whines. Go, Millie! I say. She sighs. I mean, audibly sighs. Obviously I just don't get it.

A lady standing nearby laughs. She comes close, and bending down to look into Millie's face, says, Hi Millie. Those are my dogs, Scissors and Lola, and I'm sure they'd like for you to join them.

So she did. And the three of them: Scissors, Lola and Millie had quite a time.

I was so proud. But it does seem like just yesterday that little Millie was content here at home. Now she needs a gaggle of girls to keep her occupied.

They grow up fast, don't they? Grin

Sick Millie

No matter how little money

and how few possessions you own,

having a dog makes you rich.

-Louis Sabin

Not financially rich, mind you. {cough}

This old picture, taken in a hotel in Colorado back in June, kills me. Millie's standing proudly over her carnage - that day a 3-pack of paper towels, the sash to my bath robe, and a few of her toys. I remember coming in and starting to scold her but then lying on the floor and laughing so hard that she hurried over and frantically licked my face.

I came home last night from church and knew something was wrong with Millie. By all evidence, she hadn't moved from her bed in 9 hours. She wasn't eating. She wouldn't drink. I hauled her outside where she took care of business and then sat where she was. I had to carry her - 44.2 pounds of chocolate lab! - back inside.

Our little town doesn't have an emergency vet, so we were at the animal hospital this morning. To say that I was worried was an understatement. The last time I was there with a sick animal was the day Maebelline died. (That was just over a year ago, but I still miss her.) I slammed the vet with questions as he confirmed Millie had fever. Is it a snake bite? I asked. No, no sign of that, came the reply. Will she be okay? Don't let her die, I pleaded. I'll pay double.

She has staff infection. Poor little brown dog. The vet injected Millie with $200 worth of antibiotics (which hurt me worse than her, I think!), and sent us home. She's slept almost every minute since. But she's going to be fine.

So I've hurried around the house today throwing everything Millie could have possibly touched into the washer. I'm keeping a close eye on her as I prepare for tomorrow night's dinner and Saturday night's high school girl sleepover at Freeman House. Should all be fun, sick dog withstanding.

Ooop. She's getting up. Is she headed for her water bowl? Good. Very good. (Sigh.)

(*Monday Update* Millie is doing much better and seems to be more comfortable. We send our thanks for the concern and love sent our way...)

An Evening Outdoors

I need to go outside.

I wouldn't say I'm an outdoors person,

but I like to go outside.

-Edie Brickell

That's exactly how I felt last night. After hinting that I'd curl up and watch a movie with the pup, I decided instead to load her up and head to my favorite place on earth (aside from Freeman House): the State Park. (By the way, if you check out that link, do watch the video. You'll see why I love it so.)

Millie jumping out of the lake.

I grew up swimming and paddle-boating in this lake. Just looking at these pictures reminds me of pink bathing suits and ice cold Dr. Pepper and sunburns and french onion dip. This Park is my happy place. It's a beautiful two mile drive from Freeman House, so Millie and I hopped in the Jeep and then hopped out at the lake about 5 minutes later. She headed down the grassy hill to the water and dipped her front paws in. Then she waded in. Then she jumped in, alongside the tall grass and lily pads, and sniffed at the tiny fish that swam away.

We stayed awhile, getting our feet wet and running around and playing fetch and lying in the cool grass. We watched as dusk settled and the fireflies came out. It was a wonderful evening and I was sorry to see it slip across the water and fade away.

Seemed like Millie was, too. It took some encouragement and a lot of bribery to get her back in the car.

Yeah, I'm really not an outdoors person, per se, but it's hard not to be around here. Maybe someday you can visit and see for yourself. I'll pack a basket with dinner and a pie and some cold Dr. Pepper and put a soft blanket in the Jeep and you can experience it for yourself.

Just know, you may never want to go home. Thought it was only fair to warn you. (wink) -Brin

(For those who've asked, there are three (3) new House Helper sets in the Freeman House Shop on etsy. One set was even featured on this blog. And apron toolbelts! They're coming soon....)

Silly Millie

The poor dog, in life the firmest friend.

The first to welcome, foremost to defend.

-Lord Byron

Darling Millie... my firmest friend. She's become quite the little road trip sweetie. These pictures were taken awhile ago, back when she wasn't as eager to poke her nose out the window and let her velvet ears flap in the wind. Back when she was more concerned with only facing towards me and catching a nap.

Millicent. She's growing up quickly and becoming a silly, sweet companion and steadfast protector. Silly Millie.

Is there anything better than a warm little puppy by your side? I'm not sure there is. We're looking forward to a wonderful fall together....

Quiet Friday Night

It's turning fall here. Or it feels as though it is. It's been rainy and dark and I've only had to turn on the air conditioner once. Amazing for Texas in August.

If you've read this blog awhile, you know autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the ciders and the hot chocolates. The sight of burnt-colored leaves hurrying by billowing, quilted throws on the line. I adore football and Autumn in New York. I like the chilly evenings and the warm fires. There's something magical about pumpkins and Indian corn and hay rides. And I appreciate the excuse to turn on the oven and cook things long and slowly. You can have summer; fall is my time.

In the bottom of a knitting basket I found two skeins of orange yarn. It was reason enough: I'm taking tonight off, staying home, cooking dinner, watching the Cowboys and knitting a scarf for fall.

And playing with the puppy. Hasn't she grown? My ever-by-my-side, rosemary-thieving Millie. She's glad to be home, I think, running about and kicking up leaves that are already falling outside the kitchen door. This dog has the sweetest temperament. She's parked beside me now as I type, chewing her bone and looking up at me every so often. Soon she'll be ready to go out again. Perhaps it will stop raining long enough for a walk.

We'll hope so.

If you need us tonight, we'll be here, camped out by the windows in the library, watching the rain and eating Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding and knitting.

Happy weekend. -Brin

P.S. If you love fall as I do, treat yourself to this book. You'll treasure it more every year. Simply titled, Autumn is a heart-warming collection of quotes, recipes, and ideas to settle yourself in for a beautiful fall.

Ear Today, Gone Tomorrow

A light wind swept over the corn,

and all nature laughed in the sunshine.

-Anne Bronte

Nothing says summer like an ear of fresh corn. In fact, I'm convinced that corn kernels are nothing more than sunshine broken into edible bits.

My corn growing scheme came up short this year. It was my first time trying to plant it in earnest, and I stubbornly refused the advice of all my gardening books and planted it in a long, crooked row. Foolish. The stalks grew straight and green but the ears of corn didn't pollinate. (They don't, since corn is wind pollinated and does better planted in 4' by 4' squares.) So I netted a total of five and a half ears of corn, each with missing and lazily lined-up kernels. Hardly a corn windfall, if you know what I mean. It was a disappointment; I love corn and it doesn't last long around here.

Oh well. I found fresh corn at the farmer's market - 5 ears for $1. Yeah. I blanched six and left them whole, hoping to enjoy them this winter. The rest I cut from the cobs, blanched, and bagged to freeze for winter soups and holiday corn casseroles. (And say what you will, but Rachael Ray's 2-bowl method for cutting corn from the cob is the best. Turn a small bowl upside down in a large bowl, stand the ear of corn upright on the small bowl, and turn the cob as you slice the kernels off, top to bottom. Easy as can be.)

I tossed all the husks and silks into a pail for composting. There's something about watching yesterday's corn waste become today's compost that feeds tomorrow's corn crop that makes me satisfied. Happy, almost. It's nice to see nothing go to waste; to waste not and want not.

Oh. And in case you were wondering, there are many uses for your naked corn cobs. Historically, they were used in outhouses for toilet paper. (Really.) Of course, you could also make corn cob pipes. You could have corn cob fights. You could burn the cobs for fuel, grind them up for feed, or leave them in the garden for organic compost.

Or you can give them to the puppy, who ran off with this one and mauled it so quickly that by the time I got my camera, there wasn't much left of it to snap.

We do love our corn here.

That said, the food preserving will be put on hold for a few days for a quick trip. (I have offers to go to Alaska, central Texas, and Wyoming. Where will I go next?) Enjoy your corn, nature, and sunshine this weekend. -Brin

(Update: advice in the comments says never give your dogs corn cobs as they can choke on them. Millie enjoyed chewing on the cob I gave her yesterday, but she is a puppy and cannot yet chew through it. To play it safe, it is probably best not to give your dogs corn cobs. Oh. And popular opinion is also that the bundt pan method for cutting corn off the cob is the best. I agree. It's just that I know most of my friends, and therefore many readers of this blog, don't own bundt pans. Nearly everyone owns two bowls, though. Use whichever is available and works for you.)

A Welcome and Unwelcome Visitor

Millie's helping prepare the camp fire. Such a good pup. I have a friend flying up from Texas later today and we have a full weekend of sight seeing and adventure planned. Can't wait.

We saw a snake yesterday, Millie and I. She almost hopped right onto it before it began slithering and I began shrieking like a... like a... like a woman who's just seen a slithering snake. That was it. It's been down in the 20s here at night and I've been freezing and tired of walking to the outdoor facilities on the bear look-out. I marched immediately down to the lodge yesterday and told Carole, the proprietor here, "I've seen a snake. I want a different cabin, please."

I got one. It has a loft and a stove and a bathroom! and a heater. Hardly know what to do with myself with all these amenities.

Laugh

I suspect Millie will miss the old cabin. She'll have to be a bit more supervised here in civilization. But she'll be fine.

You'll be fine, Millie. You'll see.

(By the way, I had so much fun reading about all the cravings! Seemed most agreed that chocolate, caffeine, salt and grease rule "the day". Thanks for your input! And special thanks to the gals who googled Turkish restaurants for me, or invited me to theirs...)

Cabin Mate Millie

My dog was with me all the time.

I talked to my dog. She was my best buddy.

I shared all my secrets with her.

- Cathy Guisewite

The evenings, in the cabin, are my favorite time of day. As the stars come out and the river roars and shadows play on the wall, Millie and I curl up in the bed and tell secrets. Last night I made a trail mix of jelly beans, honey mustard pretzels and popcorn. It's my new low fat favorite. (Millie preferred cheese.) We dressed in our pajamas (Millie opted to stay in her brown fur ones) and stayed up and munched on our snacks and watched Emma on Masterpiece Theatre. She's the best cabin mate a working girl could wish for: quiet, sweet, warm and happy. Always happy. And eye-watering adorable:

Even as she's falling asleep.

Sorry there's no MM today. Just couldn't get my brain in gear that way. As a peace offering I have cabin pictures coming tomorrow. Your eyes will fall out of your head. Just warning ya.

Junk Drawer Blogging

It's thundering and lightning this morning. A charcoal-hued sky is presiding over what promises to be a brilliant day of anticipating new deliveries and completing an exciting project. It's always a small disappointment when the weather doesn't match a mood, isn't it?

Today's a bit of a junk drawer post: a little of everything of no consequence. For instance: I can't wait to show you what I'm doing with one tiny wall in Freeman House. It's brought more excitement to this place in the past few days than anything has this year. Now that the weather is grumbling and angry and refusing to cooperate with tomato gardening plans, I plan to shirk all other responsibilities in favor of completing my little wall. Oh the luxury.

Oh! And I have ultra adorable pink and yellow apron toolbelts for the Freeman House Shop on Etsy, but it's too dark to photograph them. (Look for them on Friday!) ... While I'm waiting on print stuff for the bakery, I'm working on a new recipe: Bourbon Pecan Tartlets. I have sheets of pecans - grown right here at Freeman House - toasting in my little oven. (Although today would be a great day to bake bread.) ... I have this song stuck in my head. Phrases keep repeating themselves until they push through my lips and others take over. ... The garden is featuring enormous, ruffly squash blossoms this week. Does anyone have an old recipe for frying squash blossoms? ... I have a new knitting craze. Will have to pull that out and show you later. ... Oh. And you know that thing about people and their pets looking alike? The other night a new... er... "friend"... said, "Wow. You should see the two of you," and dashed off to get a camera. When I saw his pictures of Millie and me, I was shocked:

You know that thing about people looking like their pets? See Exhibit A....

Millie's May Day

Okay, but don't go far. If I have to come outside and play, promise you won't go far, Mom.

I was fine inside. I had air conditioning inside. And those worn-soft, pink snowman pajamas of yours to curl up on. Why are you so excited? This is lame. I'm doing my best to humor you. chewchewchew

Wait. Found something over here. Hmm? A lizard, you say?

I found a lizard, Mom! I found a lizard I found a lizard I found a lizard.

Watch me catch him! Watch me catch them all. Watch me... watch...

... he got away. I didn't know lizards could move that fast.

Better. Let's just lie here on our backs and look up at the sky and think of all the lizards I'll catch some day. You know, when I'm bigger.

Good May Day, Mom.

Good May Day.

The Puppy and Apron Blog

So maybe I'll rename this blog The Puppy and Apron Blog because that's what we're quickly moving toward. Hope you don't mind.

Miss Millie and I survived our first night. She cried a bit and went out twice, once at 12:18 and again at 3:20 A.M. I thought she braved it all like a little champ. She's sleeping it off this morning while I drink two coffee presses of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. To each her own. Yep, it all went smoothly, except we did have an issue with her basil noshing. You know this is my dog because the only thing in the entire yard that she went nuts over were the tiny pots of basil someone gave me last week. She ate half a pot. If I didn't know for a fact that Rachael Ray feeds her dog Italian food, I'd have been worried. I met Rachael two years ago and she told me to always treat dogs with cheese. I suppose she does, too, because her magazines usually feature cheesy dog recipes.

Anything you all can think of that I need to know - as a new puppy owner - please speak up. I need all the advice I can get.


Not that she's ill-behaved. She slept at my feet this morning as I wrapped up seven apron/toolbelts for the Freeman House Shop on Etsy. They'll go on sale at noon CST. I know for a fact I'll have a few later in the week, but these are just darling. If you've been wanting one, act fast.

Ah. So. If you get stressed today, just squish your eyes shut and say a quick prayer and imagine you're here. There's Southern Banana Nut muffins in the oven, a wagging Chocolate Lab puppy at my feet, a brilliant, sunny day out my window, and bits of aprons scattered around my chairs. Who says a charmed life isn't ours for the taking?

Millie's now snoring. See you at noon. -Brin