Beach Dogs on Halloween in California

This terrier has the cutest pumpkin head outfit. These are California dogs that we strolled by in La Jolla, California. Whoever said that the west coast was casual compared to the east coast? At least in the doggy world the dogs take this holiday seriously.

I love the collar here with the shimmering little bone sequins on it.

These dogs have the life! The weather in San Diego and La Jolla is fantastic right now. Keep it a secret all the locals here tell me. "We can't have everyone living here."

Dog Art Inside and Outside of Town

Everywhere we went today we saw cute dogs and cats...some real and some art. The coffee bar at Borders, Seattle's Best has a nice little chalk sign up advertising Maple White Mocha. It sounds wonderful now that the forecast is snow flurries and rain this week. You can see it's a westie dressed like a Cairn terrier with a green contact on for Halloween! That is my take on it, at least.

Outside there was this cute Ohio license plate with a kitty and puppy on it. Check out the paw prints on the tag holder.

Then there is, Sir Salty, our very own cutie! Look how fast his hair has grown. He dislikes any kind of trimming around his eyes, but it has to be done. We are pleased his beard is still white. I believe it's from drinking our well water.

Hazards on Roads and Floors

It has been an interesting week. My husband was in a car accident on the freeway. The insurance adjusters totaled it. No surpise after seeing it. Tonight on the way home there was another bad accident involving a small car and a fedex semi truck on the freeway.



This week I stepped on an banana peel on the kitchen floor. Why is it always humorous in cartoons? Why was the banana peel on the floor you might ask? See the cute, sweet puppy above, Sir Salty? Yep, he has this habit of retreiving banana peels out of the kitchen garbage. He loves bananas! I was carrying something and did not see it as I rounded the corner.



The peel and I had a moment together and then we parted ways much faster than when we met.

Here is sweet Puffin the puffy long-haired kitten. She runs in and out around our feet as we walk. She has been accidently scooted all the way across the floors like a powder puff. She weighs next to nothing it seems. She is growing up and purring loudly at all times. Kenya, our other Siamese is not sure she likes her too close yet. Sir Salty tries to be the go-between and negotiate peace between them.

Look at her eyes. As blue and brilliant as an eagles.

Gardening Blooms in Chilly October

Today I had to snap these photos of some of the roses and flowers and their punchy colors. I did have to add some extra layers of clothing on as it's getting mighty chilly here especially at night. 41 degrees the other morning. The English rose Princess Margarita above looks stunning in the afternoon light. I have seen some beautiful paintings of roses, but it doesn't come near to having the real mcCoy. They are so dainty and look like a powder puff with a wonderful rose fragrance.

How do you know when you have enough roses? (Your husband tells you so that's when. Or is that a sign that you really do need more. I'm still pondering it.)

More dahlias and cannas. My blue plumbago blooms are rising up to rub noses with the canna flowers. I will have to dig all of these up after the first frost. I am a little jealous of the plumbago bushes in Florida and Hawaii. Huge mounds of color and hedges of them as well. I will be content with "plants" that hopefully will turn into large "bushes."

White perfection. Moon dance rose. White is not really white after all. Look at all of the colors in the shadows. So very nice! I have more blooms and will have to put them up soon. Such as butterfly bushes that just keep on blooming like cheerleaders even when the summer heat is starting to lose to fall temperatures!

Country Roadside Produce Markets

Always shop hungry at these roadside produce markets. You'll buy more than you need, but won't be sorry. These apples are so crisp and delicious that we have decided to plant more apple trees.

The Country Dairy and Creamery

As we went out to the car to go to the dairy I had to snap this photo. So much color even in October with dahlias and I love contrast of colors. Busy bee is gathering up the last of the sugar nectar before it frosts.

At South Mountain Dairy there is this long barn of sweet calves that have to be bottlefed twice a day. Anyone can come and help feed them. Each has a bucket of grain and a bucket of fresh water too.

Look at all of them. Cute as can be and their birth dates are on their ear tags.

Of course the mommas are being milked by machinery which is hidden behind the metal bars.

The roosters that roam about have a real buffet spread. These are picking out the grains in the bucket. What a life these fellows have.

Still Gardening in October

One can never take too many pictures of plants and flowers. It's October and some things just keep on looking great! Lantana, which is a tropical plant treated like an annual here, with orange yellow flowers, next to the lime-green Angelina, sedum.



I love the grey foliage of southernwood. The yellow leaves are falling from the trees and are decorating the grey here and there like lanterns. Here it is mixed with blue-mauve flowers.

Our westie doggy boy, Sir Salty, who carries a big stick. In fact he runs with big sticks in his mouth and bumps into all sorts of things. Maybe he is imitating us with our rakes and shovels?

Lost Art of Handwritten Cards and Letters

Pick up a pen, paper and a cup of tea with a saucer and jot down a few notes to a friend. Everyone likes to get good old fashioned handwritten letters. They are getting rare these days. I owe a few thank you's myself so that is what I am doing.

Back to tea though...have you ever noticed how you rarely "spill" tea on letters, but coffee is another story? Tea is proper so we sit still with it and coffee is italian (okay cappaccino anyway) and we move around animated with it and tend to spill it. Then again it could just be the higher level of caffeine in the darker roasts.

Handwritten letters are like going to the garden and deciding what flowers to pick. For each person you might gather a few different flowers based on their tastes.

This is one of my new little costume friends painting up for sale on ebay. October is an official month of silliness. (Every month is silliness here on the farm.) Cards are coming of this painting and I can't wait to pen out a few lines on a few.

New Airedale Terrier Dog Friend

Isn't he so handsome? And a terrier to boot. We just met him today and compared to our westie he stands on legs that are stilts. He is a very curly and fluffy Airedale Terrier.

Family: Love is a Beautiful Thing

Our son is quite the little artist and draws the cutest pictures. He drew this quickly and gave it to us all labeled.

Folk Art Quilting and Sewing

Today was not all work. We went to look at some quilts and sewing machines, embroidery machines and everything in between at a sewing fair. Nothing like getting motivated with the cooler weather and then all the wonderful inspiration of other needle and fabric labors of love. The quilt above is from 1930 and was displayed by the Sarasota Quilt Guild and they were selling patterns. I now have one of my very own. I must get my scraps out and get crafty.

This darling quilt is made of wool. Don't you just love it. It's from the west coast, Oregon, and she dyes her wool with natural dyes. The colors remind me of the amish quilts here on the east coast, but arranged totally different. I have some of my own raw wool that I have already washed. Now to find some plants (which are all over here) and bark to come up with these sweet, sweet colors. Then build a fire put a big iron tub over and start dying the wool. This is what Tasha Tudor loved doing.

Summer Kitchen Candles

A friend makes candles in her summer house, also called a summer kitchen, and sells them. We have an old spring house that needs some repair and a new life. At first I thought it would make a cute guest house, but maybe we should add a fireplace and make candles and soap there. I could put a spinning wheel in there as well with a fire going it would be so cozy.

Country Homesteading Princess Bliss

Every day of the year is bliss when you live in the country. Westies think so, too. I listed a new painting with Sir Salty and our two ducks in it.

We had to get up four, truck loads of hay bales from the fields the other day before the rain fell. The first load I stacked them 4 high which was around 34 heavy bales each load. Grandma was driving the truck and saying, "These are too heavy for you", but what were the other options. Mr. was at work and Grandpa was baling. This previously-owned baler compacts the bales like none other we've ever used. If you adjust the the string to be less tight and the bales smaller...well it's like 2 bales condensed into one.

After stacking the first load and then unloading and restacking in the barn I felt like I could not stack another. After a little pineapple-coconut juice I was able to think positive again and picked up the second 34 bales in the field and then unload and restack in the barn. For the love of sheep. All this for the sweet sheep we raise. They love the smell of the fresh hay and they baa-aa-ed encouraging me on from below the floorboards of the barn.

I felt like I might really be dying by then, but we managed to pick up a third load and unload with the wind blazing. I will say the fourth load was picked up, without much conversation and very flat leaded feet, and we drove it under the barn and let the rain pour.

The miracle is that the next morning I felt great just like this country princess and loved up all our animals along with our Westie, Sir Salty, who kisses each on the nose whether they like it or not. Believe it or not there weren't any aches. Maybe because we love it here or my nerves are beyond repair.

The next chore is digging up potatoes. Bliss: Living in the country.

Westie Sells Juicy Couture Perfume

Westies help sell the Juicy Couture fragrance line at a Bloomingdales counter at Tyson's Corner in Virginia. I was rushing through the store and this display stopped me instantly. "What is my dog doing up there?" and "Who painted him pink?" were the first thoughts that flew through my head. Unfortunately the dog wasn't for sale? I am going to get the largest blue ribbon I can find and put one on my doggy boy.


See the two royal westies on the perfume bottle. The Eau de perfume fragrance bottle is $300. And I didn't even think to test it as I was admiring the graphics. There is an online store that sells juicy couture dog clothes and dog pawfum called http://www.barkingbabies.com/ Love the name of their store.

This is what greeted me this morning when I went outside after rain and wind last night. Good morning to you Miss Tropical Sunrise Canna! The leaves are very large now. I could take one and use it as a table centerpiece just like we use banana leaves.