Tuesday, July 19, 2016

JULY INN A CABIN IN THE WOODS







Early this morning I took photos capturing the peak of summer. So happy to have the Elephant Ears back. Love their giant jungle leaves that so resemble an elephant's ear. Mickey, my marvelous marmalade cat acted as my assistant this morning. He silently directed me to the best "shots." In some of them Mickey actually posed, I suppose a little miffed he's not able to take a "selfie" of himself. Enjoy the photos. With August comes the waning of summer, then September with cooler night temps and a farewell to the green green green of summer. 



Elephant Ears and Becky Daisies - Both gifts from friends, Mary Holl and Jenny Beard - Plants are the best gifts you can give to a friend!

Mickey getting a drink from the clay base of the Daisy pot

Selfie of feet! At 8:00 in the morning you really don't want to see the rest of me...
View through the breezeway. A favorite place for the dogs on a hot summer day.

THIS is my favorite photo of the day! Mickey looks like he's definitely in charge

Front Porch View - look at those amazing elephant ears!!!

For those who don't know - these little alien looking things are chimney toppers - the taller one on the left was bought at an auction - owners (Sheri and Fred Quick) said it was brought over from England and if you look down inside it, there's still soot from England!! Top (no pun intended) that one!

Calla Lilies! Aren't they gorgeous!! To the right you can see my new "rockin" roadrunner. My purchase at Lilyfest this year. 


About a year ago, I started collecting tin signs for the side of garage. While they aren't "old" they're okay by me. Most of these cost less than $20.00, while the really old ones go for much much higher. My goal is to fill the whole side of the garage! 

A little place to meditate. Mary keeps me company here. 
Tom built this playhouse and slide when the "kids" were little. The slide at the back side is actually the slide Tom used as a kid. 

This pie safe is on the back porch. One of our early "estate auction" finds. They don't have many estate auctions anymore, or at least not like they did thirty years ago. What fun it was to spend the day at an old estate auction. Over the years we've met many new friends that have now become old friends. By the way, the pie safe, pie cupboard, pie chest, was used from the 1700's through the 1800's (before ice boxes) to store not only pies, but bread and other perishables to keep the vermin off and away from the food. 



A view of the back porch that I've probably taken at least thirty photos but always love sitting here, watching the humming birds and taking in the wildlife. 



This little whirly gig Tom bought at a yard sale for $6.00. When the wind catches it, the barber starts cutting the guy's hair with what looks like a cleaver or an ax, I can't which. Too funny. Okay maybe the cleaver's a bit Saprano but hey it only cost $6.00. What a bargain!



A morning view of the Garden Cabin. Shhh had to be quiet and careful not to disturb the guests. 



I'm really super excited about moving my old computer downstairs and into the back bedroom. Separating the "cabin rental" stuff and my "writing" stuff has really pepped my attitude. When I'm in this room, I write....


Or...look out the window. 

Last but not least, looking down the driveway on this early morning in July, I feel blessed!! Hope you enjoyed the morning tour.
FINALLY, if you get a chance, check out my books on Amazon.com Women's Fiction THREE MOONS OVER SEDONA - CHASING JOE - ISLAND PASSAGE

Thursday, May 5, 2016

NO, WE ARE NOT TURNING AMISH

No, we are not turning Amish. Just don't let your husband go to an auction by himself. You never know what he'll bring home. I have to say this charming little Amish buggy is a "keeper." No horse, thank you very much. Just a conversation piece.  Tom and I always love going to Holmes County and taking in the buggies and thinking life would be much simpler in a less progressive community. However, I am partial to modern perks like electricity, indoor plumbing, washing machines, and getting in my car and driving to town in a matter of minutes, not hours. I do love the buggy though.



Mickey just walked through the flower bed to inspect the buggy

Check out my books on Amazon - Three Moons Over Sedona, Chasing Joe, and Island Passage

Thursday, December 17, 2015

CHASING JOE - FREE KINDLE DOWNLOAD


To wish you all a very Merry Christmas for the next four days CHASING JOE will be a FREE Kindle download on Amazon.com - Follow the following link - ENJOY!!! - CHASING JOE

Friday, December 11, 2015

GARDEN CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY - UGLY SWEATERS CONTEST NOT SO UGLY AFTER ALL




OUR SUPREME HOSTESS, BEVERLY RIGGS
 An annual event - Four Seasons Garden Club Christmas Party at Beverly Riggs' beautiful home in the country. Bev goes all-out in the gorgeous decorations throughout every nook and cranny of her house, including the bedrooms! She's amazing, articulate and a great cook!! Bev is our Hocking Hills Hostess Supreme!

Note: Be sure to scroll all the way down to the end of this post where I have placed photos of an old cabin that Bev and her husband, Bob, reconstructed on their property. Stepping inside the doorway will take you back in time to a place where there is no electricity, no running water, and only the warmth of a fireplace to fight the chill of a frigid winter night.


99 YEAR OLD MIDGE - BEV'S MOM
 The holiday guests were greeted at Bev's front door by her mother, Midge, who will be 99 years old in March. Midge is a very tiny (I think she only weighs like 78 pounds!!) woman with a great big heart and friendly smile. Midge is absolutely adorable!!

BEV'S DINING ROOM FIREPLACE



BEV'S AWESOME MANTLE DECORATIONS


 THE GUESTS BEGIN TO ARRIVE



NEW ARRIVALS AT THE PARTY


LINDA WEAVER KING  READY TO PARTY
MEMBERS - DEE MCCLAIN AND NANCY GREEN
THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER CONTESTANTS ARRIVE!!!
Libby is de-LIGHTED to be at the party!
Carol Showman  is ready to Party



NINA AND CHERYL IN THEIR UGLY SWEATERS

NINA'S  BACK-VIEW CONTRIBUTION TO THE UGLY SWEATER CONTEST



CHERYL IS DRESSED IN UGLY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HER TIPPY TOES (NICE SHOES CHERYL)
Debbie and Evelyn - The Twin Ugly Sweater Gals

LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!!

LOTS OF CHIT-CHAT AND PHOTO TAKING

OF COURSE, THE FOOD!!!

BEV'S LOVELY DINING ROOM READY FOR THE GARDEN PARTIERS


CHRISTMAS AUCTION FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND


THE WINNERS!! UGLY, UGLIER, AND UGLIEST CHRISTMAS SWEATERS
I stole a quiet moment and walked over to the old log cabin and took some photos. Bev and Bob really created a truly authentic step-back-in-time. 

BEV AND BOB'S LITTLE LOG CABIN

A COZY DINING TABLE - IMAGINE HAVING NO ELECTRICITY

THE CABIN FIREPLACE
An added room for guests - Don't ya just love the decor???








Tuesday, October 20, 2015

A GOOD DAY IN THE WOODS!!!


Rocky the Squirrel

This morning I had a little greeter outside the bedroom window. This little guy was eating the dogwood berries left on the tree limbs. He gave me a disconcerting look and then a brush of his tail as he scooted down to a lower limb.
Morning coffee. The morning light was fantastic, begging for photographs. Inside the cabin, couldn't resist taking a photo of the ridge pole and beams, the light giving the beams a golden hue.
The morning light was so inspiring inside the cabin


Mickey staking out his winter rocking chair by the fire
Cash in his usual in-the-house pose


Garden Cabin - ready to clean and prep for next guests

Ohhhh the laundry - bedding and towels
The Garden Cabin emptied out this morning, so that means a "clean" to get ready for a new set of guests tomorrow. Stripping off bedding and towels, putting them through wash and dry cycles. Dusting and mopping, putting dishes away. All in day's work during the cabin rental season.



Chicken broth ready for chicken and veggies
Cooler weather means soup on the stove. We decided on making a chicken/rice soup. Dropping the chicken into a stock pot, Tom seasoned with creole seasonings, onion and a couple of hot peppers. We let it cook on the wood stove for about an hour until the chicken could be taken out of the pot and cooled. I sliced peppers, carrots, chopped celery, minced some garlic, then added to the simmering broth while the chicken cooled enough to take the meat off the bone. After this, I added the chicken to the soup, along with some cooked brown rice.

And, a special treat: Shiitake mushrooms harvested from our "plugged" logs.

The soup simmered the rest of the afternoon, adding the Shiitakes to the soup about an hour before we ate dinner.

Tom begins stacking the dried firewood for the winter
Cash and Brutus out for a romp
Don't ya just love fall colors? 



Mickey, too

Also, this is really cool!!! Last weekend Tom bought an old deck chair from the antique mall. Obviously, it had once been on an ocean liner at some point in time. The chair was a dreary weathered gray, but all in all, in good shape structure wise. Tom convinced me that he could have the old deck chair looking beautiful again.

Well...he did...and it is gorgeous. Look how the brass shined up!! Amazing. I'm especially partial to the little brass plate that says 'FIRST CLASS ONLY"

I told Tom that the chair probably fell off  the Titantic when it went down, then floated in the water until it came to shore somewhere, and now it sits in Ohio!! Okay, I might be exaggerating just a tad, but it's a good story anyway, don't ya think?


Just look at how that brass shined up!!





Okay, this sold me the chair: First Class Only


Glass of wine before dinner
A glass of wine before dinner, and then....

Soup and salad - who can beat that combo? 



PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE, 



Sherry is the author of Three Moons Over Sedona, Island Passage and Chasing Joe,