Tea time Tuesday ~ The Mask

 An autumn day, mild outside, with rain showers off and on.A nice day to sip tea and eat pumpkin bread*  on the porch.

 October, the month so many excitedly and enthusiastically celebrate all things scary. Perfect for sharing this teacup I found while shopping in a near-by small town with my oldest granddaughter. This teacup is Irish Belleek, and the design is named 'The Mask'. Can you spot the man / mask?

 I did not see the man when I bought this teacup , I saw the almost translucent china, the grapes, the vines.The price was very reasonable ( I don't spend a lot on teacups ).

 This is the saucer. The teacup and saucer are in perfect condition. I have to say though, when I got home and examined my new teacup I was startled to see the man / mask, and surprised I did not see it in the shop.I think he is kind of scary, and not really my "cup o' tea".When I looked the tea cup up on-line I was horrified to read the masked man represents things I find offensive, but here he is, on a teacup, in my home.

 If you wish to learn more about Belleek china, which this teacup is, check out this link.*

I enjoyed my pumpkin bread, my tea, and the autumn weather while sitting in a rocker on my front porch.The china teacup was beautifully translucent and so very light to hold, and if not for the man in the mask, I think it would be a beautiful teacup. What do you think? 

I am linking with these ladies for  Tea-Time Tuesday :please join them for a spot of tea and inspiration.

• Terri at Artful Affirmations *
• Martha's Favorites * 
• Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

I Need A Bigger Jewelry Box !

"Enjoy the blessings of the day...and the evils bear patiently, for this day only is ours; we are dead to yesterday, and not born to tomorrow." Jeremy Taylor

"Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy." Gretta Palmer

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those he has." Epictetus

We were away this past weekend enjoying time with our sons and their families. Above is a photo of our youngest son leading his horses bearing two precious fair maidens.We had a wonderful time and I am constantly reminded of the blessings God has showered upon us.The true riches and treasures of my life are the loved ones who delight in spending time and sharing their lives with us.I think I need a bigger jewelry box!  "Rejoice always." I Thessalonians 5:16

Sunshiny Autumn, Happy Hawk !

I was working outside and noticed my constant companion, our Vizsla , Hawk, was not following me. Very unusual, he seems to be attached to me at the knee when I am outside.I looked for him and found him just standing...

..and soaking up the heat of the afternoon Autumn sunshine. Here is a dog dear to my heart that knows when to stop and soak in the blessings that come our way, sometimes for only a few scarce minutes.Thank-you God for allowing me the privilege of enjoying animals who know to stop and take in the everyday blessings I so often hurry by, only to remember days or years past, if at all.

"The happiest heart that ever beat 

was in some quiet breast

That found the common daylight sweet,

And left Heaven to the rest."

John Vance Cheney 

 

October Day, Just Ducky !

 A beautiful October day here on Cedar Pond.The ducks are loving the water and I love watching them.

 Although it rained off and on today, there were sun breaks when I would go outside to work and enjoy the day.The leaves are turning gold and red, reminding me why this is my favorite season.

 Now that abundant rain has lifted the burning ban I am burning much of last years' storm damage and many months' collection of feed bags. Keeping so many empty feed bags is like creating a housing development or slum for mice and wood rats. Got to get rid of them ( rodents and feed bags ) ASAP !

 I watch my ducks as I tend to the burn pile.

 You can see the smoke and reflection on the water of the burning branches, storm debris, and feed bags.The ducks swim around snatching at bugs in the water, seeming to be oblivious of my activity.

 The pond's water level is very low. The water is usually past the greenery in the far right bottom of the picture, and well up onto the island. The only time of the year the water is this low is late summer / early autumn. The rains have begun again, the pond will quickly fill, and all will be well...

 ... as far as the ducks are concerned.

 " Never lose an opportunity for seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pumpkins For Eggs

 Huh?

 It's big !

 What is it ?

 I break open the pumpkin for my new laying flock.

 They are intrigued.

 My bantam flock of barred Cochins is too.

Feeding frenzy!

 This is a great time of the year for me and my new laying flock of chickens. For one thing, they are all finally laying eggs. We are cleaning up the vegetable garden, the windfalls of apples are abundant, and there are plenty of pumpkins available, and after Halloween, even more, FREE! This means the chickens are eating very well because they get all the old produce we choose not to eat, and they turn it into yummy eggs!

 

 

Seasons

 Things change, seasons of life can surprise us, even with great joy.My youngest sister has returned home, to our state, after so many years away. My other 2 sisters and I are enjoying having her back home. In the photo above she is walking with 4 of my grandchildren out into the field to pick apples with them. God has worked all things out for us more perfectly than we could have ever planned, He is so good to us !

My sheep are thriving, and I am pleased with the spring lambs I have chosen to keep. Above is Bide-a-wee Buttercup with her lamb ( rt) Cedar Pond's Bluebonnet Vickie, named for Sand Flat Farm's Vickie and the state flower of Texas.Bluebonnet Vickie is almost as large as her mother, and has 4 horns fused, appearing as if they are 2 very large horns. 

 The weather in the Pacific Northwest has surpassed all previous records of days without rain. Fires are still burning in our state. I am having to water trees and plants I have never had to water this time of the year. Usually I can count on this being the time of year to get things done inside, but am still having as much outdoor work as the summer months without benefit of the long hours of sunlight.

I am still getting yarn spun up, wee little sheep made, wool dyed, carded, and put away for the winter days inside by the fire.However, by the time I get inside I am just plain tired out, and I am thinking the season of life for me has come where I must be more selective in my use of time. I think I will be praying about this and pondering the right choices this fall & winter as I spin up more wool yarn and craft more rugs, remembering to enjoy the company and blessing of those God has placed in my life, and I in theirs. ~ "I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart.." Ecclesiastes 3:10,11

Life Is A Never-Ending Road Leading Us Into Eternity

I love this song sung by Loreena McKennitt.This past year, and most recently in the past month, people I hold dear are struggling simply to breathe. Some I know have left this mortal world, and a few are close to the bridge from mortality into eternity.The road does go ever on, He promised. John 3:16

Morning ! ( Before the fair opens)

 Before the fair gates open, before Goth is surrounded by people taking his picture and also enjoying so many other animals, the 'Animals Of the World Barn' is busy preparing the day to greet the public.

Our granddaughter KN is spending her first time with myself and her brother for a week at the fair.She chose to spend her birthday with us here and I am thankful for this.

 A blur of activity and work. The mornings before the fair begins, each barn is busy being cleaned by the exhibitors. We know and appreciate our time in the barn to be available to exhibit the animals we love is a privilege. We start the day early, cleaning our animal pens and making sure they are presentable to the public. Hoping our exhibit is pleasing and also a good presentation for our animals and the fair. After all, that is why we are here, for you!

 KN is camera shy, but allowed me to take this picture of her. My beloved granddaughter is growing up so quickly, and for her to choose to spend her birthday with me and my sheep at the fair means more to me than I can express.She worked hard here, and there was no birthday cake & ice cream, but she seemed to be O.K. with that.

Early morning pictures of our barn. The exhibitors are slowly arriving, quickly cleaning. After our areas are clean and ready for the public, we have our doughnut & coffee break. We visit, we share, we learn about each other's animals.We become friends and begin to care about one another. We hope to see each other next year.

A special benefit of being here is the opportunity to see animals not common to so many. We get to watch camels, zebras, yaks, zedonks,Watusi,and so many other animals show their personalities. This camel was spotted by me reaching his tongue out beyond his pen to gain hay. He would also watch me closely and follow me as I worked. When I got my camera to snap photos he seemed to become very savvy and camera-shy. He would duck, dodge, and hide when my camera was seen. This is the best photo I have of him. When I put my camera away he was  in my face!

Brother and sister, grandchildren I love. A pleasure to be able to camp with them here at the fair, a pleasure to have them here to help me. A family tradition I hope they will remember with love and maybe continue.Even better, that they might love Jacob Sheep. A grandma can hope!