Let there be Meatballs!!!

 

 

Checking the sauce.

Adding more seasonings.

Finally!!!

Covered in sauce and simmering away!

Oliver and Angel

Their waiting for their helping of John's homemade spagetti sauce!

Homemade Gravy

Or spagetti sauce as some like to call it.  It's brighter than it appears in the photo, this will simmer for awhile and then the meatballs go into the sauce to cook.  First up tomorrow, John's homemade lasanga!!! 

Recipe can be found on my blog here

Late Last Night

A man and his dog hanging out in the family room.

Oliver napping in my chair.

Early Christmas Present

For the past few years I've been searching for the teapot that goes with my mother's china set, I found it at GoodWill this afternoon.  The only down side was I had to buy the entire set of china to get the teapot!  So I now have 13 extra place settings and a second gravy boat and a second butter dish.

Top of the tea pot, this set was in very nice condition!

The three pieces I was really wanting!

My dad purchased this set in 1966 when he worked part time at the Texaco station in Minot, North Dakota.  He was station at the Air Force Base there and mom really wanted this set of china, it was sold as a premium.  He has some interesting stories about riding his BMW motorcycle to work in the snow that year.

Snug as a Bug

Oliver all tucked in, and all on his own, for a long winters nap in my chair.

Cyber Monday Sale ~ Bird Lovers

Queen Anne's Crows No. 2

Digitally Printed Silk Fabric, on Painted Timtex, Machine Stitched.

 

Gifts for your Favorite Bird Lovers

 

I loaded my shop last night with some of my favorite bird pieces, I will be adding more later today!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Snack Time

Snack time with the furkids, I took this late last night, notice how Pepper is draped over John's shoulder hoping to get some cheese and sausage.

First Snow ~ Fall 2013

Firebush is stunning against it's white backdrop.

Oliver is hilarious, this is his first snow that we know of and he keeps trying to eat the snow.  Angel was really excited, it's looking like this is going to be a fun winter.

Fall Colors

The neighbors crab apple tree is stunning this year!

The last of the hosta's.

Striped lily of the valley leaves.

Oliver Files - A New Blankie!!!

 

 

Winter is coming on here in central Iowa and at some point we're going to have to put a bed in his crate so he will stay warm during the night; we keep the house at 58F during the night.

 

He was being a pest earlier so I decided to perform a social experiment with him, lock him in his crate with a polar fleece blanket, to see what his reaction would be.  He did good, he spent a few minutes rearranging the blanket and proceeded to go to sleep.  This is good because I was concerned about him shredding his new dog bed that I'll be making for him; basic polar fleece with polyfill inside to give him a couple of inches between him and the metal floor of the crate. 

 

In case your worried about his being isolated during the day while in his crate, don't I'm a full five feet away from his crate working on the computer plus he won't be in there for long, during the day he spends anywhere from five minutes to four hours in there all depending on what errands I have to run.

 

I just wanted to see what his reaction was to the blanket, it took Angel a good five years before she would tolerate anything in her crate other than her food bowl, we'd give her a blanket and in the morning find it outside of her crate and her sleeping on her back legs straight up in the air!  Now she sleeps on a polar fleece dog bed I made for her, again with the legs straight up in the air.

Angel

A wee bit of pink tongue sticking out, she struck this pose right after John left to walk Oliver... She was smiling and big time.  Even at 15ish years of age she's still my doll baby dog, all 15 pounds of her!

Oliver Files - Squeek Toy Crisis

Lamby went awol for about two weeks, and talk about a sullen puppy!  Lamby finally showed up this evening, buried in the sofa.  If you know where I can purchase more of these silly little lambs, and yes I've looked all over the internet for them, please let me know via the comments section!

I purchased lamby about seven years ago for Angel but she's terrified of the silly thing, Oliver, however, loves lamby!

Oliver Files 101013

John just measured Oliver's  height, he's 26" at the shoulders and he's not done growing yet!

Oliver Files - 100713

For the most part he's been a really good boy today, and then there's this bit that started a few minutes ago that's earning him crate time!  He just can't seem to let the cat alone.

Oliver Files Week Six - I Think

His favorite place in the house is the family room surrounded by his toys and with Angel of course.

Here he is still sorta damp after his walk in the pouring down rain.  I love his coat, like Angels it dries and very quickly.

We're still learning to not pick on Pepper, Thomas can hold his own and for the most part Oliver is scared of Thomas.

He matches the rug and quite well, don't you think!

My princess, Angel.

Last but not least, Thomas who still refuses to hang out in the family room since Oliver arrived, but it's only been six weeks and he's finally coming into the kitchen again. 

Bad Dog...

Gahhhhhhhhhhhh just got back from a walk and a viscious attack from the neighbors dog, damned thing bit Oliver on the nads and bit me too for good measure. Since the dog is still lose animal control is on their way to deal with the dog and the owner. 

I inspected Oliver and he's not bleeding but he's not happy either.  Poor Ollie and here he was under the impression that all dogs are nice and are for playing with!

Just because...

Thomas asleep on my office chair.

Pepper asleep on a quilt I started back in the 80's and have yet to finish but use anyway, in my office.  Neither cats like it when we start cleaning rearranging rooms in the house so they go hide in my office.

Family Room Partial Redux

 

Oliver at home on the new, to him, rug in the freshly cleaned family room.

I didn't think to take a before photo and this is probably a good thing!  Needless to say we spent the past two days taking apart, deep cleaning, and then putting back together with a replacement rug no less, the family room.  No small feat on our part because the dogs wanted to be in the middle of everything the entire time.  But we got'er done and I have to say mostly due to John's particpation in the whole process!  Another words it wouldn't have ever have happened if he hadn't been home to help me. 

Notice the beautiful rug in the previous photo, it's replacing the neutral number that has been ruined by my shelties relentless need to pee on it!  The new, it's actually not new we've had it in storage for about seven years now, rug is scotch guarded and well will hide the pee stains much better... unfortunately my red oak floor was ruined from Angel's relentless need to pee in the same spot for the past nine years.

She's NOT happy about the new rug and will barely come into the family room.  Btw her peeing issue is due to having been spayed improperly... from what I've learned it was the breeder herself that spayed Angel and NO she had no vet training.

A very unhappy sheltie!

And lastly, hillbilly puppy training!  He's already set the trap off that was in a skillet on the stove.  He's learning!

Garden Path

Is in need of cleaning, etc., but I do love my native plants, and the pollinators that they attract.  This afternoon the thistles were visited by green hummingbirds, this morning goldfinches.

Thistles and Bees

Thistles and Bees are just a few of my favorite things!