It's Coming, It's Ready, It's Here!

We've been having a lot of fun preparing for bed and breakfast company. My seriously major project was making that hand embroidered quilt for our guest room.

Yes, that took a while. That, and sprucing things up with a paint brush.

Stephen had his own projects on the go. He's been enthused about giving hayrides in summer and sleigh rides in winter to whoever is interested. Fixing up an old antique tractor had been on his priority list awhile ago, and now he's got the hay wagon built. We tried it out the other day. The breeze was nippy, which was so refreshing as we rode along.

It was hilarious watching our daughter's part- pug though. Polly leaped right up onto that wagon as if it was the most normal thing to do, and excitedly looked around. It didn't take long however until she took a flying leap off. I felt bad when that little gal rolled in the gravel, but in an instant Polly was up and running trying to keep pace with us. After she lagged further and further behind I asked Stephen if we could pick her up so she could rest, so we did.

We stopped at a couple different ditches to try out our grandson's birthday gift. He had received this 'real cool' remote controlled boat and the water filled ditches were the ideal places to take it for a spin

Oh the way back we let Polly do her own thing which was quite obviously running along beside us. That little rascal was too petered out to keep up, but boy did she try!

We can't offer any sleigh rides right now, 'cuz the snow is sure going now in spite of the extra long winter, but yes, YES! That good, old hay wagon is done. (Excuse me if it looks like I spelled wagon wrong. I'm just not used to the way you Americans spell it!)
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Come ON Down!

I've been having so much fun prettying up the place in preparation for Bed and Breakfast guests that's updating the blog has been put on the back burner. Talking about back burner, or rather front burner, in this case: I have had the fleshier parts of two old hens simmering on the stove all day. What a wonderful aroma! What should I do with them? Chicken and Dumplings? A soup? A casserole? Save some for sandwiches? 

Don't want to make you jealous or anything, but you can't get that good a flavor from chicken at the supermarket. There is something, real, real good about the taste of homegrown, free range chickens.

But that's not all I've been doing lately. The shelf by my kitchen window and under all the various grow lights tiny seedlings are sprouting. I'm really intent on prettying up our place this year. Sure, some people say it looks nice already, but just wait...! Every year I end up starting some plants in the house, but this year I really outdid myself. That's my typical reaction when winter seems too long and spring is slow in coming. Here's some of the visions dancing in my head.

What else with a name like Hollyhock Haven, eh?

Because of all the shade caused by immense trees I have lots of begonias growing around the place. Well, actually that's only part of the reason. I love, love, love them!

Maybe you'd like to take a peek at some of the show-offs from last year. (Mind you, with B&B guests expected, I want to baby them even more this year!)

You can't really see what a vibrant color these are, can you? 

These aren't exactly ours but I love growing this kind.

Would you believe I wintered this little guy just inside that patio door?

I'm eager to see it take off when its a little warmer. 

I don't exactly blame you folks for not showing up this winter when some of the time it was looking more like this:

but just wait til summer when you can do lots of canoeing on this:: (our canoe is available for rent)

or this:

Or maybe you prefer heading to the river and doing this:

or this:

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Or going to a nearby market garden for this type of fun!

See you next summer!