Sub freezing temps, beef stew,soda bread, and a bottle of red

It finally started getting seriously cold today. The weather forcast said we'd get up to 33 degrees today, so most of the day was at or below freezing, before the wind chill. So we had to make plans for cold weather.  We had some stew meat in the freezer, so we opted for a pot of beef stew, to warm the house during the day, and our tummies this evening.

I started it last night, browning the meat and cutting up the vegetables, so this morning it just needed to go into the crock pot and simmer through the day.

By this evening it was a bowl of warmth and comfort waiting to be dished up.  We were in Gettysburg yesterday, at one of our favorite wineries - Adam's County Winery; we visited a Irish shop and picked up a fresh loaf of Irish Soda Bread. While we at Adam's County Winery we tasted and picked up a bottle of their Nouveau. For dinner we had hot stew, fresh bread, and a glass of red.  And plenty of curious attention from the four legged kids.

The big outing yesterday took us to a big produce market where we got some great apple cider, some relishes, and hoemmade baked goods.  From there we headed to the winery and then we headed into Gettysburg to just be spontaneous and see what we would find. We stopped for lunch at a place called The Pub and Gloria got some of the best tomato bisque that either of us have ever tasted.  We got a quart to take home and split it for dinner last night.  After lunch we wandered down the street to the Irish shop, A Little Irish Too is the shop, and we had fun picking up some Christmas presents, I was able to get Gloria some Irish silver jewelry (she helped pick it out so it's not too much of a surprise, but it's something special because we found it together and she has Irish roots.)

We had a good day yesterday, 

Today was a big trip to the grocery store to get ready for Thanksgiving on Thursday. So I'm sitting here on a Sunday evening sipping on my wine from dinner, thinking about the blessings I have in my life, mostly about Gloria.  When we were married, the preacher told us that we were God's gift to each other.  This March will be 23 years that I've been able to cherish God's gift to me and my life.  Tonight it is a simple time to give thanks for a warm meal in our home.  After the activities of the weekend, we nestled down to break bread together and share a glass of wine before a busy week pushes into the schedule.

In this blog I've spent a lot of words on the yard, and the dogs, and different foods, I have not spenf nearly enough simply sharing the blessings brough into my life by Gloria.  We'll have a busy week getting ready for a big dinner on Thursday, and a houseful of company helping us give thanks; but tonight is a simpler sharing of the blessing who has chosen to share her life with me. My Love; My Life; My Wife.

Rabbi Ben Ezra

BY ROBERT BROWNING

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith "A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!''

Christmas Photo Day with the family

Well, the outside lights are up, not plugged in yet, but they're up.  I took advantage of the weather last weekend to get the outdoor portion done.  All that's left is getting some pine roping and finishing the front patio and hanging the big wreath on the outside of the garage.  That will be done (weather permitting) on the Friday after Thanksgiving so that evertything is ready to be plugged in on that evening.

Today if was time for a family Christmas photo.  We haven't done one before, but decided this year we needed some pictures with the new kids.  And since I'm not going to be able to be Santa at PetSmart (they changes how they're doing pet photos with Santa this year) I wanted to get my Father Christmas gown out and get some pictures with our kids.  You can't really see it, but the Father Christmas outfit is a floor length red velvet gown (for lack of a better word) with oversized sleeves and plush fur trim.  It's very impressive when I'm standing up (especially since I'm 6'4" tall.)

For the last few years I've been able to be Santa at a local PetSmart and have lots of fun showing off the outfit, but not this year.

So instead, I'll share some pictures with the kids.

From the left: Buddy Bear, Jacques, me, Truman, and Precious.

The bear over my right shoulder is wearing an outfit that my mother saved that used to be mine many many moons ago, a red plaid vest and shorts.  The bunnies over my left shoulder hang out on the couch when they're not filling in for the Easter Bunny.

And we don't want to forget:

Simba

I'll have plenty more pictures of the lights after Thanksgiving when I have them plugged in.  The tree will have to wait until December.  It doesn't go up until the first weekend in December.

TRADITION - can't mess with it.

This week I get to finalize the plans for various holiday activities at work, it will probably include a gift exchange, a wall to share pictures of holiday traditions, a giving tree with gifts for local children, a holiday sweater contest and maybe an extra surprise or two. (We've got to do something with homemade cookies so that I can make my Scottish Shortbread (As far as I'm concerned it's not really Christmas until I smell shortbread baking.)

Our Family is Growing

This year has been over taken with issues with the four legged members of the family.  Between Jume and October we lost four dogs, one to dementia and 3 to cancer,  There are earlier posts on this blog to each of them written as we had to say goodbye.

Now I am able to post about the healing we have found as new four legged children have entered the family.

Truman has been with us for about 2 years and has gone through all this with us.  I don't know what he is thinking about all of it, with familiar dogs leaving and new dogs coming into the house.

Shortly after Labor day we welcomed Precious to the family.

She came in as a foster for Oldies But Goodies Cocker Rescue, but we realized very quickly that she had found her forever home.  I am very clearly her person, and she is my dog (but don't tell Gloria - it's a secret.)

Precious has lots of energy and has lightened up the household with her youth and excitement. Every time we open the back door she races out, even if she was just out 2 minutes earlier.

About a week ago we picked up anothe Foster for OBG, his name is Buddy Bear.

He's found a home here as well, we just haven't done the paperwork yet.  We hope he'll get the collar off on Tuesday when he has an appointment with the vet.  He had a minor lesion removed from his eyelid and we don't want him scratching.

And on Friday we picked up Jacque from Tired Dog Rescue. He was transported up here from Mississippi by Rescue Road Trip.  We were told he has a wonderful temperament, and it's true.  Even though he's the newcomer to the pack, he is fitting in well.

It's a time of healing and filling the lonely places we were left with over the summer of losses. We have been fortunate to be introduced to these lovely new members of our family.

Autumn comes to Bowie

It's been getting cooler and the autumnal finery is on display.  I was talking to a friend just back from Texas about the joy in seeing different seasons.  So, for my friends in Texas I put together a collection of shots from our yard that I took this morning.

The former owners left us a Red Maple on the back hill.

Another shot of the Maple.

One last shot for this collection.

We still have some Foxglove blooming in the side yard.  I haven't seen any bees lately, it's getting too cold.

This beauty is in our neighbor's yard, but about a third of the canopy is over our yard.  If I have to rake the leaves (in a couple weeks) I'm going to claim it as being in our yard.  We get to enjoy the early day shade in the summer and have a protected refuge for birds and chipmunks during the whole year.

Another angle of our shared tree.

I haven't had to rake the leaves yet, but that will probably have to be done in the next couple of weeks.  After that I'll start working on the Christmas lights.  I want to have them all up by Thanksgiving (at least the outdoor lights) so that we can turn them on the day after Thanksgiving.