TONIGHT on TDIPT Mercantile...

Susanna is my Thanksgiving TDIPT Mercantile offering.
♥





Click on the button below to go directly to my page.

See you tonight.




Hurricane Sandy has damaged and devastated parts of this great land of ours. Please continue to pray for strength and safety for all of those who are struggling and hurting.

♥

Yippee!!! The power is back on!!

We expected the worst and hoped (and prayed) for the best.

Thank the Lord above, I am so grateful!!

We lost power around 7pm. We totally expected it and sure enough *poof* we were in the dark. The winds were strong and it rained pretty good, but this old 160 year old farmhouse is one tough cookie.

On the other hand, Gracie our Chihuahua didn't handle things so well. Before the storm even blew through, she started acting extremely bizarre. She literally walked along the sides of the walls in our home. She wouldn't walk through any room. She just crept along the walls. Then she'd stop and stare off. She was freaking me right out!

When hubs got home, he decided to take her down on the trail for a quick walk before the sh*t hit the fan. He said on the way back she literally took off ahead of him,
like a bat out of h*ll. Then she would stop, look back at him and wait
for him to catch up to her. Then she'd take off again and do the same thing
until they got home. He said it was as if she was trying to get him to hurry and follow her to get back home.
She was like a microscopic Lassie. All you old timers like me know about my Lassie reference. ((giggle))

Here she is this morning in her dog bed. Completely tuckered out from yesterday's excitement.
This is her "mummy paws" pose.



They say animals are very in tune to weather. She definitely was!
Oh and we found out she's afraid of flashlights. Not the flashlights
themselves, oh no. That would make too much sense. She's afraid of the light they emit. She is such an odd little dog. Which is why she fits in perfectly around here. ;> )

We're still under a high wind warning until later today. But we're pretty much in the clear. Others were not so lucky. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts.

Happy Tuesday!
:> )

It's a waiting game...

Well, we've prepared as much as we can. Now all we can do is wait.

Yesterday, hubs made a quick run to a local Tractor Supply and they were completely cleaned out. (Not that we expected anything different.)
The staff said they never saw anything like it.

Just in case we lose power and I can't get online Wednesday night to update my TDIPT Mercantile page, please be sure to check back. I will eventually have it updated.

Here's a photo of sweet Susanna. She's my Thanksgiving offering.



Jeepers! With the expected high winds, I hope her dress doesn't blow up and over her head. How embarrassing.

Happy Monday everyone!!

See you in the funny papers...

:> )

Time to batten down the hatches...

Looks like New Jersey will get the brunt of Sandy and then she'll come far inland up to us here in Central New York.

I have many customers and blog friends in her path so please be prepared and be safe. Remember it's better to be safe than sorry. Heck, I have a feeling we're going to be in for some crazy weather these next few months.

On that note, I will leave you with this.



How I love people with a great sense of humor even during trying times.

:> )

Happy Sunday!

Out here in the country...

I don't rake leaves by the wheelbarrow full...



Heck no!

I rake them by the old pickup truck full.



It's days like these I wish I had a gigantic airboat fan.

Happy Saturday!

:> )

A sneak peek...

at my November 1st TDIPT Mercantile offering.

I wonder who she could be?
You'll just have to wait and see.
((giggle))



I heard on the news this morning, here in the northeast we might have the "Storm of the Century" brewing. (Hopefully not like Stephen King's! Yikes!!)
This would be a nor'easter and hurricane combo. If the conditions are right, it could come inland as far as Ohio.

Uh-oh...I'd better get the candles ready!
Better yet, I better get the snow shovel and my Floaties ready!

Have a terrific weekend everyone!!

:> )

It's been one month today...

and it's not getting any easier. Crazy, huh? How can one of God's tiny little creatures have such a profound impact on us? He knows and I am grateful He chose us to have her.

Talking about Darla is therapeutic for me. So below are lots of photos of her.
Now's your chance to click out of here and escape all the furbaby photos.
Don't say I didn't warn you. ((giggle))



The minute I laid eyes on her, she immediately ran over to me and peed on my sneaker. I knew she was the one.
:> )



























This was the last photo I took of her. Late that night, we took her to the vet to say goodbye.



No other dog will take the place of our precious Darla. She was truly a once in a lifetime, special little dog.
But we are talking about getting another Boston Terrier. Unfortunately it's difficult to find good, reputable breeders that are within driving distance. But Lord willing, He will lead us to another precious puppy.

:> )

Sounds good to me...

Happy Tuesday.
:> )

Hope everyone is..

enjoying their Saturday.

I am. Even though I spent part of it on my hands and knees scrubbing my kitchen floor, my first thought as I looked up and out my window was, "Man! The good Lord above has the most awesome box of crayons."



Take the time to enjoy and appreciate nature. Even if it's only out your window.

:> )

I've been busier than a rooster in a hen house...

Whew!
You can see for yourself...









by clicking on the "Seasons" button below.



Don't forget about lil' Hermie on eBay.





Enjoy your Thursday!

:> )

Guess who's on eBay this week???

It's Hermie the Elf Firewood Folk!

Click on the "My eBay" button below.



Happy Wednesday!!

I'm on a mission...

Yeah, I know. This is like my 12,000th mission since the beginning of the year.

I've been trying to figure out what kind of chair I would like in my keeping room. Right now I have the Shaker Style rocker my hubs bought me and an antique platform rocker.
The rocker my hubs bought me is not only pretty, it's very comfortable. So that's definitely staying. Besides, he picked it our for me. I could never get rid of it. ♥

I adore the antique platform rocker. But jeepers, you have to be knee-high to a grasshopper or the Travelocity Gnome to sit in it comfortably. I don't think anyone was taller than 4' back then.

So in my search I came across this!!!
**Insert Angels Singing**



It's a vintage Hitchcock rocker in mint condition. Man, this colonial style rocker is screaming, "I want to live at your house!!"
But the price tag is making the presidents in my wallet scream even louder, "That's a little pricy there, Mrs. Countryfolk!" (I know they're right. Hmpf!)

I've found one on Craigslist, but it's in Connecticut. (That's where the Hitchcock Chair Company originated)
I can't talk my hubs into taking another road trip, especially for a rocking chair. (Especially at $4.11 a gallon too!) What he went through to pick up that dining room set, I'm surprised he's still married to me.

So unless I'm able to twitch my nose, I don't see that rocker appearing in my keeping room anytime soon.

But I'll keep searching...

:> )

Happy Tuesday!

P.S.
Remember to watch the presidential debate tonight.

I'm having a "Barn Sale..."

Well, kind of. The sale is on my website!

You all know I've been trying to simplify my home and that mean letting go of some things I've not been wanting to let go of.

I'm just getting started so be sure to check in regularly.

Here's a peek at what I'm offering...








Just click on the Barn Sale button below to go directly to my page.



Happy Sunday!
:> )

Look what I found...

Hope you did too.

:> )

Have a great weekend, all.

It's Thursday already?!

Wow!! Where has this week gone?! I've been busy finishing up an order then tackling some housework I put off as to take care of my Darla.

I came across what looks to be a delicious dish! I haven't tried it yet but plan on doing so this weekend.
So to all my vegan and lactose intolerant friends, you may want to stop reading from here on out.
(Too much dairy tends to give me the "gurgly gut," but heck this may be worth it!!)



Chicken Bacon Pasta
(Oh my!!)

1/2 lb. ~ Bacon - Cooked and roughly chopped
1/2 tsp ~ Crushed red pepper flakes (or less if you don't want the heat)
1 tsp ~ Garlic powder
1/2 lb. ~ Penne pasta
1/2 C~ Heavy cream
1/4 C ~ Cream cheese
1/4 C ~ Grated Parmesan cheese
2 ~ Whole eggs
1/4 tsp ~ ground black pepper
2 grilled chicken breast ~ sliced (I marinated the chicken in Lawry's Garlic & Herb marinade)

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until done (according to package instructions).

Place cream and cream cheese in a small saucepan. Heat over low until cream cheese is melted, and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat. Add the Parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and pepper and whisk until blended.

Drain pasta (reserving 1/2 cup of hot water) and return to pot. Immediately add the white sauce and toss to coat. The hot pasta will cook the eggs. Stir in the bacon, and add some reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Top with grilled chicken.

Okay, time for me to get back to my chores. These gazillions of maple leaves aren't going to rake themselves. Oh, if only!!!

P.S.
Looking forward to the VP debate tonight! I think I'll make some popcorn!

Happy Thursday.
:> )

Needed A Change...

Things are still difficult. We're all trying to get into a new routine without sweet Darla.

One way I try to keep busy (besides creating), is to rearrange furniture. Yeah, I know it's weird. Most go out and buy a sh*tload of stuff to overcome their grief and sadness. Not me. I prefer to drag stuff around the house.

Well, I did the unthinkable. Many of you will gasp at what I'm going to say type. Here goes... I took my antique church pew out of the house.
Whew! It was hard, but I did.
As I mentioned before a church pew is a wonderful, decorative piece. But it is so impractical. If only I had a huge farmhouse with a lovely entry hall. Unfortunately, I don't.

Then I decided to remove the antique oak table and Shaker ladder back chairs. Man, that was even harder to do. As much I loved the way it looked, we rarely sat at it. Again, more impracticality. A pretty room we don't use. For the record, I have scattered those fantastic, old chairs throughout our home. I'm not THAT crazy!

About 5 years ago we put in a cozy wood stove in the dining room but we've never really enjoyed it. I decided it's time to enjoy it. My goal for all of this is to make the dining room into a keeping room. You know, a quiet place to sit, read (okay, so I don't like to read. How about flip through an Early American Life magazine? Sip a cup of coffee? Clip my toenails?) **giggle** and make the wood stove the focal point of the room. But I realize that is hard to do when the wood stove is positioned in an odd spot. (Had to use the existing chimney)

Another goal is to purchase a few chairs for my keeping room from Johnston Benchworks. But at about a grand a chair, for now I will settle with an eclectic look with furniture I already have.



Unless by some chance I'm able to cage wrestle a wee lil' leprechaun for his pot of gold. Then all bets are off. Hey, to get a couple Nantucket Wing Chairs, I'll take on that runt!

Happy Monday, everyone.

:> )

"I cannot endure to waste anything...

as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."
~Nathaniel Hawthorne



Have a great weekend and get your keister outside and enjoy nature.

:> )

Ready to smile?

I needed that.
:> )

Lost and confused...

As my hubs and I mourn the loss of Darla, the one who's struggling most is our Gracie.

Her big sister is gone and she doesn't know where she is. She's wandering and sniffing aimlessly around the house, jumping at every sound and staring at the door... waiting. When she does finally lay down, she just looks off in a distance. Such sadness in her little face.



It breaks my heart knowing she doesn't understand what has happened. She just knows she's alone and has lost her place in the "pack".

Sunday I went to the pet store to buy her some new toys. She will play for a few minutes then she loses interest.

We've tried taking her for a drive but we never got her acclimated to car travel (Darla always got car sick), so it's not a pleasant experience for any of us.

We have found one thing that gets her mind off everything and that is taking her down on the trail. But I'm very hesitant. Worried about coy-dogs, foxes and hawks. But it's a new experience for her and we actually see excitement in her when we ask "Do you want to go for walk?"

Look real close, you'll see her lil' self on the heels of my hubs as they jog.



Since the day my hubs brought her home, she's always been his dog. They have that special bond Darla and I had. I can only hope Gracie will share that bond with me too.