"The Mountain", by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer

I'm slowly and painfully trying to pick this out on my guitar.

2 Things Challenge: Time/Friend

TIME:

A quote.  "The time to make up your mind about people is never."

Tracy Lord, The Philadelphia Story

FRIEND:

A photo.  My wonderful friend Katie and her wonderful canine pal Ted, hiking with me earlier this month, up at the Chautauqua in Boulder.  (Old man Romeo had to stay at home.)

Lin's Addition

Lin got a new box,

a tunnel to add to her burrow.

She was skeptical at first.

But she was chewing and chinning it, and running up and down it pretty soon.

She kept at it for 40 minutes, rearranging it and nibbling on it, until she called it quits and collapsed for a nap.  Moving furniture is hard work!

In the Dying Garden

These photos were taken in mid-November on Blackberry Farm when I was visiting for the holiday.  I went outside to get the last of the greens and cold weather vegetables in and I had a lot of help.

The chickens get to spend their days outside of the coop now that the garden's about to be turned under for the winter.  But they still found all kinds of things to get into,

including the compost pile.

Old Spur is still top rooster.

An Araucanian hen in a forest of kale.

Rows of Swiss chard 

were full of fall colors

   

and snacking hens.

    

Unharvested tomatillos reminded me of shells on a beach for some reason.

Dexter came to check out what was going on and couldn't resist play stalking some hens in the gone to seed asparagus bed.

With the cold months coming on, my folks will still have plenty of fresh veggies to harvest from their amazingly awesome hoop house.  When the breeze turned chilly outside, I'd just step inside the hoop house for a few minutes where it was nice and warm.

2 Things Challenge: Table/Holiday

Happy holidays everyone, be safe out there.

2 Things Challenge: Table/Holiday:

Our version of a Christmas tree, a Norfolk Island pine tree.  This is just the right climate for this little sprout.

Tinyman, Mosley Tinyman: A Character Sketch in Photos

The latest feline addition to the Blackberry Farm family is Mo, I got to meet him on this latest trip during Thanksgiving.  Mosley Tinyman, the Siamese mix.

My sister found him in a dumpster near where she works.  Someone threw him away, but lucky for him he fits right in on the farm with our folks' and their other animals, and gets more love than he's ever going to need.

He hit the feline jackpot with my family and lives the good life.

He's adorable, but very mischievous.  Here he is sitting in my dad's hat.

One of his favorite past times is giving super serious Dexter a hard time.

All

of the time.

He dreams of the day when he will be allowed outside the house to explore like the other house cats.  (As soon as he is neutered and much to Dexter's relief.)

His other full time job is exploring forbidden table tops,

getting into everything, 

and not caring a pig's ear when he gets in trouble.

Nothing

is 100%

Mo-proof.

My mom

is his favorite human person.

He loves to cuddle and doesn't mind at all

if Mom is otherwise occupied.  He'll hang around.

Honey Thyme Sauce

I love fresh herbs and discovering recipes that use them.  This is simple and wonderful on everything;  pan fried chicken or tofu, vegetables, rice, sandwiches, TOAST.  I'm addicted.  If you don't have any fresh thyme you can use dried, but up the amount to 2 teaspoons and add it at the same time as the onions so it gets a chance to saute and bring out the flavor!

Honey Thyme Sauce

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 c. finely diced green onions
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1/2 c. apple cider vinegar OR 1/2 c. of water with the juice of one small lemon
1 c. broth
1/3 c. honey
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast, optional

Directions:

- Melt the butter in a saucepan.  If you're using dairy butter, it burns easily so keep an eye on it.  When the butter starts to bubble, toss in the onions and saute about 3 minutes.
- Add the thyme and stir.
- Turn the heat high and add the vinegar.  Cook until reduced by around half, about 15 minutes.
- Now reduce the heat to medium, and add the broth and honey.  Simmer for another 15 minutes until it starts to thicken.
- Remove from the heat, whisk in the mustard, and your sauce is done.  Delish!

A Bright Window

A simple pleasure on a dark and stormy winter night,

the bright window of a fire in a woodburning stove.

It's a MAN-CUB!

My little sister and our second cousin, Finley Kai.  Maggie the Dog is very curious and protective, and when Fin went up for his nap, she looked for him all over downstairs.

2 Things Challenge: Loose/Green

LOOSE/GREEN: Goodies from my folks' garden (except for the avocado).

2 Things Challenge: Curve/Flat

CURVE/FLAT: Riverdale Road, a back way to the local library that I discovered.

Museum Prowling: Denver N & S, Part Four, Gems and Minerals