Booming Banter

Yesterday we spent a lot of time together outdoors.

We did leaves and then Ma cleared out her raised bed. She harvested her beetroot and has enough for one or two mouthfuls.

They look like marbles but she still boiled peeled and pickled them. Don’t tell her I said this but they’re pathetic. They wouldn’t fill a mouse’s tummy.

Anyway onwards. We brought in the last four tomatoes again miniature in size. Two are still green but they will turn.

The Basil which is looking woody was put in the family room for winter. It may not survive.

For the moment the rosemary which was the greatest success of the season is still outside as it’s hardy but we’re going to bring it in also before any hard frost.

Now on to our experiment. We are trying to winterize our geraniums. We took them from their pot and cleaned all the soil off the roots, trimmed back the stems and put them to sleep in a cardboard box.

From the stems we cut off we are trying to make baby plants by propagating them. We could have followed instructions but you know Ma she is a speed freak so we just chopped them up and stuck them in soil. They are in the garage now doing their thing.

The Bro also got in on the job when he came home from work and swept up four full big bags of leaves from the front.

It was great being together. It was a glorious sunny day but pleasantly cool. We played a lot and felt fresh and relaxed. We should do this more often.

Blessing#2921-Gardening

As soon as Ma woke up yesterday she knew what she’d make for dinner. STEW she said Scooby STEW.

The good olde Irish version with plenty of spuds and carrots and onions but stewing steak instead of lamb.

As soon as the decision was made she started telling me about how her Dad would always say to her Mom when she was making stew “Burn it a wee bit girl for that flavor”

Well sure enough yesterday evening my Ma got to work. She got everything on cooking and then she went to the living room to wait for it to cook.

You know what? She got into something on Facebook and she forgot about it and she burnt it big time.

She had to transfer it to another pot such was the carbonation on the bottom of the first.

This wasn’t the flavor enhancement her Dad was referring to but a major incident that virtually called for an extinguisher.

Anyway the rescued stew was just fine, the Bro and she enjoyed very much and into the bargain Ma got an upper arm workout cleaning that casserole before she even ate a bite.

Blessing#2920-Muscle Making

Big trees are beautiful but they’re a lot of work this time of year.

No sooner have you filled one huge bag with leaves than boom it’s like you never started.

Isn’t it strange that leaves fall off. If you didn’t know better you would think that the tree was sick or dying but no it’s all part of a healthy life for them.

Of course we also loose parts of us all the time. Doesn’t our whole skin completely renew itself in less than seven weeks.

We just don’t notice it because we don’t shed it like a snake in one piece we do it little bits at a time.

It’s just amazing

Blessing#2919-Makeovers

You know the greatest thing about cold nights? They’re super snuggly.

I just love it when you feel so comfy being cuddled.

Ma and I always sleep better too when our noses are cold and our hearts are warm.

I guess this is one of the joys of autumn and winter.

The warmth of bed is wonderful.

Blessing#2918-Accentuation

Precious Peeps it’s PITS here Perfect as ever and ready to whistle you into a wonderful weekend.

I know someone who is having a great time. Our cousin Shruti in Dubai is having her first birthday as a Mom.

Little Shivam and his Dad got her lots of beautiful roses and they are giving her lots of hugs and kisses.

We are enjoying seeing pictures and videos of the family thanks to WhatsApp. Isn’t it amazing that you get this kind of joy fo free.

We snapped this photo from one of the videos because we think it is a perfect Mommy and Baby moment.

Whatever you’re up to hope you get to party some too this weekend.

Cake is always cool so buy yourself some no matter what.

Off now for brekkie and a trot.

Blessing#2917-Celebration

The Pope is such a dear. Of course we don’t know him personally but we actively follow him on social media.

He’s so wise and courageous, so softly spoken and thoughtful. He really seems to be the embodiment of what Saint Paul called the fruits of the spirit.

He’s being very open about his illness. Can you imagine what it must be like having the whole world watching you.

Like millions more we’re praying he makes a speedy recovery and gets back to spreading the good news and standing up for Jesus very soon.

Blessing#2916-Brave Heart

Precious Peeps it’s PITS here to heave you over the humpty.

I’m happy to inform you that my Auntie Carols new baby has been named.

She took him to the vet yesterday to have him checked out and weighed because he is a tad chunky. The vet asked what his name was and Auntie Carol shared the various options.

Oh the vet said “he is definitely a RUSTY” so there you go we choose his name.

We called and talked to him yesterday so he’ll get to know us.

We found out his previous owner was an elderly gentleman who was taken ill and had to go into hospital.

Rusty has been very well cared for and had a lot of toys that Auntie Carol has washed for him but it would seem he’s only interested in playing ball.

I’m pretty sure we’d get along. I’m introducing him to Nylas since they keep your mind off food if you’re “slimming”

I may just have to write him a little letter once in a while to introduce him to more tips from my PERFECT self.

You never can have a large enough fan club.

Keep in loving me and each other and I’ll talk to you Friday.

Blessing#2915-Followers

We have another new addition in the family albeit far away in Belfast.

Auntie Carol has adopted a dog.

She always goes for rescues and usually the older or middle aged dogs that most people think twice about.

She has been searching for sometime in fact since Tinker the kitty passed over the rainbow bridge.

Yesterday she brought home the perfect match.

What a fortunate little dude this is. He is going to get long walks every day come rain hail or snow.

Auntie Carol is still working on a name for him. So far he’s not responding to any of them.

The name he had in the kennel was Pepsi but Auntie Carol thinks he looks more like a Pip or a Pete. We suggested Rusty.

What do you think?

Maybe Lucky since he sure is!

Blessing#2914-Canine Cousin

Ma grew a few cucumbers this year. It wasn’t a mighty harvest but she still wanted to do something with them.

They were very odd looking, very pale yellowish green, sort of fat and nobly and had tons of seeds almost like mini pumpkins.

She decided to make soup with them. Now this was not gaspacho it was a hot soup.

She fried them a little oil first then add some vegetarian bouillon and finally some lentils and chili flakes.

She boiled the concoction to death and then blitzed it with a blender into greyish green puree.

Put it like this it was something that only its mother could love.

She ate it anyway and has some leftover too.

Blessing#2913-Wasting Not

Last night we happened on a documentary series on YouTube by the author and historian Gyles Brandreth He was looking into the lives of famous authors.

In the episode we watched it was all about Charles Dickens.

Now y’all may know this but we didn’t that a large part of Dickens work was semi autobiographical.

He moved from a country town to London as a youngster and his family fell into poverty.

His Dad was a spendthrift and ended up in debtors prison and became the thread for the character of Mr Macawber in David Copperfield.

Charles experienced life like Oliver Twist working as a child laborer and even spent time living with his family in the work house.

He eventually got a job as a clerk for a lawyer and all that experience was the basis for a Christmas Carol.

So many other examples we had never heard of before that may also interest you so do check out the series. We plan on watching more this evening maybe The Brontes.

Blessing#2912-Inspirational