Hillary

Bathroom not finished yet as I have a stomach bug. Will leave you with a picture of Hillary, William, Tinker, and Bella. Hillary has fit right in like she has lived here forever. Tinker and Bella have accepted her as part of the family though Buttons the goat is still waiting to make up her mind.

Hillary and Bella were smiling but Tinker was pouting because she was told to sit when she wanted to be licking William in the face.

What I Am Up To

The daytime hours still have me feeding and caring for the animals, their pens, cages, etc along with helping William with his many projects. The nighttime has me enjoying a project! Remember my tiny little bathroom?
These are the before pics. After I finish painting will post the new look.

Well I am painting and changing things around. I love my vintage bathroom signs and I love my country angels but have decided to move them around into a different display. Love my new paint color and can't wait to show you the finished project... hopefully tonight. It may be a tiny bathroom but there is so much trim and hard to get to places to paint. Stayed tuned!

What a Day

Lots of hayride were given

And lots of kids and animals came to enter the costume contest. We didn't enter Rusty or Petro since we were helping with the day's activities but they each got a ribbon for dressing up.

We had a fun day but boy am I tired. William did the hayride and I took pictures of the costume contestants and got to pet all the animals and help the kids color pumpkins to decorate the store windows. Thank you everyone at Tractor Supply for letting us be part of your big day!

Hayride and Costume Contest Today

At Tractor Supply in Fayetteville, NC. Noon till 5pm. Come by and say hi to Rusty the cowboy and take a free hayride. Tractor Supply is also having a costume contest for children and animals. The winners get a $25 gift certificate. Come on out, love to see you!

Hillary

Well I guess it's safe to say Hillary decided to make it official and adopt us. When we went to the animal shelter to meet her Hillary came right up and started snuggling and wagging her tail. When we walked out to the truck she hopped right in and sat down like it was a everyday thing. She sat in my lap all the way home with her head hanging out the window. This is no small dog but it was worth it to see her so happy. She is all settled in and seems to love the homestead and its crazy mixture of family members. Or else that smile that has stayed on her face since arriving here is really laughter at her new weird family. More photos and stories to come. You can see she is under weight and needs lots of TLC but she is smiling now and we will get the weight on her quickly.

Did You Know?

Did you know you can make your own washing soda? Lots of my blog friends make their own laundry detergent and have problems finding washing soda. Well now you can make your own!

Did you know I absolutely love oven roasted tomatoes? Did you know they are very easy to make? Did you know they are more addictive than chocolate? You should really try this recipe!

Did you know I have about 200 cloves of garlic to plant? Did you know fall is the time to plant? Did you know its easy to grow garlic and you will always have plenty of garlic handy when needed?

Did you know we are getting another Great Pyrenees? I met a lady at our yardsale Saturday that works for Hoke County Animal Shelter. They have a older female Great Pyrenees that they have tried to find a home without any luck. She was to be euthanize tomorrow but will be coming to live at Hidden Haven. Her name is Hilliary and she is around 8 years old. Her owners used her for breeding and she never got a break between having puppies. She is worn out and feeling abandoned. She loves people, children, other dogs, cats, and most all animals. She loves going on walks and being petted. I hope she loves it here and thinks of it as her forever home. The extra special bonus is the adoption fee ($90) is being waived. She will be spayed, given all her shots, and microchip before we pick her up tomorrow.  I am so glad she isn't going to be put down and I am hoping she will be glad to be part of the Hidden Haven family. Also hope we are able to put a little weight on her.

Did you know that my grandson Q played his football game with a broken wrist, broken growing plate, broken thumb, and damaged tendons? No one knows how he was able to continue playing like that but he sure must have a high pain tolerance. He has a nice red cast from his thumb all the way to his elbow and will be off the field for awhile.




Did you know I didn't get enough stress from having the yardsale over the weekend that I have agreed to have another one with a neighbor in two weeks? I am so crazy!

Did you know there is a chance of snow later this week in the mountains of NC?? And I won't be there? Grands have promised pictures if it does snow. Kinda early for snow but I am hoping it means a cold, icy, snowy, windy, winter this year. Hey, I can hope can't I?


Did you know my friend Lisa is facing the challenge of cancer? She is sharing her journey with us. All the ups and downs. She is such a blessing to everyone. Won't you stop by her blog for a visit and tell her Peggy sent you.

Did you know it is late but I have tomatoes to can and laundry to fold and put away? Well I do so goodnight my friends. I am off to count all the wonderful blessings of the day. Don't forget to count yours!!

Yardsale, Broken Bone, and Birthday

I have spent the past week gathering things up for a yardsale. My friend Gerda and I will have the yardsale at her home tomorrow. Today was spent pricing, loading, driving, unloading, and setting up all the junk items I had gathered. That evidently wasn't enough for me as I came home and baked spiced pumpkin muffins, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate chip/pecan bars. I wrapped them up nice and pretty and will have them for sale just incase anyone is hungry while looking at all the stuff this crazy lady is trying to get rid of. With all the stuff I have for sale you would think the house would be less cluttered. Guess I need a few more yardsales to get it looking clutter free.

My grandson Q broke his wrist last night playing football. Being the guy he is he never said a word to anyone until the game was over. He played the whole game and didn't want to be taken out because of injury. His wrist took a hit from a player on the other sides face mask. He has to see a orthopedic Monday but hoping he doesn't have to have surgery. His mom says he was having a lot of pain today. I imagine playing with a broken wrist has caused some of that.

My granddaughter H had a birthday a couple days ago. She turned 15! It is hard to believe she is no longer the little girl that wanted to be held and rocked all the time. And wanted grandma to give her some "ike" cream.

Happy 15th Birthday "Hoppy"

H all dressed up with her brother W

H is a beautiful young lady with a crazy sense of humor, a big dimple smile, big brown eyes that sparkle, and a heart of gold. She will be the first to lend a helping hand, a listening ear, kind words, and big hugs. She is so understanding with things friends and family members are going through. She is not embarrassed to hang out with her parents or grandparents. Thinks its cool. She is smart and talented though she does have her blonde moments that crack me up. Doing great in school and until this year was a band member and cheerleader. Loves going to church and church activities. Love you so much "Hoppy" and hope this year bring lots of wonderful blessings each and every day.




Now I need to get into bed so I can get up in a couple of hours to feed and water all the animals before starting the yardsale. Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to count those blessings!!!

Where Is Fall

What happened to fall? It has warmed back up so no fire in the stove, no hot chocolate to warm me up, no jacket for early morning chores. I was so enjoying fall weather while dreaming of winter. My two pumpkins I have by the back steps are not handling the heat so will be cut up for the goats and pigs to eat. Guess I will just use my fake ones until cool weather comes back.

Got the outside decorated for fall and a little bit inside. Did a little yardsaling this morning and found a few goodies. Am also getting things together for a yardsale with my friend Gerda next week. Have a lot of stuff around here that needs a new home.

Also getting things ready for Costume Day at Tractor Supply on the 22nd. Thanks to everyone for the awesome ideas but have decided to go with Mildred's and have Rusty go as a cowboy and Petro as a indian. Rusty will be wearing Mildred's little cutie Harriet's cowboy hat.Rusty has a crush on Harriet. Have a shirt and bandanna for Rusty and a headband with feather for Petro along with a little bag for his back carrying a bow and arrows. If you are in the Fayetteville area on the 22nd stop by Tractor Supply on Raeford Road (Hwy 401) between noon and 5PM. There is a costume contest for kids and animals with a $25 gift certificate as a prize for the cutest. William and I will be giving hayrides during that time so would love to see you there.

Honey Bunny had 4 babies yesterday. She is the bunny that was temporary paralyzed. She got all better after a couple of days of that and a week later had 4 fat, healthy, cute babies. We are always blessed to have a bunny with babies when another one has and rejects her liter. Today Sweet Bun had 4 babies and would not nurse or have anything to do with them. I kept trying to put them on her teats so they could nurse but she would kick them away and not even make a nest for them. I took them this afternoon and rubbed them all over Honey Bunny and then rubbed them with Honey Bunny's babies before putting them in her nest. She hopped right over to the nest and let them nurse. Have checked on them every couple hours and all babies are doing fine. Honey Bunny seems to be happy with 8 babies and Sweet Bun seems happy to not be a mom. Sometimes that happens with the first liter. Will try her again in a few months and see if she does better. If not will sell her as a pet for someone since she loves to be held and petted.  Will be breeding some of the other rabbits this week so babies will be ready for new homes at Christmas. We usually spend Christmas Eve delivering baby bunnies and have even delivered a couple on Christmas Day. Lots of calls and coordination goes into getting bunnies under the tree at just the right time.Love it!

Have a great pumpkin muffin recipe for you! Very, very simple. Just get a box of spice cake mix and a small can of pureed pumpkin. Mix together and pour into greased or papered muffin tins. Will be thick but only fill half full. Makes alot unless you use the huge muffin tins. They are delicious!!

Just a normal weekend around the homestead. Enjoying all the many blessings and hope you are too!

Help

We are going to be helping our local Tractor Supply store with a Halloween event on the 22nd. There will be a contest for the best costume for animals and best costume for children. We will be giving the kids a hayride throughout the day. I need to come up with costume ideas for Rusty and Petro. Last year Rusty was a witch but this year I would like to have a theme for both of them. So put on your thinking cap. Leave a comment with your best idea. Don't make it too elaborate as I am not a good sewer. In case you don't know which is which; Rusty is the dog and Petro is the goat though they both think they are children.

More Wedding Photos

 Sorry they aren't in order. Blogger is being mean to me, but wanted to share a few more  photos of Melissa's wedding. I am very blessed to have such a beautiful,educated, and very outspoken political  lady for a stepdaughter! Betsy they are honeymooning over your way in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Wedding Bells

While I was holding down the homestead this weekend William was in Indiana. His daughter Melissa was married yesterday, She and Jai had a beautiful outdoor wedding (where her mother officiated)  before heading inside for a delicious dinner reception. And then the very special moment that made a dad very proud, the dance with dad. ( going have to fuss at him for taking his jacket off LOL)

. William didn't know this was going to happen and believe me when I say it was a hard secret to keep. I was so excited for him you would of thought I was going to be the one dancing. Congratulations Melissa and Jai! Thank you for the sweet message Melissa. Viewing all the photos made me feel a part of your special day.

What More Do I Need

A nice warm fire

Hot tea kettles

Chamomile tea with milk and honey

A good mystery and a quilt to snuggle under

The makings of a perfect evening and a little taste of heaven. Don't forget to count and enjoy your blessings!