Friday Favorites - A Salute to Malone

 

Linking up with Andrea and Erica this morning for Friday Favorites with a salute to Malone!

As many of you know, we adopted a dog from the humane society last weekend and, after not having a dog for almost ten years when our family dog went off to live with our college girl Sophia, we've been re-discovering all the things our four-legged pals need.

First up, a bed - we opted for the Kirkland Signature Dog Bed from Costco.

Does he sleep on it?  Nope.  He prefers the bottom of our bed.  He will nap on it while I'm in the shower though.

Next up, a feeding station.  We had bowls but after the first few days of not eating, and a somewhat strangled cry when he barked, I wondered if there might be something wrong with his throat and that bending his head all the way down to eat was painful.  Turns out he's been eating out of a bowl just fine while he was at the humane society so I think it was just a bit of doggie psychology to get us to up his food from just the dry stuff to a combination of canned food and dry.  He's smart.  However, I did buy this from Amazon which he's enjoying.

And something on which to place the Neater Feeder, this personalized mat from L.L. Bean.

We had to upgrade from the smaller crate we had on hand for Sophia's dog so I bought this to make it more comfy.  Amazon has a huge selection.

A little canine fashion from my favorite pet accessories company.

Up Country

With matching leash and harness of course, this design is North Star from the Nautical line  We visited Up Country when we lived in Rhode Island.  For nearly 40 years, all of Up Country's products have been proudly made in the USA with the highest quality standards.  There are hundreds of designs at Up Country, something for everyone.

That's my top five in this salute to Malone!

Monthly Musings - September 2023

It's the last Thursday of the month and that means it's time for Monthly Musings.  I'm joining Patty and Holly for some fall fun.

1.  Favorite fall traditions - I'd have to say decorating since the days of hayrides, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards are pretty much over for us empty nesters.  The red, white, and blue goes up on Memorial Day and stay up until Labor Day and then it's all things fall.  Love the oranges, browns, yellows of the season.

2.  How do you celebrate Halloween?  We really don't.  We live in a very quiet neighborhood and the only family with young children has moved.  They were our only trick or treaters the first two years we lived here.  Our decorations are fall rather than Halloween so I guess you could say our Halloween celebrations are limited to a viewing of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with some Great Pumpkin Cookies.

The Great Pumpkin Cookies are from this cookbook.

It was published in 1972 and that's when I first bought it in a Scholastic Book offering in sixth grade.  Who remembers those Scholastic flyers that they handed out at school?  Do they still do that? Years later, Peanuts Cook Book long lost, I was reminiscing about the Great Pumpkin Cookies and turned to, who else?, Ebay.  I'm now the proud owner of a new-to-me Peanuts Cook Book and the Great Pumpkin Cookies are once again in the cookie jar.

3.  Favorite Fall Recipes - In addition to the Great Pumpkin Cookies that I surprisingly (or not) found here on Lost American Recipes, fall is the time for soups, stews, curries, chilis, comfort food.  One of my favorites is this Lamb Korma from Pastured Kitchen which can be eaten over rice, with naan, or just on its own as it's chockful of potatoes and lamb.

4.  Favorite Fall Fashion Pieces - I love L L Bean's bootcut Perfect Fit Pants with a chunky sweater.

5.  How do you decorate for fall? - All my fall decorations are here.

6.  Pumpkin Spice?  Oh yes or over it?  Oh yes, yes, yes please.

I think my initials should be P.S.L.!

7.  Thoughts on candy corn?  Meh, too sweet.  I will, however, take a piece of candy corn over those little candy pumpkin things, ugh.

8.  Favorite Fall/Halloween Movie - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has always been an annual event and recently Sophia got me hooked on Hocus Pocus.  How about this for your Lego fan?  There's even an optional light kit to bring it to illuminated life!

9.  Apple pie, pumpkin pie, or cider donut?  All of the above please.  Actually, if I could find the cider donut that we had eons ago on an apple orchard field trip with Sophia's kindergarten class (that's almost 25 years ago), that would be my number one.  Sadly, I've never been able to find one to match up to it.  Maybe I should try to make my own - these look delicious and they are baked!

10.  Bonfire, hayride, or haunted house?  I think bonfire.  Sounds cozy to be curled up around a roaring fire...with my PSL, of course!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 521

I'm joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Click on the photo above for the link.

1.  It's officially fall y'all.  In the northern hemisphere anyway.  Any signs of it where you are?  What is your favorite thing about this time of year?

Yes, fall has come to the Pacific Northwest.  Cool crisp mornings, rainy days, leaves changing on the trees, love it!  I love the house all decorated for fall, soups, stews, curries, and chilis for dinners, and pumpkin spice everything!

2. Have you visited any 'falls' in person? Tell us about one of your favorites? Of the following top ten famous falls (according to this site) which would you most like to see in person-

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe/Zambia), Igazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Niagara Falls (US/Canada), Angel Falls (Venezuela), Yosemite Falls (California), Dettifoss (Iceland) Kaieteur Falls (Guyana), Plitvice Waterfalls (Croatia), Gullfoss-Golden Falls (Iceland), or Sutherland Falls (New Zealand)

We visited Niagara Falls (on the American side) years ago.  The falls were impressive but the American side was such a dive.  Our hotel was positively scary and it was a major chain.  We couldn't go over to the Canadian side because Vic hadn't done the prep work to visit a foreign country.  Who thinks of Canada as a foreign country?  I'd like to visit Yosemite Falls.  Since they are on this continent, I think it's doable.  Closer to home, we visited this local waterfall.  It was an easy walk and so pretty.

3. What's something you'll miss about summer? 

The longer days - it will be dark in the mornings and dark in the evenings soon.

4. A favorite fall recipe?

I have a pumpkin nut bread recipe and I add mini chocolate chips - it's delicious!

5. Something you enjoy but lately have allowed it to 'fall by the wayside'? 

Reading - I've really let it slide.  When I was working and riding the commuter bus, I read on my lunch hour and on the bus ride home.  That changed when I injured my knee and a few months later, when I gave my notice to retire.  I wasn't riding the bus any longer so that reading time was gone, and then I worked every hour there was to make sure my position was ready for turnover to a new secretary.  That meant hours preparing a desk guide and usually skipping lunch.  I need to make time to read again.  Now that I'm home, there's no excuse not to have a dedicated reading time.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We took Malone out in the truck when we ran an errand last night.  We passed a man with his dog and Malone went ballistic, almost making a screaming noise and thrashing back and forth.  Something has happened to make him this way.  He's loving and calm at home so we'll wait a few months and consult a trainer for some guidance.

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #149

Happy Belated (September 25) 77th Birthday to one of my favorite British actresses, Felicity Kendal, CBE.

The 1975 television series, The Good Life, is one of her best known works.  It's the hilarious tale of a suburban couple, Tom and Barbara Good, who give up the rat race in favor of self-sufficiency, much to the chagrin of their snooty but lovable next-door neighbors, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter.

Felicity Kendal, Richard Briers, Penelope Keith, and Paul Eddington as Barbara and Tom Good, and Margo and Jerry Leadbetter.

A more recent work, Rosemary and Thyme, is another favorite - Pam Ferris as Laura Thyme and Felicity Kendal as Rosemary Boxer are a sleuthing gardening team.

Rosemary and Thyme is available on DVD as is The Good Life although it is a little harder to find.   Rosemary and Thyme is also available on some streaming services.  I highly recommend both. 

RIP David McCallum

 

RIP David McCallum
19 September 1933 - 25 September 2023

Forever known as Iliya Kuryakin from The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Doctor Donald "Ducky" Mallard from NCIS, David McCallum was a gifted actor and author, more importantly "he was a scholar and a gentleman, always gracious, a consummate professional, and never one to pass up a joke.  He was, quite simply, a legend."  In a tribute from NCIS Executive Producers Steven D. Binder and David North.

Hello Monday - September 25, 2023

  

I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah this morning for Hello Monday and a weekend recap.

We had plans to go away for the weekend - Vic's belated birthday weekend celebration - but he remembered on Friday that a former co-worker was coming into town on Sunday and he had invited him over for dinner so that took care of any plans to be out of town.  I rescheduled our reservations for later in October.

Vic has been busy with the gutter replacement on the side of the house.  He removed the old fascia board and gutters and put up new ones.  It was quite a job.

Getting the new fascia board in place

Fully-assembled gutter ready to carry over to the side of the house and raise up into temporary supports that Vic put up - I'm glad it was so light because that was a long length of gutter to navigate between the two of us

While Vic worked on the gutter, I pottered around the house and got a load ready to take to the charity shop, and while the paint was drying on part of the gutter, we ran to Costco for gas and a few groceries.

We've talked about getting a dog for some time.  We haven't had a dog since Sophia took MudLynn off to live with her in 2015 and I hadn't really pursued the idea since I was working full-time and didn't want to leave a dog alone all day.  Well, I'm not working anymore so we headed over to the humane society and came home with Malone.  He's a four-year old Australian cattle dog mix, all 63 pounds of him, and has some reactivity to other dogs that we hope can be worked on with some training.  He made himself right at home in the truck and once we got home, he was never far from Vic's side.

BFFs

And that was our weekend!

Hello Fall

 

Friday Favorites - Fall Edition

Linking up with Andrea and Erica this morning for Friday Favorites and today that's all things fall.  Since I've had most of these items forever, they are definitely favorites.

A vase full of fall foliage I picked up at the Tidewater Collection when I volunteered there in Virginia, a pumpkin pie dish from Michaels, and my garland from the Fickle Felt Tree on Etsy.

A cornucopia basket from the Dollar Tree years ago which I stuffed with pumpkins, gourds, and leaves plus the Pumpkin Spice is my Favorite Season wooden piece I used to keep on my desk at work in the fall.

Mommy, Daddy, and Sophia ghosts that we've had since we lived in Florida (1995-1999) and some Yankee Candle tealight holders

A canvas print from Kirkland's Home - I had to Google to see if they were still in business and I don't remember them being called Kirkland's Home, I thought they were just Kirkland's

Longaberger placemats with Longaberger wrought iron leaf pieces - pumpkin candles that smell divine and candle wrapper things probably from Michaels

Pottery Barn pillows

Three wooden pieces from LacyBelles on Etsy - the middle one is sitting on a doily made by the 90 year-old grandmother of one of the French officers who used to shop at the Tidewater Collection.  She brought in a stack and we split them up among the volunteers.

Two Home Interiors candle toppers - after Home Interiors went out of business, I was never able to find a candle jar that had an opening with the right diameter to sit these on so they just sit on Longaberger cinnamon and clove infused coasters

My door decoration I made from a broom, some leaves, a scarecrow, and a bow

Pumpkin napkins on the napkin holder with a Nora Fleming pumpkin decoration

Pottery Barn pumpkin mugs on top of the cork placemats stand

Welcome Fall flags

Since I have two flags for every month, I bought these pants holders to store them on - they work perfectly and don't take up much space

The final Home Interiors décor pieces - three pumpkins that have an opening in the back for a tealight - they are shown here on the mantle but I moved them to the sofa table this year

And that's fall y'all Chez Nous!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 520

 

I'm joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Click on the photo above for the link.

1. If your life had a theme song for this past year what would it be? 

I'd have to say Time to Say Goodbye - it's how I started off my farewell e-mail to the Engineering Department when I turned in my badge and walked out the gate for the last time.  Retirement is wonderful but the goodbyes were so hard.  Thankfully, Facebook keeps me connected to many of my former co-workers and I look forward to seeing them again.

2. Chocolate cake, chocolate milkshake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate truffle, chocolate mousse, chocolate candy bar or a fudgy chocolate brownie...of the chocolate treats listed, which one is your favorite? Which one have you tasted most recently? Or maybe you don't like chocolate???

Favorite?  Can I say all of the above?  LOL, I suppose it would be chocolate ice cream.  Most recently we had the chocolate mousse cups from Costco, with the layer of ganache on top, velvety mousse and the flakes of chocolate at the bottom.  Delicious!  You know when you see the words "Made in Belgium", it's going to be a decadent chocolate treat.

3. What has surprised you recently? 

How busy I have been in the last two weeks.  I am definitely living the phrase "I don't know when I had time to work"!

4. September 19th is National Voter Registration Day in the US. Are you registered to vote in whatever state or country you happen to live in right now? If not, why not? Not counting a political race, what's something you've had to vote on recently? 

Yes, we are registered to vote in Washington, the state we now call home.  I had to choose between a myriad of options connected to my recent retirement, does that count as voting?

5. Do you like to hike? If so, when's the last time you went hiking and where'd ya go? If you're not a hiker are you a walker? Is walking (for exercise, etc.) part of your daily/weekly routine? 

I wish I liked to hike because we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country with endless hiking trails for beginner to advanced hikers.  Right now, I suppose it's my knee injury (I'm waiting for knee surgery) that putting me off even considering hiking but deep down, I really don't enjoy it.  I'm afraid of bears and mountain lions, hate bugs, loathe getting sweaty, it's just not me.  I do, however enjoy walking and although I can't do it at the moment, I look forward to the time when we can take some leisurely walks (without fear of bears, mountain lions, or bugs!).

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Yesterday, the Hallmark Channel released the Countdown to Christmas Movie Schedule for 2023.  That I can get really excited about!  I've seen the decorations going up in Hobby Lobby, the Advent calendars on the shelves at World Market, and countless other little Christmas is Coming touches but the Countdown to Christmas schedule... Christmas is really coming!

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #148

 

I've mentioned the village of Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales on my blog many times.  My family - parents, sister and brother-in-law, my husband and daughter - rented a cottage and spent a delightful Christmas there one year and long to go back.

I was surprised to see a Kettlewell photo on Facebook a few weeks ago and followed the link to a wonderful group, We Love the Yorkshire Dales.  If you're interested in exploring a part of England, in person or virtually, that is so stunningly beautiful, check it out.  It is a picturesque area for walks, rambling through unspoiled areas that lead to little villages.  You won't be disappointed.

You can also find out more about the area on this site:

Yorkshire Dales National Park