Good morning friends of the blog,

Today is picture day at school for Sarah, Seth, and Caleb and boy do they look extra cute this morning.

Jacob is still asleep, and so is Mike who is not related by blood but has become a part of the family and spends almost every Sunday to Wednesday with us….

I’m still in my pajamas and just finished eating a lovely omelet made with 2 of our own chicken eggs, filled with mushrooms, onions, peppers, cheese, and spinach.  I can’t start the day without a good breakfast, thanks to my mom and her good care of me growing up.

The temperature is up 15 degrees from the other day because it’s cloudy and going to rain.  The colors are coming out in the leaves beautifully and I’m a touch sad because I love fall and know it will pass quickly.

My favorite thing to drink these days is hot apple cider.

Gentleman Gray adds such joy to our family with his little kitten ways.  He has such a loud and ready purr.  He’s actually on my shoulder purring and falling asleep as I type, and Parker the dog is on the floor by my bed sleeping (I’m in bed).

I like to go down to the chicken coop and watch the hens.  Even if I’m in a hurry I find myself slowing down to enjoy them.  Yesterday I sat cross legged in the grass and they all (23 of them) gathered around.  Several tried to bite my toenails off, several used my corduroy pants to wipe their beaks, and several kept snooping in my lap at the three eggs I was trying hide from them.  I held one my lap for a while and admired it’s feather-dress.  Would anyone be interested in an entire blog post about the chickens?

honeybee on goldenrod (my favorite color yellow)  I took some other fun close ups a few weeks ago that I have to post soon.

Guess what?  We swapped out our big fabric sectional for a leather one!  We only had the fabric couch for 6 years but it was a mess, the cushions were ripping, the edging was tearing off it, and because it was fabric it was filthy.  At least, that’s how I felt.  I kept it washed and vacuumed as much as I could but with the family and pets on it all day every day it was time to go.  This is our first leather couch.  It smells so good.  My only complaint is that Seth can’t control himself on it….when I try to sit and read to him he slides all over the place….he can’t seem to help it.  At one point he was upside down with his feet in the air while I was reading a book about cats to him.  I think the feel of the leather is too much for him.  😉

As you can see, we have a row of black bookcases behind the couch.  This is so convenient because 1. we always need more room for books 2. we can reach back and put things on the top of  it while we are sitting.  3. I fold the laundry and make my row of piles on it while watching TV. and 4. during parties it becomes another table, the kids sit on stools behind it.

Rich was sold by the fact that the back cushions do not come off.  Only the seat cushions can be removed.   I don’t mind the children making forts with the couch cushions but it is a pet-peeve of his (and wisely, too, because that’s probably part of the reason our other one got old so quickly).

The last thing I want to show you today is my kindle has returned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember I had lost it on vacation last month?  Well, Rich made some phone calls and located it in one of the hotels and had them mail it back.

Happy Tuesday!!