Ideally, my blog posts should be nicely organized by single topics.  But I have all these pictures that I’m anxious to share, plus a brownie recipe, so we will have a post devoted to three topics today:

1. Animals
2. Brownies
3. Liberty Fabric

It would be a crime NOT to have chickens on this property.  Every morning, I let them out of their coop and the entire flock spends the day making rounds to all their favorite places; the pond, the nice dry leaves under the trees, soft dirt in order to take dust baths, under the wild berry bushes, the bank behind the house.

Whenever the urge to lay an egg happens to a hen, she makes her way back to the coop for a nesting box or the garbage barrel.  Sometimes there are a few eggs in the box when a chicken arrives, and I find them kicked out later on…..at least I imagine that must be how they end up on the floor amongst the wood shavings?

I’m happy to gather the eggs in my shirt, some of them still warm, and bring them back to the kitchen like treasures.

Gentleman Gray took an all-day nap in the sock basket.  He dreamed he was back in his litter, curled up with his brothers and sisters.

Sherlock the big and handsome bright orange cat, sleeps on my bed all day.

Ethan with his dog.  Or shall I say Dog with his Ethan?

Emily our neighbor friend, with her big beautiful boy dog, Benji.  Benji comes for playdates with Parker.

The day after playdates always leaves Parker and me kinda tired.  So we took naps on the couch yesterday when everyone was back to school.  (they had the day off on Wednesday).

So, what to do with all those delightful eggs?  The #1 thing to do is make a big batch of brownies.

2 cups vegetable oil
3 1/2 cups sugar
4 tsp vanilla
8 eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Blend oil, sugar and vanilla, then add eggs and mix well.  Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Pour into a greased 11 by 13 inch pan and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  All brownies are best slightly under baked.

I first fell in love with Liberty Fabrics after seeing the blog Posie Gets Cozy.  The lady on that blog (Alicia) has made so many beautiful things with that fabric line and I only dreamed of doing the same.  Alas, that dream has still not come to fruition, because I did not MAKE Sarah’s little blouse, I bought it on super-duper clearance and I was so happy to do so!

It’s thin and light and perfect for her because she gets too hot at school sometimes.  It makes a nice layering piece and it’s so pretty.

Yes, I have a lot of fun with my little girl.  Rich teases me.

We think the kitten is saying “help me”.