Unexpected Bumps Along the Road

I'm glad I decided to take a quick detour to pick some more strawberries at Froeburg's Vegetable Farm on my way home from a seminary supervisor training meeting in Alvin today.  I didn't take time to change clothes, just headed on out in a dress and my good shoes looking a tad over dressed and within 15 minutes I had this big, beautiful bucket of strawberries and was on my way!  My timing was perfect because later that evening we had another round of torrential rain storms that turned everything into a muddy mess out there. 
The last time I picked strawberries at Froeburg's the mud was thick & slippery and the fruit flies were out in droves.  Luckily I had brought an old pair of shoes just in case so I wouldn't mind so much when the gooey, gray mud oozed up over the tops of my shoes.
  
We've been eating fresh strawberries, Strawberry shortcake, strawberries with sugar and cream, and chocolate dipped strawberries all season long; but this batch is going to be made into some delicious freezer jam ...yummm!  There's nothing better than the smell of strawberry jam wafting through the kitchen.  Wish I could bottle that sweet aroma and have it around all year long!


It was a beautiful, cool day on Saturday so I decided to spend the morning working outside in the yard.  While I was planting some flowers I started fiddling with our metal gate (the one that was damaged during Hurricane Ike) and it slipped off the rock that the lawn guys had put under it to keep it stable. Unfortunately my finger was in the way and ended up getting crushed between the metal post and the brick wall of our house; and my finger nail got ripped off in the process! It is just hanging on at the cuticle.  Oh boy, did that hurt, bleed, and...even make me cry a bit!  It pretty much put a damper on my plans for the rest of the day.  It looks like the freezer jam will have to be put on the back burner for a day or two to give me some time to recuperate.  8(

You Know What This Means ...

Copper was starting to feel the heat with his shaggy winter coat so I decided to take him to the groomer at our vets office a couple of weeks ago to get his summer hair cut.  Now don't be fooled by his happy demeanor.  He wasn't all that thrilled with the prospect of spending the day being tortured at his least favorite place.  In fact I pretty much had to drag him on in there.  The only reason he's "smiling" is because I'm waving a piece of left over ham from our Easter dinner in front of his chops.  Now that's enough to put a smile on any one's face!

Here he's trying to lick the ham through the glass window.  Yummmm!

 
  May I have some more please?!?

His first night was a bit of an adjustment.  He was missing his fur coat and decided to sleep in his dog house on his soft bed to stay warm and comfortable.  He's pretty much used to it now and sleeping back under the stars.  With the temps already up in the high 80's it was a good decision.  Don't worry ...I've got your back! You can thank me later Copper.  8)

The Little Free Library

I have been a member of bookcrossing for many years, where we are encouraged to register and release books into the wild for people to find and read ...and possibly re-release so we can track their travels around the world.  In the latest bookcrossing newsletter they shared a new and exciting way to release books ...through a "Little Free Library".  I was enchanted by all of the cute designs they had come up with using mostly re purposed building materials.  You know ...old barns, windows, dog houses, mail boxes, left over lumber that would normally be thrown away.  I love the idea of reusing something so it doesn't end up in our land fills.  Taking something old, and making it beautiful again. 

I can't wait to see if I can get my dad to build one for me in his handy wood shop.  Yes, he loves to build things.  So he built a wood shop in his back yard.  It's pretty big too, almost like a little guest house filled with every tool (manual and electric) that you can imagine!  He's built everything from bird houses to sail boats, and that's just one of his many hobbies.  He's a wonder! 

Here are some of the "Little Free Libraries" that were show cased.  There are all so cute I'm having a hard time deciding which one I like best.  Which one is your favorite?