Honeycomb Hat and Simcha Hijinxs!

I'm so excited that it is almost fall!  For me fall begins the first day of September and lasts until Thanksgiving no matter what the Farmer's Almanac says and it's my favorite time of year.  With a Harvest Moon coming early this year (September 8, 2014) I'm sure that must be a sign of an early fall too.  To celebrate fall's early arrival and to kick off my fall knitting I chose the Tweedy Honeycomb hat.  Or rather the Tweedy Honeycomb"Toque" whatever that means.

Usually I select my knitting projects because there is something about the design that resonates with me.  With this hat the obvious appealing element is the honeycomb stitch and I do love my honeycomb.  Every morning I have a large slice of homemade bread toasted and slathered with honey and for a treat I'll splurge and add the actual honeycomb.  Not everyone likes to eat the honeycomb but I love it.  When I was a teenager my dad kept a hive and we all ate a ton of the honey and most of that was right  from the comb. He kept the hive on the side of our house and on a sunny afternoon when you stepped outside you could smell the warm honey wafting in the air.  I used to like watching the bees land and and trundle into the hive laden with pollen.  It was a sorry day for me when my Dad gave up keeping bees and although it was but a short time in my life the appeal of eating honey right from the comb has stuck.

Another reason that I look forward to fall is that the season awakens within me a desire to craft.  I think an apt analogy is "spring is to lovers as fall is to crafters." Snort.  Anyway, I always like to try different types of craft projects and this year I've been playing with watercolor paints.  I have no background whatsoever in painting or drawing which will be apparent.  But I've discovered that watercolors are a very forgiving medium and work well with stamping, drawing, and collages.  The small journal pictured below with my hat is made with watercolors used in combination with stamping.  I've actually found that my favorite medium is to sketch a picture and then paint it with watercolors and I'll be doing a lot of that in the coming months.  There's just an endless number of things that you can make and decorate with watercolor paints.

Particulars:  Tweedy Honeycomb Toque (free Ravelry pattern) by Kent Turman; US 6 and 9 needles; 2 skeins The Fiber Company - Terra; My only modifications were to a) increase the CO stitches to 88 (instead of just 80) b) twisted rib for 12 rounds; and c) I eliminated rows 24-27 of the chart because I prefer a more fitted toque.  Finished dimensions: 8.5" x 7."

For those interested in honeycomb, I've tried a variety of honeys and some are too sweet for my taste. If you don't like a super sweet honey you are best off with an organic honey or any local honey otherwise I suggest trying the sage honeycomb by Honey Pacifica that I find at Wholefoods. If you would like to decorate your own note journal I purchase small moleskine journals (sold in packs of 3) on Amazon.  Lastly, if you are interested in making your own bread, my post Easter SundayWrap has more about the recipe I follow.

  Simcha Hijinxs ~

Simcha looks so happy here because he is playing a game.  He has control over his ball which he thinks I want.  Therefore whenever I try and pick it up (to throw for him naturally) he will snatch it away at the last second.  He finds this game much more enjoyable than I do and he can play it endlessly.... 

Until next time be well and love well and enjoy an early start to your fall and all the crafts, colors and treats that go along with the season!

A Summer Scarf and Simcha News

This is a small accessory with a big impact and I love it!  It's the Pogona shawl by Stephen West and when knit in a light weight and vibrant yarn it is a perfect summer accent piece that will keep the chill off your shoulders in all those over air-conditioned places like restaurants and movie theaters. To wit I wore it to the swanky El Encanto Hotel in Santa Barbara to take my mother out for afternoon tea!

This is a my first Stephen West design but it won't be my last because I like the geometric element to his pieces.  I'm not sure how well you can see from the pictures but this shawl has a series of triangular shapes and has a combination of stockinette and garter stitch which gives the piece a lot of visual interest.  While typically my taste in knitting runs to the rustic I occasionally like to mix it up with a more modern piece such as this is.

Speaking of rustic versus modern shawls, it may seem that knitting shawls is timeless but there are definitely styles of shawls and colors preferences that change with time.  The more modern shawls mix several colors, have some type of stripes, and are not a typical triangle shape.  And while I have some of these modern designs on the needles, and I do love the pretty colors and different shapes, my true love will always be a very rustic style shawl because the reason that I knit is the process connects me to a bygone era and a slower way of life and allows me to experience what it might have been like to walk back in history.  But I do step forward in time too, as I have in this shawl.

Particulars:  Pogona by Stephen West; US 6 needles; 1 skein Hedgehog Fibers Sock Yarn (383 yards).  My only modification was to only knit 4 rows of garter stitch edging due to limited yarn but I think that was just the right amount of garter stitch edging in any event.  N.B. This is a pretty small shawl and I would almost call it a scarf except for the shaping.  My blocked (i.e. a relaxed block - because this is a merino wool it does not hold a block well) measurement is 50" x 14."

The Misadventures of Simcha ~

Can you believe that Simcha is now four and half years old!  And really, other than the first two years of his house destruction, challenging, constant need for attention, and endless outings and excursions to provide him with proper socialization the time has truly flown by.  It was an agonizingly slow process that took roughly four years to be completely out of the woods.  But I'm happy to report that while he is still full of personality now he is also obedient and affectionate with us.  And at long last we have the dog we always wanted and hoped he would become.  

Until next time, be well and love well and may your Summer be filled with color, sunshine and creativity.

Mystery Cowl ~ And Homemade Apple Sauce Recipe

I recently joined a mystery knit-along hosted by Craftsy.  And although there wasn't much mystery or too much camaraderie in this knit-along I am really pleased that I joined and love my Acacia Cowl!  

I say there wasn't much mystery because the entire pattern was disclosed on the first day and there wasn't much camaraderie because I completed the project in a single day.  To be fair this was a foregone conclusion given the bulky weight yarn.  And yet.  I had expected some mystery.  Call me naive. Incidentally because this is a bulky weight yarn and knits up super fast it is the perfect holiday speed project!  But, since I was looking for some mystery in my life that's not necessarily what I was looking for.  So undaunted I've joined a new mystery knit-along entitled Divergence starting January 1, 2014.  In preparation I have purchased the book entitled Divergent (I have no idea if this is the inspiration or not but it is a similar sounding name and sounds interesting and I wanted something fun to read anyway) and based on this mystery project description I am optimistic this time there will be moar mystery.

When I first completed this cowl I loved the dramatic impact but wasn't sure how much I would wear it.  But what I have found is this is an extremely practical wardrobe piece and I wear it almost everyday when I go hiking.  I love how it fits perfectly with my down vest and keeps my neck area warm.  It's also pretty versatile since I opted to make it longer and didn't add buttons.  This way I can simply wrap it around my neck and fasten with a shawl pin or a safety pin.  It really has become a favorite accessory for cold weather hikes along with a hat.  I also like the fact that I can wear it more dressy with a shawl pin closure draped loosely over an evening coat for an added pop of color and warmth.  

  

Particulars:  Craftsy Mystery Kint-Along November 2013; Acacia Cowl; US 13 needles; 1 skein SweetGerogia Yarns Superwash Chunky (colorway Terra Firma).  My modifications were:  1) I used a chain selvedge stitch for edging (slip first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front); 2) I added an extra repeat of pattern; and I decided not to add buttons as I will wear it with a shawl pin closure or a safety pin.  I made these modifications because I have found that wearing a cowl that fits like a smoke stack around my neck is not my best look.  

Homemade Apple Sauce ~

A new favorite autumn treat of mine is apple sauce.  Before last year I was never too crazy about apple sauce but last year around this time I purchased some at our local farmer's market and I realized how amazing homemade apple sauce tastes.  I absolutely love it and I eat by the spoonful.  One of the ways I like it is spread over toast in the morning similar to apple butter and I must credit this ingenious idea to Steve. He's forever coming up with creative food ideas and when I'm eating something he'll say to me "do you know how that would be really wonderful?" And I'll say "no" "how?"  And true to form I would never have thought of putting apple sauce on toast but for Steve's suggestion and it's really a terrific way to enjoy it.

Apple Sauce Recipe ~

Ingredients:

4 medium tart apples (granny smith are best but I also like honey crisp)
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar (scant)
1 1/2 tablespoon organic dark brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon (scant)
fresh pomegranate seeds

Steps:

1.  Peel, core and dice apples and squeeze orange juice.  Set apples aside.
2.  Heat orange juice in a medium sauce pan and add sugars and cinnamon.  Once incorporated add apples - stir - cover - and simmer stirring occasionally for approximately 30 minutes.  Apples should be soft at this point.
3.  Remove from heat and either using an immersion mixer or a kitchen aid mixer (paddle attachment) and pulse until apple is partly pureed but still leaving some chucks of apple.  Since I like mine chunky I hardly mix it at all.
4.  Allow mixture to cool to room temperature and then add fresh pomegranate seeds to taste and then refrigerate until ready to serve.

Apple sauce is also wonderfully with latkes for those who celebrate Chanukah.  If I'm going to use it on toast I leave out the pomegranate seeds.

Until next time be well and love well and take time to play this holiday season and maybe add a little mystery to your life. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving from Steve, Simcha and myself.

Wild Wild West Gauntlets and Cowboy Baked Beans

It's hard to believe it's that time again.  Fall weather and the change in seasons are being felt even here in Southern California where some think there were no changes to the seasons.  But there are changes and the longer I've lived here the more apparent they are.  It's not just that the stores are selling corduroy pants and foil wrapped chocolates shaped like leaves.  It's the tinge of coolness in the mornings, the emergence of rust colored flora, and the golden cast to the light in the evenings.  I treasure these small changes.  Until it gets down right cold in another month or so at which point I start wondering why exactly it was that I wanted cooler weather.  

Over the years I'e found that gauntlets are one of my most used fall/winter accessory and every year I knit several pairs.  The gauntlets I am wearing today I call my Wild Wild West Gauntlets because they are inspired by my love the outdoors and the America west.  And since I was particularly pleased with this design I have written up the pattern which I've made into a free download (link below).  I hope you will enjoy making them and wearing them as much as I have.

Particulars: pattern by Claudia Bugh available as a free pdf download  Wild Wild West Gauntlets; 2 skeins Organik worsted yarn by The Fiber Company (approximately 200 yrds); US 8 circular needles and DPN.

Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe ~

Cowboys practically lived off cooked beans while on the trail.  I know this to be a fact based on my extensive reading of western romance novels.  Ahem.  Intrigued by the notion I have often attempted to make bean soup or baked beans but I've been disappointed with the recipes I've tried.  So I tossed aside my recipes and came up with this way to cook them and I was very happy with the result.  I liked the soft texture and rich flavor and hope you enjoy them cooked this way too. Incidentally, while we try and eat healthfully all the time this is probably one of the healthier recipes I've shared on the blog.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups dried Anasazi Beans (found in organic section of grocery story or health food stores)
32 Ounces Chicken Stock
1 diced fresh tomato
1 diced sweet yellow onion
2 Tbs Olive Oil
Kosher sea salt to taste

Steps:

1.  Wash and sort Anasazi beans.  Not only is this variety of bean very flavorful, it requires no advance pre-soaking.  Place beans into a large stock pot and cover with water and boil for approximately 1 hour or follow package instructions for cooking beans.

2.  Drain beans from water and remove any excess water with a tea towel.  Set cooked beans aside while you perform step 3.

3.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Saute onion in olive oil until slightly caramelized.  In a separate deep pot (oven safe with a lid and preferably cast-iron) combine cooked beans along with the diced tomato and the chicken stock (I use slightly less than a full 32 ounce container of chicken stock).  You want the chicken stock to cover the beans and tomato mixture by approximately 1 inch.  This should be enough moisture to keep the beans moist and still allow the beans to develop a thick sauce as they bake in the oven.  Lastly stir in the sauteed onion and cover pot.

4.  Bake for approximately 2.5 hours and salt to taste.  The beans should be soft at this point and the chicken stock cooked down until level with the beans.

And here's my little buckaroo.  He enjoys these beans too and ate a pot while standing on his hind legs as they were cooling on the counter just the other evening.  I hope his time spent in his crate reflecting on his actions will prevent this from reoccurring.

Until next time, be well and love well and may these days of fall be filled with color, texture and anticipation of the holidays to come.

Kit Carson Shawl and The Outlaw

I have an infatuation with all things western so it's only natural that this shawl named for the American frontiersman and Indian fighter Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson would appeal to me.  Simcha and I spend so much time alone hiking in the mountains of Topanga it provides me with plenty of time for daydreaming and my thoughts often turn to the era when wagons rolled through these hills and cowboys rode herd and all the land was open.  For that reason I'm calling this my wild wild west shawl and chose rustic colors well suited to the rugged terrain where it will be worn.  In reality I'm sure it's just as well that I didn't live during that time as I'm not someone who appreciates rustic living enough to forego indoor plumbing.

Sometimes I take it for granted that everyone grew up with old american western movies and books and naturally understand its appeal.  But in case you aren't familiar with the genre you might try reading a story set in the american west such as  Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (which is a classic) or for something lighter perhaps try a fun western romance romp such as the Wife Lottery Series by Jodi Thomas or Texas Trilogy by Lorraine Heath.

Now Fall might not start officially until September 22nd but for me mid-August is when I start to notice subtle changes in the landscape and begin to anticipate the season and its cooler temperatures, beautiful foliage, spooky Halloween decorations and the excitement of a new unblemished college football season (I'll be rooting for my alma mater the University of Notre Dame Here Come the Irish of Notre Dame!).  It's also a great time to add a few knit pieces to your wardrobe that can carry you into the Winter and so if you haven't got anything on the needles for Fall it's time to get busy.

Particulars:  Carson designed by Rosemary {Romi}Hill (this shawl is part of a collection celebrating Romi's home in beautiful Nevada and includes a free modified three color version of the shawl on Ravelry); 2 skeins Hedgehog Fibers Sock yarn (both are sock club colorways); US 5 circular needles; I opted to eliminate the suggested rows (i.e. rows 167-170) and worked the shorter chart A border; no modifications.  This is lovely shawl with a wonderful drape as a result of the soft sock yarn I used.  I find that Hedgehog Fiber's sock yarn is a not highly twisted and as a result I'm not sure how well it wears for socks but it's soft and perfect for projects requiring drape and I'm always happy with projects that I've made using it.  Other projects I've knit in Hedgehog Fiber yarns are Asking for Roses Shawl and Mystery Socks.

PS the jeans I'm wearing in this post are Paige Denim made in America and carried by Nordstroms and I love them!

Simcha The Outlaw

Simcha is also a fan of the american west and here he is doing his famous outlaw pose.  Be warned he's got a quick draw and is a bit of a card shark so know that before you sit down to play with him!

Until next time be well and love well and have fun getting ready for Fall and if you don't have a college football team to root for, then by all means adopt The University of Notre Dame!

Simcha's Simply Scrumptious Strawberry Scones ~

I don't know if you've noticed, but so far it's been a particularly hot summer and I just couldn't bear to talk about knitting.  So instead I'm changing things up with some baking!  These strawberry scones are inspired by scones served at the Sweet Begonia Bakery in Santa Barbara, California located in Victoria Courtyard (just off State Street).  I really really really liked the Sweet Begonia scones but as I don't live in Santa Barbara what was I to do?  I had never seen anything similar in a Los Angeles bakery and I had no luck finding a similar sounding recipe.  But I was not going to be defeated and, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention so I put on my thinking cap and created a recipe that I call Simcha's Simply Scrumptious Strawberry Scones.  I do use "scone" loosely as this is a cross between a cookie, shortcake, and scone.

Any leftover strawberries can be used to make a refreshing lime and strawberry iced drink to sip as you contemplate fall knitting projects (I love an elixir made from a mix of squeezed lime and strawberry juice poured through a strainer and diluted with water and sweetened with agave nectar and poured over ice).  I currently have a ton of fall projects on the needles as it's never too soon to start!

Simcha's Simply Scrumptious Strawberry "Scone" Recipe

2 cups all purpose Flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3.5 ounces almond paste crumbled (1/2 tube) note: almond paste is similar but different than marzipan and   is generally carried by grocery stores in the baking isle next to marzipan.
5 tbs. cold unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
3/4 cup - scant - whole milk (do not substitute low fat milk)  This is a wet dough but still shouldn't be too sticky to work with so be cautious with the amount of milk added.
1 pint fresh strawberries (organic) - dried thoroughly and sliced into flat slices
***
rice flour or all purpose flour to dust work space
Garnish:
milk
coarse white sugar

Steps:
1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees and cover a baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper.
2.  Combine dry ingredients and mix in crumbled almond paste.
3.  Using a pastry cutter add butter to the dry mixture and use pastry cutter until butter is pea sized or smaller.
4.  Quickly stir in whole milk to make dough.  If your dough is too "wet" add a small amount of additional all purpose flour until it is no longer too sticky to work with.  Turn dough out onto work surface lightly dusted with rice flour or all purpose flour.  I like to use rice flour because it's very "white" and gives a nice finished bakery look to your scones.
5. Using a rolling pin roll dough into a flat circle (as if rolling out a pie crust - approximate 1/4 inch thick - makes a 13" diameter circle).  Use a knife to cut circle in half and cover one half of the dough with sliced strawberries and then fold the other half of the dough over on top of the strawberries and gently press down.  Again using a knife cut half circle into scone sized wedges and decorate tops of scones with remaining slices of strawberries (makes approximately 8 to 9 scones).
6.  Using a spatula transfer scones to prepared baking sheet.
7.  Brush tops of scones with milk and sprinkle with coarse white sugar.
8.  Bake approximately 20 minutes or until dough is lightly browned.  Cool on wire racks. These freeze well.

These are a rustic style scone (as mentioned above I use the term "scone" loosely) and go well with coffee or tea and I hope you enjoy them!

And for those who like to keep tabs on Simcha  ~

Simcha is still a high drive boy who enjoys needs hikes daily (twice) and I defy you to find a dog that likes to chase a ball more.

Until next time, be well and love well and take time to bake scones, drink crazy fruit juices and have fun this summer!

Summer Socks ~ and Simcha and the Old West

It's almost May 1st, which is May Day (as opposed to "MAYDAY" which is a distress call) and it has me thinking about Spring flowers, Summer festivals and all things Summery and whimsical including my new summer Love Socks!

The above picture of my legs reminds me of a cute story involving my mom.  She was a teenager in England during WWII when there were many American servicemen stationed in her home town, a small fishing village called Teignmouth.   She, of course, enjoyed the attention that these men gave the local girls including the wolf whistles when they walked by.  One day while she was out walking she was feeling very pretty when a group of men began whistling at her.... until she heard one call out "I bet she can sing" quickly followed by "because she has legs like a canary."  They all hooted in laughter and my mother wished she could simply melt away instead of having to continue to walk past them mortified and ungainly from embarrassment.  To this day she will dissolve into laughter when she tells this story.  And yet since she married an American there apparently were no hard feelings.  So no unkind comments on my legs please!

But I digress from knitting.  It occurs to me that it's been a while since I've shared a knitting tip on the blog so without further ado:

Mr. Puffy's Sock Knitting Tip:  When knitting socks from the cuff down you can create a stretchy "cast on" edge by casting on over two needles held together.  You simply remove the additional needle when you begin knitting and it helps create extra room to stretch over your heel.     

Lastly a sweet noesgay inspired picture in honor of May Day! 

Particulars:  Love Socks by Devon Clement (free Ravelry download); 1 skein Canon Hand Dyed yarn (Charles Self Striping Sock Yarn - black unicorn colorway); US 1 DPNs.  This is a gem of a free pattern ~ fun to knit and an easy introduction to intarsia knitting which is much easier than you would think.  For more self striping socks see Halloween Socks and Ghosts and Ghouls. 

Simcha and the Old West 

At times I can envision Simcha as a wolf standing guard over the vast territories of the American West.  I think it might be because at times his behavior can resemble that of a wild animal.  Which is why we have had to create some house rules.  House Rule No. 1:  Never turn your back on food when Simcha is loose.  House Rule No. 2:  If you are ever tempted to trust Simcha around food - refer to rule No. 1.  There have been some unfortunate incidents necessitating strict rules.

Until next time, be well and love well and make sure to discover what fun Spring festivals take place in your area and whatever you do don't forget to buy some flowers to celebrate May Day!

Crazy Cowl and Urban Legend ~

It's been a particularly hard stretch of work lately and so a little down time in San Clemente has been welcome.  I'm never as relaxed as I am in San Clemente, maybe because we don't take Simcha with us.  As adorable as he is, he has a lot of energy and likes to run our household rather like a military compound.  For example, if we aren't up by 7 am he will bark until he hears us moving about and he keeps us on a schedule all day long.  Personally I prefer a more flexible lifestyle, but I lost that vote.  Sometimes I think Simcha would be happy if our day began with a bugle roll call.  But I'm not buying him a bugle.  He's bossy enough as it is.

These pictures are of my new cowl taken at sunset along the San Clemente Coastal Trail that connects North Beach with the Pier and beyond.  This trail is a great asset to the community and everyone uses it to walk their dog, ride bikes or jog while enjoying beautiful views of the coastline.

Particulars:  September Circle by Melissa LaBarre (Knitting School Dropout); 1 skein Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Yarn; US 7 circular Needles; modified as follows:  CO 180 stitches; only knit 3 repeats.  I also spliced the colors so that the center had a stripe of light blue yarn just because I thought that would look nicer.  This cowl was a fun and easy knit with fingerling weight yarn so it gives a nice pop of color without a lot of weight which works perfectly with our climate and a sunset walk at the beach.




Simcha and an Urban legend


I was touched that some of the comments on the last post mentioned missing hearing about Simcha. That makes me happy as I love sharing our adventures together.  So I'll share what is probably my favorite picture of him taken at a special place where we often hike. There's a local urban legend that when Jimi Hendrix (guitar player blues/rock style, e.g. Hey Joe) lived in Topanga Canyon he would come to this place to compose and play his music. I have no idea if this is true or not but I do know it has mind blowing views and it is a popular place to party and play music.

Until next time, be well and love well and be sure to take breaks from your regular routine as everyone needs to be flexible.

A Winter Hat ~ at the Sea Shore

It feels like forever since I've finished any knitting and all I've got is a hat.  But it is a very nice hat and I'm very happy with it!  For a change of pace we shot these photos at the beach while we were in San Clemente for the holidays.

I always find our time at the beach relaxing and that is largely because we don't have the internet, cell phones or even a TV to watch and that forces you to slow down.  If you can possibly manage it I think everyone benefits from  time spent away from constant exposure to electronic devices.  Just step away from your computer and turn off your cell phone.

When you do that it gives you time to just be quiet and enjoy the simple pleasure of breathing and relaxing and enjoying nature.  I like to sit on the sand and smell the salt air; feel the warmth of the sun on my skin; listen to the waves crashing; watch the seagulls soaring in the sky and bury my toes in the sand.  I only wander home after the sun sets.

And of course in the Winter you will want a nice warm hat if you are outside enjoying nature.  And I highly recommend this pattern!

Particulars: 16 Sixteen Cable hat; designed by Circe Belles Boucles; US 8 & 9 needles (brim and body, respectively); 2 skeins terra by The Fiber Company; size 1 but I used larger needles to increase the size.  If I had knit size 2 it would have been too large for me unless I eliminated some of the stitches in the repeats which I didn't want to do that because the fabulous oversized cables are intrinsic to the beauty of this design.  Therefore I made the smaller size but increased the dimensions by using a substantial yarn and larger needles.  Because I only had 200 yards of yarn I also eliminated 1 to 2 rows of knitting in between each of the cable repeats and just barely finished with enough yarn. 


The MisAdventures of Simcha ~

As you know I always enjoy chatting about my baby.  It's hard to believe that he's already three (3) years old.  Time has flown by.  Now he spends much of his time hanging about the house and, like any young male in his prime, he enjoys flexing his muscles and preening.  Sometimes I look at those muscles and wonder if all those hikes to burn off his energy haven't also been developing his muscles.... which is sort of counter productive.  Le sigh.

Thinking about Simcha's birthday has me reminiscing about the antics he got into as a puppy and I thought you might enjoy hearing a story that I'll call "the walnut incident."  Simcha was probably about a year old when this happened.  I recall I was at my wits end at the end of a long evening.  To cap off the evening he had knocked over a bowl of nuts and was tearing around the house with a walnut in his mouth and I could not catch him. Defeated and exhausted I sat on the bottom step.  Lo and behold he came over and dropped the walnut in my hand and climbed into his crate. I whispered “thank you” and went up to bed.  Under that tough guy exterior he has a soft heart.

Until next time, be well and love well and where ever you are make time to enjoy nature.  If you are in the snow make snow angles; if you are in the woods sit and enjoy the flora; and if you are in the mountains go on hikes and watch the clouds drift overhead. And leave your cell phone at home.