One of my new butterfly bushes that I planted about a month ago has bestowed one large blossom to usher in Fall. :)

Notes From Ships Landing

I made Marlee a little sweater :) ; 'little' being the key word here :) Isn't she just the cutest thing ever in it??? :D I cut the sleeve off of a fulled wool sweater, cut a couple of slits in the sides for her front legs, used the rib cuff of the sweater for her neck, and waaa laaa, a new Autumn sweater for the little one. :D She has such very short hair that she gets cold much quicker than either of the other three. Both she and Bayley are growing so faaassst! They continue to delight me (okay, so sometimes they infuriate me :/ but mostly 'delight' LOL) . Bayley has to get a bath today, not his favorite thing to do AT ALL, but with his long hair he will be getting bathed more often than the others. :( As you can see from the pictures, Bayley and Marlee are 'joined at the hip'. :) Dewey? well, he just tries to stay out of the way. Poor fella, he's still hanging in there. I love hearing the Belted Kingfisher. I hear him first, then I can locate him visually to capture a bit of his essence on camera. :) The pace is still fast and furious here at Ships Landing, but I do seem to be adjusting somewhat. :) I love the days getting shorter. We have a good supply of firewood stacked and ready for those chilly days and nights ahead. :) I love the change of seasons here in NE Tennessee, and I'm always ready when it's time for them to fade one into another. I've been bringing out bits and pieces of Autumn decor; a pumpkin wallhanging here, a stuffed pumpkin there, Autumn hand towels draped over the oven door handle, mulled cider candles burning. I do want to pick up a few real pumpkins and some more mums. I have started knitting a bit again, and I've even been doing some needleturn applique. Don't you just get a thrill from the chill in the air? :D

Autumn Is Here

and I have no signs of it here at Ships Landing other than dying Summer blossoms. I am dancing on a pin head...doing a balancing act...not very successfully, I might add. But today is a new day. And I am pulling out some bits and pieces of Fall for inside regardless of what other chores get pushed to the side. I need dirt therapy...and bird therapy...and to immerse myself in nature. This patch of life that I find myself in leaves little room for 'going inward'...for peace and serenity. I do know that 'this too shall pass', and so I try and corral my thoughts back into just this one day, to scratch out even just a few minutes to stop and gather in the sights and sounds and smells of Autumn changing nature's garments from Summer's frolicking colors to filtered sunshine rays, vivid colors for foliage. My birds have returned from their Summer vacations and brought a smile to my face this morning with their flitting and chitchat. :) We have a new addition to our family (again :D) here at Ships Landing. Let me introduce you to Marlee Isabella. :) She and Bayley are best buds. They have had a blast since we rescued her and brought her home two months ago. Things are certainly a lot livelier around here than they have been in quite a few years. :)

Bayley Update

Bayley is doing great. We just got home from the vet's and she saw no problems at all. He weighed in at 9.6 lbs. :) He's a growing boy! :D He got the last of his shots, and I'm glad to have those behind us. Today's his birthday---four months old. :D

Holding My Breath

I'm afraid that my Bayley Baby hurt his back on Friday. He's probably not seriously hurt, but he definitely is not himself. He's walking, doing his business, etc., but he's not attempting to walk or run any more than he has to. That is a good thing, on the one hand, but on the other it's also a huge red signal to me that something is wrong. The other thing is that I'm crating him and he's not objecting to that at all. I have a call in to the vet to see if I can give him some Pred as a precaution to lessen any swelling or inflamation that he may have. He's only four months old, and I just shrivel up inside to think he may have back problems so young. All of you dog lovers out there send up some prayers for my precious pup. He's already stolen our hearts completely.

Computer Challenges

I've successfully spent the last four hours in getting the router to work on our computers. I would rather go to the dentist than have to figure computer 'inner-workings' out! However, I WAS successful and am now composing this new post on MY computer (which has been dialup only for the last 6+ years). :) Now, maybe I will be able to post more frequently, share photos with my family and friends more often, and just in general be more relaxed about time spent on the computer. We've been in the process of switching from satellite to DSL for the last several weeks, and I am so much happier with DSL than I EVER was with Hughes satellite. The Hughes tech support gang were probably as sick of me as I was (am) of them!!! :D Now, I'm downloading and installing Picassa for my photos. I tried it once (a long time ago) on Randy's computer and just about had heart failure because it sorted EVERYTHING (including CSA notes). Decided that would be way too involved to help him adjust to, so I just removed it. Now I'm excited to see if I will be happy with it for just my pictures. edited 8-5-09 Still have computer issues...get one problem solved, and create a whole slew of others. :/ I think I'll go back to 'BC' (before computers).

Happenings at Ships Landing

The biggest, healthiest, full of green tomatoes that I have EVER grown!

Is this not the most ADORABLE photo??!! (Bayley getting ready for his first boating trip)

Nathan Amy Amy and Bayley take a dip