Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Preparing

Early morning
Callie taken to be clipped and bathed
while it is still warm.  Someone very close does this for me 3 times a year.
She was beginning to shed and now she is ready for Winter months.

School boy helper arrived
and a lot done in 2 hours.
This is all I can hold out with me working with him
at a fast pace.  So pleased I found him during the summer.

Separated 6 sections off of my beautiful Aster
and replanted in other areas.
This plant has traveled with me for many years
and have shared with countless people.

It grows all summer and looks like a medium size bush
and when it blooms (the last flower of the year)
it is a beautiful purple.

Then up the gravel drive to clip on some more bushes,
moved a section of fence, raked leaves and blower needs
a new battery which should arrive tomorrow.
Some wooden chairs and tables put in out of the weather.
Garage vacuumed and while some of this was going on
I lit the fire pit as it was full, no wind and will not burn it
when I am here alone.   I continually am putting small sticks
and  branches in it.  Will have to fill again before my little girls
arrive on Thanksgiving as they like to sit by the fire.

2 hours have gone by and as my helper left
I put some chicken in a baking dish for lunch.
Smells so good and copied the recipe from somewhere online.

Preheat oven to 375
Chicken in Pyrex dish
and cover with plain yogurt, some Parmesan cheese, garlic power,
seasoning salt and pepper. 

I always keep pieces of chicken in freezer for easy meals.
Usually use for my chicken salad.

Was really upset
could not find my keys and need to start wearing them on a chain around my neck.
Finally found them and then could not find
a wonderful poker with carved wooden handle that was made for me
by a friend almost 40 years ago
thern I found it where I had been raking :)

Parsley, chives, sage, rosemary and thyme still looks hardy
and wish I had picked a bouquet of my basil before the frost
took it, but do have a lot in the freezer.
My rosemary of 4 years did not make it last winter and
purchased a new plant in the Spring that has been in a pot and just
placed on screened in porch - smells so good..

So a busy morning and it is 1:30
going to eat and wait for the rain that is soon to arrive...

A lot accomplished...

8 comments:

Balisha said...

I have the same aster. I brought it here from my previous house. I have divided and divided it...and have given plants away. It is that lovely purple color.
It sounds like you got a lot done today with the help of your school boy. They have endless energy.....like I once did.
I saw a recipe for chicken fixed like that only with Hellman's mayo instead of yogurt. I think that the yogurt might be more healthy though. I'll have to give it a try.
Well, tomorrow you can rest. So glad that Callie has healed. I was worried about your pup.
Have a nice eveining,
Balisha

thewiildmagnola said...

you are a wonder!
happy a friend helps with Callie, i love that!

keys belong around the neck if you can't keep up with them. i go through spells of losing and dropping things.



Judy said...

WOW--you got a lot done! Cold temps are headed your way.

Ugich Konitari said...

Ernestine, when you cook the Chicken dish, try using Tandoori Spice or Tandoori Masala , http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tandoori%20spice&sprefix=Tandoor%2Caps%2C409

Sprinkle a bit in the plain yogurt before you use it on the chicken. Would be great for cold days !

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

You had a very good and productive day. How do you preserve your basil for the freezer?

It is 63 this morning at 4:56 a.m. It was beautiful yesterday and looks to be the same today.

I'm glad that Callie is doing better and that you have a friend who helps with her. Also glad that you have your teen helper.

Enjoy your week ~ FlowerLady

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Balisha, Sandy, Judy and Surango,
thank you for visiting.
Lorraine, I chop Basil and put in ice cube trays, cover with water
and freeze and transfer to a plastic bag..

MsGraysea said...

I just love the Fall asters. A good friend has an entire field behind her house filled with different colors of them. She has gathered them all from friends and roadsides through the years.
How long do you bake the chicken? It sounds delicious.
What a wonderful helper you have and it sounds like you got a lot done in a short time!!
Always so nice to stop by your have in the woods!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Marcia, chicken about 45 minutes :)