Weekend roundup.

Thought about all the little things I did this week, none seemed consequential enough to gab about, but here's a re-cap, anyway.
I've been taking care of a friend's cat while she and her husband vacationed in Montana. Barney is a real dear, very loving and definitely a 'people-cat'. He turns himself inside-out when you pat him, purring so loud that one would suspect he'd choke. Now that Joyce and Dan are home, I'm off the duty, so will have to visit tomorrow morning to see if Barney is getting his due affection.
This has been jelly-making season. The last (I think) batch of grape jelly was put up this morning. The larder is stocked well with blueberry and peach jams, grape conserve, and grape jelly. I use these as part of a basket of kitchen goodies that go to neighbors at Christmas, so a part of the holiday preparations is done.
During that past 2 weeks, I've sewn 2 table runners and 2 small wall hangings. One of the wall-hangings is of pumpkins and just right for the next 2 months decor. The other wall-hanging is a stained-glass piece that came out really well. Now, I'm encouraged to finish up the large piece that is a replica of a window in Chris' and David's home.
On Friday night, Tony & I went to Uxbridge's Anthony Donatelli Field for a football game between Uxbridge and Nipmuc (Mendon/Upton). Unfortunately for Tony, Nipmuc beat Uxbridge 35-0. Tony doesn't want to discuss it, so if any of you happen to talk with him, avoid that subject, please.
Tony, Steve and I attended the BC/Army football game yesterday...it was a good, clean game. Army played hard and I found myself rooting for them as well as BC.
We're having summer weather, again. Temps yesterday were in the 80s, today high 70s, tomorrow 80s again, Tuesday and Wednesday could be in low 90s. Ugh! We'd taken the AC units out of the bedroom windows last week in anticipation that fall weather was here to stay. It's been very dry here...no rain of any consequence for over 2 months. Lawns are brown, ground is dusty. Some folks have had dry wells, that's the worst part of droughts.
Cafe constuction is still going well, although initial glimpse inside the front door doesn't show much change. That's because electrician and plumbers have been hard at work this week. David is ready to finalize the countertops with mahogany trim and stain floors. When those items are finished, there should be a dramatic photo to show. Stay tuned. Will post pictures soon.
Adriana is here for an overnight. She just gave me a hair-styling, complete with mini-pony tails and clips all over the head. She's very pleased with her work and wants me to keep it in forever. I told her that it may come out while I sleep, and she was accepting of that (thank goodness). Tomorrow she returns home for her week of schooling and dancing lessons. Now that her busy schedule is in place, she's probably only going to be here on Sundays. The house is awfully quiet without children.

Quilt Shop Hop

On Saturday morning, early (6 a.m.) I left for Emma's Quilt Shop in Franklin where a group of nearly 40 quilters boarded a coach (bus) for a day-long shopping extravaganza, quilt-style. We first went to Wellesley to the Button Box Quilt Shop where we shopped and picked up 10 more travelers. Then on to North Attleboro, Bellingham, back to Franklin at noon (the Wellesley crew hadn't yet shopped at Emma's) where we picked up our lunch and drinks, then on to 6 more shops in central Massachusetts. Each shop had drawings for magnificently outfitted baskets (quilting supplies, naturally) and a stamp-in. When all 9 shops were stamped on our 'passport', we were then entered into a major drawing for a new sewing machine. On the bus, between shops, the tour director drew names (numbers) for a myriad of little quilting trinkets, 40 in all during the day. Now, with these 40 prizes, 9 more baskets (from the shops) and the biggeeeeee (sewing machine) I figured my odds were fairly good for getting at least 1 prize, wouldn't you think so???? Not one! There were 49 people on the bus, 40 prizes drawn on the bus, and there I sat, waiting for the big one, at least. Not my day. However, enough said about prizes, the shop hop was lots of fun, we saw lots of fabulous quilts, tons of gorgeous fabric, and I came home with a very conservative collection (1 new foot for my Featherweight, 2 patterns, lots of inspiration, and fabric for a wall hanging (I've had the pattern for this in my sewing room for a couple of months, now, and decided that if I'm ever going to make that one, I'd be wise to get the fabric now)) Got home at 11 p.m., and slept through a thunderstorm during the night, at least that's what Tony said.
Joyce (my good friend) and her husband Dan are on a 2-week vacation in Montana. I'm in charge of "Barney", their loving Maine Coon Cat...what a dear. I go to her house early each morning and am greeted at the door (I think he knows the sound of my car) with purrs and leg-caresses. He eats his morning meal and then begs to go outside. I have been bringing some of my sewing/quilting projects with me, and spend a quiet morning in Joyce's quilting/sewing room while Barney explores the gardens, barns and bird-feeders. Usually, around noon, he's ready to go inside, again, and I've had enough sewing for one day. On days that I'm off to someplace else, he spends the day inside, not happy about it, but at least my mind is free of worry for those few hours. I'm getting lots of projects finished up.
I'm in the jelly-making mode...3 batches of blueberry jam are sitting on the shelves along with 1 batch of grape jelly. I have juice for 2 more batches of grape jelly in the fridge and pots full of simmering grapes on the stove, probably yielding juice for at least 3 more batches. I think I can also get a couple of batches of grape conserve (a jam), also from this same basket of grapes. Next week it'll be the late plums and peaches. The smell in the kitchen is ohhhh sooooo gooood. The taste of homemade jellies and jams is unequaled by anything you can buy in the stores. It's much fruitier and the aroma wafts freely as soon as you open a jar. Some of these will make good Chrismas gifts for folks in the neighborhood...along with a loaf of English Muffin bread.

Baking Day

Wednesdays is our baking day...pizzelles and biscotti...at the cafe. This week, after baking, we toured the new cafe to see the progress. Each week shows David and Chris closer to "the light at the end of the tunnel".

This shows the main room, from the entrance, with copper countertops in place. Menu boards are up, and and much work has been done in the back room where the ice machine, sinks and coolers will be located, although it's still too dark for me to take good pictures in there.

If you look back a couple of postings ago, you will see the first picture that I posted of this same area.

The raised seating areas are nearly done. This area is looking left from the front door. There will be a railing at the edge to set this apart from the main floor seating.

Glorious fall weather!

WOW! This week has been splendid. Sunny, dry and Temps in the 70s during the day, 50s at night. Does it get any better????? (I know, you Texans want it warmer). The gardens and lawns are suffering, though, we've not had any rain since July. The garden did very well with underground reserves until about 2 weeks ago. Now, it's drying up, partly because of the arid conditions, and partly because of the season...it's time. We have a wonderful crop of butternut squash this year. Tony didn't know he planted any...he thought he'd planted only zucchini. Oh, well, I LOVE butternut and will have a supply well into the winter.
We got an aquarium this week. We haven't had one in the house since our own children were young. Adriana had been caring for the goldfish in Papa's garden pool, and had named each fish. One day this week, a frog got into the pond and had a feast. One of her dear little ones became a dinner for the frog. Here was a lesson in the food chain, we explained that the frog didn't know he'd done anything wrong, that each creature on earth needs food, and like specific kinds of food. We re-located the frog to the woods way away from our yard.
Now, our replacement fish have an inside sanctuary, they'll be carefully tended by the 6 yr-old for the winter, to be replaced into the garden pool in the spring and make room in the aquarium for a newer generation next year.
Saw a half-grown deer by the brook on Mowry Street on Friday. They, too, are looking for water sources. I think there were deer tracks in our yard, but because the ground is so dry, the imprint wasn't very clear. I hope they've found the garden pool.
Tony, Steve and I went to the BC football game yesterday. BC won...beat Wake Forest. Saw that Appalachian State had a big win over Michigan [ :-) Sarah] and that NCState lost [ :-( Alex] The latter was great news for BC as NCState is next week's opponent.