with yet another day of fire in the stove.   Well, it is November already.   cleaning up around the outside of hte house, wondering where to put the wood this year so it won't be tracked into the house when we build the fire.

This past week, another year of my life has passed.   Won't say how many though!   I was treated by my family to a really good dinner at a local restaruant.   In the past we have gone to the trendy "buffet"  style, but with prices up like they are I ask if we could just go ahead and go to a real sit down dinner.  The kids really enjoyed the atmosphere of  actually being waited on and not stepped on in a rush to the salad bar!  ' My oldest son came out today and brought me a very pretty blanket for my bed.   It is the really soft throw that you can cuddle up in when you are sick on the couch too.   I love it!

As much hubub as goes on here,  it still seems quiet here without any dogs.  I have been watching and waiting, looking outside for the strays that will surely be by.   I have also started looking at the shelters online.   Tom was nice enough to take us over to Ohio to look today.  I had never been in a shelter before, and I wondered how I would do.  I made it past the first three cages, then I started to weep.   What to do?   Everyone needed a home.   Some I know where not for us,  others reminded me to  much of those we had lost in the past.   We came home with a few on our minds, but none in the car.   We are thinking of going back tomarrow and see what that brings. 

Jess is enjoying having a friend over tonight.  It is nice to see young girls being able to entertain themselves.   They played outside today with the farm animals, then went to the shelter with us.   Instead of plopping down infront of the TV,  they have been drawing, making things from clay,  and I think they are on to making a craft.   What fun!