THE HOUSE FINCHES PLUS...

Please turn the noise off if it disturbs you. The birds are very noisy on this one, but hopefully entertaining. There is also a lot of background noise. That can be anything from planes flying overhead (depending on which way the wind is blowing as our major airport is only 30 minutes away), to yard work being done in other gardens, to dogs barking. At least I know the sound works!

The leaves are starting to fall like rain and I will be getting out there tomorrow, to sweep them up off the deck, and also to refresh the water (full of leaves) and a general clean up. Amazed at how the weeds have grown, amazed that this always takes me by surprise but things should be slowing down now.

We had a very nice run out around noon and had our weekly fast-food lunch. I tried something new on the menu, a waffle and chicken sandwich. It looked nothing like its picture, was smaller than my usual sandwich, which is what I was going for. The waffle was limp and the chicken was fried. I never order fried chicken normally but that lovely photo pulled me into its web. We have never had bad food there, but they must have been having an off day and everyone's entitled to one of those. I ended up leaving most of it. Won’t try that again! Had my coffee treat on the way home. I will try that again! I usually stick to my one cup of black coffee first thing in the morning at home, and green tea for the rest of the day. 

We were driving by a business and I asked Gregg if he would pull into the parking lot as I saw these. Say hello to Hecate and Vespera (I like to name things as you may or may not know). Halloween decorations have been popping up early since the beginning of September. I don't remember them ever being this early. I don't decorate myself, but I enjoy seeing what others do.

The clouds were full of rain but fortunately it held off while we were out. It rained the previous night. The ridge line you can see in the distance (above) is the Shenandoah. Below are tops of the buildings from one of our shopping areas.

New fencing going up next to one home area a mile or so down the road. Those boards are twice as high as the ones they are building across the street. 

When we got home we spent it quietly. We had a busy one yesterday as we got together with our son and daughter-in-law at Chateau de Chantilly Cafe. They introduced us to this place originally and it was a pleasure to be with them here. I'll have photos on another post sometime.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is a great one.

AN OLD FAVORITE - WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?

 They were obviously used to people, and certainly were not bothered by me. Sitting on a nearby bench I had the place to myself, and their delightful company.

Our dear birds are two domestic rock pigeons. The white pigeon is grooming the other. It is actually a sign of affection, trust and social bonding between pairs.

Thanks for looking and I hope your week has started well.

MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - SLOW COOKER 4-INGREDIENT COUNTRY GRAVY CHICKEN

This recipe was very easy to do. I found it at Cooktop Cove via Pinterest(?).  The original recipe can be found here. We could describe it as very plain (bland you might think if you are used to a lot of seasonings) but we both enjoyed it very much. It was satisfying and tasty. You can always dress it up more with your own favorite seasonings. We were tired and wanted a hot meal on what turned out to be a chilly day. This fit our needs perfectly.

Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Country Gravy Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 packet of country gravy mix 

(or you can use the ready-made jar of Heinz Homestyle Gravy that we used)

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup water

Suggested sides: mashed potatoes and green beans

Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker. Place the chicken in the bottom in one layer.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the country gravy mix, or in our case the jar of ready-made gravy, condensed cream of chicken soup and water until mostly smooth.

Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the chicken, cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or on HIGH 3 to 4 hours (which is the temperature we used), until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.

Once done, gently spoon some of the gravy over the chicken before serving. If you like, break the chicken into pieces right in the cooker for extra tender bites.

Serve hot over mashed potatoes, rice or noodles with plenty of gravy on top. 

We served ours with green beans and mashed potatoes. The next day no mashed potatoes but there was rice. This turned out to be our favorite - lots of gravy left - excellent and delicious! 

If you have any questions please leave them in the comments, and I will do my best to answer them.

  

Thanks for visiting, have a great day and Bon Appétit! - Denise

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - AROUND AND ABOUT FOR MONDAY, 9/21/26 AND TUESDAY, 9/21/26

Today I am sharing a few photos from rainy days throughout the years. The first one is an elk we saw at Benezette in Pennsylvania more years back than I can remember. The rest are just around and about. 

“And who art thou?” said I to the soft-falling shower. “I am the Poem of Earth,” said the voice of the rain. 

~The Voice of the Rain by Walt Whitman, "Leaves of Grass"~

Monday, September 21st, 2026 (last Monday ): I went to my usual place and had my hair shaped and trimmed. The lady I go to always does a great job and makes me look presentable. I have been going to her for several years. I made another appointment for two months from now. I forgot the last appointment and felt really bad about it, but she was very nice. 

Lady was very proud to tell me they had had the place redecorated, and I said how lovely it was, and how bright. Truthfully, my eyesight was particularly sensitive. I thought it would be a little gauche to shield my eyes or put my sunglasses on. I kept my eyes closed for most of my appointment, which I do anyway when my head is lowered as she works around me. No big deal, I couldn’t help be happy for her as she was obviously very proud of the new look. She and the rest of those who work there were happily chatting to their customers.  It is a very friendly place. There was a darling little boy getting his haircut and he was being showered with smiles. He was having a good time with all the attention.

As for me, I was in and out in 15 minutes. I go in with my hair wet as I have my mother’s problem and get dizzy when hanging my head low over the sink, doesn't matter if it's forward or backward. I stopped that several hair appointments ago. It takes a lot of time off the process. Gregg was surprised when I texted him to say I had finished. Sometimes she gets a phone call from a potential customer in the middle and stops to answer. This gives me a chance to have a nosy and see who is in the other chairs. She had no phone calls this time. I am always happy to see my nice, tidy hair. 

This afternoon it started raining. Fortunately we were home before we had a torrential downpour. This is what our skies looked like on our way out. It was trash pick-up today.

At 6.51 p.m. the temperature is a low of 65 F/18 C, and the low on Friday will be the 51 F./11 C. Mother Nature has flipped her switch. 

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026: I had a weird dream last night. I dreamt I stuck my head into the garage from the laundry room door, and a lynx was sitting on an old chest of draws we keep out there. He poked his head around the corner and stared at me. It’s my habit at night to make sure we put down the garage door. We had but I closed the door into the house pretty darned fast, in my dream. Then I went to bed. I know it was a dream because I wouldn’t have just gone to bed. I would have been on the phone to animal control. As it was, I was very careful opening up the laundry room door this morning, just to check, and then I laughed at myself. It was such a vivid dream. No lynx staring back at me. I don’t usually remember my dreams unless they are to do with animals. Go figure that one out - or maybe not!

It sent me on one of my curiosity searches and I looked up where their native habitat was. It is limited to the dense, snow-heavy northern forests of Canada, Alaska and the northernmost tier of the United States. We do get Bobcats, however, but I knew this was a Lynx. The Bobcat is the only wild feline found in our state. They are common in the Dismal Swamp and the mountains of Virginia, rarely seen in other areas.

Reading on, I found that there were two captive 10-month old Siberian Lynx stolen from an animal park in Winchester, Virginia in December 2016. They were eventually found safe in January 2017, after being dumped on the roadside in West Virginia. There is an article here. A lady, who knew of their disappearance, lured them into her garage and called animal control. They were extremely tame and inseparable. Apparently they were very thin and ran right over to their keeper when he turned up. He said they were ready to go home. 

Whoever stole them were never found but they were thought to have also taken a spider monkey and a lemur from the same park. Those animals were  found in Glen Daniel, W.Va. after they had been sold to an unsuspecting buyer???

What a strange story, poor animals! And who knows, maybe I read about this years ago, had totally forgotten about it, or maybe saw a nature show a while back and forgotten about that. Why a Lynx suddenly popped into my brain last night, who knows? Winchester is the town we go to for the Museum of the Shenandoah. 

Gregg was happy I remembered enough to tell him about it and always tells me about his. He remembers all of his dreams. Is that a Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus thing, or is that an age thing, and yes I am smiling, and also blathering?  How about you, care to share? 

Well, that’s two days from last week.  I didn’t remember to jot down the others. Just as well!

Below is a frog that separated from a rain gauge I bought years ago  I decided to turn him into today’s signature sign-off to fit in with this rainy-day theme.  

I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for dropping in. I hope you are having sunny but not too hot a day where you are. 

Hugs from…

 

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - GOOD SIDE

"Look, She-of-the-House is taking our photo again." "She is taking them so she can show her blogging friends.

"Wait, did someone say photo op? Is this my good side?"

"I am staying low. I am hiding!"

"I am lost! Which way is the ocean?"

And that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. Thanks for visiting and have a

great weekend. Hugs from Denise.

ODDS AND BODS AND HELLO SUNSHINE, ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR COFFEE THIS FINE MORNING?

Good Morning and how are you today?

We are currently discussing if my coffee and I want to participate in this day.

Let’s go!

It’s safe to say, I am not the cat,  I am, however, the slow starter but here we are at the…

Dog stick library - He once was a wolf. Now he is a golden boy with a stick library.

…meeting up with a friend and that’s okay, he is still a wolf at heart. Just try and take that stick away from him later. You will have a wrestling match on your hands. 

Cute art of kids going off to school above and one below reminding me of the rainy days we have been having lately. In this picture a sweet kitty gets wrapped up in a warm scarf and taken to a loving home. Kitty will have a warm bed to sleep in that night.

Interesting words.

Kindred Word #30 - Brumous - English - adjective - Foggy, misty or wintry. 

Kindred word #20 - Psithurism - English - noun - The sound of

the wind whispering through the leaves.

Fun with Food!

And here is my imaginary house. 

Just kidding, here it is…

Sorry, I can’t help myself. Here it is… 

 Isn’t it a beauty? Beautiful at night too.

Back to a couple of recipes as I had not quite finished with food. A slow cooker Turkey Breast recipe…and once again I haven’t tried any of these recipes I share. It will be an adventure to me as well as to you. I will have a practice run before Thanksgiving.

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast 

Ingredients: 1 (4 to 6 pound) turkey breast - 3 tablespoons olive oil

or melted butter - 1 tablespoon garlic powder - 1 tablespoon onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika - 1 teaspoon dried thyme - salt and pepper to taste

1 cup chicken broth.  Instructions:  1. Pat turkey breast dry and rub with

olive oil or butter.  2. Mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme,

salt and pepper. Rub all over the turkey.  3. Place the turkey breast in

slow cooker, pour chicken broth around (NOT ON) the meat.  4. Cover

and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 

165 degrees F.  5. Optional: broil for 3 to 5 minutes to crisp up the skin

before serving.  6. Slice and serve with juices from the slow cooker.

For dessert.

Knott’s Berry Farm Cookies - “Thumbprint Cookies”, Buena Park, California.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened - 1/3 cup sugar - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup bread flour OR all-purpose flour works just as well. Bread flour will just make

your cookies more chewy 1/4 cup raspberry jam or other jam to your liking.

Instructions:  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  2. Combine butter, sugar, almond 

extract and flour in mixer bowl.  3. Mix until well blended and forms a ball. (Mine

was kind of dry and crumbly, so I added about 2 tablespoons of milk.)   4. Roll into

3/4 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  5. Make an indentation on top of

each cookie and fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.  6. Bake 9 minutes.  7. Let cool and enjoy.

A few wise words.

Let your smile change the world but don’t let the world 

change your smile. 

Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don’t 

matter, and those who matter don’t mind - Theodore Seuss Geisel

For those who need one and for those who don’t think they do.

Here’s a hug for the day. Carry it with you wherever you go.

Sometimes we forget to thank the people who make our lives better just by

being in it, so…thank you!

and always remember

You are worthy and you are loved!

Thanks for visiting and have 

a wonderful day! 

Peace and...

(With thanks to Pinterest for today's inspiration.)

POTAT0 FACTORY

 My two favorite guys spent some father/son time together today (6/23/26). They always send me a few photos. This is where they had lunch.

On Friday and Saturday it is open until 2.00 a.m. and other days open until midnight. Their website is here and they are located at 8230 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182, down one of the small side roads in Tyson’s.

I am feeling like a jacket potato right now for some reason. Son said you chose any of their toppings to suit your own taste. Mine would be baked beans, which was a favorite meal of mine as a child and still is, though I enjoy Bushes Original Baked beans these days.

Son had the loaded French Fries and his dad had the Cheeseburger with Fries. They said both were excellent. Next time they want to try the Tornado Potato which is a spiraled potato swirled around on a stick and deep fried. These two always have fun finding somewhere new, to them anyhow. Son came across it by chance when taking a short cut through the area last week and suggested it to his dad today.  

And so important in my humble opinion, the gentleman who took care of them was very friendly, a real good guy they said. 

If you are ever in the area, they highly recommend it.

Thanks for looking and 

enjoy your day.