In The Neighborhood

 M.R. Ducks

Right now, the only thing in our area that is brilliantly colored is the sumac (below). As you can see in the photo of Dallas Pond, above, the maples and oaks are just beginning to turn color. 

Audrey went missing today. She ate breakfast on the porch and then disappeared. Maybe she's out hunting again. I suppose the habit of fending for oneself is hard to break. Cats are not people. Our higher intellect allows us to adjust to that much more easily.  We'll see if she turns up again. I do hope so. It's been a very windy (but sunny) day, and perhaps the wind chimes on the porch scared her away. We took the wind chimes down, Audrey. Please return.

It was not a hot day, but cattle always like wading or standing in a stream, especially if a DNR or EPA agent is not in the vicinity. This fella seems to be enjoying his sunny afternoon. I would imagine that this little water run is grandfathered in, so to speak.

Cool, clear wadda (wadda wadda wadda)
Well it was, before he decided to stand in it.

 View of farms from 20th Street, Barron County

Barn and fence on 20th Street

The color isn't richer because it was a very sunny day and my photo editing program is ancient. Trust me, the scene was beautiful. Deep blue skies, deep red sumac, etc.

Audrey, you're back!!!!  Yea!  Audrey just came walking along the ledge of the screen porch and is now eating and drinking on the main (unscreened part) porch. I wonder where she was all the time that I was searching for her behind the shop, inside the barn, under vehicles, etc. Cats are so darned independent!  But still, I'm very glad she has returned.

 These little munchkins are very excited about  meeting

Audrey on the 15th of October, our

Early Thanksgiving.

Audrey

Introduced on THIS blog post.

Linking to: Theresa's Good Fences

and Tom's Barn Collective

Check out my natural, handcrafted vegan soap!
Buy any 5 or more, Get 1 FREE


'Christmas Hearth'
Natural Vegan Soap
Moisturizing, Gentle


...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at
 
HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

In The Neighborhood - The Neighbor's Auction

The perfect place to park those orange tractors

If you happen to have read last Monday's blog post, you'll know that Mr. Cranberry attended a neighborhood auction last weekend. I dropped him off there and came home, knowing how long auctions can go. But before I left, I got a few cellphone pics of the things that caught my eye. First of all, those cute little Allis Chalmers tractors against the sumac. If I had bid on the tractors, I would have insisted that they include the sumac in the deal.

I don't know how many of the auction items had been stored in this shed, but it must have a loft in it, so I suppose it was a good storage barn. I loved the pretty Virginia creeper beside the door. I wonder if the building was a granary at one time. Anyway, I took a photo of the fence and then went home, leaving Mr. Cranberry to check out the tractors.

Part way through the auction, I got a phone call from Mr. C., telling me to come look at a wood box he thought I might like. I did, and I really liked it, but I wasn't willing to pay what my neighbor was willing to pay for it, so she took it home. However, that little table (above) caught my eye. I thought it might be nice to use on the front porch, and then when the weather gets cold, to have it at the end of a sofa in the living room. It's in good shape, no gouges, but does need to be refinished. I was wishing Suzan from SimplyVintageous were here, giving me advice. I got the cute little table for $17.00  Then I went home. (Mr. C. stayed. The machinery is always the last to be auctioned off. They get rid of all the small stuff first.)

$2.50, with case, mint condition

I had looked at an antique Royal typewriter while I was there, and asked Mr. C. to keep an eye on it. I gave him a price. When a friend of ours was bidding on it, he dropped out. And it's just as well, for I don't know what I would have done with it after spending real money on it.

BUT, when Mr. Cranberry returned from the auction, he was carrying a hard case and opened it up. There was a different Royal typewriter, not the antique, but cute and in mint condition. He got it for $2.50.  That's a price I can live with. I've put copy paper in it and tried out the ribbon. It's a bit faint, but I bet I'll be able to purchase ribbon for it somewhere. And when I typed, I realized how lazy my fingers have become, using a laptop every day. Wow. Those typewriters kept your fingers in good shape!

By the way, the auction started at 10:30 and was winding down about 4 PM. Auctions are serious business in our neck of the woods.

***

I realize that my grandkids won't remember a time that they didn't use computer keyboards. 

Question: Did you ever type on a manual typewriter? What are some of the major differences that you can think of, between using a manual typewriter and using the computer keyboard?  I have a few things in mind, but I want to wait and see if anyone else mentions them.

***

Early morning frustration. Blogger won't let me access any of my GFC blogger friends (My dashboard suddenly says I have none- wow, isn't that sad!) and Feedly won't show me anything more recent than 8 hours old. What's going on in blogland today??!

***

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soaps

'Cranberry Tea'

'Cinnamon Stick'

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop 

Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties: Inspiration Monday and THE BARN COLLECTIVE and  Amaze Me Monday and  Mosaic Monday and  Artsy Corner Thursday and Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday-
 

Painting Floorboards

Some of the million (or so it seemed) floor boards, primed

Thank you to everyone who stopped in last week and said 'hi' during my little break away from the blog. As some of you may know, we're putting a porch on 1 1/2 sides of our house, and much of last week was spent priming floor boards, both sides. It seemed like the stack of boards only grew. The worst part was that when I'd fall asleep at night I'd dream that I was painting, so I actually did it twice! Anyway, I'd seen the weather forecast and knew that we better get the priming done by Wednesday evening, for we were expecting rain on Thursday and Friday - and boy, did we get it! Fortunately, by then all the 3" gray-primed floor boards were tucked in, under a sheet of heavy poly, so they were safe from the elements.

Enjoying the Elements

Since our near frost in mid September, we've had pretty nice nighttime temperatures. I know this can't last forever, so I've got several plants potted (above, l.) and ready to spend the winter indoors. I'll wait until the last possible moment to bring them in.

I've got carrots to can and peppers to freeze this week - and hopefully a porch floor to paint, once it's installed.

Thanks for stopping in. I've lots of catching up to do. Hope you all have a good week! :-)

Rain on my Lens

October 4

***

'Sandalwood & Vanilla'

Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch

and at

Our ETSY Shop 

Fall Colors in Wisconsin

 Eighteenth Street

October 2, 2012

I took these photos on Tuesday, October 2. They're all from our neighborhood. The color was absolutely stunning. No wonder we love this time of year!  I was so glad I got out there with my camera because... today, just four days later when Kevin and I went for a walk, it felt more like November. Dark clouds were scudding across the sky, it was windy and cold, and a lot of the fall color has already been lost.

I hope you'll enjoy this blog postcard of the leaves at their peak of color - Autumn in Wisconsin!

 Deer stand at the edge of the [harvested] cornfield

October 2, 2012

 ATV tunnel

October 2, 2012

 View from our deck October 2, 2012

 Eighteenth Street

October 2, 2012

October 6

Fifth Avenue, losing leaves fast

(taken with cellphone) 


***


This post is linked to Photo Friday
and Sunny Simple Sunday 

***

'Frosted Apple Spice'

Natural, Vegan

...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

HomemadeSoapNSuch