Other Things..........

Thomas is home, I've poured out my woes, and I feel better now!

I have done three loads of laundry today.  Still not caught up, but at least I've made a start!  I think I will go work with Scout for a while this afternoon.   Scout is the pup I kept for myself out of Fancy's litter this Spring.  He is five months old now.  He's such a well-mannered, smart little thing.  I need to work him on his leash a little.  The weather is beautiful today -- in the mid 70s I think.  The kids settled down before Thomas got  home, so they are free now to do their thing -- chores are done! 

Thomas is peeling and cutting up pears for pear wine.  He made some last year and it was DELICIOUS!  Neither of us really drinks.  We both hate beer and hard liquor (during a very bad cold we might have a hot toddy or a little brandy), but once in awhile I like a nice glass of wine.  I like my wine dry and Thomas likes it sweet and fruity.  Well where he works there is an old pear tree on some of the company property that is left over from some old homestead; I mean the tree is obviously old!  It produces the best old fashioned pears you have ever tasted.  They are nothing like what you buy in the stores!  We made several quarts of pear preserves last year and Thomas tried his hand at wine-making for the first time.  It turned out great!  It is as dry as I like it, with just a light pear flavor, and if he wants his to be sweeter all he has to do is add more sugar.  We gave away most of it, but we kept a few bottles to enjoy ourselves or serve when we have guests.  Anyway, the pears are ready now, so he and the kids went to pick some last week.  Now we have buckets of pears sitting everywhere!