Visiting Hours

The doorbell rang in the morning while I was having a bit of a sit-down and waiting for Stove to get fired up.  I'm used to a chilly house, but company was coming in the afternoon and it would be better if they didn't have to leave their coats on.  Beau was also taking a break, brought his own coffee, and had come for a chat.

After he left, I kicked it into high gear, got the living room dusted, most of the leaves blown off the deck (some clumps were still too wet to move), and another wagon load of firewood brought to the porch.  I set out nibbles for Arden and Cam, who arrived soon after.

Bessie Anne had her own guests to entertain.  Arden brought her dear little dog Audrey, who has the softest fur and big, liquid brown eyes.  Poor Audrey had to stay on leash arrest because she chases cats and had an accident in the hall one of the last times she visited.  Honey did everything she could think of to get Audrey to come and play.  Honey rolled on her back and grinned, she "talked" in her most persuasive tones (Honey is a great talker), and even brought a toy to tease Audrey to play.  Poor Audrey.  Honey already knew that Bess is a dud.  Bessie will play for a little while or go outside with Honey, but being a senior citizen, soon wants to lie down for a brief nap.  All those toys I had picked up?  Between Celeste who had been making selections all day and Honey picking out her favorites, my house is back to looking more normal now.

I almost swooned when Cam brought out a slab of smoked salmon to share and we fell on it like hungry wolves.  It went well with the goat cheese (bought, not homemade) rolled in sweet dried cranberries and pecans, a gift from Thanksgiving.  I know I sure didn't need any dinner last night.

Good conversation, morning and afternoon, with good friends and neighbors.  It was a good day.