Getting to Know You --

Well hello, there!

This little episode that lasted less than 2 minutes set my heart racing – it was the most unexpected amazing thing, and yet I knew it could be dangerous as well should Mama Doe have come out to protect her fawn.

It seems that the fawn was moving in the woods, and curious as curious Zoey is, being still a baby herself at just 15 months old, decided that she had enough of social distancing and wanted to make friends with someone who was about the same size as herself.

I turned around to jumping, leaping, much bleating from the fawn as a game of “Catch me if you can!” started down the hill toward the bottom of the drive.

By the time I got there, Zoey and the fawn were now playing “Keep Away!” on my neighbor’s lawn!

I had the leash in my hand, but not wanting to scare either of them (Forcing Zoey to run off into Barbara’s woods) I talked to them while filming 60 seconds of video.

Click to Play:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Jun 7, 2020 at 7:15am PDT

Instagram only loads up 60 seconds worth of video – so it’s cut off at the end when Zoey playfully rolls over at my feet to show her belly somersault style.

At that point of her playfulness, I grabbed her collar, snapped the leash on and slowly walked away leaving the fawn where it stood, bewildered at what just happened.

Where is Mama Doe? It is anyone's best guess.  A bit later when we drove to the QPO, the fawn was nowhere to be seen.

I just want to play!

Come and get me!

In her defense – Zoey never touched the fawn or made any really aggressive move towards it.  It was all “Come Play!” and “Try to get me!” on Zoey’s part.

On the part of the fawn – she was learning to stomp and charge just as her mama taught her when being threatened by a perceived predator.

It sure set our day off reeling!
(Oh my sweetness!)

Zoey is  giving good morning kisses to Lola!

She is inquisitive, and her herding instincts are strong!  But she never nips or bites, never growls and seldom barks. 

She has been with us almost 3 months and we are still trying to piece together things she may have learned before she came to us.  We are working on training her, but the hardest thing so far has been to get her to recognize and respond to her name.  

I figure she spent 12 months being called something ELSE and we haven’t figured out what the magic words are yet.  Though “HEY!” will often get her attention.

Yesterday when I posted the video to Instagram and Facebook, amidst the many fun comments – there were of course some judgmental ones of “You could be charged with wildlife endangerment and fined!” "You need to control your dog better."

This is Southwestern Virginia where the deer outnumber the cattle, and the cattle outnumber the people.  And this episode lasted less than 2 minutes.  I had to retrieve Zoey.  I was not encouraging her play time.  I got her safely out of there as quickly as I could.

That said – after several comments from folks letting me know that their dogs have also become deer playmates, I took to YouTube and loved what I saw.

Click to Play:

The naysayers and animal rights activists can say what they want, but the deer aren't getting the message!

And this was yesterday’s big job.

I so wanted the porch to be freshly painted this spring.  But Covid-19, quarantine, my very reduced income, and the fact that even The Hubster has been furloughed from his job and is working reduced hours at greatly reduced pay mean that it will be put off for another year until we can recuperate.  

This has become the year of cutting corners for so many of us.

(Believe me – I am not complaining.  We are well, healthy and I am so grateful for the gift of TIME and the fact that he still does have a job.)

A bit chippy – but clean!

You don’t really realize how massive this wrap around porch is until you start scrubbing the rails.  I figure that some chipping paint can be a touch of “shabby chic” until we can tackle it next year.

We tried power washing, but it removed "too much" of the paint and we needed to be more gentle to preserve what is there.  I also heard of "Wet it & Forget it" but it was Sunday afternoon and more than an hour's drive to get some and no one wanted to leave what we were doing to buy anything.

And gutters do have to happen because a lot of the green gunk could be avoided if the rain wasn’t just running in sheets off the roof.  But again – that’s been pushed back a bit.

I can scrub for miles and miles and miles -

Patio furniture has also been hosed off, and the porch floor has been scrubbed with a scrub broom.  There are still areas to tackle out here, but it is looking much more inviting.

I love thinking of earlier times - there are overhead hooks between each of the porch posts and I bet there were hanging ferns all the way around.

I'm not that much of a gardener so that is unlikely to happen at this time.  That is A LOT of porch ferns!

THE BEST BBQ chicken thighs ever!

We were starving when I got home.  I had planned on cooking these Saturday, but we worked so late that day that we ended up with a frozen pizza.  Some days are just like that.  Some days can find you so worn out that you opt for pancakes, or heck – just cereal.

But last night while we were cleaning up and showering from all of the deck work I first cooked the thighs in the instant pot, and then we finished them on the grill for about 6 minutes (3 minutes per side) just to caramelize the BBQ sauce.  I will definitely do this again.  And we have leftovers which is great.

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs:

• 8 large bone-in chicken thighs with skin.
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon dried onion
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup water (or chicken broth)
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Place the chicken thighs in the instant pot.  Mix the seasonings and sprinkle evenly over all pieces.

Mix the liquid smoke and the barbecue sauce with the 1 cup of water or broth and pour over the chicken in the pot.

Put the lid on, turn the valve to sealing, and select Manual or Pressure Cook, high pressure, for 10 minutes (12-15 minutes for frozen or partially frozen).

It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build and the cook time to begin counting down. When the cook time is over, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10-15 minutes, then open the valve and remove the lid.

Remove chicken, brush with barbecue sauce, and place on the grill for 6 minutes. (3 minutes per side)

This chicken was so moist and delicious and it was SO easy.

Today? Well, hello Monday!  Back at the QPO to get mail out and then I am going to head out mask on face to do some much needed shopping.

I need two step-to-open trash cans so no one has to touch a swinging type lid to dispose of anything at the inn.

I need taller trash cans for the bathroom paper towel waste.  And more trash can liners.

And some other things.

I’m heading to Sam’s Club in Bristol and it’s been Ages since I have hit a big box store and I didn’t want to do it on the weekend. I hope things have calmed down enough that I can shop normally, even while wearing a mask.  That there won’t be crazy lines and no merchandise inside.

How about your Monday? Anything interesting going on?

Quiltville Quote of the Day

Sometimes life needs interruption to regain focus and shake off complacency.

I feel it happening all around me. All of this struggle can bring forth great change for the better.

Let's keep the love moving forward!