Around the Yard - Summer Solstice

The yard is full of beauty as summer begins.  Here's a few of the pretty sights.

Fred the Garden Spider

Marigolds, protectors of the garden border

Squash blossoms.

Tomato Blossoms

Butterfly Bush Blossoms

Wildflowers!

Macka and Introducing... Mala!

Macka always tries to play with the Barn cats when they climb up onto the deck.  They usually want nothing to do with him.  When the Rakow's next door rescued the runt kitten from the Barn cat litter who was left behind in their yard, they were not able to keep him due to family allergies.  So, I took the runt to the Ruckersville Animal Hospital to get checked out.  With a clean bill of health, I decided to bring him in so that Macka would have a play buddy.  I named the kitten Mala, which means "little" in Slovenian.  (Macka means "cat").

Introducing... Mala!  He's full of energy so it's tough to get a still photo.  Consider the blur an action shot artifact.

Macka is very easy-going around me, but he is still skittish around strangers, even around the new kitten.  Mala intimidates Macka.  Macka runs away when he sees the Mala, but slowly as their first week of introduction progresses, they have gotten closer to each

other before running away.  Mala is fearless and stands his ground.

Macka likes to spend his time out on the deck when I am home.  If the weather is tolerable I'll leave the door cracked so he can come in and out.  He hunts down and eats any of the flies that make it into the house. 

Wildernest Inn Bed & Brew Featuring Vandalia Brewery

My beautiful friends Kathy & Stewart Hornby hosted an intimate beer tasting at their Bed & Breakfast, the Wildernest Inn, this Saturday evening in West Virginia.  They invited the talents of our good friend Daniel Maerzluft, the Brewmaster and COO of Vandalia Brewery, to pair his beers with their fine cuisine.  

Pairings were as follows:
Not-Your-Standard Raspberry Wheat with a bountiful salad of cut romaine, walnut, cranberry, tomato, cucumber and raspberry vinaigrette
Allegheny Explort Ale with delectable pork ribs, fresh cut roasted potatoes, and green bean & brocolli mix.
Willy Nilly Stout with a rich, decadent chocolate explosion mousse pie.

Daniel and his lovely wife Chelsea have been coming to volunteer their time to the Hornby's for almost as long as I have, which made the visit that much sweeter - seeing old friends after a year has passed.  Funny thing about old friends, you pick up right where you left off and end up singing karaoke and telling stories that bring about laughs and lift moods.  You talk until the moon shines over the mountains and the stars glitter in the night and the bears check your vehicles for unsecured valuables.  Jill and Fred Wiles, co-conspirators and Wildernest regulars, were also in attendance.  The absence of Jennifer and Craig Reese, however, was noticed and required a virtual presence via phone.  The Reese's introduced me to this lovely place back in 2005, and I have loved it ever since.

Early evening view from the back deck at Wildernest Inn (Grant County WV)

One of Knock's cubs visited for a sip of water before the main event.

Local dinner guests

Chelsea, Jill and I

Vandalia Brewmaster Dan Maerzluft & President Shawn Mallory

Perfect pours with beautiful backdrops.

Stewart at his best, serving up fresh suds with free sarcasm.

Hosting new guests...

Celebrating old friends...

Toasting to health and happiness.

Everyone was enjoying the beer/food pairings!

"You should have seen the size of that catfish!"

This fine gentleman is very serious about his beer.

Pouring the Willy Nilly Stout

Celebratory after-dinner brewer chug.

Brewer toast to a job well done.

Dan and Shawn

Singing the "Clean-up Clean-up" song doesn't make it any more fun when you are an adult.

The Crown of Miss Wildernest 2012 goest to Kathy!

The eye of Ra.

Pink Skyline to end the evening.