April Showers Bring May Flowers???

Maybe in some parts of the world! LOL not so much here... I'm still waiting for something to bloom but while I wait, I went ahead and planted the geraniums so at least there is some pretty, red color (to match my barn red doors) on the front porch.

It was a busy weekend for us so I may not get everything noted on the right day but at least we'll have a record of what happened over the weekend. But first - from the Farmer's Almanac comes this:

"With verdure the wide earth's overspread, and trees adorned with blooms, the paths in May bow sweet to tread, mid forests of perfume."

This fit so perfectly with the picture of the Tulip Poplar tree. Wally has had this property over 20 years and this is the first time he's ever seen the Poplar tree bloom. Of course, that doesn't mean it hasn't ever bloomed, it just means he never noticed it if it did. What a sight to see though - indeed the tree was fully covered in bright yellow blossoms with a reddish-pink splash on every petal. The center comes out yellow while the outer petals bend down and are light greenish shade. Absolutely beautiful! hmmm I guess I do have something blooming after all :) woo hoo!

I stopped at the grocery store on my way home Friday afternoon and picked up everything I thought we needed for our first cookout of the year which we were having on Saturday. I bought a few whole chickens and another couple of bags of leg quarters (.69 per pound - pretty good deal!). I bought the stuff to make the 7 layer dip and some baked beans to which I added some other ingredients and everything I needed to make the marinaded mushrooms.

I bought a few other things and was on my way in less than half an hour. Now, I don't know about you but it's darn near impossible for me to get through the grocery store in under an hour much less under a half hour. That was pretty impressive if I do say so myself :)

So off to the farm I went. I passed by a new bbq place that opened last week. It's not a building but rather a little awning with a picnic table under it and a big cooker beside it. There are two old guys out there cooking bbq on Fridays and Saturdays from 1-7pm. I wanted to stop and get bbq so bad but realized I had just $5.00 in my purse. What a bummer! LOL I'm pretty sure they don't take checks or credit cards...lol! Maybe next week I'll be better prepared - it smelled heavenly!

I always roll down my windows (if it's not snowing or raining) when I get to our mailbox. I turn off the radio and listen to the sounds of the birds, bugs, and other assorted critters out in the woods. I breathe deeply of the fresh spring air, cooled by the shade trees and breezes coming off the surrounding hillsides. I check the mail, check on the hollyhocks and then slowly make my way down the gravel driveway. The beauty of that simple trip makes me smile and I am once again reminded of the reality of living here.

On this particular Friday, Wally had been working at the barn and got his old gold truck running again. There it sat in the driveway just waiting to go on a road trip. This makes the third vehicle he has drug out of the woods, done some mechanic-ing on and brought home! I don't know how it's done and have no interest in learning - obviously he's got it down pat! Well, I may not have written about that old truck but it's probably my favorite. I think it's a 70 model (?) but I could be wrong. He calls it "ear wax gold" because that's basically what color it is.

The man he bought it from was the original owner and when he sold it to Wally, it needed a little work. He fixed it up and had it running in no time. We have been on so many back road day trips in that truck just putting around looking at the creeks, the rocky bluffs and the, sometimes muddy, dirt roads. We have only ever gotten stuck once where Wally couldn't get us out. We had to walk back to the last house we saw and ask the guy to pull us out. It took all of about two minutes and we were off again. The truck is a smooth ride and we like to put on the old country radio station while we cruise along. Wally says there aren't enough O's in smooth to describe it. They don't make trucks like that anymore.

You can imagine my delight when I saw the old gold truck parked up at the cabin Friday afternoon. I told Wally it wouldn't take much for me to blow off my chores if he wanted to take me for a ride in that truck! I brought in the groceries that needed to go in the refrigerator, loaded up a cooler, grabbed my purse and we headed out. We had our windows down and the radio on, the sun was shining and the truck ran like a top! It seemed like we were the only people in the world having that much fun.

We ended up out at Pee Wee's where we stayed for about an hour before going back home. The evening had cooled so we closed the windows and doors on the cabin and I made us each a turkey melt. It's my new favorite sandwich :) I toast the whole wheat bread, pile on the turkey and a couple slices of cheese. I top it with some oregano, salt and pepper and slide it under the broiler until the cheese melts. For a light dinner this served the purpose perfectly.

Saturday was a big day so we hit the hay early in anticipation of all that needed to be done in the morning. Naturally I woke up at 4 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I watched the new for an hour and then got up and went downstairs while Wally got another couple hours in. While he slept on I cleaned the bathroom, took out sausage for breakfast and made the tea. I washed a load of clothes and then started making food for the cookout. By the time I was finishing up, Wally came downstairs and by the time he was dressed and ready for the day, Darryl had showed up.

We had smoked sausage, fried eggs, sliced tomatoes and mayonnaise biscuits with honey & butter for breakfast and then we all got to work. They went to cut down a cedar tree for using in the smoker while I cleaned the lawn chairs and put away the laundry that had somehow piled up on the couch by the laundry room...don't know how that happens...lol!

We finished up at about the same time and got ready to take the tractor down to the barn and check on my rose bush...no, it never got moved. It did get trimmed though and it has about 7 buds on it. They weren't blooming when we got there so I'll have to check it again in another couple days. Instead I picked some wildflowers to go on top of the picnic table. As we were leaving to go to the barn, Kurt, Beverly, Tenesha and her boyfriend showed up. We told them to make themselves at home and we would be back soon.

The stereo was cranking and the party had started by the time we got back :) it had also started to rain...we just pulled our chairs up under the deck and didn't let it phase us. Even with the rain, it was still a great day to be outside spending time with friends. I took my wildflowers and set them in a slurpee cup. I set the cup inside one of Wally's big, old, boots and then set it on the picnic table. It made for a very pretty centerpiece. I can't take credit for coming up with it though, we saw it at a lake party we went to a long time ago. I wish I would have taken a picture of it but with the rain I didn't want to get the camera out and risk ruining it. If no one messes with it today I just might get out there and get a picture! lol

Before long it was time to get the meat in the smoker. Darryl and I injected the whole chickens with Dale's seasoning (the lower sodium one), sprinkled them with garlic powder, pepper and bbq rub. We got them in the aluminum pans, covered them with foil and set them aside. Darryl got the smoker going up to temperature with the cedar wood they had cut and soon the meat was smoking away.

The rain had stopped and we were all back by the outdoor kitchen again; some were playing horseshoes while others were sitting at the picnic table passing the time telling stories, sharing gardening tips and planning more summer get-togethers. When the meat was almost done, we brought out all the other food, set it up on the cedar bar top and lined up to fill our plates. mmm mmm good!! Smoked chicken, deviled eggs, 7 layer dip, baked beans, potato salad and marinated mushrooms...nothing went to waste. When we had cleaned our plates, we had a big pan of bones ready for the dogs and the dogs were clearly ready for them!

The ladies all pitched in to help clean up and we settled back into our chairs to listen to the music and relax while enjoying each other's company. Before it got dark, Wally said we could all load up and take the trucks through the trails where we ride the 4 wheelers. Beverly and Tenesha loaded up with me and the guys jumped into the truck with Wally. We headed down the hill in the front yard to the gateway to the trails.

That first hill is pretty steep and I think I made Beverly a little nervous but we went slow and easy and had no troubles. We did have to drive over a couple of trees that were down and that was a little scary but the truck just ran right over them - they weren't really big trees. We passed the swimming hole and came to where the creek is. The water was higher than usual from the rains and I wasn't sure we would make it through. Wally headed into the water in the old gold truck and once he was on the other side, I started in without hesitation. Once you're committed, you just have to go. So "go" I went! Then the red Bronco stalled just as we were coming up the other side...argh!! I put it in park, turned it back on, told the girls to hang on and shifted into drive while hitting the gas pedal at the same time...out we came with a big splash and a little slipping to the left. But we were on dry land I was proud of it! So were Beverly and Tenesha! LOL

Whew! What a wild ride that was! We drove up to the barn and then back down through the holler and up to the cabin. I had fun but I think I like it better when Wally is driving :)

So the evening skies began to darken and we picked up our chairs and moved them out to where the bonfire was going to be. The fire was set and we were all gathered round...the air had just the slightest chill so it was nice to be able to have a fire warm us. The night wore on and people started gathering up their things to leave. Those who were staying were getting their pillows and blankets from their vehicles or preparing to sleep in their vehicles...either way. I think I went to bed around 12:30 and I was the first to go :) lol no surprise there!

When I got up the next morning, Claudia and Teri had already made their coffee and were outside enjoying the coolness of the morning. I started making breakfast for the crowd who had stayed. It was a simple one but filling and tasty...I took 10 eggs and mixed them up. I added about 3 tbsps of salsa to the eggs. I lightly sauteed some onions and green peppers. I did the same with some smoked sausage and then combined everything together. I sprinkled in some dried sage, dill, salt and pepper and poured it all into two oiled round cake pans. I topped them with shredded cheese and then they baked in the oven for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

They came out bubbly, cheesey and hot. I sliced up some tomatoes and set out a bowl of red grapes to which people could help themselves. Everyone made their plates and sat down for a quiet breakfast. Some seemed to be feeling a little poorly, hmmm wonder why? lol

After breakfast the guys went to the barn to work on the 4 wheeler and the girls and I took care of some gardening. Teri brought me rosemary, thyme (two varieties), oregano and a clipping from her while camellia bush. We clipped the ends of the rosemary and the camellia and dipped them into some rooting hormone. They went into a couple of quart size mason jars. The oregano we put into a pot because it already had roots and the thyme went into smaller jars so they could root.

Teri brought me two tomato plants so we headed out to the garden with the hoe and plants in hand. I hoed a row while Teri loosened the roots. Claudia found that one of my plants from last year had come back up! I knew tomatoes were perennials but I never hoped to have one of last year's plants come back again this year. It was a pretty awesome sight and I'm glad she spotted it because I was getting ready to hoe all the rows for when I get my little baby tomato plants next weekend.

I planted the two new tomatoes and then caged all three of them. While we were out there I showed the girls what I thought was my carrots and they both agreed that those feathery green leaves were indeed carrots!! FINALLY! The one picture I have on the flickr site is really and truly a carrot. Now I was doubly excited. I had a volunteer tomato and a whole row of carrots! What the heck, I moved over to where I thought I had planted my beets - the rain made it difficult to figure which rows had been planted even with my markers - and sure enough, there was one little beet plant that had somehow survived and emerged from the ground. I'm so hopeful now that the rest will soon appear...whew! You know I thought for sure the beets and carrots were a wasted effort. Now there's hope that all is not lost :) :) :) I'll be on the lookout for more beets as days go by....

Teri hadn't seen my beans yet so we left the fenced in garden and went over to check out the onions and beans. Low and behold the second set of beans had come up! What a GREAT GARDENING day I was having! My second row of beans is the one that Dizzy helped with. Remember she hoed the row for me while I dropped in the beans then together we covered them up with dirt. She may be in AZ but her beans are here and they are looking very healthy! LOL The same goes for the onions she planted. Darryl says I should take these up early to use in my salads - perfect idea since the little scallion seeds are only slowly coming along. They're there but they aren't growing as wildly as the red onions.

I think at this point I couldn't have stood much more excitement. I have peas galore just like I always wanted, I have carrots all in a row, I have one beet but a hundred hopes for many more, I have two rows of beans and onions and three tomato plants that are sure to produce big red globes in just 70 days! Life is good I tell ya. The garden is such a pleasure to me I'm not sure how to describe the feeling I get when I'm out there. I told Wally we might want to be looking into a plow attachment for the old Massey Ferguson tractor...lol He said he thinks he may have created a monster... lol! hahaha I'll be the MONSTER GARDENER of Hickman County  :)

ahhhhhh life on the farm... :)

I'll be going to see my farmer today - the one who provides me with the CSA basket. This isn't an official basket but they have so many strawberries coming in so fast that they offered all their shareholders a delivery of strawberries if we were interested in them. There is no cost associated with this delivery so I told her I would definitely be there this afternoon. Even if there was an additional fee, I'd gladly pay it to have strawberries fresh from the farm! Wouldn't you??

The farmers at Beaverdam Creek Farm work very hard to fill the bushel and half bushel baskets that we are so fortunate to be recipients of. This is the first year that they were able to sell all the shares they had available. Trish, her husband and her kids are still working on building their house. They are to the point where the drywall can go up so it won't be long now. They are building it themselves, with help from neighboring farmers and members of their church so it's been a longer process than if they had a contractor out there every day working on it. In the meantime, they are still living in their motor home and it's a pull-behind at that. Imagine 4 adults, a dog and cat all living in a motor home for about 4 years now- I believe. I could be wrong on the years - it has probably been longer than that. The kids have been home-schooled and are true farmers at heart.

They all have their respective chores on the farm but for the most part everyone just digs in and does what needs to be done. It's an all day job no doubt. I'm just happy as can be to have gotten in on the sale of the farm share - I was almost too late! Now you and I both have something to look forward to next Monday when the first delivery is official...

Sunday was a beautiful day for celebrating Mother's Day and phones were beeping with text messages or ringing off the hook in the house. I enjoyed talking to everyone and wished they could all be here to live this life with me. I have to remind myself that just because it's the life for me, that doesn't mean it's the life for others. But if you ever feel like giving it a shot...you know where to find me!

The hummingbird feeders are back out but no birds have come to call yet. I had to change the water because it hung there for a week and went stale. They won't come to the feeders unless the water is sweet. Claudia has about 20 birds flying all around right now but then, she also has 6 or 7 feeders. I'm considering the purchase of a couple more...I just have to be sure I'll have the time to fill them all when they need it!

We rounded out the day eating chicken salad sandwiches and sitting out on the swings in the shade of the afternoon. The old dogs were lazy and slept peacefully behind us. The little rascals were wrestling and chasing each other around. The roosters graced us with their presences and crowed and squaked until Jay finally went and threw out some scratch feed for them. We watched the hawks catching air out over the hilltop and the turkeys as they ate their way across the front yard. Just as I was heading inside to go to bed, Jay called me back out to watch as three white tail deer gracefully wandered into the line of woods over behind Dizzy's apartment. It doesn't get much better than that :)

They laugh at me here for calling the hill outside our front door a mountain. Well, to me it is a mountain!


"Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance." ~Epicurus