In my defense, things have been pretty busy around the farm lately and I've also taken advantage of the beautiful fall weather by using up some vacation days. I've had a couple of 4 day weekends that were just awesome and we've been busy winterizing the cabin, the trailer and the barn. Who knew there was so much work to do just to get ready for winter?? I guess Wally took care of all that stuff last year without me even being aware of it because I sure don't remember any of it! LOL Well, I do remember that we had to shut off the water to Dizzy's apartment so it wouldn't freeze and cause the pipes to break.
We have had a couple of visits from the horses, who tend to stay mostly in the lower pasture where the grass grows lush and full. We didn't ride them at all this summer and it's not looking good for fall either. There's just so much going on we haven't found the time. I'm sure it doesn't bother the horses at all - lol!
They haven't changed a bit. Rebel comes right up and sticks his nose over the fence waiting for us to give him something to eat while Smokey hangs back making sure no one touches him or even tries to! As soon as we pick up their buckets, here they come. They go right into their stall and stomp and snort until sweet feed comes their way. Of course I make Smokey come to me so I can scratch his head before he gets anything to eat. He still lets me which always surprises me since he's so skittish. I do remember the days when he wouldn't let me touch him at all unless he was tied to the hitchin post - do you remember those stories from when I first moved here? I'll have to go read some of the old posts and see how far I've come learning the country life :)
When it comes to the horses, Colt and Ruger just don't know what to think. They act like they're king of the hill until the horses come up and then they're faced with these two huge animals that can clearly kick their behinds... LOL it's pretty funny to watch them interact. The dogs won't go under the fence if the horses are there but buddy you let those horses take off towards the bottom of the hill and the dogs make a beeline for that gate. As big as Ruger is, he can still slip under there like it's nothing and he's gone in a minute if we aren't there to call him back. They currently act like they don't have to listen to me when I call them so guess what? That's right, back in training.... well, they will be one year old in November so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) they'll start listening just a little better. hahahahaha!
Ruger seems fascinated with the horses while Colt is very standoff-ish. Colt circles the woods outside the stall but won't go close enough to touch the horses. Ruger will walk right up to the stall but hesitates to make a sound or even sniff around. He just sits there and watches them eat. I'm sure he's curious about just what the heck they are eating - especially since he isn't getting any of it himself - but he's not brave enough to try and take it from them... LOL They aren't allowed to bark at the horses either - you can imagine what training them for that was like...
It's hard to believe the "puppies" will be a year old in a month. They've gotten so big and so rambunctious! We talked about how they used to hide up under the front porch and they wouldn't come out for anyone but Neccy. Now, they wouldn't even be able to fit their big heads under that porch. They can fit under the back porch but they have no interest in getting under it. All they want to do is run, run, run and then sit and hang out with us or torture poor old Smith. We don't let them of course but if we weren't around, they would be all over him.
Speaking of Smith, he's been getting the royal treatment lately. He has a dog pillow! He actually likes it too! He sleeps on it every night and doesn't want to leave it in the morning. We had to get him something to rest those old bones on. He just plops right down on it and sleeps like a baby. There would be no point getting one for Colt and Ruger, they would just tear it to shreds! Now that it's getting cooler at night, Smith needed something. He's just too old to have to go through another winter without being as warm and comfortable as we can make it for him.
Colt and Ruger don't seem to feel any temperature changes whatsoever. They sleep outside the dog house unless it's raining and even when it was 34 degrees the other morning, there they were - up and wagging their tails as I drove by at 5:00 am. Crazy boys!
The two lonely roosters still make a daily pass by the back door and if I can, I go throw out some scratch feed for them. Sometimes they want it, sometimes they just wander off into the woods without even touching it. They are completely wild now and will shy away at the slightest movement. I still hang out with them and talk to them when they do eat the scratch feed but things are different with them. They know how to survive and apparently being buddies with me isn't part of the program any longer. Maybe when winter sets in fully? They'll need me and my scratch feed then... hahahahaha!
We're still talking about building a hen house and getting some chickens come spring time. I know I said the same thing last year but this time we really plan to do something about it. Sure the eggs will be nice to have but also the roosters will be much happier with some hens to live with and they'll be safer in a coop than out there in the woods roosting on their tree limbs. There's a used car dealership (very small one) in Fairview and they have hen houses for sale by the side of the building. They're kind of fancy compared to what we were thinking about but it wouldn't hurt to stop in and see what they go for. Might be easier to buy one than build one considering the lack of available time.
So Fall is upon us here in southwest middle Tennessee and the leaves are a sight to see. I posted pictures on the flickr site so you can see what I mean. Around every corner is another beautiful picture just waiting to be taken. You have to be quick though because if you don't get the picture today, it's going to look completely different come tomorrow.
As I drive the winding back roads, the leaves blow all around my car. They swirl from the road up into the air and make a little colorful leaf tornado right in front of me. There are people out raking them into piles only to have a gust of wind come and blow them all back into the yard! Pumpkin bags are stuffed full of them and I'm sure many a kid has been piling them up simply to jump into the pile and scatter them out once again. Who needs video games when there are leaves on the ground???
As I said earlier, I have taken a couple of 4 day weekends this month and the time was wisely spent outside as much as possible. The temperatures can't decide where they want to be so it's kind of cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon and then chilly come evening. The heater is on at night and then the windows and doors are open during the day. The sunshine and breeze dry my clothes on the line but soon those days will end and I'll be back using the dryer instead.
We packed a bag and took off in the Camaro headed for Fall Creek Falls (you can google it). What a magnificent place to see!! If you don't ever go anywhere else on a vacation, go to this park in October. They have cabins, they have tent or camper camping and there is even an Inn for those of you who prefer to stay inside. Why you would want to stay inside here is beyond me but I know some of you would (Kat, Marcia, Kelly...lol). The road winds around the mountain and the whole way up the leaves are changing, the temperature is slowly dropping and try as you might, you can't see the bottom until you reach the plateau.
We stopped to see the waterfalls and walked a little ways down the nature trail. I wasn't up for a 2 mile hike in the mountains so that little venture was short. But the falls were beautiful and the surroundings were clean and quiet. They have a boat ramp, a gift shop, and a restaurant. There are picnic tables with grills everywhere you look. There are even pavilions you can use by simply giving them a reservation and a deposit which is refunded when you leave, providing you clean up your mess. There are miles and miles of hiking trails and numerous look-out points to stop and take pictures.
I know you're sick of hearing just how beautiful the state of Tennessee is but Fall Creek Falls is the epitome of beautiful and I highly recommend it as a vacation spot for kids and adults of all ages. Bring a jacket because it does get a bit chilly here for you FL weather people! lol Hey, if you decide to vacation here, give us a call, we can make a trip over in just about 2 and half hours. I'll bring the chili!
While the park was an amazing sight to see, the farm holds treasures for the eyes if you prefer not to leave it. Our trees changed colors a bit sooner and they are still in transition though many of them have lost their leaves and the limbs alone are visible. I think it's a pretty cool time of year actually. The squirrels are hunting acorns and hiding them all over the place, including in the glove box of the truck! How the heck do they get in there anyway??
Birds are flying south for the winter in huge flocks against the bright blue background of the sky. I wish I could get a picture of that scene - literally thousands of them fly by over the hills in the front yard. It sounds like the wind is blowing but it's really the birds flying by. The dogs stand on their hind legs barking their heads off when the birds fly by. The birds don't even know they exist.
There are birds that stay of course, and those are the ones cleaning out the feeder on the back porch! I've seen two blue birds perched on it but don't know what kind of birds they are. They don't look like Blue Jays because the feathers on their heads aren't the same. They have black bellies and they aren't very big. The Blue Jays here get enormous and wouldn't be able to perch on that little bird feeder I have. Winter will be a good time to get the bird book back out and see what I can learn about them.
We also have yellow finches that live in the two big oak trees out by the grill. They must have been building their nests the other day because they were busy flying back and forth from the woods to the oak trees over and over again. I even saw one pull a piece of bark off the hitching post and take it back into the oak tree. I'll be on the look-out for baby finches come springtime :) :) :)
Hmmmm maybe they have finch food at the co-op?? I'll just have to check next time I'm by there. If I put out finch food I'm sure to see them more regularly :) :) If I feed them, they will come! LOL
I think I already wrote about my tomato plants making a come-back, but I can't really remember. The plants I bought at the co-op put out a few tomatoes during the growing season but were somewhat of a disappointment over all. Then, just the other day, I was headed out to feed the horses and low and behold, there were tomatoes all over the vines! This time more than there were the first time. We ended up having to pick 4 of them because of a freeze warning (that never came) so fried green tomatoes were up on the menu. I checked the plants yesterday and there are about 15 tomatoes in all. They are small and definitely at risk of a freeze this late in the year but hey, I'll cover them and see how they do. If they never turn red, we'll just have fried green tomatoes again!
All the other garden plants seem to be thriving in these cooler temperatures but I do have to hand water as we haven't had much in the way of rain. The irises over by Dizzy's apartment are all bright green and standing tall - no flowers mind you - just the leaves but always a good sign of things to come. The geraniums got moved inside and they now sit on tables in a sunny location off the front porch. They are blooming like crazy and they brighten up the room with those big, red flowers.
The hyacinths sprouted from the ground but grew no further than that. I'm hoping they'll save their bloom for springtime but there's no way to tell at this point. The day lilies went through a dormant period but now the leaves are bushy and green and very lush and full. I know the spring will bring lots of beautiful day lilies just as it did this year. Now that Dizzy helped me plant some in the new garden, there's no doubt I'll have lots of color in lots of places in the yard. woo hoo!!!
All the mums are blooming. Two plants bloomed with white flowers and yellow centers. Yesterday as we were walking the dogs we noticed that half the blooms had turned purple. I mean purple like the crayon! I don't understand how the plant can be snow white one day and then in just a couple more days, completely turning purple??? Go figure...
As you know it's hunting season here. No - I didn't kill a deer. But I do have plans to :) However, if you remember my luck last hunting season, you shouldn't be too concerned. Although I do have a long distance contact lens for my right eye now so maybe my luck will change. That being said, Wally shot at a deer the other day and we think he just wounded it.
We headed out in the direction of where it ran off into the woods and old Smith came with us. He brought me right up to the little bit of blood that fell and then he was off on a mission. He searched as long as his old legs would carry him and we searched even further. All to no avail. As I said, I think the deer was only wounded because we saw no sign of it after searching about 15 yards into the woods.
We didn't want the animal to suffer so the next morning, we started out again. Clothed in my jo-veralls and my timberland boots, we headed off into the woods. I know we were there because we had a job to do but for me, this was exploring the garden of Eden. I thought I would be turned around and lost in no time but that wasn't the case at all. No matter how far in we went, and we went a long ways in, I still knew approximately where I was and where I would come out depending on which way I headed.
Now I'm not the most coordinated pea in the pod so Wally quickly realized the need for me a walking stick. Man that thing made life much easier! I was tromping through the woods, using my stick to balance myself and rustling up the leaves with it in case of a snake. I was following anything that looked like a trail and loving every minute of it! Wally took off in one direction, leaving me to wander wherever I wanted.
I stayed on the blood trail for a good mile into the woods and old Smith lingered behind, stopping now and then to get a break. He stayed on the high side of the hills while I made my way down into the valleys and back up again. That deer was making some ground! About every 3 or 4 feet I would stop and look out on the ground another 2 or 3 feet around me in search of a droplet to indicate which way to go. Wally started calling me "Running Bear" though I don't know why - I wasn't running at all. LOL
I had my methods and they were pretty well honed after about an hour in the woods. For me my vision was best when squatting down. Imagine how difficult it was to spot a droplet of red when the floor of the woods was covered in all those pretty leaves that have been falling?? Close to impossible I tell ya... but on I went and every so often Wally would come back around and find me. He was always surprised to see me still on the trail. If you've ever been here before, I'll give you an idea of where we were. We started at the top of the hill to the left of the outhouse and worked our way down until we were at the foot of the hill and to the left of the trails at the bottom of the front yard. When we came out into the clearing, we were on the 4 wheeler trail just at the point where you turn right to go to the swimmin hole.
Looking up that hill on a 4 wheeler is pretty exciting because you know it's going to be a cool ride. Looking up that hill on my own two feet... not so much excitement going on. LOL! But I had my walking stick and I was still in the woods - loving the life - so up we started. I want to say I made it a little past half way when I had to take a break. Whew, was I ever winded! Trudging around in the woods was nothing compared to hiking up that hill!
Well, I made it to the gate and you know what comes next... the hill that is the front yard! This one is by far a greater distance than that which I had already travelled. Onward we walked, walking stick in hand, boyfriend by my side, breath getting more and more shallow as upward we went. When finally I had to take a break and sit down, Wally said he would go get the 4 wheeler and come back for me. Thank goodness... I mean, I could have done it but with him willing to do that for me instead, why the heck not take him up on it? LOL I already knew I would be sore the next day...
Back at the cabin we plopped in our chairs and chilled out for a few minutes going over what we found and didn't find. We found tires and wheels that someone had tried to steal but didn't make it out of the woods with them. Wally said it had been years since he had seen them and didn't know what had happened to them. LOL He found some bird feathers and asked Running Bear what she thought that meant. I told him it looked like a bird had lost some feathers to me... hahahahahaha! We found some garbage and a place where someone had put a deer feeder. It was just on the other side of our property but clearly meant to bring the deer down in that direction.
There was nothing we could do about it but we will keep watch on that area to see where they put their deer stand. They can hunt in the opposite direction but hunting in our direction is against the law and it's posted so they know it very well indeed.
It may sound as if we were out in the woods all day when in fact we were only out there for about 4 hours. Well it was Monday and that means picking up my CSA basket in Centerville at 4:00 so we got cleaned up, loaded a cooler and headed for the Diner for a cheeseburger. From there it was off to town! The day was perfect for a ride and my hair was blowing in the wind. The basket had turnips and greens, bok choy, lettuce, red and green peppers, scallions, a tomato (woo hoo!) a bag of mixed greens for sauteing, a bag of potatoes and some little Serrano peppers at the very bottom. It was a heavy basket to say the least!
I'll have to take pictures of the turnips. They are a beautiful, creamy, white color and will soon be made into a turnip casserole and if I have enough (pretty sure I do) I'm planning to make them like you would mashed potatoes... a little milk and butter and lots of salt and pepper! mmm mmm can't wait!
Speaking of greens, turnip greens are in season big time right now. I bought some from Hilda since I didn't know they were coming in my basket and spent the better part of Sunday morning rinsing, cooking and canning them. Yep, that's right. I canned turnip greens to put up for the winter! Oh my what a pretty sight they are sitting on the bar. I have a picture to put on flickr so you can see them and rave about them to all your friends. hahahahahaha!
I wasn't even sure it was an option but I remembered seeing something about leafy greens in my canning book and sure enough, there it was. I opted for not using the canner and have found that if the food is hot enough, the jars will seal just the same. They make take a bit longer but you still get the pleasure of hearing the pop, pop, pop as they seal :) :) :) After 8 jars were done, Wally insisted on us having the last batch for dinner...lol I guess I can understand that since they had been cooking almost all day and the house smelled like it too. No, Kris, turnip greens don't stink... I don't know what you must be thinking of LOL! Maybe the ones you have had just weren't cooked in the right manner?? hahaha...
My days have been filled with all the sights and sounds of fall and it's not over yet. We have a Halloween party to go to this weekend if it's not too cold for me on Saturday and I'm off work on Halloween Monday so maybe I'll get to see some little kiddies out in their costumes. They won't come down to the cabin but we'll be out and about if the day is nice and you know how kids are, they'll get started before dark if given the option!
I hope you have fun at your Halloween parties and I sure hope you take me up on the suggestion to go see Fall Creek Falls on your vacation - you won't regret it.
"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title." ~From Scooby-Doo
Here's just one more since I liked it when I read it...
"On Hallowe'en the thing you must do
Is pretend that nothing can frighten you
And if somethin' scares you and you want to run
Just let on like it's Hallowe'en fun."
~Author Unknown
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
I Know, I Know, It's About Darn Time...
I sat here thinking about all that's been going on with me, the farm, the animals, the plants, the weather, etc. and I realized that since it's been so long since I posted anything, you probably want to hear about it all. Rather than try to keep things in any kind of chronological order, I'll just let the words flow as they come to me and hope you can follow without too much of a struggle.
My last post was on 9/13/11 and shortly thereafter we made a trip to Florida for my grandma's (on my Mom's side) funeral services. She had a full and active life and gave all of us plenty of memories to smile about as we think of her in days to come. May she rest in peace.
I was the fortunate recipient of her couch, which she called a 'Davenport' and a couple of her tables. The furniture belonged to my great grandmother and my grandma inherited it from her. I've no idea the age but certainly it would be in the 90 year range.
I also brought home with me a box that hung on the wall where she kept her mail. That box is painted red and it has a rooster on the front of it. I'll have to post a picture so you can see how cool it is. Uncle Dee said it was likely made by my great grandfather, Pap.
The couch cushions are in need of being recovered so I'm in search of a seamstress here who might be up to the task. Ernie's mama made new cushions for the chair (that goes with the couch) but she's feeling under the weather these days so it really wouldn't be fair to ask it of her. Hey Ernie, we hope she's feeling much better by the time you read this posting.
The one table needed just a bit of cleaning but as I was washing it off, I realized I liked it just the way it was. It even has a metal tag on the underside that tells where it was made, by whom, and it's numbered. None of that really means much to me since I've no plans to ever sell it but it is a good quality table and one I'll use for years and years to come just as my family members before me did.
Family pictures have all of us seated on the couch with the round table at the end still holding a lamp as always. I don't know where the furniture will reside in the cabin but as soon as I know the best place, I'll take a picture and post it. It's really beautiful!
Speaking of roosters, my two remaining boys have come home to roost again. I guess the dogs have been tied long enough that the roosters feel comfortable back up at the cabin. They sleep in the tree off the front porch rather than the back porch and still crow every morning at 3:30 like clockwork. Oh how that makes me laugh!! They follow me out to the scratch feed bucket and I sprinkle out a scoopful for them to share. If I get home too late, they won't wait for me. They'll fly up into their tree and make those little cooing sounds until time to crow before finally falling asleep. Talk about an internal body clock - roosters were certainly built with one.
I'm still on a mission to get some Guinea Hens for the farm. Now these birds are really loud and they are very territorial from what I hear. Once you are around them for a while, they get used to you and they don't care for anyone else coming along. They make a loud, funny, kind of honking noise... not quite like a goose but similar! They get their feathers all ruffled up too - so funny! I hope they get along with roosters and puppies LOL!
Speaking of the puppies, who won't be a year old until November, they are getting bigger every day. Clearly I'm no match for them when they're out running free in the yard. They run so fast I'm pretty sure they could catch anything on the farm at this point. Colt is still the more coordinated of the two and he's very quick to cut back and forth while Ruger is chasing him. Ruger is the bigger of the two and even though he doesn't have Colt's coordination, he does have the speed and the bulk to catch him.
Colt will take off down the hill while Ruger sits and watches. Just when Colt thinks he needs to come looking for Ruger, Ruger will take off after him! Oh my gosh, it's like when Simba got pouncing lessons from ZaZu in the Lion King movie!! We laugh every time we see them playing like that. They come back to us panting and heaving and all slobbery from tangling with each other and they're so happy just to have the freedom to run.
Ruger doesn't jump on me anymore and rarely scratches me by putting that big old paw up on me. He's still learning that one... They both mind very well unless there's something in the yard they want to run after, like my roosters! In those cases, only Wally's voice will bring them back. It's like they don't even hear me. We're working on it though because they have to listen to both of us no matter what.
They do seem to be protective of me and if I'm not outside with them, they'll come up to the cabin door looking for me. When I walk away from them, they follow and if they happen to miss it when I leave, they'll come looking all around until they find me. I don't know if they would actually hurt anyone who came up but they would certainly make the person stop and think twice about approaching.
If you will recall from last year, the tulip and buttercup bulbs I planted were dug up several times by a certain pair of puppies... well, this year is apparently no exception. I planted a bunch of bulbs in the garden that Dizzy helped me with and when we got back from FL, I noticed that in one area, a big hole had been dug. Of course it was right up front and of course all the bulbs were gone. HMMM - it could have been any of the three.There's no way to tell. All I know is... Here we go again! hahahahaha
So I'm off to Fred's tonight to see if they still have bulbs for sale so I can replant. Whichever dog it was, he left the hole nice and deep so it won't be hard to plant... I'll just have to find enough soft dirt to pile into the hole to cover the bulbs. They better leave it alone this time!!!!!
On the bright side, they didn't dig up the whole garden and the hyacinths I planted have sprung from the ground. I didn't think they would come up until spring but low and behold, they're here! The package said to plant now for spring flowering but Claudia said they might bloom now and again in the spring. Okay by me!
Everything seems to be thriving this time of year. The irises are getting greener and the leaves are standing up again. The day lilies in the new garden are growing nicely - I wasn't sure they would make it but they seem to be doing fine and even the allium leaves are starting anew along the driveway and in the garden Dizzy Debbie helped with. I should be in flower heaven come springtime next year!
The 4 o'clocks I planted in that big metal bowl should bloom any day now - we'll soon know what colors I have! I also have more to transplant if I find the time. They're doing okay in the windowsill but I know they would be happier outside in the dirt. Maybe this weekend???
Down at the split in the driveway the little pumpkin plant finally gave up the ghost. It bloomed one more time but just couldn't hang in there. I've plenty of seeds to plant next year, thank you Kris! So pumpkins are what we have to look forward to - we have to have something now don't we? LOL
There are wild flowers everywhere and they're very tempting to pick and bring inside but I've found they don't really care to be picked and die within a day or so when I try. So in the yard they stay and that's okay too. I get to enjoy them while the dogs are running wild and playing in the yard. I hope to someday be able to identify them all but for now I'm happy just seeing them out there. Purple and yellow seem to be the colors most often in appearance and those two colors go very well together. I could have fields of them if only we didn't have to ever mow! Hahahahaha I doubt Wally would appreciate that very much!
Being in Florida really brought back the memories of humidity. Now that it's Fall up here, there is no more humidity - not that we get nearly what FL gets but we do get some. The temperatures get into the 80s during the day and the 50s at night. We've had some 40s and even a couple of 30s but those aren't supposed to be here permanently for another month or so. I love the 50s at night - it's perfect for grilling, sitting on the porch, riding the 4 wheelers, you name it. We're outside most evenings until just after dark which is really late for us. We used to be in bed by dark :) :)
With the weather like it is, we want to be out there as much as possible because we know what's in store for us in the next month or so...brrrrrr LOL We took a ride on the motorcycle the other night and it was absolutely beautiful! I wore my jacket, of course, but really only needed it on the way home. Too bad for us we ran into some rain and we were soaked by the time we got down the driveway. Ah not to worry - if you ride you're eventually going to get rained on and your clothes will dry! lol!
Oh before I forget - this is what the almanac had to say for October:
"And now the frost is seen in morn, overspreading fields with white,
the farmer gathers in his corn with pleasure and delight."
In my travels I find that this is very true. All the corn fields have been picked and plowed under. I didn't get to witness this picking and plowing but it's clear it happen whether I was there to see it or not. The fields are empty but for the paths the machines took down the rows. Oh to be a farmer - I could really get into that!
The corn stalks are dried and browned in the sun and people here use them for their Fall decorations. I see them on the corners of lawns and tied up with bows of orange and yellow at mailboxes all over town. You know that makes me anxious to get my Fall decorations out and set up. I'm hoping Wally will take me to get some straw bales this weekend. Now I know what they mean when they say "you can feel it in the air." It's really true and it makes you want to be a part of it. Well, it does me anyway...lol! But then you knew that, didn't you?
My CSA baskets have been overflowing with squash, sweet potatoes, peppers and now the beautiful addition of a pumpkin!!! You can bet I immediately took it into the living room and set it on the glass table with my sweet potato vine.. the orange of the pumpkin and the green of the vine look so pretty together!! Of course, I had to windex the table first hahahaha sometimes that gets overlooked in my cleaning process.
The squash was spaghetti squash this week. Easy to cook, very good to eat and super nutritious! There are two ways to cook it; in the oven or the microwave. The oven obviously takes longer but some people prefer the texture better when it comes from the oven. Also, it takes about an hour in the oven whereas the microwave takes only about 15-20 minutes.
Cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Cook it via the method of your choice. After it cooks, take a fork and start shredding the pulp. As it shreds it will begin to look just like spaghetti!! You can top it with spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, butter and garlic, salsa, black beans and cilantro, the options are endless :)
I've been in the process of rotating the freezer inventory. As you know, things on the top tend to get eaten first and that stuff on the bottom, well, it just kind of gets lost in the shuffle. So, I've been on a mission. We have had everything from shredded pork sandwiches, to beef pot roasts to chicken breasts and even some fried catfish. About all that's left is bacon - which will keep and which we will always have :) and some pork shoulder and a bag or two of vegetables. I think there's a steamfresh bag of broccoli with cheese sauce that we'll probably have with dinner tonight and there is also a bag of my homemade spaghetti sauce. It will keep because it has only been in there since early summer when the tomatoes first started coming in.
Now I won't feel so bad when I start going back to the meat man and stocking up again! He opens his secret barn/shed doors the weekend of Thanksgiving and you better believe I'll be there at 7am when that happens. I'm ready for some fresh sausage, some fresh ground beef and some awesome, tenderized, pork tenderloin!!
I bet the dogs are ready for some big cow and pig bones too! Remember last year, the dogs were so small they could hide their bones under the front porch? Not anymore!! They're too big to even get under the front porch now. They could probably get under the back porch but they never do. They don't seem to be interested.
Everyone is happy with the meat man starts selling again :) :) :) Even Dizzy Debbie - if she could only be here for it!
Speaking of food, yesterday was my first trip to the grocery store since before we went to Florida. Well, I had to pick up milk, bread and butter but this was my first real trip since FL. What didn't I need? I bought fruit, peas, lettuce (the basket lettuce was gone after two lunch salads), celery, carrots, yogurt, cheese, chuck-eye steaks for dinner, a picnic ham and dried butter beans for a recipe I found in the FoodNetwork magazine. I bought some G2 gatorade stuff, some tea bags, and some cereal for Wally. I bought cream of mushroom soup -can you believe I was out of that? I bought a couple of mums - which the bagger carelessly broke branches on and I was forced to trade it for another one and I bought some turkey lunch meat. All that barely fit in my little, teeny, tiny trunk!!
Yeah so back to the mums... I picked out a perfect pink one and a perfect yellow one. Of course the bagger broke the branches on the pink one so I had to go swap it out. Of course there were no others that were perfect because I already had the most perfect one. I had to settle for another yellow one instead darn it!
As it turns out, I'm pretty happy with the two yellow ones. They are about the same size and they are both just about to bloom. I have them on the front porch right now but if I get my straw bales, and I'm pretty sure I will, they'll all go down to the split in the driveway just like they did last year. Things will be set up a little different this year because now I know where all my scarecrows are! I found them when we were straightening up the storage trailer - hahaha go figure!
They were stacked neatly beside my Publix Pilgrim collection which will also be hauled out at some point between now and Thanksgiving. Can you believe it's less than two months away? Wow time sure does fly! As far as I know, it will be just me and Wally for Thanksgiving this year. Others have been invited but so far we don't know who, if anyone, is coming.
Not to worry - I'll still cook my big bird and I'll still make my barley stuffing and green bean casserole. I may even go out on a limb and make the country ham biscuits for breakfast. Gosh I haven't thought about those in a long time...hmmmm now I'm thinking I may not want to wait for Thanksgiving for those! lol!
Can't remember if I mentioned it or not but the hummingbirds took their leave while we were in Florida. I filled the feeders the day we left and after a week, they were still just as full. The regular feeders were filled too and I can see where the birds have been getting at one of them pretty steadily. The one on the back porch is dwindling down but the one on the front porch hasn't been touched. Go figure - it was the opposite last year!
The leaves started changing and some turned yellow and red but then they abruptly stopped. I don't know what caused that to happen but no changes have really come about in a week or so. I still carry my camera with me wherever I go but I'm still waiting for the real changes to come. We're supposed to get some rain and some cooler temperatures next week - maybe that's what it will take to get them going again? I'm certainly no expert on leaves changing!!!
We did have a good time in FL despite the reason for our being there. It was so good to see everyone and I wish I had more time to spend with each of you so we could get caught up. Jack cooked some incredible pulled pork and his cowboy beans were just as good as ever!! I told Neccy he should go into the pork business instead of the tree business LOL! He's got that recipe down pat. mmmm I'd like another plate of it right now :) :)
I'm sure I've left out a few things that I wanted to mention but time is tight and I must sign off for today. Enjoy this month of October as it typically treats us with nice weather no matter where you live. I'll try to get on here a little more often so I don't have to keep hearing how horrible I am for keeping you at bay...lol!! It's nice to know you miss my postings :) and don't forget to check out the flickr photos. As soon as the leaves start changing again, I'll be out there getting pictures for you.
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."~Abraham Lincoln
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!!
My last post was on 9/13/11 and shortly thereafter we made a trip to Florida for my grandma's (on my Mom's side) funeral services. She had a full and active life and gave all of us plenty of memories to smile about as we think of her in days to come. May she rest in peace.
I was the fortunate recipient of her couch, which she called a 'Davenport' and a couple of her tables. The furniture belonged to my great grandmother and my grandma inherited it from her. I've no idea the age but certainly it would be in the 90 year range.
I also brought home with me a box that hung on the wall where she kept her mail. That box is painted red and it has a rooster on the front of it. I'll have to post a picture so you can see how cool it is. Uncle Dee said it was likely made by my great grandfather, Pap.
The couch cushions are in need of being recovered so I'm in search of a seamstress here who might be up to the task. Ernie's mama made new cushions for the chair (that goes with the couch) but she's feeling under the weather these days so it really wouldn't be fair to ask it of her. Hey Ernie, we hope she's feeling much better by the time you read this posting.
The one table needed just a bit of cleaning but as I was washing it off, I realized I liked it just the way it was. It even has a metal tag on the underside that tells where it was made, by whom, and it's numbered. None of that really means much to me since I've no plans to ever sell it but it is a good quality table and one I'll use for years and years to come just as my family members before me did.
Family pictures have all of us seated on the couch with the round table at the end still holding a lamp as always. I don't know where the furniture will reside in the cabin but as soon as I know the best place, I'll take a picture and post it. It's really beautiful!
Speaking of roosters, my two remaining boys have come home to roost again. I guess the dogs have been tied long enough that the roosters feel comfortable back up at the cabin. They sleep in the tree off the front porch rather than the back porch and still crow every morning at 3:30 like clockwork. Oh how that makes me laugh!! They follow me out to the scratch feed bucket and I sprinkle out a scoopful for them to share. If I get home too late, they won't wait for me. They'll fly up into their tree and make those little cooing sounds until time to crow before finally falling asleep. Talk about an internal body clock - roosters were certainly built with one.
I'm still on a mission to get some Guinea Hens for the farm. Now these birds are really loud and they are very territorial from what I hear. Once you are around them for a while, they get used to you and they don't care for anyone else coming along. They make a loud, funny, kind of honking noise... not quite like a goose but similar! They get their feathers all ruffled up too - so funny! I hope they get along with roosters and puppies LOL!
Speaking of the puppies, who won't be a year old until November, they are getting bigger every day. Clearly I'm no match for them when they're out running free in the yard. They run so fast I'm pretty sure they could catch anything on the farm at this point. Colt is still the more coordinated of the two and he's very quick to cut back and forth while Ruger is chasing him. Ruger is the bigger of the two and even though he doesn't have Colt's coordination, he does have the speed and the bulk to catch him.
Colt will take off down the hill while Ruger sits and watches. Just when Colt thinks he needs to come looking for Ruger, Ruger will take off after him! Oh my gosh, it's like when Simba got pouncing lessons from ZaZu in the Lion King movie!! We laugh every time we see them playing like that. They come back to us panting and heaving and all slobbery from tangling with each other and they're so happy just to have the freedom to run.
Ruger doesn't jump on me anymore and rarely scratches me by putting that big old paw up on me. He's still learning that one... They both mind very well unless there's something in the yard they want to run after, like my roosters! In those cases, only Wally's voice will bring them back. It's like they don't even hear me. We're working on it though because they have to listen to both of us no matter what.
They do seem to be protective of me and if I'm not outside with them, they'll come up to the cabin door looking for me. When I walk away from them, they follow and if they happen to miss it when I leave, they'll come looking all around until they find me. I don't know if they would actually hurt anyone who came up but they would certainly make the person stop and think twice about approaching.
If you will recall from last year, the tulip and buttercup bulbs I planted were dug up several times by a certain pair of puppies... well, this year is apparently no exception. I planted a bunch of bulbs in the garden that Dizzy helped me with and when we got back from FL, I noticed that in one area, a big hole had been dug. Of course it was right up front and of course all the bulbs were gone. HMMM - it could have been any of the three.There's no way to tell. All I know is... Here we go again! hahahahaha
So I'm off to Fred's tonight to see if they still have bulbs for sale so I can replant. Whichever dog it was, he left the hole nice and deep so it won't be hard to plant... I'll just have to find enough soft dirt to pile into the hole to cover the bulbs. They better leave it alone this time!!!!!
On the bright side, they didn't dig up the whole garden and the hyacinths I planted have sprung from the ground. I didn't think they would come up until spring but low and behold, they're here! The package said to plant now for spring flowering but Claudia said they might bloom now and again in the spring. Okay by me!
Everything seems to be thriving this time of year. The irises are getting greener and the leaves are standing up again. The day lilies in the new garden are growing nicely - I wasn't sure they would make it but they seem to be doing fine and even the allium leaves are starting anew along the driveway and in the garden Dizzy Debbie helped with. I should be in flower heaven come springtime next year!
The 4 o'clocks I planted in that big metal bowl should bloom any day now - we'll soon know what colors I have! I also have more to transplant if I find the time. They're doing okay in the windowsill but I know they would be happier outside in the dirt. Maybe this weekend???
Down at the split in the driveway the little pumpkin plant finally gave up the ghost. It bloomed one more time but just couldn't hang in there. I've plenty of seeds to plant next year, thank you Kris! So pumpkins are what we have to look forward to - we have to have something now don't we? LOL
There are wild flowers everywhere and they're very tempting to pick and bring inside but I've found they don't really care to be picked and die within a day or so when I try. So in the yard they stay and that's okay too. I get to enjoy them while the dogs are running wild and playing in the yard. I hope to someday be able to identify them all but for now I'm happy just seeing them out there. Purple and yellow seem to be the colors most often in appearance and those two colors go very well together. I could have fields of them if only we didn't have to ever mow! Hahahahaha I doubt Wally would appreciate that very much!
Being in Florida really brought back the memories of humidity. Now that it's Fall up here, there is no more humidity - not that we get nearly what FL gets but we do get some. The temperatures get into the 80s during the day and the 50s at night. We've had some 40s and even a couple of 30s but those aren't supposed to be here permanently for another month or so. I love the 50s at night - it's perfect for grilling, sitting on the porch, riding the 4 wheelers, you name it. We're outside most evenings until just after dark which is really late for us. We used to be in bed by dark :) :)
With the weather like it is, we want to be out there as much as possible because we know what's in store for us in the next month or so...brrrrrr LOL We took a ride on the motorcycle the other night and it was absolutely beautiful! I wore my jacket, of course, but really only needed it on the way home. Too bad for us we ran into some rain and we were soaked by the time we got down the driveway. Ah not to worry - if you ride you're eventually going to get rained on and your clothes will dry! lol!
Oh before I forget - this is what the almanac had to say for October:
"And now the frost is seen in morn, overspreading fields with white,
the farmer gathers in his corn with pleasure and delight."
In my travels I find that this is very true. All the corn fields have been picked and plowed under. I didn't get to witness this picking and plowing but it's clear it happen whether I was there to see it or not. The fields are empty but for the paths the machines took down the rows. Oh to be a farmer - I could really get into that!
The corn stalks are dried and browned in the sun and people here use them for their Fall decorations. I see them on the corners of lawns and tied up with bows of orange and yellow at mailboxes all over town. You know that makes me anxious to get my Fall decorations out and set up. I'm hoping Wally will take me to get some straw bales this weekend. Now I know what they mean when they say "you can feel it in the air." It's really true and it makes you want to be a part of it. Well, it does me anyway...lol! But then you knew that, didn't you?
My CSA baskets have been overflowing with squash, sweet potatoes, peppers and now the beautiful addition of a pumpkin!!! You can bet I immediately took it into the living room and set it on the glass table with my sweet potato vine.. the orange of the pumpkin and the green of the vine look so pretty together!! Of course, I had to windex the table first hahahaha sometimes that gets overlooked in my cleaning process.
The squash was spaghetti squash this week. Easy to cook, very good to eat and super nutritious! There are two ways to cook it; in the oven or the microwave. The oven obviously takes longer but some people prefer the texture better when it comes from the oven. Also, it takes about an hour in the oven whereas the microwave takes only about 15-20 minutes.
Cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Cook it via the method of your choice. After it cooks, take a fork and start shredding the pulp. As it shreds it will begin to look just like spaghetti!! You can top it with spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, butter and garlic, salsa, black beans and cilantro, the options are endless :)
I've been in the process of rotating the freezer inventory. As you know, things on the top tend to get eaten first and that stuff on the bottom, well, it just kind of gets lost in the shuffle. So, I've been on a mission. We have had everything from shredded pork sandwiches, to beef pot roasts to chicken breasts and even some fried catfish. About all that's left is bacon - which will keep and which we will always have :) and some pork shoulder and a bag or two of vegetables. I think there's a steamfresh bag of broccoli with cheese sauce that we'll probably have with dinner tonight and there is also a bag of my homemade spaghetti sauce. It will keep because it has only been in there since early summer when the tomatoes first started coming in.
Now I won't feel so bad when I start going back to the meat man and stocking up again! He opens his secret barn/shed doors the weekend of Thanksgiving and you better believe I'll be there at 7am when that happens. I'm ready for some fresh sausage, some fresh ground beef and some awesome, tenderized, pork tenderloin!!
I bet the dogs are ready for some big cow and pig bones too! Remember last year, the dogs were so small they could hide their bones under the front porch? Not anymore!! They're too big to even get under the front porch now. They could probably get under the back porch but they never do. They don't seem to be interested.
Everyone is happy with the meat man starts selling again :) :) :) Even Dizzy Debbie - if she could only be here for it!
Speaking of food, yesterday was my first trip to the grocery store since before we went to Florida. Well, I had to pick up milk, bread and butter but this was my first real trip since FL. What didn't I need? I bought fruit, peas, lettuce (the basket lettuce was gone after two lunch salads), celery, carrots, yogurt, cheese, chuck-eye steaks for dinner, a picnic ham and dried butter beans for a recipe I found in the FoodNetwork magazine. I bought some G2 gatorade stuff, some tea bags, and some cereal for Wally. I bought cream of mushroom soup -can you believe I was out of that? I bought a couple of mums - which the bagger carelessly broke branches on and I was forced to trade it for another one and I bought some turkey lunch meat. All that barely fit in my little, teeny, tiny trunk!!
Yeah so back to the mums... I picked out a perfect pink one and a perfect yellow one. Of course the bagger broke the branches on the pink one so I had to go swap it out. Of course there were no others that were perfect because I already had the most perfect one. I had to settle for another yellow one instead darn it!
As it turns out, I'm pretty happy with the two yellow ones. They are about the same size and they are both just about to bloom. I have them on the front porch right now but if I get my straw bales, and I'm pretty sure I will, they'll all go down to the split in the driveway just like they did last year. Things will be set up a little different this year because now I know where all my scarecrows are! I found them when we were straightening up the storage trailer - hahaha go figure!
They were stacked neatly beside my Publix Pilgrim collection which will also be hauled out at some point between now and Thanksgiving. Can you believe it's less than two months away? Wow time sure does fly! As far as I know, it will be just me and Wally for Thanksgiving this year. Others have been invited but so far we don't know who, if anyone, is coming.
Not to worry - I'll still cook my big bird and I'll still make my barley stuffing and green bean casserole. I may even go out on a limb and make the country ham biscuits for breakfast. Gosh I haven't thought about those in a long time...hmmmm now I'm thinking I may not want to wait for Thanksgiving for those! lol!
Can't remember if I mentioned it or not but the hummingbirds took their leave while we were in Florida. I filled the feeders the day we left and after a week, they were still just as full. The regular feeders were filled too and I can see where the birds have been getting at one of them pretty steadily. The one on the back porch is dwindling down but the one on the front porch hasn't been touched. Go figure - it was the opposite last year!
The leaves started changing and some turned yellow and red but then they abruptly stopped. I don't know what caused that to happen but no changes have really come about in a week or so. I still carry my camera with me wherever I go but I'm still waiting for the real changes to come. We're supposed to get some rain and some cooler temperatures next week - maybe that's what it will take to get them going again? I'm certainly no expert on leaves changing!!!
We did have a good time in FL despite the reason for our being there. It was so good to see everyone and I wish I had more time to spend with each of you so we could get caught up. Jack cooked some incredible pulled pork and his cowboy beans were just as good as ever!! I told Neccy he should go into the pork business instead of the tree business LOL! He's got that recipe down pat. mmmm I'd like another plate of it right now :) :)
I'm sure I've left out a few things that I wanted to mention but time is tight and I must sign off for today. Enjoy this month of October as it typically treats us with nice weather no matter where you live. I'll try to get on here a little more often so I don't have to keep hearing how horrible I am for keeping you at bay...lol!! It's nice to know you miss my postings :) and don't forget to check out the flickr photos. As soon as the leaves start changing again, I'll be out there getting pictures for you.
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."~Abraham Lincoln
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
