Stacey's Treasures

Treasures in the woods

2012-03-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

   I like to go treasure hunting out in the woods. Last week I found a buffalo skull lying out under the trees. It had been there for quite some time. Not a speck of tissue was left on the bones, just a few bird droppings and debris from the woods.
    I packed my new found treasure home. Submerged it in a sink of bleach water, dug out my paints and got to work turning the skull into a piece of art.

     Thank you dear buffalo for letting me find your final resting place under the trees.

Northern Lights

2012-02-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

We drove to Rugby 40 miles north last night to dine at the newly remodeled Dakota Farms restaurant. The walls where covered with granite tiles in carmel tones. The recessed lighting and wall sconces resembled salt lamps which promote the power of healing. It was all tastefully done and very busy.

We enjoyed an ice cold draft beer with our tender, juicy prime rib dinner. I'm sure we will be making this trip in the future when in the mood for a nice meal.

Driving home on this dark winters night I couldn't help but notice how bright and clear the stars where sparkling in the sky. Gazing to the north I noticed a finger of light streaming down but looking back I thought, no It's just a reflection from inside the cab of the Blazer. But driving further we noticed these strange lights changing shape and becoming brighter. We stopped along the gravel road and turned off our lights. I zipped up my coat, pulled up my hood and stood outside gazing up into the night sky to view the waves of light moving acrossed the sky. This is the first time I've seen the northern lights and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. We drove acrossed the frozen ice of Antelope Lake to get home and watched them from the darkness of the lake.

What an awe inspiring night this was. A wonderful dinner and the unexpected gift of viewing the Aurora Borialis on a winters eve.

Not a waisted day.

2012-02-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

Penny spotted this little squirl in the tree outside our window.

It's a good day to sit in front of the fire with a hot cup of tea and a good book.

Mom always said "There are never waisted days. Just days to rest and get better.

I did something to my back Friday that has progressively gotten worse over the weekend to the point where it hurt to open a door, sit in a chair, get out of a chair or drive. This morning the pain was making me sick to my stomach, so I showed up to work and got some details worked out. I was lucky enough to get into the chiropractor and went home to take it easy.

I'm hopping in a day or so my back will be better and I can go about business pain free.

Pretty Winters Day

2012-02-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine

2012-02-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Tom T Hall sings the things that make life worth livin are old dogs, children and watermelon wine and I have to agree with him.

My loyal companion of 14 years is gone. She passed away two weeks ago.

It's sad to loose a good dog. Dog people get broken hearts through out their lives. Our dogs have shorter life spans than we humans.

Fluffy would have been in her 90's in dog years and she was still going on walks with me until the week before she died. She couldn't hear well or see much out of her cloudy eyes. At times she would run off into the woods following a sent trail and not be able to find me again. She would be waiting back at the house when I returned wondering when we where going on our walk.

We got Fluffy when our daughter Dawn was three years old. Dawn insisted on naming this collie cross Fluffy and she did look like a little fluff ball.

Once when Fluffy was still a small pup Dawn and I where taking a walk out in the field. We had a bunch of young horses that enjoyed running around bucking and kicking up their heels. As these colts and fillies came rushing towards us Fluffy positioned herself between Dawn and the renegade horses and barked ferociously at them.

Fluffy spent her life as a farm dog always ready to protect the chickens from any predators coming their way.

She led a good and useful life.

We will miss you Fluffy

Coyote Dog

2012-01-21T07:05:00.000-08:00

Souri's getting bigger and bigger.

Soon she will be able to chase away those mean old coyote's that want to eat our calves and chickens for dinner.

The coyote's have been really bad this year. Four of them came into our calve pen the other night.

Luckily the dogs started barking alerting us to the situation in time to chase them away before they did any damage.

We try to keep the coyote population under control, but this year with no snow to plow through, they can run to well.

These coyote's are very smart. As soon as they see you they are off, faster than a speeding bullet.

We will have to keep a close eye on the baby calves in the spring.

Pretty Winters Day

2012-01-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

It was a very pretty day today.

The thermometer read 40 degree's

When I went out to clean the chicken coup I had to take off my vest. It was way to hot.

This winter has been nothing like the last two, where the temperature didn't get above 15 degree's for three months with piles of snow.

We have a little skiff of the white stuff and have had no major snow storms so far.

Quite a few days this winter we have been able to let the chickens out to peck around the yard.

Here's a picture of Fluffy and Souri enjoying a walk today.

And The Winner is

2012-01-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

The winner for Mom's Birthday contest is Adrienne

I will be sending out "The Healing Quilt" by Laurain Snelling.

Enjoy Adrienne and everyone stay tuned. I already have idea's for next years contest.

Thanks goes out to everyone who entered. This makes the contest lots of fun and brings back fond memories of my Mom.

She was always entering contests with the hopes of winning a Grand Prize.

Mom's Birthday Contest

2012-01-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite picture of Mom.

Reading was one of Mom's favorite past times.

She gave all of her children the love of literature. We all enjoy escaping into the pages of a good novel.

Mom's Birthday is coming up January,9th.

Although she passed away over ten years ago my sister Paula and I still celebrate her Birthday.

Every year at this time we post a contest on our blogs and give away something that reminds us of our Mom.

This year I am giving away a "Mom" book.

In "The Healing Quilt" by Lauraine Snelling When her Aunt Teza faces a second bout with breast cancer, Kit Cooper resolves to raise money for a new mammogram unit by creating a magnificent king-size quilt to be sewn and auctioned by the women of Jefferson City.

With hearts rent by loss they mend their lives one stitch at a time.

Just leave a comment on my blog and you will be entered in Mom's Birthday Contest.

Check out my sister Paula's blog and see what she is giving away this year.

New member of the family

2011-12-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

We added a new member to our family today.

Her name is Souri (French for mouse)

Souri is an Australian Shepherd, Great Pyrenees mix.

I think she will make a great farm dog.

Santa Clause is Comiming to town

2011-12-10T08:04:00.001-08:00

I'm pretty sure Santa is coming to our place this year.

I found this sign on top of a big hay bale.

I might have to write a note to tell him we have cookies and milk at the house so he doesn't forget to come over while he is here.

It's Begining to look alot like Christmas

2011-12-04T07:53:00.001-08:00

Our house is starting to look festive.

I found these pretty bulbs when we moved into this house.

This is what was printed on the box of ornaments:

During the dark ages, German natives in remote northern Bohemia originated an art form in glassblowing which not only holds a unique place in the 4000 year history of this ancient art, but has become a cherished part of Christmas tradition. The Germans had learned this skill (a heritage of Egypt) from wandering Venetian tradesmen. They used it to create glass ornaments for adornment of the Tannenbaum (fir tree) in their Yule celebration of the winter sun solstice. Early Christians adapted this custom of decorating the evergreen to their celebration of the birth of Christ, and thus the Christmas tree was born. Down through the centuries the German glass blowers of Bohemia became famous throughout the world for their blown glass Christmas tree ornaments.

Happy decorating everyone!!!

Little men of the Forest

2011-11-20T06:16:00.001-08:00

I took a walk along Antelope lake and discovered the beavers have been very busy chopping down trees and building under water homes.

Mom used to call them Little Men of the Forest.

Like people these rodents re engineer the landscape to their liking.

They burrow into banks of lakes and rivers and build dams out of trees they have gnawed down with their strong teeth. These animals work, work, work, like little lumber jacks and builders to transform swamps and fields into large ponds that the little creatures thrive in.

Their lodges are home to an extended family of monogamous parents, young kits and the yearlings born the previous spring.

The lake is freezing over now. I'm sure this family of beavers will be cozy and warm in their homes all winter.

Critters

2011-11-13T13:53:00.001-08:00

Here's some of the critters that where hanging around the farm today.

Grand Old Barn

2011-11-12T07:13:00.001-08:00

This barn has been left on the landscape from days gone by.

It's set back off the road built into the hillside and blends into it's surroundings.

As you drive by you might notice the red peak and glance over to see this fascinating barn.

It looks as if it is fading into the land with just a hint of color left to give it's presence away.

I would love to go explore this mysterious structure and gain incite into it's past lives.

Look closely at the house behind the barn. Do you see a ghostly figure peering through the window?

Pumpkin Feast

2011-11-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Friday at noon was opening day of rifle season for deer.

It's like a National Holiday here. Many of the schools had the day off.

On the way home from work Dawn and I spotted lots of people dressed in orange driving down the roads, walking in the fields and behind every bush. It seems those poor deer don't stand a chance.

I've invited some of the wild creatures down to the safe haven of my front yard for a pumpkin feast.

Turn The Page Tuesday- The Help

2011-11-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

I've been busier than a one armed paper hanger but I did get this book read.

It is one of the best novels I have read in a long time.

"The Help" is one of those books you keep thinking of long after you finish turning the pages.

These characters stay with you and become part of your life.

This book tells about lady's in the deep south, the maids and the families that they worked for.

It seems the area this book was set in had been left in the past of great prejudice's. The help at most times where treated no better than the slaves.

I keep thinking about the relationship of Abileen, the colored maid who loves and cares for May Mobley, a little white girl who's own mama has little feeling for her daughter.

Abileen wants May Mobley to grow up and be a nice person with out the mean prejudice's like her mother.

Here is a passage out of the book:

Miss Leefolt just now noticing her child ain't setting in the same room with her. "She out here with me, Miss Leefolt," I say through the screen door.

"I told you to eat in your high chair, May Mobley. How I ended up with you when all my friends have angels I just don't know..." But then the phone ring and I hear her stomping off to get it.

I look down at Baby Girl, see how her forehead's all wrinkled up between the eyes. She studying hard on something.

I touch her cheek. "You alright, baby?"

She say, "May Mo bad."

Then she say it, like it's a fact, make my insides hurt.

Mae Mobley," I say cause I got a notion to try something. "You a smart girl?"

She just look at me like she don't know.

"You a smart girl," I say again.

She say, Mae Mo smart."

I say, "You a kind little girl?"

She just look at me. She two years old. She don't know what she is yet.

I say, "You a kind girl," and she nod, repeat it back to me. But before I can do another one, she get up and chase that poor dog around the yard and laugh and that's when I get to wondering, what would happen if I told her she something good, ever day?

I haven't watched the movie that just came out but if it's anything like the book it will be very good!

To check out more good reads go on over to Some of a Kind

Rest Area

2011-10-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

My family always picks on me about having to stop at every rest area while we are traveling.

I found this cute little rest area on highway 19. We drive past it on our way to Rugby.

Have you herd the story about the lady that took so long to arrive at her destination?

She saw a sign that said clean rest rooms next 100 miles.

She stopped and cleaned every one of them.

Carrots, Carrots everywhere

2011-10-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

We've had a few hard frosts. Gardening season is over.
We dug the last of the carrots today.

Some of them will be stored in the shop in sand so we can have fresh carrots all year long.

I used my salad shooter to slice a bunch of them thin and froze them in quart size zipper bags. They are delicious cooked and smothered with butter and a little salt.

Today Dawn and I grated a five gallon bucket of them to freeze, so we can make cakes, muffins, cookies and bread.

For some reason the soil in our garden is great for carrots. It produces gigantic carrots that are very sweet and tasty.

Halloween Poem 2011

2011-10-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

The trail through the woods beckons me.

Come on in.

You never know what you might see.

A peaceful world awaits

in the deep woods, under the tree's.

I wander around from here to there.

Feeling the leaves crunch under my boots

and breathing in the nice fall air.

A deer snorts and runs away.

Flashing his tail as if to say,

What are you doing invading my woods?

The gnarly tree's are a sight to see.

They always seem to fascinate me.

A flock of geese fly overhead.

But now I must hurry to get back home.

It's getting dark, and I'm all alone.

A change is coming in the woods.

A spooky change, that isn't good.

I look at a tree and see a face.

The branch's are arms

trying to grab and hold me in this place.

People will wonder where I've gone.

What has happened to the girl

they haven't seen in so long?

Someday another soul

will be enticed to walk in these woods.

Mine will be the face they see

hidden in this big oak tree.

Beware, beware, don't go wandering around in there!!!

Apple Butter

2011-10-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

It's Apple season!

I made apple butter last week and it is delish. I got the recipe out of the old stand by cook book "Better Homes and Garden"

Apple Butter

6 pounds tart apples

6 cups cider or apple juice

3 cups sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Core and quarter unpaired apples. In 4-to 6-quart kettle, combine apples and cider. Cook about 30 minutes, or till soft. Pass through food mill. Boil gently 30 minutes: stir over low heat till sugar dissolves. Boil gently, stirring frequently, till of desired thickness. Ladle hot butter into hot jars, leaving 1/2-inch head space. Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath (half-pints) 10 minutes. Makes 4 half pints.

Toot-a-loo now I'm off to make apple sauce.

The Great Pumpkin

2011-10-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

October is here and the Great Pumpkin is rising out of the pumpkin patch.

Linus: On Halloween night the Great Pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch.

He flies through the air and brings toys to all the children of the world.

Each year The Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's got to pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there is not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.

Yes, I have planted a row of pumpkins again this year. They have grown, spread and produced some huge pumpkins. I'm sure I haven't enough strength to lift these gigantic pumpkins out of the garden.

My practical husband says no more pumpkins.
I have told him I am a witch and need my pumpkins. I have promised to plant smaller ones next year. Something I can pick up and tote around instead of these huge monsters.

Little White Hen

2011-09-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

It was quite a surprise to see chicks scurrying around this little white hen.
She is such a good mama.

A wild turkey ten times her size came up to check out her chicks. She ruffled up her feathers and chased that no good turkey away.

I love to see her out clucking to her hatchling's. Showing them where food is and keeping them safe from harm.

Bread & Butter Pickles

2011-09-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

We're having a bumper crop of cucumbers, so I decided to make bread & butter pickles.

I found this recipe in Grandma Lida's cook book.

Bread and Butter Pickles

6 quarts sliced cucumbers

6 medium onions, sliced

1 cup salt

6cups vinegar

6 cups sugar

1 tsp. turmeric

1/2 cup mustard seed

1/4-1/3 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine sliced onions and cucumbers with salt and let stand 3 hours.

Drain well. Rinse and drain. Combine vinegar, sugar, turmeric, mustard seed, celery seed and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil. Add cucumbers and onions and heat just to simmering point. Avoid actual boiling or it will soften pickles. Pack in hot, sterilized jars and seal immediately.

Makes 9-10 pints.

Turn The Page Tuesday-Sea Glass by Anita Shreve

2011-09-07T05:51:00.000-07:00

I picked this book up at a thrift store last Summer, I think mostly for the cover.
This novel took me awhile to get into but I'm glad I kept on reading.
Each chapter is about a different person seeming to have nothing to do with the last. When these people come together it gets very interesting.
"Sea Glass" takes place during the great depression, an era that has always fascinated me.

"Young newlyweds starting out their life together in a derelict beach house on the New England coast soon discover how threatening the world around them can be."

This book starts out with Honora the heroin of this novel.

Honora sets the cardboard suitcase on the slab of granite. The door is mackereled, paint-chipped-- green or black, it is hard to tell. Above the knocker, there are panes of glass, some broken and others opaque with age. Overhead is a portico of weathered shingles and beyond that a milk-and-water sky. Honora pinches the lapels of her suit together and holds her hat against the wind. She peers at the letter "B" carved into the knocker and thinks, This is the place where it all begins.

This is fascinating to read when adversary comes how each persons character comes through some good & others bad.

For more great books to read pop over to Some of a Kind

Peace Gardens

2011-09-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

We visited the Peace Gardens Saturday.
These gardens are located on the border of The United States and Canada. They where created to promote peace and are full of beautiful flowers, fountains and walk ways.

Here is a monument as you enter the Peace Gardens.

This is what is written on the native stone.

To God in all his glory.....

We two nations dedicate this garden and pledge ourselves

that as long as men shall live

we will not take up arms against one another.

Dawn met this little frog and was hoping with a kiss

he would turn into her prince charming.

Here is a picture of the gardens with the peace towers in the distance.

Behind them is a chapel with sayings carved in stones.

Here is a clock made of flowers.

It is different colors at differing times of the year

depending on what is in bloom at that time.

If you get a chance take a trip to the Peace Gardens.

It's a Dogs Life

2011-09-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

This is a spot on the beach in the beautiful Pungent Sound area where Dawn and I traveled last month for my niece Brittany's wedding.

Shortly after arriving at the charming rented cottage we decided to stretch our legs. We found a trail leading down to the beach. This is a spot of beach with houses along the shore.

We sat on a log to take in the views.

Two lady's in sun hats and sandals where walking towards us surrounded by dogs. As they approached I reached out to pet a dog.

The beach gals said only one of the dogs was theirs. The rest had just tagged along for a walk down the beach.

After they passed an old Newfoundland lumbered down from a near by house and sat down right beside me. I petted his soft head for a bit. After awhile he got up and hobbled down the beach.

Dawn & I decided to walk to the country store to get a refreshing drink.

Laying just inside the door was a big black lab.

The young store keep says "Rex, go to the beach. You can't stay in here all day."

So Rex gets up and heads out the door to the beach.

It seems as if the dogs in the small town of Indianola are community owned.

Or maybe they own the community?

Things That go Bump in the Night

2011-08-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

Something very strange happened in the dark of the night.
I suddenly woke out of a deep sleep to my big brave husband turning on the light and scurrying out of the bedroom pulling the door shut behind him.
What caused such odd behavior was flying back and forth through our bedroom at breakneck speeds, a small black bat.
I quickly pulled the covers over my head and peeked out to see the man of the house in nothing but his birthday suite peeking through the door and the bat whizzing by right above the bed.
I pulled the covers over my head again.
Making a rush decision I slinked over to the patio door and opened the screen, all along hoping that creature of the night wouldn't fly into my hair biting me and passing on a deathly bout of rabies.
After several more frightening pass's back and forth the bat made a quick exit out the opened door.

What has happened to my night in shining armour who would stop at nothing to save a damsel in distress?

My Home Town

2011-08-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Growing up in a small town has it's quirks and funny tales. I just visited my home town of Elgin, Oregon.

My brother Todd & his wife Gidge bought a house & are raising a family in this great little town. The house they bought was our shop teachers home. It has a huge shop in which they found my uncles Phil's name carved on a bench.

We got to spend the day wandering around Elgin, looking at Grandma & Grandpa Simmons big brick house and homes we lived in as children.
It brought up old memories of growing up in this small town.

1. We used to walk the dogs to the cemetery and play around there.

2. Running all over town on Halloween night.

3. Having "Black Plastic" as our band for school dances.

4. Being a goat farmer on Cricket Flat.

5. Helping Grandma at her hardware store.

6. Watching bats fly through the night sky catching bugs.

7. Playing in Grandma's huge lilac bush's.

8. Eating BBQ fries and 10 cent ice cream cones at C-zers drive through.

9. Going to the Elgin Stampede (our local rodeo)

10. Walking to the grade school from the high school for lunch, stopping at Vickie's on the way back and missing my first class after lunch.

11. Reading every dog or ghost book at the grade school library.

12. Fishing in Phillips creek.

14. Going roller skating.

15. Santa coming around in a fire truck to deliver treats to all the houses on Christmas eve.

16. Playing "PAC-Man" at the pizza parlor.

17. Watching "Grease" at the theater. The same one my mom used to go to as a girl, with a bullet hole in the screen. Shot by a movie goer who got a little excited when the bad guy came on the set.

18. Buying penny candy at the "corner market"

Tell me some memories of growing up in your home town.

Bonvoyage

2011-08-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

Today I am preparing for a journey.

My daughter Dawn and I are taking a trip to my home state of Oregon.

We will leave early tomorrow morning and travel half way there.

I've made a date with my sister Susan to explore Elgin Oregon, the small town we grew up in.

We will stop at Caesar's Drive Inn for lunch. They make BBQ fries to die for. I haven't tasted these succulent potatoes for over 20 years. No dought I will come away with a craving for their tasty burgers and fries which nobody can duplicate.

From there we will drive over the mountain to visit my Dad & Grandpa, Superior fishermen to tell a few tales.

After that we will be on our way to my niece Brittany's wedding, which is being held in Washington's beautiful bay's of Puget Sound.

I am so excited about this trip and have been planning it for months.

Bonvoyage,

P.S. I will post pictures when I return.

Turn The Page Tuesday

2011-08-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Is it really August already? This Summer is slipping by so fast.
My book this month for "Turn The Page Tuesday" is
Luanne Rices "Summer Light" This book has been sitting on my shelf for several years waiting until I was ready to read a romance.

May Taylor works as a wedding planner, passing on the timeless traditions of her grandmother and mother. The Taylor women have always believed in the presence of magic in everyday life especially the simple magic of true love and family. Yet May's own faith in true love was shattered when she was abandoned by the father of her child. Still, she finds joy in raising her daughter Kylie, a very special five-year-old who sees and hears things that others cannot....

Martin Cartier is a professional hockey player and sports legend. His father, a champion, taught him to play to win-at all costs. Now Martin's success veils a core of heartache, rage, and isolation. Yet Kylie glimpses the transcendent role Martin will play in May's life and her own--unless his past tears their blossoming love apart. Then only Kylie will see the way home-- and only May will be able to lead them there, if she can believe in magic once more.

This was a fun book to read.

To check out more interesting novels go to Some of a Kind

Veggie Juice

2011-07-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

We still had quite a few tomatoes in our freezer and new green tomatoes are coming onto the plants in the garden so I decided it's time to use up some of last years bounty before this years takes over.

We've made tomato juice several times and it gets drank up in a hurry.

It's great mixed with a cold brew.

We vary the recipe according to what we have on hand & add a bit of dried salsa mix.

In a large kettle cook the tomatoes, onions,peppers,celery sticks and water until the veggies are soft and mushy.

Remove from heat and strain in a large bowl

Then put the juice back into the large kettle.

Add the salt, sugar, lemon juice and celery salt.

Boil for 10 minutes on medium heat.

Pour into jars & process.

Vegetable Juice

12 cups cut up tomatoes

2 large yellow onions, cut up

2 large green sweet peppers, cut up

4 large celery sticks, cut up

8 cups water

1 1/2 T. salt

4 T. sugar

1 T. lemon juice

1 tsp. celery salt

Singing in the Shower

2011-07-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love to sing in the shower?

The acoustics are great in there.

My favorite song is

One Tin Soldier

Listen children to a story that was written long ago

about a kingdom on a mountain

and the vally far below.

On the montain lay a treasure

buried deep beneeth a stone.

The vally people swore they'd have it for thier very own.

Go ahead & hate your neighbor.

Go ahead & cheat a freind.

Do it in the name of heaven

Justify it in the end.

There won't be any trumpets blowing

come the judgement day

The bloody morning after

One tin soldier rides away.

Now the valley sent a message up the hill

asking for the burried treasure

Tons of gold for wich they'd kill.

Came an answer from the kingdom

With our brothers we will share

all the rich's of our kingdom

all the secrets burried there.

Now the valley roared with anger.

Mount your horses

Draw your swords.

And they killed the mountain people

so they won there just rewards.

Standing on the mountain dark and grey,

turned the stone and looked beneath it.

Peace on Earth was all it said.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor

Go ahead and cheat a freind.

Do it in the name of heaven

Justify it in the end.

There won't be any trumpets blowing

on the judgment day.

The bloody morning after

One tin soldier rides away.

What have you been singing lately?

Treasure Hunting

2011-07-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

Dawn & I went exploring today.

Our expedition took us to Fessedden North Dakota.

A town 37 miles away from our farm.

People said that Fessedden had a great thrift shop

so the treasure hunter in me wanted to go check it out.

We did find some treasures at the shop.

Strawberry Basket, cards & cream & sugar set

Books

Look at this rock barn where they hold the Wells County Fair.

Up the street we found this neat old brick building.

A couple of bears where standing guard at the high school.

What places have you been exploring lately?

My Space

2011-07-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

This used to be a gas station in the small town of Anamoose North Dakota.

Years ago the previous owners moved this cute little building to their home "The Swarze Buffalo Ranch" and set it up as a well stocked bar.

The barkeep and owner of this ranch passed away ten years ago abandoning this sweet little building to mice, dust, bugs and spiders. It had quite a stench as you opened the door.

We went to work a bucket of soapy water in one hand and bottle of Windex in the other scrubbing and painting until this building and it's collected treasures where sparkling clean.

I've claimed this space for now as my painting studio. I've dug out my paints (some that hadn't been used in eight years and where drying up) and brush's. Brought over my painting books for inspiration.

This is my first project.

Just knowing my paints are waiting for me in my new space is such a great feeling.

Artisan Bread

2011-07-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

Delicious, home made artisan bread bought at the farmers market.

I traded my strawberries for this bread and feel I got the best end of this deal. Yum!!!!

Turn The Page Tuesday- The Daughters Walk

2011-07-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Once again through her newest novel Jane Kirkpatrick has spoken to my soul.

"A Daughters Walk" is one of those books you savor. You don't want to read it to fast. When you are finished you will miss Clara's friends and relatives who are brought to life through the pages of this book.

In 1896 Norwegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington, to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn ten thousand dollars and save the family farm. She brought along her eighteen-year-old daughter, Clara, and the two made their way on the 3,500-mile trek by following the railroad tracks. After returning home to the Estby farm more than a year later, Clara chose to walk on alone, leaving the family and changing her name. Her decision initiated a more than twenty-year separation from the only life she had known.

Check out what others have been reading at Some of a Kind

Summers Day

2011-06-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Fluffy clouds in the sky.

Dragonfly's floating by.

It's a gorgeous summer day.

Time to go outside and play.

Don't waste your time cleaning floors.

There's fun to be had out of doors.

Go for a walk,

Down to the dock.

Don't forget to take off your shoes & socks.

Dangle your feet by the waters edge.

Don't worry about trimming the hedge.

See the minnows swimming by.

Oh heck, give it a try.

Jump right in and take a dip.

safari on Antelope Lake

2011-06-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening, so we decided to take the boat around Antelope lake on a safari.

Here's the captain.

We spotted coonigans nesting in a tree.

And got some great shots of pelicans.

Going back to our dock was a buffalo at the watering hole.

I hope there isn't a mean old crocodile waiting for the thirsty buffalo.

Paul Bunyan in North Dakota

2011-06-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

Paul Bunyan has been to North Dakota and I have evidence. He seems to have left behind one of his boots.

That's why there aren't many tree's in North Dakota, but something must have scared that big lumber jack out of his whits when he got to Antelope lake because we still have lots of trees. I'm glad his ax didn't have a chance to make prairie land out of our woods.

I do wonder what scared the be jiggers out of Paul enough that he ran off with only one boot.

I have herd tell there where outlaws around these parts back in the day.

If anybody out there sees Paul, let him know we have his boot. We'll keep it safe for him until he makes it back to our neck of the woods.

Just tell the big man to leave his ax at home. We want to keep our trees.

Days Gone By

2011-06-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

On the way home from the near by town of Anamoose North Dakota today there happened to be a train sitting on the track. In this spot locomotives have been known to sit for hours and this one didn't look like it would be moving anytime soon, so I decided to take the long route home.

On the way I passed a few old homesteads and couldn't resist stopping to take pictures.

This area used to be populated with many family farms. People have moved off of the farms and left them abandoned.

I love to listen to the old timers tell stories of days gone by when these homesteads where filled with busy family's.

They tell me of plowing fields with teams of horses.
Driving school bus's full of children pulled by horses.
Bringing in the cows for milking.
attending barn dances and big family gatherings.
Going to town on Saturday evenings to socialize.

There lives where filled with hard work and good country fun.

Zebra Finch's

2011-06-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Our Daughter Dawn got a pair of zebra finch's for her birthday last year.
They are funny little characters and make noise's like tiny clown cars.
These birds are very busy, always flitting around playing with everything.
We bought them a coconut house.
These cute little birds went in and out of their house for hours, inspecting the roof and interior.
Since then they have built a nest and have five tiny eggs nestled in it.
The house must have passed inspection and the neighborhood is nicely suited for raising children.

Turn The Page Tuesday- Only in Alaska

2011-06-07T06:57:00.000-07:00

"Only in Alaska" The adventures of a young family in a young state by Tay Thomas is my Turn The Page Tuesday book for June.
This is a documentary written by a wife & mother (Tay) who moved to Anchorage during the 60's.
It has some very interesting facts & stories about the struggles & survival of living in the north country & through some of the worst earth quakes to rock the state.

In 1960 Tay and Lowell Thomas, Jr., having lived for ten years in suburban New Jersey, packed their two small children and over-sized dog into a car and moved 5,000 miles to Anchorage, Alaska. This book is Tay Thomas's highly personal and entertaining account of their adventures and everyday life in the vast, unspoiled land that became their home.

Check out more books at Turn the Page Tuesday

Lilac's

2011-06-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

The Lilacs are blooming

Oh me oh my

The lilac's are blooming

Reaching for the sky

Their fragrant flowers fill the air

Bringing back memories

of a day so fair.

Playing in Grandmas yard

With nary a care.

Purple and green

What rich colors of spring.

Buffalo Babys

2011-05-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Gal's won't you come out tonight,

And dance to the light of the moon.

Mothers Day Poem

2011-05-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

This poem was told to me by my 100 year old friend Vearl.

Made all the funnier by the teller.

She pulls me out of my nice warm cot

And sits me on the ice cold pot

And tells me to pee, which I can not.

Have you listened to any funny poems lately?

Road to Work

2011-05-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

This is the road I used to take to get to work. I think it's going to be quite some time before anyone travels on this stretch of road.

The geese & ducks like all of this water.

Big Tractor

2011-05-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

This huge tractor is sitting out in our front yard.

We're getting a few alfalfa fields planted and this is how they do it in these parts.

These big John Deers pull things behind things, behind things. I have no idea how they get turned around?

Scott, the owner is pulling a no till drill, fertilizer tanks, and his tool truck with this green machine. He will make one pass and get it all done at once.

Scott can plant 55 acres an hour.

He does say this rig has a drinking problem. It goes through 30 gallons of fuel an hour.

I'm sure glad my car doesn't suck up that much gas!

Baby Buffalo

2011-05-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

We have a new baby buffalo.

I tried to get some pictures of the calve but the herd seemed to think I was the poperotzi and kept blocking the shot.

I suppose you do have to be careful now a days. There are allot of crazy's out there.

Turn The page Tuesday

2011-05-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

My "Turn The Page Tuesday" book this month is "At Home on Ladybug Farm" by Donna Ball
I picked this book up in the bargain bin at Barns & Nobles, not realizing it is the second in a series.
Because I didn't read the first book I think I was missing a few things. This book has a good story line but seems to be lacking in some things (again could be because I didn't read the first book.

A year after taking the chance of a lifetime, Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget are still trying to make a home for themselves on the newly renovated Ladybug Farm. Life in the Shenandoah Valley is picturesque, but filled with unexpected trials--such as the introduction of two young people into the ordered life the women have tried to build for themselves.

As the walls of the old house reveal their secrets and the lives of those who have gone before begin to unfold, the cobbled-together household starts to disintegrate into chaos. And when one of their members is threatened by a real crisis, they must all come together to fight for the roots they've laid down, the hopes they share, and the family they've become.....

To find more good books go to Some of a Kind

Happy reading!

Royal Wedding

2011-04-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

Did you attend the Royal Wedding? Quite fancy I would say.

We viewed the festivities at work on our big screen TV. We wore fancy hats (mine was a flower pot) and had tea with crumpets.

There was another Royal Wedding held 28 years ago.

Prince Wilson & Princess Stacey where joined in marriage at her parents castle (log house) in the kingdom of Cricket Flat in North Eastern Oregon.

The gardens where lovely, wild flowers blooming amongst the pretty green grass.

Everybody who was anybody attended this wedding.(cousins, siblings, Friends and neighbors, aunts and uncles)

The latest in fashion was worn by the brides maids. (calico prairie skirts)

After the marriage vows the guests sat down for a Royal feast. (potluck style)

We served high tea (keg of beer)

Then the prince & princess rode off into the sunset in the Royal carriage. (Old green Chevy Impala)

Stacey's Treasures: I am from Roses and Fabric

2011-04-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Stacey's Treasures: I am from Roses and Fabric: "I am from Roses, from Levis and fabric.I am from the hand hewn logs on Cricket Flat.I am from the pine tree's, the woods,I am from picnics a..."

Easter Basket Swap

2011-04-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

My whimsical Easter Basket from Janice in Texas has arrived and I have been enjoying it.
This basket is filled with all of my favorite things, birds butterfly's and even a kaleidoscope.
The treats are delicious, chocolate bunnies and chicks along with a package of jelly bunnies, yum!!!!
Janice is so creative. She has made fabric birds and a eqiusit little bird house. These fit right in with my bedroom decor.

To see more on this Easter Basket swap visit Paula and Alli. They came up with this great idea and got our creative juices flowing.

Turn The Page Tuesday with Alice Hoffman

2011-04-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading these two Alice Hoffman books.They where both very good & both about peoples life's abruptly changing.

First I read "Incantation" It is a young reader book & very mind opening about a young Jewish girl who's world is turned around when her best friend betrays her family.

I Thought I knew the world.

I thought I knew myself.

I thought I knew my dearest friend.

But I knew nothing at all.

-Estrella DeMadrigal

Spain 1500

After reading "Incantation" I picked a book "Blue Diary" off my shelve that I had picked up at a thrift store quite awhile back & got part way through this novel when I realized this was the same author that had written the book I had just finished.

In "Blue Diary" When Ethan Ford fails to show up for work on a brilliant summer morning, none of his neighbors would guess that for more than thirteen years he has been running from the past. His true nature has been locked away, as hidden as his real identity. But sometimes locks spring open, and the devastating truth of Ethan's history shatter the small-town peace of Monroe, affecting family and friends alike.

This story tells how this mans past sins change his wife and sons life's forever. Can they ever forgive him and does he deserve forgiveness. read this book to find out.

For more great reading visit Some of a Kind

The Avon lady & the skunk

2011-04-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

My good friend Pearl recently turned 100 years old.
She is an awesome person and so fun to visit with.
Yesterday Pearl told me a story about an Avon lady, Rosie, from her small town. This lady sold Avon until she was 100 years old. Her daughter Victoria drove her around in the later years.
Rosie was very dedicated to her costumers.
One of her clients took a trip out of town so Rosie took care of their chickens while the family was gone.
One day all the eggs where missing in the coop. The next day she caught the culprit. In the nest box munching on eggs was a black and white skunk.
Rosie yelled "Victoria get me the pitchfork" and Rosie stabbed that naughty skunk.
Needless to say Rosie had a distinct Oder about her for awhile.
Rosie passed away at 101 years old. She was surly missed by her loyal customers.

Peach Kuchen

2011-03-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

I made this peach kuchen and it was delish.

German settlers brought the recipe for this tender coffee cake to the northern plains. The industrious pioneers changed up the tast by folding local fruits into the batter: apple, gooseberry, plum and even no-fruit cottage cheese. Here's a biscuitlike version with sumery peaches. Serve it warm for breakfast or with ice cream for dessert.

Peach Kuchen

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or cinnamon

1/4 cup butter

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup milk

2 cups sliced fresh peaches or frozen unsweetened peach slices,thawed & well drained on paper towels

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon light-color corn syrup

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon lemon juice

vanilla or peach ice cream

1. Grease and flour 9-inch springform or 9x9x2 inch baking pan. In bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. using pastry blender, cut in 1/4 cup butter to resemble coarse crumbs; make well in center. In small bowl, mix egg and milk; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (it will be lumpy)

2. spread into prepared pan. Halve any large peach slices. Arrange slices over batter. In sausepan, mix brown sugar, corn syrup, 1 tablespoon butter and juice. bring to boiling. Drizzle over peaches. Bake in 350 degree oven 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Serves 9.

Try this recipe. I'm sure you will like it.

2011-03-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

It's a late winters day, almost spring. The thin sunlight is filtering through a cloudy sky turning the world bright so you have to squint no matter which direction you look.
The snow is turning first to slush and then to mud.
it is a day you can take a walk wearing only a sweat shirt, jeans and rubber boots. You feel free, not encumbered by that bulky winter coat.
I spotted a few geese flying overhead. I hope they find food and a soft place to land.
Hungry deer have ventured up on the hillsides looking for fresh shoots popping up.
Boys are bringing out their toys. I just saw Willie spinning donuts on the still ice covered lake.
The dogs search for tasty tid-bits in the woods.

What signs of spring have you noticed?

Have you seen any Leprechaun's or pots of gold?

Baby Girl

2011-03-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

She'll steal your heart

Right from the start.

She'll giggle and coo

And that's not all she will do.

You can dress her up in lace and bows.

Oh, what fun to buy little girl cloths.

Take time to enjoy this precious gift

And in your hearts you will all be rich.

I've just finished this quilt to send to my great niece Mazy, who will soon be joining our family.
Her brother Noah can hardly wait for his little sister to arrive.
And believe me the rest of us are pretty anxious to meet Mazy.

Outdoors Woman

2011-03-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

My sister in law Twila rode the midnight train to Rugby, ND from Minneapolis to go to an outdoor woman's work shop with me,

We chose cross country skiing. I needed a few pointers, how to go up and down hills, and how to get up when you fall down.

The first time I put on my skies and tried to get to the lake I fell down and was flailing around in the snow trying to figure out how to untangle my skies and get up when husband Willie drives by in the tractor honking the horn.

It was 20 below the morning of the workshop but did stay warm all bundled up in our insulated ski cloths.

It was quite a workout. We skied five miles up and down hills, over bridges, around corners.

Get up fall down, do it all again.

(Whew, we made it back)

Turn The Page Tuesday- An Untamed Land

2011-03-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

In "An Untamed Land" Lauraine Snelling's first novel in her Red River of The North series you will travel with the Bjorklund families on their journey from Norway to their homestead in North Dakota.
From sea sickness on the long boat ride to arriving in New York not knowing a word of English.
It is a fascinating story. The happiness and heartache this pioneer family goes through to prove up their land and make a new life in America.

This book begins "Ingeborg Bjorklund shifted on the hard bench and fingered the tattered newspaper article in the pocket of her reticule. She lifted her face to the offshore wind that brought a fresh breeze to nostrils filled too long with only salt-scented air."

Lauraine Snelling being of Norwegian heritage has dedicated this book to "The men and women who left Norway to forge a new life in America were pioneers of deep courage and fortitude. Leaving behind everything they treasured, they faced innumerable hardships as they settled across the territories of the West."

I will defiantly be keeping my eye out for the second book in this series.

To find more good books visit Some Of a Kind

Still Winter.....

2011-02-19T18:20:00.000-08:00

Here is our handy dandy snow blower.

Winter isn't over yet. That was a nice spring teaser we had last week getting up into the 40's. The snow was melting and I was hoping that old ground hog was right with his predictions and spring was really here.

We're back to the below zero temperatures, hats mittens and insulated coveralls.

This February thaw does make winter a little shorter though and spring is right around the corner.

Funny Valentine

2011-02-12T11:53:00.000-08:00

Shortly before Valentines day ten years ago I picked my daughter Dawn up from kindergarten.

She told me we had to go shopping. That she had to give a gift to everyone in her class.

I replied "No, you need a card for everyone in your class. That's how it was when I was in school."

She asked "Mom, when you went to school where there cowboys and Indians?"

(Wow, she really thinks I'm old)

Looking forward to Spring

2011-02-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

Phil, that silly old groundhog didn't see his shadow this year. He is predicting an early spring.

Have you started planning your garden?
It's so exciting to get the new seed catalog's in the mail this time of year.
Wow, all the possibilities! Early Contender Bush Beans, Yukon Gold Potato's, tender sweet Carrots, Pixie Crunch Apples. I want them all!!!!

In North Dakota the soil is so dark and rich, as soon as the snow melts off new seedlings are sprouting up. When the soil is damp and the weather warm you can almost see the plants growing.

Turn The Page Tuesday-Christmas Books

2011-01-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

"Kafka On The Shore" Translated from the Japanese by Philip Gabriel

This book is powered by two remarkable characters; A teenage boy, Kafka Tamura, who runs away from home- either to escape a gruesome oedipal prophecy or to search for his long-missing mother and sister- and an aging simpleton called Nakata, who never recovered from a wartime affliction and is drawn toward Kafka for reasons that he cannot fathom.
As their paths converge, Haruki Murakami enfolds readers in a world where cats talk, fish fall from the sky, and spirits slip out of their bodies to make love or commit murder.

"Kafka by The Shore" brings you on a journey to other dimensions and strange worlds.
This book is definitely out of the realm of reality, but is an interesting read.

Seven years ago when our daughter Dawn was in third grade, she wrapped up and gave me the book "Coraline" for Christmas. In my stocking I found a marble in a gold draw string bag.
I was finishing another book at that time, so it took me awhile and some prompting from Dawn "Mom, did you read Coraline yet?" to get to this fantastic book.
Only after reading "Coraline" did I find out what the marble signified.

Read "Coraline" and find out. you won't be disappointed.

To find more good reads go to Some of a Kind

do dads

2011-01-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

I've been working on do dads lately and have finally gotten out of my crafting slump.

It started out as an embroidery project I took to town during a big snow storm to keep me busy. My sister Paula had given me the pattern for my birthday a year and a half ago. It was to be my next project just as soon as I finished a cross stitch design. I decided after a year and a half to give up on that darned old cross stitch project & move onto something new.

After that I made a set of cards out of do dads (little crafty things I had laying around the house.) I gave them away in"Moms Birthday contest"

In the mean time our sixteen year old daughter needed birthday gifts for two of her friends, so I got out my beads and made them necklaces.

Next I just had to make a bracelet & found a pattern for an awesome pillow.

Yes, my creative juices are flowing.
Oh no, I don't think I have time to go to work!
I don't think my boss would appreciate it if I called in (to busy working on do dads)

What do dads have you been working on?

Moon Shadow

2011-01-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

Last night was the full moon.

Yes, I'm being followed by a moon shadow,

moon shadow, moon shadow.

Leaping and hopping on a moon shadow,

moon shadow, moon shadow.

The moon is beautiful and fascinating as it rises up into the night sky.

During the full moon the sun, moon & Earth are in line causing gravitational force to effect the ocean tides.

Do these forces also effect living beings?

I'm not sure?

I do know that I'm much more likely to go out into the night if there is a bright moon lighting up the shadows.

I remember as a teenager skating and sledding with my sisters on several moon lit nights.

The moon light seems to make snow glow and sparkle.

Tell me about your adventures under the moon.

Letter From Norway

2011-01-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

We received a surprise in the mailbox. A letter from the far away and fascinating land of Norway.
My husbands Willie's niece Karis lives on the Norwegian coast & sent the most intriguing letter telling about her family's life . The letter was written so well and was a joy to read. I plan to keep this letter in a safe place for future pleasure.

I will share with you the first paragraph "Greetings from the Markhus household! At the moment it's November. The sun is slipping further and further South in the horizon, shining thin, pale light, always from behind something: a tree, a mountain, a building, like just before sunset. Sunrise is just before sunset; the sun takes so long getting up that it gives up and decides to just go back to bed. Which is about how the rest of us feel around here this time of year too! But this year everything is crisp and frosty and makes me want to put up Christmas lights and light candles and listen to Christmas music. It's unusually cold and clear, and best of all-no rain! Christmas in Norway might sound idyllic, but where we are on the coast, it usually rains. Maybe this year it will be white!

Karis goes on to say how two year old Helene loves the movie "The Sound of Music" and goes around singing "So-da-la-fa-mi-do-re" her toy goats and sheep dance and yodel; "lady odlady odlady hee hoo!'
I tell you what Helene and I have allot in common.

Karis also says her husband Frank has been doing some remodeling, so they now have room for company.
This letter makes me want to jump on the next plane to explore Scandinavia.
Watch out Karis, your long lost relatives may be knocking on your door.

Winter in North Dakota

2011-01-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

Winter is officially here. Yesterday it was 12 below when I drove into work, so I brought a drop cord along to plug my vehicle in while I was at work for the day. Fortunately the hospital has places to plug in all around the parking lot.

Drivers are advised to bring a winter survival kit in there vehicles in case they are stranded.

This kit consists of:

Several blankets and warm clothing, such as parka, boots, long underwear, heavy socks, mittens, ski mask.

A source of heat, such as a multiple wick candle can heater. It is best to also have matches to light your candle, because some lighters won't work in extreme cold.

Water and a metal container suitable for melting ice or snow to be used for drinking water.

A radio and flashlight with extra batteries.

Food, such as hard candy, jellybeans, raisins, nuts, candy bars, dehydrated fruit, jerky.

Something to read to keep you awake (This is where my emergency book comes in handy)

A folding cup.

Toilet tissue.

Bright red or orange cloth and whistle to signal help.

Nylon rope.

Cellular phone.

I have heard tell when the temperature drops to 40 below you can take a glass of hot water, toss it into the air and it will turn to ice crystals.

(I can't wait to try this experiment.)

By the way Lisa from South View Farm has won the set of cards in "Moms Birthday Contest"

Congrats Lisa and Thanks for entering!

Mom's Birthday Contest

2011-01-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

My Mom's Birthday was January, 9th, This coming Sunday.

My sister Paula and I have always celebrated Mom's Birthday even after she passed away.

We used to go shopping and out to lunch but now Paula & I live over 1,000 miles apart. Boo, Hoo! so now we celebrate the day on our blogs.

We have a birthday give away. It's just like giving Mom a special Birthday present.

I decided to make and give away a set of cards this year.
Mom loved cards. Hallmark was one of her favorite stores. She would take all the time needed to find the perfect card for her special people.

Leave a comment on this post and your name will be entered in the drawing.

Don't forget to stop by my sister Paula's Blog to enter her contest.

January-Turn the page Tuesday

2011-01-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

December has been a fun reading month for me. I've read several young readers & received some fantastic reading material under the Christmas tree (more on that next month)

My favorite book this month was Will Hobbs "Leaving Protection" This book is about a young man who leaves his family's house boat to work the wild Alaskan sea's on a salmon troller. The water is ruff & tough as is Robbie's boss Tor Torsen, who at times seems more like a pirate than captain of a salmon boat.

This book intrigued me as my Grandpa & Grandma Sannar where commercial fisherman in South East Alaska, the same area this book takes place in. They mention the town of Craig that I have heard in conversations many times and even mention Ketchikan where my family lived when I was a young girl.

This book starts out:
"Strange, how it all began. Silence hung over breakfast like a spell. Somebody would make an attempt at cheerful conversation and then it would die out like a campfire built with wet wood."

If you like a good adventure about boats & fishing I would recommend "Leaving Protection" by, Will Hobbs.

To check out more good books go to Some Of A Kind

Warm Winter Secret Swap

2011-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

In December I participated in a "Warm Winter Secret Swap" hosted by Amanda
We sent each other a mug and ingredients for a hot drink.
What a perfect swap for this cold winter weather we have been having.
Nothing warms your bones like sitting in front of a blazing fire sipping a scrumptious hot beverage.

This is what I received from Jenn B Not one but two mugs with "Friendship Tea" Yum, I love it!

Friendship Tea

1/2 cup instant tea mix

1 cup instant orange drink (Tang)

1 cup instant lemonade drink (Country Time)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 cup cinnamon imperials (Red Hots)

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and blend them well. I actually find that it's easier to put them in a gallon sized zip lock bag, seal it up and shake them to make sure everything is well incorporated.

To serve:

Stir 2-3 teaspoons of the mix in a mug of 1 cup of boiling water. You may have to adjust to taste.

Here is the package I sent, with "Cinna Mocha Hot Chocolate"

It was fun searching for the mug and putting the package together.

What is your favorite hot beverage?

Skiing

2010-12-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

I got a chance to go skiing on Christmas day.
There is one thing good about living in a winter wonderland. I can ski right out my back door.
So with a few hours to spare I strapped on my ski's and headed for the lake, trusty dog Fluffy by my side.

We saw some cool ice formations & tree's.

The wind picked up and was quite chilly on my face & Fluffys paws so we decided to start back home.

On the way we saw this wildlife.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I hope you had a wonderful Holiday!!!!

Seperat Living Qaurters

2010-12-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

There has been some domestic violence going on at the farm.

The big chickens have been picking on my little Bantams.

We decided to move them to a bigger coop (The telephone Office) but that didn't work,
So last night when darkness began to fall we decided to intervene.
We snuck in, packed up the Bantams and moved them back to the small coop.

They should be safe from danger away from those big mean chickens.

Christmas Gremlins

2010-12-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

I think we have Christmas gremlins.

or maybe The Grinch who stole Christmas is after us.

Our fireplace is missing

The lights on our tree don't work.

The cards I ordered turned out to be just pictures

That mean old Grinch can't steal the Christmas out of our hearts.

We will still gather around and sing beautiful caroles.

"oogh ah, oogh ah merry Christmas, merry Christmas"

Turn The Page tuesday

2010-12-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

Decembers "Turn The Page Tuesday" is magazines.

It gave me a great excuse to pick up a new magazine at the store.

I love to read magazines. They can be so inspiring with there bright shining pictures and short feature stories.

Mary Janes Farm is the reading material I chose. It is packed full of articles about organic country lifestyles.

Recently I unpacked a few box's of old photo's and displayed some of them on my dresser. The pictures make our room look so homey.

In this magazine I found this wonderful quote

"Family faces

are magic mirrors.

Looking at people

who belong to us,

We see the past,

Present, and future."

~Gail Lumet Buckley

Check out more great magazines at Turn The Page Tuesday

Sweet Sixteen

2010-11-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

Our baby girl has turned sixteen!

Happy Birthday Dawn!

Suprise in The Mail

2010-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Look at what has arrived in the mail. just in time for Thanksgiving baking.
I won this great cook book in Paula's "Fabulous Fall Food Friday" contest.
I can't wait to start whipping up a few of these dish's.
This book not only has recipes but is packed full of fall time idea's, tips & crafts, for example
Time Together
"Once my sister arrives at our home for Thanksgiving, she joins my daughter and me in our truck. We trim berry branches and pines to fill the window boxes on our homes. We walk through the trees with a big basket in hand to fill with our treasures. There's always such a feeling of contentment and joy when we do this. We hope that my daughter will continue this tradition with her family someday."
Cindy DeMay
West Springfield, MA

With the winter storms in the North lots of people are canceling travel plans. It might be a good time to grab a "Goose Berry Patch" book and get some projects going.

2010-11-16T07:34:00.000-08:00

I asked this question at work "You've no doubt heard the expression "They couldn't pay me enough to do that job." What job would that be for you?"

Some of the answers I got where, coal miner & sewer pumper.

One man who went into the service when he was young and worked on the railroad most of his life said he couldn't think of any job he wouldn't do.
I asked, "How about pounding steaks & putting in railroad tyes?"
He replied,"That's not that hard."
Then I said,"What about building fence and digging all the post holes by hand."
His answer was "How long of a fence do you want?"

Give me your answer"What job could they not pay you enough to do?"

Dream Catcher Contest

2010-11-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

Dreams interest me.

Do they have a deeper meaning?

Can they foretell the futcher?

Are they your brains way of rebooting & restoring while you sleep?

Do you dream in color?

Do you have a recurring dream that haunts you?

I often times awaken to a nightmare of a spider slowly descending from the ceiling onto me. When I open my eyes I can actually see the spider and have at times gotten up, turned on the light and pulled back the covers to search for the creepy crawly that I am sure must be in my bed.

I have a pair of handmade dream catcher earrings that I bought in Montana.

The dream catchers where believed to catch any harm that might be in the air as a spider's web catches and holds whatever comes in contact with it.

Dream catchers hung above the bed are used as charms to protect sleeping children from nightmares.

Bad dreams would stay in the net disappearing with the light of day.

Good dreams would pass through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper.

Leave me a comment on this post and you will be entered into a drawing to win these pretty earrings.

Turn The Page Tuesday

2010-11-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

Today is "Turn The Page Tuesday" the first Tuesday of the month.

This months book is "Forever..." by Jude Deveraux. It was a fun book to read full of good & evil, Mystery & intrigue.

"Darci Monroe overcame a childhood of neglect with an ebullient spirit, a positive attitude...and extraordinary determination. Now the resourceful young woman, hired as Adam Montgomery's personal assistant, devotes more than just professional attention to this devastatingly handsome millionaire. But one thing bars Adam from accepting Darci's love: he is intent on discovering the secret of his parent's disappearance, for she possesses the otherworldly abilities needed to help him fight a terrifying mistress of the dark arts. What Darci ends up offering is a gift greater than Adam ever hoped for, for Darci loves with all her heart, and all her soul, forever...."

Check out more good books at Some Of a Kind

Fab Fall Food Friday-Sankey Ranch Cornbread

2010-10-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

My sister Susan sent me a "Beyond The Bull" cookbook for my birthday.
"A 100 year celebration of kickin it up with good food and great parties at The Pendleton Round-up."

Growing up in the area we always made it to Pendleton during Round-up time to spend time with cousins, watch the parade and join in on the celebrations.

While thumbing through this cookbook, I came acrossed the recipe for "Sankey Ranch Cornbread" & just had to try it.

Ike Sankey is a stock contractor for many rodeos. They owned a ranch just a few miles out of Cody Wyoming where my husband & I lived.
Years ago Ike had a bunch of young horses with out enough buck in them for the rodeo circuit so he would hire young people to come ride and work with them.
My husband Willie & I took on this job for a short period. Silly me (I fancied myself as a cowgirl back then.)
We got paid a whopping $25 a day each. Enough money to go down to "The Irma" the local cowboy hangout, have a few beers & tell tall tales.

Sankey Ranch Cornbread

2/3 cup butter

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 cups milk

2 3/4 tablespoons baking powder

1 1/3 teaspoon salt

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup cornmeal

Mix butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and milk together.

Mix baking powder, salt, flour, and cornmeal together.

Mix both mixtures together and pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan.

bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until done in middle.

For more great recipes go to "On A Rainy Night"

Snow Day

2010-10-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

The frost is on the pumpkin & the snow is in the air.

This is what we woke up to this morning.

Our first snow day of the season.

School has been cancelled.

It's a great day for baking, taking naps & reading.

Fall Food Friday- Carrot Cake

2010-10-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Once again it is "Fabulous Fall Food Friday" hosted by Paula. I love participating in this & have found some great recipes in the process.

Dave & Elaine, Friends from a near by town planted several long rows of carrots. We drove over to help dig them & came home with several five gallon buckets of these plump orange veggies.
I decided to make carrot cake. One of my favorite desserts.

Spicy Carrot Cake

1/3 cup boiling water

2 cups shredded carrots

2 cups flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts

Pour boiling water on carrots in large mixer bowl.

Heat oven to 350; Grease & flour 13x9 pan.

Beat carrots & remaining ingredients on low speed, scraping bowl 1 minute.

Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.

Pour into pan.

Bake until wooden pick comes out clean, 45- 50 minutes. Cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1- pound package powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together until smooth. Frost cooled cake & serve.

Be sure to check out all the recipe's at On A Rainy Night.

Spring or Fall?

2010-10-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

Fall? Spring? What time of year is it anyway?

This hen doesn't seem to know the answer to this question. She just hatched out five baby chicks.

Imagine that, baby chicks in October. Something is a little mixed up here.

We put them in the green house and hopefully they don't freeze to death with the cold weather that soon will be knocking at our doors.

2010-10-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Red sky in morning sailer take warning.

Fab. Fall Food Friday- Lemon Mallow Pie

2010-10-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

My recipe this week is "Lemon Mallow Pie". It is a very simple recipe that turns out fantastic.
Just the right amount of sweet tartness.

Lemon Mallow Pie

1 (10 oz.) Pkg. Marshmallows

1/4 Cup water

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 Tbsp. Grated lemon rind

1 cup heavy cream, whipped

1 9 inch graham cracker crust

a few drops yellow food coloring

Melt marshmallows with water & lemon juice in double boiler.

Stir until smooth.

Add lemon rind and food coloring and mix well.

Chill until thickened;

Mix until well blended.

Fold in whipped cream.

Pour into crust.

Chill until firm or freeze.

To find more great recipes check out Paula's Blog.

Ranch Burgers

2010-10-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe and made the burgers for supper a few nights ago. They where quite tasty. A welcome change from the plain old hamburger.

Ranch Burgers

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

4 teaspoons spicy seasoning mi (recipe below)

4 egg-bread hamburger buns

Romain lettuce

tomato slices

1/4 cup prepared creamy ranch dressing

2 tablespoons canned french fried onions

Spicy Seasoning Mix

Combine 2 teaspoons sweet paprika,

2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves, crushed, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt,

1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder,

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper,

and 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper.

Store in airtight container, shake before using to blend.

1. prepare spicy seasoning mix.

2. Shape ground beef into four 3/4 inch-thick patties.

press spicy seasoning mix evenly into both sides of each Pattie.

3. Heat large heavy nonstick skillet 5 minutes over medium heat until hot.

Add patties to skillet.

Cook 12 to 15 minutes to medium doneness. turn once.

4. Line bottom of each bun with lettuce and tomato: top with burger.

spoon ranch dressing evenly over burgers; sprinkle with onion.

close sandwiches.

Join us on Paula's Blog for "Fabulous Fall Food Fridays" for a chance to win "Goose Berry Patch's" latest Fall cookbook.

Turn the Page tuesday- "The Fall Hunt"

2010-10-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late again with "Turn The Page Tuesday"
I found this months selection in the free book box at work & couldn't resist the bright fall colors on the cover.

This book was a fun little mystery to read perfect for this time of the year.

"The Fall Hunt" by Joanne Clarey starts "Trouble was the last thing on Ellie's mind as she pushed open the Greenberg Federal Bank front door. For the last twenty minutes, she had enjoyed the scenic drive downhill from her cabin located in the tiny mountain village of Hummingbird Falls, to the city of Greenberg. Her beloved mutt, Buddy, whom she had rescued at the village dump last year, accompanied her as usual.

This pocket book starts out with a bank robbery & has a murder or two to be solved.Packed full of fall festivities, pumpkins & ghouls.

To find more books to read go to "Some Of A Kind"

Fall Food Friday-Taco Soup

2010-10-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

Once again it is "Fabulous Fall Food Friday" The day Paula has brought us together to share recipe's.

My recipe this week is "Crock pot Taco Soup". It's a great time of year to dig out the slow cooker and start brewing up some hearty soups & stews.

I love to have the crock pot simmering away with our meal all ready when we come in from a busy day.

Crock pot Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef

1 onion chopped

1(15-oz.) can kidney beans, with liquid

1(16-oz.) can chili beans, with liquid

1 (15-oz.) can whole-kernel corn, with liquid

1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce

2 c. water

2 (14.5-oz.) cans peeled and diced tomatoes

1 (4-oz.) can diced green chili peppers

1 package taco seasoning mix

In medium skillet, cook ground beef until browned over medium heat. Drain thoroughly. Place ground beef, onion, chili beans, kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, green chili peppers and seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Mix and cook on low setting for eight hours.

Makes 10 servings.

Zucchini Saves The Day

2010-09-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

I just heard this story on the news. So all of you zucchini haters listen up.

This happened by Missoula Montana.

A bear attacked a lady's 12 year old dog so she started yelling at the bear. It charged her and clawed the lady's leg. She made it into her house and grabbed the closest weapon she could find which was a zucchini on her counter. Hitting the beast with the vegetable was just the ticket. The bear ran off into the woods.

With this story in mind, you should always keep a zucchini handy.

If you don't need the zucchini as a weapon you could always make the cookie's in the following post.

Fall Recipe Friday

2010-09-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

My sister Paula is hosting a Fall recipe Friday.

This is the first Friday. I think this is a great idea.

It's always fun to see what other folks are cooking and try out new dish's.

My first recipe is one I got from my Mom before getting married. I wrote down some of Mom's tried & true recipe's in a notebook. That notebook got pretty ratty in the last 26 years, so I have since transferred them to note cards and put them in this special little book.

This recipe is for zucchini cookies.

1 cup grated zucchini

1 cup sugar

1 egg beaten

1/2 cup margarine

1tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp cloves

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped nuts

Mix all ingredient, drop by spoon onto baking sheet & bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 min.

Enjoy

Walk In The Woods

2010-09-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

Our first frost has arrived. We covered the tomatoes &; peppers. Hopefully they will have a little more time to produce.

The leaves are starting to turn colors and look beautiful against the crisp blue sky. I just had to wander off into the woods for a picture taking expedition.

I met a pretty green frog.

A grasshopper tagged along for awhile.

Tally hoe. I must be on my way.

I hope you have a chance to get in a few good walks before the weather turns bitterly cold.

Spotted Steve

2010-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Meet Steve. He is Dawn & friends favorite chicken.

Such a unique looking bird.

The girls think he might be part lama.

Doesn't he have nice legs?

We are not sure if Spotted Steve is a he or a she.

We've never herd him crow and don't think he has laid an egg.

Maybe Steve is an it?

Being so unique has saved Steve's life.

Under no circumstances is he to go into the stew pot.

Even if this bird never lays an egg, we will keep Spotted Steve as a pet.

Turn The Page Tuesday/ An Absence So Great

2010-09-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

Jane Kirkpatrick is one of my favorite authors. this book is a sequel to "A Flickering Light".
Jane wrote these books with her Grandma Jessie Ann Gaebele as the main character. Jessie is a photographer back in the day when these professions are dominated by men.

It starts out "Jessie Gaebele's thoughts at times behaved like a toddler's: one moment they stayed safely hidden in the pump organ's shadow, and the next minute they popped up to pull out all the stops, increasing in volume, shouting in her head, underscoring the aching loneliness that defined her days.
Today, as she stood in this men's refuge permeated by the scent of oil and grease and gasoline, she flicked away those toddler voices. She had good reason to be here. She was eighteen years old, it was 1910, and young women alone were going places they'd never gone before."

I'm sure that like me if you read a Jane Kirkpatrick book you will have to read them all.

To check out more great books go to Some of a Kind

Until next month, Happy reading!!!

Plum Wine?

2010-09-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

The wine experiment didn't work, but I did grow some nice mold spores.

I had high expectations of serving homemade plum wine to dinner guests.

I think next time I will just make plum juice and refrigerate it.

Does anybody out there know how to make wine?

Fall

2010-09-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

There is a crispness to the air.

Hurry, Hurry we must prepare.

Get that wood piled high.

We will have fires burning

the geese are flying by.

Dig those potatoes.

Shuck that corn.

Soon snowy land will be the norm.

Coligha

2010-08-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is one of the many collectibles left at our farmstead when we bought it.
Every time I see him an old Charlie Pride song runs through my head.

"Coligha was a wooden Indian standing by the door.
He fell in love with an Indian maiden over in the antique store.
Coligha yoohoo
Then one day a wealthy customer bought the Indian maid.
Took the girl so far away that old Coligha stayed.
Cooligha yoohoo
Poor old Coligha never got a kiss.
Poor old Coligha don't know what he missed.
Is it any wonder that his face is red.
Coligha that poor old wooden head."

Zucchini Bandit

2010-08-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

It's a very dangerous time of year you know.

Keep your windows and doors locked at all times. Even if you are just running into the bank or post office.

It can happen in an instant. Picture this scenario. You hop out of your car in a great mood. isn't it a beautifully day. Step into the bank to deposit your pay check and visit with the friendly teller a few minutes to long. You notice something very odd while walking back to your car. It looks as if your vehicle has turned green on the inside. You slowly open the door "creak" and scream. To your horror the car has been filled up with zucchini. Oh how you wish you would have taken the time to press that lock, for this is the time of year huge zucchini's are growing on the vine & the zucchini bandit is at it again.

2010-08-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

What is the most important thing you grab while heading out the door?

The keys are in the Blazer. I grab my jacket & purse off the hook in the mud room, but I must have one more thing, my book. I hate to leave the house with out my book. You never know when a reading opportunity might arise,

Waiting to pick someone up, or you arrive early & have a few precious moments to open the pages and escape into another world for a bit. In fact sometimes I leave early just so I can do this. The car is one of the best places to read. Nobody is there to bother you. You can't look around the house and see all of the unfinished chores you should be doing.

I even carry an emergency book in my glove compartment. A small paperback mystery. Just in case I've forgotten to bring the current novel I'm reading.

Turn The Page Tuesday

2010-08-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, I seem to be a day late and a dollar short.
My book this month is "The Year Of Fog" by Michelle Richmond.

A great book to read at the beach, but would be spooky if you had children with you. You would dare not take your eyes from them for a second to read this intriguing novel.

The first chapter starts like this "Here is the truth, this is what I know: we were walking on Ocean Beach, hand in hand. It was a summer morning, cold, July in San Francisco. The fog lay white and dense over the sand and ocean- an enveloping mist so thick I could see only a few feet in front of me."

The ending is a surprise. It does leave you wondering "What happens next" since there is no sequel you are left to make up your own story.

Check out other good books with Adrian

Happy reading!