Just Stuff

Monday night at knitting group (group therapy for me:) we started talking about stuff and how important stuff should be to us.  I think we walked away realizing what we already knew, it's just stuff.  We all have it either tucked away or displayed.  Unfortunately at times we forget it really doesn't mean what we think it does.  A few examples,  our kids creations or gifts to us, parents or grandparents belongings that we have acquired along the way, even our wedding sets.  No matter it is all "just stuff".  As a friend once told me, never cry for anything that can't cry for you.  This was after she had lost everything in a fire and in her early years of marriage the loss of her husband and raised their boys by herself.  Strong woman and never a complaint or felt sorry for herself.  Buckle down and go on with life.  Life and love for family and friends is not "just stuff".  That's where it's at.   ♡♡♡

A few years ago Dick lost his wedding band that I had made for him with my mom's diamond in it.  He bought me a diamond ring for our 30th wedding anniversary,  since we were young and living on rolled pennies when we were married there was no diamond.  I remember the look on his face when he said he lost his ring at the barn.  Amazing that I looked at him and said, don't worry and fret I'm ok with it.  For some reason I really was.  Years ago it might have been different but now it is just stuff.  The ring was my mom's but it was not my mom. Dick didn't accept the fact and for some reason when he went back to look for it there it was by the barn door.
Something else that has long not been important but I do every year, put flowers on my parent's headstone.  I don't like going to the cemetery, it is not my parents, they are in my heart and that is where I have kept them since 1966 and 1970.  Headstones, jewelry, etc. just stuff.

On  a happy subject, it looks like the garden will get planted soon.  The weekend looks promising for the weather to allow the tiller to get busy.  The next couple days has rain showers and thunderstorms but after that we should be good to go.  The only thing in is onion sets so there will be an Archy back for the Mr.  We have an Earthway seed planter for the larger seeds but the little seeds are down on your knees planting.   The Earthway is money well spent if you have a large garden.  Not only does it plant seeds, it digs the trench, plants and covers the seeds all in one smooth roll of the wheel.  Plus it marks the next row with the proper distance.  They are around a $100. on line.   I have a feeling by July and August I will be getting my share of the workout with picking and canning.  For now I am perched on the lawn mower giving "suggestions".  Someone has developed a hearing problem that hearing aides won't cure!  I would too if I had to take suggestions like he is.  2 more weeks and maybe I can start physically helping.

This is our Earthway seed planter, what a joy to use.
Bart told us about them a few years ago.

A friend sent me a homemade tomato soup recipe that I will be making and posting in a future blog.  I love that so many are getting involved with the blog.  Wonderful ideas and recipes are being passed on to me. A friend said something funny to me Monday night.  She said, "I have a bone to pick with you".  Laughing I said, "tib or fib"?  Come to find out it was because I had been slacking on the blog!  Nice to know I was missed.
GO OV VARSITY BASEBALL!  ♥♥♥♥♥

Rain, chicks and tomato soup!

Hello,  things have been a little slow in Clara, PA.  With  the rain I have been working on a post listing all of the recipes that have been posted.  Remember you can message me or call if you have a question.  All of the recipes are made and tested right here at Cook'n by the Creek.  It will be much easier to find a recipe than searching back through previous posts.

We have had so much rain and the ground is full.  The run off from the hill has caused rushing little streams through our fields that has never happened in 15 years of living here.  2014 has certainly been a year of firsts for weather losses.   The wind took off the porch ceiling in February, the severe below freezing temperatures killed our holly bush and now the water has routed into one corner of our garden.  All part of Mother Nature doing her thing, she is still the boss around here, even though the dogs do a good job of telling us what to do!

The eggs we have  in the incubator should be hatching in 2-4 days.  Wouldn't you know we made it so close and last night the electric went off.  I looked at the alarm clock this morning and just groaned when I saw it flashing.  The temp had dropped a few degrees in the incubator, hoping it didn't ruin the chicks.  We do have a back-up.  Our beautiful little "Miss Speckles"  was acting broody and has been laying in a corner of the barn ;)  As of Saturday she started setting.  21 days and counting for her eggs to hatch.  Another wait and see, patience please.  Her peeps will be tiny since her and hubby are very small.  Sad to say Big Mr. Roo passed which means we are looking for another like him.  He was one handsome big dude and great entertainment around the barnyard.

There is Miss Speckles and her husband in the front guarding
his girls.  He struts his stuff and crows when we get near!

Messaging to a friend all the way across our beautiful USA in the state of Washington gave me this delicious tomato soup recipe.  Actually her father would make it for his kids.  She told me about how he did it and of course being curious on one of the ingredients I googled it.  Well, we had homemade tomato soup for lunch today and never will I buy canned tomato soup again. This is delicious plus you can change it up with many different ingredients although basic was the choice here.  Ok, so many of you either knew this guy, had him for a teacher or one of your family members did.  I had the joy of working with Mr.Smith at the high school. My kinda guy, he told it like it was and not afraid to say it.  I have many funny stories about him and cherish each one.  Here is Mr. Smith's tomato soup recipe ( or very close to what Robin described), thanks Robin Smith Henderson for "Passing it On".

In a saucepan add 1 qt tomatoes (bought or home canned) with 1/2 tsp of baking soda and bring to a boil.  Add 1 qt. of milk and 4 TBSP of butter, salt and pepper. Heat but do not boil....ready to eat.  Remember you can add seasonings of your choice.  This really is great and fast to make.  Next time grilled cheese sandwiches too.

Dick decided fresh chives would be tasty and they were!

The baking soda threw me but makes sense when I found out why.  It cuts the acidic in the tomatoes so the milk doesn't curdle.  Clever, makes me wonder what old timer was so into the science to know this.  I sure wouldn't.  I do know that my buttermilk recipes all call for baking soda, another google to find out if for the same reason!

How Highs The Water Mama

As  a friend from Oswayo posted the joy of waking to the sound of rain and birds singing, it was nice.  We have had the doors and windows open which pulls a beautiful fresh smelling breeze throughout the house.  Unfortunately the fresh cleansing smell has turned to the smell of earth worms.....yuck!  Plus the gentle rain has turned to the old saying, "it's raining cats and dogs".  Never did figure that saying out, have you?  How about it's raining, it's pouring and lucky me the old man is not snoring.  It didn't take long for the driveway to become a small stream and the lawn a shallow pond.  Unfortunately we also woke to looking out the window to see the sun roof wide open in the car.  Lucky the sun is out and if it continues everything should dry out today.  This gives a whole new meaning to rain fresh scent.

Not intentionally but at the top right of the hummingbird
 feeder on the sky is a hummer coming in for a drink.

We were going to plant garden yesterday, so happy the lawnmower mishap didn't allow time for planting.  This hard rain probably would have washed the seeds to the top of the ground.  Can you see I'm still trying to justify hitting the rock nest?  Yes,there was more than one rock, I must learn to slow down.  Someday :)

The wild strawberry blossoms are every where.  Now if mother nature provides just the right environment there will be plenty of little bursts of flavor.  Amber gave me a beautiful plate and ceramic berry carton for Mom's Day.  I'm excited to put berries in it and wash them, they are so tender, the less they are moved the better.

The ceramic berry carton on the right.

May 17, we will stop turning the eggs in the incubator in 3-5 days after if we are lucky the chicks should be hatching.  Dick has been turning them 3-4 times a day for a total of 17 days.  I am to nervous to candle them to see if there are chicks in the eggs.  This will be our first  farm born chicks if they do.  Last summer we let a hen set on them but for some reason they did not hatch and there were chicks in the eggs.  Hopefully we will learn the technique on the correct way to hatch eggs.

Today I am going to bake for the first time in 4 weeks.  One of my favorite cookies to have with coffee, milk or a cold glass of ice tea, Snicker doodles.  If you have not made them they are a nice little sugar cookie dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar.  They also are great keepers for the freezer.  I always put half of what I bake in the freezer for unexpected but always welcome company.  Plus the freezer stash has come in handy since being sidelined for the last 4 weeks.  Not to mention the goodies dear friends have brought us.

Snicker Doodles Recipe:  
1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 medium eggs
*Beat until creamy then add:
2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
2 tsps. cream of tartar
1 tsp.baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Stir until well blended
Roll into 2 inch balls and then roll in 1/4 cup sugar and 3 tsps. cinnamon mixed together.  Bake for 8-10 minutes in 400 degree oven.  Cool on rack and store in airtight container.
Change of plans.......since I have not been paying much attention to my kitchen I don't have enough sugar.  Love my country home but when we run out of something we usually wait for a trip to town.  Another day and then I will post a picture of these tasty little beauties.

What a weekend!

What a weekend!  The weather was perfect to get some much needed chores done around Cook'n by the Creek.  Our son-in-law rototilled the garden with his "big green tractor"  and Dick got the first planting in of Super Sweet and Stuttgart onion sets.  In a few weeks fresh "spring onions" will be on the menu.  Next he will be planting the garden peas, butter crunch lettuce, spinach, kale and collards.  Every day he has cut asparagus for either breakfast or supper.  This is the 3rd year for the new asparagus bed and it is plentiful.  Well worth the wait, we like asparagus and like any vegetable or fruit nothing better than garden to the table within a few hours.  One of my favorite sayings, "spring green"  the color and the food it provides.  Everything is green from the garden, like fall and all it's beautiful colors even the fruits and vegetables harvested take on the colors of fall.  From red and yellow apples, yellow pears, purple plums, orange squash, colorful tomatoes,  it's like the grand finale show before the white of winter sets in.

These will be spring onions for the table and some will be left to
mature for winter onions.

Kirk had the family at his home for a cookout (Amber did the cooking) and the chicken was delicious!  Kirk worked on the "duck house" that is quite elegant for ducks, front porch and cedar shake shingles.  The six ducks are ready for their new home.  Amber and Chris introduced them to the big pond, they took to it like "ducks to water".
Jim and Amber took us on an ATV ride through Kirk's valley which is also my favorite walks.  The last walk was the day I broke my leg 4 weeks ago yesterday, 4 more to go and maybe I can start walking on it.  The ride was welcoming, I was able to see how much the woods had greened up.  Low bushes have leaved out, good time for the gobbler hunters to set up and wait for Mr. Big Boy to come out in a clearing.  After checking the woods we took to the dirt road and went up by the Clara Airstrip.  Yes, small planes actually landed there.  Our friend Al Kaufman (we called him Cloud Buster) landed there in the 1970's when he flew up from Williamsport for a visit.  Then we rode up Wakley Hollow, one of our favorite road walks.  It's a dead end that rarely has a car on it and makes for a back to nature peaceful walk.

I hit a rock while mowing today!  Yep I am a lucky gal to have a husband that can diagnose and repair.  The belt came off which I learned today is not a good sign.  Dick warned me it might have to go to Riverside Simplicity Dealer in Wellsville, Ny.  Well it doesn't, he replaced two bolts and unbent something (I am not mechanical at all!) and of course I was humbled and apologizing for not watching where I was going.  Turns out I really was lucky to have hit the rock, it gave Dick the opportunity to find something that was worn and needs replaced, kinda like the ankle bones connected to the leg bone.  If gone undetected it would have been more serious.   A call tomorrow and Rod will be able to order the part for us.  How did we get along without Rod and Kim and their wonderful business?  They make life much simpler with the little farm equipment.  By the way, I'm not off the hook.......Dick and even my son-in-law have made the comment about how hard I am on lawnmowers.  I will agree I am a little wild and go too fast on them.  I love it!

Break time, leg up and a Sangria/Spanada with fresh blackberries and
strawberries made by Amber ♥♥♥ 

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather, flowers and birds, we sure are. We found out Orioles and Scarlet Tanagers love fresh mango, fresh strawberries and blackberry jelly along with oranges and grape jelly.   Remember any good tips to offer please "Pass it On".

That's Entertainment!

I'm talking about the beautiful birds visiting our feeders.  This has to be the best spring yet for color fluttering around the lawn.  Lucky for me from "Central Command" I have the Crab Apple Tree to look at.  A Robin has been building a nest along with a little English Sparrow.  At various times the brilliant red of two male cardinals and the sunshine yellow of a flock of gold finches brighten the branches.  This makes the tree look like a painting with all the birds in it.  I can't remember seeing so many beautiful birds at one time.  I'll take the cool spring temperatures if that is the reason for so many feathered visitors.  My niece called Tuesday to give me the heads up the Hummingbirds are back.  A few days earlier than last year.  Thursday was the first we noticed the familiar humming sound, sure enough they have arrived at Cook'n by the Creek.  Another free entertainment out the kitchen window.  I'm sure they go by daylight hours rather than the date when the birds and geese decide to head north to start a family, either way we are happy to start feeding them.  I wonder if Mr. King of the feeder will be back, he ran the show last year!   Dick was happy to report the other day he watched two pair of bluebirds building nests in the bluebird boxes he built and hung last fall. The Indigo Buntings and Scarlet Tanagers are also accounted for.  They are more evasive when showing their beautiful colors and only allow quick glimpses.  The beautiful bright colors are easy to see if only for a few seconds.   It looks like most of the spring arrivals are here and ready to entertain us for the summer. Now to keep an eye out for the neighbor's cats that roam freely.   I am not in favor of cats out and about.  They rob nests of baby birds and kill baby bunnies.  Not to mention leaving paw prints on cars!

Indigo Bunting

Scarlet Tanager

The next nature event will be starting around Memorial Day, the doe will be dropping their young.  It is funny to watch the young fawns, it looks like the are playing tag.  They run and chase each other in and out of the woods into the field.  Natures way of building strong bodies and quick movement for the  predators they will face daily for the rest of their lives.  Shortly after this the hen turkey will start parading their brood into the field.  They look like vacuum cleaners going back and forth in line searching for bugs.  Last summer we had two flocks entertaining us daily.  It was the first time for me to see them go to roost.  How funny, the little ones would fly up to the branch and knock another down!  This went on for quite a while until they were all lined up ready to sleep.  I bet mama hen thinks the same as we did when our kids took forever to settle down for bed!  This show went on for about a week in the same tree on the edge of our field, then they moved on to their next destination.

Wednesday and Thursday I was stuck in the house, Dick was subbing at Vo Tech.   My days were long and boring, even I can only knit, crochet, quilt and read so much before I get antsy.  I temporarily lost my inspiration to remember what motivates me to think, talk and express it all.  I wasn't feeling sorry for myself because I don't, way too much to be happy and thankful for.  I guess if I was walking on two feet you could say I lost the pep-in-my-step.  I am happy to report I found it and it feels darn good.  What brought it back?  My lawnmower and the great outdoors.  I knew it would and was so happy to feel the wind on my face, smell the fresh cut grass and just enjoy all of what I love to do and look at.  Actually as I mowed the barnyard I asked myself, just who are you Cheryl Bryant?  Kinda laughing as I answered the question because really I am just the one that would rather be outside mowing, seeing fresh ground tilled and ready to plant, getting dirty and not caring who sees me that way.  Watching the hens peck in the soil and grass for bugs and the roosters strut their handsome selves around is wonderful.  Horses enjoying the green grass with their tail and mane blowing in the wind was all part of the calming affect today.  I was also thinkng about my kids and husband that were not brought up on a farm like me but all love the outdoors, gardening and animals.   It all brings me an inner peace that takes my breath away.  Times like today are a reminder to thank the Lord for the moment.

Let the mowing begin!

Once I mow the lawn for the first time in the spring it will be a twice weekly event.  Cool nights with plenty of dew or frost, hot sun during the day will make the grass grow so fast, almost to the point "you can watch it grow.  I'm not complaining because it is a time for me to relax and enjoy the beautiful view of Clara Valley.  Especially now that I am sidelined for another 4-6 weeks.  Dick helped me get on the zero-turn mower yesterday and away I went.  Leg propped up with a pillow I stayed on the lawn mower for 3 hours.  It was freedom of movement that I haven't had for a few weeks.  I even crossed the bridge to the barn and back fields, mowed the barnyard and around the garden.  Oh joy, it looks like we will be eating our first batch of asparagus this weekend!  It was so good to leave "Central Command", that today I will get back on the mower, head to the garden and give the Mr. some gardening tado suggestions.  Yep, I'm back in the driver's seat (or like to think I am).

Later we will be back in the house to finish up the last 4 #'s of leek butter for the freezer to enjoy next winter.  Since we didn't get the chicken tamales made yesterday that will also being going down during the afternoon break from garden work of tilling, planting onions, spinach and collards if time allows.   I never would have survived being a supervisor, I like getting my hands dirty, feeling the soil, planting the seeds, standing back and admiring the hard work.  Busy mind/busy hands makes my world go round ♥

As in every home plans tend to change and today was no exception at Cook'n by the Creek.  The garden tilling took much longer and then the garden stakes had to be sharpened.  No ride on the mower for me.  I stayed in and worked on the #5 quilt for my grandson.  I did get to eat lunch on the back deck which was quite cool but nice.

Thanks Sebina, I enjoyed learning how to make tamales!

Finally I made chicken tamales for the first time.  They turned out better than expected but it might have been the cream sauce with leeks that put the awww in them.  On the side was black bean and corn salad in half of an avocado.  Well this is how it goes, one meal down and already thinking of what to have for the next one.  Sometimes it gets to be a real pain and today is one of those times.  I think I will Pass it On and let the student chef think of something.........I'm officially on strike for a few meals.

The Doctor's Buggy

Fifteen years ago February we signed the papers for our little piece of love in Clara.  Our love for Clara began 50 years ago when my youngest brother bought land and built a camp. A few years later my oldest brother bought the camp and made it their home.  Our kids along with cousins played in Clara Creek, wiffle ball and road bikes.  As they got older it was fishing and hunting.  Here we are so fortunate to be back.

There was an ad for an auction at the Paul Pierce home in Shinglehouse.  Paul worked for Horace Wolcott for as long as I can remember.  The Wolcott residence was sold to Fred Hewitt which he then built on a wing to the big, beautiful home and it became Hewitt Manor Nursing Home.  The Manor provided work for many people in our area and was a nice family atmosphere for the patients.  After Mr. Wolcott died Paul moved across the road, the house set back in with a big red barn up front next  to the road.  During preparation for the estate sale the barn doors were open.  Every time I drove by I could see a horse drawn sleigh.  Yes, I wanted it, unfortunately we wouldn't be able to go to the auction.   Amber was going so I told her if you can get the sleigh for around $300. I want it.   The first thing I saw pulling in our driveway  was a horse drawn buggy!  I fell in love with visions of refurbishing it and the husband's beautiful black horse taking us around the "back roads".

♥ The Dr's Buggy that made it's way back to Clara, 1900-2014 ♥

There was a package in the back of the buggy, it was wrapped in brown mercantile paper and tied shut with twine.  On the package was printed Elizabeth S.  which was a mystery name to us.  About a week later George Donovan called to tell me he had bought a chest at the auction with many papers and documents in it.  George was interested because he had bought the beautiful Wolcott home.  The buggy which is a Doctor's Buggy had belonged to Dr. Stevens and Horace Wolcott had obtained it when she died.  Dr. Edith Stevens had adopted a young mentally disabled girl and named her Elizabeth.  Mystery solved on who the blanket belonged to.  Horace Wolcott and his wife agreed to take care of Elizabeth when Dr. Stevens died along with Dr. Steven's belongings.  Very interesting but it gets even better.  At least for us.  When we bought the land a search was done and of course I read every last detail.  Our land was owned by.............Dr. Stevens!  Her and Elizabeth lived in a two story house which was across the creek from where we built ours.  All of this I found through documentation in the book, "A Journey in Time" Part II.  Their barn was on our side of the creek just above the Old Hathaway home.  The foundation can still be seen if you look for it.  This is such an amazing story for me.  After buying our land in February of 1999 we would walk every foot of it daily.  I still have a hard time believing it is ours.  Some know where we lived in Shinglehouse, the lot was tiny and required little mowing.  Now when I look out my windows I am in awe at all the land I see.  My grand daughter and I found daffodils growing across the stream.  I told Kamrie at the time how odd, it looks like someone planted them in a row.  Well that is where the Dr's house was as I was to find out by pictures of it.  Yes, I have pictures and what a surprise they were.  Dick found a couple old medicine bottles along the creek edge a few years back.  They were the kind used by hypodermic needles.

One cold winter day I got a phone call from Mr. and Mrs. Lambert from Coneville.  Mr. Lambert wanted me to come up and visit plus he had something for me.  Pictures of our land, the house and barn!  His parents owned the land at one time and the farm next to it where they lived.  He was a young boy at the time but had fond memories of the beautiful spring and putting in hay from the fields.  This is a true "Pass it On".  I asked Mr. Lambert, "are you sure you want to give away your pictures"?  He said, "yes, I am old and won't be needing them and want you folks to have them".  He died shortly after, he was taking care of what was important to him.

The buggy has come full circle and I am happy it's finally home.  Though we have not refurbished it and I doubt we will.  There is a need to leave the prints of the past in tack.  It means more to me seeing where the Dr. would rest her foot or where she would lift her bag over the board into the back.  It rests in a quiet spot in the barn with an occasional egg laid in it.

Another strange encounter that provided more stories of our land when  I was in the waiting room at the eye dr. in Olean.  A very elderly couple sat across from me and of course doing what Cheryl does quite often I struck up a conversation.  They were more than happy to tell me their stories.  They were from Hebron, how about that?  Just over the hill from us.  I told him where I lived and he said when he was little he would go with his dad and  drive their team of horses over the hill to get hay from Dr. Stevens fields.  He remembered Elizabeth too.  Dr. Stevens brought them strawberry jam sandwiches from the berries she picked around her house one time.  He also got a dreamy look and said I can still smell that jam smell coming across the fields while we worked.  Last year the wild strawberries were plentiful, Dick and I picked enough for 2 batches of jam.  Nothing like the burst of flavor in those tiny berries.  Of course you know who I thought of while picking,  Elizabeth and Dr. Stevens.  He  mentioned a large white pine tree that grew in the pine stand (next to our house).  Many people would refer to the enormous pine tree when giving directions.  When we moved here just the outer shell of the stump remained and we were amazed at how big the tree must have been.  Dick had the Amish come in to cut enough of the big pines, saw them into lumber and then Dick, Bart, Beau, Jim and Larry built our horse barn.  That is a great memory for us knowing loving hands came together and it will be standing for a long time.

The metal tag is still on the back of the buggy from the company that built it from Ohio.  I wrote to the Chamber of Commerce in Ohio where it came from.   They sent me information on it and also expressed interest in obtaining it for their museum.  I wish I could let them have it but for reasons I can not explain, I truly believe it belongs here.  Maybe someday I will be able to "Pass it On".

lunch pail, lunch bucket, lunch box

Here is the kind I am talking about.  My dad worked for Messer Oil during the 1950's plus we had a dairy farm that my parents ran completely by themselves.  Milking morning and night with all the summer hay, corn and oats to put in.  From the time I have memory it was sitting on a tractor, wagon or in a nest of hay with a blanket while work or chores were being done.  On the cold days I just wanted to stay in the warm house but was too young to be alone.  I spent a lot of time reading or drawing patiently waiting until the last few cows were let out.  Do you know when cows come in the barn to be milked the go to the same stanchion?  That always fascinated me that not one would ever mess up.

I guess I should get on with the lunch pail question.  Like I said, dad worked for Messer Oil which was on the Horse Run Road about 2 miles up from Rt 44.  He carried the lunch  pail like the one above everyday.  Mom always packed it full of food with a thermos of hot tea for him.  I remember how excited I was when he would get home.  I thought dad always saved me something but now I know mom always put an extra cookie in for me.  I loved taking his lunch box and opening the little clamps to see what he had brought me.   That is something for me to laugh about now, thinking of the tiniest pleasures of living on a farm.  It was just the three of us unless visitors stopped in which wasn't often.

So if you remember these, what did you call them?  I have heard pail, box and bucket used.  When I googled to find a picture of a lunch pail I also discovered who invented it.  James Robinson in the year 1887.  I tried to find out more about him, the only thing he was a black man and that was it.  No other information.

As I was writing this I happened to look at a picture of mom, dad and myself I keep on the end table.  I had never noticed but there was "the lunch pail" right in dad's hand.  Funny what I didn't see for all of these years.  It sure is giving me great pleasure to know it's been there all this time.

There we are and "the lunch pail"

 I'm going to mention one more thing about the advantage of living on a farm.  I never used the excuse to get out of school but I do remember one "cool dude" with a car that would ;)  Fog!

Another good supper from the student chef, he even picked the menu!  I think he's liking his new duty station........or at least putting on a good front.  We had fried pork chops with red beans and jasmine rice.  Excellent!  Tomorrow we will be making tamales for Monday's supper along with tacos topped with salsa fresh from New Mexico.  Thanks to John & Diane Surra ♥  They sure know how to "Pass it On".

The May Day Basket

Amber has never missed a year to make a basket and have one of her kids deliver ♥♥♥

What a beautiful morning.  We woke to a gray cloud coverage and a London Fog mist in the air.  By the second cup of coffee a beautiful blue ceiling was showing trough the breaks in the clouds.  Spring green was vibrant green, the trees are showing red and gold buds on the branches.  That is a welcome sight.  In the winter it doesn't bother me seeing the bare branches but come spring I'm ready for our beautiful Clara to turn every shade of green imaginable.  It is a fact, every season has it's own special beauty and I love all four seasons.  Let's see, summer = garden, canning, bike rides & campfires. fall = cider, foliage & hunting, winter= beautiful snow, peace, rest and skiing, spring= leeks, fishing, spring gobbler, spring green, flowers & baby peeps!

One thing we have to be careful of with "spring green" is the horses.  Just like us they have been waiting for the tender green shoots of spring.  All animals are on a seasonal circuit of life.  A time for fresh grass, a time for hay and grain.  Unfortunately the saying "eat like a horse"  is true.  Come spring horses put their heads down to the green and seldom come up for a breather.  This can cause digestive problems and a horse to founder.  It is very painful which usually requires the vet visit and meds.  So far so good for us.  When the grass gets real lush Dick will put them in their stalls at night and out during the day.  Days the bugs bother them so  usually they are in and out of the barn, if he would put them out at night they would eat all night long.  Just our theory.

Another spring green I am waiting for,  asparagus!  Hard to explain but I just want to see a sign it survived winter.  On a good note the rhubarb is through the ground and the garlic is up.  Garlic won't be harvested until late July or August.   Leeks and rhubarb will be the first pick and freeze for 2014.  The circle of life.

The lawn needs mowed but with all of the rain it's not going to happen soon.  Predictions are rain every day until after the weekend.  Out will come the lawn sweep!  That's ok with me, I love being on the mower and can because Dr. Sanders said so.  Heeeehawwww ;)  Something I can do!

Cinco de Mayo is coming.  Thanks to Sabina that sent me a recipe for tamales I will be making them for the first time!  Of course it will require the help of my student chef.  I usually order tamales when we go to a Mexican Restaurant.  I'm thinking homemade will be over the top.  Next week I will be posting the recipe. pictures and let you know how many ★'s I rate them.  When I started my blog I really didn't know why.  I now do.  I have had such wonderful feed back, communication with so many that otherwise I never would have.  People from the past and people that are starting a past with me.  Thank you all for recipes, comments and good vibes.  I'm loving it ♥ 

 May Day is almost over and what a beautiful day it was.  It ended with a Varsity BB game, OV lost 1-0 but any time I get to see these handsome guys in the Green and White uniform I'm happy ♡.  Team pride, spirit and respect comes from being dressed alike in a uniform, at least my way of thinking.  Years ago it was  rule, everyone had to be dressed alike, now I see basketball games where socks and sneakers can be any color or height the player wants.  My preference, everything matches.  Grumpy lady!

Supper could be called a dump plate.  Leftover potatoes fried crisp, leftover bacon crumbled in, and 1 cup chopped leeks.   A couple leftover taquitos warmed up.  It's a meal for us.  One more leftover, a glass of Naughty and Nice.  

Quick and satisfying.