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.