For Amber Waves Of Grain

In between the little cloud burst I was able to take a stroll (on the lawn mower)  to my favorite place.  The secluded back field where the garden and barn hides.  It is forever changing even though I'm there daily.  Today was one of those, the hay is beautiful moments.  It sure reminded me of a song I dearly love to listen to and fills me with pride for the USA and everyone that serves to protect it.  All of the brave souls that were so endeared to establish and build our country.  It's hard to imagine the hardships they faced but did because the were that sure they could build one nation with such greatness.
The wind is quite strong today and the tops of the orchard grass and alfalfa looked like waves drifting by.  Remember it is Hay Days and all farmers eyes are to the sky and feeling the dew on the morning grass waiting for the first intuition to get busy.  With modern technology from weather forecasters  the farmer's gut feeling is still more reliable.  I don't like to say this but garden, hay and young born animals show signs of summer growth past new and headed to harvest time.  The circle of life.

     
  O beautiful for spacious skies,
       For amber waves of grain,  
       For purple mountain majesties 
       Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.                             written by: Katharine Lee Bates

Tonight was the first greens of the season.  I used spinach and baby rainbow Swiss chard in a Spanish recipe we like.  I made empanadas which are crescent shaped pies.  You can fill with anything, even sweet fruit fillings.  Tonight I used beef, mushrooms, diced carrots, green onions and the greens.  Let the filling cool before making the pies.  Sometimes I bake them but tonight I fried them in grape seed oil.  It's a great oil that doesn't burn at high heat.
We had salsa, sour cream and homemade mustard for toppings.  The best part we have two left over for lunch tomorrow.

        There are the empanadas.  It doesn't look like much for supper but they are filling.