I'm looking over a four leaf clover....

There they are, 2 four leaf clovers I found while pheasant hunting with the grandkids on Tuesday, December 22, 2015.  It was a perfect day to be out in the woods and fields on the Pennsylvania Game Commission Land.  It is just over the hill from us off Whitney Creek and the valley they hunt pheasant for is called the Castle Branch.  Like everything around here it is a small valley with hills close together.  Beautiful spot to hike and hunt.  Now Oswayo Valley is the "big valley" so to speak with of course the Oswayo River running through it and  RT 44 crossing it quite a few times.  There are many little roads, black top or dirt that turn out of the big valley and lead to who knows where.  Just depends on what turn you take.  Tuesday it was Whitney Creek, Castle Branch and circle back to RT 44.  I really love my grandson, I have a muddy car to prove it.  Kamrie and I followed the guys because they had Molly the "wonder pheasant hunting dog" and no not in my car and we all wouldn't fit in the old farm truck.  I was in shock at how good the little CRV went through that muddy road of Castle Branch.  It was a baja kinda drive.    Years ago there would be no way I would have done that to my car, now it's what the hell.  Let's have fun and enjoy the day...just what we did.

Kamrie and I walked behind Dick, Kent and Molly while they were trying to find a pheasant or two.  The Game Commission does a fine job planting special crops for the animals.  They also leave windrows of tall trees and brambles for the pheasant to hide in.  Only Molly can get through them but when she finds a bird she is all point and then Kent knows what to do.  As I was slowly walking I noticed they had planted plenty of clover for the deer.  Clover, it brought back the memories of my Gramma Carrie Gross.  She was quite the lady, as to say a tough old bird.  I can remember when she would visit the farm in the summer all she had to do was walk through our lawn and end up with a small bouquet of four leaf clovers.  I swear that woman didn't even look for them and she could find them.  I would spend hours  crawling on my hands and knees and never find one.  In the last few years I have been better at spotting one, not bouquets of them.  Well of course seeing all the clover made me start looking while the guys were hunting.  It seemed like there was not going to be the lucky clover and I thought,  come on Gramma I got your white hair and build can't I at least find clovers?   Before the walk was over I had found two within a few feet of each other.  My lucky day!  First to be with my grands and husband, second to be in the great outdoors on such a beautiful day and third, I found not one but two four leaf clovers on a special December day. 

Today the cold temperatures and snow has moved in.  Just what I have been waiting for.  The rain and mud has wore very thin with my temperament.  Every time the dog goes out we have to wipe his feet.  Now the ground is frozen enough that no more mud.  At least for a few days. 

On the menu tonight is cabbage rolls and sauerkraut, green bean casserole, baked potato casserole, winter squash and apple dumplings for dessert. I am cooking the potatoes, squash and dumplings, Amber is making the rest.  The apples are from our friends John and Diane when they were visiting from NM last fall.  Their daughter lives in Buffalo and had a tree loaded with apples.  They were kind to pick them up and bring some to us.  I had put them in the freezer just waiting for a cold winter day to use them.  At first it was going to be pie and then I thought dumplings.  We had just had chicken and dumplings last week.  It is the same batter recipe only dropped over simmering apples, sugar and cinnamon.  Once they are done I sprinkled more sugar and cinnamon on top of the dumplings.  As for the potato casserole it was just thin sliced baking potatoes and a large sweet onion thinly sliced and layered in a buttered baking dish and butter drizzled on top.  I also used garlic, salt and pepper for seasoning.  Bake at 400 until lightly browned.   If you like cheese you can also sprinkle your favorite kind on to just before taking out of the oven.

Crisp potatoes and onions.

Apple dumplings just waiting for the
whipped cream!

What a beautiful brisk and snowy night to walk to the neighbors for supper.  The snow was falling gently and we do have an inch or two on the ground.  I love night time walks because all is quiet in Clara Valley.  The smell of wood smoke from a wood stove up the valley just adds to our peaceful little spot on earth.  Odd how the little things can give great pleasure.