The Green Green Grass of Home

1967 a very good year and yes Tom Jones released the song "The Green Green Grass of Home.  We were quite a fortunate generation.  Some of the best bands, singers, flower power, peace, hippies, you name it we were right smack dab in the middle of a revolution.  It was an exciting time to be in our teen years.  I wonder, what would our life have been like had Viet Nam never happened.  What would the marches and protests have been about.   It was a time when it was just time to be a rebel.  Living in the Oswayo Valley area was quiet, no protests, just long hair, hippy clothes and yes maybe a few that smoked a joint.  Seriously I can remember the first time I heard the words, weed, joint, dubby and marijuana.  Which also was probably the first time it was brought to town.  Life was going to change, I think it was a wave of change that started on the West Coast and made its way to the East.  California Dreaming, yep another song and that was the land of anything goes and it did.  Blond hair, tans, Muscle Beach, beaches, surfers and the start of the little bikinis, going braless, flowers and long beads.  As I'm typing this all smiles remembering those hip hugging, bell bottom, embroidery blue jeans.  Darn I liked those jeans.  Of course now, not so much.  Those lean days are gone to just a sweet memory.

In 1965 when I turned 16 my dad allowed me to buy  a new Bridgestone
90.  The 1960s dream come true for me.  Candy Apple Red

Well, that was a step back in time just because I happened to look out to the back fields and see all the green.  Yes, it was that song Tom Jones sang that brought the 1960s back to my thoughts.  The green has now passed the 50 percentage mark and the brown dead grass is quickly fading.  In a few weeks I will be on the John Deere brush hogging the fields.  We will wait until the birds that build their nests on the ground have hatched their young and mama deer are done hiding their tiny ones in the high grass before we cut the fields.  I know for sure somewhere out there a pair of Killdeer have a nest started.  Every time we go to the barn one or both start a warning call and try to play the wounded bird to keep us away from their nest.  They are smart birds considering there also is a pair of Red Tail Hawks tending their nest in the trees up the hill.  They would love to find baby Killdeer to feed their young.  Most of the day the hawks take turns setting in a tree along the field line looking for mice.  When they set there our hens stay in the barn or under a big tree with low branches.  It's a food chain, survival of the fittest.  Nature at its finest.  We also have a couple hen turkeys searching for bugs in the field close to the woods.  Every year a hen or two raise their little ones and when big enough bring them into the field to search for bugs.  It is the cycle of life out there, each month offers a new happening.  Any morning or evening that is warm enough we are on the back deck keeping an eye on the field.  Of course the rifle is close incase a coyote happens through. 

Today we rode to Mansfield to pick up a part for the rototiller and order parts for the tractor.  Unfortunately if you have equipment it needs tended to before it breaks down.  The ride was nice and the sun popped through the clouds now and again.  We stopped for a takeout sandwich at the Brick House Café in Galeton and drove to the Muck to eat and watch for migrating birds.  Then off to the John Deere Dealership.  Oh, to have about $50,000 extra dollars.  He could get a new farm tractor and I could get a new zero turn.  We looked and dreamed, bought the parts for the old faithful and headed home. 

From our woods walk, April Showers brought May Flowers.

The Tulip Tree

I can not remember the first time I heard about the "Tulip Tree" but I am sure I was in the single digits of age.  My mom showed it to me and every time we would get near where it grew (and still does) she would say, there's the "Tulip Tree".  When it had blossoms she would pull over and just stare up at it and point to the beautiful, big, pale yellow flowers.  Today driving by I thought of those words, The Tulip Tree.  Yes, it would be something to blog about.  There is not a time I go by that I don't remember my mom and the Tulip Tree.  Today as I was thinking about how long I have known it was there I wondered, does anyone else know about the Tulip Tree and how long or how did my mom find out about it.  It's also one of the times I wish I  had taken more interest and asked her, how did you know what kind of a tree it is?  Now writing this I am also wondering how did the one lone Tulip Tree happen to grow in this spot?  I have not a clue if others grow in the Oswayo Valley area.  Do you?

This is what the tulips will look like in late spring/early summer.  They are quite visible from the road as you go by even as tall as the tree is.  I was surprised to see Tulip Trees grow abundantly in the wild in northern Virginia near Winchester. 

If you are from our area you also have gone by it hundreds of times.  It is on RT 44 just north of  Shinglehouse in the Dug Road.  The tree grows on the right side of the road heading north towards Ceres.  It is tall and straight, hopefully you will have no trouble spotting it next time you go by.  Maybe someone knows the story behind the tree and how it came to be.  Sure hope so and hope you share the story with me.

The last few days have proved, spring is here and not just by the date it arrived.  We have been making lists and doing some little chores that need to get out of the way before the big chores begin.  Dick has been busy demolishing the old trailer and garage across the road from us.  Last fall we were lucky enough to get the land and buildings for a decent price.  Soon it will be all cleared away and then the work of getting ready for a 20 x 20 ft. camp will be built in August.  Small, 400 sq. ft. but big enough to sleep four.  It will have one bedroom, bath and kitchen/living room combined.  We are hoping for the grand opening to be early spring of 2017.  That might  be cutting it a little tight but I do work better under pressure.  Now to make sure I can get others to work under pressure.

The property was originally owned by Bill and Eugertha Hathaway.  They parceled  off 1&1/3 acres and gave it to their son Monty Hathaway.  He lived there for many years until he sold it and moved to town.  He sold it to a father and son from Allentown, PA for a hunting camp.  Like many they lost interest in coming up or like most families when the kids graduate and off on their own life changes. They camp has been vacant for 16 years with no hunters coming to enjoy the few days of telling stories, playing cards, having good food, drinks and the "male bonding" time.  Life goes on.  Here's hoping our cabin will be full of good times, good food and lots of story telling. 

Soon it will not be such an eye sore.

We had a couple good looking fishermen stop in for lunch today.  I got up this morning thinking, better get some food around just incase.  Loose fried hamburger for "Red and Trudy" style burgers,(if you are from the area you know what I mean) chips, pickled dilly beans and of course a big batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Life is good when the grandkids stop to tell their fishing stories, talk about the OV baseball team win over Coudersport and just have a few laughs together.  Then our oldest grandson came down to help his gramps dig up some dirt and get the lawn ready for rolling and grass seed.  I like the saying, old as dirt.  Today smelling the fresh turned dirt made me think, maybe that is why I like that saying.  The fresh tilled soil smells so fresh, all it needs is seed for the new beginnings of life.  Nothing prettier than see a field freshly plowed. 


We put in a new driveway and now filling in the old, soon grass
will be growing.

The day was perfect for working outside.  My favorite thing, mowing lawn and not so favorite transplanting 4 Peony bushes.  Seriously their roots must reach China!  Once it was all done I headed to the back deck for a cold drink, finish up a doily I have been crocheting and of course just take in the fresh smells and view.  I was surprised to see the moon just over the hill.  It was beautiful and so big.  It made me think, (gahhh, that's all I do is think) we think we are in control but really not at all.  That moon, the sun, planets, stars and meteors they are in control.  It's great big, we are a speck.  Now how is that for odd, weird and out of the normal thinking?  When our boys were in the Army and stationed half way around the world I would look at the moon and say,  it is Bart's or Beau's moon.  It made me feel better to know we could look at the same thing so far away from each other.  I'm sure the moon as consoled many throughout the years.  Nice to see it today against the clear blue sky.
  *The Tulip Tree is the exact place of the accident that killed my mom, August 4, 1966.  Along with good memories of the Tulip Tree is also the sad memory of her death.  The good has finally out weighed the bad.  That tree proves to thrive and give me the opportunity to see it and know what a special meaning it has. I Here is to you Sophia Idella Gross.

Do Chickens Have Tenderloins?

According to the gal working in the meat department, no. 
Getting groceries last week I stopped into Tops for chicken "tenderloins".  While looking over the chicken section a woman that works in the meat department came up and said all in a panic, " the delivery truck is 4 hours late"!  I told her she must have me confused with someone else, thinking that a customer was waiting for something specific.  She continued to rant about the truck being late with the chicken breasts that were on sale.  I laughed and told her I found the chicken tenderloins that I wanted.  Well...............this little city slicker told me I was wasting money on tenderloins because they are cut up chicken breasts.  I looked puzzled and said, really?  There was no convincing her otherwise from the way she was insisting that tenderloins are chicken breasts and I was paying extra money per pound  for them to cut them up.  I asked her, so you cut the breasts up and package them for tenderloins here?  Huh, well no, we get them all ready cut up and packaged.  BINGO!  I couldn't help get that nasty grin on my face, pick up the package of tenderloins and move along.  Sometimes it is just easier to walk away with a grin or for more satisfaction I could have stamped "I think I know everything" on her forehead.  This farm girl knows there are really chicken tenderloins which are very tender and better tasting than chicken breasts.  The tenderloin is attached to the breast but can easily be removed.  I really don't need 20 chicken breasts to get 20 tenderloins so it is easier for me to pay a little extra for a package of tenderloins.  Now you know, chickens have real tenderloins just as pig, beef, deer and other animals.  It is usually close to the spine and is tender because it is a muscle less used.  It is not plentiful in any animal thus giving the added expense to a cut of tenderloin.  Back to that gal, I would love to take this article in and let her read about a chicken tenderloin.  After all if you are going to state what ya know, ya better know for sure!  My favorite saying when in doubt, I'll google that.  Which I did when I got home and smiled all over myself for being right...at least this time.  There are many times I "eat crow".  There's an old saying!

Here's a little video about chicken tenderloins.  Good grief!  Why do I get obsessed with stuff?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fePddbE7GE
What a great thing google and you tube.  Both have pulled me out of several binds since the techy stage of my life.  The techy part is little to none, I muddle through.  From knitting, crocheting, cooking, gardening, refinishing floors and yes chicken tenderloins it has proved its worth to me. 

What am I doing with those tenderloins?  Chicken tacos tonight.  I buy the fresh corn tacos, rub a little olive oil on each side and heat them on the cast iron griddle until they get little golden brown  spots on them.  It's called fill your own taco with as much of what ever.  Tonight is grilled tenderloins, refried beans, rice, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, Mexican Cheese, salsa, chipotle sauce and sour cream.  That's it a meal in a shell.   Coconut/Almond pudding layered with sliced bananas and graham cracker crumbs for dessert and a hot cup of Jamaican Me Crazy to top it off.  The pudding was homemade and I used Coconut/Almond Milk.  It really makes a nice flavored pudding.

Looks messy and soft tacos are but oh so good!

One thing for sure, the daffodils and other spring flowers will be around for quite awhile.  Freezing temps and snow does not seem to bother them.  Once the sun shines they pick right up and look beautiful.  When we go to North Carolina I am always surprised at how fast their spring flowers bloom and die off.  That warm sun and temperatures make their blooms short lived.  About 28 years ago we visited our son while he was stationed in Germany. It was during the Easter Holiday.  The street vendors were in every city and town selling flowers. There were many other types of vendors, the ones I remembered, flowers and beautiful bolts of lace. What a beautiful time to walk the streets.  So old world or what I think old world should be.  Tall buildings with wonderful architecture designs, cobble stone streets that echoed each step.  At that time, I can't speak for now, everyone was out either walking, setting on steps or at tables along the street.  It was like stepping back in time. There were still the signs of war, many building still had damage where bullets had hit.  Quite an experience and memory of an opportunity we didn't let pass.  I guess my point is, if you have an opportunity to do something that may never come again, do it. 

A Well Educated Egg!

Our girls have supplied eggs to many in the Oswayo Valley and even make it to Union Bridge, MD and Worceste, MA a few times a year.  Nothing makes me happier than to hear how everyone likes them.  How about that dark yellow/orange yolk and the white surrounding the yolk is firm and well formed in an oval shape.  No runny whites with our lovely eggs.  We even had the opportunity two years ago to let our Silky hen who had turned very "henny" set on a dozen.  Five hatched and what a great experience.  You might say the excitement around the "hen house" was at its peak.  Even Dick and I were frequent visitors several times a day to see if they hatched and after they did to check on the little chicks.  They stayed under mama for about a week and then it was time to explore the world, they never ventured more than a wings length from their mom.  It was the easiest time ever raising young ones, mama hen did all the work.  We just watched.  Not so when we mail order day old peeps.  It is constantly monitoring the heat lamp and temperature, cleaning the pen daily, checking butts (yes you really have to), feeding, watering, picking fresh greens and even playing with them.  Handling them insures they will be friendly hens. 

Now for the first time our  eggs along with Jackie and Vic Taylors eggs will be going to school!  I had a great message from Emily Weber (a teacher) wanting to buy a few of our eggs.  She has a program at school where the students will be hatching the eggs.  Needless to say, of course Emily, but you are not paying for them.  We will donate for the cause.  She knew we had a beautiful gray Silky rooster because she had given him to us.  That means the eggs should all be fertile.  Don't panic, when you buy our eggs they do not have the start of baby chicks in them.  A mother hen that is "henny"  meaning she wants to set and raise a little clutch of peeps will lay eggs daily and about the time there are 10-12 eggs she will start setting.  Yes, they will all hatch within 3 days of each other, 21 days is the amount of time for the little peeps to greet the world, give or take a 1-3 days.  Fertile eggs are just that, they will not start growing a peep until the mother hen sets to get them up to certain temperature and she will rotate them several times a day.  That is why Jackie and I are able to gather eggs over a two day period, put them in a cool place and rotate them every 12 hours until Emily picks them up in two days.  Rotating keeps the yolk from settling in one spot.  Two dozen in my cool basement, unwashed, rotated and soon off to get an education.  We are all eggcited (thanks for word Jackie)!  Life is grand when new life is brought into the world.   Ummm, unless it is SNAKES!  Then it is far from grand.

The way to tell if an egg is fertile?  Crack it, there is always a tiny white dot on the yolk, if it looks like a little hazy bulls eye it is fertile, if it is just a tiny dot it is not fertile.  I have been checking the dots every time I use eggs, more fertile than not.  Yayyyyyyy

It is a beautiful day in Clara, PA.  The biggest snowflakes are falling down giving the view that wow look outside.  They look like little snowballs.  If this keeps up the ground will soon be covered, again.  Yesterday we woke to about 3 inches but by afternoon much of it had melted.  The hills are still covered.  I know, many are ready for spring and I am too but I can't help love the beauty of snow.  Last Sunday I was so ready for setting on the deck I hauled the furniture out and we enjoyed lunch outside.  As you can see one week later and all that is on the furniture is snow and ice.  Oh well, this too shall pass.  As long as there is fresh snow to gather I think it's time to boil down some maple syrup and drizzle over the snow for a little treat that some call "Jack's Wax".  I call it sticky maple taffy.  For everything there is a reason. 

Just waiting for the next warm day.

Life has been very busy around Cook'n By the Creek.  I am knitting the third pair of socks for either birthday or Christmas gifts.  Once a month we go to Wegmans in Hornell for our favorite treats that only they have.  Along the way in the small college/university town of Alfred is a yarn shop.  I always stop and buy enough yarn for a pair of socks, this seems to keep me on task.  Plus the gal that owns the shop is wonderful with informative conversation about yarn, knitting and life.  My kinda gal.  The other stop is on the way home in Alfred at the Terra Cotta, it always has hot brewed Jamaican Me Crazy, just a nice way to end the day.  Taking a break from knitting is usually time to self teach water color painting.  It is quite a challenge but keeps my mind active and hands busy.  Soon it will be warm enough to take the knitting, painting and quilting to the great outdoors.  The best place in the world to relax, free the mind and enjoy my hobbies.  Of course garden will soon be tilled and ready to plant which means weeding, cultivating, picking and canning.  That was a fast winter when I think of what spring and summer means around here.  We ordered seeds last week that should be here any day.  Some of the order will be shipped later when it is time to plant the sets.  The garden is always worth it.  The shelves in the basement have turned the tide to more empty jars than full.  I plan on a bushel of pears this year, 1/2 a bushel is not enough. 

The barn view from the house.