On a Cold Winter's Night

When I wake in the middle of the night it is possibly my best time to think out plans for the next day, week or even months ahead.  Last night was one of those nights.  With a few inches of snow freshly fallen everything looked white, pure and peaceful.  I am so lucky to be able to open my eyes and see the view looking down Clara Valley with our lawn, fields, hills and the beautiful White Pines that stand so tall and majestic just off the lawn.  To my surprise the stars were out too.  Considering the fact we had snow squalls predicted it was an added pleasure.  Soon though the stars disappeared and the snow began to fall again.  This was a very productive awakening.  My mind wandered to spring and getting the garden ready to plant.  One thought, have people start saving their newspapers for us.  We layer them quite thick between the rows and especially around the asparagus. It also works great when planting your summer flowers to avoid so many weeds invading the beds.  This method not only cuts down on weeding but also by the end of garden season has mulched making the soil light and fluffy.  The hard part is shoveling dirt on top of the papers so they won't blow away.  Somewhere I read that it is called lasagna gardening pertaining to layers of news papers, dirt and fresh mulch.  Hard to believe as I watched out the window I was thinking of the garden,  mulching, planting and where and what was going to be planted this year. We always rotate where the veggies were planted the year before.   Either way it is nice to have a free open mind with little to no worries in the middle of the night. 

Back to those big old White Pines.  About 15 years ago I met a man at the eye doctor's office.  He was in his late 80s.  We started talking (of course, I love to talk) and one thing led to another, he asked where I lived.  When I told him the biggest smile crossed his face.  He said, Doc Stevens farm!  Yes! He said he would fork hay from her field onto a hay wagon with his dad.  They drove a team of horses and wagon from Hebron over Moffit Hill ( he called it by the name we all grew up knowing, Nigger Hill).  He then mentioned  the stand of White Pines and the size of one in particular that was on our property so long ago.  When travelers would ask directions they would always say past the Giant White Pine.  I told him when we moved here the first thing we noticed was a hollowed out stump that was huge and where it was.  He was sure it was the stump of the famous Giant White Pine.  Fifteen years later and there is still most of the outline of the stump very close to the ground.  Maybe this is why I like looking out the window at the Pines, how many have passed by looking at the same view  over a 100 years ago that I look at everyday and every night.  That is a good feeling.  Our horse barn is built from lumber sawed out of some of the Pines, always a reminder of what was and is.

Remember that beef roast I did in the pressure cooker Sunday?  Here is our plates for Sunday night's supper.  Dick likes hot roast beef sandwiches,  I do not like bread when it gets soggy so my beef and gravy is on the side with a slice of country white bread.  Mushrooms fried in butter with just salt and pepper for seasoning.  I prefer wild mushrooms but that only happens once a year.  I gather them for about a week, once there is enough for a meal it is close to the end of finding mushrooms in the pastures.  If you like mushrooms you would really enjoy the wild ones.  They have a wonderful rich taste that farm raised mushrooms can not compare to.  My mom would take me gathering in our farm pastures on Horse Run.  Dad would not eat them, he never quite trusted if they were good or deadly.  No problem, all the more for mom and me.  Never pick mushrooms unless you know the good ones or trust someone that does. 

The sweet potatoes seem to be extra sweet this winter.

Today we headed to Wellsville for a visit and lunch with our friend.  It sure was nice to travel up Eleven Mile and the back River Road enjoying the snow and even a few drifts in the road way.  Every once in a while the sun would peak from the clouds but mostly the wind was blowing and a few snow flakes falling.  It was 10 degrees at the top of Eleven Mile, always one of the coldest areas around.  We also saw several deer in the fields pawing for food.  Must be a storm coming, at least that is what many say when deer are out browsing during the day.  By the time we got to Wellsville it had warmed to 13 degrees.  A nice visit and lunch with a nice guy makes a cold winter day more enjoyable.  I love winter, but how many times have I said that?  Many and probably many more.  The other saying, there is no place like home and that's the truth.  To top off the trip we were able to see some spectacular clouds and sun coming down Eleven Mile.  The weather really doesn't effect my day, rain, snow, cold, etc. they all offer something beautiful.

                                                           Take my breath away sky.

 Remember no matter how small the gesture, "Pass it On" someone will appreciate it.