Thunder in the Fall

The third meal provided by one 3 pound beef roast.

Sunday dinner was a choice to our grandson for his birthday.  Kirk, what would you like for dinner?  Beef roast, pork roast or chicken.  I knew the answer before I asked and was so confident it would be beef I had already purchased one.  Beef was the answer.  He always raves about the beef roast that I do in the pressure cooker.  I sent him home with a nice big plate of leftovers.  We still had plenty of meat and gravy left for "hot roast beef" sandwiches.  After that enough left for beef stew.  Cook the potatoes, carrots and peas, add to the beef and gravy, serve with buttermilk biscuits and 3 meals provided with ease.  Nothing better than that!

In the middle of the night the thunder storms complete with rain, lightning and wind moved in.  Since we have had a few warm and muggy days the windows have been open.  Up we jumped to close them and listen to the storm.  It brought back my dad's voice saying........thunder in the fall, no winter at all.  I made a note to myself, we shall see if it holds true.  The Farmer's Almanac is predicting a cold winter with lots of snow for the NE.  I am one that loves snow and looking forward to their prediction this winter.  Last winter was little snow, sometimes mud and no fun living in the hill country of NW PA.  The skis and snow shoes sat abandoned in the basement all winter.  Soon we will get them out, dust them off, wax the skis and hope we get to enjoy the trails in Clara.  When the perfect day comes this winter we will head to the woods, build a fire and have a "winter hot dog roast"  complete with marshmallows and hot chocolate.  It's the only way to enjoy the cold and snow, get outside!  I love looking out the windows and watching a nice snowstorm with flakes swirling and drifts building.  Cozy!

Ok, back to all the sayings I have heard through my years.  Check out a few and see if you have heard them too.

Red at night, sailor's delight,
red in the morning, sailors take warning.

As high as the weeds grow,
so will the drifts of snow.

If the first snow lands on unfrozen ground,
the winter will be mild.

Flowers blooming in late Autumn,
a sure sign of a bad winter coming.

Full moon in October without frost,
No snow until November's full moon.

For every fog in August,
there will be a snowfall in winter.

If the first week in August is unusually warm,
the coming winter will be long.

Dry grass on an early summer morning,
rain is coming.

Fog on the hill,
brings water to the mill.

Fog climbing the hill,
water in the mill.

It will be interesting to see how the winter goes.  We have had thunder, no winter and we have had the unusual warm first week of August which means the winter is going to be long.  Folklore and meteorologists, which one do you believe?  I trust waking up in the morning and looking out the window.  As my brother that lived in Clara always told my kids.  I wake up in the morning, open the door and sniff up the valley and down the valley to know what the day brings.  I like that!

Finally little Clara Creek as water and hoping the water level will
stay up once the rain quits.  We need ground water for our
wells and springs.  Clara Creek as been close to not flowing this summer.

I am saying the cookbook is finished.  At least I have made the decision to stop second guessing what I have done, close the book and say, "time to order it to print"!  The recipes are a collection from my mom, family members and friends throughout my life.  I have given credit on each recipe from the person that gave it to me.  With my kids, grandchildren and requests for a copy the total is now 59.  This amount will bring the price to $7.00 plus shipping.  If you live near and I can deliver or you can pick it up it will be $7.00.  I am going to say $10.00 if I have to mail it to you.  There are 82 recipes, a page of my tips for various things, a little review page of me, and several pages of incidentals of kitchen helpers that are complimentary from the company.  I am very nervous about people paying for a cookbook I compiled.  Like the feeling, is it worthy enough for others to have other than my family?  What if it is a complete flop and I don't like the finished product?  I would love to order one copy to check it out but can't.  I could order 12 but that puts the price to $15. a book, plus shipping.  So I will bite the bullet and take the plunge to order 60.  Here is hoping no apologizes are necessary down the road.  If after all of these "true worries" I have and you still want a "Della's Daughter" cookbook you may send me the money by mail or drop it off.  Need my address or phone number, please private message me on Face Book.  I would like to put in the order by 11/07/2016.

Here goes..................I am so nervous!!!