The Summer Place

We have been so happy to see all the honey bees working our flowers, they especially
like the poppies!

We have 5 of these beautiful male Rose Breasted Grosbeaks  this year. 
As usual, the females are drab.

We have finally decided on the name for our little 400 sq. ft. cabin.  "The Summer Place".  With all the ideas for a name with none of them being what we wanted it was quite by accident that the perfect name (at least we think so) came to mind.  As always we work, then take a break and set on the porch to relax or just to settle down and avoid the "fight".  The other day when it was so miserably hot and humid we worked inside the cabin which was really staying cool.  Even on the porch it was nice.  Dick said, we will have to winter at our house . The "winter sun"  shines in all three of our big windows heating the house and rarely will the furnace come on when the sun is out in the winter.  Then in the summer we will move over here where the sun is not on the cabin all day and there are beautiful Maple and Apple trees to shade the lawn.  Bingo!  I looked at him and said, "The Summer Place".  Soon the sign will go up, no more trying to find a name we both agree on. We can set back and enjoy "The Summer Place".  Once the work is done of course.

The Summer Place will provide a one bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen and living room combined, porch with a view and the shade of the trees.  By fall the garage should be cleaned out and ready to house an ATV, kayaks, bicycles or motorcycles if our guests bring them.  Heck, we also have a barn and green pastures if horses are their choice of riding.   Our land borders the PA Game Lands and our township is ATV friendly.  They might even convince me for a breakfast, dinner or pizza from the outside pizza oven.  I have plans!   We are excited to have family and friends visit to enjoy our little project as much as we do. 

This is the not so liked week for me in the summer.  The weeds are just right for picking, garden has to be hand weeded and that is either bend over, 3rd world squat or on bended knees.  I prefer the 3rd world squat anything else is not good for the knees or lower back.  Since a cool breeze and much more enjoyable temperatures moved in this morning we went to the garden and got down low to the ground.  Dick did the corn and I did the peas, onions, carrots and beets. Only the peas were a full row, the rest was 1/3 of a row, it just sounds like I did more.  Since I am already closer to the ground than the 6'1" guy it is easier and faster for me.  This is one of the few times I am thankful for being 5'1", most of the time I would like to be 5'8".  Funny, why that height I have no idea, it just seems in between short and tall.  Well there is no chance of getting taller so I will stick to worrying about other things and stuff, I like to worry, I thrive on worrying........ Every spring we worry about what is and isn't coming up in the garden.  Right now it looks like every row is showing signs of coming along for a good harvest.  Beets are a little sparse but that's ok we can buy them by the basket at the Amish.  Maybe even Peck's Produce on Kings Run Rd. in Ceres will have them.  Tonya and her husband have had some beautiful flowers and the strawberries were delicious.  Although we only got a taste of the flat I bought.  They went to the freezer for a quick desert if company shows up and I have nothing made to offer.  Buttermilk biscuits, strawberries with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  Easy, easy, easy and so delicious.

Dick has been playing the mad chemist this morning!  The two part epoxy that is going on the countertop at "The Summer House" is a little tricky.  We have pieces of the pine used for the countertop to test the correct mixture of epoxy.  The first test run is setting up and we already decided we put it on too thick.  Next a little thinner.  Kinda like how tall I would like to be, not short, not tall but just right.  The epoxy will have to be not too thick and not too thin.  Now that reminds me of the story, The Three Bears.  Everything has to be just right!  That is the story of life.  Never settle for less than you want. 

Before I left the kitchen this morning I made 3 loaves of date bread (recipe in Della's Daughter Cookbook), a potato, carrot, peas and onion scallop and marinated two pork tenderloins.  That is a lot of food but half of it will go to our friend.  I love cooking and baking for family and friends. 

Summer is upon us, the lush green of hills and fields, blue sky and those big fluffy white clouds that drift slowly over head. They are all part of a take and deep breath and enjoy the view.  You know the clouds I am talking about, the ones that remind us of something and then it changes shape and something else appears.  How many days I spent laying on my back on our farm house lawn watching the clouds roll by.  It was my country life entertainment along with a Nancy Drew book or other favorites.  Then of course there was a blank tablet to draw my favorite animal, the horse.  I can almost completely relax thinking of how simple, quiet, loving and peaceful it was on the Horse Run Road.  No hurries and no worries.  That is the way a kid's young life should be.