Lunch From a Can

Tuesday at Presque Isle on Lake Erie couldn't have been a more beautiful day .  The sky was blue, temperature in the 50s, minimal humans taking the bike/walk path and just the four of us looking for Cottonwood bark.  Our friend has taken up the hobby of wood carving since wintering in Fl. the pat few years.  With a quick google we found the Cottonwood tree grows in abundance just two hours from Clara.  They are huge trees with thick bark and to my surprise the thick bark is what the carvers use.  I just assumed it was the inner wood.  The guys ended up getting enough to last and even share with friends in Fl.  I'm sure there will be some mighty happy carvers when they get free Cottonwood bark.  Just a small carving about 6 inches tall cost $20 for the piece of bark.  No worries now they can carve away in the Florida sunshine. 

Ken and Dick gathering Cotton Wood bark
from fallen trees.

 I did get a chance to walk down a short distance on a winding road to the waters edge.  Lake Erie looked a little mad or just showing it's glory with white caps and little tiny waves splashing the shore.  There were duck blinds set along the lake edge.  I wonder what people going their to walk and enjoy the view think when they see ducks and geese being shot out of the air?  Some probably not liking it.  We were surprised to see how much water was seeping onto the land.  During past trips the land had been dry with not a clue it would fill to look like swamps along the lake.  My husband made the remark that the snow wouldn't fall and stay until the swamps are full.  They are full for sure.  As beautiful as the day was Tuesday, Wednesday we woke to snow flurries in Clara. It was also a beautiful day, just a little colder.   Let it fall, rifle season is but a few days away and the hunters will love snow on the ground and colder temperatures incase they shoot a deer.   The cold air temperature will chill the meat down with no worry to get it taken to the butcher in a hurry.

One more reason to love our colder weather at least for me, cooking the Thanksgiving turkey.  In past years when a warm spell moved in on turkey day the windows and doors had been opened to cool the place down.  Nothing worse in the North than a warm Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Besides it is much more tantalizing to eat all that food on a cold blustery day.  The next celebration will be the "Hunter's Supper" which is the day before opening deer season and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  This is pretty special to us, a time to enjoy past stories mixed with a few "tall tales".  Nothing better!  Baked ham, German Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, a variety of cheeses and homemade dinner rolls will be what's for supper on Sunday.  Let the Holidays begin.

What was for my lunch the day before Thanksgiving?  Well the husband went out with his buddies so I got to have one of my favorite foods that he absolutely can not stand the smell of.  My grandson stopped in after his morning hunt in NYS and was also hungry.  I fixed him grilled cheese and homemade French fries.  We ate together but he looked like he was ready to gag when I brought out my can of sardines and saltine crackers.  He will eat just about anything I do but sardines.....no.  Pickled or fried deer heart and he is my friend for lunch.

Great memories in a can of sardines!

I can not remember time going so fast as in the last few years between Oct. 1 and New Years.  Thanksgiving really snuck up on me this year.  Just last week I looked at the calendar and for the life of me I just stood there and stared finally saying to the husband.................did you know Thanksgiving is next week?   Well, he did but I sure didn't have a clue.  Thanksgiving means get yourself in gear because Christmas is but a blink away.  I don't decorate as much as when the kids were little but a few things I still like to set around.  Off to the woods to pick some greenery and ground pine.  I love ground pine, one of the blogs coming up I will talk about the love and stories of ground pine from my past. 

Today is a good day to bake some chocolate chippers as we call them.  Just Chocolate chip cookies with walnuts.  It puts the smile on a few faces around here.  Still trying to get my granddaughter's quilt done by Christmas and maybe start a new book series.  Ahhhh, winter rest has hit.

Worth Every Tick........maybe

My fall season has not been to my liking.  It has been a massive hatch of ticks which means I have been avoiding the place that gives me peace, the woods.  For reasons beyond all senses I decided that for my well being I must get back to the woods.  Not being much on bug sprays last week I tucked jean legs into tight socks, gloves up in sleeves of the jacket and pulled a tight watch cap down over my ears along with a tight turtle neck.  Away I went and about every 20 feet would stop to take a search looking for ticks.  They were plentiful, brushing them off because it was meant to be that I continued for another 2 hours.  Yes, that is how much wood walks mean to me.  It is a time that I feel at peace with myself, the time there are no others to be seen, just the quiet of the woods.  It had been a long time coming the past 6 weeks and something I can not for some reason do without.  My days were filled with many things to keep me busy but nothing that is more satisfying at the end of the day than me and peace.  When I get home it is strip outside, yes, I do.  I have no desire to bring a tick in the house on my clothes.  Where we live it is pretty safe to hug up against the back door, listen for cars and hurry to drop the clothes and run inside to the shower.  Directly to the shower because more than likely a tick or two has managed to hang on.  My last two times, none showing up on the shower floor so I feel darn lucky.  Back at it, deep breaths, long walks and peace on earth for a few hours. 

A beautiful Cherry tree with an unusual ripple patter, wonder what
caused that?

That is one of many ticks that wanted to hitch a ride for a meal.

I like beach walks but for some reason looking out over the big ocean and watching waves makes me feel alone in a different way.  Small, like the tiny grains of sand that make up the beach.  Just a speck that really is just living here in a great big world.  The woods brings life close and closed in, just a view of what is directly ahead, not across the ocean or in the sky.  The beach view is for miles and miles, the woods view for just a little ways with the view of the sky only when the leaves have fallen.  Does it make sense, probably not but it is where I can go to collect myself, accept who I am and feel that sometimes this crazy mind is ok for another day or two. 

Yep, I'm back to me in just two walks that will continue weekly.  Even in the snow and cold which is another story of feeling refreshed and ready to have an awwww moment.

Most of our days have been painting a table and chairs my granddaughter gave us and our daughter hauled home to us for the cabin.  It is a drop leaf round table with two chairs, maple wood.  It is perfect for the cabin.  Dick sanded the top, stained it a darker shade and I painted the base and the chairs the muted green color of the kitchen cabinet at the cabin.  The chairs  had cushions so we  recovered them with an orange/melon and beige color design. This little bit of color should bring on the sliding refurbished door we hung barn style dividing the kitchen from the bathroom area.  I am seeing progress on dreams from many nights coming together.

Getting close.

Let the Rest and Regroup Begin

Yes, it is one of my favorite times of the year.  Even thought coats, scarves and gloves are now put on before heading outdoors.  Wednesday there were a few snow flurries coming down the valley.  Bundle up baby it's cold out there!  Along with the cold crisp air comes the desire to tip my head back and take long deep breaths of air that feels like it has been filtered and cleansed.  What a refreshing way to start the day. Wind is still taking leaves of the know dormant trees and twirling every which way, beautiful.

It was off to town and run a few errands.  I actually stopped for a nice visit with a gal.  It is always fun to set and talk about "remember whens".  Another plus to living in the small town we grew up in.  Then it was off to the drugstore.  Great changes.........if you live near or passing through take a stop by and see all the specialty decorations for sale.  Plus the best part for me.....they have a great variety of yarns, crochet thread, embroidery thread, notions, needles and hooks.  I am impressed that they carry so much.  They have far more variety of crochet threads than Walmart or Joanns.  For some reason a beautiful sage green crochet thread just jumped in my hand along with a yarn for making scrubbies.   After all the warm days are a memory and only a few here and there of 50s will be around, then it will be time to do my winter things.  This is a time to rest, regroup and by February start making a list of what plans will be in the making for spring.  Full circle. 

Normally my winter redo and rearrange doesn't start until after Christmas.  This year I have started a couple months early.  I have been thinking,(always dangerous) I never use my dishwasher.  Even if I have company!  For me I like to hand wash, dry and take care of the dishes.  For years I would mumble grumble when it was time to unload the dishwasher.  I think it has been about three years since the dish washer was unloaded for the last time.  I don't miss it and I HAVE A GREATER PLAN FOR THE 24X34 INCH OPENING.  A new cabinet with a marble or granite top to roll pastries on.  The top front of the cabinet will have a wine rack with drawers underneath.  It will be on lockable wheels so I can wheel it out when I want to use it.  Oh, I have been thinking long and hard on what it will be.  Now, here is the kicker, I need to find the perfect cabinet to be remodeled a little, painted deep wine color because there is no way I will be able to match the hickory cabinets of my kitchen..... so....might as well make it completely different.  Just to get the ball (or cabinet) rolling....I tore out the dishwasher and hauled it to the back deck.  It took the husband about 3 hours to notice the big empty space with a look and question, did you do that?   Of course, how else could I make my final decision on what to do with the space.  As usual, I am on a mission.


My counter top is tiled with grout.  Not so good when you bake and use a rolling pin as much as I do. I have a large cutting block for making cookies and pies, such a pain to haul it out!   Plus being 5'1" (and that is stretching it) makes for a difficult time rolling.  With the roller cabinet I want  it will be about 3 inches shorter since it will fit under the counter top.  That will be just right to roll dough.  Always a logical reason for my crazy projects, a least it sounds good.

Since my mind has been in the kitchen lately let me mention a memory that jumped out the other day.  I was leaning on the kitchen sink, drinking the last of a cup of maple tea and day dreaming  out the window.  Then it hit me, how many times had I watched my mom stand over the sink with a cup of coffee or tea looking out the window.  She would stand so still and now I know why.  Deep in thoughts or day dreaming of a memory that came back to her.  It was quite the moment.  I'm sure her view was quite similar with fields, fences and trees.  She would have had the black and white Holsteins to watch.  I have a black and white horse with  a dozen chickens pecking around.  Yes, there was peace for mom and certainly peace for me in the views she would and I can get lost in our thoughts with.

Little Clara Creek borders our lawn and barnyard. 
This is how Cook'n by the Creek started.

Pizza for supper.  No, too cold to strike up the outdoor oven.  Tonight was homemade dough, Vodka Spaghetti sauce, black olives, Kalamata olives, onion and mushrooms on top.  Mozzarella too...can't do without the cheese. The sauce was left from pasta night last week and it tasted just fine on the pizza. 

Before baking.