Snow White

There is the finished product in all the white glory.

Not the fairy tale and not the snow.  LARD!  If it is not snow white then it is not Grade A or 5 Star.  Anything less than snow white is not for pies and pastries.   You can use it for frying or fresh made tortillas.  Even then the lard should be a light beige.  If darker it was burnt during rendering and it will ruin the taste of anything you are making. 

 

 It has been a few years since I have had leaf fat for rendering to lard.  The last was from my son in North Carolina.  Lard makes the absolutely best pie crust ever!  I mean it is such a flaky pie crust you could choke on a crumb.  At least that is how my niece describes her pie crusts and I will have to agree with her even though she does not use lard.  She would if she had it!  Her apple pies are known through out the family and friends circle.  If you have been lucky enough to get one you will know what I mean.

 Lucky for me (and everyone that will eat the pies)  my grandson met a guy this summer from Darien Lake, NY.  He has quite the farm and raises some very special pigs that produce 60+ pounds of leaf fat from each pig.  It is top grade leaf fat.  Truthfully I have never had the leaf fat melt in my hand as I was cutting it up to render!  Beautiful pure white and rendered at a very low temperature and quickly.  I just can't say enough about it.  For sure I will get my name on the list to buy more.   Yes it is even worth the drive to pick it up.  This time we met at Dansville, NY where he works at the emergency room at the hospital.  That is where my grandson met him while doing rotations last summer. Good for him for thinking of his Gram and telling all the crazy things I do.  I am walking in tall cotton for this lard... Thank you Michael Parkot at "Always Something Farm"!  Great products and the pork chops?  Well, they were amazing.

I could not keep my hands out of it!  Of course once it was too hot to handle I had to.  If you see lard in the grocery store................well all lards are not created equal.  That meaning store lard is not as healthy and certainly not made from prime leaf fat.  

As I was cutting it not only did it melt on my hands but also on the cutting board.  When I scraped it off it looked like it had already been rendered which it hadn't.

The hardest part is going ever so slow, keeping the heat low and stirring often to keep track of not getting to hot.  Hot will burn it and that we don't want.  I always say, never cry over anything that can't cry for you......but, but this could surely put me close to crying if I burned the lard.  I didn't!  So it is "pie on" for a few months.  I have 2 1/2 qts that will made quite a few pies through the cold winter months.

This is what is looks like after strained and poured into the jars......am I sure it will be pure white.....


It is hard to believe that next week will be Thanksgiving and December will soon be here.  My mom always told me the older you get the faster time goes.  I think she would tell me that when I was wishing for 13, or 16.  Which makes me think of something my son said, be careful what you wish for it could come true.  It did, I got older, really older and time just seemed to fly by. 

Peace to all and pass it on, what ever it may be to help others.  Quiet and be humble is best.

What Does Summer Bring?

What does summer bring...........let me start with all the things I love that bring good memories and new memories.

First would be the warm summer days that make the grass, flowers, garden and even the weeds grow.  Without them life would not be so green and colorful.  Not to forget the beautiful hills of Potter County.  We are saddled between some high ones in our little narrow Clara Valley.  My son made the comment a few years ago while visiting from his home in Central NC that we don't know a storm is coming until it is right on top of us.  That is so true!  Never thought much about that.  Like all other times of this season the garden is growing in leaps and bounds...........just like other summers we wondered if it would produce.  It is, peas, beans, cucumber and beets will be picked soon.  Radishes were mighty hot this year but I tried what our Canadian friend said his mom did with radishes when he was growing up.  He is now over 80 years and still talks of his mom's cooking and canning.  Ok, radishes, she fried them!   Last night I fried some for supper.  I like them!  The guy that has lived with me for almost 52 years, no.  They have the texture of a parsnip but a slightly bitter taste which I liked.  Very refreshing.  Just fry in butter,  then salt and pepper .  I really like trying new things and tastes.  My daughter took me to a place that serves Poke Bowls with raw spicy tuna..........I liked it!  And dessert was a bowl of ice cream with little bursting pearl balls filled with juice.  About the size of a salmon egg or tiny pea.  That was delicious and I plan to go back!

What else is a good thing?  Wild raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries!  Along with the much cherished morning and evening walks we stop to pick raspberries and strawberries.  Strawberry season has come and gone, now the raspberries are in full swing and next will be the blackberries.  If you have never had these berries from the wild you must look for them!  Amazing how much tastier than store bought or even the ones we can pick at farms.  There is just something about Mother Nature that can do it perfect.

I mentioned our morning walks with the fog still heavy and the grass wet with dew.  Cool breezes coming down from the hill makes it a perfect time to take the dogs to the fields and forest.  I did say dogs.......we hav one male named Quincy that is 8 years old.  For some reason we let our grandkids suggest another one.  A 10 week old Aussie puppy that is full of life.  We are really enjoying El/Ellie what ever comes out of your mouth when trying to teach her manners or scold her.  Very lucky, she is just as amazing as Quincy was at her age.  House broke!  Now to get her to come when we ask her to.  I would say she is 60/40.  These two keep us moving rather that set around in our down time.

Ellie meeting Quincy!

Cooling down

I think we love her!

Another favorite for summer, mowing and brush hogging.  For me life doesn't get much better than in the fields looking at the hills and valley views.  Even on hot humid days it is still my favorite pass time.

During the day when the sun is hot and the air humid it is the perfect time to take the lawn chairs, set them in Clara Creek and cool down.  Only to our ankles of course but setting there in the shade watching the dogs play and even splash us now and again takes away the heat of the day.  I like summer very much but nothing above 75 degrees.  July and August tend to get me ready for the crisp cool days of fall.

By the days end and when the sun has dropped behind the hill it is time to take another walk, the view never changes but to see it in a different light is worth getting up out of the chair.  This way we get more exercise, the dogs theirs plus tire them out for a good nights sleep.  We decided a long time ago it also tires us into a relaxing nights sleep.  Setting out watching the lightning bugs is also a way to relax, no sounds around, just peace and quiet with the little diamond lights blinking in the dark.  I am sure this is not for everyone but it keeps us thinking there is peace on earth.

Summer brings beautiful song birds to our feeders.  This year we had plenty of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, Finches, Humming Birds and others that my husband knows by name.  Not me I just say what color they are and he says the name.

The other thing I like about summer is the cool mornings so I can bake a treat for the week.  This morning it was chocolate fudge brownies with walnuts.

Afternoon break!

That is the top picks for what summer brings around here as far as the good things.  To be continued in the next blog on what I don't like about summer......Thank goodness they are few and far between!

Fog on the Hill

This has been a spring and summer for all day rain, half a day, every so often or just when it takes a mind to have a thunderstorm roll through.  Today is the rolling thunderstorms, dark sky and pounding rain.   Of course we have had the windows up and down every now and again.  They are down now and looks like they will be for quite a while.  The rain has been fast and furious with eaves running over and spilling through the lawn.  Yesterday I had just made the comment that Clara Creek is back to summer low, it should be raging by the end of this storm.  Rain is good, I hate to complain although my main concern is the young garden plants and the flowers.  All of our flowers have grown so tall this year, taller than I can recall.  Hoping that they will produce many seeds for next year  for us to give to friends that have requested them.  Like all things, nature rules and there is not a thing we can do about it.  On a bright note, the truck is getting a nice rinsing from all directions..first the storm came up Clara Valley and now it has switched and going down the valley. 

Remember the saying, fog on the hill, brings water to the mill,  fog climbing the hill  water in the mill?  Well, lately it has been on the hill and climbing the hill!

 We have had a busy week around here with Bart and Deb from NC and Beau with his 3 sons and daughter from MD.  It was a great time and it doesn't happen often (like maybe once a year if we are lucky)  that we can all be together.  From the little ones playing in Clara Creek, hiking, target shooting, water balloons and a slip and slide their Aunt Amber bought them it was non stop.  Good food, drinks, conversation and just good old relaxing to enjoy the view and quiet of Clara. 

Now it is time to get back to our daily work schedules of lawn mowing, weeding the garden and odd projects that need to be finished before the frosts of fall come.  By the looks of the blackberry bushes they should be plentiful this year.  Usually they are ripe around the first week of August.  The blueberries are coming on a little later this year although they are nice sized.  Again, nature rules.

Of all the fruits we harvest this is the most prized of all.  Figs from our fig bush.  We keep and close watch on them and when they are sweet, tender and ready to pick we have been known to sneak out and eat them without letting the other know they did.  This type of fig is amazing and not too many days go by that we don't mention we are hoping for a big crop this year.  Last year they never developed to the edible size and ripeness, maybe this year.

We are blessed to have the perfect family take ownership of the cabin we built.  Everyone is excited as the cabin will insure the kids and grandkids will all have a place to visit and enjoy.  It will be exciting to see the lights on across the road when they are here.  Welcome Bart and Deb Bryant  and all the family that takes advantage of staying in Clara, PA.

The Pocket Comb

Well here I go again remembering something that I haven't thought of or seen in many years.  Like, maybe 40+.....  It was such an important little thing that all the teenage guys carried in their back right pocket of their trousers, pants and then blue jeans.  Now maybe not always the right side, if they were left handed I am sure it was the left pocket.  For the young folks watch a rerun of Happy Days.......you certainly will see "The Fonz"  pull that comb out and do what thousands upon thousands of guys did.  Ha!  I can still see my brothers and my husband like it was yesterday.  That slick pull of the comb, the other hand following along behind the comb as they combed that hair back in the perfect way.  Some where flat tops with the sides long and whipped back, some had the "big wave" on top, what ever they all looked slick.........as in that wet look.  My brothers used sugar dissolved in water to keep it in place.  Just like hair spray, gel or mousse does now a days.  So if you are my age or there about give or take a few years, or more, you know exactly what I am talking about.  I bet it hasn't taken you more than a second to bring up the memory of certain guys with that smooth move of  "the comb". 

My husband carried one until his late 30s.  You know what happened?  No need to get into the fine details.  What was nice about the pocket comb was,  he could always comb the kids hair on our way some where.  I usually did the lick and a promise which the boys hated.  Who wants to see someone (even mom) lick her fingers and come at them knowing it was either going to smooth the hair down or clean their face.   Geez, and all the memories of the "pocket comb" started while I was cutting the husband's hair the other day! 

Last week the peonies were at their finest in bloom and aroma.  They only last about a week and it just makes me sad to know they will be gone for another year.  What to do?  I pulled the petals off and poured very warm water over to let them steep for about 30 minutes.  Oh did it smell good.  I bottled it up, in the frig it went.  It is suppose to be good for the skin.  Why not? It was free, I have everything to gain if I like the results.  Desperate times need desperate tries............How did I get the face and body of a 69 year old woman?  My mind certainly doesn't think it is 69........ok, in a few week it will be 70....gahhhhh 

Ready to crush the petals.

The finished product!  Love the shade of pink.

This morning was the joy of eating breakfast on the back deck with the Orioles, that had grape jelly and oranges,  they Rose Breasted Gross Beaks that hate sunflower seeds and the humming birds that of course drank nectar.  All of them are bringing their little ones around and soon they will be gone and heading to better weather.  About September we will see the last of them.  What did we eat?  Beautiful fresh eggs from my nephew.  The kind with the dark orange yolk that tastes good and looks good.  What a way to start the day. 

Look at the beautiful orange yolk with the sun shinning on it!  

Yes, that is Salt Rising Toast :)

Happy 4th of July.  Remember what it means........God Bless the USA.

It's working, I'm working, everything is ok!

For the longest time the blogger situation was not up to snuff.  For some reason it insisted that everything was changing by a certain date and I wouldn't be able to blog under the new improved way.  So, being bull headed, mean and stubborn (all of the listed, a lot)  I ignored checking on it.  That is until today.  I can only knit, read, cook, do lawn work and gardening work for so long and then it is time to blog.  Especially with all the rain we have been getting.  There has been just a day or so that would let the sun shine and the wind blow to dry the lawn and fields long enough for me to get the John Deere tractors out and cut a little grass.  The field brush hogging is my all time summer fun.  I am "walking in tall cotton" when I am seeing nothing but green hills and fields, a few wild animals and clear blue skies.  It is where I find peace on earth, where deep breaths of clean fresh air relax my well being.   Just me, the sound of the tractor and the view.  I honestly think I could mow all day everyday and never tire of it.

The garden was put in about 3 weeks later than usual since the rain, wind and threat of frosts were frequent.  Finally we tilled and planted.  Everything is in and everything is coming through.  Peas, beans, corn, potatoes, winter squash, summer squash, cucumbers, radishes, beets, tomatoes and hot peppers.  Wait, didn't I say last August that we were downsizing the garden???  Why yes I did and NO we didn't.  I knew in my heart that once we had our winter's rest, sat around just "toe tapping" and waiting for warm weather we would be right back at it.  We are fortunate to be granted another year of the will and health to do what we love.  So remember, come August after all the summer work and canning the harvest I will say, next year not such a big garden...............

One thing all of this rain has brought is beautiful lush green from hills to fields, flowers and shrubs.  It just seems like everything has doubled in size around here.  Even the blueberry bushes are busting with beautiful leaves and lots of blueberries that should be ready to pick around July 4th.  Our wild apple trees are beautiful but not producing apples this year.  Sure hope the orchards around the Finger Lakes are loaded.  I just used the last bag of frozen apples for an apple pie.  I love buying all kinds from the big bins, my best apple pies are mixing different types.  The rhubarb came on strong and then fizzled out, not sure what is going on with it.  I usually have plenty and give some away.  Not this year,  I got 3 batches of strawberry/rhubarb jam and a batch of rhubarb sauce.  The end, no more growing, just little stems that are not worth harvesting.

We have been lucky to have friends visit us and the weather was nice enough to set on the back porch, have a few of our favorite drinks and snacks but best of all talk old times with the ones we grew up with.  After everyone leaves we always say, "that was a good time with lots of laughs".

Pass it on, a good laugh is a good cure all around here!

Hello February and Hello Mush

February sure stepped up to the plate, knocking January right out of the park!  I guess we will change the phrase, January Thaw to February Thaw.  It didn't take long to have those sub zero days become just a memory.  During the deep freeze I did get the show shoes out and take a trip around the back field.  Snow was deep, wind was bitter but it was a mind cleansing refreshing kinda time.  So beautiful were the snow waves and drifts, You could tell how the wind would come up the valley and then head back down.  All the little wavy lines in the snow were going every which way in certain areas.  Snow drifts always amaze me and actually mesmerize me.  I stopped took a few pictures and just stared at how they hang over in big graceful snow blopps without falling.  Today I am sure they have collapsed with the temperature near 60 and the hot sun of winter beating down.  No snow shoes today, just the waterproof hikers, a dog, cocoa and of course the husband.  Off we went for two hours enjoying the quiet hills and valleys as we walked along looking at wild animal tracks.  This is one of our favorite things to do when snow is on the ground.  The woods is so quiet, even with Quincy running like a wild dog chasing tracks in the snow or marking the spot it was peaceful.  Every once in a while one of us would stop and say........."it is so darn beautiful and quiet up here".   I often wonder if everyone had the chance to take one of these walks if they would have the same reaction.  It really does feel like peace on earth out there in the woods.  Wouldn't trade it for all beaches in the world.  And......I love a good beach every now and again.  If there just was not so many people that loved it too I might share my woods days with the beach more often. 

What a cute little drift.

and the other side says, Airborne...This cup has been around for about 28 years.

Below zero and shaking berries down for the deer.  Clara's one and only "Big Foot"

How many have heard of corn meal mush?  The traditional way is to cook 1 cup of cornmeal and 4 cups of water for about an hour, stirring constantly until thick but still spreadable.  Pour it in a greased bread pan, cover and refrigerate overnight.  Slice, roll in flour lightly and fry in part butter, lard, Crisco grapeseed oil or coconut oil.  Just make sure you use butter, too, everything is better with butter.  Don't use oil.  Oil makes it oily.   So that is what you will find if you google fried cornmeal mush.  Now here is how my mom fixed it and was our favorite.  Instead of putting the cooked mush in a bread pan spread it thin on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 until golden brown around the edges and crispy on bottom and top.  The inside will have a creamy texture in areas where the mush was thick.  Spread butter, salt and pepper on top and break up into pieces in a cereal bowl.  Pour maple syrup and warm milk over top.  I am telling you every kid  I raised and my husband loves baked corn meal mush.  I do too!  It is that food to take ya back to the farm on Horse Run Rd.  I can still see my mom putting it in the bowls and me being so excited to set down to eat.  Well, for about a week the husband has been saying, ya know what sounds good?   I knew before he even told me.  It is a pain to stand and stir the mush but I tried something new.  The instapot my dil bought me!  It works great.  No stirring, just hit the button that says, porridge.  I have been making steel cut oats in it so I was pretty sure (or wishful thinking) that the mush would be ok too.  About the steel cut oats, I use 1 cup oats and 4 cups of water for a batch.  That gives me one cup a day for breakfast.  Keeps great in the frig.  Oh the easy way out to do things now a days.  How did I manage?

Corn meal mush ready for the oven.

Ta Da......breakfast is ready in all it's goodness, Cook'n by the Creek at least.

The Dead of Winter

So often growing up I heard, in the dead of winter.  Usually the time between mid January and February this comment was made.  It was a time everything slows to only the cows being fed, milked and "drops" being cleaned twice a day.  Early morning before daylight off to the barn my dad and mom would go to get the feeding and milking done.  Way back then the milk was carried to the milk house by buckets, one in each hand.  This is called the farmer's walk.  You don't want to carry just one bucket, that would make you lop sided, two evens out the walk.  It was then poured into a large strainer atop a milk can.  Once filled my dad would lift them into the milk cooler.  Easy to see why farmers were lean, strong and hard working people.  Mom would wash the cows teats with a disinfectant.  Even back then it was important to be a clean dairy farmer.  The better milk plants only took the cleanest of farmer's milk.  Ours went to Port Allegany.  In fact when my brothers were young they hauled milk to the milk plant for farmers in the area.  Then off to the military one by one until all three had left home.  Our farm was run by mom and dad, never a hired hand.  That meant putting in hay, ensilage and oats by themselves on top of milking twice a day.  Long days, no vacations and rest only from sun down to sun up.  Now, the dead of winter was a welcome time for the farmer even getting out in the snow, cold and windy mornings at 5 am.  This was a time my dad would read or watch Gun Smoke and Raw Hide.  Mom would knit, crochet and sew trying to get as much done before Spring arrived and all the farm work that would start all over again.  As I think of all she did it amazes me how many will never know what a farmer's wife did in a day.  From meals, baking, mending, milking and cleaning.  How would the modern woman ever be able to do all this?  Can you imagine never having time to get on the Internet?  Just work and be glad you can and have what you have. 

My mom was proud of her clean house and all she could do.  Not once did I ever hear her complain.  Oh, I take that back!   She would get upset that I didn't take better care of my room.  Looking back I know why, she grew up POOR.  I mean poor, back then no free things, a man worked at what he could and that was what the family lived on.  My grandfather came from Germany at a very young age,  When old enough he worked in the Glass Factories from Ohio to southern PA and finally ending up at one in Shinglehouse.  Poor.  In fact if you want to know how poor some people were, google The Poor Houses in our area.  If they were lucky enough to get into one.  Life is what we make it, enjoy it or change it. 

Alright back to the dead of winter.  Around Cook'n by the Creek we try to keep busy, take breaks to read, check out what is new on the Internet, me knit and Dick build a few things.  He is in the basement working on a pull cabinet to go between the frig and stove at the cabin.  It is only 10 inches wide and will be on wheels so I can pull it out.  This is where I will store all of my spices, oils and types of vinegar.  Next he is building a cabinet for under the frig that will have a drawer and be used for potatoes and onions.  Finally open shelves for over the sink for what ever I decide will look best.  Every little space will have a purpose at the cabin/house.  We are still planning on selling our house and moving to the cabin.  Kind of exciting to plan the next phase of our life. 

Last but not forgotten our deer and bunny friends.  They get fed twice a day now.  Usually the deer have been coming late afternoon or after dark.  We keep a trail camera on to make sure coyotes aren't hanging around.  So far none.  We do hear them occasionally barking and yipping.  It is breeding season so we will be hearing quite a bit from them.  The deer came down at 11:30 am today during the worst part of the storm, stayed quite a while eating and then off they ran to the woods.  One lone guy stopped by about 4:30.  He got the gourmet meal.  Dick had just refilled with feed and corn but the treat was chopped up butternut squash!  The deer love it and we have quite a few left in the cellar from the garden.  Once a week Dick chops up one for them.  We have decided next spring we will be planting squash and pumpkins for winter feed for the deer.

Happy to feed the deer and bunnies.  Our entertainment in the dead of winter.

Even only being January we are already talking garden among other things.  I am hoping to stick to our plan and cut back this year.  We plant way to much and give more than we use away. Except for the potatoes, corn and squash.  I will still plant enough to give to my niece and daughter.  Gardens are had work, especially is a 4 week span of ......WEEDS!  For some reason they grown out of control for about 4 weeks, once the garden plants get big enough then the weeds get choked out.  Seed catalogues have arrived daily, fun to look at but I like to buy locally.  Dickerson's at Riverside in Wellsville have a great variety of everything we need.

Old Habits

The saying, old habits are hard to break.  Maybe because we don't want to break them, they are just fine doing what they have done for 69 years give or take.  How do I come up with this thought, who the heck knows.  It is after the storm, lots of snow, plenty of cold and wind.  It is Monday, laundry day, make a grocery list for Wednesday shopping and there ya have it.  A couple of my old habits.  For some reason sitting quietly thinking and planning meals with a piece of paper and pen is one of my favorite times to relax.  I tried putting the list on my phone but for some reason it just doesn't float my boat, light my candle, etc.  That paper and pen is like old school.  Plus.....I hate walking around with phone in hand looking at the list in a store.

The previous blog was before and preparing for the storm.  Now it is after and taking care of all the snow that piled up.  Dick's job is moving it around with the tractor, shoveling spots for the deer and birds to come eat their goodies and start engines to make sure they will start.  My two jobs, making sure the porch is cleared off and shoveling the walk to the driveway.  Now we are ready to enjoy the snow, do a little snowshoeing and maybe a nice hot dog roast in the woods.  I am not a hot dog person but there is something about a roasted one over an open fire, burnt of course.  I have also been waiting for lots of snow to get the Snow Fire blanket outdoors for pictures.  Today is the day while the snow is clean with out tracks in it.

This is by far my favorite knitting accomplishment.

Double knit, reversible.

One thing about snow storms, they always sound like it will last for days and days.  Not around here, 2 or 3 days is about it.  Today the sun is shining but oh so cold.  Still nice to be out and smell the clean fresh air.  We actually woke up at midnight last night to see the beautiful eclipse of the moon.  What a sight!   Right on time the clouds broke away to give us full view.

Let's talk old habits!  That Monday do the wash thing and change bedding.  For some reason any other day just doesn't work for me or I am not willing to change old habits.  Even when I worked the laundry went in before work or after on Monday.  Groceries were always on Thursday because that was pay day.  One habit that has been broken and long forgotten, ironing.  Now even if hung on the line outdoors there are usually no wrinkles.  The only ironing I do is if we are going somewhere special, then it is a quick press to touch up from hanging in the closet.  I just threw my ironing board away and now in the hunt for a small one that hooks on the back of a door.  Not sure they make them anymore but that is what I want.

Then there is food, it seems to always be about food around here.  Watching the snow fall, the cold winds blow and the quiet of Clara Valley calls for some good old fashioned comfort food.  Or not.  I have been watching cooking shows on you tube from foreign countries.  Asian and Eastern seems to be the ones that I have been thinking..........that looks delicious.  For Sunday we had Flat Bread or Naan, depending on the country.  Fresh sauteed yellow, zucchini, onions, red sweet peppers, carrots and garlic with some curry, cumin, coriander, garlic, salt and pepper in olive oil.  Then for a sauce it was Tatziki which is Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, onion, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.  No meat but it wasn't missed.  Of course Dick had his requested cinnamon rolls for an early evening snack.  It has been quite interesting learning to cook new foods.  Mongolian Beef with fried rice and spring rolls have also been very good.  Not sure what next weekend will bring for something new but I am sure it will be something with a foreign flare.

Flat bread, 3 ingredients and so easy!

A little Mideastern food.

Waiting for Snow

I remember my mom saying throughout my young age of single digits and early teens.........the calm before the storm.  That was a saying that came back to me yesterday while getting ready for the "big snowfall" we are predicted to get.  Dick was busy filling the bird feeders, taking corn to the deer and putting out vegetable scraps for the bunnies. We feed them all because they are the best channel to tune into.  Nature at its finest.  We have a little 7 point buck that comes every afternoon just before dark.  Usually about the time we are setting down for our supper.  What a view, he is an alert little guy, eat a bite, look around and then move to the next treat laid out for him.  I watched him all through deer season and when he showed up it was........whewwww,  he made it through another day.  Just a small bodied buck, young but has a promising rack for years to come.  If he stays smart.  That darn "buck in rut" season can make ever the old wise one lose their common sense.

Time to feed the deer.

"Little buck"  comes a running through the pasture for corn.

 The next thing on the husband's list for storm prep was putting the blade on the tractor for plowing,  check the oils and give it a once over.  We bought that John Deere the first year we moved to Clara, 20 years ago, 1999.  It has not cost us more than oils and gas until last summer.  Dick had Dan Austin and his son Merle give it a few replacement parts.  They did a great job on getting John D. operating like a new young man.  We sure have put that tractor through the work.  From brush hogging the fields, pushing dirt, gravel, manure, snow, and hauling wood and hay,  it has earned its keep.  Here is to 20 more years..................  The last thing was getting the snow shoes and poles out.  We are hoping for some nice winter walks after the snow, come on snow.  As I set here by the fire writing a truck went by pulling a huge snowmobile trailer.  Some one is coming to their camp for the snow.  Good for them!

A few years ago but hopefully will look like this tomorrow.

 We try to stay busy during the winter days with little piddly things that we have no time for in the busy seasons around Cook'n by the Creek.  Dick is building a "shave horse" since he is going to try carving.  A shave horse is built of wood, kinda looks like the shape of a horse and holds wood while he shaves big pieces down to little ones.  It looks neat and very rustic since he built it from scrap wood and iron wood branches.  The only cost, a few long screws from Norton Supply.  From the looks of it, the shaving should begin this weekend.  Mornings are always check the traps.  There is one wise old Mr. Fox out smarting the trapper.  Who will win?   Time will tell.  Then there is skinning the fox that were taken and from the looks of them will make beautiful tanned hides.

The warmth of the basement.

 Now, what is the wife's duties for preparing for the storm?  Making sure we have everything we need to eat.  Tuesday we headed out of the valley to gather the few things.  Tomorrow homemade bread and cinnamon rolls will be warming the house and making it smell so good.  We are very lucky, if the storm takes out electric we still have gas heat and cook stove.  That is it for my duties.   The rest of my days consist of reading, knitting and watching "how to" you tube videos.  They are my go to on anything I want to learn.  Right now I am learning the German Short Row for a sweater I am knitting.  All too soon winter will be over and the busy season will begin so while I can I am going to enjoy the peace and serenity of winter snow.

Good place for coffee and you tube.

The sweater

Couldn't resist watching the fire as I knit.

I will end this with the memories of Dick's beautiful ride, Smokey.  We have had him since 2000 and everyday was about watching him, Dick riding, feeding, brushing, hauling hay and loving every minute.  Even when he would crash the fence and repairs would be made he was worth his weight in gold.
                                                              Happy Trails Smokey

He was a spunky guy!

     For the love of horse and man.

                                           7/2000 - 12/2018