Listen.........Did you hear that?

WHISPER!   shhhhh, ya.  Where did it come from?  Shhhhh, I can't tell.  Whataya mean you can't tell???  shhhh, listen...  That is why I would rather Spring gobbler hunt by myself!  There is nothing worse than not being able to move or talk unless the MAN gives the command.  Giving orders and commands to me is not the wisest thing to do.  I get rather P.O. , right now.  I'm sure I can not count the number of times I have stomped off.  I am by far no expert on hunting or  other topics, I just don't like to be told what to do and gobbler hunting ranks to the top of leave me alone.  A couple times I had to show the MAN where I missed or shot the turkey.  He wants the whole story on where I was, the turkey, how long I waited for it to come in, what call did I use, etc.  My stories are rather unconventional.  If anything my hunting skills prove knowledge and perfection aren't always necessary to get the bird.  This probably is very upsetting to the hunters that are well schooled and equipped with the best hunting gear to be had.  Oh well, I have fun taking my thermos and snacks to sit in one spot for a few hours.  Just me, the great outdoors and the wild critters.  This year there will be no shotgun, just my camera and turkey calls.  Not the mouth calls, they make me gag so I use slate, easy yelps and box calls.  They work!  In fact when the "big boy gobblers" are ready to "sow their wild oats"  just about any noise will make them gobble.  It's all about patience and waiting them out.  April is an exciting month around Cook'n by the Creek.  The streams are getting stocked with trout for the opening day, usually the second Saturday.  We are out listening for the almighty gobbler.  One thing is for sure, every morning just about daylight and evening just about dark we hear the hoot owl.  That is our grandson hooting.  Gobblers always gobble back when they hear an owl so it's a given there is a lot of hooting going on around here.

Box call on the left and the owl hooter on the right.  Time to start practicing!

Between fishing and turkey hunting leeks will be dug during April.  Once the little tops peek through the ground and the days get warmer they grow fast.  Usually a 2 week window for the young tender ones.  Fresh leeks and ham dinner will be fixed from the first dig.  The ham is baked in the oven until fall apart tender.  I put the bone and a little of the meat in a pot with water, bring it to a boil and add the cleaned leeks.  We like them just wilted.  Add whipped potatoes and homemade bread for a delicious, waited all year, fill them up dinner.  Everyone likes leek sandwiches which is no more than homemade bread, raw leeks, real butter, salt and pepper.   I'm getting anxious just thinking about it.  Remember if everyone in the family eats them (one leek will do the trick)  you all stink and nobody has to complain of the nasty smell.  If you like leeks but not the digging, cleaning and cooking there are plenty of leek dinners put on by local clubs.

This poem describes Spring Gobbler Season and how I feel hunting them.

The Gobbler Hunt

Leaning back against the tree 
As you sit upon the ground 
Being so careful to be still 
Trying hard to make no sound 

The beauty of nature 
Takes your breath away 
You feel like you are a part of it 
And you wish this was where you could always stay 

As you sit there patiently 
You double-check your gear 
And give a few yelps on your call 
And then be still and wait to hear 

In the distance, you hear him gobble 
And your blood starts pumping 
You hear him coming toward you 
Your heart is madly thumping 

You wait until you see him 
Strutting proudly into the clearing 
You can hardly keep yourself in check 
As closer he is nearing 

And when the time is perfect 
And you have him in your sight 
You take your shot and say a prayer 
As the bullet takes its flight 

Your mark is true, the proud one falls, and 
You rise and walk to where he rests 
You bow your head and give thanks 
For the gift with which you have been blessed 

By: Leslie Ely 

I'll Take the Twenty Year

Warranty that is.  It's funny how something  pops in my mind at the oddest times.  Ok, here goes..........when the guy asked us, do you want the 20 or 30 year warranty?  Immediately I laughed and asked do you have a 10 or 15?  Of course they didn't it's a 20 or 30 choice.  I did the math quickly on the 20 and 30,  in that many years I won't even remember the warranty!  I will be 84 or 94!  I'm not whining or complaining, I just find it amusing how our priorities change with each passing ten years.  Now it's every passing year, good grief no warranty at all will do.  Besides you know what they say about warranties, they're only as good as how how they back them.  Through the years we have had to test a few warranties.  50/50 some no problems while others would be almost impossible to get the problem covered.  These people are hoping customers get tired of the chase and give up.  Remember, when they push for extended warranties they are banking on you never using it.  Customers are banking on something going wrong with their new purchase.  The fear factor for security sets in and the extended warranty is bought.  If you have to use it and it covers that's great.  If not the profit just went up for a company.  50/50 what to do.

I have been getting wonderful emails and messages referring to different blog subjects.  I love them and getting some really good ideas for future blogs.  Long time friends, long distant friends, friends in passing, friends I see regularly and others I have not seen in 50 years, how great is that?  It is amazing and I am enjoying each and every one.  Today I am going to write about a gal named Michele.  I met her when we were "oh so young."  She is actually my niece Pam's cousin.  I'm not sure the last time I saw her,  maybe I was 14 and have not seen her since.  Through face book we have connected and it is great.  Pam and Michele's Gramma Maxson was the neatest "old gal" and I mean that with the up most respect because she was cool and a blast to talk to..  cool, blast there's some 60's slang.  Ok here are a couple things I remember hearing their gramma say.  For every Jack there is a Jill, if you only knew Laura Maxson how many times I have referred to that comment!  The other was referring to child birth.  This not for the faint of heart.........she said, if you want to know what having a baby is like grab your top lip and try to pull it over the top of your head.  The grand finale of the "Ring of Fire".  No beating around the bush with their Gramma Maxson.  Looking back she reminds me of the old time movie stars sitting at the table with a cigarette and cup of coffee.  She always looked so perky and fresh.  They sure had an interesting gram.  Pam and Michele also had an Aunt Winnie.  Both women lived on the lower Bells Run Rd.  The only time I saw Aunt Winnie was Halloween.  She always gave out homemade cookies.  I enjoyed stopping, she was a sweet lady but her house smelled like natural gas fumes and I couldn't wait to get out and smell fresh air.  Last summer I was talking to an older man (yes, older than me)  and he mentioned Winny Maxson.  He said she had been a midwife and delivered many babies in her time, including him and his siblings.  I had never heard that information before.

Back to Michele.  She has sent me two recipes, one is similar to what I make but I'm going to pass her salad dressing on.

Garlic Maple Dressing
Place 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup syrup, juice from 1 medium lemon, 1-2 tsp. Dijon mustard and 1/8 tsp. of salt and pepper in a container.
Cover tightly and shake like crazy until combined.  Shake like crazy  she said.....that will be standard for me, the crazy part ;)
 I like it on butter lettuce but any lettuce will do and I like some bacon in the salad.

I made Michele's salad dressing tonight and it is very light and good.  The only 
difference from mine is I use balsamic vinegar but her lemon recipe is delicious.  She has  me thinking.........why not lime or orange juice?  Good change up!  Michele's comment about butter lettuce is "right on",  it is tender and so mild.  We raise Butter Crunch in the garden.  The best, never bitter.

The other recipe is a cake that I made tonight.  It has the house smelling almost as good as maple steam! It is going to be tough to stay away from it until tomorrow.  Confession, I cut a little nibble off the corner.  This is a ★★★★★to pass on.

For a quickie that tastes homemade and not time consuming this is a must make treat.

 1- boxed carrot cake mix
3 eggs
1 can of apple pie filling
some raisins and I put in a cup of chopped walnuts

Mix, pour into a greased and floured bundt pan (I used a 9x13, never did follow directions)  the real reason my square one has a cover and it is easier to divide for my grands.
Bake 375 until center is done.  Michele takes a can of store bought frosting, melts it and pours over the bundt for a glaze.  I used a Betty Crocker whipped frosting and it is delicious!

Thanks Michele,  Happy Trails to You Until We Meet Again!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Yes, yes!  Another sign of spring, a baseball game.  From Little League to high school ball I love sitting outside watching the way these kids/young men play.  Little League is the best, they play their hearts out with determination that shows in their faces.  At an early age they develop the stance and quirks of their favorite Major League player.  Sometimes it is miserably cold and even rain in our neck of the woods but what the heck, bundle up and enjoy the game.  If you are from Shinglehouse you know we are a dedicated bunch to the game of baseball.  There is just something about being in the fresh air, listening to the crack of the bat and hoping that baby flies over the fence and into the park.  We have seen a few and it get's the "ahhhh factor" from spectators or when a player makes a "once in a life time" play, now that's exciting.  Many men have come back to town just to stand at the field and remember their "Glory Days".  So if you like baseball take a break, get to the Little League or Oswayo Valley High School field and enjoy the upcoming games.  A  hot dog and a ball game, it's the American way.

For now it is window cleaning for me.  Hopefully the outside and the two windows that are close to infinity height will be hired out this season.  We are not fond of high places and working off a ladder.  A friend just told me about Eagle Window Cleaners and their very reasonable prices.  Yeah!  Dick uses RainX on our car windows once a year and it is wonderful in a rain storm.  Also the dirt, bugs and grime come off much easier.  My thought........use it on house windows!  Gonna give it a try and will let ya know how it works.   Especially on the end of the house that gets the most rain, wind and dust from the dirt road.  Lucky we live at the end of the black top and don't have to drive on the dirt road.

If you have a magic window cleaner that works let me know.  At this time I am using white vinegar and a couple drops of dawn mixed with water.  I use newspapers to clean and dry with.  Dick's mom was the best at streak less windows and she used newspapers.  So far they work better than paper towels for me.  Of course you know clean your windows and the next day it rains but I love lots of windows and looking at our beautiful Cook'n by the Creek view.

By the way creek or crick, what do you say?      Of course I googled it and here are a couple comments on the matter (it doesn't matter to me at my age the feisty is going and the little matters don't much matter any more). lol
I have a feeling it is like the old song, "You say potato and I say potahto, etc.

If you have to jump across it, it's a "crick".
If you have to wade across it, it's a "creek".
If you need a boat or swim to cross it, it's a "river".

North of Rt 66 says creek, south of Rt 66 says crick.  Then someone said you have it wrong it's the opposite.

The man's breakfast.  Buttermilk/blueberry pancakes which was a breakfast/lunch. Warmer weather changes meal times or eliminates one now and then.

Not a typical breakfast food but if it's good we will eat it anytime of the day.

The other night we had pork tenderloin with mushrooms the leftovers went into tacos for breakfast the next day.  A little red salsa or green and it's a satisfying meal.  I buy the soft corn tortillas and warm them on a griddle, easier to fill and eat.  They won't burst into a thousand crumbles (exaggeration ;) like the hard shells.  I'm not a fan of floured tortilla shells, too bland for me.

Hey, how about this weather?  Have you noticed the smiles people are toting around?  It makes grocery shopping a whole lot nicer.  Take time to "Pass it On",  a smile that is ;)

Flip Flop

I have "Spring Fever", not like when I was a teen grabbing the bathing suit, baby oil and iodine  (mix it and that was suntan oil).  My girlfriends and I would huddle next to a building to stay a little warmer. Bathing suits now a days are only for the beach because I know I will never see those people again.  Now it is time to air out the house, do the down comforters, a little cleaning and of course put on my flip flops.  Ready or not spring, this ol'gal is bringing it on!  Even the horses are ready to shake off their winter coat.  As I'm typing this blog my mind is wandering back to "what did I accomplish" this winter.  For some reason I need to keep account of my time.  After all I am retired but still try to keep a full schedule going.  Now that I have moved from winter to spring it will be more work and less of my 'sit down' hobbies.  I don't know if the body is ready but the mind says, GO!  There will be mornings I will barely be able to get out of bed.  Like my very spry sister in law says, never lose the "pep in your step".  Great advice Natalie, she is going to be 80 and still could walk the legs off a good  hunting dog!  So now there are two things to remember, "keep the pep in your step" and always "Pass it On".  The good stuff of course!

With warmer weather or at least hoping for it comes a new eating pattern.  Not only do we live where we have the four seasons our eating habits are also seasonal.  Wild leeks and asparagus from the garden for sure, more grilling and salads.  The goody baking will slow down and it will be breakfast and supper with a snack (maybe).  Always a water bottle with us and most often an afternoon break with a cup of Jamaican Me Crazy.  No matter how warm the temperature that coffee hits the spot and pushes us on to finish our work.  After supper we take the dogs for a walk, it seems to relax us and tire the dogs out.

So people know I have my screw ups I will let you know last night I burned the potatoes!  The last I looked there was plenty of water simmering.  The next thing Dick said, "something smells good".  Thinking to myself.......there is nothing cooking that should smell good, lifting my nose to smell it was an "oh crap" moment.  That awful smell of potatoes burning, blah.  So lets start over and watch the boiling pot this time.  I remember that some days water boils away faster and yeast does not work as well on certain days.  I have no idea which days and why but I will blame the day rather than me.  Just makes me feel better.  Kinda like a little kid doing something wrong and always has an excuse.  Our garden stash of potatoes ran out three weeks ago.  I had sticker shock to see how much 10 pounds cost, they are not very good either!  That means double up the seed potato planting this year.  Speaking of potato, flash back to 1960 something when a teacher said........remember a potato does not have a toe but potatoes do.  Am I the only one that has odd flashbacks?

Here are a few pictures that prove Spring is in the air at Cook'n by the Creek.

Outdoor fresh smelling sheets tonight.

Down comforters getting freshened up.  It's a German thing.

The reason I say hanging quilts and blankets out is a German thing, when we visited our son 25 years ago houses had bedding hanging out their windows and balconies.  Everyday!  We were there in March, the weather was about like ours for March.  Cool-cold and scattered warm sun days.  Another thing I noticed, they didn't fly the German flag everywhere like we fly our beautiful USA flag.  Beau was 14 and when we landed at JFK he said, "look our flag'.  Funny what ya notice.  We took a walk up a hill to a beautiful castle and right there along the path kazillions of leeks were growing.  No tasting but they had a great leek aroma going through the air.  I fell in love with the beauty and "old world" feel of Germany plus in love with their candy and Easter celebrations.  Every store front was beautifully set up for the holiday.  I brought back a dozen Kinder Eggs.  I wish they sold them in the states.  Kids would love them.  I do get a little German candy fix from Aldis ;)

A German Kinder Egg.  Delicious chocolate egg outside, toy filled plastic egg inside.  The toys are unique, they snap together and much bigger than the egg when assembled.

I wanna get back to that "Sugar Shack"

Sweet Hollow Maple Farm

 582 Holcomb Hollow Rd Shinglehouse, PA 16748
 (814)697-6658

Be sure to check out  their website  www.sweethollowmaplefarm.com

Tis the season right now to take a little trip to a Sugar Shack.  Most producers are happy to show their skills and we have quite a few in our area, big or small they all have one thing in common.  Their love for producing maple syrup.  It's tedious work that requires long hours of watching it boil to just the right point to be its best.  Some still use buckets to gather the sap, that's a lot of walking and carrying because it takes about 90 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.  This is where the "old farmer's" walk comes in.  Never carry one bucket at a time.  It's less of a struggle to carry one in each hand, besides it evens you out so as not to walk lopsided, so the old farmer always would say.  Others have started using the line method that all drains into one tank. Still the lines have to be run and connected together which is also a lot of walking.  Some still use wood to cook it down.  That also means cutting,hauling and stacking it early enough in the year to be well seasoned.  Seasoned wood makes for a hotter burn.  Some have started using gas.

Of course like gardeners, farmers, boaters and bikers the maple producers all hope for a good season which means the sap runs plentiful.  They say cold nights and warm sunny days are helpful for a good season.

Saturday Kent, Amber, Dick and I went to a very nice family's Sugar Shack to watch them unload sap, boil it and fill jugs.  If you have never stood in the midst of sap steam you are missing out on a delicious experience!   I compare it to inhaling maple syrup!  That steam should be bottled and used for air freshener.  

Matt and Kelly have two young sons and live in a beautiful quiet valley.  Just them, as in the driveway is a dead end.  How wonderful and what a panoramic view.

There they are!  So much fun visiting with them.

That delicious smelling maple syrup steam.

                                     

The maple syrup is ready to be drawn and put in jugs.  Matt very carefully
 watched for the final moment.

Kelly was ready to start filling jugs.  Great couple and great team work.

Look who's holding the warm gallon of maple syrup?  Oh yeah, he paid for it ;)

I believe he said something about buttermilk pancakes for Sunday breakfast.              
 Here is a poem by Robert Frost, one of my favorite authors.   

Evening In A Sugar Orchard

From where I lingered in a lull in March outside the sugar-house one night for choice, I called the fireman with a careful voice And bade him leave the pan and stoke the arch: 'O fireman, give the fire another stoke, And send more sparks up chimney with the smoke.' I thought a few might tangle, as they did, Among bare maple boughs, and in the rare Hill atmosphere not cease to glow, And so be added to the moon up there. The moon, though slight, was moon enough to show On every tree a bucket with a lid, And on black ground a bear-skin rug of snow. The sparks made no attempt to be the moon. They were content to figure in the trees As Leo, Orion, and the Pleiades. And that was what the boughs were full of soon.

Robert Frost "Hey Cheryl, what's for supper".  A meal in a pie, Shepherd's Pie that is.  My version: 1 lb ground chuck fried, mix 1 can of tomato soup and what seasonings you like.  Pour into the bottom of a baked pie shell.  2 cups of green beans on top or whatever veggie you like.  Spread leftover whipped potatoes on top and bake at 375 till warmed through. That's it!  Too busy today and like  I always say, "you don't like it, go to the neighbors and eat" ;) Pass it On ♥

The Pocket Knife & Zippo Lighter

Aprons, knives and lighters all so very important to many long ago.  I hear aprons are making a comeback and knives will always be in most guys pockets.  Zippo lighters have been replaced by the 99 cent disposable but are bought for gifts and by collectors.

Yesterday's blog was about aprons and I posted a poem that seemed quite fitting and very heartfelt to read.  The poem mentioned Grampa's pocket knife.  I hadn't thought about how important they are to all the men and boys in our family until the poem.   I do know when my husband gives one to our grandsons they are beyond excited and get the "ahhhh" look in  their eyes.  Opening and closing it, feeling the blade and getting warned to be careful.  In fact our grandson that lives far away sent a picture of a little pocket knife just last summer telling Dick, "I still have it Grampa".  He was only 8 yrs old and now he is 21.  That confirms what "jack knives" or "pocket knives" mean to boys and men.  What is the importance of a pocket knife?  Just about any little thing like cutting twine on a bale of hay, stripping the covering off wire, digging the build up of a battery connection, turning a screw, if out and about a guy needs his pocket knife.  I even see fingernails getting grease cleaned from under them with the pocket knife.

My dad and brothers always had a knife in their pocket and my brothers always had a zippo lighter.  Dick carried a Zippo until he was 30 and quit smoking.  YEAH on quitting!  The lighter he carried and still has was a gift from our son.  He was 10 years old and had been in "Bill Walley's Gas Station buying candy when he saw the lighter.  He asked Bill if he could pay him his allowance every week and buy the lighter.  Bill was another great guy from Shinglehouse and made the deal.   I will never forget the day he handed the lighter to his dad.  Ahhh, memories ♥  We just bought the grandsons Zippo lighters, they don't smoke but we told them it's a family tradition and every man should have a Zippo lighter.   I doubt they would mean so much if they were made some place other than Bradford, PA.  They seem quite happy with  them and immediately started practicing flipping them open.  If you want an interesting day out head on over to the Zippo and Case Knife Museum in Bradford.  We go every summer, so many displays and old time lighters and knives.  We buy our gifts there and they also engrave.

We have a lighter with "Dick's Used Cars"  Shinglehouse, PA engraved on it.  Dick Evingham that is, what a nice guy he was.  My dad bought a 1963 used Buick Le Sabre from him.  Back then they were as long as boat but oh what a smooth ride!  Dick would give a lighter to his customers.  For those that can't remember or way to young to know Dick's business was on RT 44 going north into Shinglehouse, where the Frontier keeps their equipment now.  His home was adjacent and set back in farther.  I enjoyed talking to Dick in his later years, by then he had sold his business and built a home across the road.  I remember taking him to Coudersport and on the way he showed me the stone culverts he had put in during his teen years with other young men and told me how hard they worked.   It was a job and  they were hard to find during the war years.  Those drainage culverts are still in place!  That is called doing the job right the first time.  They haven't moved in close 90 years.  Good grief my mind can wander at times!

Dick's lighter,  35 years old.

From Dick Evingham, 54 years old.

I hope mentioning the knife, lighter or both brings some good memories back to you..

Let me end on a sweet note.   Maple syrup of course, it' that time of the year.

I used the Tandy cake recipe that was posted on an earlier blog.  Instead of the traditional peanut butter and chocolate I used left over maple glaze (recipe on yesterday's blog)  with 2 cups of white chocolate chips melted together.
 "Oh lock the door"  (Dick's expression).  It is wonderful, very sweet but what is maple syrup suppose to be? A good cup of coffee, tea or a glass of cold milk will cut that sweetness a bit ;)  I love sweets!

This is for us, the rest is on its way to the neighbors. ♥

The Apron

As I am now officially "old"  the time has come to remember things that make me smile. The apron being at the top of my list.  I have just started wearing an apron when I cook which I should have worn all my years in the kitchen!  More clothes have been ruined with grease spatters,  that's it no more.  I started looking for aprons to buy and must admit there was no way $15 - $35 was coming out of my wallet for one apron.  Thank you google search!  I found lots of patterns and headed to Joanns for material (cheap).  Going straight to the discontinued and discount section was a BINGO!  Beautiful spring and summer designs and some for only $2.00 a yard.  My time, maybe an hour.  I used two different materials so they are reversible.  $4.00 an apron with material left for scrappy quilts, pot holders, etc.

The $4 apron saving my top from bacon grease spatters.  Needed the drippings in a pan for German Potato Salad.  I would rather bake the bacon!

When thinking aprons I decided to do some research about them.  One thing for sure, there are some beautiful poems about aprons.  I know what my mom used them for besides protecting her "dresses".  She used her apron to gather eggs, vegetables from the garden and put clothespins in the apron pocket when hanging clothes on the line.  There ia a good chance I will being wearing aprons outside.


The cookie and glaze recipe below is wonderful and quick to make.  If you don't have walnuts or maple flavoring that's ok they are just as good!  I have made them both ways.

Maple Drop Cookies

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup of dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (Grade B preferably)
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour8
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts

1 Cream the butter and sugar together at medium speed for three minutes or until light and fluffy.

2 Add the vanilla extract and egg and mix until well incorporated. Add the maple syrup and mix until well incorporated.

3 In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just incorporated. Fold in the walnuts. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for thirty minutes.

4 Preheat the oven to 350F. Drop spoonfuls of the cookie, about 1 inch balls, onto cookies sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Maple glaze frosting:    

3-TBSP butter
1/2-cup brown sugar
1/4-cup milk
Melt in pan together til brown sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat and stir in 2-TBSP of maple syrup, 1-tsp maple flavoring and enough confectionery sugar to make a glaze.  Spread on warm cookies.

This batch is leaving for California Monday.  Back with "Flat Matthew" to rejoin Matthew McDermott and his 2nd grade class.

I found this poem while reading about aprons, enjoy and "Pass it On"  if you like.

 Why, Granny? By Jane-Ann Heitmueller

“Why do you wear aprons, Granny?” I asked her one day,
as I nestled on her lap, while resting from my play.

“Mercy child,” she replied, “it’s just a part of life. It’s as
valuable to me as Grandpa’s pocketknife.

When I wrap it on each day it makes me feel complete. I’m
prepared to face the day… whatever I shall meet.

Sometimes it’s a wiping rag to dry my dripping hands.
Sometimes it’s a holding cloth to grasp the boiling pans.

Now and then it dries a tear or wipes a runny nose. It’s a
part of all I do, wherever Granny goes.

Carrying potatoes or the hens’ eggs from their nest.
Snuggling baby kittens close and warm against my breast.

Wiping up the drips and drops that splatter on the floor. Oft’
times used to dust the table and there’s so much more.

On a rainy day it’s used to shield my head from rain or to
take the horses lots of tasty, yellow grain.

Sometimes it’s a help to open stubborn lids I grip. It can
hide a dirty spot or shield a jagged rip.

It’s been known to shine a shoe or dry a puppy’s fur or to
clear a mirror when the steam has caused a blur.

Best of all though, precious child sitting on my knee, it’s
a place to nestle you and have you here with me!”

The "Tick Magnet Chick" Key!

I am beyond amazed!  Last fall we looked forward to the first days of frost or freezing temperatures.  Then one of the worst winters with temperatures in single digits for days and weeks at a time never getting above freezing.  It was a sure thing that the fleas and ticks would meet their maker and end the vicious cycle that has been with a vengeance for the last few years.  Well friends lend me your ear or let's just say the British are not coming!  The ticks are coming, the ticks are here!

Drinking my morning coffee and giving Quincy his morning rub down (expected just like a treat is) I felt the old familiar wobbly bump on his neck and the old familiar sick feeling in my stomach.  How the hell is it possible to survive the winter for these little parasites?  My woods walks have just had a damper put on them!  It means every day I come back, do the "tick check" and take a shower.  If you know me well enough you know I have labeled myself as the "Tick Chick Magnet".  For some unknown reason the nasty, disgusting things love my blood. I am getting sick just writing about them.  They are a reality in my life that just continues to ruin my warm weather days.  It was only 40 yesterday but apparently warm enough to bring them out for nourishment and continue their life cycle.  Thanks to Quincy for the heads up warning and taking the first tick,  at least I can hopefully avoid sharing with the ugly parasite.  Twice I have been on the strong antibiotics for ticks.  Not nice, the meds make me sickish but better than the alternative.

Two summers ago I even brought a tick home from NC!  Even southern ticks think my blood is special.  That was the first bout of meds.  Apparently I can not feel them until they are well established, by then I have a lump the size of a golf ball and black and blue around it.  I'm finished..........can't say anymore!

Last summer I bought this "tick key"  it is "the bomb" for removing them.  It might have to be my summer necklace!  I hope you never have to remove a tick from yourself or animal, if you do remember the tick key for safety of not breaking the tick.  Then there is a real problem.  Good luck!

Here it is......the "Tick Key"  they cost 99 cents to $5.00 and worth it!

It just doesn't seem right to post a delicious recipe or picture of a good meal on this page.   I will have a couple good recipes tomorrow and one will have maple syrup for flavoring and sweetness.  Yum, Yum

A Few Hitches

To give you a quick lesson on "nice and pleasant" vs "not so nice and pleasant"  Look at the two horses below.  The black one has his ears back, nostrils flaring and an arrogant look to him.  Now look at the other horse, head down, ears forward and looking quite docile.  I'm a smart woman to ride Gracie.

Smokey, for the experienced brave at heart.

Gracie, for the not so brave heart and a sweet one to ride.

 We all know the day can start out without a hitch or there can be one or more surprises.  Not the fun kind.  This morning coffee with morning discussion on what is on the docket for the day, (docket is what Dick always says when he wants to know if I have plans for him) animals fed and our breakfast over.  Dick is replacing a faucet part in the bathroom and I am cleaning up the kitchen.  This is where the "oh crap"  moment starts.  Putting the dish soap back in the cabinet below the sink...........wet!  I really did not want to say anything but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!  I yelled we have a leak under the sink.  I didn't want to visually see his reaction.  Just what I figured his comments would be, I'll NOT pass them on.  No sense dwelling on the past ;)

With the bathroom and kitchen being worked on I did hear Dick say, I'm hiring a blankety blank plumber.  Which he won't do, I think it makes him feel better to think he has an option.  We don't hire if we can do it ourselves and are pretty lucky that most times we can.  It may take  a "bit" of frustration and a few disagreements with the complaining but it eventually gets done.  I am NOT mechanically inclined which is good, no telling him how to do it.

  We know for sure spring is here when the horse gets lame.  Smokey has very tender hooves and stepping on uneven frozen ground is the main reason he gets hoof abscesses it bruises his pads.   During the day the sun warms the ground enough to thaw, they sink in and at night the ground freezes   Sometimes the farrier has to drain it but usually it will drain on its own.  We give him bute for the pain and which helps him walk.  They usually take 1-2 weeks to heal.  The upside...........it slows him down and he mostly stands which means I dare to brush him and get his tail and mane untangled.  I do love him but I do fear his quickness and respect his authority.  Dick tells me, "he's just playing".  Oh I don't think so!  A couple times Smokey has escaped when Dick was working.  This was a circus event for me and my niece.  She handles horses much better than me but unfortunately she feared the big boy too.  I have seen a few well seasoned horsemen have fear in their eyes with Smokey.  One young man that does not fear Smoke is Heath Evingham, this guy is straight from the wild west.  Heath and Dick have a special relationship to Smokey and make riding him look pleasurable.  Almost.....

Once he gets the frisky out of him he's a good ride.........I am not speaking from my own experience.  

  All this horse talk has made me decide tonight is going to be "Taco Thursday".  Yesterday I bought a just right avocado for fresh guacamole, it is our favorite topping along with chipolte sauce I bottled last August with garden tomatoes and onions.  I am using beef tonight but chicken or pork also makes tasty Mexican dishes.  For dessert it is Mexican Flan which is no more than egg custard, I put maple syrup in the bottom before baking.

Mexican Flan with a Clara Creek twist, this is a half batch and makes three 1 cup servings:   1 1/2 cups milk, 3 beaten eggs (I put the eggs in a blender),  1/4 cup white sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.  Mix together and pour into individual baking cups that have 3 TBSP of maple syrup in the bottom.  Place dishes in a pan of water and bake at 325 for 1 hour.  cool, put in frig to get cold.  Serve by turning upside down on a serving plate.  Delicious, creamy, light and refreshing with a hot cup of JMC ♥

Beef taco, refried beans and Mexican Maple Flan

Spring Happenings at Cook'n by the Creek

Another cold day in the valley but a brisk walk helps clear the mind and cleanse the soul.  Fresh clean air has a way of making me feel better and put a little pep in my step.  Our favorite walk is through the back fields to our grandson's property.  It is also the route our dogs love.  Kirk has a nice  pond we stop at to let the dogs get a drink and take a swim.  Hard to believe that they don't mind the cold spring water.  Then it's up in the valley we go.  This was the first walk since  going to NC.  Exciting to be back and check out the different animal tracks.  Patches of snow left give us the chance to  see what animals have been out and about.  When the sun shines there is mud to look for the tracks.  For sure this is one of our favorite "daily dos".  Peace and quiet with an occasional bird or turkey reminding us we are in their territory.

 It won't be long before the coyotes, fox, bobcat and others will be having their young.  Then we will be watching the back field, my chickens are easy feed for the parents to take back to their dens for the babies.  Last spring we lost 14 hens, on the third day the problem was taken care of.   This year the rifle and shells will soon be setting by the door..  EeeeeeAwwwww we are "country folk" for sure.

We witnessed a very upsetting scene last spring.  We were outside working and heard the worse sounds, almost like screams.  Dick ran  for the rifle, he knew exactly what was going on.  A coyote was chasing a baby fawn and the mama doe was trying to get the coyote to chase her instead.  Awful to watch but two shots from the rifle scared the coyote off.  We have a grove of mature White Pines with lots of under growth bordering our lawn.  While the fawns are still young the mamas leave them there while they go off for the day.  They know the fawns have a better chance near buildings than in an open field.  When we brush hog the fields we are watching ahead for fawns.  Their moms leave them alone during the day.  We have watched them come back during the day to nurse and early evening to get their fawns to take back to the woods.  Amazing to watch.

Spring is the renewal of life that Mother Nature provides.  Isn't it grand how everything is set up for birth and survival with spring and growth in the summer preparing for the lean cold winter?

Since the high was 19 degrees today we are having a winter farm supper.  It always tastes better when the cold wind is howling and it was gusting today.  How does chicken and dumplings sound?  When a I asked that question earlier it got a quick YES!

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.
You can use a rotisserie chicken from the store or your own from scratch.  Today the store didn't have them ready so I bought 4 large thighs quarters. Use white, dark or combination it is all good.   Wash, sprinkle with garlic powder, cumin, paprika, thyme, old bay (just because I have it) onion powder, salt and black pepper.  Bake at 400 degrees til brown and skin is crunchy.   Let cool, separate meat from bone and skin, set meat aside.  Put skin and bones in a pot, cover with water and simmer for 1 hr.  Strain and put juice back in the pot.  Add chopped onion, celery, carrots, potatoes and 2 cloves of garlic.  Simmer til veggies are tender.  Now put the chicken meat in and thicken.  I use 1/4 cup flour stirred into 1/4 cup melted butter.  Then add to pot stirring continuously to avoid lumps. This is when I add 1cup of thawed petite green peas.  Bring to a simmer and drop dumplings on top about the size of an egg. Cover and let simmer until dumplings are done.  Just lift the lid, take a fork and touch the center dumplings, they will not look sticky or gooey when done.

Baked legs and thighs.

Dumpling recipe
I only use the dumpling recipe and not the chicken recipe.  This is the cook book where I feel my moms love.  At least 70 years old!  The book I mean ;)

The dough sinks when you drop them in, make sure you cover while it cooks.

 The dumpling comes to the top as it cooks.  You can see they triple in size when done.  This is half a batch.

Ta Da a meal in a bowl.

Kefir

Strawberry, kefir and protein shake.

See that drink up there?  That is what I have for lunch every day using frozen fruit like blueberries, mango, peach, strawberries or raspberries.  Two weeks off while in NC and I really missed them.  I should have used store kefir while away but I was bad and now paying for changing my eating habits.  Remember that plate of boiled peanuts I had for lunch?  No will power at times.  The protein shakes with kefir are so convenient and tasty, plus all the health benefits.  I use a low carb protein drink from BJ's called "eas advantedge".  Using frozen fruit makes it like a milkshake thickness.

Do you know what kefir is?  It is similar to yogurt.   I make my own kefir but it is in the dairy section of most grocery stores.   You know me and my "real deal" opinion.  Kefir is full of protein and low in sugar/carbs plus a great probiotic.  Definitely I can not eat it plain but I don't like plain yogurt either.  Kefir is great for the digestive track.  My main reason for using it and I do see a change for the good.  I'm not trying to push this on anyone but if you have problems with IBS as I do it might be helpful.
Here is a great site to read about Kefir and the benefits of drinking it.

 http://www.kefir.org

A good video from youtube.   Making Milk Kefir for both Probiotic Benefit and …: http://youtu.be/EDx8EwxMluM

There are many informative videos on youtube.  If you think it is something you would like to try let me know and I should have some extra grains to give away.  If not we can split an order if enough are interested.

Speaking of interested............message me if you would like to come for a demonstration with a pressure cooker.  I would like to do the demo around the middle of April.  Remember "Pass it On"

Mistletoe

Today is our last day of beautiful NC.  Departure time is 7 am tomorrow which means the alarm will sound off at 5:30!  It will take 2 cups of coffee to get the body and mind in gear for a 12 hour trip.  We trade off driving every 2-3 hours, that makes the trip much easier.  When we switch we try to pick a stop that allows for a 10 minute walk.  Malls are great for this but the rule is no looking, no shopping, just keep moving.  It really does refresh us until the next stop.  Williamsport Wegmans is the final stretch and we do buy a few groceries for home and something to eat at the deli.  Williamsport is the beginning of the beautiful  Pennsylvania hills and valley views.  We feel like we are home from this point on.

I have done very little cooking the last couple days.   I did fix Connor's birthday breakfast yesterday.  Tonight it was out for a Mexican supper, plus friends meeting us there.  One thing for sure we have met some great people down here.  They have remained true friends for years,  Joe and LuAnn, Phil and Marla.  We always look forward to visiting with them.

Under the Mistletoe.

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mistle40.html

Just in case you are interested in learning about Mistletoe the website above is very informative.  I was surprised to read about it and the medicinal facts it tells.  The only thing I know about Mistletoe is we would buy it around  Christmas to hold over someone we wanted to kiss.  That is way back in high school of course.  I Can't remember what we paid for a little sprig but not more than a dollar if that much.  It was a big deal for sure!

The picture above is a tree growing in our son's pasture.  Mistletoe grows in a lot of trees in NC, at least this area.  It must be similar to the way Spanish Moss grows to trees in the deep south.  It fascinated me when I was told it was Mistletoe and thought I would "Pass it On".

Next blog will be inspired by beautiful Clara, PA and Cook'n by the Creek.

How Cheap

While baking a birthday cake today it  reminded me of two words, "how cheap".  A gal once said to me, "you won't believe how cheap my mother in law is".  When she told me why it was with a blank look back to her.  I'm sure she thought my look was in shock and agreement.  Well I was actually trying to hold back a laugh and tell her I do the same thing.  This is being cheap by some people I'm sure........when I unwrap a stick of butter I use the wrapper to grease a baking pan or pancake griddle.  It just makes sense to use it rather than throw it away only to use a piece of wax paper or brush to do what that butter wrapper can do.  This morning I used it to grease the cake pan, works for me.    I see it as eliminating an extra step and saving time.  Now I am thinking what else do I do that some may see as cheap to others?  Cheap and save time is the name of my game plan.   Of course this will be on my mind for a few days to figure what other  "cheap" things I do.

My new adventure will be starting in the next week or so which will be learning to paint.   It also has been on my mind wondering what I will attempt.  You tube has been great, I have watched many tutorials and techniques.  Down to three of my favorite styles.  Who knows I might invent a new style! As long as it is the no stress way.   Hoping it warms up in Clara, I think being outside painting will be more inspirational for me.  Give me wide open spaces any day!

Here is a picture of the Beef Rouladen recipe I posted on  a previous blog.  Delicious, moist and tender.

Great German comfort food!