The Ironing Board

How many times have I stood at the ironing board?  Not as much as doing dishes, making beds, running the vacuum, laundry, dusting, cooking, baking, canning, cleaning and what ever else was usually done on a daily basis throughout my lifetime.  But today it is the ironing board that took my  mind to long ago times, my mom and my mother-in-law.

The ironing board is probably something close to antique or just simply not used like it use to be.  My mom would starch just about everything but bathroom and kitchen towels.  Yes, even my dad's boxers, t-shirts, all of our pajamas and the bedding. "Crisp" was my mom's word on how she liked her laundry to look and feel.  Sometimes crisp to me was "scratchy". Mom always took pride in her white clothes hanging on the line..like a feather in her cap.  When I was growing up the clothes were always hung out to dry or on a laundry rack when  the weather did not warrant a good drying day.  Laundry day was always on a Monday and ironing was always done on a Tuesday.  When mom took the laundry down she sprinkled each piece with water from a bottle with a sprinkler top put on it.  She rolled the piece, put it in a large plastic bag and put it in the freezer.  It stayed there until Tuesday when she would iron.  I can still hear the iron ssssssst when it touched the frozen clothes.  CRISP  Now laundry day can be any day or anytime with the washers and dryers of modern times.  One thing I believe, clothes lasted much longer drying on the line outdoors than a dryer.  They had to, back them our closets were not stuffed with clothes. There were special clothes  for working on the farm, my dad's for the oil fields, mine for school and mom and dad had special clothes for weddings, funerals and  doctor visits.

When I was 17 mom passed and the laundry became my duty.  By then dad and I were use to crisp and even scratchy.  Monday changed to Saturday since I was still in school and Sunday was the day to iron.  It wasn't a bad chore and actually I rather enjoyed it.  I still do although with all the types of material and having a dryer I got away from only ironing special cotton shirts and slacks.
 Except.....the last few weeks.

 When my thoughts are always on a situation out of my control which it has been for about a month I tend to shut down, set back and get a grip on what will give me peace of mind.  Of course the first thing was clean the chicken coop.  Yes, I love my chickens and Dick usually cleans it but at times he knows to stay out of my way,  he can tell when I'm on a mission.  I need to get this mind set back to what I love and what gives me the greatest peace and love of my life.  WORK  It tends to cleanse my being.  So the chicken coop is clean, fresh shavings down and fresh hay in the laying boxes.  All the hens need to do now is quit molting and lay eggs...4 a day, I want more girls!

My dryer died quite suddenly but hey, I can't remember how old it is.  I do know we lived in Shinglehouse when we bought it.  We have been in Clara 16 years so I'm sure it is well over 20.  I never like to replace what is working and it has been fine until 2 weeks ago.  We are looking but no decisions yet on what kind or where to get it.  In the meantime I have been hanging all laundry outside.  Although I don't starch before I hang them out I do starch as I iron.  This morning it took me about 45 minutes when the word "crisp" came to mind,  I am still smiling about it.  I do, I understand what my mom felt and meant when she was so proud of our crisp clothes.  Being retired I now have something to enjoy and pass the time away.  I am ironing everything and loving it.  I even bought concentrated starch to mix in a spray bottle.  Am I crazy or what?  Probably

The ironing board I use now was my mother-in-laws.  When she passed it became mine which was a good thing because my mom's was  wooden and had been repaired many times.  Although Milly's is very old it still works perfect.  I just made a new padded cover for it because the ones I have bought are not like the good ones from so long ago.

Ironing and sewing with my favorite view watching the back field, hill,
horses and chickens. 

The last of mowing the lawn.

46 degrees but they look like snow clouds this time of year.

Although we still have about 5 weeks give or take until it is officially winter now is the time we say goodbye to fall.  Halloween and setting clocks back Saturday is like the Millport Fair (Potter County) is to summer, just feels like the end and time for the next season.  Only the oak leaves and a few birch trees are holding on to their leaves.  The hills are mostly barren, the fields brown and the summer birds are gone, winter birds are now visiting the feeder.  Life goes on.

The Day You Turn Old

The morning ended with a cup (big one) of fresh ground Jamaican Me Crazy coffee beans brewed strong .  I have limited myself to one cup a day so the beautiful birthday cup from my friend fits the bill.  Sometimes coffee just tastes better in a special cup.  This one reminds me of the 1960s with the design and colors.  Ahhhhh, take me back, stay in the present or think of the future, all 3 have a place in my heart and thoughts.  Notice I started the blog with the ending.....just like me!

So good!

Time  has a way of bringing back memories, good or bad I find myself wandering back to the day I turned "old".  I don't know what day or year it was.   Turning thirteen was the first time thinking....now I'm old enough.  Of course I wasn't, it was a passage into teen life and I soon learned I needed to be 16.  Then I could drive, stay out until 10 pm and yes date.  Three years I counted down the days to be 16.  It happened just as I hoped with dating, driving and staying out until 10.  After a few months of being 16 I knew it was 18 that I really wanted to be...ha!  Old enough to buy alcohol, cigarettes and graduate high school.  Yes, that was the old enough age.  I would be an adult...go to cosmetology school, get married and start a family.  That was what I  dreamed of in the 1960s.  I lived the dream and never again wished I was older.  Well, maybe once in a while when retirement was a few years away.  I just didn't realize along with retirement comes the 60s (as in age).  Good grief...blink and I am still trying to remember what day I turned old.  Yeah, I know so many people say.....you are only as old as you let yourself feel.  Horse feathers as my sister-in-law would say.  No matter how you feel, what you can do or how much fun you are having, age does not lie.
So somewhere between then and now I turned old enough.  Old enough to wear what I want, do what I want and say what I want......just old enough!

Today my morning started with barn chores and checking the garden.  Dick is subbing at school so I am flying solo, just the animals to talk to.  Good morning hens, they quietly clucked back waiting for their feed and fresh cut squash and added treat of leftover buttermilk biscuits crumbled.  I love throwing treats, softly saying "here chick, chick" and watching them scurry to grab a certain piece.  In return by afternoon they have a nest of fresh eggs for us.  Fair trade.  The horses stand not so patiently waiting for their grain. Smokey, the big man thumps his hoof trying to hurry me along.  Then it's off to the garden which is almost ready to be put to rest until next spring.  The over ripe corn has been picked for the hens and a few raccoon have taken the rest.   Patty Pan summer squash is still thriving along with beautiful Heirloom tomatoes.  The shovel stands stuck in the ground by the carrot row.  As soon as the horses are finished eating grain they head to the pasture next to the garden.  They know a few carrots will be dug and thrown to them.  This gives us more time to rub their noses and ears, give them a pat or two and promise to see them later.  I picked a couple squash for tonight's supper.  Soon they will be gone and another pattern of eating will start at Cook'n by the Creek.

Just a few pears left to can.

Pears are washed and ready to be canned.  They are nice ones, juicy and very tasty with tender skin.  I sent one in Dick's pail and I had one for breakfast, who can resist fresh pears ♡ fall fresh fruits and veggies, nothing better.  The shelves are filling up and soon we will start using all the canned "stuff".  You know I have to wait for that certain day to reach for the first jar of summer canning.  It's a savings account for the next 6 months of meals.

Soft as a Mouse's Ear

Here I go again!  While lightly buffing the refinished floor this morning an old phrase just popped into my thoughts.  Maybe this is how I contend with housework and other chores, zoning into nicer, happier and long forgotten times.  The tung oil makes the floor feel soft with very little sharp noise.  So far it is what I like and hopefully will remain so.   Thinking of how soft it feels on barefeet brought back "soft as a mouses's ear".  I remember the first time I heard the phrase "soft as a mouse's ear" and asking mom, "how do you know how soft a mouse's ear is"?  She simply said because she had felt one.  Living on a farm we had mice around and in the barn.  One time while doing the milking mom found a mouse nest and of course she made sure I had the chance to learn how soft a mouse's ear is.  Probably some of you are really shuddering to think we would do such a thing but it's all part of the country life.  Snakes are too but heck no, never would I get close enough to one much less touch it.  I'll call it enough with a mouse, wild bunnies and baby peeps.  They are all soft which now reminds me of touching a newborn baby, their skin so soft and the smell of a newborn (I call it a baby smell) is so soothing.  Life is about the young and their innocence.  I doubt many of us look at babies (human or animal) without getting a tender smile or saying, awwwww ♡

Speaking of ears......our little Clara was born with 2 ears standing straight up.  Then came the day she tried scooting out the door when Dick was leaving and got her head shut in the door.  It broke one of her ears which developed a pillow like ear lobe full of blood.  Surgery left her with one droopy ear so now she looks a little silly.  At 13 years old I'm sure she doesn't mind.  Like me, age has a way of changing my priorities and that's a great thing!

Dick put a treat by Clara for when she wakes up.
The old girl gets treated like a queen ♡

Back to soft and let's add gentle to the equation.  I am setting on the back deck with a comfortable breeze, that fall smell, warm sun, fluffy white clouds drifting along and the gentle rustle of the poplar leaves.  Taking deep breaths and letting all of the worries melt away even if it is just for a little while.  At this point all feels right with the world.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if every human could find that moment of peace?  This is my time of year that inspires me in so many ways.  Too much desire for accomplishments and never enough time, especially when I reach the pleasure of relaxing, listening, watching and feeling the contentment.  I could avoid the desire to set and get in this state of mind but then I would miss the glory of the day ♡ I'll just stay here a while longer.

I wish you could feel the breeze, hear the rustling leaves and
and see how the leaves dance and twirl.
Peace in the valley.

The Thimble

Nothing fancy but holds precious memories for me.
It takes my breath away when I slip it on. ♡♥♡♥♡

As small as my thimble is I have kept it safe for about 60 years.  For the first 15 years of my life the thimble was tucked safely in my mom's sewing basket.  After supper Della (I love her name) would sit in her big over stuffed chair and reach for her basket of clothes to be mended or socks to be darned.  Mom also sewed beautiful dresses and coats for me during my early years and there was the thimble for the fine hand sewn work.  The thimble slipped on her finger and stayed there fitting just right.  My dad's work clothes were the main mending chore and by far the most difficult to do. He worked on the farm and oil leases on Horse Run Rd, he always wore  gray/green pants and shirts in the winter and khaki tan in the summer months.  Mom always starched and ironed them.  Some of you may remember the stiff wire frames for pants.  Mom would use those and hang them on the line, winter or summer clothes were hung out to dry.    The material was heavy so mending was always difficult to get a needle through the layers.  The little thimble made mending so much easier (seriously.....easier?)  and saved quite a few pokes in the end of a finger.

I have tried to wear the thimble when I am quilting but it never feels comfortable.  I think it was made for one very special lady's finger.  ♡♥♡♥♡  Can you imagine mending clothes or darning socks in today's world.  I still sew a button on or fix a seam but to sew patches on holes....no.  Darning socks is also a no.  Thinking of it almost makes me feel guilty and wasteful.  Almost

The pleasure I get remembering Della setting in her chair, legs crossed and humming a song fills my heart with such love.

I am trying something new this tomato season, freezing peeled whole tomatoes.  Of course I googled that and all reviews are a go for me.  With the last week of very hot temperatures I am looking for an alternative to canning.  Freezing them will give the temperature and humidity time to drop.  On the crisp fall days I can haul the tomatoes from the freezer to make canned spaghetti sauce and chipotle sauce.  That way the extra heat from the kitchen will be a pleasure.   I use to love hot days but know just give me cool sunny days with a warm sweatshirt or sweater.  We are talking of our fall woods walks already.  mmmm the woods smell so fresh and have a smell of what I call Hickory Nuts.

This has been quite a year for weather, garden, ticks and fleas.  The weather for winter and spring was on the downside but if that is what caused the absent of NO fleas or ticks this summer I'll take another year of it.  Our dogs have been free of fleas and ticks.  Even me the #1 tick magnet has been free of them!  Incredible how much one nasty little bug can make life miserable.  Once we are back in the woods that will be the real test.

What's for supper on a hot day?  All in the crock pot, meatloaf and fresh garden potatoes.  I will saute a few little zucchinis and patty pan squash.  Patty pans are our new favorite summer squash (took the place of yellow).

Patty Pan summer squash.

The Glads are in full bloom.

The easy fix and clean up supper!

So Long White

I can't break the habit of putting my white clothes and shoes away on Labor Day and not bring them out until Easter Sunday.  Many times I have tried but it just doesn't feel right.  For the last couple weeks I knew that Labor Day would be the last day of white. First thing this morning I put on my white Capris and tropical purple and white top for the last time of 2015.  That could change if we headed some place tropical but that is slim to none.  See ya next spring "white".

It's been a busy summer at Cook'n by the Creek, from hay season, mowing lawn, refinishing about 700 sq ft of hardwood floors, garden tending, canning and freezing.  Yes, it is all worth the time and effort.  The freezer and shelves are almost full.  Corn, beans, aspragus, pickles, peaches and beets are done.  Left to do is pears, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, chipotle sauce and winter squash.  Maybe applesauce if we can find a bargain around Wine Country.  That's it, then we get lazy, relax and watch the "white" of winter take over.

On our trip to Olean this morning we really noticed the green has been taken over by yellow and golds on the low lying brush and grasses.  Even the hills are showing less of the rich lush greens of summer.  It's the cycle of life.  The birds are flocking and the ones that head south will soon be gone.  My Uncle Orville always said his hummingbirds were usually gone around September 12th.  Ours usually are with a few straggles that stop in.  Maybe they are Canadian hummers that just need a little rest and sweet fill up to make the rest of the trip.  From birds to summer white I am on the next phase of 2015.

Summer meals have been filled with fresh veggies and fruit.  We love fried squash and try to have it  least 3 times a week.  Once the corn was ready that was an everyday thing.  As soon as it loses it's "pop" we freeze it.  Half is roasted over an open fire for soups and salsas.  The smokey flavor makes for great flavor.  The rest is boiled, cut off the cob and froze.

A typical summer supper. New potatoes with beans, fried
squash and a few slices of zucchini bread for dessert.

Yes, our dining room table was on the porch while we refinished the floors.  The house is all back in order...It was a long month.

Take time to "Pass it On" the good is always appreciated and welcomed, well worth it no matter how small or simple.

Grape Leaves

If I don't have enough recipes I'm always looking for a few more unique ones to try.  Last winter while checking out other blogs I happened across a dill pickle recipe that guarantees the crispiest dill pickle ever.  The difference from my recipe?  Put a half of a fresh grape leaf on top before sealing.  I just finished 6 pints for a trial run.  If it works next year I will make more with grape leaves.  I'm a sweet pickle kinda gal but the family prefers dill or spicy hot.

The grape leaf test batch.  Let ya know in a
couple months if they are crispy.

 Unfortunately by the looks of our cucumber vines we may not get many more cukes.  It looks like a vine blight is setting in and also on the squash and pumpkin vines.  For all the rain we had in the spring and right up to a few weeks ago the ground is dry, creeks are very low and the garden is suffering!  The corn popped beautiful ears of corn but the fear of no rain has the leaves curled tight.  That means no moisture the kernels will not develop.  This itty bitty farm  has me worried about  something quite a bit.  From the garden to a lame horse, chicken stalkers or equipment break downs there is always something to do.  I am thankful for the veggies we harvested so far, the 14 of 17 Australorps hens we raised (fox, coyote or Red Tailed Hawk took 3 for their young ones).  Dick fenced in an area for them until they get bigger, older and wiser.

The end of summer is being felt with a few reminders all around.  In service for teachers and aides started today and will be a couple days a week until the students first day back.  It sure has been a quick vacation for them!  The hills are getting a yellow tinge, nights are cooler, the sun is hot but the breezes seem to have that cool affect.  Usually in September I clean out the side flower bed but for some reason the plants all died off early so yesterday I cleaned them out and got it ready for mulch.  The dahlias are still going strong with many beautiful deep red blossoms.  We planted 50 gladiolas this spring, 3 had blossoms!  Never again, I refuse to waste my time and money on things that don't like our soil.  I like plants that come up every year rather than buy and plant every year.  You know perennials and annuals technically speaking.

Dahlias will blossom until the first frost. Then we dig the
roots to store in the basement.  In the spring Dick will divide the
tubors, plant some and give some away.  Pass it On ♡♡♡♡

Poppies are nearing the end of their life.  The large pods will
turn brown and we will gather the seeds to give away.
The seeds that fall will come up next spring.

This is what our garden and flower beds look like.  Since we
have a well precious water is not used for watering.  Only
humans and animals get to drink. 

The rhubarb has been healthy and plentiful and supplied a few families with pies and jams this spring/summer.  When the rhubarb plant gets the seed stalk started I cut it off before it can develop that way we have rhubarb to pick all summer.  Too much nutrition goes to the seed stalk which stops new rhubarb from sprouting.  Kinda like dead heading flowers so they will continue to have lots of blossoms.

This afternoon was time to rest, even a 2 hour nap. We are getting ready to sand the hardwood floor (28 x 26) with a hallway tomorrow.  For the last 10 days I have been chemically removing the polyurethane finish.  Yes on my hands and knees,  there is no easy way to get it done.  If ya want to save $ it is do it yourself.  My personality does not allow for dissatisfaction if I'm not happy with the job if we hired it done.  This way I can take the blame for being an amateur.  The wood is not damaged so we really didn't want to use a drum sander,  it is way too aggressive and takes quite a bit of wood.  So tomorrow we rent the orbital sander for a quick smoothing.  We have been reading all we can about the best finishes to use.  The "old fashioned" way wins.  Several articles are saying many contractors are going back to tung oil with a coat of paste wax.  Easier, environment friendly and if the floor dulls or gets scratched it's a quick fix.  We shall see and I will "pass it on" from start to finish with pictures.

Grape Leaves

If I don't have enough recipes I'm always looking for a few more unique ones to try.  Last winter while checking out other blogs I happened across a dill pickle recipe that guarantees the crispiest dill pickle ever.  The difference from my recipe?  Put a half of a fresh grape leaf on top before sealing.  I just finished 6 pints for a trial run.  If it works next year I will make more with grape leaves.  I'm a sweet pickle kinda gal but the family prefers dill or spicy hot.

The grape leaf test batch.  Let ya know in a
couple months if they are crispy.

 Unfortunately by the looks of our cucumber vines we may not get many more cukes.  It looks like a vine blight is setting in and also on the squash and pumpkin vines.  For all the rain we had in the spring and right up to a few weeks ago the ground is dry, creeks are very low and the garden is suffering!  The corn popped beautiful ears of corn but the fear of no rain has the leaves curled tight.  That means no moisture the kernels will not develop.  This itty bitty farm  has me worried about  something quite a bit.  From the garden to a lame horse, chicken stalkers or equipment break downs there is always something to do.  I am thankful for the veggies we harvested so far, the 14 of 17 Australorps hens we raised (fox, coyote or Red Tailed Hawk took 3 for their young ones).  Dick fenced in an area for them until they get bigger, older and wiser.

The end of summer is being felt with a few reminders all around.  In service for teachers and aides started today and will be a couple days a week until the students first day back.  It sure has been a quick vacation for them!  The hills are getting a yellow tinge, nights are cooler, the sun is hot but the breezes seem to have that cool affect.  Usually in September I clean out the side flower bed but for some reason the plants all died off early so yesterday I cleaned them out and got it ready for mulch.  The dahlias are still going strong with many beautiful deep red blossoms.  We planted 50 gladiolas this spring, 3 had blossoms!  Never again, I refuse to waste my time and money on things that don't like our soil.  I like plants that come up every year rather than buy and plant every year.  You know perennials and annuals technically speaking.

Dahlias will blossom until the first frost. Then we dig the
roots to store in the basement.  In the spring Dick will divide the
tubors, plant some and give some away.  Pass it On ♡♡♡♡

Poppies are nearing the end of their life.  The large pods will
turn brown and we will gather the seeds to give away.
The seeds that fall will come up next spring.

This is what our garden and flower beds look like.  Since we
have a well precious water is not used for watering.  Only
humans and animals get to drink. 

The rhubarb has been healthy and plentiful and supplied a few families with pies and jams this spring/summer.  When the rhubarb plant gets the seed stalk started I cut it off before it can develop that way we have rhubarb to pick all summer.  Too much nutrition goes to the seed stalk which stops new rhubarb from sprouting.  Kinda like dead heading flowers so they will continue to have lots of blossoms.

This afternoon was time to rest, even a 2 hour nap. We are getting ready to sand the hardwood floor (28 x 26) with a hallway tomorrow.  For the last 10 days I have been chemically removing the polyurethane finish.  Yes on my hands and knees,  there is no easy way to get it done.  If ya want to save $ it is do it yourself.  My personality does not allow for dissatisfaction if I'm not happy with the job if we hired it done.  This way I can take the blame for being an amateur.  The wood is not damaged so we really didn't want to use a drum sander,  it is way too aggressive and takes quite a bit of wood.  So tomorrow we rent the orbital sander for a quick smoothing.  We have been reading all we can about the best finishes to use.  The "old fashioned" way wins.  Several articles are saying many contractors are going back to tung oil with a coat of paste wax.  Easier, environment friendly and if the floor dulls or gets scratched it's a quick fix.  We shall see and I will "pass it on" from start to finish with pictures.

A Lick and a Promise

Rather an odd saying but one I have heard many times in my life and one I find saying frequently.  Today was no exception.  My day started at 9 am cutting green beans we picked last night and also the last of the beans...yay.  7 pints in the pressure canner that will be marked 15 (2015) and put along side the quarts and pints canned last week.  While they were in the canner I made a trip to the garden for cucumbers and onions needed for the batch of bread and butter pickles that I wanted to start.  Sliced thin, mixed with crushed ice and canning salt they had to set for three hours.  All in the timing around here during harvesting of the garden.  When I was at the garden this morning the barn yard lawn was yelling....mow me.  So I did because it gives me a sense of security that snakes don't like short grass.  Yesterday picking beans I saw a snakes tail.  Calmly I told the hub...snake!  He tried to stomp it but it got away.  That was the end, I quit picking beans.  Dick finished the row, I went to the house not so happy that he let it get away.  Dick and Quincy went on the snake hunt and finally found it, it's history.  I don't care how many bugs a snake can eat, I would rather see a kazillion bugs than one creepy crawling snake.  Even so my eyes are on full alert during snake season.  Dick told our friend yesterday......she can find a snake where snakes normally don't like to be.

The beginning of Bread and Butter Pickles.

5 Pints ready to be put away for winter.

Today was a day of going back in time while doing all the things I really love to do. Thinking of my parents, Uncle Orville and Bill Stavisky, they all taught me so much about gardening, canning, cooking and how precious it meant to them to "Pass it On", something we all should do....leave precious memories.  I have been organizing my favorite go to recipes for the last few weeks.  By late fall I hope to have recipe books for my kids and grand kids complete with a story, picture and what family member or friend gave a recipe to me.  It is a lot more involved than I imagined but hoping it will be worth it.

Now for the lick and a promise.  It was what my mom would say when she was in a hurry cleaning the kitchen after a meal, canning or baking.  There was also another time she would say it.....when she would spit on her handkerchief or lick her finger to wipe my face when we were out and about.  She would say about the kitchen, there I gave it a lick and a promise.  When mom wanted to clean something off my face she would say......hold still, I will give you a lick and a promise.  The lick was quick cleaning and the promise was....next time it will be the real deal.

When I finished the pickles today and cleaned the kitchen I said, just a lick and a promise until tomorrow.  Hot bath was on my mind followed by a warm cup of Jamaican Me Crazy, 10 toes up in the hubs recliner, write a blog and enjoy the view at Cook'n by the Creek.  

Running Water

This has caused a little tention around Cook'n by the Creek.

For a few months I have had a magical kitchen faucet,  Flip the handle nothing, run to the bathroom to check that faucet, yes water. Back to the kitchen and the water is running.  Then last Tuesday it didn't come back on.  Panic set in...this is canning season and family coming for a visit.  No way was I going out to buy a new faucet when this one is only a year old.  Moen to the rescue.  I called and sent them a picture of the faucet.  Today the new inside cartridge arrived.  I am hop, skipping and yelling all the way from the mailbox!  It would be fixed by company time.   No, no it won't!  my heart sank very low...  Dick took one look at the new part and said, wrong one!  I am on the phone to Moen within I'll say 30 seconds.  This gal new her stuff, she asked me what color the cartridge is in my faucet.  Black it is and they sent a white one.  Well the new one will be here 8/5.  Nice but I'm thinking, I'll be hauling buckets of water to the kitchen as I have for the last week, even for canning.

Now I start feeling guilty complaining  about running water.  I at least only carry it from a bathroom 20 steps away.   Back in the early times they carried it from a spring and had to heat it on a wood stove even during the heat of summer.  Canning beans last week really had me kicking myself for grumbling.  I had the air condition cranking cool air, and a pressure canner that took a total of 25 minutes for 5 qts.  That's it, calm cool and collected.  I guess when things seem a little testy just stop, take a deep breath and think.....it's quite an easy work load compared to way back when.

Not so way back when we did not have air conditions in homes and cars.  I remember many trips to Fl and out west without air.  We never complained about what we did not have because we didn't  know what we were missing. Windows down, 3 kids jumping all over and even feet and legs out the windows.  Remember, no car seats to restrain them in one place.  We survived!

Right now we are setting in an air conditioned house waiting for the sun to go behind the hill so we can get out, mow the lawn, feed the animals and pick what ever needs picked from the garden.  Not such a tough life when I think of the alternatives.  People work outside in this heat or the freezing cold winters,  retirement and age has made me soft!

Our Clara Rd. is closed at the lower end for a bridge replacement.  The oil/gas drilling is coming and no I don't like it.  If you are planing a trip up Clara the detour is the Back Rd and it is dirt!  Dusty, narrow and a little rough road.  It could be worse, we could be driving a horse and buggy.

Summer meals on warm days like this are light and easy.  Dick was craving.....bologna so he bought a pound sliced thick.  That was his supper and mine will be a fried bologna sandwich with mustard.  Haven't had one in years so tonight is the night!  The bologna has to be very close if not burnt for me.  Same as a campfire hot dog but the marshmallow just lightly tan in color.  Here is the side salad of fresh garden cukes, thin sliced onions, salt, pepper, a little sugar if you like (we don't) and a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water that is always in the frig during this time of the year.  Very crisp and refreshing on hot summer days.

This is a bean pot given to me by a very dear friend from NC.
Luann just retired from teaching this summer and is
one great and caring lady!  I love the crock and the
reminder of Luann.

We stopped at the Millport Fair for about a half hour this afternoon...to hot ;)  I did get to enjoy the Historical Society building and take a few pictures.  Mr Wicker was great at answering a few questions about the early Clara School.  He even gave me a picture of it when it was in use.  More on the school in another blog.!

The day just got a whole lot better.  The hubs put the faucet back together, flipped the handle and YES!  We have water.  I am back in the easy lane for company and canning, ♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡

That Time of the Year ♡

Rounding up the young hens
for the night.

Old Henny and young eating
before lights out.

Henny on her favorite roost for
the night.

I have thought and mentioned in my lifetime how certain times of the year bring back great memories and a few sad one.  July brings the starting of garden harvest, eating fresh veggies at least once a day, hay season and the grand event.....The Potter County Fair that for some reason I still call the Millport Fair.  Old habits are hard to break or maybe the need not to break.
If you grew up in Oswayo Valley I'm pretty sure "Fair Time" was the highlight of your summer.  It was the meeting place for summer fun  that lasted a whole week from late afternoon to late into the evening.  For some that had animals there it meant a week of 24/7 because they camped to keep an eye on their precious animals.

Years ago there was a group of horse lovers called the Trail Riders.  They had evening trail rides and bonfires with the last day a corn roast to celebrate.  These were western riders, no helmets, no fancy buckles and clothes.  Kinda like the old west, rough and ready to ride.  Horse shows now are much different, well groomed horses, saddles decked in silver, horses with fancy braided tails and body paint.  Riders have matching clothes, hats and boots.  The events are calm and in my opinion not so exciting.  I still like to watch them though.  I can remember, Dave Amidon, Cookie Bryant, Fay Schoonover, Donny Amidon, Dick Bryant, Nan Beckwith, Terry Beckwith, Tom Spees, Stan Evingham, Squeaker Coleman, Terry Lee Hawley, Cheryl Oles Tommy and Peggy Day, Mike DeFlorient and so many others that rode like their ass was on fire!  Those horses could turn on a dime with the rider never leaving the saddle.  I will say there were a few scary moments in those years but everyone stayed unhurt and happy.   Parents that kept this club going year after year, Midge and Louie Amidon, Bob and Marge Visseau, EV Schoonover, Bud DeFlorient,  Sterling Peters, Tom Oles just to mention a few that might bring back a few good memories.

The other horse event was watching the draft and pony pulls.  Alan Cornelious and his dad Lyle, Fay Schoonover, his dad EV, his sister Reta and his sons,  Mike Ward and again others it always seemed to be a family affair.  This could get a little dangerous.  Quite a few pullers have lost the end of a finger finger or two when the reins get wrapped around a them.  Never stopped them they were ready for the next pull.

Those years are gone and new crews have taken their place but as the song says, "who's gonna fill their shoes"?  I doubt the shoes will be filled but new ones can still provide entertainment for the ones that love the smell and whinny of a horse.  Plus the bonus, rubbing their oh so soft nose.  Yes, I love horses.

This week will be a trip to the fair (2 miles for us) for candied apples, maple cotton candy, lemonade and french fries with........cider vinegar and salt.  French fries always taste better at the fair!  We will check out all the animals, canned goods, sewing, knitting, etc. and then take in a few animal events.

Although the fair is "itty bitty" it takes 2-3 hours or more to see it all.  Why?  It's the meeting place and ya never know who's going to show up fair week.  Remember it is the Valley Summer Meeting place.  Did you know Flossie Shields started the whole thing?  You can google that to find out when and why it came to be by one very dedicated and caring OVE teacher.  She was my 4th grade teacher.

 I will take a few pictures just in case you can't make it. Hope to see you at the fair!

Sweet Henny

There is something about eyes that get to me, human or animals it doesn't matter.  Last night when I was tucking the chickens in for a safe night in the barn "old" Henny gave me the eye glance.  The Bitties are in the original hen house until they get a little bigger.  We have screen over the door so the old gals and roosters can communicate and get use to them.  Henny wanted in to roost on her favorite spot and wasn't going to give in.  She is around 6 years old and the last of our Barred Rock brood.  She has survived coyotes, fox, weasels, Red Tailed Hawks and even a horse hoof or two.  How can I ignore such a lady, she has been faithful giving us eggs.  Now she lays JUMBO size and only twice a week.  Henny is here for the duration even when her egg factory runs out.  I picked her up, gave her a few rubs and scratches and put her in with the Bitties.  Up she flew to her favorite roosting spot and content with a few clucks.  I would like to thing it was her way of saying.....I'm one happy chick!

All of the wild animals around Cook'n by the Creek seem to have a seasonal pattern.  This time of the year  deer and turkey are coming into the field.  Dick brush hogged the upper field yesterday morning and by afternoon a hen turkey was teaching her young to catch bugs.  I just wonder, was she waiting in the edge of the woods for Dick to get it done?  When we were at the barn last night 4 buck all decked out in velvet made their first appearance of the season.  Dick saying as each stepped from the wood line to the field.......THAT'S A BUCK!  I admit I was excited too.  We watched them for quite a few minutes and then as fast as they appeared they disappeared.  All it takes is their tails to lift and the white underside looks like a white flag and away they go.  I loved watching them jump over a fence they always look so proud and majestic.  Another nice ending to a day on the little farm.

Pure white lard ready for the freezer.
Measured for a 2 crust pie.....
tender and flaky crust that melts in your
mouth, no grease after taste!

Yesterday I rendered the leaf fat.  It turned out great, white as snow, just the way it is suppose to be.  Any other color is NOT good and has to be tossed away, it will have a horrible odor.  I take that back, it is good for wild birds and yes I am speaking from experience.  Lard has to be rendered low and slow which takes about 6-8 hours.  I keep the leaf fat in the freezer until a day when I can give it all the attention I have.  Now that it is done off to the freezer the lard goes.  Speaking of freezer.....Dick sorted and cleaned ours out yesterday.  All washed, turned back on and ready to load it up with our winter stash.  Full circle.

Like the wild animals we also have eating patterns during the year.  July marks the beginning of fresh veggies from the garden.  This week we have enjoyed Butter Crunch Lettuce, Rainbow Swiss Chard and young spring onions.  Last night beet greens with the tiny, young sweet beets steamed with butter, salt, pepper and a drizzle of balsamic butter.  For us there is nothing better than saying "garden to table".  Each week  will be something else coming in....Let the canning begin! ♥♡♥

peas will be ready soon

green beans will also be ready in a few days

My favorite saying, "Pass it On" and that is what we do with our extra veggies.

Summer Time in Clara ♡

Trying to get some gardening done before the sun
gets too hot!

Free for the picking, wild raspberries in my backyard ♡

It's been a long time since I actually woke and said, I am writing in my blog.  Today was the day.  Maybe I can blame it on spring, traveling to Md and NC, the garden, lawn work or following the OV Varsity Baseball Team.  I'm not going to, the only excuse is when the mind says do it, get writing down all those wandering thoughts, I'm ready.

Yesterday I finally gave in, the air conditioner was fired up.  I am a wide open space kinda gal, no window coverings, lots of windows, full view storm door and patio doors.  I want to see the view.  With the air on the doors and windows are  shut which means no beautiful Clara breeze or song birds to enjoy.  The humidity and heat is making outdoor activities little to none during the hot summer hours.  Once the sun drops behind the hill we are racing around to get a few chores done outside.  Even the horses and chickens are staying in the barn. Of course they have triple fans blowing and have no desire to move from them.  Lucky animals we have.

Everything is lush and green around here with all the rain.  It's been tough for farmers to get hay in.  Hay needs low humidity, sun and a nice breeze to provide good dry hay.  When I was growing up on the family farm I can remember hearing my dad talk of farmers losing their barns to fire.  This was usually because hay was put in wet.  Heat would generate and spontaneous combustion.  If they were lucky the cows were out to pasture and not in the barn when the fire broke out.  Hay equipment is so much better now with special conditioners to help dry the rows before bailing.  Like may things we never realize what it takes to keep the farm going.

Every night just before dark we head to the barn.  That way the chickens have went to roost in their coop and no chasing the new "bitties".   We bought 17 Australorp peeps in May, they are now bitties, not quite a hen and past the peep stage.  Unfortunately a fox or the pair of Red Tail Hawks that live on the hill got 2 of them.  It is the time of year parents are looking for an easy meal for their young.  Now the bitties are locked up until after supper and only allowed out a few hours under watchful eyes.

This is also the time beautiful wild red raspberries are hanging on the bushes.  They are an added treat to nightly barn chores, stopping to pick a handful.  Life has quite a few simple pleasures for me, wild raspberries are top of the list.  So many pleasures from growing up that just put a smile on my face.

Work today is setting with the air on, going out on the porch to check the progress of rendering lard for all those pies, cookies, fried cakes (Gramma's donut recipe) for next fall and winter.  My family called them fried cakes when no yeast was used and donuts when yeast was used for glazed donuts.

Not very pretty but the end product will be snow white pure lard thanks to my son in NC for always saving the Leaf Fat for me......bake on Cheryl ♥♡♥

The Doily

If you are close to my age perhaps you will remember visiting your grandma, aunt or just an older lady's home and seeing doilies not only on end tables, tables but also on chairs and sofas.  My gramma had them every where, even on little footstools.  I was amazed by their delicate beauty.  She spent many hours making them and always had a a new creation started in the little basket by her chair.  One big ball of string, a tiny shiny crochet hook and her busy hands decorated her house.  I'm sure she used them as gifts too.  My Aunt Edna was a great crocheter also.  She crocheted huge table cloths and entered them in the Little Valley, NY Fair each August.  That was a day vacation from our farm to meet Edna and Floyd, have a picnic lunch together to check out how Edna's entries fared.  Edna was a champ getting blue ribbons.  I can't imagine how crushed she would have been otherwise, she was just that proud of her talent and worked hard to out do last years creations.  Since they also lived on a dairy farm in Sinclairville, NY this was the time to catch up on what's new and tips on farming.  The women would share patterns.  Mom, Edna and I would go off to the entries that interested only "old women" and the men would head to the barns to discuss each cow in great detail.  Being of single digit age I can say, none of it interested me.  Really a day away from our farm just to see more cows and more women's handy work just wasn't what I needed.  I didn't even like the carnival part of the fair.  It scared me seeing all the "weird" looking "Carny"  workers, they were always yelling, "come on over, try your luck at winning....."  Dad always said just don't look at them and keep walking.  What fun!

 The best part of the day was the picnic because way back then we took homemade food when it was long enough we wouldn't be home for a meal.  There was only a couple restaurants we ever went to and that was maybe once a year.  Red and Trudy's and an ice cream parlor, that was it.  Mom always fried chicken that would put Kentucky Fried Chicken out of business.  She parboiled the chicken, let it cool, rolled it in seasoned flour, dipped in buttermilk and back to the final roll of seasoned flour.  She fried it in lard.  The buttermilk makes for the crispiness, the lard keeps it from dripping in grease.  Even packed in the wooden basket for hours it was still crispy when we ate it with potato salad (always made with real mayonnaise), canned pickles, homemade Parker House rolls and sugar cookies with 3 raisins placed just so in the middle of the cookie.  A jug of ice tea (unsweetened)  that was not so ice since there was no special thermos jug back then big enough.  It was all good and being with family that we only would see twice a year made the day not so miserable.

Speaking of thermos containers I saw one the other day while shopping at Field and Stream.  It caught my attention all sleek and compact, kinda like a slender duffel bag.  Well I checked it out and thought it would be great to take camping or picnics, until I looked at the price tag.  $340.00   There isn't a hunk of food or bottle of anything that would make me pay that price!  Oh wait, it's a Yeti brand.  Still no thanks.  That warm ice tea way back when didn't taste all that bad.  It's a no, Yeti ♡

I have been learning to crochet for the past 2 years with the help of Bobbie.  She is a great instructor with great patience in my learning process.  As of 10 minutes ago I ripped out Round 20 for the last time (3 times total)!  It will go to our knit and crochet group that meets on Monday nights at the Oswayo Valley Memorial Library.  When I leave Bobbie will have calmed my nerves and on to round 21.
For some reason I feel the need to learn crocheting with a tiny needle and thread like mom, Gramma Carrie and Aunt Edna took such enjoyment in.  The circle of family knowledge being passed on.

Never let size fool ya!  This little white doily pattern
is giving me fits.  The teal doily below is much
bigger but easier to do.