Just me and the Critters

The husband took off for a two day adventure with guys he grew up with in our little town.  They went to Lock Haven for a car show.  For the love of seeing all the old cars that remind them of who owned what when they were young and what they had.  I'm sure if ya could see their memories there would be some pretty shocking moment......not these three......way to innocent?  NO

I enjoy my time alone with the dog, chickens, horses and doing what ever I want at anytime of the day.  Silence can be golden when I am along.  Yes, I do talk to myself, have many thoughts along with memories floating through the brain waves.  Even the animals get to hear what I am thinking.  Today I discussed the rain with the horses while wetting the ground around their drinking tub.  The farrier came the other day to make their hooves look beautiful.  They were in bad shape with chips out of them.  We know it is because of the lack of rain for so many months that cause hooves to dry and chip.  By wetting the ground down at the watering tub twice a day it at least gets their hooves moist.  Better than nothing.  How dry has it been and is it?  The garden is in sad form.  Morning and night I walk around the garden with the same disgust on how it is growing. Like the pea vines that stayed short but did produce a couple quarts (usually we get 8 -10 qts) the beans, cucumbers, and squash are also half the normal height.  I was very surprised to see blossoms on all three.  The cucumber vines have a total of 5 leaves but still blossomed.  Apparently nature takes over so the plant will produce.  It will be interesting to see what the cukes are like.  I predict, short and skinny with a tough skin. 

By the end of the month we should get plenty of rain, after all the Millport Fair will be in full swing and it always storms that week.  I have a feeling many will not mind the rain this year.  Heck, I was coming out of Walmart last week when one of those 3 minute downpours started.  People were coming and going and not hurrying to get to the cars or store.  Almost looked like a bunch of ducks enjoying getting wet.  Yes, that is how bad we need rain.

Wild raspberries, what  delicacies.

One thing, the wild raspberries are beautiful.  We drove on a back road Thursday night and picked 2 quarts.  Unfortunately it is highly inhabited with BEAR too!  I told my grandson where we went and his first comment..........it is loaded with bear up there.  We had the pistol and I made sure to stay close to the guy carrying it.  I have never seen a bear picking wild berries and I don't want to.  We will be going back Sunday night to pick a couple more quarts.  That should do it for a couple batches of raspberry jelly and Dick's delicious Raspberry Brandy next winter.  Yes, just like the squirrels and chipmunks we gather for the winter months.  Just puts a smile on our face during those cold, snowy winter days for something to do which usually brings on a conversation of remember the day we picked these.  The seasons come and go so quickly at this time of my life.

Whoa Mr. 38 on your hip.............you are too far away, come a little closer to me!



 

A New Love

For some reason I can't quit talking about the weather!  It is such a beautiful summer around Cook'n by the Creek.  Today was blue sky, fluffy white clouds and a cool breeze strong enough to part my hair.  I love it.  It was days like this on the farm more than 50 years ago that would find me  on the ground watching the clouds roll by.  Now that my friends is cheap entertainment.  To take me back a few that is exactly what I did today for about an hour.  Drifting along with the clouds and thinking of so long ago.  It is a need we all should do now and again.  Go back to when there were little to no worries, just drift away.  If your my age you probably are thinking of the song that had that line in it...................drift away.   Yes, for an hour there was peace, quiet and memories drifting by on those big old white clouds.  Try it, I dare ya!

I mentioned the wild animals on the move this time of year.  Unfortunately they are moving around the farm.  This morning Dick saw a pile of black feathers near the barn which means one of my favorite chickens became a meal for either a fox, coyote or even bear last night.  I sooner say one of the smaller predators since it would be easier for them to get into the barn.  Tonight the trail camera will be set up, turned on and hopefully see what is hanging around waiting for an easy meal.  Then the traps will be set and then.......................gone.   My girls deserve all the protection we can give.

Quite by luck we stopped at a barn sale near Belmont, NY a few weeks ago.  Across from it was a small lawn sale so we went to take a look....ya never know what ya might find.  What I found was Pottery Heaven.  The gal, Kay Brooks, has a studio filled with beautiful pottery ware made on site by her.  Call it accident or meant to be that I happened to find my favorite pottery.  It is my style, rustic but beautiful.  If I was a rich person a twelve piece setting with all the extras would be in my cabinet.  Since I'm not I will be content to buy a piece every few months.  It all started with one beautiful bowl.  Looking at it daily makes for a mission to own more, even if I have to settle for a four place setting I will be one happy gal.  Kay Brooks is a sweetheart and easy to talk to and very informative on her history and techniques.  Time flew talking to her.  I called her last week to see if she would be open one day.  She was and off I headed to buy a birthday gift.  It was funny when I walked in she smiled and said I know that face and gave me a hug apologizing for not remembering my name but saying she never forgets a face.  We got the grand tour of the building that houses her kiln.  She told us she fired it up the day before and was waiting for it to cool down to check out the end results.  I'm sure they were all beautiful.  Dick told her he fired up our oven and she had a look of.....pottery?  We laughed and told her it is our pizza oven Dick built.  Of course like a proud mommy I had pictures to show her of our oven.  As we left I told her, we will be back and in my mind said, that's a promise.  The end of the month back over I go to pick up 3 plates she set aside for me............and so it begins, my quest for the best dishes I can buy.  

My favorite, gotta have pottery from the Kay Brooks studio in Belmont, NY.
Check out Kay's face book page to view more of her beautiful pottery.

We bought big round hay bales from my nephew as we always do and also some square bales from a farmer over the hill in Canada Hollow.  Some of you might know Dan Austin, he just turned 79 and does more physical work than many 60 years younger.  What a guy, still looks like a hard working, muscle toned young man.  He even amazes my 20 year old grandson on his strength and stamina for all the work he does.  Dan always has a friendly smile on his face when we see him.  Well, we stopped up to pay him for the hay a couple weeks ago.  Dick of course had to stand around and talk for a while, I sat in the car which normally makes me very impatient knowing he is having a nice conversation and there I set waiting!  The time went by quickly because of my view.  It was Dan's field behind his house.  There that wind was twirling the branches and leaves on the trees and the tall hay in the upper field blowing in the breeze like waves on the water.  It just mesmerized me into a peaceful but wow sorta time.  There the Austin farm is with splendid views no matter what way I looked.  I'm sure they enjoy their little piece of heaven on earth just as we do in Clara.  Ah, the country life if that is what you love can't get any better. 

View from the Austin farm on Canada Hollow.

It happened!

 

3 for him

2 for her

 

 

A light breakfast for a hot summer morning.  By 8 am we had moved to the front porch for coffee and breakfast. That sun felt like an iron running across skin.  Give me my cool mornings.   Crepes are easy to make and one of our favorites.  Today they were filled with peaches that had been canned from last August.  Time to get the jars emptied and ready for canning season.  I put the jar in the refrigerator last night so they would be nice and cold for morning.  While I was making crepes I drained the juice off and simmered it with a couple tablespoons of raspberry jelly reducing it to about half and making a light syrup to pour over the peach filled crepes.  A little whipped cream on top and there you have it.  Warm crepes, hot peach/raspberry syrup, cold peaches and whip cream, what a combination. 

Crepe recipe-in a bowl put 1 cup sifted flour, 1/4 tsp salt, beat in 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of water until smooth.  Heat a greased skillet and add 1/4 cup of batter turning the skillet to spread batter out thin.  Cook about 2 minutes and turn leaving for about a minute.  Stack the crepes as you make them and cover with towel to keep warm.  Fill with desire fruit, you can put a syrup over them or just whip cream.

I am now up to 3 bear sightings in the past week.  We were just discussing over coffee this morning that we haven't seen or heard of a bear around Cook'n by the Creek.  Off Dick went to "town" which is Shinglehouse.  As usual when he can he takes Quincy with him.  My job for the morning was to call PA 811 which is the place that sends the gas and electric companies out to mark their lines when someone is going to be digging for construction, etc.  It is a little time consuming with all the questions they ask.  About half way through the "interrogation" I said, just a minute there is a bear in my lawn.  Well that little city girl was yelling so loud.....don't go outside!   I'm sure Mr. Bear thought he was getting double teamed by two screaming women.  I was yelling "get out of here bear".  He was right by our front porch headed to the back lawn.  I stepped out on the back deck to stop him from going through the property to my..........chickens and horses.   He was not the least bit concerned and it took about 4 bursts of yelling and clapping my hands for him to turn around and lumber back to the hill and woods in front of our house.  By the time I got back to the gal on the phone she could not complete and sentence without saying, "my God, I can't believe this" .  She wanted to know if  I am scared to live around wild animals.  No, but I don't like bears or coyotes that close to our house.  We continued the reason I called and then she said, "I am going to highlight...............Beware of bears on the property.............  I can't wait to hear what the guys think of that warning considering they are local fellas.  So, there is the morning excitement for me. 

Our niece likes to walk the back road with her dog after work.  Last week she came upon a nice sized bear standing in the middle of the road.  She stopped, kept her dog close and then the bear made a funny grunt.  Out from the bushes came two little cubs.  That is not good.  The mama stood up on her hind legs and my niece turned around with her dog and ran never stopping until the got near home.  That mama bear could have done some something serious thinking her cubs were in danger.  A few years ago I read of a women and her dog being attacked on a walk path near Williamsport, PA. 

One thing to remember, they are wild animals, no matter how cute or fascinating we think they are they can be dangerous.  I am amazed at the number of people being injured or killed in Yellowstone National Park this year.  When we were there 6 years ago driving through we saw several cars pulled along the roadway.  There was a grizzly bear within easy viewing distance and a woman with a kid walking through the field to get a better picture!  Stupid and dumb is how we labeled her!  Thankfully Park Ranges came by and got on a loud speaker telling her to back away slowly immediately.  It took her what seemed like a long time to obey but obey she did.  I would loved to have listened to what the Ranges told her!  She deserved to be fined.  There are signs all over warning to stay away from all wildlife. 

About the rain, it didn't come on Wednesday  at 4 am like predicted.  Dick heard on the "Pig" (it's a radio station) that chances of rain Thursday and Friday are slim and probably not going to be.  As I type Dick is watering the blueberries, young maple tree, grape vines, tomato plants and flowers.  Corn leaves are curled, garden dirt is like brown powder and nothing seems to be growing like it should.  I picked a few more peas this morning along with butter crunch lettuce and some spring onions.  The farmers had a bumper crop of hay this year which will help immensely considering without rain the second cutting will be iffy.   Have you noticed what is always on my mind?  Rain

If the lack of ticks and fleas is a result of no rain, that is a huge plus and welcome.  Since the end of May not a tick or flea has been found.  I keep waiting thinking one of these days the hatch will happen and we will be on tick alert.

And then it happened.

Storm across the valley....reminds me of John Denver.



Then the wind started, the tree branches were bending with
their leaves fluttering in circles.  It happened.....rain!

If the Rains Come

Here we go again.  Wishing for rain, thinking it will rain, the wind starts to blow, the breeze blows in a comfortable coolness, a few drops fall and then................nothing.   We have turned into sky watchers at Cook'n by the Creek.  Here in Northwestern Pa, the valleys are narrow and the hills close so when a cloud comes along it is pretty much directly above us.  Through the years  we have learned signs that rain is coming.  For example, the grass is dry in the morning,  wind begins to blow,  leaves on the trees turn their underside up,  black clouds roll in and there is just that feel of rain in the air.  We will say, it feels like rain.  That is the way it has felt for the last few weeks and again.....nothing.  Our ground is so dry and has huge cracks in it.  If a heavy rain happens it will be useless for the good of plants because it will run off before soaking in.  What we need is about 24 hours of a soft, gentle rain that will slowly soak the ground deep down.  For the last month I have checked the 10 day weather forecast,  there is suppose to be rain, .............nothing the predictions change.  It looks like South of Interstate 80 has been getting rain and also in the southern states.  That is nature, no promises, just  happens.  So, again we will be looking toward the sky wondering if rain will come.  Robins will sing their beautiful song for rain and we can only hope.

Wild life is on the move.  Dick saw two baby bobcats playing on the edge of the road.  He stopped, yelled and tooted the horn to scare them away.  Why they felt like playing by the road, mama better get her kids under control!  We have heard several reports of bear around Clara.  Last week we saw one up close.  Driving up Eleven Mile there was a nice sized bear standing on its hind legs trying to knock down Amy Bickle's bird feeder. We stopped rolled down the window and yelled at it.  No way was it leaving free food!  Finally it lumbered slowly across the road in front of us and sat down just looking.  All the hollering and tooting the horn was not moving it.  Amy's son was watching from inside  and came out on the porch wanting to take the bird feeder down.  With the us between him and the bear he ran out, grabbed the feeder and back in the house he went.  We told him he should stay inside for the day.  Amy let me know the bear did come back that day but has not been seen after because the have not put the feeder back up.  He knew his "gravy train ride" of easy food had come to an end.  I'm not crazy about having bears around but this one was blue/black with beautiful full fur.  Last night around 8:30 we saw another bear running across Rt 44 between Millport and Clara Rd.  It wasn't very big and it had mange!  No fur on the back hind quarter and the rest of the hair looked dull and scraggly.  It will eventually die as the mange spreads and all of the fur falls off.  If it is around other bears the mange will spread to them.  Now is the time to take some country rides and see the wild animals on the move. 

With our travels we have seen many little fawns out learning the ropes of survival from their moms.  Going into Hornell the other day a doe crossed in front of us, stopped and was looking back.  That means more deer are with her.  It was a tiny little fawn with lots of energy.  It came charging across the road, bucking, kicking and running circles.  It ran a couple circles around its mom and back it went across the road.  We have watched fawns do the same thing in our back fields.  It is natures way of getting them strong for when they are on their own and need to run from bear, coyotes and even the mighty hunters of fall. 

The Baltimore Orioles that frequent the grape jelly and oranges daily have just brought the little ones out.  It is funny to watch them show their young how to gather food.  They are also not so good at coming in for a landing!  Poor Quincy got a scare when one landed next to him.  Of course he had to learn real quick......leave the birds alone. 

Writing this I realize everything is about summer ending and preparing for the cold winter months.  If you are from the Oswayo Valley you will  understand this comment, "Fair weather".  Which means it feels like fall.  Once the Potter County Fair (I call it Millport Fair) is over we all have that fall feeling.  Gardens and canning will come to an end.  Apple season will begin and out will come the cider press for the family cider pressing day.  Apples have not been plentiful the last few years.  We are expecting a better season if the rains come.  Our apple trees are dropping little apples quickly which means, they need water.  It is the trees way of protecting itself, get rid of the apples which will take water from the tree.  Come on rain!

We have picked peas this weekend and very happy for the type we bought this year.  The bushes should have been about 5 feet tall and are only 2 feet.  That's ok because they are beautiful little pods.  Every pod is full of peas, just the way they should be.  So far we have 3 quarts in the freezer.    Picking has been every 3 days so tomorrow back to being "pea pickers'.

I would like to thank all of you that take the time from your busy life to read Cook'n by the Creek.  I find it amazing and love seeing the countries from around the world stopping by.  I read blogs from other countries and the USA, it is a great way to learn, "we are all different but very much the same".  As you can see the last few days have been very busy reading for Sweden.  Welcome to all.

United States	324
Sweden	10
Germany	6
France	5
United Kingdom	4
South Korea	1
Malaysia	1
Romania	1
Taiwan	1

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is it?

As I sat on the back deck enjoying fresh brewed Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee (maybe that is what is wrong with this crazy being) watching the chickens peck around in the back field and one lone Red Tail Hawk hawking them I knew today was a day for me.  It was just too darn relaxing at that moment to even think of working in the garden or on the cabin site.  Time to stop, relax and enjoy the day.  The days have been warm with a steady breeze here in the valley.  I must say the evenings and nights are just as enjoyable with the temperatures dipping down in the mid 40s to 50s.  My kind of weather, great for getting work done during the day and a good nights sleep with a cool breeze coming in the window.  All is quiet not a coyote of fox calling at night....but they will be back.  Our meals are always outside this time of year.  The front door and French door is always open for the breeze to enter giving my living room and kitchen an open outdoor feeling.  Even the dog loves summers, he gets to go in and out whenever he has a mind too. 

Breakfast of buttermilk biscuits, sausage, potato cakes, sausage gravy, raspberry jelly and juice. 
Summer means 2 meals a day, breakfast and supper.  Anything else, your on your own!

Back to another reason today was the day for me........I am getting ready for the first firing of the pizza oven and our next door neighbors are coming to help decide the proper technique.  The dough was started early this morning to let it proof and rest until 6 pm.  The longer the dough sets the better the elasticity for stretching it for the pizzas.  My grandson is pretty darn good at it and even spins it in the air.  Kent has been designated the "pizza king", at least by gram.  The times he is not here....well it is a struggle but the end result still tastes great.  Anytime I have company coming for a meal my day is full of planning and preps.  I love company and conversation.  Keep it simple is my main motto.  So pizza, pickled eggs (thanks hens) and key lime cake for dessert.  A little wine, beer and maybe another pot of JMC to top off the evening.

 The key lime cake is my own creation.  I had quite a few fresh limes and a box of instant white chocolate pudding, a poke hole cake!  The topping was half of the pudding whipped into a small container of cool whip.  No slaving in the kitchen,  not from scratch allows me to enjoy the day too.  Plus my favorite saying, ya don't like what we are having.....go to the neighbors!

So light and refreshing!

While juicing the limes my mind gave thought to where I got the antique juicer.  Not far from here, the estate sale of Helen Goodspeed that lived on Eleven Mile.  The juicer is glass and without a chip which amazed me since it was tossed in a small box with other glass items and bought for $1.00.  I had no idea what was in the box but being curious (or a "nib shit"), how's that for an old time saying?) was well worth the buck.  There were a few little things that I kept.  A letter opener, the juicer and a ?????????  which means I have no idea what it is.  Maybe one of you will be able to answer the question, what is it?  It is glass and looks like it was hand blown or crafted.  Not a clue, so please feel free to help end the mystery.  Well, as I was juicing the limes I thought of Helen, she was a cashier for years at the Shinglehouse Bank, located on the corner of  Oswayo St and Honeoye St.  Helen was tall and thin, very stately but plain looking.  She could have been a teacher with that stern look.  Remember what our teachers looked and acted like in the 1950s? I think I was so afraid because it seemed they never smiled.   Micky and Lisa Howard have a furniture store and sell a few hunting supplies along with fishing and hunting licenses where the old hardware store was.  They have made living quarters on  the bank side of the building.  I liked going in that bank, it felt special.  The bank business was moved to a new building on Academy St,  it is nice but no character, quite generic like all new bank buildings.  Makes me wonder why give up beautiful architecture, woodwork and stone just to say something is new.  The older I get, the better old is looking and sounding!

There is the mystery item.

I always wonder how many citrus fruits were juiced on this.  It has 4 slits around the bottom
for the juice to run into a bowl...also the catch any seeds from the fruit. 

Today was peaceful, quiet and filled with thanks for living in our great country with opportunities that many can only dream of.  It was/is the men and women that put their lives on the line to insure our freedom will ring and the flag will always be there.  God Bless them and the USA.

How It Came To Be

The slab built by Abe Bryant and Glenn Drake in 2004.

It was late spring in 2004.  We were in our 5th year of living in Clara and ready to run cement on the patio under the back porch.  As usual our family and friend were here when the cement was delivered.  Abe, Jim, Kirk, and Glenn.  Since we had cement left over the truck driver asked if we wanted to build a form somewhere for the extra.  Glenn and Abe got right on that!  They had a form built in a matter of minutes, the cement was poured and I had a huge cement slab just off the patio.  I kept looking at it and thinking....what the hell will it ever be useful for?  Every summer I would put our picnic table on it, much easier than having it in the grass and moving the 10-ton table when I wanted to mow.  Still I wasn't crazy about that slab until the summer of 2014.  If you have ever been on Pinterest you will understand what I am about to say.  I spend most of my free time in the winter on Pinterest getting ideas for summer projects, paint colors, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.  It was winter 2014 and there it was..............an outdoor pizza oven and I knew just the spot for it!

When I have an idea or plan it must be presented to the husband just right.  Otherwise all is lost in presentation.  I would slide little hints in like, hey have you heard of outdoor ovens?  He also likes Pinterest only for gardening and yes recipes for me to try.  Well, a few days later he said, maybe we should build a pizza oven...............on the cement slab!  Thank you Glenn and Abe, you made it all possible back in 2004.

When Dick started the plans they were a combination of many put into one.  Just like the final finished oven itself.  It is a combination of many people, family and friends. Our son in law provided the fire brick and cement mixer.  Our grandson Kirk, the high heat insulation, our grandson Kent for some of the field stones and Diane Surra for the elastomeric tip, it is a special paint that dries like rubber and takes heat and cold with a high expansion without cracking. It was used over the stucco on the dome.  Again our friend Glenn Drake for supplying more fieldstone.  Then there is Bob Pratt, he gave Dick some beautiful hand hewn beams from his parents original farm house in 2006.  The beams trim the opening that stores the wood under the dome and the doors were also made from  farm house planks. Our nephew, Chris Amidon gave us the red brick that is the framework for the dome door and chimney.

 Dick and I picked up driftwood on our tent camping trip to the Oregon Pacific Northwest in 2010.  We were fascinated by the wood and picked up a plastic bag full of our favorite pieces.  Finishing the doors yesterday I had mentioned buying a latch.  Lucky for me Dick already had a "latch plan" that put the finishing touches over the top for our Pizza Oven made from the love of friends and family.  I have walked by it in amazement as to what it means to me.  Is it perfect?   No but it is made with love and dedication by many.  Dick has worked for two years this month and just keeps saying.....I can't believe it is finished.  It makes me a little sad,  lots of praise and yes, fights (or maybe I should say, getting owly) went into this project.  All in all it couldn't be more perfect. 

Every piece of wood is the driftwood we picked up, even the little curly piece
that holds the latch.

Soon we will have family here for brick oven pizza and the dedication of the oven.....yes, to Dick's brother Abe.  I plan to make a handmade plaque and have a special spot waiting for it.  Abe as many have been curious and faithful followers on the quest of our Pizza Oven.  Thank you all for encouragement, support and patiently waiting for pizza "Clara Style".  We will "pass it on" for all, fresh pizza!

Tonight we sat out by our little bonfire watching the clouds, they were beautiful and so different than what we usually see.  Two little birds were fluttering and flying around.  I was amazed to see they flew side by side and landed on the same branch like they were dancing and it was all planned.  Did they tell each other, let's stop at this branch?   Seemed quite systematical to me.  The sunset was also breath taking tonight.  I'm hoping to check out face book to see if there are some good pictures of the sunset posted.  I just enjoyed looking at it and never thought to take a picture or maybe I am just to lazy and ready to relax.  After all the next Cook'n by the Creek project will begin tomorrow getting the lot cleaned up and ready to set foundation for the cabin to be built.  I don't like to put a time frame on any project we do but..............I would like the cabin up and ready by June of 2017.  If it is, it is.  If not that's ok too.

Lazy Hazy Days of Summer

This might be the earliest we have ever had hay to the barn.  My nephew Alan, has been a very busy guy cutting field after field of lush, high and thick hay the last few weeks.  Days have been perfect hay days.  The winds we had all winter have carried through June.  Dry, breezy and sunny days and a good crop of hay has made this year worry free on food for the horses.  I'm sure all the farmers around have smiles thinking of the stress free haying season.  As I set looking over our back fields watching the trees bend and twirl, the breeze blowing and the picture perfect clouds floating across the blue sky it is one of my awe moments.  So much so that other than fix a meal today I am going to enjoy the view.  The water colors are all set up ready for some more practicing.  I might have to float a loan for more water color paper!  Practice is not making me perfect.

The Baltimore Orioles are busy feeding their young on the fresh oranges and grape jelly from early morning until late evening.  They must have a bunch of hungry kids!  I'm thinking that soon we will see the young coming to the feeder.  If you read an earlier blog I mentioned the Painted Turtle that crossed our lawn one evening.  Last night as we sat here I noticed a brown clump where Dick had tilled for a flower bed.  This morning when he went to the barn he noticed it, walked over to take a look,  it was the turtle covering eggs she had laid in the flower bed.  She must have wandered for days to find the perfect spot . That is a first at  Cook'n by the Creek!  Dick is going to put a fence around the spot so Quincy won't get curious and dig the eggs up.  Now I will be googling to see how long it takes for the babies to hatch.  We have seen many lay their eggs along the road by Alma Pond.  It always amazed me that they prefer gravel/dirt and next to a road! 

Another load of round bales just made it home.  They are nice, big and tightly rolled.  Thanks to our son in law for hauling them with his truck and trailer that holds 5 bales at a time.  It sure helps and makes the day shorter.  They are rolling them off the wagon by hand, fun to watch.  Some seem to roll quite a distance before they stop.  Dick will use the spear he hooks to the bucket of the tractor to take them in the barn.  That way they will stay dry and full of what nutrition the hay has with no chance of mildew from getting wet.  Geez, how lucky these horses are, top of the line for them!
17 years we have been hauling hay.......

I often think of my mom which is obvious on how many times I mention her in the many blogs I have posted.  Yesterday we went to our friends 50th class reunion from OVHS.  They graduated a year ahead of us in 1966 but as small towns are they ask friends to join their celebration.  One of my friends husband and I were talking.  Our fathers worked together for Messer Oil out of the Horse Run building.  We would go to their house in the summer and set on the porch for a visit.  When done we would go next door to Al Crans farm and buy eggs if ours were not keeping up.  He said, hard to believe it was so long ago.  Then I found myself saying what I had heard my mom say so many times, the older you get the faster time goes.  Isn't that the truth.  The "kids" that were at their reunion were of  families we all knew each other quite well.  I can go up and down the valleys and name each farmer or who lived in what house from way back when.  Not now, oh I can name the ones from so long ago but not the residents of present.  Times have changed, and the old family names are few and far between. 

This is my mom, Della.  She never liked having her picture taken.  This was taken in 1951 and looks like early spring,
no leaves on the trees but she has her homemade sundress on and clothes blowing in
the wind.  The view is looking up the Horse Run Rd.  We lived first farm on the left
after crossing the Horse Run Bridge.  Tough to see the farm now, it looks nothing like
the neatness my parents put forth to make it look so beautiful.

It's a Slow Down

June 22, 2016, who would have thought it would be a major slow down around Clara!  No rain, grass is turning brown and going dormant  which means I am not on the lawn mower every three days doing yard, barn yard and around the garden.  The garden looks mighty pathetic.  The only things growing are onions, peas and green beans.  The peas have a nice bunch of pods but without rain I'm worried they will never mature.  The pea plants are no more than 12-16 inches high and that is very unusual.  Other years we run posts and wire for them to climb 5'or more.  It looks like nature is doing what it does best, compensate for no rain.  The sweet corn  is 4 inches high, a pale green instead of the dark lush green we are use to seeing.  The old farmers always say the corn should be "knee high" by the 4th of July.  Ours surely will not be which makes me think.......freezing and canning is going to be only if we buy veggies.  Unless we get some nice steady warm rain it looks like a long dry couple months.  Another worry, how the water wells will do.  When ya live in the country we know it just doesn't come out of the faucet because it is suppose to. 

For the last few days I have called us the "sky watchers".  When a dark cloud moves in we start hoping it will drop rain but nothing.  Living in a tight valley with hills high and close we normally don't see the storm until it is almost over us.  So we have watched and watched, the clouds come and they go.  I remember reading about the Great Dust Bowl in history class.  It is almost how I feel now.  The ground is showing deep cracks and the dirt is like talcum powder.  The only ones enjoying the dust are my hens.  They are dusting and sleeping in the holes they have dug during the hot afternoons. 

Last Sunday we took the day off for a little fun.  My favorite rides are along Keuka and Seneca Lakes.  Just north of Watkins Glen over looking Seneca Lake is Lakewood Winery.  They offer a great tasting experience.  Since the first time we went the same guy does the tasting.  He is great, funny and full of information.  He also does a great job of selecting what we should sample.  Sunday the Fiddlers Guild was on the winery lawn loaded with great fiddling talent.  From Norway to wine country area the fiddlers were  showing off the God given talent. There was even story telling to let us know how the long ago songs came to be.  A little wine, Sangria, beautiful weather and great music.  We hit it lucky.  They had vendors selling garden products, plants, home canned goods, purses and even a few young girls dressed in their Norwegian costumes braiding wild daisy garlands for the gals to wear in their hair.  It was just a good old fashioned kind of fun.  I needed that!  They husband bought a red grape vine to plant since the one we planted last year is doing so good.  It needed company......

If I think our lawns are turning brown it is nothing to what Wine Country is facing.  The grass was brown and crisp, like walking on Shredded Wheat.  Come on, let's get some rain for this area.  I will say as warm as the days have been the evenings are cool and comfortable for sleeping.  50/50, give and take, good with the bad, it all equals out.  One thing for sure we can't predict the weather and we can't change it. 

Sounds of summer were all about today.  It's hay season and a good one too.  Every farmer I talked to has said the same thing, the fields are thick and high with hay.  That tends for a plentiful amount of bales per acre.  The Hoffmans have been going by with tractor trailer loads of the big round bales all morning. News travels quickly in Clara Valley and we were told the hay was from the Bob Graves farm.  Scott West has been busy cutting and raking our neighbor's field all day. Sounds of summer in the country, can't beat it.  At least for us.

Beautiful friendly gals,  happy to tell you a about their country.

Keuka Lake heading back south on the east side of the lake.

Vineyards at Lakewood Winery.  What a view to set and sample some good wines.

 The fields from here to Wine Country are cut and bales taken care of.  Now will there be a second cutting?  Only time will tell, rain to make it grow and dry days to get it cut and baled.  Like I said, happy we don't depend on farming for a living, worry is daily when your a farmer.

Motivation at Cook'n by the Creek

Several have asked why I wait so long between blog posts.  It is hard to explain but here goes.  Like all my hobbies or loves such as knitting, crocheting, needle work, sewing and painting, my blog also falls into the what motivates me or when the mood hits I do it.  It may take a month (or more) possibly to say to myself, "I feel like writing".  Dick has come home and mentioned, "you haven't  blogged lately?"  He does not read them so I always ask why he asked.  Someone had asked him.  That's a lot of asks!  I can be in a time of my mind wandering and think, "that's a blog".  I can be riding down the road, it doesn't matter where and something will strike me into deep thoughts and there it is, a blog.  That's as good as it gets for explaining my not so consistent blog.  I can't apologize because that would mean doing better at blogging, not going to happen, I just need to be in the mood where the thoughts turn into words.  I will admit I am not impressed with my blog and wonder why others want to read it.  I have faithful followers from near and far, friends, people I have never met and never will but believe me I appreciate each one and look forward to checking out what countries are viewing.  Right now Germany is in the lead, too many to mention and some so amazing that they stop by to read what nonsense my mind puts into words.  Thanks to all. 

 This was the topping for the motivation this morning, our front porch.  I have been mulling thoughts around in this crazy mind of mine for a few days.  At Cook'n by the Creek I am lucky to have a morning, afternoon and evening spot to set, enjoy the quiet and get lost in my far away thoughts.   The final touches went on it a week ago.  Our Canadian friends have a camp across the road from us.  They wanted their old shed tore down and Dick was more than happy to find a guy to do it for whatever he wanted from inside it.  This table was left.  Covered in Clara Rd dust and bird poop it looked pretty sad.  I had to check it out and jackpot, it was as sturdy if not more so than one I could buy.  We hauled it home, pressure washed it, fresh coat of paint and it fits the bill for what I needed on the porch.  Free "stuff", can't get better than that.  The real jackpot was our friend's dad had built the table.  I have seen many thinks Ed has made and he is a fine craftsman.  He gave our grandson a flying Canadian Goose he made.  Life is good to be able to think of Ed and our friends when I set at my "new" table. 

We enjoy eating on our porches.  I couldn't resist this picture looking from the inside out.  Quiet morning, listening to the birds and watching a few (very few) cars go by. Our mornings are usually slow and easy.  That is unless the husband is on a tangent to get busy then he tries to rush me along.  Since hitting my 60 something rushing is not for me.  I rushed for too many years, now it is time to go at my own pace.  Salt Rising bread is our pick for toast but my "gal pal" flew solo from New Mexico Friday for a visit.  She brought "Hatch Green Chile Cheddar" bread from a bakery in Ruidoso, NM.  Well let me tell ya, it is our new favorite toast.  Not a cheesy bread just a hint of cheddar but those Hatch Chiles are the quest for the best!   It is so good I couldn't throw away the last piece from yesterday.  This morning while corn pancakes were on the menu I passed and had that lonesome last slice of toast that had been carefully wrapped and tucked away just for................me!  My thought, once cold weather arrives I will be requesting  loaves be sent to PA.  Yes, we love it that much.  Thanks John and Diane for thinking of us.  Speaking of Diane, she is like myself.  When a meal is to be fixed she is right there beside me doing whatever.  Like two peas in a pod we don't ask how the other wants something done we just do it our way and it works great.  Honestly, Diane is the only one I have ever welcomed into my kitchen for food preparation, my personality does not like intrusions but hers is welcome always. 

I tried something new for a breakfast casserole.  Grating a large potato and spreading it out in a cast iron pan with melted butter I browned the bottom of the potatoes.  Then spread browned breakfast sausage over the potatoes and finally poured 5 beaten eggs with about a cup of milk and a cup of grated cheese.  I used German Butter Kasse from Aldis.  I love that place they have so many wonderful German products.  Not to mention the German Chocolates are top notch!  Once it was all together it went in the oven at 375 until the center was set.  Easy and great as leftovers for the next morning. 

Yesterday was Summer Solstice which means the longest day of light.  Kinda sad to think we are already headed the other way.  As we sat on the back porch looking out over the lawn Dick noticed the birds were very quiet.  Maybe they knew and also felt a little sadness knowing their young will soon fly the coop and they will take flight for a long journey to their winter home.  We have been so fortunate this year to have 3 pair of Baltimore Orioles visiting the Hummingbird feeder and eating grape jelly by the jars full.  They are on the third jar already.  No complaints here, they are feeding within 4 feet of us. For the first time we have a pair of Gray Cat Birds...I googled that!   Dick is the nature man with more information that sometimes I wonder how he knows it all.  He told a friend that while the rest of us went to school faithfully he skipped to be in the great outdoors.  Ok, back to the Gray Cat Birds.  They have a beautiful song but they also mew like a cat!  Seriously, they meow when setting waiting their turn to eat the grape jelly.  We also have a pair of tiny gray birds that also eat grape jelly and no, the big guy is not sure what they are but assumes they are some kind wren.

Last but not least a box turtle went slowly through the lawn.  It was headed for the pine grove that isn't there anymore.  A few Cherry trees and pines that are left will offer protection and shade for the animals.  Quincy had never seen a turtle so off he went to take a look.  He must have known it was nothing to reckon with because after a few seconds of barking he left it alone.

Our nights are full of entertainment, from watching the chickens, listening to the birds and whatever else happens by.  It is just the way I like it, no news, no views, no opinions and no one telling me what to think or do because.....Take time to leave the world behind and live life your way.  I just realized, writing lets me live my life my way and enjoy it.  Kinda like a pretend world.....it's worth it.

 

From the Hills of PA and NY

Mountain Laurel is in full bloom on Moffit Hill.  It is against the law to pick the flowers or dig the plant.  Very delicate
pale pink flowers.  Many rides through our area  have an abundance of Mountain Laurel.  There is also a Mountain
Laurel Festival in Wellsboro, PA, with a parade and crowning of a queen picked from local high schools.

Saturday we took a ride "around the horn" as we sometimes call a slow, peaceful ride to gather what we need for the week.  It was up over Moffit Hill to Coudersport.  The grocery store sells side pork which is our top pick over bacon.  Just fresh sliced slab bacon with no preservatives and nitrates.  Then we headed over North Hollow which is between Rt 6 and Rt 49.  The views at the top of the hills are amazing, they went on forever.  It made me wonder just how many miles long the views are.  Then we went towards Ulysses and turned onto Hickox Rd, yep, to visit the Amish Feed Store.  I actually get excited wondering what the little ones are doing.  Saturday was no exception to their busy little lives.  A boy around 12 was riding the big draft horse while his dad followed behind the hitch plowing the garden.  Two very tiny ones were running around the yard chasing each other and the older boys were busy grinding and filling various types of feed bags.  No girls in sight, if I only could see in that house.  I imagine they were cooking, cleaning and sewing.  Busy day, every day for this Amish family.  Once the garden is plowed  the wife and girls do the planting and tending to it.

The Troyer guys getting the garden ready for the women to plant.

We left the feed store and took an old, narrow dirt road to Rt 19, that came out near North
Bingham, Pa and soon crossed into NY towards Whitesville.  Our next stop was another Amish family that is building our cabin in August.  Dick and Joe had a few details to go over to complete the deal.  No papers to sign, no lawyer, no fancy words, just a good old conversation and handshake sealed the deal.  This might be why so many go to the Amish, the simple pleasures of good honest talk.  The view from this farm is breath taking.  While the men talked I was more than satisfied to enjoy the view and again watch the young Amish keeping themselves entertained.  There were 3 young girls practicing driving the buggy.  Up and down the long dirt driveway and around the house they would go.  Backing up, turning different directions and around a tree or clothes line.  I held up my phone to take a picture and got 3 big smiles.  Times are changing for the Amish around here, the women no longer hustle to the house when a car pulls in and leave the talk to the men.  I even had a nice conversation a few years ago with the wife.  Same concerns as many of us have, just not worldly worries.  That is a good thing.

The brother was trying to tell them how to drive.....these plain clothed sisters had the same reaction
as fancy clothed sisters.  A giggle and a comment from them and he shrugged and walked away.

Company arriving at Joe's for a celebration dinner,  he said there will be a lot of families there for the afternoon.

The trip "around the horn" led us to Genesee, down the Eleven Mile and finally back to Clara.  Lots to see during the ride and the fact we had about 3 hours of rest before working on the old garage.  It is coming and looks so much better with the fresh paint on it.  A few boards need replaced around the garage door, no problem.  My husband is a scavenger, when he sees things that we could use "someday"  he brings the "stuff" home.  The new boards are from the old Bob Pratt farm house up the road.  Beautiful boards that will never be able to be duplicated.  Thick, wide and aged to perfection.  Dick made a table out of some of the wide thick planks.  It will go in the new cabin.  What better way to keep memories of what was.

View from the Amish farm near Whitesville, NY.

On top of the ridge near Whitesville, NY.

Wheat that was blowing in the wind, rotation of crops is great for the soil.  This will soon be "Amber waves of grain".

 Just looking at these pictures give me a sense of relaxation.  Take a ride, take some turns off the beaten path.  You won't get lost, after all you will still be in the beautiful USA. 

That Old Garage

When I drive past an abandoned house, barn or even a garage it makes me wonder why was it left to rot and fall down.  My dad told us when we bought our first house in 1970, Cheryle Anne, if you do one thing each year to your house you will be ahead of the work.  Every summer was the time for fresh paint, new roof, eves, fix the side walk or paint the interior.It worked doing something once a year.  Today was the day I thought of my dad and the once a year fix it up.  We bought the land across from us and unfortunately the trailer had been used for a camp and long since abandoned.  It was in real bad shape with no chance of refurbishing it.  Dick spent the winter demolishing it.  Our big decision and we thought we had made one was to demolish the garage too.  The foundation in the back is sinking away and needs jacked up.  The roof has about 4 inches of moss growing on it.  The windows are broke, the trim boards are blistered and peeling, entrance door is long gone and the garage door is in desperate need.  The good thing is it still pulls up like a well oiled charm.

 So, as we sat having coffee last weekend I suggested going to Home Depot.  Yes, Dick never realizes I have a reason besides being nice to him.  He loves looking around that store.  I do too!  We went our separate ways and it was straight to the paint section for me.  I had a plan, that garage was going to get a new look and quite a bit of tender loving care.  After all, it is old but still useable.  Poor thing, it really wasn't built by a professional so there are many flaws.  It is what it is, Monty's garage.  How could I get rid of the very thing I hate to see.  Get rid of the old and build new.  This little garage has character, flaws and all.  It is nestled into the hill side with beautiful Maple Trees framing it like a picture.  I knew I wanted Earthy colors to blend in with the hillside.  Lucky they had a pallet of colors that would look good together.  Mix'm up I told the guy.  I now have 3 gals of paint, Hazy Sage (medium), Mossy Green (dark) and Shamrock White (light).  It was as if I had to hurry and get it done before Dick could give me a kazillion reason why not to fix the "old garage" up.

The old garage, this has been our view for 17 years
from our house. 

The final choice of colors.

This morning I was on one of my tangents of a mission.  While Dick was starting the stone work on the front of the pizza oven (yes, it should be finished and fired up within the week) I told him I was heading across the road to test out the new colors on the old garage. 8 hours later I am thrilled with the color choice.  One side is completely done other than putting new glass in the window.  I'm sure he will be off to Norton's Building Supply in the morning to order the glass......I'm pretty certain.
The front is half painted, I need a taller ladder for the peek.  The garage door, I'm not sure what it needs beside paint but my idea is probably going to be met with a little hesitation.  90% of the second side is painted.  Eves, window trim left to paint.  We will be looking for a used entrance door in the next few weeks.  I would like to brag to the husband I did it all for less than $100.  The paint was $76 with a $10 a gallon rebate to send in.  That brings it down to $46 which means I have $54 for incidentals!  Like hanging baskets on each side of the garage door and a large metal sun for the side.  I'm a dreamer with projects, it's what keeps me ticking!  Did I mention little to no resistance on my project from the husband?

My mission of get it done is in high.... excited to see the final look.  Like I said, it is nothing special to look at but oh so special for me.  It is after all a garage built my a guy born and raised in Clara.  I'm sure he was proud the day his dad gave him the acreage for his home.  Memories will live on for a few more years. 

The sun has just dropped over the hill behind the garage.  Another thankful day of doing what we love at Cook'n by the Creek, staying busy.  There was even a good breakfast and a nice break of milk and Buttermilk Cookies.  The cookies were made a few days ago when the house needed warmed with the oven on.  Two bags in the freezer for days when I do not feel like baking or cooking.  Today was that day.

This is Eleanor Stavisky's cookie recipe.  It makes about 3 doz. large cookies.
Big, soft, tender cookies.....the best.

When you see something old and run down think of what it was and how it came to be.  Then imagine, what would it look like with a little love splattered all over it. 
 

Time

This time of the year there is never enough daylight time.  Or maybe there is and I am just wasting time.  Every morning I get on the computer to check the news, email and finally face book.  There is an hour wasted.  After coffee and breakfast it is clean up the kitchen and myself, make the bed and head outside for brush hogging, mowing, weed whacking, garden work, weed a few flower beds.  It doesn't matter what I do first it all needs to be done at one point in "time".  Lunch usually  involves computer (more wasted time) and then back to whatever was left out from the morning.  Supper is from 4:30 to 7:00 depending if one of us is in the middle of something.  This morning I made potato salad, plus a few loads of laundry before heading out. 

Back to that "time" thing.  What made me think of time?  My mom and a song today while I was in the back fields brush hogging.  The best time of my day, on the tractor and going back in "time".  I think of my mom and how she used her time wisely, she must have.  She sewed me beautiful dresses and fancy coats, crocheted doilies, knit sweaters and socks, cooked wonderful farm meals 3 times a day, baked delicious sweets and bread, kept a very clean house, milked cows morning and night and still found time to be a mom.  Her day never involved radio or tv.  If there would have been computers that would not have been in her day.  Shopping was once a week in Shinglehouse or maybe once a month in Olean.  One vacation in all my young years.  Thinking of all she did with a smile is amazing.  Consider our generation right on down.  We deserve all the good times.....right.....at least that is what we tell ourselves.  Working from dawn to dusk is not in our vocabulary now a days.  There are shopping trips, vacations, hair appointments, fingernails, toenails, facials, massages and lunch with the girls.  Because we deserve it.  Time......slips away.  The days turn into years and as I look back I wonder....was mom really happy doing all that work?  I think so, after all my happiest times are doing things around "Cook'n by the Creek".  It is like watching an old time movie playing my past, from the farm to my kids it is the best movie ever!

Now about the song.   Willie Nelson -  Funny How Time Slips Away.  Thinking of time brought back this old favorite.  It is not funny how time slips away but it is going to happen like it or not.  With out time slipping away how would we ever collect precious memories?  It is all part our life that keeps us going.

Today on the tractor was one of those.....how beautiful Clara Valley is.  The temperature was a cool 57 degrees, blue sky, warm sunshine and a brisk breeze that left my face wind burned by afternoon.  All worth it.  The leaves on the trees were fluttering and dancing around and the hay was blowing every which way looking like waves across the water.  Swallows were diving and dipping ahead of the tractor trying to catch bugs that were trying to get out of the way.  Usually a big Red Tail Hawk is hawking the field looking for mice or snakes once the hay is cut, not today.  There were two Turkey Vultures circling over head.   It made me laugh as I looked up at them and said, I may be old but not today.  They have never been a bird I enjoy seeing.  Another smile came when I caught a glimpse of our black dog Quincy running up to check on me.  He has a tough time keeping track of Dick and I if we are working in separate places.  He tends to run back and forth every so often just to make sure he knows where we are.  He hung around for a bit sniffing spot where the hay was crushed down, it was probably from a deer bedding down the night before.  Deer like to bed down in an open field,  they can see farther and get a scent from a predator that way.  From that tractor I can look up the valley, down the valley, to my right and left and all I see is high green hills and blue sky, my little heaven on Earth.  I wish everyone could feel the peace this play I call home has to offer.



At the end of the day there is always something
soothing to drink.

Breakfast is usually filling during the summer.  You never know if there
is time for lunch.  Dick had French Toast, I had an asparagus omelet and
we both had hominy and cantaloupe. 

If you have never heard of or had hominy give it a try.   Hominy can be for any meal in place of potatoes, noodles or rice.  We prefer the white hominy, drained and warmed in butter with salt and pepper.  My dad always poured warm milk and maple syrup over it for breakfast.

Take "time" to enjoy what you like to do.  Time slips away to fast. 

A Candy Dish

Can you remember being little/young and seeing a candy dish full of sweets (always in a wrapper).  More than likely it was a home that an older person lived in.  My gramma, aunts and my mom all had a candy dish setting on a stand.  It was proper to take a piece (only one) without being offered.  I forgot about "the candy dish" until Sunday when Dick and I went to a yard sale at the Hebron Seventh Day Adventist Church.  They have this sale once a year around the same time.  This is the first year we went and will definitely go back next year.  There were many treasures from long ago.  That is usually what we are looking for.  Just a little reminder of our past.  I believe the older you get the more going back is important.  If I had been more interested in the past during my teen years I would have listened and asked more questions.  I didn't, so these days I rely on what I do remember or what someone reminds me of.  Looking around at all the dishes they were selling for 10 cents to a dollar I found a couple reminders of my past.  When I saw the candy dish I just stood there staring at it with a reminder of walking past my Grammas.  That was a buy, 10 cents, all washed and setting on our stand with wrapped candy in it.  I love it!  The other buy was a milk glass pedestal bowl that was made in Cleveland, Ohio, by O. E. Brody Co.  That was a deal, 10 cents and worth $16 and up.  It's not for sale,  I just wanted to find out about the company.  Dick bought 8 silver (?) coasters etched with a beautiful design.  With a little silver cleaner they cleaned up beautiful.  Needless to say everything we bought will be used.  In the past few months I had been looking for coasters and just couldn't find ones that were just right.  These are,  for.......25 cents.  We love a bargain.

Stamped on the bottom is "Holland Mold".

The rest of time has been in the garden.  Not during the heat of the day but evenings.  We have been going out before supper and  again afterwards.  This weekend was planting of corn, potatoes, beans and cucumbers.  Next will be the winter squash, summer squash and pumpkins.  Do a little weeding and tilling until the busy time of harvest and canning starts.  We have been getting a lot of asparagus since the temperatures have been in the 70s and 80s.  The important thing in seeds germinating is ground temperature which depends on night time warmth.  If the nights are 50-60 with high moisture the seeds and young plants are going to thrive.  So far it looks like a good year for the garden.  Some rain would be nice, it is quite dry at Cook'n by the Creek.  Thunderstorms have moved all round us but none for us. 

Tomorrow our beautiful stand of White Pine Trees will be gone and hauled away to be sawed into lumber for the cabin and whatever else is needed.  Seventeen years ago we took down just enough to build our barn and now the need is here again.  I am very sad but also keep saying, never cry for anything that can't cry for you.  It has been very peaceful looking out the bedroom window watching the tops sway in the night.  On the deck we set and watch them also. There are some young cherry trying to take hold and may do better with the tall pines gone.  Trees are so very important for our world and these guys have been growing since around the late 1800s, from stories an old guy told us about a huge White Pine that grew on the same spot as our trees.  

Tomorrow night the view will be completely different.