April 13-August 16, 2014

Another morning in the garden.  Dick pulled old bean plants and took down the fence that supported the peas.  Doesn't sound like much work but with 22 foot long rows x 4 he worked up a sweat even with cool temperatures.  I pulled weeds in two rows of Lima Beans and planned on getting a few more beets to bake.  I did get the beets and thought I'd take a peek at the cucumbers hoping they would show promise for pickling by Tuesday or Wednesday.  They must have grown over night, I picked enough for 6 pints of dill pickles and 3 big ones for supper.  I like to slice the cukes and an onion thin, pour 1/2 cup vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar), 1 cup water,1/4 cup sugar, salt and pepper to taste.  Very fresh cuke and onion salad.

I'm again trying a new recipe.  Dill Pickles-pick cukes early in the morning,wash and put in cold water and ice for two hours.  Bring to boil 3 cups water, 3 cups white vinegar, 4 TBSP canning salt.  Also heat lids and rings, never boil them.  Cut cukes in halves, chunks,spears or whole and pack in jars with garlic and a dill head or dill fauns in the bottom.  pour hot brine over leaving one inch head space, seal with lids and rings.  Simmer in water bath for ten min.  Remove from water bath putting the jars on a folded towel.  Listen to the lids "ping".

We went to Max's Meat Market in Cuba, NY a while back.  If you like fresh cut meats, smoked specialty meat, homemade sausages and beef sticks this is the place to go.   He also has many varieties of cheese, seafood, bottled sauces, etc.  Clean, tidy and Max is always helpful in explaining how to cook meat.  Dick picked up some fresh made sausage with garlic and marjoram.  It's been in the freezer so tonight's the night.  White rice on the side and yes more baked beets.  Gotta eat fresh while the garden is in full swing.

If we would have had spatzles instead of rice this
would be a true German supper.

April 13th, the date I broke my ankle, surgery, 2 plates and 9 screws put it back together.  I have been fearing results would be less than favorable.  Six weeks ago I was given the go ahead to start walking without crutches (I was doing it a little).  It's tough, every step was painful and trying not to limp was even worse.  Now I have little to no limp depending on what I did the day before.  Today August 16th, is another "oh my gosh" I did it.  We walked my favorite walk up Kirk's Valley and back.  About 3 miles, it wasn't fast but I did it!  6 weeks ago pain and limp, now no limp and some pain.  I'm good to go and continue pushing to prove it will be 100%.  My next goal will be build enough bone mass that it will push the screws out and have them and the plates removed.  Strength Training with Presses, Squats and Dead lifts twice a week with the program set up by Crossfit Retribution.  Thanks Beau and Angie for the help, weights and bar!

Guess who else has been working hard around Cook'n by the Creek?  ♡♡♡♡

The girls keep giving us beautiful eggs!

Sweet Sunflowers

This has been a good year for beets.  I still have a half row left to pull for pickling and roasting for an occasional supper.  Tonight I will be roasting a few with garlic, butter, salt and pepper.  All  I do is scrub them really good under running water.  Cut the stems leaving a half inch length (they won't seep out the beautiful red beet juice leaving some stem length on), cut off the root, not too close to the beet, same reason as leaving a half inch of the stem.  Put in aluminum foil, pat of butter, sliced clove of garlic, coarse salt and pepper, bake until tender.  Time depends on size of beet.  I like beets no bigger than my fist, bigger ones tend to lose their rich flavor.   We like pickled or Harvard Beets not plain canned ones.  Roasted beets are so good, much different than plain cooked in water!  I first had roasted beets when Dick's mom would fix them.  Even at 17 and a fussy eater I didn't dare tell her no I didn't want any.  You remember the first time you went to your boyfriend's house how nervous you were?  Me too, plus I was invited for Sunday Dinner!  Eat in front of them, very nervous.

Here is what we do with the left over pickling juice once the beets are gone.  We pickle eggs.  I'm not a fan but all the men in our family love them.  Especially in the fall and winter.  Hunter's supper is a a good time to plan on pickled eggs and deviled eggs.  Hunter's supper is the Sunday before the first day of deer season.  I love it.  The stories get taller and more detailed every year.  Everyone has their favorite hunting or trapping story to tell, what gun or bow is the best, etc.  None of us get tired of the stories or the food!

Here in NW PA it has been a cool, wet summer and from the temps last night it's getting what some are saying "cold'.  I will agree on cold, for the first time this summer the windows are down and the doors closed. The only window open is in the bedroom, I do like a cool/cold nights sleep.   On my way to PT (full range of motion, 2 more sessions) in Shinglehouse this morning I was thinking (hard to believe),  it's going to get nasty around the area by December into Spring.  In the cold, snowy winters here there are always less smiles and cheery voices when out and about. I am already hearing from people comments like, I'm not ready for winter, it's too soon to be this cold or I just want some good, hot summer days!  What to do?  Absolutely nothing we can do other than set our mind to what we can do to ease the pain.  For us we usually get in the car and head to a city like Erie, Corning (my favorite), Hornell or Wellsboro every couple weeks.  We snoop in stores and try to find a mom and pop's cafe or bakery for a late lunch/supper.  If we can't there is always Wegman's  cafe.  Corning is always my pick for a day out.  Market Street has the Old World Historic feel, beautiful and well kept.  We never spend much but occasionally I hit some good clearance sales at the Corning Outlet Store, Bass Outlet and Van Heusen Store.  The first stop is the bakery for coffee, dessert and people watch.    They have  the best connolis.  The first time I had them was at Wellsboro's "Dickens of a Christmas"  which happens each year the first of December.  A young couple was selling baked goods from their home based business.  The next year Amber and I made their stand our first stop to buy our favorites before they were sold out.  The third year they were not there.  Through investigation we found out they had opened a bakery in Corning, NY.  The name of the bakery is Walker Cake Company they are on FB, if you want to drool over beautiful sweets here's your chance!  They also have a website, www.walkerscakeco.com  ♡enjoy♡

Speaking of sweets, remember the flower cookie cutters I bought in Angelica last week?   Today was a good day to give them a workout with a new sugar cookie recipe I have wanted to test.

Sunflowers are blooming around the house so
sunflower cookies to celebrate.

Butter Cookie Recipe.  They held their shape while baking.  Some cutout cookies don't and they never look like the shape they are suppose to be.

In mixing bowl beat 1-cup of butter, until fluffy, add 1-cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1/2tsp of almond extract, beat.  Add 3 -1/4 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda that has been sifted together.  Gently beat until mixed well.  Refrigerate for two hours.  Roll to 1/4 inch thick on floured board, cut desired shapes and bake in 400 degree oven until done.  Time depends on the size of the cookie. They have a buttery taste and not a crispy cookie.  The less you beat cookie dough, cake batter or work biscuit dough the more light and tender the results.  Bread dough should be mixed and kneaded, the longer the better to get the gluten working.

Brighter Things

One of those days at Cook'n by the Creek.  A little rain and a little sun.  Dick was trying to get the forms built, set and ready to pour the cement slab Saturday for the pizza oven.  I have watched him hustle grabbing the power tools to get out of the maybe 3 minute shower.  Back out the extension cord and tools for another few minutes of work.  He's determined to "git-r-done".  Of course me asking, "will it be done by Labor Day might have put the "git-up-in-his-go" ♡

  One thing you will not see much blogging about is my housework. It has to be done, I do it but I don't like it.  Today decided the windows in side will get cleaned.  I will compare cleaning windows to I would rather "pick shit with the chickens".  That was Della's saying when she didn't like to do something.  I feel it is quite fitting on my feeling of windows.  That's it no more talk of cleaning.  On to the brighter things in my life.

With or without the sun my kitchen window view was beautiful today.  So much so I went on the back deck to sit and enjoy.  The fields are all shades of fresh greens of summer and with  fall browns already taking over.  Dick and Kent plowed a nice sized food plot which looks mighty fine all earthy brown.  Soon the buckwheat and turnips will be starting up.  Even the deer and turkey like the fresh plowed ground.  It wasn't an hour after they were finished plowing  two young deer were sniffing along and digging it with their hooves.  Wild animals can be very nosey.  I remember my dad and brother Bob saying the deer would come right up to them when cutting trees down in the woods.  Apparently when we are hunting and Dick gives me the "stink eye"  to shhh, be quiet and watch where I'm stepping doesn't mean I will be the one to scare deer or turkey away.  Heck, I might even attract them.

I have had two ladies (older, like me) in the past few months while checking out pick up one of my items and say, "wow, I haven't had this in years or I didn't know they still made it, I'm getting some before I go home".  That surprised me, we have used it for years. So here goes you are either going to know what it is, or not.  Also you may have used it or never tried it........... Chocolate Malt Ovaltine...........

Surprise, growing up on a dairy farm does not mean you will love or even like milk.   I can not get white milk past my lips, never have liked it.  I do use white on my cereal (very little) but when young I used chocolate milk.  Mom always said the last baby bottle I drank was the last time she could get me to drink white milk.  Maybe I just out smarted  mom to get chocolate milk.  We all know our kids have out smarted us more than once, young or old they hold the talent.  It will be interesting to hear your stories on milk and if you have or do use Ovaltine (has to be chocolate malt for me).

Two days of rain means two days of rest from garden and lawn.  Mother Nature has been kind giving a break now and again.  Thursday will be pick the rest of the Kale for the freezer, with some luck maybe enough cucumbers will be ready to dill.  When the lawn and barnyard are dry enough on to my favorite ride, the lawn mower!

This week has not been without mishap.  First one of our four Guinea Hens was killed either by a mink, weasel, opossum or skunk.  I would rather see a coyote get it, at least they eat them.  The other predators kill to kill, not for food.   Yesterday we found a chicken dead,  believing she flew from roost and landed wrong or one of the horses may have stepped on her.  That has happened before.  Life with farm animals.

The famous Mango Salsa made by Scuff Simons.
Nice surprise when Scuff and Linea stopped to visit and gave
us a pint.   Trying it tonight!  Thanks friends ♡

Little Things

Remember "Stuff" that I had blogged about months ago?  Like "just stuff" so are the "little things".  Today even with the rain was a day that little things kept popping up.  99% of my being involves little things.  From the first sign of a little veggie starting, 4 fluffy peeps hatching, a smile from a grandchild, a call from a friend, the list can go on and on. The little things don't cost a dime but mean a million to me,  all little things.  I wonder, what if at the end of the day we sat down and listed all the little things that made us smile or ticked us off.  Pretty sure we would be shocked at how long the lists would be.   ♡Little Things♡

This morning I was talking to a friend (we go way back), she started laughing about "stuff"  as she was cleaning out saved and important papers.  She was finding out most were not so important and was wondering why she kept the stuff.  Then I brought up "little things".  Even talking to her I was writing tonight's blog!  That is bad, pay attention to the moment Cheryl!

On to "little things."  Like making the bed.  I was so excited when my grandson came over first thing this morning wanting to know if I wanted to ride to Olean that make-up on, hair done, dressed and out the door in 15 min.  The bed?  Down the road a few miles I remembered I didn't make the bed!  Nothing worse than an unmade bed in my world.  Heck, it's a little thing.  Spending precious moments with family or friends out trumps the bed.  I think age puts a whole new light on what to worry about.

So what little things make my world?  Hard to say, they happen at any given time of the day.  Most of mine are put a smile on my face, make my heart skip a beat or just plain pop tears in my eyes with gratitude and love.  If the little thing happens to tick me off everyone knows, it shows on my face and out my mouth!

No real cook'n today, breakfast at Spragues (thick double smoked bacon) is so good.  Then Kent bought me a cup of Tim Horton's coffee to relax with on the way home.  One of those little things that made me smile and relax I did.  We had some good eye rolls and laughs!  What ya see in the city.  Kent likes to ask about our school days.  Of course I can go on and on.  It's fun telling about what we did (left a few things out), our friends, teachers and coaches.  No cells, computers, colored tv, xm, not even our own cars!  Dang, sounds like we were deprived growing up (smile here).  I can remember the first potato chip I ate!  At Sharon Baker's house and they were Wise Chips.  I did tell Kent that our cokes were 6 oz Dixie cup size for a nickle.  Remember coffee cups were not mugs, just the squatty, little, round and wide at the top cups.  They probably held 4 oz of coffee to the brim.  Now we need the large size!

Tonight is a "free" supper (leftovers)  and fried summer squash.  The Buttermilk Peach Cake and coffee will be enough to keep us happy.  I do want to tell you the peach cake is delicious and I am going to rank it above the blueberry bread.  Cold is still my pick, it has a bread pudding texture on the bottom layer, yellow cake texture on top with a thin glaze of the reduced peach juice.  With the ground nutmeg it almost has an old fashioned sugar cookie taste.  Maybe I shouldn't put it above Blueberry Bread, both are delicious but different.

One more thing I often think about.........actually smile about.........Why in the heck did I start this blog?   I never dreamed so many would tune in!  I sure know it has spiraled past my imagination and still trying to figure out why.  Today I added the country of Chile to foreign readers, Hola!   I am not great (or even good)  with sentence structure, punctuation, proper content of a paragraph, etc.   I love blogging,  (plus following other bloggers) love what I do and do what I love. Don't let the "little things" get in your way!

Our "little house", hard to imagine we have lived here 15 yrs.

Peachy Buttermilk Cake

It was another day in the kitchen which means standing at the sink most of the time looking out the window.  The trees were whirling every which way, the poplar and cherry leaves that turned golden yellow (yes already)  were falling and blowing across the yard.  One of my favorite fall days when the sky is blue, air is fresh, cool and crisp is to lay back in our air chair and watch the leaves fall.  Sometimes I take a quilt and yep take a nap.  If not a good hot cup of coffee and enjoy the Clara.  I guess I was day dreaming of the day canning will be done, garden cleaned out and put to rest for the winter.  Thinking of the end of our garden is always a little sad around here, it marks another year gone.

This morning I baked a peach cake putting a few twists to an old recipe.  It's a buttermilk yellow cake with peaches folded in before baking.  The recipe called for fresh peaches placed on top of the batter before baking.  I used a qt. of the peaches I canned last week and cut them into good sized chunks.  While the cake was baking I looked at the drained peach juice and thought what a waste.  Instead of tossing it I added  1/2 cup of sugar and reduced it to half simmering on low.  When the cake came out of the oven I poked a butter knife into it in several places and poured the reduced syrup over it.  I was worried it might get too soggy but no problem,  reducing it gave a nice thick texture.  I'm thinking vanilla ice cream or whip cream will be the "wow" factor for this dessert.  We had a sample warm from the oven and tonight a piece from the frig, I like it cold better.

Ready for the oven.

After the reduced peach syrup was poured over the top.

Sample piece, next one will have vanilla ice cream.

Buttermilk Peach Cake:
cream in mixer-1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, beat in 1-egg, 1 tsp vanilla.
Sift 2-cups flour,1-tsp baking powder,1 tsp-baking soda, 1/4-tsp.salt and 1/2 tsp nutmeg.
Add dry ingredients alternately with 1-cup of buttermilk.  Fold in 2 cups peaches, pour in prepared baking dish. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until center is done. 
While cake is baking add 1/2 cup sugar to syrup drained from peaches, reduce by half, poke knife in cake several times, pour reduced syrup over. Serve warm or chilled with ice cream or whipped cream.

Finally the last of the Rainbow Swiss Chard was picked this morning, blanched and froze, 5 more quarts to enjoy in the months ahead.  While that was being done I had to think what supper will.  I had a 1/2 pound of roast beef from Wegman's deli in the freezer, beef stew with homemade noodles!  The stew had one quart of water, 4 TBSP beef soup base, 3 TBSP flour,carrots, chives and onions from the garden, garlic (from our friends garden) and leftover corn roasted on the bonfire last night, cook until carrots and onions are tender,  then add the noodles. You can use any mixture of vegetables this is what I had and didn't feel like digging potatoes.   Looks like we will be eating stew for a few more meals!

Noodle recipe, for every cup of flour, one egg. Knead on floured
board, roll to desired thickness, cut any size noodle and cook in
salted boiling water until they float. 1-3 minutes.
♡Della's recipe♡

Beef Stew the quick way.

Knitting with the gals at the OVML in Shinglehouse tonight from 6-8 pm.  If you would like to learn knitting, crocheting, embroidery or what ever we have to "pass on" we always welcome new friends.  Check out our FB page.  

The Rink

Here I go!  For some reason the skating rink was on my mind while mowing the lawn.  I have no idea  why but it did give me a lot of fun things to remember.  Remember the cute little skirts with tights?  The first skating rink I skated  at was next to the Shinglehouse Fire Hall. I believe it was used as the gym and basketball games before the high school was built.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  I only went there a few times and was quite young, my teen years were at the Ceres Skating Rink.  What I remember about the one in Shinglehouse was the "cake skate". Keith Learn was my partner and we won a cake.  Not sure how the game was played but I believe it was when the music stopped  we were on the right spot.  Doesn't matter because Keith took the cake!  The ladies tried to get him to share but no go.  I'm sure if I asked him today he wouldn't remember.  Girls have a better memory than boys, we are much more emotional.  Even as adults we tend to "over react" or "worry to much" at least that is what my husband says I do.  My answer, what ever!  Back to skating.  The next major disaster was at the Ceres Rink.  I was 15 and wearing a new winter white sweater and matching wool slacks (blue jeans were not in style).  Who wears winter white to a dirty skating rink?  Maybe a teenage girl trying to impress a teenage boy?  Plus I didn't plan on falling.  I was a slow, careful skater and could  not skate backwards, less than average but careful. I knew how to stop which was important to me.  Ok so the clothes.  Billy Henderson was one of those "Hot Rod Skaters"  (he was not the one I wanted to impress). Billy was awesome on skates, forward, backward, turns and what ever he wanted to do.  He was fast, very, very fast!  When the TV show Happy Days started "the Fonz" could have been Billy Henderson!   He was just that cool.  So it happens, a kid couldn't stop,  hit me from behind and down I go belly smacker style.  Billy was skating backwards and skates right over my back!  He was so good he never fell, he stayed "cool" made another trip around the floor and stopped to help me up.  Teenage me was so humiliated and embarrassed!  Roller skate wheel marks across my back and the front of my outfit a grungy gray.  Now it doesn't seem life shattering now but that night it was.  It  seemed like weeks the kids picked on me.  Would that be called bullying these days?  Probably, but then we sucked it up and for me I usually gave them that very special salute.  Oh, the boy I was trying to impress?  Dickie Bryant ♡  I can't remember not having a crush on him from the first time I watched him ride in the Horse Shows.  It took a while but at 15 he started coming around.

Tradition passed to our oldest kids for skating in Ceres. By then I  understand my mom complaining about having to stay up late to pick me up.  I felt the same way waiting to leave at 10:45 to get there at 11pm when skating was over.  I always said for some reason my kids were the last ones out!  I would set there and watch many kids come out and finally there mine were.   The skating rink has been gone for many, many years.  It provided fun times and great memories for kids from all the little towns in our area.

Finally blue sky with those big, beautiful white clouds are here.  The temperature was 65 on our way to Olean and 2 hours later 74.  I call this kind of day great traveling weather, windows down, no air conditioning and the wind blowing my hair every which way. Feeling free!  Taking a break before pickling more beets with a refreshing breeze coming through the house is just a perfect  day.  We have waited a long time for days like this.  A good sign was seeing farmers have the hay fields cut and raked ready to bale.  With some good days ahead the horses and cows will get the hay needed for winter.

Our zinnias are beautiful.  Dick's sister gave us the  seeds, we haven't planted zinnias in years.  Sorry we missed out on some easy growing colorful flowers.  They will be on the seed list for next spring.

 A few years back Mike Simons gave us 10 Dahlia bulbs. Every fall we dig them,store in the cool dark room in our basement, divide them in the spring and plant.  I have lost count on how many we plant each spring.  I do know we will be planting on all four sides of the house next spring.  From inside the house to outside we are surrounded by gifts from family and friends.  It would be quite bare without our treasures from others.  Remember ♡ "Pass it On" ♡

Supper out tonight, as in the backyard!  Our first fire roasted corn of the season.  Not our garden corn but it was good.  Red and Trudy style burgers and that was enough.  Corn was the main course.  Watching the fire and listening to Clara Creek roll along makes it hard to stay awake.  Unfortunately the bats decided to swoop by.  In the house for me!

Corn roasting and hamburger cooking ♡

One of Those Little Things

It was a great day even though the first cup of coffee was ruined with spoiled
 Half&Half.  Bought Thursday, exp. date Aug 25th, just opened this morning.  There is one of those "little things"  that tick me off!  Back to Giant it will go on my next trip to Wellsville.  The upside...........we had heavy cream  left from Dick's peaches and cream the other night.  Heavy cream could be addictive in my coffee, forever!   It won't be but nice thought.

First thing this morning I canned the spaghetti sauce made yesterday.  The job isn't as tiring taking two days.  Years ago I would do two batches in one day! Life in the slow lane now.  While the jars processed 30 minutes I put my feet up and did a little quilting.  The quilt should have and would have been finished July 16, the garden and the slow lane again.  I am getting better at accepting it just takes longer to do.  Maybe that is why some start a "bucket list", the older you get the faster time goes and the slower we get.  I have never thought of a "bucket list".  Now I do have dreams of traveling the USA and a couple European Countries.  Nice to dream.  The ship can't come in if you never launch it.

I had a request for the spaghetti sauce recipe as crazy as it is!

1/2 bushel tomatoes, (Romas are my pick for canning) I used reg tomatoes this time, that's what the Amish were selling.  I don't peel them, cut out core and bad spots, cut  in large chunks and put them in my food processor until finely chopped. We like smooth sauce.  If you don't peel the  tomatoes, cut into chunks and put in kettle.
Once in the kettle I add 2-cups dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and canning salt, oregano, basil (I add a few TBSP. of each throughout the simmering until it suits me for flavor. Also 1-TBSP hot pepper flakes(optional), 4-cans of tomato paste(large cans), 2-cups chopped onion and 4 heads of garlic chopped fine(not cloves).  We like garlic if you don't cut amount back or leave out. Simmer for 4 hours uncovered.  Final taste test, add what ever you think it needs.  Can,seal, water bath for 30 min. pints or quarts.

You can see how much I cooked it down,
dark and rich color.

The finished sauce.

Dick went to the archery shop in Belmont today with our grandson. Hard to believe but within a few days the archery targets will be in full use and soon after that the Buck will be in Rut.  That's a phrase I will here often.  Just coming in rut, full rut or on the down slide of rut.  Full swing is when you really want to watch for deer when driving.  The buck are a little crazy that time of year.  Nice Dick and Kent had a little shopping fun, Kent picked out arrows a lighted knocks for his gramps.  I knew they didn't go just to look around.  While they were gone I did the "lick and a promise" through the house and my most enjoyable (I'm serious) warm weather task, mowed the lawn.  What a beauty of an afternoon, warm sunshine, 80 degrees with a nice breeze.  Sometimes it just gets done way too fast!  Usually by this time the lawn as all but quit growing and needs mowed once a week to knock down the spindles.  Not this year, spring green and mowing 3 times a week.

Supper was an easy one.  With the extra chicken, veggies and gravy I had left after taking some to a friend last night I made a biscuit casserole.  In  9x12 baking dish I poured the hot gravy mixture and placed buttermilk biscuits on top.  Bake 400 degrees until biscuits are done.  Our two side dishes were from my niece's garden, sliced cukes and fried crispy yellow squash.  Here's the trick for extra crispy, dip in buttermilk, then flour.  Never put salt in the flour, it pulls the moisture out of the squash and makes it soggy.  Salt and pepper squash as soon as they come out of the grease.  Buttermilk works for frying fish, chicken or vegetables.  For some reason it makes the coating crispier than milk.  I love cooking and baking with buttermilk.

Enough left for Kirk, plus a little walk to get it there ♡

Our supper ♡

Just Little Things

Things are popping at Cook'n by the Creek. That is the normal for August.  Everything is ready to freeze or can daily.   Last night we were given a new Silky Rooster. Dick met Emily and Kaleb Kellogg at the fairgrounds to pick up Mr. Silky.  Hopefully Mrs. Silky will take to him and next summer we might get lucky for full blooded Silky babies. The new man at the barn is very  handsome, silver/gray with black.  I went out this morning but he was in no mood for a picture. When they go to roost I'm hoping he will stand still and give me a smile.  I know most of you are thinking, a new rooster is exciting?   It is for us, remember they entertain us (which doesn't take much) and the hens provide not just us but faithful customers their beautiful brown or white eggs.

Since I couldn't get a picture of Mr. Silky "Wild Man Smokey"  was begging for some attention.  He loves his head and ears rubbed.  So much so I think he is going to fall over from totally relaxing.   The old saying, "when he's good he is really good and when he is bad he is really, really bad!  Smokey is the type you can see in his eyes when he is ready to Rock & Roll!   14 Years old and he still has the "Piss and Vinegar" personality.  So today we were friends, next time maybe not.

Dick and I are taking a break with a glass of ice water and slice of lemon in it. No talking except he just said, "I didn't get the stalls cleaned and not going to, too tired"!  My comment, "I didn't get our stall cleaned and not going to, too tired".  Dick has been laying blocks for our outdoor pizza oven (more about that another time) all day.  I have been cooking spaghetti sauce down (canning it tomorrow morning).

The first blocks being set for the pizza oven!

 I had to try the lemon blueberry bread that Rod Van Pelt posted on Face Book.  It is delicious, no doubt I could eat the whole loaf!  I love it when a new recipe turns out to be a new add to my favorite list.

It will disappear tonight with coffee while watching the
deer that visit our field each night.

Lemon Blueberry Bread - 

Ingredients:
1/3 cup melted butter 
1 cup sugar 
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

GLAZE
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter melted
1 cup confectioners sugar

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, beat together butter, 1 cup sugar, juice and eggs. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; stir into egg mixture alternately with milk. Fold in lemon zest, nuts, and blueberries. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 60 to 70 minutes.

GLAZE
Combine all ingredients mix well. Drizzle over bread.

Standing in the kitchen most of the day can get a little testy with my patience.  It's not the mess from cutting and running the raw tomatoes in my food mill, baking lemon blueberry bread or even roasting a chicken for chicken and buttermilk biscuits..........it's the little things that cause my blood pressure to peak and close to throwing something.  Everything was moving along without a hitch.  Then fumble fingers (mine)  dropped a new container of basil all over my counter top.  I could have spit nails.  Of course I never mumbled a bad word, only a few.  I have tile counters with grout in between them which is like a little low ditch.  Dry crumbs or anything dry is impossible to wipe up.  Out comes the vacuum for what I couldn't scoop up.  Patience is not my virtue, especially when I have everything synchronized and planned to the T.  

Spaghetti sauce ready to cook down for 4 hrs.

Fresh carrots and onions for chicken and biscuits.

The day as ended, kitchen is cleaned up.  As far as the rest of the house I will do what my mom would say when she gave a quick cleaning.  She called it "a lick and a promise".  So in the morning "a lick and a promise".  I realized the other day in one of my reasoning thinking moments why women would spring clean.  One, to get rid of the winter blues and two, (the most important) clean in the spting because once gardens come in there is no time for the little daily things.  All to soon it will be over and there will be time for cleaning and my hobbies.  Good grief I just realized it is August 8th, this week did fly by.  

No matter how busy life gets always take time to relax and enjoy something just for the fun of it.♥♥♥

Black Eyed Susan Cafe

Today was a fun day with my friends Marcia and Donna.  Marcia picked Angelica, Ny for us to check out the antique stores, variety shops, bakery/ice cream parlor and the Black Eyed Susan Cafe for lunch.  First the shops, they line the Main Street and each one has it's own unique displays.  In one there is a wall lined with every kind of cookie and biscuit cutter imaginable.  Of course, I always need a new cookie cutter or two!  I bought two, a large flower and small one.  They will make perfect sunflower sugar cookies next week.  There was a shop with more jewelry than I have ever seen in one place.  Jewelry even hung from the ceiling.  The store had twenty rooms filled with everything from cookbooks to Hi Oh Silver items and sometimes the rooms were color coordinated.  I was amazed and even more amazed I only bought the cookie cutters at the first store.  There were sets of the "old" Pyrex bowls that almost put the temptation bar too high.  That just gives a reason to go back some day.

Soon to be Sunflower cookies.

After snooping around the stores it was time to satisfy our hunger.  That was a lot of walking and I'm pretty sure we not only had lunch on our minds but something sweet.  We stopped and read the menus and both cafes looked good.  I think the one we decided on had more to do with the dessert list.  Really who could walk away from homemade ice cream, fresh raspberry/chocolate/cream pie with dark chocolate and whip cream on top or coconut cream pie also with real whip cream?  Yes, two chocolate/raspberry and one coconut cream pie just to make sure it's worthy if we decide to bring the husbands over.  The desserts were beyond worthy, who could imagine a cafe in Angelica would have ☆☆☆☆☆ desserts but they sure do.  I guess I jumped the gun by going straight to the sweets.  Our healthy food was also excellent.  I had a chicken wrap with pecan, dried cranberries, celery, spring greens and grapes.  Donna had a chicken salad with apples, pecans and spring greens.  Marcia did a half salad and cup of roasted red pepper soup.  We all liked our meal.  The lettuce was crisp and the chicken breast was fresh roasted, everything was top notch for ingredients.  Even the coffee was deliciously smooth and fresh brewed.  The waitress was very attentive and sweet, she kept the cups filled.  It's so nice to walk out of a restaurant smiling from a good experience.  Yes, we will be taking the husbands over.  Every Tuesday when you buy a lunch the deal is buy one appetizer get one free, buy one alcoholic drink get one free and buy one dessert get one free.  Friday and Saturday it is two meals for $24.95 which includes beverage and dessert!

♡ Lunch ♡

Sweeeeet ☆☆☆☆☆

What a day, great friends, endless chatter, delicious lunch and a promise to do it all again!

The Rock

This morning while getting laundry sorted and picking up Dicks from the bedroom floor (yep after 47 he still does) I knew by the weight he hadn't emptied his pockets.  It took me a few years to faithfully check pockets, too many wallets have been washed too many times. Today was a wallet, change, a few dollars, a jack knife and a rock.

I held that rock for minutes thinking of all the rocks I have taken from my kids pockets and mine.  Now I find one in Dick's pocket.  Good timing it gave me the quiet time to pull up some wonderful memories.  The kids loved finding a special one to bring to us.  Even my grand kids have handed me their special rocks.  I have held so many rocks in my hands, they just seemed to find so many keepers.  I still have some of the rocks and seashells from so long ago.  All of them are treasures with a memory.

I asked Dick about "the rock" when he came in from the barn.  It is the type of rock the Indians used for arrowheads.  He also said, it is hard to find this kind of rock.  I'm sure he is going to be on the high alert lookout from now on.  Another rock to add to my collection ♡

When we lived next to the Oswayo Creek on the Horse Run Farm my dad found quite a few arrowheads.  In the spring after plowing the fields and it rained dad and mom would walk the fields looking for arrowheads.  He said fresh plowed ground and a rain made the arrowheads glisten and easy to find.  I still have one packed away.  We always imagined along the creek on the high fields was where the Indians probably camped or lived.  They say Horse Run got it's name from early settlers giving direction and saying where the horses run. Don't know for a fact but sounds good.

Today has been picking peas, beans, beets and a hill of potatoes.  We froze the peas (last picking ;), gave the beans away,  (we have enough froze and canned), we pickled the beets.  Thank goodness for a beautiful view out the kitchen window. It was a lot of hours Cook'n by the Creek today.  I saved out a couple cups of peas, cooked a few fresh dug potatoes, added milk, butter, salt and pepper and we had a great pea and potato soup.  Also that favorite "buttermilk corn bread" with butter!  The rain dropped the temperature to 66 so canning and baking bread was no problem.  Usually canning season is like being in a hot sauna, not so this year with the cooler than normal temperatures.

My muscles are sore, fingers are purple, clothes are stained and it has been a most satisfying day in Clara, Pa ♡

Fresh & Clear Clara Country Air

Today I mowed the barn yard, garden area and house lawn as usual enjoying the view,the smell of fresh clean air and mowed grass. Once in a while I hit wild mint that smells good too.  It's funny to watch the chickens chase after the mower looking for the bugs I scare up.   Today was an exceptional treat, a pair of mature Bald Eagles landed in a tree at the edge of our field.  I hoped they were looking for a mouse, rabbit or bird rather than my plump chickens.  The chickens are always on the look out, they wiggled their little tails back to the barn and stayed there until the pair of Eagles left.  Must be the Eagles  just needed a rest on their way down the valley because they left just as fast as they landed.   Seeing the Eagles is so exciting, until   17 years ago I had never  seen them in the wild.  The first time I saw them was at Alma Pond.  We lived in Shinglehouse and would take our lawn chairs to the pond and watch them.  They would swoop down and grab a fish out of the water.  One time we watched an Eagle grab a large fish from an Osprey in mid air!  They are amazing, I am happy, happy, happy to see them a few times a year.  They are still living at Alma Pond and have a nest there with young every year.

Now not only was the view of the Eagles a treat there was a delicious smell also (not horses and chickens).  While mowing the house lawn I smelled..........a berry pie baking!  Someone up the valley was baking some kind of berry pie.  You know the smell when it first bubbles over in the oven?  It smelled so sweet I was ready to grab a cup of coffee and start knocking on doors.   Dick just picked a quart of blueberries off our bushes this morning my thought, I'll bake a pie.  How desperate is that?!  Unfortunately we had tomatoes to can so the pie took a promise for another day.  What we did have tonight blueberry crepes and peach crepes that satisfied the desire for SWEET!  I whipped some fresh heavy cream to top them off.  What would they be without whipped cream,  besides still delicious.  That was supper on a rainy evening.

We are saying, "why did we eat so much"?
Because they are melt in your mouth light bursts
of  goodness ♡

The tomatoes are chopped and in the pot simmering some of the liquid away.  Once they have cooked down we will get them in jars and pressure can them.  Tomorrow we will be picking beans and canning dilly beans.  Also green peas will be picked for the freezer.  The circle of having a veggie garden.  Thursday is a play day with friends (for me)!

Ready for the jars.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Today is August 4th.  It is a date that forever will be remembered, August 4th, 1966 at 4:19 pm,  my mother passed away from a drunk driver crossing the center line hitting her car head on.  It happened in the Dug Way just north of Shinglehouse on Rt 44.  I had just turned 17.  No words can explain the feelings but I will say life goes on and making the best that it can be is a must for happiness and peace of mind.  No blaming, complaining or excuses.  Just do what has to be done in life with little to no regrets.  ♡Della Gross♡

I was 4 when mom broke her left ankle,
something else we have in common ♡

Route 15

Route 15 is one of my favorite ways out of Dodge (PA).  we have been traveling south on 15 to Florida, North Carolina and Maryland for the last 40 years.  Before that two of my older brothers used 15 to go to Green Cove Springs Naval Base and Pope Air Force Base back in the early 1950's.  Now there are several ways to go, I-95 which we avoid at all cost (just like we do Walmart), I-81  is pretty nice for an interstate, there are also some other routes through VA that are ok.  Route 15 is the most scenic from Mansfield all the way to NC.  It takes you through beautiful farm lands of cattle and horses.  Miles of split rail fences, big barns and gorgeous big old farm houses.  One of the many pluses of Rt 15 vs Interstates you can stop without waiting for an exit.  Lucky for us our boys both live just minutes from Rt 15, one in MD and the other in NC, very convenient!

Today I was driving home from MD and of course memories were company.  Once we hit a horrible freezing rain from Shamokin Dam to the MD line.  It was freezing on the car instantly.  We pulled over to wait it out.  The roads cleared fast considering they put a special brine on before it started.  Along the beautiful Susquehanna River from Harrisburg north is always interesting.  Frequent pairs of Bald Eagles and in the Spring many species of ducks, geese and swans.  Shamokin Dam is one of my favorite stops with a Target, Michaels, Sheetz and Panera.  I hit at least one or two of them each way.  This time it was Michaels.  Once I get to Allenwood just south of Williamsport know I'm on the last leg of the trip.  This is where the mountains show the long ridges and wide valleys.  At the top of the mountain there is a pull off that looks over Williamsport.  It is worth the look, how beautiful.  Today it reminded me of our Little League years.  I still have pictures of Beau and his team mates standing together during Little League Tournaments at the lookout.  Exciting times with kids.
Dick went to Willamsport Community College in 1967-69.  That was my first time to travel Rt 15 South.  At 18 years old Williamsport was a scary huge city to me.  I hated to drive in Williamsport for the fact it was (and still is) all one way streets which seemed very confusing.  We always took the kids to downtown for spring and fall clothes.  It was so nice walking, shopping and eating there.  After shopping we went to the Little League World Series never getting home until midnight.  The LLWS is a much bigger event now.  Then came the Lycoming Mall and downtown was left to die and be taken over by not such nice people.  It turned into a dangerous night life place.  In the last few years they have been trying  to revitalize it and in one section I believe they are successful.
The rest of my trip home thoughts of a  dear friend Al Kaufman that we met through my brother. Going by the Cogan Station Exit always reminds me of what a nice couple Al and Ada Kaufman were.   Al was a truck driver for Stroehmanns out of Williamsport to Olean daily.   As with my brother, Al, Johnny, Kenny and Dale were the good guys.  When they stepped down from their spotless trucks they also were spotless with creased blue jeans, button down dress shirts and boots shined like a mirror.  They all looked as good at the end of a run as the beginning.
I turned off Rt 15 at Liberty and went down Rt 414 through Morris.  Years ago we took the kids to a Rattle Snake Hunt in Morris.  We were spectators and once was enough!  Next was Wellsboro,  I really like to wander around the shops there and stop at the Native Bagel to eat.  Great in house made bagels, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts.  A nice day out.  We have camped at Hills Creek State Park and of course the PA Grand Canyon is there.

Once I pulled in the driveway it was get busy and can peaches I had bought in Westminster, Md.  Dick had the jars carried up from the cellar and ready to go.

Peaches in a light syrup ♡

 Tomorrow we will be canning tomatoes and spaghetti sauce with a bushel of tomatoes I bought from the Amish just North of Harrisburg, $12 a bushel.  When I do my spaghetti sauce I don't peel the tomatoes, just put them in the food processor or blender before cooking.  Time saving and you can not tell they weren't peeled!

I did get the grand tour of the "MD Bryant Family Garden".  They are 6 hours south of us which means their garden is on the down hill slide.  They are getting tomatoes, jalapenos, green peppers,  zucchini and yellow squash that is making them a few dollars a day from their little veggie stand in front of their house.  The kids have an envelope for their garden money.  Beau will be digging potatoes and pulling carrots this week. They have canned tomatoes, salsa and beets.   Just what I thought would happen, he is making the garden bigger next year.  My kids love their gardens!

Checking tomatoes for the veggie stand.

Cash had to show me how easy the carrots pull out.
Beau mixed sand in the soil for his root veggies.

Loooooong Day!

This was one of those kick my butt days.  Up at 6 am, coffee, see what is going on around the area, nation and world, breakfast and off the the garden.  We picked 2 grocery bags of peas and and the same for green beans.  Of course we couldn't leave the garden without weeding a few rows of lima beans and beets. Oh our achy breaky backs.  It's worth every ache.

Early morning and cool for picking peasw and beans.
How about all the beautiful green pastures and hills?

Beautiful peas for the freezer.

Now the relaxing part, setting on the back deck shucking peas and snapping beans and enjoying the view with a nice breeze.  While Dick finished the beans I mowed the lawn, it was actually dry.  I thought it would be days until I could mow.  Mowing is one of my favorite outdoor chores, along with brush hogging.  Once the lawn was done we were ready to wash jars, beans and start the pressure canner.  It is 9:32 pm and the last batch of beans just went in.  20 minutes for the pints and we can go to bed!  We canned 10 quarts and 7 pints of beans along with freezing 2 quarts of green peas and 2 quarts of green beans.  It's been a long day.  Breakfast and nothing until 7 pm which was worth the wait.  I fixed baked potatoes our favorite way.  Wash, dry, pat of butter for each potato, salt and pepper, wrap in foil and bake at 400 degrees.  I also picked a batch of Rainbow Swiss Chard, I washed it, cut in good sized strips (stem too), melted butter in a pot, added the Chard, small onion bulbs from the garden and a TBSP of concentrated beef stock, cooked until wilted.  Delicious!  Dick fixed NY Strip Steaks.  I am getting so much better sharing my kitchen and the cooking since I was forced to be at the mercy of not being able for 5 weeks.  I'm enjoying sharing (sometimes).

Then there was an exciting event.  The UPS gal pulled in and Dick carried a huge box from her truck. A Huffy Cruiser!  We had rode them in Key West last year and it was awesome.  Dick bought this one for me thinking it will help strengthen my ankle and leg.  I know it will because I rode it up to my nephews house and back.  Going up it was definitely like pushing on the weight panel I use at therapy.  I am so happy Dick thought of the Huffy.  It brought tears spitting out and the more I thought about it  memories  flooded back.  53 years ago my dad pulled in our driveway with my first Huffy, 53 sounds so........long ago, antique, ancient and were bicycles even invented 53 years ago?  For some reason I just can't grasp and believe 53 years ago!  I was 12.  If someone had said you won't get another Huffy until you are 65 I would have said, "Old people can't ride bicycles"!  Well one thing is for sure I won't be getting another one in 53 years ;)  My first one was blue and without a doubt built much better and probably cost about the same.  I rode that bike up and down Horse Run and to town when I was allowed in the the summer.  Remember me saying Scuff's  dog bit my leg riding by the Simons farm?  Well I said it was George and after  Scuff read my blog he told me it was Woodchuck that bit me not George.  Sorry George!

The Huffy Cruiser and so snazzy with my favorite
color, turquoise.  Reminds me of the ocean.

Tomorrow I leave for MD for a few days.  That is the reason we were in high gear trying to get the garden and lawn caught up.  Dick can have a few days to relax, enjoy our Canadian friends that will be at their camp and help the Rod and Gun Club at the fair on Saturday.  He's on his own.  Of course when I get back we will be pickling beets and canning peaches, both are a messy job but oh so good.
 I will be getting some much needed hugging, loving and giggles from our three little Bryant boys.  They are excited  and will have it all figured out on who sleeps with me what night.  Pulling in their driveway and seeing those little guys all grins and running to meet me is beyond trying to explain how wonderful they make me feel.  About the time I get to Harrisburg they will have their dad or mom call to see how much longer.  Happens every trip.

Try to take time to relax, take long deep breaths and enjoy what ever makes you happy.