Maple Me Up

What a Sunday, we took the Maple Syrup tour to Hamilton's all you can eat pancake breakfast, a beautiful ride over the creeks, hills and valleys to end up with sugar maple treats at Rathbun & Weber Maple and Honey Products.  Seriously in a matter of a few hours we all turned into a bundle of sweetness!  Amber called this morning to ask if we wanted to go with her, Kent and Jim.  Of course what a way to spend the day, family and maple goodness.

Hamilton's Maple Products is on Collins Hill near Ulysses, during December they sell "you cut" Christmas trees that are trimmed to perfection and all sizes.  They also offer sleigh rides, hot cocoa and treats. Now is sap tapping season when they offer breakfast.  For $7.50 you get all you can eat delicious light fluffy pancakes with a choice of crisp bacon or sausage patties.  Scrambled eggs, juice and coffee extra.  The maple syrup pours freely along with tasty samples of maple covered nuts and walnuts, maple cream, maple mustard, maple barbecue sauce and.......tada big drum roll......maple cotton candy, I mean WOW E WOW this is "sugar Cheryl's" kinda day!

After we had our breakfast fix Jim took us on some beautiful dirt roads (still snow on a few of them) weaving our way back on the Eleven Mile and to the Rathbun & Weber Open House.  It doesn't appear there will be a shortage of deer this year, we saw fields of them grazing on what grass was showing along with one flock of turkey.  The wildlife highlight of the day was 2 mature Bald Eagles, one immature and an immature Golden Eagle.  We were stumped on the Golden Eagle until we googled images and sure enough we all agreed it was.  Also Dick saw a Bald Eagle flying down Clara Valley this morning, such a beautiful sight.  Even the animals and birds are saying....winter is gone let new life begin.

As if we all aren't sweet enough (wink) Rathbuns and Webers had the best samples of all.  How about a dish of creamy smooth vanilla ice cream topped with your choice of maple/apple/walnut topping or good old maple syrup (my pick) and sprinkled with maple covered peanuts, walnuts or pecans (pecans for this sweet tooth). They had maple frosted donuts, maple cheese cake and hot brewed coffee with.......maple creamer.  Seriously this is my kind of food.

Mel Rathbun and I are cousins.  Our grandmothers were sisters and let me tell ya Gramma Carrie and Aunt Minnie were tough gals.  We both realized today that blue eyes and the love of maple proves we are of the same blood line!  I know I have mentioned many times how much I love our area and the many people that have given me wonderful memories but it is a fact that I love.  There is hardly a road to travel that doesn't bring up a thought of someone that touched my past.  Mrs. Margaret Rathbun and her husband Ernie is on the long list of good memories.  Mrs. Rathbun was one of my teachers in grade school, I loved her kind quiet being. She was one of my girlfriend's aunt.  We spent a few weekends on the Rathbun farm in our teen years.  The last time we were staying my friend jumped out of the hay loft and broke her leg, 3 compound fractures.  Today pulling up beside the barn brought thoughts of long ago.  Looking at the barn I was surprised, it didn't look as big as I remember.

After we "mapled up" and bought treats for later we headed down the 11 Mile.  Not far down the road as I was looking for more wildlife I saw the poplar tree hedgerow along the creek.  A big smile, the trees were exactly the same as 1966.  How do I remember that year?  It was the year Jerry McDermott came from Los Angeles, CA,  to live with Dick's family.  We had a good time teaching the "city kid" the "country boys" way of life.  Out coon hunting one night we spotted a coon high up in one of the poplars right at that very spot on 11 Mile.  We spotlight while you (Jerry) climb the tree and shake the coon down.  Keep going we said, just a little farther.  Like very slow motion the top breaks out of the tree taking the coon and Jerry to the ground. It was a draw on who scrambled faster when they landed.  Lesson #1, never climb a spindly tree after dark with a mean old coon in it.

My "gentle man" pick of the day is Reuben Donovan.  He was a quiet spoken, generous and talented man that was kind and giving to his family and anyone in need.  In our first years of marriage money was tight and Reuben had seen me waxing our car one day. Stopping he asked if I would clean and wax his cars.  Of course I would thinking it is something I enjoy and would like the extra money.  He brought his antique cars for me to do.  I charged him $15.00 for washing, waxing and cleaning the inside.  I can still remember looking at him when he said, "No, it is worth more than that and handed me a 50 $ bill.  I then said no that is too much but he said if you don't take it I won't bring the other cars down.  Reuben's way of helping others was the quiet way with no fanfare and look what I did.  I bet there are many Reuben touched with his quiet kindness.  Another good guy from my past.

Samples of Rathbun and Weber Maple Products

Duffy Rathbun (center right) explaining  sap to syrup.

Amber gathering the Maple Goods ♡

Hamilton's all you can eat pancake breakfast with
complimentary cinnamon bread and maple cream!

Dick getting ready to enjoy breakfast.

A little maple syrup in coffee, I think so ♡

Fine Wine

Old people, old folks, seniors, q tips, silver canes, whatever you want to call them = over 60 to me at 65.  In my teens it was anyone over 25.  All it took was a quiet drive to Wellsville the other day by myself  to get this old mind  thinking of a few old people from my teens.  Maybe the ride wasn't quiet, I put in a cd made by our friend John Surra, it's a keeper and one of my favorites to chill with.  Thank you John!  The view was mighty fine too with frost thick on brush, dead grasses and trees at the very top of hills.  With the sun pulsing down the frost looked like diamonds giving off rainbows of color.  What really made me think of a few old people from the past was going by an old run down farm house.  I have no idea what family or families lived there long ago but it was similar to a few from my past.

The first house I thought of was a crooked, tilting, run down maybe 3 room shack.  Sorry to call an old man's home a shack but that is how I remember it.  I'm sure it felt like his castle to him.  It was way up Bells Run just about before the turn to the left going over to Sunnyside.  We would go by there when spotting deer, riding around,.........or ;)  If your old enough you know what the or means.  Ok, so the old man that lived there always had his TV on, every time we went by.  There was never a picture on it!  Remember how the tv would flicker or roll with poor reception from the antenna hooked to the roof?  You have to be really old to remember that.  The old man's tv was always rolling and flickering. We always were in amazement but now that I think about it maybe there was proper sound and he listened to the programs or was blind and didn't know there was no picture.  I shall never know the answer.  Then there was the old man that lived just above our farm on the Horse Run Rd.  Lloyd Babcock, he sat in the front window watching the world go by.  I can never remember not seeing him setting there and still picture him like it was yesterday.  I knew him and  his wife , Emma.  He always waved when I walked or rode my bike by.  A few weeks ago I went by and the house is still there, of course no Lloyd in the window. Long time ago.....good grief it was 54 years ago......I'm really an old person!

Truth is with gray hair, wrinkles and 65 years of living I know I'm old...the funny part for as long as I have thought it reality slapped me reading an article the other day.  The sentence that made me suddenly quiet (yes, I was quiet ;) for just a minute was....The elderly couple 66 and 68 years old.  BAM!  I like the word "old" much better than elderly.  Old can be used like...I'm 16 years old or 30 years old and in my case 65 years old, it sounds so much better than I'm elderly.  What ever it takes to be happy is how I put the twist on.

The next two people I remember as old were women.  Sara Pearsall lived on the corner of Palmer Ave and Honeoye St.  I was impressed and so curious about her.  She would set at her very elegant dining table and just looked like a queen to me. Dick and I would walk by often when we were going "steady"!  Do kids go steady now a days?  The other lady was Hattie Gibson.  She also would be setting by a window when we walked by.  I did talk to her at times, she was very pleasant and kind.  I often wished to see all of the beautiful rooms and what filled them in both homes.  All old people to me at the time and possibly they were younger than I am now.

No cooking for this chick today ♡ We went to Watkins Glen with our friends, shopped a little and then had a delicious meal at the Wild Flower Cafe and Rooster Fish Brewery.  Food ordered was a Blues Burger, Fish tacos with a smokey chipotle slaw, a Po Boy Sandwich and a Pulled Pork Sandwich with smokey chipotle slaw.  Everyone was happy and stuffed at the end of the meal, no room for dessert.  The guys had the specialty beer and the girls had Lakewood Niagara Wine.  When I asked the waitress about the wine she told us the winery was just up the road a couple miles over looking Seneca Lake.  After lunch we stopped at the entrance of the Glen to see the waterfalls and ice formations.  Our next stop was Lakewood Winery, yes the wine was that good.  In fact Ron and Dick bought a case to split, considering they don't drink wine you know it was very tasty.    We did a tasting at the winery and the young man pouring knew his stuff, he was funny and made for a great time.  For a few hours we were able to forget our Spring Fling Day was a little wet and on the chilly side.

It's a Sugar Snow

With all the complaints on the hard winter we are  expecting better weather now that spring has arrived.  It brings back past spring snow storms that are forever etched in my mind.  All three of my children were born on a snow storm day.  One just happened to be in January so that was to be expected.  The other two dates, March 5th and 22nd was not expected.  The snow was just a few inches, just enough to make the roads were nasty.  Quite often we can expect snow for the Buffalo St. Patrick's Day parade.  I also remember quite a few years the first day of trout season had been with snow on the ground, sometimes it was so cold the eyelets would ice over on the poles.  Fishing season usually opens the second Saturday in April which is also the prime leek digging season.  We have dug leeks with snowflakes fluttering down, if ya love'm ya dig'm no matter the weather.  How many baseball games have I sat wrapped up with snow flurries in the air or just so darn cold it made me wonder how the players, coaches and umps could stay on the field.  Lawn mowing starts about mid April, gloves, hoody and a warm scarf sometimes.  The big memory was the last week of April, 1967.  We left for our Senior Class Trip on a Greyhound Bus for Gettysburg and Washington D C with about 5 inches of fresh snow.  So, no matter how much we feel it is unusual weather......it's not.  We are just impatient the closer we get to these beautiful warm days and evenings setting on the porch listening to the peepers and if lucky a gobbler sounding off or owls hooting.    Then spring has arrived!

The Maple Syrup producers have been busy working overtime boiling sap.  Once it starts it is steady and long hours of watching it boil to just the right boil.  That first run is my favorite.  Don't forget you can always visit the area producers this weekend.  I suggest Rathbun and Weber Maple and Honey Products on the Eleven Mile, they put on an awesome visit for visitors.  You can find them on Facebook for more details!

Tapping and producing has turned into a very high tech procedure.  About 55 years ago when my dad tapped on our farm's Sugar Bush it was simply wood fired under the long pans that were in the Sugar Shack.  That was a luxury being out of the cold and inside with the steam and wonderful sweet smell of maple syrup.  Today's kind of snow made for the best of times during boiling.  Fresh clean "sugar snow" which meant mom would boil a small pan of syrup down, take outside and pour thing streams on top of the snow.  It instantly turned to a gooey, sticky, sweet taffy like treat.  Simple pleasures from the past.  Sugar snow is also considered here today and gone tomorrow....we also call them spring snows.  They just don't have the harsh punch as a few weeks ago.

Every once in a while we fix a special treat for breakfast, they are not healthy but sometimes ya just have to.  I remember the first time I had ever had them, Bart brought the recipe home from Home Ec class.  Actually I had never heard of Funnel Cakes until he brought the recipe home when  the class made them. We have made them many times since then.  I like powdered sugar on top, Dick prefers cinnamon sugar and of course twist my arm for a drizzle of Maple Syrup ♡

Eileen Ahl's Funnel Cake Recipe

I am going to mention the Gentle Men of Shinglehouse when I was growing up.  Well I think I grew up ;)  In future blogs one Gentle Man a blog.

Lyle Newton is the pick for tonight.  A good hard working man that always had a smile and good word.  He loved baseball and peaches...yes, peaches! Late in the summer he would drive down state and bring bushels back.  I bet a lot of women canned peaches from Lyle.  I sure looked forward to them every summer.

Sunrise to Sunset

Opening the door at 7am to let the dogs out was hurry, move it so I can shut the door.  For some reason the deeper we get in to winter the colder the single digits feel.  O with real feel -14, every step is crunch and squeak in the snow.  Plus breathing makes the nose feel weird!  Happy to be a nose breather and not mouth on days like this.  The horses and chickens need a little extra lov'n on these bitter days.  Extra grain and hay provides fuel for the horses that keeps them warm.  The chickens get extra bread and table scraps along with their daily grains.  Yes, table scraps for chickens.....they love them.  Whipped potatoes are their favorite!  The horse and chicken water supply is on a heat timer so they always have fresh warm water to drink.  You would think they would consume more water in the hot days of summer but not so.  In the summer they eat no hay, little to no grain but lavish and gorge on spring green grass and summer grass.  Horses are grazers and that is their meal of choice, green grass.  The grass is high in moisture unlike hay that has been cut, dried and baled.  There's the reason for more consumption of water in the winter, no moisture in the hay.  That's a very good thing ( Martha Stewarts fav. saying).  If hay is not sun dried before baled and put in with too much moisture it will get dusty and mildew, plus generate heat, enough to cause a barn fire.  So a well seasoned farmer knows when to start cutting his fields, too early and the hay will not dry properly.  Usually around July 4th is what we call hay days.  Little night time dew and long sunny, hot with low humidity days.  There is a fine time line for hay days.  Then of course as hard working farmers know, Mother Nature can throw a curve ball at any time.  The word lucky then is the thought, if we are lucky enough to get the crops in.  Bless the farm families.  Every garden year I say,  thank God our lively hood does not depend on our garden like the farmer and his crops.

Yesterday we took a little trip to Hornell via 11 Mile, Wellsville and Alfred.  One of my favorite rides for the reason I can get Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee in Wellsville or Alfred.  Usually.......Wellsville, carafe empty.  No problem, I can hold out for the Terra Cotta in Alfred.  Ha! No!  Their carafe was empty too.  Wouldn't ya think with the popular demand of coffee of my choice they would X out a flavor and make two carafes of JMC?  Well the cute little 60ish style chick convinced me Roasted Pecan is a big favorite.  She was adorable right down to her clothes, jewelry, hairstyle and lack of make-up.  Close to imagining her strumming a guitar in a field of daisies.  Talk about memories this gal had me back in 1965-67 in a blink.  Perfect would have been let me hand embroidery some flowers, peace signs and rainbows on your denim jacket.  That's what I did way back when......especially on the guys denim, hip hugging bell bottoms.   Those were some amazing years to be a teen.

That Pecan coffee, just didn't have the punch but the  ride home made up for it.  Coming back down the 11 Mile the sun was putting on quite the show changing with every mile.  If I thought the morning sunrise was spectacular the sunset was in great competition.  Sunrise offered fluffy pink to purple clouds with even the snow taking on the colors.  Enjoying the sunset the sun was huge hanging low in the sky .  It was setting with gold and blue hues shining through the bare trees on the hill tops.  Again the snow was showing the same gold and blue colors.   We also noticed the moon was out all day.  Of course the hub told me it is suppose to be a good day to hunt when the moon is out in the afternoon.  That could be why the coyotes were barking and howling last night at 7 pm, out for a good hunt!   What a day for the sun and moon to put on a show. ♡

Going up 11 Mile we followed a very slow 18 Wheeler.  Dick said, he acts like he must be lost......considering he is on 11 Mile with a big rig.  Sure enough he stopped in front of us, we pulled up beside him and he yelled down if we knew where Healy Road was.    We  had never heard of Healy Rd. Let's make this a little easier so we asked him the name of the place he was looking for.  Hoffman's Farm......why yes we know.  Lesson learned, where Healy Rd is, if ya didn't know, now ya do.

Sunrise at Cook'n by the Creek, 1/28/2015,  7:10 am.

                             Take a little trip down the 11 Mile and enjoy the view.
                                    Pictures taken Wednesday, 1/28/2015 @ 5 pm.

Crystal Church

The Red Brick School

Before I get started with the main topic, here is a great recipe for ginger bread cake with lemon sauce.  We are going to party at my niece and nephews to wish their nephew farwell.  His visit is ending and  back to his home in Venezuela he travels to pursue a career as a chef!  What a nice guy and great smile, best wishes for a very successful career.  I am making peach cobbler with whip cream and........tada ginger bread cake with lemon sauce to take.   There is a madness to my thinking and it started with the Red Brick School.
Ginger bread cake recipe:

 Lemon sauce recipe:
In a saucepan add 1 cup of water, 2 TBSPS of cornstarch, 1/2 cup of sugar and a dash of salt.  Bring to a boil stirring for 2 more minutes.  Beat 2 egg yolks and temper with half of the cooked mixture, then pour back in pan, bring to boil stirring for 2 more minutes.  Take from heat, stir in 3 TBSPS of lemon juice and 2 TBSPS of butter.  You can also add 1 TBSP of grated lemon rind.  Serve warm over cake.

♡ginger bread with lemon sauce and peach cobbler♡

  Far from the old time one room school the red brick school I attended had the country feel that many of us attended.  When I think of my early school years the first two thoughts are retained in smell.  Every morning getting off the bus, walking up the steps and through those big doors the smell smacked me right in the nose.  What ever they used on the beautiful wood floors throughout the school gave me one of two smells that ended up being the dread of school.  Every morning the fresh oil smell was still strong from the daily cleaning.  It was every day and it worked because the floors were well kept and beautiful considering how many hundreds of kids had passed across them in the life time of the red brick school.  I never noticed the beauty of those narrow boards at the time but now I realize the care and pride given to the wood.  What a shame the decision was made to demolish the school for apartments.  The well built building could have and should have been turned into lovely apartments with hardwood floors, high ceilings and beautiful tall windows.  Unfortunately. new sounds better and as for many stately well built buildings of early times they are demolished and gone forever.

The other smell that has a strong memory from the red brick school........puke!  No fancy word to describe the smell when they threw what ever that stuff was on puke.  If the sight, sound and smell of someone puking wasn't enough for this weak stomached gal the "stuff" they used to soak it up to be swept away put me over the edge for the gag reflex.  Enough, if I dwell on this it will be a reality rather than a memory.

The school was very clean, teachers were strict on picking up every little scrap of paper, chalk dust free erasers (loved to get picked to clean erasers!)  cleaning crumbs from the lunch tray, etc.  Lunch time was slightly more relaxed, we were allowed to whisper to the one setting next to us.  Unfortunately the teachers made sure conversation was little to none.  When it was time for lunch we lined up boy girl boy girl by alphabetical order.  Cheryl Gross had Vernon Graham in front of her, Gary Green in back of her.  Really those teachers were very clever.  Not only were they teaching us how to think using the alphabetical order plan they knew odds of little girls and boys wanting to talk to each other much less enjoy was not going to happen or be fun.  Then the teachers randomly picked who they would set by for lunch.....my biggest fear.  Being shy (seriously I was way back then)  it was the last thing I wanted, a teacher setting by me in lunch.  Once the teacher finished her lunch she would pace back and forth behind us checking to see what we ate or didn't.  If ya didn't eat your lunch ya didn't get to buy ice cream.  The only days I was allowed were macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwich day the only two meals I liked.  Wow, if only we could buy that government cheese today!  It was my favorite, especially when they put a square little cut on our tray.  The only other meal I remember was hamburg gravy (SOS as many call it) on mashed potatoes, it looked like.......yep puke to me.   Can you tell it keeps invading my good memories this morning.   The other two foods that were delicious and I have never been able to duplicate the wow factor, apple crisp and ginger bread cake with lemon sauce.  The days I could by ice cream made my day, chocolate marshmallow or raspberry swirl.  That is when the real marshmallow and raspberry sauce was used.  The closest to it now is Turkey Hill.....yes like my coffee I am picky on ice cream brands,

I could just keep blabbing away about my years at the red brick school but that's another blog for another day.  Stories and memories are history for your kids and grand kids, Pass it On.

Here is a book my grandsons bought me a few years back.  I love it and just did the final read through for all the memories I wrote for them.  You can buy this book on Amazon and it is worth the time and money.  Each page asks  questions of grandma's memories of  her young life, marriage, children and what she hopes for her grandchildren.  It will be packaged along with a few Valentine goodies and off to MD. for the boys to read.                
                                                 ♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥

The perfect grandma and grandchild gift.

Every Once In a While

Every once in a while there is a day that just happens.   Today we had a late lunch/early supper with half of our gang (other half snowbirds).   The ride to Wellsville and then on to the Whitesville Hotel in Whitesville, NY was beautiful.  Again today clear blue sky, the snow looked so white with a blue cast to it.  Most of the ride was on top of the ridges looking down and across some pretty wide valleys.  The kind of views that make the phrase Peace on Earth almost a reality.  Being the passenger gives me the luxury of seeing every mile of beauty and able to think of what a beautiful world we live in. Of course my mind was thinking of so many things, (it never stops drifting) every turn in the road reminded me of so many things.  I'm sure Dick wonders......does she ever run out of things to talk about? No.   Once we turned at Yorks Corners to Whitesville the terrain changed, this is where we rode the ridges.  Farms are plentiful and the fields are flat, wide and long.  Snow drifts were frequent along the road, ripples of snow in the fields and stubs of long forgotten corn stalks.  Flocks of crows, lots of crows were fluttering to find what kernels of corn were left behind by the harvester.  A few hawks setting high on  a hedge row of trees looking for a meal.  Wind is vicious on open hill tops.

Once at the hotel we did our usual to catch up on happenings since the last time we were together.  Never a doubt everyone takes a shot (not bang) at each other, a little picking and get the blood pressure surging.  It's all in fun and keeping it interesting. Then Ron asked me, "Does this place remind you of Newton's Tavern?"  I still can't say beer joint as others called it.  This place sure did!  I will describe it as "Old World" charm.  Low ceilings,  few windows, tables on the side and lots of  beautiful deep rich mahogany wood.  Oh ya, this is bringing back the memory of Chuck and Janie's bar in downtown Shinglehouse.  Writing this brings regrets that it's over, that old time bar is just a memory.  Now wouldn't it be great to write a book on the bar stories, maybe. Chuck and Marion Anderson bought the bar from Janie,  they continued the tradition along with Marion's great soup and delishous hamburgers.  The building was demolished a few years back as all the old buildings that lined the street were.  Just a remember when.

Back to the Whitesville Hotel.  I had Kentucky Bourbon chicken wings.  I don't know why, I never order them for fear they will not be crispy enough or slimy on the inside.  I think Kentucky Bourbon sealed the deal.  They were perfect along with fresh cut french fries, also very good.  The next time we go I will trade the french fries for their homemade potato chips!  I tried a couple of the hubs and they are the "bomb"!  Notice I say next time, that is how good the food is and a very reasonable price plus that "Old World" charm will be calling our name.  A glass of Red Cat wine finished the meal.   All the food at our table looked great.  From jumbo shrimp, beef stroganoff, fish fry, cheese steak sub and chicken wrap, we all had a great meal and conversation.  Not to mention stepping back in time for a few hours.  The gang did the ultimate surprise......they had the bar play Happy Birthday and Hale Hale the Gang's All Here to honor Richard's Birthday!  ♡Priceless♡ He was just a little embarrassed.

Ron and Marcia took us to their friend's farm to see his huge Belgian Draft horses.  If I thought our Smokey was intimidating these big guys made him look miniature.  Good grief they are big but oh so gentle and loving.  A little rub on the nose and hand fulls of hay, they were all sweet.  The farm is on top of a long ridge with open fields and forever views on all sides.  A wood shop on one side of the barn with a cozy wood stove and a couple comfy rockers.  Now that is what I call a true "man cave".  I have a feeling someone might be thinking this is just what he needs in his barn.  Heck, I would love it with a little window looking in the barn.  I could spend winter days watching the chickens.   This guy looks like Sean Connery,  I'm not kidding.  That was an added treat!

Feeding time no matter what farm we are on.  Crazy but I love the smell
of horses, hearing them whinny and trying to nuzzle.

Red in the Morning.....

This morning was one of those WOW mornings.  The sun coming up over the hill had the sky on fire or so it looked.  Even the snow was cast with pink and purple hues.  Like always it changed so quickly and then the show was over.  It didn't take long for the clouds to gather with a low ceiling.  It meant one thing, snow was about to fall and it did, all day.  Still I was watching out the windows and still thinking how beautiful and peaceful the view was.  Even the horses enjoyed the snow their backs had quite a covering of snow.  They can go in their stalls or stand under their porch roof but they prefer the wide open space.  After all they are animals and grazers, us humans just seem to forget and every once in a while think we know what's best for them.   When the temperatures get cold the horses get frisky, running and bucking the length of the pasture.  I know Smokey is one horse that could put fear in the rider with the speed he goes.  He's a Wild Man.  Gracie, well I'll just say she is laid back and slower.

Most of the day we were in the basement cleaning and sorting the dump closet.  When I say dump everything gets dumped in it until there is no room left to dump.  We had quite a few bags that will go to the real dump.  I even finished sorting holiday and season decorations.  DONE for another few years.  We even took stock of what is in the freezer for the rest of the winter and found out more green peas and corn next summer will be put up.  Getting low.

  After lunch we headed out for a walk with the dogs, picked up Dick's game camera and chose another spot to hang it.  The back field is bordered with the wood line and there were many tracks and trails made by deer and coyote that we could tell.  Smaller tracks were probably fox and Bobcat but the fresh snow made is impossible to tell.  Unfortunately I didn't wear my snowshoes, somebody said.......I don't think the snow is deep.......yes it was and yes I should have worn them.  Tomorrow for sure.  We want to walk up our valley to see what is going on.

A good hot cup of JMC while the meatloaf is baking, finish the blog and then my favorite time of the day, supper.   Meatloaf, homemade pasta tossed with leek butter made last spring and fresh out of the freezer today, also beet greens  from the freezer.

Homemade pasta, 1 egg to a cup of flour.

♥♡♥  Thanks to everyone that has and is following my blog.  I am shocked and amazed.  The past 11 months many  private messages or people knowing about my blog that I have never met giving words of encouragement to keep  me going.  Hard for me to believe, I  do love writing, telling stories and sharing recipes along with helpful tidbits.  Truthfully there have been and will be times the mind and words do not mix.  I will write a blog, reread it and delete.........Terrible in English which means I am winging most of the time.  I am not worrying, all my readers keep me going. Near and far you are all greatly appreciated.   Here is a list of countries showing on my stats list.  USA, GERMANY, FRANCE, POLAND, CANADA, CHINA, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, ROMANIA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, PHILIPPINES, JAPAN, ARMENIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SPAIN, EGYPT, ISRAEL, CROATIA, MEXICO AND  ITALY.

Almost

This morning I noticed another change in the sun's angle.  Ever so close to shinning in the kitchen window, just a wee bit more to go.  We even ate supper watching the back field because at 5:45 pm it is still light.  It's the little things that all add up to one big thing, spring.  We enjoy winter but like all seasons when it is about to end the excitement of the next season takes hold.  We discussed the garden while eating supper.  The canned green beans and pickled beets we were enjoying got us to thinking, plant more of what and less of what.  Which we never carry out the plans, we always plant too much of everything but that's a good thing for others.  We give away and that is a great feeling, "Passing it On".  Besides giving extras away the chickens enjoy everything from the garden.  Along with bugs and worms it is what gives the dark yellow/orange yolk to their beautiful eggs.  The eggs are tasty in the winter but just not the same richness as spring, summer and fall.   Patience the sun is doing it's thing and spring will be here in..........8 weeks.  Then the great winter rest of relaxing and outdoor fun will end and the work will begin.  My friend Kim sent me a message the rototiller is serviced and ready to be picked up.  She was reading our minds, spring, garden and tilling.  Kim and Rod own the business just outside of Wellsville, Riverside Sales and Service.  Excellent people to buy from that service and repair on site.  They also know gardening since they have a huge one each year.  If you are in the need for seeds, bulbs or seed potatoes Kim can help you chose what is best.

By April we will let a couple broody hens start a clutch of eggs to set on.  Mrs. Silky was a great mama hen last summer.  We were lucky to get a handsome gray Mr. Silky from Emily Kellogg last fall.  Here's hoping for baby Silkies this summer.

This week we will be trimming the apple trees.  It is not a favorite thing to do for us.  We know they need trimmed way back and branches opened up.  All things we have read say this plus no branches should be touching each other.  Scary, they always look so bare.  Then come late summer we look at them and know they will need trimmed again come winter.  Last year was the first year in the 8 years of their life to have apples.  If we hadn't talked to a man at a Farmer's Market they still wouldn't have apples.   We thought fertilizing them would make big healthy trees with lots of apples...........uhhhhh........NO.  When we told him our trees are big and healthy but never get apples the first thing he asked, do you fertilize them.   Big grin here because we were so proud of giving them the best care.  Shot down, jaw dropping is what we heard from the fruit tree expert.  DO NOT fertilize them.  It makes all tree and no fruit.  He went on to explain they do not need fertilized.  Look at wild apple trees, they produce fruit for years and years.  Granted there are years apples are scarce in the wild but that is usually because of late frosts killing the blossom or sting the young very tiny beginning fruit.  This is the third year without our extra care, we shall see and hope the frosts don't get them.

Looking through my pictures was the crispy deep fried Walleye that our Canadian friends made for us over the holidays.  Larry has the technique down perfectly.  When Larry and Tracy mention Walleye fry we are ready.  The batter is light and very crispy while the fish is white, tender and not wet.  Sound funny considering fish come from water that I say not wet?  For us nothing worse than biting into crispy fried fish and having it wet and slimy, yuck.  Never a doubt with Larry's, perfect every time, anytime.  Fresh fish and seafood has such a clean taste with no smell.  Have you walked by the seafood section in markets and smell fish?  That is not what you are suppose to smell, not fresh, probably frozen and thawed a few times or just displayed past its time.  Good fish should smell clean with an ocean air to it, not a dead fish smell.

The fresh Walleye fish fry!

Big man Smokey and Little Man Rooster waiting for supper ♥

Mr. Gray Silky in the middle, he's a handsome dude!

One More Reason

♡High in the valley♡

A great end to our walk, watching the ducks.

Finally enough snow, temperature is in double digits and I am ready for Snowshoeing 101.  Having never been on snowshoes this is an experience.  They do make walking in snow much easier when not on a groomed trail.  Amber bought the snowshoes for me.  I am thrilled, with a quick how to from Dick I was on my way.  It was one of those times I could have stayed out and played all day.  Tomorrow for sure!

Today I found one more reason to enjoy winter. Amber bought me snowshoes.  I have never used snowshoes so this was a new experience that I really like.  It takes the work out of walking in deep snow.  My dad always had a pair hanging in the garage but I never gave them much thought and had never seen him use them.  He worked for Messer Oil on Horse Run and used the snowshoes when he walked the oil lines and to the pump houses on the lease.  I know now why he used them.  It didn't take much getting the hang of walking in them and I have NO athletic ability at all. That is why I love walking.......it's the only sport I can do and understand.  I will say there were a couple near mishaps.  I now know ya can't just back up with them and when turning don't put one on top of the other you're not going to move unless you fall.  They work, I'm happy and back out tomorrow for another go around.

We went for a walk to our #1 area, Kirk's Valley.  What a beautiful day with the temperature in the 30s and big fluffy snowflakes, lots of them.  The air smelled fresh and clean.  The scene was so quiet, peaceful and refreshing.  Nothing better than the feeling of being completely alone in the wide open spaces.  One of us said every so often, isn't this beautiful!  Yes it sure was and always is no matter what season we are in the woods.  Each one has it's own peaceful beauty.  The dogs were loving it too.  They sniffed every track, tree or whatever, ran and played chase.  They won't wiggle until tomorrow.

Of course after all the walking, snowshoeing and fresh air what is on our mind? Food of course.  First thing this morning I knew, no cooking today.  Out of the freezer came leftover chili.  I love stashed leftovers!  I had apples that were in need of being used so I baked apple turnovers with vanilla glaze.  That's it, some days are just for fun and little to no work.  That was today and if I'm lucky...tomorrow too.

Apple turnovers with a hot cup of Jamaican Me Crazy ♡

Heavy Stuff!

My basement weight room.

This is a not the norm of previous blogs but it is something I have been doing since August 3, 2014 and is on my mind daily.  Strength training.......I know you are thinking what the heck!  Well my youngest son and wife have a Crossfit Retribution and Westminster Strength and Conditioning business in Westminster, MD.  For quite a few years Beau tried to make me a believer and I'm sorry to say he failed or rather I failed.  Then on April 13th as many know I broke my tibia, fibula and total ankle dislocation.  Blahhh, blahhh, blahhbh on the story goes.  Beau asked me to visit because he knew with proper instructions and strength training he could make my ankle and leg stronger and I was not satisfied with what seemed to be a slow progress.   At this point I was ready to give his way a go, too many limitations for doing my everyday favorites.  Away I went to MD, went through the weekend training, he sent home with all the wonderful equipment and I haven't stopped.  Each week more weights are added to the bar for squats, presses and dead lifts and documented in my little book.  I AM A BELIEVER!  If anyone would tell me what I am telling you I would grin, nod and in my mind say "horse feathers" (my SILS saying not mine, I would think "bull----").  At 65 years old I should be losing strength, muscle tone and complaining of aches and pains, at least that was my excuse.  Far be it from me to make a believer  out of someone if they are in denial of what lifting weight can do.  I've thought it and  heard it, I can't lift weights because of my back, shoulder, hip, knee, neck, elbow, wrist etc.  Start light and go at a pace for a stronger you not to be like the guy or gal next to you in the gym.  In my case basement and it's just me.  My back paid dearly for every outdoor activity or chore right down to my sciatica.  Very few mornings did I wake up without saying, oh, my back or hip.  I blamed what ever I did the day before, how I slept or didn't sleep never realizing I was WEAK MUSCLED from my toes to my nose.  The old saying, if I knew then what I know now I would have worked harder to maintain strength.  August 3rd, lifting one day with a 2-3 day rest in between and 2 weeks into it I realized I have not been complaining about my back and still no pain or discomfort as of 1/19.  I pop out of a chair with so much more ease, this is ridiculous  and the answer was so close, I just made excuses why I couldn't lift.  Heaven on Earth!  This is not to get someone lifting heavy without proper training.  That will do more harm and leave you discouraged never to try again.  I watch videos by Mark Rippetoe on YouTube, he has beginning techniques with dead lifts, presses and squats that make it so much easier for me to remember what Beau taught me.  The more I watch and listen the more I understand how these 3 strength training lifts are giving me back the strength that slowly was leaving this 65 year old body.  Strong is good!  I no longer think how stiff or sore I am, it's gone! Even with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, screws and wires in left shoulder and plate and screws in left ankle/leg, I am pain free, building muscle and very important bone mass!

8/3/14- 22# PR, 22# SQ & 50# DL☆☆☆~1/19/15- 70# Pr., 115# Sq.
and 125# DL

If you really have the time and want to watch here is an interview about why I weight train.  No run through, just mom come out in the garage I want to ask you a couple questions.  I'm sure if he had given me a practice run it would have been worse, I don't like speaking in front of more than a few people but when your kids ask, ya do ♡  no matter what.

• After suffering a badly broken ankle at 65 years old, Cheryl used the squat, press and dead lift to rehab her ankle.Watch her discuss her progress with Beau Bryant.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of getting stronger there are many good articles and videos just ask me or google Westminster Strength and Conditioning, Crossfit Retribution and Mark Rippetoe Starting Strength.

Back in my early 20s I never thought about strength it was just there.  I was lean and strong along with my niece Pam (I'm older, only 6 weeks older, she always wants people to know ;)  Strength came from running, climbing and playing outside in our growing up on Horse Run Rd.  In the first 10 years of marriage we had  little ones and burned wood for heat.  Off to the woods we would go, the guys used chainsaws to cut the logs into bolts and of course Pam and I were the carriers that  lifted and hauled the bolts to the truck.  That's just how life was 40+ years ago.  Bolts were heavy lifts and at one point Al and Dick started splitting them in half to lighten the lift and carry.  Now Al's dad was there helping cut bolts and he was gruff and hard lined kinda guy (at least to me) he said, "don't split the bolts then they have to make two trips for one bolt!"  Hard to believe Pam and I never said what we were thinking.......not only were we lean we were mean back in our younger years.  That was respect for Ol'Lyle not saying what we thought.  He really was interesting but intimidating to a young gal.  If I had only known how to squat and lift back then it would have been much easier to carry wood bolts.   I remember Pam's mom saying......women aren't built to lift that's a man's job.  Times were changing in the 60s and 70s......women's rights and proving we can do anything we wanted outside of cooking, cleaning, sewing etc.  Heck we could even toss the bra ;)  Good years, change is inevitable and I was lucky to witness some drastic changes in my young life for women.

Promise......no more blogs on my personal strength training porgram.  Back to the blogs of norm ~

Peel that egg!

When the temperature in Clara rises to the 20s and that is not 20 below it feels like there is life out there.  We are looking forward to a couple woods walks this weekend.  We can do walks when the bitter temperatures hit but the dogs feet can't take it.  They love our walks so leaving them is not an option.  It would be like Dick eating ice cream in front of me.  It can't be!  Speaking of ice cream.....if you are near Shinglehouse, PA this weekend our famous and most delicious ice cream shop will be open.  Nanipops is known for its great tasting ice cream not to mention the size of the cones!  If you have had the joy of getting a way bigger cone than you planned on well you know the feeling.....wow I can't eat all of this and ya do.  Love it!  This special weekend they open is the down hill slide for winter ending.  Just a little reminder of what is soon coming, summer and Nanipops.  Nanipops is on the quiet street of    Pleasant St. behind the Oswayo Valley Memorial Library.  They revamped the house they once lived in and actually it makes the shop uniquely special!  Whether you sit on the front porch or picnic table in the lawn it's a great way to catch up with other customers.  A warm summer night is a perfect time to enjoy ice cream.  Ok anytime is a great time for Nanipops!  Check out their web page http://www.nanipops.com

Last night I boiled a couple fresh eggs for the hubs lunch to take to work today.  He only works when called to sub at the Vo Tech, sometimes his lunches get a little weird if I'm caught off guard.  Whatever I pack if he's hungry enough he'll eat it.   Reminds me of my kids when they were young asking,  "what is there to eat?"  At some point in time I was mad enough after naming a bazillion things (exaggeration #) I would say, "you're not too hungry if nothing I suggested floats your boat."  Yes, the eggs that was what I wanted to tell ya about.  Many know we have hens that lay beautiful gifts of eggs every day.  For some reason they have not slowed down as much as other short winter days.  Nice!  There is only one frustrating problem with fresh eggs.....the fresher  an egg the harder to peel when boiling them.  I wasn't in the mood to get frustrated (nice word for my usual pissed off) peeling eggs last night so I put it off until this morning.  Well, shock to me they peeled perfect.  Maybe letting them set over night is the answer.  The other thing I did different was once I cracked the shell all over (tap it on the counter)  I started peeling it from the rounded end not the pointed end.  The round end is where the air pocket is for an egg.  The air pocket is needed if hatching fertile eggs.  I read this in an egg article a while back.  Also when storing eggs always store them pointed side down to maintain safe storage.  I am going to try it again, if it works then that is the answer.  The eggs I boiled had been gathered the same day, can't get any fresher than that.  I will "Pass it On" if another successful peel happens.  Amazing again what can put a smile on this face.

The peeled fresh day old egg ♡ I'm happy!

It's a beautiful morning in Clara, PA.  As writing this the snow is floating down so gentle.  Hard to stay focused when looking out the window is so relaxing.   I like winter and everything each of our 4 seasons have to offer.  Looking to the next season is Maple Syrup time.  Again I will be visiting someones sugar shack, it's the best smell and taste for a spring fling.  Go for it, get out and see what it takes to make something so delicious from tree juice!

♥ The view I never tire of ♥

It's all about the angle.

Even though each day is cold and sometimes bitter cold the sun is glowing at a new angle.  With 4 large windows facing the southwest I really get to see the change.  Every few days I can see how the sun travels across the wall opposite the windows.  Yes, with each day something else looks quite dusty.  It started low in the room and is now very close to the high beams and tops of door casings.  It's like an automatic reminder of what to clean next. By May the sun will be high enough in the sky that nothing will need cleaned and no sun rays shining in.  For now the cleaning will begin right down to the blinds!  I really dislike cleaning blinds and wonder why I wanted them!

Looking out the sun makes the snow look so clean, crisp and refreshing and helps  the cold temperatures become tolerable.   Another beauty with the sun hanging low in the sky is the long shadows cast from the trees.  Especially midday when the sky is so blue and the shadows have a deep blue/gray color.  Never in my younger life did I notice the beauty of each day.  Funny even clouds, rain, snow and sun have their own special awesomeness for me now.  I missed a lot of gorgeous days wanting warmth and sunshine so many years ago.  Now is the time to take a deep breath and realize what the great outdoors has to offer.

Off to Wellsville today for a few needs and coffee with my friend.  We chatted, drank coffee and played with her new tablet.  Like most of my friends we have known each other since our high school days.  If someone would have told us back then.......in 52 years you two will be communicating with cell phones, tablets, etc........well can you imagine?  Knowing me I would have called them crazy!  Heck colored tv wasn't even invented way back in my teen years.  How about buying water to drink?  Never!  I could go on and on with what has been invented in my 65 years.  Well two hours with Marcia flew by but time flies when your having fun.  Like 65 years it really flew by, I should have paid more attention and taken notes :)

When I ask the hub what he would like for supper there is a good chance he is going to say spatzle noodles.  They are of German cuisine and very easy to make if you have a spatzle grater.  Years ago I did them by hand cutting off strips of dough from a cutting board.  Then by luck I came across the spatzle maker, if something makes life easier I do it.  Here it is in action, load some of the dough in the little square and slide it back and forth on the grater over boiling water.   Three minutes and spatzle is done!  We like it with cabbage or sauerkraut, browned meat and gravy or good bratwursts.  A slice of cheese and crusty bread on the side, it's a meal.  We have leek butter made last spring and it hits the spot this time of year.  Most Potter County people are thinking of the leeks in the winter just waiting for them to start sprouting in early spring.  I say they are sleeping through the winter just like the asparagus in our garden.  It is so exciting to see the first shoots pop through the ground, at least in the life of Cheryl.  If you are from here you probably remember years ago when kids would be sent home from school because they ate the wild leeks.  Leeks, spring gobbler and trout season in our area is the sign winter is over.  We enjoy leek butter on homemade bread or any bread, noodles, potatoes and  anything else we can think of.

The $10.00 spatzle maker ♡

Spatzle, fried cabbage, brautwursts.

Here are the long shadows I like to see.  This church in Humphrey, NY is one of my favorites.  I love steeples, they look so majestic above a church.

Cup or Mug

What do you drink coffee, tea or cocoa from?  I always say a cup of coffee but actually prefer a mug.  This is probably confusing but why not, it comes from my thoughts which 90% of the time are very confused!  At least that is what the hub says and I don't always believe him.  My favorite saying when he is trying to convince me to see or do something his way....I'll google that!  Back to the cup and mug thing.  When I drink coffee at home there are a few of my favorites and I never use other ones.  All of them have been gifts from my family and one from a friend.  It really depends on my mood or just because on the mug of the day.  I have a special teacup for tea and one for cocoa.  The one for cocoa is extra large so it can accommodate a few large marshmallows.  What's cocoa without a little extra sweet goodness?  Even a drizzle of caramel on the marshmallows gives it the wow taste.  I almost start hyperventilating when company stands around while I'm pouring coffee worried they will grab the "wrong" cup.  Weird huh?  Of course that is my controlling I want it my way personality beside the fact coffee tastes better in my signature mugs, tea tastes better in my cup and cocoa wouldn't be nearly as chocolate scrumptious in any other tall mug.  How about this....I have a few of my mom's silverware and I always use the fork, knife and spoon from the set.   They seem to fit just right in my hand, or so I believe!  I even have a favorite glass for ice water that is always by my side during the day.  It's not glass but an old pink Tupperware that has been around since the beginning of time.  Again water would not be the same from any other glass.

Mugs of choice filled with Jamaican Me Crazy coffee anytime
 of the day from The Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters.!

The big cocoa mug.  This should say.....COWGIRL KITCHEN ♡

My tea cup and my favorite tea is Canadian Maple Cream from
 Victoria's Tea House in Niagara On The Lake, Canada.

The granola is delicious.  I always worry trying a new recipe,especially when some expensive ingredients are involved.  Making it saves $ from store bought and also lets me decide how much of my favorite fruit is added.

Granola has to cool for three hours, it can be crumbled
or cut in bar shapes.

Granola Recipe:  In a large bowl add 2 cups of old fashioned oat meal,  1 cup of coconut (I used unsweetened but it's your choice), 1 cup of slivered or rough chopped almonds, 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds (again your choice of nuts).  Mix together and pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  While it is toasting in the oven(this brings out the oils in the nuts and coconut for a better flavor) add 1/2 cup raisins(I used golden), dried cranberries, dried mango and 1/2 cup of chopped dates to the large bowl.  Pour toasted mixture back in the bowl with the fruit.  In a small saucepan add 3 TBSP butter, 3/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1/4 tsp salt, bring to boil for 1 minute.  Add 1 tsp vanilla.  Pour over all ingredients in the bowl, mix well and put back on the parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 300 for 25-30 minutes,  cool for 3 hours then crumble or slice bar style.

I will probably be making more granola for our cross country skiing and snow shoeing if the snow prediction is correct.  Next time dried blueberries and strawberries will be the fruit along with pecans for the nut choice.

It's been very cold in NWPA, I can see the catching up on some new recipes will be on my agenda.  Lentil Veggie soup tonight before the Green Waves hit the court at Otto-Eldred.........Go Green!