Grape Leaves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grape Leaves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Lick and a Promise

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

The beginning of Bread and Butter Pickles.

5 Pints ready to be put away for winter.

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

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

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

Running Water

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That Time of the Year ♡

Rounding up the young hens
for the night.

Old Henny and young eating
before lights out.

Henny on her favorite roost for
the night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sweet Henny

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

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

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

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

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

peas will be ready soon

green beans will also be ready in a few days

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

Summer Time in Clara ♡

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

Free for the picking, wild raspberries in my backyard ♡

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Doily

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

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

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

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

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

Carrots

Yes carrots brought me to the point of looking back on the first blog I wrote.  It was short, to the point and what inspires me.  Today carrots took me to the happy place I need to be.  The simple pleasures that make me breathe deep, relax and love everyone and everything that makes my life complete.  Far from perfect I am but life is what it is and knowing what satisfies the soul is all I need.  Today the carrots did the trick.  While I took a 4 day vacation with Amber to visit her daughter/my granddaughter to Worcester, MA with a visit to Boston, Dick kept busy getting the little Clara Creek farm ready for spring.  I called him twice a day just to make sure he wasn't over doing which he tends to do often.  He was so excited to tell me he dug about 25 lbs of carrots and they were beautiful, sweet and crisp. This is the first year we left carrots in the ground and covered them for winter.  Thanks to the tip from George Donovan we have fresh carrots for the next couple months.  The horses are happy too.

We decided on beef, barley and vegetable soup today.  Tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and beans from our garden, there is my happy spot in life.  Just knowing all the work/fun of last summer's garden is still providing a great meal for us.  The carrots were in a mesh bag left by the bridge for the rain to rinse the heaviest of the mud off.  As I walked across the lawn to get a few for the soup memories of how many times I crossed the lawn, bridge and walked the fields to relax and get inspired for what ever the day had to offer.  For me there is nothing better than the wide open space of the great outdoors.  Watching for deer, turkey, bear, coyotes, fox, hawks and eagles just make Cook'n by the Creek more enjoyable.  Of course my chickens and the horses are always the main video.  The hens and rooster have been enjoying the snow less ground.  They are back to scratching for food and free ranging only to go back to the coop when they lay their eggs.  Eggs, another treat on the farm.

As we said many times from the early years of our marriage during April, it is soon going to be a leek digging, beer drinking kinda day.  Dig leeks in the morning, clean them, make bread, bake a ham, have a few beers or wine and supper by 5.  The day is with hot sun, cool when the sun goes down and peepers providing a tune while we enjoy the "simple pleasures" of Potter County country living.

Thank you carrots for making my day ♡

Always "Pass it On" that simple pleasure can mean so much ♡

Nothing can be finer than homemade soup, crusty bread, Amish
butter and a glass of Lakewood Niagara Wine.  The blue bottle
reminds me of Ron and Marcia with a trip to Watkins Glen and
Lakewood Winery.  The blue soup bowl of John and Diane
and our trip to visit them in NM, going over the Mexican
border for lunch, shopping and buying the bowls.  

The Toe Bones Connected to the

Original Toll house recipe except 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup
coconut oil.  Plus Dick's favorite with pecans & coconut added.
My friend Marcia makes them perfect, her secret.....
take them out of the oven before the center is brown (looks
like they are not done), the best
cookie ever!

Remember the song?  The toe bones connected to the foot bone, the foot bones connected to the ankle bone, etc.  In my case the woodwork's connected to the walls, the walls are connected to......  It's spring and my mind says, freshen up the house.  Something the hub just hates to hear because he knows one thing leads to another.  The first inkling he got that I had painting on my mind was when we went to Olean and I asked to go to Home Depot.......the first thing he asked, "What are you going to do?"  It took 4 days for the woodwork around the windows and floor to be sanded, primed and painted.  That was really all I planned on doing but getting so close to the walls made me decide they also need painted.  First thing tomorrow off to Olean for the wall paint for the living room, dining area and kitchen.  As long as I'm painting the hall might as well get freshened up.  So my song for the week is the woodwork's connected to the living room, the living room is connected to the dining room which is connected to the kitchen which is connected to the hall.  There that didn't take long, everything should be finished by Wednesday.  I do the trim and hub does the roller.  He really hates painting but is a natural with that roller (I hate using the roller).

I started this post last week.  It is now Thursday and tada, I'm finished.....maybe.  The weather is still keeping me inside so I have a few ideas floating around this over active mind.  I listed everything that was connected in the first paragraph but trust me I found a few more.  I have always painted the hall a different color than the rest of the house but this time decided not to.  Here's the kicker.  When I get paint samples I always get four of each, that way I tape them to all four walls to see what they look like.  I didn't put the sample in the hall which I should have.  All the while I was painting the hall I knew it was not showing like the living room. It was Yuck!  Off I go to get a different color, lucky me I had picked up several samples of teals from light to dark.  Why?  Because I had full intentions of painting the bathroom too.  I just hadn't broke the news to the hub.  Sticking the teal sample on the walls of the hall and bingo I had a pick.  I'm really happy, not a color I would have thought for the hall but...I'm in love.  Now I have fake window frames with 15 muntins hanging on the hall wall that I painted a  sunset theme behind them.  They were avocado green which looked fine with tan walls, not so with the new teal shade.  2 windows, 30 muntins and yes I painted them a light butter yellow shade.  Happy again because starting this marathon I had no idea what would be the outcome.  So my advice is just go with it ;)

My favorite paint is Glidden with a satin finish has a one coat coverage if not changing it drastically. Norton's Building Supply sells my choice of paint brushes by Wooster.  They are amazing and show no brush strokes with the type of paint I use.  It makes painting stress free when prepping surfaces and using products that work.

The inside tado list has to be finished before the weather breaks.  Then we will be outside getting spring/summer things done.  The pizza oven needs faced with field stone, back deck and stairs painted and then get the garden ready for planting. The electric fence will need tightened and and loose posts reset.  Plans for a new chicken coop is also on the list.   Of course spring green will be in full swing so 2-3 times a week the lawn will need mowed and weed whacked.  R &R winter mode has come to an end.  As every season we are happy to see it end and a new one begin.  Very soon we will be seeing signs of new beginnings and growth at Cook'n by the Creek which is a pleasing peaceful time.  We will also be starting the pizza oven, inviting family and friends to enjoy pizza and the beauty of Clara.   We have been thinking of it often, as soon as the temperature gets to 50 and sunny ♡

Slacking in the kitchen during my painting marathon called for chocolate chip cookies with pecans and coconut for the guy that is so patient with me. He knows once I get going there will be no "rest for the wicked" as my mom would say.  Wicked I am at times but what the heck!

Pizza, wings, bagels, bread and what ever we can think of
♡♡ tastes delicious the wood fired oven ♡♡

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.