Wednesday, May 30, 2018

COUNTRY DAILY LIFE

It cannot be said often enough how much I enjoy my country home and lifestyle.  I know all cannot nor do they want to live in the country.  But, I know for this seventy year old, I feel blessed.  Being raised in the country, and living in the country most of my adult life, I can compare city life as I have done some of that also and some suburb life.  It was okay as it was what I had to do.  I have found that it is best for me to be positive and adapt to my situations as they come in life.  However, my choice for country living is rewarded.

The garden, the yard, the trees, and woods are just a wonder to look at and sit in.  To find new spots to sit or walk and discover some new plant or insect still excites my being.  To watch the clouds or listen to the rain on my screen porch tin roof is soothing.  When I bake, fix salad, etc, from things I have grown makes me think of people years ago.  Or, today those who like to live organically, self sustaining, free of products shipped miles, but fresh things, I admire you also.  And, we get to taste "real foods".

Homemade sandwich bread made in a special covered heavy metal pan from the wonderful old company, King Arthur Flour, in Vermont.  Freshly made with healthy ingredients.  Delicious.  

You can do these things in the city also.  Bake, walk, listen and look.  I encourage you to just connect yourself to the world, your world where you live now.  And if you want to someday live in the country....then plan for that.  I can tell you it is well worth it.

Sunday, May 27, 2018

ORGANIC HOMEMADE DOG FOOD

Years ago I made my dog food for my pack of seven dachshunds.  Now that I have three little guys, ages 2, 3, and 7, I thought I was doing fine with purchasing good food, but my Hemingway, Yorkie mix, has become a fussy eater.  So with the latest Mary Jane Farm magazine and its wonderful dog treats and food to make, I got a great thought to again make my food.

It is simple, and I make enough to last for awhile, but I put it in containers and freeze it, as it is organic and fresh, no preservatives.  I only have about two days worth in each container which I refrigerate.  They are loving it and
 Vincent vG  (yes, van Gogh
 Hemingway, yes after Ernest             and Mr. Molesley after a character in Downton Abby.
it is much healthy for them.  Actually it smells and looks good.  

So it has fresh veggies like carrots, tomato, potato and spinach.  It also has apples, blueberries, and banana.  The meat can vary, I have used pork and beef, ground and browned.  I cook the veggies/fruit later in broth, organic also and sometimes homemade.
My guys run for their meals now.

Friday, May 25, 2018

MORE BERRIES

A few days ago we picked 1 pint of fresh strawberries, and two days later we picked a gallon.  They are smaller, but sweet sweet sweet.  I had ordered a lovely short and smaller bundt pan which has an indented top so you can fill it with fresh fruits....like our lovely strawberries.  It is such a pleasure to have these fresh berries.  We also have blackberries and black raspberries, and trees with apples and pears and peaches.  The smell of the orchard is so pleasant.  It is fun watching things grow also.  Farming, gardening, and living in our country home is a joy.  There is work in all of these things, but it is joyful work, with sunshine, quiet, harmony of the bird songs, and fresh air.  At night I may be tired after spending time trimming, weeding, hoeing, picking, and even canning and freezing.  But it is "delicious" and healthy.  




Wednesday, May 23, 2018

FIRST STRAWBERRIES ON 2018


About five years ago two of my grandson's, my son's wonderful boys, and my husband planted a three tiered strawberry patch for me.  I had taken out the big garden and also the large strawberry patch which was getting old.  My desire was to go smaller.  Thus for my birthday one year they made this lovely patch.  I enjoy having the tiers as it makes it easier to pick.

Yesterday, 5-22-2019, I picked my first "pint" of berries.  They are small, but sweet and delicious.  It is fun to was them in the neat new container, ceramic, that I picked them in.  Funny story when I purchased this at Hobby Lobby a few days ago, an older man stuck up a conversation with me about what I was going to pick in it.  I nicely told him about my patch and that it would be fun to use it.  He continued on talking when I had a sense that he was flirting with me.  I just smiled and said, "Nice talking with you."  I am 70 and this boosted my spirits, but I also walked out of Hobby Lobby with a neat purchase that made me smile, that day and when I used it to pick, and wash my berries in.

The best part is that I took my freshly cleaned berries and mashed them with some sugar, scooped out two dishes of vanilla ice cream and had this lovely treat along with fresh warm homemade bread with good butter on for lunch....with my husband of many years.  He conversed and licked his lips, saying how blessed we are to have our own berries.  Be they littler then store berries, but they are also much tastier, and all organic!


 

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Blooming Beauty

Lovely blooms are all over my yard and how I love it.  Flowers do warm my heart even if the day may be a hard day.  So I pick peonies, take photos of Clematis and Iris.  All enjoyable as I also watch my salad and herb garden grow and pumpkin patch increase in leaves each day.  The rain has been hitting our area every evening for a bit, maybe 1 inch, or 1/2 inch a day.  It means weeding is easier and less watering time.  Time to enjoy it all and raise the spirits of anyone who takes the time to look.





Wednesday, May 9, 2018

EAGLES NEST

No not a restaurant or bar, but really, a nest with youngsters sitting on the edge looking out at their big world.  Later we went back again with my son and two of his children.  My son is a certified, licensed, Missouri Falconer, which means he can have a hawk and train it for hunting.  He does, and actually has had three or four already, catching, keeping and training then releasing after about two years so they can again go out in the wild.  So it was with agreement that I had to tell him about this nest we found on our farm, but not telling the neighbors or the world where it is.  Some people don't appreciate these things and just act stupid.

So both times we approached, we did not go too close and we were quiet as we could be.  I took lots of photos with my long zoom.  What a treat when we went back with son and family that while we were again looking but respecting, one of the parents flew in.  It landed on a tree a bit away from the young and put down the fish it had in its beak, and started to converse with it's young.  Amazing to be a witness to all of this.  Wandering in the wonderful world, even if it is our farm, which is amazing, is something to behold.
Get out and enjoy this world.

Monday, May 7, 2018

GARDEN IS UP!

Today the corn popped out as well as my cucumbers, and lettuce.  It is always exciting, no matter how many years I put seeds in the ground, it still amazes me that they grow and will produce great things for us to eat and share with others.

Indoors, my starter is ready for baking baguettes tomorrow.  So good to be able to grow healthy things and also the bake healthy things.  I will also make spaghetti from my tomatoes of last harvest, and I even make my own pasta, which means no preservatives.  

Life is good in my corner of the country.