Snow Days are Here

Well old man Winter has finally arrived. We have had snow falling for almost three days now. Thought I'd share with you what goes on around this homestead in Winter.

Our girls love to go outside and play.

I think Pearl must clear the path for Jade since she barely gets the snow sticking on her. This goes on non stop throughout the day.

 Outside, get covered in snow and have a ball, inside, come lay by the fire and get all toasty until they're ready to do it again.

                           Ahh, to have such a life. 

 But poor Onyx is having to be caged for two whole weeks. Can you tell she is not happy missing out on all the fun? She has been diagnosed with a congenital myopathy. She has low back spinal misalignment and an extra rib. She is only three years old,  but already suffers with arthritis and severe pain.

This all came on her very suddenly. We take her in to therapy laser treatments every other day right now. Along with that she is taking several pain meds to help with controlling her pain.

This is very hard on her as well as us. I hurt along with her when she is suffering.

First thing I did when I found out she was born with this, was to get on the internet to make sure the people we purchased her from, are no longer breeding. Thank goodness they are not.

This is Taz. He is 14 years old. Still loves to play, but is becoming slower in movement. He has lost a lot of muscle, but still sleeps beside me every night.

With snow outside, he is quite content sleeping next to the wood stove.

Now me on the other hand. This is what I do when the Winter is apon us.

I'm either plowing the roadway or hauling wood with 'Ol Hank'. And I must say I am out of practice again on the road. No doubt, it won't take long to get back in the swing of it.

But if I don't want to be out in the cold, I have been keeping myself busy learning how to make a few crochet things. I purchased this book online and love it!

Especially the one skein projects. It is giving me opportunity to use up a lot of leftover yarn.

This is my version of the braided scarf that is on the cover of the magazine.  I must admit I like the pink one better, but again, using what yarn I have laying around.

Another of my quick hats. Love this one.

This pink one was quite the challenge. Used stictches I have never done before. This one took quite a while to finish. Thought I'd use an antique button to finish it off. Love the pink though.

So this is what is keeping me going through our snowy days.

But one more thing I like to do in Winter, bake chocolate chip cookies. That's where I am headed next.

Come on over and I'll serve some up with a nice hot cup of tea.

Thanks for stopping in.

Easy Crochet caps

I found a pattern that is actually easy enough for me, as I am learning, to make some crochet caps. It is from Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Pipe Wheat Hat, pattern #L0491E.  I can put one together in about an hour. Here are some of my first caps. The little baby one still needs a pompom. But isn't it cute? I just did'nt want to waste the last of the yarn. But will buy more to finish a pompom and make another little cap.

Here is what they look like on my head. The green was my first and it is not made with the thick and chunky weight of yarn the pattern calls for. It is too big for me.

The grey is with the proper yarn but I made it 3 inches shorter, and I love how it turned out. With luck I can get several made for donating at the cancer center. I will just need to find a thick and chunky yarn that has no wool in it.

I'm just tickled I finally found a pattern I could figure out. I tried this type of hat a couple years ago, but had no success so I made the chemo caps from cotton, sewed on the machine. The type that the doctors wear. They are a little more time consuming, but nice caps as well.

Now that I can do these, and especially for winter caps,  I can put them together much faster. I am working on an off-white one though, that I hope to give to my granddaughter along with one of those large shawls you wear over your neck. My next project to try.

What are you working on? Know of any more simple beginner patterns, please let me know. I'm all for easy. I'm just riding out the cold days and waiting for the snow to hit.

The things I get myself into....

Some times I wonder why I take on a project at all. I guess I had always been curious about how to knit. Just never thought about doing it until I saw that it is one of many badges I could earn through MaryJanes farm sisterhood. I have been earning badges over the past three years since joining and knew I had to give this knitting one a try.

And try, I did. If you could have seen my face while attempting to make this scarf, it would have scared the dickens out of you. I swear, I was straining and scrunching up so much. I guess I figured it would some how help me get through this troublesome task. I just had to at least say 'I did it'. So a beginner badge is, I'm pretty sure, all that I will be accomplishing in this category. I started out with 19 hoops on a knitting needle, and at times there were 20, then back to 19. Boy, what a challenge this was.

On a better note, I needed to start practicing making homemade Valentine's cards. Our local chapter is going to be making them at our next meeting and then we will draw names to exchange amoung ourselves. I thought I'd better get a head start on this too, since again, I am not real coordinated in paper stuff. Here is my first attempt at a card.

With a bit more practice, I should have something fairly decent to give.

I did learn that hot glue does'nt work real well in a room that is only 50 degrees. So I guess if I am to make any more I will need to come inside and out of my craft room which isn't heated on a regular basis.

In the meantime, I will keep looking in on some of my favorite blogs in hopes of finding ideas on how to make the perfect Valentine's card. With the many talented women out there, I am sure I will find one who can show me the way.

I just helped cut down a couple of juniper trees that were overshadowing my flower and herb garden. It will be so much sunnier for my plants this year. It is a messy, hard job to do but one that had to get done. After hauling several trailers full of branches to our burning pile, I went to pick up my mail and found the sweetest package of goodies from my Tea Party swap partner on MJ farm. Just look at all the nice things Darlene from California sent me.

I love doing swaps on some of the forums. I have a Secret Sister I will be sending out things to all year and receiving from one as well.

I just finished another book by Jane Kirkpatrick, "A Sweetness To The Soul". I just love how she writes about pioneer families who came out to Oregon and settled here. It brings you into the moment and I can actually picture some of the locations she speaks of in her books.

I have also been taking up knitting, at least trying to. I am just playing around with a ball of yarn so I can put together my beginner badge in knitting on MJ forum. I don't think I will be doing much beyond that as it is much slower going than crochet. Here is a little of what I have accomplished in the last few days.

I even bought those round knitting helpers and that is how I did the hat. I think I may try that again and make one of those large cowls that go over your neck.

In the mean time, I will keep at my crochet blanket I am working on too. I like to switch back and forth on my projects.

I am also getting together some goodies to make Valentine day cards soon. That should be interesting and fun.

Just keeping myself occupied on these cold days. We are expecting snow, finally, come next week. I only hope it does'nt stay until June. We could really use a nice Summer for gardening.

Christmas is over and I made it through without too many worries. With budgets tighter this year, we decided not to exchange gifts, but I did make lots of white and chocolate fudge and peppermint bark for giving.

I am now spending my evenings doing a bit of crocheting again. I finished this nice, warm scarf which works quite nicely at keeping my face and neck warm. The hat is made by knitting. I thought I would give that a try. I missed one stitch, but to be expected I guess with it being my first time. I hope I get much better at that too.

Did you notice my new manequin? I finally found one that I could put pins into. She will be really fun to decorate and show off some of my creations, don't you think?

We finally got some rain through the night, no snow yet, and I got just the right boots for mucking around in it. These are called Bogs and they are so comfy and easy to slip into. I am a barefoot kinda gal so comfy and easy on and off are for me.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas and may everyone have a New Year of good health, happiness and the love of family and friends.

While still trying to get in the spirit of Christmas, I happened to try my hand at ribbon trees. I did the green one by hot glue but burned myself so much I did the pink one the way it was suppose to be done, which is by pinning each ribbon in place.
I think they turned out pretty cute.

I also decided not to put up a big tree this year, but instead I put up a small one with little kitchen stuff for the counter top instead.

I just can't seem to find the energy I need to get myself going with all the usual decorations that I put out. So my many containers full of Christmas decor will stay in the shed until next year. I did help put some lights up around my new deck roof so will at least enjoy them in the evenings.

This is not like me, as I am usually totally into Christmas. It has always been my favorite time of the year. I love all the smells and homeyness it all brings. I just may have to bring home some Christmas swags to put out so I can smell the pine in the air. It might be what I'm missing.

I keep thinking I should be making some of my peppermint bark and fudge and peanut brittle that I love to give as presents, but everyone is on a diet and would rather not have them right now.

So I focused on the charity family for the Salvation Army again this year. We managed to get them the gifts they asked for and enough for a nice Christmas dinner for them as well. I also helped to finish a project we 'chicks' started months ago. We adopted a room for the Women's Shelter where we painted, put down new flooring and furnished it so that one of the gals could transition into their own home. I feel lucky and blessed to be able to help others in ways that they are unable to right now.

For myself, I will keep looking for that spunk that I am lacking in hopes of finding my spirit of Christmas that I know is in me. Until then I will watch my Christmas love stories on tv, play around with a new craft and maybe bake some cookies for my hubby when I'm not busy playing hidden object games on the computer. For him, retirement is easy. For me, I have to reinvent myself. It just takes time.

I need Inspiration

As I sit here going through so many beautiful blog backgrounds, I keep telling myself I need to get more into the Christmas spirit. I've made a few ornaments and a couple of ribbon trees I found in one of my many crafting books, but I'm still struggling to get more accomplished. I even went to our local Christmas craft bazaar Saturday and tried to become more inspired. I'm still not feeling it.

So I will wonder on over to see what everone else has been doing to help me get in the spirit for the upcoming holidays as you always inspire me to keep on trying new recipes and wonderful ideas. What would I do without all you creative bloggers?

Wish me luck.

  
     May you all have a wonderful day with family and friends.

                                     Blessings,
                                        Gail

Dressing for Winter

With Thanksgiving just a few days away and dinner plans, shopping and preparing for company on my mind, I must still think about my 'girls' as they run outside in the snow and the wind.

 I found these cute hot pink coats today at Ross that I knew they would just love.  Of course they cannot sit still all at the same time for mom to take a good picture, so this is it.

Don't they look adorable?

The two older girls don't seem to mind (they think they are going somewhere), but miss Jade does'nt like anything on her body. She will put her head down, walk s l o w l y as though she has a ton on top of her, and then plop down just waiting for someone to take the stupid thing off.

okay mom, you can have it back now

Do you dress your 'kids' up for Winter? Mine have different outfits for Summer and Winter. Now, if only I could get some boots that would stay on their feet. It would sure cut down on the mud they always seem to find.



    I thought the girls could use a bit of a Fall treat.

    But by the time I collected my camera they were all eating from the ground and ignoring the pumpkin.

 I really must carry the thing around my neck if I expect to get some of the pics I want. 

Ol' Henry (right corner) and his girls

Just another leisurely day around the henhouse. As you can see, we still have a bit of snow on the ground and we are expecting more by Thursday, but for now we'll enjoy the sunshine as long as we can.

And as long as they keep laying 8 to 9 eggs a day, I'll let them graze wherever they please.

Gears in motion

                           My gears are grinding.

        With the holidays nearing and projects of charity yet to complete, my mind is not at rest. I woke this morning at 3 and could not go back to sleep thinking of the many things I have to get accomplished.

        Don't get me wrong, I love helping do charitable things. It brings me great pleasure. I just have to keep it together so it gets completed in a perfect way. In other words, don't forget the turkey if you are giving a Thanksgiving dinner as a donation. duh?

        So with that in mind along with other projects to complete, I have pen in hand and am taking many notes as they pop into my brain. Send out my emails to all my farmgirl friends and pick their brains as well.

        I am so looking  forward to our completion of Turtle Cove. A project our local chapter took on in which we completely renovate and furnish a one room apartment for transitional housing from the Women's Shelter into their own place temporarily. We began this project in the beginning of Summer and hope to have it done in the next week or so. From there it is on to our Thanksgiving project and we must start thinking about our Christmas one also.

       So you see, I have my gears in motion and I really must keep them oiled to get me through the next couple of months. Therefore, I must keep myself stocked with hot cocoa, vanilla cappuccino, and wine, of course.

      Are you geared up for the coming Holidays?

Blessings,
Gail

My First Ever

Quiche that is. I have always wanted to try one and after finding a recipe by Paula Deen, I had to give it a whirl. I made the Spinach and Bacon Quiche. 

Who knew it could be this easy. I don't know what I have been so worried about. You simply mix a few ingredients together and throw it on top of a pie crust and bake.

 I guess I never really paid attention to what was involved. Me, not being a cook, backs away from anything that even looks the slightest bit complicated.

 This was so easy and very delicious.

I just may have to look at those recipes for crepes.

Bon Appetit!

Happy Birthday Mother

My daughter and I made a quick trip over to Idaho to suprise my Mother for her 89th birthday.

She was definately suprised as no one told her we were coming. My brother and sister cooked a huge dinner for all the family. There were about fifteen of us, I think,  with everyone speaking to someone with lots of catching up on what they have been doing, lots of  laughing and lots and lots of picture taking.   My neice, Mary, brought this beautiful cake with a delightful cream center.

Here is my nephew, Dave, making gramma laugh. She says next year she wants a stripper. Let me tell you there were several woman saying "okay". Although it may be a problem as they do not have such things in this neck of the woods.

After everyone watched gramma open gifts some had to go home early because most had to work the next day. Faith and I had to get up early also to hit the road back home before the snow became impossible for us to drive over the mountains.  (It rained through to Burns and then it was snow all the rest of the way home. It's been snowing ever since.)

Although it was only one day there, it was really nice to see everyone and to be able to be there for my Mother's birthday. I hope to suprise her with many more to come.

I'm just glad we were able to make it there and back before our Winter weather is really here to stay.

Farmgirls and their trucks

You know us farmgirls just gotta have a truck to call our own. Well, at least this farmgirl does. This is my new project, I mean, truck, for which I can haul horse manure, straw, wood, great finds at yard sales, and everything a farmgirl needs.  Not bad huh?

Hubby says 'it's less wear and tear on his truck". Besides, I just want something I don't have to worry about gettin' hurt, if you know what I mean. Grocery carts and car doors are not always nice. She is a 1975 Chevy 4x4. I would have loved another old 69 Chevy stepside, but way out of my price range. Plus hubby says parts are a lot harder to get a hold of.

I plan to keep her black, but will probably do a flat black with maybe some hot pink trim. And of course I gotta have pink inside too, lots of it. You know the girly stuff. Can't wait to put my new farmgirl sticker and my farm chick sticker on her, but will need to wait for warmer weather now before I get her painted.

In the meantime, hubby is sure enjoying tinkering with her and putting nice upgrades of things under the hood and inside. Do mechanics ever really retire? I'm just glad I have someone here who can see what my new girl needs. He'll make sure she is in prime condition for me to drive this Winter.

I brought her home last Sunday from Lakeview, Or. Hubby says "you know, she'll drive a little rougher than your car cus' she's a 4x4 and a bit rougher on the road." I giggled so hard coming home cus' every little bump in the road, my girls (boobs) were bouncing bettys. I figured I'd loose a little on top before I got her home. Now that's my kind of exercise.

Once she gets a tail hitch on her, she'll be good for hauling around my vintage trailer or my boat. Just what this farmgirl is itchin' to do. Girl trip!

Fall gathering/farmgirl style

Yesterday, my daughter and I spent the day cooking homemade apple cider, stuffed and roasted pumpkins (from the new MJ magazine), squash soup and a pumpkin cheesecake. I even made a couple of homemade breads to try with my canned jams.

We invited our local chapter of farmgirls to come out and enjoy an evening to relax and sit around an open firepit. The night was not too chilly as past evenings had been, but was very enjoyable. This seemed like a perfect way to taste some of the bounty from which our gardens provided.

With just a touch of rum in the apple cider, it made for a nice warm relaxing drink. It started out  on top of the stove for several hours, then we strained it and finished simmering it outside on a burner. I must say that it turned out perfect and it is something I would make again. Just look at all the beautiful colors of Fall in the pot. Yummy!

As the fire kept us warm into the evening we enjoyed artisan breads with homemade peach, plum, and apple jams and honey butters. We never got around to making the s'mores or roasting any marshmallows, as everyone was pretty full.

 

Having our new gazebo roof up, sure made for a nice place to come outside and enjoy the evenings. I hope to have many more good times out under the stars.

Happy Fall everyone.


Blessings,
     Gail

Look what popped up

Ain't it just the cutest little thing? I think she is the other momma's baby who is still sittin' on four eggs. She looks just like her. Both are gonna be really good momma's as they have shared their time sitting on the same nest for a few weeks now sharing their babies and keeping them warm.

I get a little weird and really excited to see my hens having their own babies. This is the second time it has happened. My silky gave birth to two babies a couple years ago, and now her baby is giving me babies. This momma is a new one of three that I bought this Spring.

With luck I will not have to purchase any more chicks and I can keep my flock growing.

I just had to share a little happiness with you. The cycle of life is exciting to me. Yeah, I'm weird.

Hope your day brings a smile to your face.

Canning can be rewarding

Yesterday, myself and a few other farmgirls pulled up the garden and canned up a big batch of green tomato salsa verde. It can be used on any type of meats.


Green Tomato Salsa Verde
2 lg onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 pounds green tomatoes, cored, quarterd
4 jalapeno chilies, stems, seeds removed

green tomato salsa verde

1 sm can diced green chiles
1 red sweet pepper, diced
1 cn chicken broth
cumin
menudo spice mix
salt to taste
Put all ingred. into large pot and cook for 20 to 30 minutes until tomatoes are soft. Pour into hot sterilized jars, seal and water bath for 15 to 20 min.
Today, I canned up a batch of applesauce from all the apples I picked from Susan's trees.This yielded me 6 quarts.


                                  Applesauce


2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds apples
per quart
water
sugar (optional)


Wash apples, core, peel, and quarter.
Cook apples until soft with just enough water to prevent sticking. Puree in food processor, return to pot and add 1/4 cup sugar per pound of apples. Bring to boil and continue stirring for about 10 to 15 minutes. Ladle into hot jars. Process for 20 minutes in water bath.
I added some cinnamon and allspice the last five minutes of cooking before placing it into the jars. I then decided I would use some of the green tomatoes I picked yesterday, to make some
Chow Chow relish, so I diced and chopped until I filled my crock pot where everything had to sit and blend for several hours.


                                       Chow Chow Relish
1qt chopped cabbage                           
1 cup chopped sweet red peppers
3 cups cauliflowerets
2 cups chopped green tomatoes           
2 cups chopped onions                          
2 cups chopped sweet green peppers
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp celery seed
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp mustard seed                               
1/1 tsp ginger
1 tsp tumeric
2 1/2 cups vinegar
3 tablespoons salt


Combine vegatables, sprinkle with salt. Let stand 4 to 6 hours. Drain well. Rinse and drain. Combine sugar, spices and vinegar in large saucepot. Simmer 10 min. Add vegetables, simmer 10 min. Bring to boil. Pack hot relish into hot jars, process 10 min. in boiling water canner.

Canning takes some time, and boy can a kitchen get messy while in the process, but it is very rewarding to me to put up fruit and veggies I know have been grown without chemicals and with hard work from friends and family.

Tomorrow I plan to tackle  Green Tomato Relish and Dilled Green Tomatoes.

 Does anyone have a recipe for Green Tomato pie? My mother in law use to make it and it tastes similar to pecan pie. She has passed and I unfortunetly did not get her recipe. I'm looking for all ways to use up my many green tomatoes.

Happy canning.

Making jam or oops......

I spent the entire morning Monday making for the first time, wild plum jam. Not knowing what I was doing I set out first to weigh my fruit. I would step on a bath scale, step off, grab a bowl of fruit, step back on. Crazy right? I had no idea at the time that 2 pounds equaled 32 oz. Man, where was I in school?


Anyway after getting my fruit together I set out to cook it then somehow mash it through a strainer to keep only the pulp and throw out the pits. I tried everything from a spoon to a potatoe masher. Boy, did I get a work out this morning.


After several hours, I finally had 6 cups of fruit to put back on the stove, heat up and add the sugar and pectin. Once poured into the jars (11 small ones), I figured I'd better start cleaning the kitchen because you could not see an inch of counter space.


I soon realized I had forgot to water bath the batch, but by then the lids had sealed and the jars had cooled. So what's a gal to do with all this jam that won't last long now? Yep, share it with everyone I could run into while I was in town. The guy at Texaco got one, the gal at Knick Knack Paddy Wack got one, a close friend received one, and so on until I was out of stock and ready for home.


Lesson learned............put your glasses on and keep your head out of the clouds when making jam.

A little bit of history

If you have not been to Crack in the Ground it is a must see if you are traveling near Christmas Valley, Or. It was formed 1100 years ago from cooling lava flows. We hiked down into it until we came upon more nettle than I chose to walk through. It is a bit frightening to see all the walls with cracks and everything looks as though it could crumble down around you at any slight earth movement. But well worth the hike.

The air is 20 degrees cooler than the surface. It was like going into an open cave.

From here we stopped at the old Fort Rock Museum.  It began with only eight people who were interested in preserving the history of the homestead era around 1912. The Stratton house was one of the first to be moved to the museum site. Mrs. Stratton died in 2009 at the age of 104.

Mr. Stratton single-handedly built this house.

I just love old buildings, don't you? Guess that is why I collect so much old stuff.

Being a Pioneer was hard to say the least, but seeing how they lived and with such simplicity, sure makes me want to simplify my life even more.

We stopped for a bite to eat at the local tavern. It is run by a 70 year old woman who does the cooking all by herself as well as tend the bar. Let me tell you she can put out one delicious meal. After stuffing our faces it was off to our next stop.

Hole in the Ground.  It is about six miles from the museum and was caused by a meteoroid, it is a maar, which is a volcanic crater formed by a steam explosion. It is approx. 300 feet deep and a mile wide.

right side of hole

left side of hole

The road was rough to get out to this, so with my car it was slow going. You would not find this place without the help from the curator of the museum. He has good written directions for every turn and bump in the road. Signs are just not visible.

Hope you enjoyed a little bit of Oregon history. Now, I must plan where we will be going next. Hope to see you there.

Yummy Breakfast

I just received my All You magazine and found a recipe that had me drooling. I just had to give it a try and knew I had to share it with you. My usual Sunday breakfast is bacon, eggs and toast. So this was a nice change. Makes for a good start on Fall season with the smell of cinnamon in the air. Enjoy.

                           Overnight Peaches-and-Cream French Toast
 
             1 8 oz. loaf French bread, sliced
             8 large eggs
             2 cups whole milk
             1/4 cup sugar
             1 tsp. vanilla extract
             2 15 oz. cans sliced peaches packed in juice, drained
             1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
             1/2 tsp. cinnamon
             1/2 cup heavy cream

Butter a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Arrange bread in a tight, flat layer in dish. In a large bowl, whisk eggs with milk, sugar and vanilla until blended; pour over bread. Arrange peaches on top and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
Remove baking dish from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour cream into a small pan; bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Drizzle over peaches and bake, uncovered, until casserole is lightly browned on top and just cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 6

This was such an easy dish for me to fix and was yummy and filling for everyone. I'm already thinking of trying it with apple slices. This just might have to be my new breakfast to fix on Sunday mornings.