This has turned out to be a busy week with a couple/few non-usual things going on. It's left Papa Pea and me huffing and puffing and so tired at the end of the day yesterday that we both looked like something the cat dragged in . . . something that hadn't had enough sleep in several nights.
Determined to get some good rest last night, I think we were in bed (and very quickly asleep) by 9:30. Neither of us stirred until nature called me at 6:15 this morning. I really, truly did give serious thought to staying up . . . but didn't. Next thing we knew, it was 8:20. Whoa! That's a late get-up-and-get-crackin' time for us.
We were talking with our daughter last night and she asked how a certain undertaking with which we've been dealing for about three (long) weeks now was progressing. Well, we explained, we've come down to the wire of wrapping things up, anticipating a good outcome and looking forward to heaving a big sigh and putting a done-deal stamp on the project. What did we learn early this week? The fella-in-charge, with whom we've been working, abruptly left the company and is, as we speak, moving halfway across the country to a new job. Taking in this latest development with her mouth hanging slightly open, Chicken Mama said, "These weird glitches happen to you two more often than anyone else I know." (All is not bad though. Our fella-in-charge assures us he left his old company on good terms and will be finishing up all of his work in progress there. Our fingers are crossed. Tightly.)
I still have my Easter decorations out. Would be a good idea to get them put away today and some spring-like items set around to encourage blooms and blossoms outside (I wonder if that would actually help?) to compete with the mud we'll be facing for a while longer. Yeah, new decorations would be a good idea. (Agnes? Oh, AG-nes? [She's my fantasy maid.] Would you get right on that, please?)
Our snow continues to melt and I can see more of the garden area and surrounding bare ground every day. No, not a pretty time of year here. Very lacking in color unless, of course, you have a special thing for mud brown. I don't.
Also a lot of gray, heaviness in the out-of-doors atmosphere today. Because I have an unexpected day at home (another little change in plans . . . have I mentioned I don't like surprises or changes?), I'm thinking I should grind some flour and fill the house with the aroma of baking bread.
I'll do that just as soon as I talk with Agnes and get her started on her list for the day.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Anyone Need Some New Potholders?
If you're in the market for a couple of new potholders for spring, you may have come to the right place.
I'd like to give away these potholders I made from some of the fabric I got as a surprise package in the mail last week.
Just leave a comment in the comment section of this post and I'll put your name in a hat for a chance to receive them.
This is Tuesday morning so I'll pick a winner Thursday night about the time I shut down my computer (9 p.m.) and post the winner Friday morning.
Don't be shy . . . leave a comment!
Front Side
I'd like to give away these potholders I made from some of the fabric I got as a surprise package in the mail last week.
Back Side
Just leave a comment in the comment section of this post and I'll put your name in a hat for a chance to receive them.
This is Tuesday morning so I'll pick a winner Thursday night about the time I shut down my computer (9 p.m.) and post the winner Friday morning.
Don't be shy . . . leave a comment!
Monday, April 1, 2013
April Fool's Day
No foolin' around here today!
It's Monday, the start of a new week (and new month!) which is shaping up to be an expected full one, and a day that was my maternal grandmother's birthday. She was the only grandmother I knew as my dad's mother was gone long before I came on the scene. My mom and I lived with Grandma and Grandpa for nearly three years while my dad was serving in World War II and I have many fond memories of their house (always full to the gills of relatives for any and all occasions) and them.
We had a laid back, quiet Easter yesterday. The weather was conflicted with sunshine and snow flurries (heavy at times) nearly all day. And at the same time. The temp was in the 30s, several degrees above freezing, so the snow melted as it hit the ground.
I made a quiche (we are rolling in eggs from our prolific hens) brunch for the two of us yesterday morning. I was flying by the seat of my pants in putting it together so wasn't sure how it would turn out, but (happily) it was really good. Dinner around 5:30 p.m. was an old family favorite of vegetarian "meat" balls in wine gravy which our dear daughter shared with us.
I really didn't think Papa Pea and I would be getting our traditional Easter baskets from Chicken Mama this year. First off, I was betting she wouldn't be able to find our baskets packed away in all of her household contents she has had to put into storage. Secondly, because she was very sick this past week, I didn't think she would have had a chance to figure out and get goodies to fill the baskets. (Oops, that's right. The Easter Bunny takes care of that little task.)
Yes, she really was a down-and-out sickie. If you've seen her latest post, you'll know she got socked big time this past week with some nasty germs which laid her low with strep throat and a heavy sinus infection. She also took a could-have-been-more-serious fall on the slippery, icy, melting snow outside her cabin a couple of days ago. She has some ugly bruising on her arm . . . which I took a picture of last night . . . which may show up on a future blog post of hers.
But back to Easter baskets. I don't know how she does it but she consistently comes up with the perfect gifts (whether large or small) for everyone for any occasion. She has a real knack for knowing what a person would truly like and appreciate. As usual, my basket was full of things that tickled my fancy. Her dad's basket was a hit with him, too, filled with "manly" gadgets and gizmos he loved.
As is typical in northern Minnesota, our spring (ha!) weather has taken a nose dive and was 16 degrees this morning. Papa Pea came in from morning chores a while ago and remarked, "Son of a biscuit! It's COLD out there!" But our snow cover has continued to melt in the last couple of days of warmer (than 16 degrees) weather and the standing water in my raised garden beds disappeared with 24 hours. When tromping across the ground, it's easy to tell it's drying out quickly. Maybe the dreaded mud season won't be so bad this year.
Hope you all had a lovely Easter Day and that this new month of April brings you a joyful zest for the new season upon us. Now, I need to get back to my laundry . . . with zest.
It's Monday, the start of a new week (and new month!) which is shaping up to be an expected full one, and a day that was my maternal grandmother's birthday. She was the only grandmother I knew as my dad's mother was gone long before I came on the scene. My mom and I lived with Grandma and Grandpa for nearly three years while my dad was serving in World War II and I have many fond memories of their house (always full to the gills of relatives for any and all occasions) and them.
We had a laid back, quiet Easter yesterday. The weather was conflicted with sunshine and snow flurries (heavy at times) nearly all day. And at the same time. The temp was in the 30s, several degrees above freezing, so the snow melted as it hit the ground.
I made a quiche (we are rolling in eggs from our prolific hens) brunch for the two of us yesterday morning. I was flying by the seat of my pants in putting it together so wasn't sure how it would turn out, but (happily) it was really good. Dinner around 5:30 p.m. was an old family favorite of vegetarian "meat" balls in wine gravy which our dear daughter shared with us.
I really didn't think Papa Pea and I would be getting our traditional Easter baskets from Chicken Mama this year. First off, I was betting she wouldn't be able to find our baskets packed away in all of her household contents she has had to put into storage. Secondly, because she was very sick this past week, I didn't think she would have had a chance to figure out and get goodies to fill the baskets. (Oops, that's right. The Easter Bunny takes care of that little task.)
Yes, she really was a down-and-out sickie. If you've seen her latest post, you'll know she got socked big time this past week with some nasty germs which laid her low with strep throat and a heavy sinus infection. She also took a could-have-been-more-serious fall on the slippery, icy, melting snow outside her cabin a couple of days ago. She has some ugly bruising on her arm . . . which I took a picture of last night . . . which may show up on a future blog post of hers.
But back to Easter baskets. I don't know how she does it but she consistently comes up with the perfect gifts (whether large or small) for everyone for any occasion. She has a real knack for knowing what a person would truly like and appreciate. As usual, my basket was full of things that tickled my fancy. Her dad's basket was a hit with him, too, filled with "manly" gadgets and gizmos he loved.
As is typical in northern Minnesota, our spring (ha!) weather has taken a nose dive and was 16 degrees this morning. Papa Pea came in from morning chores a while ago and remarked, "Son of a biscuit! It's COLD out there!" But our snow cover has continued to melt in the last couple of days of warmer (than 16 degrees) weather and the standing water in my raised garden beds disappeared with 24 hours. When tromping across the ground, it's easy to tell it's drying out quickly. Maybe the dreaded mud season won't be so bad this year.
Hope you all had a lovely Easter Day and that this new month of April brings you a joyful zest for the new season upon us. Now, I need to get back to my laundry . . . with zest.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
It Must Be Spring!
Yep, spring is definitely on its way . . . but I sure do wish it could arrive without going through this dreary, damp, muckity-mud period. Spring time this far north is never pretty.
Last night before it got dark, just the very top framing of the garden beds could be seen peeking out of the snow cover. After a night of slow, steady rain (we got about 3/4"), the above picture shows what they look like this morning.
Some of the ground underneath must still be frozen because there is standing water in most of the beds.
Our little pond has a melted, murky puddle of water in the center of it. (I wonder how long before our returning spring Mallards arrive?)
It took only two sessions of cleaning the muddy feet and underbelly of our granddog, Tucker (after he convinced me [I'm so easy] he really, REALLY had to go outside to take care of his business), for me to decide he's spending the day in the greenhouse. From there he can come and go in or out as he wishes. In the shot above, he's in for a rest after giving himself a spring cleaning by rolling, rolling, rolling in the mushy snow. But he's not happy I told him he can't come inside the house. He's pouting and so mad he's even refusing to lie on his nice, soft bed. Yep, it's a dog's life.
The temp is forecast to go up to the high 40s today, possibly even hitting 50 degrees which will be a high for us this spring season. The rain is still steadily coming down so it's guaranteed more snow will be gone by the end of the day.
All this is evidence that spring IS coming to the north woods, and I'm getting itchy to put some radish seeds in a garden bed. I may have to wait until the frost leaves the ground first though. And the water drains out of the beds. And the temperature climbs out of the 30s.
Happy Spring, Everyone!
Last night before it got dark, just the very top framing of the garden beds could be seen peeking out of the snow cover. After a night of slow, steady rain (we got about 3/4"), the above picture shows what they look like this morning.
Some of the ground underneath must still be frozen because there is standing water in most of the beds.
Our little pond has a melted, murky puddle of water in the center of it. (I wonder how long before our returning spring Mallards arrive?)
It took only two sessions of cleaning the muddy feet and underbelly of our granddog, Tucker (after he convinced me [I'm so easy] he really, REALLY had to go outside to take care of his business), for me to decide he's spending the day in the greenhouse. From there he can come and go in or out as he wishes. In the shot above, he's in for a rest after giving himself a spring cleaning by rolling, rolling, rolling in the mushy snow. But he's not happy I told him he can't come inside the house. He's pouting and so mad he's even refusing to lie on his nice, soft bed. Yep, it's a dog's life.
The temp is forecast to go up to the high 40s today, possibly even hitting 50 degrees which will be a high for us this spring season. The rain is still steadily coming down so it's guaranteed more snow will be gone by the end of the day.
All this is evidence that spring IS coming to the north woods, and I'm getting itchy to put some radish seeds in a garden bed. I may have to wait until the frost leaves the ground first though. And the water drains out of the beds. And the temperature climbs out of the 30s.
Happy Spring, Everyone!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
A Surprise Package
There is a very sweet and thoughtful gal in California who sent me a surprise package in the mail recently. (Wanna guess who? I'll give you a hint: She writes a blog called Tombstone Livestock.)
Along with a nice note and some beautiful stamps, and some seeds for Knobby Green Pumpkins (don't they sound interesting!), she sent this fabric. The strip fabric is old time feed sack replicas.
And this border? "Hog wash!" Love it.
So what will I do with this fabric? (Gosh, I dunno. How 'bout some . . . (wait for it) . . . potholders!) Those feed sack reprints could hardly be more fitting for potholders. I promise to take pictures when they're done. (There may be a give-a-way involved!)
Thanks again for my surprise package, Sweet Lady Raiser of Sheep and Goats!
Along with a nice note and some beautiful stamps, and some seeds for Knobby Green Pumpkins (don't they sound interesting!), she sent this fabric. The strip fabric is old time feed sack replicas.
And this border? "Hog wash!" Love it.
So what will I do with this fabric? (Gosh, I dunno. How 'bout some . . . (wait for it) . . . potholders!) Those feed sack reprints could hardly be more fitting for potholders. I promise to take pictures when they're done. (There may be a give-a-way involved!)
Thanks again for my surprise package, Sweet Lady Raiser of Sheep and Goats!
Monday, March 25, 2013
The Fifteen Egg Omelette?
We've always had a soft spot in our poultry-raising hearts for bantam chickens. They eat less feed than standard sized breeds in proportion to the number of eggs they lay, and the fact that they often go broody and do a great job of raising their young is a real plus for us.
A year ago when we placed our order for some new chicks, we chose to include some bantams because our remaining bantam pair (one hen, one rooster) of Golden Laced Cochins was getting up in age. We've kinda lost track but we know our hen is either 5 or 6 years old.
Sad to say, the hatchery couldn't supply the ordered bantam chicks, but in late summer, our dear old bantam hen went broody and sat on five eggs. She succeeded in hatching out four of the eggs. The picture above shows two of the chicks when a day old (and obviously camera shy). Of the four chicks, glory be, they all turned out to be hens. (Now that's a ratio you don't often get!)
Those four little girls have grown to nearly full size (for bantams) and are starting to lay eggs. You all know pullet eggs start small and work up to a bigger size, but these eggs give new meaning to the word "small."
I wonder how many it would take to make an omelette for two people? I know they sure would look cute dyed and in an Easter basket, wouldn't they?
A year ago when we placed our order for some new chicks, we chose to include some bantams because our remaining bantam pair (one hen, one rooster) of Golden Laced Cochins was getting up in age. We've kinda lost track but we know our hen is either 5 or 6 years old.
Sad to say, the hatchery couldn't supply the ordered bantam chicks, but in late summer, our dear old bantam hen went broody and sat on five eggs. She succeeded in hatching out four of the eggs. The picture above shows two of the chicks when a day old (and obviously camera shy). Of the four chicks, glory be, they all turned out to be hens. (Now that's a ratio you don't often get!)
Those four little girls have grown to nearly full size (for bantams) and are starting to lay eggs. You all know pullet eggs start small and work up to a bigger size, but these eggs give new meaning to the word "small."
I wonder how many it would take to make an omelette for two people? I know they sure would look cute dyed and in an Easter basket, wouldn't they?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
