Saturday Farm Report

Hey! Its been a while! I would blame that on life; my job has been keeping me busy, and its hard to blog through exhaustion. Also, my camera gave up the ghost, and its hard to blog without the pictures. It just is. So now that I have another, I am back in the saddle...at least today! Lets be glad for that, hope for the best, and see what happens in the future.

Today we're being hit with snow. There are those who are all moan and groan about that; I say its January in northern Illinois. You were expecting maybe heatstroke? Seriously, we have been having a winter, lets make that a WINTER, as has most of the country. Fortunately, we have a savior, in the form of a neighbor who has a Bobcat and loves to run it. He's over here at the drop of a flake. In fact, he just pulled in.

Its great having a neighbor like that!

What I like best about winter is HAVING to hunker down and stay inside sometimes. We've had 4 snow days so far, called because of extreme cold and wind chills. I spent a couple of those reading; I've finished Jo Baker's Longbourne, (I expected to love it, and I did) Leon Leyson's The Boy on the Wooden Box, (I expected to cry, and I did) Maeve Binchy's Tara Road (I expected it to have a post-modern, ambiguous-leaning-sad ending, and it did NOT) and Joyce Maynard's Labor Day (ditto Tara Road, add that I cried when I finished it.) I also worked out some fun lessons for my students, and am surprising them by changing up some teaching methods for the new year. And I spent a great deal of time cleaning and purging, donating an entire pickup load of stuff to local thrift stores. They got unused clothes, games, decor, c&^p, you know. The store room looks fabulous. Add to that the redecorating of the three bedrooms here, and this house is beginning to look like someone likes it, and in fact, might even love it someday!

All righty then, like when beginning an exercise routine, one mustn't push one's blogging muscles too far on the first try back. I hope to be back soon...If not, you'll know I'm thinking of you!

Saturday Farm Report

Another lovely Saturday. Really, although its predicted to be only in the high 60s today (a record is expected; lowest high ever!) and mostly cloudy, it means that we've had some good rain this week, and we'll have a break from the heat. In general, our weather has been good this summer. Warm enough to grow things, cool enough to be comfortable, wet enough so things are really, really green, dry enough to enjoy the outdoors. Yes, we have mosquitoes, and flies, but we have Cutters, so alls good!

We've been eating green beans, basil and tomatoes from the garden. Potatoes are almost ready to be dug, at least some small, new ones. Flowers look nice, horse is grazing well, and poultry is growing plump and sassy. Speaking of sassy, a Jersey heifer of that name should be gracing our pasture soon! I am a little reluctant to mention it until its a done deal, because I want it to happen, but it looks pretty likely that, within two weeks or so, we will once again own a cow. A cow, no less, who will calf in the next year. -squee!-

Today I will be painting. We're moving bedrooms around, and that involves changing of colors and fabrics. It's a girl thing; you might not understand! This time around, because of our age and family situation, it seems like it may be "permanent." I'm choosing colors wisely, because I think I'll have to live with them until we can sell this place.

But I'd best get at it. I leave you with a view from my kitchen window.

It's Time For Pickles!!

Yes! It's been AGES!! When someone makes your blog a writing assignment, you avoid it. That's what I learned.

Anyway, a couple of friends were looking for some certain recipes, and this is the easiest way I know to share them. So, without further ado...

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES
I make gobs of these. I use a Red Wing 2 gallon crock that I have, or some 1/2 gallon Mason jars. I usually have a jar of these steeping in my frig. One recipe brines one gallon of cukes.

Boil 8c water. Stir in 1/4c pickling salt and 1c white vinegar. (I use Heinz. It's more expensive, but it tastes better. Remember, I've been making these for at least 20 years and have used LOTS of white vinegar. Heinz tastes better.)
Let the brine cool to room temperature; you're trying to make refrigerator pickles, and you don't want them to "cook."

Wash the cukes and put them in your container. I have cut them up or just left them whole; either way makes scrumptious pickles. In my 2-gallon crock, I put 2 fresh dill heads, 3 whole but cleaned cloves of garlic, 2T mixed pickling spices and 2 bay leaves. Depending on the size of your container(s), divide up the seasonings accordingly. Pour the brine over. I put them in the frig with a plate pushing the pickles into the brine, and plastic wrap over the top of the crock. In 2-3 days, they become half sours. As they sit longer, the flavor intensifies. Pickles put in the brine in September and eaten on Christmas Day are awesome!
(Caveat: I have been told by the professional pickle gurus at the Extension Office that I will die if I eat those September pickles in December. I have not, nor have any of the many people to whom I have served them. Your mileage may vary, and I just wanted you to know.)


BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES
Again, I usually have a jar of these in my frig.
Heat 6c vinegar (again with the Heinz!) to simmer. Dissolve sugar and salt in vinegar. Let cool slightly. Add 2T celery seed and 2T turmeric.
Layer 1/2 gallon thinly sliced cukes with thinly sliced onion in jar. Cover with brine and refrigerate. These are best after sitting at least 2 weeks, but don't last as long as the Refrigerator Dills, hence the smaller quantity.

And, because everyone should eat these, and so everyone needs a recipe, I share mine. It came from my Lithuanian grandmother. You KNOW those ladies know their beets!

PICKLED BEETS
Makes about a quart jar.

1 bunch of beets; cooked until crisp-tender, peeled and sliced.
1 large onion, sliced
1c white vinegar (You already know!)
2c water
1/3c sugar
2 whole allspice
1 bay leaf
Heat vinegar and water to simmer. Add sugar, stirring to dissolve. Let cool slightly; add allspice and bay leaf. Layer beets and onion in jar. Pour brine over and place in frig. Eat the next day, and every day thereafter!

There ya go! Pickle Nirvana! Enjoy.

Happy Halloween!

So, I've gotten this post-once-or-twice-a-month thing down, haven't I? Poor little blog. It's so neglected.

Next time there's a referendum, and someone says,"Those teachers don't need a raise. They get paid for the whole year, and they only work 9 months," I'd like you to think of this. I teach for 80 minutes per week; I monitor study hall (translation, babysit the darlings so they get their homework done and you don't have to deal with it) for another 80. I spend huge chunks of my "down" time organizing lessons, writing worksheets, writing tests, locating videos and other supporting materials, pre-screening those, grading papers, and putting out 2-3 fires per day. You know, someone has an academic disappointment and sobs through half of study hall. Someone else breaks up and sobs through half the school day, those kind of things. In short, that little bit of time I get in front of the classroom (and it flies by in the blink of an eye) is supported by easily 5 times that amount of time in prep time. Homeschooling was a walk in the park, compared to this. But there, I had only myself looking over my shoulder.

Add in all the usual house-wifery that needs doing on a daily basis, yours truly being somehow responsible for all of that, too, and I am left with precious little time to blog. But I think of you, and the blog, often, and it'll work itself out in time.

Until then, here's a happy little number for your Halloween celebration. After all, this is All Saints' Eve. Martin, get your hammer.

Insomnia

Insomnia has returned. Every so often, I have a night or three when I get little sleep. I fall asleep just fine. It's just that I wake up two hours earlier than I need to, and can't get back to sleep. Last night I got to bed late; midnight. I needed to be up at 6 for another day of seminar. I knew I'd be sleepy later in the day, but I figured it would all work out.

I woke up at 4am.

I lay there for an hour and 15 minutes, worrying about a simple thing I had been ignoring for a couple of days. I knew it needed to be done, but I've been busy with lots of things, and didn't get to it. Now it might cost me some money, and that idea set my mind racing and then it just wouldn't stop.

So, at 5:15am, I got up and did what I had been putting off. Within 10 minutes, things were fine. But I'm not the kind of person who can go back to bed, so I stayed up, folding things, organizing other things, clean still other things. When it came time to go to work, I was ready for a nap. A nap I still have not had, and now it's suppertime.

Fatigue does crazy things. Today I was at my computer, trying to do an assignment during this seminar, and the tears just came. I was able to dam them up, but it was, pure and simple, exhaustion. Same thing as I drove home and the sun hit my eyes. The little bit of pain that caused was enough to set me over the edge again.

All this just to explain why I'm going to bed early tonight? Yep. Because I have to be up at 5am to take chickens to their destiny.

Wanna bet I won't be able to get up tomorrow?

Saturday Farm Report

This week has been very busy, with lots of organizing and decluttering...attempted. Remember the picture from yesterday?



Well, it's been weeks since we had rain. The fields are dry and cracking, and we've been hoping and hoping. This morning, before I left for work, I considered covering the piles with tarps. I thought, "Most of that stuff is in Rubbermaid-type tubs, and can get rained on. Some of it is not, and I'd hate to lose it. But if I cover things, it will not rain. If I leave them uncovered, it will surely rain, and we desperately need it."

I left it uncovered.

I came home in a downpour which had been going on for about 20 minutes. From what I see on the ground, we got about half an inch. I found my family covering everything for me, which was very helpful. I'm still going to be pitching lots of things, which isn't so bad. We needed to get rid of stuff. This will save me the trouble of a garage sale here.

Grandchildren are here. Mary and Ryan took Joy over to the strawberry farm, and they picked 4 quarts. Later we'll enjoy tacos and the lemon bars I have cooling in the kitchen. Matthew and Keri are repairing and maintaining their car in our garage today. In short, this is one busy farm!

And, as the humidity and heat come up after that rain, I am thankful that it's an air conditioned farm house!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Transformation

I have been planning to clean out the garage. Ours is usually a disaster. People use things and never put them back. People see clear space in our garage, and decide that they need to store things there. (Never mind that we'd like to put our cars there...) Animals, specifically, our cats, live there, and make their presence known in all sorts of savory and unsavory ways. And things just get cluttered, in the natural course of life.

I started this morning. I wish I had taken a picture. It would make this one



all the more impressive. Doesn't the garage look great? I even got inspired, and emptied the attic. I did not get a picture of that, either, but, take my word for it, it looks equally fantastic now.

I just wish I could say the same for my driveway.

Leftover Supper

Last week I grilled half of a turkey. It was a disappointing experience, because, when we carved into it, red juices ran out. Yes, I had underestimated the cooking time. As it was apparent that at least another hour was needed on the grill, and since it was already half an hour past suppertime, we returned it to the grill and...went out to dinner. Very disappointing, although the dinner was lovely.

The next night, I warmed the turkey in my crockpot, and hauled out the potato and lettuce salads which I had prepared the night before. Turkey supper!

The night after that, I prepared a pizza crust. On it I put barbecue sauce,



some chopped cooked turkey,



some onion, (wish it had been RED onion)



and some colby jack cheese.



Into the oven it went.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished pizza, but, please believe me, it was delicious!!

It's been about 5 nights now. Tomorrow, I will put most of the turkey into the freezer for a couple of weeks. I'll season about a third of it for tacos. Tomorrow night, we'll use some of that meat to make turkey burritos. And Wednesday, we'll have turkey taco salad.

See why I'm putting some away for a few weeks? My family doesn't mind leftovers, but they would riot if I tried serving it again in the next week or so!

The Morning Cuppa

How do you take your coffee? Wait--you DON'T? Are you some kinda crazy person? Even my daughter took a sip this week and said, "Ahh...I like that." It's an All-American thing. It should read, "Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, Chevrolet and coffee," but I suppose that would play havoc with the meter or tempo or some aspect of the jingle.

I digress.

How do you take your coffee?

Back when I was a pup, I took my sugar and milk with 2 tablespoons of coffee. Since this all went into a 6-8 ounce mug, you can guesstimate the amount of add-ins I was using. And, while we're on the subject, what is it with the size of modern coffee mugs? Yes, it's comforting to wrap cold hands around a steamy boat-o-coffee, but then it takes long enough to drink the thing that it's cold halfway through. Boo!

In college, I filled my mug a little more than halfway, added 2-3 teaspoons of sugar, and a large bloop of milk. (That's the technical term. Look it up.) When my kids came along, I stayed just under 2 teaspoons of sugar. When I turned 40-something, and tried the Atkins diet, I actually drank my coffee black for a while. It tasted good, but wasn't satisfying. I dunno. I guess I just needed the milk. Or, to be more exact, the half and half. Or heavy cream. But usually half and half. About 2 tablespoons of half and half go into my 12 ounce mug of African yumminess. Yes, I prefer the African coffees. Or the East Indian. But not Brazilian. But you know that about me, if you've been paying attention.

Today I walked to the frig to mix my morning cuppa, and found -le gasp- no half and half. I was reduced to putting whole milk into my coffee. Now, sometimes that's not a bad thing. When we have raw milk in the house (yes, I'm one of those) whole milk is scrumptious. but we've been having difficulties with picking up our raw milk, and have been reduced to buying the stuff at the store. Although it, too is whole milk, it's just not the same. So my first cup was a meh blend of espresso and whole store milk. For my second cup, here at work, I am using powdered creamer; the generic kind. It has a flavor, but, again, not satisfying. This is what we call a first world problem, my children. I am fully aware that I will live to half and half again. but what does it say about both of us that I took the time to write about it, and you took the time to read? (Insert great big honkin' grin right here.)

(By the way, if you actually took the time to look up that technical term from paragraph 5, you are more first-world than I thought. Second grin.)

Sunday's Breakfast

Repeat as needed.

Leaving Home

I've been spending this week pretending to be an English/Literature/German teacher. It's a good gig; a small, private school, great kids, great staff. But I still have to leave home each morning. Even though we're not there to mess it up, it's amazing how our house is falling apart, little by little, each and every day.

Obviously, no one is there to leave trash, etc, lying around. But there's also no one there to pick up the clutter and put it away. And, when you're up and at 'em early in the morning, heading out to the great adventure of the day, it's easy to leave a trail of clutter behind you. A spot of toothpaste and water on the bathroom sink, an unmade bed, a rejected outfit. Breakfast dishes, coffee grounds, a dirty knife that was used to make a sandwich. Each of these is an itty bitty mess, but, gathered together, they make a house look tired. And, when the people of the house arrive in the evening, genuinely tired, the itty bitty messes grow. A stack of lunch containers. A receipt from a quick stop at the store. Mud on shoes, dirty travel mug, cooler (for lunch) which needs wiping out. Add in the little bits of bone the dog chewed during the day, and some tufts of cat hair, and, oh, my, we're heading toward a big mess.

It's obvious, in this world, that work needs to be done in order for a living to be made. But then who handles the living? Who is home to clean the home, organize the home, and make the home fit for those who will return to it in the evening?

I guess that's the BIG question.

January Snowfall

So, I mentioned snow. I headed out during the beginning hours to get some pictures. I think I'll be retiring my point and shoot. Enjoy these as best you can!


The horses, walking away. you can see how the cold and snow have turned them into beggars, pleading with me to bring them in out of the weather.

Even though they have to paw through the snow to eat.

Henry found something yummy.

Here's where he found it. Can you guess?

Yes. It's a poopsicle.

Winter Canning

Various and Sundry

Just some miscellaneous thoughts and photographs.

Breakfast. Home-grown eggs, cheddar cheese, cranberry relish. We've discovered this again this year, and it's become a favorite. Put a bag of cranberries and a peeled orange into a food processor. Pulse until ground to your liking. Add up to 1/2 c sugar and enjoy! We like a half cup or so with a large dollop of Greek yogurt and maybe a sprinkle of granola. It's replacing the boat-o-ice cream we used to eat at night, and, shockingly, we aren't missing the ice cream.




Pink Flamingo. Sometimes you just have to give in and get girly!



Two-week-old mixed greens seedlings, transplanted into a window box. Their younger sisters will be started later today.

Christmas Film Festival, the Report

So, I mentioned that we do a Christmas Film Festival here on the farm. This year the theme was "Movies We Just Feel Like Watching." I thought I'd share some of what we saw.

In no particular order, because I didn't keep track and can't remember what we saw first, second, etc, we saw:

Sherlock Holmes 2: Game of Shadows.

It was entertaining, but missed something. Plot connections, among other things.



Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow

Yes, we'd seen it before. It was time to see it again, I guess. We like the filming style; very sepia/colorless, except for that WWII lipstick!



Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Typical impossible mission, but fun to watch. Much chuckling at the absolutely impossible ending. I admit it. I couldn't watch the scene where he jumps into the hotel window. Too much vertigo!



127 Hours.

Seemed that long. Read about Aron Ralston online; takes less time, you get the same information.



Limitless.

Shoulda hadda limit.



All Good Things.

Not such a good thing.



Lest you think we sat around watching movies we hated...

Captain America The First Avenger

We hadn't seen this one before. It was fun, although it had the unsatisfying ending of the middle movie in a trilogy. But I'm a sucker for WWII movies.



The Adventures of Tin Tin.

Entertaining. I don't know if I'll ever get used to CG animation, but it does allow the filmmaker to defy the laws of physics. And that can be a good thing, right?



War Horse.

Beautifully filmed, amazingly acted...by a horse! I love the shot at 1:23. How did they get the horse to show those emotions to the camera? That look at 1:41 is just amazing. Oh, of course, the people were good, too. The expression at 1:58 captures just how it feels when your horse is hurting and there is nothing you can do.



Cowboys and Aliens.

C'mon, Mulder and Scully told us, didn't they, that alien abductions have been going on forever? Fun story, and another chance to see Daniel Craig in action.



Elizabethtown.

Our third time for this one. It's a favorite.



And last night we ended it with The Help.

I had read the (very good) book, and really wanted Miss Mary to at least see the movie. It did not disappoint. I wish I could say what Minny says at :54, just like she says it. I really think it's a physiological thing, and no white woman will ever be able to do it just that way.



We always enjoy our family film festivals. We're already planning the next one!

Friday, Friday

Hey, remember my plant shelf? Here, finally, it is.



We added legs to it so that, when beloved canines plant their feet on it, the shelf stays put.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows disappointed. It was fun, but was missing something. Plot connections would have been good.

Spent today baking and shopping. Many coffee cakes were baked, some of which will be Christmas presents. Logs of pepperkakor dough are chilling in the frig; tomorrow they will be rolled in turbinado sugar, sliced, baked, and consumed with hot, rich coffee. Family will start arriving tomorrow for Christmas Eve dinner. I should probably figure out what that will be...

Can you tell it's been along day, and I'm tired?

Christmas Film Festival

It started a few years back. We hold a family film festival during Christmas break. One year we watched all of the James Bond films. (When I said this was a family film festival, I didn't mean all the films were family films, OK?) We watched WWII films during the first festival. We spent one Christmas break devouring the first season of 24.

We started our festival on Saturday night, with Going in Style. John and I remember that one being a bit more hilarious, a bit less somber. Tonight we watched Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, one we've seen before, but these films aren't always ones we're seeing for the first time.

Movies mean popcorn. Even when we try to watch without food, about half an hour in, we all get a taste for popcorn. Here on Pine Ridge Farm, we make it the old fashioned way. We use this pot



which my grandmother gave me, years ago. I have no idea how old this thing is. I just know that it makes the best popcorn. She told me she used it for popcorn, too.

The heat goes on. I told you, we do things the old fashioned way here, even lighting the stove.



I put in some oil (1/4 cup, for you fussy folk)



and 3 kernels of corn. Once upon a time, my mom started popcorn this way, and now I'm imprinted. It's how I do it.




Once those 3 kernels pop, in goes 1/2 cup of kernels.




I shake the pan to cover the kernels with oil, but I couldn't take a picture of that. My hands were busy shaking the pot! Then the magic happens.



Yum.




Yum.




Yum.




Peanut oil. Salt. No butter. In case you were wondering. Our popcorn is purchased from several very cute Cub Scouts. We buy about 15 3-pound tubs in the fall, and it usually lasts all year. We finish it all.

Tomorrow night we'll be at the theatre, watching Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

A Housewife's Tale

Is this MY kitchen? Say it isn't so.

Maybe from another direction.



Hmmm...I guess I'd better get off this thing and get to it!

T, or, Something to Do While You Digest Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am giving thanks for a safe trip to Grandma and Grandpa's, and a quiet, restful day in which we are snacking through the time it takes to cook a turkey, after which we will stuff ourselves!

But enough about me. Let's talk Living Room. As promised, I'll share some quick photos I took of the poor thing. She's like the actress in A Star is Born, or a similar film. Good bones, but fading fast. She needs clothing; she's been living out of thrift stores for far too long. Something comfortable, warm and cozy, and tailored just for her.

Walking from my kitchen into the living room is this view. You're facing southeast. The large window to the left faces east; outside of it is our front yard, with trees and a little sidewalk. We plan to put sheep out there next summer; they'll graze on our septic field. Yum! The sofa is almost 20 years old. A sleeper sofa made by Englander, it's been sat on by too many Jack Russell terriers. Their little white hairs are so woven into the fabric that it looks more faded than it is. The back has worn spots where their claws, and those of our last 2 housecats, have left their marks. The sofa is headed for the curb. That wall on which the sofa sits is about 22 feet long.



Here's that south-facing window, straight on. This wall is about 13 feet long. Under that window was a shelf that held houseplants, until last spring, when Jip, our last JR, jumped up onto it and pulled it off the wall. I would like to fix the wall and restore it. I have also thought of a table under that window, but, whatever, that window is just too useful and looks too pretty with plants in it to not have something there to hold the greenery. The entertainment center is one piece of furniture that has really outlived it's usefulness. With flat-screen TV's, it seems like these things are really a piece of the past. But this one is genuinely pretty. The wood is lovely, and the finish is like satin. When the doors are closed over the TV screen, it looks a lot like an old armoire, but somehow not so bedroom-y. I'd like to use it for something. I really hate the idea of a TV in this room; it seems more of a "visiting" room to me. But the downstairs family room ceilings are too low for a tall person like me to do yoga and other stretching, so I have exercise videos and the Wii up here, so I can work out (when I lose my mind and decide that such things are important.)



This is the west wall of the living room. It's major problem is that end, with the half-wall. While it is nice to have light flowing through the living room and dining room, that little wall can be a bear to decorate around. In fact, I still haven't figure out how to do that! The chair is also on it's way to the curb. It's worn, stained, and leans to the right. It reclines, but isn't comfortable anymore.



And, lastly, the north wall. To the left is the hall to the bedrooms. Above the fireplace is Frank. He gets decorated for Christmas; he has a camo Santa cap and other assorted embarrassments to hang all over him. But it's all in good fun!



Now, all you home design types out there. What would you do with this room? I should remind you that I like the colors. The floors aren't going to change. I would prefer not to have window coverings; I like the unobstructed view. I would like a stained glass piece above the east window; something hanging like the rose windows over the south window. (Those were made by John's grandfather and served as sidelights for our front door in our last house. I couldn't leave them.) I think some rolling green hills with some pine trees on them; remember, this is Pine Ridge Farm. But, beyond that, I've got nothin'. Whadda you have?