A storm, flowers, and a love affair with enamelware

School officially ended last Wednesday---yay---happy kids!! Thursday morning I was lying in bed, happy to not have an alarm to wake me, the light filtering through the blind was dim--I assumed it was quite early, and rolled over to doze off again. You know when your body is done sleeping, but your mind has not yet been convinced that sleep is over for the night? It was like that.....in all likelihood I would have been able to ignore the start of the day for awhile longer. That was until I realized there was some grouchy weather beginning to happen outside. A quick look at the hated alarm clock told me it was 7:37. I stumbled to the window and looked out to a dark and swirling sky. The thunder grew louder, and the sky grew blacker. As expected the rain began to fall....by the buckets!!! The spouting was gushing over, the driveway became a river, the side yard became a pond. Those who know me well, know that I would be happier than a pig in you know what to live beside the water.....this is not what I meant. Thankfully the storm passed fairly quickly, leaving behind it a washed out driveway, a flattened garden, and the local weathermen excitedly spouting ominous warnings about the storms coming later in the day. I was glad the power only flickered off a few times, I was glad we did not get much wind with the rain, I was glad we had a good excuse to put off fixing the driveway until tomorrow...except that meant another dreaded show from a very testy mother nature. We anxiously kept our eyes to the unsettled sky through the day....the wind kicked up....the storm never came. Friday I woke up to a peaceful world outside and we were overjoyed to see a long time family friend coming up the drive with his tractor to help with the driveway. He is a landscaper, and thankfully after he was finished there was only about 30 minutes of raking to do. Happy day!!

Fiona by Katie

I never got to make that jam I had good intentions to make the other week. I made it this weekend--it is delicious. Austin cannot stay out of it. He is sitting across the room from me as I write this licking jam off his fingers after his millionth jam sandwich...I find this adorable. We are finally at the end of Strawberry season here on the farm, it's been wonderful, but our backs are ready to give up the last berries to the birds. There are strawberry popsicles in the freezer, we've had tons of shortcake, milkshakes, plain old berries to snack on, and now there will be jam to enjoy this winter.....I'm feeling thankful, and happy that Raspberry and Blueberry season are just around the corner...at least for those we can stand upright to pick them! Now let's see what is in bloom this week.

Coreopsis

Red-Hot Pokers

Painted Daisies--yes, they really are that vibrant!

Stella D'ora

Tiger Lily

Yucca

Sweet Pea

The sun showing the inside of the seed pods for the money flowers. Years ago my husband's grandmother, Freda gave us a start from her garden. They are the white and purple tall flowers in the spring photos.

Some of the herb garden--we moved this old birdbath from another spot where it was never really enjoyed. Someone we know was throwing it out a few years ago--I think it looks cute as can be:)

Yellow Yarrow

It's been a week for flowers here. Since we've got the vegetable garden in good order, it was time to visit the greenhouse and plant some posies. Everything looked so nice, but now our little farm is all dressed up and ready to dance! Maybe we should dance too! Maybe I can get Mom to show me some of those fancy square dance steps--hmmm.....on second thought, since walking in a straight line can be a challenge for me I better leave the dancing to mom! :) The posies................make sure you watch out for any skunks lurking!

Petunias are so pretty!

Just wait until later this summer--these Impatiens will take over the old trough

I think this is a chicken feeder from long ago--not totally sure, but it makes a nice planter

Uh-oh!!

An old funnel makes a pretty planter!

Beside the clothesline

There is a sampling....sorry some of the photos are a bit blurry, our camera was cranky. We of course are photo happy around here, and will post more in the coming weeks as things grow.

 I am generally not into fads, that said, I too can be swept away when one of them is just way too cute. This brings me to tipsy planters. I know I am a bit slow here, they've been hugely popular for the last few years. Honestly, I did not really like them all that much. I thought they were okay, but not for me. That was until I was sorting through some stuff to pack for our (fingers crossed, hopefully soon) big move someday. I came across an old enamelware coffee pot. Enamelware is dear to me...it's like a hug.....it's filled with memories of my mother and when I was little. She still uses the same enamelware strainer from forever ago, the same enamelware pan for potatoes, you get the idea. Anything that is enamelware or graniteware...I just love it! It may seem crazy, but to me, it's just everything that is right in a world that isn't. Simple, tough, pretty, useful, multi-purpose, and made to last, what else do you need in a dish....or anything else for that matter? I had this favorite cup when I was small. No big shocker..it was an enamelware mug. I can still see it.... slightly off white in color with a cobalt blue handle and rim, it even had flowers on one side. I wish I still had it, I hope it is hiding in a long forgotten box in the attic. Anyway, I remember my mom giving me hot tea in it, Ginger-ale, Birch-beer, soup, ice cream, yes--I am off on a sentimental ramble. I remember that I always felt special using that cup. So there you have it, and old coffee pot, a strange love of enamelware, throw in an old gas can for fun, and flowers to plant, all this equals....a unique tipsy pot. 

My mom's hairdresser was throwing out this old blue gas can...they hadn't used it in years, so the gas residue is long gone...thanks mom for thinking to grab it for me!

Autumn and Katie picked out the flowers! 

From top to bottom--a small enamelware coffee pot, old blue enamelware coffee pot, my grandmother's enamelware coffee pot (thanks again, Mom!) the old blue gas can, and a metal container we had sitting around. Super Cute!!

Big thanks to our lovely photographer this week--Katie!!

The most yummiest shortcake......photos coming later

It seems fitting after the way I have been going on and on about the strawberries that my first recipe be dedicated to showing them off! Here it is, the best most yummiest shortcake! It's been tweaked a little by me, but was originally given to me by an old friend. I'm not sure where she got it, but she does deserve the credit for passing it on to me. Sadly, the friendship became a disappointment, but the shortcake never is:):) Enjoy!!!

The most yummiest shortcake!

First, this is one of those recipes you have to plan a bit for. Now don't be scared off, just a little planning and the whole thing will go smoothly. The day you are going to bake the shortcake, get the eggs out of the fridge and let them warm to room temp. See....no big deal, nothing to be scared of here. 4 eggs per batch.

Ingredients:

4 eggs (room temp)

1/4 tsp cream of tarter

1/4 c sugar, 1/2 c sugar divided

1 c flour

1/3 c water

1/4 c oil ( I use canola)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Optional:

Fruit, sliced up 

Whipped cream ( I like the real thing, whipping cream with powdered sugar to taste and a little vanilla:) Cool Whip is always good too, and easier to have on hand!

-Take two bowls and separate the eggs, the whites can go directly into a large mixing bowl, the yolks need to be in a medium or larger bowl

-to the yolks add the flour, water, oil, baking powder, vanilla, and 1/2 c sugar, mix well ( I use a whisk, it just works better:) set aside for now.

-Add cream of tarter to egg whites and beat on high until soft peaks form. Continue beating and sprinkle 1/4 c sugar into mixture, small amounts at a time.

-Remove egg white mixture and add egg yolk mixture, fold to incorporate.

-Put cake mixture into a greased or sprayed 8 or 9 inch pan, whatever you have. 

-Bake at 325 degrees, the recipe says for 1 hour, but I have found I bake it for more like 35-40 minutes, test with a toothpick. Try not to over bake.

- This cake will look fluffy and tall in the oven, after removing place pan on a cooling rack, and the cake will shrink down, don't worry this is how it works---super yummy and moist. 

We like to put it into a bowl, add sliced berries, a little sugar, some milk and whipped cream---delicious! It's great plain too--a nice lightly sweet snack. Great for dessert, for breakfast, or just because it is too hard to resist! In my house this disappears so quickly that I tend to double the recipe. I have found that for me it becomes too dry if I bake it in one larger pan, so I just bake it in two 8 inch pans. Hope you enjoy!

Birds, too much thinking, bees, and The Beatles

I am finding this year that I have a special appreciation for birds. My mom has always loved the birds, her favorite is the little Wren who sets up her housekeeping in a tiny house hanging in the Pine beside our front porch. Nearly every year we have a Wren nest there. I remember many times my mom saying, "I just love that little bird, and her lovely little song." I always wondered at her fascination. I think I am understanding it now. Birds are kind of amazing little creatures really. They sleep, eat, work hard, build and tend to a home, care for their babies, and where I live many of them migrate to warmer areas for the winter. I wonder if they vacation and sip fruity cocktails by the sea someplace tropical? Hmmmm.... I doubt it for I have never seen a bird with a suntan! As I am pulling weeds or puttering around doing odd chores I find myself several times each day stopping to watch the birds and appreciate their chatter. I love to watch them flitting about, or busy in the garden. Recently, my daughter pointed out to me that the sound of the Cow bird sounds like a drop of water dripping into a puddle. Cool beans, as the me from long ago would say. I find it wonderful how birds keep their lives simple....they seem to have it all figured out.....work hard, keep focused,  take time out everyday to sing, and you will have a productive life. It is not that I think the life of a bird is easy, in fact I imagine it is quite a struggle at times...I am in awe of the simplicity. We humans think we are so superior...ha...the birds must laugh at us!

This past winter

I couldn't find a good photo, but in the winter when the snow lays on the branches of the apple trees, we can look out and there are "red birds" as we call them decorating the tree.

I think I am ready to follow the birds example. I guess that probably sounds silly, but I have a longing for simplicity. I realize how silly we humans are to be so pressured by our own fears and "living up to" the standards of others. How many opportunities have I missed out on because I was afraid someone would call me foolish? How many times have I hidden my own thoughts because I did not want anyone to judge me? Where has this gotten me? Certainly not where I long to be, but in time I hope to find myself there. I have much to be grateful for, and while I long for change in some respects, I am blessed beyond measure in many ways. My eyes are not closed to this, and I feel lucky.

Too often I find my thoughts drifting to an old friend. She is lost to me for reasons that have nothing to do with either of us, yet our friendship is on hold or maybe ended altogether because of the selfish actions of another. It was a good friendship, an honest one, something I find that is rare these days. I find myself wondering--why do some people work so hard to tear down what someone else has worked hard to build?  Why are there those out there who feel an entitlement to something they have no rights to? Have they no conscience? Be it a friendship, a family, a marriage, a business, or just a growing self-confidence...why are there those out there who seem to actually feel proud of destruction? I do not get it, I do not think I ever will. Obviously, there are too many thoughts swirling through my brain this week. Enough of this...I am off to the garden for some therapy....aka: weeding! More later.....for now, a song!

Jenny Wren by Paul McCartney
Like so many girls, Jenny Wren could sing
But a broken heart, took her soul away

Like the other girls, Jenny Wren took wing
She could see the world, and it's foolish ways

How, we, spend our days, casting, love aside
Loosing, site of life, day, by, day

She saw poverty, breaking all the home
Wounded warriors, took her song away

[Solo]

But the day will come, Jenny Wren will sing
When this broken world, mends its foolish ways

Now we, spend our days, catching, up on life
All because of you, Jenny Wren

Lilacs and a lovely visitor

Lily-of-the-Valley

Okay, therapy is over for today! Paul McCartney, obviously leads my thoughts to The Beatles. I was not even alive when The Beatles took over the planet, my mother tells me she was not a fan. I wonder then where did my almost 16 year old daughter find her obsession for The Beatles?? She is in major crush mode with Sir Paul McCartney.....I am thinking this is a good crush for her considering he lives thousands of miles away, is 70, and married. Suddenly I feel quite happy about her complete devotion to Paul:):) Seriously though, I never even knew I liked The Beatles...this is a situation that replays itself in our house over and over....she is playing a song and I find myself singing along and saying, "Katie, I love this song!" Inevitably, she roars with laughter and tells me it is by The Beatles. As I am certain you have guessed, I am one of those people that rarely knows who a song is by. I am generally content to just love the song or not. Who knew I was a fan too and never knew it? I'll stick to the music though, Katie can keep Paul:)

Happy Daisies!

Lady Bug, Lady Bug, fly away home!!

We've had two long days of rain this week. Yesterday, hubby, me, and the kiddos went to Pinchot State Park which is about 10 minutes from our house. It is home to bike trails, tons of hiking trails, and at the heart of it all, a beautiful lake. Austin fished and hubby helped Autumn with her casting. Katie and I took a walk into the woods and explored some huge rocks. We went back to collect Autumn and took another walk along the shore path beside the lake. I love the water, I find myself restful and content when I am near it. While walking, we found that the Welcome center (which was the Environmental Education Center before budget cuts) was open today. Katie, Autumn, and I went in to check things out and found they still have some exhibits from the Environmental Center days. Some of this stuff was from when I was a kid and went on school field trips there. It was really cool, like going back in time a bit.. They had the old "touch and feel" boxes, where you put your hand into a box and try to guess what is inside. I am happy to report that we could guess all three correctly...a bird wing, a deer skull, and a turtle shell. YAY, big pat on the back to us! What really held our interest though was the honey bees. They have a hive that is in the center...there is a wooden box with a plexi-glass front where you an actually see the honey bees working. A clear plastic tube  runs to the outside for the bees to come and go. I have no photos, I wish I did, but forgot the camera at home. I will make time in the coming weeks to go back and post photos. The bees seemed quite happy and content to ignore us and go about their day. It reminded me of the birds and that simple life thing....although they did not break out into song like the birds do, I found them to be fascinating. 

Memories, Mrs. Robin, and who rules the roost....

 Late Monday morning after loading the garbage onto the back of the pick-up, Autumn asks me to ride on the tailgate with her. We've done this many times, and this one seemed like no different. We rode down the lane, and unloaded, same as always. While making the first turn coming up the drive I was so caught up in her joy that I was reminded of doing this very same thing, up this very same drive when I was little. It always seemed like we were going so fast, legs dangling, laughing, the cold of the metal tailgate against my skin.  No comments, but it's been quite some time. :) We started up the second hill right before the barn and I found myself bracing for "the bump." We crested the hill, and much to my disappointment, no bump....the transition from the hill to the flat was disappointingly smooth. At first, I am thinking to myself, "where's the bump?" With a crash of reality, I realize the bump is gone, in fact it's been gone for some years now. The bump was always my very favorite part of the ride up the drive. It was the same every time....crest the hill, the back tire thuds as it drops off the bump, the bed of the truck bounces, my sister's blue eyes dancing with delight.... laughter always followed. I suddenly realize that  I am no longer little, and this laughing girl beside me is not my younger sister, she is my youngest daughter. What a joy to be transported back and relive a cherished childhood memory. What a joy it was to hug my littlest baby and scoop her off the tailgate as she giggled. I am feeling especially sentimental this week. (sniff-sniff) Well that is enough of that! Now, let's check out last night's strawberries!

Yes, you guessed it....more shortcake this week. Along with that we had some amazing strawberry milkshakes, strawberry popsicles, and just tonight made strawberry crock-pot crisp! It was amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream---I may have some for breakfast tomorrow:) We are really enjoying the berries this year....Mrs. Robin enjoys them too. Every afternoon while taking a coffee break in the shade of the old Maple tree we watch as Mrs. Robin lands in the open area beside the berry patch. She bounces around pretending she has no interest in the juicy treat hiding just a few feet away. This lasts for less than a minute before she can no longer resist and disappears into the jungle of plants. She flys away for a few moments then back she comes again and again....apparently she shares our fondness for strawberries too. We do not mind sharing of course but I sure do wish she would eat one entire berry instead of sampling so many!

Some of the Strawberry Patch--in they open flat area beyond the Sunflowers are just peeking through the ground

The mint is growing faster than Autumn!

Mint

Guardians of the herb garden....a good friend gave me these last summer....umm.....looking at this picture, I think a bath is in order!

Meet Fiona...she was my oldest daughter's 9th birthday gift. She is full of things to say, and has big time attitude, but she can be very sweet when she is in a good mood. 

Coral Bells

More Iris and Peony

Spiderwort??? "Sweet Kate" variety

Astilbe

Wigelia

Red hot poker

Lavender

Who sees a Walnut shell? Whooooo sees the owl?

Back hill looking from the garden towards the woods

Sweet Pea

Welcome to "Who rules the roost?!" Is it Autumn age 4, or Austin age 14??? Hmmmm.....both are stubborn.....both believe they are the boss.....both are goofballs.....wonder who will win round 1????

In the above photo Austin's foot is visible just at the back of the truck........

Who is chasing who??

Autumn calls a break and then tackles her brother! I guess she won this one!

In between rounds!

Here is Austin believing the chase is over....he perches on Autumns slide....Autumn starts yanking him down! My son has officially turned his little sister into a 13 year old boy!!! Help!!

She triumphs, ahhhhh, sibling love! This is her "uh oh" face!!

She wraps up her day with a little ride on Blue

He wraps up his day with a best friend