Spring and summer photos around the farm

I was going through some photos of last spring and summer......thought I would share some....enjoy!

Pretty lady!

Springtime

                           

We gather these by the gallons......can anyone say shortcake?!?!

                            

These Hibiscus grow as large as plates!

Someone likes Basil!!

Herb garden

Quote for today:
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

Henry David Thoreau

Well, Henry, I could not agree more!!

The Maple, and BEWARE----crazy lady ahead!!

The Maple umbrella!

Here on the farm we spend much of our summer under an old Maple tree. It is home to the swing and the bird feeders.  It provides us with shade from the heat and is the most beautiful umbrella I have ever seen.

Throughout the spring, summer and fall it is our chosen gathering spot for coffee and bubble blowing. In the warm summer evenings after closing the garden gate for what we swear is the last time we congregate under the tree to savor the very last bit the evening. The work of the day is finished, everyone is fed, dishes are done, and the war with the weeds is over for today. Sadie sleeps, Mom and Austin rest on the swing, and I settle into my adirondack chair. It's a time for quiet talking, reflections on the day and "what will we get into tomorrow" chats. Autumn is freshly bathed and dances though the yard in her pajamas chasing fireflys. I love this time...it's filled with so many things that truly matter. Quality time with family, the tiredness that comes after a productive day, pride in the days work, appreciation of the small things, and dreams of tomorrow.

This brings me to yesterday...I stood in the kitchen watching the birds flit from feeder to feeder.....the snow was falling and I absolutely adore snow....supper was in the oven....the comforting giggles of the kids enjoying a movie drifted in from the living room....summer under the Maple was on my mind.....just like that it hit me....beware it gets a little messy from here:).......it went something like this---no matter what Punxatawney Phil says spring is coming.......then summer....... summer....the favorite season of most....glorified for it's carefree schedule and lack of frostbite....summer filled with riotous color.... summer is coming......my thoughts raced to a put off stack of half completed forms in the next room.....I began to fill in the empty spaces and check the appropriate boxes.....I put them down because I just wasn't ready.....oh no....this summer is coming! I wish this realization had not hit me.....now I have from February to late August to dread the inevitable!!

I know, crazy, but there it is unfiltered panic laced thoughts for about 30 seconds or so....don't pretend you don't have those moments too:) What is all this dread over summer, you ask? It's all tied to the paperwork, although, aren't most dreaded things? Ahhhhh....the paperwork...Autumn's official kindergarten registration ....WOW......when did that happen? DEEP BREATH!!! (A few deep breaths, actually:) Okay, I admit it......no snow here for the last week and a half, so about a week and a half of deep breaths later.......

 My thoughts are a little more calm, and I realize the blessing of this realization. No, not from February to late August to dread the inevitable.......from February to late August to celebrate.....to enjoy, to appreciate, to relish......from February to late August to read an extra story together, to play dollhouse, to skip in the rain, to dig in the garden, to eat berries still warm from the summer sun. From February to late August to catch fireflies and blow bubbles, to be thankful she is here and growing and healthy. From February to late August to appreciate and enjoy my littlest baby's last seasons as a "little kid."

She lost her first tooth!!! One tooth fairy pillow and a she is a happy girl!!!

Kitty friends and one cute skunk!

It's been a beautiful winter......minus the power outages and ice storms.......okay, the ice storms are beautiful, BUT.......the bathrooms are not so appealing after several days without power! :) 

Pretty birds resting in our Maple

Our Maple in winter

Just for my mother.....because she is so over this Winter.......SUMMER IS COMING!!

thoughts of today

Someone I hold dear to my heart sent me an email this morning reminding me that I have not posted anything for quite some time. I've been crazy busy....but that is another story for another time....honestly, I just am feeling a bit defeated lately. Of course feeling defeated comes with all of those super fun side effects like also feeling cranky, tired, grumpy, sluggish, apathetic, etc, etc.......this also is accompanied by the ability to open a bag of Lay's original Family size and devour the entire bag within minutes....yummy....the bag I had was super salty too....mmmmmm....in my defense I did chug about a quart of green tea with the chips, and since green tea is so healthy that's got to count for something, right?! This person also reminded me that writing can be good therapy...so here goes....

As a young girl growing up on a quiet, rolling farm I spent my days dreaming of a fast paced life in the big city. Not unlike many youth, I looked at my parents and was convinced they had no clue. I remember as a teen soaking in the Hollywood version of corporate success from movies like The Secret of My Success with Michael J Fox, and Working Girl with Melanie Griffith. I was convinced and devoted that my path in life would be filled with board rooms, a walk-in closet filled to the brim with "power suits" and a high rise loft overlooking the glittering city. I would never cook...I'd spend what little time I had off from taking over the world shopping, spending all of that cash I was so sure would be in abundance. I would be rich beyond belief, and the envy of every girl who knew me.
 Looking back at that young girl, so filled with hopes and dreams....my first thought is that she is a fool. Upon further reflection, I realize in many ways that young girl isn't so different from who I am today. Those who know me well, know that I am a dreamer at heart. It doesn't take much to send my thoughts racing at what seems to be a million miles an hour planning, wishing, heart soaring, day long fantasy. Somewhere along the way, as I changed, the dream and the vision changed...now I see towering pines in place of high rises.....the mystery of the deep woods in place of the city....board games next to a roaring fire replace the board room.....glittering stars on a clear summer's night, or the fresh sparkle of new fallen snow have replaced the city lights...flannel shirts have replaced the horrid nightmare of the power suit...and a greenhouse filled with the promise of new life has taken the spot of the walk-in closet. Thankfully, I no longer care what every girl who ever knew me thinks:) Along with all of these differences, the definition of what makes you "rich" has changed as well. Now it is filled with family.....treasured moments instead of things....looking back on challenging times and knowing I gained strength by walking (and sometimes crawling) through my struggles.....laughter.....truly knowing that giving really is better than getting...I could go on all day with this, but won't. Today is not my day for this dream to be a reality....but today I feel thankful for the dream, the promise of things to come....it's too good to give up on, and after all I wouldn't appreciate it enough if there was no struggle to get it...for today that's enough.

It's cold and the world outside the window is covered in freshly fallen snow....my house is warm, the kids are just waking up...I hear Sadie flopping onto the floor in the next room, and someone spurred me to write today...I do believe it's helped....there is much to be thankful for!!!

The most amazing chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream icing

Bunting is maple twigs, fabric scraps and embroidery floss that I braided--super sweet Littlest Pet shop critters were a cute addition:):)

This is the cake I made for Autumn's 5th birthday....it is a super moist rich chocolate cake topped with vanilla Buttercream icing---YUMMY!!!

Cake:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 c Hershey's regular unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4c Hershey's special dark cocoa powder

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup Canola oil

2 eggs

3 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup strong brewed coffee--hot

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees--prep cake pans--I used 2, 9 inch round, lightly sprayed then floured

-Place flour, sugar, cocoas, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large mixing bowl.

-combine

-add milk, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla, mix on medium speed until well mixed.

-reduce speed to low and add hot coffee--be careful!---when mixed well, beat on high for about a minute

-place into cake pans and bake for about 20-30 minutes or until toothpick tester comes out clean. cool then frost

Vanilla Buttercream icing:

1 stick unsalted butter--or use salted if that's what you have on hand

2 1/2 c confectioners sugar--sifted

2-3 tablespoons of half and half or whole milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

-Cream together room temp butter, vanilla, and 1/2 c confectioners sugar at a time, adding half and half or milk when needed for consistency. Be careful not to add too much or your frosting will be too runny and slide off your cake. When you have a good consistency beat on a higher speed for 1 minute

--Frost cake or just enjoy straight from the bowl!!!  

Don't mind the lovely background, I sat this on the workbench to photograph!!!