A Rainy Day

Sometime last evening it started raining. There was one clap of thunder that made us turn off and unplug our computers and the modem. After the time Darryl’s computer was zapped by lightening we’ve been extra careful. Unplugging when we hear the sound of thunder heading our way. It rained off and on during the night, at times quite heavy. We’re not complaining as our area has been so dry that we really need the rain.

Today has been one of those lazy kind of days. For both of us. There’s just something about the sound of rain on a metal roof that makes you think of reading a book or taking a nap. Or as I did, sit on the couch with my laptop a good part of the day. Tomorrow has to be a more industrious day…will let you all know how it goes. I’m sure I won’t begin to accomplish as much as Toodie. It wears me out just reading her blog. She is an inspiring lady.

Snickers, my old lady cat, has been a nuisance at night lately. Not super bad, just enough that she wakes me up at times. She sleeps during most of the day then is awake and ‘running’ around on toward morning, way before I’m ready to get up. Of course, we won’t discuss when I’m ready to get up.

After visiting a number of other blogs I think it’s time I try to dress mine up. Not tonight, it’s just too close to bedtime to start such a project. Oh, and I won’t be able to tomorrow. Seems there are a few other things around here I need to accomplish. It will happen, just not sure when. My daughter will be here the end of December, perhaps she will help. She builds web pages for pay, so surely she could help her mom dress up a blog site…sounds good to me.

Tomorrow the kids are coming home! I’ll be glad to see those 4 precious grandkids, even if it has been just a week. Will also be good to see their parents. It just isn’t the same around here when they’re gone.

Of course, Garry is looking forward to not having to milk two cows. He’s managed fine, just hasn’t enjoyed their short handles. Our refrigerator is overflowing with milk, even with having given Danny one milking per day. We also have the milk from our goats. One thing I plan to do tomorrow is make a chocolate pudding, or at least attempt to. I haven’t made pudding for a very long time. It’s one way to use some of the abundance of milk. So we’ll see.

Perhaps this is enough for now. See you all tomorrow if things go as planned.

A beautiful day!

This was the view when I was drinking my first cup of coffee this morning.

We have big windows in our living room that look out over our back yard. It’s pretty much a sun room. Which means it’s warm in the winter and a bit too warm in the summer. Thankfully with all the windows (5), we do have good air circulation in the summer.

Today was laundry day. I was able to hang things outside to dry. Love how they smell when I do that. Now don’t ask why Monday is laundry day…it’s just a habit I’ve gotten into. Sometimes I even do it on Tuesday, just depends on what’s happening around here.

I weighed the butter before putting it into the freezer. It was 1.75 pounds. I still divided it into 8 packages. It seemed too complicated to make 7. Plus not really necessary. Oh, I’d like to have a paddle type butter churn like one of you mentioned. What I do is just shake a jar with cream in it. I’ve learned that it needs to be room temperature and to not fill the jar much over 1/2 full for best (read that as fastest) results.

We’ve been having flocks of Sandhill Cranes going overhead on their way south. I have tried to take pictures, but they just won’t hold still. Can you believe that?

Here’s one of the photos. In Illinois we would always hear and see geese fly south in the fall. The Sandhill Cranes have a very distinctive sound…definitely not geese. Although, some people around here refer to them as geese.

Here’s a video I hope you will all enjoy.

 

 

Jackpot…..

It’s amazing what you find when you really aren’t looking. About 3 weeks ago Anne and I went on a treasure hunt. The first one in a very long time. My intent was to go with her and just enjoy the day. There wasn’t anything I had in mind to look for specifically, or even anything I felt I needed. We stopped at our usual places. As always I shop by color. There’s no sense looking through a rack of clothes if the colors I like aren’t there. So I’m good at circling racks, moving things slightly, if packed, to see what colors are available. I also do the same for other things, looking primarily for blue anything. Occasionally something catches my eye that isn’t blue. Such as the red (really a rich burgundy) transfer ware sugar dish. Okay, I know most of my dishes are blue. BUT, Garry’s favorite color is red, so I try to have a bit of red around. It goes quite well with the blue. Anyway I saw the sugar dish, liked it, but…we don’t use sugar from a dish, so really didn’t need it. Anne suggested using it for honey. I liked that idea, so… Yep, we have a red transfer ware sugar dish with honey in it.

But I’ve gotten ahead of my story. We, as I said, had gone to our usual places. I’d found a few things such as a blue serving bowl, a shirt for Danny (neighbor), elephant cup and small plate for Garry, some vanilla candles, and a few other things. We had just left a store and were starting down the street, when Anne asked if I wanted to stop by the Restore (Habitat for Humanity). We were almost to it by then. Of course, I was willing. The first thing I spotted was the sugar dish. Then while looking around saw some dishes that matched my china. It included a coffee server, covered vegetable dish, and a clock. Plus 4 each plates, cups, saucers, bread plates and berry bowls. I debated for a bit, then decided to ‘go for it’. So I bought the group.

Garry checked on Ebay to get an idea of prices. I knew the covered vegetable bowl was $35 and felt the coffee server would be at least that much. I had never seen a clock, so had no clue. The clock, on Ebay, with shipping is over $90…doesn’t even claim to work. Mine doesn’t work, but Garry is sure the clockworks can be replaced. The coffee server is anywhere from $35 to $60. And the vegetable bowl is $35. Needless to say I felt pretty good with my purchase of $43.

It felt and looked a whole lot like winter this morning. Always makes me thankful for a warm house. And warm clothes.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving. Danny (neighbor) came and ate with us. It’s just quiet on the farm with just the 3 of us here.  Darryl & Anne and the kids are in NC, with her siblings. So we’re taking care of the critters. Garry isn’t too thrilled with having to milk 2 cows that don’t have very good handles. I’m thrilled with the cream to use in our coffee, to whip, and to make butter. We had real whipped cream on our pecan pie for Thanksgiving. Today I made butter. My guestimate would be a good 1.5#, possibly 2. It will go into the freezer.

Well, it’s about bedtime here, so reckon I should quit for now. I’ll try to write sooner next time.

Red Hen and More

After telling you about the hen who has earned her residency here. I thought perhaps a picture would be in order. Now taking a picture wasn’t exactly as easy as I had hoped. There are some other animals, known as goats, who share the pen with the chickens. Or is it the chickens who share the pen with the goats? Either way, they’re both in the same pen. And the goats seem to think the only reason I’d go out there would be to see them. So here’s a couple pictures to show you.

This is Zoe, who just didn’t seem to understand it wasn’t her I wanted to take a picture of. After all, why would I want the chicken when I could have her?!? She thought the camera was for her…if I walk to the fence with something in my hands, then, of course, that’s what it is. Silly critter.




Then here’s Brownie trying to see what I might have. With Joe-Joe, the buck we borrowed from a neighbor to ‘visit’ with our girls, trying to get as close as he feels comfortable. Thankfully he isn’t a super friendly goat because he has an odor about him that I don’t care to have on me.    The goats were quite good at staying between me and the chickens. The chicken I want a picture of is between Joe-Joe and Brownie.

Finally the goats lost interest, so I was able to take a picture of the chicken I wanted. We don’t even know if she is laying, just that both of us feel she has earned her residency to live out her life on the farm. She is at least 6 years old.  In the spring of 2005, Garry bought her as a young pullet along with 10 others plus a rooster. The rooster was mean…would attack either one of us…, so he went into some yummy chicken and noodles.

 Hope everyone is having a good week. Garry and I went into Glasgow this morning. He wanted some wire for running electricity to his workshop. And I wanted to return something to Walmart and see what else I might need. I had a list, that other than some clearance things for the OR granddaughters, I pretty much stuck to. So now I need to get a package ready to send to them. It’s hard having them so far away. Sammi is nearly 1 year old and beginning to walk. Amber is 5 and has started the adventure of school. Mikayla is 3, and finally has decided to use the big potty. That is a major event that both Amber and Mikayla had to tell me about last time I talked with them. I just wish they were a lot closer. I always say the girls need me, but perhaps it’s a bit that I need them.

It’s turning colder here. Still doesn’t feel too bad during the day with the sunshine. We’ve been having a fire in the stove part of the time…mostly mornings to take the chill off things. I still haven’t switched summer and winter clothes. That’s on the agenda for tomorrow. Also to take the quilt off our bed and put the comforter on. Since I’ll be washing sheets tomorrow it’ll be a good time to do it.

Enough for this time. Hope it is well with all of you.