the road not taken...

Running an errand last week had me traveling over the river and through the woods...
well, not really, but it certainly seemed like it. Once my errand was complete,
I chose a slower, 2-lane road for the journey home.

I'm so glad I did, or I would have missed this old school house
(you know how I love old buildings)...

Here she is at a different angle...

 then I came across a barn full of character...

Up the road a bit more, I spied a windmill spinning in the most beautiful blue sky. 

No touch-ups here, the sky was actually that vivid a color blue.

So glad that I stumbled upon this path home...

it certainly reminded me of this poem by Robert Frost:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both,

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;


Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.


I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.



a bee in my bonnet...

Here's the story of a gal who loves honey. Now, she has dear friends who have had beehives for many years. However, while interested in the process, the gal never really went beyond simply enjoying their gifts of delicious honey on on homemade biscuits with butter. Yum!

Okay, so that gal is me (as if you didn't know that already.)
Now I do have an interest in bees...and while our dear friends would have made the most excellent mentors, sadly several years ago they moved to Wisconsin.

So, what do I do with this new interest in becoming a beekeeper? Well, I've been reading all I can get my hands on, and tagging along as our neighbors learn the ropes and harvest their first honey. I helped uncap their frames yesterday...sticky business, but really interesting. Was the moisture content right? What about the temperature and humidity in the room?  I learned a lot!

Here are a few snapshots taken this week of our neighbors tending their hives...

questions...questions...questions...

How far from the coop should the hive be?

I want it close to the garden and fruit trees, and I want to keep an eye on it, but I don't have a strong wind-break. Should I surround the hives with straw bales in the winter, or is wrapping the hive with tar paper a better idea?

So...do you have bees? Any tips & hints?

I'd love to hear the story of how you got started!

summer's over...

Well, not officially; however today is the first day of school,
and each of us see it a bit differently.

For them...

-up early; excited to catch up and visit with friends again
-backpacks were filled days ago with supplies
-"Can we go  yet?" (45 minutes before school begins.)


For me...

-the house is quiet...
                    which isn't bad, a little quiet time does a person good
-now's the time to catch up
                    on a summer's worth of lazily letting the chores slide
-but it's too quiet...

I promised Little Man I'd bake a checkerboard cake for after school...better get started.

Miss my sweet ones!

today's giggle...comparing eggs!

Oh those girls...
   same age
   same feed
   same TLC

But oh, the difference in eggs!

(PS...LOVE the double-yolkers)

a few more vacation snapshots...

How I Spent My Summer Vacation...

splashing in the lake, playing in the sand,
eating ice cream alongside the docks, and, of course,
finding the perfect Christmas ornament to remember it all!

kayaks lined up along Lake Erie's sandy shores...

kids in a funhouse, having, well, FUN!

 a 25,000 sq. ft. model train layout...
and you know how we LOVE trains!

the detail in the layout was amazing.

the circular stairs leading to the top of...

Marblehead Lighthouse

A great time was had by all, and next visit, we may spend a week
in one of the yurts available for rent!

Family...Fun...Making Memories...Laughing
It's the small & simple things that matter.

How does that saying go?
"It's not the years in your life,
but the life in your years that matters."

lake Erie getaway...

A few days off gave us the time to visit Lake Erie last weekend.
We couldn't have asked for better weather...it was ideal
with a cool breeze and temperatures in the 70's. A most welcome change from the typical August dog-days of summer!

Here are a few snapshots of our time there...we will definitely be going back to visit again.
 

a restored lighthouse...





beautiful old homes like this...



and this.





seagulls flying overhead...



best buddies...

 

exploring.

my first attempt at adding some texture, color changes,
and getting creative...
Rural Revival  you've inspired me!



dressing up the clothesline...

A few weeks ago I came across some gingerbread trim at our local hardware store, and the wheels started turning. Hmmm, it might be fun to add some trim to our clothesline...give it a bit of character. 



And so in no time at all it was up and in place! I love it when something so simple makes me smile.

happiness is...

counting one egg for every chicken...whew, no roosters here!

(By the way, eggs are adding up, any good recipes to share?!)

lemon shake-up...

After visiting two fairs and finding that nothing beats the heat like
ice-cold lemonade, I thought I'd share my quick & easy recipe.
It's ready in no time at all and  keeps me going on these hot, humid summer days!

juice of one lemon
crushed ice
1/3 c. sugar, or sugar to taste
1 to 1-1/2 c. ice cold water

Combine juice, ice, sugar, and water in a Mason jar, or jar with a
tight-fitting lid. Secure lid and shake to fully blend.
Serves one.

it's fair time!

Searing sun, temps looming around 100 degrees, and humidity that makes me melt...that's how the last few weeks have been. It's up and outside early to work, then waiting until sundown to wrap things up.

However, with the heat of summer comes fair time...and we can't miss that, no matter what the weather's like! Our county fair is on a hillside, so we always have a plan: begin at the top where all the animal barns and merchant buildings are, then work our way down to the rides and food. By the time we get to the bottom, the kids are absolutely itching to jump on every ride, and hubby and I are so hot we need an icy lemonade shake-up (or several!) to help us beat the heat. We were tickled to discover we had won 6 blue ribbons and 4 red ones...the anticipation is always high as we search for our names!

A couple of days later we visited the state fair. Again, another scorching hot day, but lots of fun, food, and animals at every turn. There's just something special about the fair...it's a feeling and an excitement we never outgrow. It's the hope of winning a blue ribbon, watching the spinners & weavers working at their craft, watching excited kids show their animals in competition, and the aroma of fair food in the air.

I hope you'll have the chance to visit a fair near you. In the meantime, here are a few snapshots of ours...

fanciful chickens of all breeds





the museum has so many interesting wagons and farm equipment



an old log cabin is on display,

next on my wish list!

there was a sign above this little beauty that said, "Win Me!"

famous butter cows...sculpted from 1500 pounds of butter!

newborn calf only 3 days old

mama to be...we were hoping to be there for the big event!
(my inner vet would have loved it...for any James Herriot fans,
I'd need a "bucket of hot water, soap, and a towel, please."



2-week old piglets




a little post-breakfast nap



chickens...



and still more chickens




I love the look in this lady's eyes
just as this fella let out a very loud
and cheery cock-a-doodle-doo!

 

clever egg carrier...

I found this egg carrier in Amish country a few years ago. It holds 3 dozen eggs and I bought in in hopes of having chickens "someday."

Well, someday finally arrived and I'm tickled to dust it off and use it. Now yesterday's grand total was 5 eggs, so at this rate, I won't be filling it any time soon. It's still handy though to safely tote eggs back to the house.

Hmmm, my friend Ellen has many, many more hens than we do...maybe I can find one for her. I think I feel a trip to Amish country coming on!

glimpses of Pioneer Day...

Today we celebrate Pioneer Day, and we had a ball with the Primary kids at church. When they arrived they were assigned
to a handcart company and then trekked from place to place learning a little more about pioneer life.

First they played pioneer games...the tricky ox yoke puzzle had everyone truly puzzled, and Jacob's ladder fascinated them as they tried to figure out this terrific optical illusion. Outside there was cow roping (with a cow stand-in) and buffalo chip tossing
(not real chips, of course!)

They heard true stories of pioneer struggles and triumphs, the hardships of pulling a handcart along the trail, or being part of what seemed to be an endless wagon train. They made punched tin ornaments, dressed up in bonnets, aprons, and wide-brimmed hats, sampled beef jerky, made butter, and sang pioneer songs.

While we all had a great time, what I hope they'll leave with is
a greater respect, reverence, and gratitude for those men, women, and children who came before us.

egg-citing...

I just can't help myself!

Love...

those...

chickens!

squeals of delight!

Our family has been at Cub Scout camp this week. While it's been a lot of work, it's also been an absolute ball and the kids have had a grand time!

Yesterday was a 3 mile hike...now, 3 miles isn't that long,
but this path (and I use that word very loosely) was absolutely "over the river, and through the woods." I was trying my hardest not to give in to the pain in my side, or the aching in my legs.

So this morning, when it was time for early-morning chores,
I hesitated...perhaps a bit more sleep. I certainly felt as if I'd earned it, after all, it's been a long week at camp.

But no, I pulled myself out of bed...the garden needed weeding before it was too hot. It didn't take long to weed and water, and soon I was heading to check the girls. On such a cool morning I knew they'll love a little fresh air.

When what to my surprise do I find?
This little beauty...our first egg!

Then I found 2 more!

Yes, there were squeals of delight! I called my husband, who was still on his way to work, because I was so excited!

Then, pacing back & forth, I waited 3 hours until the kids woke up. (I knew they were still exhausted from camp and needed their sleep this morning.)

Here's Sweet Girl holding 2 of the eggs,

and Little Man found a fourth one!

Looking at the size difference, maybe that one on the left will be
a "double-yolker" as the kids call them. We'll just have to wait
and see!

So it's a happy morning at Windy Meadows Farm...hoping it's a terrific Friday for you as well!

I love old things...

an 1890's stepback cupboard,
with handed-down carnival glass,
vintage yellowware bowls,
and a crackled white casserole dish.

I love anything old, worn, and weathered.

I love old houses and barns and wish they could talk.

I love simple, old-fashioned ways.

And while modern conveniences are certainly a blessing,
it's also a blessing to slow down and enjoy the uncomplicated pleasures of each day...

the months,
the seasons,
the predictability of nature,
the sweetness of daily life.

Wishing you a day to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures.

honoring our country...

How was your long weekend?

Ours was spent lighting sparklers,

watching fireworks,

and reflecting on the blessings we enjoy...

family, home, friends, freedom.

simple joys for July...

...find a hometown parade on Independence Day! Wave flags, stand as Old Glory passes by, and enjoy the celebration of our nation.

...gather friends & family for an old-fashioned picnic. Toss out a red checked tablecloth and fill it with all the favorites...golden fried chicken, creamy potato salad, icy watermelon, and homemade root beer.

...find a barn sale or flea market

...spread a blanket in the backyard and look up at the clouds...what shapes do you see? A simple childhood pleasure that never grows old.

...make ice cream, it's easier than you think!

...if you're traveling for a family vacation, pack a Surprise Bag. Filled with little surprise treats for kids to pull out along the way, it can make a long drive pass a bit quicker for the kids
(and parents!)

...find a farmers' market. You'll not only take home some wonderful fresh foods, but it's a terrific way to meet neighboring farmers.

....celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24! Kids still love old-fashioned games like an egg & spoon race along with a 3-legged or sack race and shadow tag. Cook outdoors (try some authentic pioneer recipes!) using a tripod or over the fire pit. Tell family stories, dance the Virginia Reel, laugh, take pictures, make memories.