not enough hours in the day!

How can it be the middle of June? As the saying goes, “Back the truck up!” Let’s reverse the calendar a little bit shall we? The days are flying by.

I just finished getting the garden in (a month later than usual-we’ve had so much rain). I’m cleaning out the milkhouse for summer cottage food sales, wrangling weeds, and staring down a long to-do list.  

Just like all of your days, don't we seem to find they're filled from beginning to end? But I'm reminded of this quote by one of my favorite authors/artists, Susan Branch:

"Sometimes I think we get caught up in the hectic happenings of the weeks and months and we forget to take time out to relax."

She's spot on...sure, there are important things that need doing, but it's also so important to slow down. We need to take time to unwind, relax, and enjoy these days.

And with that said, here's a look at some of the things I've spied with my little eyes as I tried to take time to slow down…

Tinkerbell finding the herb garden is quite comfy. 

Fuji apples are plentiful this year - yay!

Russian Sage in my little (and I do mean little)
Weavers Garden,

along with some Yarrow. 

Spotted this clever Lightning McQueen car while I was out and about
- wow! Well done!

I took a weaving class at a nearby historical village…
ta-da - my finished rug! 

  The Master Weaver was wonderful!  I was her only student for the day,
so it was perfect for me as a beginner - I’ll definitely be doing this again. 

So pretty, a balloon festival in a town not far away. 

Mama raccoon at the cat feeder...
she visits every spring and is always so polite. 

Peonies are blooming,

along with this finicky rose. Some years it’s covered in blooms,
then other years absolutely nothing. Can anyone tell me what variety it
might be and any tips for growing?

Iris greeting the birds as they settle in for a sip
or a little spruce-up at the birdbath. 

A friend shared her fresh milk with me,
and I tried my hand at making yogurt!

.

And this crock caught my eye - I never see one with a lid.  
I wonder if it needs a new home?! (It didn’t have a price tag,
so I’m guessing it's out of my price range,
but I'll check next time I'm there.)

Well, that’s it for today. My son will be here tonight as he’s off this week from his college job - perfect timing because my daughter leaves Saturday for 6 weeks as an RA at a ballet company. I’m thinking maybe we squeeze in a day trip and lots of home cooking! 

Have a wonderful week friends...let's take time to enjoy the simple things.

(Image courtesy of Google)

Sunday drive surprise!

Hidey-ho on this cool & rainy Wednesday…it feels like Fall here - not that I’m complaining! Too soggy to till the garden, but perfect napping weather. I’m trying hard not to give in to the temptation.

I thought I’d share a few snapshots from this week’s Sunday drive. Yes, the usual pastoral pix of bovine beauties (thanks Daisy!)

Along with excellent equines,

and delightful donkeys. 

Not to be outdone by a…

WAIT 

FOR

IT

CURIOUS CAMEL!

Trust me, this is not something we ever see around us. We were driving past a bed and breakfast found off the beaten path, and there he was: Hobnobbing with his fellow farm friends. Needless to say, it was quite a surprise and made us laugh…I thought it might give you a chuckle, too! 

(Sometimes small towns are described as cow-towns, I’m casting a vote to change us to Camel-town!)

And so, that’s the latest from Camel-town! If you’re looking for just a little more to read, my Rural Farmgirl post for May is now up at MaryJanesFarm:

Rural Farmgirl

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday hello…

Thank you for the sweet Mother’s Day good wishes…I appreciate them! We had the most wonderful copycat, Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo, and a delicious chocolate mousse - I love it when the kids cook! 

My son is leaving Saturday after a nice long visit home before his college summer job, so we’re in the throes of laundry, grocery shopping, and wrapping up a movie marathon. Tonight we’re trying pizza from a little place in a small town South of us, then tomorrow I’ll try to hold back the tears (unsuccessfully) sigh, and so it goes. 

I’ve decided it’s fine time to bring back good, old-fashioned Sunday drives. And so last week, that’s what we did. Here’s just a few of the things we saw…

I wandered through an old canal town last Saturday, and I got inspired to plant a weaver’s garden like one I saw there. Do I weave? Uh, no. It’s been ages since my first lesson after someone gave me a table-top loom - and I do mean AGES!  But I thought why not plant a fun little garden and take advantage of the weaving classes that are offered in that small canal village? (in an 1800’s school house!)  here are some of the plants I saw – now to track them down. 

Any advice from weavers is always welcome! 

And so that’s the latest from here - have a happy weekend!

 

Happy Mothers’ Day!

a peek at the week..

apple tree blossoms

burning fallen tree limbs

 (oh yes, s‘mores are a must!)

a kinda spooky-looking tractor 

in the dust and sunlight 

forsythia bush waiting to be planted, 

along with a snowball bush

(It’s so small - I’ll have to mark it well!)

Moms always know a dandelion 

makes a spring bouquet more special

(thanks 😊)

morning shadows 

(I have a “thing” for aprons and hats -

 translation? I can’t get enough!)

to me - so pretty up close

sunsets after a rain

making my first focaccia 

on these rainy May days

an extra-special treat - a double rainbow 

after a storm

And that’s what’s happening in my corner of the world. Lots of rain, storms, and severe weather watches, but also birdsong & blooms. The days change from opening windows and enjoying the cool breeze, to having a crackling fire going most nights this week - higgedly-piggedly as they say!

Cooking up lots of favorites - my son is home from college for a couple of weeks, but will be spending the summer on Campus for his job (sigh)  - loving the laughter I hear between him and his sister!  

Now I’m off to bake bread for the Farmers’ Market in town and make chili - yes, it feels like sweater weather!  Hoping you have a lovely day whatever you are up to!

Happy Easter!

 

Happy Easter! I hope you are able to spend this Spring weekend doing something you love. The days are getting longer, the grass is getting greener, and little perennial flowers are just waking up from a long winter’s nap. 

We’ll be having a family dinner Saturday, as university exams are in full swing. So, today I’ll be dusting away cobwebs and prepping ahead what I can for tomorrow’s dinner...this is one of my favorites:

Kingston Potatoes (recipe here) is an easy, make-ahead mashed potato recipe…tomorrow I’ll just pop them in the oven to reheat (feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste.) I’ll also be making deviled eggs, old-fashioned cola cake, and filling Easter baskets - because I think you’re never too “grown-up” for chocolate! 

Thanks for stopping by, wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

two posts in one week?

A quick “howdy” just to say I have a new post over at MaryJanes Farm today. You can find it here:  

Rural Farmgirl

A bit of snow this week, a splash of sunshine occasionally, and oodles of rain. 

I have veggie and flower seeds tucked in my tiny greenhouse and I’ve been wielding a chainsaw (okay, 20V, a girl’s gotta be sensible!) and clearing some overgrowth.

Making plans - dreaming dreams - plotting  and scheming! 

My thought for the day: 

NEVER stop making wishes! 

Happy Thursday, friends!

how can it be April?!

Good morning to all - I’m way past due for a catch-up, and I have no idea where the time has gone! It’s been so nice to read your posts and follow along on all that you’re doing. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your adventures, recipes, and daily routine. I love reading about the goings-on whether you’re in Nod, the Piedmont of North Carolina, or far away in the north of England and New Zealand.

Spring has not sprung here, well, maybe it did for a few days. It’s been in the low 70’s some days, which found me raking fall leaves from flower beds, gathering tree limbs into piles for burning, and generally trying to clean up the “mess” that remains after a long winter. 

April has brought unexpected snow bursts, tornado watches, seemingly endless downpours of rain, and they say perhaps even a little snow this afternoon  And yet, mixed in with all of that, have been some beautiful Spring days filled with birdsong and blue skies.  

Today there’s a fire going as it’s 35 degrees and I just saw a forecast of 19 degrees Monday night! Time to pull out spare sheets and blankets to cover up the tender perennials that are just peeking out of the ground.

Enough about the weather…a quick catch-up…

A friend surprised me with some lovely flowers along with 6 gallons of milk from her sweet jersey, Alice!

My daughter and I went to a cheese barn – yes a barn selling endless varieties of cheese -  how could I not be ecstatic? This was parked out front, would love to have it in my driveway, sigh…

While making a late-night run to drop off recycling, we spotted a young owl in the middle of the road. We stopped and he sat. Hmmm, now you may know we rescued kittens found in the middle of the road last year – so thoughts were running through our heads as to how we could help this little fellow. We got out of my car - he sat. We slowly approached, then in a flash he flew off into the woods. We were relieved and happy to see him off of the road and heading home. 

We’ve made lots of jalapeño poppers - LOVE these!

For only a couple of dollars, I “rescued “ an old yellow ware pie plate that needed a home. 

    

  

And I’m loving the early morning shadows.

                       

Well, that’s the latest for this morning- it’s time to make a late breakfast and cozy up with a snoozing dog. 

Hope all is well friends - I’ll be visiting your blogs this afternoon!