rainy April days...

"Most of April hours are happy ones...for even the dreariest rain means the quickening of the frosty old earth into a new splendor. It isn't just a rainy day, but it is a day to make the hyacinths grow, and lengthen the green lances of the tulips. 

We often have to put the furnace on, and snow sometimes sifts soon over the greening lawn, but we know it it is just a temporary note from winter and tomorrow will be warm again."

-Glady Taber,
Stillmeadow Seasons

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

As I sit down to write this, the sun is shining and when the clouds part, the skies are a robin's egg blue...but don't let that lead you to believe it's a lovely spring day here in the Midwest.

I'm in a turtleneck and sweatshirt on this happy Monday and the kids wore their winter coats to school. The winds from the north are strong and cold. Had this been a couple of months ago, I dare say we'd be in the middle of a blizzard.

And so, for me at least, it's a day for indoor chores. However; the farmers are hard at work outdoors today, so I thought I'd share a peek at what we see all around us...

 

So, as I sit bundled up, I'm grateful we're not snowed in like some folks are. I can promise though, that we'll be keeping warm with a kettle of simmering soup on the menu, along with mugs of creamy cocoa!

Happy Monday to all!

thanks to those good folks at Backyard Poultry...

A heartfelt thanks to the publishers at Backyard Poultry magazine. If you take a peek inside their April/May issue ("The Joyful Sound of Spring: A Delightful Peep" page 24) you'll find our story of how 6 little chicks came to live at Windy Meadows Farm!

Now, a year later, six happy hens are more fun that we thought possible...and it's all thanks
to a little nudging by our kids.

I hope you have the chance to read the article, along with the rest of Backyard Poultry...
if you're new to backyard chickens, or even if you've been enjoying them for years, you'll find the pages filled with lots of terrific information!

is that snow?

Ah yes...yesterday, and just for a bit this morning, there were snowflakes drifting down from the spring sky.

Snowflakes!

Delicate blooms on fruit trees remain covered, along with other little blossoms...I'm crossing my fingers.
Soon enough we'll find out how they've fared when the "real" spring weather arrives. (Should I tell you I had a fire in the fireplace yesterday?!)

And so, even though it's absolutely freezing outside, here's a peek of what's to come...
just a little something to keep our spirits up!

 

a flowery, showery month...

April is full of foolery…so far she has presented us with unseasonable temperatures in the 80’s. These warm days have brought early buds on fruit trees, blossoms on perennials, and grass that is inching up daily. Oh yes, on this farm, mowing is in full swing (and the grass may yet have the upper hand!)

And yet, with all the promise of new life spring offers, April may yet present some parts of the country with a snowfall. The highs predicted next week in our part of the Midwest, will be half of what they have been…daytime temperatures in the 40’s will surely bring nights that mean covering up blooming flowers in hopes they will be spared the nighttime chill.

No matter…April has brought with her breezes that make sheets and quilts smell their sweetest when dried on the clothesline. Even cleaning out flowerbeds doesn’t seem like a weighty chore when the sun is shining and the birds are singing. While I go about,  I’m dreaming of making changes…adding  hydrangeas where the goldenrod have taken over, surrounding the old-fashioned lilac with colorful zinnias, tucking a few more herbs in the kitchen garden, adding a handmade fountain here and there, and adding a few goodies to the kids’ fairy garden.  

I've been collecting photos for inspiration...and oh, are they ever!

photo source: http://www.interiorfans.com/greatest-garden-art-from-junk

photo source: http://roadkillrescue.net/2012/02/outdoor-dining-table/

photo source: http://artgardendiva.blogspot.com/2011/07/cracked-pots-at-mc-menamins-edgefield.html

The land is warming and the season is changing. We welcome the heavenly scent of freshly-mown grass that surrounds us, and when paired with the fragrance of the earth as the fields are plowed, the air is sweet.  Soon it’ll be barefoot time…tossing shoes aside and feeling the soft grass underfoot is a simple pleasure to be enjoyed no matter where you live (or how old you are!)

This weekend the kids will enjoy an egg hunt with friends, we’ll visit with family, and have our traditional Easter dinner as we pause and reflect on the holiday at hand.

Such are the pleasures of April!

did you miss me?

Wait...no need to answer that...maybe I don't want to know!

Let me tell you where I've been.

On March 15 thunderstorms and lightning rolled through in the night. Storms that rattled us from a nice, cozy slumber. Storms that brought cracks of thunder and flashes of lightning way too close for my comfort level.

We woke up to find that all was well outside...the tall pines, maples, and oaks that surround our old home had held on tightly and stood strong through the night. However; our quick "What's going on in the world this morning?" computer check, found that the storms did quite a Texas Two-Step with our computer and printer...even though they were "safely" plugged into a surge protector.

Alas...for a girl who loves simple, old-fashioned ways, I've certainly missed our computer! And while we're just now getting plugged back into the world, I dread the task of trying to transfer files from our backup to the new pc. I am grateful; however, that files, photos, and "must-haves" were able to be saved for us to restore.

And so you ask, what have I been doing while unconnected to the world? Well, spring cleaning is
in full swing (I firmly believe that toys and dust bunnies multiply) and with days that have brought temperatures in the 80's, a little outdoor sprucing up has been going on as well. I'm hanging sheets on the clothesline...oh how sweet they smell, and making garden plans. When it's this warm, I'm so tempted to plant flowers and veggies early, but those temps in the 80's aren't common for us in March, and twice this week we've covered fruit trees when frost warnings were issued.

And so I'm happy to be back to "normal" and will sign off by sharing a few glimpses of spring
as she's arrived at our farm.


I hope wherever you are, all is well!

spring cleaning the coop...

It's been almost a year since six delightful chicks came to live with us...

Henrietta, Hermione, Spotty, Alex, Cinnamon, and Hershey have brought us lots of smiles and certainly lots of eggs! I'm no expert on chicken breeds, but I have to say ours were generous with their eggs while the days of winter were short. Our hens are Tetra Tint (a mix between Red Sussex and Leghorn breeds) and Golden Comet and we couldn't be happier with them.

It was my intent to give the girls the winter off...no lights were in the coop to trigger continued laying. In spite of that, most days we gathered 6 eggs, with our lowest count being 4, while our highest count was 12, but that's a post for another day! 

And so as Saturday began blue-skied and cloudless with a temperature in the 60's, it was the perfect day to clean out the coop after a long winter. The girls enjoyed stretching their legs while we got to work, and in no time at all the coop was fresh & clean...yay! I'm sure the girls are happy and so am I! So, just in case it might be helpful to new chicken owners, I thought I'd post our spring cleaning schedule. 

spring cleaning the coop...

~let the girls out of the coop...close the run door to keep them outside 

~open windows to let in fresh air, remove feeders and waterer, gather eggs

~lay a tarp outside the coop door (You could set a wheelbarrow to catch old bedding, but because we used the deep litter method for winter (meaning the bedding was up to 10 inches deep) there was a lot to remove, and laying out a tarp was our best choice.)

~using a rake, remove all bedding material, empty nest boxes, and clean the roost with a wire brush

~once bedding is removed, broom out any cobwebs, dust, or remaining shavings from the corners

~disinfect coop surfaces with a mixture of 1:10 bleach and water. A spray bottle makes it easy to apply to all surfaces...let them dry completely

~check coop for any roof leaks, drafts, and see that all D-clamps and square lock pins on nest boxes and doors are secure. Are the windows in working order and does the roost need repaired?

~we placed a remnant of vinyl flooring over our coop's wooden floor...it not only keeps the wood underneath dry which will make it last longer, but makes cleaning much easier. The flooring is pulled out, scrubbed and mopped, then allowed to dry. (Vinyl flooring is for adult hens only and not a good choice for young chicks...they can easily slip on it.)

~once everything is thoroughly dry, replace vinyl flooring, top with fresh bedding, and fill nest boxes

~feeders and waterer are cleaned, then reattached to S-hooks on chains (they should hang level to the hens' backs)

~give the run a once-over and look for any signs of outside digging, bent or broken wire,

or general wear & tear

I hope this helps...and if you're thinking about getting chickens, I can't say enough how much fun we've had this past year...their chatting, squawking, chicken races, and soft nighttime clucking has given us hours of entertainment. And going out to the backyard to gather eggs for a family meal...what could be fresher?

simple joys for March...

...if they're not already springing up in your gardens, stop at the flower shop and bring home a big bunch of tulips, daffodils, or hyacinths.

...don't forget to celebrate St. Patrick's day on March 17th. We'll be eating green eggs & ham for breakfast and wearing green from head-to-toe. I plan to whip up a traditional dinner of corned beef & cabbage, Irish soda bread, and colcannon. A quick visit to the library for some Irish music cd's and we're set for the day!

...take a walk outside when the sky is dark and the stars are brightest. Where we live, we can now see a beautiful night sky with Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter clearly visible. Later on this month,
Saturn will join them.

...now's the time for some spring cleaning, so let's get to it! Tie on your prettiest apron, turn up the music,
and dust those winter cobwebs away!

...try planting grass seed in an Easter basket...it's so easy. Simply line a basket with a plastic liner, add potting soil, then sprinkle on grass seed.Top with a bit more soil, pat down gently, then water well. When the grass begins to grow, keep the basket in a warm, sunny spot and continue to water. When Easter's here, tuck in some colorful eggs and chocolates...what a sweet gift for a friend!

...merry March winds are perfect for kite flying...be a kid again and launch a kite high!


Daffodils are popping up, puddles are everywhere, and sure enough, there's the hint of a gentle, green spring about to arrive. Outside we hear the chattering of small birds, feel a brisk wind, and enjoy a hint now and then of a mellow sun...yes, winter is almost past.

a sugar house visit...

Last night Little Man and his Cub Scout pack took a trip to a nearby sugar house. It was a wonderful experience for them...as well as the adults!

As soon as we arrived we were surrounded by the sweet scent of maple syrup in the air. It was a bit chilly outside, so the warmth of the sugar house was welcome.

A step inside found us surrounded by equipment which was hard at work. The family was boiling sap which gave the boys an opportunity to learn about the process from beginning to end.

 This particular family business taps 5,600 maple trees and averages about 2,000 gallons of syrup.

And yes, samples were generously shared...the syrup was wonderful! Even though this picture is somewhat blurry, I still like it. It shows just how quickly it was necessary to pour to keep up with eager boys

(okay, and adults) wanting a taste!

It was a great evening and I left wondering if now making maple syrup should be added to my ever-growing wish list? Hmmm, maybe a trip into the woods to see how many maples I can find. A bold adventure...after all, it takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup!

I can't tell you how amazing the flavor of freshly-made, warm maple syrup was (and when I say fresh, I mean taken from the spout!) 

Yep...waffles and syrup are definitely on the menu this weekend!

farmhouse monster cookies...

A cookie without flour...but packed with so much goodness, you'll never miss it!
Oh-so simple to whip up, filled with all our favorites, and the recipe makes 4 dozen,
so there's plenty to share (and still have some for our cookie jar!)

These are pretty much perfect in my book!

3 eggs

1-1/4 c. brown sugar, packed

1 c. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. vanilla extract

12-oz. jar creamy or chunky peanut butter

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. chocolate-coated candies

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. raisins

1/4 c. peanut butter chips

2 t. baking soda

4-1/2 c. old-fashioned oats

Blend eggs and sugars together until creamy. Add salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter; blend well. Stir in chocolate candies, chocolate chips,  raisins, and peanut butter chips. Blend in baking soda and oats; mix well.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto a parchment-lined or no-stick baking sheet, placing dough about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. Makes approximately 4 dozen.

Now, I will admit I tossed in a few extra chocolate candies and chocolate chips, but it seems you can't go wrong with this recipe. Don't like raisins? Leave them out, or maybe substitute sweetened, dried cranberries or even butterscotch chips.

Whatever you decide to use, they won't last long...I promise!

Now...will you laugh if I tell you I'm enjoying these cookies with a glass of icy cold goat's milk?

I'm just testing the waters...wondering if our family will like it, and if dairy goats should be

on my wish list!

Come on...look at that face!

photo credit: Homestead Revival

chicken apron...finally complete!

Why yes, it did take me quite some time to stitch up my chicken apron...

Days turned into weeks...

Weeks turned into months...

                

Holidays came and went...

Need I say more? Time flies!

And so, here she is...

Next on the agenda is
turning these adorable flour sacks into aprons!

If I want them in time to welcome spring,
I'd better begin stitching now!

Happy Friday!

stitching up some love!

There's still time to stitch some handmade gifts for Valentine's Day...these will be ready in no time!

This sweet garland was a gift from Little Man's teacher...she's so thoughtful! Strips of felt become hearts with a simple straight stitch across one end. Then, by turning it inside out and stitching the other end, a heart appears. Slipped on a length of thread along with fluffy pompoms and cheery ribbon, the garland makes for a heartfelt greeting across a door, mantel, or as a runner down the center of a table. Thanks a bunch, Mrs. N!

I made the heart pockets years ago when I was first learning to blanket-stitch (so don't look too closely!)
I cut out felt hearts, then blanket-stitched around the edges...being sure to leave the top open. After adding a bit of chenille rick-rack, vintage buttons, and a few hand-stitched X's and O's, they were ready. Each year they're filled with a variety of favorite candy for the kids, and of course my hubby.

Even old scraps can be turned into something special. Small pieces of a worn quilt become a gift that's sure to be handed down. Cut the fabric into hearts, stitch along the edges, leaving room to stuff the heart with batting, then stitch closed and sew a button in the center.

There's a snow coming, and temps will be quite chilly this weekend, so it's a perfect time to celebrate
Home, Sweet, Home. Let's bring back the days when lovely Valentine memories were made from paper,
lace, crayons, glue, and imagination!

potato hearts...

Okay, these just made me smile...

and I couldn't resist sharing our heart-shaped potatoes found at the bottom of the vegetable bin. 

Why yes...I do think I'll serve them on Valentine's Day!

sunrise over the barn..

"Just as a dancer, turning and turning,

may fill the dusty light
with the soft swirl of her flying skirts,
our weeping willow

now old and broken,
creaking in the breeze

turns slowly, slowly in the winter sun,

sweeping the rusty roof of the barn

with the pale blue lacework of her shadow."

- Ted Kooser, Winter Morning Walks

I'm linking up to Homestead Revival's...



stop by here...Homestead Revival
to find clever farm & homekeeping tips & ideas!

morning light...

The morning light was casting such pretty and unusual shadows from the spinning wheels, 

that I wanted to share...

When we take the time to look, even the simplest things are lovely.

the weather outside is frightful!

and it seems the birds are the only ones braving the winter winds and snow!

It was -1 when I drove the kids to school this morning. And with anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of snow expected tonight, topped off with another 4 to 6 inches of snow tomorrow, I can tell you that this family will be staying indoors!

On the agenda...

movies, snacks, games, popcorn, pizza, reading, naps, and sweet treats

The latest chocolaty treat we can't get enough of is Charlie Brownies. We enjoyed them at a friend's home over Christmas, and Sweet Girl had to have the recipe. They're so easy to make, which is good, because they don't last long!

Charlie Brownies

2/3 c. butter, melted

1 lb. brown sugar

2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2-1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3 eggs

1 T. water

1 t. vanilla extract

12-oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine butter and brown sugar; set aside to cool 10 minutes. Sift together dry ingredients; set aside. Beat eggs, one at a time, into sugar mixture; add water and vanilla. Blend in flour mixture; stir in chocolate chips. Spread mixture into a well-greased 15"x9" jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees 20 to 25 minutes; do not over bake. Slice while warm using a plastic serrated knife. Place on wax paper to cool. Makes approximately

48 brownies, depending on the size cut.

So for the weekend, I'm staying indoors...okay, I'll check on the outdoor menagerie, but other than that,

I'm curling up for the weekend and keeping warm.

How about you...what do you do on these cold-as-the-inside-of-an-igloo days?!

let it snow!

Oh how this Santa makes me smile! With his basket of eggs and a happy hen on his arm,
I'm not sure I can tuck him away with all the other Christmas decorations!

We're getting our first "real" snowfall today!  Yay! It's a chilly 13 degrees and there's a blast of 24-mph wind blowing across the open fields. And while perhaps not the most fashionable, I was warm & cozy bundled up in a heavy-duty Carhartt coat for an early-morning critter check. Cats were curled up in the barn and chickens were last seen enjoying a bowl of warm mash. Our trusty farm dog ventured out; however, then decided it was best to go back to bed.

Today is also our first snow-day from school, and the kids couldn't be more excited! The plans for our day include homemade cookies, board games, a movie marathon, and of course, staying in their jammies all day.

We'll also celebrate hubby's birthday today...we'll be wrapping presents and making plans for a special dinner. Pshaw! Friday the 13th is lucky around here...what a great beginning to the long weekend!

So we're sending you warm wishes on this frosty Friday morning...enjoy every minute!

let's do the math...

    6  happy hens

x     1  egg per hen =
6 eggs a day

You've heard me say it before, when this past November we had a daily egg count of 13.
Hmmm, I'm keeping the math simple...there are only 6 hens, so how did I find 12 eggs
in the nestboxes yesterday?

Obvious questions to ask...

-Yes, we're collecting eggs daily.
-No, our nearest neighbors are not the prankster sort.
-Yes, the kids are at school all day, so that rules them out.

Not that I'm complaining...I'm just surprised/confused/pondering the possibilities. When most of my friends are telling me their girls are laying less during these chilly days of winter, we have a day when our hens are laying 2 eggs each (or so it would appear.)

I'm suspecting these girls are smarter than we thought...

simple joys for January...

...make this the year you snap lots of photos...golden sunsets, laughing children, smiling grandmas, glowing faces 'round the campfire, that first juicy tomato, plump pumpkins, and snowy days of quiet beauty. Capture those moments you want to remember.

...start a new hobby. What have you always wanted to do? Is this the year it can happen? If not fully, then read, read, and read some more until you're practically an expert on what you'd like to do. Whatever it might be, the beginning of a new year has us filled with great expectations! Wise words
from Sir William Osler  tell us,

"No man is really happy or safe without a hobby,
and it makes precious little difference what the outside interest
may be...
botany, beetles or butterflies, roses, tulips or irises;
fishing, mountaineering or antiquities 
- anything will do so long as he straddles a hobby and rides it hard."

I spent a year reading up on chickens, coops, and all the how-to's to of beginning. Then, before I knew it, we were on our way home from the feed store with 6 little peeps in a box! Dreams do come true.

...take stock of things. Check food storage expiration dates, kids outgrown summer clothing, papers that need sorting/filing, socks that mysteriously seem to disappear, and wire coat hangers that somehow always seem to multiply. Start the year off, one room at a time, or even just one drawer at a time, and sort, give away, set to order. Donate clothes that no longer fit, corral wire hangers and take them to the dry cleaners, bundle newspapers for recycling (or roll them to make great fire starters), and file away important papers where you can find them. 

...when you take the Christmas tree outside, tuck it in the corner of your yard as a winter hiding spot for birds. Hang birdseed bells and suet cakes on the branches...the birds will be so grateful.

...the weather outside is frightful, so snuggle up by the fire, make popcorn, play board games, stir up some chocolaty cocoa, and watch favorite movies. Then, just so we don't forget all the fun of being kids, build a snowman, whip up snow ice cream, go on a wintry hike, have a snowball fight, and speed down
a sledding hill!

We' re launching a new year, and yet as the wind whistles through the pines and I see swaying branches outside my windows, it's natural to reflect on the past. While being richly blessed the past year, we also remember the loss of a loved one.

So we began January with favorite traditions, and now to consider what we'll do with the time that lies before us. A clean slate, a fresh start, a new calendar. How much fun, laughter, work, and personal growth will be put into this year is up to us.

May we all have a new year filled with blessings.

sweet surprises...

In our part of the Midwest, we're getting our first good snowfall today...it's beautiful and the kids couldn't be more excited!

A few minutes ago I went to the coop to see if the "girls" were keeping warm & dry. Sure, the coop looks pretty in the snow, but look a little closer...

do you see the message on the nest boxes?

That Little Man is a sweetie!

happy new year!

From our family to yours...wishing you a new year filled with all the good things life has to offer. 

May 2012 find you surrounded by family & friends, making sweet memories that will last a lifetime.

glimpses of Christmas weekend...

The weekend began by celebrating the wedding of this lovely couple.

Then, on Christmas Eve day, Little Man was baptized.
It was a sweet gathering of family & friends...a day to remember.

We shared Christmas morning smiles...

and absolute surprises!

It's days like this, when all is aglow with the spirit of the season,
that we're reminded the best gifts and greatest joys
come from the heart.