October magic...

The weather is crisp and the colors glorious...it's a fine time for a fall picnic and a hike in the woods. It's October! And my affection for this month goes beyond simple preference. 

I love the russet, gold, and crimson leaves and the sight of tangled bittersweet.
I love the scent of woodsmoke from the season's first fire.
I love hayrides, barn dances, and carving a plump pumpkin.

The shortened days seem to quickly drift into evening shadows filled with an autumn chill. We find it's time to slip on a cozy sweater, prepare a pot of simmering stew, and lay an extra quilt at the foot of each bed.

Not long ago, the early summer days melted into even hotter ones, so I welcome fall...soon we'll be in the icy grip of winter, but I'm shrugging that thought off!

Ahh...days aglow with brilliant hues and nights illuminated by the harvest moon. Let's slow down and take time to savor the sights, sounds, and aromas that mark the changing of seasons.

photo source

October ushers in the harvest...

October has come to the country and I am filled with autumn busyness! Ahhh, the days are finally cooler.  The passing summer has been extremely hot & humid in our part of the Midwest, and I admit, I'm not sorry to see it pass.  

Chores that were hard to accomplish in the muggy days of summer seem easier to tackle now. I'm washing quilts, sweeping porches, and shaking rugs.  On the to-do list is making grape jam, salsa, and pasta sauce, along with harvesting sweet potatoes. We'll clean out the chicken coop and compost bin, toss the contents into the garden, and put it to bed until spring.

Farmers' markets are still busy and filled with pumpkins, acorn and butternut squash, okra, cabbage, and gourds. And since Halloween isn't far away, it's time to bring home several plump pumpkins!

October is my favorite month...a time of full moons and richly colored mums, of cider and woodsmoke, glorious trees, and of crisp days and cool nights. I love the brisk weather, and the daytime light feels somehow different...it is clear and bright, signaling an end to summer.
To me, it's a month like no other!

It's said, "life is a series of memories"...with that in mind, let's take the time to recall happy ones shared, and make new ones along the way.

so God made a farmer...

The harvest has begun...

as the combines bring in corn and bales of hay are stacked in the 90-degree heat, this came to mind...I hope you feel the spirit that comes from Paul Harvey's words.

farmgirl photos...

A quick trip around the farm for a look at some of the things that make me smile...happy Friday!


A scarecrone keeping the fruits & veggies safe...

The sprinkler watering our bee garden...I love these sprinklers, they are oh-so pretty, but really do the job!

Meet Vinnie...I LOVE big, yellow, cats! They always are sweet, easy-going, and friendly. This guy magically appeared this year, and while it took some time for him to trust us, now he follows us everywhere...he's a keeper!

A DIY hummingbird feeder...oh-so easy. Take one colorful bottle, a feeder stopper, a length of heavy wire, some colorful beads and there you go...done in no time!

Sunflowers...ahhh, need I say more?

At the end of the day, there's nothing like sleeping under a quilt that's been dried in the fresh air and sunshine...heaven.

Another big, yellow cat...this is Azrael (named after the cat in the Smurf movies!) Oh my...truly, the sweetest cat on the farm. He comes inside after the kids go to school, curls up and naps until lunchtime. 

Found this antique pedal grinding stone at an old store that's going out of business. I've always wanted one and it was half off...doing my happy dance! 

And so it goes...another week has flown by. Hope all is well...enjoy your weekend!

family history and hollyhocks...

A short post on this cool summer morning to share a photo..



My daughter and I help in our church's Family History Center twice a month,
and on our last visit, I found this photo had been added to our family tree.

Her name is Matilda, and as I gazed at the photo, I became lost wondering about her.
The dress (oh-so warm in summer) the pin (a gift or maybe handed down?)  & shawl
(surely handmade), the clapboard home behind her with the pretty window trim. 

And those stately hollyhocks..so beautiful. I wonder if she loved them as much as I do...a trait handed down through the generations, maybe?

Have you done any digging into your family tree? What treasures have you discovered? You may want to give it a try...there's so many wonderful stories and photos to bind the generations.

farmgirl photo...

Things like this just make me smile!

Happy Friday, friends!

farmgirl photos...

As summer winds down (school begins in 2 weeks!) there's lots happening here on the farm. Just like everyone else, there's always much to do...for us, we're reworking the mudroom and half-bath, gardening, beekeeping, and catching up on odds & ends. Summer heat and humidity are relentless, with temperatures in the 90's each day. Unfortunately, there's no chance in sight of much-needed rain.

What cool can be found in the early morning, is spent watering the garden and flowers, and topping off buckets of water for the goats, chickens, barn cats, faithful guard dog, and even the honey bees. Throughout the day we make quick trips outside to be sure animals have fresh water and are doing well. And as for us, homemade ice cream is on the menu for this weekend!

And so it goes...it IS summer, and soon fall...my favorite time of year, will be here to enjoy. 
In the meantime, here's a peek at what we see each day...a little walk around the farm.

Happy Friday to all!

A sweet, elderly lady at the nursery suggested this heirloom variety, San Marzano.
Can't wait to try it in our favorite tomato sauce recipe.



 

Who doesn't love a volunteer sunflower?!





Plump blackberries are ready for picking - hint: plant the thornless variety! 



I can taste the peach cobbler now...yum! 

Limelight hydrangea add a pop of color to a shady spot.

It's hard to find a flower that can take the heat of full sun, all day long...but these zinnias have been fantastic.
I'll be saving the seeds for next year!

 

life is too short to be unhappy...

That's what my mother-in-law always says, and she's right...too short to spend time on things we don't enjoy, too short to rush through the days, too short waiting on "someday." 

Before we know it, the days turn into weeks, the weeks into months, and the months into years. Soon, a lifetime has passed by.

I recently read: "Someone else is praying for what you already have."
It made me stop...

healthy children - check
a home of our own - check
food in the pantry and veggies growing in the garden - check

There are also some extras we are blessed with...fireflies at dusk, favorite old movies, fresh eggs & honey, room to roam, critters to care for, and laughter.

Yes, some days are better than others, and we certainly have things on our wish list,
but all-in-all, isn't it really all about how we face each day?

How about this first day of the new week we take just a minute to look around...
what do we enjoy that someone else is praying for? Then, with gratitude in our hearts,
let's whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for those blessings.

upcycle, recycle, in no time flat!

I'm always drawn to old things...things that look like they just need a little love. Weathered signs, window frames, and vintage watering cans have all found their way home with me, but this time, a silver teapot - ahhh, yes, it looked like it had potential.

Not as teapot, for it had two broken legs, but as a windchime! Hmmm, out came the drill and filament line.

A hole here and there...
A hammer to flatten some old silverware, then a hole in each handle...

 

 

 

And before I knew it, done!

Now, it's not everyone's cup of tea...but when the wind blows and the silverware begins to "sing" in the breeze, I love it.

Yep...use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without...our grandmothers were right!

May...merry & madcap!

For anyone with kids, you know that May is, yes, both merry and madcap! From band & orchestra concerts to award ceremonies & celebrations, it's full from beginning to end. That's not a bad thing, just a somewhat frenzied thing!

And so, in the middle of a fast-paced month, this arrives in my mailbox...

Yay! Perfect timing...our girls at church are prepping for Girls' Camp and the outdoor cooking certification will be here on the farm. This issue's packed with recipes from those early-morning breakfasts, to lunch, dinner & yummy desserts.

So, how to make this madcap month even better? Turn to page 82...

and I'm tickled to find my article on cast-iron! I'm always happy to be invited to write for GRIT magazine...they have some of the best how-to articles out there for homesteaders, farmgirls, and wannabe farmgirls. (And lucky for us, girl campers, too!)

Thanks to the good people at GRIT for this issue...we'll definitely use it for camp, but check back with us in July when we celebrate Pioneer Day, it'll be perfect!


(PS...someone asked me about the term "Kitchen Orchard" from my last post. It's an old homesteading term...generally it meant 5 trees close to the house for the homesteaders' use, not a full-size orchard meant for taking fruit to market.)

farm photos...our kitchen orchard

 
I thought you might like a peek at the first blooms of our Kitchen Orchard...this time of year is the prettiest time, with all the rose-like buds and soft colors.

Yellow Transparent Apple...just perfect for applesauce!

Fuji Apple...our favorite sweet/tart apple for eating.

Contender Peach...makes such tasty jam. And since I'm the only one who likes peaches,
they're all for me!

Next is the D'anjou pear tree...sweet and juicy.

Last, and oh-so cute, is the tiny Seckel Pear. Thought to be the only truly American pear, they're sometimes called a sugar pear or a candy pear because of their sweet taste.

Now as pretty as these blooms are, they are also tender. Should the temperatures dip, as they often do once the blooms come on, we'll be out there with our hoses spraying them with water.

I know, I know...that sounds crazy, but this little trick we have up our sleeves will actually save the buds, and future fruit when a threatening freeze is in the forecast. We will coat the tree with water, which will freeze. And while that sounds like it would damage the blooms, in the end, that layer of ice will protect the fruit that's developing. Why? Well science tells us that when water freezes, it produces energy in the form of heat, which will protect the buds from the bitter cold. 

Yep...it certainly does sound counter-productive, but we figured if it works for the orange growers in Florida, it just might work for us, too.

So we do this...

 
to enjoy this!

It's hard to wait!

the gentle green of spring...and hive swarms

Today there is a lingering chill in the air. As the barn cats and I walk back from the mailbox, we step around the many puddles that remind me of our recent cold, blowing rain. This time of year cannot be trusted...we've had several warm tee-shirt weather days, then just as many frosty mornings that threaten snow.

However; this post is not about the mellow month of May...it is about beekeeping.

Sunday afternoon I quickly visited the coop to collect eggs. The girls were chattering, Bandito was crowing, and then pausing at the door, that's when I heard it...that sound. No, no, no...not again, the bees were swarming! I had 15 minutes before it was time to leave...no time to suit up, no time to prepare. I sadly watched them settle high in a tree.

 

And so there I was, watching the last of my three hives fly away. One hive was lost over the winter, a second this past autumn to robbing yellowjackets. While a strong colony can defend itself against a yellowjacket invasion, a small one is easily overtaken by them. Once in the hive, yellowjackets will kill the bees, eat the honey, and destroy whatever else they find. By the time I opened it, the hive was empty. 

Soon it was time to leave...a swarm will stay anywhere from a hour to a day, so with any luck they would be there when I returned. And to my surprise, several hours later, I found them still high in the tree!

I called my beekeeping neighbor, we suited up, hauled ladders, found saws and pruners, and into the tree we went. We plotted, we planned, and then carefully secured and sawed the branch holding my escaping friends. Gently we lowered the bees into their new home. We smile! We can't believe our luck! We congratulate each other! We plan to meet again at dark to move the hive to its permanent location.

Fast forward 3 hours...again, I find myself at the chicken coop to tuck the girls in for the night. I can't resist...I take a walk over to see the bees, but it's too quiet. I get closer, I peek inside. 

There are no bees...they have flown off yet again. I call my neighbor and we commiserate over the loss. And so it goes...

Beekeeping is an art...after 4 years I'm still learning. When I began I wanted to know all the rules so I would get it right. Yes, there are rules to follow, but every beekeeper does things differently. It's a gut feeling...an intuition...when to feed, when to add supers, when to take honey and when to leave it. We watch the weather, anticipate the first dandelions, try to forecast the last bloom of the goldenrod and asters.

Here's the thing...with 42% of colonies lost in 2015, might I ask that you plant a flowerpatch with seeds that will grow into flowers bees love? Lavender, rosemary, sage, coneflower, catnip, lamb's ears, verbena, aster, black-eyed Susan, oregano, and yarrow are a few.  You can even search online, "save the bees seeds" and lots of companies will send them to you for free!

Back outside today, I'm weeding flowerbeds, in the distance I hear the far-off sound of a single cardinal. Somewhere in the meadow I see the promise of spring and warm days to come.  For now, I'm looking forward to Friday...I have two new hives coming, and I'll start again.

thanks a bunch Capper's Farmer!

It's always such fun to find a surprise in the mailbox...especially when it's one from Capper's Farmer! Love those folks...their magazine is always filled with easy tips, practical advice, yummy recipes, and inspiration for the garden.

And lucky me, this spring I was invited to be a part of their newest issue!

I've shared my quick & easy how-to's for making your very own oil lamp, and it's ready in almost no time at all. Try using quart-size Mason jars for a table centerpiece or march several sweet little jelly jars across the mantel of your fireplace. These oil lamps add a little flickering light on a picnic table at sunset, and should the electricity go out, you'll find they're not only pretty, but practical, too!

My heartfelt thanks to the Capper's Farmer folks...

about that third snow...

Well, as previously posted, the saying goes "There will be 3 snows after the forsythia bloom." I'm here to tell you that old tale is true...and it happened in our part of the Midwest all in one week!

Now don't get me wrong...some folks are grumbling, but it's a fact.

I. Love. Snow.

Truly, I don't remember a time when I wasn't in love with snow. For me, there's nothing like the cozy feeling of just hunkering down with a favorite book or classic movie, hearing the sounds of a crackling fire in the fireplace, making s'mores over that fire, and enjoying the delicious aroma of a homemade soup simmering on the stove. It's a signal to slow down the usual break-neck speed of life and do nothing but ENJOY.

Another wise saying goes like this...

"Time flies...whether you're having fun or not."

And that, I can testify, is absolutely true.  So let's enjoy every minute...

Whether it's this...

or this...

"In all of living, have much fun
and laughter.

Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

 

-Gordon B. Hinckley

 

 

 

3 snows after the forsythia bloom...

That's how the old saying goes...and if it holds true, we have two more snows to come.

Driving this weekend we were in a good old-fashioned, grip-the-steering wheel, wish we were home, winter white-out. The winds were strong, the truck was swaying, and it truly looked as if we were very tiny and driving right into a blur of dandelion seeds blowing in the wind!

We made it home just fine, but woke to find all signs of spring were now snow-covered...

 

 

And so it goes...

well, there's nothing we can do to change Mother Nature...so we tossed some logs in the fireplace and settled into piles of blankets and pillows for a movie marathon. And there we were: warm & cozy, safe & sound, happy & healthy.

And you know what? I'm okay with two more snows if it means more days like this.

happy Easter...

 

 

Wishing you the joys of Easter...children's laughter, squeals of delight, chocolaty goodness, as well as fun-filled egg hunts, and delightful visits with family & friends!

Amid all this fun; however, let's pause and take time to reflect. One of my favorite speakers, Jeffrey R. Holland, gives us heartfelt Easter insights in this talk.


Happy Easter to all...

happy Saint Patrick's Day!

The madcap month of March...today the sun is brightly shining, warming & waking up the farmland around us. Who would have thought we only recently had a snowfall? It seems as if March just can't make up her mind...what shall it be, the last days of winter and the first days of spring?

But never mind the weather, today is a day for fun...there's a pot of Irish Stew simmering on the stove, potatoes boiling for Colcannon (yum, how can anyone not like potatoes whipped with heavy cream and real butter!),  dough rising for homemade rolls, and well, with a nod to modern times, plans for Shamrock Shakes as dessert!

Today, we all claim to be Irish...but for a real peek at what those of us in the Midwest are missing, click here - ahhh, if I went, I'd never come home!

a March snow...

This old farm is up early every day...the first alarm goes off at 4:45, the second at 5:00 - just in case I've hit the snooze button. Each day begins just about the same...down the stairs to check the weather, take a quick look at the outside temperature, then make school lunches while I ponder what's in store for the day. Soon hubby is down starting breakfast and waking up the kids.

March...where does the time go? We were surprised to have a snow-delay last week - around here, kids and parents always do the happy dance for that treat! But even with this cold March wind, soon we'll be looking for the promise of spring. This is a time for making plans...I have a wish list for this year, and I'm digging into it, because time flies, whether you're having fun or not!

Finding promise is a simple county pleasure anyone can enjoy. I see promise in that old dry sink I found for a song...it simply needs a new coat of paint. I see promise in the new space we made behind the fruit trees...maybe I'll expand our little orchard, add some Concord grapes, or a garden just for the honeybees. I see promise in the old milkhouse...I think with some elbow grease and a splash of paint, the kids will find it fun to decorate as a hideaway for both them and their friends. I see promise in that flowerbed the weeds have taken over...this year, the battle ends, I'll turn that into a flourishing cottage garden.

But today, even though the wind roars and rattles the windowpanes, I'm not worried, my mind is on the promise in the air.

simple country pleasures...

This little light came together in under 5 minutes...seriously, and I had everything on hand.   
I love little "what if I tried this?" moments! 

Take one metal chick feeder, a vintage canning jar, and an electric light...

A little nudge and the chick feeder will separate easily...center the light on the bottom of the feeder, slip the electric cord through one of the openings, and put the feeder back together.

Twist the canning jar in place...and ta-da!

I added some rosehips and dried orange peel in the openings and set it on a little table. Definitely the quickest how-to I've done in ages!

Happy day!

wintry scenes on the farm...plus one for fun!

a few snapshots of the frost and wintry landscape before they're all gone...

clothesline just waiting for spring...



weathervane frozen in time...




fruit trees laden with frost...



arrow pointing south toward warmer weather...

and this AMAZING Snow-shi (pun intended) we saw driving to school!
It was incredible...probably 7 feet tall...what a work of art.
So cool, it even made the local newspaper!

Happy Friday, friends!