Regular readers of this little place here might recall that Zeke was the name of the beef that is currently in our freezer. For those who are new, Zeke was a Holstein steer that Mother-in-Law raised from a bottle calf until he was full grown and ready for butchering. He has been our source of beef in 2011 and into 2012.
This week, Zeke went to school, where he was thoroughly enjoyed and awed both students and faculty alike. How did Zeke, in his butchered state, happen to attend school? DD2's Spanish class was having a fiesta to mark the end of the quarter. The teacher passed around a list of needed food donations for the students to bring in for the meal, and DD2 volunteered '3 pounds seasoned taco meat'. Like her siblings before, she knew that I would rather do the 'difficult' work of cooking than make a special trip to the grocery store for a couple bottles of pop (which we don't normally drink so don't buy) or bags of chips.
She informed her teacher, who was overjoyed that someone actually volunteered to bring the meat--she had envisioned being stuck with 'vegetarian tacos', that it would be the best meat ever.
And apparently, it was! When I picked her up from school at the end of the day (hard to take a crock pot home on the school bus, and DD1 had a softball game to play in so wasn't driving home), DD2 told me that she had gotten a lot of compliments on the meat. Many students asked where she'd gotten it from, saying it was the best they'd ever tasted. The teacher asked for the recipe for our homemade taco seasoning. The student teacher made an exception to her non-meat eating lifestyle to try the taco meat because it smelled so good.
Apparently, Zeke got an A that day.
I've posted it before, but here's the recipe for taco seasoning:
Taco Seasoning
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp crushed dried red pepper (or slightly less ground cayenne pepper)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Mix all ingredients. Sprinkle over 1 pound cooked ground beef (drain the meat first). Stir in 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes enough filling for 8-10 tacos or burritos.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Truck Shopping
We've been wanting to buy a new pick-up since 2006. That's when DH's Sonoma hit 200,000 miles and we realized that while it still ran like a scalded dog, it wasn't going to last forever. It was our third General Motors product that we'd driven over 200,000 miles, and from experience we knew that when it finally broke, it would be something difficult to repair on our own without the specialized tools of a shop. We needed to seriously think about getting a new truck in the near future.
However, we had our first child due to graduate high school in 2007, and things were getting wonky with the economy, so we decided to wait a bit. In 2007, things were really wonky with the economy, things were shaky with the auto industry (in which DH is employed) and we decided to wait a bit longer. In 2008, we were on bated breath, day by day, to see if DH would continue to have a job; no way were we spending money on anything that wasn't absolutely necessary.
We made it to 2009 with DH still employed (hallelujah! But it was heartbreaking to see co-workers who weren't so lucky). However, by then we needed a vehicle for DS2 to drive himself to community college two days a week as he began dual-enrollment classes; the class time did not coordinate with either my or DH's work schedule to have one of us provide transportation, and there are no public bus routes any where close to this little place here. So DH's new truck we'd been waiting three years to buy became a small, fuel-efficient 'teenager car' to aide in DS2's education. A new pick-up was pushed down the priority list yet again as the savings fund for a truck went down to zero.
In November 2010, I wrecked the teenager car on the way home from a Christian middle school basketball tournament DD2 played in 30 miles away. Why was I driving the teenager car instead of my Suburban? Better gas mileage! Why did we still own the Suburban? It was paid off, it was the only vehicle all five of us could fit in with luggage for a trip up north to Mother-in-Law's or anywhere else, and it was the only vehicle we owned that could tow trailers.
The wrecking of the teenager car was not totally my fault: the expressway was bumper to bumper, the person in front of me got cut off and slammed on their brakes, I slammed on my brakes, and the person behind me sandwiched me. Busted radiator and a trifolded hood, and the teenager car was undriveable. Because the person behind me left the scene, and because we did not have collision coverage on the teenager car, our insurance company would not be involved in funding a repair (they probably would have considered it totaled anyway based on how much a repair shop would charge versus the $3000 value of the car).
So we did a hurry-up car search with the small amount of cash we'd managed to save up for the future purchase of DH's next truck. (Back in August of 2010, his Sonoma had suffered a locked up rear axle at 238,000 miles and he was driving a company car Monday through Friday, with me transporting him to work on Monday morning and home again on Friday evening.) We purchased a replacement teenager car on a Monday evening, about 48 hours after the accident, and about 14 hours before DS2 had to be at his Honors Calc 2 class. . . The replacement car was the same year, the same model, but a different color than the previous teenager car. Meanwhile, teenager car #1 was towed to the home of a buddy who is a mechanic to see how much he'd charge to get it running again. Which turned out to be not much at all compared to a body shop.
In January 2011, teenager car #1 was repaired for $500 in parts, and $300 cash to the buddy who fixed it (who tried to refuse the money, so I gave it to his wife--mechanics aren't cheap and he put probably a full work-week's worth of hours into repairing our car). So then DS2 reclaimed the teenager car, and DH began to drive teenager car #2 (which came with a fancy stick-on chrome design under the keyhole for the trunk--I called it a tramp stamp, lol) to work on Monday and home again on Friday.
Early this month (March 2012), DH and I decided we had finally saved enough money, again, that if we were to sell the tramp stamp car and the Sonoma (which had been residing next to the barn for nearly two years, undriveable without a new rear axle, but DH not emotionally ready to part with), we could finally go shopping for a full-sized pick-up truck. But, only with cash, no taking out a loan. So that meant the under $6000 price range. Which isn't very glamorous when you're looking for a particular brand of truck (*ahem*, DH is employed in the auto industry. . .) that is 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, 4WD required (and operable), with an extended or crew cab, and under 200,000 miles. (Yes, we've seen more ads for trucks over 200,000 in our required price range, brand and options than with lower miles. Which goes to show how durable a brand of truck it is.) A truck that size isn't great on fuel, but it is a necessity for the homesteading life: hauling wood, hauling hay, hauling trailers, plowing a 500' long driveway. . . most of which the Suburban is unable to do (it hauls a fairly heavy trailer, but without a bed it's not a true truck in my book. . .)
We sold the tramp stamp car two weeks ago. We sold the Sonoma a few days after that. It was purchased by a mechanic who is going to put a new axle in it and run it til the engine dies. Which made DH very happy to hear; he hadn't wanted to sell it for scrap.
We've been actively truck shopping for over a week now.
Boy, have we seen some interesting trucks! The truck that 'runs great' according to it's owner, but has something wrong with the transfer case, the brakes are always spongy, and it leaks coolant 'a little'. The truck that is rust on wheels, but fairly low miles on the odometer (making DH suspicious of the accuracy of the odometer reading). The truck that has a 'custom rim'--the factory one broke when the owner hit a curb(???) and he put a rusty one from the junk yard on to replace it, then painted the replacement with silver Rustoleum so it would look like the other three. . .from a distance. The truck with the newly broken driver's side window ($20 at the junk yard) from where after the local state university's basketball team lost last week "someone" threw a beer bottle through it--but the truck has a great "system" (yes, it does have an awesome sound system. My sons would be envious if their father drove a truck with bass like that!). The truck with the big mud tires, the noise of which (not to mention the reduction in gas mileage) drives DH nuts.
And then the one we thought was a winner; the one we thought we would be going to the bank to withdraw our carefully managed cash to purchase. Until we went to see it in person and hopefully test drive it, and right after we arrived not only did it get stuck between high and low 4WD, the transfer case totally locked and the truck wouldn't move at all. We were so disappointed! (And felt really bad for the seller, who was genuinely surprised that his truck wasn't working right.)
After waiting nearly six years to even shop for a new truck, it is getting frustrating to not be able to find one now that we have the funds. And truth be told, I'm not fond of getting up at 5:00 a.m. to drive DH to work on Monday before coming home to start my own work day, nor of driving through Friday afternoon traffic to pick him up again. I'm praying God sends us the right truck to purchase, and soon!
However, we had our first child due to graduate high school in 2007, and things were getting wonky with the economy, so we decided to wait a bit. In 2007, things were really wonky with the economy, things were shaky with the auto industry (in which DH is employed) and we decided to wait a bit longer. In 2008, we were on bated breath, day by day, to see if DH would continue to have a job; no way were we spending money on anything that wasn't absolutely necessary.
We made it to 2009 with DH still employed (hallelujah! But it was heartbreaking to see co-workers who weren't so lucky). However, by then we needed a vehicle for DS2 to drive himself to community college two days a week as he began dual-enrollment classes; the class time did not coordinate with either my or DH's work schedule to have one of us provide transportation, and there are no public bus routes any where close to this little place here. So DH's new truck we'd been waiting three years to buy became a small, fuel-efficient 'teenager car' to aide in DS2's education. A new pick-up was pushed down the priority list yet again as the savings fund for a truck went down to zero.
In November 2010, I wrecked the teenager car on the way home from a Christian middle school basketball tournament DD2 played in 30 miles away. Why was I driving the teenager car instead of my Suburban? Better gas mileage! Why did we still own the Suburban? It was paid off, it was the only vehicle all five of us could fit in with luggage for a trip up north to Mother-in-Law's or anywhere else, and it was the only vehicle we owned that could tow trailers.
The wrecking of the teenager car was not totally my fault: the expressway was bumper to bumper, the person in front of me got cut off and slammed on their brakes, I slammed on my brakes, and the person behind me sandwiched me. Busted radiator and a trifolded hood, and the teenager car was undriveable. Because the person behind me left the scene, and because we did not have collision coverage on the teenager car, our insurance company would not be involved in funding a repair (they probably would have considered it totaled anyway based on how much a repair shop would charge versus the $3000 value of the car).
So we did a hurry-up car search with the small amount of cash we'd managed to save up for the future purchase of DH's next truck. (Back in August of 2010, his Sonoma had suffered a locked up rear axle at 238,000 miles and he was driving a company car Monday through Friday, with me transporting him to work on Monday morning and home again on Friday evening.) We purchased a replacement teenager car on a Monday evening, about 48 hours after the accident, and about 14 hours before DS2 had to be at his Honors Calc 2 class. . . The replacement car was the same year, the same model, but a different color than the previous teenager car. Meanwhile, teenager car #1 was towed to the home of a buddy who is a mechanic to see how much he'd charge to get it running again. Which turned out to be not much at all compared to a body shop.
In January 2011, teenager car #1 was repaired for $500 in parts, and $300 cash to the buddy who fixed it (who tried to refuse the money, so I gave it to his wife--mechanics aren't cheap and he put probably a full work-week's worth of hours into repairing our car). So then DS2 reclaimed the teenager car, and DH began to drive teenager car #2 (which came with a fancy stick-on chrome design under the keyhole for the trunk--I called it a tramp stamp, lol) to work on Monday and home again on Friday.
Early this month (March 2012), DH and I decided we had finally saved enough money, again, that if we were to sell the tramp stamp car and the Sonoma (which had been residing next to the barn for nearly two years, undriveable without a new rear axle, but DH not emotionally ready to part with), we could finally go shopping for a full-sized pick-up truck. But, only with cash, no taking out a loan. So that meant the under $6000 price range. Which isn't very glamorous when you're looking for a particular brand of truck (*ahem*, DH is employed in the auto industry. . .) that is 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, 4WD required (and operable), with an extended or crew cab, and under 200,000 miles. (Yes, we've seen more ads for trucks over 200,000 in our required price range, brand and options than with lower miles. Which goes to show how durable a brand of truck it is.) A truck that size isn't great on fuel, but it is a necessity for the homesteading life: hauling wood, hauling hay, hauling trailers, plowing a 500' long driveway. . . most of which the Suburban is unable to do (it hauls a fairly heavy trailer, but without a bed it's not a true truck in my book. . .)
We sold the tramp stamp car two weeks ago. We sold the Sonoma a few days after that. It was purchased by a mechanic who is going to put a new axle in it and run it til the engine dies. Which made DH very happy to hear; he hadn't wanted to sell it for scrap.
We've been actively truck shopping for over a week now.
Boy, have we seen some interesting trucks! The truck that 'runs great' according to it's owner, but has something wrong with the transfer case, the brakes are always spongy, and it leaks coolant 'a little'. The truck that is rust on wheels, but fairly low miles on the odometer (making DH suspicious of the accuracy of the odometer reading). The truck that has a 'custom rim'--the factory one broke when the owner hit a curb(???) and he put a rusty one from the junk yard on to replace it, then painted the replacement with silver Rustoleum so it would look like the other three. . .from a distance. The truck with the newly broken driver's side window ($20 at the junk yard) from where after the local state university's basketball team lost last week "someone" threw a beer bottle through it--but the truck has a great "system" (yes, it does have an awesome sound system. My sons would be envious if their father drove a truck with bass like that!). The truck with the big mud tires, the noise of which (not to mention the reduction in gas mileage) drives DH nuts.
And then the one we thought was a winner; the one we thought we would be going to the bank to withdraw our carefully managed cash to purchase. Until we went to see it in person and hopefully test drive it, and right after we arrived not only did it get stuck between high and low 4WD, the transfer case totally locked and the truck wouldn't move at all. We were so disappointed! (And felt really bad for the seller, who was genuinely surprised that his truck wasn't working right.)
After waiting nearly six years to even shop for a new truck, it is getting frustrating to not be able to find one now that we have the funds. And truth be told, I'm not fond of getting up at 5:00 a.m. to drive DH to work on Monday before coming home to start my own work day, nor of driving through Friday afternoon traffic to pick him up again. I'm praying God sends us the right truck to purchase, and soon!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Been Doing a Bit of Sewing
You'd think those four mermaid costumes I made in January and February for the high school play would have burned me out on sewing. Nope! I'm not making clothing for a while, LOL, but I do have the urge to sew quilt blocks. I've worked on several to add to a top that began as a quilt block sewing bee I participated in last year on one of the few internet forums I frequent. I'm hoping to make it into a wall hanging for the long, empty wall in my mudroom that is across from the wall with our row of a dozen coat pegs (2 pegs for each occupant of the house, back when we were six under one roof). DD1's graduation is only a bit more than two months away, and if I could have the wall hanging finished and up for her open house, that would be great.
Then on Friday I received fabric for a block in another forum quilt I participate in three to four times a year. So, I've been stealing off to myself for a half hour at a time lately to cut and sew pieces. Today I finished the block. I took a picture to remember it by before I mail it off and eagerly await to see who the lucky winner (drawn at random from those who participated in this forum quilt) is of all the blocks made--there are usually 20-26 participants in each forum quilt.
The pattern is called "postage stamp". I think you can see why. It was fun to make, and challenging trying to line up all those tiny (1 1/2" before sewing) squares. I used mostly scrap fabrics from my stash, the tan with the rosebuds/roses and stripes was the provided fabric from the forum.
Then on Friday I received fabric for a block in another forum quilt I participate in three to four times a year. So, I've been stealing off to myself for a half hour at a time lately to cut and sew pieces. Today I finished the block. I took a picture to remember it by before I mail it off and eagerly await to see who the lucky winner (drawn at random from those who participated in this forum quilt) is of all the blocks made--there are usually 20-26 participants in each forum quilt.
The pattern is called "postage stamp". I think you can see why. It was fun to make, and challenging trying to line up all those tiny (1 1/2" before sewing) squares. I used mostly scrap fabrics from my stash, the tan with the rosebuds/roses and stripes was the provided fabric from the forum.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
And More Wood
We've been cutting wood again.
Sunday afternoon found us on the neighbor's property, cleaning up yet more storm-downed trees. It is a nice thing to have good relationships with your neighbors; this particular one told us several years ago that he didn't mind if we hunted the north section of his woods and we also could have any dead/downed trees in that section. He doesn't heat with wood, and would rather let us have the trees while they were still usable than leave them to rot away.
While we had been in our North Corner the weekend before dealing with some downed trees, we noticed several very nice black cherry trees as well as dozens of small oaks that were either blown over, snapped off and hung up, or just plain dead on the ground in the neighbor's woods. DH had a hankering for the black cherry--it burns very well--and so we made a foray north of the property line with the chain saw.
First we had to clear the way to the cherries. . .there were three or four smaller trees leaning in the way. We cut those into lengths and made a stack.
Sunday afternoon found us on the neighbor's property, cleaning up yet more storm-downed trees. It is a nice thing to have good relationships with your neighbors; this particular one told us several years ago that he didn't mind if we hunted the north section of his woods and we also could have any dead/downed trees in that section. He doesn't heat with wood, and would rather let us have the trees while they were still usable than leave them to rot away.
While we had been in our North Corner the weekend before dealing with some downed trees, we noticed several very nice black cherry trees as well as dozens of small oaks that were either blown over, snapped off and hung up, or just plain dead on the ground in the neighbor's woods. DH had a hankering for the black cherry--it burns very well--and so we made a foray north of the property line with the chain saw.
First we had to clear the way to the cherries. . .there were three or four smaller trees leaning in the way. We cut those into lengths and made a stack.
You would think we would be sick of cutting trees and stacking wood after that, right? Nope! We turned our attention to a nearby section with many small oaks.
That area also had lots of briers, so we had to drag most of the trees to an open spot in order to cut them up without getting ourselves shredded by thorns. Even so, I ended up having to do surgery on DH's hand on Monday to remove an embedded thorn with my instruments of torture. . . er, I mean, my surgical instruments specifically for splinter and thorn removal (corsage pin, alcohol--rubbing alcohol, not the drinking kind, although anesthetizing DH with a bit of the latter isn't a bad idea!--and a pair of tweezers).
I was tractor operator for most of the tree dragging, until the ground got too soupy and DH wanted to go after a much bigger oak--about 18" diameter and 60' long or so. Then I happily took on the job of hooking the chain around the tree while he did the driving (and avoiding a large deep puddle with the right rear tire).
It was a good several hour's work, and a whole lot of free firewood for future winters.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Hair Waffles
Yesterday I rode my horse for the first time in a long time. It's a long story why it's been seven months since I've ridden her, and I won't get into that right now. It was just good to ride again.
Being spring, The Mare is shedding. She's naturally pretty short-coated, so on first glance it didn't look like she had much loose hair. HA! A few strokes of the Grooma, and I was tapping out hair waffles.
For those not familiar with a Grooma, you are probably totally lost at the moment. A Grooma is a round rubber curry comb that was first created in the 1980's (yes, mine is that old--they last forever!) It has thick, tapered 'teeth' that massage the horse as you work it in circles over their body. If the horse is shedding, the Grooma's teeth collect and weave together the loose hairs until the teeth are filled up. At which point you want to peel off or tap out the 'hair waffle', as I have always called it.
They do look somewhat like circular waffles made of hair.
Being spring, The Mare is shedding. She's naturally pretty short-coated, so on first glance it didn't look like she had much loose hair. HA! A few strokes of the Grooma, and I was tapping out hair waffles.
For those not familiar with a Grooma, you are probably totally lost at the moment. A Grooma is a round rubber curry comb that was first created in the 1980's (yes, mine is that old--they last forever!) It has thick, tapered 'teeth' that massage the horse as you work it in circles over their body. If the horse is shedding, the Grooma's teeth collect and weave together the loose hairs until the teeth are filled up. At which point you want to peel off or tap out the 'hair waffle', as I have always called it.
They do look somewhat like circular waffles made of hair.
Now I'm dreading grooming The Old Man. He has longer hair and much more of it. Maybe I'll have DD2 do it; after all, we have The Old Man for her and DD1. Once upon a time, many long years ago, he was my horse. I bought him as a 2 year old, broke him out at 3, and showed him in 4-H, Open and even a few Arabian Circuit shows before selling him shortly before becoming pregnant with DS2. He went on to have a show career with a few young ladies before contracting EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis--a very serious neurological disease) that left him with a hitch in his get-a-long and made him not show worthy. After that, he was donated to a therapeutic riding program, where he spent more than ten years doing therapy with children and adults who have been afflicted with various mental and/or physical disabilities. Along about the time he was in his early twenties and due to be retired from that program, I caught up with him again and purchased him for my daughters to ride.
So, I think then, that they can be the ones to deal with his hair waffles!
The Mare and I churned out close to a dozen hair waffles yesterday before I felt she was sufficiently groomed. We went on to have a great ride in the warm weather, the last we are supposed to have for a while (it's in the thirties here this morning!). She even got so sweated up from our workout that I had to hose her off when we were done. With warm water, of course, which she enjoyed, along with the grass she got to eat while she dried off in the sunshine.
The Mare after hosing. Loving the green grass.
Friday, March 23, 2012
One Year Ago Yesterday. . .
One year ago yesterday, I started this blog with trepidation. I wasn't sure what I was doing, I just knew that I'd always loved to write and also that the way my family lives is somewhat of a curiosity to a lot of people and a dream of or inspiration to a few. So I thought what the hay, I'll give it a shot. Either it will be something that goes down in flames, fizzles out, or maybe, just maybe, it will be something to last a while.
Well, here we are one year and one day later. This post is #186. Not record breaking for a blog by any means. But yet, I feel a small sense of accomplishment. I love this creative outlet. I love telling stories of every day life at this little place here. I'm always pleasantly surprised when readers leave comments. It's nice to hear from similarly minded people. It's cool to be an eye-opener (in a good way, LOL!) to others.
My family's lives are not glamorous. We aren't famous, we don't have powerful or illustrious careers. Heck, I don't even have a college degree. I'm a jack of all trades, dabbling in a bit of this and some of that through the years as need and/or opportunity presented itself. Yet all of us touch others in our day to day comings and goings. We all make an impression, ever so slight, on the people we meet. We all have the ability to affect the world.
I think I do tend to get a bit long and wordy in my posts. So I'll keep this one short and sweet. Happy Anniversary this little place here! May we enjoy many more years and posts together.
Well, here we are one year and one day later. This post is #186. Not record breaking for a blog by any means. But yet, I feel a small sense of accomplishment. I love this creative outlet. I love telling stories of every day life at this little place here. I'm always pleasantly surprised when readers leave comments. It's nice to hear from similarly minded people. It's cool to be an eye-opener (in a good way, LOL!) to others.
My family's lives are not glamorous. We aren't famous, we don't have powerful or illustrious careers. Heck, I don't even have a college degree. I'm a jack of all trades, dabbling in a bit of this and some of that through the years as need and/or opportunity presented itself. Yet all of us touch others in our day to day comings and goings. We all make an impression, ever so slight, on the people we meet. We all have the ability to affect the world.
I think I do tend to get a bit long and wordy in my posts. So I'll keep this one short and sweet. Happy Anniversary this little place here! May we enjoy many more years and posts together.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Warmth Continues
All around this little place here, spring is evident. Not just the early spring, but the full-blown green grass and blooming flowers and trees getting leaves part of spring. We've had four days in the 80s this week, so about 40 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.
I'm not complaining, it's been nice to wear shorts and run around barefoot. Probably a first for me to do so in March in Michigan. DH is even talking about taking the canoes out this weekend and going for a paddle. Not sure I'm that brave, as I bet the water is still c-o-l-d!!
The forsythias and daffodils are in full bloom this week. My hyacinth are all up and flowering, and the one tree in the fenceline that blooms white in early spring (someday I'm going to actually figure out what kind of tree it is) burst into bloom on Tuesday.
forsythia
daffodils
forsythia
the mystery tree
Supposedly we are having a 'cold' front move through this evening. A big thunderstorm touched off around 5:00 p.m., with several more rounds of storms moving on through tonight and into tomorrow. Currently we are between storms and the lighting is beautiful outside--bright colors against a black sky to the north and east.
Tomorrow's temperatures are supposed to 'only' be in the 60s. Only 15-20 degrees hotter than normal.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Strut It
Ahh, Spring. The air is warm, the sun is shining. Flowers are blooming. Love is in the air. Frogs are singing. Birds are pairing up and scouting out nest sites.
Turkeys are in the field, showing off what they got.
I was able to snap some pictures this morning of a couple of toms out courting near the North Corner of the field. They were trying to get the attention of two nearby hens.
Turkeys are in the field, showing off what they got.
I was able to snap some pictures this morning of a couple of toms out courting near the North Corner of the field. They were trying to get the attention of two nearby hens.
I like the beard on the one on the right.
"Hey, look, some hot girls!"
Tom #1:"Look at me!"
Tom #2: "No, look at me!"
Big man on campus
Monday, March 19, 2012
Frog Songs and Fire
With the warm weather, the spring peepers are out in abundance. They serenade from the Marsh all day and all night. I hear many different voices, making me wonder how big of a variety of frogs are out there with the peepers, singing away in their spring amorousness. DD2 wants to try going out there with the camera and seeing if we can actually photograph any of them. From past experience, I know frogs are pretty wily, so I think it will be quite the endeavor to get nice close-up pictures. Not impossible, just time consuming.
Meanwhile, we had amassed quite a brush pile out in the field, near the woods, from our clean-up efforts. The pile started on New Year's Day, when DH and both DDs went out to cut up the dead trees we'd felled last fall. Anything too small to bother with for firewood went into a brush pile in the field, with the intent to later in the winter, drive the snowmobiles out and enjoy a campfire and hot dog roast. Winter and abundant snow never really made it here this year, and so the pile still stood, now a nuisance for when the farmer who rents 18 acres off us would want to till the ground and ready it for spring planting.
DH had added several thorn trees to the pile in recent weekends, doing trimming of the wild apples along the edge of the field. The thorn trees had to go; until now we'd left them for any possible wildlife benefit they might provide. But with us desiring to get to the apple trees to prune them, the thorn trees were a formidable barrier that were mastered with the loppers and the chain saw.
Our pile had become rather large, about as tall as DH, about six feet wide, and 20 feet long or so. With the beautiful summer-like weather that rolled in Friday morning, and the field still bare, we decided it was time to remove the pile via fire.
After grilling our dinner, we loaded up lawn chairs into the bucket of the tractor, and headed out for a night of fire tending.
All in all, it took about three hours to burn that entire pile down to a heap of coals about 6' long, 3' wide and 18" high.
Meanwhile, we had amassed quite a brush pile out in the field, near the woods, from our clean-up efforts. The pile started on New Year's Day, when DH and both DDs went out to cut up the dead trees we'd felled last fall. Anything too small to bother with for firewood went into a brush pile in the field, with the intent to later in the winter, drive the snowmobiles out and enjoy a campfire and hot dog roast. Winter and abundant snow never really made it here this year, and so the pile still stood, now a nuisance for when the farmer who rents 18 acres off us would want to till the ground and ready it for spring planting.
DH had added several thorn trees to the pile in recent weekends, doing trimming of the wild apples along the edge of the field. The thorn trees had to go; until now we'd left them for any possible wildlife benefit they might provide. But with us desiring to get to the apple trees to prune them, the thorn trees were a formidable barrier that were mastered with the loppers and the chain saw.
Our pile had become rather large, about as tall as DH, about six feet wide, and 20 feet long or so. With the beautiful summer-like weather that rolled in Friday morning, and the field still bare, we decided it was time to remove the pile via fire.
After grilling our dinner, we loaded up lawn chairs into the bucket of the tractor, and headed out for a night of fire tending.
the pile
lighting the pile
Because most of the pile was green wood (tree tops, thorn trees, brush), it took awhile and some tinder to get it going. But, once it caught, it went pretty quickly.
the pile ablaze
flame was about 12 foot high
DH had started the fire in the center of the pile, figuring the light wind (about 6-8 mph) we had would fan the flame toward the north end of the pile, and he would just fold the south end over that with the tractor once the center burned down. What was really interesting, was that a vortex occurred, and the fire actually spread to the south, into the wind. It was very cool to watch.
Once about half of the pile had been burned, DH used the tractor to push the two ends over the hot coals in the center. Since it was totally dark by now, the branches were back lit by the fire inside of the pile.
On Saturday we did a little transplanting, moving two volunteer elms off the septic mound where we'd discovered them last summer, and into more appropriate locales. I also dug up some lilac suckers from the bush closest to the house and put them into a row flanking the south side of the garden, as well as divided a chunk from the mock orange that grows near the base of the septic mound.
DH did a little controlled burning of a section of the garden that got overrun with weeds last year. He also burned the pile of cornstalks and sunflower stalks we'd made last October.
After dinner, he went out into the field, scooped up the still warm pile of coals with the loader bucket of the tractor, and brought them up behind the Target Mound (a big hill of dirt he made several years ago for a shooting backstop where we sight in our guns). Using those coals from the night before's fire, he started up a smaller campfire for Saturday evening. Recycling at it's finest!
We roasted marshmallows, ate s'mores, and relaxed, loving the life at this little place here.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Like The Smell of Rain
Yesterday was a gorgeous June day. . . in March. Literally, it felt like June. Warm, sunny, some humidity. The birds were singing, the grass growing, thunderstorm watch in effect.
About four p.m., the thunderstorms started rolling in. The sky was pretty light though, so I didn't worry much about the weather. It was too whitish gray to worry about anything severe (compared to the eerie yellow before last May's huge storm that toppled trees all over the neighborhood and destroyed several barns in the township).
That's probably why I was so surprised when out of the sky came pea-sized to nickel-sized hail! Not just a few hailstones, but many of them, for fifteen minutes or more!
As the storm passed, and the hail lessened, DD2 and I couldn't resist going out on the back deck and collecting a few for examination. We took a couple of pictures for documentation, to show DH later when he got home from work.
About four p.m., the thunderstorms started rolling in. The sky was pretty light though, so I didn't worry much about the weather. It was too whitish gray to worry about anything severe (compared to the eerie yellow before last May's huge storm that toppled trees all over the neighborhood and destroyed several barns in the township).
That's probably why I was so surprised when out of the sky came pea-sized to nickel-sized hail! Not just a few hailstones, but many of them, for fifteen minutes or more!
As the storm passed, and the hail lessened, DD2 and I couldn't resist going out on the back deck and collecting a few for examination. We took a couple of pictures for documentation, to show DH later when he got home from work.
some of the hail on the deck
hailstones, with my thumb for size reference
a really big one
About the time it stopped hailing, DD2 asked if she could eat a piece of hail, wondering what it would taste like. I figured why not, it was probably not harmful, being frozen. Like eating snowflakes, right? I said it would probably taste like an ice cube.
So she popped one in her mouth. When it had dissolved, she told me it didn't taste like ice, it tasted like the smell of rain.
Tastes like the smell of rain. Wow, what a description! Now I wish I had tasted a hailstone before they all melted. I want to taste the smell of rain.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
I Don't Have Pet Chickens
But I do have a few that are special to me due to their personalities. Those few have names. The rest are either "the girls" or "chickas" for my laying flock, or "turd birds" for the meat chickens (if you've ever raised broilers, you'll understand).
This is one of the ones who has a name. She was part of my 2011 order from McMurray, she is an Ameracauna and lays mint-green colored eggs. She earned the right to a name because she is uncommonly friendly, will even fly up and attempt to sit on my shoulder when I'm out distributing feed or gathering eggs.
Her name is "Blue" because of her coloring.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Warm Wednesday Morning
It is a beautiful morning at this little place here. Temperatures were in the sixties yesterday after thunderstorms on Monday night. Things are turning green; plants pushing up through the soil.
I grabbed the camera and headed out for a lap around the house to see what's growing.
Behind the house, which would be the east side:
I grabbed the camera and headed out for a lap around the house to see what's growing.
Behind the house, which would be the east side:
tulips pushing up near the sidewalk
buds on the lilac bush swelling and showing the green beginnings of leaves
chives
(Note to self: those baked potatoes on the menu for later this week? Use fresh chives on them.)
garlic planted last fall is looking good
daffodils
rhubarb just beginning to sprout
spearmint
iris
On the south side of the house:
daffodils are ready to bloom
The front of the house (west side):
dandelion!!
Tasty when young and nutritious, will sneak this into the menu somehow.
(When life gives you lemons, and all that. . .)
crocus that will probably be wide open this afternoon
patch of tulips near front walkway
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Cleanup, Aisle Four. . .
Actually, cleanup was on the north 'road' in our woods, not in the grocery store as the title might lead you to think.
We've had some windy weather here lately. Let me amend that. "Windy" is normal. We've had some ferociously windy weather here lately. Like sustained 40-50 mile an hour wind for an entire day, not just the usual 15-20 mile an hour variety we often get. (When we were building the house at this little place here, DH asked me one windy day "Does the wind ever stop?" To which I answered, "Yes, for a few days in July when the humidity is 90% and the temperature is near 100 degrees.")
That recent ferociously windy weather knocked some trees down in the woods. Which, in itself isn't all that big of a deal, it happens. However, the strong winds we've had lately had snapped some trees off, and they were leaning over the North Road in the woods, hung up in the tops of other trees, yet capable of falling on us should we pass underneath on another windy day. So, they needed to be taken care of.
This past weekend we had glorious unseasonably warm weather. And, also unseasonably, the field was dry enough to get the tractor through easily. So, DH and I loaded up the chainsaw bucket (bar & chain oil, brush, sharpener, extra chains for the saw, nippers, loppers, hatchet, etc), grabbed the chain saw, the axe, the small gas can, and our two long chains, tossed them into the loader bucket of the tractor, and headed for the North Road to take care of those hanging trees.
After I had drug about 5 trees out into the field, I got my turn at wielding the chainsaw. Somebody who shall remain nameless failed to take pictures of me in my lumberjack glory. Chainsaw wielding: a skill every woman should have, LOL.
We've had some windy weather here lately. Let me amend that. "Windy" is normal. We've had some ferociously windy weather here lately. Like sustained 40-50 mile an hour wind for an entire day, not just the usual 15-20 mile an hour variety we often get. (When we were building the house at this little place here, DH asked me one windy day "Does the wind ever stop?" To which I answered, "Yes, for a few days in July when the humidity is 90% and the temperature is near 100 degrees.")
That recent ferociously windy weather knocked some trees down in the woods. Which, in itself isn't all that big of a deal, it happens. However, the strong winds we've had lately had snapped some trees off, and they were leaning over the North Road in the woods, hung up in the tops of other trees, yet capable of falling on us should we pass underneath on another windy day. So, they needed to be taken care of.
This past weekend we had glorious unseasonably warm weather. And, also unseasonably, the field was dry enough to get the tractor through easily. So, DH and I loaded up the chainsaw bucket (bar & chain oil, brush, sharpener, extra chains for the saw, nippers, loppers, hatchet, etc), grabbed the chain saw, the axe, the small gas can, and our two long chains, tossed them into the loader bucket of the tractor, and headed for the North Road to take care of those hanging trees.
Making the first cuts.
The trees didn't want to fall, just march the cut ends 5' closer to the road.
Two cuts each, still hung up and standing much closer to the North Road.
DH pondering best place to cut the now vertical stubborn second tree.
He makes a decision,
makes his move, and. . . tiiiiiimmmmmbbbbbeeerrrr! Success.
Small pile from first (littler) tree.
Larger pile from larger tree.
We stacked the wood along the edge of the North Road for retrieval with the wood hauler trailer at a later date. No hurry, some of our piles from the cleaning up of downed trees have been back there for years, just aging nicely.
It was such a nice day, and we were having so much fun with the chainsaw, we decided to move back out of the woods and do a little clean-up along the North Corner of the field, in the fence line. There are many downed trees there, some hung up, some just laying on the ground. I got to be the tractor driver and drag several of them out into the field using the chains and the tractor. We moved them to the field so that we could cut them up without dodging briers and poison ivy vines.
Two trees at once! How awesome am I! (Shh, I know they're fairly small, but they're trees.)
More of my tree relocation handiwork with the tractor.
After I had drug about 5 trees out into the field, I got my turn at wielding the chainsaw. Somebody who shall remain nameless failed to take pictures of me in my lumberjack glory. Chainsaw wielding: a skill every woman should have, LOL.