Mother Nature, You Can't Fool Me!

It has been so pretty and sunny and warm that it is hard not to get fooled by it all and run to the nursery to buy bedding plants. But, I have fallen for it more than once in my lifetime and I know better. Mother Nature is not going to fool me this time! I have been working on my two beds and the pathway I'm making on the side of the house. The big hole is going to make such a lovely Koi pond and once I have it all finished and planted I am going to have hubby build me a nice arbor from down trees to set the pathway off beautifully. I took the chairs and glass top, faux-granite based table from the deck and put it under a shade tree at the beginning of my little garden bed, pathway paradise and it looks so relaxing and I just want to sit there all day. I can't wait to plant flowers in the beds. I am going to put in some rose bushes and some herbs and pretty, colorful flowers and I want to line the empty side behind the one bed that isn't against the house with forsythia bushes to give it a back drop and balance the space. I will plant climbing roses against my arbor that I have eventually. It is going to be so pretty, I can see it in my mind and I just love how it is turning out.

Our church has a praise band, and I started last night with them at practice. Now I am far from a guitar player and I haven't played in years! But, I was asked over and over to give it a try so I broke down and started practicing. I am so rusty and have so much trouble changing chords again, I know I will get there if I keep practicing. I am such a perfectionist that I get frustrated when I can't do something just right and last night at practice was a trial in my patience that is for sure. I hope that I can get this down and not embarrass myself. Although, it is nice to have something to do with the kids that are in the bad too, my daughter sings, my oldest plays the mandolin and banjo and my middle son plays the guitar and sings. Maybe dear old mom will get back into the swing of things eventually.

I threw together dinner with a half made up recipe last night that turned out really tasty, and even my hubby, Mr. Picky said it was good. I thought I would share it for those that need a quick dinner.

Sweet and Sour Sausages with Onions and Peppers

3 packages of polish sausage, cut in bite sized pieces

1 onion chopped

1 bell pepper chopped

1/2 small jar grape jelly

1 bottle chili sauce

Chop onion and pepper and start sauteing in a skillet. When tender add the sausage and jelly and chili sauce. Mix well. Put on low and let simmer with a lid on the skillet until ready to eat. The longer it cooks the better it gets.

I diced up some potatoes added a couple tablespoons of butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to taste and put them in my microwave dish with a lid. Microwaved for 15 minutes until tender. (This is an easy side dish that is a family favorite at our house)

This dinner went over well and took no time to prepare, it worked out well with everything going on last night and it held well for those who ate later.  Happy Friday!

Re-purposed Treasures...

I am so tired today.  I have been going and going and just trudging along, working, cleaning up, cooking, digging dirt for my flower bed, caring for the animals etc., and I think it's all caught up with me today.  Life never stops at 6 o'clock, wouldn't it be nice to have bankers hours with a family, farm and job?  I am happy that I don't have a long list of things to do today, but I do have things I want to do!

Oh what a joyful treat I received yesterday! My oldest went into town to pick up some goodies from a free listing that I see everyday.  I was elated when he returned with things I didn't know were coming home.  I was very excited to get some old coffee cups and bowls to plant flowers in and set outside on my porch.  But, he brought home an old particle board and metal tubing desk and a lovely round wicker, glass top table and 4 chairs that I can put outside under a lovely shade tree. I was just beside myself with happiness over my free treasures to re-purpose and give new life.  Now I am on a mission to get busy with my new "toys"! Getting something free is wonderful and being able to bring an old thing back to life again, well that is a big adrenaline rush for me!  I am going to figure out how to do a mosaic on the desk to give it some color and I think I'm going to make it an indoor sort of potting bench for flowers.  At least for now that is where my mind is going with it.  I have a bunch of broken white tiles that would be perfect to use on it and would  change its appearance dramatically.  Broken white tiles, mastic and some grout and a little time to put it together and I will have a lovely new addition for zero cost.  Who doesn't love that in this down economy!

Last nights dinner and church service was wonderful and although I was so tired by the time I sat down in the pew, I was very thankful to have this quiet, serene service to share in worship during lent.  We had some very tasty soups and all of my sandwiches turned out well and were all eaten and everyone loved my cheesecake. I am happy that all the food and fellowship turned out well.  I was so thankful that my oldest was able to help me get it all together, otherwise things would of been less than perfect with me doing it all alone and trying to be on time.  Note to self, never sign up for soup again, I was wearing some of it by the time I got to the church! Live and learned that lesson haha.  Pumpkin soup meets denim equals the look of baby spit up all over.  I had to get it all off in the restroom at church and I still had "dark stains" all over, I'm glad I opted to wear jeans last night.

I'm hearing things about March clean-up challenge, I think I may undertake that and see what I can get accomplished in 31 days.  I think today I will start with my living room, something easy to work on when I would rather plant myself in the recliner and watch DIY network all day!  Happy Thursday everyone!

Ode To Wednesday...

Most people dislike Monday, but I love Monday! Monday everyone goes back to their daily grind and I have a chance to recuperate after the weekend, clean up all their messes and take a big, deep breath and say "Ahhh".  What I am not a big fan of is Wednesday.  I know a lot of people love hump day, the down slide into the weekend, but not me!  Wednesday is my long day to work, its the day that seems to smack me in the head and say you have not gotten everything done yet, which makes me feel rushed for Thursday and Friday to get ready for the weekend, where...they all are home again.  Whew, just thinking about all of it makes my head spin!

My neighbor brought me some mail delivered to him the other day and we chatted about chickens, foxes and coyotes.  He has lost 7 chickens to the foxes and coyotes.  I fear that they will work their way up here, but my husband and son tell me have no fear, the dogs will keep them at bay.  We have been so lucky and not had any trouble with predators so far.  We do have hawks, and although I don't worry so much about my big, fat, heavy chickens, I do worry more about my rabbits, that I let out to play in their yard, and my chihuahua.  I had three circling around yesterday when the chickens were out in the yard to play.  I was out there telling them to go away like a mad woman, we all know yelling at hawks, they understand us right? haha  I finally decided to let all 7 of my dogs out on the porch to bark their heads off in hopes of keeping them away.  It worked, they flew off, but returned later, probably disappointed to find out that I was out there again with all seven dogs to ruin their evening search for food.  With the weather getting nicer and it being warm I am sure I will have many encounters with the hawks, yelling at them to move on, even though I know it doesn't work.  But, nonetheless, it does make me feel like I'm a protective chicken, rabbit, chihuahua mommy!  The date for my chicks to be sent is nearing, March 5, 2012, and I am getting so excited.  I can't wait to have that little peeping filling my ears, watching them grow and enjoying my deep, conversations with them, even though I know they don't quite get all the big words haha.

Today is our dinner at church and our Lenten service.  I'm very excited and feel very organized since I got most of the food done yesterday.  Today. I just have to finish off my pumpkin soup, make up the sandwiches and I am ready to go.  I love having a Wednesday service too, it's nice to go in the middle of the week for a little positive, spiritual up do.  Now, that does make Wednesday worthwhile, but sadly doesn't last all year, just through Easter.  I dug more soil for my beds and my son, as strong as he is went out and drug up a nice big pine long almost the entire length that I needed.  I told him, you can boast to your dad and brother that you got this one with your bare hands.  It had fallen into the arms of another tree and he tugged and wiggled and brought the entire thing down, the part we didn't need cracked off when it hit the ground and we had a perfect log for the rustic beds.  I'm making quite the hole digging up the dirt from under a tree that had a bunch of old wood beneath it, breaking down, decomposing and making gorgeous soil.  I think I am going to use the hole and make a little Koi pond there at the end of my pathway, garden area.  That or dig my way to China!

Since it is Wednesday and some of us need a treat to get through it, I thought I would share, my always requested, cheesecake recipe!  If you have the ingredients on hand, throw one together, you will forget that it is Wednesday and feel like you are in heaven!

Chocolate and Nut Topped New York Cheesecake

• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 stick melted butter

Filling

• 4 packages of cream cheese
• 1 ¹⁄₃; cups sugar
• 5 large eggs plus 2 yolks
• 1 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla 
• 
  

Directions:

 All above ingredients should be at room temperature before your begin.

1. 
   
   Crust: Mix all graham cracker crumbs with sugar and melted butter and press into a 9 inch spring form pan, trying to line the sides as much as possible about 1 1/2" up the sides of the pan, set aside.
2. Mixing the Filling.
   
   
   Start by beating the cream cheese until light and fluffy.
3. Add the sugar a little at a time and continue beating until creamy.
4. Add one egg at a time and beat after each egg.
5. When eggs have been mixed into the cream cheese add flour, vanilla and mix well.
6. Add the sour cream last and beat well.
7. Pour cream cheese into the spring pan.
8. 
   
   Place on the top rack in the middle of a 400 degrees preheated oven for 10 minutes.
   Lower the temperature to 250 degrees and bake for an additional 1 hour.  Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in the oven for two hours with the door cracked open on the oven.  Remove and let cool for  2 hours or  long enough before the cheesecake is put into the refrigerator for 24 hours.
   
   
   TOPPING:
   Melt one cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of whipping cream in the microwave for one minute.  Stir to incorporate and spread over the top of the cheesecake, letting extras run off the side.  Top with chopped walnuts or pecans or any nut of your choice.  Cut and serve!

On the hunt...

I have been looking for goats for awhile, and I knew in my mind that spring will bring many babies into the world.  I miss goats, we had them before and they make wonderful pets and hard workers when brush needs to be cleared.  We got our goats in Texas for a very low price.  In Georgia, goats must poop gold because they seem so expensive.  I am still on the hunt, I don't want to sign over my first born or spend an arm and a leg for a couple of sweet babies, so I am hoping that spring will lead me to affordable goats.  I want to be able to milk, so I need a good breed that milks and I want more than one goat, they are social animals and don't do well alone.  If anyone knows a good resource for me in North Georgia, I am open to all suggestions!  Until I find my sweet goat babies, I love seeing the photos and reading about them on other peoples blogs.  For the time being I do have my chickens and rabbits and all my dogs that keep me busy, but obviously I'm not busy enough I want goats and eventually a pig to raise.  Of course, I know absolutely nothing about pigs so that will be a fun learning challenge for me.

I am helping with the Lenten service soup, salad, sandwich dinners during Lent. They are on Wednesdays and I have to make sandwiches and soup and a dessert this week.  I am going to make a nice chicken salad with grapes and pecans and a ham salad with Swiss cheese and a delicious pumpkin soup with the pumpkin from our garden.  I found the cutest cross to set in the center of my cheesecake I'm going to make and take.  I was surprised at Wal-Mart that the little crosses like the one I bought were the only thing there that was "religious" everything else was chicks and bunnies.  It makes me feel sad that the biggest christian holiday has been downplayed so badly that the only thing you can find, in a big store like that, is a 3 inch cross tucked deep in the corner on a shelf.  I am always one to believe "to each his own" and allow everyone their own free will, as God gave us on this earth.  But, for those of us that are Christians, that follow our lives through Christ, wouldn't it be nice that we were allowed "to each his own" and our own free will? It saddens me that the principles this country was built on, In God We Trust, has been virtually denied and buried, with disregard to how it makes us feel, with all the political correctness to not make others feel left out.  I feel very left out sometimes when it comes to my beliefs and it's just as wrong to deny Christians as it is to deny anyone's beliefs. Okay, I had my little rant and I'm better now! At least I found that sweet, little, resin cross, and I am thankful for it.

I'm including my recipe for pumpkin soup, this is a family favorite and even my husband likes it and he does not like pumpkin!  Give it a try if you are looking for something that goes perfect with a nice light chicken salad for an easy dinner, lunch or brunch.

Pumpkin Soup

• 
  6 cups chicken stock
• 2 -3 cups pumpkin
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic , minced or 1 Tablespoon powdered garlic
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 5 peppercorns or 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup cream or evaporated milk 
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley

1. 
   
   In a covered saucepan, heat the stock, pumpkin, onion, garlic, salt, thyme, and peppercorns to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.
2. Remove 2 cups of the pumpkin with a slotted spoon; reserve.
3. Simmer remaining pumpkin mixture, uncovered, 20 minutes longer; transfer to a large bowl.
4. Puree 2 cups of the pumpkin mixture in a blender or food processor; return pureed mixture to the pot.
5. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
6. Stir warm cream into the mixture and simmer 10 minutes.
7. Serve hot.

Weekends

(The old fence on our land, Rustic, worn and full of untold stories)

The excitement of the weekend stills comes upon me on Friday, as if I am a child still in school and have two days of carefree living.  However, they aren't that carefree anymore like when I was a child; But, I still love the weekends! Saturday wasn't very eventful for me, I had to bake cookies and cakes for fellowship on Sunday.  Although, I normally love to bake and cook, I wasn't really in the mood Saturday so it made it hard to enjoy.  I was so tired, honestly, I could of gone back to bed and slept all day!  The youth group from church was going to the movies, and my oldest was going out of town so that left dad to take my daughter to the outing.  I think they had fun, it is nice when the two of them spend time together.  I want them to have that special bond between father and daughter.

We have a chicken that is getting into the bunny hutch to lay eggs.  I get a giggle every time I find one.  Sunday, I found three!  It must be a good spot and the one chicken has told her friends and they all want to try it out. I get that vision of the Cadbury commercial in my mind where the bunny is clucking like a chicken when I think of the hens in his hutch.  I'm getting more and more eggs every week and that is exciting.  My dreams are coming true, finally, after feeding and caring for these chickens for so long now.  I was starting to think I'd never see an egg!

Sunday was the best day by far from the weekend.  Church was lovely and our Sunday school class is just so in tune and amazing, you leave the room feeling so up beat and positive for the week.  The service was, as usual, touching and positive.  As we move through our 40 days of lent, I feel a strong attraction to following the times of Jesus and what he went through during his life.  I love to read the scripture and follow the story of his journey to the cross.  Although, a feeling of sadness comes over me considering what he endured, a feeling of peace, love and hope over shadows that feeling with knowing that he died for our sins, and there was a purpose in the large scheme of things. Truly, no better gift could ever have been given to us and I am so thankful for it.  After church we went out to eat dinner and ran into to shop for pants for my middle son, who...drum roll please... GOT A JOB!  It has been such a difficult process for him to get a job.  But, finally after almost a year of consistent applying and trying, he succeeded.  Yay, I'm so proud of him!  We all came home and started working on my flower beds that I have designed in my mind.  We have so many downed trees laying there and it is such a waste not to re-purpose them somehow. I have decided to build all my beds from the trees, stacking two or three high, and securing them with very large screws to hold them together.  We have the first row of logs on both sides of the area now and I can see it coming together.  It is going to be exactly what I pictured in my mind.  The beds will be rustic, beautiful and perfect for years to come. So, today I will continue to shovel dirt and fill the areas with soil so that I can begin planting in the next few weeks. What a wonderful weekend overall!

Bunny Wars

The stillness of early morning really fills my spirit. I get up very early, before anyone in the house, to sip my cup of tea and just ponder on thoughts that fill my head. I feel close to God, as I have my morning chat and rattle on with him about things he already knows and understands, yet I'm still learning. I am thankful that I have God there with me all the time as my constant companion. Sometimes words are never needed, just the feelings in my heart are enough for our conversations.

This morning, when I let the dogs outside I could feel it is still warm outdoors. We were expecting rain that would cool things off again. I am happy that we may have another warm day, yesterday was gorgeous and it made my spring fever even stronger. I know better than to let Mother Nature fool me, but I yearn to do something, anything that requires planting and beautiful flowers. I was outside gathering small twigs to hot glue on my self-watering pot I made the other day. That turned out so cute. I had some fabric that looks like burlap and I gathered it all up around the neck of the mason jar where the other part meets and tied a red ribbon. I'm quite proud of my creation and now have to do the same to the other two I made.

I had another day of bunny drama and finally have sorted out the trouble, I think! We have one bunny that has chewed through the wire on his hutch, and I didn't know that when I let the other buck out into the yard to play. I was standing in the kitchen window looking out and saw this white fluff flying, and dropped everything to run out and break up the fight. I grabbed the one bunny by the scruff of his neck and carried him into the chicken pen and let him run around. I originally was worried about letting the rabbits in the chicken pen, due to being pecked. But, they have dug into the chicken pen so many times that the chickens couldn't care less about them. I had the boys move an old hutch into the pen so that he can live on that side of the fence and the other buck can have the rabbit yard all to himself. We house our two females together in our old chicken tractor. They love that they are always able to run around. They have ten kits between them and they are starting to run around now. They are adorable when they are babies! I hope that I have finally found the right solution to the bunny wars and that we don't see anymore drama. Of course, I know when I say that I mean for today!

Literacy

Literacy is very important to me and I try to keep it in the forefront of what I strongly believe in, help with and want to see improve all over the world.  A new article I have written is included here.