On Vacation for a couple weeks

Hello everyone,
I will be back to blogging March 1st. Headed to visit my family and friends in Washington.
Keep warm, safe and busy....
Cheryl

More Farmgirl fun....Today

Today is our Mary Jane Farmgirls Monthly Meeting. We have all made cookies or cupcakes to give to our Local Women & childrens shelter. We meet once a month as I have said before on  this blog. We laugh & share what we are interesed in and talents we have to share.We are quickly approaching  a new membership number of 12 chicks.  Thats a lot of Clucking  going on...and You know that Being a  Farmgirl is a "condition of the heart". We don't all have farms, or ranches or animals, chickens, or gardens but we do love living the country life and doing what we can to live that life as organic and sustainable as possible.  We share interests of shoppng for antiques, thrifting, recycle and sew, cooking,  scrapbooks, quilts and gardens, raising  chickens, & farm animals, fish & even camp. Our hens ages range from 30 something to 74! I have a link on the side bar to our chapter. Klamath Falls Charming Chicks. Basically we like to get together to have "girl fun" and are growing close as you know how we farmgirls friendships can evolve. Since I am the "Mother Hen" of the group after starting it early last Spring, Today I am going to give each of my "Chickie Friends" a special Valentine treat of cookies & choclates. ( who can't resist that?".) all wrapped up in these cute bags. We have also drawn "secret sister names" so today there could be some more Valentine Surprises unfolded. I love my farmgirl friends. If you think you are a "farmgirl at heart". Go to Mary Janes site ( also linked in my side bar) and check out a chapter near you. We do have One Heck of a lot of fun and chapters are open in every state.
Oh my! it's getting late & I have to get the vacuum put away, clean the bathroom..& put the coffee pot on before the chickies start to arrive... Happy Valentines to all of You!  &  Happy Trails!

Cheryl

The lost art of Line Drying

Here my clothes line is waiting....Oh how I wish it was warmer, I love to hang my laundry outside to dry. I asked Clay to make me a clothes line shortly after we moved in two years ago. I can hardly wait to start using it again. My laundry smells so fresh and sparkling clean when hung to dry.
I can remember as a child when my mother hung our clothes to dry, my sisters & I would run under and through the sheets as they blew in the wind. Ahhhh those great memories! Did you ever do that?

Did you realize that, hanging your clothes, by line drying is a huge savings, and your clothes will last longer. Clothes hung outdoors do not get static cling. another benefit is it's good for your body, The bending, stretching and lifting it takes to get the laundry on the line is a good way to get in some exercise, without realizing it.   I like that and who couldn't save some on the electric bill?
Here are a few tips on hanging your laundry outdoor:

First if you have clothes lines already, you may want to wash your lines with warm water if they have not been used in awhile because dirty clotheslines will get your clothes dirty as well. Make sure your lines are strong and taut. Laundry will not dry evenly on sagging lines.

Choose a day that is sunny and windy or at least breezy. The motion of the breeze prevents clothes from stiffening.  You can just add vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine load to help soften the clothes you hang ( they will not smell like vinegar when they are dry.) or make your own fragrant fabric softener. You can save even more money by making your own laundry soap. I will post the recipe another time. It is so easy to do  and only costing about 4 cents a load!

Hanging sheets & whites in the sunlight early in the morning you will get full bleaching effect of the sun rays. Have you ever slept on sheets dried in the sun? Pure Heaven!

Hang colors & brights in partial shade or in the afternoon to prevent fading. You can also turn them inside out before hanging.

Hang shirts & blouses on hangers to prevent clothes pin marks on th eshoulders. Hook and pin the hanger to the line.
Just try hanging your laundry  and  I bet you will love it as much as I do.

I've started a new cooking blog!

 I have decided to put my food stuff, recipes, tips & wine paring  along with  photos of what's cookin in my kitchen on a seperate blog. Please come pull up a stool and join me .  I have added a place setting for you..and will share a glass of wine or cuppa tea  along with a few bites with you.

Bon Appetite!

I think I'm becoming a Shutterbug..

A country drive  this morning was a photo opportunity for me. Since my  wonderful husband bought me a new camera  for Christmas, I have become a shutterbug, snapping pictures of anything & everything. You know, old Barns and old homesteads have always been a favorite of mine. It was cloudy and not a spectular day like a sunshine day would be but we did enjoy our outting. As we drove  up to the hill above our farm in the tree line, we had only gone   1000 ft higher than  we live, and we were in deep snow. So pretty and peaceful, not particulary cold but fresh. I took a few shots of the pine trees covered with snow. We then traveled down to the Wood River  a bird watching area where I got a few more shots ( no birds could be seen but we could hear themin the marsh. )  On the way home we were above Upper Klamath Lake around Fort Klamath, where we came upon the perfect homestead setting & barns. I was on cloud #9 ...and then  I took a couple close up shots, I couldnt resist temptation... I think I am getting pretty good at this...check out the raindrops... Cool

Two Nice Suprises...

#1 Suprise! I am here blogging so soon after I thought I was doomed..I will be using my cell phone (smart phone) to connect to the internet for afew days. The problem will be solved when I return from Washington. I wont leave until Feb 13th and will return March 1st. I am going to visit my sister, mom and daughter. Really looking forward to  a two week mini vacation. I am taking the train which is always relaxing , even though a 12 hour trip! I willstock up on hand sewing, reading to occupy myself. By chance my good friend Gail is going to be traveling the same way that day so we will keep company for the first 5 hours of the trip. We will be chatting away the time will fly....

#2 Surprise, today when I went to the mailbox I found a very nice surprise from another Blogger friend and Mary Jane farmgirl. We have  not met in person but share many interests. I read her posts everyday and I know she follows mine. She lives in New York and the chances of us ever meeting are.... well who knows? She sent me a darling bookmark she made  of Raggedy Ann  for my old 1918 printing. She recently got herself a copy at  athrift store. Thank you so much Nancy Jo.  Look how she matches the page in the book.. You can read her blog at
http://nancy-jo.blogspot.com/
I will be posting until the 13th as my daily adventures unfold thanks for folowing.
Have a great weekend..
Cheryl

Yikes, I really "screwed up "

Well I have done it now...Not sure it was the right thing to do.. I am really confused about my internet connection and use of my modem. I have never had official computer lessons, as I have always pretty much practiced the trial & error method of anything.  Today I bought a new cell phone and a new modem to use for my internet connection since we have no good reception without an external dial up modem. I had gone over my allotted amount of 5g usage last month so I learned now I could have solved this problem another way & decided to "tether" my new phone capability to make sure that doesn't happen again..  Thats what the tech support person told me...and willl save me  money in the long run...Long story short.... Now I can use both a modem & my cell phone for connecting to the WWW. However.. Until the 20th of this month I am really "Screwed" If I use my phone for relief from adding more Overage on the modem... I cannot use my phone separately. I planned to be out of the state for a few weeks and Clay needs the computer so I cannot take it along.. but I  will want  & need my phone?  * are you following me here?," Do I suck it up , bite the  bullet and pay a HUGE bill by continue using the modem adding more overage fees, stop using the computer all together... That means no blogging, email or web surfing... YIKES" or do I forfeit my cell..phone? I cannot  do that. I was on the landline with the tech support for over 2 hours while he walked me through the whole downloading process.  Now we are on first name basis..but I probably wouldn't get him again if I called tech support...although he was very helpful, pleasant and made me feel not so stupid.....I told you I am not totally computer literate...Oh What to do? Maybe  I'll best use the cell phone connection  only for backup..? and go ahead   re hook up the modem? Clay knows even less than I do about this stuff... of course, so it will be impossible to explain to him  how to simply hook up or un hook the connection.......so bear with me....I will not be posting as much until I return March 1st.
I think I will pre post a few blog entries and let go of the connection. I can use my daughters computer when I get to Washington. That will be the smartest thing to do...and pay the price of overage use... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr I think I need a tall glass of wine right now...after I disconnect my phone.....so good bye for now... I"ll be back posting soon.

When Opportunity Knocks..We Go!

This morning, The sun came out and out we went to take some photos of the birds that might be at the marsh. It looked warmer than it was. Clay had captured the two fabulous photos at the bottom of this post last week of a Bald Eagle in its nest eating, but today We saw a few birds but not as many as we had hoped. The great migration will be here mid month. I did take a few photos of the refuge and will share them.

A mature  American Bald Eagle and  a youngster ( notice his splotchy feathers  at this stage they look kinda scruffy..They will be nicer and look like the adult we love to see, in their fourth year...

Here they are in a field looking for mice to eat or any other small rodent. They do hang out near the marsh, waiting for ducks and the fields for smaller prey. 

a Gray Herron hiding in the tree along the marsh land. The reflection of the blue sky in the marsh land was pretty. I will be in Washington State for a couple weeks, while Clay stays home to takes care of things here at BlueSky & the chickens.. So I will miss the begining of the migration. Klamath Basin is know for its thousands of birds migrating North during the spring.

These were flying overhead, we could hear them coming. White Snow or Ross geese we think. Sure pretty don't you think?  Here are the two Clay took pictures of earlier. It made a nice morning outting..now I gotta do laundry...(sigh)

Is that Mr.Groundhog?

Happy Groundhog Day everyone....."I don't know where or what time that Mr.. Groundhog saw his shadow, it sure wasn't here. But I did hear something outside and when my mom let me out to check it out ...... I see it was "Jack" and he was hiding. That is One big Jack Rabbit  and he's as big as me too.  Boy, can he run fast. Maybe he stopped to see me... But It sure wasn't his shadow cuz I couldn't get even close. It sure is fun to chase him though...and By the way, If there is going to be 6 more weeks of winter.... let it be on the East coast..wherever that is... cuz I want some sunshine & spring around here...maybe there will be more Bunnies to chase.  I think I will go take a nap now that was fun..."

When will Spring come?

I just read a few posts of  others who I follow off my blog and am jealous that they have some spring weather closer than I do.  I can only start to invision the fruits of my labors once the sun stays out long enough to warm my garden spots. I want to plant Lots of flowers this year  along with my veggies. As I look out my window right now I see the thermometer hanging and the news is not good. As I write this It is even starting to snow big flakes.....I captured a shot out the window.
 So I guess I will start with spending some time planning what & where I will plant when its Warmer.
I have some thoughts and plenty of books to be inspired by.

 In the meantime I will enjoy my "Store bought beauties." while I wait for my own bulbs to burst through the frozen ground.... But aren't they pretty? 

School day memories

Yesterday afternoon  I found a picture of my sisters and me taken when we were quite young. I think I was maybe 9 years old  and my youngest sister was 5 years old . Our dog was named Skippy.  I noticed we were all wearing dresses ( that's what we wore when we went to school, no jeans or pants except when the weather was cold & snowy) then we could wear them under our dresses. Anyway, I was thinking back about how much work it must have been for my mom with 4 little girls wearing dresses to school everyday.. Her ironing must have taken forever to do. That was in the mid  50's. I remember my old elementary school and looked on line for a picture. This is the only one I found.  Roosevelt Elementary in Yakima, Washington.

I do remember the school being old with lots of steps up the front and inside it smelled of old paint stain and had really shiny polished wood floors.  Outside were two huge old trees where we sat, giggled and carved our initials in the trunk, when we weren't playing jump rope or hopscotch. Those trees are gone now & the school has been demolished and re built.

I recently purchased a lunchbox like I had when I went to grade school on Ebay.  My mom packed it with  a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, an apple or a banana and carrot or celery sticks and one cookie all wrapped in wax paper..I remember how that lunch box smelled after I broke the thermos and the milk soured, even after several scrubbings. My first grade class was in the basement, and we had a cafeteria where we took our lunches upstairs and bought milk for 5 cents for lunch and another 5 cents for afternoon snack during school or somedays we bought them for 25 cents.  We could also buy ice cream for 5 cents and sometimes I would spend my nickle on that instead of the milk, hoping I wouldn't get in trouble if my mom found out....I think we must have been really on a tight budget and 5 cents was not often extra change. Yes, those were the days...do you remember your elementary school? I have very good memories of this school that I attended for 5 years before we moved out of  the city.

Company Breakfast Ebelskivers

They are Blueberry Ebelskivers.
This morning I decided to make  my husband & our guest ( his brother) a favorite breakfast recipe. It takes a bit of time but well worth the effort. You will need an ebelskiver pan to make these round puffy pancakes. You can purchase a pan in any cookware dept of a kitchen store. I purchased mine years ago and it is a cast iron beauty.  These are left plain & hot from the pan, Sometimes I dust them with powdered sugar. Today I had them with pure maple syrup.  I will freeze the remaining for snacks to eat on a road trip.
Bon Appetite!

Blueberry Ebelskivers

Danish Filled pancakes
30 min
15 min prep

Makes  about 30 Ebelskiver

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 lemon, zest of

3 egg yolks

5 egg whites

1 1/3 cups buttermilk

3/4 cup ricotta cheese

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 pint blueberries

confectioners' sugar, for dusting

In a batter pitcher or bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, granulated sugar, salt and lemon zest. Set aside.

In another bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks.

Whisk in the buttermilk and ricotta.

Whisk the yolk mixture into the flour mixture until well combined; the mixture will be lumpy. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, gently stir the whites into the batter in two additions.

Put 1/2 teaspoons butter in each well of a ebelskiver pan.

Place over medium heat and heat until the butter begins to bubble.

Pour 1 Tbs. batter into each well.

Place 4 blueberries in the center of the batter and top with 1 Tbs batter.

Cook until the bottoms are golden brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes.

Using 2 wooden skewers, turn the pancakes over and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes more.

Transfer to a plate.

Repeat with the remaining batter and blueberries.

Dust the pancakes with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm.

For a savory variation fill  Ebelskiver with a well chilled butter with herbs cube, grated aged cheese, or pieces of bacon or ham and omit the dusting of powdered sugar.

Winter Birds of a feather....

We are still in the midst of winter and I saw these local birds on the lake this week. I wonder how they survive without me taking them under my wing, along with my chickens.  When I spotted these mallards I think of   the pair that return to our pond every year.  They should be coming in a month or so..I hope this year they have babies.  Pelicans live on the lake and this one was all alone. We drove around to the city park and came upon these geese along the river bank. Now I know I want to get some of these too.. But convincing Clay might take some negotiating. I know they are noisey and quite messy but.... I do love them.

Shabby Chic finally coming together...

I decided to it was time to redecorate my bathroom. So out with the old ( into Clay's Bathroom) and in with the Shabby Chic (girlie )Bathroom.
I called Gail today & she met me for coffee this morning & then lunch later at a favorite cafe & a day of shopping. Thrift and also Ross had a great sales. I purchased another down alternative comforter and sheets for our bedroom. Also 6 new thick thirsty towels for each bath. This is a table I bought at The Keepers' Corner  (one of Gail & my favorite places for thrifting. ) I love the small touches I also found there like the pink vase, & the shabby chic tin for my washcloths and the flowery box for whatever I decide to use it for....I have a new shower curtain coming I got on auction at Ebay.. I will  take a picture of it when it gets here and I hang it up.  It was a very nice day.  I can not wait to go again..perhaps next week I will find  that perfect little lamp I am looking for.

Happy with My Country Style

I was just thinking today about How I would describe my home...and as I look around  I think it is basically inspired by Nature, and with Country fabrics & colors sometimes bright & Cheery. My Country Style is a bit informal in some rooms & and in others I love the frilly soft tones. Plain & Simple and Inspiring. Weathered old and recycled things in their natural state, some polished up pretty and shiny with country finishes. Some recycled to be used as something totally different than its purpose. Lets face it with todays economy it helps to have a bit of creativity.
Handicrafts, Quilts and collections have always had an important place in my country home. Out of necessity, I am often stepping over the threshold of  a thrift  or antique store to find that special piece to bring home. By bringing a bit of outside inside like displaying flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables enables me to enjoy the textures and delicate perfumes of nature all year round. Using baskets of all shapes and sizes help  organize me as well.  Irrisitable aromas of cooking make my country kitchen the heart of my home. Oh how I love to cook, and my cookbook collection continues to grow.
I really  like the warm inviting color of red in the hub of  my activies.  Somehow the kitchen is my center..and it is full of chicken things.....that spill into my diningroom... I can honestly say it is like playing house, and you are never to old to do that.  Spring will be coming someday soon.  ( I hope) and  I know I  will be working on adding a few New touches so that will mean more trips to the fabric store, collectors corners and the bank account. That's where it may get challenging.... going over the budget I'd better go count my pennies, I wonder if there are coins in the couch? and ya know I am sure glad I don't need to buy film for my camera....batteries are bad enough.

Comfort is spelled CHOCOLATE CAKE

It has not stopped snowing! It is warm and cozy inside. The Hens are also warm & cozy. Plans for dinner will include Pork Steak  to me that is a comfort food.. But best of all Comfort means A Chocolate fix.  Fresh out of the oven and frosted ready for Dessert.. Wanna piece?

Now look at the snow accumulation. I cannot get out my front door,  (If you are coming over) you will have to come in through the garage... bundle up and drive slow.

Now & Then...Silent and it's own beauty

I was thinking how quickly the weather can change our scenery. We need more water here and snow would be nice for all concerned. This one picture was taken yesterday of the trees behind our house. The sky was so blue..

This morning I can barely see them.   The snow is accumulating quickly this is only about 3 hours of Snow showers...
I think I will stay  inside now that I have watered, fed the "girls"  some warm pasta, sunflower seeds & scratch, changed the heat lamp in their studio and gathered a few eggs this morning. Who knows what tonight will look like.