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.

Is it dinnertime?

This was taken a few minutes ago.. I noticed how cold it turned and saw the chickens out back, I went to gather  any eggs and they followed me back to the Picnic Table as if to say" Is it dinner time?"  afterall, "we gave you 4 jumbo eggs." I hurried inside and made a cuppa noodles for them..When I went back to give them the goodies they were  onthe table.. They Love pasta of any kind and I think that it warmed them up... they jumped down off the table and gobbled up the warm pasta.. warmed my heart too...I am such a softie...

Can we talk?

"Really, Mom , We need to talk.... I do have something to say & I just want you to know..... I know you don't understand everything I have to say even though you think you do... Like when I go stand by the back door  or the window watching the birds... I just want to play with them, but you are so parinoid that I will catch a quail again... Sheesh! I got in big trouble for that twice, I sure wouldn't go out & do that again....Come on.. Just look into my eyes & tell me "No".   (I wanna go to the store with you, or wherever you are going &  I know you are going somewhere cuz you put on our coat)....and .....well lets face it ... If you do say no I will go ask Dad... and he always says yes...  unless he tells me I need to stay home & babysit the house & chickens.. And btw  what is the going rate these days to babysit? I think more than a pat on the head and a dry doggie cookie.  How about some real "people" food in my bowl?"

C U T E Banner...Room complete.

I also finished the Bed & Breakfast Guestroom, I posted pictures of a couple days ago. I had painted a cute frame  red  * it was purchased  lasts year at a thrift store and was dusty and Black and had a broken hook* .... So I made the  valentine heart banner from calico fabric scraps and chenille  and hung it on the  two hooks..The room is complete now ... I don't think I could add anything more except family or guests coming.. I better check the calendar... The hearts fabric shapes are fused together with heavy  iron on material  (I found at Joanns in a package, You can buy it by the yard )and strung with the red ribbons.. C U T E!  I say!

My 2010 "Vision/Goal Board"

Thank you Rene' Groom of Mary Janes Farm girls for reminding me of this project.

I decided today that I would make my "vision" or Goal board. It has been said that if you write down your goals you are more apt to being successful at acheiving them. I didn't make a New Years resolution but instead thought silently of what was important to me to do or continue doing in 2010. I started with a blank bulletin board and a few magazines.  I found them very inspiring and helpful and best yet another good way to clean out the magazine rack of past issues. I clipped the things I found to be speaking to me... I have room for new thoughts that come to me as I begin the journey into the new year.
I have a few things added  that  I simply Like and those also make me happy and inspire me to plan ahead.  It is an ongoing  fun project. I put it on the wall in my "craft room" as incentive to get that room decorated and organized. Someday it may even be another guest room...

Pink flowers & pretty a work of Love

I found this tablecloth last weekend at the Goodwill Store. It is in perfect condition and hand embroidered. Somebody has put hours of love into this piece. All those pink flowers..I wasn't sure it would fit my table but sure enough it does. I will probably use it only for "Chick Lunches.  Pretty pink things make a luncheon special, I think.  The napkin rings are ones I purchased years ago in England . They match my China Tea Set "Old Country Roses."  ( another time a blog idea)

With Valentines Day coming it seemed fitting to use it now... even if its just for me to enjoy right now. It will definately be added as one of my favorite things.

Old Green & and now Cherry Red

Okay, Project  Re make of the 60's bread & spice box completed.. What do you think? I am using the bread storage cubbie for my everyday napkin storage, the drawers for cookie cutters, packaged spices, cookie decorating dye & sprinkles and the secret drawer with the lid is CHOCOLATE reserve...(shhhh.. don't tell anyone) there are chocolate chips in there...