This Old House 2

My friend Lynn sent this picture to me, something she found on Pinterest… how cool is THAT? I’m definitely going to make one for my daughter’s October birthday. Simple make two bundt cakes in the flavor of your choice, place one upside down and the other on top – decorate however you see fit … I’m thinking I’ll put icing in the middle…

What says HOME to you?…

I’ve been dreaming of “home” since I was a very young girl. Many years ago we would walk with my grandmother after Sunday night dinner and admire the gardens, the decor, peer in the windows of other peoples spaces, collecting ideas.

My vision of what I had hoped I might be able to call home some day has not changed much over the years. I grew up in a borough of the city, but I knew that was not my destination. While many of my friends were excited about the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle just across the bridge, I longed for country roads and wide open spaces. I wanted land and a barn for my -someday- horses, a yard for my -someday- dogs to roam, a house with big windows to let in lots of natural light (my favorite kind) with big old trees standing guard. Plenty of space for my -someday- children to play and entertain friends, too. I would decorate this home with lots of candles and ivory linen overstuffed couches. There would be strands of beads to walk through in the doorways… do you remember those? I’d become a good cook and there would always be a candy dish full of something sugary.

I did outgrow those hippie beads, and the ivory linen couches will never be practical with dogs and kids… but we were able to pull the rest of it off and for that… every day… I am grateful.

Below are a few pictures here at this old house.. things that make this place “home”. In the comments section below, list five things in your surroundings that make it home to you. Family is a given. If you’re really feeling chatty, tell us how your childhood vision of your someday home compares to what you have created over the years. I’m not talking about material things or stature, but the things that really make a house a home to you.

Dads Swedish Meatballs

(these are awesome)

Recipe found HERE.

A Soldier’s Perspective

If you come here often

you may have caught a few posts here by my cousin

who was stationed in Afghanistan.

His posts are under the label “A Soldier’s Perspective”

on the left of this blog.

He arrived home tonight..safe…..

and his children were at the airport to greet him.

Welcome home, Dennis~

More to come….

It’s a farm life

Although by a real farmers standards…

a Hobby Farm.

That’s OK by me… even Hobby farms are a lot of work.

Walking around the farm with my camera this weekend..

I took note of a few things.

This is what Basil looks like when you’ve let it flower and go to seed.

The aroma is heavenly, but the remaining crop spent.

We’ve given up the garden for the year, harvesting the last of the peppers

…and tomatoes! Even a barren waste land of tomato plants will still

produce a few gems if left to their own devices.

Ok, it’s not a gem. But look at the color!

Have the leaves begun to turn in your neck of the woods?

We have the occasional tree beginning to color and shed

The grass is still growing.. amazing consider the hot dustbowl this summer produced.

25 year old Max filled out nicely because of it.

I’m hoping to keep the weight on him through the winter.

The manchild still mows regularly, and still refuses to let me take a decent picture.

This was a hasty retreat as he spied the camera.

The original hens and new hens still choose to stay separate

except for when I close them in the coop at night.

The old girls, taking a dust bath before the rains yesterday

under their favorite pine tree, which we have trimmed,

much to their chagrin.

The new girls barely venture out into the coop yard.

Henrietta

Raven and Snow

Andie

I am now fully aware of how the terms

“Hen Pecked”

“Pecking Order”

and..

“Don’t be a Chicken”..

came to be.

The garden still blooms…

If you plant nothing else next year,

sow some Zinnia seeds.

They are the flower that just keeps giving and giving…

And don’t be afraid of roses..

there are many hardy varieties out there.

I hope you’re enjoying the weekend

in whatever way brings you happiness.

A lesson I think I’ve finally absorbed..

When someone’s giving you grief in one way or another

and it befuddles you because you know you don’t deserve

or understand it … instead of letting it gnaw at you and fester..

do yourself a favor and realize ... that 99 percent of that kind of behavior..

has nothing whatsoever to do with you.

And then let it go.

The Girls have arrived!

A few days ago I got a call from the post office…

My chickens had arrived and were making a racket!

Well, you would be too if you had been cramped into these boxes

with a “cell mate” for 24 hours.
I won’t buy pullets through the mail again,

although they are fine now and where they came from is a good farm.

I just don’t like the method.

Two in each.

These two are Cochins.. they have feathers on their feet!

Kinda looks like they’re wearing bellbottoms.

The black one semi-hidden is an Americauna (Ameraucana?)

They lay blue eggs…

And this sweet little hen is an Andalusian..

So far my original remaining five hens stay mostly outside the coop

and the new ones stay inside.

Not sure why the standoff, but eventually they’ll mingle more.

I won’t let the newbies free range until they fully understand

where home is.

Have I told you lately how much I love my chickens?

Max

My girl has had a great year

as she re-entered the world of horse shows.

She and her instructor’s horse, Beemer,

have done very well together in the Adult Walk-Trot

western pleasure and equitation classes.

Beemer is still “green”, however, and needs more time and training

before he can go to the next level. Heidi has begun fine tuning his skills..

and K needed to move forward with a well schooled horse.

Our horses at home are not fancy enough to compete..

and buying another quality show horse outright would be very expensive.

We’re very fortunate that there is a horse available for lease

on the farm K takes her lessons. His owner is moving

up in the quarter horse world and is looking for a

fancier horse for the higher level of competition.

Max is perfect for K,

and so a new partnership has begun.

Heidi on Beemer, giving K and Max instruction…

Warning: Political Rant

Can I vote for Bill Clinton to come back as president? We need a visionary, we need someone who knows how to walk the line and work with both sides of the issues, we need experience, a level headed approach, we need extreme intelligence. I will never care one ounce about a President’s private relationship shortfalls, nor should anyone else ..We have no idea what has gone on behind closed doors with every. single. President. I’m not interested in hearing from Clinton haters and this is not about being a Republican or a Democrat… extreme right, conservative, liberal or extreme left. My feeling is that the separate parties deal no longer works. There is too much division and animosity. We’re sinking to new lows with an unwillingness to work together at the expense of ALL of us, mud slinging, bold lies and lack of respect for elected officials.

I hate politics for this reason, and I apologize for putting a political rant in your face this morning. I’m just done with the division, the ugly, the finger pointing, the skirting. Let s get on with the SOLVING of the myriad of PROBLEMS we have before us, by working together and compromising when necessary. Are you capable, Washington? That includes the way we talk to each other here, so please keep that in mind.

Raspberry Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

As my mother would say…

Food for the Gods!

My version may not be pretty…

but it sure is good.

2 cups white whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
– I used Gluten Free Bob’s Red Mill All purpose baking flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup sugar

4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temp

2 large eggs

1 and 1/2 cups mashed very ripe banana (about 3 bananas) – I used 4

1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt – I used vanilla yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used half semi-sweet, half dark chocolate) – I used semi sweet only

1 cup halved raspberries, tossed in 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a separate large bowl, beat the sugar and butter with a stand or handheld mixer on medium speed until well blended – about 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the mashed banana, yogurt, and vanilla. Continue beating until blended.

Slowly stir in the flour mixture by hand, until *just combined* – do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips and then gently stir in the raspberries – you do not want the raspberries to bleed their color. You may sprinkle a few raspberries + chocolate chips on top for looks as well.

I threw everything in the bowl at the same time (oh yes I did).. except the chips and raspberries, which I folded in once batter was mixed. Still came out great.

The batter will be very thick ( not mine) , so spoon it into the prepared loaf pan rather than pouring it. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely on the wire rack.

YUM!

I found the recipe at sallysbakingaddiction.com