A tale of three dresses

With my daughter’s wedding just 2 months away, I’ve got a gaggle of three dresses brooding in my closet.   All three I got on sale, online.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate store shopping and store mirrors in store dressing rooms?  Bleh.   I don’t think I’ll know which of the three I’ll wear until just before that day.  I’ll donate what I don’t wear to a local women’s community closet.   I’d like other opinions on style – give your honest opinion – which would you choose –  A, B, or C.

A.  This one is a beaded affair, with a bow on one shoulder. Not a style I’ve ever worn before, I’m not a girly girl, but it grabbed my attention.  The pic is awful but the best I could find online.

B.

C.

Three very different vibes.  And I am heavier than the models shown, by about 20 pounds, so the fit is a little different, nothing just hangs/drapes as beautifully as these women portray.

If you’re in the market for shoes for a special occasion, shoes you’ll be comfortable in all night long and can actually dance in… naturalizer is a great brand for just such a shoe.  I bought these online and they’re super comfortable and still very pretty…    The Vanessa.

Cold dark winter nights here on the farm inspire me to cook, and a good hearty soup with a fresh baked bread is one of our favorite meals here in this house.  Bread baking intimidates me, I give all of you sourdough starter people a gold star for your adventurous spirit.  As for me, I’ll stick with the super easy to follow New York Times No Knead Bread recipe… pictured below.    I use a specific Le Crueset covered kettle to make it.

As for the soup……  picture doesn’t do the taste justice….. Use an immersion blender once it’s cooked, to make it creamy. You can leave some chunks  whole if preferred.

Creamy Potato Carrot Leek Soup – link HERE 

While recuperating from surgery I have worked on my newest painting a bit… still much to do but it’s a fun journey  –  This is an area I have hiked several times, the view into the valley is the Connecticut River…. I’ll share it again when it’s finished.

Who couldn’t use a good laugh, right?   Saw these shared on Facebook, and laughed right out loud.

Time to put the barn boots on and get out there to feed and turn out the critters.  I hope all is well in your world,  thank you for stopping in –

 

 

Reunions

 

My high school 40th reunion took place a few months ago.  Fortieth.  Four-Oh.  Holy crap, how is that even possible?    I debated with myself for months beforehand… do I  truly want to go back to my home town and see all those people again?   Thanks to facebook I do keep up with those who actually cared to stay in my life over the years, even  if it were on the peripheral.   We have continued friendships that may wax and wane, but when we connect again it’s always as if it were just yesterday we were standing on the bus stop or sitting on the bleachers or running the track  commiserating over the latest awfulness of teenagerdom.   Those friendships feel genuine.   In my high school experience there were the usual cast of characters – the in crowd, the nerdy super intelligent crowd, the outsiders, the fringe, the athletes, the scholars…  where to fit in? …you know the woe.  I was somewhere in the middle.  Didn’t stand out, didn’t lag behind.    I am finding those who seemed kind then, are kind now.  Those who were not so kind, still aren’t.  Funny… and not funny.  Based on their personalities in those categories…. one can accurately guess their politidal affiliations.  There were friends who were always good to me and vice versa, and there were some who would easily talk behind your back if it was the cool thing to do when you weren’t in ear shot.  I had a decent HS experience for the most part, but there were some shitty things too, painful things.   Do I really want to live those emotions on any level again?  Would seeing those people dredge all that up,some 40 years later?        Meh.  ……….   So I decided to pass on the opportunity.  Seeing the photos after… proved me right. LOL.  And none of the people I value from that time period attended. We all kind of felt the same.  A chapter closed long ago,  not feeling a need to reopen it.

This is someone’s creation, I don’t know who the original creator is but I plan to make something similar to hang out in the garden where the sun will catch the light of the glass beads – isn’t it clever?

After two weeks of rain and clouds, the sun finally showed up yesterday and today… what a glorious feeling, the sun on my face and sprawled across the hill behind the house, drying up the mud and warming the surfaces of everything everywhere.

Last night’s sunset all around New England was reported on so many fb posts because it was truly spectacular.   Here’s what we saw on the farm…  no filters, it was that stunning!   And only lasted for about 10 minutes.

Leaving you with a recipe given to me by my aunt many moons ago. It was given to her by a neighbor when she lived down south, someone who was not Coral Harris – I wonder if Coral Harris knows one of her recipes is still floating around and loved by many –

     Till soon –

 

 

Two steps forward

9 days after surgery and I am feeling so much better.  The healing is going well and I feel human again.  This came across my facebook feed this morning and I think it’s one of those vital thought processes if you’re dealt   something hard –  And aren’t we all at one point or another, in this one precious  life we are given.

Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for the close proximity we have  to our family – with both kids and their spouses and children in their own homes here on the farm and our mothers still alive and living just up the road a bit, these are gifts I don’t take for granted.

Watching the news, sometimes it feels so hopeless and helpless, being witness to all the problems and the rages and the total dysfunction of our governing bodies. That sink hole keeps getting bigger, the divide wider, and for sure I do not have the answers.   Not being able to trust the information sources, talk about erosion!    So…. more and more, I tune it out.   Which also feels irresponsible.  But I have found, when you are helpful in your own circle of life, within your community, your family, friends, your areas of interest, it renews one’s faith in the absolute beauty of life, and there is still so much of it.  It restores some of that withering faith in humanity, for there is still an awful lot of good out there.  We’ve all heard this simple phrase –  Look For The Good.

A nice bunch of roses for $7.99  at the local grocery store…  Buy yourself the flowers, you deserve it!  When the price is good, I do it.   Always remember to snip the bottoms off when you bring them home and put them in water. Helps keep them fresh longer.  And, if it’s tulips you’ve got – put two pennies in their water, they last longer.

A worthy recipe…

French Onion Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced
  • kosher salt
  • 8 ounces cavatappi or other small cut pasta
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 12oz can evaporated milk
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 ounces gruyere cheese, freshly grated
  • 6 ounces swiss cheese, freshly grated
  • 2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Butter an 8×8 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat. Add the onions with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are golden and reduced, about 40 minutes.
  3. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions. Drain and set aside.
  4. In the same pot you used to cook the pasta, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the flour, whisking until combined to create a roux. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until it’s golden and smooth. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour in the evaporated milk and whisk until thickened. Reduce the heat to low and add the gruyere and swiss and all but a couple tablespoons of the parmesan. Stir until all of the cheese is melted. Stir in the nutmeg, mustard and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cooked pasta and the onions.
  5. Transfer the mixture to the buttered baking dish and top with remaining parmesan. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool for a few minutes before serving.

Till soon,

 

 

 

Recovery

So.  I don’t normally get this kind of personal up in here, but I feel like writing about it will be therapeutic.

At my last gyno check up it was discovered my uterus walls had “thickened” and polyps were present.  One very painful biopsy experience later, it was determined the old girl needed to be removed to avoid future cancer possibility and they needed to be sure there wasn’t any lurking.  While I hated the idea of major surgery, I’m all for cancer avoidance where ever possible.

Monday was surgery day – and I’m here to say all went well, pathology benign much to my relief, but man, it feels like I was punched in the gut for 10 hours straights.   It surprises me that this is practically a drive-thru surgery – I mean, they’re removing an organ through four holes they make in your abdomen, and then some elsewhere.    I’m no fan of hospitals, being home is probably safer in the germ category.  But jeez, you’d think they’d want to make sure all your systems were GO again, after such a shock to the body.  As soon as I was awake and able to stand, they had me clothed and escorted to the waiting car.   I don’t even want to know what positions they put you in during surgery, my back is still screaming of it.

So I’m home, not lifting anything more than 10 pounds, resting, walking, drinking fluids, taking as minimal an amount of pain meds as possible because my stomach never likes them.  God bless Peapod grocery delivery.   My family is doing much of what I usually do, they’ve been great – and the frustration is obvious too, because they do have all their usual “stuff”.   I think once I’m healed and back to normal activities they will have a little more appreciation for all I get done around here on the regular…. just sayin.

I have rewatched Virgin River, because I LOVE VR!!… and might rewatch the last season of Outlander because DITTO!!.   Watched the first season of True Detectives with Woody Harrelson and Matthew Machonagy (that’s spelled wrong, I’m certain) – loved it.   Watched 1000 pound sisters and BY GOD I’M DETERMINED TO LOSE THIS EXTRA 25 pounds!!!!!!!!!.    That’s a sad show – I feel they are being exploited.  Watched  The Marsh King’s daughter  – worthy!    I have books on my night table but haven’t felt like picking one up for some reason. Lazy, I think. It’s probably the drugs.

So that’s where I’m at.  Looking forward to a better week ahead and the week after that, getting back to more normal life here on the farm.  I hope all is well in your world –

oh just one more thing…. I cannot believe… I just cannot…. that we have before us the possibility of another four years of absolute integrity disintegration and  mayhem with The Orange Scream in the oval office.  I just…. can’t.      Canada is looking so attractive.  Maybe the Amalfi Coast, though.  Where would you pick up and start over again if you could take all those who matter to you, with you?

Till soon –

Robins in Snow

 

Just now as I’m sitting in my office/studio pondering what to tackle while the granddaughter sleeps… I looked out at the gentle snowfall (always my favorite kind of snow… and the quiet that generally accompanies it)  and witness such a beautiful thing – Robins eating the holly berries on the corner of the  porch.

The barn chores take a little more time in winter, this is where I start to feel my age… the ice chipping, the frozen water bucket hauling, the frozen manure, the winter blanket maneuvering.   All the layers of clothes even.  But… as much as it can be a hassle, I wouldn’t give up the animals for an easier existence nor the  seasons to go live six months of the year somewhere balmier.  I’d probably weight 200 pounds if I did.   The occasional reprieve will do.    I do know many who love that yearly  migration.    I would just miss my family too much, I am a home girl through and through.

Our old boy, Max… 29 and looking fine.

We have some exciting news… our daughter is getting married in April!   We’ve been busy with wedding plans and most of it is fun!  Some of it anxiety inducing!    I hope to lose 15 pounds to fit into the dress I found and bought and love.  Stupid way to plan on the dress for the occasion but I’m going to give it my best shot, because I really do love the dress. And it didn’t come in my current chubby size.

I’ve had a few paintings on the easel this year…. my favorite is called “Organized Chaos”… a scene from our perennial gardens here on the farm….  I like to incorporate a creature into my paintings when appropriate… can you see the bee?

This one done for a friend, who built and runs that sugarhouse for the community  and is in the picture along with his grandson –

Currently on the easel – still a lot to do here, this is just the base layer…

Things I find inspiring…..

A photo taken by Michael Blanchard on Martha’s Vineyard – the island has gotten hammered in recent months with severe storms that have brought an angry sea to wipe out many of the dunes on the beaches….  Michael has been through some very trying times and has beaten and continues to beat back alcohol addiction, helps others now, and has written some inspiring books on the subject, with his photography.

Thankfully the Mr. agreed to a summer getaway to my favorite nearby island in July –  Looking forward to walking this beach again.

This sink showed up in my newsfeed, isn’t it beautiful?  Would make my least favorite chore so much more enjoyable.   Can’t help but wonder though, Wood and water usually = rot eventually.

Have a good weekend and an even better week ahead –  Till soon!

Four days later….

 

Two posts in one week?  Welp… it’s dark and damp and chilly outside and while the barn chores beckon, they can sleep for another hour, yet I cannot… so here I sit.   Middle middle age has not been kind in the sleep department.   I wish I had a good solution for that.

I used to talk politics a little (well, mostly my outrage) here on this blog but I’ve tried to get away from it as much as is responsibly possible for my own sanity.  What I will say is I am truly so discouraged by the state of things in this country regarding our governing bodies.  The infighting that prevents solving our critical issues, the division between civilians, not just our elected officials.  The corruption, the egos, the greed, the failures.

Out of that rabbit hole we go…  On to  more cheerful things…  and one place I find solace is in the writings of a now deceased author who’s words still ring true for me in all matter of things,……. Gladys Taber.    I wrote more about her  here in THIS blog post if you’re interested.  AND.. if you’re a Gladys fan already, I just discovered I ordered a book of hers that I already have in my collection. So, I’ll happily ship it off, once it arrives,  to one of you if interested.  Let me know in the comments and one lucky person will receive it.  The Best of Stillmeadow is the volume I refer to.  Her books are no longer in print so I find them occasionally on old book seller sites.

Some snapshots of my days here on the farm….

These photos above and below taken days apart – New England weather fluctuates tremendously. No jacket one day, hats and gloves the next.

Sometimes you just buy your own damn flowers 🙂

Sunset on our hill

My heart 💗💗

My favorite folksy artist… Jane Newland out of the UK

Words to live by……

      Till soon –

Tap tap tap ….. is anyone out there?

 

There was a time some years ago when I blogged daily – it all started when we bought this ancient farm house and began the renovation. I thought some people might like to follow along and this was an easy way to share the journey.  So, this blog was born and back-in-the-day,  grew to  about 400 visitors to the blog daily.  I enjoy writing and it has been part of my career, so blogging was a good creative exercise for me. I also met some friends I still cherish to this day, fellow bloggers, some of whom still blog at least occasionally.  I’m not sure what I want to do with it now, but this morning I decided to visit this space and so here I am – and I hope all is well with you!

Our two grandchildren are now 8 and ten months old – they are such a joy in our lives and we feel so blessed that they live here on the farm with their parents.  The moms work part time, so I am their part time daycare and I get to spend some real quality time with them.  Another blessing.

Christmas was wonderful with these little babes and I am so proud of our kids as they grow into their roles as parents. They’re doing such a great job at it and that warms my heart 💗

I retired from my role as Editor of our local news publication  and have spent more time focused on the farm/barn needs and the grands.  We sold the seaside cottage because it become more work than enjoyment and this farm takes effort too. Looking back, I don’t regret the decision, it feels like it was the right thing to do.  I’d like to travel at least occasionally before I die, so that helps the plan. When you own a second place, it tethers you to feeling like you should spend all your free time there in that one place.

I’ve gone on more hikes with my  rescued dog and good buddy Kai, a better walking partner I have not ever had.  He’s not a puller, a gentleman for sure on leash.  That’s huge for me.    I wouldn’t ever be accused of being a gym rat – I don’t enjoy treadmilling it or spending an hour in a gym with 50 other people … but walking and hiking and seeing the beauty of the land and different scenery is something I can get behind and really enjoy.  So if you’re like minded, I highly recommend it.  No matter where you live, you’ll find interesting places to explore.  And when you enjoy the exercise you’re doing, you’re more likely to DO IT.   I love the phone app  Alltrails – an excellent tool for navigating trail systems just about anywhere.

 

I’ve been cooking a lot.. here are two tried and true recipes that are easy to put together and are definitely family approved.

Italian Beef Soup

 I bought a decent chuck roast to use in it. I also used Romano Cheese as throw on, not Parm. Plenty of leftovers – perfect for a winter supper.
(Serves 5 )
INGREDIENTS
4 lbs. Boneless Beef Chuck Pot Roast
2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
14 oz. Carrots, peeled and diced
5 oz. Celery, whole stalks
1 Onion (6oz.), peeled and cut in half
2 tsp. Salt, plus extra to season the meat
1 tsp. Black Pepper, plus extra to season the meat
4 cups Low Sodium Beef Broth
4 Cups Water
1 Cup Tomato Sauce
1 lb. small Pasta, I use ditalini
Grated Cheese to Garnish, I use Pecorino Romano
METHOD
Season both sides of the meat with salt and pepper. Heat up the olive in a large soup pot. Put the meat in the pot and sear for about 4 to 5 minutes on both sides and remove from the pot. Add in the onion, celery, carrots and season with salt and pepper. Cook on a low flame for about 5 to 8 minutes.
Add in the broth, water and tomato sauce. Be sure to scrape the bits off the bottom of the pan with your wooden spoon. Add the meat back to the pot. Put the lid on the pot, only leaving a small part open to let some of the steam out.
At three hours mark take the beef out. Using two forks, shred the beef.
Add the beef back to the pot and simmer for a half hour. In the meantime, boil your pasta.
Serve the soup with the pasta and garnish with grated Pecorino.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thumbprint cookies – Google Allrecipes thumbprint cookies for the recipe. These are so good.  I used blueberry preserves this time but any jam will do!
Some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten were four simple words…
Let go or be dragged. 
        It’s time to head out into the winter chill to feed horses, goats and chickens and muck stalls.   Been doing it for 40 or so years and while my body complains a bit, the work also fortifies me,  body and soul.  Hard to explain and my husband often says “I don’t know how you do it, over and over and over again”  especially when the weather is yuck.  My connection with the animals is why I do it…. and  if you know, you know.
     Wishing you, me and everyone we hold dear a healthy, happy 2024 and beyond – If  I’ve still got any readers here and you’re still blogging,  leave your blog address in the comments so I can visit you later on today.
 Till soon –

Gram x2

 

Welcome Mia Jane!

Now two weeks old, she is my little sunshine alongside her cousin, my little pumpkin.

Being a grandmother is something I have looked forward to and hoped for, and what a blessing  it is.. a whole new chapter.   I am so proud of the parents my children have already become.

Johnathan and I discussing world problems…..

Despite our 58 year age difference, we both came up with the same solution….. baby toes….

Has the Canadian wildfire disaster affected your area?  We’ve had days of grey and orange hazy skies, ash landing on our plants, awful air quality. Thankfully as of yesterday it appears to have lifted and blown off.

My newest painting on the easel.. almost done.  This is a nearby trail at the shore  we often walk.

As for our Stella by the Sea…. we have decided to sell the cottage for a few reasons.  Some days I am good with the decision, and on other days it’s hard to imagine letting it go. We’ve put so much into her rehabilitation.   Our truth is, the care of this farm and the animals who call it home takes a lot of our time and effort and it’s lovely here in summer months. To leave it for the shore frequently is tough due to the responsibilities that remain here daily, and just as important… our family hasn’t used the cottage as much as we had anticipated.  One more thing… I’d like to travel some before I’m too old to do it, and having a second place kinda makes you feel obligated to spend whatever free time you have … there.   A wonderful family wants Stella very much, and I know they’ll take great care of her.  So, I think we’re going to sell to them.  I am so grateful for the time we’ve had down there, and my mom as well.   Onward to new adventures –

wild nightshade at the seawall.

 

Ending this post with a little gem of advice….  and I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

 

Till soon –

 

 

 

Better Together

 

Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?  …The fifth of May happens to be our first date 37 years ago. Holy shit – thirty seven years goes by in a flash.  A lot has happened in those 37 years… mostly good, some great, and some awful.  We have our differences, like big ones..  we were married, divorced and remarried all in our 20’s.  But… we come together in the most important ways and as I get older I value that more than anything else.   As anyone who has lived for a while knows….Life can be hard at times and having your best friend by your side through it all is a lifeline.   Better together.

 

Speaking of friendships, love and  lifelines… have you read the book or watched Firefly Lane on Netflix?  I loved it, I think in the  series they got it perfect, the love, the laughs, the trials, triumphs, the heartbreak even.  Give it a look or read  if you haven’t already.

I keep glancing at the political news and I just cannot believe all the dumbfuckery, the cruelties, the hypocracies  and the deceits.  Where can the truth be found… and trusted?  Where are the consequences?   And it’s hard to fathom that we don’t have better candidates to refresh our political landscape with something more logical, forward thinking,  honest,  folks with a –better together –  mentality.  Jeeezus, all the corruption.  And  all the old men should just go. Just… go.

I’ve been walking with Kai on local trails, hope to expand our horizons elsewhere in the state soon, the ticks have been brutal already.  I have yet to find an all natural spray that actually repels them all, but maybe it’s helping somewhat.  If you have suggestions, please leave them in the comments.  The trails, the woods, the fields, the rock outcroppings, the shoreline… just beautiful.  It’s where I recharge and I love having a dog to share the hikes with, he motivates me to get out there, keep moving.   Better together.

Our grandson is doing well, despite being born so early he is tiny but mighty and growing, thankfully.  Almost two months old 💙 Our granddaughter is due in a few weeks! Say a prayer for a safe and healthy delivery for mama and baby, will you?  To watch both my children become parents at the same time, and us becoming grandparents! (which we just love beyond  description!) .. is such a gift.

 

 

I like to make a fruit/greens smoothie at breakfast time occasionally – a favorite mix is frozen dark cherries, a banana, some honey, a handful of blueberries and a handful of spinach.  Delish!  and good for you. Try it!

This farm continues to give me peace as I tend the critters and the barn, appreciate the gardens and walk the fields and give thanks for our journey  to here.

I hope all is well in your world,  thank you for stopping by.

Till soon,

 

We’re all just walking each other home

 

….. one of my most favorite quotes, attributed to Ram Dass, an American spiritual leader of the 1970s.  This country and the world at large is in big trouble on so many levels, all because of the flaws in humanity.  Recently I am making every effort to focus on the uplifting things, and that quote is one of them.  It truly helps me to believe in that simple concept and gives me inspiration to do whatever little good  and truly see it anywhere it can be found.

I don’t have much to say here right now, just that I am enjoying my new grandson immensely and watching my daughter become the wonderful mother we all knew she’d be.

We’ve had some glorious weather and I’ve been out in it, soaking it all up, getting some exercise, enjoy this farm and the woods and the shoreline trails.

Till soon –