Todays Harvest

There is so much to be grateful for in spring when you live in the country. Bulbs that pop up as soon as the snow melts. Baby calves walking on wobbly legs in the nearby pastures. Canadian geese finding their way back to the ponds. And, just in the last few days, the trees, bushes and perennials have begun to leaf out. I even was surprised by the sight of sudden blooms on the phlox in our flower beds, All reasons to look forward to sunny days, farmers' markets and mornings spent in the garden. While this day's harvest appears small, it is a promise of the bushels of produce that our garden will bless us with in summer. Yes, maybe winter is finally over.

Icy February

Oh how cold it has been this winter. Sub freezing temperatures and snow that has stayed on the ground since before Christmas. The last few days has brought sleet, more snow, and ice that caused wide spread power outages throughout the Midwest. Branches and wires, heavy with ice, break under the weight, putting thousands in the dark. Sidewalks and streets are solid sheets of ice. Walking outside is like ice skating without the skates! Looking out the windows of our cozy little house, we see ice coating every branch and berry. It looks so beautiful. Maybe it helps that we have a generator and no place we have to go. Just cuddle under a blanket, look at seed catalogs and wait for warmer weather. Just 47 more days and spring will be here.

Self Sufficient Breakfast

This morning's breakfast came completely from our land! Gathered yesterday, these eggs are really fresh and delicious. The girls aren't laying as much during the winter but I am grateful for the few we get each day.

The breakfast sausage is a mixture of venison and pork. Ron got this deer on his last time home during a snowstorm that made getting it to the butcher a real adventure.

The meat is very lean, even with the addition of a little pork. So I didn't feel so guilty having a nice helping! Our friends in Louisiana sent us some spices to mix in the sausage and was it ever good.

Creepy Mushroom

Now I know I brag about how easily and big things grow here in Ohio, but this definitely took us by surprise. At first we thought it was a child's beach ball.... but when we got a closer look we realized it was a mushroom!

Seriously, this is just out of some crazy "the evil scientists have been experimenting with grown hormones and created a man eating mushroom" movie.

Auction In Ohio

Saturday mornings in Ohio are often spent at auctions buying treasures while visiting with new found friends. Today found us at just such an auction! Ron and I both spotted items we wanted and just had to wait til they came up for bid. It wasn't a very large auction but there was plenty to look at.

This group of old chairs and the sweet bed were calling my name but I resisted. Where would I have put them?

There was some farm equipment and tools too.

We won the bid on a twenty gallon crock! It will be great at the cabin to hold our firewood.

I bid four dollars on a box of stuff and this is what I pulled out (after throwing the junky things in the garbage). Old pie tins, candle holder and stuffer, glass luncheon plates, a little pitcher and bowl, small colored bowls, plastic trays and cups, an old thermos and cute red canisters.

But the coolest thing was this egg scale. Love it!!! And it works too. My chicken eggs measured at large! Most of these fun items will end up at the cabin's kitchen....as soon as we get it finished! Which reminds me we also got a kitchen sink for just $3.00! And Ron found a lot of machinist tools at great prices! Can't wait for the next auction!

Apple Sauce Time

Ron loooves apple sauce. He starts to get nervous when apples are in season and he doesn't see any getting put up. I like apple sauce too but I am OK if I have to buy it at the store. Ron likes homemade and really hates to see any apple go to waste, (as in not being made into sauce). Our little ancient orchard only produced a few bushels this year and most of them were not fit for anything. Ron was so disappointed that we didn't have any new jars of his favorite cinnamon laden sauce, so when I ran across apples at $4.25 a bushel I had to get them and make my husband some.I put up 7 quarts and 3 pints, which should get us through the winter.

Mark's Boys

Earlier this month we went on a business trip that took us to California. Of course we found our way to Fresno to see Mark's family. The weather was hot and sunny. We went to the park and spent much of the time in the shade. Here is Archer taking a nap.

Odin taking a break to lie in the grass.

Mark and Crystal trying to stay cool.

Odin and Ronan checking out the equipment.

Ronan moves constantly....seriously....all the time.

He lay down for a second. Then off he would go again.

A rare moment when all three boys were holding still at the same time. We had so much fun with all of them. Can't wait til we see them again.