Crying and Corn

Cool in 3D!

The Ohio clan and my precious Pinknesses left this morning for home.  We took them out for breakfast early so they could start out with a good meal, since ds1 does NOT stop for anything other than serious potty breaks and gas.  They have a cooler of food for on the go meals so they won't starve, but we still wanted a little more time with our girlies.

Ice cream silliness

I hate those first few hours after they leave.

Love my Girlies

 Pappo and I always cry when they leave. (they live sooo far away)  and then we have to clean up and put away all the toys and the memories come flooding back.  It's hard for an hour or two.

Being Cute

She just won't stand still!

But if we keep busy and once our house is put back to non-Pinkness, we start to get back to normal ourselves.
I stripped beds and washed bedding to hang on the line.  All the toys were stored back in the basement closet and the books in their container.  The highchair and car seats will be stored in the basement closet as soon as I reorganize the suitcases.

I had an hour or so of work at the office from yesterday, since I left early.  So I went in and finished that up.  A quick Wal-mart trip and home.

Blue-eyed Farmer was hauling bales from the 80, so he was doing his own thing.  I did more laundry and then started in on freezing corn.   Farmer bought 2 dozen ears during the week and we kept it on ice; trying to find an evening when we could have it for supper.  We ran out of evening meals.  And we didn't get it in their van to take home.

From This

To keep from wasting it, I washed, blanched, cut and bagged it.  From those 2 dozen ears, I got 6 quart bags.  They are freezing flat in the big freezer.  The fat calves got the cobs and my plants will get the blanching water after it cools completely.

to This.

(I tried Terri of Blue House Journal's idea of using cooking water on my plants.  I poured the cold water from the hard-cooked eggs on my 2 flower pots out front and they are going bananas.  I guess they liked the little bits of shell and ??  from the eggs.  Thanks Terri for the great idea!)

I used my new Amish tomato knife to cut the corn off the cob as it is super sharp and serrated.  Worked well.  It needed a longer handle to be truly comfortable but for the little bit I had to do, it worked fine.  I also stand my ears, tapered side down, on the middle part of an angel food cake pan, to cut off the kernels.  That way the kernels fall into the pan and not all over the counter/floor/etc.

After I cleaned up the mess (because "doing corn" always makes a mess, no matter how careful you are!); I sat for a few minutes to rest and then took the cobs out to the calves.  Fed the cats.  And slowly ran the hose on the cucumber, summer squash, my potted tomato and the basil & rosemary plants.
Farmer came home from spraying then.  While I waited on the watering, I snipped the tops of the basil that was wanting to go to seed.  I have the basil in the dehydrator now and hope to get many more harvests this summer.  Store-bought dried basil is NOTHING like my home-dried basil.

Brought the bedding in off the line and we are both now showered and fed and relaxing.  It's VERY quiet in our Farmhouse and I miss my girls.  At least I have my memories of all the fun we had and my photos.
And I have some harvests to make the day worthwhile also.

Have a blessed Sunday and tell me if you "do corn" or have started drying your herbs.

Hugs
Kay
** "The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap." ~Author Unknown

Randomness Becomes Me on a Friday

Yup, another Randomness Becomes Me post....  Why?  Because it's Friday the 11th.

And because I've had more than my share of broken things in my life lately.... a tire on my Edge, my watch, my iMac (it's being getting a new hard-drive tomorrow), my Farmer (he's on his way to being well again, but's been a long road), my sleeping 8 hours per night, his chainsaw and tree cutter, my ability to not over-bake things, my Sun-heat heater and my iMac (yes I said it twice because it is That important!)

Because I'm in the midst of piecing 102-2 3/8" squares of 2 different colors into 204-2" half-square triangles and out of every 10 I sew in a set, at least 3 need to be frog-stitched and resewn and even then I end up with 1 in every 30 that is totally too wonked to be used.  **crazed look**

It's a blustery early Spring day and I'm going to wash the sheet and let them blow out all the germies into the wind!

I'm drinking Kona Seneo Coffee today.

I decided that I MUST eat breakfast everyday and I love oatmeal, just not the fussing with making it every morning.  So I made up "instant packs".  1/3 c. regular oatmeal, handful of dried fruit (raisins, apples and apricots that I dried, were my choices), handful of nuts (pecans, walnuts and slivered almonds), a good shake or two of Mulling Spices for "zing".

Packaged these in sandwich-sized ziplock bags so that in the morning when I'm barely able to make coffee, I can dump one bag's worth into a bowl, add 3/4 c. milk and microwave for 4 mins on 60% power.  A little more milk or half-n-half on top and wah-lah! It's breakfast!

I went to the thrift store yesterday and found sweet pink and purple clothes for my favorite girlies (jackets for the big girls and clothes for my sweet baby-kins for this summer and fall.)  I found a yellow coffee cup that matches the miscellaneous pieces my dear neighbor gave me.  I had a yellow saucer so now I have a yellow cup-saucer and a pink set.  I just need someone to come have coffee with me.

I also found a cool straw tote bag with a clasp.  It has yellow decorations.  Ok, so it's a cheesy tourist buy from Mazatlan, but it's got "leather" handles and is big enough to hold a laptop (if I had a laptop) or supplies for the beach (if I went to the beach) or maybe just my Bible and Study book for church this summer.   In any case, it made me smile, and I'll take a $2 smile any day during "mud season."

And finally....

Who are these people and why am I here??

This darling has stolen my heart.  She is there and I am here.  But we have conversed on the phone and I know she is saving all her sweetest snuggles for her Grammie... who will get there as soon as we are well and those danged cows all have their calves.


The laundry calleth and my coffee cup is empty and there are no elves to finish sewing those half-square triangles.


Enjoy your weekend Puffins.
Hugs
K~


PS  Please pray for the people of Japan and the islands in the Pacific and even our West Coast.  I cannot even imagine the tragedy and loss in Japan.  Please Father God... be with our Brothers and Sisters in that country.  Send aid, comfort, provide, save and give them strength in this time of need.

She's Here!

Little Missie DGD3 has been borned and is a healthy 8lb 14.6oz, 22" long precious, beautiful little bundle of joy!  

Daddy says she is all about the nursing and sucking and is a very good baby.  The big sisters love her and want to hold her all the time.  Daddy tells them they will have her "forever" and they will get to hold her more.

Grammie and Pappo are desperately trying to get well (Grammie came down with congestion and coughing yesterday) and to figure out what the weather is doing where so we can either hop a plane or hop in the car and head east.  

As soon as I get the "ok" from Daddy to share photos, I will.  In the mean time, go hug on your special ones.  They'll wonder what you are up to...  ;o)

Hugs

K~

** "What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance.  They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life.  And, most importantly, cookies."  ~Rudolph Giuliani

Sewing and Family "Secrets"

I had a great time being a Secret (Prayer) Sister at our church in 2010.  It was hard to be sneaky since I live out of town and anything I mailed would have my unique postmark on it.  But in the end, my Sister didn't guess it was me, so it ended well.

Here is a photo of the Mug Rug I made her as a last parting gift.  Having never made one before, when it was completed, I decided it was a little large for a mug rug, but hopefully still worked for her.  Looking forward to making more this year as CEMs and other gifties.  (CEMs-- Christmas [gifts] Every Month... a way to get a jump on hand-made gifts throughout the year.)

I spent a good portion of the afternoon, today, listening to podcasts on my Mp3 player and stitching the binding down on BFF's quilt.  My goal is to have it done by next Sunday when she and I go to the Antique Flea Market.   I can't forget the label too!  (someone remind me...)

I also spent yesterday afternoon zigzagging around the fused applique on the blocks for Dgd3's quilt.  I didn't do too badly considering this is my first serious fused applique attempt.  (I've made caring quilt single blocks before.)  My old Kenmore has a decent sized zigzag stitch that is just small (or big) enough to cover the edge without being too noticeable.  I only have the stem and leaves left to do on 5 of the blocks.  

I got interrupted in the midst of my sewing, by a certain Farmer, but it's ok.  He had something "interesting" to show me.  He found some checks and bank statements from his grandfather's account, dating back to 1949-51 (just a few months from each year).  The later years were from around the time Farmer's dear-father was in Korea.  It was interesting to see Grandpa Hank used pencil to write and sign them all.  Grandma Marie did not sign a single one of these.  We think one was for when he bought the trailer we use for feed now.  And possibly several were for paying the hired harvest help when Dad-Norman was overseas.   

I love old family history stuff like this.  

I'm off to do a little more stitching and then off to the Land of Nod.  

Hugs

K~

** "Family faces are magic mirrors.  Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future."  ~Gail Lumet Buckley

A few of my favorite things

The Girlies, age 5.

Pappo reading the nightly bedtime story

One of my favorite girlies

The "Kids"

My other favorite Girlie

Hugs
K~

Sisters are Forever

Happy Birthday!!

 I'm so thankful God gave you to me as my little sister.

Hugs from your older sister (somehow that doesn't sound as good as it used to.....  ;o[ )

** When you are lost in your own little world
 It is nice to know your sisters will come find you.
--MoGlo

Genius Grandgirlies and a Menu Monday

It was a very nice long holiday weekend here on the Prairie Farm.  Nothing too much out of the ordinary happened, except the Genius Grandgirlies have begun homeschooling with sweet Mommy as their teacher (hence it being called “home” school).  They called to tell us the 5 European bodies of water, count by twos and tell Pappo thank you for their pretty new dresses.  (Yes, he spoils them.)  And we now know Baby#3’s name and I C.A.N.N.O.T wait to meet that little darling!  I have a very pink and flowered quilt kit waiting to be sewn for said Babe. 
I worked on Bff’s anniversary quilt... it now is a quilt top, rather than just misc. blocks.  I put the first border on this afternoon and will get the second one on this week.

I was taking inventory of my pantry and freezers this weekend and keep finding ideas for meals.  It’s time to share some menus again, now that the weather has tempered and we’re eating more than just salads and watermelon.

Menu for September 6-11
Monday, (Labor Day)  We “labored” at home so today’s menu was pretty typical of that kind of day.
Lunch-Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Chips, Avocado Salad (for me), Zucchini Brownies
Dinner-Grilled Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Fruited Pasta Salad (also known as Frog-eye Salad).

Tuesday: Chicken Kabobs, Rice Pilaf, Spinach/Lettuce Salad, Brownie Sundaes.

Wednesday:  Chili Soup, Corn Muffins, Carrots

Thursday:  Breakfast Night- Sausage Biscuits, Hash browns, Fruit Salad

Friday:  Grilled Steaks, Baked Potatoes, Salad

Saturday:  C.O.R.N.  (Clean Out Refrigerator Night)  or Date Night.

Sunday:  As usual, it’s Cook’s day/night off.

Have a wonderful first week of September!

Hugs,
K~

**"It is good to have leisure, to walk in the September sun slowly, humming a small hum and picking a few wild dark-purple grapes."
~~Gladys Taber, Stillmeadow Seasons

Girls Visit 2010

Just a few photos of this week....

Of course there are little white kitties for them...

Just like 3 years ago. :oD


(I know.... I can hardly stand it either!)


And we spent an afternoon at the Lincoln's Children Zoo with a dear friend and her granddaughter. It was HOT, but we had a ball! We fed the goats, saw the bats, got a tattoo, climbed on ropes and saw the baboon, wondered when the penguins were coming to the zoo and admired the leopard and the eagles and finally rode the Train!

Grammie's camera died in the middle of the day (of course), so check out my Fb page for more from my friend Deb.

Hugs!
K~

** "Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric." ~Pam Brown

Living in the Land of Pinkness

I'll be back soon, in the meantime, I'm living in the Land of Pink. :)

Hugs!
K~

** Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies. ~Author Unknown

I meant to

I meant to blog today... actually I've meant to blog for several days now. But I want to take photos of my "bursting out all over" gardens! And I have to take photos in the mornings or by noon because in the late afternoon, my veggies are in the shade.

But today I cleaned and made a few phone calls and weeded and made an apple pie and then mowed and then it was cloudy and coming on dusk.

So... hopefully tomorrow or by the weekend.

Other "news":

Today is my baby's 26th birthday!


Yes, I had him when I was 3 years old. (lol) Seriously.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Baby Boy! We are so proud of the young man you have grown to be. You make me smile constantly.


And...

I went antiquing on Saturday with BFF. I took photos of a display I'd like to implement into my porch decor, but they are on my phone yet. And I came home with "old iron" and a lamp and some smalls. I'll try to get those photos taken this week too.

I have plants to plant yet out in the gardens and I need to get more to fill my old enamelware and get those set out where I want them in the yard.

And....

The grandgirlies will be here in 10 days, for 2 weeks (Mommy & Daddy will join us after the 10th day of their visit.) Grammie has some cleaning and organizing and planning to do before the 19th!

So, while I'm not blogging, I'm not just sitting around, twiddling my thumbs. I'll be back soon with those photos and more ideas for using vintage stuff in my house.
Like this:



Until then, I remain, truly yours...

Hugs!
K~

** "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see." ~John Burroughs

28 years ago

28 years ago this sweet boy was born.
He instantly stole my heart
and has it to this day.
I never want it back.
He can keep it forever.
Because, Bry.... I love you Forever Baby.

Happy 28th Birthday, Sweetie!

Love,
Mom (and Farmer-Dad)

and here is he now:

Easter 2007

(Resent thrift store finds and a Spring Celebration display. Just needs some real Spring flowers, doesn't it?)


Happy Tuesday Readers!

I had the day off from the office on Monday and thoroughly enjoyed it. I  got up with Farmer at 4:30, read part of the Sunday paper, drank a cup of coffee, but was falling asleep in the chair, so gave in and slept until 8:30. 
I got dressed right away (cuz you know if I wouldn't have someone would have shown up at the door and I'd have looked like cat puke again), hair done, breakfast eaten (if you can call a piece of Sunday's dessert & coffee, "breakfast" ), laundry done, kitchen straightened, living room straightened, bathroom spritzed and I installed my Norton Antivirus and scanned my computer. So far, nothing lurking behind the scenes. 


We had a lovely Resurrection Sunday. I had the house cleaned on Friday and spent Saturday afternoon cooking and preparing our meal.


(This odd looking thing is Whole Wheat Challah bread.  Looks funny, but tasted good. )





(The rest of my Saturday baking:  homemade crescent rolls, pumpkin pie & the crust for Cream Puff Dessert.)

I tried my mil's homemade roll recipe using my Kitchen Aid mixer instead of by hand or the bread machine.  Farmer and Nat said they were close, but I obviously used too much flour.  They are a bit dry.  But I'm getting closer.  My  mil and I used to joke about our individual "claims to fame."  I can make pie crust, she couldn't and her rolls were to die for!  Mine never turn out as light and fluffy, no matter what recipe I use.  So this was a nice little pat on the back, that I'm getting better at it.  I also made Porgurgese Sweet Easter Bread, a new recipe, that tastes ok, but again, a little dry.   This time I over-baked it.  Still getting used to the new oven too.




(And what is Ressurection Sunday with out Colored Eggs??  These were done using the old stand-by, food coloring.  The green and blue eggs are light tan, so they ended up darker, but more interesting I think.)


All I had to do on Sunday morning was mix up the Mennonite Fruit Salad, clean the strawberries and make the relish tray & dip.




(And here is our holiday table, ready for guests.)

 We did not have Sunrise Service at our church, but it was heart-filling anyway.

Our pastor used the word "empty" as the basis of his sermon.  He applied it to the empty tomb, Christ "emptying" himself of his God-likeness in order to take our sins, us feeling "empty" without Him and how we need to "empty" our lives of all the  things that weigh us down and keep us from Him and what He has for us. 
Pastor used rocks as examples of those things that weigh us down; filling his pockets with the weight of sins, concerns, etc. At the conclusion of the sermon, he invited us to take a rock and either sign our name on it as a symbol of our having given the weight of our lostness & empty future to the Lord &/or writing on the rock what was weighing us down, what we needed to empty from our lives in Him. We then could lay those rocks at the foot of the cross (the real wooden cross we use in the Easter Performance the church puts on each year for the community).

Now, if you would know my Farmer in "real life" you would know he is not one for public display. He doesn't mind if I worship with raised hands or clap, but he doesn't do those things. So I figured he would not want to go up for this congregational response.  I have been trying to let him be the head of our home in our spiritual life and even though I really felt the need to write something on a rock and give it to the Lord, I was content to let him decide if we would participate.

The aisles were filled as the congregation went forward and we sat and I prayed for that continued contentment and that if God wanted Farmer to do this, to impress it on him. At the almost last moment, Farmer asked me if I wanted to do this? I whispered I would go if he wanted to.
God is good and we did get some of the last rocks and while it was a bit humbling to be among the last ones going up on the platform (and not being able to hide in the crowd), it was freeing to be reminded of Christ's being emptied to take my sins and to be able to lay the burden of loneliness at church at His feet.

 We had several people who don't usually greet us, do so yesterday. Maybe it was my spring-like pink sweater catching their eye or the fact we had to sit in a different spot because of all the visitors. Whatever the reason it was nice to be "seen."
And Pastor made a point of thanking us for the home-grown beef we had given them for the food showering the church family did on their first anniversary of their appointment here. Their family prayed for us and that is always a lovely thing. 

 The rest of the day was filled w/ too much food, the guys napping in the afternoon and me cleaning the kitchen. Ah well.... I enjoy the tidiness more than they do anyway.  



( I think I'm going to end up paying for this one.   Ds2 on the left, Farmer on the right.  And yes it was chilly, so they had to get all snuggled under blankies.)

We did chores and spent the evening quietly, talking with the Ohio bunch late in the evening.

Ds2 came back out on Monday to help with stuff around the farm.  He mowed my front yard.  What a sweetie.    And he helped Rick get our picnic table from his sister's house in town.  All he asked in return was some of the leftover dessert.  

Other than that I just piddled the day away.  Enjoyed my ballerina coverlet ebay treasure (more on that later); made a simple supper of soup, grilled cheese, deviled eggs and fruit salad.

Starting today, we'll be eating healthier again.  No more fattening desserts or potato casseroles or homemade rolls with real butter.   oh my!
 
Hope all my readers had a wonderful holiday too.  Let us remember every day:  He Is Risen!! 

Country Hugs,
Kay on the farm

** "The hidden glory of salvation is that everyone gets a chance to start
over in life. "
~Calvin Miller~