It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like...

Springtime!  No, it doesn't look like Christmas, nor does it feel like Christmas.  It's almost 79 degrees outside.  I'm wearing a T-shirt and getting ready to go bathe my horse.  Definitely not Christmasy!

This morning we went to a festival called Christmas Around Sabina.  It is a beautiful little farming community about a half-hour from here.  My DIL's family is from that area.  It is not your typical festival where several blocks are closed off with booths in the streets for vendors.  In fact, driving through town, it is hard to notice there is a festival except for the heavy traffic, many parked cars, and people carrying goodies everywhere.

Her family used to set up 'Grandma's Country Kitchen' in her aunt's house, but this year moved it into Kelly's Cafe.  A relative owns the cafe, and, since they didn't have enough employees to work the festival, they weren't going to be open through the festival.  So they decided to move the 'kitchen' to the cafe.

This old brain of mine forgot to pull the camera out of my purse... sorry, no pics!

Her family makes gift items and baked goods to sell, as well as a carry-out meal featuring (of course) Grandma's homemade noodles.  They had all kinds of canned goods, including watermelon rind pickles!  There were crocheted dishcloths and pivoting flag poles... but mostly sweets!  I bought a mini-loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and one of chocolate zucchini bread.  I also bought a cake made with fruit cocktail and coconut.  Yum!  Mr J thought some of the stuff looked too rich for him, so he settled for a pecan pie... Does that even make sense?  Maybe he doesn't remember how rich those are.

I sure hope I can get my laptop close enough for my arms to reach after eating all that!  If not, it was nice knowin' ya...

Another Day on the Farm

I've posted lots of egg pictures recently, but I couldn't resist posting a couple more...

Remember the really HUGE egg?  Well, here is its opposite:

I've seen eggs smaller than this in a robin's nest, but from a chicken?  I'll have to take a picture of it frying to show you later...

Maggie has been doing something strange lately, so I called the vet and arranged a farm call.  Yes, some doctors do still make house calls! 

This is Dr. Brett, Mr J and one very dirty Maggie Mae.  Luckily Dr. Brett had good news for me.  She has a skin fungus (a very simple remedy) and she has old-timer's...   Yes, she's just old and having a few problems that just come with the age.  (eightyish in people years)

Maggie has lost a few teeth, and it is more difficult for her to chew her food.  The strange habit she has developed is just a symptom of her food not being chewed well enough, and getting stuck in her throat.  It is time to make a major change to her diet.  She'll no longer be tossed flakes of hay while corralled with the other horses.  I'll chop grass hay for her.  She will also get soaked alfalfa cubes and more senior feed, perhaps in a mash.  Plus it's time to up the calories to add fat for winter.

Horses, just like people, have different nutritional needs as they age.  It's a bit more work, but it means better health, and perhaps a longer life.  Maggie is definitely worth it!

In Honor of Veterans

THE FINAL INSPECTION

 The Army Soldier stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, Soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,

'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

I can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,

That wasn't mine to keep.....

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the Soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you Soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell.'

~Author Unknown~

What do you get...

...if you put a

  and some

in a room full of

and take

of them playing silly

?

Well, if you have one of these...

I'd call it a baby shower!

Farmer's Market Challenge

It's time again for the Farmer's Market Challenge hosted by Squirrel Queen at The Road to Here.  The purpose of this challenge is to raise awareness for purchasing locally produced foods. Be it fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, or any related items we want to know what's available where you live.

I have too many posts on our garden crops to link here.  Please visit my earlier posts to see all the goodies we grow for ourselves.  This year we didn't sell any vegetables, since we planted a lot more variety of vegetables.  We only planted for ourselves and to give away.

This is the harvest edition.  All our crops have been picked and stored for the winter.   We have enough green beans and corn in the freezer to last until next fall's harvest.  There are also many bags of shredded zucchini in the freezer.  Mr J uses it to make his special bread.  We gave away most of our Tabasco chili peppers.  It was our first year for growing them and sweet potatoes.  Mr J built a rack in the basement to store the potatoes.

 Danger:  Intense Heat!  We don't use a lot of these...

 

 

 Our fruit harvest is small, but tasty.  The trees are still young.

 

Even though the leaves are mostly gone and the garden is tilled under, we still have home grown food.  Our hens are laying between two and three dozen eggs a day!  These we do sell.  We hope to make enough to pay for the feed.  The green eggs are popular with the kids.  They are super yummy!

We are blessed to be able to grow so much of our own food.  We know our hens are not shot up with all kinds of hormones and antibiotics.  We know our vegetables aren't tainted with pesticides.  Our fruit may have spots from bugs, but I know it won't make our grandchildren sick.

Today, farmer's markets are gaining in popularity.  Almost everyone lives close enough to one to enjoy fresh organic fruits and vegetables.  I encourage you to take advantage of these markets.  And don't just buy enough for dinner, but enough to freeze or can.  It's not only a healthier choice... it's a tastier choice!  Fresh without chemicals is always better.

Please visit Squirrel Queen's blog to find other posts on the fall harvest.

Leftovers of Autumn

This weeping cherry is clinging tightly to its last few leaves...  I think it's almost as pretty bare as it was in peak color!

(Click on any photo to enlarge.)

The colors in the sky that day were dramatic.  Keep your sunshine...  I love the drama!