Toffee Bars.............

Toffee Bars

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup butter or margerine

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

1 egg

1 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup shredded coconut

Mix brown sugar and flour together, cut in softened butter until crumbly. Measure out and set aside one cup of this mixture . To remaining crumbs add Baking powder, vanilla, milk and egg, beat well.

Pour into a greased 9 inch pan.

To reserved crumbs add chocolate chips and coconut, mix well then sprinkle evenly on top of batter, bake at 350* for 35-40 minutes or till a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, cool for 10-15 and enjoy with a cup of coffee or glass of milk. or cool completely and refrigerate for later!

Equally good warm or cold in our opinion!!!

Snippets and Snatches.....

        

 

Back to the subject of Jonquils, those of you Facebook followers may recognize "An Old Woman in the Woods". She messaged me recently as to why she's planting more Jonquils and I quote  " I am buying more Jonquils ------- because I am determined to get them to grow --------so that maybe in the future someone will wonder how they got here but enjoy them no matter what."  Such a nice legacy. When I read this I was reminded of a very poignant story I read years ago. A husband was dying slowly and suspected he wouldn't make it until spring. He secretly enlisted friends to come and take his wife out for the day, on the guise of spelling her from her caregiver tasks. While gone each time, he planted and planted lots of Jonquils everywhere in their yard, hiding his handiwork with leaves. He did die that winter. Well imagine his wife's surprise to see those "harbingers of spring" coming up all over her yard as winters' gloom subsided. Only then did her friends come forward to tell her about her husband's secret. Yet another thoughtful way to leave a legacy! Something to smile about .

 

 

 

A tale of six kitties.............

More Out Takes from the 2016 Cat Calendar photo shoots :)

Today it's Lonesome our March calendar kitty and his favorite winter activity ......

 

Lazy Winter Day Activity  ----- SLEEP! 

Then change beds and sleep some more.

And it certainly helps if you have a broadback, AND your owner provides a Wood Stove!

 

What is it about Maine Coon cats and their owners? Such a loyal combination.

Some day soon in my "Snippet" column I'll tell you how I got mine.

I think I see a smile on his face, Don't you?

 

Farm Adventures.....Walters story

  Walter The Woebegone Puppy

 Someone didn't want the pup

They set him by the road

Maybe thought he'd find a hut

Maybe catch a toad

 

So that little frightened pup

Ran into the woods

Looking for a place to hide

Wishing for some sup

 

Soon evening came

And lots of scary noises

With big eyes he looked around

There weren't many choices

 

So into a hidey hole

Mrs. Armadillo had left behind

He backed himself real slow

And realized he wasn't going to dine

 

He watched the moon arising

And with a mournful sigh

Lifted his head and howled

He seemed to be asking "why'?

 

All through the night

And all the next day

Someone listened to that howling

Before they came his way

 

They lured him out

And took him home

With a solemn promise

"You'll never have to roam"

 

Epilogue  -  Walter became a "house"hold member, where he remains to this day. He’s been with us 2 1/2 years now, the third addition to our ‘brindle brigade’ of rescued dogs.--All who found us when we weren’t looking for another dog and made themselves right to home.

Walter is one of the three beside the tree in last Sunday's post HERE

 

Walter as a young pup--can't believe this is the first picture I have of him
guess I was too busy taking care of him (and everyone else on the farm!)
to take pictures

Here he is in his younger days, seeing his first box turtle. 

 

 

 

 

 

The journey to Jonquil Junction

Yesterday as I was sorting through my snippets, listening to the wind howl, and thinking spring couldn’t get here soon enough! I remembered another winter day a few years back when, while having similar thoughts, I wrote the following:

 

No matter where you roam here, through hollers or over ridges, you will find jonquils growing. Usually the cabin is gone or turned into a hay barn, the stone "chimbley" has tumbled down and the well's gone dry, but the jonquils still bloom.
How many years ago were they planted? No one knows. But they are enduring, just like the first people that settled these hills. They came and stayed when roads and electricity, telephones and yes, even the Internet didn't exist.
To raise a family in these surroundings a woman must have had character, strength and stamina. I'm sure every spring after the long dreary winter ended, the sight of the blooming Jonquils must have lifted her spirits and given her hope to carry on.

From that “seed” of an idea, and a lot of time and effort, in between everyday life and chores, grew Jonquil Junction’s Blog, Facebook page and Etsy store.

 

First a bit about the name. We live in the rugged Ozark mountains, and like I said in  the snippet above, scattered about all the old home places the jonquil’s still bloom each spring.

 

Jon-quil n.) A fragrant flower with yellow or white blooms

 

Every spring after the long dreary winter ends, the sight of these long ago planted blooms still brings a smile to our face and gives us hope to carry on just like those women who planted them so long ago.

 

 I wanted a place where we could all meet :

 Junc-tion  n.) An act of joining; A place or point of meeting

 

A place to find ‘country wisdom’ , unique crafts, recipes, and memories of a simpler time.

When people told stories, still wrote in cursive, put puzzles together, made quilts, crocheted and braided rugs, raised chickens, goats, pigs and a garden.

Along the journey I’ve found I'm not the only one who loves these cheerful harbingers of spring!

 I’ve heard stories from women in Florida and British Columbia that would love to grow them and have them come back reliably like we do, but due to their climates, they just enjoy them in pictures most years.

And from a lady who plans to replant  as many times as needed, in spite of her neighbors goats removing them from the ground bulb and all! ((Those of us who own goats know there is no such thing as a ‘goat proof plant’! ))

From a teller of folk tales ,why he thinks there are so many scattered about in our neck of the woods. As the story goes ‘back in the day’ when the farmer went to town to get his field corn, potato starts and such the feed store owner would throw a few jonquil bulbs in for the ‘lady of the house’. What farm wife with a bare yard and no money to spend on flower seeds is going to turn that down!

 

So we are this far into our journey,  wondering where it will take us next, and what wonderful story or memory will be shared with us next........... Won’t you come go with us and see where it leads? 

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Jonquiljunction?ref=hdr_shop_menu

http://www.pinterest.com/jonquiljunction/

https://www.facebook.com/jonquiljunction?ref=hl
 

 Shared on this blog-hop

http://www.littleblogonthehomestead.com/homestead-blog-hop-16/

 

Snippets & Snatches

                                                       SNIPPETS & SNATCHES

Don't recipes fall into that category!! Especially in my house. Why do I own so many Cook Books ( by the way some are going on Etsy soon) if every time someone starts to say a recipe I run and grab a piece of paper and copy it. I spent a long time yesterday searching for one and a current theme was most of my Snippets were on bill envelopes. It's a wonder my bills get paid on time.  Anyway, someone asked  - how do you make your Elderberry Syrup? and I couldn't find that one. However I'm pretty sure this is how I do it. By the way, every year is not a good Elderberry (or Peach or Blackberry or Blueberry, well you get the point) year so it has been awhile since I last was able to make some. I use Sure-Jell and inside pkg. I use the cooked jelly recipe procedure.  Elderberries won't be offered so I use "Currant" directions instead. Prepare the fruit as instructed with 2 cups water instead of 1 1/2 . When measuring juice into pot (after straining) add 1/2 cup lemon juice. Now reduce the sugar to 3 cups and proceed with procedure. This will make a syrup instead of jelly. I also do this with other fruits, when there is an abundance, to have syrup in the winter for pancakes. We especially like wild plum and they don't produce enough very often. Speaking of "good years" for certain things, one year I decided to tackle the multitude of garlic that had spread throughout my garden. There was a new show on T.V. midafternoon, so every day I dug a quantity and sat at the kitchen table processing it. I came up with chopping it and putting in ice cube trays (which of course were rendered useless for ice) and when frozen put cubes in plastic bags. I worked on that project during the hottest part of summer, and was so happy to know now I could add garlic to everything. Well guess what ----- we had a major ice storm that winter, and no electricity for 21 days. Can you imagine the aroma coming from my freezer as it thawed?  And this coming week is the anniversary of that storm back in 2009. I'll close for now, keep smiling, it helps!

Sunday Quotes............

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

 

Joyce Kilmer

 

"I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree"---------

My dogs agree and I agree! My family loves this tree, a large, very old oak that stands in a hayfield by itself. The only shade in the summer, and here on a sunny, winter day large enough to curl up by and enjoy the reflected heat.

 

These are three of our four rescued dogs. Gunner, Walter and Clarabelle.

Each one a different rescue, and each one unique.

Next week I'll tell you Walter's story.

 

 

Homemade wheat bread

One of the best parts of winter is homemade bread! This is our basic wheat bread recipe, the one we make every week. Sometimes with variation, sometimes just plain.

Homemade Wheat Bread

 

3 cups warm water

2 T. sugar

2 T. yeast (NOT rapid rise)

1 cup warm milk

3 T. Canola oil

1/4 cup sorghum ( can use molasses or honey if you prefer)

6 cups whole wheat flour (my favorite it Prairie Gold, any wheat flour made from white wheat will work)

2 tsp. salt

1 1/2--2 cups all-purpose white flour

 

Warm water to 110* ( to test without a thermometer ,you should be able to comfortably stand water touched to your little finger or wrist, but it should feel quite warm)

 In very large bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine 1 cup of warm water with the sugar and yeast, let sit for five minutes or till yeast is foamy, Add remaining warm water and milk, oil, sorghum and three cups of wheat flour, beat with a large spoon, or dough hook, until all flour is incorporated, add remaining three cups of wheat flour and continue to beat till smooth and elastic, will still be quite soft and sticky, add white flour in half cup increments until you can easily knead the dough by hand with out it sticking to you but it is still very soft,  form into a smooth ball and let raise covered about half and hour or till it has doubled in size.

Turn out onto a floured surface and knead with floured hands  a few times, just to smooth out, divide into fourths and shape into a loaf shape, place in well greased loaf pans and cover, raise again about 15-20 minutes till loafs are nicely puffed up. Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes till lightly browned.

Remove from oven and immediately take out of pans and cool on a wire rack.

Wonderful warm and buttered right from the oven (one loaf never makes it to the ‘cool’ point!)

 

Delicious with soup as is or toasted or grilled for breakfast!

Second Rise-ready for the oven

To make cinnamon swirl bread. Make recipe exactly as above until you divide into fourths then:

 Gently  roll each fourth out till it is a rectangle  slightly longer than the length of your loaf pan and about half as wide as it is long, sprinkle cinnamon sugar down center , spread out evenly and tightly roll up starting on a long side, then fold each short end under to seal ends and place in loaf pan with seam on the bottom ,  raise and cook as above.

 I use 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 T. cinnamon per loaf.

Cinnamon Swirl wheat bread

 

 

The adventures of Valerie and Grace.................

Valerie and Grace April  2014

Valerie and Grace January 2015

 

Well Valerie and Grace have really grown, as you can see.
We will be offering them for sale soon, boo-hoo!
It's hard to let them get so big and know them so well and then part with them. But on the other hand, it's hard to sell tiny babies and worry about their needs, too.
If only we could keep them all !!!!!!!!!
We have more babies coming the end of March, and then again the end of April. We are hoping for girls, but then a fine buck from this stock would be nice too :) 
I've told all family members we can not keep any more, of course, I'm the first to break the   "Practice what you Preach" rule, as Mom always said.

Pigeon Project.................

Hollywood and Amarillo are having a bath on this warm day. Just in time - later in the day she laid her first egg, probably the second will come tomorrow and then the setting begins. With the moderated temps,perhaps she'll be successful this time. We'll keep you posted.

Fresh eggs........................

"HOORAY - HOORAY

A Sunny Day!"

That's what my hens seem to say

soaking up the sun before heading in to lay.........

 

 

Must mention something here

in defense of keeping chickens.

Three times lately, on different places

I have seen people sharing ways

to keep an egg from running all over

the pan. Gizmos you can buy made

for that purpose, special tiny pans

that fill up with one egg, and one

crafty lady using an onion ring to

keep her egg in shape. WELL  I have

an idea, keep hens and then your

eggs will always be fresh and sit up

high and proud in your pan!

 

Journey with us...

You can now journey along with Jonquiljunction on Pinterest : http://www.pinterest.com/jonquiljunction/

 You can shop with us on Etsy here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Jonquiljunction?ref=hdr_shop_menu

And of course FB: where there are daily posts , updates, contests and more!
https://www.facebook.com/jonquiljunction?ref=tn_tnmn


Won't you Please 'come go with us' ????

A tale of Six Kitties

Sophie has decided, all things considered, staying in the house this winter is a wise choice.
She might be thinking, as my Mom always said, "I know where my bread is buttered." However to avoid harassment, by friends and relations, she chooses a place with a vantage point!

Sunday quotes......

                                          A wise old owl
                                          sat in an oak
                                          The more he heard
                                         the less he spoke
                                         The less he spoke
                                          the more he heard
                                          Why can't we all
                                          be like that
                                          wise old bird??
                                           

Simmering soups...........

Wondering what's for supper? Chances are you already have all the ingredients on hand to throw together this quick and satisfying soup!

Italian Soup
1 cup sliced kielbasa sausage
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. olive oil
4 cups chicken broth
1 can diced Italian tomatoes, un-drained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup penne or spiral pasta
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt , or to taste
1 tsp garlic powder, or to taste
1 cup frozen spinach leaves
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

 

Sauté sausage, onions and garlic in olive oil, about five minutes. Add  next three ingredients and bring to a boil, add pasta and seasonings, simmer uncovered for ten minutes or till pasta is tender. Add spinach, stir well, turn off heat, cover and let sit for five minutes.
To serve, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and serve with garlic bread or crackers.

 

Farm adventures......

                                                                    Went out to empty ashes

                                                              Look what I found

                                                        Someone in my front yard

                                                               Nosing all around

                                                       Bet it's hard to get a meal

                                                           In the frozen ground

                                                       So I won't say a word

                                                           I won't even frown

Winter...............

                                                                Winter   Soothers

The fragrance of homemade bread and simmering soup

Backing up to the woodstove that's cooking the soup!

Eating homemade bread and homemade soup!

Reading a "can't put down book" while sipping hot cocoa

Enjoying the outside view of a sunny day while

Backing up to the woodstove!

Covering up with your "Biscuit Quilt" when not

Backing up to the woodstove!

Fingering the Biscuit quilt  while reminiscing  on heartfelt memories

these are a few of my winter soothers.........................

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snippets & Snatches...

"Home is where the Heart is", my mother always said.
I wonder  sometimes what home held heartfelt memories for her.
Her mother died when she was 12, and her father left soon after.
So her new home was with relatives, not her parents.
I do remember her talking about the large brick home with the wrought iron fence that joined the sidewalk that she lived in when she was four. I wish I knew where that home was.
But wherever the location, part of what joins our heart to a particular home are fond & soothing memories of time spent with family and friends. I wonder if young folks today are building those memories when they seem to isolate themselves with technology.
 Please everybody, unplug, cook, share meals, play a game, share views, share memories, share crafting, there's no better time than winter!

A tale of Six Kitties

Anyone who has tried to photograph animals (or children for that matter!) knows how hard it is! If you are trying to photograph more than one at a time, the dilemma only multiplies itself, and in my opinion, cats are especially hard.
So as we start photographing our way through 2015, beginning with the  "A tale of six kitties" calendar , we thought you might enjoy some 'out-takes' of our photographing adventures!

Today we have Sophie my 'Chicken Chore Chum' and October calendar girl , probably the most elusive of our cats to capture on film, and quickest to 'turn tail' and leave if she suspects you are trying to take her picture (or catch her or pet her, for that matter)

Due to the deep freeze we have been in here lately she has agreed to spend more time in the house, and thinks it's much more agreeable laying around in the house, than tip-toeing around after me while I do my outside work, but that doesn't mean she has welcomed the camera , and sleeps with one eye open, in case I should head her way!

 

 

 

Simmering Soups....

                             Taco Soup

 

 

1 lb. hamburger

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup broccoli, chopped

1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (15 oz) chili beans (can use pinto or black beans if preferred)

1 can Ro-tel,

1 package taco seasoning

4 cups water or broth 

 

In large pan brown hamburger and onions together, drain off any drippings and discard. Add garlic , carrots and broccoli, sauté 2 minutes or till garlic is fragrant. Pour into crock-pot.

return pan to the stove and  add broth or water and heat to a simmer, scraping pan as it heats.

While water heats, add broccoli, corn, beans, ro-tel and taco seasoning to crock-pot, stir well and then  add hot water to crock-pot, stir again and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

 

Serve with any combination of the following:  crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, chopped jalapeños!  

 

Snippets and Snatches

             Someone’s at the door

 

In again, out again

someone is at the

door again--

if they are in

they want out (they think)

if they are out

they want in ( Quick as a wink)

in again, out again

can’t make up 

their minds again

 

Every time I sit down again

someone is at the 

door again --

If they are out

they want in  (where they just were)

if they are in

the want out (missing something for sure)

in again, out again

can’t make up

their minds again

 

In again, out again

someone is at the

door again--

this time the cat

next time the dog

at this rate I’m sure to loose track

gonna have to make a log

who’s in again, out again

at the door again...............

 

check out this post here too: http://www.littleblogonthehomestead.com/homestead-blog-hop-18/

 

Snippets & Snatches

I remember my great aunt Madelene telling me

A young person never knows more than when they're 15

Years later I read this quote by Mark Twain (paraphrased)

When I was 16 I couldn't get over how little my father knew

But by the time I was 21 I was amazed at how much he'd learned!

Reflecting lately on this trying period in a young one's life

I wrote this poem:

 

  Adolescence

 

If I had my druthers

Adolescence would be skipped

Those helpful little children

Turning into restless snips

Days of being discontent

Useful habits gone

Like money poorly spent

 

Can't make up their minds

Know they must go forward

But hate to leave behind

 

Since we all have been there

It reopens our old pains

There is not one of us

Would choose those years again

 

If only they would benefit

From all that we know

As we try to help them

To blossom and to grow

 

Now as they become able

To make all things possible

and have so many choices

We hope they'll remember

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN

DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD!

 

 

Pigeon project...........

Unfortunately, Hollywood and Amarillo didn't hatch either of their eggs. But in true pigeon fashion they are already acting "Broody" again so we hope to have some 'squeaker's' soon, stay tuned....

A. Wyse Ol'gote

Last Fall I introduced you to our Caprine Consultant HERE. She's back this year with more 'wisdom'

 

 

I recently moved "A. Wyse Ol'gote" to a pen by herself. I said "if you're going to be so selfish you can live alone."  She's indicated she hadn't planned on my keeping all her children anyway, and with more on the way, and is fine with this change.
In this "year of the goat", this old goat wants to get her sage observations published so keep watching.
She's included some hints on raising "kids", as well as other useful tips.

Snippets and Snatches

                                                            The North Wind Doth Blow

 Arkansas is in the wrong place today

As the Canadian air makes its' way

Straight to Louisiana

 

A mountain top

Open to the North

Hardly the place to be

Oh woe is me!

 

The woodpile inside

Just won't last

But when you bring in more

It comes with a blast

 

Those who don't work on the wood detail

(perhaps because they have a tail)

Find their spots to share the warmth

And take for granted my travail

 

 

Snippets and Snatches

 Today I thought I'd tell a little "herstory" about this column. 
When my sister died last year I thought of all the stories that could be told about what she lived through.
 I mentioned to her family to look for snippets and snatches, and sure enough they found scads. (She and I always said we'd write "someday"). Well, unfortunately, I can't write her stories, but maybe I can write a few of mine. Hers would have been more interesting, like going to Nome, Alaska as a teenage bride. But then I've had a few journeys too, and I'm hoping to make 2015 the year to start the Recollections.
Won't you join us for the journey? , and let's smile along the way.

Won't you 'come go with me' on this journey??

SNIPPETS & SNATCHES

We're starting  a new  column entitled "Snippets and Snatches" today.

The title comes from a phrase I use to refer to the many pieces of paper or first pages in notebooks that are lying all over my house (years and years worth)!  In this column I'm going to Recollect and Recount the many sayings my mother was so fond of saying and sort through my snippets to share my Ruminations with you about this Journey to Jonquil Junction.

I wish I could have followed one of  her sayings  "don't put off until tomorrow what could be done today", then this, her harvest table, wouldn't be so cluttered!  But alas on this Journey life got in the way and borrowed my 'today' time. Now it's tomorrow and I hope to get busy sorting through my stash of notes.

Sure hope you'll join us for the trip, and may you always find  something to smile about.

 

Won't you 'come go with us'??