Thursday, September 29, 2016

Shop Small and Support Rescues....Cooler ... windy....50's

Those who follow our pages know we have a soft spot for animals~ especially rescues, or the 'under-dogs' , from time to time we're going to be spotlighting pages we've found that are especially dedicated to animals and their well-being.
So Continuing our Animal page spotlight today with Woodcrafts by Feisty Dog-- a page we just met through the World Wide Web... but we like their mission! (( To date, we’ve donated nearly $1,500 in merchandise in 2014 to wonderful groups like PAWS Chicago, Save-A-Pet, etc. as well as our local Fire Department for their annual fundraiser. When someone purchases from us, we ask them if they have a favorite animal rescue.  If they do, it is noted on the receipt as well as our books.  We send check quarterly, and always round up to make it more beneficial.  If the customer doesn’t have a specific rescue, we divide the funds among affiliated rescues )) read more here: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/giving-back-through-woodworking-tis-the-season/
Quality Handcrafted Products With
FEISTY FLAIR!          

Thoughtful gifts for four-legged friends and everyone on your list!
Find them on Facebook or their very own website
https://www.facebook.com/FeistyDogWoodcrafts/shop?rid=650450155053423&rt=9

https://feistydogww.com/

Stop by and say Hi and tell them we sent you by, we think you'll be glad you did !

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Scented Hot Pad.... A tutorial... Sun, cooler, FALL like

Flash back post from last year, Quick and easy to make these take just a few minutes and minimal sewing , and make great gifts!
View the complete tutorial HERE

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Sunday Quotes...Partly cloudy... getting cooler

" Every season, like every person, has it's own beauty.... you just have to look harder to find it in some than others"


Saturday, September 24, 2016

Goats Milk Semi Soft Cheese (Quick & Easy)

 2 qts. fresh milk
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
seasonings of choice

Heat milk slowly in heavy bottom pan until 170-180*. Hold at that
temperature for 10 minutes. Slowly stir in vinegar until just begins
to separate. Shut off heat and barely stir.

When curds form (almost immediately) you can remove with slotted spoon to your bowl or pour into colander to drain.
If you don't use colander you'll need to pour
whey out of bowl.

In this state you'll have a firm cottage cheese type.
Add seasonings if desired.
If you press in colander or hang cheese in muslin the result will be a hard ball that can be sliced.
This is a mild tasting cheese that does up quickly.

Save the whey for cooking (pancakes, etc.) or watch next week for a delicious tomato soup recipe to use it up!

Friday, September 23, 2016

Farm Life.....Sun..90*



Rhythm & Rhapsody got their first turn to play on the milking stand.
Haven't they grown?

Rhapsody, never higher than ground level until
now, was sure the ceiling held a surprise.




















Then she thought she better check the other side.
 
 
 
 Eventually Rhythm decided to help with the
ceiling while Rhapsody checked behind that board.


Then they decided to work at it together.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Farm Life....Sunny... HOT...91*

Does pulling weeds fall into the "I'll get to that eventually"
category at your place? This patch of Perilla Mint, a noxious weed,
has been haunting me all summer. I have never let it get this far
ahead of me. With over 2" of rain the other night I saw my opportunity
and duty to get busy. It is just starting to bloom, and it turned out
someone else was watching too. With my head near the ground trying to
loosen those stubborn roots, I missed at first a buzzing that was
increasing in volume. Yes, honey bees were all over it. They were so
diligent in their task, they didn't mind my proximity at all. I
watched and watched to determine their flight path, but couldn't
follow any of them. I've always wanted to find a honey tree, I guess
not this time. Oh for a youngster who'd have the time to accomplish
that feat. Well at least I had time to come get the camera!


Sunday, September 18, 2016

Sunday Quotes..... Sunny...warm

"Autumn is a second spring, where every leaf is a flower" 
                                                                                 Albert Camus

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Pumpkin Pie Squares....Cloudy...cooler.rain overnight

A quick and easy recipe to satisfy your pumpkin cravings!

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 cup brown sugar
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Maple flavoring
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup butter or margarine (see note)

In large bowl beat eggs and sugar together, add pumpkin, milk, flavoring and spices, beat till smooth. Pour into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch pan.
Sprinkle evenly with dry cake mix. Dot with butter.(Note: I use a frozen stick of butter and my hand-held grater for this, evenly distributes butter over top with very little mess!)
Bake in 350* oven for 30-35 minutes, center will just be set and a knife inserted  near center should come out clean, top will brown lightly.
Allow to cool to room temp and serve, or refrigerate and eat cold the next day. Some in our family like them warm, some cold, try 'em both and see which you prefer!!!

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Farm adventures..cloudy...humid & hot

I put all the males out to pasture (well not Riley, of course.
 Who wants to handle him, this time of year?!).
 Paprika had never been in the same pen with older brother Mocha, so of course mid-air collisions were the way to get acquainted.
Since poor Java ( that's him in background) is not "vested" anymore, he saw no reason to join the fracas and did the wise thing - EAT.






Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Farm Adventures The Broody banty...........Sun...hotter...

Our bantam hen "Bossy Britches" proves the theory "If You Wait It Will Come".
Every day last week she sat in a different (empty) nest box, waiting for
someone to lay. You see I'd taken all her eggs these last few weeks as
I didn't know she had in mind to set AGAIN this year. And all my big
hens are molting, so nary an egg anywhere. But Banty's are a determined bunch and she kept at it till 
 I finally  begged a few eggs  from someone and put them under her. She happily excepted them and went to sitting faithfully...... but I'm starting to think she's getting too old for this sitting business, every day she gets up for a drink and dust bath like setting hens do, but then returns to an empty nest box "next door" to her nest.... When I find her such I carefully pick her up and set her on her eggs,  she clucks happily, snuggles down on them and acts 'eggstatic' to have 'found' a clutch of eggs...and stays faithfully in place till the next day.....when we go through the routine all over again! 
Could it be our Broody Banty has amnesia ??




     and here she is, in "If I don't acknowledge you, you won't notice me" mode.


Will she hatch this clutch in spite of the late date in the year and the amnestic wanderings? 
Stay tuned for details, and remember "Don't count your chickens before they hatch!"


Sunday, September 11, 2016

Sunday Snippets & Snatches...Cooler..sunny

Rushing The Seasons
 
Have you every thought ~
in this sped up world,
We're always in a hurry
No matter what the Reason?
We rush to work, rush home
rush to post the latest gadget that we've bought
Why we even rush the seasons!

In Spring we post pics of red-ripe tomatoes
flip-flops, beaches and swimming gear
We say we sure wish summer would get here!
In Summer we post pics of  bonfires,
Pretty leaves and trees
and say "Hurry up Fall, Please"
In Fall we post pics of  mugs of cocoa
Blankets, scarves and snowmen, too
we say "Hurry up winter, do"
In winter we post pics of  green grass
bare feet,  and pretty flowers everywhere
We sure do hope spring was in the air!
 
So now, while it's hot
We say, "hurry up fall"
We need you, after all...........

But soon it'll be "get here spring",
so we can start
Rushing the seasons once again!
 
©Jonquiljunction
 
 

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Pumpkin Bars....Partly cloudy


  

It may only be the beginning of September but it seems everybody is thinking Pumpkin already....  So here is a quick and easy Pumpkin recipe for  you!
Have a great weekend

PUMPKIN BARS
 
Cream together:  1/2 cup oil
                             1/3 cup sorghum OR

                            1/3 cup dark brown sugar
                             1 egg
                            1 cup pumpkin puree

Add:                    1/2 cup whole wheat flour
                           1 cup unbleached white flour
                           1 teaspoon baking soda
                           1 teaspoon cinnamon
                          1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or ginger

Mix Well, and add 1/2 cup raisins and 1 cup nuts. Bake in greased 8x8" pan 20-30 minutes. Test with knife blade, done when it comes out clean. Moist and yummy!

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Rescue Cats.... Sun...90's

Continuing our Animal page spotlight today with  Zoey's Place Rescue-- a page we just met through the World Wide Web... but we like their mission!
Zoey’s place rescue is based out of Long Beach CA and was created in 2012 when the founder started working in L.A and a
stray family had settled in the business warehouse. One litter at a time, one discarded stray cat at a time, with dedicated care and love, we have saved as many lives as we could and do not wish to grow further than we can handle. Our mission is to give the best care to all of our rescues and never have to settle because of financial burden…so we won’t rescue as much as others but our fosters are the happiest most well taken care of cats around! https://www.facebook.com/zoeysplacerescue/
This weekend one of their Facebook Friends is hosting an auction with ALL the benefits going to help the kitties, we have donated a couple of items along with many other great handcrafters,  and you can bid and see all the details here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/441516386038603/ 


 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

A Good Read..... sunny ....warmer...

Those who follow our pages know we have a soft spot for animals especially rescues, or the 'under-dogs' , from time to time we're going to be spotlighting pages we've found that are especially dedicated to animals and their well-being.

Today I would like to recommend an interesting, unique children's book.
This book, about a deformed baby Alpaca, is a beautiful PICTURE book that captures your heart.
It shows what can happen when love is shown to a
creature with special needs by putting the Alpaca's feelings into
words, as it adapts to its' life's circumstances.

A positive approach to disabilities for either the one coping or the ones surrounding them!
A nice educational addition is learning about fiber and how we
get it and turn it into products.

You can find her and her alpaca's on FB https://www.facebook.com/BreezyRidgeAlpacasLLC/?fref=ts  
Etsy, https://www.etsy.com/listing/261388055/childrens-book-serendipity-the-three?ga_search_query=book&ref=shop_items_search_1 
or order directly from her page at http://www.breezyridgealpacas.com/

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Sunday Quotes.... Cooler, sunny

"No person who can read is ever successful at cleaning out an attic!"  Ann Landers

Finally September, so  back to the attic project again.
Maybe I can read and ponder less, and accomplish more.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Pacific Pot Roast....cooler...58* and sunny

With cooler temps. around the corner this pot roast is perfect to have simmering on the back of the stove or in the crockpot on a dreary day!
Prepare to be amazed at this combination of flavors!

Taste of the Pacific Pot Roast
  

4 lb. Chuck Roast (approx.)
Lemon juice
6 slices Bacon
1 Lg. Onion
3/4 cup fresh or canned (whole) Tomatoes
1 1/2 cup Orange Juice
1 Bay Leaf
1 teaspoon Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg

Brush meat all sides with lemon juice. Set aside, fry bacon till done,
remove from pan and cook chopped onion, remove from pan.

In drippings brown meat on all sides. Heat tomatoes and orange juice till hot.
Put all in large pan or crockpot with spices. Simmer on stovetop or
woodstove for approximately 3 hours, or in crockpot 2 hours on high
and then 4-6 hours on low. Serve with cooked rice, with some juices
drizzled over the rice.

If you like our recipes every Saturday, remember you can find our first cookbook, Everything Season, to digital download instantly on our Etsy page! For just $5.00
 

28 pages packed with over 30 recipes, tips, quips, and hints plus many photographs of our country life!

Please click on 'older posts' to see all our posts! Thanks :)

The items we offer are as varied as the weather in these hills!
Hand-hammered copper jewelry, handmade wood case clocks, biscuit and rag quilts, handsewn infant gifts, handcrafted soap, & homespun tales and photos of our menagerie of four footed and feathered friends.




Copper earrings

Copper earrings