"How I Spent My Summer Vacation"

Isn't that the requisite "back to school" essay? I went back to school today, and instead of dwelling of things I didn't accomplish this summer (blogging? cleaning the basement?) I'm determined to look back instead on what I have done. So here goes.

Hubby and I replaced our quiet evenings at home in the recliners (laptops included) with quiet evenings on our bikes exploring nearby neighborhoods. We've found some lovely places to ride, and go for miles and miles.

I think I finally picked enough blackberries. I wish you could have joined me! Some went into jam right away, and the rest went into the freezer for later.

My grandson (and his parents) came for a wonderful visit. We played in the sand, saw dinosaur bones and had a Happy Un-birthday party complete with strawberry cupcakes with whipped cream frosting.

I've been frequenting my brother's vegetable stand and enjoying all the bounty of the season. He grows Argent sweet corn, which is the BEST!

 

When it got too hot, we headed for the hills, hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park. We sat at an overlook at dusk, enjoying this glorious sunset.

But I haven't had my fill of these yet. There's still enough room in summer to squeeze in a few more of these and make some crab cakes from my grandma's recipe! (Coming soon, I promise!)

My Affinity for Chickens Explained

The above photo is of my Daddy and my Aunt Dorothy, taken circa 1940. My aunt Dorothy just recently passed away, and this was one of her photos that my cousin shared with us. As I was looking at the photo, I wondered aloud about the object prominently displayed on my dad's vest- a watch maybe? Not a watch, shared my mom, but a medal. A medal that he won in a statewide poultry judging contest for Future Farmers of America when he was in high school. Poultry! A few minutes of rummaging later, my mom produced the medal above. See that rooster? I knew there had to be some reason lurking in my background for my affinity for those cackling creatures.

My fascination with chickens began many years ago. We kept chickens on our farm when I was growing up, but most of them were the kind you really didn't want to get attached to- the kind that would eventually wind up on the dinner table.

We had two bantam hens named Speckles and Desmond that were considered pets, and then there were the roosters Carrot Top and Rojo. I learned early that roosters don't just crow when the sun comes up. They've got to crow all day long just to make sure it stays there!

I now have my own motley crew of chicks and chickens and enjoy eating the eggs they produce and watching their antics. (Well, all of them except one rogue rooster who is no longer around to attack my grandson. But that's another story.) I can't help but wonder what my dad would think of my little flock. He was a champion poultry judge, you know!

Support Your Local Farmers!

I could almost be a locavore in the summer. My brother's vegetable stand has...

 

Potatoes,

 

squash,

 

tomatoes,

 

green beans,

 

lovely eggplant,

 

sweet corn (my favorite),

 

watermelon, carrots, beets,

 

blackberries,

 

blueberries and peaches... and lots more!

 In addition to all of this bounty, my girls give me eggs. I can get beef, chicken and seafood locally. (I also have a freezer full of venison- can't get much more local than my back yard.)

Alas though, chocolate, coffee, and lemons would be a problem. And I'm not about to give them up. Locavore or not, please support your local farmers by buying fresh produce at local vegetable stands and farmers markets. Promote the connection of fresh local food and the local farms and farmers that supply it by voting for your favorite farmers market here-

Blooms

So sorry for the "blog-cation." It's been a busy time and I just haven't been in the kitchen very much. Until I get back up to speed, I'll treat you to a photo of the clematis blooming in my yard right now. It's the only one that has survived hubby's "Round-Up" sprees. (It seems that poison ivy has the nasty tendency to climb, uninvited, on any vertical surface in my yard, and I have the nasty tendency to catch poison ivy practically by looking at it.) The variety? Who knows. The tag disintegrated years ago.

 

I do love the deep purple color with just a streak of pink through the center of each petal.

Of course, I also have lots of these as well. They do make lovely yellow flowers, don't they? Some say that weeds are just flowers growing in the wrong place. Dandelions, anyone? I'm sure I'll have enough to share.

Weekend Wanderings

Isn't this a nice view? If you had a little cabin here, you could wake up and take your coffee out to your porch and enjoy the solitude of the early morning. All you'd hear would be the sound of the water rippling, the fish jumping and the birds in the trees. And if the mosquitoes weren't too bad, you could make a freezer of pineapple ice cream and invite your family (including your sisters of course) to help you eat it. You'd do that, wouldn't you?

Weekend Wanderings

It was another beautiful weekend for being outside, with temperatures in the 70s. The daffodils are up and blooming. I think I need to weed and mulch.

 I had good company in my wanderings this weekend though! My little shadow (and his too) had fun on the trampoline,

and with Great-Mimi's kitty. 

Weekend Wanderings

 

It's been wet now for several days, but just a bit drizzly today. The roosters were out struttin' their stuff...they're happy to have some green grass to scratch around in.

 Trees are still bare, but look closer...

 buds!

And this was the first thing I saw when I got to my mom's house...it made me smile. :)

Weekend Wanderings

...When everything turns 'round to feel

the sun upon its back.

When winter lifts a little bit

And spring peeks through the crack.

Dorothy Aldis

Today was a beautiful day for a walk.  Sixty degrees, sun shining, snow almost gone...it doesn't get much better. I can smell spring.

The sky was beautifully blue and I was looking up at the patterns made by the bare branches. I almost missed this but I'm glad I didn't. See it?

A little closer.

 

Hiding in plain sight.