Quick Rideabout

After breakfast I had just finished delivering some of the white fudge to my friend and neighbor to share. As I was driving down from their driveway I was reminded of how things change - never to be the same. This was my view and I don't really like views of this kind, as my memory tells me the huge and beautiful cornfields and hayfields that were there in full glory at this time of year are gone, forever, never to grow there again! I'm sooo resistant to change.

To make myself feel better I continued onward for a short trip up the dirt road and found that yellow and orange seem to be the colors of the morning.

I wonder what the plant with no flowers is...

One of the prettiest gardens that I know of is cared for by a man who is older than I and lives at my neighbor lake. He is to be commended for his beautiful plantings, mostly vegetables that are protected from wildlife with wire. This one lives outside the cages and is Yellow Loosestrife.

A quick trip back home before the storm breaks. We do need rain!

Surprise Weather

And the ice came back! Well, kinda ··· sorta!  Yes, we had a few flurries overnight. I think the open watery sections made by Mother Nature are pretty!

Early Morning

Well, not really early ... it was 7:30am and the temperature was 26°. I had just turned up the thermostat to 72°. Steam was rising from the lake's surface as I looked out and the sun was streaming into the living room at the cabin. The electric blanket kept my feet and legs warm all night, even though my sleep was disturbed by a couple of thunks on the roof. I assume small limbs or branches came down up there. It can be checked later today. The sound was a bit eerie, but not frightening. In fact there was another one this morning. Things don't only go bump in the night!

please tap on image to see the sun!

(I love my 13 windows but will surely have to have them cleaned in the spring!)

Good Morning

First, the view through the windows was lovely as I did the second rinse of the pinto beans that had previously been rinsed, sorted and soaked overnight in preparation for soup.

A short while after the second straining and rinsing was  done, I looked out again and - what did I see? My friend was visiting again, for the umpteenth time this year.

I took his picture through the front storm door window. I knew if I went out on the porch he would do his usual fly-away!

The bean soup project continued. After adding water enough to cover the beans by a couple of inches, I chopped up and added a thawed pre-barbecued chicken breast, my frozen, pre-cooked crumbled bacon and pre-cut frozen onion slices A half bottle of mild picante sauce was then added and the potful simmered for over four hours, being stirred when I thought about it. Oh my goodness! My lunch was super good and nourishing too. If you wonder why I used the mild version of picante sauce, it's because I do not like anything at all that is hot spicy. I never made this from scratch before and just read the directions on the bag and will make it again. Other vegetables could have been added but I decided not to this time. Of course after cooling it down, first on the counter and then in the refrigerator, I moved three of the containers into the freezer.  The photos do not do the soup justice - you have to taste it to know how good it is! 

When busy bottling my soup, I looked up and out the window and saw the bald eagle fly over! What a day!

Early Visitors

These two travelers surprised me as they passed the cabin, walking on the road. I think they saw me seeing them through the window as they quickly moved on and crossed, going back into the woods. I was in a fog myself, just out of bed and pouring my coffee. Guess I was lucky to capture them at all!

to view larger please click on image

Sunset View

Last evening when I looked up from my card-making project I encountered this sight! Often we see sunsets hitting the hillside across the lake but this one was special. It must have been just at the right time to see such beauty and I know it happens rarely. 5:15pm was the time and I DID NOT enhance or change anything in these shots. They are being presented JUST as we saw them! Amazing!

The last of the applesauce work is finished and I have saved out about a dozen to make cake, pie, crisp. These are ready to go into the freezer with the first  batch and should last until next October. It is REALLY tasty! 

Please click on image to view larger

Early Stroll

It was 8am when I looked out and saw these two teens walking in the rain down the muddy road in front of the cabin. They looked a bit confused or lost while munching on green grass. Folks - it is December 2 and there should be snow!

These two young doe and their mother passed by the other morning at a high speed gallop down the road in front and another recent morning I looked out through the bathroom window and watched the three wandering on the bank behind the cabin. I called the Mister in to see and he spotted a small buck trailing behind. 

Yes, hunting season has begun. Buck season goes on for two weeks and doe season starts next Saturday. Venison meat meals fed our family well in the years past and we understand the reason for this season. No, it is not to hang big antlers on the wall. It really is to feed the family, especially here in our area. 

The photos are of the two but I see no differences in size or weight so I think they are last year twins and their mother is probably with a boyfriend.  About a week ago I saw a buck in the field beside our road which I truly thought was a longhorn steer. It really took me a few seconds to realize it was a buck. He was HUGE! His horns were shaped out and up just like a steer. 

Photos taken through cabin front windows.

Photos taken through cabin side window (2 panes and screen)

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Country Road Treat

Have you ever wanted to go for a short ride on a country road just to view the fields? Well we did this morning. Really! I said, "Let's go see the farmfields," so we did. This produce farm has a casual and lovely flowerbed. I love simple. And......we found some freshly picked corn to have for supper! What a marvelous place to stop. See what they have by clicking on the link below. 

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Click on link below to see what is ready so far...

Local Farm Market