Bird Chime

We had three pine cones to hang up.......and only one hook.  And the bird chime was born.

First Snow

I should say first "real" snow.... 

We got enough snow that we had to shut down the front door....

The daily chore of cleaning snow off the sat dish

My helpers

And it's just getting started!!

Back in the Swing of things

Finally some normalcy returning to our lives....

Fires are out and Fall is in!

Chickens are starting to lay...

the morning glories finally made it up the sign post...

Now we are headed out to collect this years fire wood!! Can't wait to cozy up in front of a fire.

Home Again, Home Again

I can't explain how good it feels to be back home....

Healthy Valentines Day!?!?

This year with Rosey being in first grade we get to celebrate her birthday at school with cupcakes!!  With Valentines day being so close, I felt the need to only sugar up those poor kids once.  I got some great ideas off Pinterest......

Crayon hearts

They were pretty simple, the chopping up old broken crayons took some time...

Now we have a crayon maker or two....but the idea of different shapes of crayon makes me melt!!

And don't forget about snacks for the party!

Fruit Pops

The kiwi were fighting me...

Happy Valentines Day!

Bird Snacks

In the winter time the wild life changes a lot in the highlands.  We see a lot less big animal, mostly just their tracks. The birds that stick around are always in luck, we have tons of native plants to provide snacks for them. But when the kids want a close up (or the cats need some entertainment) we head to the freezer for some yummy bird treats.

   

I usually make these about twice a winter and that will last me the entire snow season.  I use what ever left over fruit the kids had a lunch, as well as old freezer fruit,(this photo shows apples and cranberries); bird seed; peanut butter; and what ever fat I have rendered from a previous dinner(this part is totally optional, if you use enough PB it will hold together).  Mix it all together and spread it out on baking sheet, the kids and I cut out heart shapes, but any shape will work, the left overs are shoved into a wonder bread sandwich carrier, it fits perfect into my suet cage....

Note:  We hang this close to a glass window, and by spring there is quite a large amount of seeds and PB stuck to the window, for easier clean up hang it in a tree visible from you windows.

Waiting for winter?

So I cant believe I'm saying this, but I'm missing the snow....now maybe there have been a few times where it snowed, but nothing has stuck!  We've only been here 5 years, but there has always been some snow, at least enough for a sled ride and good size snowman.  The warmer weather has also brought a rise in the creek, normally in January it's frozen solid and covered with snow.  We don't usually see a rise until April(and then my favorite, a flood in May).  I'm not sure what this means for this spring and summer, but I know the goats are LOVING it!!

And maybe I'm a little excited to see how the plants will be behaving, maybe crocus in Feb?!!?

Halloween 2013

I can't tell you how much I love Pinterest.  I have always struggled with why dress up a toddler, you know they'll never remember.  So it's more for me, so this year I went with one of my favorites.....

Clark Kent...


The whole gang...


Rosey's First grade Halloween Party cupcakes


40 cupcakes later......I need  a break!

My secret to a stunning Dogwood

It was love at first sight when I saw my first dogwood in Yosemite valley 13 years ago.  It was late may and the Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) was covered in enormous white cream colored flowers.  The tree already had leaves, but the flowers were still the star of the show.  When we moved to Washington and I was told there was a dogwood on the property, I was ecstatic.  I could hardly wait all winter to see this amazing tree covered in gorgeous flowers.  Well along came spring and all I saw was tiny, very light pink flowers. Not at all stunning, well at first. After some searching I found I had a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida).  I noticed my neighbor also had a dogwood, but hers had a gorgeous dark pink color.  
  She told me her secret was Epsom salt.  She said to put on two applications, one in early spring before the petal like bracts open, and a second in early fall when the next years bracts are forming.  And there you have it! After one year I had my own spectacular dogwood, super stunning!

After

   

Before

  

Dogwood anatomy:

Dogwood flowering head

*other plants with smilar petal like bracts are, poinsettia and Bougainvillea

Shallots

A new addition to the garden this year is shallots.  Planted the first of April, these photos show just over a month of growth.  Spacing was 6 inches apart, rows 12 inches apart.  They only need to be under 1/2 inch soil.  They can also be planted in the fall.  Yum!

Organic shallot sets purchased from Filaree Garlic Farm

You know it's finally spring when.....

Crocus inter-planted with tuplips

Winter 2012 cupcakes

Winter 2012 cupcakes.....

2012 Halloween

Dragons, Faries, and Zombies, OH MY!!!

What we've been up to, or three....

After thirteen years, I finally get to use my boy name!!  Harrison Benton was born on April 2, and I finally get to say, that's my boy!!

Flood!

My precious garden has been flooded!! The Creek flooded its banks here yesterday and my garlic is now knee deep in water. This afternoon we lost a fence in the garden just from the force of the current that is flowing in the front field. The creek is about a foot away from the bottom of bridge today. I heard this morning that a bridge up the road was damaged by debris in the creek, and I’m crossing my fingers that our crappy little bridge makes it!

This is way too close...

The garden completely submerged

T

View from the house

The lowest spot in the yard

Debris from the flood

Under water....

I really hope this doesn't happen again.....

Tee-Peas

Last year I had no luck with peas, only enough to satisfy a small child named Rosey. So this year as soon as the soil was soft enough to work I stuck those potentially tasty little green beads into the ground. Now a few weeks later I am thinking I will finally have my tee-pea this year!! I planted both Alderman (Tall Telephone) and Carouby de Mausanne. The poles I made from some very thin pine saplings that I found in the forest behind the house. I have had a few problems with the spring winds knocking them over so this year I

buried them about a 1/2 foot to anchor them down. Grow little peas Grow!!!

Pretzel Day!

Like I need a reason to to make pretzels! But yes it is Pretzel Day and so Rosey and I got busy and made a few batches of pretzels!! We have made these several times and they seem to get better each time. The only downfall is that they never seem to last very long around here!!

I finally had a chance to update and add the recipe.  I use these main ingredients for all my rolls and buns.  The only difference is how I shape them and what I season them with.

My Pretzel Recipe 

Makes 8 Large Pretzels or 16 medium twists

Main Ingredients:

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package dry active yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar (brown or white)
• 3 cups flour*
• 1 cup water (heated to 110-120°or you could use milk)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons oil (any kind or butter)

*The flour amounts can vary from 2 1/2 cups to 3 cups depending on how you are measuring it to the type of flour you are using.  I currently use AP flour and my scale is broken, again, so I am forced to measure the old fashion way.  Pour more then I need in a large mixing bowl, whisk it good, scoop the flour with a spoon into a measuring cup.  I level it off with the flat side of a butter knife.

Water bath:

•    4 quarts water (for boiling)
•    ½ cup baking soda

Toppings:

•  1 egg white, slightly beaten
•  coarse salt
• Sesame seeds
•  Butter
•  Cinnamon/sugar mixture

1.  Put the ingredients in bread machine pan, usually first liquids, second dry stuff, and lastly yeast.(I've used this recipe in a stand mixer as well, I'm just lazy...lately)
2.  Select Dough cycle, and press Start. 
3.  When the dough is finished, remove it onto a lightly floured surface.
4.   Divide into 4 parts.
5.   Divide each fourth into 3 pieces.
6.   Roll each piece into a 15 inch rope. (size isn't important, I usually make mine longer then a parchment paper box)
7.  Shape rope into a circle, leaving the ends free.
8. Take one end in each hand and cross at the point where dough meets, twist and lift ends across to the opposite edge of circle.
9. Tuck ends under edge to make a pretzel shape; moisten and press ends to seal.
10.  Place on greased cookie sheet. (this is very important, they don't look so hot if you have to pry them off a sticky pan)
11. Let rise, uncovered, until puffy, about 15 minutes.
12. Preheat oven to 425°F
13. Combine 4 quarts of water and 1/2 cup baking soda in a large pot;(mix slowly or it may bubble over) bring to a boil.
14. Lower 1 or 2 pretzels into the saucepan; simmer for 10 seconds on each side.
15. Lift from water with a spatula or slotted spoon
16.  Return to greased parchment paper on a cookie sheet. (the parchment paper is optional, I love the stuff, but the most important thing is grease!)
17. Let dry briefly.
18.  Brush with 1 egg white slightly beaten.
19. Sprinkle with course salt or sesame seeds or leave plain. (If you leave them plain, after they bake brush with melted butter then dip in a cinnamon/sugar mixture.)
20.  Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes; then turn cookie sheet around and bake 5 more minutes.

            These are great fresh; IF you have leftovers they can be frozen and reheated in a microwave for 90 seconds on defrost.