Country lawns

The Country Lawn... not exactly a lawn in the traditional suburban sense that there is grass.  It is some sort of a low growing weed that we mow and which stays greenish all summer.  Survives when nothing else will.

Take a bare patch of ground and within a few months is it covered with this greenery.  The country version of  lawn.  doesn't need water or to be fed. survives nicely on it own. Oh we also have a little grass scattered here and there but the native stuff works out fine.

Some lawn areas are covered with small wild plants. pussy toes is one. hawk weed is another, of course dandelions, violets, wild strawberries. More plants than you can imagine and just as  interesting if not more than grass.

Gotta love the country lawn for the freedom of choice.  To lawn or not to lawn.... and most people who live in the country, chose not to!

hot or cold....

This is the time of year when i ask myself  "is it easier and more comfortable to cool off in the heat of summer, or warm up in the cold of winter?"  I seem to recall that  during  the hot summer, when i asked the ''question'' i decided NOT to complain when it got cold. 

Personally, i think it is uncomfortable to be hot. The extreme heat saps your energy, slows you down.  you spend  time coming up with ways to be comfortable.  But the heat is not as ...painful... as the cold. Your body does not react to the heat like it does to the cold.  Heat, you open up like a flower to cool off. Cold, you close up like a turtle in it's shell. Less surface area to let heat escape.

I find that in the winter i  tend to huddle. tense and  curled up sleeping or even sitting watching tv or reading. The result, at this stage of life, is that i have to work to unwind, uncurl, uncuddle.  Holding that tense position has now become a little painful especially first thing in the morning.  And when did the toilet seat become ice cold in the mornings?

I have no plan to relocate. I love PA. I like the seasons, hot or cold.  The location seems ideal to escape tornado's and while weather can still be extreme, few people are killed by freak weather conditions here in PA.

If i could wave a magic wand, i think i would extend fall, which just seems the perfect season.

The Last monday in november

If you live in Pennsylvania, you know today is a school holiday. Monday, after thanksgiving, is the first day of hunting season.  No more walks in the woods unless you wear florescent orange and dogs must be dressed similarly.  The quiet of the early morning was punctuated with the sound of hunters shooting at their quarry, white tail deer.  As i looked outside, i saw a lone doe step out of the woods and slowly make her way across the neighbors back lawn. She would be wise to stick close to houses and survive another day.

This morning is also one of the coldest days of year so far. I heard the furnace kick on at 4 a.m. which happens only during the coldest of nights. It was 20 degrees  in the early morning. And the air feels cold too. Not yet 30 degrees at 9 a.m. Forecast to be Sunny with temps climbing to 50.  That lack of wind makes all the difference in the world.   After the mild days we have had this November, it will  take some time to get used to the cold.

Looking over the schedule for the week, Tuesday will be grocery shopping and any other running around i need to do.  Heavy rain  for Wednesday, so a day at home and It will be nice to be stationary. Cleaning marathon scheduled for Thursday  and road trip with friend for Friday.

The week is hardly begun but going quickly too quickly.

cooking thanksgiving dinner

Chatting with a friend on alternative thanksgiving side dishes, i decided to try an interesting recipe for cranberry sauce. This recipe called for the use of a food processor and like all good foodies i happen to have one, with low mileage for it's 30 years of existence.

Recipe as follows:  Cranberry/Horseradish sauce..

WONDERFUL with Turkey, Ham or any type of pork, Lamb or Beef .... 

food processor... 

1 bag of cranberries
Add 2 to 3 TBSP of sugar
1/2 of an orange(sweet, ripe)
2-3 TBSP of ground horseradish
1/4 cup of lemon juice.
1/2 cup of sour cream more or less to taste

You can leave it rather chunky or chop it finer according to taste.
If your family likes horseradish, use more, if not, less.
Sugar content, the same way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andrew had been available to reach the food processor, and stayed to help assemble the cranberry sauce. We added items in the order stated, scraped the bowl & chatted about how recipes did not have to be followed to the "T".   Everything was going well till i added the sliced oranges.  Somehow the lid was not properly engaged. The food processor protested for just a moment and the lid took off like a helicopter, spewing bits of cranberry, horseradish and orange all over the kitchen.  Initially i stepped back trying to figure out what was happening, as did Andrew. The food processor had been running on high speed, my usual choice. I started to push all the buttons to bring it to a stop.  Andrew stepped in and pushed "off" which did the trick.  

While the dust (and cranberry bits) settled, we collected all the food processor parts. Stopping periodically to double over with laughter. 2 parts of the lid were missing. one that just keeps the lid on, and one that engages an unseen switch to keep you from harm. Somehow that vital part was stuck in that area which allowed the machine to keep processing.  Not daunted by the mishap or mess ... we put that crucial piece in the slot, held the top together and finished our mix. 

I wish i could have seen the look on Andrews face as well as mine, as the processor went awry.

This happened once before to a lessor degree and liver had been involved.  That time, i had to clean the ceiling.

As expected, hubby saw nothing funny in any of  this and rushed to see if he could find a replacement part on line (for a 30 year old food processor).  He does use the processor for his tomato sauce. I mentioned that it still works you just need two additional people to hold the lid on.  Andrew and i double up with laughter yet again.

The cranberry sauce was tasty.  Definitely different, pretty & pink. good for sandwiches for sure. I  might make it again but also offer the regulation whole cranberry jellied version too.

I think i see a new food processor under the Christmas tree!

oh no ....snow!

Thanksgiving day snow 2010

back yard 1st snow late fall 2010

it's 10 a.m. do you know where your turkey is??

I was out early this morning. dogs are walked, fed and back in the house munching on their beloved chew sticks.  News paper has been retrieved too.

The bird feeders have been checked and filled. There is water in the 3 birdbaths for the brave. I have 2 feeding station set up. One in the back yard, and one on the side, facing the kitchen window. This is where the former owners had a feeder. so feeding birds at that location for over 30 years!   Both areas contain multi feeders and the menu consists of a variety of seed and suet to attract all varieties of birds.  As i finished outside, i heard the unmistakable sound of sleet.

In and out, up and down. kitchen clutter control before the cook-a- thon can start.  A quick check to see if the woodpeckers have found the 3 suit filled feeders (yes) and i see snow flurries!  Not sure why but the first sign of snow is always exciting to me. One of the simple things that makes my heart sing.

Too warm for the snow to accumulate, (and hubby picks now to mow up leaves) but it is snowing lightly. more than just flurries.  What a nice day to be inside, watch the parade, the dog show at noon, cooking for family.  A fabulous country day to be thankful for!

watching you watching me

A mid day dog walking break and while i was out surveying what tree work might be next on the agenda, i spied a small hawk in the trees near the house watching me.   A shark shinned hawk i think it is. We looked at each other for a minute or so, and he/she flew off.

The bird diner is officially open for the season!

While not my intention, the congregation of small birds that regularly attend the feeders attracts the larger predatory birds.   Quite astonishing to see  the small open country hawks fly in unannounced and pluck a small bird off the feeder, then continue  on  to dine in the trees.  Bird Feeders are all placed near bushes and trees to offer the smaller birds cover in between feeding and resting and during an impromptu attack.

Life goes on, with you or without you

Thanksgiving eve

Wednesday started off quite chilly. I decided to get out and shop first thing.(wore a coat this time too.) First stop, little Giant, (as opposed to the Big Giant,,,size of the store)) for turkey and all the trimmings. we had a coupon for a free bird, but settled on a  breast only as that  is enough.    I also made a few other stops before lunch, Best Buys for a camera card and Wal-Mart prescriptions and cat treats.   Every other store was quiet, and parking was a breeze.   After lunch i spent  two more hours outside moving leaves. I wanted to get all the bird feeding stations ready for bad weather and the call for thanksgiving day is sleet.  Tomorrow i will just need to refill everything in the side yard, then just watch to see who visits.

The food markets were the busiest today.  There was a time when a holiday meant everyone was home enjoying and all stores were closed. Not anymore! Most food markets here are open on thanksgiving day till mid afternoon.  No reason to forget anything for a meal and not be able to pick it up last minute. 

Traveling from here to there through the township, and out again at 5p.m. for the last few things i forgot to pick up earlier, i was surprised to see Christmas lights turned on at several houses.  You understand that here in the country people don't take their Christmas lights down after the holiday. They stay up year round. The lights  don;t get turned on at other times of the year.   Even we city people leave the lights up all year. It is so dark here and no street lights.. sometimes it is the only way to find a house after dark. if you are expected.  "we'll put the Christmas lights on so you can find the house!".   Then you find out your neighbor was doing the same thing too.

well dinner is finished.  I will be taking a break, then starting the prep for tomorrows dinner, a day of cooking, feasting and watching the thanksgiving parade.

Happy Thanksgiving and Country Blessings to all.
city girl

Good Bye Spectrum!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_%28arena%29

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/23/philadelphias-spectrum-meets-wrecking-ball/

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5842274

breathtaking...

pansy

Had to share one more beautiful delicate flower.

clear today.... weather tomorrow

 Last week the day time temps went from high 50's down to the mid 40's. Those cooler days were also breezy.  This is the time of year that spending time outside in the sunshine consists mainly of  raking leaves, moving leaves, using the leaf blower. No matter  what is going on, being outside in the sunshine is wonderful and if i had actualy had a light weight jacket it would have been better.

The  long sleeved shirt i wore was really not  enough.  The following day was similar, bright sunshine but very cool.  I  wore a light weight jacket for errands but felt the wind through the layers.   By the weekend i was feeling ...on the verge of being sick. Took me an entire day to warm up.  Drank fluids and rested in between wash and clutter control.

Monday started out overcast and sweaty. The weather actors said the cool air meeting the warm would cause the earth to sweat. Sweat?  Cannot recall hearing that before, but  Monday morning early, was a misty morning.  Once the sun was out, so was i!

Mild  both Monday and Tuesday. Lots of leaves still.  After 3 hours both dog yards are ready for winter.  Raked up. Food and water dishes scrubbed out. Dog houses cleaned out  with fresh plump bedding.   Seeing the nice neat cleaned yards people often ask... so how come the dogs are inside?   I like them to be out when the sun is out. Gives them time to be dogs and i don;t have to wonder what they are up to.  Once it becomes cool they are happy to spend more time inside.

This week has seen two perfect Indian summer days. Generally the weather seesaws between cold and mild till mid December then the cold is here to stay.  
waiting for rain.. and cooler temps.

Some of the flowers i found while moving leaves....

pansy

Calandula

no clue, but pretty

.......i say tomoto

This is the end of the heirloom tomatoes we grew this past summer. Hundreds of little yellow tomatoes that were the shape of light bulbs.  I liked nothing about them at all!!! They were not sweet. made jar after jar of odd colored sauce (which my sons do not care for, taste wise or color wise). Still.....it is nice to be able to grow some of what you eat.

still full of color

color and shape

when the sun strikes the branches, the leaves appear to be lighted from within.

i was surprised to find a few roses still blooming.

The Dog days are over... or are they?

hard day resting

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWOyfLBYtuU

the next front is on the way...

What a roller coaster ride of weather we have had so far this week. cold nights, decently, not too cold, sunny days. rain, thunderstorms, wind.  Did i mention wind?

Overnight, between Monday and Tuesday morning, we had a front move through with the most intense wind and rain i have experienced in quite some time.  After electricity blinked off and on a few times, it went off at 3:15 and stayed off till 6;30.  Here in upper bucks we were lucky that all we had was the lack of electricity. Central bucks, and NJ had a number of trees down, roads closed and overall a big mess to clean up.

You never think much about electricity till you do not have it.  In the country there is virtually nothing you can do if the electric is out.  No electric to pump the water out of the well means no flushing toilets,  no showers, no brushing teeth. Since most homes cook with electric  no making coffee which can be a real tragedy!  Generally you also have no heat as you need the electric to get the furnace going.

A good rechargeable, plug in flashlight is a must! Several located in strategic places is definitely the way to go.
Candles are OK, but too dangerous over a long period of time. flash lights, head lamps anything that works when the electric does not and plugged in waiting for the next emergency.

After the violent weather, we had a sunny comfortable Wednesday.  Even today,with yet another front on the way, it was pleasant enough to work outside with just a long sleeved sweatshirt. 

More leaves to move.  Just a very few trees with anything left to float down to the ground.  The temperatures are supposed to drop over the next few days with another rebound mid next week.  It will be at least Mid December before the cold days and nights are here to stay.

"The longest day is in June they say... The shortest in December...."

fall images

Burning bush fruit

honesty plants in with the leaves

japanese & norway maple leaves

Even city girls have horses!

half way through november

Light Rain overnight.  Just a few of the trees still sport leaves.  The weather forecast is for more  rain into wednesday morning and all the while warming up.   thunderstorms too!  warm  and Wind for wednesday, which will probably make the end of the colorful fall show.  Here are just a few of the sights from today.
Hope you enjoy them.

 a few fish from our little pond.
comets and shubunkin cross

 One of the last Norway maple trees
still sporting leaves.  That is hubby's little sleeping
cabin at the back end of the property.

 bright red, oval seeds barberry?

some sort of fall mum.
fabulous daisy like flowers in Sept., Oct., and fading now in November..

 choke cherries, jap maple in the background

Japanese maple by the barn. see my horses??

How to identify your car in the country

When i saw the car that was to be my first brand new, not used car, it reminded me of  a new born calf.
White wrap covered the hood, doors and roof.  It was all wet and drippy from being out in the back lot during the heavy rain. for some reason i thought of those  baby cows i had seen being born at the farm where we bought milk. Steamy , wet, with a thin translucent covering.... new to the world.  I was sold!

I had wanted a primary color, blue was next on my agenda but the color choice was silver or metalic light brown. (light brown???)  To wait for a blue car...might mean a long wait with still no blue car.  silver it is, and if i could get a vanity plate it would say.....  HI-O-SLVR

After  driving around Bucks county for 7+ years, It would seem to me that car colors are regional. while i have seen a blue car or 2 in the area, the majority of the make and model i drive are silver.  i mean... i always see 3 or more  cars just like mine no matter where i am and so do my friends.  i always recognize mine... or do I...??

To designate mine from thine, i tried a myriad of things tied to the antenna.   There was the little red flower that traveled up and down the antenna, totally distracting from the road and finally flew off. The piece of ribbon that got so tattered and eventually turned to string and also flew away. Finally,  i came across antenna decorations that sit at the top of the antenna.  if you could see the antenna you could easily identify your car.  I have a pink daisy flower. looks like a kids eraser and the pink has faded but it still does the job.  

Recently, i noted that mother nature has given my car an additional  way to be identified: Two big, old, yellow maple leaves, hanging from the rear window. i noticed other people looking at those leaves and actually checking to see how they were attached!   They have survived for a two weeks now.  i will miss them when they are finally gone but what an interesting way to use the seasons' beauty.

Seasonal Views

There is never a dull moment in the country all thanks to seasonal views!   Makes you realize just how easy it is to miss something when the trees are in leaf.   As the leaves carpet the ground all sorts of things that were always there are back in view again. a little older and sometimes shabbier but there none the less.  Their time now,  less competition.

2nd trip out to Nazareth through Hellertown and the variety of houses along the main street in town were very interesting.   From old falling apart to newly refurbished. so much to see. Easy to do the speed limit to enjoy the view... also just outside the borough limits,   i spied an old farmstead that was selling 'brown eggs' and the house across the road from it was already decked out for Christmas.

I have noted over the years that people decorate  the outside of their homes  more and more.  Halloween is big.  Remove the scary witches & goblins. Turn around that carved pumpkin.  add a turkey  and gourds  and you have  Thanksgiving decor. .  Christmas is the big one of course. All those animated, lighted theme characters and now the blow up beach ball looking things.  Who's ideas were they?  Just  a little interest  for valentines day, Pastel  Easter and st. patty's day gets a does of green here and there..  Once the snow is gone and spring arrives mother natures does the  majority of decorating. 

 The next seasonal view is fast approaching... 2 weeks and the Halloween/ Thanksgiving things will be put away and Christmas lights and decorations will be arriving on the scene. Sine's 5 & 10 already have their Christmas room open, stop in and visit!
city girl

driving through the valley

I recently took a trip to Nazareth Pa. Driving direction took me through Hellertown Pa.  (just up the road from here).  State road 412  is a pretty up hill and down dale road. 2 lanes lined with older and newer homesteads, farms, old and new shopping centers, cows, goats and even a small heard of Buffalo. At one point, coming around a curve and starting a down hill decent, The entire Lehigh valley opened up before me.  what a site! From where i was, South Mountain, i could see all the way to the Blue Mountains. it was a shock for just a moment.   I tried to concentrate on driving but kept stealing glances at the view.  From Delaware valley to Lehigh valley, we owe it all to the rivers.

where does the day go?

I don't  spring out of bed in the morning.  Generally, I stumble mumble to the kitchen to find a coat and get the dogs out.  I complain silently that i am not in bed. Wish i did not have to be walking dogs so early in the day.  Truth be told, i have been walking dogs for the last 40 years in the early morning and late evening,  if not more often during the day.   Winter, summer, heat, snow. they have to go out and i go with them. 

In the city, we did  a mile + each morning. Walked to hunting park, and back through the neighborhood ( while you could still walk around without fear). I liked walking early then.  quiet time to think your own thoughts. no people to intrude. 

While the walk here has been close to the same for the last 30 years, it always seems fresh and interesting to me.  Now that the leaves are mostly gone the bark of the trees is what you see. Trees, tall, straight up and down or leaning at precarious angles.  It is a changing scene, seasonally, even thought it is essentially the same. Three wooded acres backing to preserved woods.  flora and fauna. always something new to discover if you have time.  The first sight of a new day. Always a welcome sight for the mind and the soul

city girl

monday,gray day

It was not sunny this morning, and as the day progressed, the color changed to a uniform gray.  Only in the mid 40's, the wind picked up too. Feels like an early winter day.

Tree trimmers here today.  showers??   I do not recall hearing that before today, but we had a chilly rain, just long enough to make the road slick. Emergency vehicles going down the road. Wonder to where?

The tree trimmers went to lunch waiting for the shower to pass.  That quick, here and gone.  They are like acrobats up in the trees. Tied to ropes, they go from one big tree to another.  Walking along long limbs, overhanging the yard... even time for a cigarette, way up there.   Branches and tree limbs falling everyplace.
Leaves cover the ground again.  The trimmers make sure to get out of the way to avoid heavy wood suspended from ropes, and battering other trees..  The black walnuts that were trimmed are beautiful inside. dark wood. beautiful natural  black walnut wood.
 
The sun peeked through the clouds around 4,  Illuminating the top of the trees on the next ridge over. Amazing what the removal of a few bare, leafless limbs does. What you see that was always there. Just hidden by the  gracefully arching branches so close to home. 

The birds  visited the yard all day.  The noise and people did not keep them from a meal.
The squirrels stayed away. No hunting for nuts. No running through the tree tops on their way from here to there.

Late day. sun is setting. The wind has died down. leaves are all cleaned up & tools are secured for the night.. Time for the trip home after a full day of swinging through the tree tops.
Wonder what the squirrels will think tomorrow?

city girl

1st saturday in November

What a cool, damp, overcast day it turned into. Weak sun early this morning, but by noon the sun was gone. Feels like snow and maybe flurries in Pocono's is the weather report.  Lots of outside work to do, always something to do out there .  Closing up the house for the winter. The windows need cleaning to let in as much light and sunlight as possible.  Screens need to be replaced with storm windows.  All Saturday chores.

Day light savings time is here. I wish they would have kept it to the end of October. All this switching around and changing things adds to the confusion of aging, but here it is.   An extra hour of sleep for those who actually sleep during the night.

The clear sky  was alive with stars last night. the big and little dipper, Orion, all back for the duration.  We can see more stars here with fewer street lights than in the city.  I never realized how many stars there are till  a visit to Maine a few years ago.   One look at the night sky and i was overwhelmed with the uncountable number of stars that dotted  the blackest sky i ever saw.
city girl

November

Yet one smile more, departing, distant sun! One mellow smile through the soft vapoury air, Ere, o'er the frozen earth, the loud winds ran, Or snows are sifted o'er the meadows bare. One smile on the brown hills and naked trees, And the dark rocks whose summer wreaths are cast, And the blue Gentian flower, that, in the breeze, Nods lonely, of her beauteous race the last. Yet a few sunny days, in which the bee Shall murmur by the hedge that skim the way, The cricket chirp upon the russet lea, And man delight to linger in thy ray. Yet one rich smile, and we will try to bear The piercing winter frost, and winds, and darkened air.  William Cullen Bryant

rain all day

Thy fate is the common fate of all;
Into each life some rain must fall.
[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882),

I see.... frost!

I finally saw frost this morning.    Even before I looked at the thermometer i noted the rhododendrons rolled tight against the cold. This is as accurate an index  in weather reporting as the thermometer. Below freezing and the leaves curl to protect themselves. As the day progresses, the sun provides some warmth, temperatures rise

and the leaves slowly uncurl.  Mother nature is sure amazing.  

This morning on my dog walk, I saw 6 deer at the neighbors pond.  They seemed unhappy to share the area with a small flock of Canada geese who just happened to be landing for a small private goose party.  The deer left in a huff,  disappearing into the woods,  white rumps and tails flashing in the sunlight.

It's election day . 
I am getting out early to vote. 
Exercise your right and enjoy another beautiful day.

city girl

Hello November!

 It was pretty chilly this a.m. and i hear... cooler still for November 2nd, election day!  Early morning dog walking, i wore a coat.   by 10a.m. i was outside with just a light weight jacket.

i have still been taking breaks during the day and walking out to the enclosed porch to admire the view.  it is getting cooler and taking that break with a coat is becoming a must.  i am  starting to miss the warmth.

The trees are looking more bare every day here in Upper Bucks,  although a few still sport fall colors.
Photo from Philly  friend shows trees are still covered with leaves there.

Nice day.
Welcome November.
city girl