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!
bucks county
farm field
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
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 ....
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.
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!
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!
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
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
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