Happy New Year

Brew and I are taking a little spinning break. .... looking forward to blogging with you in the New Year.

Looking so forward to a big new blogging adventure...

Merry Christmas

I hope all my blogging friends have had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends,as I have. I want to take time and wish all of you a very merry holiday. I wish you and your families all the best in 2013!

Tuesday Tib bits

Well our cold snap has finally broke. Yesterday and today the temp got up to 4 degrees. Finally a little relief to the wood pile.
It still is so early for those cold temps.

Yesterday I had the girls home from school sick. Jayne had a terrible headache, and Jill was warm. Jill was feeling better today and went back to school, but Jayne still was not up to pare yet so she stayed home with me again.

We got the new primitive Christmas tree up in the dining room with our Western theme. I will get a picture of it soon and get it posted.
I washed the kitchen,and living room floors today as well.


I put some round steaks in the oven, with onion soup mix. I made a pan of fried rice,and a pan of beef fried Mac to go with it for supper.

I think I over did it s little today, as my lower back has been sore for awhile now and it is really bad tonight. I am going to call it a early night and crawl into bed with the hot water bottle.

Tomorrow I hope it is better,as I want to get a bit more cleaning done upstairs.

My Picture Apology

I guess my Ipad is not all that it is cracked u to be..... I finally got to sit and go on our family laptop and checked out my blog, and to my surprise I could not see any of the pictures, and \i am sure that all my fellow bloggers are in the same situation.
I am so sorry for this.
I have been using my Ipad to post my last few posts and did not expect this at all.
So without further A do here are my pics

First up is Thanksgiving with my Friend and her Daughter, as her Hubby was away working for Thanksgiving

Then Came Jill and Hubby"s Birthday

Next was Jill"s Birthday party

Then Came Jayne's Birthday Party

We got our Tree up and decorated for the 10th of November for Jill"s party

Last this is a pic of Hubby and I ready to go to our Christmas party

There you have it, I am so sorry again if you were unable to get these pics.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

Old man winter has sure found us. The temps have dropped in the last week from 0 to -8 at night, to -24 now. It has became to cold to do outdoor work and we need so many layers on.
Inside both fires run steady and I have been cooking a lot on the wood stove.
The wee ones are changing into their heavier coats,mittens ans hats and are getting a little harder to get up in the mornings for school.
We have only a dusting of snow on the ground,but the cold weather is keeping it here.
I can not believe its the first of December already. I have not yet made my christmas cards even starting my christmas baking. My calendar is full or the month. Jill wants to make a new christmas craft this year to put with our gifts we hand out,so I better get on that ASAP.
Last night we were invited to my Hubby's work Christmas party. He is still working for the same company for a little while longer,until the other job is ready. We had a nice time. They served a lovely roast beef supper and a choice of desert. I had cheese cake while Hubby had a chocolate pecan cake. They were to die for.
We sat and talked with friends and coworkers for a couple hours and then headed home. It was sooooo cold, it took most of the ride home just to warm the jeep.






Here we are ready to go to supper.

Today Hubby is gone to the next village to help a friend to put a new window into his mothers house. We both got up early and stocked the fires up, Hubby started his truck and did a quick barn check to make sure everything was ok and left. I made coffee and headed back to my bed to read my daily blogs on my iPad.
I hear the wee ones getting up and will have to go and make breakfast. Justin is working over the road today and Jayne has a essay to work on. Jill and I are going to do some housework, and make a boiled dinner for supper, I also want to do a bit more christmas decorating.

Missing In Action

Hello, my fellow blogging friends. I am so sorry I have not been around for a long time. Blogging has been put on the back burner for awhile now, with all the going ons around here. But I am back, and so happy to be.
I will try to give a little recap of the last month or so since I last was around.

October has come and gone and November is almost over.(I just can not believe this)

As for the farm... We have 2 new arrivals here. My Big Birthday Gift!! (Remember Hubby had a gift for me to later) well, he bought me 2 black lambs. They are so cute and have adjusted well.
The bins are filled and we have downsized our ducks,and chickens to just enough to get through the harsh winter ahead.

As for our home... We have had fires on for the last little while now, mornings are very cool. Normal temps right at the moment are about -8 at night and we do get to about 5 degrees durning the day.
I have started using the indoor cloths line, and we have had to start up the dryer. The pantry is full, the freezers are full, the cold room/root caller are full as well. It feels good to know we will have enough to do us out the winter.

As for us... We had a lovely Thanksgiving with all the trimmings. We invited our friends over and enjoyed a great meal. I now have my home decorated for the holidays as I wanted it done by the 10th of November for Jillian's birthday party.
Hubby and Jill celebrated there birthday on the5th of November then the following weekend we had her 9th birthday party with her friends here at the house.
Jayne celebrated her 12th birthday this past weekend and we went out to dinner and a movie with her friends then a sleepover in the living room.

As for Mom... She was suppose to be coming home at the end of the month, but this all changed about 2 weeks ago when she got some terrible news about her bowel. So we are praying for her to come home for Christmas.

As for Hubby's work.... He is going to have to move on to another mine as the one he was with is shutting down. He is going to take a job about 4 hours away and be gone for 14 days and home for 7. It will be difficult for the winter around the farm, but I have done this before and now the children are older and it should be a bit easier. We are not sure when he will be going but it will be within the next couple of weeks.

As for the Kiddies... They are all doing well in school. Report cards came home this week, and they were all good. I have parent teacher meeting tomorrow evening, and there is no school here on Friday.

As for me... I am still running most days like a chicken with his head cut off, back and forth to the hospital, but I am slowing down a bit, everything is going well. I am going away this Saturday with friends to a craft sale about 3hours away,and am very excited. Hope to get a few gifts,and maybe a few ideas as well.
My calendar is pretty much filled from now till Christmas with all the baking coming up, meat pies, and Christmas school things.
I have a meat bird in the oven for supper tonight and my kitchen smells Devine. I will serve it with mashed potatoes,veggies, pasta salad,and stuffing. I also made bread and rolls earlier this morning.
So I should go and get my messy kitchen cleaned up before the kiddies get home from school.
Take care and I am super excited to be back!

It's Been A Couple Of Weeks

It's seems like so long since I last posted on the blog. Things are still busy around here. The time of year has a whole lot to do with it.

Last week we got a whole lot done. We have been finishing up putting in our firewood. We got our first beef cow brought home and then got the dirty work done, and it is hanging in the cooler. I worked on some apples, making apple butter,made another batch of salsa. Made a batch of slow cooker ketchup,and bottled the rest of the tomatoes,and finished up with the zucchini. HB picked our pumpkin patch with the kiddies. We had so many pumpkins,with so many big ones.

Over the weekend my friend and I got to take off Saturday on the four wheelers just us girls,no men,no kids and drove on the beautiful fall trails. It was great.
Mom is doing well and I am hoping to bring her home for Thanksgiving.
This week I did a lot indoors as we got some rain. So it was cleaning the house kind day Monday and Tuesday.I also got outside in between showers and got my annual plants dumped out and cleaned the window boxes. I put out a couple of mums for fall,and did a little decorating. I could not finish yet as it began to rain once again.
Yesterday I did up more apples, a few more pies to freeze, and 6 more apple crisps to freeze. Just juice and cider left to make.

Next week it's pumpkin week here. Pies, preservers, cooked to freeze, and get ready for Thanksgiving.

The children are all doing well after being back to school for almost a month now. Jayne has taken us all by such a surprise with loving middle school,being invoked in soooo much. She is running for student council and has worked super hard on her campaign, by making all her own posters(scrapbooked of course) made her very own campaign video. (To cute) everyone is super excited with all she has already accomplished even if she does not win.


So that just about wraps things up here on the farm. Till the next time.....

Sunday Stuff

Well I got to sleep in a bit this morning. I am feeling better. The kiddies are as well. We had brunch this morning on the BBQ,honey garlic sausages with left over beans from last nights supper.
I got busy and put a small fire on in the wood stove and am keeping it going as it is cooler out today. I put a beef stew on there to cook slow for the day and will make dough boys to go with it for supper. The girls (with a little help from me) made a $100 chocolate cake for desert and I took out of the freezer some buns to make roast beef rolls to go with supper. they are a big hit in our house. Very simple....Just use buns and slice a strip in them as a split. Then a dab of mayo and a slice of roast beef (that we keep shaved and froze in small containers to make sandwiches with) then a little cheese over the top and bake in the oven on a cookie sheet just until they are toasty and the cheese melts
I did a few loads of laundry up and the guys are gone to the woods to finish up some firewood. Jayne and I worked a little tiding up her bedroom. I went out to the garage to finish up with her head and foot board that HB made for her. I put the last coat of varnish on, so it should be ready to come in tonight. Poor Jayne has been awaiting her new bed for a while now.
We had a bit of a temp change last night at supper time. It was almost scary. It got so dark out and the winds began to pick up. We ran to close everything up early. Then the down poor came. It rained most of the night. (we did need it though) but the wind was not needed.
This morning we found 2 dead moles in our pond, murder suicide. hummm maybe????
I picked a few more tomatoes out of the garden and picked a few apples to fill the fruit bowl.

Weekend Catch Up

Well I can sure say this has been one of those weeks that had felt like it was never going to get to Friday.
I managed to get a lot done ,more canning,laundry,and cleaning was on the list. The girls had meet the teacher night Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and I even squeezed in a trip to town to get some things at the general store. Yep it was a busy week.
The weather here has done it again. We are back into the Summer temps making it  all the way up 30 degrees the last 2 days.
It has been wonderful for washing quilts,and doing our grain. Kinda a little bit different from my last post. But it is suppose to cool a bit today with only a high of 20 degrees which is still beautiful for this time of year.
As for canning I am still doing up zucchini and cucumbers. Justin is wanting to go and pick choke cherries so I guess I will be doing up some syrup and jelly as well.
Jill has a birthday party to go to today from 2 till 4 in town so I think I will try and go to the general and pick up a little extra sugar.
Yesterday I ended up with a rotten cold. Justin,and Jill had it coming on all week as well. Oh the joys of starting back to school. They bring home everything. So I guess it's living on honey for us.
Well I must go get breakfast on as I here them moving in their beds. Have a great weekend everyone

Fall Like

The nights are cooler and the wind has a new chill in it. Leaves are starting to change and we can see the fleece growing longer on the sheep as each day passes. Small fires are neated in the mornings now.Fall is certinally a very busy time here on the farm. Winter preps Are already underway.
Firewood is being split, and the woodshed is getting a cleaning out to be filled. The pantry is almost full with jams,jellies,pickles, preservers,and a bulk of staples to get us through the winter.The potato harvest is finally in and I cooked all that I could pick for the pigs. I bottled 30 quarts for the winter of tiny ones.

Hay is being hauled home load after load and the grain is finally ready to harvest.
The grain shed is cleaned and the agers are as well.
The swimming pool now been shut off and I began draining it.
The meat birds,and turkeys are now done up and we had the small turkey for supper lat night.
The fall sweaters are out,and the last few nights we have had to take off the summer quilts and put the heavier ones on.
The children leave for school in the mornings with their sweaters on but the days are still warm,so they come home in the book bags.
The apple trees are ready for picking,next week with be a apple week here,filling the freezer,making pies.jelly,and cider.
I am finally finished my summer dying of all my wool. We had a wonderful summer for both drying wool,and drying dyed yarns.
I have done a lot more this year with the sales I had. I never expected to sell so much yarn.
The goldfish have tripled in size in the pond and we will leave them in there till mid October.
I took out some fall decor today for inside. I love the colors of Fall.
Meals have changed as well with Fall here. More hearty comfort foods are being made for supper with hungry little people getting home from school.

My Mother is still doing well,except for the c diff she picked up again. (I hope she is still strong enough to fight it off)
Speaking of cooler temps I should go and get the laundry off the line before it gets to damp. Have a great evening.

Help! zucchini Overload

Our family went out tonight to the kitchen garden to pick the rest of the cucumbers and pulled the stocks for the pigs. We ended up with still a whole lot of cucumbers after I made pickes,celery relish,and ate and ate and ate. We gave some away and I will spend the day tomorrow with the girls making Cheryl's dill pickle recipe.

Then it happened we looked a little further into the garden and where we thought we only had a few zucchinis left, we found we were wrong. We had 14 more. Yikes! What ever will I do with all of them. We grate and freeze some for baking though out the winter months. I cube and freeze some for stir frys. We make zucchini breads,muffins,and soup.
Does anyone have a favorite zucchini recipe they would want to share with me? If so please email me with it 
jessicacarey@live.ca

I would love to see what else we can do with them.

Fall Happens

Well I can sure say that the last week has gone by some fast.

The girls and I had a exciting day of back to school shopping in the city. We left late and then I was have way there and forgot my money in the cupboard and had to come back.
So that made us even more late getting away. Then my car over heated and I had to stop at the VW dealer in the next town so they could fix me up. We made it to the city by 4 and shopped till 8. We got home at 10:30 Friday night and were played out.
Saturday we left for the long weekend at the trailer. It was a lot cooler but it was sure relaxing.(I needed that after my trip)
We left Monday to come home and spent the evening getting things together for School. Justin had a wonderful weekend fishing with his grandparents and liked what we bought him for back to school.

Tuesday we went into town to pick up those last minute things. Came home got the book bags filled with their school supplies,and got to bed early.

Wednesday I drove the girls and Justin decided to take the bus with his friend. The high school was having a pancake breakfast for them and a BBQ for luch so Justin did not have to take anything to school with him for the day.
Jill got settled in and I took Jayne over tot he middle school. I drove home crying and worried about them all day.
But I kept myself busy here on the farm with doing the barn work, picking 10 pounds of beets and cooking and bottling them.
Made a chicken stir fry with honey garlic egg noodles,egg rolls,and garlic cheese bread for supper. 4:00 they all got home on the same bus. They were all so excited and had so much to tell me. We set the table and HB got from work just in time to sit and eat and  listen to there day. (they were also starving) so they ate everything.
Yesterday I made bread,and rolls. Cleaned the house, put a ham into the slow cooker after I boiled it, and went to visit my Mom. She has been doing really well lately but was not feeling good yesterday. (I guess we can't have every day perfect)

I came home and went to the kitchen to pick some corn. We had a lovely supper of Ham,corn,new potatoes,and rolls.
After supper we went back to the fields to dig more potatoes. We have done 1 garden and have started the second. Justin sat on the potato digger while HB drove the tractor and the girls and I filled the feed bags. They loaded them into the truck and we came home tired,dirty,and sore.
After baths were done the Kiddies had milk and cookies and were off to bed. We were not long behind them.

Today I drove the girls to school and went to the general store as I had my Fall order of flour,baking powder,and white sugar come in. They order special order for me as I buy in bulk large bags for winter. (it is   more practical for me, as I live so far away and traveling over those roads in the winter months is not a good thing)

I came home and loaded the pantry and also loaded my washing machine. I tied up a bit and washed out the fridge.
I am getting ready to go to visit my Mom then off to Jayne's school for 2:00 to have a welcome back BBQ and to see her classroom and Locker.
Then we need to pick up Jill for 3 and take Jayne to the eye glass store to see if they can tighten her glasses for her.
I promised take out tonight as we are in a rush when HB gets home, just after 4:00 as we are taking off to go get the trailer at the campground. It needs to be out of there by tomorrow and HB did not have the truck with the 5th wheel hitch on the road till this week.
We are trying to get home before dark.
Tomorrow we are going to the next little village to there Fall fair.
I hope to get a few pics.
Next week I need to finish my canning, so I can get ready for apple and pumpkin season.

Our Last Weekend Of The Summer

Well we can not complain about our Summer this year. I can not remember a Summer in the last few yeas that the kiddies were able to get into te pool ever single day.
They have had a full,Summer and are ready to go back to start another school year.
Justin is starting high school,wow grade 9 already.
Jayne is starting middle school, wow
Jillian is starting grade 4.
Next Wednesday is their first day back. They are both nervous and excited. And me well I am both scared  and nervous.
Today the girls and I are going to travel to the city,2 1/2 hours away to do some shopping. Justin went to his grand parents camp for his last weekend of summer. His grandpa and him have a big fishing trip planned. They will be back on Monday. Hubby has to work as he Could not get the time off today to come with us.
Tomorrow morning we are heading up to the trailer for our last weekend there for the season. It was a great summer for the trailer and the kiddies will have lots of memories for years to come.
We will be back on Monday as well.
Have a great labour day weekend everyone!

Finally Back with Internet

I started my last post on Monday and was not able to finish it, or post it as we had a very bad thunder and lightening storm, that took out our power for 10 hours. Along with that it also took out the internet, which was out till this morning.

I am sorry for not posting my Jam Jam cookie recipe until now.


Jam Jams

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

6 tbsps. syrup

2 cup shortening

2 tsps. soda

1 tsp lemon or vanilla

Flour to roll thin

Mix all ingredients. Add enough flour to roll thin. Then cut and bake at 350F for 12 - 15 minutes. While warm, put together with favorite jam.

Another Great Weekend At The Trailer

We had another great weekend at the trailer. The girls and I left Friday to go up, and had pizza for supper went to the beach,and went for a great hike.

We came back had our showers, sat by the campfire and made nachos. We headed in at dark to watch a movie and found that we had a little visitor in our trailer. A mouse had ran across the floor and went under the couch. After trying to find him I gave up,and we watched our movie.

Saturday morning after breakfast we went for a walk around on the trails,the girls biked and Franny and I walked.
We came back relaxed a bit and then had lunch.
The girls joined in on a game of soccer base ball with others from the campground. After 6 I decided to get supper on as the guys would be coming up. Hubby and Justin stayed home as they were baling hay Saturday. They did not get up to the trailer until 8:30 as they wanted to finish up.
Hubby came with 2 baskets of strawberries that we're delivered to the house from our friend who grows them for the stores. He had a overload so he dropped off 2flats and hubby thought that he would bring done up for our neighbor. Hubby put the others in the fridge so I could make jam with them.

We had another great campfire, and headed to bed after dark. Sunday we had a campfire breakfast of bacon,eggs,beans and toast.

We tided up and the guys headed back to town as they wanted to finish up some more hay. The girls and I stayed for the day and headed down at supper time.

I worked on my jam with the strawberries, and made 3 batches of strawberry jam, a tray of muffins to freeze, another to eat right away for breakfast, and a Strawberry coffee cake crumble.

Late Night Post

It is 11:15 and I should sound to sleep by now,but i'm not. Instead I am in the kitchen making pickles. Why? you might ask.Well......

I picked cucumbers yesterday and I filled my basket. I put a few in the fridge for eating, I left 12 out on the island for my celery relish. I gave 4 to the neighbour, I gave 2 to my Dad,and I dropped off 8 at the library today while I was in picking up books. I still have 14 left in the basket and the garden is pretty much ready to be picked again and again. Cucumber overload.......

I needed to get those cucs off my island as they kept looking at me every time I walked past. I wanted to make relish today but somehow or other I never seemed to get a moment to cut everything up.
So after having a early morning as Justin was going to work over the road for 7 and Hubby was leaving early to go and get out new Billy goat. Breakfast got made,laundry got done,dishes were loaded into the dish washer,went outdoors making my new Billy goat a new home in the barn, and after bringing Cinnie Belle back in from getting out of her pen 6 times and then out through the barn hall twice I then helped Hubby unload our newest addition then helped him out with some welding before having to come in and get his lunch made up and his supper cooked as he was going in on night shift. We had a BBQ of steak, new potatoes in foil,veggies in foil as well, and salad. I only cooked his and then left after him to go to the library and then came home to make our supper.

My Inlaws came for a visit tonight to see our new farm additions. I served coffee cake and coffee. Got everything cleaned up and began to cut up my ing. for the celery relish. One of the barn kittens fell in the pool. (Jill's kitten snaps) I felt terrible for her as this is the second one she has lost to the pool. I wiped away a half hour of tears into my apron and kinda calmed her down. She was still pretty upset when she went to bed tonight. Funny how cats would even go near the water. We lost 2 that way and another last year in a bucket of water in the barn, we almost lost one the other day in my pond but we caught it right after it fell in.

My pickles smell so good simmering away as I type my post......

Tomorrow I have a full agenda as well.Justin is working early again and Hubby has a friend coming in fom the next town at 9. I have coffee cake left so he can serve that while I am away to have a overdue, well long overdue hair appointment at 10, then I am off tot he hospital to visit with Mom. I have a few things to clean up here in the house and I want to load the line up with work pants from the men of the family. The girls and I are going to the trailer at lunch time and staying the night. Hubby and Justin will come up with the truck on Saturday afternoon as Justin is working in the morning, and Hubby wants to do some work around here. I want to make a campfire pizza with the girls and I will make a pan of brownies to take along with us. I will make a list for Hubby so he can bring what we will need for Saturday night and Sunday then.
We are bringing the paddle boat back home as we only have next weekend at the trailer and then we have to have it out of there by the 8th.
So I will be back on Monday with another Cookie Jar post for my Jam jam cookies.
I wish you all a well and safe weekend.

Welcoming Cinnie Belle To The Farm

I have been missing the goats here on the farm. I have been wanting to add some more to the farm, but with all that has been going on here with life, we had to put it on the back burners UNTIL now!

Last week I found just what I was looking for a good milking goat. We went to see her last night and she was everything I was wanting in a goat.(I sound like a girl looking for that perfect guy) LOL
Anyhow I was not long helping Hubby load up the crate into the back of his old truck this morning,and heading out to bring her home. The people we got her from had her since she was a kid and she had a set of twins this past spring and was a great mother,they have a great milking line of goats as they run a business of soap and cheese making, along with glueton free baking.
We loaded Cinnie Belle up and headed for the farm.

Sorry for the pics being small,but I took them on my Ipad and still am trying to figure all that out with the whole camera thing. Anyhow here we are heading up the highway for home.


She has fit in so well already and the girls have been busy walking her around all afternoon on the lead. She even managed to get out of the sheep carreol 3 times already.(yep, I remember those days, there goes the rest of my flowers)
She seems to like to be high on the farm as her favorite place seems to be on top of the hay bales so far.

Isn't she just lovely. She is a purebred Toggenburg. She is 3.

(Maybe she wants to be level with Lea the Llama.)

So it does not end there. Hubby got on the phone before leaving for work and found Cinnie Belle a friend, a saanen billy goat. He is going to go and pick him up tomorrow morning and I am super excited.

Trying To Get Back On Track

It's been awhile since I have been able to sit and blog. Things have been so busy around here the last couple of weeks.
We have been busy with making hay, then trying to deal with a whole lot of rain that came way to late.
Since the hay came to a holt due to the heavy rains, we worked on repairs for the equipment. Mucked out the barns, and chicken coop. Scraped down the horse paddock with the crawler,which looked so much more like a pig pen then a horse paddock. Worked on some firewood,sawed cedar shingles at the shingle mill for the new part of the house,did up 10 gallons of yellow beans in the freezer,and a mixing bowl of peas,2 batches(20 pounds) of beets, and went to the trailer for a little down time.
Last Friday night we left for the trailer and had a great evening we had a campfire and then moved into the trailer to watch a movie before heading off to bed, so we could be up early. Saturday morning we were up at 6:30 and packed and on the road around 7:30. We headed over to the Grand Falls farmers market. (we were at this market last summer and enjoyed it do much) and we did once again. We headed over to Wal mart to get school supplies, and then to giant tiger. We left and headed out for more to our road trip. We saw a lot of country side and went to a nice picnic stop and had lunch we had taken along with us. We headed out for more of the country side views. We stopped at a few little shops and antiques places and enjoyed our day out.
This past week Mom has been doing really good, she is still on her feeding tube, but has finally decided to eat. She looks really good and is back to her old self again.  I hope this stays.
Saturday afternoon we headed to the trailer once again. We had supper,went for a swim,and had a wonderful campfire with marshmallows and popcorn.
We went to bed and slept like babies. We decided on another road trip Sunday morning going in the other direction it was a great day,and we seen a lot more country side and stopped at a friends place for a great little visit. They are about a hour and a half away. Then we headed home and spent the evening mowing the lawns and working in my flowers.
This morning I made westerns for breakfast and cleaned up the house. Got the cloths line filled up,and then went to my kitchen garden. Oh my! Beans ,beans,and more beans again. The girls and I picked and we ended up with about another 5gallons. I put then in the wood shed till tonight and I will get to them and get them done up.
We are having a BBQ tonight with hamburgers, salads,and homemade fries with some new potatoes.

Ok, well I have decided to start back in the cookie jar next Monday,sorry I have not been around to keep up with my Monday posts.
Next Monday I decided to post My favorite jam jam recipe.

In The Cookie Jar

This weeks "In the cookie jar" is a recipe I got years ago when I first began blogging from a friend who was on HSB with me. I have been making these ever since and they are so good.

Pumpkin Donuts

2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 2 eggs 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup shortening or 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened

Directions: 1 FOR DOUGHNUTS: In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Add pumpkin, eggs, milk, and shortening, butter, or margarine; beat with an electric mixer on low speed till mixed. 2 Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with a 1/2 inch opening. Pipe onto 2 greased baking sheets in 3-inch circles. Bake in a preheated 375* oven for 10 minutes, or till golden brown. Cool doughnuts on a rack over waxed paper.

It's Hay Making Time

Yes it is that time of year again, where you find me out in the fields helping to bring in the harvest, and when I'm not needed picking raspberries along the edges of the fields.

A Tuesday Evening Stroll

After a rainy day and a whole lot of cleaning indoors, I decided to take a little evening stroll around the barn yard Tuesday evening. HB had to work at the pond as my fountain head fell off again, so while he did that I walked around.

Jill was running around chasing Justin on the lawn

 Jill loves to be silly.

Jayne was out inspecting Dad's work.(take notice of the railing in the back of her falling down. It was to heavy from my baskets. So HB has yet another job ahead of him)

HB got the fountain working again. (Thanks Hun)

Hi Brew, coming for a walk?

 Molly came for a walk as well.

First stop was over to sit awhile with the ducks. (I could spend hours sitting and laughing at the Indian runners)

 Next to see the horses at the paddock.

 Hi Charlotte, how have you been? I think you need a BATH.....

The side window box is finally filling out nicely. A little dead heading as I walked by.

 HB moved over from the pond to the tractor to get the equipment hooked up for the morning to go to the field.

There you have it. A wonderful evening I would not change it for anything. Even all the smells of the animals.

In The Cookie Jar

In the cookie jar this week is my Great grandmothers Molasses cookies

Molasses Cookies

1cup sugar
1 cup shortening
1cup molasses
1cup cold water
1TBSP soda
1TBSP ginger
1 TBSP cinnamon
about 4 cups of flour (enough to roll out)

roll about 1/2 think and cut with cookie cutter. Bake at 350 for about 10 mins pending on oven

Thursday Tib bits

Yesterday we decided to get a little cleaning done in the girls rooms until the yard dried up a bit after the night shower we had.
We took the rooms apart and gave everything a good washing. We made a goodwill box,and Jayne changed around a few things in her room and put a bug in my ear of some new things she was wanting in her room.
I made up a meatloaf for supper and made a big pan of fried rice to go with it,along with some yellow beans. We got everything done and just sat down to eat when HB got home from work.
After supper HB took off to the field right away to cut,and Justin went to cut a lawn for a new girl that moved into a friends place down the road for a year. (she is a nurse and is renting as our friend moved out west for a year with her boyfriend)
Justin also has work for the next week or so starting today on the next road for the raspberry farmer. Justin never stops to long. (Just like Dad)
Today I was up early and seen HB off. Let the ducks out and fed them along with the hens.I put bread and rolls on to rise. Did a couple loads of laundry and made pancakes for breakfast(as Justin requested them this morning)
It is a cool morning out and there was no dew at all this morning. To bad HB was working because he would have been able to go to the field early and cut this morning.
I need to pick the rest of the first crop of radishes today and make some relish and pickled radishes, before they get to big.
My kitchen floor is in much need of a good washing as well. It should have been done early this week but I hit my knee cap on the stairs in the pool Sunday night and it has been bothering me a lot. I have been having a hard time bending down the last few days and today is the first day it is not bothering me. So I can get down and scrub.
I took out some cut up chicken and a bottle of BBQ sauce out of the freezer to have for supper with some potatoes and a green salad.
Jill has been after me to help her make up a pan of brownies. If we get everything done I think I will try to make some for desert to have with ice cream.
Well I better get off the computer if I am going to get these floors done.
Have a great day everyone.

Midweek Catch Up

Is it just me or do you find the weeks of Summer just flying by? What ever happened to the old saying the "the lazy days of Summer" Last Friday I went and had nice visit with my Mother at the hospital and she was having a good day and my Dad was going to be around for the weekend and her Sister was coming from Moncton (which is about three hours away) for a visit,so we decided to try once again and go to the trailer for the weekend. We had a very hot and wonderful weekend. We went to the tiny little town about 20 minutes away Saturday morning after a big camp breakfast of pancakes, sausages, and scrambled eggs. We went to a few of the shops there and I was able to pick up a nice dip at their market for a late afternoon treat. When we got back we had company waiting for us. HB's friend and his family had came for the day. Their children at the same age as ours so they swam,played and hiked all around. We had hotdogs,corn on the cob,salads,dip and chips for supper. All in all it was a pretty great day. We came back after breakfast Sunday as the girls had birthday pool party o attend on the next road and we did not want to miss it. They had a ball , and the weather was perfect. Monday we got a lot of yard work done in the hot and humid temps. We all we ready by supper time for the pool. Where we spent the next few hours cooling off. HB helped and we worked more on the new pond I am putting in. We got the fountain running not to high, The falls working good. HB used his small crawler and we were able to spread out the gravel around the pond. Yesterday I made bread, took out some pork chops,cleaned up and did a little laundry. We picked beets out of the garden and went to the feed store to get pig,and chicken feed. We stopped by my Mother in laws and she gave us 12 fish for our pond. We came home and got them settled into their new enviroment. The sky's got dark so HB decided not to go to the field to cut hay. I made supper of mashed potatoes,baked pork chops,beets,and a loaf of warm homemade bread. We had a poor mans pudding for desert. The rain began as a light mist while we were eating. The girls cleaned off the table from supper as I went to help HB and Justin saw lumber at the mill for my new Kitchen floors. (fall Reno project) Jill and Jayne came up after they were done the kitchen. They bagged wood chips that were at the planner before the rains came. They put them on the four wheeler and we brought them to the feed room. We all got pretty wet outside but we are so happy to see the rain. We all came in and washed up got ready for bed.It rained all night as a light mist. My gardens are smiling. HB is back on day shift for the next 5 days and the weather is suppose to and humid again. He is hoping to get to the field for a hour or so each night after work to cut. I am hoping as well as the raspberries are finally ready and they grow so nice there. Well I'm off to make breakfast for the wee ones as they will be up soon. Grill cheeses,yogurt,and sausages are on the menu this morning. Have a wonderful day everyone.

In The Cookie Jar

Thank you  all for the lovely comments on my families oatmeal cookie recipe. I could not believe how many people enjoyed it, so I have decided to use my Monday posts for the next little while and decidate them to a cookie of the week that is either in the cookie jar or one of our families favorites. Every Monday I will post a recipe for them.

This weeks "In the cookie jar" is our families chocolate chip cookies. I love this recipe because it is so simple and takes no time at all. They are a soft cookie and a dear farming friend shared it with me years ago. It has been my families favorite ever since.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
mix together till fluffy.
mix flour mixture then add to first ings.

1cup flour
1/2tsp. baking soda
1/2tsp. salt
1/2 bag of chocolate chips

drop by teaspoons
Cook at 375 degrees for 8 mins.
cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Oatmeal Cookies

As a request I thought I would share my oatmeal cookie recipe with everyone. It is the one I grew up with that my aunts made all the time.
As a special treat they would often roll them a bit thinner and made a fudge frosting to go between as well. I only do this when I have a whole lot of time on my hands(so my family hardly never get them this way hehe!)

OATMEAL COOKIES

1cup of brown sugar
1cup of shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup cold milk
1tsp. vanilla
1tsp salt
2 cups of oatmeal
2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
start by leaving your oatmeal shortening milk and egg sit for 10 mins. then add remaining ing.
my aunt always said (and I have this written right on my recipe card) to add more flour if sticky. I usually always have to.

I roll mine out a smig less then 1/2 inch thick and cut them out with a crimped cookie cutter.

I sprinkle a little sugar on them before they go in to the oven.

I bake them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 to 20 mins. or until they start to turn golden brown (my oven is not very hot so I just watch them.)

ENJOY!!!


Filling for oatmeal fudge filled cookies

1cup of brown sugar
1/4cup cream
2Tbsp butter
boil together 2-3 min. Beat well add sifted icing sugar until stiff
spread thin layer between 2 cooked cookies and enjoy

Wednesday In Our Neck Of The Woods

The weather is just getting warm, but the winds are keeping everything from getting to hot. Except for my annuals which I seem to be watering so very much. (They are coming along so nice if I can keep the wind from burning them.

 This one is my favorite I loved how they spread over the old rocking chair. A lady came today to buy some yarn from me and just fell in love with it as well.(Made me feel real good)

 HB's window planters stood up the harsh winter.

 all Jayne's pansies grew well in the green house this year.

 the urns are finally filling

The front yard is finally taking shape

Yesterday HB and I celabrated our 13th anniversay. (Yes I was married the day after my Birthday, for a couple of reasons. First being that it was my great grandmothers birthday and 2nd being my HB will never have a excuse to forget hehe!) We did not do anything special as HB is working nights right at the moment and it is like a zoo around here with so much going on, but we promised each other that once everything slows down we will do something special.

Yesterday I did the usual clean, tidy up and do some barn work.Even got a batch of oatmeal cookies made up.

They must have been good cause there is none left now.


Today I got up early and did my barn work before the heat hit. I even burnt the garbage in both stoves as the house was chilly.
I worked in the garden and then moved with my cup of coffee to the front yard and worked in my flowers till the weeones crawled out of bed. I made scrambled eggs,toast, and yogurt for breakfast. Justin packed as he was going on a all day fishing trip with the farmer over the road. I made him a lunch to take with him,with a few oatmeal cookies and he was off. The girls and I cleaned up and got ready to go into the town to do a bit of girly shopping. We went to the salvation army store, the country gift shop,and the supermarket. I bought a new sign for my living room wall and a berry sprag with little metal stars in it. I also picked up a battery operated candle to make a little craft I was thinking about making. Jill bought her dolls a tea set for .25 cents at the thrift store and Jayne bought a board game. We picked up some bananas at the supermarket and headed back home to make supper before HB went to work.
I did a bit of crafting and then had a lovely visit with the lady who came to buy yarn. We had pork chops in cream of mushroom soup, rice, and honey garlic noodles. and I used up the rest of the sausage buns to make garlic cheese bread. (Which reminds me tomorrow is bread making day again.) I don't know but I think all my family does lately is eat. It must be all the swimming in the pool making them so hungry.
I watered all the animals and gave them their grain for the night. I watered my plants and the girls went for another swim before coming in for the night. I just have to go and put the ducks in, and then it PJ time for me. I think I will crochet a bit before bed. While I wait for Justin to get home. His supper is in the fridge waiting for him. I hope he gets some trout as he loves them and works so hard to get them.
Mom was told tonight that she will be moving out of ICU as soon as there is a bed on the floor ready for her. She was happy about that, as were we.
Tomorrow besides making bread,I think I will try to get the bedding all washed and on the line. I love the smell of a fresh bed. (I sleep so much better)

Busy Busy Busy

It has been none stop here in our neck of the woods. Last week we got caught up indoors while we had a few days of rain. We cleaned most of the house.On Thursday I made 6 loves of bread and 2 dozen rolls, some sausage buns and hamburger buns. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and a lemon bread. The smells throughout the house were amazing.
Friday we worked outdoors and the rain had stopped we cleaned up around the barnyard and finally finished up this years shearing and then HB worked at his hay making equipment to get it ready.
Friday night we went to our farm friends for coffee and a nice visit.
Saturday morning after the barnwork was done we decided to take the beetle and the girls as Justin was working for the farmer over the road for the day, and go to the city. We stopped along the way at the farmers market in the next town. It was so nice to shop around and see and smell all the goodies. We stopped and talked to a friend who was selling his goodies there and then went to the city so Hb could buy a boat motor.
We took the long road home and enjoyed our day out. My Mother was having a good day and my Father was visiting her so we decided after supper we would head to the trailer for the night. We quickly packed and were off.
We had a quite early evening with a camp fire.We decided to go to bed and get up early to have a big breakfast and spend the day on the lake. BUT at 7:00 the next morning came a tuk tuk at our trailer door. It was the park rangers looking for me to come and call home as something had happened to my Mom. I called and my Dad had told me that early that morning she had taken a bad turn and had to be moved to ICU. We quickly packed and hurried home. We were back home by 9 and I went to see her. She is stable again but sure is not out of the woods yet.
Last evening I got home after 7 and had supper that HB had made up. Burnt hamburgers and hot dogs he had barBequed. (He is to sweet,that I did not have the heart to say a word about them and ate them anyway) After I ate I decided to take the last few hours before dark and mow the lawns. Mowing the lawns is a full time job around here it seems. You just get it all done and it seems that it is time to start over again.

This morning I was up early and made a big breakfast of eggs,pancakes and sausages as Justin was leaving early to go fishing before going to work for the farmer for the day.The girls got up and made me wonderful birthday cards as today is my birthday. 35 years old today. HB sat down next to me and smiled and said your Birthday gift is not ready yet and I don't want to tell you anymore. It will arrive in the next few weeks and you will never guess. Now hearing that from my HB is a bit exciting but at the same time scary. I never know what to expect from him as he always get me the greatest gifts but very different.


 I got the house cleaned up and worked a little on the new pond we are putting in the front yard. I went to the hospital to visit with my Mom but could only stay a few minutes as she was going for different tests and would not be back for a couple of hours. I came home and my Mom in law was here. She brought me a wonderful card and a cute little solar light with bird on it that hangs.

I put a roast of pork in the slow cooker this morning and we had that for supper with mashed potatoes and green salad. We are now using the lettuce from the garden as well as the radishes. We had a early supper as HB was starting his first night shift tonight and had to leave early.

I made up a batch of oatmeal cookies after supper while the girls cleaned off the table and filled the dishwasher. They turned out good and they got to have one for desert. I had a cup of coffee with mine and decided to take a little break tonight.

Homemade Bug Spray

With Summer comes outdoor living and with that comes bugs,and bug bites. and if you are like my children the bugs love you. I always hate to put that commercial bug spray on them as it is full of bad toxins. So I found a great recipe for homemade bug spray that seems to do the trick.

Homemade Bug Spray

6-8 oz unused sprayer bottle & small funnel

witch hazel

lemongrass essential oil

geranium essential oil

citronella essential oil

I just put my funnel in the bottle and fill with witch hazel, leaving one inch headspace. I then add in approximately 25 drops of Citronella and Lemongrass Essential Oils, as well as approximately 15 drops of Geranium Essential Oil. Remove funnel, replace sprayer cap, shake up and it is ready to use! I would recommend trying on a small patch of skin first, in case of any allergic reactions and do not spray near eyes. You can find sprayer bottles & witch hazel at any drug store 

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather and less bugs.

Camping, Chicken Coop,And A Little Gardening

Good morning, I hope all of you are getting nice sunny days. We have had a beautiful weekend and yesterday was just perfect.

Saturday after Hb got off work, we packed up the truck and went camping at the camp ground for a night. (HB took Sunday off,so it was nice little break)
After we got there we unpacked and the guys went down to the lake to try out their new paddle boat. They fished on the lake till dark.
The girls biked the trails to see who was there and they of course was lucky enough to find a new friend or two.
Franny and I went for a nice long walk all through the trails and came back,and settled by the camp fire with my crochet.
The girls went and had hot showers at the shower house and had a campfire when the the guys got back with popcorn and marshmallows.

Sunday morning after breakfast we went for another walk as a family down to the lake and the girls went for a dip.

 the mountains are just beautiful here.

 Jayne said the water was so warm

It is great how they rope it off for the little ones to go swimming.


After we had lunch the guys took off again for the afternoon and the girls went to play in the park and come back and forth to check in for a little break with me and Franny.

I spent the most of my afternoon alone,(But hey that's ok sometimes) I sat in my chair being lazy catching up on the latest issue of O magazine, and a bit more crochet.

They all found there way back to the trailer and we decided to go for another run to the lake so that the girls could try out the new paddle boat.

 and there off

 they went out very far.

 And they are heading back

Hi guys did you have fun?


After we brought the boat back up to the trailer and had a cool drink.
HB and Justin decided to clean up so of the wind falls around the trailer.

 Franny always loves going to the trailer

We had a visitor come for some peanuts. he is hard to see as he blends so well,and is very tiny. Jill has named him Chippy.
We made supper and cleaned up and headed back home before dark. We were all pretty a bunch of pretty tired campers Sunday night and went to bed early.


Monday was a beautiful day here. It got hot and muggy early, so the weeones were in the pool by 11. I decided after going into the chicken coop, it needed to be cleaned. Justin and I went for a small trailer load of cedar chips up at the planner. I  shoveled out what felt like a ton of chicken poo and laid down new bedding. We filled the nesting boxes with clean straw,and the girls washed all the dishes. It took a good part of the afternoon, but it was well worth it.

For the rest of the afternoon I cleaned out the rest of what was left in the green house for bedding plants. Jill and I filled all our hanging baskets and planters. Jill put a few in her garden and we gave everything a good watering.

I came in and made some mac and tomatoes with hamburg for supper just as HB was arriving from work. We had supper and heading back outdoors to do some more yard work. I cut the lawns and did a bit of whipper snipping and HB work in his garage getting my Beetle ready to drive for the season.

I worked outdoors till dark and came in with a terrible headache. I think I did a little to much, and got a little to much sun.

Today the are calling for rain late in the afternoon and for the next few days, so I need to get out early and weed my garden.
Justin needs to go to work over the road and mow a ladies lawn this morning. I am going to go ahead and make up a batch of pancakes for breakfast and then hurry and head outdoors.

Have a great day everyone.