The Sun is bright

Here is what we are having for supper plus a pot of bake beans which I couldnt get a picture of yet.








What a glorious day out. The sun is shining so bright. Hoping for a nice warm day. Lots of things planned to do and outside is involved in all of them.

Just put the ham on to simmer all day so the stove really doesnt have to go hot just enough to keep temperature up and house warm enough for baby. Rob is outside running the tractor cant see from here what he is doing since i move the computer out of the window. Amazing the cats and dogs dont have to lay on my key board any more. No sun shining on it for them.. Just put the clothes drying rack on the porch so I am going to hang laundry outside today if I have to string lines from the trees..

This morning was a simple blessing Anthony enjoyed our toast and coffee (well I had coffee) in the peace and quiet of the sun rise while everyone else missed it, because they were sleeping. Nothing better to warm a heart than to hear a baby talk and giggle first thing in the morning. I made our favorite toast cooked right on top of the wood stove, who needs a toaster not us. He sat there saying mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Best thing ever. Going to have me a country boy yet

Deanna says she is my country girl, Hailey says she will be my country girl when she can come over more which was really cute. Hailey is cute she tries so hard to be like her sister and she just needs to be Hailey because we love her just the way she is. maybe this summer I can have the girls over to help plant the garden and take care of animals, I bought 4 bunnies from a friends, their not even 8 weeks yet. They will be for the girls to take care. Deanna asked me last week for a bunny for her birthday which is in 2 weeks. So a friend had 4 so I told her I would take all 4 so Deanna,Hailey and Faith will have the 3 girl bunnies and Anthony will have the little male. I already have Blue who belongs to my other granddaughter Emma. Need to get me a big female and breed Blue with her so I can give Abby and Andrew and Audrey bunnies also. But I am sure they will all stay at grammas house so thats a good thing for the petting farm I want this summer.
Cant wait for spring to get here because then warmer weather is close behind. I plan on starting some seeds this week. i have done good this year and didnt jump the gun so to speak. Usually I get cabin fever and start them in Feb so by now they are to tall and by the time they get in the ground their almost dead, so I waited this year. having Anthony to keep me busy has help with cabin fever and being bored.


The warmer weather will be nice so i can get back down stairs and sew. I have been doing alot of crocheting because its to cold for Anthony in basement in my sewing room.




I have done 5 loads of laundry since last writing, every time I leave this chair Rob take sit so it takes me a while on weekends to finish a posting. I have cleaned my sewing room so its set for baby to come down stairs with me when its warm enough.

The sun is just beautiful and such a refreshing feeling. Needed some sun. touch of spring. Oh yes and mud season which really is NH first season of the yr since Winter actually start in December of the previous yr. LOL

Well I am headed out side to spend some time with my animals and take Anthony outside. You all have a wonderful day and I pray you are having sun shine also.

Beautiful day

This is Mount Cardigan. This was my view from my mailbox Monday morning. the sky was just so Blue it caught our attention. The mountain was blanketed with a soft white and the ice on the trees sparkled as the sun hit them

I love this time of year. every day we get a few more minutes of daylight. Just a month ago I struggle to see the mail box at the end of the driveway as Robbie waited for the bus. Today at 6am its bright and didnt even need the head lights on. Came home after dropping Rob off at the log truck and did chores first thing. Was such a blessing not to have to wait for it to be light enough to see. The weather is warming up the center ridge of snow in my driveway is actually melting. I am so happy. Anthony is in a great mood today I woke up with him looking at me over the rail of his crib. What a way to wake up to a smiling face. Lots to do today wont get everything done have to go get Robbie at 1pm to go to a dr's appointment for 2 in Plymouth. 2 weeks of vacation and we have apptment during school. Cant figure that out.Need to clean the rental today if I dont finish I can do it tomorrow also. I wish my clothes line was up I would love to hang some clothes out side. The weather is suppose to be in the 40's all weekend. Boy I hope so.

I did post a few recipes since I seem to run out of engery by the time I get to write this at night. So grab the chance this morning.

Would love some input on things you would like to hear about , learn, things you want me to share????? Anything. Sometimes I feel like I am rambling and dont want to bore any one.

Well right now I must get busy and do laundry and clean while I wait for Nick to leave.

I hope you have a great day

Recipe- Chicken Casserole with stuffing topping

My family enjoys this casserole dish.

Chicken Casserole with Stuffing topping

1 c. cooked chicken cut in to chunks
1 can drained french style green beans
2 cans cream of celery soup
1/2 c milk
1 pkg Stove top stuffing or a stuffing of your choice


Heat soup and milk on the stove until they are well blended. Add chicken,and string beans and mix well. Place in a casserole dish. Fix stuffing according to the package or use home made stuffing your choice. Place stuffing on top of the chicken mixture and bake at 350 for 45 minutes

HEARTY MAN'S PIZZA

I love making this pizza, my kids growing up always asked if we were having momma pizza when pizza was mentioned for supper.

PIZZA CRUST:
1c. very warm water
1 pkg. dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. flour
2 Tbsp. oil

In a large bowl, blend water,yeast together. Add sugar and salt. Mix Well. Add oil and flour. Mix about 20 strokes. set aside, let dough rise about 10-12 minutes. Oil hands well Spread dough on to your pizza pan or large cookie sheet


TOPPINGS---USE YOUR IMAGINATION

1 c. of your favorite pizza sauce
1/2 lb. sausage -crumbled
1/2. hamburger- crumbled
1 c. mushrooms
1 sm. onion sliced thinly
1/2 c. sliced green pepper
2 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese

Spread sauce over the dough, sprinkle with 1 c of cheese and add your favorite toppings.Finish with 1 c cheese bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Wednesday March 3rd,2010

Today started as any other, knew nothing spectacular was going to happen today. Got up at 4a.m. thats not unusual, came down made sure coffee was going. Made Rob's lunch, he had brought home the truck last night which meant I didnt need to get Anthony up to drive him down to the truck where ever it might be parked. At 5:45a.m. I received a phone call to tell me to come get my hay earlier than 7a.m. which was fine becuz Anthony an I were just sitting around waiting to leave. Went down bought 20 bales of hay which should only last me 4 days, but it was great to get it so close to home. Walking around talking to the gentleman who sold me hay "Mark" he asked me about some stock panel and round pen panels that he had made into a great looking fence for his cows to use as a run in and out in the winter time. He wants to sell them. Of course general conversation, how much what comes with it, by the time I was done i was so happy, getting a complete round pen set up which will be made into a long outside winter pasture for the horses, 2 water and stock tanks all for $300.00 and he will wait til next month for the money. What a total Blessing and total unexpected out come to just going to buy 20 bales of hay. Your a sweetheart Mark. I really needed everything you asked me about. This yr the horses have spent the winter in what was the barn and garage combination and they are so bored they're chewing everything in sight. Next yr they will have a pasture for winter and be able to get out everyday when they want to.

Came home unload the hay, drove Nick to the end of the driveway since his aides cant get in here becuz someone hasnt plowed yet, but its melting which is a help. Took Deanna around today and got her all registered for school she starts Monday she is so excited. came home and cut and split more wood. Brought Anthony outside with me while I split it, he laid in the stroller and watched drinking his bottle. Donne all night chores, have a load of laundry going. Hamburger is thawing for cheese burgers for supper. Suppose to have a Historical meeting tonight but I cant reach Rob on the phone so guess not going Got eggs boiling for his lunch tomorrow and for the potato salad to go with cheese burger. Robbie is here tonight, he has appointment tomorrow at 2 so that means I clean rental in the morning and get that ready for Fridays renters.

I have to get my quilt block done for a quilt contest I enter, needs to be in Ohio by March 15th. There lots of fun never win but have a good time doing them, want to know about what it about check out http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/ Its a great family of people there.

So now i am cleaning eggs we got today and picking things up waiting for supper. Need to post todays recipe. Will do that after supper once Anthony lays down. I hope you all had a blessed day and Thank whom every you believe in for it.

God Bless

Donna

aka simplefarmgirl

Welcome March in like a lion

The winds of March are showing they have arrived.Watching the snow swirl around my driveway lets me know I am not going out and shovel today I will just have to deal with hauling Nick in and out.

His aide tried this morning and couldnt make it in past the very end. Such is life.

There is still alot of people in NH with out power we have been some of the luckier ones, we still have and didnt loose it.

Rob feels better this morning which a Blessing, he was sick in bed all weekend, Nick didnt feel well either Saturday and rest all day yesterday. Today Anthony is teething so I believe thats the reason for his crankiness. He just laid down for a nap now its time for me to get busy.



Today a turkey is headed to the wood stove to slow cook all day, cant wait for the smell to begin. Theres just something about a turkey cooking that is comforting and relaxing.



Lots of laundry to do but only so much room to hang it up so a few loads at a time.



Rearranging the kitchen and living room again so the state can not saying thing about Anthony being here, he will have enough room to play and grow



Todays recipe is bread, been looking thru all my book and always come back to 2 favorite cook books

1st is Favorite New England Recipes and the 2nd one is Prairie Home Cooking. Do you have a favorite cook book?



I know growing up my mom use to make some real cool stuff, one of my favorite is Brown Bread, steamed in coffee cans.



so todays choice is BROWN BREAD





BOSTON BROWN BREAD (STEAMED)



1 cup rye flour

1 cup yellow corn meal

1 cup graham flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

3/4 cup molasses

2 cups sour milk

1 cup raisins



Mix and sift the dry ingredients. Dissolve the soda in a small amount of water and stir in molasses. Combine with the sour milk, then mix into dry ingredients. flour the raisins and add to the batter. Mix thoroughly and pour into two completely greased molds filling 2/3 full -- no more as it rises and you dont want it to over flow . We used coffee cans.

Cover tops of can with tin foil and tie down with string tightly. So bread doesnt force top off as it rises.

Place cans on a rack in a kettle of boiling water which only comes up half way of the can. Cover kettle and steam for 3 hrs adding more boiling water as needed. Use a string to cut bread, serve with butter or your favorite jam.



This isnt the recipe my mom uses but its close, along same idea. Going to make some later in the week to go with beans on Saturday night, right now a turkey has my name on it.



Hope you enjoy the day stay safe and warm

OUR HOUSE Feb-2010 snow storm

This is what our house an yard looks like right after 5 days of snow. I am about tired of winter an praying for spring.Hey at this point mud season looks good. Of course the loggers dont want mud season they still want frozen ground sorry guys. They ought to be posted the weight limit signs shortly on the roads, then Rob wont be able to bring the big truck home unless he is empty.

Really starting to get cabin fever, wanting to play in dirt, pull weeds, be scared of snakes right now evens sounds good. Cant wait to go haying and feel the hot sun on my skin. Praying this hay season goes better than last yrs. I cant afford 100.00 a week just for hay next yr. Theres alot to do around here, still working on inside of the house, had to tear out walls and insulate, there wasnt a whole lot any where. i guess we did it in time for the roof because it was starting to rot pretty well. It cost alot of money to insulate but still cheaper than an new roof plus insulation. We put in new doors and window in the front. Dont get to use my front door yet, no steps, first one is a doozie. Praying everything goes right this summer and i will finally get my farmers porch off the front and my inside done at least the main floor, I get some counters and cup boards back.

Theres alot to do in the pasture and for the animals. The cow barn after a spell will be turned in a shop for me. the cows will have a new pole barn up on top lot. Hoping the water get fixed for that not hauling garden hoses 200 -300 feet at a time. Horse wont be in the big building any more either they will have their own run and pasture for winter, their tearing my big building apart being so bored. Chickens are getting the big closed in porch off the back of the house its being moved up on top lot also, so no animals will be down here this coming yr, they will all be in one area. oops dont for get my goats, they'll have a little barn also. Pigs are only going to be raised in the spring and summer slaughtered in fall right now, until feed prices come down cant afford to feed a bunch all winter also. Hoping the cows get to go out to the same pasture we used last yr, they did wonderful, need to talk to the gentleman about it. It work great for us. And it was a few months of not worrying about feed for them.

Today is Sunday and things are still pretty quiet int he house right now, of course that wasnt the case all night I had 2 people sick and throwing up. Rob and Derek both were sick, not sure why, Nick was the night before. Baby and I got sick Friday night but I thought it was from bad ice cream if that possible. So today is going to be a heavy clean and scrub down day around here. Everything is getting washed and scrubbed.

They all will have a light breakfast, I am thinking maybe toast and eggs, nothing heavy.

Derek is my grandson who just turned 13 , 10 days ago. I dotn get to see him very often, my grandson are at the age, its boring to come to grammas, not alot of electronics and gagdets to play with. pretty much farmy stuff. Lots of crafts and stuff also. So the girls have a good time.

Yesterdays recipe was for a New England Boil Dinner one of my all time favorite meals, doesnt even have to be corn beef alot of time I use ham. So today will be for Red Flannel Hash.

RED FLANNEL HASH

Mix the leftover meat and vegetables from you New England Boil Dinner, chop coarsely, and moisten with a little cream. Bake in a iron skillet in melted butter for 40 minutes in a 350 oven or until nicely browned.

Turn out on to a hot platter and serve.

myself I usually chop coarsely and mix well, heat and iron skillet and fry in butter until golden brown and keeping turning over so it doesnt stick but has a little bit of crisp to it.

Hope you enjoy,,, now I am hungry

Have a great day, its time for me to put more wood on the fire and get the stove hot to cook poached eggs on toast.

God Bless and have a Blessed Sunday