A Bowl of Warm, Homey Goodness

Today is the Autumn Equinox and it's chilly, raining and, in one word, miserable. Daddy always says the weather we have on the season's change, will be the predominate weather for that season. 

yay.

Cold, rain and misery for the next three months. And, if what I heard might even be true, snow flurries tomorrow.

Oh joy. 

 The weather report for this past week said, 10% change of rain on Monday and clear the rest of the week. 
Where, I wonder?
"Cause it wasn't here. It rained every single solitary day. A lot. My laundry went through several rinse cycles...sometimes the same day. 

Yep, it's true.

I'm sure some of the neighbors were talking. 

 Sometime during this past week, I stood at the open door of the refrigerator. As usual, I was waiting for food to jump enthusiastically into my arms, already prepared, hot and ready to eat. 

didn't happen.

What I did see were some of the raw vegetables left over from Daddy's birthday party.

Hmmm. 

Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, some onions to be rescued from the pantry, a package of bratwurst to be thawed, home made croutons and a box of chicken stock. 

Possibilities, all.

So, the vegetables were put into a roasting pan, cracked sea salt and black pepper added along with a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and put into a 350 degree oven for a couple of hours. While those vegetables were roasting, a pan was placed on the stove top, heat turned on and when the pan was hot, a tablespoon of EVOO pour inside. 

hot pan, cold oil.

Then, a couple of large onions were put into a pan to sweat and brown; when they were ready, they were removed and the sliced sausage put in to brown.

When the roasting was finished, everything was put into the stock pan with a quart of chicken stock (store bought because I'd run out of home made) and cooked for about 30 minutes. The heat was then turned off and everything sat for a while before I added the home made croutons and ate. 

This meal was, in a word...delicious. Seriously, this was one of the best soups I've ever made and, I think, due to the roasting of the vegetables beforehand. I'd contemplated cutting those cherry tomatoes in half but leaving them whole was the best decision. Each time I bit into a tomato, that sweetness would burst and was the perfect touch against the meatiness of the sausage, the richness of the chicken stock, the bite of the carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. I thought about making bread...white, bird seed or cornbread, even crackers...but decided it was beyond my reach. 

Maybe tomorrow. 

Maybe not. 

My hand still hurts and that seems to be a really good excuse to do not as much lately. 

Don't you think so? 

Does anyone know the name of this pattern? The back says KS Benchmark 1984 or 1884, but I can't tell which year. I've been using this flatware for forty years but, along the way, a few pieces have gone missing and I'd like to replace them. Can you help?

Blessings ~ a bowl of homey, warm goodness ~ roasted vegetables ~ EVOO ~ change of seasons ~ still serviceable flatware ~ 

Road Perils

 ~ tree down ~

For a good part of the way out of the Cove, it's two lane, unmarked, roads. This road, Pounding Mill Road, is marked and, as you can see, driving is hampered by a tree across the road. This is the shortest way home, the next shortest way means turning around...difficult to do on a road this narrow...heading back to Rt. 460 and then turning east to head to Tazewell town and then home or, turning west, and going on a narrower, unmarked, dirt road. It's just as likely, perhaps more so, trees would be across the dirt road as well. Hmmm.

~ mission accomplished! ~

It was easier to get out in the pouring rain and help break up, then move the tree just enough so one lane of traffic was clear. See the oncoming car? The driver wanted to stop, waaaaay back, but I motioned the driver to come closer. As soon as the automobile was close enough for me to talk to the driver, I saw it was a woman and asked, "Do you have a man in that car with you?" She looked startled and said, "nooooo...?" I told her, "well, you'll have to do. We need to move this tree so we can all get to where we're going." Startled is not the adjective I'd use for the look on her face this time -grin- but she jumped out of her car, ready to assist. The two men in the car ahead of me, that woman and myself broke up the tree enough so we could pull it out of one lane of road. As we're readying to break up the tree, one of the men looked at me and said, "So, Cove Gal, how's Dave doing?" I must have looked as startled as the other woman! "Gaining strength but it's slow going and daily", I told him. He laughed and said, "Mr. Harrison is in the car and we'd heard the news." He and Mr. Harrison are the gents who keep our furnace and heating system in working order; it was nice to work alongside folks I know.

 ~ uh oh ~

On the other side of this mountain, this tractor trailer driver found out dispatch doesn't always know best. I felt sorry for him. Cell phone coverage is spotty, at best, and in the short time I was there, his phone connection broke several times. To say he was exasperated is putting it mildly. Eventually, within three hours, a tow truck came and rescued him but he and dispatch were having trouble communicating. The driver asked me, "what's the nearest town?" Now, that's a trick question. Around here, towns are few and far between but we do have plenty of wide spots. I told him, "tell your dispatcher you're about four miles from the Pounding Mill WalMart." The guy looked at me like I'd struck crazy. "Pounding Mill?" But, he told her and her response was about the same. I just grinned and left them to it; I can only offer help, can't make them take it. The truck was, probably, in okay shape; it looked like he'd driven onto the soft shoulder and it gave way. Good thing it was on the ditch side of the road and not the cliff side.

 ~ dear ole Abbie ~

Beloved Abbie, like so many most at Thistle Cove Farm, has some years on her. As a foundling, she came here in 1998 and was full grown then so she's upwards of fourteen years. That's close to 100 in our years and she's beginning to slow, just a tad. I thought she'd had a stroke but, after taking her to a vet who specializes in Jack Russell's, I found Abbie didn't have a stroke but rather vestibular disorder. Nasty stuff that and means she suffers from having her world dizzy and imbalanced. She tells me when she needs to go up or down steps and I have to make sure not to disorient her. The two times I have turned her too quickly, she has to lay on the floor and flip 360 degrees to right her inner ear and restore balance to her world. It's painful to watch and I can only imagine the disorientation inside her little head and body.

She's eating well and moving nicely; was able to chase a rabbit yesterday and in a, fairly, straight line. She's on pain meds, to help her sleep and cope, and on antibiotics as, sometimes, they seem to help. Dr. Peggy, the vet, also suffers from vestibular disorder and was quite sympathetic; she even called this morning at 8 a.m. to see how Abbie is faring.

 ~ Sam, either licking his chops or warming his nose ~

Sam went to the vet also and he has a very nasty ear infection. I've been trying to clear up this ear infection for a very long time; hopefully, we've got the right mix of meds to get the job done this time.

~ double rainbow ~

Can you see the double rainbow? Dolly Parton said, "if you want to see the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain." She's right, you know. For two weeks, or more, it's either rained or snowed each and every day. Lawz! but I am glad to see the rainbows!

Our GP, God bless Dr. Steve!, called after 8 p.m. tonight. He wanted to let us know he'd already received the results of the CT scan Dave had earlier today. The tumor has shrunk a bit more and we'll take it. Yes, Lord, we'd still like that miracle of full recovery please, but, in the meantime, we'll take this small victory and thank you, Lord, thank you so very much.

Here's hoping rainbows for you as well. Rainbows and unexpected gifts.

Blessings ~ rainbows ~ Dr. Steve ~ Dr. Peggy ~ helping hands ~ Dave ~ Sam ~ grace ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Week 2 of Christmas

 ~ Big Sky Country, Cove style ~

 Like a large portion of the country, we have been having our share of Weather. Since December began, we've had snow, rain, ice, extremely high winds and bright, sunny days. This past week has been c-o-l-d with wind chills below zero and the livestock water troughs would have frozen had it not been for the new de-icer placed in the middle. The de-icer is electric and can only be used near the barn were it can be plugged into an electrical outlet. There's also a blue bucket, with an electric line, and that's filled with water that will, eventually, warm for the sheep. I'm at the age where it's cheaper to pay the electric bill than chop ice every day yet even in the depths of winter, I'll still have to chop ice as the de-icer simply cannot keep up.

Winds have approached 60 plus miles per hour and it's taken extreme energy to do battle to walk to the barn for morning and evening chores. The neighbors came and put the hay spear on the tractor so now two round hay bales have been set out for the horses. I throw out bats of rectangular hay bales for the sheep but my work load is still cut appreciably.

~ before dawn, a new river, formed by tremendous rains ~

The wind storm has knocked down trees onto power lines and portions of our county and southern West Virginia have been without power for three or four days. Electrical line-men earn their pay...and then some!...because no matter the weather, they are Out There fixing lines so the rest of us can blow dry our hay and watch television. Thanks, guys and gals, you're appreciated, as they say 'round here.

~ same view, after dawn ~

We've been flooded IN due to the amount of rain we've had. Falling Rock is the name of a local cave and it's a beauty. I've been in it once, about fourteen years ago, and, even then, it was difficult. I had to first wade through two foot of muck and manure then duck walk fifteen feet, or so, under the cave lip. After entering the cave, I could stand up and appreciate the thirty foot ceiling over the underground river. There were blind fish in the water along with all sorts of fossils and other interesting bits and pieces. Anyway, that's where our water comes from and a couple to a few times a year, it floods. When it floods, it crossed the road at two separate places and if we're home, we're home for a while and if we're not home, we better find someplace to hole up.

In the above two photos, please note...this is not a true river, creek or stream.

This body of water is formed only when Falling Rock cave is so filled with flood water it can't keep pace. The result is, the water exits the cave, floods the pastures, spills over the road then goes behind Thistle Cove Farm and onto the next low place. Eventually, after sometimes flooding the road another two or three times, the waters spill to the lowest point and come to rest and the water's journey comprises some several miles, even as the crow flies. Sometimes the water goes back to the earth in a day or two, sometimes it's much longer but always, Mother Earth and Father Time have their way with us and we can only grin and bear it.

~ flooded road ~

Earlier the water was almost to the top of the fence posts but is now beginning to recede. Within a few hours, the water was low enough for automobiles to traverse; we've seen it so deep, only a tractor could plow through...no pun intended -smile-.

I've been feverishly beavering away, getting the house prepared for a company gathering last night. Everyone seemed to have a good time and, thankfully, the house is large enough to accommodate far more than the twenty, or so, folks gathered together. Families were also invited and children ranged from a five week old AAAdorable boy to teenagers. This was the first year it was catered and what a Blessing! I told them they could have their company party here every year as long as they had it catered.

The dining room looked beautiful by candlelight.

The house still isn't "finished" but it was close enough. We piled all the "stuff" into the downstairs bedroom, knocked a path through to the bed so it could be used last night and called it quits. The parlor was beautiful with soft candlelight, the dining room was Full of delicious food, the kitchen had cheese platters, nuts and olives and the rest of the house was warm and inviting as well. People seemed to find a place, settled in with their plates and have good chin wags while enjoying the repast. Lovely!

 The oil painting was a gift from a local Russian government authority when I taught there in 2004.

The kitchen had various cheeses and crackers, olives and nuts. The large candy jar filled with soft peppermints is a household staple. There are folks who stop here simply to load up their pockets and then climb back on their tractors and proceed about their work day.

~ the parlor, almost completed...hurrah! ~

Goodness, I am verbose but it's been a while since I caught up. There's one more piece of business...or, as they say in the south...bidness...and I'm finished.

Drum roll, please.......

According to random.org and in the order chosen, folks winning things in the latest giveaway are

Number 14 - Karina wins mug rugs

Number 2 - Becky wins the yarn and knitting book

Number 82 - Ribbonrose wins Gift from the Sea

Number 25 - Paula wins mug rugs

I'll begin contacting you later tonight but, in the meantime, if you're reading this and realize you've won, please e-mail your snail mail information to me at thistlecovefarms at gmail dot com.

P. S. Paula, I'm unable to contact you because you have yet to release profile information to Blogger. If you want to receive the mug rugs, you'll have to send your snail mail address to me.

I've sent notification e-mails to Karina, Becky and Ribbonrose...please send your address if you're still interested in receiving the prizes.

Merry Christmas and until next time,

Blessings ~ good food ~ candlelight ~ ~ Christmas ~ water for a thirsty earth ~ excellent company ~