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 ~ 

Quick! Please Pray

~ my happy, healthy and safe sheep ~

Please pray for farmers and their livestock in Northern Ireland. It's dreadful...sheep are being buried alive only to die with their lambs, born or unborn. Farmers cannot get hay to their sheep and all are in dire circumstances; livelihoods are being torn asunder, lives are being lost, households are without electricity, schools are closed...the weather is brutally bitter...please pray! 

Blessings ~ folks all over the world, praying for Northern Ireland farmers ~

Blackberry Blizzard

In the past, I've written about Blackberry Winter in 2005, 2008 and 2011. There are probably a few other posts but these three give you an idea; it was also a trip down memory lane for me...a happy trip, let me add. For those who might not know, Blackberry Winter is the reverse of Indian Summer. It's that time in Spring that we've had a warm/hot spell and the blackberry bushes are in bloom. Then, WHAM! Ole Man Winter comes for a visit and we're slammed with winter...but today it's not just Blackberry Winter, it's Blackberry Blizzard!

We're having high winds, sleet mixed with snow, low visibility and the horses and calves are not happy. Can't say as I blame them; I'm not all that thrilled myself. I've had terrible cabin fever and was going to Abingdon today to meet Chris. We were going to go to the bookstore, do a little shopping, eat lunch and, generally, catch up with each other but not now. Dave and I always made the agreement to not travel dangerous roads. When the weather was terrible, unless it was a have to case, we always stayed home. There are folks who have to go to their job and Dave and I didn't want to add to the mix. Tractors are holding steady to the road but I can hear pick-up trucks slipping and sliding all over the place. Yep, made the right decision to stay at home!

I was at the barn at 6:30, throwing out hay to the horses and feeding barn cats. One of the horses was shivering, not a good sign, as horses generate heat from the belly out. They needed food and quickly! So, I gave them a double portion of hay which should tide them until this afternoon when I give out more hay. The barn cats, used to me showing up an hour later, weren't in evidence but the food was put out for them anyway. So, my day is now going to be spent doing a bit of estate paperwork, cleaning and making something to eat for myself.

When Dave was alive, we gloried in food prep and eating and would spend quite some time thinking about food, buying food, preparing food and then sharing meals. Not so much anymore. It's such a drag, all the above and, the truth hurts here, I don't really care. In the morning, I'll make a two country egg spinach cheese omelet, sometimes with home made sausage or bacon, sometimes with bread and that will hold me until yogurt for supper. Those of you who live alone or have spouses who work away, what do you do? Do you fix full meals? How do you feed yourself?

How's the weather where you're living? Blackberry Winter, Blackberry Blizzard or Spring? Whatever; it's good to be above ground!

Blessings ~ weather ~ hay ~ omelets ~ blogging ~ strength to do the work God sets before me ~

Week 3 of Christmas

 

~ walnut tree, back pasture  ~

 
Perhaps you can tell from my header photo, we live in a, fairly, remote area of Virginia. There are other areas of Virginia that are far more remote but we're "out there" by almost anyone's definition. Just ask the folks who manage to make it here for Sheep Shearing Day -smile-. Invariably, the first timers get out of their car, stagger up the driveway and say, "I thought we'd never find you!" I've had one or two say, "You need better signage!" That's when I pull an Alice in Wonderland on them.

"How," I asked, "could I have better signage when I have no signage at all? The website directions, however, are excellent!" They stare at me blankly. I told one gentleman, arriving by following only the website directions, it was a little like being a Christian. "It's all about faith; you've either got it...and you must because here you stand in front of me...or you don't." Then there was the ...man...no gentle in front for good reason! who called and left an abusive message on my answering machine. He cursed, called God's name in vain and then lit into me because he was lost. I kept hoping he'd find us so I could pray for him, loudly and publicly, but he never showed. Just as well, I'm sure -smile-.

We live about thirteen miles from town and, generally, can make the trip in twenty to twenty-five minutes. Yesterday, we went to town at 10:00 a.m., planning to do a few errands and be well on our way home...if not home...by 2 p.m. The eye doctor has released me, saying my eye has now totally healed -Thank YOU, God!- and I'm able to return to exercise. It's been so long since I've taken exercise that I'm having to begin, virtually, all over again so all I did yesterday was walk a mile plus on the treadmill. Then to the library to stock up on reading material, the feed store to have a couple of ham biscuits for lunch -customer appreciation day so they were serving ham biscuits, cookies and coffee, YUM!, the post office -to mail a box to my nephew serving his second tour in Afghanistan and send Christmas cards- and then home. We were about six miles from home, driving in a now beginning to look serious snowstorm, when I told Dave, "we're down to about a quarter tank gas". After a hasty consultation, we decided to turn around, head back to town and fill the tank. Going down Plum Creek there were signs this might not have been such a great idea but we were in it and there wasn't a place to turn around, at least, not until the bottom.

Bad Signs: one man's car was in the ditch, up against the mountain rock, on the way UP while another man's truck was seriously pushing the guard rail on the way DOWN and, not quite to the bottom, the school bus was pulled over and the driver was putting on chains. Just beyond, a woman in a compact car was sitting in the middle of her lane, headed up, and it looked like she was frightened stiff. The dozen or so vehicles behind her just looked annoyed but, generally, speaking, everyone was polite.  Dave and I went to town, filled the tank with gas and headed back thinking Plum Creek would be clear. It was clear until the second curve and then it looked rough, really rough. The same people we saw while headed to town were the same people we now saw...no one had moved, not an inch.

As I looked to our rear, we saw a driver trying to turn around in the middle of the road. Unfortunately, she had only a compact car, no four-wheel drive, and was in Trouble.

She didn't pull up far enough on the road, probably too slick, and when she tried to gain purchase, there was none to be found. The little car started slipping but she managed to get it stopped before it either landed against the guard rail or, God forbid, went over the guard rail and into Plum Creek. William, our neighbor six miles up the road, tried to help her but there was nothing to be done. She was stuck, in the middle of the road and could only wait until a tow truck came to rescue her. We loaned her our cell phone so she could call home and let them know she and the child were all right but held up for a while. I felt sorry for her but glad she, nor anyone else, was injured.

Dave and I travel with audio books so we turned on the speakers and prepared to wait. About forty-five minutes later I decided to walk up the mountain and see what was happening. There was nothing happening, nothing at all. We were all sitting there, behind that one little woman who still looked terrified. Someone was there, trying to be of help to her but she simply looked dazed and panicked. As to other drivers, no one had gone around her, no one had tried, not even the folks with four wheel drive. A sheriff's deputy was headed down the mountain so I stopped him and asked if we could go up. He shook his head "no"; it was terrible, nothing but snow covering ice with sleet mixed with more snow pouring from the sky. He was having trouble and a few yards later, his four-wheel drive vehicle slipped into the ditch. He was able to gun the engine and, in a few yards, pull out of the ditch but first he frightened me half to death. I heard him start the slide and when I turned around, he was headed straight at me. I yelped, although truth be told, it was more of a little big girl scream, and scrambled to the guard rail, thinking I could run behind another vehicle. Well, that was dumb. If the deputy had hit the car between him and me, it would have thrown me either into the guard rail or over the guard rail and down the mountain into the creek.

I came back to our car and told Dave, "I'm turning around and we're headed down the four-lane" as Rt. 460 is known around here.

That's what we did. We turned around, went back down the mountain then to Rt 460 west. All told, from the time we left town the second time, just before 2:00, until the time we, finally, arrived home, was two and a half hours. I called William, our neighbor, to see if he'd made it home and he hadn't. I left a message and he called at 6:05 and said he'd just walked in the door. Those folks sat on Plum Creek Mountain from a little after 1:00 until after dark! The sheriff stopped all the non four-wheel drive vehicles from attempting the climb and only allowed engaged low four-wheel drive vehicles up the mountain.

The snow storm gave us about eighteen inches of snow but drifts of more than three feet. This is the sun room porch.

~ Sadie, trying to bury her rawhide chew ~

~ Sadie, head buried, as she stuffs her chew into snow ~

Sam, especially, loves the snow. He goes outside, alone, to romp, play, roll, bark at "whatever" and have the time of his little life! Sadie loves the snow but only if Sam is outside with her. Sadie loves to roll Sam, run Sam, torment Sam and Sam? He loves it too!

Isn't this a beautiful photo? Even though the snow is deeper than my boots, even though I have to break a path for myself and Abbie, it's beautiful! The sheep were waiting for their hay and didn't seem the worse for wear. They actually love the snow and colder weather but aren't as crazy about trying to break paths. I'd rather they stay close to the barn and house anyway. I've got a blue electric bucket, filled with water, at the horse trough and I broke a path so the sheep can get to their warm drink.

~ Deep snow, little Sam ~

~ If I'm not available to break a path for Abbie, she'll settle for Sadie's help ~

~ Sheep in their barn, horses beyond ~

 All the animals have free choice shelter and warmed water to drink.

 ~ snow insulates, helping keep sheep warm ~

 

 I wear plenty of warm clothing, so much that I'm usually too warm, especially if the wind isn't blowing.  Over the years, I've found layers the best way to keep warm and the best way to accomplish chores. When wearing too many bulky clothes, it's difficult to move and, if I fall down...like today...more difficult to get back on my feet. Today I wore tights, sweat pants, wool socks, long sleeved tee-shirt, light weight jacket, light weight hooded sweat shirt and, finally, a heavy sweat shirt jacket but no gloves. The temp was about 26 but no wind so chores were easy today. The Ranger has a wonderful heater and that's a huge help; especially for Abbie. At some point during chore time, she'll get into the Ranger and the only way she'll come out is if I carry her back to the house. She's an old girl and I don't mind; we've been BFF a good many years now.

We're expecting more snow, church has already been canceled tomorrow as has the Christmas play tomorrow night. Another storm means cloud coverage and that means no internet. I'm prepared though, this entry will, hopefully, go up in a few minutes and there are a half dozen library books waiting. The  corn bread goes into the oven in a few minutes to be eaten with the bean, kilbasa, turnip green soup and, wonder of wonders, we still have electrical power. Life is ummm ummm good!

Until next time,

Blessings ~ hot soup ~ finished chores ~ snow ~ snow ice cream ~ corn bread ~ good books ~ safe travel ~ our Sheriff's department ~ puppies who love the snow ~ 

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 ~

There Shall be Showers of Blessing

“There Shall be Showers of Blessing”

There shall be showers of blessing:

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing,

Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain

There shall be showers of blessing;

Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing,

Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain

There shall be showers of blessing:

Oh, that today they might fall,

Now as to God we’re confessing,

Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain

There shall be showers of blessing,

If we but trust and obey;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

If we let God have His way.

Refrain

Blessings ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~ rain ~

The Full Buck Moon

These full moon photos were taken two nights ago, the first in the gloaming and the second around 2:00 a.m. Both this photo and the one below were taken from my back porch. This is the gloaming, that time between dusk and dark, when the night has yet to stake her claim and the day is relinquishing her hold. The word 'gloaming' is Scots, meaning to glow; for beautiful photos of the gloaming, click here.

Here, you can see the night has claimed her own.

Most full moons have at least two names, sometimes more. The Full Buck Moon, in July, is called so because it's when the new antlers of buck deer erupt in velvety fur coatings. Other names are Full Thunder Moon because of the frequent storms as well as Full Hay Moon. All the names are appropriate, don't you think? Thanks to the Farmer's Almanac, a lot of this information is still available and I am grateful. I tend to do things by the signs and the Almanac helps me know when to do what
This photograph was taken when I turned around and saw I'd left the door open to the mud room. The way the light is spilling out of the house, positioned against the full moon, pleased me.

Old ways and old days fascinate me. Oh no, it's not that I want to live at any other time than now because I figure this is where and when God wants me and that's fine by me. The Bible says, somewhere, but I can't recollect just now, that each generation becomes weaker and loses a bit more knowledge. So, when folks think we're so all fired smart because we've placed men on the moon or have a telephone that can take photos, send e-mails and the like, it's best to remember we've, more than likely, already lost more knowledge than we hold in our hands. If you doubt, just think of the Inca's Machu Pichu located in the Andean Mountains or Stonehenge in Great Britain constructed in the Neolithic period. Few know about Armenia's stonehenge called Karahundj or Carahunge. Stonehenge was constructed around 4000 BC but Karahundj was constructed 3,500 years earlier in the Sissian region of Armenia.

Dave and I have been to Karahundj and it is, in a word, Amazing! The 204 stone observatory stands on a lonely, wind swept hillside and many of the stones have holes in the top center that are directed on the horizon and toward space.

A few days ago, the dogs and I walked down the hill to the water trough. It needed to be cleared of algae and the dogs needed the exercise as did I.

The dogs loved the walk down the hill, not so much the walk back to the house. I ended up carrying Sam Spade as his little legs gave out on him. -smile-

You can see the rear of this deer as he's busily eating berries. Upon closer inspection, they looked to be red currants.

At least I think these are red currants.


These lovely snapdragons grow wild so every few days, I stop and cut a fresh bouquet for the tables and porches. Aren't they beeeyoouuutiful!?

"Miss Emma, Miss Emma! Calling Miss Emma! Are you ready for your closeup, Miss Emma?" She sure looks ready. Look at those cute little paws crossed and the beguiling way she stares at the camera. She's taking a break in my red yarrow; yes, the same red yarrow I grow as a dye plant. Oh well. At least Miss Emma will bring just as much enjoyment, perhaps more so, than does the red yarrow.

There are SO many deer around and all signs point to a cold winter. These three deer were grazing in a field a short distance from the house.

On the way to town yesterday, we saw yet another box turtle in the road. I slammed on brakes and Dave got out to render assistance.

Dave carefully moves the little box turtle to the side of the road, in the direction in which s/he was headed.


No one can accuse the Hardees in Tazewell of not having chicken! This little banty was on the loose and, since so many people in town have chickens, surely someone will claim her soon.

Early this morning, we headed to the barn to do chores. The sheep are just awakening as the morning sun streams across the valley, across our farm and across our near lot.

Sam Spade starts investigating the barn lot just behind the barn. The sheep have spent the night there and are still enjoying the cool of the morning.

WOW! Sam Spade jumps and turns back into the barn as one of the sheep bleat at him. Or, perhaps snorted. At any rate, it sure startled him.

Blessings ~ travel ~ all of creation's beloved ~ a helping hand ~ the moon ~ the early morning sun ~ gloaming ~ currants ~