To Grandmother's House We Go

Over the River and through the woods

To Grandmother's house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow

Over the river and through the woods

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the woods

and straight through the barnyard gate.

We seem to go extremely slow,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods

Now grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

               (Lydia Maria Child, 1844)  

Sleigh Ride in Austria?

                                 
How many of you have ever been on a sleigh ride in Austria?  Especially at Christmas time. 
One can imagine the swishing of the runners sliding through the snow and the clopping of the beautiful horses.
The icy air hitting one's lungs and the steam off one's breath.  The white, glistening snow and the very quiet of the world this encompassing scenes of nature offers. 
There is no automobile exhaust, no televisions, no newscasters, no cell phones.  Just quietness and fresh clear air to breathe. 

This is what our Christmas carols are all about if we take the time to think about the words we sing so automatically every year.  There is a real world out there that exists where the simplicity of life is to slow down, instead of going to the shopping malls to get"just one more gift.

Try to enjoy the season with family and friends around a fire sipping hot chocolate.

De-stress and enjoy the season,  along with your imagination to take you to Austria if you wish! 

Corn Chowder

This is the most delicious corn chowder recipe I have ever eaten!  My husband tells everyone about it so I have decided to give it to you.  Here it is: 
 2 cups water
2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1/2 half cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups milk
1 can cream style corn
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
In a large saucepan, combine the first five ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or vegetables are tender.  Do not drain.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter.  Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually stir in milk.
Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Stir into the vegetable mixture.  Add corn and Parmesan cheese.  Cook 10 minutes longer or until heated through.  Yield:  7 servings






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Raking Oak Leaves

Today we went up to our mountain retreat to rake oak leaves, before the predicted snow comes tonight.  If you have any experience with oak leaves, one must get them raked before they get wet or the sharp points of the leaves stick into the ground and they are extremely difficult to rake. 
We throw the piles into the back of the pick up until we have a full load, and as I ride in the back of the truck I squish down the leaves so none will blow out. 
Then we back our truck up at the end of our property (way in the back) and put the tailgate down and shovel or rake them out of the truck.  They go down an incline so we don't see them from the front of our cabin.
This is a lot faster and easier to do than putting them in a wheelbarrow and hauling them across the property.
I had made us a lunch but next time I will be sure to bring some hot cider.  It would have been so warming and refreshing. 
If any of you have the experience raking oak leaves and helpful comments, I would sure like to hear from you. 
By the way, grand kids are good helpers if they live close enough. 

Relaxing After the Program

We had our last night of the country Christmas program last night, and after three nights of being on stage it feels good to stay at home and relax a bit.  No more rehearsals and late nights out in the cold.  I believe it was very successful because of the crowds that came from the city.  They wanted to feel and go back in time to the way it used to be. 
I think their appetite was filled with what they wanted to see and hear.  After talking to a few of them, they said they don't get that old fashioned acting and music in the city. 
They enjoyed pie of all kinds (the chocolate cream was the best).  Before the program started, there was a hay wagon decorated with lights that held a superb brass quintet group that played christmas carols, such as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and "Have Yourself a Merry Merry Christmas". 
There was a fire pit placed stratigically for those who wanted to hear.  Hot cider and home made fudge was also on the venue. 
These kinds of events really gets you in the holiday spirit.
If there is not anything going on in your neighborhood, plan a get together with friends or neighbors to go carolling and at the end of the night, plan a stop to get hot chocolate somewhere. 

Whatever you do, have fun and get into the Christmas spirit!

Fancy Hen Houses

If I were going to spend $100,000 on a fantasy chicken house from 'Neiman Marcus", I think I would opt out for something like this.
If you go on the web to www.neimanmarcus.com you can see the fantasy chicken house being offered.  I don't think it would be for country chickens, but most likely for the city slicker chickens. 
The one I picture is a little more practical because it is raised up for the droppings to go right down to the earth to make good compost soil for gardening.  Also has storage in the back and maybe the sides for feed storage and pine shavings. 
Chickens just need a safe place to lay their eggs and to be up off the ground for other critters that might come to "freeload" from their feeder. 

This one looks nice and cozy.  It certainly gives one something to think about! 

Cowboy Christmas

We have been rehearsing for our community church Christmas program about three nights a week and next week we have the event.  It goes for three nights.  We are full house according to the reservations that have come in.  People that don't attend church on a regular basis come out to have a good time. 
We have a old fashioned sing a long like  "White Christmas" and others.  The local cowboys get up and do some funny songs and jokes, but then they include the real reason for Christmas, the birth of Christ. 
Pie is served, along with hot cider, coffee, and hot chocolate.  Also, home made fudge is passed around.

Events like this really puts one in the right spirit of Christmas.

We are looking forward to having a jolly good time.  We have relatives coming up this year to see what it is all about. 

The weather is predicted to be kind to us this year with no snow. 

See what events are happening around your area and be brave and venture out to have a good time!

Persimmon Cookie Recipe

Here is my "revered Persimmon Cookie" recipe passed down through the ages.  It is nothing difficult or nothing fancy.  Just plain old goodness.  Persimmons are plentiful this time of the year, so go for it.

1 Cup shortening (or 3/4 cup oil).  I prefer oil

1 cup sugar

1 fresh egg

Mix the three of these together.

Add 1 cup of persimmon pulp (almost mushy).  Then add 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. 1/2 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg.  Stir together with egg mixture.  Add 1 cup raisins.  Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 oven for 8 to 10 minutes. 

These give your house a wonderful holiday aroma, and you will have delicious cookies to boot.

Men seem to really like these cookies from my experience. 

You may want to double this recipe for filling up your pantry or freezer. 

Have fun and don't eat too many!  

The First Snow

We woke up on Saturday to our first snow.  It was softly silent and very white.  We threw on our coats to go look outside at our cabbage patch and winter peas to see if they were still intact.  They looked pretty good, so then we took a walk down the path to look at our flock of chickens.  They did not venture out until later in the day! 
We shook off the snow and got the coffee going.  I found some maple flavored bacon which I put in the pan, and then whipped up some fresh organic eggs for scrambled eggs.  We had a nice fire going by that time so we enjoyed our breakfast sitting in front of the fire.  We still had our pajamas on and it was wonderful! 

Every day is Christmas! 

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving Dinner  

We had our first snow of the season last week end, so it must be getting close to Thanksgiving.  A lot of work is involved in putting together a Thanksgiving Feast such as the one above.  We do this to reflect back on the year and how thankful we are to God for bringing us through another year, of being able to grow our own food and to use the natural resources that we have been given, and to share this with others who have not been as fortunate. 

Thanksgiving is a time when some families get together to catch up on children's activities, or for others, just to go to dinner at a favorite spot as a couple. 

We personally have done all of these at different seasons in our life. 

Be thankful for whatever season you are in right now, because God has provided THIS  for you at this time.

Pine Cone Garland

A couple of days ago the weather was nice  and my husband suggested we pack a lunch and go exploring.  This was a great idea!  We went up to a higher elevation to a ski area that isn't open yet and found a warm sunny spot.  We found some nice rocks to use in a garden area and decided to have lunch there. As I was finishing my lunch I found a huge pine tree that had the most perfect pine cones. 
So, I couldn't resist gathering as many as I thought I could use in making a garland for our patio roof.  I spray painted half of them to see what they would look like.  I used a coppery metallic color and I am pleased with the outcome. 

Whenever I get a free window of time, I will paint the rest of them.  Then I can work at stringing them for a Christmas decor outside,  and, of course adding clear mini lights.

As the day went on we drove to another spot which was loaded with elderberry bushes. We picked more
berries and I put them in the freezer to add to muffins or pancakes. 

We had a delightful day exploring. 

My Scottish Fold

Here is my kitty, a Scottish Fold.  She was bred for a barn cat in Scotland to find and catch critters.  She has ears that are "folded back" almost flat to her head and people that first see her ask what is wrong with her ears! 

She is a great hunter and gets along with my chickens, sometimes pretending to stalk them just to drive them crazy.  They are bigger than she is!  She loves to hunt gophers and mice, leaving little presents at the back door.  She is quite rare. 

I would like to hear from any of you who might have one of these cats. 

Bake this Apple Bread for Fall

I really like the fall season because the crisp  air and the color of the trees.  The apples and pumpkins are screaming to be picked for making our kitchens smell delicious.  I found my old "standby recipe" for glazed apple bread which is always nice to have one in the freezer, just incase an old friend drops in for a visit.

This is good with coffee or tea--morning or evening. 

                                                                          Glazed Apple Bread

1/ 2 cup of canola oil

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 large egg

2 cups unbleached flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup raisins

2 large apples, finely chopped

1/2 cup walnuts chopped

Glaze;

1/2 cup powdered sugar,1 tablespoon water, 2 tablespoons melted butter. 

Combine oil, sugar, and vanilla.  Cream until light and fluffy  Add eggs and beat well.  Sift together flour,cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.  Add milk, raisins,apples, nuts, and dry ingredients to mixture and stir only until well dampened.  Bake in a 9x3 loaf pan at 350 for 60 minutes.  Cool, remove from pan.  Combine glaze ingredients, mix well, and pour over loaf.  Let glaze set before wrapping loaf tightly.

Make one for right now and save one for company in your freezer. 

Happy fall baking!

Borrow a Thumb Tack?

      Hi everyone!


Since this blog is called "Thumb Tacks"  I started to think about all the uses of thumb tacks.  I use them for everything.  In the kitchen I use them to hang pretty dish towels, calenders,  and pumpkin swags for over the windows.  I have even used them to hold bunches of mint leaves and basil leaves when I am drying them.  I like the old fashioned ones that have a flat head.  I believe they hold much better than the push pin kind.

Some people use them for hanging delicate beaded necklaces and odd pieces of jewelry.  Out in the chicken pen I use them to tack up the plastic feed bags in the winter to keep out the snow and cold.  They work great.

I would like to know what you use them for.  Maybe we could all learn something if you care to share your thoughts on this.  I am always looking for new ways to make life a little easier.

Hope your day is filled with precious ideas and suggestions.

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