Clouds and wind without rain!

This was taken this evening, to the northeast, as a mini front moved through.

We trimmed and mulched around most of the blueberries today for a few hours.

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

I realized if I apply my time, besides running a country, I could get in my stitching! I have this lovely embroidery that I plan on making into a quilt with some red toile of women doing outdoor chores.

At naptime I was able to begin a lesson. Number 1 thread the needle the first time!! I see a sampler in the next couple of weeks! This was all inspired by the granny-along! I think I will be rotating the embroidery with a traditional granny square afgan.

All the Beautiful Flowers

The past couple of weekends we have been planting Raspberry plants. Digging in the sandy soil is not difficult, but it is still good work!! The little ones were digging in the old garden spot and filling it with water, making mini ponds about 1.5 feet by 5 or 6 feet. Their white socks were no more, but were as dark as the soil. I think it was last week; we finished putting in more fruit trees. It’ll be nice to pick our own fruit…like last year’s pears!! The pear is already flowering as well as the apple and cherry trees. It's beautiful. I hope we can put in some regular garden vegetables. Last year we had so many cherry tomatoes...I should have made lotsa salsa. Maybe this year, with onions and garlic and peppers!! These are the end of the season berries last August.

Mmmmm...Homecookin'

Breakfast was slightly, but pleasantly different. Making Eggs 'n' Toast every morning can get monotonous. I included leftover-leftovers! :) For dinner last night I took leftover mashed potatoes and put them with a hamburger gravy. (Carrots, celery, onions, garlic, salt and a bit of parsley saute in a white sauce and added to the cooked hamburger.) It was yummy!! This morning I took the leftover gravy and put it with biscuits and had eggs on the side. Gingermon (just ground cinnamon and ginger) and honey on the biscuits!! I usually make a chicken potpie with leftover mashed potatoes.

I have, now, some Nutty Bread rising (I put every nut and seed in it) and I need to make another batch of just Oatmeal Bread.

Pumpkin, Sunflower, Millet, Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, Sesame, Ground Flax, Oats. With Cinnamon, Ginger and Nutmeg.

I hope to also make my scrumptious Chocolate Cake.

Chocolate

It's cold again and might snow. The aromas of a newly baked chocolate cake are in the air.

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)

3/4 cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry blender. (You can beat the batter like other cakes, I just found that this saves extra dishes.) Add liquid ingredients and stir until well blended. Put in a GREASED 15x10x2 or just try something new and fill any pan 1/2 to 3/4 full and adjust bake time. Bake at 350 F for 20 mins. When it pulls from the side of the pan...it should be done. Rotate this with Pumkin Bread, Banana Bread and Cookies for easy, fast, warm desserts that are perfect with a cup of tea!

It has a mild flavor, not rich...*taking another bite*...this is enough sweet for me. If I should make it any sweeter, the honey will change the texture, consistency and baking times.

Read to Me

I didn't realize the awe that children have for a good story. I've read plenty, including Green Eggs and Ham, but the fascination and questions of intrigue that followed after reading several chapters in Little House in the Big Woods amazed me! I am so happy to see them listen and watch their faces as their minds paint pictures. I am looking forward to story time now, which happens to be several times during the day. :)

Another backyard pic from the last snow we got that drifted to 3 or 4 feet. (drifts not shown, but on standby)

With the change in weather, I put on my wool leg warmers (the arms of a favourite sweater I shrunk) and turned on the oven. I made a batch of whole wheat bread, tried putting pumpkin bread in a muffin pan and round cake pan (I was able to shave off the top burned layer and turn it over for a perfect top!) and made a beef and potato stew for dinner.

April Showers

As I sit down with my tea, the sun comes through the clouds and makes the room brighter than the light bulbs. (A truly odd occurrence, since the windows are north facing) The tea is chamomile, fennel, spearmint, ginger, red raspberry leaf and nettle. It tastes pretty much like newly mowed yard, but it helps with a myriad of things!! I could add abit of honey and/or lemon juice or peel, but that's just an extra step.
If you need a tea to help you go to sleep or just extremely relax, Lavender is perfect! Don't have it during the day unless seriously stressed. I had trouble staying awake yesterday. The first time I had it I was so calm and turned into Perfect Mama: so very soft spoken.