Starting to Feel Like Summer!

How are you? We are all doing well. I don't know if the era of the virus is over yet, I actually fear it will make a Fall comeback, but I am happy to see a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel for many. We've spent our time working around the house and doing some things here that really needed attention. Working outside is joyful for me. I really like working in my garden and because we've had a good share of rain, it's growing well. My lettuces have taken off! I planted Romaine, Butter and Red Leaf lettuce and we've enjoyed them every night. Last night, I added an anti pasta to the salad. Cheese, meats, olives, mushrooms...it was delicious. My cabbage plants are getting large leaves. No cabbage yet but big leaves!

Our mulch and planting up front are complete. I'm just looking for some potted sunflowers!
The hard work is worth it. We really enjoy our porch and backyard. I have now entirely cleaned out the chicken coop and summarized it with fresh straw. The whole group of chickens gets very excited for that. I do it several times a year but they just love that the nights are longer and I notice they stay in their run longer in the evening before retiring to the bunkhouse to sleep. The chickens love Summer nights! I don't free range. Their coop has a very large enclosed run for their safety. You know what is a fun item I got? My brother bought me a solar powered fountain for my bird bath! The birds love it. He got it on Amazon.  As far as 4th of July celebrations...not sure if we will be socializing as we have to keep Mom healthy and keep her socially distanced.

While I've ben home, I have done some shopping! I purchased my Amish lady on the swing and my trio of prairie ladies from Ivonne Grant!  I love them!

I've started collecting the Ashton Drake series of Amish Blessings dolls. They are from years ago but I am finding reasonably priced ones on Ebay!

Next up for me is working on my Americana tree and garland. I ordered and received a new counted cross stitch picture to start. I usually do stamped cross stitch and haven't done counted in about 5 years. It takes a lot of concentration but I need to challenge myself! those projects plus reading a new Amish fiction book, The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston.  

Leave me a message about what you've ben doing! And thank you for your attention. :)

Good Afternoon!

How are you all? I hope you and your loved ones are healthy. It certainly has been an experience for all of us, hasn't it? A "new normal" we call it; but it certainly takes getting used to. Here on Long Island, the number of cases of this virus is insane but we are on the decline, thank goodness. I am so grateful that we have remained healthy. And we have adjusted to quarantining while still doing our best to be out and about. Its just what has to be done right now. And that's all. 

So lets do some catch up! I adopted a new chicken! Actually the word would be rescued. While flower shopping, I went to a farm to see the goats and visited their chicken coop where I spied this little gal left alone. A runt of the litter perhaps. But she was clearly abused by the other chickens and very thin. We named her Evie and she now lives in our coop with our chickens who have accepted this little beauty! I see areas on her body where she will not grow her feathers back because she also had frostbite from the Winter but I see some feather growth on her back. We love her no matter what and she has made herself at home. 

We started our plant and flower shopping early. We had some good weekends and just decided to get a head start. in my next post I will show you the gardens.

Some of what  I purchased are eggplant, celery, cabbage, peppers, zucchini, lettuces, tomatoes, and garlic.From the nursery you are looking at, I purchased spinach plants and also two big bunches of fresh spinach. And a pot of violas too!

My husband is very good to me! I truly am blessed, and he just brings home the goodies from all his job sites! He recently brought home this milk box for me! I was so happy as I had wanted one for so long! I set it upon the front porch. I love it. He has also recently brought home two different metal wagon wheels for me which I have in the gardens! Like I said, I will post photos of the gardens next time.

What are some things you've been doing during quarantine? We have been lighting our fire pit and bringing a televisin out to watch tv in the evenings with the fire pit. Its wonderful. I find I am doing more reading and I recently started a counted cross stitch picture which I hadn't tried doing for a long time. Counted is harder than stamped. I am doing pretty good. My vision is bad but I'm doing it! I have cleaned out a bunch of closets and reorganized many spots in the house. We lay down 8 yards of mulch, planted and trimmed. I've also been cooking even more than I normally do.

Good things are ahead! I'm sure!

These Times...

I'm sorry if you are experiencing this terrible virus whether as a patient or as a friend or family member of a patient. Just letting you know I am thinking of and praying a general prayer for all! When this is over and we begin our healing, let it be a time of rebirth. Surely we have soul searched through quarantine. What can we do? What can we do without? Lets not take for granted our hours and minutes. How are you filling your days? Try to approach the Easter holiday with rebirth of yourself and our Savior.

I was happy that when I went for chicken supplies, they were still open as they are deemed essential. After getting my supplies, they had a small nursery attached and I bought some plants. I got a hanging basket of assorted colored pansies , and some flowers for my Amish tool box.

Look how adorable these look in my watermelon bowls!

And hydrangea. My favorite! This will be replanted before the Summer is over so it can thrive in the ground and grow. Working outside is a sure cure for the blues!

We decided to place an order from our favorite Italian restaurant for Easter. I would have prepared the meal but my husband felt it would feel more festive if we ordered in and I could relax as well. I like preparing holiday meals but I didn't object. :)  

I just finished making the Easter baskets for my kids and a few other special people. Although my kids are 15 and 21, they will continue to get baskets until they have their own kids! Its just so fun!

Well, I think I'm going to do some dusting. I ordered a new sign that says "The Old Homestead" and I'm thinking of where it will go and I need to dust anyway! Then maybe I'll make some Easter cookies! Anyway, have a great afternoon! It's pouring down rain and the wind is crazy!!!

How Are you?

How is everyone doing? Are you feeling stressed? Has the virus affected you in a big way? I hope you are all doing well. I only know of a couple neighbors who have the virus and my kids know of a few people but thank godness it has not gotten to us. We have plenty of food and my girls in the coop are producing more than ever! 

How have you been keeping busy? Besides cleaning, I've been organizing, reading, working on my various country décor pages and cooking! Being confined really doesn't bother me a great deal. I have a lot to do here! I've enjoyed menu planning and coming up with some special extras and desserts.

Its amazing how quiet the whole world has gotten. Very few cars go down my street. The other evening, it was already dark, and I just went outside and sat on my porch. Complete silence! It was both beautiful and unnerving. I live in the suburbs; not on a farm or in the country. There is always some type of sound. Not now. We have to know though that this is temporary. The noise, the hustle and bustle and all the anxieties of daily life will return. Sports will return and restaurants will be full. Perhaps we should enjoy the solitude? The only problem with that right now is that people are sick.

My kids had the fire pit going the other night. They stayed outside till midnight. My son's girlfriend is a country music fan so they  watched a concert on the tv they hooked up out there and enjoyed the beautiful fire and the night sky. I'm glad they do things like that. They take long walks. My son works full time but always made time for the outdoors.

I hope you stay well and stay safe! I will speak to you soon!

There's No Place Like Home

Think Positive and don't let the stresses of everything going on outside your door get to you! Close that front door and you are keeping away the germs and the sadness. Your home is your comfort place. You are safe. Read, cook, decorate! play games! Sew, crochet, craft, photograph the wildlife in your backyard. Research new recipes. Organize! Catch up on emails, look through photos. Clean! Rearrange! Call friends and neighbors. Sit on your porch! Draw! Plan your garden. 

Just some ideas. I can't be pulled down into worry and fear. I'm a homebody anyway. I'm doing my best to keep my family's home clean and safe and stocked that's all we can do.

So, Corned beef and cabbage (both green and red), potatoes, carrots and Irish soda bread was delicious the other night. My whole family loves that meal. This time of year, I try to put away several corned beefs cause they are so reasonably priced. I never got to decorate for St. Patrick's Day though and I've moved right on to Easter.

I think Easter will be a positive thing for everyone. Even if we still have to maintain our distance with others, the whole feeling resurrection brings will renew us. I make Easter baskets for my kids still even though they are almost 15 and 21 and I make one for my son's girlfriend and several for others. I love making Easter baskets. As they get older, you get more creative with them. So along with candy, I will put a gas card in for my son. An Ulta card for my daughter :)   I still lots of things in that I know they always loved. I told them they will receive an Easter basket every year until I am making them for my grandchildren.

Well, those are just my thoughts today. I hope you stay safe and healthy!

Safe from the Crazy World We Live in!

Good afternoon! I hope you've had a great week so far. The days go by so fast! It seems like the world is consumed with the Corona Virus and the elections and I find myself listening to non stop news. But you do have to take a breather! I take a walk outside and sit with all my chickens and just take in the sunshine and cool air. It clears your head in no time.

I had a great birthday! The cool chicken with ivy you see was one of my gifts! We had an awesome dinner an I enjoyed my favorite meal~prime rib! It was as delicious as it looks.

We went to Lowes to look at some bulbs for the garden and I came across the reduced flower carts. I've had great luck with the plants I've bought that were no longer "sale" pretty. I got lucky once again! These two beauties were $1 each. Okay so they didn't look exactly like that when I bought them, but they certainly reacted positively to the TLC and sunshine through the window!

Well, depending on this corona virus outbreak, I 'm hoping to still be able to attend "Chick Days" at some of my favorite nurseries and barns this weekend. I just don't know! It almost seems like we are preparing for a blizzard or a big storm. And just as fast as it arrived, I believe I will be gone!

I will be busy here! Decorating for Easter, caring for my family and pets, and sewing some pillows and runners. Happy in my world!

Birthday, Stitching, House Plants & Recipes

I love covered bridges. I'll be seeing some soon! Trips to Pennsylvania are my favorites and driving over and photographing them is awesome. What a work of art they are! They have to be preserved. They must be!

Anyway,.....I hope you are all well. I celebrated my birthday the other day and, as always, I am reminded of the very special people in my life. I was blessed with beautiful flowers, desserts and gifts. My husband's birthday is next Monday and we decided to gift ourselves to a show featuring singers and groups from the 1950's & 60's. I can't wait!

My mind has been going a mile a minute. Does that happen to you? Thinking of Spring! Chickens!! and of course my garden and Easter. I pulled out the Easter bins and I'm going to do my decorating very shortly. I put stuff away last year and couldn't find it and then I did and realized I had forgotten exactly what I bought! LOL  I just love when Easter is in April too. All the flowers seem to last longer and it feels like Spring. Something I'm excited to try this year, is starting seeds in eggshells! A site I visit called Fresh Eggs Daily, says to plant seeds in an egg shell. When you crack an egg to use it, save the halves and add a little soil and plant a seed. Set them back in the carton. Watch them grow! Once the plant grows, you can plant the eggshell into the garden! I'm gonna try it. Its not a new method but I never tried it and I do get lots of eggs from the chickens. I love the idea that you just plant the seedling and egg shell right into the dirt. Also, the lady who runs that page,  and her blog is awesome. She's an author, gardener and chicken lover. Check it out. 

My main focus this Spring and Summer for my vegetable and flower garden is planting not only what my family likes and uses, but what my chickens will enjoy and what will benefit the bees and butterflies. Its something I'm very interested in and I think I should do my part. Last year I planted a large variety of lettuces and green leafy vegetables. I scaled back on my varieties of tomatoes because by the time they were ripe enough to pick, they had either been penetrated by a bug or they split. The split tomatoes went to the chickens. So I planted several cherry tomato plants because they are so easy to grow and popping them into your mouth during the day when you need to snack is better than a cookie. 

Above is a beef and noodle casserole I made the other night. It was delicious. Egg noodles, onions, cream of mushroom soup, tomato soup, ground beef or sausage (I did both) and shredded cheddar. So good! and it hit the spot on a night that was very windy and rainy! I usually make one casserole style dinner a week. And my son comes home from work on his lunch hour and enjoys the leftovers!

I'm currently reading (again) this one:

I don't recall the book but I know I did read it. My Mom reads two Amish fiction books a week! And for several years I was the recipient of free Amish fiction novels as I was reading and reviewing them and my payment was that I got to keep the book! I have a whole library of them and I love them. Unfortunately, many of the book sites now only want to send you an E Book and I just can't do that. I still like to have my book in hand. I like to feel and see it and save it and SHARE it! Its remarkable that my Mom does read two week though. She was never a reader until a few years ago. Her first Amish book was "The Shunning" by Beverly Lewis and she was hooked. That was my first one too many, many years ago now. I can thank my dear cousin for introducing me to them!

I hope you have a wonderful afternoon!