Creature Comforts

The new cornstove is much appreciated. On most nights, you can find us in the den with the tv off, reading, listening to a podcast on the computer, DD plays with her paper dolls, or we just sit in the dark and watch the lovely flame.
Warmth . . . togetherness . . . home

It's that time already?

Gift-giving season is upon us and I've found a few great ideas for the novice and experienced crafter/cook. All wonderfully thoughtful, unique, and relatively inexpensive.
Here
Here
Here
Here and
Here
Go ahead, give one a try. You might actually enjoy it!
I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to pick up the knitting needles, ball of yarn and two pages of instructions my mom gave me two years ago. I'm hopeless when it comes to written instructions and diagrams. I need someone to show me. My mom's a wonderful crafter (she knits, crochets, cross-stitch) and she passed down some of those crafty genes. But I lack patience (and a full-time private tutor). So I asked some ladies at work to show me how to knit and/or crochet. That's next week's project!

Obviously, I'm already missing gardening season. I've been working on next year's garden plan, studying the ISU Extension website for hints and ideas, and trying to remember all that I've learned (*mistakes I've made*) from my previous years' gardens. Because my garden will be substantially smaller next year - - due to DH's new building being located on top of 70% of my previous garden and because I just don't have time to maintain a huge garden - - I need to grow more efficiently and effectively next year. I'm planning more successive crops (after the peas are done, I plant tomatoes in their place, and then peas after the tomatoes are done), much more mulch (put all the grass clippings to good use), and installing a water collection and drip irrigation system (less water waste). I also need to be more open minded about actually eating the food I grow (still haven't convinced myself to cook the butternut squash that is sitting out in the garage). The challenge of eating locally and in season has actually been more fun than chore. Even though the potatoes we froze were awful, the potatoes that I put in the garage are wonderful, so I use those when I can. It absolutely kills me to buy frozen corn, beans & peas!

It's finally here

The new holiday music cd we produced is now on sale. You can read all about it here - - it was the front page story of the local Sunday paper! You can't ask for better PR! To hear samples of the songs, click here.

What a lazy weekend. This is the first time in a VERY long time that we did absolutely nothing! We had a birthday party Friday night. I slept in Saturday and I did not clean a thing, nor did I do one stitch of laundry (I'll pay for that later this week). DH was in bed by 8:00 pm Saturday night. To church this morning and "visiting" relatives this afternoon. Very boring we are...

She . . .

Reads! DD is really enjoying learning to read. She has the vintage "Dick/Jane/Sally" book and can read the whole thing. She's sooooo proud!

Eats! DD loves her veggies! We had green beans for dinner tonight and when she asked for seconds, she asked for the "rest of the bowl . . . you don't want any, do you Mom & Dad?"

Spots wildlife! DD pointed out a small group of deer on the edge of town the other day. They stood still until I reached for the camera.

LOVES going to the Festival of Trees with her Grammy! She was enamored with the Subway (sandwich) tree last year - - she talked about it every time a Subway commercial came on tv (now that's great brand identity!). DD stayed with her Grammy D on Saturday night; they went to see "Flicka" and to church together on Sunday. I met up with them Sunday afternoon and we all went to the GC Festival of Trees.

The sun sets on another political season

And what a night it was. Denise O'Brien had a substantial lead early on, but then eventually lost by only 2 points. The outcome certainly showed that Iowans are ready for a change in its agricultural policies and practices. Even though Denise didn't win the office of Secretary of Agriculture, I know she will continue to work for safe and healthy food, farms, and families. I'm so proud of what she brought to this race and that she kept her cool, even when she was being attacked and maligned by her opposition. That seemed to be a common practice during this political season and I'm happy to say that it's over.

Last night was also our first parent-teacher conferences. We received DD's report card last week and had a chance to review it before we met with her teacher. DD did very well and is "above grade level" in many areas. Okay . . . yes, I'm bragging a bit (that's my job!). We adore DD's teacher - - she's fair, patient, and challenges the kids to rise above. We're so lucky to have Mrs. H!

DH finished the exterior of the new building last week - - what a relief! He'll be spending most of his time inside the building now with insulation, drywall, and organizing all the tools.

Happy Halloween!

Last night, our little rural neighborhood came alive with families roaming the countryside in search of treats. Neighbor Laura organizes families with little goblins to go trick or treating to other neighbors without little ones at home. Everyone enjoys themselves, the adults get a chance to visit with each other, the kids get re-acquainted, and it's just a great neighborhood activitiy.I even got in the spirit by dressing up as a rough & tumble hockey player (yes, that's makeup around the eyes, nose & mouth). My other neighbor Laurie was dressed up as a clumsy lady; seriously, she broke her finger/knuckle after she fell from a step ladder.

Last Saturday, my great aunt & uncle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a wonderful party. DD had so much fun with her cousin J - - they found a donation box filled with old glasses and they proceeded to try on every pair and give us a "fashion show." When it was time to leave, they hugged and vowed to see each other again soon (I hope so, too).

Sunday was the youth group omelet breakfast and bake sale. Lookie what I brought home!

Remember this? Well, now it looks like this:

And the chicken house has been "mysteriously" moved "out of the way." DH even strung an electrical line to the chicken coop so the girls have some warmth (plus, it keeps the water from freezing). My conventional farmer neighbor ("Big D") now thinks that I'm a hypocrite for "tricking" the hens into better egg production with extra light and heat. I'm just a proponent of happy chickens, that's all Big D. Yes, he officially has a blog nickname.

Have a safe and happy Halloween, y'all!

Local Food

When I traveled to Decorah earlier this year, I visited the Oneota Co-op Grocery Store and was in total amazement by the variety of products, the fair prices, and the number of people shopping in there. So, when I read this, I was really encouraged that people in the main stream might be "getting it."

We've been trying to pull our weight at Gracious Acres, too. Many of our meals feature at least one local food. We're so lucky to have Sugar Creek Farm beef and chicken - - yum! We had a roast the other night and then used the left overs to make a hearty beef and (thick) egg noodle dish. So satisfying on a cold, rainy fall evening. I also dug up the last row of potatoes (Red Norlands or Pontiacs, can't remember) and got another five-gallon pail to use over the next couple months; hopefully they keep. We shredded potatoes a couple months ago and they're in the freezer now. We have homemade pickles at almost every meal, and we still have a few garden tomatoes (from my mom).

We can usually get three to four meals off of one of SCF's chickens. I roast it all day at 275, so it's super tender and juicy. The meat on one breast will usually feed all three of us! Then, I make a casserole, quesadillas, and a noodle dish with the left overs. I totally can't throw anything away!

Local. Food. Good!

Family photo shoot

From yesterday:

From zen to zero in 24 hours flat

ZEN:
Spent the weekend in St. Paul at Women of Faith (WOF). WOF was awesome, as usual, and I brought along 14 ladies from church (several who had never been).

I have to admit, the whole time I was in the Twin Cities, I couldn't help but watch over my shoulder in case Cathy Z was around. Ok, so I'm a "fan." Yeah, so what?! We had some time to shop at the Mall of America (lots of time spent at Archivers) and I kept thinking, "is she around the corner and I'm just gonna happen to bump into her?" How would I react - - probably like a star-struck idiot. No sign of cz, but I did buy this.

ZERO:
Then, I come home and go to cz's blog (still on my "links" list "in memoriam"). She's been talking about giving up the blog for a bit. Then, she did the unthinkable! She completely removed it!!! **sniffle**

ZEN:
While I was away, DH was very busy working on projects around the house. He cut a vent into the wall so the warm air from the corn stove can drift upstairs, hung the new front storm door, installed a new smoke alarm, and cleaned the house! He even made a batch of chili and chocolate chip cookies. In fact, he's making a batch of my favorite cookies (oatmeal raisin) right now. Nope, not trading him in for a while.

ZERO:
The chickens have really laid off laying eggs (1-3 a day). We were so spoiled for so long with 4-6 a day! The power was installed in the new building a couple days ago, so we'll drag a line from the new building to the chicken coop to keep a little extra light and heat for the girls this winter. Maybe that will help a bit.

I've been tagged...

by Tracey Kendall to post five weird things about me. Like I can narrow it down to only five?!

1. I try to turn every hobby I have into a business. Duh, just figured out that's why they're called "hobbies" not "occupations." Photography, scrapbooking, gardening, you name it - - I try to make a business out of it. Not every passion has to be a vocation.

2. According to my DH, I fold towels and t-shirts in a strange way and I'm super-protective about it. Got that from my mom. But they sure seem to fit on the shelf and in the drawer a lot better when I fold them!

3. I bite my nails - - but not if I have acrylics put on. I just don't get that.

4. I really like chickens. Always have. Not the white, run-of-the-mill broiler-type chickens, but exotic and heritage breed birds. Blame that on Martha Stewart.

5. Speaking of Martha Stewart, I'd still spend the day with her over Rachael Ray or Oprah Winfrey. Martha ROCKS!

There, now my friends, family, and neighbors can actually prove that I'm weird, not just secretly think it.

Now, I tag anyone who wants to participate. Come on, you know you want to share a little something "weird" about yourself!

A little fall fun

DH and I celebrated our seventh anniversary on Monday! Wow, never thought I could commit to anything or anyone for that long. Must be a God-thing. Love ya, babe!

Mom came over last night and we had the last tomatoes of the season on blt's with homemade mac & cheese. DD has a Gooseberry Patch calendar/idea book and she found some "spider cupcakes" that she wanted to make. It was like Christmas with all the decorations and crazy ideas -- so fun!What's that on DD's face? Well, she got into a tussle with a table at daycare the other day and the table won. The inside of her mouth is all tore up, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it too much. She ate lots of bacon last night, and didn't complain once about the salt getting into the sore. Ouch! She also has another ear infection, so she's on antibiotics. She had tubes put in years ago, but I think they're not as effective as they once were.

The trip to Vegas was pretty good. I don't really care to go back. Not sure why they promote it as a "family friendly destination." The only reason I would take DD there is to show her what NOT to do! Everything was very expensive. I got a great tan, though! Last one of the year; I really soaked up the sun! Suffice it to say, these guys were not my lunch dates (oh, how I wish):

Heading to Women of Faith in St. Paul this weekend with 15 ladies from our church. I'm really looking forward to that -- I'm needing a little spiritual pick-me-up.

This is what happens when "Dancing With The Stars" is on at Gracious Acres:

Vegas, here I come

[photo courtesy of Wikipedia]

I'm heading out to Las Vegas tomorrow for work. Up until yesterday, I was dreading this trip. But, this is my first (and most likely only) trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World, so I'll make the most of it. Take in a few sights, people watch . . . oh, yeah, and do some work, too.

Of course, CSI (Las Vegas) is on right now and I'm back to being a bit freaked out by the whole trip, as I'm going solo . . . I'll keep you posted.

Just a little humor, folks

For those of you who actually thought I was serious (*ahem*) about giving up the chickens and the garden for a full fledged perennial biz, I was just kidding!

My humor sure isn't coming across as sarcastic and caustic as it once did. Guess I lost my funny bone mojo, too.

Taking pictures for others has really put a huge dent in my personal photo gallery - - pretty obvious considering the lack of photos of DD and DH. Hmmmmmm...?! What to do! I'm not complaining about having the opportunity to capture other families, I just have to find the "balance" in it all.

My great aunt & uncle will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary later this month, so I took a few photos to commemorate this wonderful occasion.

I remember when I was little, I would visit them - - it was so much fun. They had a beautiful collie named "Lassie" (of course). They were always so patient and kind to me; I am so lucky to have them in my life.

Getaway weekend

We had a nice getaway this past weekend. DH's former co-worker, Tom, got married in Owatonna (MN). DD stayed at Gramma Kay's and Tucker (the dog) stayed with Gramma Deb. Neighbor Laurie took care of the chickens. (Thanks, y'all!)

The wedding itself was probably the most unique I've ever been to (honestly, I haven't been to a lot of weddings). The ceremony was held in a small country church with about 30 guests. DH was the only person in a suit (including the bridal party). The groomsmen wore black slacks and white shirts with a teal Hawaiian tie. The bridesmaids wore teal peasant skirts, a silk chemise and a white big shirt. The bride wore a lovely candlight satin gown with beading and a veil. The groom wore a sage green shirt with a teal Hawaiian tie. The groom came into the sanctuary 15 minutes before the ceremony and played the harp (he is an AMAZING musician). The ceremony was short (25 minutes) and sweet with no solo or unity candle. No rice thrown as the couple left the church. The reception was held at the Eagles Club in Owatonna. No big cake, no dance. Just a very nice dinner with 80 or so guests. We were back in our hotel room by 8:30 pm. On Sunday, we enjoyed a beautiful walk through Kaplan's Woods and took the scenic route home. On the way, we stopped by Sugar Creek Farm. Matt & Kelli graciously took time from their Sunday dinner and visited for about half an hour - - they even sent some sweet potatoes home with us (yummy!). We picked up the dog and the kid and finally got home in time for Extreme Home Makeover. It's so nice to get away from it all every once in a while.

The Flower Farm

Forget the chickens and the vegetable garden and the fledgling orchard, Gracious Acres will soon become a perennial farm. A good friend shared his amazing wealth of perennials with me recently and Saturday was "planting day." My mom and Uncle George came over in the morning and helped enlarge a bed . . . . . . planted more in the shade garden . . . . . . then neighbor Laurie came over in the afternoon and helped create this. . .. . . then I tore out old, overgrown perennials in the square bed and created this. . .
Fortunately, there was plenty to share with my awesome helpers.
We had a water line installed in the new building and this is what they left me with: DH says it will settle - - huh?!
Our solitary apple tree has produced the most gorgeous and tasty apples this year. They have a full, tart flavor (perfect for caramel apples!). I think their health is a result of having the chickens free range - - fertilizing the ground and eating the insects that normally devour the apples.

This calls for a federal holiday

The price of gas in Bondurant, Iowa yesterday at 4:45 pm. Yippee. Yes, I filled 'er up.

DH and DD are heading to the lake this weekend. DH's mom sold the cabin there and they're going up to help her close it up. I know it will be a sad time for them (so many wonderful memories were made there), but I pray that we can all find a new place to make many more memorable moments.

Add "record producer" to my credits. This project for work has really come a long way! I'm thrilled with the talent of the local performers we have on our holiday music sampler cd. So far, we have a rock band, a string quartet, a bluegrass band, Sweet Adelines, Men's Chorus, barbershop quartet, a guitar & violin duet, and the community band. It ROCKS! We will wrap up the recording on October 3rd and send it off to be mastered and then reproduced in Texas. It will be on the shelves by mid-November...whew!

Any day now

Any Day Now

The leaves will flash their brilliant inner beauty
Geese will fill the skies calling for all to follow them southward
The air will have a bite of cold against the warm ground
Frost will glisten on the tips of the black eyed susans

Nature will glorify God's earthly creations.

Fall is here!

And my allergies & "annual fall head cold" have settled in. Blech!

I absolutely love this time of year when the days are warm and the nights are cold, the leaves reveal their inner fire, and the fruit of the apple tree is irresistable to young & old alike.

Believe it or not, it's also time to think about Christmas card photos! I had a shoot today and here are a few "keepers" . . .

Lovin' this

The local community college bond referendum passed last night -- that means the downtown theater will be restored as a multi-use facility for performing arts and college classes. It also means that a new student activity center will be built on the campus and that a new welding lab/technology center will be built adjacent to DH's building!

DD's elementary open house was last night - - what a riot! Tons of kids and their parents (& grandparents) were there to tour the school, meet the teachers, and meet each other. DD was so proud to show us where she sits, the activity stations, her art & music rooms, and where she eats lunch. Wishing I would have brought my camera.

Kinda lost my mojo lately with taking pictures. I'll call it a "creative lull." Need to get it back by Friday, though . . . Craft Night at church!

Here are a few of the photos I took of the family a couple weeks ago: More will be posted here later today.

It's called "Labor Day" for a reason

As many of you know, there is rarely a time when there is nothing to be done on a farm (no matter how small it is). Especially during long weekends. Such was the case at Gracious Acres this weekend.

DH checked several things off his list this weekend by getting the new corn stove installed. We stoked it up last night and sweated just to enjoy the "first fire of the season." It will be so nice to have that going this winter!

He also accomplished a lot out at the workshop, getting trim on the windows and doors, "skinning" it with metal coil stock (never needs paint!), and getting a good start on the siding.

The lawn had to be mowed . . . again. I guess we're finally paying for not having to mow during the month of June! It would be so bad if the belt on the blades didn't break half way through the job. Thankfully, we have a "standby" riding mower.

Sent these to my friend (the mother of the twin boys) and I got a nice call from her on Sunday as she was walking through Central Park in NYC.

I figured the boys needed something "countrified" being in the big city & all. I made the monogram placards from paper scraps & tied them with ribbon so they can be hung on a hook, doorknob, or corner of the crib. Fun little project.