Going...going...going...gone

After a morning of hard work - spring cleaning the chicken house and helping get the garden ready - the boys headed for the willow pond. Even on a foggy morning, what's better for the soul of a boy than a doggy pal, sword-sticks and brothers, and WATER.






The return from their foggy adventure ended up on the couch, huddled under blankets after downing cups of hot cocoa. They were wet (of course), cold (what do you expect in Wisconsin in early May?), and ready for lunch. That's perpetual - and why I keep a big jar of peanut butter in the pantry, and a loaf of bread in the freezer.



The Moral of the Story: we now keep a change of clothes for each kid stashed in the cabin (Mom doesn't appreciate taking extra time to run back to the farm house for dry clothing) Hey, it's easier than trying to keep them out of the water...

Pretty in Pink

The limb of buds on the flowering crabapple that I photographed the morning of my birthday has fulfilled it's promise - and then some. As you drive along our frontage road, our driveway is marked by these lovely trees - I just wish the blossoms lasted all summer. Alas, they soon drop and the trees are all green - until the crabapples form on the white-flowered tree, and the tiny crab fruits form on the ornamentals. Very nice, but not as stunning as the blossoms.
(I apologize for multiples of some of the photos, I miscalulated and was being lazy, didn't write down the photo numbers as I was posting - mea culpa. I'm sure you won't mind, as you browse through this pink extravaganza.)

NOTE: For the ultimate pink experience, click on any of the photos, they will enlarge. Just don't forget to use the "back" button, to get back to the post - if you hit the "x", the whole thing will close and you'll be irritated while you wait to reload, ruining the whole pink tranquility thing. I speak from experience.

















Well, that's enough pink for one day - even for Max.

Lunch by Chef J

Chef J almost always meets me at the door with a big grin and a recipe in his hands. How can I resist "Gwanma, I found this recipe, can you help me make it?" Picture twinkley intense blue eyes and freckles on a six-year-old...you see what I mean.
Anyway, this kid does his research daily, in his recipe box and books. On this particular day he had expanded to one of my favorite cooking magazines, "Taste of Home".

I had actually planned on making bread with our new grain grinder and new Bosch machine, so that project got started first (that will be another post - be prepared for the aroma of bread fresh from the oven...)then we switched back and forth to get Chef J's recipe on the table in time for lunch. A quick look through the frig told us we were going to have to punt a bit, we didn't have the exact ingredients. But that's what being a creative cook is all about - punting on the run and making a touchdown with something new and delicious. Chef J is all about creative. So here is his Cheesey Ham & Pineapple Bagels.

If you don't have plain bagels, use cinnamon/raisin bagels (that's what was in the frig). If you don't have cream cheese, mix some grated mozzarella with mayo (that's what was in the frig). If you don't have fresh pineapple slices, dig through the lazy-susan contents under the corner counter and if you're lucky there will still be a can of pineapple tidbits left from pizza projects. If you don't have sliced deli ham, use the chopped ham sandwich slices - and trim them to fit the bagels.





























And now he's looking for another winner recipe...that's my boy.

For dessert that evening he made a giant rectangle chocolate chip cookie, cut into
small squares, sandwiched with a dab of strawberry jam, topped with LOTS of whipped cream. Squirted from a can, of course. That's the best part!

The Red Ryder Brigade

One thing found in abundance on 40 acres of lush farmland, is RABBITS. In the beginning, they were adorable, we ooohed and ahhhhed over every little bunny we saw. We forbade Happy to chase them. We chastized Jetta for harrassing them. We went out of our way to keep from running them down in the driveway. That should have been our first clue - we could hardly get in the driveway without dodging rabbits.

Then we planted the garden. We even thought ahead, and put up an electrified mesh "rabbit fence" - it's about 15" high. Yah, I know. They soon figured out they could jump the fence. Then they started munching. We were willing to share. Munching turned into feasting. When they started eating Carrie's green beans, things started to get ugly. Then they started in on ripe tomatoes. And corn. And lettuce. And zuchinni. That was the last straw. We do not lightly share our zuchinni, contrary to most gardeners. Thus began the Rabbit War.

Now we urge Happy to "go get 'em", and praise Jetta for nabbing any little bunnies - hey, they are cute and all, but they grow up to become voracious rabbits, and their propagation powers are exponential.

And we have a secret weapon - boys and B-B guns. We have four Red Ryder guns, two are heavy duty pump style that pack a whallop. Enough to dispatch a rabbit. Here's the proof.


The guys were disappointed they couldn't eat the varmit. Wild rabbit is wormy and not safe for consumption. But the deer are. And the wild turkeys. The Red Ryder brigade is ready to set up business out in the back corn field, gotta protect those crops, doncha know.

Rural bliss...

There is really no need for a long exposition on this one...

One of the many reasons we love living in rural America.

Farm-boy Umbrella

Does this look like a farm dessert?






Our neighbor grows the juiciest, snapping-crisp, BIG rhubarb - and LOTS of it. Every spring we get the word, "Come and get some, PLEASE!!"

Max came along to help.

And this is what you do with those lucious big stalks of rhubarb -

Oaty Rhubarb Crumble (recipe available on request)

It's an art...

Birdwatching is handsdown my favorite pastime. Here on the farm, there is always something new and exciting to see. Imagine my gasp of surprise when I spotted this particular bird...
a "Knobby-kneed Leebird", skulking craftily behind the trunk of the bare-limbed tree.

Boys and trees are actually one word, doncha know. Boysandtrees. See?
Jayden is not going to be outdone by a brother, even if he is 3 years older...
Really...he can do it.
There's no doubt, he can...
Um...Jayden, don't look now, but...
Hey! Jayden!
OK, so it takes some guys a little longer. In the meantime, look out below!

See? Knobby kneed.
Jayden may not have the knack of getting up a tree yet - but his fencing form is impeccable. It's all that sword fighting practice he does with his brothers. All of them. Even Max. And don't even think about throwing away sticks that are on the porch, or leaning against the door, or laying across the sidewalk, or stuck in the hay bale, or... They're swords. Of course.

"Hey, Grandma! En garde!" OK, Jaydo. Now I'm really scared. That's a piece of grass.