Crooked Creek Farm

Musings...of Autumn?

Posted by HandsNHearts
10:36, Thursday, September 4, 2008 .. Posted in Women of the Homestead .. 3 comments .. Link

You know, in just a matter of a handful of weeks now, Autumn will officially start.

Yes, I know I do this every year.

I get rather melancholy this time of year. Every year it's the same thing. September begins and I start thinking with excitement about things like

combines harvesting the fields,
fertilizers being spread on those large farmsteads,
cooler evenings,
the surprise of a cool breeze during the day,
air conditioners being used less and less and windows opened with softly blowing curtains around them,
apples ready to harvest,
pumpkins starting to perk p for picking,
leaves slowly beginning to turn all those magnificent colors of deep rust, brighter red, rich orange and brilliant yellow,
the gathering of firewood for that first lighting of the woodstove,
those wonderful autumn smells...ever notice how pies and breads just smell so much better, so much more homey during the autumn than they do in the summer?
the starting of school and those big yellow buses rolling along the lanes early morning. No, my children aren't riding a bus, but there is just something that touches my heart and says autumn, in a nostalgic sort of way, about those yellow buses on the road after a summers' absence.

There are preps being made everywhere it seems...
folks are finishing off larger portions of their gardens and clearing them for a winter rest,
chickens are growing and seem to know time is limited for gathering those bugs and greens before the snow flies,
barnyards are freshened and hay mows filled with the last of the hay harvest before winter.

There are just smells and actions that speak autumn all over.

But, it's a bittersweet time for me. I miss all those things I've just mentioned. I know it's all a state of mind, really, but I have not been able to wrap my mind around a changing of seasons since moving here. Everything stays so green...and so wet...this time of year around us. I can pull out the autumn colors in flowers and garlands to decorate the house and give an illusion of autumn, but it's just not in my heart. I am just too wrapped up with seasonal changes.

Yes, I have so many friends here in the South who would argue vehemently that there are changing seasons here, and there is a definite autumn. I guess my trouble is, I only know one kind of autumn in my mind. It's the only one I've ever known. It's hard to change a vision that is ingrained in a nearly-40 year old mind.

So, this weekend, we are going to try to bring autumn to the homestead. I am gathering the fall fabrics to tuck here and there on a table, along a bookcase and near an oil lamp. I'm putting up a simple garland of flowers...all those beautiful rich tones I so love this time of year. We will be doing our evening devotions with the lanterns lit instead of the regular lighting...sort of creating that cozy feeling that autumn brings with it.

My eldest daughter says that's fine...as long as I don't crank up the a/c so we all have to don sweaters and thick socks to really bring that feeling of autumn to real life!

laundry, cicadas and more........

Posted by Dana
10:35, 2008-Sep-4 .. Posted in daily life .. 0 comments .. Link

Ok, I've worked out and got most of the laundry on the line. If only I could get Joey to get school done. I also called a HS mom that I forgot did not have email to get her uptodate.

While I was out hanging up my laundry (singing Oh What a Beautiful Day--just not for anything that had to listen to that!ROTFL!), a cicada and I had a go round about who had rights to the post for the clothesline. Seems that I'm not doing a good job of sharing.;) During our loud discourse, I heard what I thought was the garage door slam. Given that I'm slightly prone to paranoia, this was quickly dousing my beautiful day!ROTFL! The only thing I can figure is that JOey was messing w/the back storm door and was gone by the time I looked there. So I finished hanging up laundry, vacuumed and need to contemplate a shower (really, not much to contemplate!LOL). I decided to live on the edge and not mop this week either. Oh the horrors!ROTFL! But we were gone all weekend and Dh and Mat have been gone so...........;)

Mat's science in the near future will be to tell me if those are really cicada eggs on the clothesline posts. I"m pretty sure that he told me that they lay eggs in wood........

Yesterday--Iowa and errand day

Posted by Dana
10:34, 2008-Sep-4 .. Posted in daily life .. 0 comments .. Link

Well Mat was up and banging on the bathroom door while DH showered that he was ready to go.......at 6am. They were leaving at 6:30!ROTFL! I did not sleep well last night. This is GETTING OLD! I did get up and workout at 8 tho. Joey got up and I got him started on school. He had issues w/finishing it and required prodding.;) I got ahold of my SIL nad we chatted for a long time while Joey did that. It was nice to talk to her. I couldn't get my ISP to work so I could not send Walmart my pics to develop from home. I had a bundle too--about 450 to sort thru. So I burned the CD to take to town. I got the mtg paid after a hassle. It's a hassle about half hte time, but I was told last month that our new yearly adjustments had taken place and they were different again this month cuz of the escrow. OH well. It's done and I should hopefully get my new payment book int he mail soon. Then to the PO to get stamps for the MOMS group. Then to Walmart. I let Joey get popcorn chicken from there to eat while I worked on pics. I knew it would take a LONG time. An hour later..........I loathe that kiosk machine. It was scrolling when I wasn't even touching it, I had to get help twice. I was panicking near the end taht it would 'blitz' and I'd loose all that work and have to come back later and do it again. I'm going to be hot if it did what it did one time and gives me 4 copies of 1/4 of my pics....... But 350 prints ordered later and we were good. I was walking out of Walmart when my MOMS organizational meeting was to start. So I called and said that I needed to grab a bite and did anybody want anything. Yes, please......LOL On the way to McD's, I realize that since it's just JOey and I, that we could go to the mexican place! WAHOO! So I got a drink and my friend's sandwich adn realized that Joey threw away the popcorn chicken container while waiting for me (he was really good) AND I DIDN"T PAY FOR IT! I felt like a heel! Not sure if I can pay for it now or not, but I"ll ask the next time that I"m in there. By this point, I'm 15 minutes late for the meeting and in 15 minutes I need to get JOey to HS library. The library is right across the street so I just booted him out the doora nd called up to them to tell them that he was coming solo. I went to the meetinga nd we got everything arranged and ready for the year. Then over to get Joey from library and return and check out more stuff. Then to the mexican place for lunch (at 3:30!LOL). I tried to get our gift cert to there for the mom's raffle, but the parents don't speak very good English adn she finally just asked me to come back when her son is there. Great. At least I have another month to get it done.

I did meet a new mom at HS library and 'remet' another mom. They have young ones, but it should be fun.

Finally home where i have done NOTHING. So now I"m off to dust and clean the bathrooms. Dh told me that AWW wanted to pick tomatoes tomorrow, b ut I"ve heard nothing. I can get free tomatoes if I don't hear from here by Saturday! Which is fine. I just don't want to bail on her yet. Tomorrow I can mop and vacuum and do laundry adn call the house good.;)

Mat tried to call about 10 minutes into my meeting. I told him to call me back. Dh called back about 3 hours later to ask if my dad would want a John Deere shirt (they are touring there today and tomorrow) and what size. I DON"T KNOW! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WEARS MEN'S CLOTHING!ROTFL! But when I talk to Mat he had done NO school. I told DH not to push it since Dh is running the show for these 40 adult yahoos....oh I mean men. No point in stressing he or Mat out more. I"m assuming that I'll get confirmation tonight that Mat did no school today. He told me that dad popped a movie in for the bus to see........ I can't wait for Mat to tell me about the bathrooms on the bus. He was super geeked about that (puke).

Gustav upadate Day 3

Posted by Karen
03:28, September 3, 2008 .. 10 comments .. Link

*PLEASE READ BOTTOM OF PAGE:

Still no electricity. My neighbor said the newspaper said it may be 4 more days or more. The generator hasn't failed us yet. As long as we can get gasoline we'll keep it going. So far we're able to run the freezer, frig, tv, a couple of lights, computer, and the small window unit a/c at night, though not all at the same time. I am so thankful for that. It's such a helpless feeling watching all your food thaw out and spoil as has happened before with Katrina. I feel bad for those who don't have a generator.

I'm hearing that a few spots here and there have gotten power but for the most part we're still without. My hubby is really having to work extra hard. Then there are so many that can't work at all until power is restored. We've got hotels filled to capacity with evacuees. I wonder what they are doing with no electricity.

Thankfully, it's still rainy and windy so the temperatures are bearable. I'm able to "live" throughout the house. If the sun ever decides to come out then the temps will rise to the 90's and it will be like an oven in here so I'll have to stay in the bedroom and turn on the window unit for the most part.

The weather channel shows there may be another storm that might head to the Gulf. I'm not going to think about that one just yet.

Today is our 26th Wedding Anniversary!

After typing all this my daughter called and is sick and needs to go to the ER. She can't reach her doctor, the nearest hospital is not taking patients, and the next closest is overflowing and running on gereator power and can't even be reached by phone due to phone lines not working. Please pray for Summer.

The sun just came out....

Quote of the Day....Abraham Lincoln

Posted by GrandmaRosie
2:15 AM, Wed 3 Sep 2008 .. Posted in CLASSIC QUOTES .. 0 comments .. Link

There is only one way to bring up a child in the way he should
go and that is to travel that way yourself.

-- Abraham Lincoln

Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

Posted by GrandmaRosie
11:48 PM, Tue 2 Sep 2008 .. Posted in FROM THE KITCHEN .. 0 comments .. Link

Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
Moist and chewy, chocolate and cherries make these cookies sinfully
rich. Make the cookie dough ahead of time, freeze it and then bake
anytime for that fresh-out-of- the-oven taste

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp table salt
3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large egg(s)
2 1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/2 cup dried cherries

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon,
nutmeg and salt together in a small bowl; set aside. Place room
temperature butter into bowl of a mixer and mix with a paddle
attachment until smooth, or beat with an electric mixer.

Slowly pour granulated sugar in an even stream into butter and mix on
high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour in brown sugar, mix
until incorporated and then scrape mixture down from sides of bowl.

Slowly beat in each egg one at a time until incorporated. Slowly beat
in flour mixture until incorporated.

Scrape mixture down from sides of bowl and stir in oatmeal and then
dried cherries. (Note: Freeze dough at this point or continue to step
6 for baking.)

Scoop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough onto a nonstick sheet pan, a pan
lined with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat about 1 1/2 inches
apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are set. Cool
completely.

Either serve cookies or stack between sheets of waxed paper in an air-
tight container and freeze for up to two weeks before serving.

Homestead Snapshots...

Posted by HandsNHearts
07:46, Tuesday, September 2, 2008 .. Posted in Around the Homestead .. 3 comments .. Link

Not sure how good these will be. I'm not what you would call tech-saavy in the least. Even joking, one probably wouldn't call me that. My 'techie' is off in Arkansas, so I'm all you have when it comes to sharing pictures here. I'm using the video camera (it takes still shots as well) and working to figure out how to upload them...it's slow-going, to say the least.

Here are some shots of daily farm life on this homestead...

Barn chores being done this morning -- seems the goats decided they could in fact, push hard enough on the fence and make their escape. So, while the fence was being rebuilt by eldest daughter and I, Matthew started his job....mucking out the barn.

Remember the tree? This is it. Not really much of a tree looking at it this way, but it's a good tall one...just dead for the most part.

This is the life, isn't it? Just lounging around...totally centered in the walkway of the front porch, not caring one bit for those of us coming and going trying not to break our fool necks dodging kittens!

This is our 'seeing-eye' goat....the friend we bought for the blind one. We tethered them out in the barn lot this morning after they made their escape.

These are the newest additions to the homestead...they are supposedly pregnant, but honestly, they are the skinniest 'pregnant' sows I've ever seen. But that's ok...they'll fit in the freezer much nicer this way ;o)

Those are some of the shots of the day here. Maybe something exciting will happen here that an be shared later...not that we don't have exciting moments, but honestly, with Dewey gone, I'd just as soon keep things nice and quiet around here.

doctor tomorrow

Posted by glenda
06:25, 2008-Sep-2 .. 4 comments .. Link

i go to the doctor tomorrow due to blood levels.. also please be in prayer for my uncle he has cancer and is dieing. they live in florida and my heart is breaking. glenda

Gustav update for SW Mississippi

Posted by Karen
04:44, September 2, 2008 .. 6 comments .. Link

A couple of images from my back door after Gustav paid a visit. The pictures really don't do justice to the sight of the mess that we see.

It's still raining but the strong winds have died down. I just got phone service back on so I was able to get on the computer. I also called Kitty in S. Louisiana but didn't reach her. I did get her answering machine and left a message. (I found it reassuring that her machine was working.) As for us, for the first time that I know of our entire city and county are without power. You can't even buy gasoline. My husband talked to someone with the power company that said this storm hit us harder than Katrina. We were without power for about a week then so I'm wondering how long this time. Our weather radio is going off every time I turn around warning of tornados. But we are safe and all our children are safe and we have had no damage to our house and we are thankful to God for that.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for us. God heard and answered.

SLow start.........

Posted by Dana
03:08, 2008-Sep-2 .. Posted in daily life .. 1 comments .. Link

Yes, it was. We got back from a long weekend at the ILs. There were about 70 who came for MIL's party! So that was a huge success!

However, I was still awake at 1am last night. After a weekend of not sleeping, I was not super happy about this!LOL I guess I finally fell alseep and slept until 8:30! So while I missed my workout, both boys slept in as well (muchly needed!). I got up at 9 and worked out. As previously, mentioned I can not dance (or sing for those taking notes) and once again this was an hour long dance workout. Oh joy. It was afro-latin. I do at least know some latin moves (cha cha, mamba, etc). So we start and I'm able to at least keep up and she says to add the arms to make it 'sexy'. I'm pretty sure it made me look like a chicken missing it's head........ However, I was much better at this dance routine than the last one and really enjoyed it and worked up a nice sweat. I was cranky, much to my boys' dismay tho. They had done nothing so bfast got underway as did school. Joey continued to dawdle on school, but finally got done about 2 hours later. Mat made them lunch and I hung up their sheets and got some other stuff done around here. I was greeted int he garden w/2 zukes, 1 cuke and some almost red tomatoes (I nearly fainted!) and grabbed a beet for supper. I had sauteed zucchini w/fresh mozzarella for lunch and made cucumber salad and have the beet ready to boil for supper. We're having tomato and bacon sandwiches w/fresh sliced mozzarella along w/that.

Mat's wanting to clean his room and I just odn't have the energy. I told him next week that we would. I should be back on track by then anyway. Hopefully there will be enuf tomatoes to at least can some salsa.

Mat also brought int he dry sheets so their beds are remade, supper is ready to cook, school is done and I"m beat! Mat also lost a tooth today.

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