Sugar plum fairies

Today on our walk, Hubby and I came across a troup of ballerinas, pirouetting just for us.
Clad in gossamer, swaying in the slightest breeze, these delicate ballerinas dance.
I look at them and see not only the beauty in these blooms but the promise of ripe gooseberries to come.
Chubby, tart, basketballs of purple and green.
Sturdy enough not to crush when picked and make a jam or jelly with a distinct tangy flavor.
Two patches endure, and have for 30 odd years, over at the ‘old house place’ where my late mother-in-law first started them.

the time has come

Over the past few days, we realized that the time has come to get a start on the garden. Realization seems to come with the first sprouts of asparagus breaking through the soil and the discovery of blossoms on the strawberry plants. Growing things signal time to get gardens prepared and planted.

I love the plants and seeds going in and even more the products of all the work.

Sunday afternoon, Hubby and I planted tomato and cucumber seed so those plants will get the needed head start.

Yesterday, a trip out to the local Feed & Seed was necessary. Along with the hog feed we came home with packets of seed. Ready for the correct weather and some tilling to be done.

A shower or two of rain last night has knocked the petals off the fruit trees, under the plums, it looks like white snow, the peach trees have a carpet of pink.

Forty eight hours more or less…

These pictures were taken of the plum trees, as you can see by the dates about 2 days difference.

Just barely showing the white of the blossoms.

Fully bloomed and abuzz with insects.
Now for rain and sun to bring a crop.

Sometimes the photo ops are exceptional

Over the past few days, there have been some spectacular moments here on Sunrise Ridge. I have been blessed to be able to capture some with the camera to share with you.
I hope you enjoy.

incredible sunset

watching the brush fire

The full moon slides behind the trees[/caption]

Hand written cooking notes

Hamster size snow flakes are drifting down this morning, certainly a lot more like winter than spring. I felt a need for ‘comfort food’. Wondering what to make, so I pulled out some of my old cookbooks.
In some of these, finds from auctions, yard sales and given to me by family and friends, there are notes.
“Jeff really liked this”, prods me to try a recipe.
“Think it needs more spices”, and I ask myself if a teaspoon of cinnamon is enough.
Some have instructions for double or triple the recipes and notes on a church dinner or “Made this for Charlie’s visit”.
I came across recipe cards written in my mothers lovely hand, Aunt Jo’s scrawl, and a few in Gram’s looped old-fashioned script bring back precious memories and bittersweet thoughts of days past.
There were others and I will admit more than one tear fell as I traveled to kitchens I had not been to for years and ‘tasted’ treats made with love and shared with joy.
Now, I am off to the kitchen here on Sunrise Ridge, to attempt to replicate a few of them.

It isn’t over yet…

Hubby and I spent a couple of days this week discussing planting the garden and the timing to do so.
I spent some time going over records and photos from ‘this time last year’ amazed by the way things were ‘bloomed out’ cimpared to what we are seeing this spring.

the bluebirds are hiding out today

Waking up this morning to look out at a good coating of snow frosting the ground and trees, was a bit of a disappointment.
It isn’t over yet, no matter what, eventually spring will arrive – won’t it?

busy birds building…

I had to take a few days off, but the busy blue birds have not.
It is time to build nests even if the weather is not very springlike. The challenge does not seem to bother them at all. They face tha chill wind, bravely. The pine tree outside where the nest box is is filled with their fluttering and chirping.
They seem to be more active in the mornings right now.

Mrs B. checks before taking off

Mt. B gives some encouragement

Bringing in nesting material

“May you live in interesting times”.

We have had some ‘interesting times’ with chickens here on Sunrise Ridge.
Recently, we discovered a few that were gifted in the ability to fly.
Yesterday, Hubby and I were outside visiting with the pastor from the church I attend.
We heard an odd noise and turning around noticed a hen, scratching, and singing a welcome to the sunny spring day up on top of the chicken house roof. She had flown up there, about 9 feet above ground level.
Further investigation proved that this was not the first time, as there was a nest with 20 eggs, well hidden in fallen leaves.
The eggs were gathered and chicken wings have been clipped.
I can’t help but wonder what might have happened is she had set and hatched a bunch of chicks up there.

New Tenants

The bluebirds are arriving

Today, I noted the arrival of the first eastern bluebirds to Sunrise Ridge this year.
Early on, I could hear the male calling to inform others that he was staking his territory as he f9litted through the bare branches outside the window.
A bit later, Hubby and I were outside and we caught sight of a prospective new tenant checking the nest box on the pine tree.
We will be watching to see what happens.
For more information about bluebirds, please click on the link:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_bluebird/lifehistory

Not exactly Gram’s recipe… heat up the oven, it’s snowing today!

This morning one of the daughters sent me this great link: http://www.ohbiteit.com/2012/11/apple-pie-cookies.html
While I was reading, my mind jumped back over 50 years. Back when my great-grandmother was a frequent visitor to our kitchen.
She often made a similar treat, she called them ‘tarts’.
Her method of course, required making pie crust and rolling out on the kitchen table, then cut out with a biscuit cutter or a round tumbler…. her fillihng often a jar of thick home made preserves or apple butter.
The top’crust’ was merely another round of dough, with a hole cut by a thimble…
Honestly, I remember helping her make them and I had to shed a tear or two.
Now, I need to go look in the pantry, decide if I need to make peach or blueberry pie filling and treat myself and Hubby to some of ‘Gram’s tarts’.
In case you need to make your crust, I am sharing a ‘treasure’

‘Gram’ Cora Bell Williams’s Pie crust

Gram was a great cook, not only for her family but also as a cook for some of the University of Nebraska Fraternity houses.

I remember her pies, cut with a wheat design in the top crust.

This is an approximation, Gram used a big spoon to dip up the lard and a green tea cup to measure her flour. I used to get to ‘help’ her.

This is a really good crust recipe

1 cup lard

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup water

mix in order given, cut flour and salt into lard (yes, vegetable shortening WILL work), until it is like corn meal, add water slowly until the mixture clings together in a ball. Roll out thin and make pies, according to filling instructions. This recipe makes 2 double crusts or 4 single ones.