tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50620182769051731432024-03-14T00:50:50.014-04:00Netty's Country LifeNettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-63878167193980692552016-07-03T09:07:00.001-04:002016-07-03T09:08:55.886-04:00Catching up!<div style="text-align: center;">
It's hard to believe that it has been 3 months since my last post!</div>
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My Mom always said that time goes quicker the older you get, and I believe her!</div>
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Little Country Girl kept us busy for March with her figure skating ... a few competitions, a spring skating session in another town and a test day. She has now hung up her skates until August when there is a summer skate program before regular season starts again in Septemeber.</div>
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She had a great season!</div>
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April was a busy month, with my return to work and skating classes. It was hard to juggle it all, but we did it! On April 29th, we suddenly lost our beloved family dog. We all took it hard and miss her very much. She would have been 12 this year. RIP Boomer :(</div>
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May was a busy time out in the gardens, prepping and getting the veggies planted. May was a cold month, and the gardens were late getting in. We had a terrific asparagus harvest this year, and the rhubarb grew freakishly large!</div>
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I made jam, crumble, crisp and just about everything rhubarb, and froze a lot too.</div>
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Little Country Girl ran her first 5km marathon in May.</div>
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I think it's safe to say it will probably be her last one too!</div>
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Country Boy finished College and moved back home. Now's looking for the perfect job, while working at McDonalds.</div>
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Big Country Girl has been busy planning her wedding this fall. </div>
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We had a great turnout for their 'Buck & Doe', it really was amazing.</div>
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Heading into June, we picked out a German Shepherd puppy that came home the end of the month.</div>
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Say hello to Sargent, just 9 weeks old here!</div>
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He is certainly a handful!</div>
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I guess that gets me up to date on the goings on around here.</div>
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The gardens are doing OK, despite getting only one small rain shower the whole month of June. I did lose a lot of the annuals I planted due to the dry conditions. Yet to replace them.</div>
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I picked the first Sugar Snap peas this week, and garlic scapes mmmmm!</div>
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I leave you with a few shots of whats been going on in the gardens</div>
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*I almost forgot to add that I lost 20lbs in the first 100 days of changing the way I eat!</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-11416107504230353632016-03-30T10:22:00.000-04:002016-03-30T10:22:37.175-04:00Changing the way we eat!<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the reasons I garden, and learned to can was to eat and feed my family the healthiest food I could. Winter comes, and we are drawn into eating 'comfort food', things like homemade bread, stews and meats with rich gravy, and lots of carbs. With the cold comes lack of outdoor activity, lots of nights in front of the TV, and lots of snack food. While I have the best of intentions, all that home canned goodness really doesn't do much for us when were are mixing it with fatty foods, and burying it in buttery mashed potatoes! By the end of winter, we have all gained weight and feel sluggish, with very little ambition to do anything other than sit around and eat more processed, fatty and sugary foods. Hubby started to blame ME for making HIM fat - he said all my good cooking and baking was just too much! That's when I decided we needed a change!</div>
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SO many wonderful documentaries out there about the food we eat, and what it is doing to us!</div>
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I started by watching "Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead" by Joe Cross. I wasn't about to put my family on a juice fast, but I did buy a juicer and trade fresh veggie/fruit juice for our morning coffee (which had cream and sugar) Little changes can make a big difference.</div>
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What a great way to begin the day! </div>
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Finding that lunch sandwiches were still making us sluggish, I eliminated most breads from our diet - no more white breads! Whole grain bread is in our pantry now, and while the kids aren't happy about it, they will eat it or find something else to eat. I have eliminated all bread in MY diet. Next on the list was processed foods. While shopping, I was reading a LOT of labels. If something had more than 5 ingredients and had words I couldn't pronounce, I was NOT buying it. This really doesn't make things as hard as it sounds. If you are reading labels, you will start to notice that SUGAR is an additive to almost everything. We don't NEED all this sugar, and all these additives ... it is making us SICK! Those snacks I used to stock up on for evening snacking have changed. No more cookies, potato chips, salty or sweet foods. We now have fruit smoothies, almonds, grapes, berries, or a special treat of organic sweet potato chips. School snacks are now Lara Bars instead of chewy granola bars, fruit, vegetables and fresh fruit juice. We still eat meat and dairy, but less of it.</div>
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My shopping trips, while more frequent now, are starting to look more like THIS</div>
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I buy organic when I can, and that will become easier to do once my garden is producing and the local vegetable market opens for the season.</div>
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Eating real food isn't as hard as it sounds. There is a wonderful website called <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/" target="_blank">"100 days of real food"</a> that has some wonderful meal ideas and great pointers. Go check it out! </div>
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I am already feeling the difference and have so much more energy. </div>
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The added bonus - I have already lost 6 pounds!!</div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-38600647265570054362016-03-30T09:14:00.000-04:002016-03-30T09:14:33.743-04:00Ice storm 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
On March 25th, Mother Nature was very angry!</div>
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A night of snow, rain and freezing rain left everything covered in a thick layer of ice.</div>
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We were lucky we didn't lose our power here, but we did lose our favorite tree.</div>
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The entire yard had a sheet of ice on it</div>
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It really wasn't hard to see the beauty in it all</div>
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The following day, the sun came out and started to melt the ice.</div>
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The sounds of the ice falling to the ground was amazing (and incredibly loud!)</div>
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There were little pieces of ice everywhere! The meltdown had begun!</div>
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Just when you think winter is over, Mother Nature reminds us who is in charge.</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-90134329170125540482016-01-20T13:19:00.000-05:002016-01-20T13:19:57.308-05:00I finally got my harvest table!<div style="text-align: center;">
When we moved here almost 13 years ago, Hubby promised to make me a harvest table.</div>
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For years I made due with the old, round, glass top table in the dining room.</div>
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It was getting harder and harder to fit the whole family at the table.</div>
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Hubby said that he hadn't forgotten, but with all the projects around the house using up all the extra money he just hadn't gotten to it.</div>
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Last year, at Thanksgiving, I knew that something had to be done for thanksgiving dinner - now that we had Country Fellow coming for supper there was no room for everyone!</div>
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I moved the rectangular patio table inside.</div>
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That patio table was our dining room table for over a year!</div>
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It was a little lower than a regular table, but with a tablecloth on no one really knew.</div>
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Then, in September of 2015, the farm across the street was sold to a 'cash cropper' and they wanted to remove all the buildings.</div>
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It had a beautiful barn, that was built in the late 1800's</div>
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I came home from work one day not long after that picture was taken to find this!</div>
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The barn and other outbuildings had been bulldozed!</div>
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I quickly ran over and asked the equipment operator if I could have some of the wood from the pile.</div>
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He was very nice, telling me that the whole pile was going to be set ablaze, so if I wanted anything I had better take it quick!</div>
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It really was sad to stand and look at the ruins of this old barn, especially knowing the value in reclaimed barn wood projects these days.</div>
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I quickly got to work, carefully picking through the piles.</div>
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I collected a dozen or so good planks and carted them home.</div>
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I stacked them in front of the garage, and explained to Hubby that THIS pile of wood was going to be my harvest table! It was a few weeks before he was able to get to it,but he did indeed make me a harvest table for my dining room. And just in time for Christmas dinner!</div>
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12 years late, but worth the wait!</div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-26726260438401789632016-01-04T14:01:00.003-05:002016-01-04T14:01:53.875-05:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year!</h2>
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Now that the dust has settled and we have welcomed in the New Year, it's time to think about what we want to accomplish in 2016. </div>
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2015 was such a busy year!!</div>
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It was a good year though, and there isn't too much I would change for 2016.</div>
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2015 saw a few changes - Big Country Girl starting her career, getting engaged to Country Fellow, buying their first home, moving out, and getting a puppy.</div>
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Me learning to can, and trying to keep up with work, the kids, new clients, and the house.</div>
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Little Country Girl getting more serious about figure skating, and less serious about soccer.</div>
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Country Boy continuing his College education.</div>
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Hubby starting a new job.</div>
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We were all kept so busy, that it seems things outside 'our world' were a little forgotten, including this blog. There are friends we haven't seen, places we haven't been, projects we didn't get to.</div>
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I am really going to try to be better about keeping in touch this year, and not being so crazy busy all the time. But that could prove to be difficult ... we have a wedding to plan!</div>
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<i>WELCOME 2016!</i></h3>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-68112692431205368502015-11-10T15:40:00.000-05:002015-11-10T15:40:29.241-05:00Looking back at this years garden<div style="text-align: center;">
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One of my goals this season, was to improve the vegetable garden.</div>
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Looking back now, I think it was a success!</div>
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I had wonderful harvests from every crop planted, and spent a good part of my weekends canning.</div>
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This winter I know I will eat well, and I will know exactly what is in every single jar I open - good, organic, home grown goodness!</div>
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Totally worth it!</div>
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Now on to planning next years garden...</div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-33391069822199592572015-09-06T09:01:00.000-04:002015-09-06T09:01:09.527-04:00Garden bounty and canning<div style="text-align: center;">
The garden has been producing lots of veggies for me this year.</div>
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I've been filling this basket with fresh, organic veggies almost every day!</div>
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The beans, cucumber and tomatoes seem to be the best crops this year, giving us seemingly endless supply. The tomato crop this year has been amazing! There is nothing like a fresh sliced tomato, still warm from the garden! You just can't buy this taste!</div>
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We have eaten our fill, shared with friends, and canned a lot.</div>
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I even had my first pressure canning mishap! While canning some tomatoes, I heard a funny sound from the inside to the canner. I can only assume the lid was on too tightly and the pressure finally blew the lid off. The jar was fine, but what a MESS!</div>
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Our pickling cucumbers were a little slow, so I bought some from the farmers market and made some garlic dill pickles and bread and butter pickles.</div>
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A winters worth of green beans and dilly beans has been canned up as well.</div>
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Onions will be ready soon, and cabbage and carrots will be harvested and canned for winter use.</div>
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The Cucamelons have been very prolific this year as well. Most have been eaten straight off the vine, but I am hoping to try a cucamelon mint pickle. I'll let you know how that works out.</div>
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While the veggie garden is still winding down, I am already planning for next years garden. My main goal this fall is to improve the soil in a few sections of the garden with leaves, compost and manure.<br />
Yes, I said FALL. It sure is feeling like fall in the mornings.<br />
And with the kids going back to school in a few days, fall isn't far behind!</div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-23501862796268188322015-07-19T10:02:00.000-04:002015-07-19T10:02:06.858-04:00Big news! <div style="text-align: center;">
Anyone who has kids that are old enough to date, know that not everyone 'fits' into the family unit.</div>
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Big Country Girl, as well as Country Boy have dated, and brought home boys/girls.</div>
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While most were nice, pleasant people, something about them didn't quite click with the family.</div>
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Until August 2013.</div>
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Big Country Girl met a boy - lets just call him Country Fellow.</div>
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He was a happy, kind, friendly fellow.</div>
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He treated Big Country Girl with kindness and respect, and made her very happy.</div>
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Country Fellow also got along well with the rest of the family - even FATHER liked Country Fellow!</div>
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Country Fellow just seemed to 'fit' into our crazy family. I thought that maybe he was 'the one' for Big Country Girl, and I had even mentioned that to a few people in conversation.They just seemed to bring out the best in each other, and those around them.</div>
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A few weeks ago, Country Fellow asked for approval ... Country Fellow wanted to propose to Big Country Girl! And guess what ... she said YES!</div>
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No date set just yet, but we are all thrilled to make him part of our crazy family.</div>
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Sometimes Mom's just <b><i>know!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>;) </i></b></div>
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<b><i> </i></b></div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-77311308616635438952015-07-19T09:33:00.002-04:002015-07-19T09:33:45.373-04:00Nothing beats home grown!<div style="text-align: center;">
Mid way through the month of July already!</div>
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The garden is doing well and the harvest has begun!</div>
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I am thankful that I am able to do a quick clean up around the patches with the lawn mower, </div>
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however the new problem seems to be the grass/weeds creeping into the patch.</div>
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I just don't have the time to pull weeds this time of year and so I have discovered that my string trimmer does a great job. Not exactly environmentally friendly so I will have to come up with another plan of attack. I am thinking raised beds maybe the way to go next year - IF it's in the budget! </div>
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From the 3 Black Current bushes I was able to harvest 7 pounds of currents!</div>
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I have also been keeping ahead of the birds this year and been able to pick a bowl of Black Berries every day. Some get eaten right away, the rest are frozen.</div>
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Tomatoes are doing well and I have been able to pick about 6 ripe cherry tomatoes so far.</div>
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They never seem to make it back to the house ... I crave home grown tomatoes most of the year. When it is finally time to harvest one, I just can't seem to control myself!</div>
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The Zucchini are coming alone too ... in just a few days I should be able to harvest the first one</div>
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The peas are doing amazing this year. I discovered that I need a better trellis for them ... a 3 foot chicken wire fence isn't tall or strong enough! Next year this shall be resolved, but for now the peas are strung up with twine, happily producing many MANY peas</div>
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The beans are being harvested every 2 days or so. This year we planted 'Royal Burgundy' and 'Blue Lake Bush'. I am please with both so far. I also planted 2 'Scarlett Runner' plants for my Hummingbirds late this spring and they are blooming well but I have only picked 1 bean so far. That is fine with me ... they are a tough, sort of fuzzy bean that I am not very fond of.</div>
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This was yesterdays pick of beans and peas.</div>
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Friday, before the heat, I decided to make the first dilly beans. I had also purchased some baby english cucumbers at the market and did the first jars of pickles. I love how the 'Royal Burgundy' made a lovely purple brine in the jar after processing.</div>
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My own cucumber plants are just starting to fruit, and my 5 pots of experimental pickles in a pot are doing well now ... hopefully some to pick soon. I hope they start to climb the fence, but it looks like I'm going to have to teach them how.</div>
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I harvested the heritage garlic yesterday. It was my first time, and they did produce scapes (which we glady ate YUM!) and small, very strong bulbs. I will replant most of these and purchase more bulbs and have a large garlic patch next year. We use a LOT of garlic around here!</div>
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Lots of kale in the garden, the dinosaur Kale seems to be doing the best. It is such a beautiful plant that I am reluctant to cut it!</div>
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We ate our share of spinach, leaf lettuce and romaine. I will definitely grow 'Little Gem' romaine again next year! Swiss Chard is looking good, but sadly we aren't fond of it. I will harvest it for my Mom and a work mate to eat. It sure looks pretty though!</div>
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I am looking forward to the rest of the harvest, and I am taking notes this year and already planning next years garden. You know what they say ... there is no garden so great as next years garden! ;)</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-66613098030400211702015-06-14T20:35:00.001-04:002015-06-14T20:35:38.277-04:00June is flying past!<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes things don't work out as planned.</div>
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My 'quiet' country life has been anything BUT quiet these days!</div>
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I'm back to work full time, Little Country Girl has just finished a session of Spring Skate and is now playing soccer. I am busy at the soccer field 2-4 days a week. </div>
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Country Boy is working lots of shifts at a local fast food restaurant, as well as getting ready for a summer job with the Pan Am Games coming soon. He is saving for a car and that will surely help loosen the load on Big Country Girl and I, who have been driving him around.</div>
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Father has started a new job, and so this means more time away from home.</div>
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There has been so much to do around the yard! </div>
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The grass hasn't stopped growing, nor have the weeds.</div>
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The veggie garden is now planted, and the pool opened.</div>
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2 more weeks and Little Country Girl will be on summer holidays. </div>
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It <i>might </i>almost be time to slow down a bit!</div>
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We had a very wet week, and so yesterday was spent cutting grass, weeding, and planting.</div>
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Today was another rainy day and so the housework was done, and I even had a chance to sit down!</div>
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I have been snapping photos for weeks, and finally I can post a few of what is going on in my yard.</div>
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I finally got the veggie tomatoes, peppers and zucchini's planted, and Little Country Girl talked me into trying watermelon one more time. Now the hard part ... keeping ahead of the weeds!</div>
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Our Asparagus patch was bountiful this year and I think we can all say that we had our fill.</div>
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Planted a whole lot of spinach and salad greens that should be ready to eat any time now.</div>
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I thought this Red Romaine looked good, but so far it just tastes bitter.</div>
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The first big weeding out there took almost all day, and filled the wheelbarrow!</div>
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Have you ever seen such a HUGE Rhubarb plant?</div>
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I found a new recipe for Rhubarb Cinnamon muffins that everyone seems to like, and we have had stewed rhubarb and rhubarb strawberry crisp. I have also frozen some and given lots to friends. I think this plant really likes the yearly topdressing of manure!</div>
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I've been trying to get the back flower beds cleaned and planted up too.</div>
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Thank goodness for the perennials, or there would be no color out there. I just haven't had the time to get all the annuals in yet! There are some pretties out there...</div>
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Snow in Summer </div>
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Garden Loosestrife </div>
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Maiden Pinks</div>
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Allium</div>
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Flag Iris</div>
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Iris</div>
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Spiderwort </div>
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The Hosta beds are coming to life, some are getting split </div>
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The Peony's are starting to bloom </div>
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This week things should slow down for me a little.</div>
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Hopefully the weeds don't get away from me before then.</div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-907474399248334882015-05-18T08:55:00.000-04:002015-06-14T19:48:42.589-04:00Spring is in the air!<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh my goodness, it has been a long time coming!</div>
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After a long, snowy, cold winter, spring is finally here!</div>
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Winter technically ended for us with the Skating Pot Luck Luncheon and awards ceremony, at which Little Country Girl was awarded Top Junior Skater! Way to go!! </div>
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Time to hang up those skates for the summer and lace up those soccer shoes!</div>
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So the long winter allowed me to plan out my veggie gardens and one of the top items was to improve the soil out in the plots. I took advantage of our towns compost giveaway as well as neighbors manure pile and spent a weekend working it in. I am now convinced the soil is in top condition for my crops.</div>
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I am happy to see that last years new apple tree survived the winter and is doing well.</div>
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I added a Plum tree this spring too, I hope it 'takes'. It didn't have too much root.</div>
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The last old apple tree had all the dead wood trimmed out this spring and we are being rewarded for our efforts. I do hope there are enough pollinators out and we get a heavy crop this fall. </div>
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The old apple tree we lost 3 years ago has sprouted. A few new 'trees' have grown and been pruned. I will eventually have to decide which one I want to keep and cut the other out. I do hope it grows and produces Apples one day!</div>
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Mother Nature is rewarding us for the long winter with fragrance from the Lilac's. They are just loaded with blooms this year!</div>
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I wish I could remember the name of these beauties</div>
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These were added last fall - 'China Town'</div>
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This is the second season for the Frittilaria Imperialis </div>
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Some other pretties</div>
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The cold weather crops have been planted and are coming up.We had a frost this week, and there is another predicted for this week. I
wont be able to put my tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini in
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I am just so glad I can be out in my gardens again!</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-25674392794806685902015-04-22T19:17:00.002-04:002015-04-22T19:17:39.837-04:00Hosta eating cat!<div style="text-align: center;">
I never thought I would have to worry about my cat eating my Hosta's, after all she is an indoor cat.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HCsFaLcqfM/VTgnyEV6w0I/AAAAAAAAD_I/D-UlBhbqYMA/s1600/December%2B2010%2B007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HCsFaLcqfM/VTgnyEV6w0I/AAAAAAAAD_I/D-UlBhbqYMA/s1600/December%2B2010%2B007.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I bought a few miniatures a few weeks ago and was keeping them in the back room until the weather got warm enough to plant them outside.</div>
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'Grand Prize'<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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'Thumbelina'<br />
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And this one called 'Masquarade'</div>
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After doing a little research online, I discovered that 'Masquarade' was <i>supposed </i>to be variegated, and that is was commen for this Hosta to revert to all green. While not impressed with my all green 'Masquarade', I discovered that one section had the proper colors.</div>
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I decided that I would remove the part with the correct colors when I got home from work, and repot it in its own pot and it's all green siblings in another pot. Then the cat found it ...</div>
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Anyone else have plant eating cats?</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-21995844741004421732015-04-22T18:45:00.002-04:002015-04-22T18:45:59.159-04:00Where does the time GO?<div style="text-align: center;">
Seems hard to believe that my last post was almost a month ago!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The snow is all gone now, and we have had some nice weather.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have started yard clean up and I've even seen the first bloom!</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfLW8ILLTzg/VTgjtXRcCAI/AAAAAAAAD-8/GOBOwoJkJtE/s1600/first%2Bbloom%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfLW8ILLTzg/VTgjtXRcCAI/AAAAAAAAD-8/GOBOwoJkJtE/s1600/first%2Bbloom%2B2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is Earth Day, and Mother Nature is not happy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snow and hail today, with a chance of snow overnight.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm keeping my fingers crossed it is the last snow we see this year!</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-81632396723915962642015-03-26T19:47:00.000-04:002015-03-26T19:47:06.868-04:00Waiting for spring<div style="text-align: center;">
Just because the calendar says it is spring doesn't mean it is!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A while the snow has been melting, it is still a long way until I will be able to get back into the gardens. I am chomping at the bit!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been watching my bird bath, which was almost covered in snow. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmTArjz-zIw/VRSaBd5r4fI/AAAAAAAAD-c/6DW_UV2H-Mo/s1600/IMG_8129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmTArjz-zIw/VRSaBd5r4fI/AAAAAAAAD-c/6DW_UV2H-Mo/s1600/IMG_8129.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QhfARr81BlM/VRSaBS599lI/AAAAAAAAD-g/XqR1ffo_l88/s1600/Melting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QhfARr81BlM/VRSaBS599lI/AAAAAAAAD-g/XqR1ffo_l88/s1600/Melting.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Soon!</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-7708649369241027042015-02-22T09:52:00.000-05:002015-02-22T09:52:24.412-05:00It's COLD outside!<div style="text-align: center;">
Somehow February seems like the longest month of the year.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've had bitter cold temperatures, snow, and then more bitter cold.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I did take advantage of a sunny day to go outside and snap a few pictures around the yard.</div>
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A cold morning sunrise</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Lots of snow this year!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6AWnIA-Ybic/VOnqlpdJFEI/AAAAAAAAD8o/yHd-kx4Tr8s/s1600/IMG_7960%2B(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6AWnIA-Ybic/VOnqlpdJFEI/AAAAAAAAD8o/yHd-kx4Tr8s/s1600/IMG_7960%2B(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because it has been so cold outside, I have been spending a lot of time <i>inside.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Father has been busy painting and I have been busy in the kitchen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have always wanted to learn how to make bread by hand - without the use of a breadmaker.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This week I tried some basic buns</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTxyMqssnF4/VOnrsDZuJdI/AAAAAAAAD9E/E4EEX6GVBv8/s1600/IMG_8029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTxyMqssnF4/VOnrsDZuJdI/AAAAAAAAD9E/E4EEX6GVBv8/s1600/IMG_8029.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not the <i>prettiest </i>buns I've seen, but they tasted great. Not bad for a first attempt!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've also been making a lot of pizza dough, and so pizza once a week.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I want to make some black current jam with some frozen currents from the garden.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And muffins ... Mmmmm.</div>
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I hope spring gets here soon so I can get out of the kitchen!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All this cooking isn't good for my waistline! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
;)</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-84232071348868466662015-02-09T15:20:00.000-05:002015-02-09T15:20:29.801-05:00February blahs<div style="text-align: center;">
We just had 4 days of snowfall.</div>
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I can just barely see the top of the Boxwoods<br /> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl0PyOJ8BPM/VNkRFD-DHhI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/OJjp9dFbdYg/s1600/IMG_7921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl0PyOJ8BPM/VNkRFD-DHhI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/OJjp9dFbdYg/s1600/IMG_7921.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The garden has a heavy blanket of snow protecting it.</div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The same picture just a few months ago</div>
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What a difference 6 months can make!</div>
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<br /></div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-85080450107696971812015-01-21T09:10:00.000-05:002015-01-21T09:10:03.237-05:00Snowy Owl sightings<div style="text-align: center;">
According to many reports, Ontario is seeing a record number of Snowy Owl's this winter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snowy owls live in the Arctic
tundra, north of the tree line. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, N.Y. the irruption "likely has to do with a bounty of prey in the
owl’s breeding areas. With lemmings (the snowies prey of choice)
plentiful, more owlets survived and flourished. With a sharp upswing in
population, many of these young birds were forced to vacate their frigid
northern homes, expanding their hunting areas further south"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been lucky enough to see one of these majestic birds in my own yard on several occasions.</div>
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</div>
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This guy seems to like my antennae, and spent quite a bit of time perched there yesterday.</div>
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It didn't seem disturbed by me at all. In fact, it was almost posing for me. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEyoC4enrTk/VL-v8SFW6tI/AAAAAAAAD6o/E5VAG1AcO00/s1600/DSCF4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEyoC4enrTk/VL-v8SFW6tI/AAAAAAAAD6o/E5VAG1AcO00/s1600/DSCF4178.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I think this may explain the lack of rabbits in my yard this winter!</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is the heaviest owl in North America, with females weighing an average
of 2.3 kg and males 1.8 kg. This <i>might </i>explain the condition of my tower!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JNT8DuSlLA/VL-xQbtXvGI/AAAAAAAAD7A/ZaB4AqpBpbg/s1600/DSCF4183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JNT8DuSlLA/VL-xQbtXvGI/AAAAAAAAD7A/ZaB4AqpBpbg/s1600/DSCF4183.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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As I got closer it finally had enough of me and perched on a tree on the other side of the paddock.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYmvpUqSqEc/VL-xyEoO_dI/AAAAAAAAD7I/JJ5dQ4IkHKs/s1600/DSCF4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYmvpUqSqEc/VL-xyEoO_dI/AAAAAAAAD7I/JJ5dQ4IkHKs/s1600/DSCF4185.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel very privileged this beautiful Owl has decided to call my neighborhood home this winter. </div>
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<br /></div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-7572345955135258272015-01-16T09:22:00.000-05:002015-01-16T09:22:06.533-05:00Home made laundy soap!<div style="text-align: center;">
It always bothers me that laundry soap is so expensive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Recently I found a recipe that I just HAD to try for homemade laundry soap.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It only has 3 ingredients</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-quiXKC1QyWg/VLkZEmeddlI/AAAAAAAAD5U/ujD3Bortvpg/s1600/IMG_7651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-quiXKC1QyWg/VLkZEmeddlI/AAAAAAAAD5U/ujD3Bortvpg/s1600/IMG_7651.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I found all three ingredients at our No Frills store for less than $12.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started by grating the sunlight soap with a cheese grater - it was easy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I put the grated soap in a pot with about 4 cups of water and carefully heated the mix until the soap was dissolved, stirring frequently. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I had a clean 4.5 gallon pail with a lid, and filled it 3/4 with HOT water.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To this I slowly added 3/4 cup of the washing soda and 3/4 cup borax and stirred until dissolved.</div>
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Then I added the soap mix and stirred well, then topped up the pail with more hot water.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Put on the lid and allowed the pail to sit overnight. When I opened the lid the next day the mix had gelled. No, that OK ... it was supposed to do that!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
All this needed now was a good stirring. I decided to make it easier by using a paint mixer on a drill</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsKSpP0zY5k/VLkboQpeHQI/AAAAAAAAD50/3uKu6o-PIQY/s1600/IMG_7666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsKSpP0zY5k/VLkboQpeHQI/AAAAAAAAD50/3uKu6o-PIQY/s1600/IMG_7666.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And VOILA! Time to bottle it up. This was the whole batch ... not bad!</div>
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I thought I would test this out on Father's dirty work pants before I sang the praises of this stuff. If this can clean Father's work pants it will clean anything! I put a load of his dirtiest, greasy work clothes in and added only a cup of laundry soap. I had to remember this was soap and not detergent and so it would have less bubbles. I popped it in and couldn't believe my eyes!</div>
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It was the dirtiest water I have ever seen in my washing machine!</div>
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I was almost tempted to add more soap, but I wanted to see how well it worked.</div>
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I had just barely pulled it out of the dryer when Father came looking for clean pants, so no photo I'm afraid. But they were CLEAN! And so this recipe gets thumbs up from me.</div>
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The best part is that I only used 3/4 cup from each box so there is plenty left for the next few batches. And it was so EASY to make!</div>
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Now I need to find a recipe for dishwasher soap!</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-45858711664292351672015-01-13T13:37:00.000-05:002015-01-13T13:37:10.784-05:00Getting acquainted with my new 'toys'!<div style="text-align: center;">
Part of country life is preserving your harvest. </div>
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Last year was my first making jams and canning my garden produce.</div>
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I made strawberry jam, grape and pomegranate jelly, pickles, relish, salsa and canned tomatoes. </div>
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I got quite comfortable using my water bath canner and decided it was time to move ahead with other methods. For Christmas I asked for, and received, a food dehydrator.</div>
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Here it is with my first attempt at dehydrating pineapple, apple and banana.</div>
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The banana's came out brown and not looking very appetizing. The apples turned out well, and the pineapple turned out amazing! Little Country Girl has requested dehydrated pineapple again and so I have since made another batch. I think I'd also like to try making beef jerky and fruit roll ups in the future, and it will be great for drying herbs from the garden.</div>
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Another item I wanted to add to my arsenal was a pressure canner.</div>
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While I did not get one of those for Christmas, I did receive money that I used to purchase one.</div>
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Here is my new Presto 23 quart pressure canner!</div>
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I've got to admit I was more than a little intimidated by the whole idea, so I got it out of the box and read the booklet that was included. They suggested pouring 4 cups of water into the canner and following instructions to help understand it's operation. So that's exactly what I just did!</div>
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Now that I feel better about the whole process, I can't wait to can something!</div>
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Who knew just boiling some water could inspire me so much?</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-82792316015160196632015-01-07T15:25:00.000-05:002015-01-07T15:26:10.729-05:00Moving forward - Welcome 2015!<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year!</div>
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I'm a little late in posting this. The last few weeks of December were a whirlwind of activity around here. January began very busy as well and I am finally breathing a sigh of relief.</div>
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On December 8th, Fathers job of almost 20 years ended abruptly.</div>
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It was suddenly discovered the business was millions of dollars in debt and had filed for bankruptcy. All employees were sent home, and it took another 2 weeks before paychecks were issued. Not exactly the kind of thing you are expecting to deal with just a few weeks before Christmas! This has yet to be sorted out, but it may be a blessing in disguise for Father. He is a great worker and very good at what he does and so I don't think it will be a problem to find a new employer.</div>
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We spent Christmas Eve with my parents, and my sisters family.</div>
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I am blessed to still have both parents - here I am with my Dad on Christmas Eve.</div>
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New Years Eve was quietly ushered in at midnight here at home.</div>
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Little Country Girl and I stayed up until midnight and then promptly went to bed at 12:05!</div>
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On my dog walk the next morning I was lucky enough to spot this Snowy Owl resting on our hydro pole. I walked right up to the pole and took pictures and it didn't fly away.</div>
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Somehow I took this as a good sign of the New Year ahead.</div>
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2015 will be an interesting year </div>
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:)</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-33600156598004505192014-12-25T17:03:00.001-05:002014-12-25T17:03:31.971-05:00Merry Christmas to All!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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~Merry Christmas to All~</div>
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I hope your Christmas is full of Family, Feasting, and Fun!</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-66142580501527140472014-12-09T09:23:00.000-05:002014-12-09T09:23:14.338-05:00December already?<div style="text-align: center;">
I just realized it has been almost a month since my last post!</div>
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I've had my hands full with fall clean out, working around the house, skating with Little Country Girl 3 nights a week, volunteer time with the skating club, Country Boy and Big Country Girl and their schooling, and most recently, Christmas shopping!</div>
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I was in denial that it was December until finally Little Country Girl asked if I had picked up an Advent Calendar. I had trouble finding them but finally found one for sale the other day... An NHL hockey calendar! </div>
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Not sure why it has 32 windows, but in my house MORE chocolate is always a good thing.</div>
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And because I bought it late, Little Country Girl got to eat 6 chocolates right away!</div>
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So the count is on in our house.</div>
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4 days until Country Boy comes home for the holidays.</div>
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11 more days of school for Little Country Girl before the holidays.</div>
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14 more shopping days.</div>
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15 days until our Christmas celebrations begin.</div>
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16 days until Santa comes! </div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-88311306684651109222014-11-12T13:22:00.000-05:002014-11-12T13:22:59.807-05:00Looking back at this years vegetable garden<div style="text-align: center;">
The weather today is cold and windy, quite a change from yesterdays 17°C.</div>
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It's the perfect day to sit by the fire and look at the notes of the years successes and failures.</div>
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I sit and try to decipher the scribbles on the random pieces of paper and enter these notes into my garden journal. Each success (and failure!) is noted for planning the following years garden.</div>
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Thinking about it now, it must have been a successful year as the freezer and pantry are full, and we ate fresh, homegrown produce for a good part of the season.</div>
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I knew I wanted to learn to can this year, and so my garden was planned accordingly.</div>
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The first crop this year was Asparagus. Anyone that has tasted fresh picked Asparagus knows there is nothing like it! None of ours made it to the freezer this year so I added more plants.</div>
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Then came the rhubarb. This plant's size astounded me this year, and we ate plenty and froze lots too.</div>
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We had plenty of Black Currents too and some were frozen and some made jam.</div>
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I have been on an endless quest for the 'best' tomaotes to grow so I plant several types of tomatoes- some for slicing, some for canning and some cherry type for eating. And each year I try new varieties. As long as I have gardened, I have always planted 'Sweet Millions'.</div>
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They are a great cherry tomato, producing many clusters of very sweet tomatoes and they have never let me down. They will always have a place in my garden. This year I planted 'Grape' tomatoes as well. They were very uniform and tasted good - UNTIL you tasted the 'Sweet Millions' and then the 'Grape' tasted almost sour. </div>
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For slicing, I planted 'Beef Master', 'Parks Whopper', 'Money Maker' and 'Mortgage Lifter'.</div>
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The 'Money Maker' I grew from seed, they others I bought plants. The 'Mortgage Lifter' was put in late and I paid dearly for the plant because of the rave reviews I heard. </div>
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They were a huge disappointment ... small fruit and very few. The taste wasn't great either. </div>
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Never again will I plant them!</div>
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The 'Money Makers' produced clusters of small tomatoes ... nothing to write home about.</div>
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My favorite was the 'Beef Master'. Lots of large slicing tomatoes, very juicy and flavorful.</div>
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The 'Parks Whopper' was a close second. I would grow them both again.</div>
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For canning I planted 'Sicilian Saucer' and 'Roma' . The weather was odd all season, and all the plants were very short, but these 2 varieties did very well. The Roma's produced TONS of uniform fruits that were great for canning. The real surprise for me was the 'Sicilian Saucer'. It produced some HUGE tomatoes and they were excellent for both slicing and canning, and very plentiful.</div>
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I will definitely be growing these again!</div>
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On my list to try next year are the 'Tomato Berry' and 'Homestead 'tomatoes.</div>
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I'd love to hear from you if you have tried these varieties!</div>
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Something new we tried this year was Cucamelons.</div>
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They were a tiny, watermelon looking fruit that we thought were more of a novelty.</div>
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To my surprise, the kids liked them! The plants climb and so can be easily trained to grow up a trellis, so they will have a spot in next years garden.</div>
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The 'Sugar Snap' peas had a great year as always and will be planted again.</div>
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The bush beans did well too. I will always have a few varieties, already decided on 'Blue Lake' and 'Royal Burgundy' for next season.</div>
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Carrots and onions had a good year. I'm not even sure what varieties I planted, but have already decided that there will be red onions as well as yellow. </div>
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I battled the dreaded Cucumber beetles and squash bugs again this year, and so there were few zucchini's and cucumbers.</div>
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A garden is only as good as the soil, so I tried to get ahead of my spring chores by topdressing the garden with compost this fall. I FINALLY had a good amount of compost and I needed the space for fall cleanup. I hope to dig the rest this spring.</div>
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Good looking stuff, huh?</div>
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The gardens are all cleaned out now, with the exception of the kale that I have been picking.</div>
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Planning a garden is ALMOST as much fun as actually growing it.</div>
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Not long ago, a friend gave me this bag of seeds with a large variety of veggies to try.</div>
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Inside was almost everything a person needs to plant a good veggie garden. I don't think she realized how happy a bag of seeds could make someone - she looked SO surprised when I started jumping for joy! The only seeds I need to buy next year are peas, beets, and kale!</div>
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Planning next years garden just became SO EASY!</div>
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Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-35511560807577249542014-10-05T09:41:00.000-04:002014-10-05T09:41:18.089-04:00Beautiful Autumn colors<div style="text-align: center;">
My Mother once told me "the older you get the faster the time passes".</div>
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I am realizing this is very true!</div>
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October is here, and I can hardly believe it.</div>
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Seems like just last month I was planting my veggie garden and putting in annuals.</div>
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Autumn is such a busy season ... time to put away all the patio furniture, take down the pool, clean up the gardens, harvest the last of the veggies, get firewood, move compost, clean the eavestroughs, bring in the goldfish, get heating fuel ... the list goes on and on and on.</div>
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But I always try to take some time to enjoy the gorgeous fall colors.</div>
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Last weekend was picture perfect and I was in awe of the beauty in my neighborhood.</div>
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And a few from my yard</div>
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Enjoy the beauty of Autumn while you can ... it won't be long until winter is upon us.</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5062018276905173143.post-14369031990895382302014-09-21T09:32:00.000-04:002014-09-21T09:32:59.506-04:00Playing catch up!<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been a busy few weeks. </div>
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I've been meaning to post here, but somehow I just never got a chance.</div>
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Lots has happened since my last post on August 23rd!</div>
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Country Boy had his 18th birthday and moved away to college the very next day!</div>
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Not sure if I should still be calling him 'Country Boy' anymore? After all, he is 18 now, which is legally an adult! Regardless, we got him all settled in at Residence.</div>
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It's oddly quiet around here. I miss him a lot and look forward to next weekend when he will be home for the weekend.</div>
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Little Country Girl started grade 6 the very next day. Gosh, they are growing so fast!</div>
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With the beginning of school comes the beginning of all the extra curricular activities ... aka </div>
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skating. Little Country Girl will be skating 3 days a week again this year beginning October 1st. With this comes a commitment of 10 volunteer hours for ME. Because I am not busy enough this time of year! (eye roll here :) )</div>
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Our town had its annual fall fair a few weekends ago. We had many things entered again this year and won a few ribbons each. And made a few $$ to pay for our day at the fair. I somehow forgot to take photos of our entries, but did get a few of my 'Stunt Girl' on some rides. </div>
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Yup, that's her in the first car, hanging upside down. I would be wearing my lunch if I went on that ride! Little Country Girl loved it and went on many times with her friends.</div>
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Earlier this month we had a nasty storm blow through. Thankfully we were all home when the storm hit, because we had all just come home a few minutes before.</div>
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It was a scary one! It hit all at once with strong winds, heavy rain, hail and lots of thunder and lightening. We were all scrambling to close windows and the wind was blowing things all around. Even had tomatoes blow off the window sills! The storm lasted about 20 minutes and when it was all done there were hundreds of branches to pick up, patio furniture to gather up, our picnic table was destroyed, and our tv tower was bent. Still looking for someone that can remove the top before we get our internet 'dish' re adjusted.</div>
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It's been a great year in the veggie garden for tomatoes. Not sure if it was the secret new formula I added to the soil at planting time or the compost added this spring. I picked more tomatoes than ever!</div>
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Look at this giant 'Sicilian Saucer' Tomato!</div>
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I grew this type for canning, but soon discovered that they made an excellent slicing tomato too. They were very meaty with few seeds and a wonderful taste. I'll definitely be growing these again!</div>
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Tried making salsa for the first time and it turned out excellent. I entered some in the fair and it won 3rd place. Not bad for a first timer :)</div>
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Used more tomatoes than ever ... have some canned, frozen, stewed, salsa. Ate lots too and even gave a bunch to friends. Haven't counted, but the pantry is full of jars of home grown, canned pickles, mixed vegetables, salsa. The freezer is full of peas, beans, tomatoes too. Carrots and onions yet to harvest when I have a bit of time as well as cabbage and kale. I would say this years garden was a success! I also learned a lot about canning this year, and look forward to doing more next year.</div>
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The flower gardens are winding down now. Fall is in the air and we had our first frost on Friday.</div>
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I haven't had time to assess the damage yet. I was able to get out and snap a picture the night before.</div>
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Fall officially begins tomorrow, which brings along a whole new job list.</div>
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I just hope I have time to do it all :)</div>
Nettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15904692390744088675noreply@blogger.com1