Woods Branch Farm: 2/1/10

2/26/10

Ah, A Breath of Spring

Today we are seeing some sunshine - was beginning to wonder if it was still up there - and the birds are singing....March is next week!

Even tho the brown leaves are still hanging on, and the woods still has a trace of snow, spring can't be too far away.

In the picture, the ice is finally gone from our Muscatatuck River, and it is clear and beautiful again. (picture taken from back deck)

2/21/10

Poor old Holly Bush - it was so pretty, full of green leaves, but the deer have eaten everything they could reach. The ground was covered for several days with snow and ice, and the wildlife kinda had to scrounge for whatever they could find

No wonder your knees hurt, Steve......

Look what I found - going through some of my mother's old papers, had to chuckle at some of the stuff she kept. No wonder we are all "pack rats" - came to us naturally.

2/18/10

Meatloaf 101

Amanda says she made a meatloaf and it wasn't what she expected....Ironically, I had bought a couple packages of hamburger yesterday at the store, and was planning to make a meatloaf today......So, I documented my meatloaf today.

First, I dice a large onion, a couple stalks of diced celery, two eggs, and a sleeve of RITZ crackers in a large mixing bowl. Get in with your hands - they are the best mixers....After this is all mixed, add your hamburger - anywhere from one to three pounds, doesn't really matter. Add salt and a good helping of black pepper. Mix well and mound in a loaf pan that has been sprayed with Pam - or oil.

When I have the loaf shaped to fit the pan, I up-end a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce over it and shake out a couple tablespoons over the loaf. Then the same with a bottle of catsup -being very generous with the catsup - at least a cup.

Cover with Reynolds Wrap and bake at 350* for about an hour, then remove the Wrap and bake another 30 minutes (before adding the potatoes)

After the meatloaf has been in the oven for 90 minutes at 350*, take out and place peeled potatoes around. By this time, there will be some drippings from the meatloaf, so spoon some of these drippings over the potatoes, and sprinkle salt on the potatoes.

Cover with aluminum foil - put back in oven and bake for another hour.

All done - when I have a long loaf, I cut it crossway in the middle, put a lifter underneath each end and place on the platter. Then I scoot the two ends together, and have the long loaf again.

You will have a lot of drippings, and grease left in the roasting pan. Pour off most of the grease, scrape all the drippings loose, add some water, a heaping tablespoon of cornstarch, a little salt, bring to a boil on top of the stove, and you will have the gravy.......

2/16/10

The Whole Family Pitching In

Steve made it to work yesterday during the snow storm, but Linda couldn't get to work, so today he took off from his work and brought her to her office to get caught up........ he cleaned off the roads here at the farm while he was here.....Picked up Terri in town and brought her to the farm for awhile. Looks like a picture post card out here, but we are all ready for some sunshine and warmer weather!

2/15/10

Snow and More Snow!

A picture of shrubs out the dining room window - look like huge fluffy pillows. The birds roost under them - guess all the snow insulates them.

Kinda like adding insult to injury.....we were just barely seeing the ground peek through, and here we are with another 10" of snow.....I have cleaned the deck off three times here at the end of the house today (it is free standing, and I want to keep it that way) . No need to venture out on the road, just feed the birds and wait it out.

Poor old Bear - she is so confused - she can't even squat to pee.....

2/14/10

Happy Valentine's Day 2010

A nice day - children in.....Lots of chocolate and flowers........Guess we are getting "conditioned" for another Snow Storm - all the news today.

A Welcome Sleep-Over

Ashley spent the night - Bear is always glad to have one of the children in house - means more attention......

2/13/10

A Big Black Pickle

Guess who just came in stinking to high heaven? With all the snow on the ground, I don't know what she is finding to roll in - need to get my boots on and go see. One trip around the house is all it takes. Probably a dead bird or mouse? Anyway, I sponged her off with an old towel soaked in vinegar - which she has already licked off. But at least she smells better - like a pickle.

Like I have said before - "A Dog is a Dog is a Dog!"

Would you believe, it has snowed again overnight......

2/11/10

Good Grief - More Snow!

Andy and Bill worked a couple hours cleaning off the driveway again.

You Figure!

Anybody with any sense at all would NOT come down this hill after a heavy snow- in a big van two wheel drive vehicle, no less - expecting to get back out. Andy and Bill were trying to clean off 6 more inches of snow on top of the remains of last week's snow and ice when these men came down the hill - to do their thing surveying for the Highway 50 road........They made it into the driveway here at the house, and couldn't even get backed out of the driveway. Bill hooked on to the van and pulled them back up the hill - backwards, as there was no way to turn them around. Bill was mad, mad, mad! We heard words we hadn't heard for some time.

Sometimes we wonder what these city people use for brains! And to think this is where our Tax Money is being spent.........