Just Call Me Farmer Dar Part 2

I thought I'd give you a little peek into what I've been doing lately. Word of warning: I'm at home, totally unsupervised, so I'm not promising that I'll get pictures posted. However, I am going to try. Apparently, millions of people have no trouble posting pictures. I, however, am not one of those people.

We've been having some unseasonably warm and dry weather here in Ohio. It has given me the itch to get some plants in the ground. Hubby and I have also decided to put out a garden (our first in over 30 years of marriage).



This garden adventure is not without its obstacles. Our first problem, was a misplaced gazebo, right in the middle of the sunniest area. So, we moved that little guy 20 feet, or so, first by pulling it with our pickup, then hubby had to hand crank the thing for the last three feet. It was a booger of a job, but hubby persevered, and got it done.

Next, we decided to get some good dirt soil, since what we have is very rocky. We called a guy to bring us some soil, but he never returned our call. So, we called someone else, who turned out to be twice as expensive. Let me tell you, dirt, I mean SOIL, is not cheap! Do I have to tell you that two days later, the first guy finally returned our call! growl.

AFTER we got the dirt, we thought it would be a good idea to check for underground wires. Yep. We've got 'em. And they're going right through our garden area. Naturally.

So, Plan B is to get more soil and make a raised garden, so we don't have to dig down and risk electrocuting ourselves. Yeah, I think that's a good plan.

In the meantime, I've got some seeds started. I think. I don't see too much happening. I'm giving them their little pep talks, but I they don't seem to be listening. I also have six blueberry bushes in pots for the patio. I'm looking forward to lots of fresh blueberries.

I've also been busy making, what I hope will be, a flower garden by the gazebo. I received a bunch of plants that needed divided, so I really don't know what I have until they start blooming. It will be like Christmas in June.

Stay tuned for Part 3.  Hopefully, I'll have a good report.  (In case you're wondering, I did have the teeniest tiniest bit of help. Almost minuscule, however, it was a very important piece of help.)

Tweet

Just Call Me Farmer Dar

Today is the day to get my seeds started. I know I'm waaaaaaay behind, but we just recently found out that we will be staying put for a while, so now I can start making long-term plans.

I've never really gardened from seeds, so I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I've read up a little bit on the subject, and mainly I need good soil, light, and moisture. I think I can manage the good soil and moisture. Hopefully, I have enough light. I'll give them what they need, then it's all up to them.

I don't know at what point plants can hear you talk to them. I always give my flowers a pep talk when I transplant them. I guess I'll give the little seeds a pep talk, too. Just in case!

We've got the garden area staked out, and a load of compost is coming today. We also have a couple spots picked out for our raised garden. We plan to have a covered area so we can grow lettuce this winter. (I'll let you know our success on that endeavor.)

So, I'm going to go out and play in the dirt now, and say a lot of prayers over my little seeds, and hopefully, I'll have something to transplant by the end of May!

Tweet

Friday, Friday!

Friday, Friday, how did you get here so fast???? "Face it Friday" is here, and now I must check my list of goals. It's right here under a stack of papers on my desk. Let's see how I'm doing....umm
1. Nope
2. Nope
3. Nope
4. Nope
5. Definitely Nope
6. Sadly Nope
7. Nope
8. I'm in trouble Nope
9. Nope
10. Making Progress

So, you can see I'm not doing all that great (and this is why I rarely make goals!)

Goal Number 10: Learn the (Latin) words and music to "TE DEUM" by Joseph Hayden.
We had an extra practice last night, and it helped immensely. We practiced the last half of the song which seems a little easier because we sing basically the same phrase over and over with a lot of sixteenth note runs.(FYI: sixteenth notes go really fast). I'm concerned with the first half of the song,which does not have many repeats. But, the concert isn't until May 7, so there is still time, as our director will tell us.

Some people in our community choir are Latin experts and are very particular about the pronunciations. There was a discussion on how to pronounce "in". Surprisingly, in Latin it is pronounced: "eeeen". Me? If I get somewhere in the general vicinity, I'm happy. My theory is, how many people in the audience know Latin? Maybe that's not the right attitude, but that's the way it is. I'm not a serious music student. I just sing for the fun of it.

My defense for the other nine "nopes" is because I was very busy doing inside unpacking and outside yard work. Very, very busy! Very.

Maybe next week will be better, but I'm making no promises!

Tweet

Discombobulation!

My all-time favorite word is discombobulate.  Not only is it fun to say, but it also expresses the status of my brain most of the time. At this present moment, it expresses the status of my home. I would quote Webster's definition to you, but I can not find my dictionary at the moment. (I know there is a way to look that up online, but I also know it will take me way too long!)  But, my definition is: total confusion.

I was away for a week, visiting my son and granddaughter, then little "Sweetie Pie" came home with us for a week. That right there means "no work will get done"! Add to that, I've been painting for my brother all week, add to that, we get to finally "move into" our house, add to that, I need to seriously start planning for our garden. 

We've been living here for a year, but haven't really moved in. It's a rather long and discombobulating story, but, in a nut shell, in 2008, we sold our business in Ohio, moved to North Carolina (because we were sick of Ohio winters and have always dreamed of living in the south), big financial crashes in the summer of 2008 sent us reeling, being in the construction business, we knew we'd have to find work, but had no connections in NC, so we moved back to OH during a snowstorm, I might add. My sis-in-law had recently married, and moved out of state, leaving her house in OH vacant. We moved in, with the understanding that when it sold, we would, of course, move out. Not knowing how soon that would be, we left a lot of stuff in boxes, never really decorating, just being. Now, a year later, the house has not sold.  So, we've made arrangements to stay here for a few years. Whew! Turned out to be a big nut!

So, now my head is spinning with all the fun stuff that usually accompanies moving into a new house. I've pulled out all my unpacked boxes and have them stacked everywhere! It's like Christmas! I'm unpacking things that I haven't seen in two years, things I have forgotten about. (Which makes me wonder how badly I needed it in the first place. But, we'll travel down that road another day!)

So, if I don't make it back to the blogging world for a week or so, you'll know that I'm wandering around the house, probably holding on to something I need to find a place for, wondering where to put it, and hoping my discombobulated house, will soon become a nice, calm, relaxing home.

Tweet

An Embarrassing Moment

Everybody has them, and today I decided to share one with you. Yes, an embarrassing moment.  I've had quite a few in my life, but luckily my brain has blocked most of the them out and I can't remember them. (Of course,  if I could only remember them, they would give me lots of blogging material!

This particular embarrassing moment happened many, many years ago.  The ladies in our church decided to have a Christmas cookie exchange. That's where everyone brings a dozen cookies for each lady who is there.  So, you go, with, say, 10 dozen sugar cookies, but you leave with 10 dozen assorted cookies.

I have a Betty Crocker's Cooky Book. I used to go through it and dream of all the wonderful cookies I could make. There is a recipe for "Tiny Fudge Tarts", and they looked so yummy, that I decided these would be the cookies I would make for the cookie exchange.

I made my batch of cookies and was impressed at the way they turned out.  They were very chocolate-y and fudge-y. Everyone was ooo-ing and ahhh-ing. I felt so proud that they were a hit. 

One of the ladies asked me, "What kind of cookies are those?" Without missing a beat, I happily replied, "They're called 'tiny fudge farts."  The lady had kind of a blank stare on her face. She repeated her question, and now, a few more ladies were standing around. "Tiny fudge farts", I answered.  Suddenly, in the silence, I realized..."Tarts! I mean tarts!"  Oh, my. How embarrassing!!  But, you have to admit, 'tiny fudge farts' flows a lot easier than 'tiny fudge tarts'.  Go ahead, say it out loud. You'll see.

So, in honor of my embarrassing moment, I will share the recipe with you.

TINY FUDGE TARTS
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
3 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
Fudge Filling (below)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix flour and salt; cut in
butter. Sprinkle with water and vanilla; mix well with
fork. Using 1/2 dough at a time, roll out 1/16" thick
on cloth-covered board generously sprinkled with
sugar. Cut in 2 1/2" squares. Spread 1 level tsp.
Filling in center of each square. Bring corners  to center; seal together. Place sealed side up or down on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 15 - 20 min.  Makes about 2 1/2 dozen tarts.

FUDGE FILLING
Mix the following ingredients thoroughly: 1/4 cup butter, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla,  1/4 cup cocoa, and 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts or flaked coconut.

And, remember, if anyone asks you what they are, take a moment to pause, then say, "Tiny Fudge Tarts", and not, well, you know.....

Tweet

Sold to the highest bidder

Hubby and I went to an auction today. We used to go a lot more frequently, but lately, we've only managed to go to one or two a year. It's a great way to spend the day, if you have nothing to do, and the weather is nice. (Neither was the case this weekend!)

Actually, I had never been to an auction until  I met Hubby. It is yet another way that he has broadened my horizons. After we were married, most of our furnishings came from auctions.

It took me many years to have the courage to bid on something for myself.  I discovered that it is very exciting to be in the middle of a bidding war. The danger is in claiming something and becoming emotionally attached to it before you've actually won it. I almost always claim MY item, and am disappointed when someone else leaves with it. The second danger is not setting a pre-determined amount in your head, a price you will not go over.  Giving in to those two things may mean that you find yourself the proud owner of a treasure that cost a lot more than it is worth.

There's always a wonderful feeling of success to have the winning bid, but it's an ever better feeling to get your prize below your budgeted amount. It's a rare moment to come "under budget", but it has been known to happen

We have two pet peeves when going to an auction. The first one is when someone runs the price up to equal or above what the item would cost new. Why would you pay a "new" price for a "used" item? I don't know, but it happens alot. (Probably due to the dangers mentioned earlier!)  Our second pet peeve is when someone accepts the opening bid of the auctioneer. NEVER do that!! The trick is to make him keep lowering the opening bid to a ridiculous amount, and then jump in.

I'll share a funny story. One time we took my mother-in-law with us to an auction. She found something, and was busy bidding away.  Suddenly, we were aware of exactly HOW she was bidding. To my dear mother-in-law, all fingers are created equal. We were mortified to realize that she was using her middle finger to bid. Yes, she was flipping off the auctioneer with every bid, and was completely oblivious to what  she was doing. Naturally, she found several things to bid on, and used the same finger every time!

Today's auction was not very exciting. There was way too much stuff, and most of it was junk not worth waiting around for one or two things. This particular auction was at the fairgrounds and in two separate buildings, one heated, one unheated. Of course, the few items hubby was interested in were in the unheated building. Brrrrr. We stayed for about an hour, and by then it was clear that we would be waiting many hours to get to the items, and we really didn't want to stay that long.  Another unwritten rule is that no matter where the item is that you want, they will always start auctioning from the opposite direction!

Now, if it was summer, and outside, this story would have had an entirely different ending.

Tweet

First Sign of Spring!

Oh, there's so much to do, so little time. After a week, I've FINALLY been able to get back online. First I have to check my email and delete the 300 "messages" I've gotten, then on to Facebook to see what everyone has been up to. And then to blogging...but do I blog or respond to the comments? I want to thank everyone who has left a comment, and I promise to visit everyone, it just may take me a while.  In the meantime, hopefully, my computer will quit being a pain in the neck...

I am happy to say that Spring has not forsaken us, and I am confident that it will soon be here. The reason I am confident is because I saw a flock of robins yesterday.  They were all on top of the eight inches (roughly) of semi-white snow.  Our family always has a race to see who can be the first one to spot the beloved robin.

There is a little bit of controversy surrounding the self-proclaimed winner, who happens to be Hubby. I have actually proclaimed myself to be the winner, but Hubby disagrees. So, here is my story, and I'll let you be the judge.

Hubby and I were both together in our truck running an early morning errand. I didn't get my coffee, but Hubby was sweet enough to fix me some, and brought it along. Hubby knows that the only way I like coffee is when it does not taste like coffee. My way of fixing coffee is to add heavy cream until it turns a nice caramel color, followed by some hazelnut syrup (sugar-free, of course. I don't need the extra calories!)  Unfortunately, I am out of both heavy cream and hazelnut syrup, so I'm putting up with just having dry, off brand creamer.  So, hubby hands me my coffee. Before I take a sip, we're chatting it up, and I mention that it's probably too early for the robins, since the ground is covered with snow. I said, "They probably take one look at the ground and head back south until it all melts."

At that point, I decide to take a sip of the coffee that hubby has so lovingly prepared for me.  (It's in a travel cup, because when it comes to liquids and vehicles, I'm worse than a kid.) So, I push back the little tab and notice it is the right caramel color. Good job, honey. Then I innocently, and unsuspectingly, take a sip. Something is happening to my mouth, and I don't quite know what is wrong. (OH. MY. GOSH. I'm thinking)
My mouth is all kind of puckering up. I can't speak. I smell the coffee. Do I smell.....vinegar? What? I'm very confused. My brain isn't working. My mouth isn't working. And, that is when I spot them. An entire flock of them bouncing around on top of the snow.  Suddenly, I hear Hubby saying, "Robins! I see robins, and I saw them first!"

NO! I finally get my mouth to work." I saw them first, but I couldn't speak, and what in the world did you put in my coffee???"  He just laughs, "HA HA. I saw them first, and I said it first. I win." I maintain that I saw them first, so I am the winner.  He then calls my mom, because he especially likes to beat her in the robin race.  We relentlessly argue about it for the next 15 minutes, proclaiming ourselves the winner.

Oh, so are you wondering what he put in my coffee?  You'll never guess in a million years.  We had some leftover wine, and yes, he did put wine in my coffee.  How much, you ask? I asked the same question. "Oh, not much," he said, "maybe just about a fourth of a cup."  Needless to say, I did not drink the rest of my "coffee".

Tweet