MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

I apologize for not posting anything is several days.  Things have been a little busy here.  Julie is sick with a sore throat and head cold.  We took her to the doctor yesterday.  Thankfully it is not strep throat.  But she feels yucky just the same.  Rest and lots of liquids for her.  Also we have been doctoring Jasper’s (young dog) paw.  He seems to have stepped on somthing and run it through his paw in 3 different places.   The first day it happened he just limped, the second day it was swollen 3 times normal size, the third day it bled alot, then finally it has started ( I hope) to improve.  The swelling is down, he still can’t put any weight on it, but it looks much better.  Of course, he has been allowed to sleep on the enclosed porch, which I am thinking he likes WAY too much.  Cold temperatures here-below zero wind chills.  Wind gusts of about 60 mph.  We had to let the fire go out in the wood stove.  It was just too much smoke coming in the house, especially with Julie sick.  This is definitely on Hubby’s to-do list to fix this problem this summer. 

The pictures are of drifts in our side yard.  They are a little darker than I had hoped but you can get the idea anyway.  I estimate them to be over 4 ft.  Yesterday when we took Julie to the doctor,  the main road was pretty bad.  3-4 ft. drifts blocking one side of the road.  Lots of places had only 1 lane open.  When we came back, the road crews had cleared them.  Our road crews have definitely spent a lot of time working this winter.  Speaking of work, I guess I better get busy.  Take care and God bless.

A picture of the field.  I was hoping it would show how the sun was glistening off the snow.  It was absolutely beautiful.

Our road after the tractor had made a path.

Going up the hill beside the hay barn.  Yes, that brown spot proves there is still dirt under all this snow.

Guess what?  We’re supposed to get more snow tomorrow.  Not much though-about 3″.  After all this, we probably won’t even notice 3 more inches.  Anyway, we have company coming over today.  My brother-in-law and his wife are coming.  I made homemade vegetable beef soup(cooked on the wood stove, of course)and I’m making  rolls as I type this.  I use my bread machine to mix and knead the dough.  I love this machine.  It is a Zojirushi.    

I bought it used several years ago and consider it a very valuable helper.  I put 1 cup lukewarm water into the machine, 1/4 cup butter-cut into chunks, 1egg beaten, 3 1/4 cups bread flour, 4 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp powdered milk, 1tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp yeast.  Set the machine to dough cycle and walk away.  It takes the machine l hr 50 min. to run through this cycle.  Then I take the dough out, punch it down and form the rolls.  I get about 15 rolls from 1 batch.  Then I spray them with olive oil and let them rise for about 1 hr.  Bake 12 min. at 425 degrees.  When I take them out of the oven, I brush them with melted butter(being generous with the butter).  Half of these never make it to the table.  They get eaten as soon as the butter is spread on them.  One thing I do a little different from this recipe is I put 1 1/4 cup fresh ground wheat flour and 2 cups bread flour instead of using all bread flour.  My family doesn’t care a lot for whole wheat so I mix it.  I guess I better go check on my rolls and get ready for company.  God Bless.

More snow!  We already have about 3 more inches and as you can see it is still coming down.  It is supposed to snow all day today and tomorrow.  Wow!  I think it is going to be a snuggle in weekend.  I hope to work on Grace’s quilt this weekend, maybe make a few aprons, have fun with my girls, make a pot of coffee to share with my hubby.  Our front porch is enclosed with glass.  We love to sit out there, drink coffee and watch it snow.  All the beauty without the cold.  I have a beef roast on the wood stove cooking.  I haven’t decided what to put with this yet, probably potatoes and carrots.  Yesterday’s menu was meatloaft, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac & cheese, and biscuits.  School today as usual, maybe make some snow cream later.  Enjoy your day and God Bless.

What a difference a day can make.  Yesterday the snow was falling.  Today is equally as beautiful but in a different way.  The sun is shining and as you can see the sky is a georgeous blue.  It occurred to me that sometimes life is like that too.  Each day brings a different type of beauty.  Sometimes we have to look deeper to find the beauty and sometimes it is easier to find.  I believe God has a treasure for us each day, it is our responsiblity to search and find it.    Today will be another snuggle in day.  Church at home.  Maybe play some games with our girls.  Fun stuff.  Family stuff.  The things memories are made of.  I love days like these.  I wanted to tell everyone that I now have a comment link on each post.  If you want to leave a comment just click on the link.  It is always exciting when someone leaves a comment.  Thanks Dave for fixing this for me.  I want to take a minute to let you all know what a great son-in-law I have.  The Lord did a great job picking him out.  He is always ready to help us (no matter how dirty the job).  I just wanted you to know, Dave, we’re glad you are part of our family.  Okay enough of that, I don’t want his head to get too big.  Todays menus is venison roast cooking on the wood stove and also some beans.  I think maybe biscuits and fried potatoes would be good with this.  I try to cook on our wood stove as often as possible.  I think the food tastes better and of course it saves on the electric bill.  I’m always for saving money.  Well, I think I’ll get busy enjoying my day.  God Bless.

Never give up on cast iron.  We made a trip to our homeplace over the weekend.  My mother-in-law knows how much I love cast iron.  She had purchased these kettles in a set many years ago.  Maybe as many as 50 years ago. I think she told me it was a 20 piece set and it cost about $20.00. ( thats says it was a long time ago)   She had stored them  in a building  many years ago.  We went on safari to search for them.  When we found them I thought “Maybe they are too far gone”.  But I brought them home and searched the internet for ways to clean them up.  First I used an equal part of salt and oil.  Rubbed that in(really good) with a cloth.  Then for the really stubborn spots of rust, I used a brillo pad.  Washed them in soapy water and reseasoned them. ( To season cast iron, coat the kettle with a light coat of oil.  Turn upside down on a cookie sheet and bake at 250-300 degree oven for about l hour)  I was so pleased with the result.  I couldn’t wait to post about it.  The largest kettle she called a pinto bean pot.  I can just taste how good beans will be cooked on our wood stove this winter.  Thanks so much, Judy.  So don’t throw that old cast iron out.  Re-do it.  It’s worth the effort.  God Bless.