Simple Joys

I've been making egg salad for my whole life it seems. My Mother used to make egg salad and tunafish (solid white only!) sandwiches for dinner sometimes when she was real busy creating outfits in the sewing room with my Grandmother. She made them on white bread and cut the crusts off and cut them all perfectly on the diagonal. There would be a big plate of them in the fridge 1/2 and 1/2 covered with saran wrap. We LOVED it! That soft white bread and the soft filling mmmm you could eat so many and it was fun too. Later on (when I was a newlywed and subsequently a new Mother) she and I would have lunch together all the time and we'd have them on toasted bread and she'd put like 4 layers of green or red leaf lettuce and we'd have Hellmans on one side of  bread and Miracle Whip on the other side- ready at exactly 1pm and we'd watch All My Children. Ahhh those were the days! She's gone now and I never eat an egg salad or tuna sandwich without thinking of her. Today I made the egg salad with my own eggs. I got my own chickens in April and had a personal vow not to love them. I was absolutely positive that it would be a disaster and that the dogs would eat them or the hawks would get them or something horrid. Well it's November and all 10 are thriving. I love them. I love their beautiful pure whiteness. I love their little noises. When I pull in the driveway and get out of my truck they come a runnin'- all ten of them like a bunch of puppies or something. Ten little white friends that love me. Their feathers are like angels wings, their beauty blows my mind. They are a dream come true. I have ALWAYS wanted fowl in the barnyard but was always too afraid to try. Today the horses were out loose grazing in the yard with the chickens all around them. It warms my heart!!! It's like the lion laying down with the lamb type of thing. Peace in the kingdom....And then there's the eggs! sometimes 10 a day! All the baked goods in the bakery seem much more special. The color of the cheesecakes and yellow cakes is amazing. Sharing them is amazing! -and simply making egg salad with them is amazing! Standing at the kitchen sink peeling them hard boiled- seeing them and feeling them in a whole different way. Wishing Mom was here to share it. Feeling nostalgic over egg salad! I mixed in a little of my homemade "Aunt Margie's Zucchini relish too.YUM!

The view from the top of our land

This is the view from the top of our land. It is the most peaceful place I know. In the distant river valley you can sometimes hear the train. Nostalgic and sorrowful

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A Normal Day?

I thought today was a stay home and catch up day-boy! was I wrong...I got a call first thing to go teach a riding lesson 30 miles away at noon. It's near Jeff's office so I called him and arranged to hit the wood stove store then have a quick lunch. Before I left the farm I turned the horses out; did one of three stalls; tended to the chickens and dogs and got myself presentable.Stopped on the way at the store for cake supplies- I have an order for an "army" cake friday. -Not really my thing but I'm not turning down and order and it should be kinda fun. Met Jeff, taught the lesson got done at 1:35 and headed back to town to meet my hay broker at 2pm. Loaded my hay, stopped at the feed store for some bandaging materials- one of the dogs needs some sores wrapped so she can't irritate them more than she already has.Then I headed home.Let the dogs out- Jet was a bad dog, stole pie off the counter and broke a dish even though I left him with a nice bone-spoiled brat!!! he was mad I'm sure because i took Mugsy with me.Got the rest of the barn chores (stalls etc) almost done just in time for my afternoon lesson to show up. Beautiful children who can't wait to collect the eggs. A thrill for me to share! Got EIGHT eggs today. We put a light in the chicken coup to imitate longer days and it's working GREAT!! groomed Cain with the kids then taught a lesson -rode a little to demonstrate. Put the horse away sent the family on their way, finished up the barn chores and now Jeff is pulling in the driveway. I have steaks thawing and I headed upstairs to treat myself to the hot tub and a glass of wine. Hopefully Jeff will join me. Looks like I'll just make it in mefore the sun goes down across the river Phew! A productive day!!

Sunday Morning Ahhhh.....

A well-earned day OFF! This morning for breakfast we're having banana buckwheat pancakes with real maple syrup, oven glazed bacon, farm fresh (our own!) sunny side up eggs and sliced fresh pears. Then I'm going to sit on the couch by the cozy fire and read the paper and do the crossword puzzle!!! I am so happy!! The temp this am was 25!!! WHAT??? (so glad Jeff does the morning farm chores!!) Now, a few hours later it's a gorgeous sunny 68!! Gotta love our mountain weather! The dogs are already bugging me for their walk. Think I'm going to make an indian-inspired sloppy joe tonight if I can find my missing serrano!

A Beautiful Day!

The storm has blown on through and the sun has come out in full force.A perfect fall day.With most of the leaves off the trees, I can see the river below clearly- one of the good things about winter- my view totally changes! the sun sparkles off the river almost blindingly and it is completely wonderful! This morning I delivered a birthday lunch for four with two cakes and cream cheese apple pound cake & pumpkin cupcakes to creatures cafe. Lost three riding lessons to the storm so I'm grateful for the bakery!! My "job with a roof over it" -now I have to clean up the disaster area -ugh!!!

Thursdays walk

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We flushed a grouse and worked for two hours trimming the high branches. The colors were beautiful and I enjoyed them especially as the rain and cold front is moving in.Cold front meaning 50-60 degrees,so it will actually be fall! We found a nice turkey feather and my big thrill was the first Puttyroot leaf poking out through thedead leaves on the ground. Puttyroot is a wild orchid that blooms in the spring but puts out its silvery-green papery leaves throughout the fall and winter. So even though fall is just only setting in now- I am seeing the first signs of spring!!

Jet waiting for our hike in the woods