I have closed a door in my life

and am re-opening one as the New Year begins.

As many of you guessed,........................ yes, I have walked away from my grill job. It just got to be too overwhelming and conditions with folks there were just not right for me. I know "in these hard times" this decision might not be the wisest........as some of you wiser readers might be thinking. The door I am re-opening is my embroidery work and to start working more on the book I want to publish with my designs. In between this, I might find another job.........that does not kill me in the process of making $$$$.

Have any of you been there before??
So I am ending this old year and starting the new, with a little worry, a lot of hope, and hard work to make my dream come true.
For all of you, dear friends,
may all good new doors fling open wide,
may doors close on your unhappiness,
and may new paths full of hope and blessings lie in front of you!
Have a wonderful and blessed new year!

The fields lie open and blank

waiting for the crops to be planted,............. new plans to be completed.

That is how I am facing my life with the new year approaching. Looking forward for good things to come...............but also facing a difficult decision that I am thinking about making ............about my working world..............what the result will be in the new year...................I am not sure. All I am sure about, is that I have always believed that if I am not pleased about something............it is up to me to change it. At this time, I do not wish to keep letting things continue as they are.

Also, I am busily stitching away to create the linens I have been wanting to create. I also have open and blank garden spaces waiting for the new pumpkin and flower seeds that I will decide on planting this year. I have made the decision to plant only what I really love to work with this coming spring. That, of course, are pumpkins and flowers. So, I am readily saying goodbye to 2010, and looking forward with hope to 2011.
How about you? Are you looking forward to the new year? Do you have big plans? I would love to hear.

Merry Christmas....

to each and everyone who visit here!

And have yourself a happy new year!

This was the view from their porch

every day...........at least during the time I knew them.

My grandparents lived way out in the west Texas brush........the same way I do now.........and it is because of the visits to their house, all of the walks with my aunts through the woods, all of the memories formed around the white old house, surrounded with mesquite filled ranch land
and cotton fields that stretched as far as the eye can see, that my heart was forever filled with a longing to live the same way.

No matter how many times I see a twisted old mesquite tree, or an endless cotton field, it makes me smile with the memory of my grandparents place. The dry, thorny, prairie that surrounds me at this time of year might be an eye sore to many...............

But to me, because of Frank and Pearl,.............. it is the sweetest place on earth. I wish I had got to know them better,.............and I wish I had gotten answers to questions like........... how hard was it to raise 13 children in the depression?..........and how did they feel about each other when they first met?....................so many questions, I wished I had asked, but being a busy youngster, I only loved to see them.........grandma and grandpa. Right when these things became important for me to know.............they had already long passed away. I have gotten some information from aunts and uncles...........but not like I would have from them.

How about you? What was your grandparents home like? Did you love to visit...........are you living the same way as they once did?

I would love to hear!

I step out onto the quietness of the front porch............

a quietness I have not heard since the beginning of this week.

The holly bush is all dressed in it's holiday attire and seems to speak to me.......saying......

"what is wrong with you? why have you not started decorating yet??"
It's true.............I'm just not in the " Christmas mood" this year.........for many reasons.........and it's not the usual reasons of money being spent or the rush of crowds at the store...............no . One reason,................... the noise that has been clanging and banging around this week, and the debris that, at this time, lays completely around the grounds of the house......................is from the fact that we are getting a new roof on................( a process that we have been getting started since last June, and I have not wanted to blog about.........sigh)

and now it has all started................ in December.............where the weather has been warm and fall like............and the wasps are still swarming over their nests and stinging the roofers. Such a mess..........all around the house............. Although I am away at work a good portion of their work day...................the hard work they are doing, goes on until almost dark.And this work will continue for the entire next week. The cats are freaked out by the strangers who are tearing down the house..............yelling and singing to music from their boom box. I have to go to the edge of the woods after everyone has left and call out for the scared critters........that it is now safe to come home. That is one reason I am just not in the mood, plus being tired from a new job............ when in the past I would be home, baking Christmas goodies and stitching Christmas projects. I also miss the excitement that our young children would bring at the first arrival of the Christmas season. There is just a fun magic to Christmas when there is a small one in the house. All of my chicks are grown...........no big wish list to fill............sigh

However, the roofers left early yesterday...........giving themselves, I am sure, a much needed break, as well as myself,............peace and quiet. Once I opened the shed closet door that keeps every glittered and shiny Christmas object, my mood slowly came back. I have to be careful to not have things I want to keep nice..........away from the house's edge.............

however, the window boxes are under the big eve of the house and debris can't fall on them.

This year, I decided to use our small Christmas tree instead of our usually 12 footer. That large tree just gets harder and harder to decorate, (for myself) every year............and I just want things..........simple this year. Although this tree is smaller, it is still full of cheer and Christmas spirit. Maybe next year, we will haul out the giant tree and do more.

How about you? Does home makeovers upset your peacefulness? I'm sure they do.

Do you go all out at Christmas or are you finding yourself to want to slow down?

I would love to hear!

It's past midnight............

almost 1 in the morning, in fact, and I really should be asleep...................but I don't have to be up at 5 tomorrow morning like I usually am, (a day off from work)................although I will be up at 6 to let all of the chickens and ducks out of their enclosure. One hour to sleep late! It's funny how one whole hour makes me feel like I have gotten a bonus! Do you agree? {: ............speaking of sleep..........

this is a picture of what was once mighty and powerful claws, now the claws of a very old and sleeping ............
Max.................. He spends much of his day and night sleeping..........and wheezing. He is so old and ragged.........like an over loved teddy bear. The whole house is quiet as I sit and type away...........with the sounds of breathing from the cats , Sophie, and the family members who know it's time to get some rest. From outside, I can hear the hoot of an owl who has taken up residence in the woods surrounding our home. I have been bringing egg shells, coffee grounds, tea grounds, and potato and onion peelings from work for my compost "project". My boss was more than happy for me to take them home with me every day. Now I have quite a big pile. I have it in a large container in which I rotate and add to, and then I have an enormous pile on the ground that I am going to till straight into my garden spaces. I shovel the mixture all on top of the spaces and then work it all into the soil with the tiller. I till the ground throughout the winter, (weather permitting), and by spring the ground is rich and ready for planting. I mix the part in the container with soil and other compost medium and use it for potting mix. The bag I bring from the cafe each day has given me enough to work all of my spaces this year. Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to be pleasant, and I plan to work out in garden. I have decided that I am only growing flowers and pumpkins in the next year. It is what I love the most. How about you?
Do you compost? Are you thinking about what you would like to grow next year?
I would love to hear!

The cold wind seemed to bite

as Sophie and I took an early morning walk. The warm, fall like days have left the farm , as well as the cheery colors in the landscape.However, I still think so much holds it's own beauty. So much color can still be seen. Looking out over the dry ranch land, there is a golden brown glow across the horizon, where all of those sunflowers, I previously posted about, once were. The old barbed wire fence seems to always have something of interest clinging to it during the different seasons. The grays and browns of the post and the surrounding trees bring out the yellow and golden hues of the grounds even more.

How about you? What colors are surrounding you? Browns.............grays? Perhaps a blanket of white?

I have to say...............I am excited! I have now added this wonderful book to my overflowing collection. Although I have never been much interested in French cooking, I have always admired Julia Child. I have two of her other books, although I have never cooked any thing from them.{: She inspired me many years ago when I learned about her life and how she started her career in her 40's. I was a stay at home mom...............and it seemed that everyone around me had a career and a label of some importance. I loved being a mother and was proud to be doing what I was doing.............however, the dreams I stashed far, far away, would still call out to me now and then. When I learned that she chose to do what she loved and was successful at it.................not in her 20's but later on in life, ...............it gave me hope, that after my busy "mother" life was finished, that maybe I too, would find my path later on. Although I am still "mom" I am not needed as much as I once was, and now I feel that I am at that moment in life.......................I guess that I why I took on the cooking job a few months ago. But there is much more that I want to do.............as you, who have all read me these past few years know, ..............besides melt away at a grill. Maybe, I will get my feet on that path................soon. Since the wind gave us such a good chill, I am going to cook Boeuf Bourguignon..........out of Julia's book. It is basically a beef stew, but with wine added to it.............something I have never actually cooked with............however, I have all of the ingredients and I am ready! I will let you know later, how it turned out. How about you? Do you fix soup or stew on cold, cold days?
Who inspired or inspires you ? I would love to hear!

Have A Wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Not too much to write these days................

but...........wow!..........thank you,dear friends, for commenting on the last post about sprouting acorns! You are all such a good wealth of knowledge and encouragement.............and even though I might have a little garden experience.................I totally did not even think about how long it actually does take an oak tree to grow................thanks to you who mentioned that. I find my mind crowded with what I want to create for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast............and work?...................work has become increasingly hectic and stressful. There are days that I simply cannot take a break because we are so busy with customers calling in orders for food. I am amazed and overwhelmed at how many people know this little cafe exists and want food! By the end of the day, I am completely worn out. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving coming up..........that day I get to escape the hectic cooking and sink back into my life of comfort cooking.....for just a short blessed period! How about you? Are you looking forward to your Thanksgiving feast? Are you cooking something new and different? I would love to hear!

The cool weather is making

the leaves of the lonely little oak tree turn to a beautiful red. I say this tree is lonely because it is by itself in the back, by the tool shed door. There is only one other tree like it on the grounds and it is out in the front. I would love to be able to plant more of these trees, plus other varieties of shade trees all over the grounds........................
maybe one day if I win the lottery...................if I ever played...........
The acorns are also all over the ground and I wonder.............would these sprout??
Do any of you know? Have you tried sprouting them?
I would love to hear!

It was time to clean the pond

before the cold weather sets in....................

to my delight, there are 12 bullfrogs living in the water with our goldfish. I just love these whimsical creatures..............yes, that is Sophie's nose.She is checking out this cold, smelly, fellow. She can't stand anything else getting my attention and she is just as curious about nature's critters as much as I am.
I managed to get only 4 to hang around for a group photo..........then , they too, hopped away. What surprises me most is that we live far out, away from any natural water source. For these creatures to find our pond and to flourish here, especially in this thorny, dry area, is just the amazing! Don't you think? And yes, as soon as the pond was filled with fresh water, they all returned.

Isn't life sweet?

For the past week, I have had a visitor..............

He starts his visit by walking through the woods up to our home, .............I found his footprints along the paths...........................

Then ends up here in the late afternoon, for a drink and a nibble of bird seed and apples...............I know, because I have had the delight of seeing him as I look out of the window.
Here is his one of his footprint...................the only close up photo I can show you at this time.................
Do you know your wildlife footprints to be able to guess what he is???

Or do you have super eye sight to see him in the middle of the dots I placed on this photo......................(use the zoom icon on the top of the page and zoom in at 400%.........and you can see him!)

You are correct if you say he is a deer...........a buck.........with beautiful antlers! I have no idea why he is always by himself, and I should worry about his nibbling visits here........but for now, in the onset of winter, I am happy to have him as a visitor.

How about you?

What kinds of wild visitors have you had?

I would love to hear!

The howling wind

blew all day yesterday, making the sky orange with the dust from the cotton fields. I listened to it roar and beat up against the house as I stitched last night. This morning, I headed off to work...........the air was chilly,

but all was quiet and clear. This afternoon, I stepped outside from work and the hectic day melted away as the pleasant afternoon wrapped itself around me. I got home and took a walk out to visit the flowers that are now blooming this time of year.These visits to the grounds make me forget about the old grumpy man who never likes the way I make his hashbrowns, even though his plate looks as if he has licked it clean upon leaving.........or the grumbling customer...........complaining that the cafe's bacon is not thick enough.........sigh........

It all melts away in the warmth of the afternoon sunshine......

The mums are cascading over their wooden crate and are so cheery in the sunshine.

The marigold garden is showing off it's vibrant fall colors. It is almost November, yet, today the temperature is 86 degrees and flowers are all over the grounds here at Pleasant Prairie.............. one could never tell that winter is almost here. I walk alone in silence and take it all in...............however, I realize, I am not alone.............

among the thick leaves and beautiful blossoms, many insects are making themselves comfortable...........and taking advantage of the sunny and pleasant weather.



even the wasp, who are usually sluggish and crawling on the ground this time of year, are enjoying what the flowers have to offer.

Butterflies of every kind are flitting in and out of the gardens,

and I should be upset for all of the creatures enjoying a bite or two..............but how can I resist such curious creatures??................ I know it won't be long and all of this as well as they...........will be gone for winter's deep sleep.

Looks like someone is already enjoying a good nap.

Even the wildflowers here on the prairie are not ready to go away. They bloom and grow among the dry grass and dirt.

I visited a local farmers market this weekend, and fell in love with one of the vendor's pumpkin wagons. She had pumpkins of every size and shape. I bought a few and hope to save the seed for next year's planting.

This is a gourd of some kind, I could not resist taking it home. It looks almost like a granny smith apple, however, it is fairly large.

This pumpkin has the most unusual color and shape.My husband said it looks like a gigantic tick...............sigh..........just goes to show that not everyone has the same idea of beauty................. so I tucked it into my arms and brought it home.

Now........................how about you??

Are you still having sunny days and pretty weather.............where ever you are?

Are your gardens or yard filled with creatures great and small?

What kind of pumpkins are you decorating with this fall?

I would love to hear!

I did not want to throw away

a favorite "comfortable" sweatshirt. One that I have had for years and has gotten dingy and worn.............but it is so warm on chilly mornings.

Instead...........I got out my scissors,..............my stash of silk ribbon and beads............and my imagination............and now I have a new sweatshirt! Come to my embroidery blog and I will show you how to do one for yourself! Just click on to this link......

http://yesteryearembroideries.blogspot.com

National Bosses Day was yesterday and I just had to do something for the two sweet bosses I have.............they have been married for 41 years and have turned an old building in a small dusty old town............into a thriving little cafe............... and have trusted me to be their cook.............how lucky can one be..........may I ask? Because we all are around this "diner food" every day................we get tired quickly of it.
So I made a homemade chicken pot pie............something comforting from the oven, instead of a greasy grill. I also got a little creative and used the remaining pie dough for decoration.

It came out so pretty and so delicious. My bosses and co-workers were thrilled to sit down to a bubbling plate of this after a long week of work. A great way to tell the bosses they are appreciated and a great way to end the work week. The recipe is below for you to enjoy. If you want to decorate the top, just use cookie cutters or your own imagination!
Enjoy!

Country Chicken Pot Pie

FILLING

1 package chicken breasts, skin removed

1 can chicken broth

1 tbs. salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp. poultry seasoning

Fresh vegetables that have been cooked and drained.........as follows:

2 large potatoes, peeled and diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced

2 stalks celery, peeled and chopped

1 onion chopped in large pieces

1 cup of canned corn, drained

Place all vegetables in sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to boil and cook until tender. Drain from water.

1/3 cup flour

1/2 cup half and half

Pie Crust

2/3 vegetable shortening

2 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

5 tbs. warm water

Blend shortening , flour, and salt with pastry blender or fork until mixture is crumbly.Mix with warm water and work until soft ball of dough forms. Split dough into two balls. Roll out one ball and place into pie dish........reserve the other ball for top crust.

Place chicken in a heavy medium sauce pan, add water to just cover and stir in salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until chicken is very tender. Remove chicken from broth, let cool. Remove chicken from bones and cut up into bite size pieces. Measure out and reserve 4 cups of broth; reserve any remaining broth for later us

Mix chicken and vegetables together.

In a small bowl, mix half and half with flour, stirring into a smooth mixture. Bring broth to boil and whisk the flour mixture into the broth, whisking until it becomes thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and pour over chicken and vegetables, mixing together.

Pour this into unbaked pie shell. Cover with pie crust top. Decorate if you wish, with remaining pie dough by shaping with cookie cutters. Bake at 350.F for 1 hour until top is gold brown.

Enjoy!

When life hands you...........................

sunflowers..............................

make bouquets!!! {:

Here I am........ standing in the middle of the farm's acreage..............in every direction I turn, this is what I see....................sunflowers..............some way over my head.

So I have taken advantage of nature's lovely gift and have decorated my porches with sunflowers, I have vases of sunflowers in the house and I took a big bouquet to my boss...............she was delighted.
How about you?
What flowers are you blessed with during this time?
I would love to hear!

Nature has always made me smile............

this stinky little guy seemed to know I had my camera and stopped and did this pose for me.......................I just had to have some fun with it!

Today, I am baking dirt.................

no............my cooking job has not sent me over the edge..................I am baking potting soil that has been sitting in the past summer's containers, that is.

This is the time of year that I start preparations to get my greenhouse in order and all of the plants moved into the greenhouse before the cold weather sits in. Instead of throwing pots of used potting soil out, I reuse it in the next year's spring planting. It saves me a lot of $$$ and it is great to add my compost to. I empty all of the unused containers and crumble them up into a large baking pan. I then bake the soil at 350.F for about an hour.(This is an important thing to do)......... This gets rid of pests that may be hiding in the soil and it also destroys any un-sprouted seeds, insuring that the soil will be pure for the next spring planting.


I buy large bags of bird seed from a local farm store and the bags that this seed comes in are made of plastic. These bags are wonderful to store my "purified potting soil " into. I seal the bag well and this keeps the soil fresh and dry.



Sigh..................this is how my poor neglected greenhouse looks. The main reason.............I do not use it during the hot west Texas summer season, because it is one big plastic oven during that time. Nothing can survive in it during this period. And my "new job" has also kept me from the constant care that I use to labor on it. However, the fresh cool weather we have been getting has revived me and I make the most of my time off........working with the greenhouse and my plants. This weekend, I have cleaned out the greenhouse and cleaned the shelves, and I have gotten the space heater out and ready. All I need to do now, is to move the plants in and cover the greenhouse in plastic sheeting to seal off the soon to be coming cold weather.

I also cleaned out the empty planting containers. This is also important to do so that when planting time arrives next spring, clean ,pure pots will be ready.

If you plan to move your plants inside or if you have a greenhouse to move them into, take time to clean the outside of each plant pot and spray with a pesticide to remove any harmful insects that may be hiding within the leaves of the plants. This insures a healthy, clean, pest free, environment for all of your plants and plant area.

How about you?

Have you already begun to start taking your plants in for the cooler weather? What are some of the things you do to prepare for the cold winter ahead?

I would love to hear.