The cooler weather and

the arrival of fall has brought forth nature's beauty in different colors. I am always delighted to see the many different mushrooms that sprout up throughout the whole year, here on the grounds.

The Yucca cactus pods, which were once white colored blossoms, are now hard shells, full of dark seeds.

Every year, at different seasons, the regular visitors come to stay a few days here at the farm. In the early spring, the yellow headed black birds fill the trees and sing out their loud trills of song. During the summer and the heavy rains, the rain toads come out from the ground...............their croaking can be heard for miles. Now with the arrival of fall, the butterflies are clinging to every tree. Hundreds of beautiful orange butterflies................ migrating....on their way to Mexico...........I think.

They will only be here a few days, and then they will take to flight. Not long after, the Sand Hill Cranes, will trumpet their arrival overhead.

How about you?

Do you have the same visitors year after year arrive at your home?

If so, what are they? I would love to hear!

The weather and the colors

that surround me are all changing. From the hot and dry long days...................

to the more moderate and breezy short afternoons. The pumpkins and gourds are already starting to call my attention out to the garden grounds. The photo above , a little blurry, is just a small amount of my harvest this year. I cannot explain why these round and weird shaped balls from the garden captures my heart the way they do! I am totally convinced, that next spring I am only planting the grounds with pumpkin and decorative gourds...........along with my zinnias. The whole process from planting, to watching the plants grow and produce............is my bliss!
In the woods and throughout the grounds, wildflowers are taking their second breath of showing off before the winter chill hits. Their colors are vibrant and in "fall time hues".

Along the paths and the road that surrounds the grounds............sunflowers grow high and wave in the autumn wind. Fat bumble bees buzz in and out, heavy from their pollen coated legs. This is the weather and the colors I cherish the most. How about you?

Has your area come alive with fall colors? What flowers and produce are popping up this time of year? I would love to hear!

In the late afternoon,

Sweetie (my husband), Sophie, (the loyal dog) and I went for a walk to watch the clouds gathering in an approaching storm. The storm looked menacing, but there was still beauty in it's clouds.

I took this photo above, because of the red color mixed in with the blue. I was surprised when I got a better look at it on my computer..............look at the photo where the red is..................does it not look like a snarling coyote? To me, it seems to have a snarling nose, with the teeth and mouth being the red part.................the eye and the forehead are at the top. Do you see it? If you enlarge it by clicking onto it, you can see it better.
However, the storm was good, bringing us much needed rain and coolness to the dry parched land. One thing I have noticed a lot out here.............there is always a rainbow in one direction or the other. When I see this.......I am always filled with comfort. I know the reason rainbows are created, scientifically, but I get comfort from what the Bible says about God's promise.
How about you??
Have you seen any strange creatures hanging out in your clouds lately?? A dragon?.........or a flying elephant perhaps??
Have you ever tried to follow a rainbow to see where it ends? lol..........
I would love to hear!

I recognize Him!

People see God every day.........they just don't recognize Him.

-Pearl Bailey-

The quote above has always been one I keep in my heart..........because I recognize God every day, somewhere along the path of my life. I see Him in the colors and in the bounty that He gives us.............

Even when the flowers' petals are fading away...........God still whispers.......

"I am here".

I recognize him in all of the creatures, and in all good things,
because all good comes from Him.
How about you? Do you recognize him when you look up into the clouds, or the starry night sky?
Or do you see him in the innocent face of a sweet little one?
I would love to hear!

My most wonderful baking companion

comes in this small green container...............

Through all of the years I have cooked and baked, I have found buttermilk to work miracles, where just plain milk would most commonly do. I use it to make the best, Texas size biscuits, for dipping chicken into before the flour mixture and for baking wonderful desserts such as............
this creamy Buttermilk Pie. I have turned into a "late evening foodie" where I start baking and making late evening meals with fresh breads and desserts. Tonight I made chicken fried steak (even though in my previous post, I swore I was not making this after a day of work with it) {: Fresh blacked eyed peas from the garden, macaroni and cheese, Mexican cornbread, and for dessert, this pie. The recipe to this pie can be found on my old cooking blog.......My Country Kitchen. Just click onto this link http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com and then click on to the February 18, 2010 post found on the archives list on the right hand side of the blog.

For the recipe of this Mexican cornbread, again, go to my cooking blog by clicking onto this link

http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com

and then the April 20, 2008 post located in the archives on the right hand side of the blog.

The buttermilk makes both of these recipes a wonderful addition to any meal.

How about you? Do you bake or cook with buttermilk? Is there any different recipe you have for this wonderful concoction? I would love to hear!

I awaken to the sound

of the rooster crowing; telling me it's Sunday morning..................meaning that in just a few short hours, it will be Monday.............. and the beginning of a week full of hurry and hectic food orders, where somewhere in the crowd of hungry folks, there will be one grumpy, hungry, soul complaining that his steak was not out fast enough.................dreading........dreading.........

I push those thoughts away and ...........slowly..........on purpose.........I wander the grounds of Pleasant Prairie and dream about the farm I am hoping it will become. The cheerful morning glory are inviting me to linger in the cool of the morning
clinging their way in and out of the old antique fence.
I glance over, out across the yard to the splash of color that is calling to me...................
the zinnia garden.
I smile as I think of it now..................crisp, green, and full of zinnia showing off their colors in every hue.



There are bight cheery colors and soft pale colors.



I know that tomorrow morning I will be chopping, dicing, grilling and hurrying...................but in my heart and in my mind are these images of.................
peacefulness..................
How about you? During your busy day, what image pops into your mind to take you away from all stress and hurriedness life? Your children's or grandchildrens smile? Your soft and cuddly pet waiting to greet you when you return? I would love to hear!

Rainy Days and Comfort Food

seem to go hand in hand.................at least for me. After a hectic day of cooking at the diner, I want some kind of food that says " your home.........relax.........enjoy" and I can promise you that those foods are not hamburgers, chicken fried steaks or french fries. After a long dry spell with temperatures in the 100's +, it rained today............

I made cheese and beef enchiladas, while it thundered outside and the smell of fresh rain swept through the open windows. Soon the kitchen smelt like chili, cheese, beans, and .......................

comfort...........sigh
Sophie and I went outside after the storm had passed to enjoy the coolness and the freshness. This good size mud puddle gives me comfort to know that I do not have to water the gardens for a couple of days..............leaving me more time to stitch!


Even the gnarled old mesquite tree brightens up when the rain soaks the mosses growing on it's bark.

No matter how hot or how dry it is in West Texas, the cotton fields turn green. At this time, the plants are in bloom. It looks like there might be a good harvest this year................however, I am not a cotton farmer..............so I could be wrong.

So......................how about you? Does weather make you want to cook something special?

Is it rainy weather or snowy cold weather that gets you into the kitchen?

What do you like to come home and make after a long day's work?

I would love to hear!