BZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

As I sat on the deck IMing with my son stationed in Korea.
BZzzzzzzzz in she came, BZzzzzzzzz off she went.
After multiple trips to the feeder I got my camera. Her next trip in she was gracious enough to stop in mid air to pose while I fumbled to take her picture. What a wonderful world God has created for us.

Dollies

About three weekends ago I was at a yard sale and this box of dollies; Sad, Filthy, mostly naked dolls with various body parts separated and laying in the bottom of their box, dollies called my name. They kept calling my name until I took them home with me. I had no Idea of what I should be doing with them but brought them home. First Pictures then off to the gas chamber to be fumigated. Then to Mary Jane Butters Farm to chat with my Farmgirl Sisters about how to clean them. Sister Ronna asked to adopt poor Blondie. She was just a filthy body, appendages, and a head.


So off she went to live with Ronna. The other girls will be going to a The Doll Hospital and Toy Solider Shop (http://www.reallygreattoys.com/dh/doll_repair/doll_repair.htm) in Berkley, Michigan. The Queen Bee, MaryJane, from MaryJane's Farm (http://www.maryjanesfarm.org) , Sent me an e-mail with the info on the hospital after seeing my posting. Thanks MaryJane! The Girls Thank you too!

So The other day I was at my Mom's and she asks me if I would like her old dolls. This came out of the blue for sure. I have to be honest I have never really thought of myself as a doll person but these dolls are beautiful.
























The larger doll was given to my mother when she was about 7. There is some crazing on her head and the baby finger on her right hand is missing. But she is a beauty. My Grandmother also made the doll a dress and cap from one of my Great Aunt's show dress. She was a singer and entertainer. I did not even know that my Grandmother sewed. So These dollies have found a new home with me also. I guess that I have started a new collection. Dollies!

Getting Crafty

Well about the only crafty thing I have done in the past 3 years is make a huge mess of my new studio. When we built our new house, my Dearest Husband, made me a work shop/studio to do my creating in. It is a wonderful place! Warm colors, awesome storage, lots of counters, electric outlets and light, both natural and artificial. But all I seem to do in it is make a mess. I clean one mess and make a new one. I have been in the processes of setting it up and cleaning out items that I will not be using any more. Sewing machine up and working. Ellison die cutter needs to go. Not using it and it's taking up space. Totes of fabrics and old clothes to be recycled into new items. Tons of Preschool items that need to find a new home so I can unpack my fibers and store them. Totes of scrapbooks that need to be finished. Various antiques waiting to be clean, and put out for display. Oh my goodness I'm getting overwhelmed just writing about it. Best to finish this post and get to work.

Spring Garden

One Farmgirls Garden











Here in the Midwest, the gardens, are just beginning to come to life. The early Crocus, Hyacinthia, Daffodils are popping, The tulips are just starting to poke through the ground as are the Bleeding Hearts and the trees are wearing a hint of green. The top three pictures are out my kitchen sink window. In a few short weeks we will not be able to see our neighbors again. The other two pictures are of my gardens down by our "Summer Home". LOL! It's really an area of prairie that we used to camp on during the summer months to get away from the city. We have since built a house into the hill and I have neglected them terribly. This summer we hope to built the structure for the replacement home. We got rid of the 1970 Ford motor home we used, 2 years ago. Time to rebuilt the "Summer Home"


This is Izabel. When she comes out you know Spring is here in Wisconsin. There is nothing like a beautiful warm, sunny, Spring day and the sound of a motorcycle in the distance. You know that person is enjoying the country side roads with the wind in their face. I haven't ridden her yet this year but DH cleaned her all up for me (What a wonderful Hubby) and she waiting to ride.


These four are of my dinning room table and different bouquets I have had these year. It's fun to cut flowers and bring them indoors. I always plant triple the amount needed so I can bring Spring inside.

We have a few projects to finish in the next year. First I need to dig out my Prairie Gardens. Then I hope to add a Victory Garden and a Water Garden to the landscaping.

What does your Farmgirl Garden look like?


Come visit with others Farmgirls at;

http://www.maryjanesfarm.org
Publish Post

My Kitchen

I love my kitchen! Even though it is new in construction, I have and still am working to make it look old Farm House. It has been many years since I lived in my old Farm House and used a kitchen in the Farm House way. This year I get back to my canning and freezing as I did years ago when my children were young. I am planting a Victory garden, for two reason. The first is I have two of my three sons deployed and my third to deploy in January. The second because of the prices of food in our local stores, due to the price of gas. Fresh vegetables are getting ridiculous in price and I know with a little hard work I can reduce that portion of our food bill, excersize and support our Military personal at the same time.

When I am in my kitchen, I am at peace. No matter what is going on in my life or the world, I feel I can solve it by cooking. I did not learn to cook from my mother. She will tell you her best meal is from the local restaurant. She hates to cook. My grandmother did her best to teach me but she had limited skills also as her mother hated to cook. When I was first married my garbage disposal was well fed. Then one day Betty Crocker came into my life and WaLa the bliss of cooking became mine.

I do not have a favorite recipe, as I still have a billion more to try. Here is two salads I like to make in the spring when the fresh basil, early tomato and spinach have arrived.

A handful of fresh basil
A handful of fresh spinach or any fresh green
Fresh tomato
A ball of fresh mozzarella
Balsamic vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh ground sea salt and black pepper
A pinch of sugar

Tear spinach and basil, arrange on plate
Slice mozzarella, tomato and arrange on top of greens
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle Balsamic vinegar, sugar
Salt and pepper to taste.


#2 Spring Salad

Spinach
Strawberry
Goat cheese
Toasted nuts
Raspberry vinaigrette

Toss ingredients in amount to suit your taste

Enjoy a simple lunch on the porch of spring salad, glass of ice tea and the sounds of nature coming alive.
Apron by The Gypsy's Daughter A.K.A. Theresa. Visit her at the link listed in my favorites.
Making Easter dinner. Beef roll-ups, smashed garlic potatoes, and gravy for 12. That's a lot of beef roll up and potatoes.

Just a Farmgirl at heart trying to live a simple life.

Saturday April 19, 2008

It is a beautiful Saturday. The sun is shining and the birds are singing. The snow has finally melted. The early Spring flowers have made their way up through the ground and are waiting to bloom. My cat, Max is taking a early afternoon nap after his outside rounds to make sure the bird feeders and his chipmunk and red squirrels friends are all safe. It was suppose to rain today. I had planned my weekend with today being an inside work day. I find myself torn between doing my chores in the house and having fun outdoors. My husband's chain saw is calling me as he cuts wood for my garden fence. My newly acquired enamel wood tables are asking to be sanded, treated and placed in their spots on the deck for the summer. What is a person to do? I'm putting on my bibs, sunscreen, table refinishing attire and I'm out of here! My precious tables here I come.......

Peaceful Snow

This morning I was sitting by my computer, reading my e-mails, when suddenly I was over come by how quiet it was here at home. No t.v., no radio, no white noise . The only sound was the Cuckoo Clock ticking away the minutes of the morning. When I looked up I noticed that it had begun to snow. It was those very peaceful large flakes falling out of the sky.. The sight that surrounded me outside my windows was breath taking, smoothing and oh so stress free. My house sits in the middle of a wooded lot, on top of a small hill. Every window I looked out it was peacefully snowing. The Birch trees and mature Maples still covered from Thursday's snow are being redusted. The Downys and Hairys are chasing each other up the trees after feasting on suet cakes. The Red Breast Woodpecker sits high in the Maple watching for his turn to come up at the feeder. Mr. Cardinal is sitting in the birch tree showing off his beautiful red feathers against the peeling bark and snowy woods behind him. The Squirrel brothers 3, sit below the feeders along with our flock of Morning Doves waiting for others to throw down some seed. Thank you, Lord God, for the beauty that surrounds me everyday and the ability to see it through good times and bad.

Starting My Own Business

Today I started to write a business plan for a new business adventure that I going to try. I would like to start a continuing education training for Preschool teachers, Daycare workers, and Nannies. After many years of being in the education system and attending many boring conferences, I think it's time to strike out as see if their is a market for this type of service and if I am any good at it. All state certified teachers and workers need to do 25 hours of continuing education a year in the State of Wisconsin and all workers in daycare needs to be certified. So the audience is there and I have signed on with two organizations in the state to teach these classes. Now I just need to write the business plan and the courses and their bench marks. I wold also like to design and execute children's parties and outings. Just need to get a business name and away I can go.

First Attempt On Blogging

After reading others blog I decide to give it a try. I hope all who read this blog enjoy my journey through life. Find a enjoyable, more simplistic and better understanding, of how we can simplify our lives and still live the full filled life that God has planned for us and what we all strive for. I also hope I can add some smiles to your reading and some good old belly laughs to your day. As this journey through life is full of adventures. My family and friends always told me to write a book as the adventures that I have had and I'm sure are yet to come are great entertainment.