Thursday, August 30, 2012

Amish Barn Raising

 Waiting for another sheet of metal roofing

They say 'Rome wasn't built in a day,' but an Amish barn IS built in a day. With the concrete work being done beforehand, the structure was started early yesterday morning. They don't stop for lunch until the building is framed up, then after lunch the metal sheeting is put on. By the end of the day, the barn is ready for occupancy.




I understood that it was okay for me to take photos because my aim was simply to photograph the procedure, not to photograph faces.

We went to Westby to pick up our hardwood flooring from an Amish cabinet maker and to watch a barn raising. The boys were good travelers. The littlest one took a long morning nap on the drive there. There's nothing like the noise of an engine to lull a child (or me) to sleep!

 This is only a portion of the buggies at the barn raising


 I wonder if the horses know they're Amish horses?


 He does look a bit tired, but later we had a chance to play ball and also visit another Amish barn where the farmer kindly invited the boys to pet the pigs and feed the calves. They enjoyed that!


 Happy boy!


 It is quite a sight!



I suspect that both the 5 year old and the 8 year old will remember the day they got to watch an Amish barn raising AND got to pet and feed the animals!

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'Peppermint Tea'


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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Ten Days With Grandsons

Playing Kickball on the Hill

Bridger's hips are in no shape to be playing kickball, but he can't resist being there to herd the kids. We're enjoying having three of our young grandsons with us. I wanted you to know that I may not be getting posts up as regularly, but the reason is there in that alfalfa field. We're busy - keeping the boys busy and hopefully (and so far) happy!

I'll have to admit that this grandma and grandpa were totally BEAT at the end of Day 2, but on the third day (and a lot of prayer) we all seemed to get into a routine, which made things so much easier.

  • Slow and easy breakfast time
  • An hour of 'work' in the morning
    • I was explaining this to a friend yesterday: It's not that you or I would call it work, necessarily, but it's things that have to be done, e.g. picking the tomatoes or picking up sticks around the yard - accompanied by Grandma and Grandpa, of course.
  • Lunchtime
  • Going someplace special in the afternoon
  • PBS Kids while Grandma is making dinner
    • Don't worry, Mom, I'm careful of what they watch.
  • Dinnertime
  • Active outdoor time
  • Bible time, Story time, Bedtime
 The boys and Grandpa, who is pointing out the abundance and danger of the poison ivy in the ditches

Don't try to tell him that he's not a BIG KID


 Helping clean up after Grandpa cut up the limbs trimmed from the maple tree


'I may not be able to push the wheelbarrow, but I can hang on and feel BIG'


 Skype-ing with Mom and Dad and sisters who are in Tampa at the RNC


 At Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls, WI
I bet you didn't know that cannon actually shoot bowling balls!
(8 year old wisdom)

Everyone's now sleeping through the night, which is really a blessing! Even Grandma slept through the whole night last night. Unheard of.

The New Bird Bath
(Thank you, Beth)
and those tomatoes the boys helped pick
I really should can them tomorrow, but it's not going to happen.
We have things to do and places to go and people to see!


***

'Forest Floor'
a Woodland Floral

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Grilled Cheese with Basil Pesto & Sliced Tomatoes

Grilled Cheese with Basil Pesto and Tomato

 As I've mentioned before, I've been on a basil pesto kick this summer, due mostly to the fact that I have about 12 square feet of basil in my garden. The other day I was looking for something to eat for lunch. Lunchtime is always a problem for me, because I don't want a big meal, but it has to be more than a snack and has to include enough protein to keep me going til dinnertime.

I went for the Udi's whole grain gluten-free bread (which, by the way, had huge holes in the slices so I only got to use a few of them for sandwiches and the rest will go for gluten-free bread crumbs for stuffing a turkey or for meatloaf - so it wasn't a total loss).

On one slice of bread I arranged enough pepper jack cheese to cover every square inch of bread. We always have pepper jack on hand, for it's one of our favorites. On the other slice I spread the fresh basil pesto liberally (quite uncharacteristically, I might add). On top of that I arranged fresh, warm-from-the-garden tomato slices.

I then melted a little olive oil and a little butter in the skillet, turned it down to low, set the sandwich in the skillet, and covered it with a lid.

A few minutes later I flipped the sandwich over and covered it with the lid again.

Two more minutes maybe...enough so that the bread was golden (okay, a little too golden maybe, but I had to check my e-mail) and the cheese was partially melted.

This was UNbelievably delicious!! (so much so that I made another one today!)


***

'Dark Vanilla Frappe'

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 You'll find me at These Linky Parties:
Mop it Up Monday and French Obsession and  Make it Pretty Monday and  Bedazzle Me Monday and  What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Make it Great Monday and Mix it Up Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Cozy Home Scenes and  Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday and Maiden d'Shade and  Inspiration Board and  Your Home Cozy and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and  Made from Scratch Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and What We...Wednesday and What's Cookin' Wednesday and DJs Sugar Shack and  Cast Party Wednesday and The Shady Porch and   We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Link it Up Thursday and Crafty Friday (Thursday) and Petals to Picots and  Threading Your Way and  and I'm Lovin' it Friday and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and Overflowing With Creativity and  Home and Family Friday 

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Homemade Woodland Floral Soap - Forest Floor

'Forest Floor'

You walk out of the warm, sunny meadow and into the filtered light of the cool forest. What is under that beautiful, green canopy? What scents greet you? Soil, wood violets, pine boughs, leaves, oak moss, etc. All of those will come to mind when you use Forest Floor Homemade Soap. Earth tones are swirled to make this a beautiful bar of handcrafted soap.

Moisturizing and gentle, with a wonderful woodland fragrance, the floral and woodsy lather will leave your skin feeling soft and silky. And you'll enjoy the process. Whether you use it at the sink or in the shower or bath, Forest Floor is a gentle delight..

The earth tones of this gorgeous soap are made with only natural colorants. If you've ever wondered why people buy homemade soaps, look at the short ingredient list on our soaps. Contrast that with the long chemical ingredient lists on most commercial soaps.

With the dwindling daylight hours, you can usher in autumn with this lovely soap in your shower or bath!

Handcrafted for Quality.


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...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at
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 You'll find me at These Linky Parties:
Mop it Up Monday and French Obsession and  Make it Pretty Monday and  Bedazzle Me Monday and  What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Make it Great Monday and Mix it Up Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Cozy Home Scenes and  Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday and Maiden d'Shade and  Inspiration Board and  Your Home Cozy and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and  Made from Scratch Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and What We...Wednesday and What's Cookin' Wednesday and DJs Sugar Shack and  Cast Party Wednesday and The Shady Porch and   We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Link it Up Thursday and Crafty Friday (Thursday) and Petals to Picots and  Threading Your Way and  and I'm Lovin' it Friday and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and Overflowing With Creativity and  Home and Family Friday 

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Whatever Happened to Naptime?


Ya know how when you eat sugar it makes you crash afterwards, so that you're basically in a coma and could sleep for hours?

It doesn't work with kids.

It was a bad experiment.

P.S. The parents are in Tampa at the Republican National Convention and Hurricane. The three boys (2, 5, and 8) are with us for 10 days. 


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 'Herbal Meadows'
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Friday, August 24, 2012

Anglophile Friday - Bath Abbey Revisited

 Bath Abbey


From BathAbbey.org:

"There has been a place of Christian worship on this site for well over a thousand years. However, the Abbey has undergone many transformations and changes during this time, and much like the city of Bath has experienced rise and falls in fortune, survived a number of major conflicts, architectural and religious reforms, and two World Wars, but still stands proudly today as an essential place for both worshippers and visitors.

"As the history of this sacred place stretches as far back as Anglo-Saxon times, there is a great deal to discover: tales of Kings and Queens, saints and sinners, as well as stories of ordinary people.







"Five Things to Know About Bath Abbey

  • Since 757 AD, three different churches have occupied the site of today’s Abbey: an Anglo-Saxon Abbey Church (757-1066), pulled down by the Norman conquerors of England; a massive Norman cathedral begun about 1090, which lay in ruins by late 15th century; and the present Abbey Church founded in 1499 but incomplete until 1611.

  • In 973 King Edgar was crowned King of all England in the Anglo-Saxon Abbey Church (as shown above). The service set the precedent for the coronation of all future Kings and Queens of England including Elizabeth II.

  • The present Abbey Church was founded in 1499 when the newly appointed, Bishop of Bath, Oliver King, is said to have a dream of angels ascending and descending into heaven, which inspired him to build a new Abbey church – the last great medieval cathedral to have been built in England.

  • After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by order of King Henry VIII, the Abbey lay in ruins for more than 70 years. It wasn’t until 1616, that much of the building we see today was repaired and in use as a parish church and over two hundred years later, in the 1830s, that local architect George Manners added new pinnacles and flying buttresses to the exterior and inside, built a new organ on a screen over the crossing, more galleries over the choir and installed extra seating.

  • The Abbey as we know it is the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott, who from 1864 to 1874, completely transformed the inside of the Abbey to conform with his vision of Victorian Gothic architecture. His most significant contribution must surely be the replacement of the ancient wooden ceiling over the nave with the spectacular stone fan vaulting we see today."

 The beautiful fan vaulted ceiling of Bath Abbey



There's a lot more history of Bath Abbey to be found at Bath Abbey.org



 The East Window







 The only thing I didn't like about the Abbey
was the litter strewn about an exterior door.
Why??

The black Lab is wondering that too, and hoping that FOOD will be the next thing thrown onto the pavement.

I need to return to Bath with my new camera.




 ***

 'Frosted Apple Spice'

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

 




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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Keebler French Vanilla Creme Cookies


The Imposters by Nabisco

Keebler French Vanilla Creme Cookies, the kind made by elves, was my all-time favorite cookie! Where are they?? It seems that they've not been around since the '70s??? I can't even find a photo of the package, even though I did a Google image search! Evidently no one out there is saving an unopened package for a future episode of Antiques Roadshow.

Is there anyone else who remembers Keebler French Vanilla Creme Cookies? Anyone else who still misses them? Anyone who knows why on earth Keebler would take them off the market?

Have you tried the Keebler Vienna Fingers? Are they as good?  (Like I really need to find another cookie I like.)

And what about the windmill cookie? When I was little, it was one of my favorites too. I don't remember the brand. It had not only a great flavor, but a really good crunch and slivers of almonds (I think). When I was probably 10 years old, our family spent a few days at a resort and those cookies were sold at the little store near the lake. Maybe that's why they seemed to taste so good. Who knows.  Alas, the windmill cookies I find now do not compare in taste, crunch, or thickness. I have become a windmill snob.

Are there any foods from your past that you miss? Am I the only one who longs for a cookie I shouldn't be eating anyway???

***


'Patchouli Tangerine'

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Big Maple Got a Haircut Yesterday

 BEFORE

One of those huge branches leaned quite close to the house, just above our bedroom. It was only a matter of time before a wind storm would put that thing right through our roof. Time for a trim.
Still, a little hard to see so much of the old tree cut away.


 DURING


 AFTER

I remember going with my parents to see the aftermath of the Colfax tornado many years ago. After the tree was trimmed, it reminded me very much of the Colfax tornado. :-(


Most of the leaves you see here are from two other maples.
Hopefully there are enough remaining leaves for the big maple to survive.



MISTY: 'Is it safe to come out now?'

Until the trimmings had been cleared away, I had to put a lead on blind little Misty when taking her outdoors, so she wouldn't run into branches. She was very confused. Bridger had been listening to that chain saw all day and had no desire to go out and confront it.


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