I miss you very much, Daddy!
Linda
Happy Father’s Day–Sunday, June 21, 2015
16
I miss you very much, Daddy!
Linda
Category Archives: Life on a Colorado Farm
Update—Thursday, June 18,2015
We have had Bladen here for the week. It’s been a full and busy week having a 13 year-old, very energetic boy staying with us. (We feel so very blessed.)
(We went from a cool rainy time to a suddenly HOT 100* -37.77 c– all over night. Time to cut the alfalfa!)
I have had my lawn mowed, the edges cut, and a variety of other things done, which cut my work load in half. There have been rides to get the pinto bean seed with Grandpa, then many trips out to the field to take the bean sacks to Grandpa— so Grandpa could plant them. Then a trip out to bring Grandpa home for supper or lunch, or to gather the pinto bean sacks from the edges of the field.
But all work and no play makes life very dull.
So a fun evening with Uncle Evan and Auntie Jolyne playing a game occurred.
Cousin Zack, (Blade’s Dad’s brother’s son) came and spent the day (yesterday) with us..swimming in the afternoon, ice cream with 8th grade friends, and a round of miniature golf. (All withOUT grandparents hovering around!)
Terry and Blade have been staying up ”’WAY”’ late watching American Ninja Warriors. Since Zack spent the night it was guys night watching the amazing feats of the competitors. (Going to bed early can occur at their own homes. 🙂 )
Zack will go back home this evening, but not before more ‘cool’ things happen. Life at Grammy and Grandpa’s should be extra special don’t you think?
We will pick up Linkin on Saturday (she has been at camp) then we will take the kids and meet their parents half-way Sunday afternoon.
July the kids will be traveling with their parents, then in August we will have Linkin for a week.
Every moment is one cherished!
Your friend,
Linda
Maraschino Cherry Recipe–Tuesday, June 16, 2015
This is my grandmother, on my father’s side, recipe.
If you make this in a small batch they will store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.
My grandmother always water bathed, but the process does make them soft. (they will darken and get softer). I’ve even tried soaking the cherries in slack lime (like you do for pickles), although I still didn’t really like the results.
Today I rarely can them.
This recipe is for one pint-sized jar. You can easily double or triple the recipe if you wish to make more at a time.
Makes just 1 pint-sized jar
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups fresh cherries
To each jar you may add:
1 small (or piece of) cinnamon stick
4 whole allspice
I always add:
1/4 tsp. almond extract
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water and sugar. Heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring gently.
Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
Add lemon juice and vanilla and stir again.
Wash cherries, leaving on the stems, if you like. I usually don’t since I never pick the cherries with the stems. I have to hurry to beat the birds.
Pit the cherries by hand. A cherry pitter will destroy the whole look of the cherry.
Add the cinnamon, allspice and almond extract to each jar, if you are using. I have made them all ways, but always love have the extra almond extract.
Fill your jar with the pitted cherries, leaving a 3/4 inch headspace.
Pack the cherries in tightly without smashing—you want the cherries to stay whole.
Pour in the flavored syrup, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace.
Use a knife and VERY gently go around the edges of the jar to dislodge any bubbles
Wipe the rim and place on the jar lid.
At this point, you can store the cherries in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks or water bath process them for longer storage.
Either way, the flavor will take at least 3 days to soak into the cherries and then they are ready to eat.
Water Bath Processing: For long-term storage, process the pint-size jar(s) in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes. I don’t know how to adjust for your altitudes.
If you want me to email you the recipe, let me know.
As always your friend,
Linda
The Cherries are Turning—Monday, June 15, 2015
My Sour Cherry THICKET (yes, I have a thicket—I made one on purpose. You see we need to keep the sides of the canal from eroding—lots of trees create lovely roots that hold the bank together.) is starting to produce.
Lovely sour cherries! Perfect for pies and homemade maraschino cherries, sauce for ice cream and jellies and jams.
I must pick a little every day, since that is how they ripen.
I try to pick first thing in the morning. Then those, which ripen during the day the birds may eat. I have to be fast…very fast! The Robins and Red-winged black birds and all the hordes of little brown birds, the Starlings and doves sit in the the pear and apple trees screeching at me telling to me to SCRAM!!!
I talk to them as I pick…’settle down. I won’t be here long. Just long enough to get some for us—it’s polite to share, you know…’
They share, but grudgingly, very grudgingly. The second I pick up my two buckets and head to the house the call goes out—SHE IS LEAVING! Hurry, we have to get as much as our tummies can hold! The tree limbs shake and shiver as the masses descend.
I won’t get tons and tons of cherries, because I do have tons and tons of birds. But what I do get will be just enough for Terry and I, and to serve for special meals come winter.
Your friend,
Linda
Maybe Today—Nope!—Sunday, June 14, 2015
Conversation Saturday morning….7:00
Terry-“What does the weather people say about the weather today? If it’s going to be nice for a week I really need to cut the alfalfa.”
Me–“Hummm, a slight, chance of scattered thunderstorms.”
Terry–“Okay, I’ll get ready and then go out this afternoon. First I need to haul some dirt.”
Me–“Sounds Good!”
2:30 p.m.
Hail, rain, thunder, lightening, flooding.
Terry, after coming in soaked, —“I guess we were in the path of the SLIGHT chance of a thunder storm.”
Me–“I guess so.”
Your friend on a very wet western Colorado Farm,
Linda
I Fit the Weather—Thursday, June 11, 2015
Sorry, today I am a tad under-the-weather. I woke-up with a bad headache and a bad arm ache. I can’t seem to shake it.
Even after taking a short nap I’m still a wee knocked out. I hope to get better today. I better, since our Craig kids are coming on Saturday. 🙂
They are coming to take Linkin to church camp for a week and to bring us Blade for the week. It is also Linkin’s 11th birthday. The whole family will only be with us overnight—but I do want to feel well enough to enjoy them.
I plan on being back in good shape tomorrow. After all it’s Friday with Boomer AND I need to bake a gluten-free birthday cake for a special little girl.
Your friend,
Linda
It’s Raining Here—Again—Wednesday, June 6, 2015
Sure is good for the weeds and the flowers, not so good for my working in the weeds and flowers.
It’s also hard to irrigate.
I worked in the sunshine (really the shade of the sunshine) all day yesterday.
The weeds I jerked out won’t get to rejoice in all this moisture.
Oh, well…the rain is here today and gone by the weekend.
Your friend,
Linda
Sunshine on my Shoulders Makes Me Happy—Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Who doesn’t like John Denver?
I have ALWAYS like John Denver.
I so feel like this song…
This a poor little Black-Chinned Hummingbird sitting in the rain this weekend…he was just like me…waiting for the sun.
“If I had a wish I could wish for each of you I would make a wish for you I would wish for Sunshine for all of you!”
Your Friend here on a western Colorado Farm,
Linda
A Walk in the Desert—Monday, June 8, 2015
We had a small treat yesterday…our kids, who live in Grand Junction, Colorado, arrived with our granddaughter, her best friend, and their three fur children…”Would you like to go for a hike”? They asked!
“Sure” we replied!
Loading up Boomer, Terry and I followed them onto SawMill Mesa Road, past the Correctional Facility, then onto the old road to Escalante Canyon. Turning off we all parked and started hiking up a dry wash. They day wasn’t too hot and the bugs were still stunned from all the rain we had the two days before.
The desert wildflowers were stunning! But (to me) the most beauty came from those fleeting papery flowers of the cactus…
There were many different colors
Scattered here and there
Delighting in the recent moisture
Followed by warmth
and sunshine
A rare and lovely Gift!
Your friend,
Linda
Peacefulness—Sunday, June 7, 2015
Gradually my yard is evolving into the warmer colors
Yellow, pink, orange
With a dash of a brighter purple thrown in here and there.
What I really want to share with you is this darling little bird
I happened to be looking out the upstairs window at a Hummingbird (he/she was sitting on a branch peering into the window) when I saw hidden deep within the tree this precious site.
She is still there this morning, calm and peaceful…waiting and keeping warm those little eggs. I guess you know I’m going to be very discreet; keeping my eye on her. 🙂
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 