Farm Journal 2020 Number 1

Good Evening dear hearts!  

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this Sunday Evening in June... 

A very cool and cloudy day here in Maritime Canada.. 

Hope all is well in your world as it is here in ours.. 

We are of a people most blessed this Sabbath.. 

After three months of not attending a church service we were able to go this morning!!  

So happy about that!  

And it was lovely! 

The presence of the Lord was so real and so exciting to see everyone..

Online services were great and so glad we were able to do that but there is not anything quite as wonderful as going in person to a building and worshipping the Lord with others... 

Anyway.. 

That made my day..smile.. 

I decided that I would start my farm journals again.. 

the year 2020!

This is quite the year and so it will be interesting to see how it works out compared to the past ones.. 

I think this is the fourth time that we will be summering at the farm for most of the time.. 

With the world situation as far as the pandemic goes we did not know what to expect but happy we can be there..  

We have been out doing garden work and such..  

Everything is finally getting green... 

Early morning mist .... 

So beautiful!  

So happy that my herb beds are doing well even though it has been cool often.. 

That is Lovage on the back left with Comfrey on the right.. 

Out front is Tarragon and Parsley just planted.. 

How do you like my new ride?  grin.. 

That is the most wonderful contraption for this old gal... 

It helps me to get much more done as my feet are not great... 

The basil is in although I have several more plants.. 

This is one herb bed but I have two others plus a couple of veggie raised beds.. 

Do you see our garlic and onion plants in the back one.. 

The front one has Oregano, Ground Cherries, Fennel and such... 

There is the happy man over there... 

Doing what he loves.. 

That is a veggie garden and two over on the right that you can't see.. 

He took the wheeler up and I drove it while he held onto a plow and made rows for our potatoes!  LOL.. 

It was pouring rain and as I am waiting for him to do something I am thinking to myself that most people would think we had lost our marbles.. 

Why do we do the things we do?  lol..

I was soaked and so was he.. 

Most of the potatoes got in though.. 

Nothing that a hot bowl of soup won't fix... 

He is in his happy place.. smile.. 

Homemade beef broth that I made and then froze and barley and veggies..

Homemade bread and coleslaw... 

Plain old farm fare is what he loves best..

My sweet Aunt Eva's White Lilac are in bloom..   

How lovely is that, eh! 

They smell so heavenly.. 

We were so happy to see our farmer's cows out and in the pastures.. 

These are not our cows but a farmer who uses some of our fields... 

We love seeing them as you know.. 

They always coming running when we go out our lane if they are in the pastures there.. smile.. 

We picked up our chicks this past week... 

We only bought 20 this time and will see how it all goes as there are other chick days coming up... 

They are so cute right now...smile.. 

We will enjoy them this winter though for sure.. 

Some make and do things that I have been at.. 

Picked a bunch of wild violets.. 

Such a dear little flower.. 

Violet Oil to make Salves and soaps with... 

I was reading a wonderful book.. again!  lol.. 

How I love my books... I know.. 

I read everyday.. 

I always have since I was a young girl... 

I love books that were written about the 1800s for some reason.. 

An author I discovered this past winter was Donna Hubbard Scofield...

That First Montana Year and Back Home.. 

I loved them.. 

She is a Christian author.. 

In one of them she wrote of making a wedding cake and decorating it with sugared rose buds ... 

I looked it up and there were violets done so of course since I had some I decided to try it and will put them on something some day this summer.. 

To celebrate one thing or another.. smile.. 

And as always if there is some flower I can pick... 

I pick them and if I can't get to them my dear husband picks them for me.. 

He is a good man!  smile.. 

Made some perfume from a recipe on the web.. 

Just unscented lotion and add essential oils.. 

This has patchouli (of course), a couple drops of ylang ylang and a couple drops of lavender.. 

I like it... 

Found the sweet containers at the dollar store so will make some others for my gift pantry... 

Some days at the farm I am still going through boxes of stuff from our cottage and shop in St. Martins.. 

Last week I found a box of linens.. 

And lace... 

Pillow cases, luncheon cloths, table runners, doilies, napkins and a tea towel.. 

How I love thee... grin.. 

Some rainy day I will pull down the ironing board that is built in the kitchen wall and start ironing them.. 

I love stacking them on shelves here and there.. 

Do you?

I mentioned in my last post about planting some sprouts in these dear little egg cups..  

 

I told you I would just do a short post with just pics and show you them.. 

Sorry.... 

Another long post.. 

But you can skip right on by the words and look at the pics or not.. grin... 

I am almost done.. Honest.. lol.. 

Just wanted to share my view from my happy place.. 

My swing here at home.. 

On the windy evenings we have been having I just plop myself down and cover up with a sheep lined blanket Dustin gave me and watch the world go by.. 

So thankful for these wonderful blessings ... 

Where is your happy place? 

I have several to tell you the truth.. 

But I wanted a swing for years.. Literally.. 

So.. 

I really enjoy...

I always like to leave you with a recipe too.. 

I copied this off a group site I joined ... 

We love pasta salads although I know they are carbs but everything in moderation... right?  

This is tuna, peppers, cukes, onion and parsley and a bit of parm...\

My grandsons most requested salad..  

Well my friends I am finished for now.. 

Hope you are enjoying this wonderful season... 

The month of June is my second fave month.. 

May is my first.. smile.. 

Thank you for stopping by.. 

I know that I am as bad as a long winded preacher but so it is.. smile.. 

Looking forward to hearing from you all.. 

Take care of yourselves and your sweet families.. 

Trust in the Lord and He will direct your paths.. 

The main thing in this topsy turvy world is keep our eyes on the main thing.. 

Jesus!  

God bless.. 

An Albert County Drive...

Hello dear hearts.. 

Been a bit since I have been able to get here to post.. 

Hope you are all doing well.. 

Such a busy time of year with gardens, grandsons and graduations here with us.. 

Love it all!.. 

Just a few pics tonight that I took last Sunday after church.. It was Father's Day and as my dear Dad is with the Lord the best we can do is to visit his grave.. 

Even though it is way back in the hills it is a gorgeous drive... 

Come along.. 

This part of Albert County is most precious to this country girl.. 

It is where a lot of my roots are and I have probably shared some of this with you dear followers who have been around for a while before.. 

Please bear with me.. smile.. 

My grandparents were born in these hills of Albert County.. 

Gramp grew up in Collier Mountain and Gram in Meadow.. 

The hills are majestic this time of year.. 

Not with their height but with their beautiful trees and greenery.. 

Dear old homesteads still with a mailbox at the end of the lane.. 

And here across the brook is where my grandmother's  house was when she was growing up..  

She walked from here every day to school for a mile or two... 

And every Sunday to this dear old church.. 

She and Gramp lie here in the cemetary along with my Dad and so many more of my family members.. 

Hillside.. 

The sweetest thing was that when we arrived there was my sweet mother getting back in the car after visiting Dad's grave.. 

I had to snap a quick pic as I thought it was so precious! 

Although, she is married again they often go to their first spouse's grave sites... 

Is that an old fashioned thing to do?  

I love it anyway... 

After they left, I stood by his stone and looked at the Eastern sky and thought that some glad morning the dead in Christ shall rise first... 

eh?  

Such a glorious hope we have in Him.. 

Anyway.. 

I actually have four sets of grandparents in this one cemetary.. 

Isn't that lovely...

Yes, I truly am an Albert County girl.. 

Unless you are one you don't quite understand.. grin.. 

On that note I will tell you this .. 

On Tuesday night at Bible Study our pastor was teaching from the book of Isaiah about kings.. 

Anyhow, he asked for our input about what we today would desire in a king if we were to select one.. 

Well, I didn't have the nerve but I told Terry that he should be from Albert County... grin.. 

We thought it was funny! 

Ok.. 

Let's keep going.. 

I hope I am not boring you with the same old drive but it is all I have for tonight..  

Lots of hills planted with blueberries around here.. 

And darling old home farms away up in the hills where ever you look .. 

A lot of the old fashioned barns are getting old and not used as farming is either huge or not at all in most of the country.. 

But the good news is that a lot of these old farms are being bought by young couples who have seen the light.. smile.. 

They want to get back to basics and bring their children up on organic meat and fresh veggies and ride their bikes down country lanes.. 

Our close neighbors at the farm are all  young families.. Growing veggies and chickens..  

I chatted with a few of the sweet girls last summer and they were picking berries and making jams, preserving veggies and smoking their pigs.. 

Isn't that great! 

I know!

 Really the world is a bit materialistic place but it thrills my heart when I drive by an old farmhouse at night and the lights are on in the house and I know that there is a family there striving for the simple life.. 

OK. 

I stepped down from my soap box and on with the drive.. smile.. 

It may be back in the hills but the beauty is breathless.. 

There are many working farms too.. 

Cows... 

Cows and more cows.. 

Do you notice the bank of Blue Flags in front of the cows here.. 

I was telling Terry that I have not seen such an abundance of them growing as there is this year.. 

So pretty.. 

Some retired couples are also buying up these old farms!  

They are farming, too..

They have herb beds and chickens.. 

Herbs have always been a part of the kitchen garden since time began but the last few years I have really joined that wagon train and utilising them as much as I can..

I noticed many places are using raised beds and lots of chickens.. 

Fresh eggs for sale!  

Mom told me she stopped here and bought a couple of dozen and that they were beautiful and only three dollars.. 

She said they were a retired couple who have moved here from the city.. 

Isn't that lovely?

I took a pic of these bushes.. 

They are everywhere and I don't know what they are.. 

Do you? 

Probably some kind of berry???? 

And here on our little old homestead we have chickens growing.. 

This pic was taken a while ago and they are bigger now.. 

These are meat kings which mean they will be in our freezer this fall.. 

We do hope to be on the farm to stay on Monday!

We have had 2 graduations and parties and such .. 

Trips to the cottage, too but I think we are about ready to be there..

Looking forward to it.. 

Quiet mornings with the fog rising above the trees, newspapers at the end of the lane, picking herbs for the lunch salad, cold spring water from the tap, cows in the pasture mooing, chickens peeping, making and doing and the wonderful gorgeous wind that blows through our little hollow... 

Yes, it is time... 

Here is a new book I bought from Amazon.. 

Loved loved my fermented veggies from last year and as they are so healthy as well as delicious then I am interested in what else I can learn.. 

This one is bok choy, green onions, radish and celery... 

I will tell you how it tastes in a few days.. 

Loved her book and would really recommend it to you if you are wanting to try it.. Very healthy way to go and so simple.. 

A back to basics way of preserving for sure.. 

Well, this is all for tonight.. 

Speaking of graduations...

We are so proud of our grandsons.. All five of them!

This year two more have graduated and going to university in the Fall.. That will be four of them and only one left in high school.. 

I will share some of the pics next time. 

We have the last party tomorrow and then I will share a few of the high lights... 

They did so well... 

Thankful to God for all of his blessings with our sweet family... 

Take care dearies and I will try to post sooner next time.. 

We are looking into getting internet at the farm but don't hold your breath!  lol.. 

Thanks for stopping by here or on the FaceBook page and welcome to the new ones.. So glad to have you.. 

God bless.. 

Psalms 103-17

But from everlasting to everlasting, the LORD's mercy is on those who fear him. His righteousness belongs to their children and grandchildren,

Farm Diary # 4..

Hello everyone.. 

A farm picture post for you tonight.. 

We have still not moved out for the summer.. 

Going on our trip to Nfld. and other things seem to be slowing us down but we are making a bit of progress.. 

We go each day that we can and then come home for the night and go again in a day or so.. 

We have a graduation of our sweet grandson, Matt this week and we need to go to the cottage and do some yard work but Terry thinks next week for almost sure.. smile.. 

Anyway, here are a few pics of the the last couple of times we were there.. 

A bit of gnocchi with herbs and garlic for a lunch ...  

Washing the dishes in the old farmstyle way.. 

By hand.. smile.. 

Sweet son helping his father decide where the pens for the geese and ducks are going.. 

Close to a little stream that flows from the spring.. 

I think they will like it there.. 

A little floor mat I found in a shop but so love the shades of blue and greens in it that I put it on the table for some inspiration.. 

I hope to paint the kitchen sometime this summer.. 

I told you we are making progress.. 

Our meat king chicks came in and are about a week old already... 

Do you want to hear about our little chicken miracle?  

LOL.. 

Yesterday, after we came home from church Terry put the chicks in a big pen he built to put in the sunroom until next week when they will go to the barn.. 

It is a lot bigger and they seem to like it but when I went in to see them I noticed one seem to be out for the count.. 

Just laying there breathing fast.. 

Oh no... 

Well, the next time I went in it was literally ten toes up.. 

It's feet were stuck up and it was barely breathing.. 

I picked it up and put it in a basket on a table there and as none of us could kill it, I just left it there to die.. 

Dustin says I am not going to make much of a farmer if I feel so bad over one wee chick.. grin.. 

In the meantime he had come out with another one that had been pecked and was bleeding.. 

Oh brother ! 

I am beginning to think they are more bother then they are worth but we put it in a separate box so they wouldn't pick on it.. 

I went to bed last night and told Terry to do something with the chick that must be dead by then.. 

Anyway.. 

When I came out this morning, Terry said that chicken is in on the floor.. 

I thought he meant it was dead but no it was running around and happy as a lark.. 

How it didn't break it's leg getting off the table is beyond me.. 

The other one is the separate box was fine, too and peeping away.. 

They are both fit as a fiddle.. 

Isn't that weird?  

Just thankful anyway that we didn't lose them but we do need to reintroduce them to their pals... 

Sorry for the long chicken story.. 

I am sure there will be more so prepare yourselves.. grin.. 

Some salad fixings.. 

Lunchtime table setting.. 

Cucumber and Shallot Salad... 

More plain fare which Terry is happy to receive after all the restaurant meals on the trip.. 

Planting more herbs.. 

Making some violet oil.. 

Lots of Rhubarb jam in the making.. 

Taking most of my plants to the farm as they grow so well there.. 

This is my Pregnant Onion.. 

See the babies.. 

My favourite plant.. 

A sweet old plate I found at the thrift shop for the farm.. 

Pantry window sill.. 

And looking out the pantry window.. 

Lilacs and green grass... 

Well, dear hearts this is all for tonight.. 

I am headed for bed as it is almost nine o'clock and I always read for an hour.. 

Hope to hear from all you sweet readers and may God bless each and everyone of you.. 

Till next time.. 

xo