Another look at a farm girl's life, one who loves living in the country and everything is has to offer, good or bad, how else do we grow...
Name: Sue Neitzel
I live a simple life in the Ozarks, where my hubby and I tend to 5 acres of country pleasure, from raising animals to gardens, and finding comfort in knowing we are giving back to the land, after all, it's only on loan to us....
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The simple life: Talking to myself
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today
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My little sister called me last night to tell me she and her family are coming out for a visit in August. I can't wait! Finally someone who likes to go to the flea markets and antique stores. Sure my dear hubby goes with me, and is good about stopping with little notice if I see one on the road, but he's not into it like I am, the thrill of the hunt, the thrill of the find and just the thrill of it all! I guess it can be compared to a man's hunting or fishing trip, maybe? But my sister and I can take off and just go browsing if nothing else, I always get ideas, and they are free! It'll be nice to spend some more time with her and her family, since losing our Mom recently, were all we have left and time has enabled us to catch up. There is no closer a friend than a sister!
Yes, that is what these pretty pink flowers are called, mainly because they have no leaves, just a long stem and pink flowers on top! I've got mine growing among some hostas
for support. They are blooming all over right now and are oddly pretty. Mother Nature sure knows how to make us laugh! The heat is back on and nothing to laugh about, too hot to do anything outside except give the dog a bath! Yesterday, we went on one of little day trips, it was too hot to work outside like we had planned and we didn't want to sit in front of the TV all day, so off in a air conditioned car we went. We visited a littled tourist town about 50 miles away, with tons of antique shops and flea markets galore! If only I had more money to spend, but it was fun just getting away for the day, in total we ended up driving a little over 100 miles round trip, it was fun! I didn't really buy anything, my big find was a box full of cedar planks, not sure what I'll do with them, but for only $3.50, a new project will be had with them as soon as I figure one out! That's half the fun of it, if nothing else, we can make many birdhouses with all that lovely cedar, I just LOVE the smell of cedar! So, remember, next time you hear someone say, " look at the naked ladies" they just maybe talking about these pretty pink flowers and not the real thing! lol
Aren't rainbows just amazing, and a thrill at any age! I spotted this one in our backyard last 
evening, and we hadn't gotten any rain yet? They are almost magical, making me think there could be a pot of gold at the end, but at which one? We all grew up knowing rainbows would lead us to a pot of gold left behind by leprechauns, oh the stories we tell our children! The rain came early this morning, and could last most of the day and into the night, fine by me, I don't have to water for a couple of days! As I was dressing this morning, I heard this awful cry, my first thought was a new bird to the yard, but after stepping out onto the front porch, I could see where it was coming from. Across the road from us is a field that belongs to a dairy farm. In midst of a tree covered pond, stood a young coyote just a hawling as strong as he could. This was odd, we hear coyotes all the time crying in the night, but this cry was very different, my guess is he was lost? Maybe he found the pot of gold ! I like to think rainbows bring luck to all who see them, so besure to stop and take a good look at a rainbow whenever you get the chance, they really are something to see.
My passion flower vine is blooming, a little early it seems, but always a welcomed site. I just love the odd purple flower, my first one came from seeds that my Dad had sent me years ago, so they are special to me
. Since then, I have them coming up here and there, freely. They are also native to this area but the wild cousin isn't as big as my spoiled ones. They are easy to grow and will produce tons of seeds that I share. I also have a recipe for maypop jelly, somewhere that I want to try sometime. I'm not sure how passion flowers got the nickname of maypop, but it's a fun name and I'm guessing the fruit pods have something to do with it. I just love the idea of having a little part of my Dad growing here each year, he'd be happy! Besure to get out and hunt up some of these exotic flowers, you just might have some growing in your area, you'll be hooked too!
I'm not a newbie to raising ducks, but these five have me baffled! They were a gift and just days old after we lost our last pair to the speeder who hit them both. I've raised them like I've done many babies before them, yet these five black ducks are STILL scared 
of us and everything around them, they are full grown now and don't like water much, they have a kiddie pool but hardly use it, we've walked them down to the pond only to watch in disbelief how fast they got out and high tailed it back to the barn, where they stay most of the time, even during the high temps we had last week? They are the strangest ducks we've ever had! But they are pretty, all black with a green shine to them. They do eat bugs so they are good for that, and they were a gift from my oldest son, so I will keep them. I'll keep working with them and hopefully they will come around and take to the water like I thought all ducks did? Our youngest is on a plane heading for the Phillipines on a mission trip, a dream of hers since she was little so my thoughts are with her and praying she is safe. Nice to see dreams come true!
Our heat wave is over, finally! It only lasted less than a week but when you mix high temps and humidity together, all you get is a WET! So, thanks to a strong cool front and thunderstorms that rolled in Friday late, we are below normal instead of above! Only in the low 80's this weekend, so we've been outside getting the garden weeded, lawn mowed, and even had a lawn mower race last night! Actually, most of our clan was out for supper last night and as boys will be boys, they just had race riding lawn mowers, the oldest won! I'm thinking ahead and planted some mums up front in the new flower bed, all ready with buds waiting to open, by fall they should be fuller and colorful, I can't wait! Walmart has mums now, and it's the perfect time to get them in the ground, just make sure they are called garden mums or hardy mums. Those real pretty florist mums won't live outside year round, so don't waste your money unless you want them just for inside. Off to paint some selves, it's just too nice to stay inside, gotta enjoy this wonderful weather while we have it. Happy Sunday to you all!
Here is the second picture I entered in the fair last week, that didn't win either, this one I had turned into black and white, it just seem to fit better, and I love the look of black and white photos. This photo is one of my favorites, grandpa and our little granddaughter, I caugh
t them at such a sweet moment, it may not have been a winner at the fair, but it's a winner with us! The heat wave continues here, day three of record heat and humidity, even the chickens are panting! But relief is only a day away, cooler temps for the weekend! The heat just wipes you out, and doing chores outside is like taking a shower, but hey sweating is good for the body, right? Plus, in the dead of winter when it's freezing, we'll all be saying " I can't wait for summer" but at least were not alone, most of the country is under this same heat wave, so I hope everyone is keeping their cool and trying to enjoy this hot summer, somehow? The heat has forced some light shows at night, the lightening sets in just at bed time, keeping me awake enough to see if they turn into something I should be concerned about. No rain with these storms, not fair, the plants just melt during the day, like most of us. A giant bullfrog was at the front door last night, the biggest frog I've ever seen, no idea as to why he wanted in the house, maybe to cool off??
This years county fair was a big dissapointment, not just because the girls and I didn't win a thing for our photography, but the overall fair was cheap! On top of that, they raised th
e price of admission from $5 to $7. I always go on the free day but we usually like to go for the truck pull on friday night, but this year we passed. Everyone who I talked to said the same thing, it wasn't very good. This photo was one that I had entered, it's of my oldest grandchild looking at her family in one of those funny mirrors that make you look odd. I thought it was a cleaver shot! The other one I entered was a black and white photo of my hubby holding our youngest grand daughter at our son's wedding, I caught them in a sweet moment. I will try to post it too if I can find it on this machine. I was really hoping one of the daughter in laws would win to encourage them to do more next year, since I've won 3 years now. But, at least we have more ideas on what the judges look for, but I swear some were professionals and they aren't allowed. But it was fun and taught us more about entering, so were determined to take more pictures to have more chances for winning next year!
I can't believe it's been a year already since the birth of our second grand daugher who is a gift to us for sure! Miss Chloe Grace had a wonderful birthday, surrounded by family and friends wh
o showered her with gifts and clothes. Here she is eating her very own birthday cake, not getting messy at all, she's a little lady who can make me smile anytime! She loves music and is dancing to the beat, she's such a character, reminds me of her daddy all over again! This last year has been full of so many firsts in her life, moments that we all will treasure. Her great grandma played such a cute game with her, she laid out several items in front of her, such as a brush, book, cell phone, broom, money, baby doll, etc. Chloe had to be left to pick up three items, those three would reveal what she might grow up to be. Our sweet Chloe first grabbed the baby doll and kissed it, meaning she would be a mama. Then she picked up the brush, a hair styliest maybe? Lastly, she picked up a bobbin of thread, another sewer in the family! So, we will see if these choises come to light in her future. What ever she grows up to be, she will be loved and blessed, as we are to have her with us! Happy birthday sweetie!
While hunting for a certain recipe which I can't find of course when needed, but I did come across some other goodies you might find interesting for that extra bounty, and please feel free to share your favorite or odd recipes with me, I'd love to see what other canners are storing up for the winter! Enjoy!
Red Pepper Jam
12 red peppers
2-4 onions, sliced
1 T. salt
2 cups vinegar
3 cups sugar
Place peppers and onions through food processer and into a saucepan. Sprinkle with salt and let stand for 3 hours. Drain well. Add vinegar and sugar, cook slowly about 1 1/2 to 2 hours till thick. pour mixture into clean, hot half pint jars and process for 10 to 15 min. Makes 6 half pints.
Cinnamon Zucchini Pickles
2 gal. peeled/sliced zucchini
2 cups pickling lime
8 1/2 qt. water
3 cups white vinegar
1 sm. bottle red food coloring
16 oz. red hots, not Brachs
1 T. alum
10 cups sugar
8 cinnamon sticks
1 st. day: Soak zucchini in lime and water for 24 hrs. stirring occasionally. 2nd. day: Drain and rinse well. Soak in cold water for 3 hrs. Drain. Simmer for 2 hrs. in vinegar, food coloring, alum, and enough water to cover. Drain. Mix vinegar, 2 cups water, 10 cups sugar, cinnamon sticks and red hots. Bring to a boil and pour over zucchini. Let set overnight. 3rd. day: Drain and keep liquid. Reheat and pour back over zucchini. Continue for 3 more days. 7th day: Heat and pack into jars and seal. Process pints 15 min. in water bath.
This recipe is alot of work and time consuming, but worth the effort and wait! Kids love them! Try them at least once.
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