Elk Getaway

Last week we took a two day trip to Elk Co. to watch the Elk bugling during mating season.  We saw lots of Elks and heard the bulls bugling.  I also like to watch the live feed at Winslow Hill at night and early mornings.  I have seen bulls fight on it.  The little hotel we stayed at was very nice.

He herded the cows around till he had them just where he wanted them so no other bull could get to them.   The pictures are dark because we were in a covered blind watching them.  The live feed is on the Pennsylvania Game Commission site.

New outside stove

I now have an outside stove to do my canning on so the steam from the canning doesn't get to the new cabinets.

The cover slide over to make counter space when you are using the burners.  I made Monkey Jam this morning.  It was great to see all that steam going outside instead of up on my cabinets.

What is Monkey Jam?  It is what you make when you get 15 lbs. of bananas for 2 dollars.  You mix bananas, pineapple and coconut with a little sugar cook till thickens then can.

 

It was nice to cool the jars outside too so it doesn't heat up the house. (It is only 64 degrees this morning)  A chipmunk came up and sat on the porch.  He was there a long time and I chased him off a couple of times.  I think he was after the monkey jam.   I know he could not open the jars but he could knock one of them off and make a mess.

Wreath

I made a wreath for my front porch to match my new swing cushions and marigolds
in front of house.

New House Guest

We are babysitting Chris and Patty's baby chicks.  They are only a week old.  They will be here 4 or 5 days.

Strawberry Cream Cake

With all the strawberries I have been picking I am using them in many different ways.  I make a strawberry cream cake that was super moist.  I used a white cake mix, eggs and crushed strawberries for cake.  I used devil dog filling for the cream filling.  It was wonderful.

Matt's visit

We had a great time went Matt came to visit.

Homer, LA stay

We had a great time taking care of our little boss March, April & May 2015.  Brad learned to use the tractor.  There were so many different kinds of bird that I have never seen that came to the bird feeders.

 

 

CAN'T WAIT TO HEAD SOUTH!!!

February has been too cold, too snowy and too icy.  We are to head south tomorrow.  I can't wait.  It is snowing again.  More snow shoveling with ice below it not good.  Just got back from helping take grandma Bernadine to eye doctor.  It was snowing so hard on the way home it was a white out.

 

The snow along the roads is so dirty with all the salt and snow melting stuff.  Your cars get salt all over them and big clumps of stuff under them.

Winter snow

January 9th we had our first big snow.  Lee had to get out and shovel our walkways.  It is so pretty.  If the wind would die down I will walk to town today.  First time this winter that I will have to wear snow boots.

 

I am glad Lee keeps in shape helping his brother Eric so that shoveling this snow should not stress him.

First snow of winter 2014-2015

Unlike last winter when we had snow everyday from November to February we did not have any snow till January 6, 2015.  It is 10 degrees and a couple of inches of snow this morning.

 

 

I have been keeping busy this winter by pulling frozen blueberries out of the freezer and dehydrating and juicing them.

 

I also have been cracking the walnuts that I gathered this fall.  I didn't know how easy they were to crack.  One hit with the hamper and they fall apart and because they have dried the nuts fall out.  All I had to do was pick the nuts out of the box.

 

Next year I will be picking a lot more.  No one picks black walnuts they are laying on the ground everywhere in the fall.