just a peek

So last week my boy went off to scout camp. Sniff sniff. Was a big step for all of us. He made it and smiled all week long. True story he did. The camp director told us so. We missed him something awful here though. Our youngest and he are close, and Sunday night she comes out of her room and is all puckered up to cry. She looks at me and managed to get out "I miss Little Matt" I scooped her up in a hug and kissed her chubby cheeks, and smoothed her hair. She burst into tears as soon as the words were out of her mouth. My heart tugged a bit for her, and I knew how she felt. I missed him too and it was the first night. We let her sleep with his pillow and one of his stuffed animals. That made a huge difference for her, just to have a part of him close to her. All week she slept with them, all snug and close to her.
Here are a few pics of him at scout camp.

 Near his cabin. Nice view hu?!

 Polar Bear dip. Every morning at 5:30-6am. He did it every morning too!! Soo proud of him!!

 Working on a basket. That he gave to me! I have it in my kitchen!

 His bunk is on the top. All packed and ready to come home!

When he came home Saturday late morning I couldn't wait to see him. As all the girls were excited to see him. He got out of the car and wrapped his arms around me and gave me a big squeeze. I squeezed him back and blinked back tears of happiness to have my boy home. I'm so proud and blessed to have him in my life and he's MY son! What a blessing he is to me!
Then after greeting all of us he...

ran out to the field to say hi to his calf. Dandie! A boy and his cow. How sweet is that?! He laid down on her and gave he a hug. She just let him love on her too.

Then Sunday morning when we were on our way to church we stopped at a Dunkin Donuts, and he bought me an iced coffee with some money he had saved from going to camp. Total surprise to me!  All on his own. He had asked his father to stop so he could. What a treat for me. I love the young man that he is and couldn't be prouder to call him mine!
Have a great day!

one thing to another in 24hrs

Yesterday I went to the ocean with my Mom and a sister, along with the kiddos. I know poor me!! I got to go to the beach! Again!! I got to bury my feet in the sand, work on my tan, and just sit around and DO nothing! I did get up and go in the water with the kiddos, but that's it! See...
Ahhhhhhhh check it out! That is a ferry landing your looking at. I'm standing out in the ocean. When we got there the tide was out, but moving in. When we left the tide was just about all the way in. We had to move 3 times to keep from getting our stuff wet!

My sisters foot, and my purple toes I don't know where her other foot is!. We had to move again after this picture. In the right hand corner you can see the ferry landing, if you look. I kept the camera low because there were too many people in the water dressed in a way I don't want on my blog;)

But today I was not at the beach. This is what I did this morning

Bush hoggin the pasture! My Man started it and then said I could have a go at it. He loves me! So I finished up the pasture, and then we turned out the cows. It's a good day when you can smell like diesel, and be on the tractor!
Then I came in the house and did house work because it was kinda rainy today off and on. I wanted to do outside things, but the weather had other ideas. But it's OK, because we need the rain, and I needed to get some stuff done in the house. Maybe tomorrow I can get some outside stuff done. `
I did manage to pick a few more summer squash today! Gotta freeze them. Cucumbers are coming along too and I'll be making pickles before too long! Oh I've got plans for the stuff coming!
Have a great night all!

produce

I'm so excited!! I know my fellow garden blogger's would be too, or are. Depending on where they live! I have gotten some Summer Squash out of my garden!!!!!! My first fruits!!
Whoot whoot!!! See

 I picked three of them!! I plan on using most all of them in my soup starter. I may have to freeze them while I wait for..

 these beauties!!! They are loaded with tomatoes, and I'm sooooooooooo excited. (In case you didn't notice)!! The only draw back it it's very dry here now. I need to water the gardens. It's not a drought like out west as I've been reading on others blogs, and I'm thankful. We just need some rain, like some of you do.

If you look real close you'll see tons of blossoms and some small cucumbers!! I can't wait to sink my teeth into a nice fresh cucumber sandwich! I just love 'em. Oh and my garlic dill pickles! My mouth just waters at the thought!  Yummmmmmmy!!
Well I just had to share! I'm excited at the prospect of a good garden harvest. At least I pray for one!
Have a great day all!

oh you gotta read this

The joys of living in Maine! OK, it does have it's perks...just not winter. Or at least I wouldn't consider winter a perk. The ocean is the perk!  Anyways... I won't kill you with any more Snickers bars, but they are amazing! But check out what we did today. The whole family got to go to the ocean this time, but...

We didn't go swimming! And we didn't even get a flat tire! So no overnight...

We went sailing!!! Some people we know own a boat and invited us out for a ride! I mean who could say no to that? It was so wonderful to get away for the day! No this isn't the boat either. My camera died and I didn't get a picture of the boat we went out on. But isn't this a beauty?  Such a perfect day for it too. Just enough wind to keep us moving and calm enough seas so no one got sea sick! Not even me! I was concerned that I might. I'm not a fair ride kinda girl. Makes me whoosy watching some of those rides. I mean bleck! Spinning, tilting, flip flopping back and forth, and spinning some more! Bleck! I can handle the slide with the kiddos and the merry go round. I don't really care for the farris wheel, it's so high and you hear of horror stories of it being broken and getting stuck up there or falling..., no maybe it's just me. I go only when the kiddos ask. So I was hoping I wouldn't be retching over the side of the boat! Nope no retching. Thankfully. I can hold my head up high and smile!! :)

 My baby. What a goof. She lost her hat shortly after this was taken. But we turned around and went and got it. The family that we went out with works well together, and it was nice to watch them get the hat back. They practiced their "man over board" skills. The girls got a little scared when the boat turned because it tips to one side and feels like your falling, I think it's called "wheeling" Boat terms are so different then my regular vocabulary I couldn't keep it straight! Anyways...

 My boy. He's headed off to Boy Scout Camp tomorrow. Sniff, sniff. I'm excited and nervous for him, and me. He's never been away from home to a camp before. I'll pray all week for him, and will be relieved to have him back home. But he loved the boat. He thought it was really fun!

 My girl taking to the Captain's daughter. She asked all kinds of questions, and they were all answered. She enjoyed the ride once she felt comfortable on the boat.

 My middle girl. She just got glasses and she loves them! Purple is her favorite color, and so her glasses are lavender. She was peeking around at me and I snapped her picture.She came and sat beside me and rested her head on my arm just soaking up the sun, and enjoying the sea. I liked that.

 My man loving this day! He tells me when we go to the ocean that if he had grown up by the sea he would have been a fisherman. He loves the ocean and being way out there in it, and on a sail boat no less!

Here we are! Having a blast! We had some watermelon with mint on it. If you've never tried that combo I recommend you do! Was very good.

Our Captain and First Mate (I think that's the term), his son. A self portrait after the one above! 

 That's me and my baby. Don't see me on here very often. I'm always behind the camera! I like it that way!

 One of the light houses we saw. Beautiful. We saw a seal just before this was taken too. My camera wouldn't turn on, and I didn't get it's picture. Was bummed too. We saw two of them. That was cool. The kiddos loved that!

Here we are all done and headed back to shore. The ride was over and it was time to get back to reality.
It was a wonderful day spend with wonderful people and on the ocean made it better! Our first time sailing!
On the way home we got some food at the golden arches. We very rarely ever get food there, but the kiddos were thrilled. It was a real treat for them! And then when we got home we had a homemade snickers bar! Ha just had to throw that in there!!
Got home to do chores, my man milked and I cleaned the pig pen! Ahh the life of a farmer!

what's cooking in my kitchen

This post may cause you to become hungry and crave something wonderful!!!! You have been warned!!!! Keep reading, you'll love it!!

What is this wonderful multi layered treat sitting on a plate? You ask? Don't drool on your computer, or try to take it off the screen. It just won't work. Well what is it?
OK OK I'll tell you. Homemade Snickers Bars!!! OH what?! Yup, Snickers Bars!!!!!
Now they are time consuming to get all the layers done, but very simple to make. Easy peasy. I'll show you!

 Melt some PB, milk choc, and butterscotch chips.

 Spray a pan with cooking spray, and dump it in and smear it around the pan! Stick it in the fridge.

 Melt some butter, sugar and evaporated milk, add some marshmallow cream, peanut butter, vanilla, then throw in some peanuts. Mix it well then

put it on top of the first layer, stick it in the fridge. 

 Melt some Carmel's with some cream. I got the ones that were individually wrapped, and had to unwrap them all. Took a little time.

 Then put it in the white layer, and stick it in the fridge.

Then the fourth layer is the same as the first. Then stick it the fridge, and then...

Just one last look at it before you go!! Oh and they are so yummy!!! Yup yummy! So here is the recipe if ya want...
FYI - I got the recipe from a friend that got it from pinterest. I do not do the pinterest thing by my personal name or blog name!  It was called Snickers Bar Fudge, or Snickers Fudge.

1st layer
1C milk Choc
1/4C butterscotch chips
1/4C peanut butter

Melt together. Spray 9x13 pan. Spread in pan, put in fridge.

2end layer

4T butter
1C sugar
1/4C evaporated milk
11/2C marshmallow cream
1/4C peanut butter
1t vanilla
11/2C chopped up peanuts

Melt butter, sugar and evaporated milk, bring to a boil, and cook 5 min stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Quickly add marshmallow cream,vanilla, and PB. Stir well, throw in peanuts and stir again. Add to first layer and put back in fridge.

3rd layer

14oz carmel cubes
1/4C heavy cream

Melt carmels and cream together. Put on second layer and put in fridge.

4th layer
Same as the first.

Let sit 1 hr before cutting!
Thats all folks. Make 'em and you'll love 'em!
Have a great night all!

meet charlie

So I haven't been blogging or commenting on the blogs I follow much lately. I've had a lot of personal stuff going on, and just didn't have anything to say. But I think now things have calmed down and I can think again, maybe I can blog some now...

no this isn't Charlie, I just loved this picture. The clouds were amazing the other day. This whole field behind us is now cut. It's been great haying weather here. We acutally have all our first crop hay in!! Over 500 bales, and we are sooooooooo thankful!

 I love this picture of Abby and T.O. I sat down in the grass this evening and took it.

This is Charlie. Our rooster. The kiddos named him. He's young and the hens pick on him some, but he holds his own. So far he's quiet, I have yet to hear him crow. He was the lowest man on the chicken pole from where we got him. He's shy and doesn't like it when you go to him, but as I sat in the grass this evening snapping pictures he moved slowly closer to me, chirping at me as he came. For some reason my camera wouldn't focus, so they are kinda bleary. Charlie is a Barred Rock. Nice looking rooster I think. I think his tail feathers needs to grow, but I like him so far. I will change my mind when he wakes me up at 5am though. I am not a fan of roosters, at all. But my husband wanted to get him and breed the hens and maybe some of the broody ones will hatch out some babies!!! I know Mama Hen is sitting real nice on some eggs, that are not fertilized. I don't think Charlie has... ahem... done his deed yet! At least I haven't seen it! SO we shall see! I'll let you know!
Have a nice night all!

good quote

"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."
Havelock Ellis

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue of every testing point."
C. S. Lewis

garden update

I thought I'd show you my garden. One is doing really well and the other, not so much. Coming really slow, but I'm still hopeful it will do alright. Don't have much to say today so I'll let the pictures do the talking for me.

 Love the way these onions look!

Carrots for my baby.

Tomatoes. I have 29! Only lost one to all the rain. Well one more may or may not make it, but I already have tomatoes on them!!! Have lots of plans for them, so hope they do well. Got some more weeding to do. The pigs love them!

 Summer Squash!! Have plans for this too. They look good.

 Cucumbers. My mouth waters at the thought of a fresh warm cucumber off the vine, sandwiches, salads, pickles oh my!!

 Melons. They took a beating with all the rain. I hope they produce something. Sorry about my flip flop clad toes in there.

Green Beans. Oh so sad looking. They are my favorite thing, and they look pitiful. I hope they do produce. This is the second planting.

 Beets. Ya I know I need to weed them. The skeeto's came out the other night and I had had enough. My Man tilled the garden the other night too, and I weeded in-between to get the big ones. Still there is always more to be done!

Flint Corn, with no picture. Maybe next time.
Have a great day all!

noises in counrty life

Last night my husband and I got the kiddos to bed early. They were very tired and cranky, and just needed to go to bed. They were out in about 15 minutes of being put to bed. Ya they were tired. Then we went out and weeded one of the gardens. Just the two of us. Oh it was such a nice evening, there was enough of a cool breeze to keep the skeetos away, and it wasn't hot or humid. Just perfect. We worked away at the weeds and chatted some. We didn't speak for a while, just being together was nice. As I was weeding I listened to the noises around me. The breeze blowing through the tall hay, the horses happily munching their hay and the chop of their teeth. The fan in the window gave a quiet hum as it whirled around. Sheep nearby eating the weeds we threw out to them, and the sound of them eating. Kinda noisy, like they were just loving the weeds. Maggie was out in her pasture and every once in a while Dandie would call to her, and move around in her stanchion, and clang and bang around as she laid down. (The reason she is in is because they got out the other night around 11pm, and we need to fix her pasture). Pigs were quiet, and sleeping in the barn. The chickens were going to bed and getting into their perches, I could hear them clucking, and their almost growl when they were disturbed by another hen moving in.The occasional squawk when someone higher up demanded that one move so she could have that spot. I could hear my husband softly move about the garden pulling up the weeds, and glanced over at him in the dusk. We spoke, then quiet again. The frogs and crickets were out chirping and singing their evening songs. Birds settling in for the night, quietly chirping and singing as they did so, the soft flutter of their wings as they moved about. I looked around and saw the lightening bugs coming out, lighting up the darkening hay fields around us. Abby nickered at me when I made a noise, and T.O shook her head rattling her halter. The sun was almost all the way down, but there was still a slight glow of light on the big fluffy now gray, pink, and blue clouds. Someone in the not too far distance was setting off fireworks. I sighed and felt the ragged edges and stress melt away as I breathed out.