Nancy on the Home Front

Change is in the Air

Ever since our daughter moved to the Pacific Northwest over ten years ago she has been encouraging us to make the move west. Over the years she has sent us numerous real estate ads saying, “This could be your next home!” and I loved visiting, but never quite imagined making the move. One by one our four children have moved to either Washington or Oregon and now call the Pacific Northwest home. After spending two months ourselves in the PNW it looks like a move will be in our future.

English: Arpin Van Lines moving van, Abigail D... — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Of course there are many details to tie up on the east coast, the main one being de-cluttering and selling our current home. This will be hard, I love our home and we have lived in Vermont for almost twenty years! However I would also love to live closer to our children. I’d like to be a part of their lives and the lives of our grandchildren, rather than only seeing them once or twice a year.

So I will repeat to myself, “change is good, change is hard, and change is necessary”. We have made major moves over the years. First a move from Maine to Connecticut, then we moved from Connecticut to Florida and then Florida to Vermont. Before each move we would pare down our belongings and move only that which was important to us. When we moved to Vermont almost twenty years ago, everything we owned fit into the largest rental truck. I think it would now take at least three of those trucks to move us. Yes, we have a bit of paring down to do.

A GMC U-Haul truck — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One thing we did learn over the course of our travels is that it is definitely doable to live with far less than you realize. When we arrived home I walked into my closet and saw all the clothes I hadn’t needed or even thought about in the last three months. I took advantage of the moment and quickly pulled two bags of clothes out that I will either give away, sell or donate!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of my favorite blogs Organized 31 recently did a 31 Days to Declutter series of posts, each day you would focus on only one area such as your coat closet or your sock drawer. She had some very good hints and suggestions for decluttering and getting organized. I followed along most of the days and what I liked best about each post was that it was a ten minute process!

I don’t think we’ll be moving anytime soon, real estate is moving very slowly in Vermont and we were told it could take anywhere from one to three years to sell our home! In the meantime my husband continues to look for a new job and I’m continuing with the de-cluttering. Lots to keep us busy as we head into spring!

February is Bird Feeding Month

I never realized that each month is dedicated to something. January was the soup month and February is dedicated to feeding the birds! Do you feed the birds? My husband loves to feed the birds and we have various feeders all around the house. We have a homemade suet feeder, which the woodpeckers and nuthatches just love. We have two feeders with black sunflower seeds and then a nyjer feeder for the gold finches. You should see them line up for their turn at the feeder. Our house sits close to the woods and we also have several large forsythia bushes in front of our deck where the feeders hang. The birds love having a safe spot to hang out. You never know when an owl or hawk will show up looking for a meal!

We enjoy watching the different varieties of birds that come to our feeders during the winter. Come spring we take the feeders down at night because of the bears. Bears come out of hibernation very hungry and an easy source of food for them is finding bird feeders. We usually have one or two small black bears that will venture up on our deck to see if we have forgotten to take the feeders in!When summer rolls around we only have the nyjer feeder and the hummingbird feeder.

Birds should not be offered many of the foods humans eat. Bread (fresh or stale) provides no real nutritional value for birds, and moldy bread can harm birds. Chocolate is toxic to birds, just as it is to dogs and cats (it contains theobromine), never offer birds any foods containing chocolate. Table scraps may not be safe or healthy for birds and most table scraps will attract mice or rats.

Instead feed birds black oil sunflower seed which is high in fat and provides good energy. The seeds are small and thin shelled and easy for small birds to crack open. Suet is another good option and as I mentioned goldfinches love nyjer seed, use a special feeder with smaller holes to prevent the tiny seeds from spilling out.

Create a safe space for your birds; provide bushes for shelter and refuge and a water source if you do not have a water source nearby. Feeding the birds is fun and can provide hours of entertainment.

Spring is on the Way – Time To Order Your Seeds!

If you’ve been following my blog you may remember my husband recently was laid off and we’re not sure what the future holds. However every year at this time I order my seeds and this year is no exception! Worse case scenario I end up not having a garden and then I will just save my seeds for next year!

My favorite two catalogs are Fedco Seeds and Solstice Seeds. Solstice Seeds is a local seed saver with a wonderfully diverse collection of seeds. Several years ago I took part in a seed saving class Sylvia offered. We met each month at her house and saw first hand how she goes about, planting and maintaining her garden and then saving the various seeds. It was a wonderful experience, not only were Sylavia’s gardens beautiful but I was so inspired by her meticulous organization in keeping track of her plants!

I love ordering Solstice Seeds because I know they will do well in my garden. Sylvia just lives a town or so away from where I live and if the seeds grow well in her garden I know they will also grow well in my garden!

I am also part of a local co-op group and each year they place a group order through Fedco Seeds. Fedco Seeds are based in Maine which is similar in climate to Vermont. The Fedco Seed catalog is a simple, black and white catalogue with a few sketches and excellent descriptions. If you want to see what the plants will look like you will have to find them online or in another seed catalog. Their prices are excellent and with a 20% discount due to the group order you get an even better deal!

There is nothing more satisfying than sitting in front of the woodstove on a cold winter day with a cup of tea perusing seed catalogs! Which is exactly what I did before we left for the weekend to attend our youngest son’s wedding!

With dreams of spring coming I figured out what seeds I wanted to plant in my garden and placed my orders! Dropped one order off at the co-op on our way to the airport and dropped the second order in the mail. As I look out at our garden here in Vermont I find it hard to believe that in just a few weeks it will be time to get my seeds started! I can’t wait!

Butternut Barley Risotto

Vegetarian dinner, butternut squash, barley

It’s wonderful when you have a recipe that you can make using up ingredients you already have on hand. I shared this Butternut Barley Risotto recipe several years ago, but it is worth repeating. Plus, I had a butternut squash on hand that I needed to use up!

I enjoyed this recipe as much this time as I did the first time I made it. It is creamy, filling and delicious! And it’s a perfect meal when you’re wanting to go meatless!

Butternut Squash Risotto

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1” squares, about 3 cups.
1 onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
1 cup pearl barley
½ cup dry white wine
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
5 ounces baby spinach
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, optional (forgot to add this and it was not missed!)

Directions:

Preheat over to 400 degrees. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the squash, onion, ¾ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper and cook, stirring often, until the onion begins to soften, 4-6 minutes.

Add the barley to the vegetables and cook, stirring for one minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring until evaporated, about one minute. Add the both and bring to a boil, cover the pot and transfer it to the oven. Bake until the barley is tender, 35-40 minutes.

Stir in the spinach, Parmesan and butter.

Serve this Butternut Squash Risotto with addition Parmesan. Serves 4-6.

A Weekend, a Wedding, and a Winner!

I apologize for not announcing a winner yesterday but we were busy traveling, and I really thought I would have time to get on the computer. However spending time with family takes precedence!

What a weekend! Last week we flew to Seattle for our youngest son’s wedding. What a whirlwind weekend it was. It is always such a joy to have the whole family under one roof. Our two married daughters, their spouses, our two grandchildren and our two sons as well as my sister and her boyfriend. Quite a large group to find accommodations for! However we found the perfect house with plenty of bedrooms and space enough to relax and enjoy our time together.

During our weekend in Seattle we found time to get outside and go for a walk around Green Lake, it was a cloudy day but at least it wasn’t raining.

The rehearsal dinner was a fun affair lots of good toasts and a chance to meet the bride’s family. I just love when the family is all together!

The highlight of the weekend was the wedding. Our son and his fiancé have a large group of friends who helped make the whole event very special. They helped prepare food and set the area up with simple but effective decorations. The ceremony was beautiful, as was the bride. We all love Sadie and she is a wonderful addition to our family. After our delicious meal the evening ended with dancing. I think everyone was on the dance floor including our four-year-old granddaughter!

All too soon the wedding was over and our son and his new wife were leaving for their honeymoon and we were heading back to the airport to fly back to New England. I’m not sure when we’ll all be together again which made the whole affair bittersweet. It was the perfect weekend however and I will treasure the many memories we made!

Now to announce our winner: Congratulation Melanie M! I hope you enjoy the Gooseberry Patch cookbook Tastes Like Home as much as I do! Remember to try the recipe I submitted, Angel Pie!

Old Fashioned Hermit Cookies

I have a dear friend, Esther, who loves Hermit Cookies. Esther is 95 years old and doesn’t bake at all anymore. I found this Old Fashioned Hermit Cookies recipe in my mother’s collection of recipes and decided it to make it for Esther. She absolutely loves them. They are not sweet and actually seem to improve with age! They also freeze well. I will make her a batch and have her put half in the freezer to enjoy later! Don’t you just love the old fashioned recipes?

Old Fashioned Hermit Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup shortening (I used butter)
3 eggs, divided
2/3 cup molasses
4 ¼ cups pastry flour
Dash salt
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp baking powder
2 cups raisin

Directions:

Cream the sugar and shortening together. Add 2 eggs and molasses; this will look lumpy. Add dry ingredients and blend until all the ingredients are incorporated. Add the raisins. The dough will be stiff, like play dough.

Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each ball into a long rope about the thickness of a quarter. Place 2 ropes each on 2 greased cookie sheets, and flatten slightly with your fingers. Beat 1 egg in a bowl and brush it on the cookies. Bake at 350 for ten minutes or until done. Cut the cookies while warm in 2 inch pieces and let cool. Makes about 24 cookies.

Top Ten Winter Soups

I shared one of my favorite soup recipes last week, but did you know that January is National Soup Month? I love soup anytime of the year. During the cold winter month there is nothing more comforting that sitting down to a delicious hot bowl of soup. Last week I shared the recipe for Irish Yellow Broth, a delicious soup that actually has steel cut oats in it. Here are a few more of my favorite soup recipes.

Asparagus and Egg Drop Soup
Cheddar Ale Soup
Chicken Vegetable Soup
Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup
Corn Chowder
Cream of Carrot Soup
Irish Yellow Broth
Pork, Bean and Kale Soup
Portuguese Vegetable Soup
The Soup Doctor’s Egg Drop Soup

Ancient Seed Follow Up: Gete-okosomin

the perks of seed saving, finding gete okosomin seeds

You may remember the post I wrote on the ancient seeds of the Gete-okosomin I was given in October. I was told the seeds were found in a dig in Wisconsin and the seeds found in the dig date back 850 years!

The story was that the seeds were originally found on the Menominee Reservation near Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 2008, and have slowly been shared with different gardeners in Canada and the US, thanks to seed keepers at White Earth Land Recovery Project in Minnesota. It was the recovery project’s founder, Winona LaDuke, who gave the squash its contemporary name, “really cool old squash”.

The seeds have been distributed to native communities and to others, including me! I can’t wait to try growing this squash in my garden later this year.

Following my post I read another article which stated the following:

“Following the reporting of the above story, which received worldwide press coverage, Kenton Lobe, an environmental studies professor at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has come forward to say that there are inaccuracies in the international press coverage of the story. The Indian Country Today Media Network reports that while the origins of the squash seeds are indeed ancient in that they have been grown for some 5,000 years, there is no evidence to suggest the seeds had been found in an 800-year-old pot. Rather, it appears that indigenous people belonging to the Miami Nation of Indiana have been growing and preserving the seeds right up until the modern day, taking great care to hand-pollinate them and retain the purity of the species. We apologize for this inaccuracy. “ Mark Miller AncientOrigina.net

Regardless of whether or not the seeds were found in a clay pot does not matter to me. I am thrilled to have been given ten seeds of this wonderful heirloom squash to grow in my garden. As the seeds were given to me and are not available commercially at this time I will gladly share any extra seeds I have after harvest. The seeds should be available in the fall of 2016.

I have had an incredible number of requests for these seeds from all over the world and am keeping careful track of everyone that has contacted me. When I successfully grow this squash and have seeds to share I will be contacting all those who have gotten in touch with me. (hopefully in the fall)

Until then have fun in your gardens! What heirloom seeds will you be growing this year?

Making Your Own Neosporin

Several years ago I found this recipe on the blog Mrs Happy Homemaker. Making your own neosporin seemed fairly straightforward so I decided to give it a try. It was really easy and I actually had most of the ingredients on hand. Those that I didn’t I was able to purchase at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Making Your Own Neosporin

Ingredients:

½ cup coconut oil
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup dried comfrey
¼ cup dried calendula
2 oz beeswax
2 Tbsp honey (optional)
10 drops of essential lavender oil (optional)
Small jars or tins (I used small tins)

Directions:

The recipe makes about one cup and a little goes a long way so find several small containers to store it in.

In a medium pot combine the coconut oil, olive oil, dried comfrey and the dried calendula. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Strain the herbs from the oil using a coffee filter or some cheesecloth. Discard the herbs. Be warned the oil is VERY hot and if you pour it into a plastic coffee filter it will melt the filter and you will have to start over!

Wipe any remaining herbs from the pot you’ve used so the pot is clean and add the oil back to the pot. Turn the heat to medium and stir in the honey until completely combined. Then, add the beeswax stirring until completely melted. Mix in the lavender essential oil.

Carefully pour the mixture into your containers. Stir is occasionally while it cools to ensure even settling. Once the mixture is set seal the containers.

Mrs Happy Homemaker says this works for all minor cuts, scrapes and minor burns. It also works well on diaper rash and eczema. I would deftly encourage you to use the honey as honey has remarkable healing powers! My husband scraped his hand right after my mixture had cooled. He used some on his scrape and it really helped! I have enough small tins to carry one in my purse, the car, in our backpack when hiking! Plenty to go around!

(note: if you have a serious injury such as broken bones or severed fingers or other extreme injuries go to the hospital to be treated)

Home Again, Home Again

We’ve now been back home from our road trip for almost two weeks and I’m finally feeling like we’re back in the regular routine. Well as regular as it can be. My husband was laid off in December, which was quite unexpected. As you know he works remotely from his home office. While on our adventure in the Pacific Northwest he continued to work for the same company he’d been with for over four years. Unfortunately the company he worked for had nothing on the books for 2016, so they had to cut back and laid him off.

So although we are back home we’re not sure where we are headed in 2016! We’ve been in this place before which is one of the reasons I strongly believe in having a well-stocked pantry. While we are cutting way back on expenses I know we have enough food on hand to create many healthy meals!

Where will my husband look for a job? That is a big question! Do we become more involved in missions? Perhaps go into missions full time? There are numerous possibilities with The Keystone Project.

Do we look for work in the Pacific Northwest so that we can be closer to our four children? That is definitely a possibility.

Do I order seeds for the garden this year? Well, yes I will do that because even if we end up moving somewhere and I don’t plant a garden this year I will be gardening as soon as possible! Plus I want to plant my Ancient Seeds – Gete Okosomin as soon as possible!

This is a lot to digest as we begin 2016. I have to look at it as the Lord has closed a door and we’ll have to see where the next one opens! Meanwhile if you hear of anyone looking for an extremely talented graphic designer/art director/web developer please let me know!