This spring I planted one butternut squash. The plant grew, had long vines and produced fruit. The vines took in an area of approximately 15 feet by 15 feet. Along the vines, about two feet apart were squashes. From this one plant we harvested 22 butternut squashes.
This is the first year I have planted butternut squash. The plant was easy to grow, although it grew to more space than the seed packets stated was needed for the plant. The plant required moderate watering, the same as other squashes I have grown.
Butternut squash is ripe and ready to pick when it turns a buff orange color. The fruit is hard and does not fully ripen until late August into October. I have plenty Butternut squash. One Butternut squash is two meals for my husband and I.
In order to make the most of my harvest I have been cooking and baking with the squash. I also have been freezing it. Some I cut into 1 inch cubes and place 2 cups per freezing bag. There are some freezing bags I have placed 2 cups of shredded butternut squash to use for baking recipes and making butternut fritters.
Since my family did not grow Butternut squash, and this my first year, I had to do searches for recipes on how to prepare and cook the squash. One place I go to look for recipes is allrecipes.com . I have found recipes for preparing any type of meal or side dish and desserts. I found a really good butternut recipe for butternut squash fritters . These fritters are delicious and very easy to prepare for my family.
While doing my search for recipes I discovered another website for recipes – https://www.skinnytaste.com . This site has abundance of recipes. I will be going back to this website in the future. I used one of the recipes for making squash fries and another for making a dish for breakfast. I was delighted with both.
Learning to grow something new, and then cooking something new. The butternut squash was a great experience. The accidently planted brussel sprouts, I enjoyed the plant and its foliage. But I am going to have to study on how to grow this awesome looking plant to receive a harvest.
This chilly morning as I drank my coffee and observed my little “happy spot” from my window, I seen an “old friend”, The Flicker. I have named this bird The Flicker, but the bird is a Yellow Bellied Sappsucker. I keep the name “The Flicker” as I identify this individual bird each fall. The only time of year I see The Flicker is in the fall and winter seasons. The Flicker hopes from tree to tree eating the bugs. The Flicker is a solitary bird, I only see one. I do not know where The Flicker goes to spend the spring and summer, raise a family. When the temperatures drop, the sun position moves in the sky, The Flicker returns to spend time with me.
The birds change with the seasons. The hummingbirds are gone, along with the other spring and summer birds. The Flicker has arrived and soon the blue jays and small winter birds. The leaves on a few of my trees are turning yellow and brown and will soon fall to the ground. The two live oak trees in the front yard never change in color, they keep their leaves from spring until next spring. The shed their leaves when they bloom and new leaves start growing in the spring. Acorns are what the live oak trees shed in the fall, and my yard is being dotted.
Seasons change, time to start new things and remember the joys of the past season. Memories are made each season, a treasure more precious than gold. The seasons change as time marches on.
Our lives go through seasons as well. I am no longer a youthful lady looking to the future trying to decide how I will spend my life. I have seen many seasons. The season of being a mother with children underfoot is gone, in its place is photos, memories and funny stories my children and I share. Yet, I was able to reclaim the season when I helped my daughter care for my grandsons. A short time of remembering feedings and diaper changes and the wonder of looking at a newborn. Yet, this season of welcoming a new grandchild is coming to an end.
Although some seasons end, new seasons are approaching. In the future there will be the season of graduations, weddings of grandchildren and welcoming great-grandchildren into the family. There are seasons and memories to be made that I am unaware of, some will bring sadness, other will bring joy, each season in its’ own time and purpose. Like fall will give way to winter, and winter will bring the spring and new growth, life seasons help us to rest, get rid of the old dead things in our lives in preparation for new growth and joy of life.
Yesterday I spent the time on the tractor after doing chores. I was mowing the weeds in the pasture. I try to mow the weeds that the sheep do not eat down before they bloom and make seeds. I am late this year, but the work still gets done.
Why do I mow the weeds down instead of using an herbicide to just kill the weeds? I am trying to raise my sheep as organically as possible. The herbicides may kill the weeds, but the chemicals are on the grass and in the ground. These chemicals get into the animals and into the meat. I do not want that.
The progress of eliminating the weeds with mowing is slower, as the weeds have to reach a height to be mowed before they form seeds. But the mulch from the dead weeds helps to build the topsoil and fertilize as they decompose.
The tractor is noisey, I do wear ear protection. You get in the tractor, turn the tractor on, and then the mower and start mowing the weeds. Making straight lines back and forth. Not much thought and you can not hear anything other than the muted sound of the tractors engine. As you methodically mow, you see your progress one strip at a time.
I check the growth of the grass and how much is grass vs weeds, what type of grass is growing. In short the health of the pasture. Over the past seven years, the pasture has improved. Slowly and surely the grass is taking over and the weeds are fewer.
One reason for the increase in grass and fewer weeds is the sheep. The sheep love to eat most weeds, not all weeds. They eat the weeds as they begin to come up, not allowing them to bloom or make seeds. Insuring that fewer weeds will sprout and grow the next spring.
Sheep fertilize as they walk. These small marble shaped manure pellets do not block the sun and decompose releasing needed nutrients back into the soil. There are no large round splatter of manure that blocks the sun and over fertilizes the soil in one small area such as the manure dropped by cattle. Or piles of manure from horses always depositing their manure in one small area. Sheep walk, eat and fertilize as they go.
Mowing the weeds, allows for more moisture and sunlight for the grass. Weeds grow taller faster than the grass, blocking the sunlight needed for photosynthesizing. Weeds need water to grow. Mowing the weeds allows more water for the grass. Eventually, the graze will dominate and the weeds will be few if any.
I go back and forth mowing the weeds, looking at the pasture grasses, and thinking. A person can do a lot of thinking driving a tractor back and forth. There is no thought of where to go, just follow the line created with the first line created when you enter the pasture. Actually the only thinking is when you make the first cut through the pasture, straight is important. Then you just follow the first cut until there is no more to cut.
Driving the tractor is very different than driving a vehicle on the road. There is no other vehicles around to focus on. If I get off the path a little, it is not a wreck. My only focus is keeping the tractor in a fairly straight line, and to not run over and mow down the two yucca plants in the pasture. I want to save the yucca plants to put in the yard. Even if I do miss and mow them down, it will not kill them, only make them smaller.
I think about the sheep, the pasture, life. What changes I need to make and how to make them. Yesterday, I was contemplating changes I need to make for my personal well being. Learning what is important in my life at this stage and where I want to be in the future years. Mowing the pasture is relaxation, a time I can let my mind rest and smell the mowed weeds, look at the trees and enjoy the day.
Halloween will arrive in the twitch of a cat’s tail. I do not have any kids at home to do the dress up and trick-o-treat. That does not mean Halloween has to be boring, depressing or sad.
I do decorate my house. Each year I spend $10 to $20 dollars on a new item to add to my decorations. I did not decorate for Halloween until seven years ago. My kids did dress up and go trick-o-treating until they became teenagers. But I did not decorate the house. A fun way
One way to decorate is to carve pumpkins. I would carve one side to show for Halloween, then turn the carving portion to the wall or fence, and use for Fall and Thanksgiving decoration. Last year we decorated pumpkins using sharpie markers, some glitter glue, eyes and imagination. It turned out nicely and the pumpkins lasted a long time. My daughter finally disposed of the cute creations this last April, upon my insisting they were rotten. This year, I am decorating Halloween pumpkins, but they are artificial pumpkins. I purchased two pumpkins to use sharpie or some paint to form some decoration. I will be able to reuse these pumpkins each year.
I decorate with flowers and maple leaves as well. The past years I have purchased artificial flowers to put in vases and to make wreaths. The table is so much brighter with a vase of color. The fall colors of yellows and oranges add a cheery atmosphere to the home.
With fall comes cooler temperature. I am one of those people who wait as long as I can tolerate the cool temperatures before turning on the heater. I can heat my home with baking. I love to bake and try new recipes. Fall is when I start baking the cinnamon rolls and sourdough bread. The baking takes the chill of the early morning out of the house, and fills it with delightful aromas.
As the cool temperatures arrive I enjoy a firepit in the evenings. Sitting by the firepit with some hot tea, hot cider or hot chocolate and enjoying the evening stars, watching the moon come up. Or if I have a craving for something sweet, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
When we moved to Texas and a larger town than what we have lived in prior, we were introduced to trunk-o-treat. People decorating the trunk or back of a pickup with a Halloween theme and handing out candy in a parking lot. There are competitions for the decorating. I like to visit the Trunk-o-Treat event to see how creative people are as well as to see the costumes. People show up hours in advance to decorate their vehicles for these events, as you can not drive the vehicle with the elaborate and creative decorations assembled.
Haunted houses are a major topic this time of year. I am not one who searches out haunted houses to visit, although I have known some people who do. The little town where we live, a group of people decorate a home into a haunted house. Three years ago they used a home destroyed by fire, and the proceeds of the event went to the family. This year I have not been able to find the haunted house. I know the street, just have not found the house. The outside decorations are always good.
Like Christmas, I seeing the homes decorated for Halloween. This is the first year our small town is having a Halloween decorating competition for home and businesses. There is one home that has skeletons rising from the ground in a graveyard. If I was a kid, I would not visit that house as it looks real. There is one resident offering their decorated yard for people to take family photos using their decorations as the backdrops.
There is one fall event I really miss that I did back home. The Aspen trees in Colorado are bright yellow, against the pines in the fall. I would load the kids up to see the colors change in the mountains. It was a short drive, 5 minutes and we were in the mountains. We would do it on a weekend, drive up, have a picnic lunch, smell the fall air, and return home in time to do chores.
Perhaps this is the year to have a few friends over for some finger foods, warm apple cider and games. Or maybe to cozy up with a scary book or movie and eat popcorn. Join with another family to hand out candy at a trunk-o-treat.
There are options for each person to celebrate Halloween if they choose. I made a choice a few years back to celebrate the season and holidays regardless who is with me.
The holiday celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching. For some those holidays are surrounded with family and friends. There are others who spend the holidays alone or only with a spouse.
Last year we were blessed with family and friends for Christmas feast, great conversation and just the presence of people in the home. This year it will only be my spouse and I to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. Family members have other places they need to be this year.
There have been many celebrations at our home with only my spouse and I to attend. A few years past, I decided not to put up decorations, reasoning was no one was coming to see or share. After three years of no decorations, I realized that regardless of who visits or does not, I still need to celebrate.
My husband and I have lived in our current residence for twelve years. In those twelve years we have not had one child, teenager or adult come to our home for trick-o-treating. There were children across the street, and down the road. No one came. I still buy candy, just in case I get a visitor on Halloween night. I still decorate, carve a pumpkin and enjoy the evening watching Harry Potter movies with my husband. We celebrate for ourselves.
Thanksgiving will be celebrated alone this year. My husband has to work the holiday. I will fix the traditional turkey dinner, give thanks, and we will have leftover for days. We are blessed with family, him having a job, the sheep doing well, and we have good health. Reasons to have a celebration of thanksgiving.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating the holidays alone. Most times we are depressed because the holiday is not what we had visioned. Other times it is missing loved ones who are unable to attend, or are no longer with us. Time changes our lives and those who we share it with. These changes do not mean we can not enjoy celebrating holidays, we just change our way of celebrating and start new different traditions.
When my husband’s son and family lived close, they have two boys, I started putting a train under the Christmas tree. Kids love trains under trees or just anywhere. I enjoyed the train. I also have the beginnings of a Christmas village, that is added to one item each year. Five years ago, I put the Christmas village and train together on an 8 foot X 4 foot board. Last year with all the people attending Christmas, I did not have room for my Christmas Village and train. Tonight, at dinner, I was discussing with my husband I think I can get the board with my train to sit over the couch, since no one will be here to sit on the couch, that way I have room for my train and village, and the Christmas tree. He just laughed.
Each year there is a laugh over our Christmas decorations. One big joke between us is that not everything on clearance at a really low price is the best item to buy. Three years ago, we were in Wal-Mart looking at Christmas clearance, after Christmas. There were 7 foot Christmas trees on sale for $25.00. I thought great, my old tree ( close to thirty years old) was showing some wear. We purchased the tree. The following year I went to put the tree up with a vision of putting the tree on our square coffee table with the train underneath. Vision burst when the tree was way too tall. It is a laugh each Christmas on where I am going to put the Christmas tree as there are limited places due to the angel or star hitting the ceiling. I am glad we have a vaulted ceiling.
Holidays can be lonely times. I was depressed that my visions of having a house full for holiday celebrations did not and would not happen. Last year was great. This year will be my husband and I. He has to work, and my daughter and her family will be staying home. I will still fix the traditional dinner of Navajo Tacos with green chilli. We will open gifts, maybe have some wine and watch ” A Wonderful Life” followed by “The Grinch”. Celebrating helps with the depression that arrives during the holidays, even if you have to celebrate alone or only with your spouse.
Life is a celebration, it is up to us to choose to celebrate Life.
This year I purchased seedling plants from a nursery for my little garden spot. One type of plant I wanted to purchase was cabbage plants, and I am fond of red cabbage. Red cabbage does not taste any different, but the plant has purple leaves. Adding a little bit of different color to the garden. I purchased four “red cabbage” plants.
At home I started transplanting the seedlings and noticed a stake stating what type of plant was in the little planter. While I had picked up the plants in the area marked cabbage plants, the identify stake said red brussel sprouts. I had purchased four red brussel sprout seedlings. Now my husband has a joke on me, my “red cabbage”.
We love to eat brussel sprouts, but I have never grown brussel sprouts. Other than photographs on the internet and in a book, I have not seen a brussel sprout plant. This year would be a learning year for my “red cabbage” aka red brussel sprouts.
Well, the foliage and the plant are beautiful. A definite plant for adding to the garden in 2023. I learned brussel sprouts need full sun. I planted them where they get a lot of shade, since I thought I was planting cabbage. Brussel sprouts are large, tall plants – the area I planted them in I did not give them enough room to grow. The two placed in pots, they are struggling to survive. I had successfully grown cabbage in those pots, but brussel sprouts needed more room for roots. The brussel sprouts I harvested were very small. They taste good. But without the proper growing environment, the fruit was stunted.
Next year, I will use my knowledge gained, purchase more red brussel sprouts and work at a better crop.
When we try new things or are placed in a new situation, things do not always turn out like we think they should. It does not mean we are not where we are supposed to be. There are lessons we need to learn. Success is from gaining knowledge and overcoming. Knowledge is acquired through learning. I learned about brussel sprouts. I enjoyed the plants in my garden, they gave me joy.
I do not shop for others, but the cost of groceries has doubled this year. We eat the same food each month. I fix different things for dinner, but my husband takes the same fruit and vegetables for lunch each day. We do not eat steaks or expensive cuts of meat, except the lamb we raise ourselves. Yet, when I look at our expenses, grocery expense has doubled.
Our income is for the most part fixed income, the same amount each paycheck. The increase in groceries and electricity affect the amount of money we can save to use for those expenses such as new tires for the vehicle. How can I make my dollar stretch more?
I am more diligent about turning off the lights, and we have changed the settings on thermostat. I am working on training the husband to turn off more lights and to live with or without more clothing depending on the temperatures. I have put in weatherstriping. We changed out the windows a few years ago to be more energy efficient.
Traveling is limited. I am home now from staying with my daughter and her family assisting with the triplets. I only go to town twice a month to get groceries. I go to the sheep sales twice a month.
Where can I lower an expense?
I am sure there are others going through the same thought process as inflation continues to rise. I know I am not alone in cutting out what was once common. We used to go out to eat once a week. We stopped eating out during Covid, then when things changed to make it easier to eat out the cost was double. We no longer eat out as the budget does not allow the extra expenditure.
This is not the first time I have gone through the process of looking for ways to lower expenses and save money. I am sure there are others who have survived recessions and inflation as I have.
Only I get tired of always having to find ways to pinch a penny or increase income. When it comes time to pay bills or spend money, I think I hear some of those pennies “screaming in pain” as I pinch them so hard.
One idea is to grow more of my own food. I have a fall garden to plant, and there are some summer plants I can bring into the house for winter harvests.
Next spring I am going to get chickens again. Chickens to provide eggs, pest control as they are great about eating bugs around the place, and meat. This is the first summer we have not had chickens due to the last chickens getting old and dying. The crickets around the house and barn were terrible. Next year, when the weather turns warm, I am getting chickens once more.
We may have to wear our clothes a little longer. We will not be purchasing a different vehicle anytime soon. My husband may have to get accustomed to a bowl of beans often. I think for awhile, some of us are going to have to tighten the belt and wisely negotiate this season in order to make it through without debt. That is my plan.
Since the end of August I have been at my daughter’s home caring for my granddaughter, then when the babies came home, helping with the babies. While at my daughter’s I slept on the bottom bunk with my granddaughter. She enjoys sleeping with Granny, and Granny rubbing her back until she goes to sleep.
Change is hard for all of us, but especially for those who are little children. When I went to stay at my daughter’s home, my daughter had been admitted into the hospital. The first time my granddaughter had been without her parents. It was a strange time for her, unsettling and insecure. I would lay down with her at night, rub her back and she would go to sleep, in the comfort that Granny was there with her. This soon became a routine.
When the babies came home, I continued with the routine of sleeping with my granddaughter, as well as getting up to help feed babies. Feeding goes much faster if three people are feeding three babies, than if there are two people feeding three babies.
My oldest daughter came down to visit and help with the babies. When I was leaving, my granddaughter made a statement that her aunt could sleep with her and rub her back. Her mom quickly told her that Granny was the only one going to rub her back. It is something that Granny does, not everyone else.
I was told I had spoiled my granddaughter, not a bad thing. She had learned to go to sleep on her own, and that she was of the age she can do so. I am allowed to spoil her, as being a Granny allows for those spoiling moments. Me rubbing her back was a special thing that she shares with Granny and no one else.
Change at times is hard. For my granddaughter being the only child for five years and wanting a sibling, she was eager for the addition. When the three little brothers arrived, small and frail compared to her imagine of siblings she could teach to slide and swing, change was hard. She is not allowed to hold them yet. They are not able to slide or swing. Her words, “They just sleep and eat, they do not go anywhere.” She is happy to have siblings, but misses the attention she once received.
Granny sleeping with her and rubbing her back for comfort and security when mom and dad were in the hospital, transferred to attention and feeling special once the siblings arrived.
The babies are doing well, growing and soon she will be able to interact with them more. In a year or two they will be best friends and constant companions. But now, change is hard being on the sidelines only able to observe and not really participate. Her parents are great, and do help her during this time.
There will always be that special memory of Granny helping, and rubbing her back. Will rubbing her back go away, absolutely not. That is a special bond between Granny and granddaughter that will remain.
I live on a farm. I have a tiny garden and raise sheep. This meal is from what the farm produces, with the exception of the carrots and celery.
I started with a two pound lamb roast, seasoned with garlic powder and black pepper, then browned in a cast iron dutch oven. I consider my cast iron dutch oven the best pot to cook roast in. Cast iron spreads the heat and retains the heat better than other pots I have used.
While the lamb roast was browning, I chopped the vegetables. For the vegetables I used butternut squash and yellow squash I had raised in my tiny garden. Carrots, celery and onions. I placed the vegetables in a bowl, and seasoned with garlic powder, oregano, rosemary, salt and black pepper.
Once the lamb roast was browned on all sides, I added the vegetables and some water and two cups of beef broth to cover the vegetables.
I placed the dutch oven in the an oven preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, cooked for 3 hours.
The past month I have been at my daughter’s home helping with my granddaughter while she was in the hospital and afterwards when the triplets came home. The visit was insightful as I learned their routines and way of doing things. I also learned more of their family values, which were good. The visit was good, but I missed home and being with my husband.
Once we learned there were triplets coming into the family, my husband and I made plans and prepared for the time when I would be at my daughter’s helping out. There would have to be the occasional day trip home to sell sheep and to pay the bills. We both knew there would be sacrifice in order to help my daughter and her family.
Sacrifice of him coming home to a cooked meal. Although I had cooked meals like pot roast for him when I was home, it was not our regular routine. The sacrifice of not sleeping in the same bed. I am very used to sleeping with my husband similar to cuddling up with a favorite toy as a child. He, likewise missed his wife.
The livestock and dogs missed me as well, and I missed them. The smells of the farm and noises are very different than those in town. I had to get used to the siren of an ambulance, as my daughter lives near the hospital. The sound of vehicles going down the streets during all hours of the day and night. The neighbors’ dogs barking at squirrels or cats. Different smells in the air.
A very big part of my routine I missed was sitting in my office in the morning with a cup of coffee, thinking and praying about the day while I watch the birds in the tree and my little garden. The quiet and time for thought on what I am going to do for the day was greatly missed.
I enjoyed spending time with my granddaughter. I would get her up and ready for school. On weekends I would prepare her meals. In the evening we would sit and watch television, then get ready for bed. She is a great cuddler. This time offered a great opportunity for her to get to know her Granny, and Granny to get to know her better. She also brought back memories of when my daughter was a child, her expressions and ways of doing things. At times I laughed at the memory, and my granddaughter thought I was laughing at her. I would tell her I was laughing at her mother, although her mother was not there.
A precious time spent with my granddaughter, daughter, son-in-law and babies. But, it still was not home. It did not smell like home, or sound like home. I missed the routines of feeding and talking with the animals each day. When I made my one day visits, first thing I would do is go check the sheep and horses. My husband thought I did this as I was not trusting him to do the job correctly, truth is I missed my animals, their smells and sounds.
Now that I am home for at least a few weeks, it is time to get some of the tasks done that my husband did not have the time to do. I need to clean up the yard so I can put out the few fall decorations I have. Do the dusting and mopping in the house. There are tasks that need to be done with the sheep such as trimming feet and deworming. I will also be working with a couple of horses to get them ready to sell, and a couple of dogs. I need to clean up the spring garden and get the fall garden planted. Work does not stop at the farm because I am gone for five weeks.
A lot of work to catch up on – but I am at my home sweet home.
Me, Myself and I 