We made hay this past weekend. I love to ride the wagon and stack the hay - unloading the wagon - another story. While we were unloading the hay, Anna screams..."it's wrapped around my leg - it's a snake!" She threw the bale down. I've seen those tiny red belly snakes in the bales before, but this - never...
This is what we call up here a Pine snake. I tried to pull it out of the bale. I was sure it was dead, but as I pulled the snake, he struggled to crawl deeper into the bale. Anna ran and got a scissors and we cut him out of the bale.
He quickly slithered down the side of the hay wagon
We watched as he tried to get away, only to find some curious hens, to which he was striking at. So, Al picked him up and moved him to the manure pile. I don't hate snakes, I just don't want them in my hay or near my chicken coop.
So, for this Motivation Monday, keeping this snake story in mind...you might find yourself like the "snake" struggling to free yourself out of a situation beyond your control. I know I have tried to work my way out of a tight spot a time or two. Sometimes, the more we struggle, the more entangled we become. I consider myself to be a rather strong person, both physically and spiritually. I really don't like to ask for help. Actually, this snake didn't, couldn't - I just helped him out of the bale. He did the rest by sliding down the wagon.
Once he was on the ground, he was moving rather slow, but still had energy enough to strike at those hens. You know what they say, "that which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger..." I'm sure this snake learned that lesson.
We can too. Every trial we face, is a lesson. The next time you find yourself in a tight spot - think of this snake story. We all need a helping hand at times. If you know of someone who is struggling, BE that helping hand. Don't wait for them to ask for help - maybe they can't/won't - just do what YOU can to help them. They might "slither" away and strike back at you - they might not even say thank you - help them anyway.
Just my observations....Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/07/homestead-barn-hop-166.html#sthash.it1wo6HT.dpbs
http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2014/07/the-homeacre-hop-78.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:
We have some very pretty birds of prey around our farm. I wish I had a better camera to get close ups. We have a tree on the edge of the field that a Red Tailed Hawk is usually perched in. This is an excellent spot for hunting. We also have some American Kestrels that nest in a house that was put up on our barn to attract them. We have had a family of Kestrels return for 10 years. This year was the first that they have decided to stay this long. I see them and hear them every day. They are so pretty.
Yep, I'm taking your picture
The Kestrels do NOT like this hawk, as I have seen them dive at him while he is in this tree. I did some research and found that Red Tail Hawks would eat a Kestrel. I love watching them.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Banana Blueberry Bread
1 C sugar
1/3 c soft butter
Cream together, add
2 eggs
1/3 c water
2 large ripe bananas
1 t. almond extract
beat together just till blended, add the dry
1 2/3 c flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
blend together
1 C blueberries dusted with flour (so they don't sink in the batter)
stir in with a spoon
Spray a loaf pan, bake 350 for 50-60 minutes
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Happy 4th of July! I have been thinking about my favorite 4th of July memories. By far - the most memorable celebration in my childhood was the bicentennial year.
The summer of 1976 - I was 10 - I spent my time swimming at the Rothschild pool; water ballet and the dive team.
Everything I needed and wanted my mom and dad provided for me. My world was wrapped up in the security of parents who were married, loved each other and worked together to raise their family. My dad had a hard, but good job. One that he worked at outside every day, all day in all types of Wisconsin weather for 40 years. My dad had a huge garden that he tended and my mom worked hard to prepare and can the fruits of his labor. She was the anchor that held our family together through all types of blessings and trials.
Everyone in my neighborhood had parents that were married. Everyone's dad had a job. Those mothers that wanted to work outside the home did so and were successful as well. We all ate homemade meals; going to McDonalds was a "treat." We played outside ALL day, kick ball, softball, swimming, Red Rover, Annie Annie Over, hide and seek - NO one watch T.V. (well, we only had a few channels) all day, played video games or sat on a tablet or DS. If we wanted to go somewhere, we rode our bikes or walked - we didn't have a taxi service. Families went to church. We lived a simple life....with less!
I so clearly remember the parade on that July 4th. It went right past our house. Schofield, Wisconsin went all out with the floats, candies and freebies. Hundreds of people waving flags sat on the curb watching as the parade went down Grand Avenue. I can still see my friend's family as they walked the parade dressed up like this:
It was awesome. Michelle's mom was an excellent seamstress and made all the costumes for her 5 children for the parade.
That is another thing, if you lived in our neighborhood and didn't have at least 2 siblings - you were a minority. When did it become "bad" to have a large family?
Any who...on with what I want to say. I can still remember feeling so patriotic on that day - I loved America! I was told and taught - in school - we were the greatest nation on Earth. I had dreams for my future, what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become. In 1976 the American Dream still held promise. I was blessed!
Fast forward to 2014....most of what I just wrote about has changed. I hate to say, but the American Dream of my childhood is lost - or maybe even gone. Did we trade it in for an upgrade, a better updated version of what I held so dear....I think not. The dreams I had for my future and the dreams of children today may not be all that different. The difference is, the America of 1976 and the America of 2014 ARE different.
I LOVE my country, I'm proud to be an American from Wisconsin, I will always defend the principals our country was founded on. It is just sad for me to think what will it be like in 2024?
I had a discussion recently with a gentleman, I said basically what I just wrote. Now, you all know I'm a "glass half full" person. I try to find a positive in everything. This man said I was wrong - that the future is brighter than our past. I have thought about this over and over...I don't see it. How can he think that broken, jobless, fatherless, homeless, hungry families are better off? Yes, we have come a long way in women's, civil, personal "rights." But, what did that cost us?
So, today, as I walk in the Elderon, Wisconsin parade, passing out freeze pops, I will smile and wave my flag. I will be thinking about that 1976 parade - in my heart I will be patriotic, thankful and hopeful. God Bless America!
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Week 18 - Strawberry Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread
2 C sifted flour
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t salt
Sift together in a bowl
1 C softened butter
1 t. almond extract
Put in mixer, beat until light and creamy
Gradually add
1/2 C powdered sugar
Cream together
Add flour mixture a little at a time. Chill for at least 1/2 hour.
Roll out dough 1/4" thick and cut into shape. I used a tiny antique tart tin as my cutter.
Bake at 350 till edges are light brown (depends on size of cookie - mine was 8-10 minutes)
Pudding Frosting:
1/4 C soft butter
Cream with 1 t. almond extract
Add
2 C powdered sugar
1 Pkg. vanilla pudding
2/3 C milk
Put in refrigerator till ready to use
I piped the frosting on the cookies and added sliced strawberries to the top.
Put strawberries on right before you serve them - my berries were really ripe. My friend said I could have put a blueberry on each and it would have been Red, White & Blue for the 4th of July - good idea!
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2014/07/the-homeacre-hop-77.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OakHillHomestead+%28Oak+Hill+Homestead%29
Rubbish Tuesday - broken garden art. When I accidentally break something and if it is cute, I add it to one of my planters. Little cups and saucers, plates, old bottles, figurines - whatever it might be. It just adds interest.
I made this frog from an old mouli slicer, gravy boat and bottle cap eyes. This was a project from last year's Jacky's Craft Camp.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin
linked to: http://rubbishbyroan.blogspot.com/2014/06/rubbish-tuesday-9.html
This week for Jacky's Craft Camp, we made Jug Heads.
This was a recycle project, as we used plastic bottles to create animal mounts out of them. Some just made animals. It was a fun night. I got the idea from here: http://spoonful.com/crafts/jug-heads-0
Easy, inexpensive project for you to do with the little ones in your life.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
