Gnocchi Idea How to Make These? It's Easy!

 I've been waiting to use that line..."gnocchi idea" since I made these.  It's the little things that make me happy!  

I had some left over mashed potatoes and squash.  I have always challenged myself to come up with a "repurposed" meal from leftovers.  For some reason, I just get so tickled with myself when it works.  Like I said, it's the little things....

Gnocchi are really easy to make!  I know it may seem difficult due to the fact that many recipes are unclear as to measurements.  That is because of water content in the ingredient you are using to make them.  Don't let that stop you!  All you need know is that you need to take your "ingredient" (potato, squash, ?) into a dough.  You do this by adding an egg, a pinch of salt and flour to bind it together.  It should be like play dough consistency.  So add flour until it is workable but dry.  Divide in quartes and roll into a long rope.  Cut into bite size pieces.  Roll the pieces across a fork or you could pinch them between your index and thumb.  

Bring a kettle of water to boil.  Boil the gnocchi in small batches.  They are done when they float to the top, takes only minutes.  

At this point, I put them in a container and tossed them with oil so they wouldn't stick together.  You can use these in so many different ways.  

I like brown butter, crispy onion and garlic and parmesan cheese.  So simple and so good!  Buttery pillows!!!   

I also made some for my little grand love.  I wish I could show you her face, but foster care has rules.  Some day, I hope to be able to share her cute face with you all!  Anyway, I made some for lunch for her.  She loves pizza, so I tossed some in a pan with pizza sauce.  She actually ate more gnocchi than I did.  She loved them!  

I hope the next time you have left overs you think of a way to repurpose them into another tasty meal or 2.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Tips on Tuesday - Harvest

 I mentioned yesterday, that the weather over the weekend was beautiful here.  We (mostly Al) worked on cleaning out the garden and small pasture near the barn, making ready for Spring.  

This is our garden, the chickens love scratching in the dirt.

This is the small pasture near the barn.  I wanted to plant sunflowers, but Al doesn't think that is a good idea so close to the barn.  The mice will love it too much and want to make the barn their winter home....(wink, wink).

Some are huge!

Tips on Tuesday - Harvest:

This year we didn't put up a fence around our whole garden, you can see it's rather big and the deer get into it anyway.  Too much work.  We studied things the deer don't like to eat.  That was potatoes, so about 1/2 of this was that.  Our soil is mostly clay, so some rows faired better than others.  Wait for plant to "die off" you have several weeks after that to still dig them up.  We did it in stages as we had so many rows.  Pull up the stalk of the plant, that will usually turn over a few and then you will know where to dig.  Start digging several inches from the plant first so that you don't damage any of the potatoes.  Let them "harden" and then pack them away for winter.  Do NOT wash these.  You can use a box, make sure to punch some holes in it, alternate layer of straw, hay or shredded paper with potatoes.  Store in a cool, dark, dry place.  Can be used for months.  I would suggest saving some "seed potatoes" for next year.   

This process I just described for storage, can also be used for other vegetables and fruit.  We do the same for our apples.  

I make the easiest unsweetened applesauce.  I wash, our apples are not sprayed, core, chunk and cook down, peelings and all.  I do add a small amount of water so apples don't stick.  Cook down till soft and use an immersion blender until smooth.  So good and good for you.  I do this in small batches.  If I have alot of apples, I will wash, core, chop and freeze them and then make fresh sauce.  

The BEST tip is this:  Clean out your garden in the fall.  Take all the dried, dead plants, weeds and such out.  Turn over the soil so it can rest till spring.  When we've NOT done this in the fall, motivation for spring planting is overcome by the "ughh I have to clean out the garden first."  Now, you can dream about planting, plan your varities, start your seeds and it all be ready to plant.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - Hopeful

 We've had beautiful weather the past several days.  Al had a vacation day on Friday, he was able to get so much accomplished here at the farm before the snow...comes.  I was set up at a sale Friday and Saturday.  Sunday, we worked on cleaning out our garden.  We both decided we are getting too old to have such a big garden.  I may give it a go again next year, I'm hopeful.  So that is the inspiration for this blog post to motivate us to be hopeful. 

Friends, the whole world has been rocked by events in 2020.   We here in the states, have had a rough time on multiple levels.  I never do political posts, but you would have to be living under a rock not to know what I'm talking about.  After all this, how can one be hopeful?  

I can only go to my core, the Bible.  I Thessalonians 1:3 "We remember before our God and Father your works produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."  My hope is in Jesus, not a government, politician, celebrity, pastor, group, organization...these things fail us.  Hope in Jesus is eteranal.

I conducted my last face-to-face (new word for 2020) event and now I look forward to moving in a different direction.  I will continue virtually, probably till spring 2021.  Wisconsin has become a new "hot spot" for Covid 19 - especially our area.  I don't live in fear of getting the virus, I try not to have faith and not live in any fear - like I said, my hope is in Jesus.  I am apprehensive about the election and the fall out from either side.  I am still hopeful in His plan for it all.  

If I break down hopeful in light of the scripture above, it is exactly how I feel today.  I do have faith in the works, God allowed me to complete with talents He has given me.  I did labor in love, I do enjoy what I do.  My endurance is inspired by my hope in Him and His will for my life.  I can rest in peace with that.  This motivates me to be hopeful for the "next" thing, event, idea, garden, chore, role...whatever...He has planned.

I am also hopeful that you my reader, can find some peace in these crazy days, in whatever it is that you hold to your core.  Cling to it.  Rely on it.  Be hopeful.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Tips on Tuesday - Pets

 Welcome to Tips on Tuesday - Pets.  You know we live on a farm.  Over the past 25 years we've had all kinds of critters here for fun and purpose.   Our daughters had all kinds of pets.  Yes, I enjoyed every one, but some weren't "my" pets.  I did do my fair share of taking care of them...LOL.

So, our little "grand love" was going to go pick out a bunny.  Justine asked if we wanted to come along.  In the back of my mind, I was thinking, it would be nice to have a bunny for me.  However, Al is liking the "freedom" of NOT having so many critters.  So, I was really unprepared for this....we have 2 bunnies now.  

The guy selling filled a table top with all kinds of bunnies for L to pick from.  She was so cute!  Laughing at all them.  Justine is partial to Mini Rex breed as that is what she bred growing up in 4H.  L picked out a little white black broken pattern female, "Tilly" and Justine picked out another Mini Rex "Charlie."  Well, I was busy looking at all the other tiny baby rabbits....when I came back to the table, Al was holding a little chocolate Polish.  I could tell by looking at this face..."hey, did you want a rabbit?"  I asked.  "We can't just have one,".....(teehee).  So, I picked up a little Netherland Dwarf, the guy says "she has alot of personality."  Anna had a Netherland Dwarf and it was that way too.  Anyway, I took her.  So now, Al has "Halle" and I have "Nellie" (for Nellie Oleson - sassy).  We left with 4 bunnies.  

My Tips on Tuesday:

1.  Be open to an addition to your "family."

2.  All the emotional health benefits of a relationship with a pet.

3.  Teaches responsiblity with the care and chores.

4.  Lessons in:  life, relationships, love and even loss.

5.  A "friend" that loves you anyway.

When we returned to my house, we took the bunnies out and played with them.   Justine said that "Tilly" and "Charlie" were going to be added to the herd at the "ranch" for children (clients) to hold and pet when they are sad.  Well, guess what, "Nellie" and "Halle" are doing the same for Al and I.  Not that we are sad, but just holding and petting them make you happy.   

Justine, is a (I had to copy and paste from her webite as I can't remember the right title).  Justine is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, is trained and in the process of certification with Natural Lifemanship™ Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Therapy (TF-EAP), and has training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She is also certified as an Adoption Competent Therapist through the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC).  Her webiste link: 

 http://www.wholeheartedherdcounseling.com/

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Motivational Monday - R&R

 Good Monday morning.  Last Monday afternoon, I finally took care of something I should have done, months ago.  Thanks to the "hand I was dealt" as in, these are my cards:  bullheaded, I hate the doctor, Covid 19, "it's nothing" and thinking I'm super woman....I lost!  I want new cards and I'm working on that!  I won't go into detail, but I did have some skin cancer removed.  I don't know what I was expecting, but it's not what I got.  

So, that forced me to take some R&R.  I have been running around here for months, trying to clean out at least 1 shed or building before the snow.  I thought I would just jump right up on Tuesday morning and get to it.  Nope, that was not happening, nor did it happen all week.  

So today for this motivational pep talk, I want to remind us that sometimes we need some R&R (military terms: rest and recuperation).  Oh, don't get me wrong, I take naps, spend useless hours Netflixing, surfing the net, watching YouTube and I am guilty of that kind of "rest."   However, for me, my mind is always thinking about what I "should" be doing.  I am quick to jump up and get things going, no matter how I feel.  Well, guess what?!  Sometimes we forget about recuperation.  

I could "preach this" (you know I come from a long line of ministers, it's in the genes).  I could go so many ways with this message, just on recuperation.  Maybe for a future Bible study. Webster defines it as, "to get back, regain" and "to bring back in use, revive."  Welp, yes welp...if that don't beat all!  This is how my whole 2020 has been going.  I'm trying to "regain" space and "revive" my PROGRESSION to a better me.  

Now, today, instead of looking at last week as unproductive, I can now look at it like a recuperation to regain and revive.  I am a hopeless optimist you know.  It's the little things that I get excited and motivated about - even the definition of a word.  

Shannon, my part-time "employee" (I hate saying that, it sounds pretentious, however I do pay her for helping me), said to me "we've never been this 'far' back in your building" and "look you had a table with tags all set up out here."  Yes, I did.  She said "guess what year is on these tags?"  I said, "probably 2014"  She said "you're right, how'd you know?"  "Well Shannon, that is the year both of my daughter's married and left home.  I guess 'I lost my way' for a few years, but I'm back."  

You know, I said that like 2 weeks ago, but I understand it better today, thanks to R&R.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - "See, 'you' not too old"

 Welcome to Motivational Monday, brought to you today by the 3 year old "little" in my life....and the letters "C, U (not) the number 2 and the word old"

Over the past several months, I have been spending a day a week with a little love in my life.  She made me "Gramma Bird."  As 3 year olds go, she is full of energy, "I do it, myself all by myself" kinda girl - and I love that!  You can try to teach independence, but it has to come from your core.  Anyway, she likes to come up with crazy, little things to do and then says, "now it's you're turn."  O.k. some I physically can do, other times, not so much.  She also is a little copy cat.  I have a bit of a gimpy, weak leg and back - so doing some of these things - I do them with a limp, or hands waving to balance.  Then the next time she does them...I roll on the ground laughing...to see her imitating my doing it that way.  She oftens hears, "oh, I can't do that, Gramma Bird is too old" or "Gramma Bird's legs don't bend that way." ahahaha and they don't!  "That's O.k." she says.

Yesterday, Al took the tractor and brush hog over to our daughter, Justine's business Wholehearted Herd Counseling to cut and "winterize" per say the field.  While he was doing that, we climbed on the car hauler and started to do little "tricks" and "dances" like it was a stage.  Oh, for some reason, thanks Lori Ullenbrauck for bringing up PeeWee Herman...the Tequila song...(help!)...came to my mind.  So off to singing it I go.  She would do one dance move and then say "now you do it."  We danced and laughed.  Then she pulls a "move" I knew I couldn't do...I must have made a face or something, because before I could say it, she says "you too old to do it, Gramma Bird?"  Well, that's it....game on....I'm not going to get out done by a 3 year old.  So on the floor of the trailer bed I go to imitate the moves she just made.  When I was able to do it...she in her little cute happy voice says...."See!! You Not To Old Gramma Bird!"  She was like my little cheerleader.  I wasn't "too old" to do it.  Just like that, inspiration for Motivational Monday.  

You know, often times, we may use excuses for our not doing something we actually can do.  Our physical limitations may not allow it to be done in the same way, as fast or even in the "right" way, but we can still do it "our" way.  I know this goes in line with Thursday's post: Autumn of Life which truthfully, I was going to go in a different direction today.  Which was one more of an accpetance of my current circumstances.  However, I am motivated to remind myself..."you are not too old!"  Get up, get ready to kick some A.., your's first, Dicky Bird...and get moving.  

I hope you can find that little cheerleader voice in your life.  Encourage youself.  You can do (fill in the blank), you can.  It may take you longer, your path and journey won't look like another's and it shouldn't!  It's your journey.  I have been digging deep into my emotional well - thanks to Noom!  Yes, the weight loss program.  It is helping me with WAAAYYY more other "issues" in my life, the weight loss is coming secondary.  

For the first time in decades, weight loss isn't my first concern, even though, doctor's orders tell me otherwise.  I have made a PROGRESSION to better living over the past 6 months.  Better living....for me, involved my having to scratch off old scabs so that they may heal right.  I've made steps forward and even fallen back on some, but I'm moving in the right direction.  

I've had several friends ask about Noom because they can see the weight loss....what they can't see, is the "weight" of loss!  I can't let someone get the "better of me" - including me!  It's a struggle, let me tell you, cuz, I'm one tough old (Dicky) bird!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Autumn of Life

 I've been thinking about life lately.  The ups and downs, joys and sorrows, yes even the shoulda, coulda, woulda kinds of things.  I guess overall, I'm happy with my major life decisions.  I married a true helpmate, we both were young and didn't know any better, so we grew together.  We have 2 beautiful (inside and out) daughters, that are independent, strong, successful and self motivated.  They married their helpmates - each with their own set of talents that complimented each daughter.  During all of that living we experienced a full blessed life.  Al and I dealt with what life handed us to the best to our ability.  

So, as I was driving home from babysitting yesterday, my "fun" day!  And, I noticed all the beautiful colorful maple trees this year.  I really, don't remember them being so red and colorful in past years; just deep reds with hughes of pink.  This is in our back field and edge of the woods.  I want to go back and cut some branches for decorating.  

Then it hit me, I'm in the autumn of my life.  I've lived through spring and a blessed childhood.  I've had a productive summer; planting, weeding, producing, building, tending and nurturing a home, farm and family.  I'm now an autumn.  I don't look at it like, "well, I'm done now" or "now my leaves are shriveling up and dying" - nope!  I want to be like these beautiful maple trees.  Why did this one get so red?  

Yes, life has changed for me.  I was telling part of this to my friend Lisa whom just so happens to have been "chugging along the tracks of life next to me" (sometimes we're the engine and sometimes we're the caboose....ahahha).  But, she is the one I most feel understands "this" about me and herself the best because we have shared so many of the same experiences.  Yes, we are in the autumn of our lives.  Reader...it goes by fast!  

I guess, I want to be like these red maples.  Not that I want to stand out amoungst the other trees.  However, I want to remind myself that yes, spring has the new seedlings, summer the blooms .... but, oh autumn...I forgot your beauty!  Thanks nature for another life lesson!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.