My Abundant Herb Garden

In the spring of this year, I did an overhaul of my herb garden.  I pulled out EVERYTHING. 

** here's a tip...never, never, never plant mint in a garden....it grows overwhelmingly, lol.**

I tried to just pull the mint last summer, but it would just come up someplace else.  So I dug up my other herbs, and then Chuck tilled, and tilled, and tilled.  Then I laid down weedblock and replanted my lemon balm, sage, and rosemary, and purchased new plants of basil, flat leaf parsley, oregano, marjoram, dill, and chives.  It looked good....then everything got bigger.

**this is not the most recent picture, but I forgot to take a picture before the harvest, of course. **

Now what to do with all my herbs?  A quick google search and I decided on freezing.  It was messy, but I love the feel of having fresh herbs in winter.

First, pick and clean.  This is my basil, the herb I tend to use the most.  After picking off the leaves, into the salad spinner.  I love my spinner.  

Then I started chopping.  I got this great rocking herb cutter years ago.  I am a real sucker for kitchen gadgets.  Which is quite funny since I don't really like to cook.

All nice and chopped.  And guess what I discovered?  Chopped basil will turn your hands green! hahaha

I forgot to take a picture of the next step, but I put the chopped basil into a bowl and added olive oil.  After mixing it together, into a labeled freezer bag.  I laid it flat and stuck it in the freezer.

Viola!

Now last night I was making spaghetti for dinner, and went outside to get herbs for the sauce, when I realized that I harvested so well, I needed to use some of my newly frozen herbs. And they were tasty!

Do you harvest and preserve anything?  What is your favorite way to eat summer all winter long?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Our summer school field trip - Ft. Dobbs

One of the pluses to homeschooling your child, is you can have class anytime and anywhere.   This past Friday, our local living history group had a summer camp at Ft. Dobbs in Statesville, NC.  It wasn't as big as the school day they have in the fall, but we enjoyed it.  Hannah brought a friend, and because she's at the age that parents embarrass her (especially me), they took off by themselves.  Which left me with little B and Owen.  In the following pictures, you won't see B because as a foster child, per the HIPPA laws, I am not "suppose" to post his information.  But he's been our son for almost 6 years, it's hard to take a family picture without him in it. lol.  So let me share with you our fun day...

(warning...this post is photo filled)

The first station was the toys and games.  Here a young woman was trying to teach Owen how to play "gracies."  That's here you throw a hoop with 2 sticks and then try to catch it.  It's harder than you think!

Here are the boys trying to roll hoops down the hill.  The grass was too high, and the hoops didn't roll well, but the boys had fun trying

Owen loves music, and he enjoyed this man playing a tin whistle.  After the man explained to the boys all about the tin whistle and the songs of that day, he played a few songs.  When he was done, Owen asked if he knew how to play the Angry Bird song...that poor man was confused.  It was too funny.

Then on to the cooking show...here is one of the few times Hannah met up with us.  But don't worry, Ft. Dobbs is not that big, so she was never very far away.  And her friend was 15 and watching out for her.

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Owen wasn't quite sure about the Cherokee Indian.  He asked the man what was wrong with his face, then he couldn't take his eyes off the mans nose ring.  I did get him to stand next to the Indian for this picture, but Owen wasn't going to get too close.

Owen liked this old wooden wheelbarrow, but he wasn't too crazy about getting his hands dirty for this photo op...that's my boy. lol.

These photos aren't the best because I forgot my good camera and had to rely on my cell phone.

There is a nice hiking trail behind the field, and the boys wanted to explore.  Owen had on his new sneakers, and we broke them in well. :0)

They wanted to follow these steps, but they looked a little too unexplored for my comfort.

After the hike it was time to go back to the fort.  I was surprised that Owen stood and talked to this soldier about his gun.  Owen is my country boy and loves to play with his toy rifle.  I know, totally politically incorrect, but a child who is taught about guns and gun safety...is safe.

He didn't even cover his ears when the flintlock was fired.

This last station was where Owen learned to march...and he did a pretty good job too.

After we left the fort, it was on to Lakewook Park and a pizza lunch.  You can't beat a $5 pizza from Little Ceasers.  And of course, we had to walk the trails there too.

Owen had a great time hiking...but boy, is Gramma out of shape!  And sandals were the wrong fashion foot wear for the day.  But we enjoyed checking out the trees, and moss, and bugs, and ducks.

It didn't take Owen long to fall asleep that night.  That's our new kitten Patches, and my baby PeeWee.  Owen is very good with all the animals at Grammas house.  And that pillow next to him?

Well, that one's mine, and this was one night I skipped the 11 o'clock news.

How was your weekend?  Did you spend it with someone you love?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Time for a New Life - chapter 4

Last time we left the Wrights holding the answer to their prayers in their hands.  A letter telling them that they have a place to live.  A new home, in a new town, a whole new life is waiting for them.  If you missed the first 3 chapters, you can find them all together under the YankeeBurrowStorytime tab at the top of this page.

chapter 4 - Moving Day

Jeweled Picture Frame

It's here.  It's finally here, moving day.  John and I just spent the last week, moving the last of our boxes into the moving van.  In those boxes was the remnants of the first 13 years of our lives.   Some clothes, family photos, vacation souvenirs ..the rest is all gone.  The big house, the cars, the boat, the furniture, the fancy clothes and expensive shoes.  I should be sad, but instead I feel...relieved.  While filing bankruptcy was hard, it was also a relief.  The phone calls have stopped  (of course, we had to turn in our very expensive smartphones and take a loss when we cancelled our cell phone plans), but the burden of wondering how we would continue is gone.  A weight has been lifted.  I can see it in John's face now, he's smiling and laughing again.  Last night, we all camped out in the empty living room, talking about our future.

Early this morning we headed home. When we had left Caryville, Pennsylvania all those years ago, we never looked back.  Oh, at first we made the required visits for family weddings, funerals, and reunions.  But with our new, busy, upper class life, we just couldn't find the time anymore. 

Main Street print

Now we're back, full circle.  Life is funny that way.  Most of our families have either left the town, or passed away, so there was no one to tell that we were back.  Driving down Main Street, the memories came rushing in.  Nothing much has changed.  The school that housed all the grades still stands, and City Hall still holds court in the center traffic circle.   We saw the signs declaring the recent craft fair at the local fairgrounds.  On the other side of town, we turned left and headed out of town, to our new home.  It was hard to find...it had been so long...but finally, after many stops, and u-turns, we found the old wooden sign at the end of the long dirt road that would take us home.  Jacob was quiet most of the drive, while the girls couldn't stop chattering in their excitement.  When we pulled up in front of the old clapboard farmhouse with the big barn out back, I could see his frown.  But when we all piled out of the moving van and stood in the slightly overgrown front yard, he couldn't stay quiet any longer.  "I hate this place.  It's old and and it smells out here.  Where are the stores?  The movie theater?  Just WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO OUT HERE?"  Jacob runs behind the house, but John holds me back when I start to follow him.  "Sarah, let him go.  He needs to come to terms with the new direction of our lives.  He needs to make peace with himself."  

Spiced Vanilla Syrup

Then behind us we heard the crunch of tires on the dirt, and turning we see about 10 cars and trucks pull up and park.  People start getting out of their vehicles, and surround us.  Men, women, old, young, they all came and shook our hands, introduced themselves.  Some brought us canned fruit and vegetables.  Some brought us cakes and cookies.  And one older woman directed a young man carrying a large covered pan.  "I'm Grannie Mae" she says, and with a gleam in her eye she continues,  "the boss of this here town. I cornered that young man, the lawyer  and got him to give me the keys to this place to bring to you.  Well, we all wanted to check out the new family, so here we all are, ready for a good old country picnic.  Your gramma was my best friend, so now I'll be yours."   The smell of bbq pork and the sights of these wonderful strangers brought tears to our eyes.  We knew now that this was where we needed to be....home again.

And so we'll leave off here, for now.  Let the Wrights visit with their new found friends, while I go visit with mine.  Please remember, the people and places of this story are fiction, and any resemblance to any real person or place is accidental.  You can click on the links below the pictures to find yourself some great handmade items for your own home.

Be blessed,

Debbi

the colors of nature

Last night, after dinner, we went to Lowes for a potato fork so we can harvest the pitiful potatoes from our garden.  (The 3 digit heat this summer is not doing our veggies any good).  While there I got distracted, easily distracted, in their gardening section.  Look what I found!

It's a hibiscus...and I just fell in love with the colors...now I just need the find the perfect spot.  After taking this picture I decided to stroll thru my yard and check out my other flowers.

Some crepe myrtle, blooming a little early due to the heat...

My day lilies...the bright orange ones came from our neighbor, and the peach ones we planted last year.

My roses are feeling the heat...badly.  It's so hot, I haven't even had too much trouble with the beetles, lol  Out of my 13 bushes...I only have 2 flowers, but they are bright and happy flowers.

 Chuck "found" this bakers rack top, and so he attached it to the side of his work shop.  A great place to add some color with flowers.  Trying to find high heat and low water plants limits your choices, but I love my sunny cactus, and zinnias are another favorite or mine, and of my butterflies.

The only plants thriving in this heat are the weeds...the ground along the road by my mailbox was just cut last week by the county.  And this grew to about 3 feet high in just that week.  But the cool thing about this weed is the top....

covered with tiny yellow flowers.  The beauty of nature!

So, how does your garden grow this super heated summer?

Be blessed,

Debbi



My how they've grown...the chickens

Just over 7 weeks ago we brought home our baby chicks.  Here's the first story if you want to read it. 

 They were such cute little things, and fit right into the palm of my hand.  But now????

They are HUGH!  So much so, that Chuck is expanding their coop and pen.  In fact, we have one who believes she is the boss of the flock.  She even crows like a rooster, lol.  She looks at you mean when you approach the pen, but then will come right up to you for a little pet behind the ear.

Now all I'm waiting for are....eggs!
Be blessed,
Debbi

spring time is for chickens

Last week I was looking through the sales papers and discovered that Tractor Supply was running a sale on baby chickens, and had a really good deal on a roost and coop, so we took the plunge.

This is the spot we chose for our chickens, shady with still lots of sun.

The coop...it's one you (Chuck) assembles yourself.  We got the last one in the store.

Owen loved the chicks.  He giggled every time he put his hand in there and they scattered.

Hubby's handywork.  He only put one side on upside down. LOL

Say "chickens".

All finished.  We plan to modify it and put wire on the ground so no animals can dig up under the fencing.  We are starting to have some issues with coyotes in this area, and of course, all the neighborhood cats likes chickens.  But for now, we are keeping my new "babies" in the box in Chuck's workshop under a heat lamp until they get bigger.

Now all they need are names.  Any suggestions?
Debbi

Farmer Owen

It's hard to believe that this will be our 12th summer down here in sunny ((HOT)) North Carolina.  It's been in the high 70's most of the month so far and it's only March.  And all this beautiful weather turns our minds towards....our gardens.  I have a rose garden, a butterfly garden, and an herb garden.  We started with a small vegetable garden, and I think there have only been a few years where we didn't plant one, but when we did, it got bigger every year.  Now that Chuck has his new tractor....well, let's just say this will be a busy summer here on the "farm". lol  He's turned over almost a quarter of an acre, and Owen is loving the dirt!

He's got on his cowboy boots, and my hat, and he's off to help Poppa.  I missed the shot, but he refuses to get on the tractor, he just follows it up and down the rows.  He likes to walk in the furrows.

Here Poppa is showing him the corn kernels.  Owen wanted the whole bag, and got mad when he only got a few at a time.  We are planting corn (we love), potatoes (our first try), carrots (I love), radishes (no one loves), eggplant (for Amanda), lettuce, squash (Chuck), peppers,

 pickling cucumbers (I'm gonna try that again), watermelon, and of course....tomatoes!

Here he is covering the corn.  I tried several times to show him how to use the hoe, but he would just grunt at me and turn it upside down.  He's a boy that knows his own mind.

He finally just reverted to his own hand trowel.  I often wonder why Amanda sends him to our house dressed in anything white. :~P  There's Tater Tot in the background.  He's not happy because this was part of his pasture.  So y'all stay tuned to see if we survive this summer of weeding, and harvesting, and canning.  I do have to say that fresh organic food tastes so much better!

Debbi