Seeing Red

 In the good sense of the word, RED!

SO MANY TOMATOES!!!!

and, they couldn't be nicer this year ...

I don't remember ever having such nice big tomatoes - these are sitting on top of 

the stewed tomatoes that are in quart jars to show you the size of them.

Becky and I planted them at the farm and it's a bumper crop for sure.

We stewed,

We froze,

We salsa-ed

We relish-ed

Mom's Fruit Relish - click to link to recipe

And, there are still many more tomatoes to preserve - eek!

More salsa?!

I actually never made salsa and never really liked homemade, however,

we found this recipe on-line and it is really quite good.

It includes tomato paste in the recipe and I think this gives it a wonderful layer of flavour.

We followed the recipe - included all the jalapeno seeds and

the only thing I did different was add 1/2 Cup of Sugar and added a bit

of thickening at the very end of the boil (2 tsp. cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp. of water). 

For my next batch I must try Judy's recipe (click on this link for the recipe)

which is very similar but with some extra special ingredients like cilantro and cumin.

Do you have a favourite salsa recipe?

Some other random reds ...

In front of the famous Stratford Festival Theatre

With my favourite chauffeur

The "classic" red Adirondack chairs

assembled and ready to grace the

fire pit, once it gets put in place.

A fun day out with our friends

to Goderich.

Always love seeing the beautiful lighthouse there.

My struggling dahlias - need to find a better spot for them next Spring.

Happy zinnias at the farm

Thankful for the drenching rains (tomato wash)

In other news:

A wee bit of decorating has been completed here at the "city" house:

I've been making use of my mom's old crocks in new ways.

By adding some glass circles they make fine patio tables.

Always have loved using the smaller ones for my kitchen counter items. 

I can recall my mother sharpening her knives on these old crocks.

A new "old" cabinet/side board for cookbooks, table cloths, kitchen linens, etc. 

As you can tell, I am having such trouble shaking the old farm house style.

You can move her to the city but you can't take the country out of the farmer's wife, I guess?

A bit of kitchen window treatment - so the neighbours don't need to see

me constantly at the kitchen sink - lol!

Slowly getting things on the walls and actually taking the time to look

at some artwork - stay tuned.

By the way ...

Have you been following Lovella Schellenberg on instagram?

If not - you should!

Check out her instagram account @lovellaschellenberg

Lovella is a co-author of Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog and cookbooks 

and everything she makes is truly awesome and delish.

She has been posting some fun baking tutorials

This peach pie and pie dough one is not to be missed.

I had to make it right away!

Possibly the best peach pie I've ever tasted!

A farm sunset picture as we were driving out the lane.

I posted it on our local TV station Weather Watcher site and it was selected

for the noon hour news picture the next day.

How is everyone out there? 

Is your garden bountiful this year?

Are you able to stay cool during the many heat waves?

Are things beginning to feel a bit more normal with Pandemic restrictions easing somewhat?

We are living in a very uncertain world these days.

It was a very difficult week for me ... I lost my BFF in Canal Flats, BC

Such a very helpless feeling - there really are no words!

She was the funniest and sweetest friend anyone could ever have.

Her motto was always - "sing and dance" "pray but don't worry" and she lived her life to the fullest.

May you rest in peace in God's loving arms dear friend ... Nonie!

Deepest sympathies to your precious family ... you will be sorely missed and loved forever.

My heart is broken!

Till next time, stay safe, stay cool, stay humble and kind.

And then Came June

 June has arrived and here we are already on the eve of the Solstice!

The Spring flowers have bloomed

and I snagged some peony buds from the farm to bloom in July (hopefully).

I did this experiment once before and am trying it again.

Will let you know if this works.

Newspaper wrapped soft buds and then refrigerated 

Farm blooms

Our long awaited bedroom suite arrived and the quilt has found it's home!

This king size bed was worth the wait - who knew we'd ever have such luxury?

Focaccia sourdough bread is my new favourite treat.

Love sharing this with my family and using herbs from my little snipping garden.

Strawberry Season has arrived and these sweet beauties have been

served as fresh pies and on simple bowls of vanilla ice-cream.

What's not to love!

I make these every year and love having

baked pie shells on hand.

This is simply made with crushed fresh strawberries, thickened with instant clear-gel and sugar,

topped with fresh sliced strawberries whipped cream (and a few optional mint leaves).

So easy and always delicious.

48 years was celebrated at a recently opened patio.

It was lovely to have dinner served on plates rather than in a to-go box!

So glad we are slowly reopening over here ... 

We actually "dressed up" for the occasion in clothing that haven't been worn

for many months.

However, this is the only picture I took!

Got a bit of my quilting mojo back by making this simple rag quilt

for a sweet little girl across the street who just recently lost her dad!

It seemed to be the only way I could give her a warm hug ... 

So excited that the "moon flowers" have survived the move and

are starting to bloom.

My snipping garden is growing gang busters and the kale is amazing.

It seems any recent joys have been tempered with the sobering discovery

of the unmarked grave of 215 children at a residential school in our country!

Our patriotic "glowing hearts" are feeling tinged and just a bit dimmer.

So much sadness ...

This is our happy spot as we enjoy the warm weather, watch the life giving rains roll in,

soak up the sunshine, and watch the world go by.

The storms of life are warmed with hope and gratitude as our Lord

watches over us this Father's Day!

We are blessed beyond understanding to have had godly fathers here

on earth who watched over us and loved us.

Till we meet again ...

Till next time - Happy Father's Day and welcome to summer 2021!

Two Months

Two months ago we made a very big move ...

from our beloved farm of 41 years to the lovely suburbs of

beautiful Stratford, Ontario.

A dream come true for retirement and still close to "home"

where our grandchildren can grow up on the same farm that their mommy

grew up on!

Occasionally we need to pinch ourselves.

Spring has sprung here and at the farm, the warm sunshine has opened 

the flowers and the leaf buds are popping open.

In all this goodness, there has, however, been a cloud hanging over it all.

Just a few short weeks ago the farmer and I were sent reeling

with the diagnosis of cancer!

He has just undergone 2 rounds of surgery and now we await

further testing and a treatment plan.

Not once did I ever think I would be adding the word Cancer to my list of Labels 

for this blog!

There is still so much to be thankful for:

Quick action by his doctors

Second surgery squeezed into surgeon's busy schedule

Compassionate Home Care nurses

Local emergency availability when needed

The warmth of the sun, bringing renewed life and flowers

Family who helps at the drop of a hat

Sweet grandchildren to love

Surrounded by a caring church family

and for praying friends and family

A risen Lord and Saviour

Our hearts have been touch deeply!

Our hope is for minimal spread of this disease,

For full recovery,

For patience and strength to get through the weeks and months ahead.

These words by Ann Voskamp have given me much to think about:

"Let Hope always carry you or fears will carry you away.
So, even if just for today -- thank God for the hot tea
and the sunlight through our windows and the friend who kept showing up
to make a difference and for your people around you
who you get to look right in the eye today and say those
two words that literally can change everything - THANK YOU.
Let's not let the everyday routines numb us to the miracle
of living every day!

Our Joy ... and Hope

Till next time - We put our trust in the Lord. 

 

Spring 2021 - New Beginnings

It's been one month now and we are beginning to feel "at home"

Still waiting for furniture and such

but some "old things" have found a new life and that includes us!

Once we toned down all the bright cool blue light bulbs,

it all started to feel cozy and comfy.

Do you prefer bright cool tone lights or warm lower watt lighting?

Walk out basement awaits furnishings.

The unfinished room downstairs has been renovated and

is a great room for all the extras (including the extra wall units)

and has been dubbed the "games room".

We are so glad we went ahead and did this reno before moving in.

The backyard frozen pond sounds of skaters and children has,

almost overnight, changed to the honking sounds of Canada geese.

The glorious sun and mild winds (not so mild today however) have rapidly melted the piles of snow

and signs of Spring are popping up.

I can't wait to see what else pops up!

Lenten roses - I've been trying to grow these on the farm forever.
Now I have some here in my front garden!

Evening privacy blinds are on order but the daytime views are so lovely.

New routines of daily walks

and old routines of healthy starts to the day

are giving us some much needed normality.

Preparing my table and heart for Easter!

Many boxes remain unpacked but the essentials have

been placed in the spacious cupboards and closets

of this house that is becoming our home.

In the meantime, our soon to be farm kids continue to bring us so much joy.

She lost her first tooth recently and he is growing like a weed!

On this one year anniversary of Covid 19, we are thankful for our health and 

for our front-line workers and health care providers.

This has been a year like no other on so many levels!

Till next time ... praying that you are all doing well and staying the course. There is hope ...