Home Grown

I have never planted potatoes in our garden here. My garden is small and potatoes are cheap in the store.  Plus, I don’t think  home grown potatoes taste any different than store bought,  unlike tomatoes. Anyway, this spring I was getting ready to throw out a sprouting potato when I decided to just plant it in the garden. 

This was my harvest. 

The ribeye steak, potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers were all home grown. 
 

Nice Ride

Someone asked me a couple of days ago if I still rode. I gave my usual answer, I ride enough to say I ride. But I realized that it had been much longer than wanted. 

I have been sidetracked with other things, like Golden Boy (not his real name). Plus, the weather hasn’t been too pleasant for riding. But today the humidity finally broke and I decided to ride Otoelene. 

She was pretty chill. 

I stayed in the barn, it was a nice ride 

I even took a little video.

So, "Yes, I still ride."

Ebay Splurge

I know that I do not need more stuff.  But sometimes it is hard to help myself.  Especially when something so rare is available.  I bought about 58 pieces of Spode Herring's Hunt at an auction around 40 years ago.  I have only added about 6 pieces since.  That is until now. 

I had been watching these soup bowls and saucers for several weeks.  I eventually decided that I would be more upset by not getting them than getting them.  So I bought them.  

I didn't realize it from the Ebay pictures, 

but the bowls have two images. 

Plus, there is an image on the saucers.  

I think they look amazing with my collection.  I was very curious as to where the seller had gotten them since I rarely see any of this pattern.  So sent her this picture and asked.  This was her reply...

This is so beautiful and warms my heart!

Yes this is my story these were handed down thru generations in our family who were from Virginia.I do have more of this pattern and people have begged to purchase.I remember going into my great grandmother’s parlor and admiring her pretties!I am going to let go of the coffee service in this pattern!We just moved from a 4 story home in NH full of treasures to a one story home in Vero Beach!I am purging ..These may have made their way from England …




 

Now I will have more to be on the look out for. 

Career Paths

Virginia and Mike brought Sadie and Allie over yesterday. We did puzzles, played the marching game, Bobby Trap, and magnatiles. It rained an inch. When I was working on supper Sadie asked if she could go pick flowers. Of course Allie wanted to go to. 

Virginia sent them outside unsupervised with sharp pruners.  They came back with a beautiful bouquet and all of their fingers.  Sadie said they cut at least two of everything. 

She then borrowed my phone to take a selfie and show off her new tooth.  I asked if she wanted to be a dentist.  She said, no she wants to be a scientist.  I tried to explain that a dentist was a type of scientist.  

Meanwhile, a lovely vase was chosen for the flowers.  

 And Sadie suggested a nice centerpiece for the table.  She says she wants to be a scientist.  But florist or interior decorator could be in the mix.  

Three Weeks Early

The fall cows are not suppose to start calving until the first of September.  And the Hereford bull wasn't put in until a week later.   So the Hereford cross calf  born Thursday is at least 3 weeks early.  Joe said it was shear luck that he even saw the calf.  The cow had had it then left it to be back with the herd.  Joe was able to get her and the calf up.   But the calf is not very vigorous.  

It weighs about 40 pounds.  It sucked 1/2 a bottle of colostrum Joe went back with but the next feeding he wouldn't nurse.  

I ended up having to tube feed him.  

He wasn't doing any better the next day so we loaded him up and brought him back to the house.  There was no way he would be strong enough to nurse the cow, so Joe turned her back out.  

He was born Thursday.  I have had to tube feed him 3 times so far.  This evening he did manage to nurse about 1/2 of what we were trying for.  Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.  

 

Cattle Worked

Yesterday morning Mike came over to help us work our weaned calves so they will be ready to head out to the feedlot soon. 

I pulled up the vaccines and Joe administered them. 

While Mike kept everyone moving up the chute. Everything worked well and everyone was still speaking afterwards. 

 Finished and fed in 2 1/2 hours. 

Zucchini

In case anyone has zucchinis and tomatoes in abundance, here is a good way to eat them.  

Slice zucchini, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Lay out on cookie sheet.  Top with tomato slice and parmesan cheese.  

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  And you have a tray full of bite size goodness.   

More rain yesterday evening created some fog on the mountains.  

Things are very green for this time of year seeing as we have been in an extreme drought.