Spring Has Arrived

I love springtime! All the trees budding out.  The green of the new grass. The sight of little veggies popping up in the garden. Warm days and cool evenings. All sorts of birds doing their spring thing.  There is a family of hawks somewhere close by.  I don't know why hawks fascinate me but birds of prey always have.

There has been alot of planting going on at the Pioneer Living homestead. The actual size of the of the gardening area is close to two acres.  One of the acres is done using plasticulture.   Check out the video for more information.  Very Cool! It already appears to be working out really well.  Most everything has started sprouting already!  Things around here are getting ready to be really really busy.  Mars and I were talking today about what all has been planted so far.  I actually get overwhelmed when I try to wrap my mind around it.   There are several varieties of lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, three types of cucumbers ,zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, green peas, pinto beans, blackeyed peas,  purple hull peas, cauliflower, Tabasco peppers, bell peppers, yellow bells, serrano, jalapeno, banna peppers,two varieties of cantaloupe and watermelon , turnips,  brussel sprouts, okra, egg plant,  four or five varieties of tomato's, radishes, three or four kinds of potato's, carrots, spiniach, several kinds of onions, corn, bush green beans, and beets. I am sure this list is missing information but that's all we could think of this evening!  Peanuts will be planted when it warms up a bit!   This is a HUGE plot of veggies.  I can't wait to see just how everything will do. And I have to admit I am a little intimidated.  I've never been involved with a plot this big!  All of us are going to be busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking fight before you know it.

There will be baby bunnies- probably tomorrow. One of the does is pulling fur and ready to bring on some spring babies.  I hope she does ok this time because John (Pioneer Living) says this is her last chance. She has a "history" and if things don't go well this time she's gonna be Stewed Rabbit.  2 small litters and having 4 baby's born out of the nest this winter has put her on a hit list!  I wish her luck and will let you all know how things work out.

The Red Wasps are out in full force here.  I hate them!  They are getting in the house from somewhere and we haven't  figured out where they are coming from.  The other night one crawled under the covers in the middle of the night and stung Mars TWICE on the thigh.  At least this time his head didn't swell up to the size of a watermelon!  Ticks are starting to run around too. LOL as I am sitting here writing this a stink bug just flew in and landed on my monitor!

Its gonna be a buggy season.

(if you were wondering that's Mrs. Pioneer Living watering the corn)

Obama's Home Country... Michelle's own words

I ran across this video this morning and just wanted to share it with you all.  What do ya think?

Little Big Town

I haven't been to Little Big Town in awhile now.    I have a list started but I am quite happy to say it is a pretty short list.  Anyway, I was out in the big garden, planting some cauliflower, and trying to decide if I wanted to go today or tomorrow.  Wow, I thought, It's a holiday weekend.  Do I REALLY want to go to Little Big Town the day before Easter?  I bet the place will be PACKED!  Then I started laughing.  I mean seriously laughing out loud.  In a town of just over 5,500 people just how packed could it really be??  Now if I were back in Texas it would be something to consider and I would never even entertain the idea but Little Big Town..... I'm still laughing!  So with that out of the way I'll be taking my chances tomorrow.
.....Updated Saturday....

Just as I suspected!  ChinaMart was easily maneuvered today.  Mind you for Little Big Town standards it was pretty busy.  One thing about moving from a  "real"  Big Town though... for me it was like shopping on a Wednesday afternoon!  No sweat.  While I was there I just had to go check out their garden center.  They have a few tomato's and some other veggies but I was really looking for hot peppers. Mars just loves them.  All they had were bell peppers though.  I couldn't believe how much they are getting for 6-packs of tomato's.  $3.25 each!  And trust me, they aren't all that great looking.  Last time I was in Little Big Town I checked out the Local Nursery.  They had some beautiful plants and their 6-packs were only $2.50.  Those are the ones planted in my  herb garden. ( And yes I know... tomato's aren't an herb!) 
Ok, sorry bout the rambling...
Anyway, back to the garden center and the sad little tomato plants held captive there. I suppose I shouldn't have, but I did.  There was an elderly gentleman looking over all the tomato plants with great care.  I know the look...   I have the same determination when I am buying plants.  And then it just came flying out of my mouth  "You know, the nursery down the street has some beautiful plants and they are only $2.50 each!"  What on earth was I thinking?  The old man looked at me over the top of his glasses and nodded "uh huh" took that poor little pack of tomato's and gently placed them in his basket.  Today  6 underloved and unattended babies  found a new home, residing in his garden this year.  By the end of the season, I am willing to bet they will be healthy, happy and productive members of the that old mans "happy place".   And I should have kept my mouth shut!

Illinois Congressman Phil Hare

I could not believe what came out of this Illinois Congressman's mouth.  YOU MUST SEE THIS.

Oatmeal Cookies and Stuff

It's hard to believe how quickly the first part of the year went by!  Here it is already Spring.  It has been beautiful here the last few days.  Lots of sunshine and nice breezes.   This is the pear tree we will be enjoying fruit from this season. 

My little herb garden seems to have gained a few more plants.  Mars planted 6 tomato plants, some jalapeno's and some green peppers.  Oh and I think he tossed in some yellow squash while I wasn't looking! Oh well, like I'm going to complain??  LOL  None of the herbs are above ground yet.  I am impatiently waiting to see whats going to pop out of there! 

Last night Mars grilled some chicken on the pit with some of the last of the mesquite wood. Along with the potato salad I made, some beans and some Chili bread it just couldn't be beat!  Oh, and oatmeal cookies and milk for dessert. Yummy!!  I wonder what the rich folks were eating??? 

I think I may have found an almost perfect Oatmeal Cookie Recipe.  I made these yesterday and they came out great for a first attempt.  There is plenty of room in this recipe for "playing".  I love versatile recipes. 

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Original Recipe Yield 2 dozen

Ingredients

    * 1 cup butter, softened
    * 1 cup white sugar
    * 1 cup packed brown sugar
    * 2 eggs
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    * 2 cups all-purpose flour
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 1 teaspoon salt
    * 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    * 3 cups quick cooking oats

Directions

   1. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
   2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
   3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Raisins, chocolate chip, peanut butter, coconut, walnuts..... See what I mean?  Any of these additions would make an excellent variation.
I made some more chili bread as well... If you would like the recipe I posted it here. So yummy!  Mars has been missing his favorite bread.  I'm glad to be back in the breadmaking mode again.  Store bought just doesn't taste right anymore.  And it doesn't feel right to be paying over a dollar a loaf for it either!
It has been awhile since I made a trip to Little Big Town.  It has taken some getting used to not just running around the corner for whatever we might want or need.  So far I have done pretty well. I have a list started but don't actually have a day set to go yet. Although with Easter weekend coming I probably should go tomorrow.  The good thing is that the list is really small which means that I am only restocking what we have used.  I feel pretty good about that. 
Who would have thought that just over a year ago that we would be here?  I certainly never imagined it!  I can't remember the last time I felt so content with just living.