"My" cows

Meet "my"cows!

Hello ladies,

I thought I'd share something dear to me, only because they come around once a year for a few weeks then they are gone.

"My" cows.

The herd to the right.

And to the left. There are many this year!

Our home backs a very large ranch and I get the wonderful privilege of seeing and watching these cows, but don't have to tend to them.   Usually "we have" about 150 - 200, but this year far exceeded that.  And we also had a few bulls in the mix. That is very unusual too.

It is just mesmerizing for us when we sit on our front porch that faces north and watch them move.
They move a little bit here and a little bit there. Not in a hurry, usually.

Then there are the bulls. Three of them, head to head, kicking up dirt and going in circles. There was always 2 or 3 little ones running to see "what is going on".  All the "ladies"...minding their own business eating. Probably thinking "oh, there they go again. Trying to see who is the head honcho!"

Husband talking with the little ones. There is a fence there, but just barely able to see it. I can hardly imagine taking care of a place like that, or the cost!

So I took a few pictures hoping to share. My husband had to go tend to the pipes for our water for the pastures.  We get water every 2 weeks and use the white irrigation pipe to get the water down to our pasture and yard.  There was a little guy so curious and he stayed close enough so my husband bent down to talk to him. So cute!

The light grey one here is the one I call "my mama cow". She has been with the herd for at least 4 years.  I always hope we can adopt her, though I know nothing about cows other than they shouldn't be left in the rain storms and snow! And they all deserve a name other than "steak"! I'm often corrected in this slight misunderstanding from the local ranchers and neighbors whose family raise cows. They still don't see my point.

Needless to say I get the eye roll each year when I speak of adopting "mama cow".  He says he doesn't want to rescue ME from the rain storm or snow trying to take care of the cows! So, no cows are in my future. Except the ones the ranch so kindly lets into this part of their pastures for 3-4 weeks a year.

Oh well.  Probably a good thing.  I don't like stinky things, flies or bugs.

Have a great week.

Peace be with you,
Dee

My cozy craft room

My little inspiration corner.  I don't keep the candle lit while I weave.   My nickname is Lucy (like I love Lucy) and I know better than to tempt.   My little bird here is cousin to the other 3 in my kitchen.

Hello Ladies~

This week I want to share where I create.  There are many years I didn't have a craft room.  It was a corner of the dining room, or the dining table itself.  One tour overseas, it was the corner of the living room.

Today, older & wiser (at least from experience), I have learned it's necessary for me to have my own space. With children grown and gone and my husband's office is our 3rd bedroom, it's very easy for me to stay too busy with homemaking and trying to keep things appealing and cozy. That is creative too, but I like something in addition to that.

Prayer time this morning and journaling, the memories of how easy it is for me to allow all the "little" things of home fill my days.

I need creative time.  My temperament needs it, and my spirit.

There have been many books of old that speak of the necessity of having daily "recreation" or creative time. A break in the day, even for 15 minutes, to sit and write a lovely letter, crochet a bit on a project, putter in the garden and tidy, or create a basket.

For me, basket weaving is one of the many things I enjoy but can be a couple of days project. One basket can take a minimum of 4 hours from start to finish. More detailed handles (my special touch) can add 2 to 3 hours on top of that.

I enjoy it.   Please join me in my "studio" and bring a bit of tea, I love to visit while I weave...

Here is my table where most of my work is done. Whether weaving, sewing, clay bears angels, or learning silk ribbon embroidery (thank you FlowerLady!). I am creating a pattern here.  I made that small basket  in the picture years ago and it holds my clips, ribbons, and pony tails.  I didn't have a pattern anywhere so I am measuring the reed sizes and writing it down. 

 

The base is being laid. Water in the bucket on the floor has the reed for weaving the sides. The coil on the floor behind me is how it comes when I order it.  I keep them put away in bags or I look like a cat all tangled up in yarn, except the yarn is the reed all wound up around me! Trust me, I won't have a picture of that one.

Done! A cute little catch all.  I will stain it with Min-wax wood stain, I like Oak. It gives baskets an "old time" feeling.  I have hopes to make a few along with some other things I love (soap apron covers, flower pins for winter coats, handmade dishcloths  etc) and sell them at the winter craft show....but I keep giving the baskets away as gifts! My cousin just got one with a handle that was really cool! Her birthday is coming and I wanted her to have something fun that I made.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the little tour of weaving. It was fun to have you.  

A few years ago we had folks from church here for dinner. The ladies wanted to see my "studio" and  it inspired 2 of them. One friend, she had never seen or heard of the idea of crafting.  Within the month she bought yarn and a crochet needle and made a long scarf for her son. Her first project! I was so proud of her.

Last weekend she dropped off a mask for me. Pink with white polk dots and she crocheted the loops out of a lovely soft white yarn.  I was so impressed! From a lady who had never heard of crafting!

Have a lovely week, stay cool!  An old time homemaking tip to keep cool: ladies would take down their curtains and dip them in a bathtub of water, re-hang them and the air passing through cools the room.  I have used a squirt bottle and sprayed them.

It also works on sheets. Spritz your sheets before bed, the cool air will allow you to sleep for a bit until the air cools down.

May God's peace be with you,

Mrs. Peterson

Sunday Outing

A warm hello Ladies~

This past Sunday we took my mother in law to Silverton for the day. First time for us to go out since March.  It was a lovely drive, a bit more people there than I expected but almost everyone had masks on.  Some of my favorite stores are not open yet.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  It's always nice to go. We try to go at least once a year (not in Winter!).

Silverton stands at about 9,800 ft above sea level. It's a tiny little town in the mountain valley that originally was where miners landed to mine, guess...Silver! Hence "Silverton".  There are other minerals there as well. You may see some of the old tailing piles in the pictures. Some mines are still active, but I don't know much about them.

Enjoy!

This is the only highway into Silverton. It switches back and forth, if you look across the other side you can see the road we will drive after the bend.

Here, we are on the bend. The road to the right was what we drove on, and we are headed to the left. Notice - no railings! The only railings are at the last peak just before you descend into Silverton.  Needless to say I don't talk to the driver much and do a lot of praying.  I don't like heights so a few of these pictures where taken then had to look to the left to see the mountain side.

There is Silverton!  That tiny little town in the mountain valley.  The orange by the picture is the color of the dirt there due to all the minerals in the mountains.

Railing! Getting close. Look across to the mountain side in front of us.  Where the lighter color is, I believe is a "tailing pile" (what gets left after they have mined.)

Silverton. Cutest town ever!  (to me) You can see the train tracks here as well. That train is one of the last coal burning train in the US (there may be one more).  From Durango to Silverton, by train at 13mph...takes 5 hours. 

Mountains just before the town entrance. The colors are the minerals.

Welcome! The whole town is a National Historic District. 

 The only grocery store. When I first met my husband and he took me here, I fell in love with it and wanted to move there. At the time the grocery store owner talked to me about the snow.  He walked me out the door and pointed to the roof line and said "yes, ma'am. We get snow. It is usually up to that roof line for most of the winter. Roads get closed and the only way in or out is helicopter"  Changed my mind after that! Now I just love to visit.

A fun picture.  An old Ford, and a new "Razor". I wish those would be outlawed!

Here is the train station. It is still functioning and used 3 times a day when the train runs. (No train now due to pandemic, but they do bring a LOAD of supplies up for them now and then.) 

Down the side you can see benches.The train turns here and pulls right into town. Tourists can get off, have lunch and shope for about 2 hours. Then the 5 hour journey back.

This was a restaurant back in 1912. It still is on one side, then an art studio on the right.  Lovely place with good food.

Here we are in The Grand hotel in Silverton. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of the outside.  They just did major renovations last year and updated electrical. Praise be to God! There is a store in town that burned down  a few months ago due to electrical problems. The firemen saved the buildings to the right and left of that one. Back to the Grand Hotel here, There are original furnishings here.  Well to do folks who came to check on their "money" (silver) would stay here, as well as their family. Miners and "ladies of the night" did not stay here. There is a whole street, one block down, that had a row of brothels. Just part of the history of a mining town.

When I was in college, I remember furniture was designed based on the fashion and women's dresses. To be able to accommodate them when they sat down or socialized.  This is a very large chair and the ladies probably had bustles that they needed the space.


Well, That's it.  Time to go feed my husband and I lunch.  I hope you enjoyed the little  "outing" with me.

Peace be with you,
Mrs. Peterson

Baskets, sewing and soapsuds

Hello Ladies~

small market basket

I just finished and mailed this cute little basket. A friend of my husband requested a small one for his side table.

This one is woven with the handle is part of the base, so it is very strong, though the handle is flexible.

The natural color is more of a cream, and I chose to stain it in Golden Oak. I like the way the color turned out. It looks antique.

I am going to be doing a bit of patch work sewing today and some repairs of tiny holes in favorites. Like a pale pink of warm, soft socks I love but have worn a hole in them from many uses through winters.

There is a booklet I found to teach me how to do this:

A booklet from 1942 I found that explains in detail how to repair clothing so they last just a bit longer.

This sign was next to a store I drove by when I lived in Ohio and drove to an Amish/Mennonite bulk store each week.

A bit of spiritual inspiration before I go. Early in the morning when I am doing my walking in our little make shift gym, I like to listen to the AM station that has many wonderful sermons, hymns, and 2 min inspirational moments.  Many are current, but some are from days long ago.

There is a favorite of mine that comes on and makes me smile. It's called Sunshine on the Soapsuds by Beneath Jones. She always address the homemaker in a way that is uplifting and from her experience. And makes me think.

Todays was about worry.  She shared how she worries about her husband and all his conferences, she worries about how so many people want his time even into the evening, she worries about things she is doing. But noticed her prayer time is general. "Lord, please protect my husband today and bless him."

The question posed: shouldn't our prayer time be full of the details and our worries be more general? Then our minds can be on the Lord more rather than worried about the details of things.

This really meant a lot to me, since I worry in details but pray in general.  Tonight as I kneel by my bed and tomorrow morning in my prayer time I want to practice praying in detail and then letting go of my worries.

Have a lovely afternoon,
Mrs. Peterson

Anniversary Camp trip

Hello Ladies~

We just got back from a little 3 day camp trip for our anniversary.  Since we have been back in Colorado for a few years, we have always tried to go on that weekend because "way back when", this same campground was our "honeymoon".

We couldn't afford anything. We even borrow the tent and sleeping bags from my in-laws. Thankfully today, we no longer sleep on the ground (it takes to long to try to get up!) and we have a small camper.  I wanted to share a few fun pictures and a couple "camp" sweets we like.

Here is our little camper with an attached screen room, helps keep bugs out!

Camping on the river. It's so mezmerizing to watch. I realized, it flows not matter the time of day. Unlike God's creatures  that sing in the morning and are quiet in the evening.

My husband's morning helper. He was right above the fire and talked to us every morning.

I have learned, just because you are camping doesn't mean you have to stink, dress like a man, or not enjoy some luxuries - like a camper that smells heavenly from lavender, lemon and peppermint (this combo helps greatly with allergies).

An afternoon downpour. Much needed but left Mr. P scrambling to keep water from pooling on the screened room door.

"Camp cookies" - aka Chocolate chip cookies (g/f, d/f, sugar free too) see recipe below.

Sorry these are sideways, but this is a favorite, at least for me.  I used to be a Girl Scout leader when we lived in Okinawa years ago. It was there I learned about the baked bananas. Slice a banana and stuff it with Chocolate chips and, if desired, marshmallows (I don't like marshmallows).

Next, wrap in foil, but I add parchment so the foil is touching the banana directly.

After 20-30 min over the side of a camp fire, or 375 in the oven, unwrap and scoop out the warm melted banana. It is very tasty.

Now for the "Camp Cookies" recipe. You know they really are not camp cookies, but it's fun to call them that. I have been gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free for about 18 years. These are the best cookies I have made. I really think the butter is the key. They are crunchy not cake-like.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten-free, sugar-free)  - from Heavenly Organics

1 1/2 c. Flour (I use Bob's Red Mill All Purpose)

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 c. chocolate chips

Oven at 300.  

Mix: flour, soda, salt in a small bowl.

Blend butter and honey. Add flour mix.

Add chocolate chips.

Cover with plastic wrapped let sit in frig for 30 min (key! don't omit)

Scoop out spoonfuls on parchment and bake 20 min.

Cool.

Make tea and enjoy your treat.

Have a lovely afternoon.

Wishing you God's peace,

Mrs. Peterson