Mulberry Fun

 

    I planted a 4 foot tall mulberry tree by the chicken coop 5 years ago.  It was a tree planted by the birds in the old fenceline.  I knew they grew fast.  I never imagined it would grow this big in such a short time.

  It is loaded with fruit this year.  My husband calls it a "bear dinner bell".  The chickens think the fruit is a great substitute for a worm. But, the grandkids thought it was a mulberry piñata!  They had a grand time gobbling up the fruit as it fell.

                              ......and they all had purple mustaches!

     A mulberry tree is a great addition to a homestead.  Planting it by the chicken coop was perfect for shade and chicken food.  All my grown children were saying "I want a mulberry tree!".  I reminded them it would be a pretty messy tree in town.
    Mulberry wine....mulberry pie......mulberry jam....just thinking out loud :-)

.....dr momi

Linked to: Homestead Barn Hop #118
 

Blessing of the Fishing Scarves



The view from our window.
(about two months ago)


     See the lake in the background?  It's where all the guys in our crew go ice fishing.  Now that deer hunting is over here in Wisconsin, all the guys thoughts are turned toward the lake freezing over.





The lake is trying hard....

        The dark blue part has no ice yet.  It's usually after the holidays before the ice is thick enough to walk on.

......and on to the story.

     I was knitting away on a scarf for myself (yes...I learned) one Sunday evening after the family supper.  This is how the conversation went....

6 yr. old grandson Ryan, "Grandma what are you making?"
                                        "A scarf."
                                        "For me?"
                                        "No this one is for me, would you like a scarf."
                                        "Yup!"
                                        "What colors would you like?"
                                        "Red and blue."
                                        "OK I'll get right on it."
      And that started an intense 3 weeks of making scarves for 10 grandchildren.  There was no way I could make one for Ryan and not the others.  I used up all the odds and ends yarn that I had made.
     Not being particularly experienced in knitting yet, I told the parents that these would be fishing scarves.  No one would look at what there were wearing on the lake :-).  In keeping with the theme, I put actual fishing lures (hooks removed) on the tassels of the scarves of the boys....they were so excited.  The girls scarves have fish beads on them. Yes....all the bigger kids go ice fishing.  They have a grand time fishing and playing with their cousins.
     So, tonight we had the "Blessing Of The Fishing Scarves", and the scarves were handed out to take home.




 Blessing Of The Fishing Scarves

As the Grandmother of these children I
bless these scarves in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus watch over these children
as they play and fish on the lake.  May a spirit of happiness
overtake them whenever they wear these scarves.
May they catch lots of big fish!
....And someday Lord, may they become fishers of men, just like St. Peter.
                         
                                     Amen







....well you try to get them all to smile
and look at the camera at the same time. :-)
They all really liked the scarves....even those
without a smile on the pic. :-)









Gracie



Tato

Linked To: Homestead Barn Hop #90

.....dr momi

Born This Afternoon

My Granddaughter, Delaney Jane.
Born this first day of spring.

7 lb. 8 oz.
Being weighed by midwife in training, Korina.

19 1/2 inches long (not her head)



Born at home, with.....



Midwife Jane, who also delivered my son Tyler (Delaney's Dad).
Tyler's birth was the 174th delivery for Jane.
Delaney's birth was the 1517th delivery for Jane.
So special.....

.....Grandma Jean

Pulling The Maple Sap Taps

My grandson Logan helped
 Grandpa take down the taps today.



There was no looking up he....was concentrating on not tripping!
Short sleeves and shorts -- it tells you
WHY we are pulling the taps.



Of course little sister Zoe had to get in on the act.



I wonder if Logan will inherit his
Great-Great Grandfather's maple taps? 

.....Grandma Jean

A Good Day To Be Born



Grandson, Levi Daniel, born this afternoon .
8 lb. 10 oz., 22 in.



Welcomed by big brother Brayden.

Born at home.

.....Grandma Jean

Decorating Cookies...Kid Style

Traditional Sugar Cookies

1 cup lard
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
(don't you love how yellow free range eggs make the dough?)
2 tsp. homemade vanilla
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
Mix, chill, roll, cut, place on greased cookie sheet, bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes.


Side note:  do you think if I forgot the 2 cups of sugar in the sugar cookies that anyone would notice??
That's what I did the other day...uuggghhh!  So much for speed baking.

Frosting

2 lbs. of powdered sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 TBL. vanilla
enough milk to make a good spreading consistency.



So, we decorated the sugar cookies with the grandkids last night.

They had a great time,

....and made some beautious masterpieces.



However,





 

...there was an awful lot of








....finger licking going on!









....adult cookie seekers were forewarned.





When they were all done, they got to pick one cookie to eat.     .....decisions



.....jean

Making Gingerbread Houses



We made gingerbread (graham cracker) houses Sunday night with the grandkids.
 Frosting : 6 egg whites, 1/2 tsp. cream of tarter, and 2 lbs. of powdered sugar.
Mix it all until smooth. (I used the mixer but don't "whip" it.)
 The frosting went into a freezer qt. size bag, and the corner was snipped off.





Every seam gets frosting inside and out.
The more it "drips" the better...it looks like snow.





Gracie insisted her house be a triangle.





We thought it came out rather Frank Lloyd Wright-ish. :-)
There is a lot of helping the kids yet with the placing of the crackers......









....but they love placing the candy.



We only had one cave in.....

......but it all came out all right.
We buy all the candy at the dollar store...and save left overs from year to year.



They had a great time. 
This was our 2nd Annual Making of the Gingerbread Houses,
we expect the houses to get better every year. :-)



.....jean

Linked To: Homestead Barn Hop

Sunday in Pictures

........on Monday.  I had major problems with the internet on Sunday, I could not get on blogger.  Seems the powers that be have it fixed this morning.




Had a little chaos Sunday night.
Tried to take a Christmas Card picture of all the grandkids.
Check out Zoe ripping that santa hat off her head.



They all had bells to ring.
I think Gracie is not happy with her bell.
Silly adults......what makes you think they are all going to look at the camera???



Before the "picture",  they all got
to put the ornaments on the
"kids" tree up in the loft.



....and place the kids manger scene out.
Gracie places the angel.

 






So....Mary and Joseph and Jesus,
and 100 animals worshipping with the kings and shepherds.
I just said to Rick....I think we need a stable to "lift"
the Holy Family above the worshippers :-)
The kids had a blast putting it out.
What.....you didn't know there was an anteater at the stable?





































Knowing we would never get a picture with them all looking at the camera, I learned
how to do my first collage on Picasa 3.
Left to right on the top:  Zoe, Ryan, Brady, Remington
Logan, Grace, Brayden, and Riley.

I've told you all I have 10 grandchildren.......
8 on the ground, 2 cooking.



Sunday in Pictures



My oldest Grandson Goliath

Well, no, his name is Ryan.
He's in kindergarten.
See that red spot on his nose??
There was some (big) rock throwing going on by another kid on the playground! Yikes!



Evergreens and dogwood have joined the
winterberries in their winter pot.
Looking Christmassy around here.

 

When the barberry looses it's leaves, it's pretty much all over.
Winter here we come.



Pile-up on Uncle Matt!



Somebody wronged Gracie.

Touchdown!!
"Brayden what number is on your shirt?"
"One -Two"
"Whose number is that?"
"Mine!"

.....jean