Butterfly Hill Farm

Boxes of Music

2012-01-25T21:40:00.000-06:00

My dear husband Richard has been known to come home with some treasures from auctions. Sometimes I trust there is a treasure in there. Other times, I just dive right in.

In the last few months, he went to 2 sales and came home with 2 boxes of music for piano. One of those boxes cost $2. I am not sure what the other one cost. Those most have been a part of life long treasures of the former owners who surely loved music with a passion.

One box (mostly Etude magazine from the 1920-40s) seems more on the classical order with appeal to a range of skills from novice to professional. I have not dipped into this box much but my draw is that it connects me with the early childhood of my Mother and her Mother (who was trained as a classical musician in the early 1900s). It gives me an idea of the "culture of music" present in that time. The other box (mostly the magazine Sheet Music from the 1970-90s) includes popular music past and present. The latter box cost $2. Both include stories and lessons behind the music, tidbits of which will surely help me over time.

I have to say I am positively thrilled. I have gone through the Sheet Music box and pulled out songs which are vibrantly, tenderly, and sometimes painfully etched into memories of my past. Just thinking of those songs and hearing them takes me back to another place and time. The memories just spill over.

So it is to the piano I have gone. I just can hardly stop playing. And yes, my skill level is needing some work but I peck and I plunk and sometimes something reminiscent of something quite beautiful comes out. Other times, not. Oh, yes, even for the best of my playing, the timing is off, I pause awkwardly at new times, and I am missing some keys. I make no apologies. I played piano from the time when I was 6 until I retired at 12. Mother just got tired of the tug of war that she and I would play to get me to practice. I did not return to piano until about 18 months ago (which was 50 years later). I have to say that with the addition of these 2 boxes of treasures, I am having a ball.

I think my family is getting a chuckle out of me. And furthermore, the 3 of us are playing our own game of "Name That Tune" and that is just fun. Sometimes the songs are recognizable and sometimes not. But I am making progress.

As I look at these magazines, I can sense how important music was in the lives of many people. Farmhouses had pianos or other musical instruments. Many played and sang. Whole families would get involved. Traditions of music were very important.

Over time, we have had some modern inventions that were supposed to make things better and in their own ways, I am sure they have. Music however has become something that you listen to someone else play and sing. That "other" is a pro and the common folk get left far far behind. Kids are fed diets of television and electronics. Their own skill in such things is not developed. I think that is really sad and perhaps a serious injustice of sorts.

These are just some of the songs that I played tonight: "When You Wish Upon a Star" (Leigh Harline, Ned Washington, 1940), "Star Wars" (John Williams, 1977), "True Love" (Cole Porter, 1955), "Time in a Bottle" (Jim Croce, 1971), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, 1945), "Three Coins in the Fountain" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne, 1954), "Till There Was You" (Meredith Willson, 1950), "This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie, 1956), "Moon River" (Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini, 1961).

While I have not been doing this very long, this has added a very rich and untapped dimension to our lives here on the Farm. I don't know how far I will go with this, but I do know it will help me with my skill level and my interest in the piano. Those little songs are "teasers" for me practicing and that is cool.

I think about the individuals who collected this music for themselves and now for me. It had to be sad for them to recognize that no one would want these things. Well, someone did and does. And I am grateful beyond words for their collections and their interest.

And what shall I play tomorrow?

Ready

2012-01-24T18:54:00.000-06:00

I just absolutely love Geraniums, the old fashioned Red Ones like Mom used to have (and her Dad before her and her Grandmother before her). When I was establishing my own household up North, I wanted the latest and newest of Plants, representative of trends someone else told me I should follow. The humble Red Geranium did not even make the list. As I have aged and as I have learned that such plants connect us to generations and stories of long ago, I am quite smitten by them.

These Geraniums actually belonged to Mother when she had her last Garden in 2008. I purchased some at the same time from the same place, so some are mine. I don't know which is which and that is OK.

The Geraniums have gone through a kind of "dormancy time" and now they are beginning to put on new dresses of lovely Leaves. Clearly, they are gearing up for the growing season ahead.

When I began this little entry, I intended to share 2 things (other matters popped up too). I love my Geraniums and I love indoor plants especially during the Winter. Silk Plants just don't cut it, and if you don't agree that's OK and it's likely we won't have much to talk about on the plant order.

On any given day, you might find me meandering around the house, checking out the watering situation and just gently "stroking the leaves" of the Geraniums and all their Friends. These plants are my friends and I think they know I love them and respond to the love I give. I think they give love too.

Our western "advanced" way of thinking views Nature as devoid of "spirit". All of Nature is viewed as dead. It's only purpose is to serve Human needs. I simply do not agree. Viewing Plants and any form of Nature as imbued with Life, as filled with Spirit, as a Gift from the Divine, as one in a great Circle of Life of which Humans are simply one part is much more characteristic of Indigenous Peoples. For me, this way of thinking is a lot more fulfilling. I didn't always think this way, but I surely do now.

Seeing the Geraniums and their many outward expressions these days reminds me that soon I will be planting Seeds for transplants into the Garden. Leeks are up 1st and hopefully, I will have them planted within the next week. Having a few more Seeds will help. The Leek Seeds should arrive in the next 7-10 days. Already I am making plans to do some shifts in the house to accommodate Plants at the south facing Windows. Some day I do hope we will have a small Green House but that is a ways off. For now I need to keep focused on what I have to do. I also need to transplant some House Plants too.

Slowly but surely, the Great Wheel of Life with its Seasons is shifting into the growing time. That seems simply amazing to me. After my "hibernation phase", I just might be ready.

Canning Venison

2012-01-24T18:31:00.003-06:00

We canned Venison today using the Recipe that I had posted earlier. We thawed 9 pounds of Venison and sure enough, it made about 10 pints. These last couple of weeks, we have been canning Meat (Chicken and Venison) to clear out space in the Freezer as the 1/4 of Beef will arrive tomorrow.

Having harvests and food crops stored in a variety of ways (frozen, canned, dried, and so on) makes good sense. In Nature, there is diversity and diversity is an important model for the Human too.

We also can Meat just because like it. A lot. Canned Venison (Beef, too) provides a quick start for Stew. So does Canned Chicken. Canned Chicken is simply fantastic for a quick Chicken Salad in the Summer Time after some intense working times in the Garden. We also use Meats in other ways, but these are among our favorites.

(http://butterflyhillfarm.blogspot.com/2009/12/recipe-canned-venison.html)

Seed Orders Complete

2012-01-24T17:54:00.002-06:00

These last 2 days, we have been ordering Seeds from Shumway, Seed Savers, Burpee's, Seeds of Change, and Sand Hill Preservation Farm. We had intended to order from Baker Creek, but unfortunately we still haven't gotten their catalog.

If you would have visited us yesterday, you would have found Melanie and me going through the 2 bins of Seeds. Richard had already decided on what he was going to order. Melanie and I were noting and sorting.

Overall, we are ordering far less this year. Several reasons come to mind. We have been increasingly saving our own Seeds. We have a stock pile of Seeds from past years. Some will remain viable for a while and for those we just plant more than the recommended amount per row. One of the most important reasons is that approaching Gardening Season 2012 (which is our 6th growing Season here), we are much more clear on what works and what doesn't. In the beginning, we planted a lot of "fun things" and we still do. But we do far less, focusing on what we need to fill our bellies, the pantry and the freezers. You can add to that the fact that we are "going simpler" this year. That feels really good.

And I suppose if you have looked at this photo, you will note that we are on a "corded" phone. That's on purpose. We 3 C's are trying to keep things simple, cut expenses, and eliminate modern day practices which are increasingly connected to Human Health Issues. Our little corded Phone ("Old Blue") is kind of cumbersome sometimes, but She works and She is a trusty contributor to our life here on the Farm.

New Camera

2012-01-24T17:42:00.002-06:00

January 22:

Richard and I took a walk this morning and I brought along my new camera. The camera and I are just getting to know each other. I usually take fewer winter pictures. It is just too cold for the camera and me. This day was no exception.

Each of the shots was an experiment: How will it turn out? Maybe the camera is a metaphor for each day and each moment of life: "How will it turn out?" With the camera, I can delete pictures that are not up to speed. With life, it is better not to "delete" the rough spots in the road because they are often great teachers. Even yet, those pictures that do not turn out usually have something to teach me too.

On this day we walked the "loop" which gives us lovely views of the pond, the meadows and the woods. We had awakened to a misty morning and everything was coated with just a tiny coat of ice. Ice is beautiful from a distance. As I am older now, I am not as exuberant about it as I once was as a kid. The only area that was icy was the deck. Everything else was an easy walk.

The day is one with "low light". It is a perfect day dedicated to "rest".

Book Friend

2012-01-24T06:28:00.002-06:00

Seabloom, Robert. (2011). Mammals of North Dakota. Fargo, ND: Institute for Regional Studies. North Dakota State University.

Yes, it is true that this is a posting on a book about mammals in North Dakota. And yes it is also true that this little blog focuses on our adventures right here on Butterfly Hill Farm, which is a long ways from North Dakota. Sometimes I make exceptions for my own very good reasons, she says with a smile.

Bob Seabloom sent us this book and we are just thrilled. Bob is a former colleague of Richard's in the Department of Biology at the University of North Dakota. He, Nikki, and their sons are long time cherished friends from our many shared adventures in the North Country.

This book, to me, represents a "life's work". There is no way that it could not be written without considerable experience gathered over a life time and considerable love for those things wild.

Such a work is best done in community, which exemplifies Bob's work. Scanning the pages bears witness to the many people who have contributed too. Many of those names are quite familiar to us and we smile.

As I age, I am always amazed to see how those many experiences over the course of a lifetime culminate in "life work". All the while, we travel our paths sometimes exalting in stellar moments and other times finding only the dark of a long and vast tunnel which seems will never end. But we just keep going for reasons we cannot always know. And then, right in our hands, we find a book or other work which makes meaning of it all.

Richard thinks that at least half of the mammals in the book are also found in these parts. I wonder if Bob would have some thoughts on that. We will be reading some in his book to get to know our critters here. And we will be reading more to remember our companions up North too. It's probably time to get out Schwartz's book on mammals of Missouri which was first printed in the 1950s. There have been many times that I have wanted to talk to Bob or someone who knows the creatures. It isn't as easy to call or pop into his office these days, but we now have these wonderful references to guide our journeys of knowing more about those 4-leggeds with whom we share the land.

I was delighted also to see that Bob lists names of the animals in the languages of the Indigenous Peoples of that region.

What a contribution, Bob (Nikki too). Thank you for this extraordinary gift!

Quote

2012-01-24T05:59:00.000-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A room without books

is like a body without a soul.

Cicero

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Book Friend

2012-01-24T05:57:00.002-06:00

Llewellyn's 2012 Moon Sign Book: Conscious Living by the Cycles of the Moon. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

This treasure trove features more helpful tidbits than I could ever possibly use or even understand. The old timers used to do a considerable amount "in the sign". Many of us who have set that tradition aside are seeing wisdom and practicality in it. This is a great and thoughtful reference.

Recycling Photos

2012-01-22T11:21:00.001-06:00

January 8:

While I wait until the day that I make a decision on the new camera, I shall be recycling some photos. This one is of Melanie and it was taken a year ago on this day. We were walking in the area that is now our pond. What a difference a year can make. That area doesn't look that way now.

I also note that there is no snow. We had a heavy snow year last year. This year, it has not seemed like winter one bit. The warm temps and the lack of snow have been outside the normal pattern. I hear mixed assessments from the Humans: "I love it", "I try to accept what is", "I feel confused", "I'm uneasy; it just doesn't seem right".

In the meantime, we offer a prayer that the Earth will return to her regular cycles and that we Humans will find our place in it.

~~~~
Note: I am delighted to say that this is the only photo I "recycled" from the treasure chest of photos from this little Farm. The new camera came in to replace the old one which went on strike. (January 24, 2012).

Book Friend

2012-01-20T16:07:00.000-06:00

The Monks of New Skete. (1978). How to Be Your Dog's Best friend: A Training Manual for Dog Owners. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.

Whenever we read a book on dog training, it usually means that we are getting ready to get a new dog or we are training in a dog for our family. That does not happen very often. Years ago, a friend up North loaned me her favorite book when Wicket (our Sheltie) was joining us. Melanie reminds me that it was 1986. The book was entitled: No Bad Dogs, which sounded like a good idea. I did read some of it, but not all. This little entry has nothing to do with the above book, it is just a story that comes up whenever we are getting ready to bring on a new dog. You see, when I got the book ready to return to my friend, I discovered that Wicket had chewed on a corner of the cover. My friend laughed. So did we then and we do today too. Wherever Wicket might be, I can imagine she is smiling and she might be blushing too, if dogs blush under all of that fur.

This and That

2012-01-20T15:59:00.001-06:00

Stuff is happening here on the Farm, and it's a mix of "this and that". It's that beautiful season when "life slows" because that is the natural cycle of things. It is the "rest time". These days, I am not writing as much, and will be taking some time off. Here are some updates:

Our new camera arrived yesterday (and now we get to read the instructions). I am eager to develop a special and familiar relationship with the camera, but for now, we are each one staying in our corners just looking at each other. The battery is juicing up. I really liked the old camera, but it "quit". Considering the reviews on the new camera, I think it will be a good fit.
We have entered a cold spell. Winter has finally arrived. It looks like it could snow, which we would love. We're spending time by the fire in the wood stove. We put the buffalo robe down and the sheepskins on one of the chairs. It's time to snuggle up and read.
Melanie read to us last night from the book: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: A Training Manual for Dog Owners. It's by the Monks of New Skete whose monastery is in New York State. The Monks are well known for their thoughtful and effective methods of training. The book was loaned to us by Sarah who lives on a farm "down south" from us. We are in no hurry to get another dog, but that will be coming up soon. We are reading this to make sure the 3 of us are on the "same page" with training for that new little one who will become part of our family. Laddie (who passed 3 weeks ago) would like that. Maybe he will even nudge us in the direction of the new companion who is best to join us.
We are getting a quarter of Beef from a farmer who lives about an hour from here. We have been so well satisfied with the Beef and the treatment of the animals of our friends. But that means we need to make space in the Freezer. And an organizational program for the Freezer would be nice. Yikes. Since this came up on the radar, we have been canning chicken and should have enough for into the fall. We will be canning venison in the next few days. We have really missed having "canned red meat". Plus, we took 1 day to clean and do inventory of the big freezer. Now that was fun. But it looks and feels so much better now. And we know exactly what we have, in the big freezer, at least.
Richard and Melanie have gotten some "old music" at auction. I went through the 1st box and found some real treasures. I could hardly help myself. I headed straight to the piano to try them out, including "Over the Rainbow", "More", "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "Sunrise, Sunset", "Ma (He's Making Eyes at Me)", "Oklahoma"...
I did some writing on a piece about the Croatian Ladies who were contemporaries of my Grandma Dora. My intention is that it will be a short piece on the Croatian immigrants who settled in Kirksville. This is going to take some time and will involve inputs from others. Soon, I will be sharing some of that on the blog, but it is not ready yet.
Since it is colder and since we are in hibernation, we are spending time doing some things that we have not really taken time for before. Some are so precious to us that we need to figure out how to keep them integrated throughout the year. They keep us grounded, rested, more peaceful and more settled. We are picking up books to read. Again, Richard has picked up some old books at auction. We are reading them and savoring the pieces. He recently picked up a poetry book by Ethel Jacobson. It is wonderful. When we find a treasure, we share it with the family. I am reading "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm". I am enjoying time at the piano each day. I still pause a bit finding the keys, but it is smoother. In case you missed this, I retired from piano when I was 12 and did not pick it up again until about 18 months ago. I am surprised at how much I remember but it is awkward and the fingers don't work quite like they used to. But it is fun and it is indeed peaceful. And I love those times when I can sing too. This week we started taking time for meditation, which is so grounding and settling in "stirred up" times. I am walking, even though it is cold. Melanie is enjoying her growing relationship with "fibers". We could write a lot about this one. Often, the spinning wheel is whirling which makes a lovely background sound.
Leah the chicken doesn't have the best crop of feathers. They are not coming in right after her molt. Is it a genetic abnomality? We don't know. So Melanie made her a sweater. No, it doesn't have sleeves, and it is not a cardigan. No, it does not look like Mr. Rogers. The "sweater" rides on her back much like the chicken capes that Melanie made earlier. We are not sure if this is going to work out.
We are still waiting for the last of the seed catalogs, this one is from Baker Creek. It should arrive next week and when it does, we will be placing the seed orders.
I got the calendar from Stella Natura, which helps us garden "biodynamically". In the next couple of weeks, I may even be planting some Leek Seeds. Is this for real?
We are continuing to "tidy up" and "settle in". I am really excited that we are getting more pictures hung. Plus, I am going through boxes and finding spaces in our everyday world for some dear friends (including books). And, I am pleased to report, we are "culling stock".
I am finding this is an "inward time" and that feels really good. So I may not be writing as much and that feels really good. I hope you are finding some rest space too, dear Reader. Rest is indeed in the natural cycle of things.

Light Snow Snarls Traffic

2012-01-14T20:38:00.001-06:00

The newspaper headline said: "St. Louis: Light Snow Snarls Traffic for Hours". Melanie and Richard both agreed that we had the same situation right here on the Farm. Only the traffic that got snarled was our flock of 51 chickens who were all set to head outside in the morning. Hearing Richard's footsteps, they were all piled up at the door. He opened the door and to their surprise and dismay, the ground was white. I should say that only the front ones saw the change in color. You could almost hear them go "thunk, thunk, thunk". A few got pushed out the door. Some meandered out a bit. But mostly it was an inside day. They were in for hours and hours.

Multi-Tasking

2012-01-14T20:31:00.002-06:00

The day started slow, but many tasks were ongoing this evening on Butterfly Hill Farm. We simmered 5 chickens in the 16 quart stainless steel pan. That took about 2 hours, until the meat was falling off the bone and the bones were coming apart. Richard then set the big pot with its big load in the outdoor refrigerator for it to cool. The outdoor refrigerator is the great outdoors and on this day it was just about freezing temperatures. When cool, Richard separated chicken meat from bone. He is so fast about these things. He then set things up so that we could make some rich "bone broth", because that is what I wanted to do. That will be on tomorrow, all day.

In the meantime, Melanie was flying through cookbooks and coming up with some creative ideas on her own. Cornbread and a modified version of Borscht were on. It was modified because we didn't have all that we needed. The old version of this family would have headed to the grocery store which was about 5 minutes away. Out here in the country, that is not possible. Or rather, I should say that out here in the country, the grocery store is right here. Richard shifted gears and helped Melanie fix supper.

I was lining up and cleaning jars, rims, lids, finding the canner cookbook, you name it, so that we could can up the Chicken. While dinner was on to cook, Richard and I directed efforts toward getting the pressure canner on. I have to say canning is going a lot more smoothly than when we first started this adventure. We know what we have to do, we know what our needs are and we just quietly do it. That feels good.

"Beep beep beep." Cornbread is done. Veggies in the soup are not. A slice of time permitted us to get the canner on. Then we sat down to eat. Meanwhile, Richard and I were watching the pressure indicator to make sure it stayed at 11 pounds per square inch. That required a "look see" about every 2-3 minutes. We don't seem to find a specific spot to set on our range where the temperature stays right where it is supposed to be. Maybe that is a good thing because pressure canners need to be watched very very carefully.

I was canning pints of Chicken without bone. That called for 75 minutes of attention to the canner. It's hard to sit still for 75 minutes. The canner was sizzling and a rocking away with the gentle boiling on the inside. It's a comfortable sound.

We did dishes for dinner and got the kitchen all cleaned up. Melanie washed her wool fibers and carded them. She's cleaning things up now. Meanwhile, Richard was looking at a seed catalog that came from Sand Hill today. I got out some "designated to be rags" and cut them up into usable sizes. We are noting that winter is a time to look at those "best supporting farm hands" who help out at every turn and wear out soon too. Setting aside rags, cutting them up, getting new tea towels are pretty important at this season. I got bored and agitated with being in the kitchen so I allowed myself 2 minute jobs on the computer.

The timer went off. Done!

What Would Martin Luther King Do?

2012-01-14T20:09:00.002-06:00

http://rebuildthedream.com/blog/2012/01/13/what-would-mlk-do/

Quote

2012-01-14T20:01:00.006-06:00

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The more freedom we enjoy,

the greater the responsibility we bear,

toward others as well as ourselves.

~~~~

Oscar Arias Sanchez

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A Lovely Winter's Day

2012-01-12T17:49:00.001-06:00

The Winter Storm came and is it ever beautiful. Please know that with all this warm weather, we have been Storm deprived. Anything that bears any semblance of "normal" is cause for celebration. We 3 C's try never to complain when Weather is in its normal cycle. I don't think that we are "normal" for our kind, but that is OK. In some mixed up times, it is a privilege to step outside the expected path.

And so what did we do on this lovely winter day? Melanie and I went for a walk. Richard let us know that we should cover our faces because the wind was stout. And so we did. We went through the Woods where it was quiet. We stood by the pond and watched the ice which had about 3 feet of water around the outside. That must be because the ground is warm?

In walking on the east edge of the property, we found ourselves walking against the north-north westerly wind. Our heads were down and we didn't say much. The wind whistled and took on a bit of a roar. Trees in the fence row creaked and groaned. Tracks filled in. Who had been there before? When we got closer to the House, Melanie took a fork in the road to head over to her Cottage Site while I headed inside.

Richard has a cold so for him it was a slow day. That's good. I made breakfast which was more like brunch. I headed into Kristina's Spirit of the Harvest: North American Indian Cooking. I made Corn Griddle Cakes and were they good and simple too. The recipe included cornmeal, flour (I used Pamela's bread baking mix), yeast, optional sugar (I omitted), salt, and milk (I used almond and coconut milks).

I had designated this as the day to get started canning Chicken. We have a little Chicken remaining from 2010 in the freezer downstairs. Soon we will be getting a quarter of Beef which will test our freezer capacity. The usual process is to can meat from the year before (Chicken, Beef, Venison). We just love Canned Meat. The Chickens were simmering until the meat fell off the bones. The next stage was to cool it down. This evening, Melanie and I will take the meat from the bones and tomorrow we will do 2 canner loads. They will be according to 3 varieties: mostly Meat (for Chicken Salad), Meat and Broth (as starter for Soup), and Broth (for recipes which call for Broth and those "sick days" when Chicken Broth just hits the spot). The Pressure Canner will do 7 Quarts or 10 Pints. Considering all the time required (including cooling), it's a big commitment.

Melanie worked on her little "Pouch" which is made of her 1st yarns that she has spun. She finished it and it looks sweet. Soon, I will have my camera and we will be back on track with visual images. Not now. I will talk about it just to tease you.

Our Amish neighbor to the east came over to use the phone. He does this on average of once a week. It is always great to visit with him and "catch up" if only for a few minutes. We are all really busy. On his way in, he swept off the Snow from the back porch. He used the phone and talked quite loud. All 3 of us were in the living room (with him on the phone). All of a sudden he was quite self conscious. "I don't need to talk so loud. It's not like I am outside by myself." We all laughed. On his way out, he said that they would be happy to help us "dig out" if we ever need them. I am not sure how we would get the message to him as he doesn't have a phone.

We had a Christmas Card returned which was addressed to Joan F. up in the North Country. Someone had written "deceased". We were really saddened by that but were not surprised since she was the same age as Mom. We adored Joan. She was an amazing woman. She and her husband were involved in prairie restoration in the 1960s long before it was socially acceptable. Throughout her life, she collected native plants and put them in special places in her yard and the yards of others she loved. She always had a story to tell. I cherish the day that she took me up to the Native Prairie Land that she and her husband had restored (with some help from folks with professional knowledge of such things).

When she got word that we were moving back to Missouri onto a little Farm, she marched herself right over. I responded to the doorbell, she came right inside with her Rainbow Cane, parked the Cane by the door and headed over to the Dining Room Table. Clunk clunk clunk. "If you are going to move to a Farm, these are some lessons you need to learn." I wish I had taped it. I remember 2: (1) "Get Goats." (2) "Sometimes your husband will do something that you don't necessarily like to do and you will need to help him. Don't think about it. Just do it." When the lessons for the day were complete, she headed back to the door, picked up her cane, and was gone.

I do remember she was the 1st person I ever knew who said that she had seen 7 generations of her own family, back to her ancestors and through herself and her great grandchildren. She knew she was the matriarch of her family and she was proud of it. In a culture which denigrates age and women specifically, I shall always cherish the role model that she provided.

It seems like an appropriate time to propose a toast to Joan. We are deeply blessed that we got to know her. She is one of those ladies that regardless of when you think of her, you just have to smile. That's a legacy to which to aspire.

As we moved into late afternoon, I headed back into Kristina's cookbook. This cookbook of Native American recipes is just superb. It is fast becoming one of my new best friends. The cookbook includes the story of the recipe, tribes, natural history. The recipes are pretty basic but excellent. We usually have most everything on hand. Tonight, we are having "Grouse Stewed with Greens" (page 130). Ingredients include Grouse (we are using a Free Range Chicken of about 2 1/2 pounds), bacon drippings, wild lamb's quarter (which we love and we are surely to run out), green onions (we used leeks and garlic), dried mint. We added some dried corn. The recipe recommends that the Soup is served over the Corn Griddle Cakes. We have 3 left from Brunch, or at least we did at last count. They have had a habit of disappearing.

In the meantime, Melanie is back at her Spinning Wheel. Its rhythmic sound is a comfort and a lesson that life just goes on and on.

Winter Storm

2012-01-11T17:51:00.003-06:00

Today was a beautiful day, warm temps, nice and sunny, atypical for mid January. And things are changin'. By late afternoon, the winds changed and came in from the northwest, accompanied by dark grey clouds. WeatherUnderground informs us that we are in a Winter Weather Advisory. The 3 C's are pretty excited about that, especially Melanie and me.

I looked out toward the northwest and saw those dark grey clouds chasing in. I held up my hands like a traffic cop to direct the winter weather right here. I realize this might not be a common practice. But we are deeply grateful for patterns which are typical for the cycles of this season.

Seeking Center

2012-01-10T07:58:00.000-06:00

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English,

my Human Centered Language,

permits me to conclude

that "Sun rises",

meaning Earth

must be

Center

of Universe.

More specifically,

wherever I,

as Human,

am,

I am

Center

of Universe.

That is an Anthropocentric view,

for which my Culture is known.

But rather Earth

spins on Her Axis,

giving Daylight and Dark.

She rotates around Sun.

And Sun with family of Planets

rotates around some Center

in the Milky Way Galaxy,

which I see stretched

in a large band across Night Sky.

I am just riding along.

There's more to know,

Dear Child of the Universe.

I know so little of these things.

The little I know

and the more I am aware

of how little I know

fills me with

Awe,

Gratitude,

Reverence,

Respect.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Creeping

2012-01-10T07:39:00.002-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every day

at this season,

Sun creeps a little more

to the East on the Horizon

as He rises in the Southeastern Sky.

We get 1 more minute of Daylight today.

Sun rises at 7:32am and sets 5:03pm.

Yesterday, He rose at 7:32am and set at 5:02pm.

Progress is slow in the thick of what

should be the Winter Season.

By February 2,

the speed will pick up.

We are hanging on for the Ride.

Good morning, Sun!

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Rap on Wrap

2012-01-08T06:32:00.000-06:00

December 25:

We 3 C's had a beautiful, quiet, simple Christmas Day celebration here at the Farm. This capped a series of "honorings" which began just after Thanksgiving.

We took the morning to unwrap gifts over cups of tea (which Melanie had fresh brewed) and with sides of Povitica (which was freshly made yesterday). The latter has definite possibilities for becoming an addition to our traditions.

We were careful throughout to save every scrap that would have use in the future. That means as little as possible for the landfill. It means cutting costs too. I don't need to tell you that wrap is expensive, for the Human's pocket book and for the Earth.

What you see above (from left to right) includes: Santa's bag (this bag has magically appeared under our tree every Christmas morning since the late 70's; word has it that it was formerly a grain bag from our friend and former neighbor Blanche), brown bags which I painted 10-15 years ago (they are reminiscent of the plain brown bags that Richard's Mother used to use to wrap gifts), commercial gift bags and wrapping (some were Mom's), tissue (bright colors and light), ribbons and gift tags (above).

Sometimes I am struck by how much we have changed as we have embarked on this excursion of using as little of the planet's resources as we can. We will be confronted with situations where the change is very evident. Three years ago, we had a lovely celebration with family. Gifts were given and wraps were being whisked away toward the trash can. Melanie and I just stopped in our tracks. We were stunned. We haven't done that for a good many years. We tried not to be intrusive, but we did manage to bring home some lovely ribbons. It's not that we are "cheap", we are just resourceful.

You may notice the Watermelon above. That was the last of the Watermelons from our Garden. Usually they are best only in season. We saved this one for the Chicken's Christmas Dinner. They were delighted.

Upcoming Workshop: "Spring Forward into Gardening"

2012-01-08T06:07:00.002-06:00

Jennifer Schutter, Extension Horticulturist for the University of Missouri, has organized an upcoming workshop entitled "Spring Forward into Gardening", which is set for Saturday, March 31. Topics include: incorporating flowers into your garden, what's killing my trees, growing root crops, growing home garden tomatoes, anyone can raise vegetables, raising backyard grapes, raising backyard chickens, vegetable garden panel discussion, now that I've grown it what do I do with it, and it starts with the soil. Cost is $15. For more info, call the Extension office at 660-665-9866 or check out: http://extension.missouri.edu/adair/documents/Hort/SpringForward.pdf

Both Melanie and I are on the program. Melanie will be talking about one of her favorite subjects: raising chickens. I am on the Vegetable Gardening panel with John Rowe and Gregg Fast addressing: what we have learned in our combined over 100 years of gardening. Every day of gardening I feel like I am once again back in that first day of school. I suppose that would be the 1st thing that I have learned. The learning never ends. It just begins again. And again.

It is always a wonderful time when Gardeners get together and talk.

Great Resource

2012-01-07T21:55:00.004-06:00

Care2 is a great resource for negotiating the maize in creating a greener path. Annie Berthold Bond, the creator of this web site, has been doing this work for a very long time. http://www.care2.com/

Eliminate Styrofoam

2012-01-07T21:53:00.003-06:00

Care2 posted the following petition which is intended to give guidance to legislation emerging in California.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/417/342/275/?cid=Facebook_california-ban-styrofoam

This is what I wrote with a few little edits: "California is a state of exquisite beauty (all states are but just in different ways). Please protect this precious and exhaustible resource. In 1997, our city (Grand Forks, ND) was beseiged by a remarkable flood. When we returned for a long and exhaustive clean-up, we found undamaged styrofoam everywhere. We chased those peanuts everywhere. It was so obvious to us that styrofoam (which is typically used in a few minutes) will be around forever. Ever since, we have cut styrofoam out of our lives to the greatest degree that we can. I would like to think that people would do this on their own. Some day they will. But, while we wait, please do so here"

After the Flood (which came with many teachings), I began to see that the styrofoam that we used would last 500 years. It became apparent to me that whether I intended it or not, that styrofoam cup, plate or peanut was a gift to some future generation 500 years (or 20-25 generations) later. Surely I could do better than that. So we (Melanie and I especially) mounted a campaign to eliminate styrofoam. We have eliminated coffee shops which serve on styrofoam. We bring our own plates to community picnic or meal functions. We aren't perfect but we do the best we can to address a situation which we feel needs to be changed.

This decision to eliminate styrofoam was ramped up a bit with the recognition that styrofoam is typically an oil derived product. In my opinion, styrofoam surely is not worth going to war for, nor is it worth invading some of the last pristine places on this Earth.

Book Friend

2012-01-07T21:23:00.001-06:00

Stratton-Porter, Gene. (1904). Freckles. New York: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers.

Once again, I am on the trail of an author (Gene Stratton-Porter) who I had heard of as a child (and who was popular during the time of my Grandmother Lottie Lillian Hart Brenz). This past year, I read Girl of the Limberlost and loved it. Richard came across another of her books (Freckles) at a sale. Bingo, I have another book to read. (I think we may even have more of her books awaiting which we have purchased at auction.)

Gene Stratton-Porter was a naturalist, author, photographer, film maker in the early part of the last century. She was born in northern Indiana, which is the setting for the "Limberlost" and for Freckles.

Freckles is an orphan who is known only by one name "Freckles". He comes from a brutal and impoverished background. In this book, he is now a young man who has made his first adventures outside the orphanage and the city into the wilds of the Limberlost complete with its wild beauty, snakes, poisonous plants, stinging insects, outlaws, and Swamp Angel. Freckles becomes guardian for the Limberlost for the supervisor of a logging operation which will soon selectively harvest timbers there. People around him fall in love with him because of his honesty, integrity, innocence, and love of the wild. He loves the exquisite beauty of what he sees and is ashamed by the fact that he knows not the names of the infinite expressions of nature. At this point, his boss helps him acquire books to learn about the swamp and its creatures.

The Swamp Angel who at first does not seem real to Freckles but is the product of considerable wealth and privilege enters the picture. Her wealth and privilege extend far beyond the material as she has only known those who would love her. Along with the Swamp Angel comes the "Bird Woman" who studies and writes books on wild creatures of the Limberlost. The Swamp Angel is quite taken by Freckles and he is of her. He is very aware of their differences which in the face of the purity of his spirit, she sets aside. He cannot.

The story includes outlaws who target the trees for cutting, drama which could well end Freckles' young life, as well as 2 women who are courageous and life saving. With the assistance of McLean, who is the supervisor and who becomes recognized as a Father to Freckles, and the Swamp Angel, Freckles begins to think about education. His exquisite talent in vocal music begins to shine.

There is far more in this text. I am finding this a slow read, only because I am savoring every word.

Companion for Rest

2012-01-06T20:20:00.003-06:00

For those of you who are readers of this Blog, you may have noted that we 3 C's are in "rest mode". That is in synchrony with the winter season and it is much needed after the last few years which demanded some pretty high and sustained energy inputs. I am pleased to report that we are making considerable progress on our goal of "rest".

I had this idea for the "rest time" and I think it is pretty "spot on". One of the things that I want to do during the rest time is to mindfully prepare Food for myself and my family. These last few months we had gotten in a rut of fixing the same things over and over again. We love them by themselves but over time they get to be a little wearing and sadly lose their appeal. So here we go: I am fixing food with all the love that I can muster. So far, so good.

Cookbook Friend

2012-01-06T20:14:00.003-06:00

Cox, Beverly, and Jacobs, Martin. (1991). Spirit of the Harvest: North American Indian Cooking. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang.

Kristina loaned me this cookbook and after a brief review, I think it is fantastic. This is definitely one to add to our collection. Recipes and background information on Tribes are given for Native Peoples of the Southeastern Coast and Woodlands, Northeastern Coast and Woodlands, Great Plains, Southwest, and West.

Tonight we had Pawnee Roast Prairie Chicken (it was a free range domestic chicken that we had raised) and Service Berry Upside-Down Cake (we used Blueberries instead). Yum.

Ordering

2012-01-06T02:11:00.001-06:00

I will soon order our 2012 Stella Natura Calendar. We find this to be an excellent guide for planting what and when according to biodynamic rhythms. If anyone in our local community would like to add their order into the mix, please let me know by Sunday, January 8. I will see what I can do.

May Gardening 2012 be a season when we plant, bloom, grow, experience abundance, and continue to learn and be in awe of the rhythms of this beautiful Earth with which we were entrusted.

http://www.stellanatura.com/

Inspiration

2012-01-04T18:26:00.001-06:00

Occasionally, I post inspiring stories which are "off Farm". This is surely one. Ben Breedlove danced with Death over the course of his young life. And he left behind some inspiring lessons for those of us who still have a lot to learn.

As I think about our life on this Little Farm, our intention is to live and express Life fully. It's a Gift, right? Why would we want to do any less? With that intention comes embracing Death as part of the Natural Cycle. On this Little Farm, we have numerous opportunities to see Death. This little video clip fits right in as a lesson along the Path.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35O3E3T3GKQ&feature=share

Converting

2012-01-04T18:19:00.000-06:00

People get kind of cranky sometimes about "expected" holiday parties and other perfunctory social events. This is a great story of converting that wonderful Human energy of Love which is sometimes buried so very deep inside into something beautiful and good. That's what it is about anyway...right?

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/1500-employees-skip-holiday-party-to-transform-farm.html#.TwTPEOyo_8w.facebook

Peaceful Heart

2012-01-04T18:16:00.000-06:00

It is customary at this time to send wishes for a "Happy New Year". I choose a little different variation of the theme: "May 2012 come with the fullest blessings of a Peaceful Heart." When every Living Being comes from a Peaceful Heart, can you even imagine what our World will look like?

Seed Catalogs Piling Up

2012-01-04T13:07:00.002-06:00

With almost every Mail Delivery, Seed Catalogs are piling up. We 3 C's have just entered a quieter, more restful time and are reluctant to move quickly on the Seed Orders. But you will find us occasionally leafing through Catalogs and occasionally sharing insights and needs. We haven't even touched the "Seed Inventory" of the Seed Bins which is an essential step. That will come soon.

I imagine our orders will be in by January 15th, which is the usual time. Those orders will likely be simpler and less than previous seasons. We are more focused now going into our 6th Gardening Season in these parts. We are more able to predict what works and what doesn't, although all the climate shenanigans seem to provide a Wild Card. We are doing the best we can and we are more comfortable with it. That feels good.

Ready When We Are

2012-01-04T12:55:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If Laddie was

to speak,

he would say

"You can't have a Farm

without having a Dog."

"Get right on it."

"Don't delay."

Five days after his passing,

we aren't ready

to move on this one.

But we will be ready

when we are.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cleaning the Chicken House

2012-01-04T12:51:00.003-06:00

Richard headed out to clean the Chicken House this morning. Melanie followed with the wheelbarrow, rake and hoe. Richard cleaned and Melanie brought the glorious Chicken Leavings (Poop, Straw and such) to replenish Garden Beds. I think they smiled at the expanding possibilities.

Richard cleaned the Chicken House under the watchful eyes and clucks of Hennies Clara and Leah. Both are Delawares. Clara is quite a precocious Chicken. She is always there to greet you. She doesn't mind being picked up by the Humans. Quite the busy Lady, she always has a job to do, whether that is finding Grubs or getting into the Food. Leah was also quite a friendly Chicken, but lately she has been going through molt. Since then, she has not been showing a lot of extra energy. It was great that she was engaged in the "doin's" in the Chicken House.

On this day, Clara and Leah had different ideas than Richard on decorating the Hen House. It is their House after all. Richard would put fresh Straw on top of the Nest Boxes and those Hennies would scratch and scratch, which meant the Straw made its way back onto the Hen House floor. He would pick it up and once again it was back down on the floor.

In the meantime, I was in the Human House making Apple Pancake from the Arkansas Blacks which are keeping great in the refrigerator crisper downstairs. The soundtrack from "Pride and Prejudice", which Nile got us when we left North Dakota, was playing in the background.

After about an hour, the cleaning of the Chicken House was complete. Showers were in order. Water was put on for Coffee. And there we were sitting down to Brunch. Yes, this is "slow time" and yes, we have some tidying up to do. January feels good.

Camera Quits

2012-01-02T20:09:00.001-06:00

One of my loyal side kicks is my digital Camera. If you have been following this blog and if you know that I am a visual artist, you will conclude that this is no small partnership. Yesterday, the Camera died, or rather the lens froze, which in modern society means the Camera died.

We do have a back-up but it is primitive. Maybe this is just one more voice in the Universe saying: "It's time for you to take a nice, good, long rest." "Don't short change yourselves."

Until I figure out what to do, that Christmas wrap may be up there on the banner way past due. It's message is applicable to other occasions, she says with a whimsical grin as she clatters away on these keys.

Slow Season

2012-01-02T20:04:00.002-06:00

We are reaching the slow season after the holidays and in the depth of Winter, while it still doesn't feel much like Winter. "Slow season" feels so very good. We 3 C's are definitely going slower. We can be found puttering around, reading a good book or article, stoking the fire and sitting beside it, cleaning little areas that have been long overlooked, resting. Melanie is now making cookies. Can you smell the aroma wafting out this way?

Seed Catalogs are arriving. In the next 2 weeks, we will have our orders in, which includes: reviewing what we have and ordering what we need. These days, we are known to poke our noses into the Seed Catalogs, but not too seriously. Yet.

Winter is the time of sleep in the natural cycle of things. That sounds and feels very good. The Humans on this Little Farm like this program.

5

2011-12-30T18:38:00.003-06:00

The day did not start nor progress the way I thought it would for our 45th anniversary. Laddie, our beloved 12 yr old Sheltie, has been up and down these last 4 weeks. We took him to the vet earlier today. On this day, he got really bad, and at 4pm, he passed. We get yet another lesson: Life is a precious gift.

I am not really in a space for words right now. And the house seems a little quieter. We are all on the somber side. The 6 of us came here in 2007 to this Little Farm (Richard, Melanie and me, the Humans; Max and Scamp, the Cats; Ladd, the Dog). Now we are 5.

Book Friend

2011-12-29T19:49:00.002-06:00

Spyri, Johanna. (1968). Heidi. New York: Lancer Books, Inc.
~~~~
I have recently been drawn toward reading 4 novels from the late 1800s and early 1900s. These are works that have been passed down in my family's lore. They are likely books that my Grandparents [especially Lottie (Hart) and Fred Brenz] and my Mother read. I read 2 of the 4 when I was growing up. Of the 3 that I have read recently (Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright, and Heidi by Johanna Spyri) and the 1 that is in process (Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter), Nature figures heavily. Nature is healer. The tension between urban and rural is very evident. Urban life styles are split from Nature whereas rural living is imbedded in Nature. Authors speak articulately of these themes. I can imagine that with the rise of urban, industrial and more consumer oriented settings in that time period, the struggle between urban and rural was very apparent. Life styles in rural, natural settings were healthier for body, mind and spirit of main characters. Assuming needs are met, it is not hard to see an affirmation of this in our modern society today.

A Cookbook in our Future?

2011-12-28T20:12:00.002-06:00

I am seriously thinking about putting together "Our Family's Cookbook". This Cookbook would be just for us. Most of our Recipes are now stored in a box about 2 inches deep and just the size of an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper. (That box once held clear plastic sleeves for the early 1980's book I put together on the boys' Mother's quilts. It makes me smile every time I pull it down.) Of course, we have favorite Cookbooks besides, but most of our favorite Recipes are stored in that box. That includes alteration and bannings: reduced sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated fats, natural sugars (molasses, honey), gluten free.

I have had several observations:

What we eat often defines a given time period in our lives. The "Cheesecake Period" comes to mind. Those Foods have been very much enjoyed but do not meet later tastes and needs. When a given Food loses its place, the Recipe becomes banished (although not intentionally) to the bottom of the box. Over the years, the Recipe is cycled into another location, perhaps one of several locations. Some day, they will all be re-united and they all seem to be looking forward to that.
Now that we are living on this little Farm and growing as much of our own food as we can, we cook and eat seasonally. The Foods that we eat often times give a flash of connection with a given season. If I would hold up a flash card of a Food and ask one of us to name the season, it would be immediate: Meat Loaf (Fall, Winter), Wilted Lettuce (Spring), Stuffed Peppers (Fall, Winter), Sauerkraut and Sausages (Fall, Winter), Chicken Bone Broth (Winter), Mint Ice Cream (late Summer), and so on. There are a few that we eat year round, but not nearly like we did before when we lived in town, had a smaller garden, and just bought Foods whenever we wanted them (within reason, of course).
What that means is that the Recipes in the box are always rotating. Those which are "in season" are at the top. When their season is past, they move toward the back. When those recipes are at last moving close to the bottom, their season arrives and it is time to dig them out once again.
For us, it would make sense to build a Cookbook around seasons. Those old Cookbooks which have sections on Meat/Fish/Poultry, Desserts, Vegetables and Salads, and so on seem to disconnect us with the rhythms of the land. I find them less useful than a seasonal organizational system. At least that feels right now and I would like to "play with it".
A few years back, I made Melanie a Cookbook and it was quite clever, if I say so myself. The Cookbook included all time family favorites. With each Recipe, I included pictures of Melanie and our family at the time that the food became a favorite. It was really sweet.
I can see that the future "Our Family's Cookbook" would integrate pictures of us too. Plus, it would incorporate pictures of family members who have passed on traditional Recipes that have become part of our fare like: Grandma Crawford's Molasses Cake (the original and the update), Grandma Dora's Povitica, Grandma Lottie's Steamed Pudding (with her picture and Aunt Ruthie's picture because it was Aunt Ruthie who brought it back).

In my spare time, I shall work this up.

Recipe: Mashed Root Medley

2011-12-28T19:41:00.001-06:00

Notes: We always used to have Mashed Potatoes (and sometimes Mashed Rutabaga) with our Turkey Dinners. Over time we have switched to a Mashed Root Medley, which we absolutely love. It is tasty and ever so pretty. Carrots and Chives give it a confetti look. Potatoes are the base, representing the greatest amount but probably no more than half the volume. Any favorite relatively bland edible Root would be good. Amounts can be adjusted based on tastes.

Potatoes (preferably Red, skins on, cut in chunks)
Parsnips (cut in chunks)
(Optional) Rutabaga (did not use)
Carrots, shredded
Garlic (cut in small chunks)
Onion (chopped)
Fresh cut Chives (chopped)
Whole Milk
Butter

Simmer Potatoes, Parsnips, Rutabaga, Carrots, Garlic, Onion until tender. Mash by hand or whip in mixer. Add just enough Whole Milk and Butter for a softer consistency. Stir in Chives. Put in bowl to serve. Richard always stuffs a chunk of Butter into the top, making it look like a mini-volcano. Serve.

Recipe: Wild Rice Dressing

2011-12-28T07:27:00.000-06:00

1 1/2 cups uncooked Wild Rice (Minnesota Wild Rice from the Red Lake Band given by Dorreen in 2008 and Ross in 2009; we are almost out)
Giblets
6-8 T. Butter
2-3 c. chopped Celery
3-4 c. chopped Onion
2-3 large cloves of Garlic, chopped fine
3/4 c. chopped Pecans
Culinary Sage (about 3 Tablespoons Dried)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Simmer Giblets (Neck, Gizzard, Heart, Liver) in water with quartered Onion until tender. Crock pot works nicely.

Boil Wild Rice in water on low heat, just enough heat to keep a gentle boiling process going. Wild Rice is about a 1 to 4 ratio, which means that 1 cup of Wild Rice uncooked yields about 4 cups cooked. This usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to cook. All liquid should be gone. If not, drain.

Drain, saving broth for Dressing and for coating skin of Turkey during the final stages of roasting. Remove meat from neck bones. Grind or cut Giblets fine. (Some of this can be saved back for the Gravy. Yum.)

Saute Celery, Onion, Garlic in butter until tender (almost transparent). Add Sage when almost done. Assemble all ingredients except broth. The Turkey is now ready to "dress".
~~~~
Note: Wild Rice is not local to these parts, however, it is something that we came to love in the North Country. As long as we can get it and it is Native harvested in the traditional way, we will use it and enjoy. We also discovered at Thanksgiving that we love Cornbread Stuffing. (Bread Stuffing is a little heavy and I am trying to do Gluten Free.)

Recipe: Roast Turkey

2011-12-28T07:04:00.001-06:00

13-15# Turkey (raised by local Farmer and Friend John Arbuckle)
Dressing (Wild Rice or Cornbread)
Coating (1/3 c. melted Butter, 1/2 tsp. Cayenne or Paprika, 1/4 c. fresh or dried Parsley, Salt, Freshly Ground Pepper)

Oven: 325 degrees.

Thaw Turkey completely. This usually takes us 3-4 days depending on the size of the Turkey. If we can, we will thaw it in the Refrigerator. If the temperature is just right outside, we will sometimes thaw it partially there, covered and protected of course. If indoors, we will cover with cotton towels to slow the thawing process.

The day of the Feast has arrived. Rinse Turkey with water and pat dry. At this point, we had the Turkey in the large oblong Blue Granite Roasting Pan on a small grate (to keep it off the bottom). Stuff loosely neck and end cavities with Dressing. Do not pack. Place rest of Dressing around the Turkey. We love this because it will cook well in the juices of the Turkey. Add 2-3 cups of the Broth from the Giblets in the bottom but not all.

Coat Turkey skin with melted Butter and sprinkle with Cayenne (or Paprika), Parsley, Salt and freshly ground Pepper. (We used Fresh Parsley from the Garden.) This will make a nice "artistic" look, the skin will seal and be tasty.

Cover with Roasting Pan lid. Place Turkey in the Oven with racks arranged so that it is in the center.

Turkey (with Dressing) will take about 20 minutes per pound to cook completely. In the last 2 hours, we check the Turkey and pour Broth from the Giblets on top (to keep Skin from drying out and to make a nice coat). Mother always used a Turkey Baster and we have no such thing. Pouring lightly works nicely.

Turkey is done when wing or leg can easily be pulled (almost separated) away from the Turkey. At this stage, they just about fall apart with a slight pull. Remove Turkey from Oven to set up and cool a bit before carving.
~~~~
Notes: My Mother always used to put her Turkeys in aluminum foil, sealing them completely. While sometime quite a wrestling match toward the end, I always followed her lead because I thought it would keep them quite moist. However, I would often find that the foil leaked at the seams, meaning juice was escaping from the cooking of the Turkey. Here on the Farm, we try to eliminate our use of Aluminum, to cut down on waste and because research suggests a relationship with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. This time, Melanie insisted we skip the aluminum foil which we did. I was afraid the Turkey would dry out, but it was absolutely excellent and the skin was done (not overdone) to perfection.

Mother used to have the Turkey in so that we would sit down and eat at Noon sharp. That was no small feat, meaning that she would be up very early in the morning in preparation. Meanwhile her small children were behind the bedroom door like wild animals in a cage (almost) or rather like horses chomping at their bits to begin the race toward the presents under the Tree. The regimented "eating at noon tradition" is one we have set aside. We open presents in the morning accompanied by leisurely cups of Tea, Povitica, and Christmas Music. When this stage is complete, we 3 C's head to the kitchen and prepare the Turkey. We eat about 6pm. Give or take.

Christmas Dinner Menu

2011-12-27T23:45:00.000-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roast Turkey

Wild Rice Dressing

Gravy

Mashed Root Medley

Greens

Cranberry Relish

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie sans Crust

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: We used to have many dishes at our Christmas and Thanksgiving tables. In recent years, we go simpler and put our energy into those few dishes which we love the most of all. Yum.

Quote

2011-12-27T12:53:00.005-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Healthy discontent

is the prelude

to progress.

~~~~

Mohandas Gandhi

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Povitica on Wheels

2011-12-27T05:06:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, Melanie and I took slices of Povitica to 6 Elders in our community. Three are in the Nursing Home (1 has Alzheimers) and 3 are living at home. The latter is a fact of which I am personally exceedingly grateful. I had not known 2 before, although they surely connect with my family, especially my Dad. That was 5 stops and we surely could have found other things to do after a very busy Holiday time. But these visits took us to magical places we had not visited before. They gave us energy and it came right back to us again.

Povitica is a Croatian Nut Bread which the old ones (and those before) with Croatian ancestry (or via marriage) would have made and enjoyed greatly in years past. Given the right connection, it is a gateway into vibrancy of culture and story. Memories are stored in food: who fixed it, how they fixed it, who ate it, what life was like in the swirling world around. This elemental connection goes being just eating to fuel our tanks.

I wish you could have seen Marie, who is increasingly compromised and, from her wheel chair, sat over plates of pushed around food. She took that slice of Povitica and put it right into her mouth. "Now this is food," she said.

For me, on some level, it is almost "medicine". It nourishes heart and spirit. I give it because something inside me (or far greater than me) just knows it is right. I give it as a means of honoring Elders and story. I also give it as a means of letting folks know that we know its importance and we are not about it to leave it (or them) behind.

Conventional culture with its emphasis on high speed and fads has been insistent in leaving these treasures behind. Previously, such foods would have been markers of considerable prowess and caring. Few, if any, in families of modern time know how to prepare them. Elders bear witness to a world which has left (or tried to leave) them behind. Consequently, people who follow do not know who they are. Many superficial things (not the least of which is materialism) are put in its place. They provide neither comfort nor will they endure.

When we take such treasures to Elders, sharing touches places which are deep and rich, even when we visit people we have only known from a distance. Stories emerge. Connections which I had not known before are made and strengthened. Depending on who I visit, tears, smiles, and laughter are offered. Pictures may be carefully carried out of their home places and shared.

Yesterday, one of the women talked about how she had loved my Grandmother Dora Budiselich Bloskovich who passed in 1966. That's a big deal for me, because I never really felt I knew her. She did not speak English. My Mother (who was English and German in heritage, as well as Protestant) and her 2 children seemed to represent all the things which this culture had tried to take away. My relationship with Grandma Dora was at the very least complex. My child's mind put my own spin on it while trying to make sense of something that did not make sense. And yesterday, I found someone who might be able to offer glimpses into other parts of Grandma Dora's life. You could call me a thirsty woman on a desert path. I will be back.

In the instance of the man who has Alzheimer's, it is difficult to know what if anything might be stirring on the inside. I guess I just have to trust that on some level something was. I always let his family know when I have made such trips (which are at Christmas and sometimes at Easter).

Normally, I would take the 1st of samples to Elders. Circumstances last week did not permit. Melanie had a cold which she had recovered from by the end of the week. I made Povitica on Friday which was far later than I expected. On Christmas Eve Day, the Povitica was ready to travel, but it was a difficult day with all of our final preparations to run errands. Plus, I was well aware that we might "intrude" on family Christmas celebrations which might already be in place. So we did the best we could and took the Povitica yesterday.

I have often thought that it would be neat to have a bakery/coffee shop in this town which offered some of the old varieties of story which were about the settlement of this place. Maybe, this early version is one on wheels. I feel deeply privileged to be a part. While it took time and energy, we got far more than we gave.

Quote

2011-12-27T04:03:00.005-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as I saw you,

I knew an adventure

was going to happen.

~~~~

Winnie the Pooh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

45 Years

2011-12-26T09:03:00.001-06:00

On Friday, Richard and I will mark our 45th wedding anniversary. It hardly seems possible. We were 19 and 18 at the time and are now 64 and 63. We've been blessed with a lot of growing and learning time together. How absolutely beautiful and extraordinary is that?

On this day depicted above on December 30, 1966, we were headed off into an adventure that we somehow knew was right but could never ever really completely know what might unfold. We just trusted we would find our way. I suppose every day since has been the same. We usually have not gotten quite that dressed up for it.

These days, it is pretty easy for me to go "go slow mo" over the events in the days preceding our wedding. Our house on Ely Street was filled with all the loving appointments of a wedding and a new couple creating a household. Everything was ready and waiting.

At the time, Dad's Mother (my Grandma Dora Bloskovich) was not well. When we had just sat down to our Christmas Dinner, Dad got a call that she had passed in the apartment that she and Aunt Anna shared on West Jefferson. He immediately left.

Dad and his Sisters worked on plans for her service and burial. Her service was in Kirksville at the Mary Immaculate Church on I believe Tuesday, December 27. That was an odd experience because I had never been to a Catholic Service and knew little of my place, plus my Dad and his siblings had long since disconnected with the ways of the formal church. And to top that off, Grandma's passing was that of one of the family matriarch's in the Croatian community. Her passing removed a link to the Old Country, to language and custom of a rich and varied past.

Grandma was buried later that day in Des Moines which is about 150 miles away. The trip there with hearse and hearse driver, Grandma's casket, and her 3 adult children was in the middle of a knockout snowstorm. The travelers felt great tension (in addition to the usual issues of loss) and those awaiting the travelers on return were on pins and needles deeply concerned about their safety. That trip inspired many stories over the years.

Also during that week, my Dad and his 2 sisters were going through Grandma's personal effects, which were few. They headed straight for her steamer trunk which she had brought from Croatia in 1908. Even as children, they had been told in no uncertain terms to "stay away". I was there when they opened the trunk. The feeling in the little bedroom was a contrast of young children (now in adult bodies) told to "stay away from the hot stove" and opening a trunk filled with magic. The trunk included many treasures from the old Country which had not been suited for the harsh life of a immigrant family in a strange and often unaccepting land. I can only speculate that Grandma Dora had carefully tucked them and her dreams away. My Dad and his 2 sisters gave me Grandma's wedding ring as they felt it was most appropriate for a soon to be new bride. Quickly thereafter, they re-packed the trunk and Aunt Mary took it to Kansas City where it stayed until the mid 90s.

Our rehearsal dinner followed and then our wedding. The energy of all of that mixed together was hard to sort out. About 6 weeks after we married, Richard and I took Grandma Dora and Aunt Ann's apartment, including furniture and pots and pan. Dad and Mom had mostly put them together and they were tickled to give us a start. That same apartment in the Triangle Apartments building at 401 W. Jefferson had been home to Grandma Lottie and her 2 daughters (Mother and Aunt Ruthie) after Grandpa Fred died and before Daddy came home from "the War".

These are mostly "memories of that week or the weeks" following. It's funny how certain marker occasions bring a flood of memories of the details before and after. It seems like each step of the way is yet another brush stroke on the canvas.

And here, after 45 years, we have embarked on another adventure of "opening a new day". I have developed this ritual that when Richard and I awake at the same time in the morning, I'll say to Richard: "We get another day." How cool is that? Once again, brush strokes emerge on that precious larger canvas.

These Times

2011-12-22T04:30:00.000-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These times demand the best

of our thinking, feeling, knowing, being.

We are going to a place

we have not been before.

May we bring the best

we were brought here to bring.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quote

2011-12-22T04:27:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The affinity of the human spirit

for the earth and its beauties

is deeply and logically rooted.

As human beings, we are

part of the whole stream of life.

~~~~

Rachel Carson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Singing Along

2011-12-20T09:05:00.000-06:00

Kirksville Community Chorus sang Christmas Carols at 3 Nursing Homes last night. I just love taking music and energy to Elders, to folks who are stuck in bodies and spaces that just don't move like they used to. It's such a simple thing to do. The nods, singing along to old favorites, gentle smiles, for some brief flickers of recognition, and claps with once skillful and now awkward hands are huge rewards. (Note: This little entry marks 1948 on this little Blog. That's also the year that I was born.)

Data

2011-12-20T09:02:00.004-06:00

Data mounts on the urgent need for humans to alter daily practice to preserve living systems of the Earth and sustainability for all those who follow. I know which side of this fence I sit on. And what shall I do today: A handmade Christmas gift rather than a store bought one. It's a lot more satisfying too. (Shhhhhh...don't tell anyone.)

http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/60291-ecosystems-shift-as-climate-changes

Pond Watch

2011-12-20T08:56:00.000-06:00

December 6

December 18

Introducing Christmas Branch

2011-12-20T08:49:00.004-06:00

We 3 C's have long been using Pine or Spruce trimmings for our Christmas Tree for quite some time. On December 12, we headed out with Saw and Eyes to the White Pines to see which Branches might like to become this year's Blessed Christmas Tree/Branch. Two were selected. Richard and Melanie sawed them. Then the 2 of them secured them in place with 2 screws and a little board. The Christmas Branch (which really was "2") was later put in a bucket with a big rock and water, and the decorating began. And so what are the "perks" for us of this little choice?

We trim from Trees here.
And yes, the Christmas Branch is spindly in today's standards. But it was a gift of Nature and is just perfect. Somehow, it reminds me of the Trees of my childhood. They were perfectly imperfect too.
No Tree died.
The Branch is fresh, contributing the tiniest of scents to the house.
It isn't offgassing nasty chemicals into our house like the conventional ones are known to do. We don't need to put scented candles or other nonsense to cover up the smell. (It doesn't work anyway.)
No chemicals were added to "green it up".
It isn't made from "oil" which is typical of conventional Holiday Trees.
It wasn't shipped in from China or some other remote part of the Earth, our Home. And if you haven't figured it out, we 3 C's on this Little Farm are seriously trying to reduce our use of Oil and our impacts on other regions of our World. (I hope Folks in those horribly affected areas know we are trying.)
We carried it on our own 2 feet and it was a nice 5 minutes walk in the fresh cool air.
No, it won't last as long as an artificial one. As soon as it's done, we will compost it around the Blueberry Bushes, who will also be thrilled.
Those artificial ones will take forever to biodegrade.
Generally, White Pine holds its needles, but we may have a Needle or 2 to pick up. Some folks say that real Trees are messy. Nature is messy. But you talk about a mess: I suppose we can consider that Artificial Tree which will become long tired of use a gift in Full Landfills to those future Generations. Yes, that is a real mess. Those future generations will be scratching their heads and wondering: "What were they thinking?" "Were they thinking?" "Were they thinking about us?"
And in this moment in time, we 3 C's can feel satisfied knowing that we have not knowingly contributed to the ill effects of the above.
Are we perfect? No. Will we ever be? No. But we have the satisfaction of using our Creative Gifts to try to a different route.

So, it is with great pride, love, and gratitude that we introduce to you this year's Christmas Branch.

http://www.science20.com/science_motherhood/great_debate_real_vs_artificial_christmas_trees

Simplifying Christmas

2011-12-18T22:16:00.002-06:00

A few days ago, I ran into an elderly woman, a matriarch of her family, someone with long connections to this area. Our families have known, loved her and respected her for a very long time. She and I stood with our backs to the meat counter and she said: "Christmas isn't fun like it used to be. It has gotten way too complicated." I would agree. My family and I are trying to reduce the complications and keep it simple with the things that matter to us.

I am pleased to report that I have always had a live Christmas Tree except for about 6 years when I was growing up. I remember when Mother purchased the new "tinsel tree" which had Red Glass Balls and a beacons of rainbow colors shining on it. I was in about the 7th grade and I was so very sad that we no longer had the living tree. Those tinsel trees were all the rage, but they did not cut it with me. Richard had always had a live Christmas Tree when he was growing up. In fact, his family grew and sold Christmas Trees.

Throughout our marriage, we have always had live Christmas Trees or live greenery. In the last 15 years, we have had a "Christmas Branch". We don't like the thought of cutting (AKA killing) a live Tree. So instead, we just cut a Branch or Two from trees on our place, tie them together, and put them in a bucket which is then covered with the Christmas Tree Skirt I made some years back (and have not completed).

We used to have a 7 foot tree and a myriad of ornaments. I would buy them wherever I went. I had a "collection" which included some additions for every year. Over time, I concluded: "That's not what Christmas is about. That's not what has meaning for our family." So I culled the stock and sent some on their way to other families who would enjoy them. The ornaments on our Christmas Branch are the old ones: ones from my childhood, Richard's, Melanie's and ones from our shared experience together. They are humble. They are old. Many are hand made by the children that we once were. Some are worn, in fact, very one. But they are so very beautiful. When I put them on the Tree the other evening, I smiled and shed a few tears. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Certain Moments

2011-12-15T21:55:00.001-06:00

Certain moments in life present different opportunities and challenges. Sometimes those are clear, other times not. For me, moments in these days after the loss of my parents and our move here (all in the last 4 1/2 years) present the need for a deep and nurturing rest. I suppose that is Winter's plan in the normal cycle of things. I feel richly blessed that I live in a space where I might revel in such doin's. Like the ground hog, I may come up and check for my shadow in early February. But the big plan for me (and to some degree my family too) is a tender rest over the coming Winter months. I will likely write some but not as much.

Quote

2011-12-08T04:09:00.001-06:00

Each of us is put here in this time and in this place to personally decide the future of humankind. Did you think the Creator would create unnecessary people in a time of such terrible danger? Know that you yourself are essential to this world.
~~~~
Chief Arvol Looking Horse (Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations)

I Remember Now

2011-12-07T03:47:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had forgotten

how on a night

when the Earth

has a blanket of Snow

the inside of the house is

blessed with light.

I remember now.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Seek to Know

2011-12-06T23:26:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The less we know of who we are

the more we have to fill our lives

with something outside ourselves.
No thing
on the outside
is sufficient to fill that gaping hole.

I seek to know

who I am.

I seek to be

who I am meant to be.

I have no need to fill my life

with something outside of me.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Povitica Day

2011-12-06T23:18:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow Melanie and I are making Povitica, a Croatian nut roll attributed to my Grandmother Dora (Dragica) Budiselich Bloskovich (Blaskovic) and my Dad (Jack Felix Bloskovich) too. The ingredients are all lined up. Starting time has not been announced, but when that magical moment arrives, we will find our places as if in a play of which we know our roles as true nature. The elves will be quite busy in the kitchen throughout the day. The aromas will be wonderful. It's a celebration day that seems to connect us with all those who came before. It is an honoring of the ancestors and of who we are.

Here We Go

2011-12-06T22:37:00.001-06:00

I am pleased to report that the "Holiday Heritage Tunes and Treats" (Fri., Dec. 9, 7pm, 1st Presbyterian Church) is shaping up to be a wonderful event. The program includes: singalong of beloved songs of the season, free will offering to Hope's Kitchen, door prizes from local merchants, and heirloom treats.

The music is just fantastic. Rich McKinney has set it on a smooth, even, and quick pace. We go through a lot of music in a relatively short time period. There will be some spot solos. It is just amazing how he has organized this. The quick pace is in balance with the serenity of the songs. I find the whole thing just uplifting. (Plus, Rich tucks in 2 teasers of the upcoming "Christmas Cantata", which is our concert on Monday, Dec. 12, 7:30pm, 1st Christian Church. The "Cantata" is an original composition by Rich who is a gifted composer. Yes, this is a big weekend for us.)

Melanie has headed up the door prizes for our Friday event. The response by local merchants has been wonderful. The door prizes are all "heart", they are playful, they represent time, talents and sharing abundance of people within our community.

I am heading up the treat and social part of the evening. We will be working on "transforming space" in Fellowship Hall for this special event. Volunteers are fantastic. People are bringing heirloom treats which have special meanings in their holiday traditions. The treats could be relatively recent or connecting to those who have gone before. I am asking those who are bringing treats to bring the recipe (with their name on it), brief story of the origin of the recipe and why it is special to them, plus a picture of the originator. The latter is optional.

The feedback on the treat portion has been great. This is a relatively new concept in conventional times where life is fast paced, traditions are cast aside, store bought and fast foods are elevated as standard and as better. These foods introduce "slow food". You just have to think about it. People are calling Elders and other relatives in distant places. They are searching for those old recipes down in the bottom of recipe files and drawers. Some are practicing this week as they have never made the recipe before. Some are being shipped in because that's who makes them.

We will post the recipes, write-ups, and pictures on 2 large bulletin boards behind the treats. Cindy is meeting me there on Friday to work on design. Linda will be helping too. I love to work on the creation of space as "art".

To me, the overall theme of the event is "giving". Because we each are giving to the event, the event is just full of boundless joy. It is quite fitting that we give a free will donation and in this case it will be to Hope's Kitchen. How cool is that?

Thanks to Rich and everyone who is helping make these upcoming concerts 2 very special events.

It seems like whenever I start out on a new project that I am on a roller coaster slowing going toward the top. Clickety clack clickety clack. I am not sure that I will get there. And then all of a sudden, there is a stunning view and here we go. That's where we are now.

Recipe: Springerles

2011-12-06T21:49:00.001-06:00

4 Eggs
1 # Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Anise Oil
1 Tbsp. Butter
Flour for a stiff dough

Beat Eggs and Sugar until light and fluffy with mixer. Add Baking Powder, 1/4 tsp. Anise Oil, 1 Tbsp. Butter, and enough Flour for a stiff dough. (I added 1/2 cup of the Flour at a time until it was just about stiff enough to roll out. Then I put the dough on a floured surface and worked in a small amount of the Flour so that it could roll out easily, but still stay "soft".) I shaped the dough so that it was smooth on top and the width of my Springales rolling pin. Roll out with a regular rolling pin until the dough is about 1/4 inch thick. Then use molds to shape. Place on lightly greased and floured cookie sheet. I like to put a sprinkling of Anise Seeds on the cookie sheet. Let stand for a few hours or overnight. Bake in slow oven at 300 or 326 degrees.

Source: Walter "Wag" and Adah Wagner were our neighbors across the street when my Dad, Mom and I moved into our "new house" in 1951. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner had no children of their own and their family was far away, so we became their family and they became ours. They were kind of like grandparents to my brother and me, although we did not call them that. We were grandparent deprived as 3 of the 4 had already passed and the 4th lived a long ways away and didn't speak the only language we were taught (English). Over the years, Dad became like a son to Wag.

I will always remember that night when my Dad carried me across the street in my pajamas to stay for the rest of the night with the Wagners. My Dad and Mom then went to the hospital; that's where they "got my baby brother". I was 5. And I will never forget that Mrs. Wagner sat with me in my darkened bedroom during those 2 weeks when I had the Old Fashioned Measles. In those days, children were kept in darkened rooms because of fear of blindness.

I remember that Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were small, even to me as a child. My child's eye remembers them also as blocky in stature. They reminded me then and to this day of gnomes. I would surely hope that is not a negative statement. Their house was small too. Mrs. Wagner even had an extensive collection of tiny little pitchers.

Wag and Mrs. Wag were of German descent. Wag was a baker, candy maker and carpenter. I am not sure how all of those things fit together, but they did. At Christmas time, he would make "Springales" with those lovely wooden block molds. When Richard and I were married, he and Mrs. Wagner gave us wooden Springales molds and this recipe. The molds are long gone and the recipe's ink is badly faded from being underwater in the flood in 1997. Richard and I have been on the lookout for Molds. I found a wooden rolling pin with molds in an antique mall this fall. It's still not quite right, but it will do for now.

Wag's recipe is abbreviated: "Springales Xmas Cookies 4 eggs 1lb pd Sugar 1/4 tsp xxxx 1 teaspoon Baking pdr, 1/4 teaspoon annise Oil, flour for a stiff rollout do- Beat eggs + sugar until light + fluffy with mixer when you add the flour add 2 tablespoon of butter. Rollout + cut in shapes desired. we use the molds. Let stand a few hrs or over nite + bake in a slow oven 300 or 325."

("xxxx" Wag lists what looks to be a leavening ingredient and then crosses it out.)

Permission to Rest

2011-12-06T13:52:00.001-06:00

We had our first Snow today. We woke up to that wonderful blanket of white. If the sayings of the old timers are true, our 1st snow on December 6th means we will have 6 total snows this Winter.

I love Snow and I love Winter. I loved it as a Child, for this part of Northeast Missouri has a reputation of being the coldest in the state. I learned to love it in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where we lived for 32 years. Winters there are severe. Nature shows one quickly who is in charge. Adapting is a virtue and an element of survival. A recent study shows that Grand Forks is the 2nd coldest city in the U.S. That makes me smile. We just loved it.

As for today, we luxuriated in the blanket of white. We are going slower. Richard made pancakes embellished with bananas, blueberries, and pecans for breakfast. Afterwards, we took a trip back to the pond to see the progress of such things. Even Laddie, our Elder Sheltie, went along. We checked out the progress of the Native Grasses in the area Richard seeded this year. The Chickens were staying inside their Coop looking out. Melanie harvested the last of the Kale and Parsnips. We kept banking the fire in the Wood Stove. Soup is on.

Mostly we are going slower. We have long last gotten that precious "permission to rest".

New Video

2011-12-05T21:39:00.001-06:00

The Center for the New American Dream has produced yet another thought provoking piece. These issues are in the work of our time.
http://www.newdream.org/resources/high-price-of-materialism

Recipe: Date Roll Candy

2011-12-04T21:30:00.001-06:00

3 c. Sugar
1 c. Milk
1 1/2 c. Chopped Dates
1 1/2 c. Chopped Nuts (I used Pecans)
1 tsp. Vanilla
Butter size of Egg

Combine the sugar and milk, cook to soft ball stage, medium heat. Add chopped dates and cook to hard ball stage, then add 1 1/2 c. chopped nuts, 1 tsp. vanilla, butter (size of egg). Beat until stiff. Roll in damp towel to cool. Slice when cool.

~~~~

Lottie Hart and Fred Brenz on their wedding day, Nov. 15, 1911

Lottie Hart and Fred Brenz with their daughters Ruthirene, Dorothy, and Louise, 204 E. Hickory Street, Kirksville, MO, Sept. 14, 1941

~~~~
Notes:

Mother wrote on the recipe card that her "Mother and Daddy made this just before Christmas. We loved it." I remember having this when we were growing up, but I had not had it for decades. When we moved back to Kirksville, I talked with Mom about it. That last Christmas season she was in her home, I asked if she had the recipe because I wanted to reclaim some of the old family favorites. She said she was not sure where it was. After she fell in January 18, 2009, I found this recipe in her recipe card holder above the sink. She surely must have found it and set it aside for me. This seemed a perfect recipe to take to the Holiday Heritage Tunes and Treats event which is on Friday.

I have to chuckle at the "Butter size of Egg". So many of the recipes of old were not standardized. Cooks just knew what was meant and their language was a good bit more colorful. They also knew the ingredients that they were working with after many trials. Often, they did not use a recipe. So how much is "Butter size of Egg" for modern ones like me who have no clue? I broke an egg in a measuring cup which was 1/4 cup. That Egg was about 3 tablespoons.

Quote

2011-12-04T19:58:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hand that rocks the cradle

is the hand that rules the world.

~~~~

William Ross Wallace, 1865

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forgive Me (Part 2)

2011-12-04T04:02:00.001-06:00

These photos show images related to my Grandma Dora, Aunt Anna, and Aunt Mary, all of whom were amazing teachers of food preparation and presentation in my life. Today we would call that "slow food" but they did it quite quickly and with skill that would astound and could not be replicated by many today. Aunt Mary's restaurant, which is above, was called "The Argonne Cafe" and was located at 1731 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. The Argonne was near both the Ford Plant and Meredith Publishing, an area which must have been "hopping" during the War years. Aunt Mary took great pride in her restaurant. She would speak of it often over the years, as if it was a defining moment in her life. (I wish I had been paying more attention.) She truly must have been in her element there. She was an amazing and inspired cook throughout her life. I do not know when she bought the restaurant. I do know that she worked there before she bought it. The card below suggests that it was her restaurant in 1941. I do not know the vintage of the vehicles in the above photo but that would be a way to date the story too. I believe that some of the 1st images of me on our family home movies are in front of this restaurant. I was a baby and the year would have been 1948 or 49. Aunt Mary sold the restaurant in about 1954. Thinking of her after this time in her own kitchen in Prairie Village, Kansas, I see feet running to the market to purchase the best grade of ingredients she could find and arms going in all directions grabbing just what she needed for that next culinary pleasure. I also hear much uproarious laughter besides.

One of the lessons that I learned early in life was that if you ever had an opportunity to "eat with Mary", you wouldn't dare pass that up. It would be a sensory pleasure you would be talking about for years, and in this case for a lifetime. Maybe that explains in part why Aunt Mary reportedly had long lines of people waiting outside her restaurant. It is easy to see why.

Mary's sister Anna moved to Des Moines to help Mary with her restaurant. I can imagine that it was significant support for these 2 women who were 1st generation born in this country to Croatian immigrants to have been in a very active Croatian community, including Dora's sister Sadie Budiscelich Ruppe. In the above image, Aunt Anna is in the kitchen peering over the counter. I can imagine that Mary and Anna were quite a team. Aunt Anna would have been in her mid 20s to about 40 when the restaurant closed.

Here is Aunt Mary at the till of her new restaurant. Aunt Mary began some of her early restaurant work at the Younker's Tea Room, which these days would have been called "up scale". By the time she was about 30, she was a restaurant owner. She and M. Wayne Bryson married in 1954 and moved to Kansas City with his transfer in the Ford Motor Company in 1955. She would have sold the restaurant sometime before. Both she and Aunt Anna look the happiest in these photos that I have ever seen them. Aunt Mary's ownership of the Argonne included the years of World War II. During this time when men were gone to the war, women took on many leadership and work roles which were not customary at that time for their gender. I can imagine that her restaurant was just hopping and with it came great pride that she was successful and doing her part.

I love this picture of my Croatian Grandmother Dora (Dragica) Budiselich Bloskovich (Blaskovic). While she is ironing rather than cooking, she is indeed in her small kitchen. I see that wonderful refrigerator behind. This would have been just about the same area that I remember making bread with her when I would have been 6 or 7. Grandma Dora and Grandpa Kazimer moved to Des Moines in October 1946 with Kazimer's decline in health. They lived at 1111 East 9th, which was next door to Dora's sister Sadie and her husband Matt Ruppe. This picture would have been taken about 1948 or 49. Grandma Dora would have been about 70.

Bee Hive

2011-12-02T22:39:00.001-06:00

On this day, Melanie took a course on Bee Keeping, sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension Service and taught by Jim and Valerie Duever from Auxvasse, Missouri (www.jimandifarms.com). Melanie says it was an excellent workshop covering such topics as history, anatomy of a honey bee, life cycles, castes, how to build a hive, the hive tool box, pests and diseases. After lunch, participants built a hive consisting of one brood box (the bigger box) and one super which was to be a door prize at the end of the class.

Melanie has wanted bees for years, so the class was a must for her. She wants to do her part for conservation of Bees. Of course, we'd like and need the pollination too. And we love Honey.

As they got closer to the give away, Ethan from the Farm down South looked at Melanie and said: "If you win this, it will be the Universe's way of saying it's time to get Bees." She had already been thinking about that. At the end of the day, they read the number 685 which she had right there in her hand, to which she responded: "Yesssss!"

We are always having adventures here on the Farm. It is also somewhat amusing that she has been in charge of door prizes for the Kirksville Community Chorus "Holiday Heritage Tunes and Treats". She has spent considerable energy making sure that there are lots of fun, exciting and whimsical Treats for folks. On this day, it was her turn.

Forgive Me (Part I)

2011-12-01T22:18:00.001-06:00

Forgive me but I come from a long line of women who placed importance on Food they crafted and shared. And why should I ask for forgiveness? After writing this, I am really not quite sure. We seem to be living in what my experience tells me are "strange times". I grew alongside master cooks. At first, I stood on a chair beside them, later on a succession of stools growing shorter, and later I found my feet firmly on the ground. They were not perfect cooks, but they were my considerable teachers. These days, a lot of people don't cook and they don't know how to cook. Some even have kitchens just for show, but you couldn't really cook there. These elements of strange times make me sad. I am grateful to these lovely ladies for their remarkable spirit of preparing food for the ones they loved. Furthermore, these days, I am once again happily outside the loop.

My Mother Dorothy Brenz Bloskovich collected recipes. Her countless clippings from newspapers and magazines, her cookbooks and subscriptions to magazines (including Southern Living), and her careful instructions on recipe cards and the back of any piece of paper at hand gave birth to a collection of recipes which seemed to have no beginning and end. Her notes included: "so and so likes this" for every member of the family. She was an expert pie maker. Those pies were served up in our home but they also went on excursions far and wide to church suppers, to ice cream socials and picnics, and to families in special transition: new neighbor, family experiencing a death, family with a new baby. She was the one who would march into the house after a long day of work and sit down at the phone with paper and pencil in hand to organize a meal for a family in need. Furthermore, she seemed to shine in graciousness, organization, and table appointments. She never called herself a cook which was a surprise, but we did.
Aunt Mary Bloskovich Bryson was owner and operator of the "Argonne", a restaurant in Des Moines in the 40s and early 50s. Word has it that people waited in long lines out the door just for a place at one of the tables. When my family and I would visit her and Uncle Wayne in Kansas City (later Aunt Ann too), every meal before us was a feast. She had the best potato salad, which inspires mine today. She made barbecued ribs which cause me to salivate just thinking about them. And her lasagna was an art form. She called it "LAH sig NAH". I do not know if she knew how to pronounce the word, but she sure knew how to make it. As a growing girl, I would often spend 2-3 weeks there in the summers. She was in a bridge club of 8 ladies who would show up for delicate foods served royally on china and linens on card tables in her tiny stuffed living room. That was the first time I ever saw, heard of, or tasted a Stuffed Tomato, which was all the rage at the time. She stuffed Tomatoes with Tuna Salad. I remember them sitting happily on their iceberg lettuce leaves in her downstairs refrigerator. I admit that I haven't carried on the tradition of making Stuffed Tomatoes.
Mary's sister, Aunt Anna Bloskovich, was a waitress at Mary's restaurant too, where both were cooks. Apart from the restaurant, Aunt Anna excelled in the old Croatian cooking. That probably came from living with her Mother Dora Budiselich Bloskovich until Grandma died in1966. If a person wanted to cook one of those old favorites, she was the one to ask just how to do it. When I was in between my 9th and 10th grade year, Aunt Ann and Grandma had just arrived in Kirksville. Aunt Anna made amazing homemade bread which was soft and yellow. I thought her bread was so good that she should enter it in the County Fair. I promised that if she would make it I would ride my bicycle from their apartment at 401 West Jefferson to the fairgrounds to take her bread. Sure enough, I picked it up, placed it in my bicycle basket, and began pumping those peddles as fast as I could on the long way to the Fairgrounds. Sadly, I fell on my Bike and the poor loaf of bread didn't survive in a form that was fit for showing. I felt terrible. But at least she knew that I thought her bread was the best around. Aunt Ann like Aunt Mary cooked with an amazing flare. Their hands and arms were going in all directions, ingredients and mixing bowls just magically appeared at the right time as if part of their own grand play.
My favorite memories of Grandma Dora are of her in the house at 1111 East 9th Street in Des Moines. We would have traveled those 150 miles to Des Moines for very special trips. In those days (late 40s and early 50s), travel was a very big deal. Upon arrival, we would be greeted by aromas from a country far away, a royal feast for us (especially my dad) who were honored guests. Even at a young age, I felt like I was a visiting royal. I remember one specific trip there when I was in the 3rd grade. When we arrived, which was late on a Friday night, I had never seen a table so laden with food. I am surprised that it held up. I remember eating the best Fried Chicken I think I had ever had. I ate 4 legs and 3 wings. I simply chowed them down. I could hardly stop. I can imagine my Mother was aghast, but my Grandma and my 2 Aunts loved every bit of it. I remember making bread with Grandma Dora. She spoke only a few words of English and I spoke only a few words of Croatian. But we spoke volumes through the bread that she made. That soft pillow of bread dough bore our hand prints as we kneaded it just to the right moment. Her Povitica has become a standard in our family.
And I cannot forget Aunt Lula Myers Hart. She took care of my brother and me when we grew up as our parents were both working, a matter which was highly unusual in those times of the 1950s and 60s. Aunt Lu fixed basic foods from the simplest of ingredients. Some seemed to bear the stamp of the Depression Era. My favorites were Hamburger Hot Dish, Peach (or Berry Cobbler), and Raisin Bars drizzled with the tiniest bit of powdered sugar icing. Aunt Lu usually had fresh warm cookies or bars awaiting my brother and me when we arrived home from school. She also fixed our dinner. Mom and Dad would arrive home tired and worn out at about 5 pm. She had that hot meal waiting for us, while she gathered up her things and Dad took her back to her tiny apartment. I always thought one of the best gifts for working parents and their children was to come home to the aroma of food especially prepared. (That didn't happen to me, except on occasions when I used the Crock Pot.) Aunt Lu made the best Homemade Noodles. I still can see them all covered with flour while they dried on the wooden board. When I went off to college and took a food preparation class, I asked my professor, Dr. Dorothy Pearson, if we would make Homemade Noodles. I just assumed we would. They were standard, right? Much to my chagrin, I found out Homemade Noodles were not in the curriculum, but Mrs. Pearson did point out a recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.
Aunt Louise Brenz Wells (later Glassburner) would have feasts awaiting us when we would arrive at their 35 acre farm just east of Sublette. Her famous Roasts would tickle and tease the senses as we walked into that little Farm House. They inspired the Roast that I make to this day. Her Thanksgiving Dinners could have been featured in rural farm magazines. We would walk into her house through the small and narrow kitchen which had a row of windows and door on the east. That old Kitchen Pump with its icy cold water in winter held its place of pride through all those years when they did not have running water. One of my favorite memories was her Fiesta Dinnerware which seemed to make Rainbows radiate from her cupboards. I loved her Macaroni and Cheese with the little bits of Pimenta throughout. She was renowned for her cakes: Angel Foods and Hawaiian Orange Chiffon.
I should not leave off Aunt Ruthie Brenz Griffin. While she lived on the west coast and we rarely saw them, she and Mother were always trading recipes, especially in the latter years. About 20 years ago, Aunt Ruthie helped us reclaim the tradition of Steamed Pudding, which was from their English Mother, Lottie Hart Brenz. I also remember that during the special times that Aunt Ruthie came, the table appointments were works of art. Everything just gleamed. One of my favorites was the little hand made place cards telling people their special places to sit. We all had a hand in making the table pretty, which I loved.
Of all my foods experiences, one that has shaped me has been that cooking was something that was a shared experience. Everybody helped in some way, especially the girls and the women. (My Dad was fine cook in his own right and he was an excellent and speedy dishwasher.) From the time I was wee little, I always had a place to help. Over time, my aprons got bigger and I learned more and more. I began to contribute solo too.
I shall close with another entry about Mother. One of the things that I learned from my Mother was that the food should look pretty on the plate and on the table. You don't just plop food down. You consider how it will be presented in the best light. This little entry takes a side trip too. One of her favorite places to go on very special occasions was the McDonald Tea Room (1931-2001) in Gallatin, Missouri. Virginia McDonald (b.1887-d.1969) was widely known for her culinary creations (she was also known for her big hats). She had a cookbook and was the subject of numerous articles. Her restaurant was a destination spot long after she had passed. Her gifts were inspirations to Duncan Hines. Yes, Duncan Hines was a real person. Virginia McDonald believed that food should look pretty on the plate. That included embellishments. I loved that. To me, the plate became just another canvas to paint.

Regretfully, I do not have pictures of all of the above in the kitchen or close to that beloved "power central" of the household. I suppose that the work of the kitchen was considered a bit mundane for the taking of pictures. Plus, the subject may have wanted to look her best in front of the camera's eye. And she did look her best when she was in the middle of those preparations.

While I had posted images of Aunt Ann and Aunt Mary earlier, I moved them to another post. The above pictures of Mother's new kitchen in December 1951 are much more fitting for this entry. She and Dad had just built their new house and moved in November. I can only minimally know the pride that she put into the design of this magical place. This marvelous staging area was all set for culinary expeditions and wonders, for teaching me some valuable tricks for the life time.

Winter Lore

2011-11-30T22:08:00.001-06:00

The Old Ones would say that whenever we have the 1st trackable Snow, the date of the calendar represents how many Snows that we will have. Melanie was hoping for upwards of 30. Tomorrow is the 1st. Snow is not yet in the forecast. We love Snow.

Taking Care of Family Archives

2011-11-27T23:17:00.001-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, Amanda Langendoerfer, from Special Collections at the Pickler Memorial Library of Truman State University, presented on preserving family collections to the annual fall meeting of the Adair County Historical Society. She shared the following, "Resources for Private and Family Collections" from the Northeast Document Conservation Center: http://www.nedcc.org/resources/resources.php

This is a big deal for me. I have some very precious family photos and documents with which the ancestors have entrusted me. They are entrusted to me, not because I "own" them, but rather to hold for future generations. These simple treasures demand my utmost vigilance and care. I choose not to be a break in the chain. I may not be perfect in their care, but I will do the best that I can.

Thank you, Amanda...

Great Internet Resource

2011-11-27T22:54:00.001-06:00

I just discovered "The Lexicon of Sustainability". This is a great resource, helping those of us who are concerned about Sustainability to increase understanding, reclaim language which has been co-opted by the industrial complex, and put words into practice.

http://www.lexiconofsustainability.com/about/
http://vimeo.com/17829122
http://vimeo.com/30716968
http://vimeo.com/31169974

Seeing works like this and having people doing this work telling about it via the internet into our home is hope of our time.

Quote

2011-11-27T21:30:00.001-06:00

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In the middle of winter,

I discovered in myself an invincible summer.

~~~~

Albert Camus

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Note: This is one of my favorite all time quotes. I had forgotten about it, but it is rather time that I remember. At least 20 years ago, I was using this in one of my classes.

Toward Small and Many

2011-11-27T03:01:00.001-06:00

I found this to be a great read. Once again, Bill McKibben is spot on. He speaks of the shifts in our time when we are moving away from a world of the Few and Big toward a world of Small and Many. "Small is beautiful." We are watching this shift from our view out here on the Farm.

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6491

Picking Up Speed

2011-11-26T02:40:00.001-06:00

Daily counters on Blogspot and Statcounter show that "hits" on the post "Recipe: Povitica" on this blog (http://butterflyhillfarm.blogspot.com/2008/12/recipe-povitica.html) are picking up speed. This recipe was originally posted December 23, 2008. Since that time, this recipe has received 2995 hits. Google searches have shown it to be anywhere from 1st to 3rd ranking in number of hits for Povitica Recipe.

And why would it be picking up speed now? Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditional seasons when this Croatian nut roll would have been served. Easter is not far behind. Ask the Grandmothers. Just perhaps they are nudging us now.

Melanie and I will be making Povitica in about 10 days. Yum.

Quote

2011-11-25T03:55:00.001-06:00

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Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.

~~~~

Seneca

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Simple

2011-11-24T19:15:00.001-06:00

We had a simple but serene Thanksgiving. Most of the food was local and most of that we raised right here on the Farm. We just sort of sat in awe at all that was before us, including the 3 of us who sat around the table.

The Turkey was raised by Farmer Friend John Arbuckle. Melanie picked it up yesterday at their Farm. It was fresh. We also had 2 kinds of stuffing: Cornbread and Wild Rice. The Wild Rice was from Dorreen, our dear friend up north. I included some roasted Corn from her family. That's a traditional dish among their tribe (Sahnish). That made us smile, a big warm smile.

We had Cranberry Sauce, fresh Brussels Sprout Salad, Mashed Roots (carrots, parsnips, celeriac). The celeriac crop was pretty pitiful this year, but just having a taste made it all the better.

I used to think you had to have heaps and gobs of everything. We had plenty today. And I didn't over stuff myself. Instead, I savored every bite.

Our meal was gluten free and dairy free. I was tempted to "slide back" into my relationship with my old favorite companions. But my family said we didn't need too. So we didn't.

We also skipped dessert. I will make Pumpkin Pie tomorrow and it will be "sans Crust". Things have changed around here, but they have also stayed the same.

It was beautiful outside: sunny and in the mid 60s. We could have snow soon. We also did a little work outside to finish off prior to winter setting in. Richard completed the chicken wire fencing in the Garden. With some degree of ceremony, we opened most of the Garden up for the Chickens. The ones who found it were pretty impressed. They had a Thanksgiving celebration of their own. I finished picking my Dry Edible Beans. No, I did not "clean the vines". I just took some. That's plenty. We will give the rest back to the Earth.

A consistent theme emerging is "rest". We worked that in too.

Quote

2011-11-22T07:42:00.002-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When people are least sure,

they are often most dogmatic.

~~~~

John Kenneth Galbraith

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Upcoming Events

2011-11-21T23:42:00.000-06:00

Melanie and I are in the Kirksville Community Chorus, a fact of which both of us are quite proud and humbled too. Melanie has been interested in music since she was in elementary school. She loves to sing. I am a new kid on the block. My first choir since the sixth grade (in 1960) was last spring. And I do love to sing. "It's never to late to teach an old dog new tricks."

We have 2 concerts coming up. The big concert is Monday, December 12, 7:30pm, at the First Christian Church. We will sing our director's (Rich McKinney's) original composition of a "Christmas Cantata". But Rich has had numerous requests over the years for a sing along. And we are going to do that too.

The "Holiday Heritage Tunes and Treats" will take place at 7pm, Friday, December 9, First Presbyterian Church. This "sing along" of beloved Songs of the season also features a sampling of traditional treats with special meanings to friends and family in our community. Door prizes will be given. The evening is at no charge (in fact, both concerts are). A free will offering will be given to Hope's Kitchen, a project which feeds families whose means prohibit adequate food.

Members of the Community Chorus plan to bring special treats to share. We invite others interested to do the same.

Kazimir Blaskovic

2011-11-21T23:00:00.007-06:00

We know little of my Croatian Grandfather Kazimir (also Kaiser, Kasimer) Blaskovic (Blascovic, Blaskovich). We have precious few pictures. Some show him partially cut off the picture. Others show him under the shadow of a hat which makes seeing features of his dark skinned face difficult to impossible to discern. The only clear picture is the photo which accompanies his application for citizenship. The man sort of floats in mystery.

He was born in Sunger (also Sungar) Austria, March 4, 1874. According to writings in the file, Kazimir's parents were Peter Bloskovich (also Petar Blaskovic) and Catherine Kruzich (also Katarina Kruzic). He married Dragica (also Dora) Budiselic (also Budiselich) May 1904. According to his declaration to become a citizen of the United States, he entered the United States for permanent residence at New York, NY on the vessel SS St. Paul.

Ship's manifest records give the following information for Kazimir: Croatian in ethnicity, Austrian nationality, Sunger (permanent residence), "non-immigrant alien" (meaning previous residence in USA: Connelsville, MO 1905-1908), 34 years old, "workman", could read and write, nearest relative (Petar Blaskovic), paid passage himself, $100 in his pocket, described as joining brother "Stif", 5'9" tall, brown hair and blue eyes, birthplace: Sunger, Croatia. The St. Paul left Cherbourg, Manche, France, and arrived at Ellis Island, October 24,1908.

Kazimir's obituary written in English states he died at age 72. This obituary is assumed to have been written for a Kirksville paper. His residence at that time was 1111 East 9th, Des Moines, Iowa. He is buried in Highland Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines. His obituary notes that he came to the United States in 1900, later returning to Sungar where he married Miss Dora Budiselich. Parish records from St. Phillip Apost. in Mrkopalj (now: Croatia) give their marriage date as June 7, 1905.

According to his obituary, they came to the United States in May, 1908 and lived at Albia, Iowa until 1916. Daughter Mary's birth certificate lists her birth in 1910 as Novinger Missouri and her place of baptism was Milan Missouri. Daughter Anna's obituary lists her birth in 1913 in Albia, Iowa. Son Joe's Certificate of Discharge from the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1936 lists his birth in 1915 in Albia, Iowa. (Family story has it that they were born in Fraker, Iowa, a coal mining town in the central part of Bluff Creek Township of Monroe County. Its post office was Fraker from 1907 to 1915. Source: http://www.iowaghosttowns.com/page98.html 11/26/11) Son Jack's birth certificate lists Kirksville Missouri as place of birth in 1918.

Kazimir died in 1946. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, Mary and Anna of Des Moines, one son Jack of Kirksville, one brother Steve (also Stif) Bloskovich (also Blaskovic, Bloscovich) of Madrid, Iowa. Son Joe had gone missing in the 1930s, a subject of great family pain and life long seeking. Two sons had died in infancy. The 1st died shortly after their arrival in the US and is buried somewhere in southern Iowa. Dad said longingly in the latter years that he had a little brother buried up in Iowa. The last born (Tonay) was told to be buried in an unmarked plot among the children of the Philip and Anna Bubany family in the Highland Cemetery in Kirksville. When I was growing up, my Father and Mother never failed to put flowers on that grave.

One other obituary is in the files. This obituary is written in Croatian and is assumed to be for one of the many Croatian newspapers in the US at the time. His date of death is listed as May 15.

"The deceased spent many years in Kirksville and there belonged o the section Hrvatska [Croatian] Brotherhood. He joined us P.L. last year on the 23rd of January, 1945. He slipped on the ice at the time he was still in Kirksville and he hurt his leg. So since that time, he was getting worse. His two daughters lived here for many years and owned a restaurant. They brought their parents to them so they can give them a special hand. The deceased worked for many years in coal mines and was one of honest and hard worker of the old Gorski region. He was born 73 years ago in a village Sunger, of Mrkopalj, Gorski Kotar, Croatia." [Gorski Kotar means "small mountains".] ... "One of his sons Joe disappeared 12 years ago." [Translation was done by a Nun at an orphanage in Zagreb when Melanie and I were there in 2002.]

Kazimir's work life in the United States as a coal miner was a typical choice, a harsh and dangerous reality of immigrants of the time. On August 3, 1923, he received his Certificate of Competency as a Coal Miner from the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals State Miner's Examining Board.

A letter from Philip Mihalovich (who represented Croatian miners) dated February 21, 1949, documents Kazimir's coal mining experience, with the intention of finding financial support for his widow. This is an excellent review of his experience. Without it, we would have little idea of his work. The following information comes from this letter.

Kazimir joined the United Mine Workers Union in 1902 and was an active member until about 1939. Over his life, he worked in different places and states (Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa). He worked in the following mines: Connelsville, MO, mine number 4 or 1; Novinger, MO, mine number 50; White City, Iowa, mine number 6; Fraker, Iowa, no mine number listed; Albia Iowa, Croatian Coal Company Mine; Des Moines, Iowa, Moyle Block Shuller Coal Company; Kirksville, Missouri, mine number 3; Springfield, Illinois, no mine number listed; Kirksville, Missouri, mine number 3; Madrid, Iowa, mine number 6 and Carny Coal Company.

"Kazer" Blaskovich was listed on the pay roll of 854 coal mine employees (1924-1966) for the Billy Creek Mine Company which is in the Novinger area. Billy Creek was the last shaft mine in operation in Adair County. It closed January 14, 1966. (Source: http://www.adairchs.org/NovingerRenewal/Novinger/coalmines.htm November 25, 2011) An article in the Chariton Collector, a magazine which featured local stories and lore, discussed the Billy Creek Mine. This article speaks to the seriousness of the mining occupation and the balance with humor and camaraderie of miners. [Cenedella, David. (Spring 1983) Billy Creek Coall Mine. (http://library.truman.edu/scpublications/chariton%20collector/Spring%201983/Billy%20Creek%20Coal%20Mine.pdf)]

Kazimir was a Timberman for about 15 years.

"a. In bituminous coal mining, a head timberman is a foreman who supervises workers installing timbers in a mine to support the roof and walls of haulageways, passageways, and the shaft. Also called timber boss; timber foreman. b. A miner skilled in notching, erecting, and securing timbers set in mine workings. The craft of the timberman is gradually becoming extinct with the advent of power tools and steel as a support." [from Webster's On Line: http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/timberman?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=timberman&sa=Search#906 November 23, 2011]

I have often heard my Father refer to his Dad being a "Timberman". While I am no expert in mining, I can assume from the description above that a Timberman was a very serious occupation requiring considerable skill, responsibility and trust. The Timberman's work was to make the mines safe for his fellow Miners (and himself). This was no small responsibility.

Mr. Mihalovich's letter goes on: After that, his activity and his health declined. "Most of the time was absent memory and no good for any of the hard labor." (This date of separation came when he was about 65 years old.) A draft document in the file lists members of the United Mine Workers who testified that they knew "Brother Kazimir" and that he was an active member of their Union.

Frank D. Wilson, President and Secretary Treasurer of the United Mine Workers of America (Albia, Iowa) wrote back on February 18, 1948, noting that "we can find no record in this office of death benefits having been paid on Kazimer Blaskovich." ... "We are indeed sorry we are unable to help you in this respect as we did not know Mr. Blaskovich personally and have no knowledge where he last worked and to which local union he last belonged."

Richard purchased the carbon lamps in the photo above at auction. These lamps with the flames in front were typically worn by Coal Miners of the period that Kazimir represents.

A video of the Novinger area reports that women made beds so that they would be ready for a miner who had been injured. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002640813774 I cannot even imagine what that would have been like, for the miner and his family, both of whom knew he might not return as he left the house for his work day. I do not even want to think about it.

I can surely see that my Grandfather likely did not have the full range of choices in his new homeland, which was then typical of immigrants. He could not go back. He did the best he knew how to do. A secure job with a secure income had to be extremely important to stabilize the present and future of his family.

~~~

Notes:

(1)Regretfully, I am unable to use the appropriate diacritical marks on Croatian spellings. My miniscule knowledge of the language allows me to know that something significant is missing. I suppose I could comment that the "language eradication program" begun when he arrived is surely now mostly complete.

(2)Please also note that there is inconsistency in some of the records, which with the passage of time and the communication between immigrants and English speaking recorders is not surprising.

(3)Sometimes I will post a writing that I am continuing to "tweak". Usually, entry is complete within 2 weeks of the 1st posting, if anything is ever complete. This surely is one of them. More information is popping out of the file. If you have special interest in this entry, you may wish to note the "last edit" at the end. That will tell if some change is still being made and when that most recent change was complete.

~~~~

Last edit: November 26, 2011

New Chapter

2011-11-19T22:24:00.001-06:00

I could probably write a book about this one, but I will keep it brief here. There are markers in life which "close a chapter" and "open another anew". Those moments are substantial. We have had one such moment occur in the last 2 weeks.

In the 4 1/2 years since we moved here, a continuous theme has been care of ageing parents, support for end of life stages of frail elderly (who were and always will be giants in my life), and transitions for those who remain. Mother passed a year ago in October, so we marked the first full year without her. That was big. Two weeks ago, my brother and I sold our parents' house. We moved in when I was 3 years old, which was 60 years ago this month. The house is small by today's standards, but it is special none the less. A young family is moving in and we could not be more pleased.

On the way to the closing, I checked into my Facebook account. A friend from Up North had just posted a poster showing a ground squirrel all stretched out with a front paw that seemed like it was waving. Bold print read: "Go on without me." The poster was from "Dorothy", to whom my friend said "Thank you, Dorothy." (Mother's name was Dorothy.) In the approximately 4 entries below was reference to Titanic Jack. (Dad's name was Jack.) My friend closed with "Have a great evening everyone." In that moment, I knew it was going to be OK. My brother and I (with our families) have done well in closing out this chapter. It is now time for us to get on with our lives. Mother and Dad smile.

On: Horizontal Surfaces

2011-11-19T22:07:00.001-06:00

I had noted earlier that during the Harvest Season, every Horizontal Surface is covered with produce or with supplies and materials for processing Food. We have made substantial progress. I am pleased to report that the Horizontal Surfaces are once again freeing up. Today, we found the top of the Dining Room Table. I felt like I was reuniting with an Old and Beloved Friend.

As the crescendo of the Harvest is fading and an end for Garden Season 2011 is in sight, another Horizontal Surface is being reclaimed. These are places of repose and restoration for the Farmers. Yes, the Gardeners are finding themselves on Horizontal Surfaces. And that feels so very good.

Book Friend

2011-11-19T22:01:00.000-06:00

Wright, Harold Bell. (1907). The Shepherd of the Hills. New York: A.L. Burt Company.
~~~~
These days, I am really drawn to read books from an earlier time. When I was growing up, I would hear fondly certain titles that probably came out of the time of my Grandparents. When I read them, I feel like I am being given a privileged glimpse into thinking and thoughts of another time. This book, which is set in the Ozarks, is one of them.

Litter

2011-11-19T12:47:00.000-06:00

I have often thought that the Litter which we Humans in our "Advanced" Civilization so carelessly toss about should bear our names, addresses, and phone numbers. That litter is a gift for all those who follow. Some Litter will take 100s and 1000s of years to biodegrade. Those future generations (and even some of the present ones) would surely like to know to whom to credit the "gift".

Recycling

2011-11-19T12:41:00.001-06:00

It's really easy to pass by that trash we see littered about. There's plenty of it. Those plastic bottles seem to be multiplying. Most of our fellow Human Kin don't even give it a passing glance. I wonder if those elements of trash are secret road "counters", keeping track of how many Humans in our "advanced civilization" pass by before anyone does anything, before anyone cares.

When that person comes along who does pick up the trash, things should stop. People should note and spontaneously cheer. I can imagine that everyone in the outer realm (Human and non-Human) would be a part, plus all of those who are yet to make their homes here. But most important of all, that cheering section should clearly reside within the person picking up the trash. We pick it up because we know that is what we should do.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/flash-mob-rewards-recycling-woman.html

Turnips and Beets

2011-11-18T17:48:00.000-06:00

November 10:

Harvest is almost complete. On this day, Richard harvested Turnips and Beets. They are beautiful. The Beets are not near so abundant as the Turnips. Would you believe that some of those Turnips weighed in at 3 pounds?

In Praise of Back-ups

2011-11-18T07:17:00.000-06:00

These last few days, I have been sitting with a cold. I am indeed better, for which I am grateful beyond words. I am not quite there yet. I still need some tender care and rest.

It is amazing to me the insights that come from being sick. Bodily functions become so much more clear. I'm more aware of what works and what should work, but doesn't. Everything else just seems to fade away. So what is an example?

For 1-24 hour period, which seemed like an eternity, I could not breathe through my nose. Needless to say, I was aware of every breath. I should probably be aware of every breath every day anyway. I also became aware that the marvels of our construction have provided a back-up just perfectly suited for such occasions. If the nasal passages are compromised, one has only to open one's mouth. In fact, that happens automatically. If Nature had not provided this, the outcome of this cold might have been way different for me.

You could call this little entry: "In Praise of Back-ups".

Beacons

2011-11-18T07:06:00.002-06:00

This video clip is deep, rich. Arundhati Roy goes to the heart of the matter. It will likely not be an easy read or "sit" for those who have been fed for decades a paltry and unquestioning diet of corporate sponsored mainstream news. This kind of news comes with "blinders" whose intention is to keep us on a well rutted, worn out, and unsustainable path.

But her words can provide thoughtful reflection and hope. She, along with countless others, are beacons of hope in a dark time which is emerging into the light. Times of transition and change demand courage to sit in places of great discomfort, to take off the blinders and adjust to the glare. If we keep doing the same thing, we will indeed get the same results. Now why would we want to do that?

These times of great change demand a careful look at solutions beyond the frame. They demand a look at changes in the outer world but more specifically in practices of our own intimate worlds. Every idea that comes down the pike deserves our thoughtful review. All those (human and non-human) who are ill affected by conventional practice of greed and privilege demand our attention. We are all in this together. We are all a part of the problem, which makes us part of the solution too.

What an amazing time to be alive...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/17/we-are-all-occupiers-arundhati-roy

1st Garden Catalog

2011-11-17T04:16:00.001-06:00

We received the 1st Garden Catalog earlier in the week. In the times of our parents and grandparents (and earlier in our own lives), those catalogs would have been arriving just after Christmas. It was a ritual that was greatly anticipated.

This is a little early, Dear Publishers of Catalogs. Your Catalog will wind up on the bottom of the stack. The 3 Gardeners on this little Farm need a rest.

Ready

2011-11-17T04:05:00.001-06:00

If you were hanging around this little Farm, you would hear ever more consistent murmurings from the Humans: "I am ready for the Garden to be done." That little word "ready" has only recently been used and it is ever more consistent in its expression. It's been a long season. But considering we are trying to grow as much of our own food as possible and we are in the middle of considerable abundance, we have no complaints, only joy.

We began ordering Seeds for Garden 2011 just after Christmas this past year. I began planting and tending Leek Seeds in flats in late January. We continue to make progress on freezing and preserving. Melanie is working on some "Pumpkin Butter". Yum. Less and less produce is waiting in the wings. That feels really good. Seeds need to be inventoried and put away.

Temperatures are dipping. It is supposed to be 20 on this night. It's time to cover the Strawberries with Straw. They need a bit of a blanket, you know. I have a few more Dry Edible Beans to pick. If the Fairies would come and pick them for me, I would be delighted. They could bring them in a bucket inside the house and deposit them by the easy chair by the Fireplace.

Soon, the Chickens will have free rein in 2/3 of the Garden. They are ready too.

A Change

2011-11-16T20:32:00.001-06:00

When we moved to this little Farm, some changes in life style were clearly "writing on the wall". We expected them and they happened. Others were not expected.

One change that has happened is that we hardly ever listen to our large collection of CDs. It's been years since we have bought a CD. We loved our music when we lived in our little house on its little lot in the city. Somehow, it swept away the noise of the city.

Here on the Farm, we find ourselves charmed by sounds of the country. We hear the trains going by in the distance. We hear the Amish buggies and wagons going down the lane. Clip clop clip clop. Those are sounds my grandparents heard 100 years ago. We love the bird sounds which shift with the seasons. We are totally in love with the sounds of frogs. We take comfort in our chicken repertoire. We listen intently for any sound that might suggest the chickens have an intruder. And we move quickly when we hear it. We know when we have company coming down the drive: Freddie the Rooster crows a characteristic crow and Ladd the Dog barks his characteristic bark. We love the sounds of the Quail. We are now playing around with creating our own music. Melanie and I are sometimes plunking on the piano keyboard. Yes, we are learning. Sometimes our sounds are off, but that is learning at its best. Sometimes we sing. I cannot even imagine shutting out or overriding any of these sounds.

We have a box of CD's that are on their way to the thrift store. Who would have thought we would have made this shift?

Reflections on Food Waste

2011-11-16T02:20:00.001-06:00

I have long been appalled by Food waste, waste of myself, my family and my culture. On a personal and family level, it began by noting how many Foods seemed to become "science projects" in our refrigerator. Their little ornaments of color and texture seemed to wave at me: "Pay attention".

When we would eat out, I noted that appalling amounts of Food were often served. Some restaurant goers would ask for "doggy bags" but much of the food just went to the dump. We'd ask for "doggy bags", but then leave them on the table or in the fridge after they got home. I began to feel more comfortable in restaurants which offered only the amount of Food eaten. Sometimes I would ask for a half portion, or eat from the list of appetizers. It was less expensive too.

Many years ago, we 3 C's used to waste Food over and over again. That was not our intention. We were busy and we just lost track. But was there something more? What I came to conclude was that the Food did not taste good, it wasn't the maximum living vitality. Were our bodies backing away?

In those long years when we bought most of our Produce at the Grocery Store any time we wanted it, I remember the Strawberries in February. They looked like Strawberries but did not taste like Strawberries. They also did not rot like Strawberries. I remember the Apples which looked like Apples. That first bite told me they really weren't the Apples my taste buds desired. And those Tomatoes which could have passed for Billiard Cues were the tipping point. Something was wrong, deeply wrong, with an industrial process which lined up Produce appearing like Produce on the Produce Aisle. It was better suited for Transportation and Shelf Life than for my Consumption.

Now we raise most of our own Food, we buy locally grown and we eat seasonally. It's almost straight from the Garden. The Food has a different vibration and feel. We are less likely to waste. It is so very good. We also know exactly what goes into the food. That's sweat off the brow and it's precious land space that the Earth provides.

If we do have Food waste, we have chickens who don't call any of that waste at all. They convert it into poop which enriches the soil. That's full circle.

One of the 1st areas that we focused on was not wasting Animal flesh. If 1/3 of the Chickens are wasted, does that mean that 1/3 more have to be raised and slaughtered to cover this waste? I found that appalling. This little insight really drove me to action.

Looking at this overall: if 1/3 of the Food is wasted, does that mean that we could reduce Food production and land use by 1/3? Now that's a good idea. Give Mother Earth a rest. Save some of that Land for the Creatures and Plants who are our Kin on our Beloved Home.

This little entry would be incomplete without a "spiritual" insight here. To me, the Creator gives us the Gift of Life. With that Gift comes an abundance which supports Life itself. I need to act consistently with the preciousness of that Gift. To waste even a small part of that is to diminish that Gift of the Divine and my relationship to it.
While we are not perfect, we have made substantial strides in reducing Food waste. That feels good. Life comes with Lessons. This is a big one for us.

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/10/02/study-american-food-waste-is-a-huge-energy-drain/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_waste
http://www.endhunger.org/food_waste.htm

I Have a CODE...

2011-11-15T20:10:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a CODE.

It's in my head:

congestion, sniffles,

occasional (but fewer than before)

sneezes.

Stuffed up.

Can't breathe

through my nose.

Feel like

one big germ.

Am.

Sentences become

short sound bites.

I am miserable.

Impatient too.

I have higher priorities

than being sick.

I missed a really big one today.

A really big one.

I am not going anywhere

and doing less.

I'm not fit for much

of anything.

Chicken soup,

lots of water,

hot water with lemon and honey,

tissues,

throat lozenges,

netty pot.

In time,

CODE will pass.

I need to be patient.

I need to let my body do

what it most likes to do:

be healthy.

I need to work

with that energy

rather than against it.

It's hard.

The sooner

I let myself rest,

the sooner I will be well.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marking 2 Dates

2011-11-15T16:24:00.001-06:00

My mind has drifted back and forth between 2 dates and the present. One hundred years ago November 11 (1911), my Grandfather Fred Albert Brenz and my Grandfather Lottie Hart (Brenz) got their marriage license. And, exactly 100 years ago this date (November 15, 1911), they were married.

Oral History

2011-11-14T19:12:00.001-06:00

This is a great video of Novinger, a little town on the west side of Adair County. My Croatian Grandparents Kazimir and Dragica Blaskovic (Kaiser and Dora Bloskovich), who arrived in 1908, lived there in 1910 when my Aunt Mary was born. My Grandfather worked the coal mines until he could no longer do so. For many years, Novinger was quite the boom town. Those days have long passed.

I am reminded that we have many Elders in our midst. Somebody oughta be walking around with a tape recorder. Those memories, the affirmation of them, and the Elders who hold them are treasures. Like Mother said over a year ago: "Don't wait too long."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf-BTW_dLf8&feature=share

Povitica Season

2011-11-12T22:53:00.001-06:00

In these weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas (as well as before Easter), hits on "Povitica Recipe" increase dramatically on this little Blog. I suppose it is a nudging of the ancestors. These are the holidays when Povitica is traditionally made and served. I can't imagine these holidays without it.

Check

2011-11-12T22:48:00.003-06:00

With every Rain, we head out to the new Pond and check its level. We have been known to check it in the Rain. It's slow, but it is coming.

Yesterday, we planted 2 clumps of Violets on the Pond Banks. The Violets were from Mother's house. That made me smile.

Remembering

2011-11-12T22:48:00.001-06:00

October 24:

We 3 C's headed on a walkabout up to our new Pond. It is so new that it is more like a Cup rather than a Pond. With some recent Rain, the Pond now has a puddle in it and quite a large puddle at that.

Remember the little Boy (and Girl) who used to like to throw Rocks into the Pond (or Puddle)? Well, the Little Boy (and Girls) are all grown up, but they remember and still love to throw Rocks in Ponds and Puddles.

Deer Season

2011-11-12T22:28:00.001-06:00

Deer Season opened today. Richard came home with a "button Buck".

Permission to Rest

2011-11-12T22:19:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last 5 1/2 years were intense.

The move here was amazing.

We have shifted from an urban

to an agrarian lifestyle.

Learning curve was steep,

a cliff at times.

We learned a considerable amount

with more teachings garunteed ahead.

We gave support to my Elderly Parents

who have since passed.

With the sale of Mom and Dad's house earlier this week,

life has shifted.

A door has closed.

Other doors are opening.

We are moving into Winter.

Our hands were full

of Harvest chores and putting the Garden to bed.

Those chores are more and more complete.

We are arriving in the season

which promises

permission to rest.

That feels good.

Really good.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rebuilding the American Dream

2011-11-08T08:59:00.003-06:00

In every step, we make choices to "rebuild the American Dream". Check out this video: "The Story of Broke". http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-broke/

Don't Touch the Clocks

2011-11-05T22:32:00.002-05:00

This is the night when my family advises me: "Don't touch the clocks." I have this wonderful knack of turning them the other way, with interesting results.