Another Walk at Susie's Farm

Monday, April 21, we again explored to "see what we could see!" We didn't climb mountains, but we did climb over a few things, crossed a ditch by walking across a fallen log, etc. :-)

These are some of the things we saw this week... a nice contrast to our walk two weeks ago, as well as a visual display of the entrance of Spring!

Do you know what this is?
(an unfurling May Apple)

Dutchman's Breeches
Trout Lily

Virginia Bluebells, budded

Do you think this was a raccoon??

Toad Trillium

Spring Beauties

Something Beautiful

Toad trillium on a diet,
standing next to one that's not (on a diet).
Plus a few Trout Lily leaves

Mr. McGregor's Daughter correctly identified this as Cardamine.
Actually, it's Cardamine bulbosa.

And this as Hydrophyllum virginiana, "Virginia Waterleaf"
It's flowers will be very lovely.

The biggest mystery of all...
I think it's a marble for a Native American child.

Last, but never least...
a visit with the goats.
(Apologies - I've forgotten this sweet lass' name)

We had a great time and anticipate our return before long!
(Just to check the progress and watch for new plants.)
:-)

I Don't Want To Be Late!

As in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, "...out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' "

But, I'm not going to be late, not if I hurry a bit ...
Especially if I only create this post instead of the scones themselves!

This week is "The-Sweet-and-Savory-of-Yummy" subject of La Tea Dah's "tea theme!" That means recipes, folks! :-)

I'm including my very favorite recipe for scones. I discovered this recipe, as well as a wealth of others, on the Joy of Baking site. They also include complete instructions on not only creating light, delicate scones but also recipes for accoutrements.

This sites offers an alternative to cutting in wedges... as in the photo below.
I personally prefer cutting wedges, as they look more "scone-like." :-)

Cream Scones

2 cups(280 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
2 tsp. (10 grams) baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/3 cup (76 grams) cold, unsalted butter
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
Egg mixture for brushing tops of scones:
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 Tblsp. heavy cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and place rack in middle of oven. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. In a small measuring cup combine the whipping cream, beaten egg and vanilla. Add this mixture to the flour mixture. Stir until just combine. Do not over mix.

Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat the dough into a circle that is 7 (18 cm) inches round and about 1 1/2 inches (3/75 cm) thick. Cut this circle into 8 triangular sections. Alternatively, you can cut the dough into rounds with a cookie cutter. Make a mixture of one well-beaten egg and 1 Toblsp. heavy cream. Brush the scones with this mixture. This helps to brown the tops of the scones during baking.

Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of a scone comes out clean. Remove from oven and turn your broiler on high. Sift confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar heavily over the tops of the scones and place them under the broiler. Broil for just a few seconds, turning the pan as necessary, until the sugar has melted and turns golden brown. Make sure to watch the scones carefully as the sugar will burn very easily. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve with Devonshire Cream (or whipping cream) and your favorite jam. Also delicious with lemon curd.

Recipes for both the Devonshire Cream and Lemon Curd are in the text of the instructions for Cream Scones at the Joy of Baking site. You will also find recipes for many different types of scones at this site. If you haven't "bookmarked," you'll need to now!

Enjoy with a nice cup of tea and a friend or two!

Guess What Susie and I Did Today!

It was a Beautiful Day... just a bit cold and a little windy.

We drove to their farm for a good morning's walk!

And, as far as I'm concerned, this is one of my favorite Spring sounds!
(Click on the left arrow to activate sound!)

After admiring the goats, we walked 'round the farm's perimeter.
Starting with the goats...

... and heading across a field,
it didn't take long to get to the creek.

Much earlier this Spring, there were huge ice jams and floods. The water was actually way over the banks! Here are a couple of photos taken March 17, from an earlier walk.

These chunks of ice were left in a "tributary."

Sorry for the crazy angle of the photo.
Can you tell those are dirty chunks of ice along the bank?

The huge blocks of ice on the flooded waters must have broken
the top of this tree.

?? Who made these tracks???

The rest of the photos were taken today, April 7. You might notice a faint "greenness" covering the ground.

A couple of Canada Geese enjoying a leisurely float. :-)

Isn't this a beautiful sight?

An "intact" clam, which Susie returned to the water.

Signs of beaver damage.

What caused the odd growth of this tree?

Not mosquito larvae already?!!?

I'm guessing Sumac.

Does that mean we veer left before we stop? ;-)

Trillium!

Can there Really be fungi already?

Meet "Blossom!" She's very affectionate.
See the little fellow on the left? He's not very old.
And he has a twin. :-)

Keep your eye on the wiggly tail in the center of the video.
That's the twin (seen above) that I get to hold! :-)

And here's Susie. She's captured the little fellow.
Little did he know, when he got up this morning,
that he was going to be the recipient of all this attention!
:-)
Does this inspire you to write a little poetry?
I've loved this poem, ever since I was very young.

Trees
by Sergeant Joyce Kilmer
b. 12/6/1886, killed in action near Ourcy, 7/30,1918

I think that I shall never see
a poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

And I must echo "amen."

And I must say that this was a Great Day! :-)

A Week Ago

A week ago (March 29 and 30), I spent the night with my niece, her husband and their two children. What a nice time we had! It was my nephew's birthday (and I STILL haven't sent him a card!)

We went out to dinner to celebrate. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but the food was delicious and the entertainment was... entertaining! :-)

My niece and I did a lot of sewing. We quilted a wallhanging and we also sewed a nice "couch blanket" for her very thoughtful hubby. HE did the ironing, cooking, and the running-of-errands!

I wish I'd taken more photos. We can catch B in these clips, but I completely missed K! :-(
Next time!


Great Memories!

Decor-a-Tea

Join Gracious Hospital-i-tea blog-a-thon

courtesy of La-tea-dah

My niece and I worked on this quilted wall hanging Saturday and Sunday.
This will hang in her home.
All I need to do is to finish the binding.
I sewed it on this morning and perhaps I can turn it
and hand stitch the backside soon.

The center block is cut from her mom's t-shirt.

Can you tell the blocks around the center are supposed to be
"hugs and kisses?"

That was her mom.
Full of hugs and kisses, tea parties and gardens.
Her family misses her.
We all do.