Like I’ve said before, I love farmers. They are the hardest working folks in the world. Almost everything they do benefits someone else--feeding everyone, except maybe those who have their own gardens and dairy cows.

Eastern New York Farm Field

In these photos, you see plowed fields that will produce food for thousands of people and a bunch of animals, too. Despite heavy winds, flooding rains, baking heat and freezing cold, these people battle the elements with strong hope every season that this will be the best one yet. Recently, farmers have had to cope with skyrocketing fuel and feed prices that deeply cut into their profits, making it more of a wonder that anyone would continue to do this at all.

Many farmers have given up and moved on, leaving empty fields and orchards all across this nation. I know because I drive by them everyday.

Deserted New England Apple Orchard

I think this is very sad. Farming is a noble profession that some of the nicest people in the world engage in. I was lucky enough to meet a group of young people who are growing up on our local farms and they are extremely kind and gentle with their animals, as well as with their friends and families.

There will be corn growing here in a few days

Well anyway, here’s to all of those of you who keep our factories, restaurants, stores and farmers’ markets loaded with all that good, healthy food that we literally could not live without. Someone out here really appreciates your hard work and I will say a prayer that all things come together to bring you great success in your endeavors.

What do you think about farming?  Leave a comment, click a sponsor.  Thanks!

p.s.  Remember that nut case bird I told you about who comes back every year?  Well, here are her babies born a few weeks ago. 

The Greatest thing since…

We all know it’s certainly not sliced bread. Maybe something new is the greatest thing since heated car seats, permanent press fabrics, automatic dishwashers, or electric knives.

Of course, there’s always bra extenders, Netflix downloads, disinfectant wipes, remote controls and polio vaccines. I think hands-free, car phones are pretty neat.

But, the best thing since anything is definitely the Florentine Bakery’s cannolis and my homemade sausage bread. Don’t believe me? Just ask my grandson, Jon. He will confirm this statement.

What do YOU think is the greatest thing?

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TIPS

HERE ARE A FEW MORE SPRING TIPS:

If you use coffee filters, you only need buy the big ones. They will fit in the smaller pots and work well if you measure in the grounds, then fold the paper over the grounds and use a small piece of tape to hold it together. This keeps grounds from seeping into the coffee as well as ensuring fresh flavor.

Vermont Mountains

Do you have that nasty, rough skin around the heels of your feet? No need to scrape it off with one of those files “as seen on T.V.” Simply apply your favorite body lotion, cover them with a comfy pair of socks for about an hour every day and voila—rough skin gone.

I’ve also discovered that ants HATE Listerine. I put a bottle in a closed, kitchen cupboard last week and my ant invasion ended that night. My daughter-in-law tells me that baby powder works just as well. Take your pick to end your ant problem.

Have any more tips? Send them to me!

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MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS

Checked out the dollar Tree Stores, Inc. and was happy to find a few bargains.

A package of (6) 9x 12, heavyweight, reusable clasp envelopes, (made in America) Sally Hansen Lip Gloss and Ajax Lemon Dish soap are some of my favorites. Of course, everything is a buck. But, my most favorite is box of 30 band aids that would cost anywhere from $1.79 up to over $6.00 in a drug store. I was disappointed to not find the transparent, packaging sealing tape which I use a ton of. It makes a great lint remover and is twice as fast as the little roller thingys.

It appears as though Wal Mart is no long discounting greeting cards, so you can cross them off your list. Their bananas were $.49 a pound which seems reasonable and I love their Great Value Coffee which is $3.28 for 13 ounces. They also had huge strawberries for $2.50. I saw the same pack in the local grocery store yesterday for $3.99. Got a 5 pack of my fave gum (Lush 5) for $2.88 which is a real bargain considering that it cost $1.49 a pack last month at the mini mart. That’s a savings of $4.57!

Got a great buy on Puff tissues at B.J’s and they’re still discount greeting cards.

Did you know that bounty paper towels have sheets that basically tear in half, so if you don’t need a big sheet you can use far less of it? I like that.

Ninety Nine Restaurants are advertising that they have “Real Size” Entrees for only $9.99 and 9 lunches starting at $5.99. In a time when restaurants are serving food in smaller dishes (Panera’s) and the prices are going up, this seems like good news. I will try it out and let you know. You can also go online and sign up with many restaurants to receive their coupons.

Jolie bathing in the Jacuzzi

In these days of astronomical prices, I’ve decided to just get along with less. The more companies charge, the less I’ll buy. It’s my own little boycott.

Do you have any more money saving ideas? How about where to save money on gasoline?

Have you read my new NoBBull.blogspot.com blog yet? Check it out and let me know what you think.

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MORE NEIGHBORS

Here is another one of our delightful neighbors. I believe those two dark spots are the critter eyes staring me down while I snapped the photo. This adorable creature is a North American porcupine, a rodent with a coat of sharp quills. It appears to weigh about 10 to 12 pounds which is average and it resembles a hedgehog.  I think they are very cute, also.

According to Wikipedia, it eats leaves, twigs, green plants and as you can see, often climbs trees to find food. Reputed to be very slow, we can attest to that fact because I took the first picture on my way to lunch and the second one two hours later on the way home. The critter had moved a couple of feet.

What’s really interesting is that they search for salt all the time. They will eat plywood cured with sodium nitrate, paint, footwear, and are attracted to roads where rock salt is used to melt ice and snow. This could explain why we saw it at the side of our dirt road which is loaded with salt from the winter storms.

I don’t care if it is considered a large rodent. I think it’s adorable! What do you think?

Remember I told you about the nutty bird who would come back and build her nests under my cat's nose, no matter how many time we toss them out in the fall?  Well, here it is.  She's back and making a mess of our front porch.

 Spring is great because it is so full of hope.   HAPPY APRIL!

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MORE SIGNS OF SPRING

There's a bird that wakes me up every morning at 6:30 a.m. now that spring is here. This morning, he/she has awakened a group and they are now chattering as though they really have a lot to say. Although I find this a most pleasant way to wake up, it makes me wonder why birds do this. We have a commune of wild turkeys somewhere on the property that cackle incessantly, apparently while sitting on their springtime eggs. Mind you, these birds are quite a way from our house but we can hear them the whole time they are making this sound to the surprise of our visitors, who assume they are listening to hundreds of frogs.

Jack says his mother’s chickens used to make a similar sound while they were lying on their eggs, so it is apparently not that unusual. Maybe one of you has the answer to this mystery and if you would like to share it with us—please do!

Regardless, this is the most magical time of year in New England. The forsythia is in full bloom, along with cherry blossoms and dogwood, promising further lush beauty to come soon. The warm temperature alone is enough to spur people into spending long hours outside no matter what their agenda’s entail.

We’re all looking forward to many more of these beautiful days. Happy spring to you all, again.

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SPRINGTIME IN NEW ENGLAND

It’s just a date on the calendar but that doesn’t stop folks from enjoying any temperature above freezing in New England and picturing how green everything will be in a few weeks. That’s a stretch because right now the landscape is still painted in wheat and burnt umber with several shades of grey. Hard winds swirl old leaves into the air making our cat crazy wondering what the faluke is going on outside.

Early spring up here means corn fields turn into rice paddies, mud season has begun and frost heaves finally dissolve leaving pot holes and large tarmac cracks. Along with crocuses pushing up through slow melting snow piles, the only thing budding on a tree this week would be a plastic container catching sugar drips from the maples.

We’re still grateful for the extra daylight because it’s pretty hard seeing where the road sides are located in the dark. Many of the white stripes painted along the edge have long dissolved making it impossible to see where the fields begin and the road ends, especially in the rain.

The people at the humane society also tell us there’s more stray animals giving birth about now. Soon they’ll be flooded with all manner of baby felines and canines in their wonderful shelter. Please try and remember them when you have old blankets you no longer need or if you are considering getting a pet.

Spring cleaning is still big in some homes. Windows have to be washed because the winter storms plaster a combo of crud that makes it hard to see the sunny views we’ve so missed.

We have a nutty bird who insists on building a nest in a space between the roof and a column on our front porch every year. My cat sits right inside the screened-in porch and stares at the creature who is so stubborn, no matter how many times Jack throws out the old nests, or how many times I scream when we surprise each other, I know she’ll be back in that same spot very soon.

I can’t wait until the buds show up on our forsythia and azalea bushes. They will explode into the most beautiful mélange outside my living room windows. I’ll be sure and post photos when that happens.

About last week’s blog…..

The Union Leader in New Hampshire published “Maple Beyond The Morning” in its’ Wed. issue. Benton’s sugar shack has been producing maple syrup for 150 years! It is now being operated by the sixth-generation family members!

To the reader who wants to know about obtaining great maple syrup in southwest Virginia. I found The Bland County Family Farm, which has had ten years of tapping in that area. Their web page is: http://www.Andersongrassfed.com as they also sell beef.

Hope you are all enjoying the “pre spring” landscape and warmer temperatures wherever you may be.

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