July and August means wild blueberries - what my mother would call huckleberries- and here in the Adirondacks where our soil is sandy and acidic, blueberries love it. We have these wild bushes all over our property. I took an hour yesterday to go gather a quart. Only a quart in an hour, you say? … Continue reading How to Blueberry (Huckleberry) in the Adirondacks
This afternoon, I am giving myself permission for some quiet time, having had an extremely busy two weeks at me "real job" of pet shipping. 12 hours days minimum, and if I am not in the van driving, I am at my desk for 9 hours at a clip. Nothing exotic right now, just lots … Continue reading Random Homestead Thoughts on a Friday Afternoon; a life lesson in quiet
This beautiful Luna moth visited me for a couple nights in a row. A fairly large moth, Luna's will produce 2 generations per year in my area. The adults emerge from their larva cocoons solely to mate, and only live about a week. A pity, given how beautiful they are. There are many insects that … Continue reading Protecting Insects, they are so beneficial
My last column dealt with enjoying nature - getting outside and really listening and looking at your surroundings. My husband sparked another thought this week when he said "It doesn't matter where I go, I see kids and many adults on their phones typing away, even when they are walking". Technology has taken over our … Continue reading Can You Ignore Technology?
Our squirrels have it made. Lots of tall red pines to live in, and sunflower seeds galore that fall or are pushed from the bird feeders, as well as our "cabana" where we pile seed just for them. Stone walls for cover and caches. American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) are year round residents, who are … Continue reading Red Squirrel Life at Fox Pines Homestead
Spring has arrived when the swamp, ponds, and wetlands break into sound. The peepers are awake! It never fails to make me smile when I hear the first spring song from them. It's another of life's lessons - show your joy to the world, and sing when you are happy. These little chorus frogs have a … Continue reading Singing frogs: Springs comes in with a Chorus!
Every day I look for someone or something to champion, to support, to defend, to promote. I don't need to be the prime character, I can just support someone else. Maybe it's another person I admire. Someone I have worked with, or a family member. Perhaps it's a cause, a pet, or just my bird … Continue reading Who do I Champion today?
Spring is the time when animals come out of hibernation, and new life enters the world. From tadpoles come frogs, and from eggs, baby birds. Dogs, horses, cattle, deer, and most other mammals shed out their winter coat, and grow into a sleek new skin for summer. All the animals that hibernate - bears, chipmunks, … Continue reading Shed the winter coat – Spring is time for new resolutions!
This is as true today and it was in the past. Stephen Covey used this analogy years ago in his book First Things First. And even tough we all know the most important things SHOULD be first in our lives, it's too easy to get lost in the minutiae of daily life.
Every so often I realized I have quite a bit of food stocked up in my pantry, meaning my pantry cabinet, my freezer, cold storage and whatever I might have growing in the window in winter. There is really no reason to go to a store and buy anything. My sister and I call this … Continue reading Shop at Home in The Pantry Store