Jan 26, 2017

Winter project

I love taking pictures and always have! 

Up until now, I have been a point and shoot kind of gal. With encouragement from my big sister, I took a huge leap and bought a big girl camera... 

A Nikon d7200 to be exact ;-)

I have taken some time on these quiet winter days to learn more about photography... Better yet, I learned how much I need to learn about photography!

The snow slowly drifts and flitters around outside but I am perfectly cozy and content inside learning about this whole new world of imagery.

This Lesson was all about learning and understanding the basics of fstops. 

 with a smaller aperture, the f-stop number is larger and my depth of field is wider allowing my little fruit in the background to be in focus, showing off those cute little dimples.


with a larger aperture, the f-stop number is smaller which makes my depth of field smaller, in turn, making my little fruit in the background softer and out of focus.

It took me a bit to grasp the concept that larger equals smaller and the vice versa smaller equals larger, but I finally got the hang of it!

Have you taken on any new projects this winter?






Jan 23, 2017

Canning Suprise

Today was the day...


After saving my pennies, I finally splurged and purchased a brand new American Pressure Canner this past Summer. 

Well, Summer came and went and this beauty sat in the box unused until today.  

After making a Turkey dinner and boiling the remains down, there was more than enough stock to can.

All American Pressure canner racks discolor after first use

After canning was complete, I was shocked when I opened up the canner..... to find the brand new racks and inside had been discolored black...

I certainly wasn't expecting that and quickly headed to the internet to make sure I hadn't ruined my new canner after it's maiden voyage.

All American Canner discolored black after first use

 It looks like it's pretty common and can be cleaned with Vinegar or Cream of Tartar.


This canner is a BEAST!

I really appreciate being able to double stack and ended up with 12 pints of Turkey stock.



Jan 20, 2017

Healthy Choices

It's up to you today to start making healthy choices. Not choices that are just healthy for your body, but healthy for your mind -Steve Maraboli


Our recipe was adapted from Taylor Farms SpinachWaldorf Salad recipe. 

We subbed chia seeds for the walnuts, shredded the apples and tossed with Lemon juice. This was really sweet and think we will cut back on the honey next go around, but overall we loved it!

Jan 16, 2017

Letting it slide!


Checking in on the chickens this evening I happened to catch this little guy in the chicken feed...and I let it slide!

Going into winter this little ones mom had a pretty serious injury to her hoof and at last sight of her, the hoof had fallen off and healed over. 

We knew winter was going to be hard on her as we observed her nightly ritual of bringing her baby in to feed on apples from the trees in the backyard. 

It isn't always easy to observe natures way...

Today momma deer was nowhere in sight, and I still secretly hold out hope that she will make it through the winter.

Jan 15, 2017

Every gardener knows

" Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle" - Barbara Winkler



Jan 11, 2017

As Day turns to Night


I am patiently waiting for the quiet days of Winter to pass.....

Quiet days turn to quiet nights, one by one they silently slip on by....The Gardener idly waits for Spring!