Adventures With Ewan

We don't take care of our grandkids very often anymore.  They are getting older and don't require as much supervision or the older ones can take care of the younger ones.  Every now and then we get to have them one on one.  These are the best times.  They don't have to share us with any other kids, and we don't have to give equal time to each of them.  Sunday night and Monday we spent time with our youngest grandchild.  I have written about Ewan many times.  He is so entertaining.  For those who don't know how to pronounce his name, it's You-an.  The EW makes the U sound.  He is five years old and starting Kindergarten soon.

This photo reminds me of the John Greenleaf Whittier poem called "The Barefoot Boy".  The first line is "Blessings on thee, little man, barefoot boy with cheek of tan!".  Ewan certainly has cheeks of tan.

Whenever Ewan visits he must check on the leprechaun that lives in our woods.  He is fascinated with him.  It all started on St. Patrick's Day.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2015/03/st-pattys-day-celebration-catching.html

So on this visit the first thing we did was take a walk.  We had to see if there were any signs of the leprechaun.  We didn't see a thing so when we returned to the house Ewan had Papa looked up leprechauns on the computer to see what they like to eat.  He was going to set a trap and needed to do some research.  What we would do with one wasn't discussed.  I guess we would cross that bridge if and when it happened.  I think he thought the leprechaun would run away, but he would leave behind a bunch of gold coins and jewels.

This was actually the second day of research .  The previous day
didn't produce the desired results.

Through much research, it was determined that leprechauns are very difficult to trap.  Ewan decided that something sweet like a marshmallow would probably be enticing.  Papa and Ewan designed a trap.  It was an empty oatmeal box.  It had green and blue on it already so the only decorations it would need would be pictures of clovers drawn and colored on the top.

Next we had to choose the perfect spot to set the trap.  We threw a few marshmallows along the trail to tease the leprechaun.  Then we set up the trap.

They cut a hole in the top so when the leprechaun looked
 in he would fall into the hole.

Everything looked perfect.

In order to be sure, they set up another style trap in the actual leprechaun house.  It consisted of a rusty upside down bread pan and a stick.  When the stick got bumped, the pan would fall and trap the leprechaun.

This was also baited with a marshmallow.

Then we waited.  We had to wait overnight.  First thing in the morning, even before breakfast, we had to check the traps.  So we quickly got dressed and headed off into the woods.

Oh dear, nothing is in here except marshmallows.

Ewan thought about it and said "of course, the leprechaun is too short to climb the tall slippery box".  We had to redesign things and make something more accessible to a small little leprechaun.  They decided to cut the bottom off of a clear plastic bottle and bury it at ground level.  Then instead of marshmallows, Ewan thought a little cereal would be better.

They headed off with a shovel, a plastic bottle, and a ¼ cup of rice chex.

They dug a small hole for the bottle.

He buried the bottle upside down
and put in the cereal.

It's almost invisible except for the cereal.

Nothing had appeared in the traps throughout the day.  He would check often, always taking his trusty bow and arrow in case he came across any danger in the woods or if the leprechaun got angry.

To avoid total disappointment, we asked Ewan if he wanted to go on a treasure hunt called geocaching.  We have done this several times with the older kids, but not with him.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2013/03/geocaching-as-one-of-our-hobbies.html  We thought the chances of finding a pile of gold coins and jewels were pretty slim, but perhaps we could find something of interest and change his focus.  We looked online and found a cache near our home that was large enough to hold some goodies.  We found the cache easily.  Ewan's reaction to what was inside was less than enthusiastic.  There was a dollar bill in the box and an interesting NASA postcard, but it just wasn't the same as gold.

The look of disappointment.

At this point it was lunchtime, so we headed to McDonald's.  I know, not a good choice, but he did have apple slices and milk.  Then we went to the library to get a book on reptiles.  After a quick nap in the car (it's exhausting looking for leprechauns), things were much better.  He ended the day on a happy note and so did we.  

"Ah! that thou couldst know thy joy, Ere it passes, barefoot boy!"

The Train of Life

With the death of my dad comes piles and piles of paperwork to keep track of.  I am trying to keep track of everything and trying to keep everything in order.  However, a few days ago, I was straightening up some of the mail that had come in.  There in the pile was a bookmark.  I remember seeing this before.  Someone had sent it to me or given it to me in the past.  I apologize to whoever it was who gave it to me.  If it was someone reading this blogpost, please let me know.  I remember liking it, but it didn't have the impact or significance it has now.  How or why it appeared now is anybody's guess, but I think I was meant to see it at this moment in time.  I hope it has meaning to others who are reading it.

I'm sorry I don't know who the author is either.  I wish I did.  I would like to give credit to the person who wrote these beautiful words.  I found other poems by this name, but not this one.

Our Resident Gray Fox

I originally posted a photo of this animal on facebook.  There was a lot of discussion as to what it is, but I can confirm from many sources that it is a Gray Fox.  It is a very odd looking animal.  Some thought that this is a pregnant female.  I can't prove that fact because I have not seen any offspring.

I have only seen her one other time during the day, but she comes almost every night and I can see her on the trail camera.  She has been coming often since last year.  I wonder if she has some fox pups hidden away somewhere close by.

She is looking slightly thinner and only time will tell if we see more in the area.

Another night time visit.  One of many over the course of time.

These final two photos are from August 2015.  This fox looks a little smaller but it is hard to tell if the angle is just a little different.  Obviously he or she lives in the neighborhood.

Freezing Turnips

Winter in Wisconsin seems to last a long time.  That is why everyone gets excited about planting flowers and gardens as soon as the last frost happens.  It is usually around May 1.  My daughter and her husband were no exception.  They planted a gigantic garden.  I don't plant a vegetable garden because I get more than enough fresh produce given to me.  I reap all of the benefits without doing any work.  I love it when the harvest starts.  The only trouble is that most things are ready to pick at the same time and need to be dealt with while they are fresh. They planted a 25 foot row of turnips.  I noticed that some of them were getting quite large and there were enough turnips to feed an army.  I decided to pull a few.  Some had gotten too big already, but there are plenty of perfect sized turnips.  I like to eat them raw, but there are way too many to do that.  We decided to try to freeze some to use in soups and stews this winter.

Medium to small turnips are the best.

I took the tops and root off and then peeled them.  They peel quite easy, just like a potato.  In fact, they look like a potato but have a mild flavor much like a kolrabi.  After peeling, I sliced them in one half inch slices, and my husband cubed them.  He didn't cube them by hand, but with a fancy non-electric gadget.  I have written about one of my favorite gadgets called the Vidalia Chop Wizard. http://www.thecabincountess.com/2012/12/a-day-of-recovery.html.  I like this one too.  It is very similar to the chop wizard, but it's for bigger projects and has a capability for making one inch cubes.  It is called the Genius food chopper.  I got it at a thrift store, so I don't know much about it except I love it.  You can chop a whole salad in the bowl, put the cover on and keep it stored in the same container.

We used the smaller 1/2 inch attachment for these.

After the turnips were cut into cubes, I had to blanch them before they could be frozen.  To blanch a vegetable, you just drop it in boiling water for a short time to stop the enzyme action of ripening and to kill bacteria.  It preserves the quality of the vegetable or fruit for better color or flavor.  Then after a couple minutes in boiling water, take it out and put in ice water to stop the cooking process.

Blanched vegetable and the Foodsaver vacuum sealer.

The only thing left to do at this point is to put them in a container or freezer bag.  Then label and freeze.  I have had a Foodsaver vacuum sealer for twenty years, so that is what I used.  I hope we enjoy having these frozen turnip cubes to use in recipes.  I have never frozen them before.  I read they can be rubbery but that is usually because the turnips are not fresh, they are blanched too long or they are too large.  I think we will love them.  We have frozen green beans, corn and a variety of fruit this way, so I am confident turnips will be good too.

Eight bags ready for the freezer.

Blue is My New Favorite Color

Since this is my blog, I can rant a little from time to time.  It's been ten days since our dad died.  It has been full of ups and downs.  One day I feel at peace and happy with the fact he didn't suffer a lot, and he is with our mom.  Then other days I feel a big void in the house because we had such a good routine and now I don't have those things to tend to.  I think that is normal.  What isn't normal is how people take advantage of the bereaved.  My parents pre-paid their funeral expenses fifteen years ago.  Of course, prices have gone up during that time but that isn't our responsibility.  I guess the funeral company they worked with feels the need to make up some of the costs.  They padded the costs by trying to charge us for an urn that was already paid for.  I was told they couldn't proceed with cremation until I signed the statement they sent with the additional charge for the urn.  I feel they need to stand by their original agreement.  Now the person I talked to needs to consult with the accountant.  It is kind of like a car salesman going to check with the manager.  You know darn well they are just disappearing in the bathroom so it appears that they are trying to negotiate.  In addition, we were charged $300 to have a local funeral service hold dad overnight in their funeral home until the cremation people could get there.  I know it's a business and they have to make money too, but geez.

*I have to amend this previous paragraph.  Some of my complaints were listened to and whether it was miscommunication by them or me, we have resolved our issues.  The main funeral service has been very helpful going forward.  I am grateful for their help.

So even though I'm having a blue day, the blue theme keeps reoccurring to make everything better.  Tonight we are having a full moon called a Blue moon or the Blueberry moon.  It doesn't really look blue to me, but the sky does and that is good enough for me.  Maybe the moon is blue in some other part of the world. 

During dad's passing days, we saw a blue and black admiral butterfly constantly.  It was sitting on our front porch when he died.  I believe it was the spirit of our mom waiting for him.

 
Then the next morning a blue and black bluejay feather was perfectly placed in my path.

I have not seen that butterfly since.  I have seen many other butterflies, but not the blue and black one.  Apparently there is a book called Final Gifts and other books on that topic that I must get.  Through stories these books show us how to appreciate the ways in which the dying communicate their needs.  I think this happened to us many times through dad's final days.  I will keep the rest of those events private, but many things happened to make a believer out of me.

In following the happy blue theme, I am enjoying our resident bluebirds feeding another batch of young ones.  The first nest failed because of the wrens attacking the eggs.  The second nest produced five young bluebirds who have stayed in the area.  Now we have a nest of four baby bluebirds who are being fed by both parents.

One of the bluebirds parents waiting in the wings to feed the new babies.  A young one stands by ready to help.

I think it's amazing how they can fly off and come back with a fresh worm.

So yes I'm sad at times, but the blue sky, the blue moon, and the bluebirds are making me able to handle the challenges at hand.  I know my parents left us some Final Gifts to show us that everything is fine.  I do believe BLUE is my new favorite color.

Our 3150 mile vacation in 10 days

After our long sad week with my dad passing, I want to tell you about our vacation.  It is a little bittersweet, but having no idea what was going to happen on our return, we had a good time.  I won't bore you with a bunch of details.  Other peoples vacations aren't nearly as fun as having one yourself.  In a nutshell, we visited the town on the Ohio River in Indiana where my husbands family lived and worked in the cotton mill in the early 1900's,

This is the old cotton mill.  It has now been converted to apartments.

next we took a train ride in West Virginia and then drove down a 10% grade, two lane road with 25 mph curves.  We aren't used to that type of terrain,

Gulp!!

then we visited one of my high school friends that I hadn't seen in fifty years (thanks so much Judy and Jim).  They live near the beautiful Shenandoah River.

 
and finally we spent a few days at Edisto Beach in South Carolina.  My daughter and her family were staying there for a week and suggested we come for a few days.

Two of our grandson's at the waters edge with my husband.

On the way home we visited the Angel Tree on John's Island South Carolina.  The tree is estimated to be 400 years old.

See how small my husband looks next to this giant Live Oak tree.

Lastly we visited one of my husbands friends whom he hadn't seen for many years (thanks for dinner Dan and Lee of Tennessee).  He had lived in Australia for a very long time and only recently moved back to the states.  He makes beautiful picture frames.  Here is his website if you want to see them.  http://www.kalbarripictureframers.com.au/products.html

All of those things were wonderful, but the icing on the cake took place at the beach.  Soon after we unpacked,  I noticed a sign on the refrigerator in the house we were staying.  I didn't pay much attention at the time.  I took this picture after our experience on the second night there.

Shortly after we arrived, we walked to the beach.  It was beautiful and the waves were clapping against the shore.  People were sunbathing and digging for shark teeth.  My daughter actually found one, but people would look all day long.  I'm not sure what they did with them, but it must be a profitable thing.  On top of the beach was an area that was roped off.  It had an orange sign that said Loggerhead Turtle Nesting Area.

We saw a small shell sitting on the sand inside the nesting area and were told that when the sand and shell starts to sink, the turtles will be hatching.  The next evening we walked to the beach again.  We were the only people checking the nest.  I got so excited, the sand was sinking.  We sat on a bench nearby and waited.  Pretty soon the turtle patrol came by.  They shouted that the turtles were hatching, and they had work to do.  They started shoveling sand to make a ramp for the babies to slide down.  Apparently the beach had eroded considerably and the turtle nest was sitting on top of a three foot ledge.

Even my husband grabbed a shovel to help

The ladies of the turtle patrol making a trail in the sand.

They blocked off the area to keep spectators to the side.

Then we saw it, little heads poking through the sand.

Now the waiting began.  We watched the sunset and waited for it to get dark.  I called my daughter to come and watch with us. 

The turtles follow the moon shining on the horizon to get to the ocean.  No cell phone light or photography was allowed.  When it was finally dark, there wasn't any moonlight.  One of the ladies from the patrol guided the small little turtles to the ocean.  They followed the light of a small flashlight.  Because there was no way of knowing when the turtles would hatch, only about 30 people were there at the time.  I heard someone say she lived there for more than ten years and had never seen this special sight.  All together there were almost 100 little turtles running to the water.  It is something we Wisconsinites won't soon forget. There were several nests along the beach, but we were so fortunate we happened to be there at that exact time.

Since I was not allowed to take photos, I found this public domain picture of baby loggerheads hatching.

The next day this is all that was left.  Hopefully a lot of these little turtles make it in the wild ocean filled with predators.

And after the tide, the beach had this beautiful pattern.  No one would guess what had happened hours earlier.

This vacation was meant to be.  It proved that we have very little control in what happens in our world.  Everything happens as it should, and we shouldn't question it even though we don't understand at the time.