Whiteley Creek Homestead

bluebird arrival prep

After the harsh winter, our eight bluebird houses were in dire need of attention before the arrival of their house guests. Dick removed them from their pole mounts and replaced the board roof on four of them. Next it was my job to scrape and sand peeling paint, apply primer, then a final coat of paint. You can put linseed oil on the bare wood or you can paint the houses as long as you choose a light color. I found what I think is a perfect color. It is paint brand Valspar in color "gray pine" J100-6A. We mounted them 6 ft. above the ground by pounding an 8 ft length of rebar two feet into the ground. Next we slipped a 6 ft. length of 1/2" diameter electrical conduit over the rebar. Then we secured the house to the pole with two 1/2" electrical conduit clamps.

This particular design is the "Peterson Bluebird House". It was developed by Dick and Vi Peterson of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota after experimenting with over 5,000 bluebird houses. The front opens easily for cleaning by pulling out the nail that you see on the side. The sloping roof discourages predation by cats. The Peterson's also built in features for insulation, ventilation, drainage, and ant control. For complete instructions on building these bluebird houses, contact the Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program.

The houses are set up in pairs 25 ft. apart to minimize competition between bluebirds and tree swallows. Tree swallows are actually a good thing since they consume thousands, maybe millions, of flying insects. Pairs of houses are placed 100 yards apart. They should be in place by mid-March to early April, but if life has tossed you in a few too many directions, don't despair. Bluebirds will have as many as three broods during a season, although two is the norm, so just get them up as early as you can. You will be rewarded for your efforts when the first bluebirds arrive to take up residence and start their own little family.

washday and birds' return

I started the morning by hanging out my first load of laundry this spring season. There are still patches of snow but, with temps in the 50s today, it is melting rapidly. The green grass is a welcome contrast to the landscape's shades of winter grey.

The table at the corner of the inn's screened porch is a favorite for bed and breakfast guests to sip an early morning cup of coffee or tea and read the newspaper. Dick and I meet there each day for lunch while our guests are out and about in the Brainerd area. Judd Brink, owner of MN Backyard Birds, will retrieve my feeders from winter storage next week and set them up in various locations on our property. Soon birds will be flocking to feeders outside each cabin, in the yard behind Whiteley Creek Inn where birds can be viewed from several seating areas on the backporch, and from the porch at the end of the 1890 RR passenger car which houses the "Queen of the Meadow Blooms Tearoom" where breakfast is served each morning. Judd keeps my feeders and birdbaths clean and filled all season long with seed, nectar, fresh fruit, and water to entice a varied population of birds to our corner of the world.

Judd has built his business considerably having also added bird guiding to his feeder maintenance service. I am proud to hold the honor of being his very first customer when he opened his new business in the spring of 2007 to offer a service we didn't have in Brainerd. Judd's expertise and assistance has helped me build my business by attracting not only birds but guests who are either casual birdwatchers or serious birders. Judd purchases his seed from Brainerd's Little Farm Market, a business that has been around since I was a little girl. Do you see the circle of support among three businesses in this one isolated example? By supporting our local businesses, the economy in the town where we live goes round and round and benefits everyone. This is so important especially in these challenging financial times.

 

sail away

After reading my "outrageous old woman" post, my friend Pat shared some valuable links to three different web sites that referred to the shelf fungus that was used for Gladys's artwork. One site was a DIY message board that addressed how to dry and preserve tree fungus. Not only did I glean information for a future craft project, but a bonus awaited. The person who was answering the question, "How can I preserve a large tree fungus for a craft project?" had created his/her "signature" to display a quote. The message board is a live format whereby there is a question, an answer, another question, an answer, etc. Therefore, the person's signature quote displayed over and over everytime his/her answer was shared causing it to be embedded deeper and deeper into my soul. Here is the quote.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~Mark Twain

This quote has special meaning to Dick and I because since my "one more snowstorm" post, amidst the beauty of the landscape we have had some issues with the return of winter. Prior to the snowstorm, we were deceived by the few days of temps in the 60s and low 70s into thinking that below freezing temps were behind us, so we turned the water back on in our cabins in preparation for our bed and breakfast season opening in May. I know you are beginning to follow my train of thought. Yup, we have frozen busted water pipes, a cracked hydrant and filter unit on our second well that supplies all of the cabins, and even one water heater that needs to be replaced. Back to the Mark Twain quote... We were "more disappointed by the things that we didn't do" (letting the faucets' water run slowly, turning on the heat in the cabins, or better yet not turning on the water at all) than by the ones we did do (not a thing to prevent freezeup). We initially felt like "sailing away"... far away, but we came to the realization that everyone's life has setbacks, shouldas, if only we had... We will dig in to get through this and move on to be ready for opening May 9 and 10. "Twenty years from now", the only memory we will have of this event is that we will have become wiser by remembering that the end of April in Minnesota can be ripe with surprises and Mark Twain's quote will hold the meaning for me that he intended when he wrote it .

one more snowstorm

April 26th and the snow continues to fall... It has halted my garden preplanting preparation, but it is so very pretty! This is only a brief backslide into winter.

outrageous old woman

I had planned to share a photo of five trellises that Dick and I constructed and set up in our gardens today despite the drizzly chilly day, however my fingers got too cold to tie the strings onto each framework to complete the project. Instead, I moved on to the next project which was removing last year's nests from my four pairs of bluebird houses. When I went inside to prepare a bucket of warm water with a biodegradable disinfectant cleaner to scrub them squeaky clean for the spring's arrivals, my eyes settled upon this plaque that I purchased from my high school/community college friend, Gladys, which she sold along with other items at a community art sale. Now you must know that I dislike two colors... black and purple. My guess is that Gladys must have chosen this particular base color because of the book titled When I Grow Old I Shall Wear Purple. I overlooked the color because I liked the message so much. "Leaner, meaner, and sharp-edged", you wonder? Why would anyone strive to attain such traits? To me it means arriving at a place where one feels more confident and comfortable with who one has become. It is being content in our particular life's season and not worrying so much about other's judgement of us... not leaner, meaner, and sharp-edged in a negative way. To shoot the photo, I set the plaque on the weathered gray floor boards of Whiteley Creek Bed and Breakfast Inn's back porch. I think it makes a pretty color combo... yes, even though it's purple.

This the back side of the plaque. It appears to be a tree section that Gladys varnished to preserve its beauty. I should have asked her. I will ask her. My friend Pat said, "It looks like she used a type of tree fungus called a conk or shelf fungus.  Here are a few sites you might be interested in." (You really should check out the sites Pat supplied. They are so informative! The first site tells how shelf fungus can prolong an old tree's life, the second site has many photos to view, and the third site describes how to dry it and seal it.)

http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/friendlyfungus.html

http://search.pbase.com/search?q=shelf+fungus&b=Search+Photos&c=sp

http://boards.diynetwork.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2021916776/m/8011050023

Tammy Doll Closet

When I was nine years old, I received a Tammy doll for Christmas. The dolls were manufactured from 1962-1966. Every doll came dressed in a blue one-piece jumpsuit and a pair of white tennis shoes. In addition, a plastic stand was included to support her in a standing position. My mother and I sewed every outfit pictured on this pattern envelope. To store the clothing, I constructed a shoebox closet using  instructions that were included in this pattern. My original closet is long gone, so I recreated it. When I was searching for a shoebox of the proper size, I didn't realize that they came in so many varied dimensions. An extremely helpful sales associate kindly removed the shoes housed in one that was as close in size as I could find and placed them in a generic box used for orphan merchandise. I found some floral contact paper at Walmart that is virtually identical to what is shown on the pattern envelope and what my memory tells me looked like the one that I originally made as child. Because the shoebox wasn't exactly the size requested in the materials list on the back of the envelope, I had to adjust the dimensions of the contact paper covering. Here is a photo of my completed closet.

Hanging in the closet are all of the handmade clothes that either my mother or I made. The hangers are made from chenille stems following directions provided in the pattern. The original closet rod was made with a chenille stem inserted through a drinking straw and bent downward at each side of the closet to hold it in position, however I chose to use a dowel rod for more rigid support. To make the door hinge, brads are used to attach the lid to the box. It isn't perfectly functional, but to stay true to the original directions, I did it as instructed. I like how the closet's top is swooped down a bit. It makes it look old and used. The Tammy dolls are not my originals. I ordered these two with brunette and auburn-colored hair on eBay because I couldn't remember my doll's hair color. Both came in their original box. I still plan to purchase a blonde to complete my set. They are quite pricey, especially ones in their original box, because they were only produced for a limited number of years unlike Barbie dolls which are still being made.    

hemming jeans

I recently purchased two pairs of bib overalls on eBay. I like them for gardening. Well, I really wear them everywhere. Although I may be wearing more skirts since I devised a simple way to turn a dress into a skirt, but that's another post. The legs on the overalls were WAY too wide and they were also too long, so I first stitched a deeper inseam. Next I cut off the bottom of each leg, turned it up, and machine-stitched it all the way around. The results, as you see in the photo, accomplished my goal but not the best-looking. Well, wait until you see the results after hemming my second pair of overalls!

"Oh," you say. She hasn't done anything yet." But I have! They are shortened and the original well-worn double-stitched hem is still intact. Now, you say, "How did she ever do that?" I ran across a "How to Hem Jeans" tutorial. If you look really closely in the photo on the leg that is under the sewing machine's pressure foot, you can see a bit of a ridge, but it's not noticeable to anyone else when you are wearing the jeans. This method is unbelievably amazing and it takes less than 30 minutes... for real! For the first pair that I already hemmed the old way, I am going to add a strip of colorful fabric along the bottom. After learning this alternative method, they really look quite pitiful without some embellishment. 

pancake stack

As I was perusing Etsy one day, I ran across this stack of pancakes that was being marketed as a pincushion. Visions immediately began to form of how I might use it for a banner at the top of my blog pages. I contacted Jessica, the Etsy shop's owner... so sweet, to acquire permission to use it in this way, then I ordered two stacks to provide a greater impact. I spied the chicken in a Dollar Store and I immediately fell in love with her scarf so neatly tied over her head like she's off to market. An additional spark of color in the plate, plasticware, and cup... all from various yard sales... completed the look.

The pancakes arrived wrapped so prettily. Wouldn't they be so fun in a child's play kitchen at home or in a preschool and kindergarten classroom? Montessori and Waldorf School settings would be especially perfect. (They are two educational philosophies that stress the use of natural fibers and wood toys, as these type of toys promote imaginative play.) Or you can use the pancakes as... a pincushion. To order your own stacks, here's the link. There is also a fried egg pincushion that is just as cute, along with other items for sale. Jessica conducts business in her Etsy Store in a very friendly, appreciative, efficient, and professional manner. Buy handmade. Support Etsy.

my flock

It is my pleasure to introduce you to my eight laying hens.

Most days Olga, Pearl, and Flossie are hard at work. Flossie is always sitting on her nest. She takes her job very seriously. A signature breakfast entree, "Flossie's Eggs on the Rails", is named after her. The recipe was chosen from state-wide entries that is featured on the label of a CD of relaxing instrumental music titled “Bed & Breakfast Mornings and Beyond”, so she has made a name for herself. Opal is always first to the daily afternoon treats of fruit and veggie scraps. Henny Penny is too busy worrying about the sky falling down to get down to the business of laying eggs. She paces back and forth... usually in the vicinity of the chicken wire enclosure entrance/exit gate. Cora is somewhat of a rebel.... the last to go in the coop at night. Lastly, Phoebe... She eats way more than her share. I have needed to make additional trips to purchase organic chicken feed from a local farmer who travels to Wadena and returns with a truckload of bags at a time. What dark orange yolks are produced from the organic feed and the free-roaming lifestyle that my flock of chickens enjoy!

Flossie is in her nest, as usual. Olga, Pearl, and Phoebe are deciding which nesting box to hunker down in today. Edith is still outside chatting with her girlfriends.

stormy day bean soup

For thirty-five years, I have been making "Stormy Day Bean Soup" for my family. It is an economical way to serve a highly nutritious flavorful satisfying meal with very little prep. I made this pot with four different varieties of heirloom dry beans and served it with "Doctor Kracker Pumpkin Seed Cheese Snacker Crackers". Crackers with more than 1 or 2 grams of fiber are difficult to find, but these have 4 grams of fiber. The soup and the crackers together make this an excellent high fiber meal choice.

 

Stormy Day Bean Soup

1 pound (2 cups) dry beans… mix and match any variety

4 cups water

4 cups chicken stock/broth or chicken bone broth (If you find that you need a flavor boost, I suggest Better Than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Chicken Base. Begin by using less than suggested on the jar because you can always add more as you taste test.)

1 nitrite-free ham bone or ham chunks, optional

1- 14.5 oz can diced or stewed tomatoes with basil and garlic (Italian seasoned variety) 

½ c chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp marjoram

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp leaf oregano

½ tsp salt

pepper to taste (I use 1 tsp garlic pepper.)

2 bay leaves

Optional ingredients: Add chopped celery and sliced carrots final 1/2 hour of cooking time. Spinach and Swiss chard add wonderful nutrition. The leaves take just a few minutes to wilt. Use the Swiss chard stems as you would celery.

Directions: 

Soak the 2 cups dry beans by putting them in a 2-quart glass canning jar filled to the rim with water and 2 tbsp Bragg Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. (A 2-quart jar is the perfect size to allow for the beans' expansion.) Let the beans soak for 12-24 hours, then drain the water off, rinse, and drain again. (Some recipes say to cook the beans in the soak water, but draining it off supposedly reduces the gaseous effect.) Put the beans in a soup pot and add the water, broth, meat (if using), onion, garlic, and seasonings. Cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. Add the stewed tomatoes and optional ingredients and cook for 1/2 hour. Remove bay leaves. Note: The acid in tomatoes prevents the beans from softening, so that is why you wait to add them until the final 1/2 hour.