No School

This year has not been a very good year for me in terms of little ailments popping up.....nothing serious but they are always just bad enough to  make me miss a day of school. Today, it's an allergy related (I think) problem per usual. If it's not vertigo or a sinus headache, it's swollen eyes. Today, it is swollen eyes and a headache, nothing more but I was not going in looking like I do. I had a terrible night's sleep as well and was a zombie when I got up and started moving about at 5:15 am. Thank you Spring :)

I spent a large part of yesterday outdoors in addition to cleaning out Amelie's storeroom in the house. I helped the farm hand trim trees, I then sprayed the fruit trees, we fixed the riding mower (farm hand did the mowing), and then tried to fix the gas grill (it needs replaced). In all fairness the grill will still work, but the tank was faulty (back to Lowe's it goes this week for an exchange). But we still need a new grill.....it has made it through six years (all year) of cooking many, many meals.

The good news is that our farmer friend tilled my gardens last weekend and it's about ready for me to do one more till-under before I start planting....onions and spinach first.  We extended the back garden to the left in the pic. There was an awkward strip of grass between the garden and what used to be a gigantic brush/wood pile (now gone) that was difficult to mow without blowing grass into the garden so we tilled it up. I also have sourced some beef (1/4 of one) locally. Seems that my friend's farm raises a small amount of beef in addition to growing grain....yeah! Now I need to buy a small freezer as well as a new grill....before June. I will research today while my eyes recover.

School

Well, tomorrow never came with more Civil War bible pics and info. Life has been busy around here with school obligations and being gone for spring break. I will revisit it this summer. It now has a nice spot on top of an old slant top desk/secretary in the dining room. After my big clean and spruce up, I will post some more pics of it.

I have just completed my online college course to complete the necessary "hours" I need to renew my teaching license here in Ohio. This is something that most of us have to do every five years along with another FBI check and fingerprinting. Everything is done and now I am just waiting for my official transcripts to be sent.

I have been busy as ever with my Etsy shop and the local auction scene, as well. My goods have started to take over the family room in addition to the dedicated "Amelie" room I have. They were beginning to creep into the dining room, too! I've cleaned up the dining room and have four boxes to sort in the family room and then I will be back down to one room (in the house......I have things in the barn already!)

I have started counting the days before the end of school (yes, teachers do it as much as the kids), and there are 34 days with students left (excluding weekends and Memorial Day)!!! I have one more day of work after that and "hello, summer!"

See ya later :)

Auction Bible

This past Saturday, as usual, I attended a local estate auction. I am just now going through some of the items and though I would list an old Bible I found in one of the boxes I purchased. Upon inspecting it I learned that it was purchased in 1896 by the widow of a Civil War veteran. After finding his obituary (he died over 20 years after his injury), I learned that the war did not kill him but an infliction he acquired after being severely injured in the second battle of Bull Run. I've decided I am definitely not selling this piece of history. It will remain in my pre-Civil War home on display. More to come tomorrow.....

Strawberry Fields Forever

Last year I planted 50 north European strawberry plants. Supposedly they are "sturdier" specimens, and I am hopeful of a bountiful harvest. I just need my friend, J, to till my gardens in order to get me motivated. Then I will get out there and neaten up the patch as well as plant my spinach, hopefully by the end of the month. I also need to spray the fruit trees next weekend (temps in the low 50s!) and decide what seeds I am going to have to order (what I cannot get locally).

The first recipe I want to try is this strawberry yummy I saw on the same French blog, "My French Country Home.

Click to find a fantastic pic of this scrumptious-looking dessert. I will post pics of all of my creations (if they turn out) when the time comes.
http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2011/03/ce-mercredi-je-mange-une-tarte-aux.html

Lemon Tart

I cannot seem to get myself away from French blogs today. Susan from "My French Country Home" has yet another seemingly simple recipe that I would like to make. It is a for a lemon tart and how I do love lemony desserts! Check it out http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/ce-mercredi-je-mange-une-tarte-au.html

This pic is from her blog.

I have attended another auction this weekend as well. I am in process of soaking all the linens.....pics to come.

French Tarragon Chicken

And here is yet another yummy recipe from Susan to try with fresh tarragon.....

http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2013/02/french-tarragon-chicken-family-favourite.html

Yummy French Snacks

I have found another fantastic French blog - an English lady living in France with her French husband and children. This is another recipe (the almond cakes) that I want to try.

http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2010/05/french-like-to-snack-too.html