tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22008172719612552392011-07-07T21:06:34.240-05:00A city to country transition for one writer and her familyjackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.comBlogger2991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-56638445297914579182010-03-29T20:15:00.006-05:002010-03-29T20:31:22.468-05:00

I never cease to be amazed at the cyclical nature of life. Between birth and the inevitable but largely-feared thing we call death, our lives move in circles much the way our earth moves around the sun to give us the seasons by which we mark off spent years. It’s a good thing we move in circles, I say. This way when we find a place that is special or a friend who is dear, we can return for

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-60056244191293815212010-03-01T21:14:00.002-06:002010-03-01T21:19:27.929-06:00

I just finished reading “Emily of Deep Valley,” juvenile fiction written in 1950 by Maud Hart Lovelace. I have written about Hart Lovelace here before; she was a native of Mankato and based most of her juvenile fiction on experiences she had in the small but picturesque town that is but a short carriage ride from here. I didn’t grow up a fan of Hart Lovelace books. To be honest, before moving

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-40825342134676715132010-02-26T09:06:00.006-06:002010-02-26T09:43:32.154-06:00

At Four Cedars, my February ends much like it began. I make a cold morning's walk to the woodpile, marveling with each step at how beautiful and complex a barren landscape can appear when one is fortunate enough to take note. I am a lucky soul this morning to have so much to take in around me. The blue sky. The hoar frost. The deep snow pack showing evidence of scampering wildlife. The expanse of

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-71655775594580251252010-02-07T11:11:00.004-06:002010-02-07T11:28:53.745-06:00

The snowshoes arrived and the pruning continues.Winter (dormant) pruning is not for the faint of heart for several reasons: walking in snow shoes raises the heart rate; it's still pretty cold outside; and the deep snow requires plenty of bending. But mostly, pruning requires courage because once the snip is made there's no turning back, no Undo button to click on, no history to delete. That's me

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-52434268029067817852010-01-17T17:54:00.003-06:002010-01-17T18:33:47.556-06:00

People unfamiliar with grape growing are often surprised to learn that there is much work to be done in the vineyard in what they'd presumed to be our "off-season." The bulk of the work falls under the category of pruning, but it is far different from the pruning we do in late spring and early summer. In winter, we are assigned the task of dormant pruning, a critical task that affects the quality

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-91349251060254844382010-01-08T12:49:00.004-06:002010-01-08T13:01:43.811-06:00

Months ago, I vowed to stop blogging about the weather. I mean, what is the point of complaining, worrying, writing, or groaning about something of which we have no control. The weather happens whether we like it or not. The only thing we can control about weather is if we decide to stick around and put up with it or not. Some of us not only decide to stay, we invest ourselves in putting up with

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-78117689740486634742009-12-29T22:10:00.002-06:002009-12-30T00:43:03.498-06:00

Words are things and a small drop, if ink falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. Lord Byron said that some 200 years ago. Today we have Oprah's book club and publishers who seek out non-writers (like Howie Mandel) so that they may convert television fame into book sales. What's a writer to make of these developments? More importantly, how is

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-3762433506676763472009-12-10T16:33:00.002-06:002009-12-10T16:57:08.037-06:00

It has been nearly 24 hours since the blizzard moved east leaving people in these parts to cope with the aftermath. For some, that meant taking their snow machines out for a spin; for me, that meant my first plowing run through the drifted snow around the property. Except for ten very cold fingers, the plowing was accomplished without incident.The mercury in our outside thermometer barely broke

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-64146418816710312192009-11-25T19:06:00.001-06:002009-11-25T19:10:42.993-06:00

It is Thanksgiving eve as I write this and for the first time in 18 years, I am not putting the finishing touches on a dining table set for guests. I’m not rolling silverware in napkins. I’m not chopping veggies for stuffing or deciding which secret ingredient will give the dish this year’s twist. I’m not washing stemware or counting out place settings. I’m not searching for candles or printing

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-68263712007152844872009-11-23T17:01:00.002-06:002009-11-23T17:21:22.910-06:00

We've been blessed with one of the warmest Novembers on record. Not to sound ungrateful, but we were due; our October was one of the coldest, wettest in history.But now the first wave of what is being billed as "a change" in our weather has arrived in the form of rain. Hubby spent much of today and yesterday winterizing the summer equipment and getting the landscape set up for winter, which

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-88073371222241005692009-11-05T08:31:00.004-06:002009-11-05T08:54:11.090-06:00

This is the view that meets my tired eyes as I pull up the blinds in the kitchen. Mr. Blue Sky is back. The rows of vines, at one time nearly too bushy to safely drive a lawnmower through, stand bare. It is easy to see the complexity of vigorous summer growth now that the canopy has withered away. The landscape still offers me a color palette that denies the reality of the season. But I take note

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-13698501060874976182009-11-03T13:21:00.002-06:002009-11-03T13:25:34.318-06:00

I spotted this guy in the vineyard, but by the time I was able to grab the camera, he'd crossed the driveway. He was moving fast! Running for cover I presume.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-39990567921831073842009-10-09T19:33:00.007-05:002009-10-09T20:20:09.650-05:00

I knew last night's freeze was coming and so I pulled in the red and green tomatoes, most of the banana peppers and the full-size green peppers. I gave up my second planting of green beans and sugar snap peas to the cold because, frankly, we'd had our fill of those by Labor Day. And the herbs, well, I had already put forth respectable effort drying them; what's more, I had clipped a bouquet of

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-3531076734524247782009-09-30T19:00:00.000-05:002009-09-30T19:01:42.769-05:00

The old farmhouse has a checkered history. The land had once been home to Winnebago Indians, but the Torrens title makes no mention of that; the official record says only that the land was decreed by President Grant into the homestead of a man named Phillips, whose descendents still farm the thousand or so acres that stretch as far my gaze allows. The neighbor to the north, one of those

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-60981813188208528672009-09-30T18:54:00.003-05:002009-09-30T19:00:13.633-05:00

Seventy-five and sunny.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-57050661963057261482009-08-31T16:52:00.006-05:002009-08-31T18:07:10.373-05:00

As our second growing season nears its natural end, I've developed a bit of pride over what's become of the scraggly old horse pasture. (I admit this knowing that pride can be a dangerous thing.) The stately vines were swaying in a gentle breeze as I walked the tidy rows today. Most of the trunks are woody by now, and the ones that aren't are browning nicely in preparation for what we all know is

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-22702638169812799272009-08-24T09:33:00.004-05:002009-08-24T09:35:54.603-05:00

Chef son and I mastered Gluten Free Kibbi Nayyi using both Quinoa (his choice) and Amaranth (my choice). Each substitute grain garnered us taste and texture virtually indistinguishable from the Bulghur or cracked wheat that is traditionally used in the dish. I now have gained confidence to try a Tahbouli Salad with Amaranth, which closely resembles Quinoa in taste, texture and nutrition. I like

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-88956332025599887312009-08-19T14:09:00.001-05:002009-08-19T14:11:18.735-05:00

A few weeks ago, hubby and I snuck away from the farm to see the film Julie & Julia. The movie tells two stories: Julia Child’s journey to learn and ultimately teach French cooking to ordinary Americans, and Julie Powell’s journey to make a name for herself as a writer as she attempts to master Child’s tome, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. While it may seem obvious that the film is aimed

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-57028667394268400582009-08-18T07:33:00.001-05:002009-08-18T07:40:18.127-05:00

This is Véraison; it represents the transition from berry growth to berry ripening. Changes are afoot in the berries during véraison; most notably, acid levels are decreasing and sugar levels are rising. In real terms, this means the grapes are becoming more attractive to wildlife. That includes me.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-4074880668269139812009-08-17T09:55:00.006-05:002009-08-17T12:47:48.283-05:00

We are a Facebook family. My friend Shannon says, if you ever want to know what's going on with our family, log on to Facebook. It's all there. It occurs to me, however, that not all my blog followers are on Facebook, which is a good thing really, because the blog fulfills an entirely different purpose in my life, one that stretches beyond those comical snippets that describe my "status." But

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-5648120061070774432009-08-12T21:05:00.017-05:002009-08-12T21:31:46.602-05:00

Did you know a pork butt comes from the front leg of the pig, which is nowhere close to, well, a pig's actual butt? What gives?Of course, a pork butt is also known as a pork shoulder. Now that makes sense to me. Then of course, there's the Boston Butt, which is close to the same thing, though my son will probably clarify this for me. I'm not sure when the pig was in Boston, or if he's even a Red

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-3042332795063123992009-08-10T21:37:00.006-05:002009-08-10T22:54:04.937-05:00

A friend and I recently shared our experiences as new entrepreneurs. Like me, she felt pulled to transform a lifelong passion into a venture she hoped would grow into a profitable enterprise. And like me, she's learning that in order to work "on her business," she needs to work fewer hours "in her business." This means that in order to be successful, chances are she'll be spending much less time

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-17280824229411535172009-08-04T22:14:00.007-05:002009-08-04T22:49:34.254-05:00

Allow me to catch you up on events here at Four Cedars; it's been awhile since my last post. The weather is confusing my vines. The days are sunny and dry, barely breaking 80 degrees. The nights are cool and dry and dewpoints, for the most part, hover in the 50s. My vines think they are growing in the Williamette Valley, not in the American Midwest. They'll get their wake-up call in about two

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-81357164892403935442009-07-23T12:48:00.002-05:002009-07-23T12:55:16.180-05:00

I am in awe of the reds, and the corals and magentas make me smile, but it is the green that is my favorite. The juicy, tart, not-quite-ripe yet magnificent flavor of green. This is how I color my summer.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-23454737231209371872009-07-21T14:55:00.004-05:002009-07-21T15:03:21.426-05:00

It rained today. It was a lovely rain. A million dollar rain if you're engaged in the business of farming.I try to spend rainy days tidying up the farmhouse, and today was no different. I sorted through stacks of laundry, mail and old magazines trying to reduce, reuse or recycle as much as possible. In the midst of my cleaning, I picked up the 2009 Farmers Almanac, and while trying to determine

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-70489447380807237142009-07-09T23:19:00.001-05:002009-07-10T10:41:34.744-05:00

A few months ago, I entertained the thought of pulling the plug on this blog. But I didn't and today, especially today, I'm glad I didn't.There are days when, beyond a few brief cellphone calls, my only connection to other people is found right here. I don't say that to elicit pity. This is the life I chose for myself after months of deliberation; those of you who've followed this blog since 2007

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-41444178592704883282009-07-07T22:16:00.003-05:002009-07-07T22:23:49.587-05:00

I returned to the ranch this evening to find the lawn has sprouted a pretty healthy crop of clover. No biggie, though. The Cub Cadet has new blades and a full tank of gas.More importantly as I reviewed the property, is that the dawn application of Roundup I made early last week gave me the best coming home present a girl can ask for: rows clear of weeds. A quick walk up and down the rows

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-22186485892347682962009-07-06T19:24:00.005-05:002009-07-06T19:48:38.656-05:00

We celebrated Independence Day by breaking away from the ties that bind...i.e., the green tape and T-bands that we use to tie our vigorous vines to their trellises. For three days, we set aside all thoughts of green to drink in the varied hues of blue. Jason and Becky have this power boat moored in Saugatuk, Michigan. It's a 30-minute steam up the channel from their slip to the open water. There

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-68427717379014985052009-06-29T12:27:00.012-05:002009-06-29T14:13:47.138-05:00

We celebrated our third anniversary here at the farm this past weekend. Not suprisingly, the weekend went a lot like that first weekend went back in 2006: We worked like oxen from sun-up to sun down then downed a few Aleve along with a few beers.What were we thinking?Three years ago, we asked ourselves this question often. Then, most of our energy went toward rectifying decades of neglect. It was

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-14877051681465978702009-06-17T19:28:00.002-05:002009-06-17T19:33:00.188-05:00

It had been London-like for most of a day and a half. Low clouds. Cool temps. Occassional drizzle. Then the sun came out for the hottest part of the day, 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Then, it got Kansas-like, in a big fat hurry.By 7:30, I had tornado warnings 15 miles to my east, 10 miles to my north, and 20 miles to my south.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-86412314587723414012009-06-05T20:06:00.006-05:002009-06-05T20:55:29.709-05:00

I was in the vineyard pruning earlier this evening, which is my favorite time to be in the vineyard because the angle of the light makes each leaf shimmer like gold.I've learned there is an art to pruning, which is probably why it's become my favorite chore in the vineyard. I like helping these plants become all that their genetically meant to be, but not more; grapevines, you see, have a

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-76631007894512418432009-06-02T19:45:00.003-05:002009-06-02T20:00:21.648-05:00

The new cat likes attention, which is, I presume, a feature found in most pets.For the briefest of moments yesterday, the meowing hit a level that drove me outdoors. Fortunately, that meant a walk to my neighbor's place down the road. The exercise was good; the weather, perfect. I enjoyed a nice visit with Jill, a mother of two children under age five, who also has two cats, four kittens, 26

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-78521392933645882682009-05-31T20:36:00.002-05:002009-05-31T20:40:16.270-05:00

Farm cat...Formerly known as Elroy...Enjoying the view... Farm dog, meanwhile, is likely spinning in his grave.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-48338217766788690502009-05-25T10:49:00.002-05:002009-05-25T11:10:03.441-05:00

It's been a blustery spring in these parts, which helps keep me on task at the keyboard. The holiday weekend, however, brought two consecutive days of warm temps, calm winds, and sparkling skies. Under these conditions it becomes clear that I need get away from the computer and get outside to see what's transpired around the property.We scouted the vineyard and found both good news and bad. First

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-45780466781584936512009-05-20T22:39:00.003-05:002009-05-20T22:52:35.586-05:00

I've seen pictures of the Dust Bowl and today wasn't quite so dire. Still...the wind today, which was a simple amplifaction of the powerful wind of yesterday, was notable.For instance, after opening the windows upstairs for the first time in nearly eight months, I was forced to promptly reclose them because surfaces were covered in dirt...Then, I noticed that the small tomato plants that I'd

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-11975104116785773002009-05-18T09:35:00.008-05:002009-05-18T10:06:32.137-05:00

The men in my life are fond of saying: "Go big, or go home." Usually, the phrase is tied to horsepower or firepower or the size of the bonfire out back. The thinking goes, I presume, that more is better. But more can also mean more work, as in more general care. Oftentimes general care, or upkeep, falls into my column of the chore list.As I mentioned in an earlier post, hubby and I have been

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-39120265242556887152009-05-14T15:50:00.007-05:002009-05-14T17:38:49.618-05:00

This is my friend Heidi. She runs a successful decorative painting business. Heidi and her husband Chuck also are farmers (Thompson's Painted Hill Farm) who raise heritage breed cows and pigs in Wells, Minnesota; their farm products are Certified Naturally Raised, which is a designation on par with products that are Certified Organic, though meant for small producers for whom reporting

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-10608157707894228602009-05-13T12:37:00.003-05:002009-05-13T12:44:10.545-05:00

This picture, borrowed from the Michigan historical society, depicts a record number of logs ever loaded and hauled on a sleigh, at least as of 1893 when the photo was taken. Cool, huh?I recall history, in school, was limited mostly to dates, wars, and consequent land exchanges. We never heard about the lives of immigrant loggers and miners and bootleggers, hearty citizens all. Pity.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-57256081953902367882009-05-12T20:23:00.002-05:002009-05-12T20:37:22.198-05:00

Hubby and I have been taking gardening classes on Monday nights this spring. We've learned a lot. For instance, we know (now) that we planted trees that have no business growing on this farm and we know (now) that successfully seeding two acres of pasture is nothing short of a miracle.We know how long our grass blades should be after they are mowed (3 inches!).We know how to prune, or at least,

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-66194002970732897932009-05-04T21:42:00.003-05:002009-05-04T22:42:16.656-05:00

Today, hubby and I hit the 30-year mark in our marriage. A friend who had stood witness that day so long ago called to congratulate, telling me this one was "a big one." And while he's probably right, the day pretty much went the way any Monday around here goes:Hubby took a lawnmower to the shop for repair. I made coffee.Hubby took another piece of equipment to another shop for repair.We took

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-3373453345290041772009-04-30T21:56:00.008-05:002009-04-30T22:38:52.235-05:00

Lauren Kessler is a writer who I have come to admire. A lot.If you haven't heard of Kessler, you may learn more about her and her writing by visiting her web site (laurenkessler.com), or on the blog she co-authors with her husband (thinhouse.net), or at the place I'm most apt to look her up, at her online magazine (etude.uoregon.edu). It was on the Etude site, winter edition, where I found

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-88539544751455166482009-04-27T15:07:00.002-05:002009-04-27T15:12:26.912-05:00

The generous Lona Falenczakowski (aka Miss Lona of Jazz Tonight) will be donning her tiara tonight with a special guest: me.We'll be spinning World Music tonight to gear up for opening day of the 2009 season at the Mankato Farmers Market (Saturday May 2) where we hope to celebrate and welcome people of all ethnicities.Tune in online if you can. www.kmsu.org. The show airs live from 7 to 9 p.m.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-29412098126610837822009-04-23T10:48:00.004-05:002009-04-23T11:19:27.786-05:00

There have been whitecaps on the water all week long. Today, it is a south wind pounding Four Cedars Farm. And I mean pounding.The Canada geese and the black ducks have been attempting take-offs from the water all morning. I watched them launch headfirst into the wind, and then flap feverishly to stay aloft. Most, I noticed, gave up quickly and returned to the water.And isn't this how some days

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-53852909706310166102009-04-16T13:17:00.006-05:002009-04-16T14:04:25.396-05:00

Now that spring has sprung, I'm spending a lot more time milling around the farm by myself. Farm dog's absence weighs on me as, around mid-morning, I wander out to the chicken coop to collect the pair of eggs that wait.The two brown hens can be relied upon to scamper to my feet in welcome, as if they want to remind me that I'm not alone; they even stoop at my feet so I can pet them, which I

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-39727753161939940552009-04-14T11:01:00.004-05:002009-04-14T11:21:04.547-05:00

I was reminded that I hadn't updated you on the status of mini horse.While we vacationed, the mini horse's owner traded in mini for a full size model. Horses, it seems, are more like cars than pets in this regard. So, no mini for me. (Or no "Mini Me," a nod to you Austin Powers fans.)I was also reminded that horses can be consumed, and indeed are consumed, throughout much of the world. Although

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-18312799362256285532009-04-13T16:07:00.000-05:002009-04-13T16:08:42.243-05:00

Last Wednesday, I slipped into skin I thought I had shed forever. (Skin covered in business attire.) I had been asked to direct a discussion on Leadership during Challenging Times for a group that promotes career development for women who work in financial services. Though I don’t work in financial services, I happen to know a thing or two about challenging times, so I accepted the offer to

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-49654758103706547752009-03-26T09:06:00.006-05:002009-03-26T13:07:16.970-05:00

With age comes wisdom. At least, we hope that's the case. Certainly, age gives us the kind of "I recognize this because I've seen it before" kind of insight that sometimes means even the worst of times can be viewed as a temporary hiccup in the otherwise rhythmic pattern of life. Weather and the seasons are just one example. It gets warm, we get excited; cold returns and we get crabby. I've seen

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-45099035838654638322009-03-20T20:03:00.005-05:002009-03-20T20:31:31.009-05:00

This is how it goes around here some nights. Especially when I'm alone.It's Friday night but I'm working. Mostly because I'm alone. Tonight, it's video.And then I get an idea that I need something else. And so I go in search of it. Tonight, it's music for the video.And so I start rifling through a file folder of songs that, for some reason or another, I'd set aside. I don't remember when, or for

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-85570629545353281242009-03-18T10:34:00.002-05:002009-03-18T10:45:52.044-05:00

It has been said you can't have Easter without Lent. Likewise, you can't have Spring without Winter. I prefer to reverse the logic and say you can't have Lent without Easter, and you can't have Winter without Spring. Such an existence, afterall, would be devoid of hope.Outside, the evidence points to Spring's arrival: the snow is gone; the ground is firming; some of the trees are setting buds;

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-25949968165942153222009-03-11T11:52:00.003-05:002009-03-11T12:18:06.968-05:00

A glance at the syllabus son-in-chef's-training carries around gave me some insight into the validity of the statement made recently by one of his cooking instructors (see previous post).Article 1: Chef is right.Article 2: Chef is always right.Article 3: Even if subordinate is right, Article 1 applies.So, if Chef says we taste like pork, we taste like pork. There's no arguing with this guy. (

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-27042578462279447492009-03-10T19:56:00.003-05:002009-03-10T20:24:33.333-05:00

The son who is studying at culinary college came home the other day and told me that Chef told his class that if you could eat a human, the taste would resemble pork.Now, I don't mean to be difficult here, but the first question that comes to mind is...how does he know?...You may proceed with your jokes about the Donner Party.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-79188973946520033942009-03-08T12:39:00.004-05:002009-03-08T13:31:06.741-05:00

Though the complete history of our house remains a mystery, there are a few things we have been able to determine with a fair amount of certainty: Our land once belonged to the Winnebago Indians; Our land and all that surrounds us was later settled by a family named Phillips; An American Foursquare was as common to home design in 1890 as a split entry home was back in 1970; Our home was once

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-69622389628759795312009-02-24T20:29:00.004-06:002009-02-24T20:56:01.416-06:00

Late winter on the farm can be a messy proposition. Rather than plow, we let our February snowfall settle in place, trusting that above freezing days, south winds and sunshine will return the yard to the faded browns and greens of dormancy. This means we get more puddles in the driveway on sunny days like today, which means more mud picked up on boots and, well, paws...Farm dog would have been a

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-15971651437940609792009-02-16T12:53:00.005-06:002009-02-21T11:28:23.268-06:00

Leo Buscaglia wrote: "The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing." I would add that the greatest risk in life is opening your heart in order to give and receive love. There's no riskier business than love. Yet without love, there is nothing. Nada.If you want to put love into universal context, you really only need three letters: GOD. Love in its

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-5741253367413303222009-02-16T10:51:00.006-06:002009-02-16T11:05:55.816-06:00

Farm dog turns 50 in just a few months. Fifty in people years that is. Like the rest of us, his age is showing around the eyes and in the amount of time it takes him to stand from his much-preferred position of full recline. He's also not as quick out of the shoot when chasing varmints, but he still gives the sport his best.I learned that large dogs age more quickly than small dogs from the chart

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-20200412987435567702009-02-10T20:24:00.000-06:002009-02-10T20:25:45.211-06:00

Janice just senses the kind of week I'm having... Thanks, Sister!

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-74984532014777197352009-02-09T13:32:00.004-06:002009-02-09T13:57:12.661-06:00

There's really only one way to get your grapevines to look like this in September. You have to do this in February.Hubby and I were blessed with a mild Sunday with plentiful sunshine and calm winds. That meant only one thing: time to start winter pruning. We worked as a team. I moved down the row cutting away tendrils and tape that had been holding unruly vines to the bamboo supports and wire.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-79871638350660546532009-01-30T09:24:00.006-06:002009-01-30T13:32:19.854-06:00

I read a book recently titled “The Shack.” In it, the protagonist comes face to face with God personified as a large black woman. This engendering is as shocking to the protagonist as, I suspect, it is to most of the book’s readers. I also suspect the element of surprise, of grabbing hold of the reader’s expectations or assumptions or long-held beliefs and tossing them out the door (a nifty

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-52224170146163325432009-01-25T21:29:00.002-06:002009-01-25T21:31:42.983-06:00

Last summer, while overseeing activities at the Farmers’ Market, an eight-year-old kid wandered into my office and sat down. Being one of the farmers’ kids, she was a regular at the market. And, of course, I was a regular there. That is why when she sat down next to me, I tossed her a casual “hi” without looking at her because I was busy logging data into my manager’s notebook and she returned a

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-58067986797875266662009-01-19T18:27:00.003-06:002009-01-19T18:33:38.524-06:00

I have been away. Not in the sense that first comes to mind, as in a holiday from the cold and dreariness of a farmstead in winter. (I wish). No, I've been away in another sense. Preoccupied. Focused. Immersed in a story of a life. A story of a humble life. A story of an immense life. A life all of us could learn a thing or two from if we felt so moved to try.And so I apologize to all you

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-29347134825342958342009-01-15T14:32:00.002-06:002009-01-15T14:36:01.504-06:00

The number on the left is our outdoor temperature upon waking this morning while the temperature on the right is the ambient temp in the kitchen. I dedicate this photograph to my brother who spent last night sipping margaritas in Arizona...in his bare feet, no doubt.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-1586800593760764052009-01-08T10:03:00.009-06:002009-01-08T14:51:07.704-06:00

I was a bit down yesterday when the January propane bill arrived before the December one had even been paid. The large shack hubby and I share with farm dog isn’t the most energy efficient home, even though we’ve done our part by adding plastic to the windows, closing off unused bedrooms and keeping the thermostat to a level that forces us to get up and move around every hour to keep our digits

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-34282284004110481352009-01-03T18:57:00.006-06:002009-01-03T19:18:07.161-06:00

Farm dog (who've we've been calling "Marley" after the film dog), pushed his nose through the plastic insulation covering the dining room window. He was agitated by something outdoors and tried to thrust his 78 pounds through the glass. It's odd because the landscape is pretty stark these days. Except for the cows grazing noiselessly next door, there's not much to see out there save an occasional

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-59185973786451592412009-01-01T00:00:00.001-06:002009-01-01T00:00:02.764-06:00

The Lord bless you and keep you!The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious toyou! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!We are, most of us, descended from people who knew that we must plan ahead. How else would we survive winter? Well, whatever your hopes, dreams, wishes or plans happen to be for 2009, here's hoping they come to fruition.Happy New Year, dear ones!

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-91854345235729621312008-12-30T23:15:00.002-06:002008-12-30T23:18:54.799-06:00

and then …... between seven and eight o’clock tonight, as I descended the stair, I was struck. Out the window, just beyond the granary roof, a waxing crescent moon the color of soybeans in late September was slipping unceremoniously out of view. Whatever my first floor destination had been before I caught sight of this aberration in the blackened sky instantly lost importance. Like I said, I was

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-69914600353954240662008-12-29T21:22:00.002-06:002008-12-29T21:28:01.560-06:00

If you knew of someone who wanted to travel from Minnesota to, say, Rome, Italy...For the sole purpose of finding this... Would you consider that person to be ... CRAZY? (Keep in mind, we're talking a distance of 4,904 miles.) Of course, it would have to be real Italian spaghetti!

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-54852183732532735062008-12-24T10:35:00.003-06:002008-12-24T10:43:24.052-06:00

Merry Christmas to all the friends of Four Cedars Farms! May the spirit of Christmas warm your hearts and bring you joyin the same way that you have filled us with joy this past year.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-48932190985474284552008-12-23T14:40:00.005-06:002008-12-23T14:55:19.953-06:00

Between the time we placed our outgoing mail in the box, flag up, and when we returned to retrieve our incoming mail, our mailbox had changed.The dented and battered box? Gone. In it's place, a sturdy, (also) green replacement.Don't you just love it when a County administrator takes your problem to heart and makes it his own? Wow.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-49325937184450440112008-12-22T18:00:00.003-06:002008-12-22T18:03:45.416-06:00

I never thought it possible but ... I miss weeding.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-26345481660568829342008-12-21T15:18:00.003-06:002008-12-21T15:56:32.652-06:00

We are told to live in the moment. We are told we shouldn't cling to what's past or project ourselves into what has yet to materialize. We are encouraged to focus on our current reality, like it or not.But some realities are too hard to bear, such as when it's cold inside and so much colder outside that we can't even step outside the ancient walls of the farmhouse. And with evidence mounting of

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-1319171047802337772008-12-20T13:35:00.006-06:002008-12-20T14:13:02.720-06:00

Winter begins officially sometime tomorrow. I'm not sure who the "official" is who tied our seasons' beginnings and endings to the calendar, but clearly, he or she is a moron. Or, to put it more graciously, he or she clearly isn't from around here.Winter began in these parts before the end of November. That's more than three full weeks before the soltice. It has gained momentum from the start. In

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-89888041917452052302008-12-18T08:20:00.004-06:002008-12-18T08:23:59.848-06:00

I've been away. And so I've been missing sunrises like this: cold, pristine sunrises over an empty prairie — a place where, even in winter, you can stretch out your thoughts for miles before they bump into the thoughts of another.It's good to be home.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-24329245920128446452008-12-08T19:17:00.004-06:002008-12-08T20:04:30.861-06:00

There's a great bumper sticker on Facebook that shows an outline of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a tag line that reads: "If you haven't been there, you'll never understand."I spent a bit of time recently in the U.P., a rustic region of the Midwest where trees outnumber people roughly 100,000 to one, wolves now outnumber deer much to the dismay of area hunters, and one can operate a truly

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-44001595459764568112008-12-03T14:03:00.005-06:002008-12-03T15:53:58.551-06:00

Twenty five percent. That's the increased impact on your local economy you, and every befuddled Christmas shopper like you, can make this season if (and here's the rub), if you choose to spend your money at locally-owned businesses. That's because 68 cents of every dollar spent locally is reinvested in your community; meanwhile only 43 cents of every dollar spent at a national chain is

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-50019676917111133992008-11-27T19:56:00.007-06:002008-11-27T20:28:03.652-06:00

I guess it was out of habit that I ordered a 23-pound turkey. With just ten guests, however, chef and I made an executive decision made easy due to his choice of cooking technique. We decided we should cook only half the turkey. I always order a fresh bird so it was no problem to quarter it and put the other half into the freezer for another feast day. The hacksaw, borrowed from the workshop out

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-1401602447961626422008-11-26T21:37:00.004-06:002008-11-26T22:11:01.043-06:00

The french chef arrived at the farm kitchen three hours before I'd anticipated. Good thing as it took him a while to unpack his gear and make my kitchen his own. To warm up for the evening's activities, he clarified a pound of butter, then whipped up a tasty potato soup with lamb. That's the way it's done, he tells us. The chef and his staff eat first, then they cook for their clientele. I was

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-2534511844089766602008-11-25T20:57:00.007-06:002008-11-26T07:37:02.981-06:00

Before the hors d'oeuvres, before the turkey and cranberry sauce and smashed potatoes ... before sitting to enjoy any of it, remember where it all came from. And, as our nation's first president instructed, give thanks to the one who provides. (Click image to read the original proclamation declaring a national day of thanksgiving in the United States.)Remember also, as tough as our times seem,

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-57556698372069226302008-11-24T16:05:00.006-06:002008-11-24T16:28:46.729-06:00

Oftentimes, the best part about work is the interaction you engage in with coworkers. (Excepting Dunder Mifflin employees.) You all know what I mean: catching up on last evening's activities over coffee; laughing about some of the ludicrous news reports that cross your desk throughout the day; helping one another work through a challenge; or brainstorming new ways to market or design or package

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-89965320990150863082008-11-23T16:36:00.002-06:002008-11-23T22:29:54.630-06:00

Tuned into my car radio for the drive into town, I listened to pundits discussing the possibility of Hillary Clinton being named Secretary of State for the Obama administration. The commentator mentioned three groups that were weighing in on the topic: the Hillary Clinton camp, the Bill Clinton camp, and the Obama camp.It suddenly occurred to me at that moment that I didn’t have a camp. And that

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-52868367237558271692008-11-19T22:56:00.002-06:002008-11-19T22:58:06.347-06:00

I’m not sure how it happened, or when, but Thanksgiving has definitely become my holiday. I faintly recall motivation on my part, probably around 1991, to host both sides of our family at my place. My thinking went like this: cooking a large feast for twenty or more people had to be less hassle than traveling across several counties with rambunctious twin sons.I was right. Since then, I perfected

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-53699787721632455642008-11-18T17:12:00.006-06:002008-11-18T17:42:48.541-06:00

During November, here in the north country, the sun simply gives up on us and leaves, often in exasperation. She doesn't call; she doesn't write. She leaves nothing and so we settle for our memories of her, which we bask in to fend off the depression we feel over what lies in her wake: gray skies and startlingly cold wind.The obvious consequence to sun's departure is barrenness. The fields are

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-5533229686651002242008-11-15T11:24:00.005-06:002008-11-15T11:29:57.512-06:00

"Swearing is part of a professional kitchen."- Chef Paul, on the proper response to cooking missteps. "They can make rules; that doesn't mean you have to follow them."-Papa Blair, on new DNR rules prohibiting baiting of deer downstate.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-58465564230610937612008-11-10T16:04:00.005-06:002008-11-10T16:15:26.745-06:00

I just finished a rewrite of a story I wrote and published in 2005. Back then, a newspaper reporter read and reviewed the book, commending me for honestly revealing a "dark side" of characters who were "not entirely admirable."Well, that reporter has since died, and the "client" has requested a second edition in which those blemishes in history are dabbed with peroxide. Now that I've finished the

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-75267129779215385822008-11-07T09:36:00.005-06:002008-11-07T09:49:19.580-06:00

We worry about its return from late September on even though we'd be better served to keep our minds on the moment. We fear it. We dread it. No, I'm not talking about the election. It's our first snow of the season. And somehow, when it finally arrives whether forecasted or not, it is nothing short of beautiful and it makes the heart leap the way it does when a friend who you haven't seen in

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-72412726384025701802008-11-06T10:53:00.003-06:002008-11-06T11:02:53.344-06:00

He was raised to love the taste of lamb. Then college boy thought he might want to raise lambs. Alas, the classroom learning coupled with the internship at the sheep ranch in Montana helped him fine-tune his vocational plans. He'd rather cook — lamb among other things — he decided. Next week, college boy begins a 15-month intensive education at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. We expect

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-11251197126160116312008-11-05T22:15:00.004-06:002008-11-06T10:53:47.725-06:00

Salt Lake City, with its wide streets and full days of learning, is behind me now. I returned to Four Cedars tonight to find the corn across the street has disappeared but the stiff wind that I said goodbye to eleven days ago remains. Ahh, such is life on the plains.For those of you who follow this blog, I promised to post the video my workshop peers and I made in one afternoon last week. I had

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-77115047291678013412008-10-31T22:43:00.004-05:002008-10-31T23:04:51.005-05:00

The streets in Salt Lake City, to this average pedestrian, seem unusually wide, so much so that I decided to count how many steps it takes to cross one. The result of my count: thirty-nine. I know my son will dismiss this unscientific test; after all, his pet name for me is "Shorty." Regardless. These streets are really, REALLY wide. It turns out, city planners (here in Zion) wanted to insure

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-53270160919714996392008-10-30T23:45:00.002-05:002008-10-30T23:49:02.823-05:00

The APH Conference, which Becky and I are attending, can always be counted on for long days filled with education, skill sharpening, and learning new ways to repackage old products for new niches, new clients, and new revenue. In other words, there’s no down time here and that’s the way we like it, it makes us feel like we’re getting our money’s worth out of our registration fee.And then there’s

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-15333616685374632702008-10-28T22:17:00.004-05:002008-10-28T22:31:41.600-05:00

The differences between life in the city and life in the country can be stark at times. But then, urbane existences can also differ, depending on what city you call home and what city happens to be your temporary host. Those variations can range from simple climatological adaptations to complex cultural ones.Tuesday morning I awoke to temps in the 20s and eight hours later stepped into 70-degree

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-61627546676209163222008-10-27T08:00:00.002-05:002008-10-27T09:49:13.472-05:00

I came into some eggplant right about the time I was clearing out my refrigerator in anticpation of a week-long journey west. Not knowing if my purple globes would keep until early November, I decided to divvy them up between two people I know will make proper use of them.Then I came upon a recipe that made me even sadder that my eggplants had to leave my kitchen. But giving is always better than

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-14722153129806022022008-10-26T11:41:00.002-05:002008-10-26T11:56:38.929-05:00

Hubby was amazed by how much fun I could derive from a three dollar pumpkin. I'm a lot like a little girl with an easy-bake oven, I told him. And for others like me, who love to experiment with food, the kitchen is clearly our playground.Janice was right about Cinderalla here. She did give me lots and lots of mashed pumpkin. And now that our Chef-in-training has mastered GF pie crust, we're all

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-39098608774824995592008-10-24T20:52:00.004-05:002008-10-24T21:59:19.578-05:00

This, dear friends, is a Cinderella pumpkin, an heirloom variety that my friend and grower Janice Guldan, directed me to when I shared with her my desire to whip up a pumpkin bisque this weekend. This beauty, Janice said patting its firm flesh, will yield more than a dozen cups of bright orange, moist pulp. And at a mere $3, was a better bargain than the orange pie pumpkins I had been eyeing.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-60868602668557200112008-10-22T19:45:00.005-05:002008-10-22T21:05:42.490-05:00

Wal-Mart's second quarter 2008 earnings were reported by the company to be $101 billion. SuperValu Corporation reported 2007 revenues of roughly $37 billion. Target Corp., meanwhile, reported 2007 earnings of more than $63 billion, of which 34 percent was attributed to consumables and commodities.In many of our local communities, the three corporations listed above account for a good chunk of

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-86091423555424428922008-10-21T20:52:00.002-05:002008-10-21T22:05:15.057-05:00

Across the road, for as far as the eye can see, stands corn. It’s dry and shriveled and scantly reminiscent of the image that comes to mind when one thinks of a field of corn. Yet, corn it is; corn destined to be used for animal feed or human food or fuel. Its purpose has been decided upon by the man who planted it.That’s how things work in agriculture. The one who sets the seed is the one who

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-14322181452443517932008-10-19T12:24:00.003-05:002008-10-19T12:48:50.468-05:00

Weekends in mid-autumn are filled with the routine tasks of preparing for what lies ahead: winter.Hubby mows to chop up the fallen leaves, because raking would be ridiculous. While he does that, I walk the vineyard rows and attempt to repair any limbs torn from the trellis by recent winds. The leaves are curled and bronzed. a result (I hope) of the changing seasons and not a consequence of some

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-8620608654998222682008-10-15T19:00:00.001-05:002008-10-15T19:05:23.360-05:00

...the autumn leaves of red and gold.

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-71465565668436363152008-10-06T16:53:00.007-05:002008-10-06T17:03:58.391-05:00

When you believe every day is a gift, but then the day arrives with filtered sunshine, a breeze from the south, and temps in the mid-70s instead of the clouds, rain and misery that was predicted, you can't help but think your gift that is today came from Tiffany's. Needless to say, it's hard to stay inside when the days to enjoy outdoor activities are numbered. So outside I drifted, camera in

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-58558387991743145032008-10-05T21:52:00.004-05:002008-10-05T21:57:04.103-05:00

If you spend enough time in the kitchen, you come to understand that baking is a science while cooking is an art. This maxim was driven home to me when I tried to adapt some favorite family recipes that included flour to our family’s new, gluten-free reality.Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, is what gives elasticity (airiness) to baked goods such as cakes and bread. A quick turn

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-54303378572968517162008-10-01T19:10:00.002-05:002008-10-01T19:32:53.428-05:00

Over the constant squacking of the black ducks, I detect the hum of a combine across the lake. It's time. Harvest.Of course, it wasn't machinery to tip me off to what's obvious. We are weeks into a transformation of the countryside which brings a full palette of color within view. My favorite part of autumn is how the corn and soybean fields subtely fade from green to the auburn hue of late,

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2200817271961255239.post-20087077135036101062008-09-29T16:17:00.005-05:002008-09-29T16:26:42.468-05:00

Fall. Dive. Plunge. Plummet. All are verbs used in headlines today to describe the stock market after the bailout failed to win Congressional approval.Fall doesn’t quite work for me because it implies some sort of accident was involved.Dive doesn’t quite fit either because the action calls to mind grace and control. Recall the recent Olympic Games and the finesse of those pool-bound athlete

jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792410386670599630noreply@blogger.com0