Green Eggs and Ham

Actually, no.

No green eggs.

They are blue. I thought they would be teal......that's what the blurb said above the chicks at the farm store.

But since we are into soft grey/blues at Litengard that's what the eggs turned out to be.....grey/blue. They are just beautiful. One of the Ameracuna's is laying brown eggs (false advertising!!!), but the other is laying these beautiful light blue eggs. And they go so nicely, visually, with the brown eggs.

Jon wants to know how they taste. I tell him I'm still just looking at them. They are so pretty I don't want to crack them open and use them. But I guess I will have to get over their outside beauty and experience their Omega 3 nutrition shortly.



The gardens at Litengard and behind 42 are producing prolifically. I have about 12 heirloom tomato plants and everyday I make pasta sauce for the freezer. Danica put me onto this method last year. I roast up the tomatoes, garlic, onion, green peppers, all sorts of herbs and at different times anything else that I might have too much of such as zucchini, and eggplant. Put it through the food processor and it makes the most delicious pasta sauce.

I've been digging up loads of potatoes and I have a ton of winter squash, acorn, butternut, blue hubbard and then there were the volunteer pumpkins that just sprouted up in the most inconvenient places.

One of the guests at Litengard put me onto Lactofermentation as an alternative way of processing all the produce. It was the way ancient cultures processed veggies and the result is supposed to be very good for one's digestive system. I "did" up some green beans and cucumbers the other day. It's quick and easy, and I have heard it tastes great. They are fermenting right now on my counter. I'll let you know the results. Everything gets pickled. Nancy tried some shredded carrots last year and loved them. I've got lots of carrots and beets coming too.




These beans were sort of hidden behind the chicken wire so they grew to these ridiculous lengths (and are totally unusable). Thirteen inches! I wonder if that is a Guiness World record?

Growing things. It's a God thing. Babies, gardens, poultry, friendships, homes. It's put there by God and it's so much fun to work together with Him and see the results!

Rigmar Wants Children

For almost three weeks now, Rigmar has sat in the nesting box.

At first I was concerned that she might be ill. But a quick call to the in house vet and a frantic email to her previous owner assured me that she was not in any physical danger or distress.

I was instructed that what she is doing is "brooding". She wants children. It's only natural. We all, (or most of us) want to have some children of our own. And I guess chickens are no different.

But she's pathetic now. When one of her friends lays an egg, she immediately goes and sits on it. "Maybe someone's eggs are fertile!"

I try to shoo her off the nest and get her to go outside, which she does but only grudgingly. Then, in a big huff and lots of clucking and noise, she races back to the coop, jumps inside and back in the nesting boxes.

The rest of the hens think she is crazy and are ignoring her. When she does get down briefly she puffs herself up to twice her original size and struts around making loud noises. The others think she's ostentatious and try to peck her so she's not so puffed up. They don't have the mother instincts yet.

But, what to do, what to do. I think she is really suffering. We take all the eggs each day and she is desperate. Maybe Mr. T., who reads this blog, can recommend something or can tell me where I might get a couple of fertilized eggs. Perhaps if she could hatch a baby or two she could revert back to her tender, quiet self.

But, maybe not. Children are sometimes more than we expect. They're cute and adorable as infants. Sometimes they're messy and sometimes demanding. They need to be taught manners and rules of home life. But they're certainly fun...and loving...and inquisitive...and imaginative....and complicated....and....
absolutely lovely.

I think that is so in the chicken world too. There is a certain order to their living out there in the barn. A pecking order, so to speak. So if Rigmar ever gets to hatch a chick or two, we'll see how she handles motherhood.

And In A Flash........

Litengard was once again a Bed and Breakfast. After two wonderful nights of lovely music.

We hosted an "Evening of Favorites" this past Thursday and Friday. The Inn's parlor was transformed into a theater of sorts, with rows of white chairs, stage lights, a platform stage, the sound system, the audience and four fantastically talented musicians. These four musicians could perform anywhere in the US, but Canton was the venue for this performance.

We all were treated to so many fun favorites! Show tunes favorites, movie favorites, pop favorites and great Patsy Cline favorites. The audience, I don't think, wanted the show to come to an end. It was so much fun!

And during the intermission, gourmet desserts were served with coffee and a variety of iced teas, the favorite being pomegranate wild berry tea.


We had about 30 white chairs in the parlor and seating for several more on the couch, and of course there was standing room for those that had other responsibilities that night.


The guests were encouraged to go out onto the front porch to enjoy their desserts. A favorite past time, sitting on one's front porch, watching the neighborhood go by.

Or others could go to the back patio, to enjoy the backyard with the gardens full of tomato plants laden with tons of fruit and the lovely ladies (hens) who were very inquisitive about who all these people were. And many people wanted a tour of the barn with it's livestock. It's not often anymore one encounters chickens in the village

Darlene and Carina singing a duet. Their voices compliment each other so well. We all could have listened for many more hours!

And Ana Hull made the most amazing desserts! Each night there was a completely new menu of desserts all served by lovely ladies and fun aprons which were well coordinated with Litengard's colors.

Father's Day

It's Father's Day today.

And we don't have fathers anymore. But Rob is a father to our four wonderful children, so we carry on the tradition.

It's actually a wonderful day to take the time to remember and honor our dad's. To think about all they have been to us, and appreciate their dedication to the family.

My children are so blessed to have grown up surrounded by men of honor and integrity. Something missing frequently in our present day world of compromise. They have seen in action what it means to be a dad, a good dad. Someone who is loyal and kind, honest and firm, godly and compassionate. They have seen three men who have had to make hard decisions, difficult choices, and keep their commitments to their families, their work and to their Lord. My boys have good role models.

My sisters and I grew up with a Dad that was the head of the family, and loved his "girls", which included my mom, unconditionally. He was so talented, a B-17 pilot, and captian in WWII, flying 35 missions in Europe and bringing his crew and formation back safely every time.....although many of the plane limped back to England. He had a jazz band from high school, where he met my mom at a high school dance where he was performing. He married when he returned from the war, became a flight instructor, then back to New York to get a position in the bank. He went to night school on the GI bill at Columbia. And when I was in high school he was still going to school, getting his Masters from Brown. He was a hard worker, working three jobs to provide for his family. He eventually became the president of the bank and on the board of directors. A plaque of honor sits on Ethan's desk now, commending my dad for his service to the bank, and the community. He was known for his honesty and integrity in the business world. He had many positions in the church and audited the CMA's books each year for quite a while. And he always planted a big vegetable garden. If anyone needed any help, he was there and could be counted on.

But one of my favorite rememberances of him was his dedication to my mom. She had Alzheimers for about 10 years before she died. It was difficult. At first he tried to commensate for her. But eventually, my sister, the non medical person said, "we've got to take mom to the doctor, there's really something wrong with her". It was difficult and not easy to care for her. She was not herself anymore, she was angry and beligerant at times, frightened at other times. She would run away and get lost. He took over the cooking, something he never did before. He did the washing, the house cleaning and the shopping. And the getting her dressed, which was actually funny sometimes. One Sunday she came out all dressed and I looked at her and said....Dad, I think you put her dress on backwards! So off they went to the bedroom to turn it around.

But every day he would tell her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. He would not leave her, because, at the end, he was the only one she sort of recognized. That's honor and integrity. It's not the way they hoped they would end up but he was loving and kind to the very end.

I appreciate my Dad for the way he lived his life. I can be proud of him, not only for his achievements but for his loyalty to his family and his love for his wife. I think I can hear the Lord say to him...."Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Thanks, Dad. You showed us the way.

Three Celebrations

Our Birthday group celebrated three different occassions today...

I usually have a birthday party for my friend, Ann, sometimes at camp, sometimes at 42, but today we celebrated at Litengard. She loved my chickens and went home with 9 hard boiled eggs. I tried to make deviled eggs, hard boiled them but when I tried to peel them, they were impossible. I've never made deviled eggs before and I used ultra fresh eggs (just layed right before boiling). I didn't realize that I should have plunged them in ice water after they boiled. The shells were sticking like glue to the whites so they were not coming out so pretty. I did learn a lot of tricks for when I hard boil eggs in the future though, and Ann went home with eggs to make egg salad. She was happy.

My other friend, Anne, is from Canada and has recently become a citizen here. We celebrated with flags, red, white and blue candles, ribbons and we all sang the Star Spangled Banner with Lee Greenwood. She gets to vote now!!

Our other friend, Mayme, is moving to Maine at the end of the month. We're sad to see her go but have enjoyed her friendship for the last couple of years.
It was fun to all get together today. There were 11 out of the 14 who usually get together for our birthdays. We caught up on weddings, new jobs, children's activities, future wedding plans, gardens, books read, and vacations.
We've been doing this for 10 years now. Friendship. Love. Concern. Enjoyment. Fun!

Memorial Day........On the Farm

We had a short video at church yesterday about Memorial Day. A day to remember those soldiers who have died in active duty. It's been four years but I could not look at the pictures of Arlington. It was like opening up a wound. Too many memories that are still too vivid.
But......

It was a beautiful Memorial Day here in upstate New York.
It actually felt like summer here. And for most of the holiday weekend, we worked on the "farm". Ethan came up from New York City, where it was beautiful and Aunt June came to visit for the weekend from New Hampshire.

Went to Lowes today and got supplies for fencing in part of the side yard at 42. Christian mowed the Litengard lawn, finally the rain stopped long enough to mow. And boy was it a job...had to go slowly and empty the bag frequently. And then he and Rob began putting in posts for the new yard for the babies. Only four will go over, two are roosters and will continue in the barn until it is time for Christian to take them to the Noble Farm for their ultimate future......which will be on our dinner table.

Ethan was home for the weekend and participated in making a deck floor for the prefab chicken "barn". Unfortunately the completed chicken barn picture did not get inserted so I will have to show you the "barn" on another post.

I planted my some of my tomatoes, after attending an auction briefly with adopted neice Carol. Rob is stabilizing the wire tomato cages made by his dad years ago. Hope my tomatoes are as magnificent as they were last year. I did get a couple of new heirloom varieties and I'm anxious to see how they do.

Ethan modified a new raised bed for me that is located behind the barn at Litengard. Hope to have my cauliflower over there.



Aunt June met the chickens and collected the eggs each morning, just like she did when she was a girl. She's always busy and looking for projects. She helped construct the new chicken "barn", weeded, and dug some plants to bring home to New Hampshire. She strung my netting for the peas, and helped plant the tomatoes. At 83 years old I think she is doing great!

Finishing Strong

As my eyes scanned the titles of the books on the shelf, they stopped at this one.

I"m looking for a book to read in the morning as part of my devotions.

Finishing Strong.

Yes, that was what I always wanted to do.
Finish strong.

And now, if I go by national average I'm inching up to the finish line. But, if I live to be 100 years I'm only ten plus years beyond half way.

I take the book out. It is a book from Christian's library. A book I spotted when Liz was sorting through and packing up. "Can I take this one?" "Sure".

He had such a varied interest in books. But the thing that I loved was that he was interested in being better, learning more, and applying knowledge. I know that I have told you this before but when I went downstairs to "his" room in Italy and saw the book about developing a good marriage opened by his lounge chair, as if he just got up from reading, I knew that he was and would have been a wonderful husband and father.

Finishing Strong.....it's a book for men. It's about going the distance for your family. But why can't I read it? Us girls want to finish strong too.

So I open the cover and begin to read.

The Priority of finishing strong. So few do, finish strong. We need to make it a priority. Oh sure, we all finish. But what will we look like? So many road blocks, wrong turns, and just plan lack of endurance. Finishing strong requires some things...., grit, determination, a vision and finishing power. And most of all the time devoted to developing a moral and spiritual character so that no matter what comes up or at you, you can continue on with the Lord.

Steve Farrar talks about the perils to finishing strong. Lots of perils. Sin can shipwreck ones life. Spending more time on externals rather than the eternal. A person's character not keeping pace with their accomplishments. Being unteachable and unaccountable.

And the prototypes of a stong finisher. I have many older women in my life that have been a prototypes of a stong finisher. One of my good friends, Fran, is 83. I called her on Mother's Day and she was lamenting to me that she is sometimes so frustrated with herself because she feels herself getting lazy. "WHAT?" Now this woman taught 1st grade Sunday school every week until last year. For twenty five years she did a monthly meeting on Women of the Bible. She was the area director of CBS for the whole south east until a couple of years ago. When I visited her in South Carolina this past spring she gave a reception for another lady in ministy for 40 people in her home. And then two weeks later had 30 ladies from church over for lunch. She sends out about 25 birthday cards to different friends each month and calls me every birthday and sings to me. She was the lady who sent me a "care" package every week when I was in Hope Lodge. She loves the Lord and people. She's modeled finishing strong for so many girls. I want to be like that.

I want to live out this verse from I Corinthians 16

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong"

And from I Timothy"

"And I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who has enaabled me, for he counted me faithful"