Fall A Week of Work, Relaxation and Wildlife

A little look at our life in getting firewood, a relaxing Sunday walk and an unusual wildlife sighting.

The gathering of firewood begins in November...While cleaning up of the forest floor and branches from trees are burned at the same time.  Which helps to keep the forest fire hazard down around our property.  All trees cut are already standing dead so they can be used this winter.   We have no other heat in our house except wood.  We are blessed with all the supply we could ever use right on our property.

One of our many work vehicles used on the property.   I have owned this Datsun truck since 1979.  My husband has kept it running as well as all our vehicles and farm equipment all these years.  The Datsun is still running on the original motor.  It is gear lowed so has always made a great bush vehicle.  With only 2 wheel drive this truck has rarely ever gotten stuck..

  

This is our winter get around work vehicle as well as used in summer for camping, fishing and hunting.  It is a 87 Ford Ranger 4X4.  We have kept the truck in new condition all these years.  It is also running on the original motor.   

        

Time to start pulling some logs out that have been cut.....

        

 

       

This is our farm work horse which has been used for haying, logging and many other activities over the past 16 years.    We knew nothing about tractors at the time.  Massey Furgusen 165.  We have no idea the age but it is very old. 

  

So much that has been done at our place could not have been accomplished without my husband.  He is still going strong at age 70. 

    

Trucks, trucks yes we are truck people...This is our 77 Ford 1 ton dually .  We have had this truck since 1986.  Used for haying, logging and bringing firewood home. 

   

Cutting, splitting and stacking

  

It was a busy work week with getting fire wood.  But when Sunday arrives it is a day off and time to take it easy.  This day we went for a long walk on the dirt road up our valley.  Winter is the only time we walk it as it is to dusty when a vehicle passes in the summer.  The creek runs along the the road giving some great photo shots.

Come take a Sunday stroll

No talking just stop and take a close look as I did and enjoy a simple walk.. 

         

 

  

 

  

 

 

   

 

  

 

  

Home again

 

  

 

Bobcat sighting

Well many of you have heard me make reference that I can't get good shots with my little camera on wildlife.  Well here is a guy who was so consumed with getting his prey ( some grouse), he was basically ignoring me.  I was on my way up the hill to deliver lunch when I spotted him just 100 yards from out house.  As most of you know we now have no dog so I guess I should be watching out more for wildlife coming nearer to our home.  As I would get close, the grouse would move off and so would he...

   

I just continued to follow up the hill... I found him in a grassy area with some sapling trees.  He was just sitting watching the grouse intently.

   

I started slowly moving in clicking the camera.  I couldn't get close enough to see but I thought he may have had a neck monitor on or it may have been the tuffs that are off his necks.

  

 I was within 30 ft of him when finally he decided he'd had enough of me and bound off.

 

I believe he was just a young guy he looked like a 25lb cat in his body.  It was his legs that were big and long for his small body size.  4 years ago I just caught the tail end of one running away on one of my walks.  So this is special to actually see one and take a decent photo.  I am a little worried about our domestic cats now and our chickens.  Right now there is lots of grouse for him.

  

Memories of his presence.   The snow is almost all gone now but expecting more so should be able to better monitor his movement if he is hanging around our house.

So remember to work hard

Relax often and be apart of nature 

Hope you enjoyed our week at the Ranch

and don’t forget to have a
Good Morning…  Good Afternoon…  Good Night…
Whatever it is to you.

Photos & Words
by

Here I Am/Carrie

Cooking with Carrie Beef Stroganoff

Here's the beef.  In times of economic stress, we should always fall back to those good old hamburger recipes.   I normally eat red meat  once or twice a week for dinner.   My husband and I are now blessed with an abundance of natural wild and home grown meats. 

 

My husband and a friend (in blue overalls) went hunting up near Fraser Lake BC. The group they hunted with split the meat up...Who ever needs a whole moose is eating way to much red meat.  Half a moose being butchered at our place....In the end we ended up with a 1/4...My small freezer is now packed to the brim...Another year of abundance...I thank the moose for giving up his life so my husband and I can eat a healthy red meat....The men did the cutting and the women did the wrapping...

  

But I will never forget the lean years when I could not afford to buy meat which more less lead me into preparing more vegetarian meals in which I grew most of my vegetables. It lead to a healthier diet. 
There were times in my life and growing up that I learned how a pound of hamburger could be turned into an economical meal feeding 6.  Today recipes for hamburger are unlimited.  I personally never tire of a good hamburger recipe..
So for anyone that is not so blessed with wild meat, try and buy organic or buy something that was grown locally and butchered locally.  Never  buy those great big bags of mass produced hamburger.  That is where the worst of all health problems arise with contamination.   I also would not buy radiated beef.  That is why the meat at Costco and many grocery stores looks so pretty and pink...its been radiated..Most meats that maintains that fresh pink colour has been radiated.   Non-radiated meat will start to colour darker...You remember the old days when meat use to have a grey brown tinge on the surface after a few days in the fridge.   Better safe then sorry...Stay natural, nothing added and nothing enhanced.....What is added to the growth of beef and medication just prior to butchering just turns my stomach as well.  If you can get your beef right from the rancher before it goes to a feed lot, you are doing yourself and your family a huge health benefit.
So I try and live my life with balance even in my meals...So here is a very quick and easy economical recipe that has the beef or wild meat...

Beef Stroganoff

Conserve energy if you have a wood stove burning this can be cooked on the stove top.

Cook in skillet till brown

     1 1/2 lbs hamburger
2 Tbs. butter or olive oil

  
    
You also can make this recipe with round steak or sirloin cut into strips..But remember to simmer for over an 1 1/2 hours  instead of 1/2 hour...

Add

      1 cup beef bouillon
2 Tbs. catsup
1 clove garlic finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
Heat to boiling then reduce heat and simmer 1/2 hour
I always use fresh garlic to gain all it medicinal properties.

                                                                                           

     

 Stir In

8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 medium onion chopped
Cover and Simmer till onions are tender
I always use fresh mushrooms.  Its a brown button looking that is organic.
But you can use canned as well..

  

Shake in Jar

       1/2 cup beef bouillon
3 Tbs. flour
Stir into beef and heat
to boiling and boil 1 minute or until thickened.
I just add the flour to the meat mix and stir good then add the water.
I take every shortcut possible to get less dishes dirty.
I always use whole wheat flour.
There is no white flour in my house for 8 years now.

      

Add

1 cup sour cream
Stir till mixed in
Serve with boiled potatoes or noodles.

      

Here a very simple dinner served with
a fresh green salad
nice glass of red wine. 

 

  Simple Dinner
Simple Life
Happy Eating

Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night…
What ever it is to you.

Photo & Words
by

Here I Am/Carrie

Farewell to Fall Colours and Farewell to Buster

Saying Farewell to Fall colours and Buster my dog...

I have not been visiting for a few days and will not be for a few more days as I am dealing with my ageing dog Buster  who will no longer be with us by the end of the week..   He has lived a long and healthy life till about 5 weeks ago when a lump started growing rapidly on his back hip....We chose no treatment as he is an old man already and has slowed down a great deal. 

 

 

 

 

         
     

     

 

 

 

 

     

     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

    

 

 

 

                                                                         

     

     

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

                                                                      

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farewell Buster Brown

Farewell to all the beautiful fall colours.

As all life begins and ends
I wish you a
Good Morning…  Good Afternoon… Good Night…
What ever it is to you..

Photos & Words
by

Here I Am/Carrie