Sal's Country Home & Books

Here we are in October

2026-10-12T10:22:13.121-07:00

My goodness! I really skipped months.

Been a busy last few months that's for sure. Hubby had to dig up the septic pipe and found the leach field after we had to have the tank pumped. Nothing was going anywhere. About 60 feet of rock breaking mixed with some rock. We found the pipe that was coming from the tank and turning with a 90 was put in wrong. It wasn't layer flat but up and had a large rock on it. It was also crack and plugged with dirt.

he had to find the tank lids first before hand.

We canned beets in Aug.

Boiled them on the scout stove in our lean-to.

Dh also worked on wood through the summer.

We picked the first of the beans. We also pulled the few carrots that grew and froze them to use as needed.

This guy and his girls hung around all summer.

Finally got everything fixed, rock ordered and put around what was needed and covered back up septic wise for winter.

Wood shed lean-to's. The large one and the back smal one.

We had to get me a new laptop and it's giving me plenty of fits.

I Skipped all of June, wow!

2026-07-10T11:38:14.827-07:00

Skipping a whole month again seemed awful easy. Didn't mean to.

The wood gathering has already started. A friend that lives several miles away had some dead trees he had already cut down hauled away and we did so.

I also took pictures of some of the old equipment they have there.

We got our new flag up in time for the 4th of July. Plus small flags along the driveway fence line, and our large 250th Anniversary flag.

The others are of some of our ancestral lines. Scottish, Welsh and Irish. We try to find a new one once in a great while.

We had a bear attack on the chicken's. Even got the door latch broken and went inside. We are down 7 layers. All of the chickens are 3 and slowing down on egg productions but we thought we had enough to get through to next spring. Now we're wondering if the 17 left will do for enough eggs. I guess we will see. Bear paws, large hand size, not huge but still did the job.

31 May 2026 Jut like that tomorrow is June.

2026-05-31T21:45:34.978-07:00

I meant to put a new blog post up more 2 weeks ago. You see how that went. We have had off and on rain which is good but we haven't been able to plant anything but potato's a couple of weeks ago.

We also had a visitor 2 weeks ago. It was we believe just a yearling. The chickens didn't pay it any attention at all.

Dh got the front right tire on the riding lawn mower inflated again. There was something in the garden area he thinks that did a number on it.

I have been sewing and of all things my laptop has been acting up. Tells me I have corrupted zip files. A grandson sent something to see if we can fix it and we will be looking at the tomorrow. It keeps crashing.

We also have summer guests out in our pastures. Just 8, 3 cows, 1 bull and 4 calves.

The neighbors cattle came over in investigate the the new arrivals across the fence. Watched for a bit and then dispersed.

Our lilac bushes, tulips and the apple tree finally bloomed.

Dh weather proofed the roof of the chicken coop as well.

Just like that tomorrow is June.

Take care everyone.

New Year and boy am I Behind

2026-04-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

Man alive, I do get behind don't I?

Middle of April 2026 already. Spring is here mostly. A few nights of 30 deg. F. and normal for the 3ed week next week rain/snow.

We have working to get many things done as spring brings lots of work. Dh has already boarded over the holes in the wood pecker holes in the well house and 2 ground level holes where red diggers chewed above the concrete and into the well house.

He is painting the well house today and bought the stuff to go over the chicken coop roof as it has sprung a couple of leaks.

We straightened up the garage and washed all the dirty canning jars. The last batch of around 100 are drying, waiting to be boxed up.

The fence lines have been walked and only a couple of problems spied to be fixed. The upper gate looks like someone messed with it and will need some fixing. It was fine 6 weeks ago.

I ground up quite a bit of dried older beans, stored and otherwise into bean flour to add as a thickener. I found a grinder for my mixer at a 2ed hand store. I did a 1st grind to smaller bits then to a more of a flour.

I did manage to get my new book up on Amazon in Kindle, audio will be up at any time. For the paperback I am having sign in problems gads. So it will wait until that is figured out. Kindle; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWW1399M

Back to work.

Dec. 8 2025 Merry Christmas

2025-12-09T09:40:00.000-08:00

I sure am good at skipping months.

Hope all had a good Thanksgiving be ye full or family, a few, or just you.

We joined or daughter in law and son down in Lewiston, ID. Half of the sons and daughters were there. Some of the grands and great grands. The rest of the family was missed but we know sometimes you just have to do, what you have to for your family.

We took the last turkey we raised and a few other things.

The grandson that lives in Coeur D' Alene Id, came down days before to help out. He took back our camper to live in come better weather. Grandfather helping to hook it up.

Rain, Rain and more rain this week Dh had to take a flat tire off of the car on Monday. He found his tire going flat, back passenger tire, on his way to Church on Sunday. Just made it into the parking lot when it gave up the ghost. I went down and got him later in the day. I covered him with an umbrella while it rained and he took the tire off to take to the shop. Had to do the same when we got it back repaired 2 1/2 hours later. They were really busy.

All's well that ends well.

New book up at Amazon. Kandy Rose Kane. Top right book on page here. :) Click on book.

I've Done It Again

2025-10-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

Nothing like not posting for 3 months.

The garden did great this year. This was in August.

Our daughter C in AZ. got to visit us the last half of July for a week. Really nice.

We have been in a Indian summer with a couple of cold snaps and frosts this month. The weather changing again this weekend. Snow at 3900 feet. We are at 4000. The garden is harvested and the fruit trees. Things are canned up except for having to do more plums. We have also given some away. The 2 trees were just packed this year and we got more cherries as well. We managed to even get some of the Elder berries before the birds got them all and made a batch of jelly from those. Applesauce was made of course.

We got a good amount of potato's as well. Shared some. :)

Onions set to dry and then powder. The greens as well from quite a few.

Carrot tops as well. Powdered as well and also beet tops to add to soups.

Our sunflowers

The wood is in for the winter and some cut to dry for next winter.

We even managed to make a front for the wood shed area of the barn lean-to.

Son D and grandson A came in the beginning of Oct. They helped to put part of a fence back up and the gate in again.

Plus get a load of wood out of the woods the day before.

The summer yard furniture has been out away as well.

There are still a few things left to do before hard winter but we're getting there.

July, The Year Now Half Over

2025-07-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

July 2025 already. It's been hotter this week for us but we will have a cool down for a couple days now.

The Lewis/Clark Valley has started their summer temps. This is later then usual. They will be around 100 deg. F. and above in places down there now.

The garden is in and growing.

Our son in law from AZ. K was up to see what his mom C needed done. She will be going into a care facility as her cancer is getting worse. She needed things around her home taken away and the auction people called. He did so. He is back home and our daughter Co will be coming toward the middle end of July.

K helped with wood and etc. here helping us out with a few things.

We have guest cows from next door over here grazing and a bull here for the summer. Harry is the friendly bull, a highlander.

The bush out front finally bloomed. I keep forgetting what they are. They smell wonderful.

Our grandson B's half sister was killed in a car crash 23 June 2025. Grace just turned 18 in March.

As of the 30th of June my oldest brother Gil has been declared dead by a court. Starting 1 July 2025. After being missing for almost a year on 12 Aug. He had Alzheimer's really bad and had to be on meds.

He served 2 tours in Vietnam in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Even after that he was a kind soul and loved a good joke.

Wow, Spring time.

2025-05-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Talk about time getting past. Only we were ill half of Jan. through Feb, then came down with something else in March and part of April. Dh worst then me this last time.

We are playing catch up with the work around here. Plus it hasn't snowed in 2 weeks.

Our daffodils popped out at the end of April and now we have blossoms on the fruit trees. We have plum, cherry and apple trees. Plus an Oregon grape.

The garden area has been tilled once and needs one more time before we plant. Last week we still had one night below 32 deg. F. Lows in the 40's this week so the ground should be warming.

No Lila's yet just some small leaves.

Our new Barred Rock rooster

Missed Jan. 2025

2025-02-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Sorry to say I missed writting here in Jan. of the new year. The last part of Jan and this week of Feb. wehave both been ill with whatever has been going around. Makes us feel like we have lost 2 weeks and still not quite recovered. Run out of get up and go real fast.

We had grouse roaming around the back yard for a couple of weeks. Just two.

Not much else going on around here at this time.

All take care.

Nearly a New Year

2024-12-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

We are ending December with rain/snow, mostly rain. The 26th we woke to a pretty sight. Another cold front coming in next week.

Now it's almost gone because of rain.

Two weeks ago it looked like this for a week or more. State Road 129 going down to Asotin, WA.

We have a new addition to the house. We named her Missy.

We were giving a couple of stray cats by a grand daughter but they had somehow escaped from the large cage and are living in the barn. They do know where to come for food. Then someone dropped off a cat on our road and it is living in the barn as well. We see it coming and going from the cat food.

Everyone take care,

May God Bless and Happy New Year.

Snowed Again today In Between the Rain

2024-11-13T19:54:00.001-08:00

It has been a wet cold day, Lots of rain, wind and snow. High of 38 Deg, F. so nothing stuck on the ground. A couple of the trash cans did go flying since they are now empty as dh went tot he landfill this week. But he fixed that. Afterward one always finds the things you forgot to send to the landfill of course.

My brother Gil is still missing in IL. We had hoped he would be found by this time.

I am separating a bunch of pictures that came from my mom's place. Years worth. Someone had taken them out of the photo albums they were in :(. I will send the pictures off to the different family members. I think one more day and that will be finished with. Then I will find envelopes to send them to whom they were from.

We have managed to give a few pumpkins away but still have a lot to can up.

A picture dh took on his way home. It look like the clouds are low enough to touch.

We still have a few things to do before the snow stays on the ground. But they are getting less and less.

We went to the animal shelter and picked out a house cat. She is 3 and won't be ready to bring home until like the 23rd of Nov. She needs all her shots first and so forth. Was hard to decide which one they were all so nice.

We have a couple of barn cats but they are not friendly.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Octobers End

2024-10-28T09:29:00.002-07:00

I didn't realize I hadn't been back in here for a few weeks again. We've been working hard getting ready for the snow to fly. Which is supposed to be this week.

I also finished my newest book, The Turning Rock. Again is is in kindle and paperback.

The barn painting was finished. The back, 40x60 barn. Built around 1930.

Dh cut 4 more cords of wood and split it and most under cover.

The work continues with other things but I think we are down to the real little things.

Help was here :)

2024-09-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well, we had help this morning on the barn. Granddaughter.

Barn getting it's new paint

2024-09-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Dh is giving the barn it's new coat. It was time again. Especially on the south and west sides. Red this time. He is trying to get this done before we get those freezing temps.

West side

East side being scarped at dusk.

Front

More dry wood was put in lean-to as well.

Also canning.

A few of the pumpkins that were ready have already been given away. The summer squash was canned up, there are only like 3 growing and one will be left to grow more and saved for seed. A few were given away.

So far we are having an Indian summer which is a big help in letting the rest of the things in the garden mature. Mostly pumpkins and potatoes now.

My oldest brother is still missing, Roscoe, IL. Over 6 weeks now.

Our dad who passed in 2008 and brother Gilbert when he was 2.

One of our past times.

September, Weather is Changing and Gil Still Missing

2024-09-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

Most important point is that my brother has now been missing 4 weeks. The family is very worried. We hope he is not suffering and maybe Heavenly Father has taken him home. Only he still needs found.

Us. I colorized this. Top of the pic Aug. 1957. The boys have new shorts for school and I got a dress. Very special for us to get something new.

Our weather is about to change. We were having an Indian summer but in one day we are going from mid 80's F. to 59 degrees. We will be in the low 40's F. at night.

We have been rearranging things and painting while we can. Front enclosed porch/laundry room redone.

West side coming out the livening room door.

East side, wonderful.

He's still hoping we can get the barn painted before the to much cooler weather hits when painting won't be a good thing.

He wants to cut more wood to dry for next year. He has the dry wood from last year all split and now stacked in the wood shed. We put up the bracing first on the roof beam.

There is more in there then this now.

The wild turkeys have been going past in small groups. Just 3 in this one but 9 in another. One of the albino's was with them.

Take care and all be safe in this craziness that is going on in our world. God Bless.

Tribute To My Oldest Brother, The Search Continues

2024-08-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

There was another search in Roscoe, IL. yesterday for my brother who has been missing since 12 August 2024. Nothing was seen of him. :( We are still hoping and praying he can be found, one way or the other.

They will set up another these are mostly family, friends and folks who care. All volunteers again.

Just some quick snap shots from here and there in his life.

Mom and Gilbert

Gilbert on left

Our family Gilbert on left, we weren't cooperating very well lol. Mom had red hair which didn't show in this picture.

Gil on right, T and I

Gilbert on right, mom on the left holding Gil's son B.

Gil and wife

Things in life happen so quickly. Some times we think time is moving slow but it really isn't. One blinks and years have gone by.

Dad left this world in 2008. He and mom had been divorced since I was 4. Through the years they were friendly. Mom crossed the veil in 2023. Her sister in 2022.

My step mom Marge crossed over in 2006. My younger half sister Laura in 2018. Step brother Vernon in 2022. We will meet again.

But we have our memories and hopefully remember the good times. Yes, makes me maudlin thinking on this.

In my minds eye and can still see us walking down the sidewalks of Milwaukee when we lived in town with the boys taking turns pulling our red wagon. We were going house to house asking for pop bottles. They were glass in those days and you could get money for their return for cash. Just nickels and dimes but a lot to us. We collected newspaper as well that we got pennies for at the local junk yard. I think the men who worked there were just being very nice.

We would buy 10 cent paper kites to put together, balsa wood airplanes that were also 10 cents and penny bubble gum.

Gilbert on left with T and I.

Just heard this morning that my aunt Virla passed away just after midnight. My dad's little sister. May she rest in peace. She was 83. The last of their generation. Virla is the little girl.

Putting up news.

2024-08-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

I am putting up news of my oldest brother first. He has been missing since the evening of the 12th of Aug. he has Alzheimer's. His name is Gilbert and may be confused. They live in Roscoe IL, Winnebago county by Rockford, but he may have walked a long distance. Also near Machesney, Rockton etc. Please contact the authorities if you come upon him or see him. Prayers welcome on him being found.

We have been trying to get some work done around our place. Dh tore out 3 of the really old front barn ramps and redid those.

Extra wood we had.

The left over shingles from the house work great so no slipping in bad weather.

Another, it mostly needed some TLC and recovered.

3rd one rdone and new shingles went unto it as well.

The paint for the barn has been bought it will be barn red again soon.

July 31, 2024

2024-07-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

The fires are still going. What was nice we had rain Monday night in the area. That helped a little and cooler temperatures. and less smoke. A lady at Church shared this list in case anyone needs to evacuate from their homes.

It is heating back up here and down in the valley big time. Today 80's and into the low 90's tomorrow. We will be mid 90's F. Friday, but down there 108 plus. They take the temps up at the airport where it is always a bit cooler than the lower valley. Friday will be the hottest but they will have 106 Sat. not that much cooler.

Stella the summer mule was throwing her bowl around this morning. I guess she thought I hadn't given her an adequate enough amount of oats. She went over and pushed Clara away from hers and spilled what little was left in Clara's bowl. Then went back to hers and was making all kinds of noises on how unhappy she was. She is a real talker. That's smoke all around us not haze.

I did manage to get a huge of pork shoulder roast Dave found on sale canned up on Monday. Ended up 5 quarts of meat and one of broth. We did it in 2 crock pots. Turned out nice and tender. The fat was reserved and bagged up for Bear dog to be doled out to him a little at a time as a treat. Don't want to give him to much and upset his stomach with to much richness. After being cooked up and stuffed in jars it doesn't seem like as much. I was glad to get that done before hotter temps came back in.

Full Blown Summer

2024-07-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

The heat of summer is here. We pretty well had a cool June. Th window AC is in our bedroom and then we open up at night and have fans in the windows at night. One blowing in and one on the other side of the house blowing out. The nights aren't to warm yet and that helps. One just has to get used to it. :)

All kinds of Birthdays in July. I think I got them all.

We've been on level one evac for a week. But it looks like the fire is going more to the west, northwest. Called the Cougar Creek fire. We were getting ash fall on Wed. but none now. This is looking south west from our barn on Tuesday the 16th.

The field to the south of us on Wed. the 17th.

Helo with water bucket going over. The planes were going around to the west and the trees were always in the way.

The garden is doing so so, looks like we will have mainly potato's and pumpkins, lol. The to cool June kind of did it under. The onions also look good. To many nights at or below freezing.

Onions that went to seed for next year.

Pumpkin patch, hopefully we get some good pumpkins before the cold weather hits. Should be around the middle of September but one never knows.

I have slowly been writing my next book. Seems very slowly.

The turkeys like their new extended yard. There are 4 of them, 2 are the neighbors.

We have never had a light feathered one like the one on the left before.

Everyone take care and God Bless.

July 2024

2024-07-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

The first week of July is under our belts. We have been getting little chores finished that add up.

The garden has been in for 3 weeks, late because of the cold weather and now it is turning hot.

Not a whole lot has been going on besides, playing catch up on needed work around here.

Still some needed fence work and post replacements to be done.

We have been making jams and preserves from the fruit we froze last year.

Some of our new crop of chickens. Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. The old California Whites are now old age.

Clara and Stella are here.

Still sewing as time permits. Bucket hats and Tulip hats. The Tulip hats are the easiest.

Cold Front

2024-06-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

The last three mornings we have had temps in the high 30's. Yesterday was the coldest at 36 F. This morning 38, 39. Temps will be around 53 today.

The rest of the week will be warming up and 80 F by next Saturday during the day.

We have had a colder June but that was around 2007 with below freezing.

Some of the garden is in. Later then other years but it's going in. Planted more this last Saturday with the help of a great grandson K :). More beans, the cucumbers and other squash.

He had to wear a flannel of mine with the sleeves rolled up and a winter beany. Out with g, grandpa fixing fences.

Cool Front Here

2024-05-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

This week we have been back to the high 30's F. at night. With high 40's and low 50's during the day. Supposed to be 55 F. today with rain coming in.

The apple trees are blossoming out. I hope it's not to cold for them to be pollinated. The lilacs now have small leaves. Might have flowers on the bushes in another couple of weeks. Tulips are up.

We found that the well house piping sprung a leak on the out going side last night when all of sudden we had no water last evening. Just above the shutoff. :(. At least it can be shut off.

Dh has a dentist appointment this morning so he left early to get the parts he needs.

We're still trying to get the camper ready for son in laws mom to live in for a week and may have to fill the water tanks up at her place. Her old manufactured home is being torn down and the new one won't be here until next week. She doesn't want to leave her place unattended because there are to many sticky fingers around her. Lots of her things are in a couple of sheds right now and on a deck.

Dh will head up there to Orofino ID. about 1 or 2 this afternoon to move her big things onto her deck. Fridge, washer, etc. etc. and take the camper up tomorrow. I've been putting things in that I think she might need. Paper plates, silverware, towels and so on.

D will be up there on Wed. as well when the demo guys come. We're hoping they can finish it in one day. Also supposed to rain Wed. :( that we didn't need. We pray that doesn't put things off because the new place comes the beginning of next week.

Also D will be heading to Burbank, WA. Wed. night so he can take a son to the hospital on Thursday morning for surgery. Then bring him home. It's a three hour drive one way.

A few of the pics of the bowl cozy's I have been making.

Last Day of April

2024-04-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, I did it again, went a weeks without posting. During the time we had company and it was great. They also had lots to do with helping his mom get ready to be moved. They hoped it helped her with packing and etc.

One of our grandsons came up with his uncle and got some of the things we were giving away. He lives in the Spokane, Washington area. He needed a work desk and chairs and this worked out great for him

We woke to an inch of snow this morning and 30 deg. F. Not to bad, we have gotten more snow then this in April before and into May. We don't dare plant as yet, the ground is to cold even for root crops.

Usually but not always the last 2 weeks of May is usually best for getting the root crops in the ground.

Yesterday

This next pictures are the 2ed week of April and then it melted away in a weeks time. It was a very wet heavy snow.

We got our new chicks 3 weeks ago. New layers along with Red Broilers and turkeys, 20 of the broilers and 2 turkeys are the neighbors. He doesn't have a place for chicks as yet. A bit hard to see with the red heat lamps to keep them warm. No the tarp isn't hitting the heat lamps.

I made a new quilt and still need to make a back for it.

Purse with matching wallet. There are 2 pockets inside and a pocket on each side of the outside. Zipper close on top of purse.

Wallets

Now unto May.

Happy Easter

2024-03-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a happy Easter. He is Risen.

Seems we are having an early spring. Tons of robins and finches flying around. We saw pelicans in the Salmon river again yesterday when we were in the L/C valley. Wish I had taken my camera but I will put one up from last yr, looks about the same lol.

Chuck Crawford passed away and we got a call from his sister yesterday. He passed 1 yr. and 31 days after my mother. They were together for around 21 yrs.

Weather wise we have had just about everything, some times all in one day. Sun, fog, hail, snow, rain and so on. On this Wed. past it hailed off and on all day with high winds. Thursday was hail, rain, snow and then sun in the evening.

It is supposed to be nice today with sun and a high of 48 deg. F. No rain/snow again until this coming Wed.

Dh has been getting the chick area's of the barn ready, new chicks coming. 24 Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. Along with Red broilers. We haven't raised the broilers before. We are including the ones for the neighbor as he doesn't have a place for his. Also hope we can still get 4 turkey chicks, 2 for us and 2 for them. Been harder this year to get turkey's. The turkeys might be into the farm store today, but first come first serve unless you order 2 dozen. All we want is 4. And couldn't order the Cornish Xrocks as normal.

Take care all.

Time Marches On. lol

2024-03-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

Yep, here we are in March again. Wasn't it just March 2023?

We will be ordering new chickens in a week or two. Also going to do Cornish X-Rocks for meat birds maybe a couple of turkeys as well. The neighbor wants some as well and raise them with ours for a while as he doesn't have a place for them.

We have to get the barn areas ready for them first. Lay down pine shavings, and set up the feeders and etc. It means lots of trips to the barn for a few weeks but it's always nice in the end.

We have had snow, cold, warm ups, mud, then cold, snow, sleet, rain, and then it starts over again.

Last small snow fall and the creek is running.

After 30 years we had to replace our dryer. Didn't like the cost but it is needed for certain times of the year. Oh well.

Did a lot of sewing last week. Cloth wallets.

Aprons, already sent off to a daughter.