October 2016 – Judy's Treehouse

Awww Nuts!

This is Yosemite. Yes, I’ve named him. Doesn’t he look cute and cuddly? Look at him chomping away on his little nut.

Yosemite has set up camp in this very old hollow tree that has been on the farm for over 100 years. Our daughter Mandi used to climb inside and play in this tree when she was but a wee lad. Good thing she wasn’t afraid of snake and vermin back in the day.

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Yosemite has plenty to eat at his new pad. The food just falls from the tree. He couldn’t ask for a better local. Even the neighbors (that would be us) have sent him a welcome to the neighborhood treat…..

A little banana in this unique little welcome wagon basket.

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Although cute and cuddly he may appear, he is wreaking havoc on our yard as he builds his underground tunnels and renovates his new tree digs.

Yosemite must go.

But he has so far outsmarted the trap……

And, farmer Greg has little patience……

Caddy Shack at the farm is not so much fun…..

Never had a problem while good ole Buster was with us. I miss this sweet dog so very much. A great dog and protector of the farm. No wild animal habitation while he was on duty, no sir. Now he is happily roaming the fields and hills in Heaven.

This year has been a challenge with wildlife coming too close to the house. Coyotes, Raccoons, Opossum, and now Yosemite the Ground Hog.

And, although, Buster can never be replaced, it is time for his doppelganger to stumble upon us, just like he stumbled upon the farm so many years ago, tired and hungry and just looking for love. Well, he found it here that’s for sure and he gave love back to us in return.

So, in order to keep peace with the wildlife on the farm, so they can have their space and we can have ours, I’m sending this out to the Universe……..outside dog with sweet disposition towards people yet menacing wildlife nemesis needed at the farm. Plenty of biscuits and love in return.

There’s a light at the end of the harvest tunnel….

Harvest 2016 is moving along. We’ve had a good harvest season and are getting close to having all of our crops out of the field.

My harvest office..... — My harvest office…..

Very few rain delays……

Beautiful creations by Mother Nature…….

Practicing our “night moves”

Seeing some friends along the way…..

A little tractor nap time…..for some of us……tractor hog!

A few obstacles to overcome. This is the dreaded hill we have to move up and down in Browning, IL. It is steep. Greg has to drive the combine down it backwards. In the beginning, I would not drive the tractor up or down this hill. Greg would drive it up, I would walk. After we loaded the grain cart, Greg would drive it down, I would walk. After I loaded the trucks, Greg would drive it up, I would walk. You get the gist. After about 10 loads of corn you can see where this would be time consuming for us. But, my ever wonderful husband was patient with me and did not complain. Now, I am happy to say that I faced my fears and with a few trial runs with Greg as my copilot I now drive the tractor up and down this monster hill. Can’t say that I like it but I do it……not only because we should face and conquer our fears…….but because my husband deserves the best I can be for me, for him, and for our family.

A little plugging up on the draper head but nothing this amazing farmer can’t fix…

Corn piling up on the ground outside of ADM Beardstown! Happy to see that farmers everywhere seem to be doing well. A couple of lines at the elevator but they are doing a good job keeping up. Sometimes its hard for us farmers to be patient during harvest…..you never know what the weather might bring or what else might lie around the corner……have to keep running as long as you can to get the crops out.

And so we’re done with beans for this harvest season. A few hundred acres of corn left to go……may the force be with us all 🙂

Hidden Beauty

Isn’t she beautiful??? And, she smells so sweet. She just recently blossomed from a climbing rose bush I planted about four years ago. It’s a leggy and scraggly soul with nary a bloom until last year when my husband threatened it. He actually talked to the plant and said, “If you don’t start producing, I’m going to cut you down.” I defended her. That fall we came home from harvest one evening and found one single beautiful bloom. “Take that”, was her response. This fall, she delighted us with three beauties. Oh, what beauty lies within…..

Grandpa Herman’s Notecards – Frederick, Illinois Notecard Series

Grandpa Herman’s Notecards – Frederick, Illinois Series

Eight notecards, two of each design, printed on non-glossy heavy card stock. Notecards are 3″ x 5″. Blank inside. Photo print of painting on cover. Includes eight envelopes.

These notecards are available for purchase at JudysTreehouse.etsy.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these notecards will be donated to Farwell House. Learn more about Farwell House at FarwellHouse.com

Grandpa Herman's Notecards - Frederick, Illinois Series, Set — Grandpa Herman’s Notecards – Frederick, Illinois Series, Set

In this set:

This notecard is a photo print of the painting by Herman Rebman. He painted it in 1944 from a photo taken of Frederick, Illinois in 1922. Sadly, the town no longer resembles the small community pictured. I enjoy gazing at his painting and trying to imagine life here as it was back then. A general store, the homes, the people. I image rebuilding Frederick into a small haven of artists; studios and shops; a place to visit for those journeying down The Great River Road (Illinois Route 100). Of course, this is just my dream and vision and I’m not so sure the current residents of Frederick would feel the same but then again….

This notecard is a photo print of the painting by Herman Rebman which he titled “Herman on Herman”. It depicts himself back in the day on his horse, Herman, in the barn lot of his family farm in Frederick. He’s painted his father into the scene as well but I’m not sure that I fit that into the photo. You’ll see up on the hill the mansion known as Farwell House. The structures of the family farm there no longer exists. Farwell House, however, still stands strong and its new owners are working on developing it into a rural arts initiative. You can learn more about Farwell House at FarwellHouse.com. It was also featured on the television show, “Illinois Stories” which I believe aired two years ago.

Herman and Ida's Home Farm — Herman and Ida’s Home Farm

The final two notecards in this series are paintings by Herman Rebman of the home he shared with his wife, Ida. On the red barn is where he painted the mural of the cow. Imagine chickens free ranging in the barn lot; cats and kittens prowling about. Grandma Ida loved her cats, made them pancakes most mornings. Greg and I are blessed to be able to now call this our home. Of course the home farm has changed quite a bit, we’ve added on to help accommodate a large family, the original red barn no longer exists but the original house still remains and serves as Greg’s office and has a small guest room (I call it the bird room), sitting room and screened in porch.

We’re blessed to have the opportunity to live and farm on the land established by Herman and Ida over 100 years ago and to share life with the community of Frederick.

We’re also happy to share the beauty of Grandpa Herman’s paintings to others by way of these printed notecards. We hope you will enjoy Herman’s talent as much as we do. This set as well as other’s printed with Herman’s paintings are available at Judystreehouse.etsy.com

Mabel’s Cross

I call these necklaces Mabel’s Cross. And, there’s a story about how they came to be.

I live in the small town of Frederick, Illinois. A small township located in Schuyler County. I’ve lived here for just shy of twelve years. Moved here from Belleville, Illinois where I was born and raised and lived my entire life until I met and fell in love with my husband and soulmate Greg. City girl gone country I guess you could say.

Small town life was a big adjustment for me. Frederick’s population is about 200 give or take and is pretty spread out. It’s very rural. Had a post office when I first moved here but the government decided we didn’t need one here so that’s the end of that. Nothing else, no general stores or gas stations or malls (ha, ha). But nearby Beardstown and Rushville are only a hop, skip and short car ride away and the big city of Springfield is only an hour’s drive (by car, not horse and buggy).

I’ve found this small town to be filled with quite a character mix. Eclectic, unique, odd, normal (define normal I say), quirky, eccentric, you name it.

One such character is a sweet older woman named Mabel. She lives up the hill from us. From what I’ve been told she used to own a bakery and sold delectable baked goods. She has retired from that and has now taken on the huge responsibility of praying for and bringing Jesus into the lives of all of Frederick and beyond. She takes this job very seriously yet she is very very sweet about it, not overpowering. I love her very dearly

Every harvest she comes out to the fields to thank us for working her ground and to tell us a little tidbit about Jesus.

Every Christmas she bakes cookies for most, if not all, of Frederick. She has help from nearby neighbor children. She packs the cookies up in brown paper lunch sacks, decorated by the children, tied shut with a bit of yarn and finished off with a handmade note with a bible verse and also decorated by she and the children. Even adds a candy cane or two.

Last Valentine’s Day she gave us a heart shaped box of chocolates…..From Jesus.

She appeared at a funeral of a family member. I’m not sure that she even knew the family, she shows up at times like this. I sat by her and held her hand for a bit telling her how sweet and beautiful she is. She lit up like a Christmas tree. She opened her purse and pulled out a photo (her favorite) of Jesus. She told me she carries these with her and asked if I would like one. Yes, of course. She took out a pen and wrote on the picture, “Jesus Loves You This Much” John 3:16. She told me she loves this picture and always carries extra for others. My grandson’s Baptism was soon to be. I asked her for another. She happily obliged. Mine hangs on my refrigerator; the other went in my grandson, Christian’s, Baptism card.

We give her eggs and squash and this and that from our garden. She gives us honey and home baked bread and homemade grape juice and carrot juice. We can never just give her something without her giving something back to us.

One day she stopped by. With tears in her eyes she told me she was looking for Gizmo, her dog, who went missing. Please, if you see her bring her home. I told her I would pray for her and would keep an eye out. Later that night Gizmo was found.

One day she stopped by with a heavy heart. She was having some sad times and she kinda told me about them but then said that that was the Cross God gave her to bear and so she would.

And so my creative muse said I know just the thing. I had these teeny tiny cross charms just waiting to be created. I made this necklace for Mabel. I took it too her and said, so that your Crosses may never be too heavy to bear. I think I stumped her, how could she give back because that is what she does. So, a few days later she came to my door with this large Cross necklace and asked could I fix it for her, the crystals had fallen out and she wanted to replace them. Unfortunately, after many months, I couldn’t find the size of crystals needed to fix her Cross so I had to return it to her. It’s still a beautiful cross and I will keep a look out for the crystals to replace the shine but I think she will continue to shine without them……she stumped me!

And, tonight, after a long night in the field I come home to a large bag of empty egg cartons with this note attached….

Have you ever felt so much love……..pass it on!

Fall…….My Favorite Time of Year

I love the fall season……everything about it wraps me in a feeling of comfort. What’s your favorite season? Is it fall? If so, what makes it your favorite time of year? I’d love to hear from you……..

These are a few of my favorite things……

Neighbors and Decorations... — Neighbors and Decorations…

Everything pumpkin.... — Everything pumpkin….

Pumpkins and gourds from my garden. Last year I had a bumper crop. This year I put in a few hills and ended up with two big beauties. Didn’t plant gourds but have a few volunteers which will produce just enough to add a little to my fall décor (which I’ve yet to put together….sigh). I already have plans for next year’s fall garden. On the east side of the house, where once there was a small yard, will now become my fall garden with pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn!

Seeing the different color palates as the sun sets during harvest…..

Leaves……especially as they are drifting to the ground or swirling in the wind. Hypnotic, mesmerizing…..

Halloween……decorations, trick or treat, costumes, candy!

Migration of birds and butterflies…….especially the black birds…….thousands and thousands of birds creating a ballet of beautiful movement in the sky……

And spider webs…….not so much a fan of the spiders or walking through spider webs, especially those big webs with the non hairy spiders with fat bodies and short (or long) skinny legs….ewwwww……but love the beauty of spider webs in the fall, especially in the morning when they sparkle with a coating of dew or frost…..beautiful works of art…..

And I could go on and on and on with my thoughts on the beauty of fall. And how I love warm sweaters and jackets and boots. And how I love being outside in the evening with a bonfire, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, hot cocoa, coffee, apple pie cocktails, friends and family. A fire in the fireplace. Spice scented candles. Chili, stew and soup. Handcrafted quilts and throws. The sound of the leaves blowing in the wind. The sweet smell of corn during harvest. Thanksgiving. And……. Feeling so blessed with all of God’s creations and gifts………