farmhouse monster cookies...

A cookie without flour...but packed with so much goodness, you'll never miss it!
Oh-so simple to whip up, filled with all our favorites, and the recipe makes 4 dozen,
so there's plenty to share (and still have some for our cookie jar!)

These are pretty much perfect in my book!

3 eggs

1-1/4 c. brown sugar, packed

1 c. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. vanilla extract

12-oz. jar creamy or chunky peanut butter

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. chocolate-coated candies

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. raisins

1/4 c. peanut butter chips

2 t. baking soda

4-1/2 c. old-fashioned oats

Blend eggs and sugars together until creamy. Add salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter; blend well. Stir in chocolate candies, chocolate chips,  raisins, and peanut butter chips. Blend in baking soda and oats; mix well.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto a parchment-lined or no-stick baking sheet, placing dough about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. Makes approximately 4 dozen.

Now, I will admit I tossed in a few extra chocolate candies and chocolate chips, but it seems you can't go wrong with this recipe. Don't like raisins? Leave them out, or maybe substitute sweetened, dried cranberries or even butterscotch chips.

Whatever you decide to use, they won't last long...I promise!

Now...will you laugh if I tell you I'm enjoying these cookies with a glass of icy cold goat's milk?

I'm just testing the waters...wondering if our family will like it, and if dairy goats should be

on my wish list!

Come on...look at that face!

photo credit: Homestead Revival

chicken apron...finally complete!

Why yes, it did take me quite some time to stitch up my chicken apron...

Days turned into weeks...

Weeks turned into months...

                

Holidays came and went...

Need I say more? Time flies!

And so, here she is...

Next on the agenda is
turning these adorable flour sacks into aprons!

If I want them in time to welcome spring,
I'd better begin stitching now!

Happy Friday!

stitching up some love!

There's still time to stitch some handmade gifts for Valentine's Day...these will be ready in no time!

This sweet garland was a gift from Little Man's teacher...she's so thoughtful! Strips of felt become hearts with a simple straight stitch across one end. Then, by turning it inside out and stitching the other end, a heart appears. Slipped on a length of thread along with fluffy pompoms and cheery ribbon, the garland makes for a heartfelt greeting across a door, mantel, or as a runner down the center of a table. Thanks a bunch, Mrs. N!

I made the heart pockets years ago when I was first learning to blanket-stitch (so don't look too closely!)
I cut out felt hearts, then blanket-stitched around the edges...being sure to leave the top open. After adding a bit of chenille rick-rack, vintage buttons, and a few hand-stitched X's and O's, they were ready. Each year they're filled with a variety of favorite candy for the kids, and of course my hubby.

Even old scraps can be turned into something special. Small pieces of a worn quilt become a gift that's sure to be handed down. Cut the fabric into hearts, stitch along the edges, leaving room to stuff the heart with batting, then stitch closed and sew a button in the center.

There's a snow coming, and temps will be quite chilly this weekend, so it's a perfect time to celebrate
Home, Sweet, Home. Let's bring back the days when lovely Valentine memories were made from paper,
lace, crayons, glue, and imagination!

potato hearts...

Okay, these just made me smile...

and I couldn't resist sharing our heart-shaped potatoes found at the bottom of the vegetable bin. 

Why yes...I do think I'll serve them on Valentine's Day!

sunrise over the barn..

"Just as a dancer, turning and turning,

may fill the dusty light
with the soft swirl of her flying skirts,
our weeping willow

now old and broken,
creaking in the breeze

turns slowly, slowly in the winter sun,

sweeping the rusty roof of the barn

with the pale blue lacework of her shadow."

- Ted Kooser, Winter Morning Walks

I'm linking up to Homestead Revival's...



stop by here...Homestead Revival
to find clever farm & homekeeping tips & ideas!

morning light...

The morning light was casting such pretty and unusual shadows from the spinning wheels, 

that I wanted to share...

When we take the time to look, even the simplest things are lovely.

the weather outside is frightful!

and it seems the birds are the only ones braving the winter winds and snow!

It was -1 when I drove the kids to school this morning. And with anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of snow expected tonight, topped off with another 4 to 6 inches of snow tomorrow, I can tell you that this family will be staying indoors!

On the agenda...

movies, snacks, games, popcorn, pizza, reading, naps, and sweet treats

The latest chocolaty treat we can't get enough of is Charlie Brownies. We enjoyed them at a friend's home over Christmas, and Sweet Girl had to have the recipe. They're so easy to make, which is good, because they don't last long!

Charlie Brownies

2/3 c. butter, melted

1 lb. brown sugar

2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2-1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3 eggs

1 T. water

1 t. vanilla extract

12-oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine butter and brown sugar; set aside to cool 10 minutes. Sift together dry ingredients; set aside. Beat eggs, one at a time, into sugar mixture; add water and vanilla. Blend in flour mixture; stir in chocolate chips. Spread mixture into a well-greased 15"x9" jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees 20 to 25 minutes; do not over bake. Slice while warm using a plastic serrated knife. Place on wax paper to cool. Makes approximately

48 brownies, depending on the size cut.

So for the weekend, I'm staying indoors...okay, I'll check on the outdoor menagerie, but other than that,

I'm curling up for the weekend and keeping warm.

How about you...what do you do on these cold-as-the-inside-of-an-igloo days?!

let it snow!

Oh how this Santa makes me smile! With his basket of eggs and a happy hen on his arm,
I'm not sure I can tuck him away with all the other Christmas decorations!

We're getting our first "real" snowfall today!  Yay! It's a chilly 13 degrees and there's a blast of 24-mph wind blowing across the open fields. And while perhaps not the most fashionable, I was warm & cozy bundled up in a heavy-duty Carhartt coat for an early-morning critter check. Cats were curled up in the barn and chickens were last seen enjoying a bowl of warm mash. Our trusty farm dog ventured out; however, then decided it was best to go back to bed.

Today is also our first snow-day from school, and the kids couldn't be more excited! The plans for our day include homemade cookies, board games, a movie marathon, and of course, staying in their jammies all day.

We'll also celebrate hubby's birthday today...we'll be wrapping presents and making plans for a special dinner. Pshaw! Friday the 13th is lucky around here...what a great beginning to the long weekend!

So we're sending you warm wishes on this frosty Friday morning...enjoy every minute!

let's do the math...

    6  happy hens

x     1  egg per hen =
6 eggs a day

You've heard me say it before, when this past November we had a daily egg count of 13.
Hmmm, I'm keeping the math simple...there are only 6 hens, so how did I find 12 eggs
in the nestboxes yesterday?

Obvious questions to ask...

-Yes, we're collecting eggs daily.
-No, our nearest neighbors are not the prankster sort.
-Yes, the kids are at school all day, so that rules them out.

Not that I'm complaining...I'm just surprised/confused/pondering the possibilities. When most of my friends are telling me their girls are laying less during these chilly days of winter, we have a day when our hens are laying 2 eggs each (or so it would appear.)

I'm suspecting these girls are smarter than we thought...

simple joys for January...

...make this the year you snap lots of photos...golden sunsets, laughing children, smiling grandmas, glowing faces 'round the campfire, that first juicy tomato, plump pumpkins, and snowy days of quiet beauty. Capture those moments you want to remember.

...start a new hobby. What have you always wanted to do? Is this the year it can happen? If not fully, then read, read, and read some more until you're practically an expert on what you'd like to do. Whatever it might be, the beginning of a new year has us filled with great expectations! Wise words
from Sir William Osler  tell us,

"No man is really happy or safe without a hobby,
and it makes precious little difference what the outside interest
may be...
botany, beetles or butterflies, roses, tulips or irises;
fishing, mountaineering or antiquities 
- anything will do so long as he straddles a hobby and rides it hard."

I spent a year reading up on chickens, coops, and all the how-to's to of beginning. Then, before I knew it, we were on our way home from the feed store with 6 little peeps in a box! Dreams do come true.

...take stock of things. Check food storage expiration dates, kids outgrown summer clothing, papers that need sorting/filing, socks that mysteriously seem to disappear, and wire coat hangers that somehow always seem to multiply. Start the year off, one room at a time, or even just one drawer at a time, and sort, give away, set to order. Donate clothes that no longer fit, corral wire hangers and take them to the dry cleaners, bundle newspapers for recycling (or roll them to make great fire starters), and file away important papers where you can find them. 

...when you take the Christmas tree outside, tuck it in the corner of your yard as a winter hiding spot for birds. Hang birdseed bells and suet cakes on the branches...the birds will be so grateful.

...the weather outside is frightful, so snuggle up by the fire, make popcorn, play board games, stir up some chocolaty cocoa, and watch favorite movies. Then, just so we don't forget all the fun of being kids, build a snowman, whip up snow ice cream, go on a wintry hike, have a snowball fight, and speed down
a sledding hill!

We' re launching a new year, and yet as the wind whistles through the pines and I see swaying branches outside my windows, it's natural to reflect on the past. While being richly blessed the past year, we also remember the loss of a loved one.

So we began January with favorite traditions, and now to consider what we'll do with the time that lies before us. A clean slate, a fresh start, a new calendar. How much fun, laughter, work, and personal growth will be put into this year is up to us.

May we all have a new year filled with blessings.

sweet surprises...

In our part of the Midwest, we're getting our first good snowfall today...it's beautiful and the kids couldn't be more excited!

A few minutes ago I went to the coop to see if the "girls" were keeping warm & dry. Sure, the coop looks pretty in the snow, but look a little closer...

do you see the message on the nest boxes?

That Little Man is a sweetie!

happy new year!

From our family to yours...wishing you a new year filled with all the good things life has to offer. 

May 2012 find you surrounded by family & friends, making sweet memories that will last a lifetime.

glimpses of Christmas weekend...

The weekend began by celebrating the wedding of this lovely couple.

Then, on Christmas Eve day, Little Man was baptized.
It was a sweet gathering of family & friends...a day to remember.

We shared Christmas morning smiles...

and absolute surprises!

It's days like this, when all is aglow with the spirit of the season,
that we're reminded the best gifts and greatest joys
come from the heart.

merry Christmas!

To all our friends, new and old, we wish you a day filled with warmth, love, and happiness. 

Merry Christmas!

candy cane sugar scrub...

If you're looking for a stocking stuffer, this jar of sugar scrub smells terrific, and is oh-so easy to whip up.

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub
3 c. sugar
1 c. sunflower oil*
10 drops peppermint oil

Stir all ingredients together; spoon into jars.
*I always use sunflower oil because it doesn't have a scent.

Add a Christmas label, and you could even tie on a vintage spoon or small scoop.
That's it, you're done! Your jar of  scrub is ready to tuck into a stocking or share with a friend.

I think I'll leave one for the Big Guy!

taking Christmas photos (or trying to)...

Yesterday brought our first snow! The kids were thrilled and couldn't wait to get outside and play.
It was also the perfect time for taking some Christmas pictures. Yes, yes...I am a bit late in getting cards out this year; however I blame Mother Nature. I mean, who wants to take Christmas pictures in the pouring rain or dodging mud puddles?

Anyway, let's not focus on that.

We decided to walk out to the woods for pictures, so off we went. As I looked for good spots to snap some photos (translated this means places where they wouldn't sink in the mud or fall into the creek) , I was reminded that our kids are terrific, even wonderful when it comes to taking silly pictures...

and creating special effects...

and even trying to hide from the camera.                
                                                                                                        

However; for ever 50 of those I get, I get one of these...

a lean in for a quick kiss on the cheek, 

which leads to a sweet hug...

Yep...they're keepers.

Nativity display...

A couple of weeks ago our family had the opportunity to visit a  Nativity exhibit that featured over 600 Nativities. Some were very large, and one was tiny enough to fit into a walnut! Shared by many people,
they were from all around the world. Each was different from the next, but all were so lovely, they truly brought the spirit of Christmas to our hearts.

Here are just a few to share...

And so as you hang tinsel, wrap presents, and enjoy the fun of keeping secrets, I hope your days leading up to Christmas are filled with all the sweetness and love of the season.

thoughts about aprons...

Aprons have become trendy...fashionable...stylish. It's easy to find them for sale in any color, fabric, or style our hearts desire. And because our "girls" are such fun, I'm almost done stitching together an apron in a cheery red & yellow chicken print. I admit I'm a part of the crowd...I find aprons absolutely wonderful and I admit to owning several.

I think the comeback of this old-fashioned necessity is a good thing. However; long before they were all the rage, aprons came from humble beginnings.

A friend forwarded this poem and photo to me, and I was reminded of how it touched my heart as I tied on my own apron this morning.  I thought you'd enjoy reading it as well.

The strings were tied, it was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.

For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.

The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;

the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.

She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she'd found.

Or to hide a crying child's face when a stranger came around.

Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.

Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.

She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.

To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.

When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.

You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.

She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.

Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.

When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.

I'm sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.

-Tina Trivett

Sunday morning...

A Sunday sunrise across the fields...

It was gone in just a few minutes, but so beautiful, I wanted to share.

How does that saying go?
"Red sky at morning, sailor take warning, red sky at night, sailor's delight."

The saying was wrong today...this was a delight.

simple joys for December...

...be an elf! Surprise friends & neighbors with home-baked goodies, tie a wreath to your car bumper,
sing songs (who cares if we're off key?!), hang mistletoe, laugh, dance, take photos, make it the best time
of the year!

...settle in each night to read favorite Christmas books. Share the stories you loved hearing as a child.

...cozy up and watch classic holiday movies, pop popcorn, and make hot cocoa. You'll be making sweet memories that will last a lifetime.

...take a walk around your hometown and look in the shop windows and enjoy the twinkling lights on the
town square.

...get a live tree this year, or hang evergreen wreaths and swags around your home. There's nothing like the scent of fresh-cut greenery.

....sip eggnog and stir up some "real" hot cocoa (topped with whipped cream, of course!)

...light a fire in the fireplace to warm your toes.

...play Christmas music (it's okay, it's December now!) Pull our your favorites, then add some old classics to the mix like Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Perry Como. Oldies, yes...but goodies for sure.

...build a snowman or snowgirl...why not a whole snow family?!

...don't forget your animals at Christmas. Bake up some dog or cat treats, share crisp apple slices with horses, carrots for rabbits, and hang a wreath on the chicken coop!

...shovel snow for an elderly neighbor.

...read the Christmas story to your children (or grandchildren), hold hands, say a prayer, and make a Christmas wish. Take time to reflect on your blessings and slow down to enjoy the spirit of the season.

handy, dandy egg-carrier...

Last week I visited a favorite small shop to pick up some fabric...well, I can never get in and out of this shop quickly! It's filled with beautiful painted furniture, yellowware dishes, old-fashioned lighting, and just about anything else a gal who loves primitive-country would enjoy. I could actually move into this shop and live there...it's just my style!

Anyway, as I purchased my fabric, I spied this on a shelf...

an old-style egg carrier. Oh yes...it was coming home! It's just right for toting eggs (one from each of the girls)
from the coop to the kitchen...I couldn't resist. It now sits in our kitchen next to a vintage egg scale and a
very old wire egg basket.

Don't you just love it when you stumble upon something that seems made for you? I know I do!

creamy mushroom soup...

I love mushrooms...on pizza, stuffed, and especially the morels to be found each spring. Those we batter-dip and fry...not exactly calorie-free, but a delicious, once-a-year treat I remember from my childhood.

And so with today's rain and chilly wind, I felt some homemade soup should be on the menu. Sometimes I just want something a bit different from our usual chili or vegetable soup, so I began looking through my old cookbooks. Soon I came across a recipe I hadn't made in years...I did a little recipe tweaking, put on my apron, in no time I was whipping up a pot of creamy soup.

(oh, by the way; mushrooms do not photograph well...at least for me!)

Creamy Mushroom Soup

1 c. butter
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 qt. chicken broth
16-oz. pkg. sliced mushrooms
1 qt. half & half
1 t. salt
1/4 t. white pepper

Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat; add flour. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, add mushrooms, half & half, salt and pepper. Cook on low, but do not boil, until mushrooms are heated through. Makes 8 servings.


And yes, there's veggie soup simmering away on the stove as well...not everyone loves mushrooms like I do!

Happy Monday!

giving thanks...

courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

I'm up early here at the farmhouse, thinking about Thanksgiving and what needs to be done before tomorrow. While we'll be traveling "Over the river and through the woods" and making most of the meal at Grammy's,
I'm making the mashed potatoes ahead of time so they're a quick re-heat before dinner.

For years we've made what my aunt called Kingston Potatoes  (no one is sure where the name Kingston originated), or make-ahead mashed potatoes. They are oh-so easy, and so delicious, I thought I'd share the recipe... just in case you're in charge of bringing the potatoes this year!

Kingston Potatoes
8 to 10 potatoes, peeled and diced
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
3 T. butter
1 c. sour cream

salt & white pepper to taste

Add potatoes to a stock pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil and boil about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain water; place potatoes in a large bowl and mash using a hand masher or potato ricer. While potatoes are hot, stir in cream cheese and butter. Once well blended, stir in sour cream. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon potatoes into a lightly oiled 2-quart casserole dish; cover and refrigerate one to 2 days.

When ready to prepare potatoes, place casserole dish in a 350-degree oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes,
or until heated through. Serves 6 to 8 (maybe...these go quickly!)

Planning Thanksgiving is certainly a country pleasure. And yes, while all the cooking and baking are quite an undertaking, it's also comforting to enjoy the handed-down, tried & true family recipes that seem to only be enjoyed on this holiday. Everyone looks forward to oyster stuffing and homemade noodles...oh, how the aromas will fill the house! Until the big dinner, the kids will play games, watch movies, and if the weather's dry, we'll walk down to the little historic village that's close by. With an old school house, cabins, blacksmith shop, caboose, and train depot to explore, there's plenty to keep kids busy while the turkey is roasting.

During these brisk days of November, we are thankful for so much. The day brings to mind the words of an old hymn that read, "all are safely gathered in, e're the winter storms begin."

Wherever you are across the miles, we're sending you good wishes for a happy Thanksgiving.