a trip to Amish country...

Saturday we made a trip to Amish country. It was one of those perfect autumn days...a bright blue sky, trees at their peak of color, and lovely farms and scenery along the way.

After a terrific lunch (food is a must!), we found a great family farm to explore. This slide into a sandbox filled with corn kernels was a sure-fire hit!

The kids had a ball...and if you're wondering, why yes, we were shaking corn out of shoes, shirts, and shorts! 

Next we were off  to explore the corn maze. What an adventure!

To give you an idea of the detail, this is a sky view.

photo courtesy of Sharp Family Farm

We bravely ran inside...it's times like this when the kids are glad Daddy is a human GPS!

There were bridges built along the way with views of the

prettiest farms.

Next was a hayride (which, to be honest, was a bit fast and furious...being bounced over the edge was a definite possibility!)

And as the sun went down, a chill began to set in, so we warmed ourselves by a cozy fire.

On the way home, the kids quickly fell asleep.
To me, that's the sign of a good day spent making memories.

October and barns...

October has arrived...sunny, with crisp mornings and skies of robin's egg blue. The afternoons and evenings are warm & breezy, but as the evening shadows fall, autumn's chill finds us scurrying to gather wood for a bonfire.

As we walk to the fields, we hear the crunch of leaves underfoot and spot plentiful acorns that have fallen from the oak trees.

The kids tell me that that acorn caps will surely be chosen by fairies and turned into bowls, and squirrels will be stocking up for the approaching winter on what the fairies leave behind.

 

For us, the warm days and gentle breezes of fall make it an ideal time to clean barns. It's time to sort out the gatherings of summertime, pack away garden tools, and prepare a warm & cozy spot for barn cats to snuggle into. The barn closest to our home is large, open, and dirt-floored...most likely a spot where farm wagons and tractors were once sheltered. It's a nice barn to putter around and explore. The discoveries have been few: a millstone, milk bottle, 1950's farm magazine, and a hand-painted sign. To me, these "treasures" tie us to all those families who have lived here before.

door hinges




pegs

chiseled beams

The inside of the western-facing corn crib has been lined by a previous owner with old doors and windows. Secured tightly,
side-by-side, they were meant to keep out the winter winds and snow. The doors are fascinating to look at...brass and ceramic knobs with rosettes, skeleton key lock-sets, and decorative hinges speak of another time. I suppose they were replaced with more "modern" doors, and while I love the old 6-panel doors with glass knobs that are in our home, these doors, relegated to the barn, are beautiful to me as well.

An enduring symbol of country life, it's a good thing to save and keep barns. It seems to me they're at their truest when filled with the activities, sights, and sounds of farm life.

Now it's time for me to live up to the old saying,
"Make hay while the sun shines."
I'd better get back to work cleaning our barn...
it was 35 degrees this morning. Something tells me that winter
will soon fly in.

the last county fair...

I know autumn is at our doorstep when we make plans to go to our last county fair. And although we had to run between the raindrops, we had a wonderful time!

The huge train layout is always the number one stop...

followed closely by the fair food!

 The hamster balls were a big hit...

and this little girl was adorable showing her calf.

Now, these deep-fried treats might be good...

(has anyone tried them?)

and I know that's sour cream and a cherry tomato on top...

but this fair food needs a new name!

It was a great family day out, and we came home exhausted

and happy.

And now, after seeing all the animals, I really, reallly want some pygmy goats!

Does anyone have them, or have any advice to share?

(or, maybe more importantly, how to convince my husband?!)

evening clouds...

The sky was fascinating Thursday evening as the clouds from Tropical Storm Nicole made their way to the Midwest.

I couldn't stop looking at them...they almost didn't seem real

as they crossed the farmland from horizon-to-sky.

The photos don't do them justice...they were beautiful,

but I also felt as if they were swooping in to surround us.

And yes, I was sure the Wicked Witch

was about to descend at any moment!

(am I the only one who can hear the music?!)

The wind began to switch
The house, to pitch
And suddenly the hinges started to unhitch
Just then the Witch, to satisfy an itch
Went flying on her broomstick, thumbing for a hitch!

Happy Friday!

the Country Living Fair...

Ahhh yes, 98 degrees was registering on the truck thermometer when I dragged myself away from the Country Living Fair,
but it was worth every minute in the heat!

Filled with antiques, vintage collectibles, autumn whimsies,
and more goodies than I can possibly list...here are a few photos to give you a feel for all the fun!

noted as Indian temple doors




garden gatherings and handcrafted items

clever decorating ideas




retro kitchenware

    

two of my favorites together...
handmade quilts and oodles of watering cans!





simple, but oh-so pretty inspiration





















There was a charming farmhouse garden selling heirloom seeds, as well as demonstrations in basket weaving, broom making, painting & distressing furniture, and paper making. I would definitely recommend you make a road trip if it's anywhere
close to you.

What did I bring home? Well, an old dough board and water trough were on my wish list, but they were not to be found. However I did find a new addition to my watering can collection and a giant bag of kettle corn was a hit with the kids!

Now, if I'd have only read the back of the brochure, I'd have known there was a porter service that would gladly deliver that
50-pound grinding stone to the truck. Sadly, I passed on it thinking I could never carry it the 1/2-mile to the parking lot. (And no, rolling it the entire way was not an option!)

Oh well, there's a barn sale next weekend...
maybe I'll find one there!

herb weaving...

Harvesttime is here, and both city and country kitchens are filled with the aromas of spicy tomato sauces, pickling spices, and fruity jams & jellies. Oh how good these homegrown foods will taste when the winter winds blow!

Today; however, I'm feeling the need to be creative. So this morning I gathered and washed bunches of rosemary, basil, sage, oregano, and thyme...I love to save summer's fragrant herbs for winter's soups, stews, and roasts. And since it's both pretty and practical, I save them in an herb weaving.

This herb weaving is oh-so easy to make, and hanging from a handy spot on a kitchen cupboard, herbs are right at my fingertips whenever I need them.

 If you'd like to make one, I'm guessing you already have all that you need...herbs, empty picture frame, scissors, twine, ruler, and 2 sticks the width of your frame.

To begin, knot the end of a length of twine on a corner of the frame, then begin wrapping the twine around the front and back of the frame. You'll need at least 6 lengths on both sides...you can always add more, but the number will need to be even. Knot the end at the frame's corner and cut the twine.

Weave the ruler over & under the twine and turn it on its side. This will create an opening and will be your guide for weaving. Slip one stick through the opening, push it up against the frame. Remove the ruler and weave it again, but this time in an opposite way. For example if you began with an over/under pattern to add the stick, this time you'll begin with an under/over pattern...you'll keep this going back & forth throughout the weaving.

 Now weave in the herbs...gently, but securely, push them up so they're snug against the row above. As herbs dry, they shrink...weaving them tightly will help keep them in place. You can also weave in flowers that dry well...globe amarath and sedum are very pretty and add a bit of color.

When you're weaving is complete, turn the frame over. Cut through the center of the loose lengths of twine on the back and gently remove the frame. You'll have at least 6 pairs of twine...one on each side of the stick. Pair one up from the front and back and knot securely. Continue with the remaining pairs along the bottom; repeat with the top pairs.

Yay, you're done! And don't let the lengthy instructions scare you off...it's really easy and you'll be done in no time at all! 

those wonderful gals at Mary Janes Farm...

were kind enough to include me in the October/November issue of their amazing farmgirl magazine!

My heartfelt thanks Mary Janes Farm ...

I just couldn't be happier.
Actually, I'm jump up & down excited!
Dreams do come true!

do you see the changes?

fields of gold...

storm clouds gradually turning to blue skies...

later sunrises and lengthening shadows...

pumpkins at the roadside stands...

That's how the Midwest looks now...ready for fall.
We're certainly ready...it's been a very hot summer.

This morning the kids asked for hot chocolate (the real kind), there was a light frost on the grass, and we even turned the heater on in the truck for the drive to school.

Brrr...

Do you see the changes where you live...crisp days,
an early-autumn palette, the sights & sounds that mark the changing of seasons?

harvesting...

Bundles of just-picked herbs lay waiting to be rinsed and turned into an herb weaving, while spatterware buckets filled with potatoes, onions, peppers, and tomatoes are sitting at the
garden's edge. Potatoes and onions will be carried to the basement and stored in wooden bushel baskets. Not really a basement...
the low ceilings, wooden shelves, partial dirt floor, and tree trunks (yes, tree trunks!) that help hold up this 146-year old house, make it more of a root cellar.

Our neighbor tells me she has just finished canning over 100 quarts of tomatoes, and is ready to put the garden to bed. We'll be doing the same this week...canning the remaining peppers and making tomato sauce, then tilling the garden and letting it have a long winter's rest. Gather, prepare, put by...it's a quieter time of year, yet we're busy as bees.

There is a sense that summer is winding down. Yesterday we woke up to a morning that was 38 degrees...sweater weather as they call it, and my favorite time of year! Last night while Little Man was on the tire swing, I noticed subtle changes around us. The evening was still...soybeans are now golden, field corn is dry, and the sunlight cast lengthening shadows around us.

It's the time of year when we find ourselves trying to savor it all...the simple pleasures of changing seasons and sweet September.

happy birthday Sweet Girl!

my, oh, my...

how time flies!

Wishing you a magical day
filled with the happiest moments!

XOXO

glimpses of the farmers' market...

golden honey

colorful flowers and fresh sweet corn

homebaked pies, breads, cakes, and cinnamon rolls

Indian corn

(for those of us anxiously awaiting fall!)

just-picked apples

It was still cool in the early morning and the square was bustling with activity. However, through all the chatting neighbors, laughing kids, and tail-wagging dogs, one little sign caught my eye...it simply read:

and Mattie, who was all of about 6 years old,

has been growing flowers all summer to sell at the market.

I just couldn't resist, so I asked her pick out her favorite colors for me, and I came home with a sweet bouquet
I promptly tucked into a Mason jar.

The farmers' market...what's not to love?!

putting things by...

I've had this photo for ages and it's always made me smile.

This young lady's been working hard alongside Mom and is rightfully proud of her efforts!

That's the goal for our pantry...and while it may not end up looking exactly like this one, the temperatures are 20 degrees cooler this week making it perfect for "putting things by"

as Grandma would say. I'm canning pizza and spaghetti sauces, pickles, beans, and peppers. The onions are ready to braid and hang, and herbs are ready to dry. Before we know it, we'll be digging potatoes.

Isn't it interesting that we all seem to get spring fever, but so many of us also have a fever in early fall? I once heard this described as a season between earnest nesting and flagrant wanderlust. It's that need be plan ahead for the frosty days sure to come, but to also enjoy the lingering summer days.

Hmmm, today I'm prudent...

next week I may just take a jaunt to Amish country!

So, how are you spending these days that are teetering somewhere between summer and fall?

first day of school...

and so the cycle continues...

day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year.

The first sight of school buses is gentle reminder that one season is slipping into the next. Summer's light takes on a coppery glow, and every now and then, we catch a gentle, cooling breeze from the north.

There is one county fair left to enjoy...it has a huge train layout that Little Man circles for what seems like hours. We'll laugh on the rides, enjoy the food, linger over the blue ribbon entries,
and come home exhausted. We'll savor it all...the winding down
of summer and preparing for autumn.

And so, on this first day the house is quiet...close to absolute, broken only by the chirping crickets heard through the
screen doors.

I'm sure in time my "worker-bee" agenda will kick in and
I'll be cleaning closets, drawers, and barns.

But for today, I'm baking their favorite cookies
and waiting for 3 o'clock.

time for school?

Saturday Grandma took us shopping for school clothes...
Monday we bought school supplies...
Today is one week from the beginning of school,

and I find myself trying to pack as many special memories as I can into summer vacation's remaining days.

This year Little Man begins what I describe as "real school" otherwise known as 1st grade. He'll be gone all day, every day. And while I have a to-do list a mile long and often wish for some quiet time, I don't think I'll quite know what to do with myself next Tuesday. Over the years we've had our special routine...
drop Sissy off at school, then it's "You and me time...
I love you and me time!" he would always say.

Sweet Girl moves upstairs in the elementary school this year...
a big deal for 4th graders. A big deal indeed...it almost feels like the beginning of a separation, and I'm not comfortable with that. Not ready for that. Not happy with that.

So today's post has "drivel" as The Coop Keeper calls it.
The dictionary defines that as "silly and irrelevant talk." True...irrelevant to most, but none-the-less a part of our world this week.

I want to find a way to slow down time. I want to hold onto each happy moment, to erase the unhappy ones, and to keep our kids little...just a bit longer.

As corny as it sounds, I often find myself thinking back to the lines from one of our favorite movies, Hook. At one point
Moira says to Peter,

"Your children love you, they want to play with you.
How long do you think that lasts?
We have a few special years with our children,
when they're the ones that want us around.
After that you're going to be running after them
for a bit of attention.
It's so fast...it's a few years, and it's over.
And you are not being careful. And you are missing it."

I recall sitting in a ladies church meeting and the question was asked, "What do you wish you could have changed about raising your children?" I was eager to learn from these ladies who had already raised their children...what insights could I gain?
 
I was amazed that every lady who raised her hand said,
"I wish I would have played with them more." It hit me hard. These ladies couldn't go back and change that...they had teary eyes and heartfelt regrets. I learned a valuable lesson that day.
 
And now, it's about time...
time for the sound of feet running down the stairs.
So I'll be signing off...I don't want want to "miss it!"

this says it all...

I saw this on my travels,

and had to share.

beat the heat!

When the sweltering heat descends on us, we make homemade
ice cream. What a summertime delight! If you love chocolate, this recipe is an ideal way to beat the heat. It's easy to make and oh-so good!

Triple Chocolate Ice Cream

2 c. whipping cream, divided
2, 1-oz. sqs. semisweet baking chocolate
2, 1-oz. sqs. unsweetened baking chocolate
2 c. half-and-half
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. baking cocoa
8 egg yolks
4 t. vanilla extract
1/8 t. salt

Combine in a saucepan 1/2 cup whipping cream with semisweet and unsweetened chocolate squares. Heat over medium-low until chocolate melts; stir frequently. When squares have melted, remove from heat; set aside. Pour half-and-half into a saucepan; heat until hot, but not boiling. Remove from heat; set aside.

Stir together sugar and baking cocoa; set aside. Whisk together egg yolks until well blended. Gradually beat sugar mixture into egg yolks with an electric mixer at medium-low speed; blend well. Slowly add chocolate mixture, then half-and-half; mix until smooth.

Return mixture to saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is hot, but not boiling. Transfer to a bowl; stir in remaining whipping cream, vanilla, and salt. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Pour into an ice cream maker; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Makes 1/2 gallon.

(Jenean, you'd asked about a Peach Ice Cream recipe. I have it on good authority that this recipe is absolutely delicious! My friend Diana passed it along to me...her daughter Jennifer makes it for her family.)

Peach Ice Cream

4 peaches, peeled, pitted, and chopped
14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
juice of 1 lemon
1-1/4 c. whipping cream

Combine peaches, milk, and lemon juice in a food processor. Process until smooth; set aside. Beat cream in a chilled bowl until stiff peaks form; fold into peach mixture. Place into an ice cream maker; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
Makes 1/2 gallon.

the dog days of summer...

Here in the Midwest, our mornings are hot and muggy.
Each day we wake to find a haze has settled over the fields, only to be burned off by the heat of the morning sun. Somewhere in the distance are rumblings of thunder, but the much-needed rain  passes us by. There’s a constant hum of cicadas, and although there is much to be done, we seem to move in slow motion.

Yet, however sweltering August may be, it is also rich in garden bounty…tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, cucumbers, green beans, peaches, cherries, and new potatoes. A trip to the farmers’ market last Saturday found me coming home with an overflowing bag of pickling cucumbers. Now, at day’s end,
faint traces of ginger, cloves, vinegar, and garlic linger in the kitchen from the morning’s canning.

As evening approaches, we’re ready to settle in…there’s the sound of thunder moving closer, and the doves are cooing softly.

I think we’ll make homemade ice cream tomorrow…a simple summertime pleasure we look forward to. I want us to enjoy every minute of every day, because although these summer days can seem endless, there’s a sense that they are numbered.