Welcome to an 1864 farmhouse…life is good!


Monday, June 27, 2016

upcycle, recycle, in no time flat!


I'm always drawn to old things...things that look like they just need a little love. Weathered signs, window frames, and vintage watering cans have all found their way home with me, but this time, a silver teapot - ahhh, yes, it looked like it had potential.

Not as teapot, for it had two broken legs, but as a windchime! Hmmm, out came the drill and filament line.

A hole here and there...
A hammer to flatten some old silverware, then a hole in each handle...

 

 
 


And before I knew it, done!


Now, it's not everyone's cup of tea...but when the wind blows and the silverware begins to "sing" in the breeze, I love it.

Yep...use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without...our grandmothers were right!



Thursday, June 02, 2016

May...merry & madcap!


For anyone with kids, you know that May is, yes, both merry and madcap! From band & orchestra concerts to award ceremonies & celebrations, it's full from beginning to end. That's not a bad thing, just a somewhat frenzied thing!

And so, in the middle of a fast-paced month, this arrives in my mailbox...



Yay! Perfect timing...our girls at church are prepping for Girls' Camp and the outdoor cooking certification will be here on the farm. This issue's packed with recipes from those early-morning breakfasts, to lunch, dinner & yummy desserts.

So, how to make this madcap month even better? Turn to page 82...




and I'm tickled to find my article on cast-iron! I'm always happy to be invited to write for GRIT magazine...they have some of the best how-to articles out there for homesteaders, farmgirls, and wannabe farmgirls. (And lucky for us, girl campers, too!)

Thanks to the good people at GRIT for this issue...we'll definitely use it for camp, but check back with us in July when we celebrate Pioneer Day, it'll be perfect!


(PS...someone asked me about the term "Kitchen Orchard" from my last post. It's an old homesteading term...generally it meant 5 trees close to the house for the homesteaders' use, not a full-size orchard meant for taking fruit to market.)




Monday, May 09, 2016

farm photos...our kitchen orchard

 
I thought you might like a peek at the first blooms of our Kitchen Orchard...this time of year is the prettiest time, with all the rose-like buds and soft colors.

Yellow Transparent Apple...just perfect for applesauce!



Fuji Apple...our favorite sweet/tart apple for eating.



Contender Peach...makes such tasty jam. And since I'm the only one who likes peaches,
they're all for me!




Next is the D'anjou pear tree...sweet and juicy.



Last, and oh-so cute, is the tiny Seckel Pear. Thought to be the only truly American pear, they're sometimes called a sugar pear or a candy pear because of their sweet taste.


Now as pretty as these blooms are, they are also tender. Should the temperatures dip, as they often do once the blooms come on, we'll be out there with our hoses spraying them with water.

I know, I know...that sounds crazy, but this little trick we have up our sleeves will actually save the buds, and future fruit when a threatening freeze is in the forecast. We will coat the tree with water, which will freeze. And while that sounds like it would damage the blooms, in the end, that layer of ice will protect the fruit that's developing. Why? Well science tells us that when water freezes, it produces energy in the form of heat, which will protect the buds from the bitter cold. 

Yep...it certainly does sound counter-productive, but we figured if it works for the orange growers in Florida, it just might work for us, too.

So we do this...


 
to enjoy this!



It's hard to wait!

Monday, May 02, 2016

the gentle green of spring...and hive swarms


Today there is a lingering chill in the air. As the barn cats and I walk back from the mailbox, we step around the many puddles that remind me of our recent cold, blowing rain. This time of year cannot be trusted...we've had several warm tee-shirt weather days, then just as many frosty mornings that threaten snow.

However; this post is not about the mellow month of May...it is about beekeeping.

Sunday afternoon I quickly visited the coop to collect eggs. The girls were chattering, Bandito was crowing, and then pausing at the door, that's when I heard it...that sound. No, no, no...not again, the bees were swarming! I had 15 minutes before it was time to leave...no time to suit up, no time to prepare. I sadly watched them settle high in a tree.

 
And so there I was, watching the last of my three hives fly away. One hive was lost over the winter, a second this past autumn to robbing yellowjackets. While a strong colony can defend itself against a yellowjacket invasion, a small one is easily overtaken by them. Once in the hive, yellowjackets will kill the bees, eat the honey, and destroy whatever else they find. By the time I opened it, the hive was empty. 

Soon it was time to leave...a swarm will stay anywhere from a hour to a day, so with any luck they would be there when I returned. And to my surprise, several hours later, I found them still high in the tree!


I called my beekeeping neighbor, we suited up, hauled ladders, found saws and pruners, and into the tree we went. We plotted, we planned, and then carefully secured and sawed the branch holding my escaping friends. Gently we lowered the bees into their new home. We smile! We can't believe our luck! We congratulate each other! We plan to meet again at dark to move the hive to its permanent location.

Fast forward 3 hours...again, I find myself at the chicken coop to tuck the girls in for the night. I can't resist...I take a walk over to see the bees, but it's too quiet. I get closer, I peek inside. 

There are no bees...they have flown off yet again. I call my neighbor and we commiserate over the loss. And so it goes...




Beekeeping is an art...after 4 years I'm still learning. When I began I wanted to know all the rules so I would get it right. Yes, there are rules to follow, but every beekeeper does things differently. It's a gut feeling...an intuition...when to feed, when to add supers, when to take honey and when to leave it. We watch the weather, anticipate the first dandelions, try to forecast the last bloom of the goldenrod and asters.

Here's the thing...with 42% of colonies lost in 2015, might I ask that you plant a flowerpatch with seeds that will grow into flowers bees love? Lavender, rosemary, sage, coneflower, catnip, lamb's ears, verbena, aster, black-eyed Susan, oregano, and yarrow are a few.  You can even search online, "save the bees seeds" and lots of companies will send them to you for free!

Back outside today, I'm weeding flowerbeds, in the distance I hear the far-off sound of a single cardinal. Somewhere in the meadow I see the promise of spring and warm days to come.  For now, I'm looking forward to Friday...I have two new hives coming, and I'll start again.










Monday, April 18, 2016

thanks a bunch Capper's Farmer!


It's always such fun to find a surprise in the mailbox...especially when it's one from Capper's Farmer! Love those folks...their magazine is always filled with easy tips, practical advice, yummy recipes, and inspiration for the garden.

And lucky me, this spring I was invited to be a part of their newest issue!




I've shared my quick & easy how-to's for making your very own oil lamp, and it's ready in almost no time at all. Try using quart-size Mason jars for a table centerpiece or march several sweet little jelly jars across the mantel of your fireplace. These oil lamps add a little flickering light on a picnic table at sunset, and should the electricity go out, you'll find they're not only pretty, but practical, too!

My heartfelt thanks to the Capper's Farmer folks...




Monday, April 11, 2016

about that third snow...


Well, as previously posted, the saying goes "There will be 3 snows after the forsythia bloom." I'm here to tell you that old tale is true...and it happened in our part of the Midwest all in one week!

Now don't get me wrong...some folks are grumbling, but it's a fact.

I. Love. Snow.

Truly, I don't remember a time when I wasn't in love with snow. For me, there's nothing like the cozy feeling of just hunkering down with a favorite book or classic movie, hearing the sounds of a crackling fire in the fireplace, making s'mores over that fire, and enjoying the delicious aroma of a homemade soup simmering on the stove. It's a signal to slow down the usual break-neck speed of life and do nothing but ENJOY.

Another wise saying goes like this...

"Time flies...whether you're having fun or not."

And that, I can testify, is absolutely true.  So let's enjoy every minute...

Whether it's this...


or this...



"In all of living, have much fun
and laughter.

Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."
 
-Gordon B. Hinckley
 
 


 

Monday, April 04, 2016

3 snows after the forsythia bloom...


That's how the old saying goes...and if it holds true, we have two more snows to come.

Driving this weekend we were in a good old-fashioned, grip-the-steering wheel, wish we were home, winter white-out. The winds were strong, the truck was swaying, and it truly looked as if we were very tiny and driving right into a blur of dandelion seeds blowing in the wind!

We made it home just fine, but woke to find all signs of spring were now snow-covered...

 
 

And so it goes...

well, there's nothing we can do to change Mother Nature...so we tossed some logs in the fireplace and settled into piles of blankets and pillows for a movie marathon. And there we were: warm & cozy, safe & sound, happy & healthy.

And you know what? I'm okay with two more snows if it means more days like this.



Saturday, March 26, 2016

happy Easter...


 
 
Wishing you the joys of Easter...children's laughter, squeals of delight, chocolaty goodness, as well as fun-filled egg hunts, and delightful visits with family & friends!

Amid all this fun; however, let's pause and take time to reflect. One of my favorite speakers, Jeffrey R. Holland, gives us heartfelt Easter insights in this talk.


Happy Easter to all...



Thursday, March 17, 2016

happy Saint Patrick's Day!


The madcap month of March...today the sun is brightly shining, warming & waking up the farmland around us. Who would have thought we only recently had a snowfall? It seems as if March just can't make up her mind...what shall it be, the last days of winter and the first days of spring?

But never mind the weather, today is a day for fun...there's a pot of Irish Stew simmering on the stove, potatoes boiling for Colcannon (yum, how can anyone not like potatoes whipped with heavy cream and real butter!),  dough rising for homemade rolls, and well, with a nod to modern times, plans for Shamrock Shakes as dessert!

Today, we all claim to be Irish...but for a real peek at what those of us in the Midwest are missing, click here - ahhh, if I went, I'd never come home!





Sunday, March 06, 2016

a March snow...


This old farm is up early every day...the first alarm goes off at 4:45, the second at 5:00 - just in case I've hit the snooze button. Each day begins just about the same...down the stairs to check the weather, take a quick look at the outside temperature, then make school lunches while I ponder what's in store for the day. Soon hubby is down starting breakfast and waking up the kids.

March...where does the time go? We were surprised to have a snow-delay last week - around here, kids and parents always do the happy dance for that treat! But even with this cold March wind, soon we'll be looking for the promise of spring. This is a time for making plans...I have a wish list for this year, and I'm digging into it, because time flies, whether you're having fun or not!

Finding promise is a simple county pleasure anyone can enjoy. I see promise in that old dry sink I found for a song...it simply needs a new coat of paint. I see promise in the new space we made behind the fruit trees...maybe I'll expand our little orchard, add some Concord grapes, or a garden just for the honeybees. I see promise in the old milkhouse...I think with some elbow grease and a splash of paint, the kids will find it fun to decorate as a hideaway for both them and their friends. I see promise in that flowerbed the weeds have taken over...this year, the battle ends, I'll turn that into a flourishing cottage garden.

But today, even though the wind roars and rattles the windowpanes, I'm not worried, my mind is on the promise in the air.






Wednesday, March 02, 2016

simple country pleasures...


This little light came together in under 5 minutes...seriously, and I had everything on hand.   
I love little "what if I tried this?" moments! 

Take one metal chick feeder, a vintage canning jar, and an electric light...



A little nudge and the chick feeder will separate easily...center the light on the bottom of the feeder, slip the electric cord through one of the openings, and put the feeder back together.



Twist the canning jar in place...and ta-da!



I added some rosehips and dried orange peel in the openings and set it on a little table. Definitely the quickest how-to I've done in ages!

Happy day!




Friday, February 26, 2016

wintry scenes on the farm...plus one for fun!


a few snapshots of the frost and wintry landscape before they're all gone...

clothesline just waiting for spring...


weathervane frozen in time...


fruit trees laden with frost...

arrow pointing south toward warmer weather...

and this AMAZING Snow-shi (pun intended) we saw driving to school!
It was incredible...probably 7 feet tall...what a work of art.
So cool, it even made the local newspaper!


Happy Friday, friends!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

farm photos...



inside, this is what's blooming by the kitchen window...

 

but outdoors...












we finally got the snow we'd hoped for! It's been a cold, but not so snowy winter in our part of the Midwest.

Well, that streak ended Tuesday! It was the kind of snow day I love best...school was cancelled early and it was already a 3-day weekend.  The boys were having a Hobbit marathon in one room, while we girls were having a Downton Abbey marathon in another!

These are my favorite kind of days...a crackling fire, no "real" cooking, just snack food galore, hot cocoa, and piles of blankets and pillows!  These are the days we will remember...

Monday, February 01, 2016

thoughts for the new year...


Okay, so am I the only one sorting, washing, digging in? I keep telling myself 
"This is the year!"

I can't do everything on my wish list, but I can do some things.

Hmmm, the kitchen will get a sprucing up after a winter's leaky roof.  I mean, really, if I have to paint the ceiling, won't that make everything else just look dull?

It would be wrong not to freshen up the entire kitchen...after all, I still have this vintage find waiting for me!

And the bathroom...ahhh, the bathroom. Remind me...when was PINK the "in" color? Not that there's anything wrong with pink...really, truly...it's just not, uh, me.

So here's my thought for the year...


photo found on the inspirational blog, Home in New England (http://homeinnewengland.blogspot.com/)
 
 
What a lovely thought...
 
Now, if you visit the old farmhouse...I ask that you kindly remember there are only so many hours in the day, so progress may not be as speedy as I'd like.
 
After all... 
there are more important things...
 

 
Happy Monday, friends!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, January 01, 2016

Happy New Year!


Here's to 2016!

May you...

kick up your heels,



enjoy time with friends,



be grateful for each new day,

 
reach for your dreams...
 
 
 
and remember the sweet moments!
 
 
 


Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all the blessings of the season.




Day five...

...of the 5 days of cocoa

Something sweet & simple for a wonderful day.


Brown Sugar Cocoa...

3-oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/3 c. water
4 c. milk
1/4 c. brown sugar

Combine chocolate and water in a saucepan or double boiler over medium heat; stir until heated through; do not boil. Add remaining ingredients; whisk until well blended.




Thursday, December 24, 2015

day four...


...of the 5 days of cocoa!

This recipe is one my son has wanted to try since seeing the Polar Express movie, remember...

"You know, Montezuma, the king of the Aztecs would drink 50 quarts of hot chocolate every day. It was thick as mud and red. He put chili pepper in instead of sugar. Get it? Hot chocolate?"

...and so it's our cocoa for today.  The kids are still snoozing, but when they're up, this is what I'll treat them to.  Who knows if it's accurate or not, but I do know we'll be leaving out the green chile pepper!

I can't say it's "tried & true" until we actually try it...so come share our adventure for the day!


Aztec cocoa...

4 squares baker's chocolate, broken, or 2/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c. milk
1 t. chili powder
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cardamom
1/2 t. ginger
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. nutmeg

Add chocolate or chips to a saucepan with milk over medium heat; do not boil. Whisk until chocolate is melted and well-blended. Divide between 2 mugs; set aside.  Whisk together remaining ingredients, add 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) of spice mixture into each mug; stir to blend.

And Happy Christmas Eve! How do you spend your 24th...baking, wrapping, crafting?

Part of our day will be spent in the kitchen...time to mix up scratch for the chickens, molasses treats for the goats, and goodies for barn cats & our faithful guard-dog. Finishing touches need to be added to the gingerbread train and we'll decorate the last of the sugar cookies. The Christmas music is playing, the fire is crackling, and excitement is in the air!

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve...
may it be filled with the fun of surprises, and the spirit of the season.

 
 
 

day three...


...of the 5 Days of cocoa!

We're in the home stretch...today includes a bit of stocking-stuffer shopping and lunch out with the kids. There's a movie and some games on the agenda for tonight, and although the temperature is in the 50's (boo, hiss) there will be cocoa!

Tonight we're enjoying this recipe that's new to us. If you're a peanut butter cup fan, I think you'll like it!

Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa

4 squares baker's chocolate, broken, or  2/3 c. milk chocolate chips
2 c. milk
2 T. peanut butter

Add chocolate squares or chips to a saucepan with milk. Warm, but do not boil. Stir to blend; add peanut butter and whisk until smooth.  Serves 2.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

day two...


...of The 5 Days of cocoa!


Okay, yesterday's recipe was absolutely tried & true...the cocoa we make on frosty mornings or to warm up before bedtime (houses that have been around 152 years tend to be cold in winter!) My son once called it, "Cocoa made with love." Ahhh...

The recipe for a Day Two is also tried & true...the difference? It is oh-so rich! (Don't let the fact that it has almost a cup chocolate chips in it turn you away...am I the only one who has tossed at least that many chocolate chips in my mouth "just because"?)

Go ahead and substitute milk chocolate or white chocolate if you'd like, and even try peppermint extract for a new flavor.  

If you're looking for something special, this recipe is yummy!

Rich Hot Cocoa...

2/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (3-4 oz.)
1 t. butter
1/4 t. vanilla extract
1 c. half-and-half or cream

Combine first three ingredients in a saucepan or double boiler over medium heat; stir until melted and smooth. Stir in half-and-half or cream; blending slowly.  Do not boil. When heated through, pour into a mug and garnish with a dollop of marshmallow cream.  Serves one. 

 


 
 
 











 

Monday, December 21, 2015

the countdown is on!


Ahhh...how about a little Frank Sinatra to begin the week? He's right there alongside all my favorites...Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Dean Martin...and this song, Christmas Memories, is just what I'm dreaming of this week. (Oh, and skip the ad...yuck.)

Frank Sinatra...Christmas Memories


Today is the official start of Christmas break for the kids...yay! We all look forward to this time, and our routine never varies much. Generally, the "rules" are...

~ sleep in
~ stay up late
~ watch all the classic holiday movies
~ bake cookies & roast s'mores
~ enjoy fires in the fireplace
~ camp out under the Christmas tree
~ watch movie marathons (Harry Potter, LOTR, Dr. Who, Merlin)

Not a bad way to spend two weeks off!

The packages are wrapped (and hidden!) the cards are out (as of today...okay, cutting that one close) and the menu is planned...life is good.  Our son says he has a "gift for my heart"  ~ oh my, that makes me weepy and I don't even know what it is yet.


Anyway, since most of us will be busy this week, I'm keeping it simple by posting recipes for
The 5 days of Cocoa.  We have some recipes we tinker with, and some recipes I've been wanting to try...so we'll try them together!


Here's our tried & true Old-fashioned Cocoa...

3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 c. sugar
2 c. milk
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Combine sugar and cocoa powder; set aside.  Heat milk until scalding; stir cocoa mixture into warm milk; whisk to blend well.  Add vanilla.

(Now I tinker with this a bit...a little more cocoa, a little less sugar, just take a sip and change what you like.) And I usually pour the cocoa through a strainer then into a mug...dry cocoa never really likes to dissolve completely!

Add homemade marshmallows (oh-so easy!) or a dash of cinnamon...yum!

Wishing you all a wonderful week filled with the blessings of the season.




photo from: those fabulous folks at: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/




 
 
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