no-knead bread...

This recipe has become one of my all-time favorites. It's an easy, fuss-free way to have homemade bread in almost no time at all. The kids had a scheduled late start at school this morning, so I baked a loaf for breakfast. We all agree there's nothing like bread, warm from the oven, drizzled with butter and honey. Mmmm...

4-1/2 c. all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 c. sugar
1 T. salt
2, 1/4-oz. pkgs. dry yeast
1 c. water
1 c. milk
1/4 c. oil
1 egg, beaten

Sift together 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast; set aside. Combine water, milk and oil in a saucepan over medium heat until mixture is 120 to 130 degrees. Using a heavy-duty mixer, combine flour mixture with warm water mixture; add egg. Blend on medium speed 3 minutes, then stir in remaining flour. Cover and let rise 50 minutes, or until double in size. Stir down; dough will be sticky. Spoon into a greased 9"x6" loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

is that sunshine?

Winter has blessed us with a morning of sunshine. A day that's clear and brilliant with gently drifting, swirling snowflakes. A day of quiet beauty...

Welcome...to another day filled with possibilities.

good old-fashioned neighboring...

It's official as we read:

"Snowfall for the month of February as of 7am today was 37.8 inches. That breaks the record of 25.8 inches set in 2007. The seasonal total of 65.9 inches as of 7am today makes the 2009-2010 season the 6th snowiest thus far."

It's days like this when we are so thankful for good neighbors. You know the kind...those who seem to know just when to show up and lend a hand.

And another neighbor called...they have farm-fresh eggs to share. Snuggling in for a snow day, the kids ask for homemade hot chocolate. Little Man says, "You know...the real kind that's made with love. "  Ahhh, it's a good life indeed.

an engagement!

On a frosty day like this, there's nothing like getting news that warms the heart...

we're so excited for you Joanna,
and absolutely can't wait for the big day!

happy hearts day...

For our dear friends across the miles who share so much inspiration, laughter, support, and love...we are so fortunate

to have you in our lives.

And to new friends who have been kind enough to drop in here and say hello...thank you! 

We wish you all a happy hearts day.

"I lost my tooth!"

Gotta love this...little man just lost a tooth!

enough time...

The kettle is steaming gently on the stove and I've tossed several pieces of wood into the fire. It's so nice having a fireplace in the kitchen...everyone seems to gather here to keep me company when I'm cooking. On this frosty February morning I'm baking cinnamon rolls, and the aroma has pulled kids from the blissful warmth of flannel sheets and cozy quilts. Paired with a glass of
icy milk, ooey-gooey homemade rolls are a good way for sleepyheads to begin the day.

With yesterday's snowstorm, we have several more inches of snow on the ground, school has been cancelled again, and it seems as if our little farm is in a deep sleep.  It's the rare day when, for once, there seems to be enough time. Delighting in it, it's a day for snowmen and snow tunnels, hot cocoa and homebaked cookies, watching old movies and popping popcorn. It's a day when there is plenty of time for making sweet memories and enjoying every minute.

oodles of snow!

Yay, the snow came as promised! We woke up to 16 inches of freshly fallen snow around the house, with drifts by the barns almost twice that! What fun we had sledding and enjoying the beauty that surrounded us. These pictures tell why we think winter is truly one of the best simple country pleasures.

Ahhh, we'll all sleep well tonight...and we hear there's more snow on the way!

how to "guarantee" an early dismissal!

Okay, so we know the secret to achieving a snow day from an earlier post. Now, when you're in elementary school, this is a very big deal. So, with the announcement from the weather radio of a Winter Weather Warning and the possibility of 10 to 14  inches of snow, the idea of a snow day was making the kids very excited! Snowmen, snowball fights, sledding, snow ice cream...the ideas were tossed out with abandon.

Fast forward to bedtime and we're all tucked in.
"Oh no, we forgot to do the Snow Dance!" Well...maybe not.
"Can we put our jammies on backward and dance on the bed?" was the question. And to squeals of delight, that's exactly
what we did.

So...did it work? Well, I just received a call that afternoon kindergarten is cancelled and school will dismiss
2 hours early. Yay! Bring on the snow...we can't wait!

best-ever sugar cookie recipe!

Shared with me by a good friend (thanks Carol!) this sugar cookie recipe is, in my humble opinion, the best ever. When rolling the dough, I like to keep it nice and thick, and then bake the cut-outs only until lightly golden. This will give you a batch of soft cookies just right for sharing on Valentine's Day!

Cookies:

1 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. salt
2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Cream together butter and sugar; blend in egg. Add remaining ingredients stirring until well blended. Chill dough, covered, 3 hours. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick; cut with cookie cutters. Arrange cut-outs on an ungreased baking sheet; bake at 350 degrees 8 to 10  minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool before frosting. Yield depends on cookie cutter size.

Frosting:

1 T. butter, melted
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/4 t. lemon juice
food coloring as desired

Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Makes about 1/3 cup.

A quick trip to the flea market will find you coming home with lots of oh-so pretty vintage plates and teacups. Arranged on a sweetly flowered dessert plate or tucked inside a cheery teacup, your home-baked cookies will be a heartfelt gift friends, neighbors and teachers will love receiving. Hmmm, on second thought, you'd better double the recipe!

seasons...

Morning sunshine pours through our windows casting a warm glow. Outside, the day is clear and blue skied, but with a brisk wind sweeping across the fields. The old maples surrounding our home creak and bend, while summer's tire swings rock back and forth.

And while we love winter and her snowy days,

 fragrant blooms from bulbs forced in December, remind us spring will be here in due time.

what a snowman!

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of this snowman on a neighboring farm! Wow, he's at least 9 feet tall! I would love to have had the kids standing alongside him, but as soon as he was discovered, the rain really began to come down. Maybe next time...

taking down the Christmas tree...

Does anyone actually enjoy taking down the Christmas tree? It's hard to gather any enthusiasm about the undecorating. Still beautiful (a concolor white fir will stay fresh for many weeks)  we jokingly ponder leaving it up year 'round. In February, we could add Valentine ornaments, only to replace them with Easter bunnies. Come July we'd move on to flags, then add pumpkins in October, and finally circle back around to Christmas.

Hmmm, maybe a change of attitude? This year, as we remove the ornaments and tuck them safely away, it's a fine time for reflection.

one brought back from a honeymoon in Hawaii

a pickle ornament reviving an old German custom

one from a dear friend

the summer our son couldn't eat enough watermelon

and our daughter's love of buttery popcorn

however, the best-loved ones are made by little hands,

always to be cherished

And as the last ornament is packed away, it's a perfect time to think about this new year and what we'll do with the time ahead.

Yes, please bless our friends & family...and this farm.

smile...

This just made me smile...ahhh, perched high basking in the warm winter sunshine.

A few weeks ago, on one of the chilliest winter nights, someone dropped off a pair of kittens. (Sadly, just having a barn has been a magnet for folks who decide they have too many animals.) Discovered in the morning, the kittens were so cold and hungry, they came running to the house for warmth and affection, not to mention a warm breakfast. The kids scooped them up immediately and named them Candy Cane and Mittens. Even our barn cats have taken nicely to these new kittens, and often they can all be seen curled up together enjoying an afternoon nap. Yes, life is good.

how to "guarantee" a snow day...

1 - jammies on backward? check.
2 - dark outside? check.
3 - ready to dance in the snow?  check.
4 - most importantly, camera ready?  check.

The photos tell it all...dancing, snowball throwing, pure joy!

And so, if you're wondering, is there any truth
to this "teacher's tale?" (see last night's post)

This is today's announcement on the school website...

Friday, January 8, 2010
School District is closed due to the road conditions.

Whee ha! And so after a chocolate chip pancake breakfast, we'll be making snow ice cream. This is a yummy tradition we look forward to each winter. It's so easy to make and is delicious!

Snow Ice Cream
1 c. heavy whipping cream
4 c. perfectly clean snow
sugar and vanilla extract to taste

Beat whipping cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold in snow. Blend on medium speed; add sugar and vanilla to taste. Serve immediately. Makes about 6 servings.

those three little words...

Winter Weather Advisory

Our weather radio blasts out the warning of several inches of snow, plummeting temperatures and cutting winds. Ahhh, music to my ears. It wouldn't bother me one bit to be snowed in. Our old farmhouse, built around 1864, has seen and weathered many snowstorms. She'll turn her back to the winds and weather this one just fine.

We've stacked wood by the back porch, so if the power should go out, we can keep warm and put our hearth cooking skills to good use. Having been described as "fiercely independent" seems to be a most positive trait in a time such as this.

The kids, hoping for a snow day from school tomorrow, had a teacher tell them this: If you put your pajamas on backward, go outside after dark, and dance in the snow, there's sure to be a snow day the following morning. Hmmm, has anyone else heard of this?

I can only say with certainty, our kids will be testing this theory before bedtime. So, as the wind frosts the windowpanes tonight, we're snuggled in safe and warm...soon to be dancing outside in our backward pajamas!

dreaming...

Here in the Midwest, the New Year has started with an icy blast...wind chills well below zero during the day, and single digit temperatures at night. A day like this is good for staying indoors where it's warm & cozy. It also gives us time to ready ourselves for 2010.

As we pulled out our new calendar and began jotting down important dates, I paused again to look over the calendar's lovely photos. Created by a good friend and very talented soul, each photo in this calendar is simply beautiful. She's dreaming big and will certainly soar! Take time to visit her blog, cupcake studio, and then take a peek inside this delightful calendar found in her etsy shop...it will cheer your heart.

ringing in the new...

It's New Year's Eve, and here we are paused at that brief time between the old year and the new one. If you're like us, we're pondering, even fleetingly, the changes we might make in ourselves. And while 2009 has perhaps not been a banner year, it certainly has had moments filled with...


sweet smiles...

  mischevious grins...

and absolute...

So with renewed enthusiasm, we anticipate 2010...the beginning of a fresh, new year filled with possibilities! From our family to yours, Happy New Year!

snowy days...

Last night's snowfall found us waking up to a morning

of quiet beauty.

And with its blustery wind and icy temperatures, even the kids came back inside after a brief snowball toss. But that's okay...snowy days give us the freedom to daydream and to reflect. Should I put out more bird seed? Does the fire need another log? Shall I make vegetable soup or chicken & noodles? These are the biggest decisions we care to make on this snowy day.

what's truly important...

Swirling snowflakes and secret surprises, sweet homecomings and family traditions…this is a magical time when all hearts turn to thoughts of home and those we love. It’s been said we’re never too old or too young to store up memories, so make this Christmas one to remember...bake cookies, make snow angels, laugh, take pictures, share what we have with a glad heart. This year especially, we're reminded of what’s truly important in life…family & friends. With that in mind, we plan to make this holiday season one of the happiest by spending time with those we love. And to our dear friends across the miles...we wish you a very Merry Christmas.

first snowfall

December's first snowfall! Just a couple of inches, but the sparkly snowflakes make it a great day to find a Christmas tree. After walking the snow-covered hills in search of the "perfect" tree, our favorite place to visit always has a crackling fire in the fireplace and mugs of chocolatey cocoa to warm us up...can't wait!

a new adventure...

and so it begins...our family blog!

For our friends & family:
we hope you'll enjoy visiting from time-to-time as we share a bit about what we love and who we are, the adventures we're having, and the everyday happenings on our small farm in the Midwest.