We've been busy the last few days...and have had a lot of fun while we were at it. My husband took a couple days off from work and we planned to do some work on our property, as well as attend some local events. Last Thursday we went out to our property and rode the 4-wheeler (not work), but we did start a compost pile and cut up a fallen tree. We also talked about where we would plant our gardens in the spring. We will be putting down fertilizer (aka horse manure) soon to get our soil fertility up. I have read horse manure is the best kind to put on a garden (The New Organic Grower). After that we went on a Costco run to stock up on a few things. Friday we went to a Flea Market in our area and came away with some great finds...two old wagon wheels, two pieces of old picket fence, a bench, an old railroad luggage cart (which looks neat with my pumpkins and mums on it), an old ladder to display quilts, a picture of the Last Supper for $2!!!, as well as some other small things. We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to go back next year! Saturday we cleaned house then went to a church picnic at a really nice park. It was nice visiting with everyone and the weather was great. And then Sunday we went on a tour of farms in our area and had fun, plus learned a lot. We got to buy (and sample) goat cheese, local wine, pumpkins, and herbal syrups/Jams. The kids had fun seeing different animals and playing in a corn box (like a sand box, but with corn), going down a big slide, pumpkin bowling, etc. It was nice to see some other organic /chemical free operations and hear how they operate. It was very informational. It was also nice to see that the farms had a really good turnout...I'm all about supporting local farmers (and hope to be one someday, Lord willing). Today was a day for rest and recooperation for the kids (and for me)!!! |
A favorite fall desert: Apple Crumb Pie
Peel and slice apples. Mix with 1/2c sugar and cinnamon. Put into pie crust. Mix 1/3c sugar, flour and butter into crumbs and sprinkle on top of pie. Bake at 400 for 35-40 minutes or til golden brown and apples are tender. Must serve warm with Vanilla ice cream. |
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." "In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November."
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We had some fun this past weekend out on our land. My husband rented a brush mower and cut a trail through part of our property ( we have a few acres of woods and tall grass/saplings). We went out after he was done with the kids and went for a "hike". It was a lot of fun. We have tons of Black Walnut trees. The walnuts are starting to fall to the ground so we gathered a grocery bag full. There will be lots more, I'm sure. We were also able to plot out where we are going to pour our slab foundation for our cabin. Hopefully we can get that done this fall, but if not we will start as soon as we can in the spring. We were also blessed this weekend with two boxes of free apples. I made six Apple Crumb Pies today. I baked one and put the other 5 in the freezer for later. I barely made a dent in the apples, so I hope to can applesauce soon. Some of the apples are pretty green yet, so I think they will keep for quite awhile too, for eating or cooking later. We are getting ready to order a few trees to plant this fall from Arbor Day Foundation. I am trying to decide which ones to get. Shade trees, wind breaks, fruit trees, I want them all! I will probably just decide on a few for this fall and then plant some more this coming spring. Does anyone have a favorite apple or pear variety that they would reccomend? |
I checked out our garden today and I think it is about done for the season. My cantalope is done, so are my cucumbers. I still have lots of green tomatoes, but we have been having cooler weather and they are not ripening very fast. I picked some ripe tomatoes today, and some green peppers and jalapeno peppers that refruited (is that a word?) after the first initial harvest. I think we will go ahead and till under all but the tomatoes and hope some more will ripen before our first frost. What don't ripen, I will bring in and put some in the basement to ripen down there and then maybe try to make green tomato pickles. I just got the new issue of Hobby Farm Home and there is a good sounding Green Tomato Pickle recipe that looks easy to make. I just LOVE this magazine and I have found out they are going to start a subsciption service for it starting with the Jan/Feb 2009 issue! I am so excited. Does anyone else read this magazine? |
It was a cool day today, so I decided to make a cup of Peppermint Herbal Tea. I was reading the Celestial Seasonings box and it had some neat quotes on it. The following, I thought, had some good advice: Add Joy to your Daily Life 1. Pay as much attention to the things that are working positively in your life as you do those that are giving you trouble. 2. Rake a big pile of leaves every fall and jump in it with someone you love. 3. Memorize your favorite love poem. 4. Learn three knock-knock jokes so you will always be ready to entertain children. 5. Don't let weeds grow around your dreams. 6. Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something. 7. Regardless of the situation, react with class. 8. Let some things remain mysterious. H. Jackson Brown Jr. Life's Little Instruction Book, Vol.II Rutledge Hill Press |
Does anyone have an easy way they make compost? I really need to start doing this and I have read many different ways to do it (homemade vs. buying a compost type tumbler.) What are your experiences with this? Any good tips for a novice? |
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." Psalm 126:2 NKJV
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Don't these sound delish?
In a small bowl, combine mayo, chipolte sauce, and sour cream until smooth. Heat bacon according to pkg. directions. Spread mayo mixture on tortillas, layer with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and avocados. Roll up tightly. Makes 4 wraps. |
I read this poem on the back of a Country Woman magazine and thought it was neat. Country Bound All my life is wrapped in dreams, Of country sun and country rain; One day soon I'll be returning To my country home again. Circumstances may have bound me To another place and time, But the coming days will find me Heading for that home of mine. Take me back to country living, Back to claim my roots again; Walk me through a field of clover, Stroll me down a country lane. Then I'll know I am not dreaming When my feet caress the ground; I must go where my heart leads me and my heart is country bound! Louisa Godissart McQuillen Philipsburg PA |
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I have made this fresh salsa recipe quite a few times and it is so good with garden ripe tomatoes.
Mix all the ingredients and serve with chips. Can eat right away or let set awhile for flavors to blend. Very good! |
Today we were able to can more salsa and plain tomatoes. I have been pretty happy with my tomato plants this year. I planted Rutgers and they have done well. Many people in our area have had trouble with their tomatoes (probably because of all the rain and cooler temps, I guess). Our melons are fantastic too, so sweet. They are Burpee Sweet 'n Early. We have been thinking about our land a lot lately, trying to come up with a plan. I think we are going to try and get our driveway in and slab poured for our cabin this fall, and then frame it some this winter (maybe) depending on weather and finish in the spring to move in. We will live in our small (or should I say cozy and quaint) cabin for a year or two at most and then add on a main house. I have found a plan I really like on eplans.com. It looks like a classic Farmhouse with a front porch. I've always wanted a front porch...and maybe a porch swing! We will also be planting some trees this fall (mainly for our windbreak). I ordered some books this week and I am excited to get them. They are Backyard Market Gardening, Extending the Season: Six Strategies for Improving Cash Flow Year Round on the Market Farm, Hoophouse Handbook: Growing Produce and Flowers in Hoophouses and High Tunnels, The Perfect Pumpkin, The New Organic Grower, and Sharing the Harvest (A guide to CSA's). I have a lot of reading and studying to do before Spring! Also, on a side note. Does anyone have any experience with English Shepherd Dogs? We will be getting a dog in the spring and I just recently came across this breed. They sound like great dogs. We would like one that is good around kids and animals ( a protector of the farm, so to speak). |
I saw this recipe on another blog ( I believe it originally came from AllRecipes.com) and thought it sounded good. I made them a few days ago and even my meat loving husband thought they were great.
Slice veggies and marinate in balsamic vinegar for 30 min. Saute on stovetop (or grill) in olive oil til tender. Cut bread in half and layer one side with mixture of mayo, garlic, and lime juice. Follow with a layer of pesto. Top other side of bread with thin layer of mayo mixture and some crumbled feta. Broil this open faced in oven for 3-5 min. After broiling the bun, layer the veggies in between to make a sandwich. Great! |
When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:2 NKJV |
Well, this morning the family went out to do a little work in the garden. We weeded some, which was overdue. We picked 3 heads of cabbage, 5 cantalope, a big roasting pan full of tomatoes, golden beets (which I had kind of forgot I planted) and 4 cucumbers. I made more pickles today and ended up with 4 pints and 2 quarts. Hopefully I can make more salsa tomorrow. We can't get enough salsa!!! When we were outside we made two discoveries. One is really kind of gross. We have a Blue Spruce tree in our back yard and it was covered with these little caccon looking things. I looked it up on the internet because I had never seen such a thing and I think they are Bagworms. The male is a moth but the female never leaves the cacoon. It said that at this point you have to pick each one off by hand and destroy it. We are talking hundreds of these things. The male emerges in September, so I guess we had better get to picking... Our second discovery was much more cute. I was picking my catalopes and I saw something little and furry scamper past me. At first I was thinking it was a mouse (which freaked me out and I let out a holler). My husband checked it out but we didn't see anything. So, we go on about our business and we see a little baby bunny come out of hiding, right into the middle of the garden. It sat there for a minute and then jumped around in the cucumbers before it decided to hide in the tomato plants. So cute...the kids loved it. My two year old wanted to pet it. I have seen bunnies around the yard, but haven't noticed much garden damage. I wondered about that, since we decided this year to try no fence around the garden, but it has been fine. Next year will be a different story however, because we will be out in the country. We have seen quite a bit of evidence of deer. We are thinking electric possibly... |
"Look around you and be distressed, Look within you and be depressed, Look to Jesus and be at rest." |
Well, we are finally getting a good crop of tomatoes in! I picked many this past weekend (enough to fill my big water bath canner). Today my Mom came over and helped me can 2 batches of salsa. We ended up with 7 pints and 2 quarts. I think I will have more to can by next week (if not before). I also made a batch of Garlic tomatoes...mmm... they were good. We have also been eating bacon and tomato sandwiches. I also picked a bunch of cucumbers and need to make more pickles. I may get that done tomorrow. On a sad note, my zucchini plants are DEAD. Between the squash borers and the wilt they didn't have much of a chance. I got a few smaller zucchinis this year, but nothing like years past. What a bummer. |