~Just for Fun~

For the record I'll admit it....I have a slight magazine fetish. I get a lot of great ideas from them. Remember the Community Treasure Chest I started back in May 09', that was started after I read about it in a magazine. A year and a half later and we still have 2 totes in continuous circulation. It is a really cool way to recycle, re-purpose, and re-use while bonding with friends, neighbors, and/or co-workers. I posted here about as well if you are a new reader and would like to learn more about it.
Several months ago I read an article in Mary Jane Farm magazine about a group of ladies called the "Dining Divas". They meet once a month alternating homes bringing together local, organic, homemade food. Immediately I was inspired! Instead of doing it at home I decided to start something at my work place. This was the beginning of the "X-Rayted Dining Divas" named so as I work in the radiology department. Every month we pick a theme such as: Mexican, Soups/Salads, Chili/Crock Pot cook-off and I post a sign up with different categories: appetizer, main dish, dessert, paper products etc. So far every monthly luncheon has proven to be a success. Hope I inspire someone to do the same. Would love to hear what fun activities you do at your workplace!

Another GREAT thing my department is doing is sponsoring the man my old farmer friend and I deliver weekly groceries as our "Christmas Family". I am SO excited to get all the goodies (blankets, boots, matches, lighters, lanterns etc) gathered and delivered on Christmas day. I will definitely take some pictures and post about it here!

Wordless Wednesday~BBQ Chicken

Making Granola

A while back my friend Diane brought me over some of the BEST granola I have eaten.

I begged her ;) for the recipe... she e-mailed it to me, I lost it. Organization is not one of my better qualities. I begged her again and with her permission I will share her secrets with the world and forever have in my archives.

All you need is....

6 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats

2 sticks of butter

1 cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

dried fruit

I used dried cherries and they were DELISH but next time around I am going to try dried blueberries

Nuts

I used pecans because they are my favorite.

1 cup honey

Melt butter and honey, warm.

Mix other ingredients in separate bowl then combine the two.

Spread on a 2 cookie sheets (p.s. aluminum foil was a mistake on my part)

325 degrees for approximately 30 minutes

Stir every 10 minutes and when it starts to brown watch closely, easy to overcook.

Viola!

Can't wait to make some up for Christmas gifts. Thanks for sharing the recipe Di!

Live in the Moment

We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future, as if figuring out what will cushion the blow. But the future is always changing. The future is the home of our deepest fears and wildest hopes. But one this is certain when it finally reveals itself. The future is never the way we imagined it.

Recent facebook status that was borrowed from my friend Jayme....(thanks)

So True so I thought I'd share it here as well.

This picture was taken up by my Dad's house by Maine Man, tweaked a little by me. I think it is Mount Katahdin. Simply Beautiful!

Moose Hunt

CB has been fortunate this fall having more hunting experiences as a first year hunter then most do in many years of hunting.

He has been hunting birds for the past month, even shot a rabbit. He also had the chance to go on a moose hunt with his father and his grandfather (my dad). Which is a unique experience, MM has been in the drawing for 20+ years and he has only been drawn once to go on a moose hunt. Next is Youth Deer day which is this coming Saturday.

Let me just tell you that I LOVE that this boy is SO passionate about hunting. NEVER thought I'd say that! The initial thought of him carrying a gun in the woods made me feel ill. But after watching MM prep him I have faith that with the continued guidance from his dad he will be safe. I think this is an important life skill and find comfort that he will someday be able to provide healthy food for his family just as his Daddy has throughout the years.

Hoop House Update

The outside gardens are all done producing for the season with the exception of a few onions & some late season potatoes. We did have several tomato plants but those were taken out by the first frost, this past Saturday night.
This is our first fall with the hoop house.
Maine Man has lots of vegetables growing, including...leeks, spinach, lettuce, turnips, beets, bok choy, and peppers. Not sure if the peppers will produce but they have flowers. We are still have a few left to harvest from the our initial crop. The tomato plants remain and continue to produce. Thankfully MM had it all closed up in anticipation of the frost.
I am anxious to see how much longer these tomato plants survive.
Not sure what we will attempt to grow through the winter. I am hoping at least for some fresh greens because I really do not care for store bought lettuce if I can help it.

Leeks

Wordless Wednesday ~LOVE my new boots~

One Happy Boy

This past weekend Country Boy shot his first wild duck. He shot it while it was flying with the 20G shotgun my old farmer friend gave him. Later in the day he shot his first bird, a wood cock while out bird hunting with Maine Man. He could not wait to go down to our farmer friend's house to tell him. I am not sure who was happier!

The above picture is what I woke up to minus the gun.

He came up to my room, duck in hand, to show me his first kill as a hunter.

SO proud of that boy!
He says he likes hunting so much he could do it 24/7....lol

Like father like son;)

Dried Beans

This was the first year that we grew dried beans. I picked up some Soldier Beans from a local market and instead of eating them I opted to plant them.

I hung the whole plants to dry in the barn for a couple weeks then...
...Country Boy, my Mom & I took the beans out of the pods.

Next year I'd like to grow a few other varieties.

This whole process makes you look at a bag of dried beans in a different light that is for sure.

In general I find growing your own gives you a deeper appreciation for food and those that prepare it.

On a final note...has anyone watched the documentary "The Future of Food"? If not you really should. Maine Man and I watched it last night. All I am going to say is "Scary!" Let me know if you watch and what you think.