Naughty, Naughty

I’ve been a bad blogger and will continue to be for a  couple more weeks because……the goat needs milking, the gardens need tending, the windows need washing and the pool could use a little cleaning.  Just CAN’T seem to keep up with all the demands of summer.  See why I truly ENJOY winter!  Outside chores done by 4:30 and inside chores done by 6:00.  Beats the hours we tend to keep this time of year.  I’m not complaining just overwhelmed at times. 

Thursday night our fresh air child arrives from inner city New York for a 2 week visit.  This is her second year coming to the farm.  We are all very excited for her return.  In addition to that we will be hosting a pig roast for Maine Man & 2 of his friend’s 40th birthday in the next couple weeks.  I’m sure I’ll have some good pictures to post of that event. 

Additionally I’m still reading Bringing Food Home ~ The Maine Example by Merry Stetson.  I’m loving that book and I’ve highlighted lots.    Yesterday I received Flower Girl’s home school curriculum in the mail….paid for it with rolled change but we managed.  Now that I’ve looked through it the fear factor has set in.  I also received a book that was sent to me so that I would read and do a book review, “The Back to Basics Handbook”.  I think it may be fall before that happens.

P.S Tonight the kids cooked me up some crayfish from the pond and served it w/ melted butter.  I must admit it was not bad, tasted like lobster just much smaller.  Love those country kids!

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Is this the smallest critter you’ve ever seen?  CB found a bunch of them out by the ponds a couple weeks ago.  He says it’s a toad.

This is one of three quail that CB bought recently.  I believe this little guy is Blake.  He has another named Peter & Piper.  Blake was the sole survivor of a cat attack that claimed the lives of 2 of CB’s original quail (Lily & Alex…RIP).  That was a devastating day but CB survived.  He has been taking good care of them and they are well protected from those rascally cats now.

On a final note a YUMMY recipe I made last night for us then again for my farmer friend.  Will definitely make again real soon…maybe tonight!

 

• 6 T. olive oil
• 3 tsp. vinegar
• 4 T. mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 lg onion
• handful of fresh dill (1-2 tsp of dried dill would probably work as well)
• 6 cukes sliced

Refrigerate x 1 hour and serve.  The WHOLE family enjoyed this!

Now off to harvest the garlic and do a little planting in the greenhouse.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

• 1 can of artichoke hearts chopped
• 1 16oz. frozen package of chopped spinach
• 1 cup mayo
• 1cup of parmesan cheese
• 3 cloves garlic minced

Mix & cook @ 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Simply divine!

Garden Tour & Green Bean recipe

If you double click on the photos with writing on them it will enlarge and you will be able to read it better.  I apologize, this is a new feature I have just FINALLY figured out.

Yesterday when I was at a doctors appointment with my farmer friend I came upon the recipe in a magazine….jotted it down….and cooked it last night.  It was simple and delicious therefore I’ll share with you and have in my archives for future retrieval.  The recipe was shared by Tracy Smith, an organic farmer in NH.  Traciesfarm.com is her web page if you’d like to peek around at any of her recipes, I plan too!

Green Bean Salad

• 1 lb fresh green beans
• 2 T. olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 T. minced fresh parsley
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 1 teas. kosher or sea salt
• 1/2 teas. freshly grated lemon zest
• 1/2 teas. freshly ground black pepper

Cook green beans, combine the remaining ingredients, mix & serve!

Maine Man loved it.  His love & appreciation for the food I cook makes experimenting with new recipes and foods a whole lot more fun!

Keep Growing

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One of the best parts of having a garden is in the midst of preparing lunch you can run and grab something to add to your meal. This morning before heading out the door I ran out and picked a dozen raspberries to add to my yogurt. Gardening is just plain old good for your mind, body, and soul!....Just saying ♥

Who feels it knows it

Summer is busy for everyone but especially so for gardeners & farmers alike.  At times when I feel overwhelmed with the tasks at hand….milking, watering, weeding, feeding,  picking, cleaning, cooking, and finding time for fun stuff I take a look at my children and I am reminded  that all we do is worth every bit of effort we put forth. 

Thankful for the life we live!

Wordless Wednesday

We will Never know all the good a Simple Smile can do!

When I saw this quote I immediately thought of Flower Girl….my smiley kid!

Sweet as ever….  Often found gathering strawberries for company, picking flowers for her school teacher, giving the neighbors a dozen eggs, filing bags with garden fresh vegetables and herbs for  unexpected  visitors.  

She even helps her Momma in the garden picking garlic scrapes.  Creative little bugger even made a scape holder with a scape….Clever!  Last year I made and posted about Garlic Scape Pesto if you want to check that post out.

Recently she tried on the bee suit on for size and took a peak at the bees.  Last night I was stung for the very first time from one of my bees.  I was unsuited by the hive checking on their feed and as I went to walk away I was stung on the elbow.  OUCH!

FG gets credits for the picture of the Lunar Moth…not bad!   The picture just above here is her preparing to capture it’s simple beauty.  She’s starting to take an interest in photography.   She inherited my  old Kodak point & click. GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART!