Freestyle Friday

• I have more Cabbage than I know what to do with right now. I don't have enough crocks to make it all Sauerkraut. But I could eat it all as Sauerkraut..make no mistake :)

• So...I was trying to blanch & freeze using my FoodSaver bags. But, I must say, any time you want to use your FoodSaver for something that has been blanched, it is a big PITA! Because the veggies are moist, the bags don't seal right, so then you have to wait for them to dry out, or flash freeze them.

• I got too tired to wait for either of these at 10 pm last night so I threw all the blanched Cabbage in Ziploc's and I will deal with it tonight -- I guess -- after I pick fruit until my fingers bleed ;)

• Are these dogs for real?!

• Looking for a 'new' car will be the death of me
• Looking for a new car, in which this time my husband has a say too, will be the double death of me. Last time I bought a car, I can't even remember if we were engaged. So the decision was mine all mine.
• My husband likes rough trucks with loud, obnoxious mufflers and obscene tires. I am looking to tote a kid around...and some hay bales, feed bags and other misc. items. I am not looking to join in the Muddin' Militia. You can see how this may be a problem.

• We do put a truck to good use here on the farm. Our current one is one my husband bought in, I believe it was 2000, and you currently need to make sure you have an up-to-date Tetanus shot before you touch it. And it isn't running, again, at the moment.

• God I miss this kid -- why do I have to work all day and send him to a sitter :(

Have a Good Weekend!

Sunflower Smile

Hubby's Handywork...after my mom gave him the idea! Something tells me this will turn into some kind of competition for them; who can make the better Sunflower face!

Apple Harvest Party - Week 3

Here we are, Week 3 of the Apple Harvest Party, and already I can't keep up! Ha!

I didn't have a chance to get to a new recipe for this week yet, because I was too busy dealing with Peaches all weekend ;) So I will work on getting an apple (or possibly Pear) related recipe done at some point this week and for now, I will share this old link, which is really not even a recipe, on making Applesauce ;)

And in the mean time, please share your post on something you do with Apples....or Pears or Quince!

The 'Season' Begins!

Where there is no imagination there is no horror.

- - -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The beginning of September marks the beginning of a 'Season' for me - Halloween!

Yes, I realize Halloween is a holiday [I am sure some may beg to differ!], but it is MY FAVORITE and I just don't think the month of October is a long enough time to enjoy it!

So, the season's begun over here! Hubby picked our first pumpkin of the season - grew straight out of our manure compost at the back of the farm :) I smell pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven in the near future.

And apple dumplings...

And candles burning...

And crisp, fall air...perfect for flying the broomstick!

Do you like Halloween? What are your traditions?

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

I heard it's labor day weekend...something about taking time to 'relax' for all the labor you do year round.

But, I say, 'there ain't no rest for the wicked...'

And we all know money don't grow on trees ;)

Busy weekend none the less. We've been slanging apples (and pears) like no ones business and it consumed all but dinnertime out of the day yesterday.

Today I spent 97.9% of the day in the kitchen...but that's ok since I enjoy it ;) My son will probably grow up to be a Chef since he watches me every move, while I cook, with serious concentration. And then he shoots me that grin of his!

Celery from the garden with fresh eggs from a fellow farmer for Egg Salad.

She must think she is a Peach....

Baby Food!

Pureed Peaches



Today I put up 5 quarts of canned Peaches and 6 half-pints of Peach Butter.

Who has a fruit/veg strainer attachment for their KitchenAid? Can we Skype because I splurged and bought myself one today to make my life easier when canning and it just made me more frustrated. It JUICED my peaches...but more on that later. And I have 9#'s left to do something with, so if you have this attachment and know HOW to use it, let's chat!

And, ta-da! Another box of 'maters from my co-worker. And they are smelling heavenly roasting in the oven right now.

The Unofficial End of Summer

Clearly, Mother Nature took the word 'unofficial' literally!!

Doesn't she know I have bushels upon bushels of apples to pick in the next 24 hours!!

Happy Labor Day Weekend, Everyone!

Image stolen from Seven Gates Farm blog :)

Lazy Days

The 'unofficial' end of Summer comes this weekend. The horses are enjoying the brief cool down in humidity and those last, lazy days of Summer!