i've moved

I'm totally bummed about this. I have a blogger network of friends. Now I must move the blog.  To go there click the link and it will take you there.
thisweetlandfarm.blogspot.com 
 if you want to continue following me, go check it out over there. That is where I will be posting. I added a follow button. The look of the blog is different, so if you go to the right side of the blog post you will see a spot that looks like people, and click to follow along. I will be following your blogs under the new name. It's still SweetLand Farm, and me, but just a different blogspot now. So come join me!

welcome

December!!!
I'm so exited to say that most of our Christmas shopping for the kiddos is DONE!!!! Yyyyaaahhhoooooo! I'm so glad. In case you didn't get that. haha Oh I can't wait for the UPS or FEDEX guy to bring the presents!! Love that!! I usually bound out the door to greet them! Crazy farm girl!

We've got a cold snap going on this week, and let me tell you for those of you who don't milk critters in freezing temps, by hand...you don't know what your missing!! ha! You know your hands are cold (even with milking gloves) on when you put your hands on your cow and she sucks in a breath and looks at you with those large doe like brown eyes. I apologized to her. I felt bad. Or when the milk freezes to the pail as you milk her out. Or you bury your face into her warm body so you can be warm and not having your lungs burn from the cold. I actually like the smell of the cows. I know I'm weird, but I'm ok with that!
I've got some other farm stuff going on, but I'll save for another post. Tease!  Still can't do pics. I might have to move :(
Have a great day all! I gotta go lug water for the critters. Everything is frozen!

thankful

I'm thankful for my salvation.  I find trusting and resting in Him is freedom that nothing happens to me or mine without His hand in it. He's the potter and I'm the clay and He's molding and shaping me everyday. Smoothing off the rough edges and polishing me to His will. I'm so thankful for His gift of eternal life.

thankful

I'm thankful for my strong willed, and determined personality. As a stay at home, home schooling, farming mom of four kiddos and one husband I've had to be. It's not easy jobs that we have chosen to live, but I love it! I've never been the kind of gal to sit back and watch someone else do it for me. I like to be right in the thick of it. I love getting dirty and sweaty and dirt under my fingernails, and stepped on and pushed around by the critters, getting hay splinters and driving the tractor! Ah what a life a farmer lives. OK so not so much the hay splinters, but you get the picture! The joys and sorrows together of farming. The invaluable life skills that we are all gaining in getting back to the land, so to speak. Reclaiming what has been taken away from us by big box companies and huge scale lot feeding.  Some of which we willing just gave up all in the name of something called "progress." Bring back the generation of family farmers. I say stick it to the big guys and support small, local farmer all the way!
Have a great day all!

thankful

I'm thankful for my husband. I love the firm yet gentle hand he has with our kiddos. They way he teases me and plays with me. His kind blue eyes I love to look into. I love who he is, what he stands for, and how he cherishes each one of us. I love his passion for farming and the whole crazy way we came into it together. I love his talent with creating things with wood. He can take a tree and turn it into many different things. I just think it's amazing to watch. I love when he comes home from the mill and smells like the shop. Wood that he's been sawing or building something. He's a quiet, gentle man that isn't afraid to stand for what is right and I cherish him more then I can say. He's my best friend. I am blessed to have married him.

thankful

I'm having some glitches with blogger. I can't post pics anymore. My more tech savvy sister is helping me and I hope to have some pics or maybe something new coming soon. I have a few minutes to catch up with you and let you know how things are with me...I hope to get this problem solved quickly!

It all started last week. No really it did. I've mentioned that my husband made me a new cabinet. Well it's done and in the house. I had to pick out some paint to finish it. I picked a deep red color. Oh it's sweet! I hope to get a pic of it...we shall see. Then out of the blue my husband decided to paint part of the wall! I was a little surprised by this and exclaimed "What are you DOING?!" He smiled and said "Well now you can pain the walls!" Oh.
So what started as a small project of painting the cabinet turned into painting the living room. I've wanted to do it for a while now, but just didn't. So I started painting the living room. It's now updated to the same red as the cabinet on the bottom and light brown on the top. I have a chair rail around the living room and that part is the red. The brown is now what I think looks like coffee with too much cream in it! Next I need to pick out some curtains and it will be done. But if you've ever painted with red you know what a pain in the a$$ it is. SO many coats! That took forever. The brown was done rather quickly. My SIL came over and helped me. I didn't tell my family that was coming over for Thanksgiving what I had done and they were surprised! I'm happy it got done too! Such a difference in the house, a much needed updated look!

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. So much to be thankful for. My parents, grandmother, sister and her son came over. It was at my house, and I had such a good day! The food was good, the company was good, and my living room was done!
 In farming we've learned so much. Some years have been good with only small learning curves and then wham, you get hit in the  face with learning curves or life just kinda explodes all over the place. Just making us stronger in our faith and leaning on each other.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Have a great day all!

good quote

"All great and honorable actions are accomplished with great difficulties, and must be overcome with answerable courage's. "
William Bradford

thankful

I'm thankful for electricity!
I"m thankful I can cook healthy meals from scratch for my family!
I'm thankful for my life!
I'm thankful for paint!
I'm thankful for my clothes line!
I'm thankful for music!
I'm thankful for farm fresh eggs!!

thankful

I'm thankful for the amazingly beautiful sunsets that I see almost every night from my house. I am still awed and wowed by them and have tons of pictures to prove how different and wonderful they all are! Like this sunset tonight. The colors set the sky on fire in one area and were the most amazing colors of red and orange, and then another part of the sky were the most amazing pastel shades of yellow, blue, pink and purple. Just breath taking as I walked out to do the evening chores tonight.
You'll have to take my word for it! I would love to have had a picture to show you the beauty of creation, but my stupid camera batteries decided to die. Gahh.

I'm thankful that my husband and my son both enjoy hunting, that is where they are right now as I quickly type this out! Maybe next year I'll get my hunting license and go out too!! :)

Have a great night all!

thankful

I'm thankful for the freedom to home school my children. It's hard work and a huge commitment, but I love my kiddos and I love to have them home with me. I have the ability to seek out the help I need and talking with other home schooling moms, and those that are done home schooling their grown children and can offer their wisdom. I can teach them the word of God and our beliefs and not those that are taught else where. I can keep them safe, and close to me. I know what they are learning, and eating. They are learning life skills that we feel will help them in their future.

thankful

I'm thankful for all of you that follow along on our journey in life. And can laugh with me when I do stupid things like walking into doors!
I'm thankful for my church family.
I'm thankful for the Internet. May sound silly but I am, I like to read others blogs and see how others are farming and what they are cooking too. I love to find a new recipe and try it!!
I'm thankful for chocolate!!!

 Triple Chocolate Coconut Scones!! Oh yum!!!
I'll share the recipe with you too!

11/2 C flour
2 t baking powder
1/3 C sugar
1/3 C coconut
1/3 C coco powder
8 T butter
3/4 C chocolate chips or chunks
3/4 C cream
Mix dry. Cut in butter. Dump in chocolate chunks. Dump in cream and mix together. Shape into a circle on the counter and cut into scone shapes. Bake in preheated oven at 425 for 15-20 minutes. Melt some chocolate with butter, put in a bag and drizzle on top of warm scones. Devour! Ahem... I mean enjoy slowly with some raw milk!!
Have a great day all!

good quote

"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past . Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."
John F. Kennedy

thankful

I'm thankful for the gardening season to be over! I'm also thankful when it comes back and I can start a new season!
I'm thankful for our home.
I'm thankful for the new things that I have learned and done this year.
I'm thankful for our wood stove! It keeps us warm especially this time of year!!
Have a great day all!

thankful

I'm thankful for my middle daughter. My little goose. I love her big, round, blueberry blue eyes with long, long lashes, her short blonde hair that sways and blows around as she moves. She is sweet and sassy with a silly way about her. She makes me laugh everyday. She makes us all laugh. She loves to learn new things and can "fly by the seat of her pants" and things don't bother her when plans suddenly change. She just goes with it. She helps with everything she has, the way she approaches life. Her love is amazing and she's not afraid to show it. She is a blessing in our lives and gives so much. I love and cherish her more then words can express.

I'm thankful for my oldest girl. I love her medium, big, blue eyes. Her long blonde hair, that she plans to cut off and donate to Locks of Love when it gets a little longer. I love how she just loves to sit and hold babies. She loves to cook and help in the kitchen. She is nice and steady and is curious about life and how everything works. She is tender hearted and gentle and loves with all her heart. Her big smile and great hugs are nice to receive, and she is always willing to give them to us. She has a willingness to help when it's needed and does it without being asked. She is a blessing in our lives and I love and cherish her more then words can express too.

thankful

I'm thankful for my youngest daughter. My baby. I love her beautiful pale, ice blue eyes, her long semi curly blonde hair. Her tough and tender personality. Her squishy cheeks that I love to kiss. Her infectious smile and giggle and small little hand that she wraps around my finger when she holds my hand. When she bombards me with her body and hugs me with all her might, and touches my face and smiles and tells me she loves me and plants a big kiss on my cheek.  The way she will stand in a chair and help me cook, or follow me around doing everything I'm doing. The way she climbs into my lap and snuggles down and will fall asleep sometimes in my arms. Her being such a mommas girl all her life. She brings so much of everything to our lives and I love and cherish her more then I can express.

I'm thankful for my son. My oldest. I love his ice blue eyes, curly dirty blonde hair, and dimpled cheek. His zest for life and hard work that he puts forward on the farm and life. His love of John Deere tractors and his calf, Dandie. His creativity and imagination when he works or plays. His laugh is contagious. He is almost as tall as me and can give a nice big bear hug. He always comes to me in the morning with a smile, hug and a kiss that melts my heart. They way he plays with his youngest sister and how she just adores him slays me when I hear them laughing and talking together. He's a helper when needed. He brings much to our family and I love and cherish him more then I can express too!
Have a great day all!

thankful

I'm thankful for all our critter running around our farm. They keep me busy and honestly I don't know what I would do with all my "spare" time without them :)
I love that I can go to the garden (or cupboard) and pick something, go to the freezer and grab some meat, that we raised, and eat it all for supper. I like that feeling of knowing where everything came from and how it was taken care of. And what is NOT in the foods we eat.
I'm thankful  that I can learn from my many mistakes along the way, and how to change and improve our farming way of life. And the ability to laugh at myself too, that helps a lot!

"I'm thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose."
Woody  Allen

welcome november

I am so glad to flip the calender to a new month. I went out to do chores this morning as my husband left early to head over to the mill and finish up an order of bee hive covers. I ran back in the house and grabbed my camera and snapped this

what a beautiful sunrise to greet me this morning and make the day seem that much brighter for me! A new month, a new day.

 I'm so thankful for the beauty around me and the opportunity to live in the country.
I'm thankful for our farm that we have been blessed with in ways that some people would think strange in how we came to farming, but looking back over the years I can see God's handiwork in changing my heart and my husbands.
I'm thankful for the cool, crisp, morning I woke up to, the nickering of my horses as I went outside, and the cow hurrying down the lane to greet me and banging her head on the door because I took too long to get her door opened.
I'm thankful to all the troops here and over seas away from their families. Defending us and protecting our freedoms and running to the danger when most run the other way.
Have a great day all!

whats cooking in my kitchen..and stuff

So we made it through the storm just fine. It really wasn't bad at all. I know other areas were hit  very hard and my prayers are with them. Had some good down pours, wind, and thunder storms, but never lost power! We were ready for it though! Very thankful for that. The kiddos were hoping we would loose power. They like the adventure of it!

But on a more fun note one of my sisters came over yesterday and we did some cooking. Well actually we did some frying of food! Yummy! Can't do that very often though ;-) But even better we had a good visit and I love to see her and to cook with her is fun too! She cooks tons like me, and enjoys it!
But about 7pm we decided that we wanted/needed some chocolate! So we whipped up these bad boys...

                                                Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies!!

Who does that? Oh right I do!! hehe
They are really good, but super rich and I wouldn't want a whole 9x13 pan in my house all for me and my family. My sister took some with her to share. Phew! I would recommend them for a get together with lots of people to help you eat  them! We got the recipe from Brown Eyed Baker.
So if you have a get together or just wanna get a little crazy here is the recipe...

Brownies
4 oz chocolate finely chopped
1 C butter soft
2 t vanilla
4 eggs
1 C flour
2 C brown sugar
Preheat the oven 350.
***DO THIS STEP.  I REPEAT, DO THIS STEP*** Tinfoil a 9x13 pan, then grease the tinfoil.  These brownies will stick bad to the pan if you don't!!!!!
Melt choc. In a bowl beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, dump in melted chocolate, add the rest. 
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Cool.

Cookie Dough
3/4 C sugar
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C soft butter
11/2 C flour
3 T milk
11/2 C mini chocolate chips
Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, and flour. Mix well! Stir in mini chocolate chips.
Spread on the cool brownies and put in the fridge for 1 hr before cutting. Enjoy

Yes we do eat good for you food like salads, but who really wants another salad recipe?! Maybe I'll post something good for you next time, but I just wanted to tempt you with these brownies...if you can be tempted! Hahaha
Have a great day all!

wild winds that do His will

Got tropical storm Sandy decending upon us soon. We are ready and hunkered down for the storm. I pray all of you that are in this storm are ready and safe. If I have power I'll let you know how we made it. When I have a minute! And catch up on the blogs! Just no time in the day for the computer lately. And thanks for all the comments. They don't go unnoticed!!!
Stay safe and take care!!!

happy birthday

Yesterday 10-23-12 was

                      This sweethearts First Birthday! Dandelion aka Dandie. Happy Birthday. 
She is a welcomed addition to our farm. She was born on a beautiful day, much like yesterday afternoon. We were so excited to have a little heifer calf!  She's very sweet and loves to be loved on. I swear she thinks she's a big dog! She will lick you and rub her head on you. She will even moo at us if we don't come see her, and she thinks we need to go give her a little pat. Yes I'm quite fond of her, and her mother. In case you didn't notice!!
I was gone all day yesterday and didn't get home until dark. I was helping my SIL give her house a "face lift". We were painting! So I had to get a pic of her this morning.
Have a wonderful day all!

what's cooking in my kichen

Oh these are sooooooo good!!! I told you some recipes were coming!!
And surprise, surprise I found them on pinterest. I've found a number of recipes on there lately that are really good. I've recently decided that there is not enough paper and ink to support my habit of finding and trying new recipes. No I don't have one of those phones that I can have in my kitchen and just use that as the recipe. I have to copy it and then cook it. And then if I didn't copy it I'd never find it again. Horrors!!! Oh I shudder to think of such things. So what new thing did I find?
These...

 No it's not corn bread. Although in this picture it really does look like it.
It's pancakes. Called Pancake Squares. What? You ask. Baked, not fried! OMW!!! I wonder where these amazingly good and easy things have been all my life. Waiting for me on pinterest is where! The blop of butter is there for looks. Honest. I made a double batch in a 9x13, and they were all but gone. The kiddos devoured them. OK I helped!!
So much quicker then the fried ones, and it allowed me to pop them in the oven and go finish up chores while they cooked. Sweet!
They taste very much like a fried pancake too without all the work!

OK now if you want to get a little crazy like me... make these...

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes!

Oh would you look at that!!!
It's another wonderful pancake!!  Baked. These are amazing and take the pancake to a new level of wonderfulness! I helped devour these bad boys too!

Now how do you make these? And I do recommend them!
 Simple, easy, and amazing!

Make your batter. Dump it into a greased pan. Bake it and eat with butter and maple syrup. See top picture. But if you want the Cinnamon Roll ones this is how!!! Below.

If your making the Cinnamon Roll pancakes make the cinnamon part and swirl it into the dough.  Pretend I didn't cut the hole in the bag too big and it just came oozing out  all over the place and it's swirled around there like a cinnamon roll should look. OK.

 Make the drizzling sauce for the cinnamon rolls and drizzle on top when cooked.

Now here is the recipes:
Pancake Squares
3/4 C milk
1 egg
1 C flour
1/4 t salt
2 T melted butter
1 T sugar
2 t baking powder
Mix dry, mix wet, and don't over mix!
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8x8 pan.
Bake about 20-25 minutes or until stick comes out clean!! Serve with butter and maple syrup.

Now go crazy and make these!!!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
11/2 C milk
2 eggs
2 C flour
4 T melted butter
2 T sugar
4 t baking powder
Mix wet, mix dry, but don't over mix. Grease a jelly roll pan. Dump in the dough. Then make the filling.

Filling
 4 T melted butter
2 T cinnamon
3/4 C brown sugar
Mix it. Put in a bag, cut a small hole . Swirl around the pancakes, the way a cinnamon roll looks.. Should make 12 "pancakes"
 Pop on the oven preheated at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Or until stick comes out clean.
While it's cooking make the drizzle for the top!!

Drizzle
2 oz soft cream cheese
2 T maple syrup
1 C powdered sugar
Add enough milk to make it drizzle. I used 2 T.
Drizzle on top of warm pancakes and eat them right up!! Amazing!!!
Have a great day all!

happy birthday

                                            Today is this big, beautiful, brown cow's birthday!

                                              Happy 5th Birthday Magnolia aka Maggie!!!!

good quote

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
Norman Vincent Peale

"Age is a issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Mark Twain

diy

What?

I'm going to start a new label. Or new category or posts, or whatever you want to call it. Once in a while I'll share some things with you that I do myself. It's DIY. Do It Yourself. I thought it would be fun!
SO here is my first post on that! What is it? Looks like you could eat it. But I wouldn't recommend that. I mean you could.. anyways
It's homemade potpourri for the stove. When I found it on Pinterest it was for the stove top, but I just throw it on the stove boil the water, and put it on my wood stove. That way I'm not running my stove all day.
All it is is half a pot of water, some cranberries, orange slices, lemon, and a little cinnamon. I used ground because I didn't have any sticks. But I'll be getting some. You can out whatever you want in it, and it makes the house smell good. I think some extract would work too and be a little stronger. But I don't want it overpowering. I boiled it on the stove to get it warm and get the smells working.  It says to only keep it 2 days, and refill the water as needed. Just a thought. I like it and smells great! Let me know if you've tried anything like this and what you like. I'd love  to try it!

Just so you know the month of November is coming and (I know shocking right?!) I'll be doing posts on what I'm thankful for. I've done it in the past and really enjoyed it, and have read about what others are thankful for too. It's fun. I think it's called the "Thankful Challenge" can be one thing a day or more. Depending on what you want to write about. So if your interested please join in the fun. Lots of other blogger's do, so I wanted to encourage you to join. Just a thought!
Have a great day all!

what's cooking in my kitchen

Lots and lots this time of year. I've been baking up a storm and eating it all with wild abandon! Boy I'm glad I work out to keep it all off too. I believe in eating whatever I want...in moderation. I like exercise and have 4 kiddos to stay healthy for. And my Man too!
Anyways after making and eating these brownies you may or may not like me!
They are called  The Brownie or The Very Chocolate Brownie. Either way they are amazing. I would like to point out that there is less butter and sugar in these compared to the other brownie recipe I shared. And those are amazing too. So

 I super sized the picture! Mmmmmmmmmm. This was actually the next day because the pic I took when I made them, didn't look so good. It was 8pm and the lighting is off on all the pics, but you get the picture! Here you can see the chunks of chocolate in there. When hot they are oooy gooey melt in your mouth amazing. These will satisfy any chocolate craving you have!

 SO how do we make these wonderful, fat filled, amazing little gems? You wonder?  Watch an learn.
Bring just to a boil water, sugar, and butter. Turn off heat and dump in some chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted.

 Mix flour and baking soda.

 Mix eggs and vanilla.

 Dump egg mixture into melted chocolate, mix well. Dump flour mixture into chocolate mixture. Mix well. Dump in more chocolate.  Mix well.

Dump into a greased 9x13 pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 for 35-40 minutes. But undercooked is the best way to eat brownies. But that's just me talking here;)

Now here is the recipe if ya want it. One last look at them before you run to the cupboard and make them for your selves!  If ya dare... It's actually a Taste of Home recipe. Who ever created them is genius in my book!

The Brownie or The Very Chocolate Brownie
11/2 C sugar
2/3 C butter
1/4 C water
4 eggs
4 C chocolate chips divided into 2 C each
11/2 C flour
2 t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda

Preheat oven to 325
In a sauce pan melt butter, add water, and sugar. Bring just to a boil. Turn off heat and move and dump in 2 C choc chips to melt. Stir until melted.
 In a bowl mix flour, and soda.
In another bowl mix eggs and vanilla.
Stir in egg mixture into the choc mixture. Mix well.
Stir in flour mixture into choc/egg mixture. Mix well.
Dump in 2 more cups of choc chips and stir.
Dump into greased 9x13 pan. If your brave and love to live on the wild side stick your finger in the batter, and scoop some out and lick your finger off. Oh ya! I love to eat the raw dough. I mean who doesn't?!
 Pop it in the oven and bake 35-40 minutes. Yes this makes a nice thick brownie and is wonderful undercooked and eaten hot when the chocolate is still hot. 
There you go. Quick and easy!
 And after eating these you may want to start a work out program...or not;-)

I also have lots more cooking coming soon. I told you I've been baking lots! Not everything is sweets, so that should make you feel better!
Have a great Monday all. And a brownie will make every Monday better!

monday confessions

Alright so I'm running late. It's Monday. Of course I'm running late. I don't know how, I woke up on time. Oh wait go back and read the Monday part. It's Monday! The girls and I are heading to my Mom's for a fun day with a sister an aunt and her grand kiddos. I walk out the door with out the casserole, turn around go back and get it. Drive down the road and turn around an come back home. I forgot something. Get back in the car and head down the road. Silently cursing myself for being late. I don't like to be late. Kinda drives me batty on all sides of it! Anyways! I stop at the post office and hurriedly get out of the car and walk briskly to the door. I keep going as I grab the handle and WhAm! It doesn't open and I hit the door. Well I guess they are closed. Oh right it's Monday. A holiday. Head down I quickly get in the can to leave. And yes there was another person in the parking lot...and yes I'm sure they saw me. OH the joy of small town living...
I also had to get gas. GAHHHHHHHH. Stupid gas. I put the gas in the car and hurry up the steps...and trip going up them. Thankfully the 5 people standing by the door are more interested in the coffee they are arguing over to notice me. I pay and head out to Mom's. Thankful for no more doors eerrr stops and iced coffee waiting for me!! Yay!
Had a great day oh and some amazing brownies! Oh I will be sharing that, and ya get some fat pants! OK. Sorry. But amazing! hahaha!! So check back in and I'll share, but I may have to tease and say they only have 4 cups of chocolate in them...
Have a great night all!!
Laugh everyday...even if it's at yourself! Ah my life!






 

whats cooking in my kitchen

Been a while since I put any cooking on here. And I'm sure you don't want any more pics of my mug on here either!! Besides cooking is so much fun this time of year!! At least for me. It's time for soups, roasts, casseroles, and lots of pie!!! Warm foods. Comfort foods. It's also time for me to start working out again after all this comfort food!
And speaking of soups that is what I'm posting today. It's called Autumn Soup, actually it's stew, but I'm weird and I don't like the word stew. I told you I was weird.
And speaking of autumn...

 Some trees across the street from my house. I don't have trees around me. I have wide open spaces! Ah I love that! It's one of the only good pics of have of "leaf peeping" so far. We were out and about and I forgot the camera. Maybe next time, if the rain we are getting doesn't take them all down. Whaaaaaaa. I hope it doesn't. My camera doesn't do it justice of the colors.
I know a bit of a bunny trail there. Back on track if your still with me!
 Here's the soup!

It's soooooooo easy. I'm going to have one of my kiddos make it next time. I've made it 1000 times before. I'm thinking about canning some without the hamburg in it next year. Oh man I'm already making plans for canning. Somebody stop me! I haven't even finished canning stuff this year!!!

SO here's the recipe if yer so inclimed to want it. The pic isn't that great, but it's the best one I got! Well here is how I made this. Feel free to add more stuff and adjust it to your taste!

Autumn Soup
Fry 1lb hamburg with onion and garlic. When it's cooked add some salt, pepper and basil. (To taste)
Boil about 1 cup ( I used way more) potatoes til fork tender. Don't over cook them.
In a big ole pot dump 3 C water, 1 Qt canned tomatoes, 1 Qt carrots, 1 chicken boullion cube, about 1C chopped celery, and 1 bay leaf (remove before you eat it).
When potatoes are done, drain and dump in the pot. Add hamburg. Stir. Adjust seasonings to your liking. Let sit on you stove to simmer and continue to cook potatoes.
Serve with pop overs or whatever you like for bread, or not!!  And pie for dessert! Don't forget the pie.

Simple, easy and tastes good too!
Let me know if you added more stuff to it and how it tasted, if ya want to!!
Have a great night all!

monday confessions

Because Mondays are never my finest days, and I haven't done a Monday confession in  while...I thought I'd share a drowned rat...

Oh wait that's me! hahaha (Not my finest pic, but I'm being honest!) 
So it rained a little (insert lots of sarcasm here) yesterday while I was doing evening chores. I was soaked and wanted to show my husband how wet I got. Oh and it stopped raining when I was all done with the chores. Fantastic! He and the kiddos went out for the afternoon for personal reasons, in support of his family.  I stayed home to do chores because they wouldn't be home in time.
But it worked out for me! I got a last minute invite out with my sisters!! We do that a lot, last minute stuff.  We went out to eat and then did some shopping. I got three new sweaters, well new to me. We went to Goodwill and other stores!! Awesome sweaters too! It's that time of year here. We had lots of fun and lots of laughs at each other. All in good fun. I love being with my sisters and just being silly with them. The relationship I have with them helps keep me sane.
Happy Monday all! Keep it real!

for your viewing pleasure

My husband went out to help some Amish friends he has met over the last few years. They were harvesting their corn...the "old fashioned" way!
This first and third clip is sideways. So adjust your computer and head as necessary! And don't worry the clips are only a few seconds long!!

I hope you enjoyed the videos!
I have some pics to follow. But not tonight. It's been a busy day and I'm too tired to talk about the!! haha
Have a great night all!

pig pen

SO I was asked about the pig pen. So maybe I have some answers for you!
 We used some green wire as the perimeter and then a strand of hot wire on the inside of that. It's hot, the pigs squeal when they touch it. I feel bad, but it keeps them in, and they have not tried to get out. My husband informs me that is good because chasing a pig is NOT something I want to do! It is attached to the horse barn where we first had them, in T.O stall. There is a ramp for them to go up and down, but they like to pretend they are acrobats and jump in and out. It's kinda funny to watch them. Sometimes they land on their feet, but other times they land on their side and jump up and shake it off. It's nice so they can get out of the rain.  They rooted up the grass that was there. The pen goes to the back of the barn to the manure pile, and they are wonderful little piggies and go to the bathroom down there too! We found out quickly that it is a little too small, and will make it bigger next year for the spring pigs we get. They still can run and play, but we think it should be bigger for them. I was surprised at how busy pigs can be!
And here are a few pics of their pig pen. As you can see it's not huge, but at least they have the whole stall inside about 10x10 and some space to play outside. And this was the first year we had them at our house. So we learn with each new thing we do!

 Here is the green wire on the outside of the pen. It's not hot. There is a hot wire fence on the inside of this. It's probably about leg high on the pigs.

 This is the back side of the barn. We blocked off the underside of the barn to keep the pigs out with the boards. It goes about halfway back the barn.

 They wanted a pic of all four of them! How cute!

This is the front side of the pen.
It's about 200 square feet outside. Plus the stall.
I hope that helps! Have a great afternoon!

lunch break

 I don't really have lots to say other then what I've already said. Life is busy! And not a whole lot is going on. It's getting closer to the end of my pigs life and that makes me sad. Never had pigs on the farm before and I've enjoyed them. I also like to eat them too, but... anyways
Here is a recent pic of them! See how cute she is smiling at the camera!!

Yup, I'd have to say we have happy pigs here and gave them the best life a pig could want!!

A neighbor recently combined his dry beans! See the pic! We've gotten beans from him. How convenient, a neighbor to get them from. Cheaper then the store.

The cows are doing well too. Just thought I'd throw that in there in case you were wondering.
The gardens are done for the winter. We didn't get many pie pumpkins this year or winter squash. Bummer. Hate to buy them at the store.
The leaves are rapidly changing and the days are getting shorter as well. Gets dark early around here. I hate that. I'll see if I can get the camera working long enough to get some when they look better and show you a New England fall!
 Well that's all I've got time for. Gotta get back to school! Lunch is over!
 Have a great day!

poppin johnny

For those of you who don't know, and asked here is "Poppin Johnny"! Our fully restored Model H John Deere. I forget what year it is. I know, my bad. But when it runs it sounds like it is popping. So that is the name it was given. And for those of you who don't know this tractor was actually my great grand fathers first tractor. On my mothers side! Kinda cool how we got it.
 No this is not our place, it's where we had it stored temporarily. My boy loves it, and has driven it around too.
Have a great day all!

yup, this is my life

Good grief, it's been a while since I posted anything. I'm still around. Still busy. It seems like my days are just running together, and I can't keep ahead on anything. Home school is in full swing and I'm having a hard time getting everything done now. Just a new routine to get into. OK, so I've never in my life gotten "everything" done, and I know I never will. It feels like things just keep piling up, like laundry and the dust bunnies on the floor that I swear I sweep or have the kiddos sweep everyday. I'm up early and to bed late trying to "finish" something I started but never finished. Between school and well my life I'm just busy.  Most days it's good, but boy once in a while it's not! So don't think my life is all sunshine and roses, it's not and I don't mean to give that impression.  On my living room floor right now I have squash, melons, dust bunnies, crayons, jars, boxes, boxes of full and empty jars, onions, paper my kiddos were drawing on and forgot to pick up, boots shoes, dirty socks...I could go on, but I think you can "see" enough! My husband is in the process of making me another cupboard for my canned goods, so once that is made and home I'll show you! I can't wait to get it. Then my boxes and jars and boxes of jars will have a nice new home! But his cabinet making got interrupted by haying!
My gardens are just about done before I put them to bed for the winter!. I have some carrots to finish. Then squash and pumpkins, but I don't can or freeze them. I just put them in my house and eat them up! Wish I had a root cellar for them. Maybe someday...
Today my husband is haying. We finally have some nice weather all in a row to get some second crop done. Seems like this week a lot of farmers are putting down hay. No pics of it again this time either. The batteries are dead in the camera, he's haying with the "poppin johnny".  Maybe next year I'll have things together enough to get a pic of him haying with it! It's kinda cool!
So have a great day all! I have to go find my living room floor!

storing the harvest

OK. I have said on more then one occasion that I have been up to my eyeballs in tomatoes. It's true. I don't dare say how many pounds of tomatoes I've canned. But, it's a lot. Believe me. I also said I had lots of plans for my tomatoes, and I did. But due to rain, horn worms, chickens, and a new crop of tomatoes we have never planted, we didn't get much. Will never do that again. Hard lesson learned on our parts. But we are fortunate that we know other farmers that had a bounty. And I'm very excited to say that everything I wanted to do with tomatoes I was able to do!!!  So thankful for that!  So...

Here they are! This is what you are looking at from left to right V8 juice, Tomato juice, Salsa, Pasta sauce, Soup starter, Canned tomatoes, and the little one in front is Pizza sauce.
There that is what I've been up to and that is what my tomatoes are doing now. The above is the reason I haven't been blogging or commenting on your blogs lately. But I'm still around. Just been busy. Now you know!
Have a great day all!

haha for monday

This makes me laugh every time I have to stop at it!!!

This is on one of the many roads to my house in the country. Not something you see everyday way out in the sticks. It's up because they are fixing a bridge abutment just around the corner. I just think it's funny and looks out of place.
Happy Monday all!

wheat harvest, part 2

OK. To answer a few questions from part one! I think I must have been a bit vague on that. My bad, I've been busy lately. But feel free to ask, I'll do my best to answer them, via a comment or a post!
It's about 2.5-3 acres of wheat.
Yes the combine and the tractor are ours. And both are paid for! So even better!
No we are not allowed to bale the straw, due to the owners saying we can't. So we won't!
It's a hard red spring wheat, called Glenn. 
Now on with the cleaning!

It comes out of the gravity box, down the auger

 And into some buckets.

Then dump it into this part of the

 SO here is a picture of the whole thing. Dump in the dirty wheat, it gets shaken and shimmied down the screens, then the cleaned wheat berries come out to the right, and the hulls and chaff go out to the left.

Then you grab some kiddos who have nothing to do (ahem) and they hold the bag to hold the wheat berries.

Now what will we do with all this wheat?
We gave some of the chaff, still has some wheat berries in it away, and we plan to feed some of it out.
For the use of this wonderful cleaner we traded some man power and wheat berries for the use of it.
We will save some, maybe plant some...
 Defiantly use some to make some bread. I'll have the kiddos grind it fresh because wheat starts to loose it's goodness once it's been ground. It gives the bread a whole different taste and texture.
It's only taken me 3 days to get this post done. I've been up to my eyeballs in tomatoes. Literally.
Any more questions feel free to ask. Now I've got to run and tend to my canner...have a great weekend all!

wheat harvest, part 1

We were given a wheat field. What? Yup, it was grown by a store that my husband does business with, and they said if you combine it, it's yours. What a blessing you might say. And it's organic! Even better. See how pretty it is...

...well was.
 It's not 100's of acres like out west, but it's still nice to look at. And hardly any weeds!
 Growing wheat has been something my husband has wanted to do for a long time, and did once, but that field has been taken back and we can no longer grow any wheat. But when this opportunity came knocking he took it! He kept an eye on it and tested the moisture and all that to make sure it didn't go past what it should be.

Up close of the combine cutting the wheat.

My man up on his tractor!

Back side view of combining. Perfect weather.

 The gravity box almost full of wheat to be cleaned.

Here it is. Yes that is a thermometer stuck in there. We had to take the temperature of it to make sure it wasn't getting too hot.
I'll have part two, the cleaning soon. Just life got busy here for a few days. Now with home school in session...every day just got even fuller! 
Have a great day all!

Christmas in august

Oh boy do I have some stuff coming your way.
 I have been up to my eyeballs canning...lots of canning past weekend...
 But while I was chained to my kitchen I heard some noises outside and some hysterical laughing too. So I grabbed my camera and went to investigate the noise. I mean I always try to grab my camera when I hear laughter like that. You never know what you may find...and this is what I saw to my delight and surprise...

no snow, no water? No problem. This is how we do it in the country!
Have a great Monday all!

good quote

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble, but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
Norman Vincent Peale

"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later."
Og Mandino

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
C.S. Lewis

storing the harvest

Seeings how I'm canning the stuff now I figured I'd give out the recipe before it's all gone by and you can't try it.
So here she goes...

Start out with a bunch of this stuff, minus the cucumbers...and add some onions. Then...

Then chop it up. Then...

Throw it in a big ole pot and cook it for a while. Then...

Put it in some jars, pressure can it and tada!! Your done! Looks easy enough right? What is it? Oops for got that part. It's soup starter! We love it. When I want to eat it I fry up some sausage (rice, or chicken)  and then add soup starter, cook up some angle biscuits and have a nice warm supper!
Here's the recipe if yer interested...

***Disclaimer! Can at your own risk! Know what you are doing before you start!***

Soup Starter
Saute 1 onion in 1/4 C E.V.O.O (I like garlic so I put some in there too)
Then add 6C zucchini (I use summer squash, can use both)
3C Tomatoes (without the skin)
1 Carrot (I use more, and eyeball it)
1/2t salt
1/4t oregano
1/4t basil
1/4t pepper
1 bay leaf
Cover and simmer 15 min covered
Uncover and simmer 15 min
Put in jars and pressure can 10lbs for 35 minutes
1 batch makes about 2 quarts!
Happy canning!

bountiful and thankful

I can go from nothing to OMW!!!!!!!!!!!

Take a look at what I mean!

 This is the biggest melon we have ever grown!! Whoot whoot!!We have a couple more, but not this size. I hope to pick them and eat them. All warm and yummy and juicy!!! Oh ya I'm into it!
The best way to grow melons, in  Maine, is black plastic and mulch, they like peat moss. I didn't know that..now I do and will try that next year. But they did grow on black plastic. So I guess one outta two isn't bad. It usually isn't warm enough long enough here. But this summer...

I moved some weeds. OK, I hauled out a bunch of them and low and behold I have a pepper plant growing in the melon patch! I'm not sure how that happened.  I have 9 pepper plants I think. This is the only pepper I've yet to find. This is the first year I planted peppers.

We like beets around here. Harvard beets or pickled. With this years crop I plant to make only pickled.

Now try not to drool all over the tomatoes. Hehehe, naw just kidding I'm trying not to drool all over the tomatoes. Really. I didn't grow these beauties. A fellow down the road did. We bartered for them. Shhhh don't tell anyone! bhahaha
I won't beat a dead horse with the whoos of my tomato plants...again... but I can lay claim to the rest of the produce in the picture! Yup all from my garden. I'm pleased with what I got.
 My green beans are a flop this year too. Just when I was thinking I wasn't going to get any beans this year my neighbor came over and said I could go pick his, he had tons. So I ended up going over and picking his. Then my SIL said I could pick her beans, because she had enough. So I did! So I'm thankful for the beans I got.
So thankful for it all actually!
SO now tomorrow I'll be chained to my kitchen and stove, canning!!
What about ya'll? What's going on with your gardens? Any flops for anyone else, or just me?