School Supplies

Four of our grandchildren go to school in Oregon and they needed school supplies for the harvest days at their Waldorf school. There is no better place to shop for school supplies than the farm! Tyler found the perfect pumpkin...more than once! There were so many colors and pumpkins and gourds to choose from so the rainbow of colors for the school supplies will also be an inspiration for these little students.

Aiden found just the right size to carry by himself. He was very proud that he could carry it all the way to the truck!

Beautiful smiling faces, happy in the fresh air as the big winds were blowing a wet and wild storm our way. These little students got their supplies just in time and just before the winds carried all of the rains our way! Now all we have to do is figure out how to get the supplies to our Alaska students! xo

Harvest Canning

The Farmhouse is taken over once again by the harvest season! As soon as one crop is finished and put away for the winter, there are three more crops to take the place. The living room, dining room, tables, benches chairs are covered in canned goods ready to be marked and placed on the shelves. The piano bench is holding more. The front room is being used to hold the over flow of produce as it is the coolest place in the house directly under the ceiling fan as our days continue into the 90's. It is a busy, busy time of year. There is always time to stop and look at the giant sunflowers and then gather more from the garden. Plum syrup, canned pears, spiced peaches, garden salsa, ruby red corn relish, green beans, apple pie filling and spaghetti sauce to name a few of the recent preserves. The dehydrator is running constantly and the cutting boards are never empty and there are plenty of zucchini waiting to be shredded! So much abundance that will see us through the late fall, winter and spring and we feel the blessings with each ripening cucumber! What is happening with your harvest canning?

Blackberry Peach Baked Oatmeal

With blackberries and peaches in abundance, there is no better combination for Baked Oatmeal! You really can't go wrong with Baked Oatmeal. It is a very easy make ahead meal. It is good right out of the oven or the next day eaten cold. Give it a try!

Pick the blackberries and peaches first. Gather the eggs from the barn. Butter the bottom of a pan and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Now you are ready to get started mixing and baking.

Blackberry Peach Baked Oatmeal 3 Cups thick cut oatmeal (we use Bob's Red Mill or Irish Oats) 4 Eggs 2 Cups milk, coconut milk, water or a combination of all 1-1 1/2 Cups of sugar depending on how sweet you want it 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder 4 peaches pealed and diced Mix all ingredients above. Pour into well buttered 11 x 15 inch pan. Add a Tablespoon of sugar to 1 generous cup of Blackberries. Gently pour blackberries on top of Oatmeal mixture. Bake at 400' for 45 - 60 minutes. Enjoy!

Turkeys and Chickens

We are raising some poultry for meat. We have 8 turkeys that are three and a half months old. They are Chocolate Turkeys and Bourbon Red Turkeys. Both are heritage breeds and growing very well! The Chocolate Turkeys have mostly brown bodies. The older corn on the cob is a big hit these days. Another favorite is cantaloupe and half the fun is eating them from the outside in and finding the seeds in middle always calls for a turkey whistle!

The chickens we are raising for meat and eggs are New Hampshire Reds. They are also an older breed and very pretty birds. These pullets are 5 months old and ready for the next phase of contributing to the farm shares! The chickens have had free range on over an acre of pasture grass, plus daily grain rations and some leftovers from the vegetable garden. Don't worry, the smoke in the background is lightening up and we have clearer days now! Thank you firefighters, everyday!

Fourteen Wonderful Years!

Bailey Creek Falls 1999!

Chicago White Sox Park 2013

~Happy Anniversary and Happy Days~