FRIDAY AT THE FARMETTE

SCARECRONIE
I actually had to re-dress her this spring, as her old dress was a bit tattered and torn from the long winter.

My favorite spot on the front porch,... my"white wicker wocker". (I've got a matched pair!!!) You can nearly always find me here in the early morning hours with my cup of coffee, my Bible, and the birds. After working in the gardens, you can usually find me here with a glass of wine!

Albie Darn I'm a Rooster with Ladyhawk and Lucy, going berserk over the cleaned out perennial beds.

My afternoon treat...lemon/strawberry ice water and the latest issue of Cottage Living. And my lip balm....I have them everywhere! A few more weeks and a pretty vase of posies will also be there. This is the table I have alongside the wocking chair on the front porch.
Wish YOU were here!

Hors D'oeuvres For One

Technically, hors d'oeuvres means "outrside the menu".
It should be something to tide you over for a bit, until your main meal can be served.
For a child it could mean a few crackers with peanut butter, or a small chunk of cheddar.
For a grown up, it could mean these wonderful slices of vine ripened tomatoes, schmeared with a bit of goats cheese, and topped with just a touch of garlic scape pesto. Some fresh cracked pepper tops it all, and you have an hors d'oeuvre even a child would love!

This was MY "outside the menu" treat today!

What'sYOUR favorite pre-dinner snack?

FIRST FRUITS

ROASTED ASPARAGUS!

OK...they are not Michigans first fruits, but...I'm thinkin' they are California's first fruits!
I just cut them in half, place them in a shallow cookie sheet, toss with a bit of extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and fresh ground pepper, and roast till tender but still a wee bit crunchy.
These only took maybe 20 minutes as they were skinny stalks.

Accompanying the asparagus was teriyaki marinated chicken breasts grilled over mesquite coals. (in the garage, as it's still too cold to have the grill out in the wind!)
Can anybody say "light and healthy"?

What's on your menu as spring is sprung?

SO LONG WINTER, HELLO SPRING!

LAST WEEK

TODAY

Can anybody say "SPRING?"!!!!

I can't fool you, tho. It is a balmy 34 degrees, so it's not as if I am getting a tan out there! But it most definitely is breezy and sunny enough to dry all my bedding in less than an hour!
Let's hear it for "line- dried" anything!

Oh baby! I am going to sleep well tonight!

BISQUICK BAKING MIX DAY!

My blogging friend, Mimi, over at frenchkitcheninamerica, has put out a call for Bisquick recipes. I have had this particular recipe for years, but rarely made it as "Bisquick" and "heart healthy" have not been synonomous.
Until now.
Bisquick has come up with a Heart Smart alternative, and it is every bit as tasty as their original! Pancakes, shortcake, Impossible Pie...all can be eaten with a clear conscience!
In moderation, of course!
Yes, I use Bisquick.
No, I am not a food snob.
Cause "Bisquick" and "food snob" are definitely NOT synonomous!!!

RED LOBSTER CHEESY GARLIC BISCUITS

I'm guessin' Red Lobster does NOT use Bisquick when making their famous "keep-em-comin" biscuits, but this recipe is a close second to the original!

2 Cups Bisquick
2/3 Cup milk (I use 1%)
3/4 Cup shredded cheddar cheese (I use Kraft 2% sharp cheddar)

1/4 Cup (or less) butter, melted
1/2 teas. garlic powder

Combine Bisquick, milk and cheese. Beat vigorously 30 seconds. Drop by heaping Tbl. on ungrreased cookie sheet. Makes about 1 dozen. Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes.

Combine butter and garlic powder. Brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Yum-oh.

SECRET GIFTING

"When you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, that they may have glory from men. I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret; will Himself reward you openly." Matthew 6:2-4

Last week I received in the mail the cookbook, "Patricia Wells at Home in Provence", a gift from one of my blogging friends who chose to give in secret. I am so very touched that someone would go out of their way to bless me with something that was a desire of my heart. Especially poignant at this time in my life, when everything around me seems topsy turvy, and from all outward appearances, things look like they are falling apart. I may never get to say a proper "thank you" to their face, but I am a firm believer in "paying it forward", and will be looking for the opportunity to be doing unto others as has been done unto me.

Thank you. And may theLord bless you, anonymous.

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

I have been missing the past few days, due to some very unfortunate events. My stepdad, pictured here with Farmboy and myself, has been very ill the past couple years, but has been able to live at home by himself because we only live a couple miles from him. Farmboy has been over there 2 & 3 times a day, helping him to get dressed, picking him up off the toilet, cleaning up his "accidents", and taking him out for rides. He has also been falling a lot, and we are the 1st ones called by ADT, to come pick him up. His falls have never been serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital until Tuesday when he cracked his head open and broke a couple vertebrae. That fall has escalated the other problems he has been having and he is now in a short term nursing home with physical therapy capabilities. He will likely never return home. On top of all of this, there has been some very disturbing news concerning who he has put in charge of all his medical and financial decisions. We are praying that the Lord will reveal all of this and somehow get these people out of the picture. If you are praying folk', we sure would appreciate you standing in agreement with us. Meanwhile, I'll be back as often as I can, which will be much easier now that he has been placed in the care of others.
I sure have been missing my blogging family!