I can't grow 'em this cheap!

ORGANIC, FREE RANGE CHICKEN...LOTS of chicken!

Oh, how I dreaded going grocery shopping today.
Friday.
Holiday weekend just beginning.
Crowded stores.
Until I saw THESE!!!!
Smart Chicken....reduced to 50% off!
12 packages of it!
I got 1 package of thighs, 3 whole chickens, and 8 packages of tenders.

ALL at 50% off!!!!!

But wait!
There's more!

They had coupons!
Coupons for $1.00 off any package of Smart Chicken!
And they had 12 coupons!
So.....
for a grand total of $49.00, I got $110.00 worth of chicken!
Hot diggity dog!

And, speaking of hot dogs!
One of our local grocers here (Meijer) now carries organic, grass-fed, uncured HOT DOGS!
No more crappity-crap, feel guilty when I eat 'em, Oscar Meyer.
Kind of pricey, at $5.99 a package.
BUT...they were on sale for $4.99
AND.... Get this!
At the check-out, after paying for my hot dogs, out spits a $1.00 coupon off my NEXT purchase of these!
So, for $3.99, which is what the crappity-crap hot dogs usually run, I get some primo dogs!

Fire up the grill, Farmboy!
They'll be some fine eating tonight!

Have a MOST blessed holiday weekend.

xoxo,
Cindy

Who will be thinking of her own parents and father in law this holiday weekend, all of whom served our country in the army.

UNMENTIONABLES!

Sam's boxers, along with socks, shorts, and whatever else was laying on the basement floor!

I did a mess of laundry the past couple of days, taking full advantage of the HOTTER than average temps.
It has been in the upper 80's to over 90 for a few days, so the clothes are dry in less than an hour.
Sheets were the 1st thing up this morning, and I know I will sleep sweet tonight!

My vintage laundry cart, bought about 8 years ago for just a few bucks.
I love it!
No bending down to get the wet clothes, just plunk your basket in the cart and wheel it wherever you need.

Pool's open!

Tho the water temp is hovering around 70, it doesn't stop these crazy boys!
Not me!
It has to be over 80 before I get in.
Won't be long though.
We have some excellent weather forecast for the next week!

Even Krystal, our 3rd daughter, went in this afternoon!
31 weeks pregnant, but still looking for that tan!

I think it's here.
Though the calender still says it's spring, the weather is definitely summer-like.
And that is fine by me!

Have a most blessed week!

xoxo,
Cindy

Oh, yeah! That's my baby!

Grandbaby Trena Constance

Pretty much counting the days till our daughter Giselle and her husband Jon and our dearest granddaughter comes for a visit.
July 20, if everything goes as planned.

She LOVES her books!

Trena
Will you just LOOK at that face?

We haven't seen them since Christmas, and she's grown so much!
All you grandmas and memere's out there know the feeling....
just waiting to get my hands on her!
We've got Skype, and we've got free minutes on our cell phones, but it's just not the same.

And some good news!
Trena will have a new baby brother or sister by the end of the year!
Whoo Hoo!

Big Red

Just a random photo of our rooster.
So far he's pretty tame, and pretty much scurries away if I get too close.
I think he's heard rumors of the last 2 roosters demises.
Soup.

Have a most blessed weekend!

xoxo,
Cindy

This is for the birds!

Hummingbird feeder

It's that time of year again, and so all 3 feeders got a good scrubbing and filled with sweet hummer nectar.
Last year our 1st hummer siting was May 6, so it shouldn't be long now.
They're just about the cutest things ever to come to the gardens.


Barn Swallow

These guys are just about as cute, but watch out!
They are VERY territorial and will come swooping down near your head if you are anywhere near their nest!
I have to be very careful working in the courtyard gardens...
they have come too close for comfort.
They are also thieves, and nearly every year they take over the bluebirds nesting boxes.

Sourdough starter

Started a new batch of sourdough, but I am so impatient, I hate waiting for the 8 days.
I want it NOW!
Here's the link to where I found this particular recipe:
Keeping the Home

Sourdough starter on counter

Basically all sourdough starter is is flour and water.
Mixed in pretty much equal proportions and left covered on the counter.
Every day you are adding more flour/water and stirring.
Around day 7 or 8 it is ready to use.
Typically you use a cup or so of starter per loaf, and when you take starter out, you simply replace it with the same amount of flour/water.

Vintage cracker container

This weekend I made whole wheat crackers using the recipe from
Food in Jars
I love this recipe...so easy and so good for you!
This time I changed the recipe up just a bit and used 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1 cup of whole wheat pastry flour.
There are some breads that I feel need a bit of white flour for texture and lightness, but crackers are just as good using the whole wheat flour.

Oh, farm boy!
Fetch me a drink of water!
(anyone else a fan of "The Princess Bride"?)

I worked in the vegetable garden this weekend, planting 2 rows of potatoes, beets, broccoli raab, and some lettuces.
So much more to do, but I have to do it in fits and spurts.
The weather is cooperating so I have been trying to get out for at least a couple of hours a day.
After 2 hours tho, I'm pretty much good for nothin'.
By the end of the week it should be near 80!
THAT'S what I'm talkin' 'bout!

xoxo,
Cindy

Thunder & Lightning & Rain, Oh My!

Wet, wet, wet.
Soaking wet.
Scared to go out in the lightning, wet.
Chickens will be glad to stay in their coop, wet.
Doofus dog will hold "it" all day, wet.
Hubby is home from work, wet.
Flood Watch, wet.

So much for getting the gardens started!
We have rain and storms forecast all day, so instead of planting lettuce, radishes, peas and potatoes, I will be baking bread and making a pot of soup.
Keeping cozy in the house is my goal!


I love my "Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day" cookbook.
Throw together some yeast, water, salt and flour...let set on the counter for a few hours, then refrigerate till you need a loaf of bread. Tear out a good chunk (the master recipe will make about 4 1# loaves), shape it, let it rise a bit, then bake.
Truly a no knead bread that is sourdough in flavor, and has limitless variety.
Last week I baked a small, elongated loaf, let it cool, sliced it, spread with butter and garlic powder and a bit of good parmesan cheese, then broiled it till brown.
Hungry for Rosemary Bread?
Toss in some fresh, chopped rosemary!
Garlic /Dill more to your liking?
Easy Peasy!
SO good, and SO simple.
A child could do it.
Really.

How is your Thursday shaping up?

xoxo,
Cindy

I'M ONLY ONE WOMAN!!!

Wonder spray

I was running low on my homemade, all-purpose spray cleaner, so a triple batch was in order.

Recipe:
2 TBL white vinegar
1 teas. borax
16 oz. HOT water
Put above in spray bottle, shake till borax is dissolved.
Add 1/4 cup dish soap.
That's it!
I use this stuff EVERYWHERE!

Orange Roughy, wild caught

Defrosted 3 large fillets for supper tonight.
Mmmmm...

Tabouli

Perfect side for the fish, and SO easy to throw together.
I nearly always have seedless cukes, green onions, and tomatoes so I only had to get some fresh parsley.
Won't be long before the garden has enough to pick.

Fresh, raw, cabbage/apple slaw!

I saw Michelle, from She Looketh Well, put together this slaw yesterday via a video on her blog, and knew I would want to try it.
She could hardly keep her kids out of it, they love it so much!
Check it out and see why!
This stuff is addicting.
I kid you not...I was just like her kids!
Digging in forkful after forkful, I am now glad I used a whole head or red cabbage.
SO good!
This will also be on the plates tonight along with the fish and tabouli.
LOTS of color next to a piece of white fish, eh?

Pete and Sam, finishing up the garden fencing

I am SO late in getting in my lettuce, carrots, peas, etc, as we were waiting for time to put the fencing up around the garden beds.
Finally!
And today it rained.
All day.

Seed potatoes

So....while it rained I got my seed potatoes chitted (cut) and will let them dry (heal) for at least 24 hours before planting.
I think this will not be enough, so some time this week I will head to the farm market for another pound or two.
Growing potatoes is very rewarding!
Plant that piece of potato, but reap 4-6 potatoes by late summer.
So rewarding!

I am only one woman...
an "older" woman...

I can't do it all, but I do what I can.

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

How busy has YOUR spring been?

xoxo,
Cindy

GOT MILK???

Farm fresh, raw milk... cream on the top!


I DO!

Yesterday my friend Dar and I drove 1 hour north to go to the Trufant Flea Market, which just happens to be just a few miles down the road from our dearest friend Angie, from Maple Valley Farms.
The plan was to meet Ang at the flea market, walk around, then head back to her place.

Angie, Dar, and me at a cafe in Trufant

But before heading back to her farm...some down time at a tiny cafe where we gabbed for nearly 2 hours. We talk on the phone fairly regular, but we don't get to see each other face-to-face very often, so we took advantage of our precious time together.

Raw milk setting to gather the cream

She told me to bring a couple of glass jars and she would give me a couple gallons of fresh milk from their jersey girl.

What an awesome gift!
Thanks again, Angie!

1/2 gallon, nearly gone after just a couple hours at home


This has strengthened my resolve to get our very own cow share for raw milk as soon as possible.

SO GOOD!

LOVED our 1st visit to Trufant

Trufant Flea Market is kind of a quaint, old fashioned flea market. Held every Thursday from April thru November, we try to get up there at least a couple of times during the season. Lots of junk, but plenty of goodies to be found also.
In the summer, in addition to the regular stalls of flea markety stuff, there will be lots of fresh home grown fruits and veggies, but this early in the season it was just flowers, hanging baskets, and potted perennials.
Several Amish families selling their home baked goodies, canned jams and pickles were there, and we typically find them chatty and very friendly.
Tho don't expect that just cause they are Amish that they sell healthy versions of baked goods.
Nope!
Plenty of white flour and sugar at their stall!

Lots of flowers and perennials

After the cafe visit, we headed back to the farm for a first hand peek at the cottage they have available for rent.
Dar is already making plans to take one of her granddaughters up there for a couple of nights this summer.

Then....next door to Angie's farm where we spent some time looking over the decorating she's been doing.
LOTS of painting and spring-sprucing has been done and it is ever so lovely.
I want that kitchen!
So huge, with awesome free standing cupboards and new handmade curtains hanging over the doorless cabinets.
The girls bedrooms were especially pretty with their Shabby Chic bedding and freshly painted floors.
And A's little bedroom nook was so dang cute!
Perfect for a young woman of 16!

Before you know it the time had gotten away from us, and we had to get home to our own families.

We had SO much fun, it won't be long before we will be up there again.

xoxo,
Cindy

OPENING DAY AT THE MARKET!

Fulton Farmers Market Entrance

In spite of rain lingering well into the mid-morning hours, the crowd at the market was huge!

Fair Trade Coffee

Fair trade or not, I am NOT spending $1.75 for a cup of coffee!!!

Frizzy Farmgirl

SEE what the damp weather does to my hair???
YIKES!
(I have GOT to stop scowling like this!)

An abundance of flowers and veggies, all ready to pop into the ground.

Jen came armed with her camera also!

The bread guy!

Their "Salt and Pepper" bread is SO good!

"MY" CSA, Trilliuim Haven, is at the market every Saturday.

This week Anja and Michael are selling organic veggies to be planted in your very own garden!
LOTS of ideas up her sleeve for this coming season, some of which include moi!
I will be giving demos at the farm every couple of weeks, using the current weeks offerings.
Also, some classes geared especially to new members, many of whom don't know what to do with some of the more unusual veggies.
One of the first things to learn is how to get that weeks veggies to fit in the fridge!
Prep. Prep. Prep.
It's the key.
As soon as you get home with your bags.... clean, dry, and chop.
Place in appropriate containers and toss the scraps to the chickens.
Oh wait! That's what "I" do!!!!

The "lamb" stall.

Well, lamb isn't all they sell, but it was all I was interested in!
I had made a Lamb Korma with some of their ground lamb I had tucked away in the freezer this winter and wanted to get another pound of it.
Lamb Korma...it's what's for supper this week!

My May Day farm purchases

My 1# of lamb and 2# of homegrown rhubarb.
The rhubarb went into the BEST Rhubarb Crisp ever!

I had a most wonderful time on Saturday, and can't wait to go back.
Once the growing season gets in full swing, there isn't much extra time for fun days like this.
Enjoy it while you can!

xoxo,
Cindy