Kitchen Re-do

I was thinking I had already posted pictures of the kitchen after re-painting and re-doing hardware, etc. this summer, but after looking back, there was just talk.....So here ya go.....TA DA!  We're really enjoying the "new do".  I like things neutral with a punch of color.  Thanks to my girls gifting me some cute Anthropologie finds....it's perfect!  Well almost.....it would be, if the girls were here making a cup of tea with me.

Whole Lotta Hootenanny

Fall rains have entered on the scene.  Breakfasts of oatmeal, or bacon and puff pancakes ie. dutch babies ie. hootenannies, have been cozy morning treats. Served with strawberry freezer jam, with syrup, or plain, we love them.  This morning's hootenanny was topped with a spoon of home-canned apple pie filling, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of maple syrup.  The Little Farmgirl was sick last night, and didn't eat much dinner.  She totally made up for it this morning!

September

Jen's garden was awesome, so she blessed me with lots of yummy tomatoes to can.  They yielded 8 jars of tomato juice, 11 jars of picante salsa, 12 jars of tomato sauce, and 11 jars of burgundy spaghetti sauce.  The weather cooled down some, and there were some pretty sunrises.  The highlight of the month definitely was Women's Retreat.  A communion service, I will never forget. The sweet presence of the Lord was with us all weekend.  Good food, and special ladies to fellowship with, and I loved the yurt!  Can't wait for next year!

A Full Plate

I'm sure we have had busier summers....but this one has seemed like a whirlwind.  In addition to projects, and chores, the months were filled with new mown fields, flowers, friends, family, and food.   Twilight Summer suppers.  Light lunches, of canteloupe, and blueberries. Afternoon breaks of black currant (and peach...and earl grey....,) iced teas.   Breakfasts of vanilla Greek yogurt, Kashi Lean Crunch, and fresh picked blueberries.  Desserts of a delicious, fresh Plum tart, or warm Blackberry cobbler with Vanilla Bean ice-cream.  A tooth-i-less grin on a giggly girlie, Beauty and the Beast, and a very special Birthday Boy.  Henny "Virginia" trying to get in on family pictures with Visitors, from across the country.  Cozy breakfasts including  buttermilk biscuits, complete with berry jams (freezer strawberry, and freezer raspberry.) Summer....short ......and....sweet.

Cleaning the Chicken House

The chickens flew the coop!!  There was too much action going on, and it was 100 degrees out.  They headed down into the pasture, to the shade of the old oak tree.  Baby girl sat in her jogging stroller and supervised, (and tried nodding off), while everyone helped clean the chicken house. Big Sister and Papa cleaned out all of the nasty "freaky" cobwebs.....no pictures of that part....I was inside then, tending baby's needs and making fruit smoothies for lunch.  The Little Farmgirl raked shavings, vacuumed out the nesting boxes and made fresh little nesties of clean straw.  She helped wash windows to let the pretty sunshine in....*note to self: The old ratty things,  need scraped, and re-glazed, before winter.  The waterers were refilled, and the fan was running.... The little chicky ladies came back in to check out their clean digs.  Two of them, started right away, putting the fresh nests to use.  Earlier, Victoria had patiently watched one lay an egg.  Our cleaning day sort of had them in a bit of a tizzy....The Little Farmgirl and I watched one leaving the henhouse in a hurry with an egg rolling out behind her! 

Mr. Potato  Head, my Dad........  Every summer, he has a potato patch and corn patch, that he coddles and pampers.  It is so worth it! They turn out great. He dug these up minutes before we were leaving, and sent them home with us.  They were sooooooooo good.  Cut up, tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper with onions, and roasted 40 minutes at 375.  Yummmm-yyyy!