Friday 24 October 2014

Anticipation and leaves

My oldest said the other day that she can't wait for winter to come so she can play in the snow and for how pretty it is and how cozy it gets inside.  This astounded me because last year anytime we tried to get her out of the house she said it was "too cold."  But I do understand the anticipation of winter.  The wearing of mittens, scarfs and hats this time of year.  Cozying up next to the fireplace.  Being snuggley warm in layers of clothing while outside in the howling wind.  I remember last winter quite clearly.  Early morning leaving for work in the dark and evenings coming home in the dark too.  That I'm not looking forward too.  But pretty?  Yes.  Pretty.
Before it was pretty it was pretty too.  All the colorful leaves, yes they are pretty.  When you have a property in the country though?  Leaves = work.  Lots of work.  And exercise - almost win win.
Have a nice weekend everyone, I think I know what I'll be doing.  

Thursday 23 October 2014

In my kitchen

Linking up with Heather from http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/





Pasta with sausage, kale, onions, mushrooms and peppers.  Covered in melted parm.  

Pork chops on a bed of kale with brussel sprouts, sweet potato, carrot, red potatoes and bacon (not pictured).

Chocolate chip cookies - 7 dozen!

And a guilty pleasure, ramen noodles - but I added kale!  Oh what to do with all the kale we have in the garden.  I hope it freezes well.  

Friday 17 October 2014

Update

October has been a lovely month, especially this week when the temperatures soared to a very lovely 18-22 degrees during the day and above 10 overnight.  As usual we have been busy with visitors and cooking meals.  For thanksgiving I had 12 people over and it was a fun afternoon with family.  The turkey was gorgeous and ready on time and I managed to time it so the veggies were ready when the turkey was ready to carve.  Don't you just love when that happens?  We had roasted acorn squash with Parmesan, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, roasted carrots, gravy, cranberries and stuffing.  A very delicious meal that I didn't get one single picture of.  It was a gorgeous Saturday and we spent most of it outdoors.
This was Saturday.  
 A doe and her calf(?) in the fields behind our house.

I've had the absolute pleasure of working from home quite a bit the last couple of weeks.  More time at home is a blessing for me.  When I do have to be in the office it's a 12 hour day away from this wonderful place.  Not to mention that my husband and I get a lot more time to talk and I get more time with my girls.  We have lots to do and are getting ready and making our plans for the winter like the other farm blogs I read.  Fixing this fence, adjusting that gate, getting the hoses put away, servicing the vehicles, fixing holes in the barn, cleaning out the eaves and worming the horses.  This year we are putting up a snow fence next to the driveway so we don't get snow drifts from the fields like we did last year.  The barn is full of hay and straw.  In the next month we'll load up on cedar shavings, horse and chicken food, candles, gas for the generator and chainsaw and buy new winter boots for everyone.  Winter in Canada is no joke...and last winter was the worst in 20 years.  There were ice quakes that sounded like a car had run into the side of our house.  Ok no more talk about winter, it will be here soon enough.

Let's talk about food again!  Having the extra time at home for me means good meals and time for baked goods.  This week I made squash soup with sage, turkey soup with kale, spaghetti sauce, orange rolls, peanut butter cookies, pork roasts and an entire turkey dinner!  I only have some pics below...the orange rolls - YUM.  I got the recipe from Pinterest.

I realise this post is a bit all over the place.  I created it over a few days and I had so many pictures I wanted to share.  Have a lovely weekend.  

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Fall at the Farm

We are enjoying our second fall at the farm tremendously.  Especially now that we have the added benefit of using our own home grown food.  Last fall and winter you may remember me lamenting about not having a growing season to save up stores in our larder.  Well our first garden year wasn't all we expected it would be.  I didn't plant early enough or heartily enough and therefore our biggest success has been the squash.  We ended up with a volunteer spaghetti squash plant, a very hearty acorn squash plant, a shy butternut squash plant (only 3 so far), an overshadowed zucchini plant, a lost - then found - then mowed over cucumber plant...and one that did survive.  Not nearly enough green beans, no carrots (what was I thinking??), not nearly enough beets or onions.  The kale was abundant and the celery is still growing and we had 5 pumpkins grow that we didn't even plant.  The raspberry bushes have been very generous.  We are already talking about our garden next year and what we will change and add.


As usual I've been doing a lot of cooking and bread making.  The focaccia bread I made I would not recommend - was tasty fresh out of the oven but hard as a rock an hour later.  I've made butternut squash soup and roasted squash and cakes that were eaten so fast I forgot to get a picture.  

We worked really hard this last weekend to get the barn ready for winter...major clean up, chicken coop scrubbed, hay re-stacked, straw swept up.

It's been drizzly and dark and I am actually looking forward to winter and the snugness it brings.  But first we have Thanksgiving - which is this weekend for us - and one more bon fire I hope... at least.