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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

Balance

I was inspired to write about this topic after reading the comments on one of my favorite blogs - soulemama.  Folks were asking her how she "does it all" and does it well...and does so much.  I have to admit, I've often wondered that about Amanda but I find it inspiring, not discouraging which is what I think was happening for a few others.  We have to look at all she does objectively I think.  Of course you are only going to see the beauty and perfection of her days, her life is her business.  I only have 2 kids and everyday is a balance of need, want and necessity.  I need to make lunches, go grocery shopping, work and eat.  I have to feed the animals.  I want to shower and shop and the weather doesn't always cooperate with the work that needs to get done at the farm.  But it is always fun.  And even if you are bone tired and un-showered the rest of the day - it's worth it.  So after working from home today I helped cover a neighbors pool with a leaf guard, moved the horses over to our pasture, made and ate dinner, pulled out my dying tomato plants and sun flowers, loaded hay into the back of the truck and brought it down to the garden to cover the strawberries, fed the chickens and collected the eggs, did dishes, collected the blankets off the line, showered the kids, filled out forms for school, put the kids to bed and then sat down to write this post on my iphone before bed.  Usually (always?) we have dirty dishes next to the sink and the laundry is never completely done.  TV?  Nope.  Up at 5:30 am to start again.  If this farm has taught me anything it's how to make the most of your time and energy.  Which is why I get how Amanda does it.  It's not easy but if you like a good, honest day of work - it is a good life.

Page views and followers

Hello to everyone who took a look at my blog in the last 24 hours...a record number for me.  I'm fairly new to this space, deciding to start a blog after moving to a farm last fall.  I love it here.  It's my dream to be surrounded by trees and stars with the added perk of boarding horses in the winter.  I'm learning all the time and it's hard work!  I follow Jenna at Cold Antler Farm and Soulemama and get my inspiration from them.  Since I'm just figuring out this blogging thing and making time for it when I can, I appreciate that people are taking the time to read it and comment on it...that makes me feel good.  So welcome to my little piece of the internet.  Please feel free to follow me, apparently having followers is a good thing.

In my kitchen

A bit more canning - this time spicy green beans.  Up next when I can find the time - carrots!  My "work from home lunch" of spinach, zucchini (from my garden), mushrooms and lots of ranch dressing.  Fresh baked bread is a staple around here every week.  I found a simple recipe for butter tarts that worked out well.....they lasted 2 days in my house.  And a little obsession I had for a week when my friend brought me fresh grape tomatoes and basil...add feta and voila a nice light snack.  This week I'm making focaccia bread for the first time.