29. April 2012 by admin.

This is quite the weather pattern.  It got really warm and now it’s cold again with 6 inches of snow a few days ago.  Apple trees are full of buds, but Joe’s afraid they will get frozen this early in the season.  Maggie loves that she doesn’t have to run around in the snow. I’m making mustard, jams and jelly to sell in the gift shop.  We put peppers and berries in the freezer last year to use up when the greenhouse is not producing.  Our daughter, Tracy, (We call her the Laundry Queen.) has been diagnosed with celiac disease, meaning she has to eat a wheat and gluten-free diet.  I have made it my mission to figure out some good recipes for this kind of diet.  It is not an easy one to follow, but she is doing it very well.  I would not be so good, I’m afraid.  God has been very good to us and we are busy.   We should have strawberries by the end of May. Hope some of you can get out to see us this summer, walk through the gardens and smell the herbs.  Come by and we’ll give you taste of the good life, some berries, tomatoes and some gluten-free cookies.   Regular cookies, too!

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24. January 2010 by admin.

And Joe didn’t get to visit the hardware store to get it.  That’s amazing!  On Monday I had to have a pacemaker put in to help my heart beat a little faster and more regularly.  There’s nothing wrong with my heart, it’s just the electrical system that’s messed up.  Now that we’ve got that taken care of someone will have to beat my heart to death with a stick when I’m about 91.   I’m waiting for the last guest to come in, so thought I’d just spend the time well and update the blog.    Lovely day today, but cold.  The chickens loved their time outside in the sunshine.    For all the astronomers, you surely missed a gorgeous sky last night.  Clear as the proverbial bell and stars everywhere!

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17. January 2010 by admin.

In Joe’s mind it’s already spring!   He has gathered large stacks of seed catalogs on the table and is panicked because I haven’t placed the orders yet.  I, on the other hand, see no need to rush.  I look out the window and see the greenhouse covered with snow.  He looks out and sees strawberries and tomatoes.  I think that’s called optimism.

The chickens loved the sunshine we’ve had and they’ve been cranking out eggs to beat the band!  Big ones!  Some are as big as duck eggs.  I don’t think you can beat Rhode Island Reds for laying hens.

Anyway, here’s a good way to use up eggs and enjoy what my dad always called, ”hen fruit”.

Baked Eggs

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, spray an oven proof 10 inch saute pan very well with Pam.  Cover the handle with a double layer of foil if the handle isn’t metal.  Crack 8 eggs into the container of a blender.  Add about a 1/4 cup of water, a 1/2 cup of ricotta or cottage cheese,  2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of dried garlic  and some black pepper, to taste.  Blend very well. Put about 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese and a cup of cubed ham over the bottom of the pan and pour the eggs over, sprinkle the top with dried chives and bake until the eggs are puffed and no longer runny  in the middle.  Loosen the sides and slide out onto a serving plate.   Wonderful with a side of homefries and a basket of blueberry muffins!

Enjoy your family and get your garden seeds ordered!

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3. January 2010 by admin.

Wow, it’s cold and  snowing, but the snow isn’t staying here.  It’s going straight  by the window.  Joe has been up and down the driveway several times on the tractor, but snow keeps drifting in.  I’m sitting inside enjoying a piece of Joe’s cinnamon coffeecake that he made for breakfast and a cup of tea.We are supposed to have snow showers for several days, so the snowmobiles should have good sledding soon.  We had some guests who were riding this week, but they said the trails were bumpy, but with more snow they will be improving.Joe has all the birdfeeders filled and the birds are everywhere!  We’ll go broke between feeding the birds and the deer.  Pretty bad when the grocery bill for Joe, Tracy and I is less than the bill for the birds and deer !

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