Zucchini Bread on a crazy day....

Hi everyone!!  It is Monday yet again...we are joining in with Tonya at Plain and Joyful Living, for the Handmade Holiday

-AND (!!!)-

with Emily at The Nest for Craft♥Advent.

So, the weekend started really great - visits to family and friends, creative time with the kiddos....come Sunday afternoon, it got downright crazy.

It all started just as we got the cookbook out...

And consulted our favorite recipe for Zucchini Bread....

Last summer for a bumper crop of Zucchini, so plenty ended up shredded and put up for the winter. 

And on Sunday, into the microwave it went to defrost for Zucchini Bread....a recipe from Ms. Crocker that is soooo good, even my kids will eat it!!

However, just as the microwave finished however, it came to my attention that there was a growing puddle of water under the fridge....and then after a dash to the bathroom, we saw that that floor was soaked....and then after flinging ourselves at high speeds down to the basement, we found that it was raining.

Raining!

So, long story very short....the washer malfunctioned, hence soaking a good portion of my house, which in turn allowed for the zucchini to finish defrosting...Glass half full, right? ;)

And after 3 additional hours, all was mixed up and into the oven it went!

All ready for holiday gifting!

For more organized and less crazy holiday crafting and fun, head on over to Tonya's site, Plain and Joyful Living and Emily's at The Nest for Craft♥Advent.

I will see you there!

    

Preparing for tomorrow...

Friday evening has arrived, and it seems as though the work has just begun.  The start to our holiday gifting season hits "GO" tomorrow.  And this fact is made very obvious by the current state of my house.

I arrived home, groceries in hand, only to toss the frozen pizzas to my eagering awaiting husband, so he could begin our "dinner".  Then once any other warm bodies had cleaned out of the kitchen, I was up and moving.  Pizza out, cookies in, quiche in, cookies out, more quiche in...frankly, at this point, I just hope I got the temperatures right....  it all looks OK....I guess...;)

But either way, it is all in process...

But right now, as dishes are covering the counter and cookies are once again in the oven, I am taking a break.  I have three crochet projects in the wings and a cat guarding them all ;) 

And yes, that is the orange soon-to-be blanket of my son...and it is looking like a grannie square...but, someday, it will grow up to be a real blanket!

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to the weekend... :)

Craft♥Advent - a more traditional take on shortbread...

Happy Friday everyone!  We are joining in with Emily at The Nest for Craft♥Advent today :)

And...we are taking another go around with the shortbread cookies....  The last ones we tried were fun, but really, REALLY crumbly....and since many broke before they were packaged up, more needed the be made.

So, today, we are going for a more traditional, solid shortbread cookie.  And once again, ingreadients are simple: butter (a whole pound!!), cup of brown sugar, and nearly four cups of flour...

Once again, the handy mixer has been pulled from the sidelines and into action.

A big hunk of dough is mixed up and set out for shaping.

Dough is rolled out until about 1/2 inch think, then cut into squares (I used our circular pizza cutter), and then poked with a fork to get the dominoe-like dots....

In to the oven at 325 degrees F, for about 20 minutes

Cookies are then set on a rack to cool.

And then packaged up for the coming weekend of early gifting.

For other adventures in Craft♥Advent, check out Emily's site at The Nest!

Happy crafting everyone!!

A Handmade Holiday & Craft♥Advent - with fabulous pairing!

Hi everyone!!  It is Monday yet again...but I am excited to be joining in with Tonya at Plain and Joyful Living, for the Handmade Holiday

-AND (!!!)-

with Emily at The Nest for Craft♥Advent - Day 5!

Each year, we gift a bundle of goodies to our families to be enjoyed with the holidays.  And since the celebrations are nearly upon us...Sunday was all about these edible creations :)

One of my favorite goodies to make are some of the most simple.  And...you can never go wrong with chocolate and pretzels - a most fabulous pairing!

To start, I set up a mock double boiler out of a sauce pan, a Pyrex measuring cup, and a canning ring for which the glass to stand upon.  Don't want to burn that chocolate!!

After a few minutes, the chocolate was melted and had taken on a glossy sheen.

And then, it was time to bring in the salty friends!!

The key to this fun is to keep the chocolate warm.  Don't boil and don't cool...just a nice even kneel.

Then, it is all about the dip and twist :)

I don't know about you...but they look delicious to me!

The pretzel twists get a different treatment....a recipe for a delicious bite of fun that I learned from of a friend this past summer.

First, a generous dollap of chocolate goes into the center of each...

And then...we add the M&M's

Then...the only step left to do is to bag them up!  And, of course, hope my little ones don't find and eat them all up!!  :)

For more fun, head on over to Tonya's site, Plain and Joyful Living and Emily's at The Nest for Craft♥Advent.

I will see you there!

    

A family day....

The day started late, and is still going at full steam.....

That is said with the understanding that late is 6:15am.  Which is really late for this family....

Saturday is the day that I give myself off from the office work.  I don't get up early to dial in, and I don't stay up late working the spreadsheets.  Saturday is all about home and family.

So, it made sense to sleep in...and be woken by the cuddly kiddos.  While the husband escaped downstairs to start the coffee, I stayed put and rejoiced in the moment....until the fighting began...

The fighting aways amazed me...they just got up - what is there to fight about?  And how do they have the energy to fight first thing in the morning?  I can scarcely open my eyes without coffee, much less engage in a heated debate over who has more room in the bed, who got up first, and who gets claim on the blue cup....

But either way, the morning had begun.  I escaped the room, and headed out to the feathered ladies.  Frost had fallen, and lay on grass in a multitude of beautiful crystals.  I was very thankful that I took the time yesterday evening to harvest many of the pumpkins so that they could hide in the safety of the garage.  Frost on pumpkin skin weakens and lead to early rot...something we learned last year and were not anxious to experience again.  And the frost, albit beautiful, made certain the knowledge that the sweet potatoes would need to harvested.

Once the ladies were dealt with and freed for a day of free ranging, it was back in for the breakfast and cleaning segments of the day.  While anxious to get out to the garden, those duties could not be escaped....and the harvest would come soon enough....

And come it did, with a fierce hardiness.....we had planted the sweet potato slips in previously unbroken ground, which made freeing them that much more difficult.  Add this to the fact this was the first time for us with that crop, and I was just pleased to have any harvest.  The bounty filled one small reuseable grocery bag, and I felt satisfied.  These would have to rest in the warmth and sun to help the skins to cure, much like the pumpkins and the winter squash.  At the moment, they are all resting together in the tractor wagon, which will be hidden away from the frost each night, and dragged back out to the sun each morning....

And seeing that frost had fallen this early in September, we have come to terms with the fact our time on the land this fall may be limited.  Therefore, every moment that we can travel cross town to work on our soon-to-be camp site needs to be take advantage of.  And so, we did....for many hours, to the chagrin of our children.  They were nicely self entertained for a good hour, building forts from fallen pine branches, and trying to make a teeter-totter from a dropped tree...but soon became a bit on the bored side....and were happy when we tired as well and decided it was time to head out. 

We had wanted to travel into town afterwards for some grocery shopping, but, honestly, we were so tired and so filthy from the work.  Instead, we traveled to the local small store to get the supplies that we needed for dinner....the big store could wait for another day.

And now, we are here.  I have water simmering for spaghetti, and meatballs are browning.  It would be a hardy, family dinner together - something that doesn't happen nearly as often as it should.

So, we will enjoy this moment, and rest up for another day.  For, tomorrow will be another one, chock full of work to do, fun to have, and family time to spend. 

We hope everyone is having a joyful Saturday as well...

A long day....and a long, long night....

Holy flip~  I am so exhausted this morning....I simply can't get out of my own way.

Yesterday was a bonus day....a rainy day....a prime day to get things done around the house.

And we succeeded!  We cooked and cleaned, scrubbed and canned, crocheted and organized.  We filled every moment to the max, and at the end, I was completely empty.  Not another iota of energy left to be expended.

But, as crowning parent achievement, we let our daughter have a friend over for a few hours in the afternoon.  They entertained themselves well, with scarcely a peep to be heard. 

But, unbeknownst to me....they were fully engrossed in the telling of scary stories. 

All seemed fine until about 9 that night.  We were headed to bed, with the plan to rise very early in the morning to get some work done for the office.  And it was right about that time that we learned our daughter really isn't scary story material.

Needless to say....it was a very long night.....

And this may be a very long day....

An exhausting Saturday....

I am so thankful for the holiday weekend.  Without it, I don't know how I would get everything done.  Even sitting here, typing, I am struck by the realization that I should have started the salsa or the chili before resting upon the couch....who knows how long it will take me to get back up....

So, as discussed before, Spike did end up getting to his vet appointment.  In the end, the husband ended up putting him in a Have-A-Heart trap for transportation....seriously.  This is the cat that was less then a pound when he came to us at the way-too-young age of 6 weeks.  He is now ringing in at 17 pounds...and low and behold... now on a kitty diet.  The vet was not quite pleased...

Saturday morning was spent on our other property - cleaning up some downed trees and working on the camp site.  It is really starting to come along.  All of the pictures included on this post were taken at the property.  I think that the majority of the downed trees were from pre-Irene times...but were maybe just knocked around in the wind, to land right where they should not be.

 

Regardless of any of that, it is the natural beauty of the land that is always mind-blowing.  I take pictures, hoping to share that feeling, but it is never the same...  it is like that land that time forgot.

 

While we were there, we dug a few small trees to bring back to the homestead.  This time, it was just two spuce trees and a willow.  On the land, there just isn't enough sun for these small trees to stand a chance...but on the homestead, sunlight is in abundance.  Once daylight breaks in full this morning, I shall venture out to see how the new additions handled the night and give them a good watering.

Once the trees were planted, it was time to get ready for the evening affairs.  We were heading north to the Islands, for a family gathering.  The day was perfect and the lake was beautiful.  The kids had a great time, but...in the end...the heat and the sun won, and I had some overactive cranky kids on hand.  Needless to say, sleep came easy to them last night.

And it is now Sunday.  I have work to do, a house to clean, and lots to cook.  And now that I notice that sun rising on the horizon, I see that I have chickens to let out of the coop.  So, I will bit farewell for a few....and wish you all a wonderful holiday weekend!

Welcome to Friday evening...

I am home.

It should be peaceful.  And it is...kinda of...in a loud kind of way...

The kids are running about in a barely constrainted excitement - the kind that occurs after a full day with the Daddy.  And he is much the same.  They are all excited to go to a local playground after dinner.

Dinner will be interesting.  In an entire garden, we have one head of cauliflower.  It is currently roasting in oven, complete with tomato and garlic, and a bit of dill.  It smells good, if nothing else ;)  It will be pared with some veggies burgers - a nice change from eggs. 

It was a big week.  The husband had a birthday and the son graduated preschool.  The kids had several playdates, and the house was actually cleaned.  And, if that wasn't enough, I even went to work!  And now, I have a head cold....which, I think is entirely unfair.  No one should get a cold in the summer.  It just doesn't make sense!  But that is neither here nor there...

I am very excited for next Friday.  I have reconnected with several of my closest friends from high school, and next Friday, it looks like everyone may be in town and available.  And we are hitting the town!  Not that I really know what that means anymore...what do people do after 8 at night on a Friday?  Personally, that it is time that I finish up the dishes and head upstairs for a hot bath.  And what to people wear out in the evening?  These are questions to tackle...

But, in the meantime, I will finish the dinner prep, and ready for the evening playground romp.  And then try to figure out how to cram more of the garden bounty into the freezer.  And don't forget the laundry....

Tomorrow, I shall hide in the garden! 

Wishing everyone a joyful Friday evening ;)

Off to the fair...

So, I slept in to 4:30 this morning, and am now trying to get things done, complete with kids running circles around the house.  They know that we are heading to the county fair today, and I think that the knowledge has energized them.  I wish such energy was contagious....

This will be a busy, busy day.  I have taken time off from work for a long weekend, and it will be filled to the brim.  We have a weekend of friends and visits planned, and my kitchen is covered with supplies, baked goodies, dishes...etc.... the list goes on and goes.  Shortly, I will convince myself, and my kids, that it is time to change from our sleepwear and find something presentable-ish for the day...  Only "ish" though, because we are heading for land of dirt, animals, and fair food.

This will be my first time at this county fair.  I have been warned that it is very "Ag", and I couldn't be happier!  I think that the warning might have been to discourage me, but it certainly didn't work.  Now I can't wait to meet people and see who is raising/breeding/growing what.  I hope to get some great pictures and learn alot from others who have been moving in the path a whole lot longer than us.

Now, it is time to get a move on!

Enjoy the crazy, busy day y'all!

The harvest is waiting.....

It's Saturday morning.....

The sun is up, but the air is lazy.  The kids are relaxing on the couch, enjoying the quiet time, but I am busy in the kitchen, shredding zucchini and baking muffins.

We have yet another kids party to attend today, and I am working on our "pot luck" dish.  Upon waking, I had no idea what we were going to bring, and I even entertained the idea at stopping at the grocery store on the way....

But that is the laziness speaking....the garden is kicking and the harvest is full.  Zucchini are flying out of the garden at high speeds, and the basil needs to be harvested before it bolts (any ideas of what to do with huge amounts of basil, beside pesto....?  Pine nuts are fiercely pricy these days....).  Chard and kale also need to be harvested and blanched for the freezer.  This is no time to be lazy.

In addition, the edamame is finally getting on its way.  Now that the beetle issue has been dealt with (the best $6.69 I EVER spent!!!), the pods should be filling out and ready to pick soon.  Laziness is just not an option.

So, zucchini has been shredded and mixed with the Feathered Ladies eggs (amongst other ingredients...) for zucchini muffins.  Other masses of shredded zucchini has been sealed in one cup servings for the freezer.  I have even cleaned and set aside zucchini seeds (heritage, not hybrid) for drying and saving for next years garden.

So, while the air is lazy, it is the sun that inspires.  And there is no time to waste.  The harvest is waiting.... :)

Off to the beach....

Ok.  I admit it - we spent more time today off the homestead than on...but it was for a good reason.  Really! 

We were at the beach!

For a birthday party!

Truely great reasons.

My kids, having lived in Vermont all their lives, have never swam in the lake.  I know, I know...that is crazy!  But true....

But upon reaching the waters edge, they were transformed to fishes, and they were off!

Such a fantastic time, with friends all around.  Makes me truely appreciate our wonderful community.  Can't wait to get together and see everyone again.

And, I had the great treat of a chat with an actual farmer (not just a wanna-be like myself).  It was lovely to talk about crops, planting times, and what was blooming, without fear of the other party getting bored of the conversation (I do tend to carry on, and on, and on....). 

During cake time for the little ones, several of us parents gathered around for some chicken talk, trading thoughts and notes.  I am feeling so very jealous of those who do not have the chicken politics that we deal with daily (speaking of which, at least one egg was broken AGAIN today as the Feathered Ladies jockied for the best place to lay their eggs....kind of defeats the purpose of laying eggs to begin with, if you ask me...).  I guess some chickens have more manners than others.....hmmmm...

After the party, we were lucky to carpool with another mother, who has children whos ages mirror our own.  It was lovely to get to know her better - I have a feeling we will be seeing a good amount of each other...those kids appear to be making fast friends!  It is amazing the bonding that two little boys can do over mud and seaweed.

Once we got back home, I was able to shovel out the van, and head to the backyard for some grocery shopping.  On menu was an egg and veggie casserole.  So, in to the bag went the kale, chard, basil, zucchini.... grab some eggs on the way back to the kitchen, and it was time to start cooking.

We might not have been on the homestead much today, but we sure enjoyed the fruits of our labor! 

But now, bed is calling to me.  Time to tuck in the Feathered Ladies and call it a night.

'Night y'all ;)

Hopes of Fall...

So, if we don't count the fact that the kids have been fighting since dawn, or that the laptop was hijacked by a virus this morning, it has been a pretty great day so far.

In the garden expansion project, another raised row has been built up, and then planted with yellow wax beans.  With careful management, and the use of the new shelters I am building, we should get a fall harvest to put up for winter.  It will be close, but possible...  Next up today will be the building of another two structures. 

With those items behind us, the rest of the day will be spent with my little people and in the kitchen.  Since the day is a bit cooler, I am planning to make and raise some pizza dough, and then bake it in advance for dinner.  Sadly, we don't have any sauce, but we should be able to figure something out about this...

Lately, we have been trying very hard to use our backyard as source of our summer meals, and have been finding some success.  The berries have gone into muffins, breads, and have been pressed into homemade juice.  The potato plants have been "robbed" for new potatoes, and onions and basil have been plucked from the ground daily.  Kale and chard are our new leafy greens.  The zucchini is starting to get bigger, so they will be a main vegetable at our table very soon...and when we can no long bear to eat them straight, zucchini bread will be made and shredded zucchini will be hidden in chocolate chip cookies. 

But, for the moment, we will relax on the couch and enjoy the moment.  Having a child perched on my shoulders and one at my elbow as I write this, I am certain this moment of stillness will very short lived...

The backyard as my own personal grocery store....

So, yesterday, the daughter and I had to travel to the dreaded Costco for some bulk buying.  The ultimate goal is to someday create a full service grocery store (minus junk food, processed garbage...you know, all of the food my children know and LOVE), from the back yard, but we are just not there yet.  So, in the meantime, we buy in bulk (eliminating some packaging), try to make from scratch (eliminating ingredients that our bodies neither need nor want - unless you are one of my children, who definitely WANT).

However, after getting home yesterday, there was so much to do in caring for our now 20 furry/feathered friends (guinea pigs are high maintenance!), that nothing was done to get food ready for today!

So, there is much to do this morning in the next hour of time (I know, I know, why am I typing if I have some much to do...working towards inspiration to get my tush out of this chair, I guess...).  And everything must be done before the kids wake!  They have a bit of distrust for homemade goods (in our house, when I am cooking, the fire alarm signals that dinner is ready more often than not...), so this is a covert operation.

Goals between now and 6:15...

• Separate bulk packages of cheese to be frozen separately
• Making yogurt smoothies from milk, greek yogurt, berries, and some maple syrup for sweetening
• Making pancakes for breakfast, and to be frozen for the rest of the week
• Let the chickens out and feed & water them (confirming that no Mystery Predators visited over night)
• Deal with the ever growing pile of dirty laudry (I swear it breeds over night - and never into cool new stylish clothes...)
• Convince my children that it IS time to get up, and that they DO need to go to school/camp.

Whew!  OK, I am tired all ready....  Coffee?  Yes please!