Sleepy Sunday

This time last year, the old farmhouse had seen three or four snow days, where everything looked like this...

This winter, we've had three or four smatterings of snow, that haven't amounted to much more than how it looks today. 

We've had very cold temperatures this week, including a few nights where the thermometer dipped below -20C. I worry about our wedding plantings, the lovely hydrangeas, the Rose of Sharon, the butterfly bush, all of the different and wonderful varieties of shrubs we received and planted around the old farm house. Without a good snow covering to provide a hearty insulation, we're keeping our fingers crossed that they will all survive this cold, dry winter. I checked on the back garden this week and the winter rye took well over the fall and it will amend the soil quite nicely for the coming year. The spring garlic is well protected with a layer of straw and a layer of pine boughs. I'm hoping the sight of its shoots come spring will provide inspiration to the Artist and I as we begin the labourious job of digging our second garden plot closer to the old farm house. Here's hoping it also comes to life and blooms just as well as the wedding plantings.

Keep warm friends and be well,

From My Front Porch

When you're ready for a little rest and relaxation,

why don't you go sit for awhile on Misha's front porch,

in the beautiful Tennessee mountains.

I promise you, you won't ever want to leave.

The view is breathtaking.

The animals, including her sweet little Annie who turns three months old today will charm you for hours.

And the company, well there is none finer than Misha. 

I could go on and on about this sweet and very caring lady but I think you should go see for yourself.

Also, she's asked me to spread the word about a great giveaway she is holding this weekend. 

For Misha, I am more than happy to oblige!

Click here to begin your journey.

Enjoy your day friends!

Why I Moved to the Country: Reason #71

Right about now, you're probably think I'm off my rocker

or

I fell through the ice while trudging across the pond to check on the garlic patch and the cold has taken a hold of me.

Why is she showing us a photo of a coat?

Oh, it's not just any coat, it's my farm coat!

I love this coat, even if it's not my colour. The colour specialist of the farm house made that abundantly clear long, long ago. But it was a bargain and it's super warm. Right now, I wear it on occasion, hauling wood to the house, hiking through the woods, that sort of thing. 

But some snowy day, some mighty fine farm animals will see that bright green blob moving in the distance and they'll watch intently as it grows larger and gets nearer and then they'll let out a squawk, squeal, neigh or moo with delight 'cause they'll know their momma is coming to feed them.

I have a confession to make. I have a condition. It's serious.

It's called Barnheart.

Have you heard of it? 

You might have, but to be sure, you should go to Cold Antler Farm.

Just to be sure.

My name is Andrea.

I have Barnheart.

Be well friends and please tell me, do you have Barnheart?

Choco-Banana Muffins

I've mentioned these little gems before, during the madness of preparing for Christmas. I make them regularly, so often in fact that I think I may now have made more of these than chocolate chip cookies, as hard as that may be for me to believe. I love warm chocolate chip cookies. I live for warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies and a giant glass of cold milk, or two. They're simple and simply the best. Alas, I'm not here to talk about cookies but rather muffins. Chocolate Chip Banana muffins. Adored and requested by the twins, especially when it involves bringing treats to school for class parties. Which seems to happen on a regular basis. They sure have a lot of parties. Then again, maybe I'm just jealous.

Yada, yada, I'll get on with the muffins now. Thank you for your patience. First things first, the wet stuff. One stick of butter and brown sugar, mixed until creamy.

Photography 101...pay close attention to what you're focusing on.

Once things are looking creamy, add a couple eggs, vanilla and 3 ripe bananas. I keep a stash of bananas in the freezer; like I said, I make these a lot.

 Please ignore that fake vanilla, I swear once that bottle is gone, it will grace my door ne'er more.

I'll be making some of Debbie's from Stop her She's Knitting forever and ever. 

All I can say is wow; I really had no idea you could do this. 

Now it's time for the dry ingredients. This involves two cups of flour, one white and one whole wheat. Did I mention these muffins are full of healthy ingredients? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Then it's time for some baking soda and salt and in case you are wondering, no, baking soda does not come in a jar in Canada. I store as much of my baking supplies in glass containers as I can. I am slowly weaning my house of plastic. Bad, bad plastic. I also buy in bulk. At first, because it was cheaper but you know what else? It reduces a whole lot of packaging. My next mission is to convince my local bulk store to let me bring in my own containers so I don't have to figure out a way to repurpose a  bunch of thin single use plastic bags. Anyone?

 Now, I have mentioned before that these muffins have a secret ingredient. It's this special addition that makes these muffins extra healthy and when it comes to the twins, I need all the help I can get. When I was carrying one of the twins, I forget which one; I studiously read up on "What to Eat When You're Expecting." Boy, if there was a contest for eating well, I would have won hands down. Oh alright, until the midnight binging of two bite brownies in my third trimester but that's a whole 'nother story. So, as I was saying, I read this book and discovered the miracle properties of .....

I was hooked and have been dangling on the end of the line ever since. You can add this to everything. Cookies, muffins, yogurt and fruit, cereal. The skies the limit. 

I just sprinkle some in 'til it looks right. Then I mix the wet and dry stuff together.

Every time I make these with the girl twin, I give her a home economics lesson on quick breads. I just want to be sure she's paying attention, I won't always be there to tell her the success to quick breads and other really important facts of life. Of course, now, as I start my oration she cuts me off at the quick and finishes my sentences. I guess she was paying attention after all. 

Once the wet and dry stuff has not been over stirred mixed together, it's time for the piece de resistance. The whole reason for making these things in the first place.

Pop them in the oven and enjoy the smell of goodness.

Wet Ingredients

1 stick of butter

3/4c brown sugar

3 mashed ripe bananas

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Dry Goods

1c all-purpose flour

1c whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 -1/2c wheat germ (to suit your preference)

1/2 c chocolate chips or a little more if you love chocolate

Bake in 350 oven for 18-25 minutes.

Unless your oven is really hot, these will likely take 25 minutes, or you might just end up with wet muffin bottoms. Or so I've heard.

Will make a dozen unless you like them BIG, then you might get only 10 or 11.

Be well friends!

Life in the Hundred Acre Wood

I've been hinting lately about my plans to start my first livestock venture this spring.

It's not a secret or anything, I've just been too busy to get into details about it.

I am pretty excited about getting this show on the road, even if I am extremely clueless about the whole thing. Don't worry, I'm used to it.

Cluelessness, that is.

And apparently, that's not even a word but it is so me.

Some days.

Long before I met the Artist, I dreamed of raising chickens, and I still do.

 But that's not it. I seriously lack the amenities for having my own girls and a guy, right now.

Oh, yes, I seriously want a rooster too. If I have to be up so dang early every morning, everyone else might as well be too. Just kidding, sort of; I do love the sound of a rooster in the morning.

And it's entirely possible that I may change my mind about that.

 That's me with some of my other girls, well, alright, a girl can dream can't she?

Talkin' about dreams, the twins would really like their own horse but we're not ready for that just quite yet either.

I had a moment of clarity and since that doesn't come along very often, I struck up some determination and decided my first venture would be...

beekeeping.

Thankfully, bears are a bonafide rarity in my neck of the woods.

I really hope I never change my mind about that.

So, I'm dreaming of honey; I swear I'm actually starting to resemble Pooh Bear too. Christmas was a little too good to me.

I'm dreaming of beeswax candles, and soap and maybe, just maybe, watermelon will grow in the garden this year.

I also have nightmares.

They go something like this...

I suppose if they swarmed enough, I would no longer resemble the bear who lives under the name Sanders.

Bee well friends!

Why I Moved to the Country: Reason #8

Relaxing, quiet, summer afternoons.

Perfect for taking a nap.

Be well friends, summer will soon be here.

One!

   Callie

thief

lover of the twins

antagonist to the cat

protector of the farmhouse

suck up extraordinaire

is

1

Happy Birthday Mademoiselle Callebaut!

Be well friends!

Fire Starters

So I wasn't a complete slacker this past weekend.

The Artist and I made our own fire starters for the wood stoves.

Yes, we can buy a package of compressed wood chips with wax at the dollar store but why spend the dough when everything you need is in the trash or it would be.

Start with candle remnants

They weren't hard to find.

Jayme, please consider this number one of ten kitchen items to be purged for simplicity and the love of frugalicious domesticity.

Then grab those leftover egg cartons.

Fill them up with dryer lint that you've been saving, for a rainy day?

Melt those candles. Come on, I know that's why you're here.

 

Now carefully, pour the wax over the lint. This is where, if you're not pouring the hot wax, it's a good idea not to give instructions on how to pour. It could cause confusion and the person pouring the wax, may offer to take the photos instead. I just want to be clear on that one; I wouldn't want to be the cause of any wax mishaps in the kitchen.

Also, big pots don't always pour really well. This old pot has been sitting in the cupboard unused since we moved into the old farmhouse. Jayme, please consider this item number 2. I will be scouring Value Village in the weeks to come to look for an old coffee pot that I can put on the burner to melt the wax and with it's spout, will make pouring a breeze. I know it will work much better than an empty juice can. I just know it.

Oh and I can use it for making my own candles.
No uni-taskers lurking here!

Seriously folks, this took us about 15 minutes to make these and only because there was mucho discussion on how much lint to put in each cup, whether we would cut them or rip them apart and that whole issue with the wax. Next time, it will only take me 10 minutes.

So there you have it. They work well, I've saved three different items from the trash or recycling and I've saved a few bucks.

And a note to my stalker, should you read this post, please save me all of your dryer lint, egg cartons and candle remnants. Much appreciated.

Be well friends!

My Weekend...

...was spent doing this...

I should have been preparing myself for my first venture into livestock this spring

or

figuring out how to read a crochet pattern

or

planning phase two of the vegetable garden

or

using the supplies I bought in November to make silhouettes of the glimmer twins.

Maybe because the temperature is mild, what little snow we've had is gone or the ice is too soft to skate on but I just wasn't in the mood for snuggling in front of the fire and reading or getting my craft on.

What's a girl to do?

Why, get to know every inch of this picture, that's what!

How was your weekend?

Be well friends!

Why I Moved to the Country: Reason #17

Taking the girl twin

and turning her into a country girl.

I said I would!

Be well friends!

Return to Cranford

I received this in the mail today.

Catalogues are the greatest invention for country folk, don't you think?

I adore Dame Judy. I think she's pretty cool and I love watching her in period work.

It took me a few minutes, but eventually it sunk in, the reason she was on the cover.

Then I started to jump up and down with excitement.

Cranford

Have you ever seen this BBC mini series?

 If you like period films, especially set in England, you'll like this. 

I do and I'm particularly fond of anything that dates to the time the old farmhouse was built.

This series takes place in the 1840's, only slightly predating the farmhouse.

It was written by Elizabeth Gaskell. I was unfamiliar with her work but she kept company with the likes of Charles Dickens, Harriet Beecher-Stowe and Charlotte Bronte, whose biography she wrote.

She was somewhat prolific and well known in her time, and I'm fancying a read of one her novels this winter.  I find her characters diverse and authentic and the series provides a seemingly realistic glimpse into life in an 1840's village.

Meanwhile, I'm rejoicing in the news carried in with today's mail. There does indeed exist, a second shorter series, Return to Cranford.

Did you catch that? I'm starting to talk like them. I am so hooked.

Return indeed, apparently it's a Christmas special. Christmas in the 1840's. A little inspiration for next Christmas around the old farmhouse.

I love BBC programming.

Do you have any favourite BBC series or mini-series?

Be well friends!

City Hen!

My apologies, I had my morning coffee, long ago.

I think I need another.

I've been busy purging the house of Christmas.

I know, it's long overdue.

My family has forsaken me for the pond. So I was on my own for the draw.

I grabbed the male twin's hat.

It's warm. Doesn't it look warm?

I think I'll ask Santa for one next year.

I threw all the names into a hat, twice if you're a follower. Most of you are and let's just be clear, I love you for it.

As you can see, I really mixed it up and no I wasn't peaking, the sun was too darn bright.

Did I just say that, in January?

The winner is Rhonda, from City Hen!

City Hen is a new blog I discovered just before Christmas. She and her husband own and run several coffee shops in Poland. I've seen photos of her shop and boy is it cozy. I wish I could drop by in person for some java, but instead I just pretend. Rhonda is up before the rooster, or it could be the time difference but I look forward to her comments each morning when I get up before the rooster but never my cat.

Rhonda, I told you I would be happy to mail something to Poland, and now I can for the first time ever. I never thought I'd get this close to Poland!

Please let me know your book choice and of course, your mailing info.

Thank you to everyone for entering, becoming a follower and voting on the button.

It was fairly close, but the picture with me in front of the old farmhouse won.

Be well friends and stay warm!

Why I Moved to the Country: Reason #85

 

Where else can you spend the equivalent to your child's college education on a tank to hold all of your..um... waste? 

Where can you have a winter where the entire province is blanketed in a foot of snow except for a 50km radius around your old farmhouse?

Where could you have deep freeze temperatures for over a week?

Where can your septic bed freeze because there is no insulating layer of snow so the pump shuts off and the only area where the grass seed actually sprouted in the fall now has to be dug up?

Where do you ask?

Where?

It's elementary my dear Watson.

Why only in the country, that is where.

I should have invested in one of these.

If you haven't done so already, don't forget to enter the first Rural Revival giveaway!


Be well friends!