Happy Thanksgiving

We'll be at the farm tomorrow but for today it's peaceful and relaxing here in the 'burbs. Turkey is ready to go in the oven. All the sides are prepped, salads and desserts are made. All the family favorites ready to go. This year we are having: turkey with cornbread and hot sausage stuffing, cranberry relish with pinot noir, zucchini-squash casserole, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with crunchy streusal topping, classic mashed potatoes with gravy and apple cider pie.

And the family is all home! which is always a good thing around here. Makes this momma very happy to have her chicks back in the nest (mixing my metaphors?), maybe the calves are in the barn? hmm, I don't think the kids would like that analogy.

In any event it is a special time of year and a special day and we are very thankful for the here and now, yet looking forward to the future. We have been very blessed!

This farmgirl wishes all a happy thanksgiving. May you eat until you are uncomfortable and then be able to nap it off after you've helped your momma with the dishes.

Farm Inspired Projects

Haven't been to the farm in a few weeks - had other places to go, people to see, things to do - but I did get inspired and made a few things that are about the farm. First of all this book, full of lovely pictures from fall. I actually made it for my mother, who loves to sing and so I took the words to many of her favorite songs and put them to my favorite pictures. It really is delightful if I do say so myself, and should take me through the winter months when we don't go down to the farm regularly.

Growing up with a preacher daddy, we spent a lot of time in church and one service I always enjoyed was the Thanksgiving service. I don't think many churches even have these anymore, everyone is too busy cooking turkey, but you could count on it when I was growing up. Always the chance to sing, "Come Ye Thankful People Come," and "We Gather Together To Ask the Lord's Blessing."

So I admit those songs came flooding back to my brain as I walked through the harvest woods, and so I made a collage and titled it Harvest Songs. At the moment it hangs in my dining room - tacked up by a thumbtack for the holidays. Maybe someday I will frame it.

This weekend after we have polished off the turkey and pumpkin and APPLE pies, we are headed to the farm for a big bonfire. We'll roast hot dogs and marshmallows and make s'mores and walk in the woods and then we have to close up things until spring. But maybe, just maybe I will think of another song or two to use as inspiration for other projects to carry me through until we can go exploring again.

Happy Thanksgiving,

farmgirl

the Apple Harvest Festival

I looked forward to this with great anticipation every weekend that we passed by Rural Ridge Farm, just south of Charlottesville. This family has an orchard with over 200 varieties of apples- many vintage, a ciderworks that make 3 kinds of hard cider, and they teach classes on all that goes with the maintaining of an orchard. Having 9 trees probably qualifies as a very very small orchard in comparison but we have a lot to learn and this seemed like a good place to do it - plus they had cider tastings, brunswick stew, apple butter and local vendors selling their wares from all kinds of farming and non farming enterprises so we had nothing to lose. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We decided we are not huge hard cider fans and might just as well stick to champagne but the fresh cider we had was fabulous. The apple tastings were interesting and being the aggressive farmgirl that I am - I asked lots of questions and even brought a few samples of my own apples which the "master gardener" helped to identify. We attended two workshops - "How to plant an apple tree" - don't laugh - we both learned something and "Your winter salad garden" - again chock full of information. I got several great ideas from craftspeople and sampled countless tastes of salsas, jellies, artisanal cheeses, apple this and apple that - unfortunately the pie was long gone before we nabbed a slice of that but there was this donut guy there and oh my gosh - if I ever learn how to make those donuts I will die happy :)

and if you ever see a Carpe Donut cart - stop and buy the rest of his stash and you will die happy too. I'm tucking away many ideas for my own festival someday and can't wait for next fall to attend again. Fortunately for me, they have more workshops in the spring so that's where you'll find me and the farmboy. In the meantime, I think I will research goats and chickens this winter.

the squirrels must be bowling

There is something to be said about a metal roof - it is noisy! I awoke to the sounds of dropping acorns and scampering feet right over my head. In my sleepy state of mind what came to me was, "hmm the squirrels must be bowling!" Now I know I have a vivid imagination but this was probably getting a little carried away. Unfortunately, I lay awake for a little while and listened to the sounds of acorns (or other objects) rolling down the roof and squirrels (or other varmits) scampering upwards. I miss those chirping crickets from this summer - they seemed a little quieter. Of course there was also the snoring bear right beside me lending his 2 cents to the night time noises. Speaking of bears - Saturday morning our neighbor James stopped by to tell us that a 200 lb. black bear was sighted in our woods last week. Is this a warning or just friendly local chatter? Made me feel a little creepy about my wonderful walk in the woods last weekend. Later in the day John and I hiked for several miles and spent a good hour plus in the woods - happy to say we saw no signs that he was around - at least not that John was going to tell me! Hopefully he's moved on to somebody else's woods.
Our explorations took us on a different path than we had taken before. This one crossed the stream and went up to a seldom used dirt road, now covered with leaves. We followed it, keeping to the west of the stream and saw our property from a whole new angle. Eventually we had to cut back down and ended up on the extreme corner of our property where a pond might go some day. Along the way we saw lots of colorful and interesting fungi in fun shapes and sizes, which kind of made up for the fact that the glorious leaf colors from last weekend had become mostly browns.

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headed south

Sunday morning we were on our way to early service at church when I got the urge to drive to the farm, just to see the colors along the way. It's basically a three hour trip so it's not next door, but the day was gorgeous, we had no plans, and so as soon as church was over we headed south. We were not disappointed. The colors along the way were brilliant. I was pretty sure we would be disappointed in the end result since we had the big rainstorm the day before, but it was well worth it, even with lots of leaves on the ground. John wanted to mow a bit (of course he did), but my plan was to walk for a while and/or just sit on the porch. I ended up walking for two hours and kept my camera quite busy. I got very inspired for an art project so I followed through on that (you'll have to wait and see) but mostly I just walked. I challenged myself every 10 minutes or so to just stand very still and listen. It is amazing what sounds go on in the woods. Also each time I stood still I found something interesting to photograph. Can you tell I don't stand still very often? :) At one point I thought I was lost (there is about 20 acres of woods on our property) and I admit I came out of the woods much farther down than I thought I was, but it was an amazing walk. Two hours later John found me and wanted to know what I found. I drove him back to a few of the really interesting places (an atv would come in handy!) because I wasn't ready to walk it again but we'll be back down this weekend and I am eager to continue the exploration which of course I will share with anyone who cares to read about it.

These buds surprised me, and I was enamored by the mushroom stepping stones. Isn't it neat how a tree grows around an obstacle and i love multi-colored leaves.

of course if you want to see more you can check out my flickr (on the left) or my album on facebook

attended the Log and Timber Home Show today

No this isn't our house! But it is on the ridge behind our property and it has been inspiring to watch it go up.

Today we attended an expo of Log Home builders and producers and all that goes with building a log home. We've been before but wanted to be inspired so we:

Met briefly with our builders (we actually do have builder, producer and plans checked off the list), found the perfect table for our kitchen - only $5,000 custom made - yup I have that number right - sick, isn't it - and that does not include any chairs or benches! found a lovely bed in a much lovelier price range - might even go back for that one. Found all kinds of interesting accessories but then again it could get ridiculous and really - don't you first have to have a house before you accessorize it? - haha, that was farm boy's point but what does he know? The point is you wouldn't believe the whole entire market behind this industry - who knew? And no wonder my car doesn't fit in the garage anymore!

In the meantime we will be happy with baby steps - a little clearing of the land, a few apples "put up" for winter, sheds and odd buildings torn down and/or moved, and the simple enjoyment of a lovely place to relax. But who says a girls can't dream...................

farming in my own backyard

We haven't been to the farm for a few weeks now - the kids have been home on fall break and we've been enjoying them but I miss it and realize how much I enjoy the peacefulness of being there not to mention the beauty all around. Does one ever get tired of it? I hope not!

This weekend, when it wasn't raining, was perfect for checking on my garden here at home and deciding what to do with "stuff." My herbs especially need to be picked and pruned and all those lovely fall chores. I love my herbs, but I really don't do enough with them. Full of good intentions is what I am. I grow basil and we eat a lot in the summer - I love caprese salad. I've planned to make pesto but I haven't - although I have all the ingredients in the house. I grow sage, rosemary, and several kinds of thyme and I've always used these to stuff my holiday turkey. I have always planned to make cards that have thyme on them and the cute little quirp - "never enough thyme" but it's just a thought - must follow through!! I also have oregano which I haven't done anything with along with chives which are fun to watch bloom. Mint drives me nuts but I do use it for tea and just to run my hands in to smell. Most of the time I just keep cutting it back and snipping it here and there so it doesn't take over the place. My lavender probably gets the most use - if you call drying and hanging a useful thing. Perhaps I should make sachets or neck pillows or soap or..... I must get productive or what is the point? When we get the farm up and running I plan to have an entire field of lavender - mostly just for the sheer beauty and the fragrance of it. But for now I've purchased 5 bottles of white vinegar and 5 bottles of olive oil and I am going to make infused oils for Christmas presents - hold this farm girl to it!!

And P.S. If anybody wants any, come help yourself!