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Signs of Spring: The Market Sign, Playing in the Grass, and New Plants
Here's our sign on the basement floor.Same sign being hoisted up.Notice anything unusual? Notice how the letters just disappear in the light of day? When you drive by, it's like a blank slate. So, the...
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Spring Flowers are Bursting Open!
I woke up to no running water. That's OK. I had some free time, put on my running shoes, grabbed the camera and caught spring happening!
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Market Ready!!!
I love the mini angel food cakes!Getting ready for this week's Old Homestead Farm Market takes a little bit of this, and a little of that, and VOILA! Magic in the kitchen. No, it's not that simple. I...
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Prepare the Soil, Then Plant the Seed
Chris says it's my farm market. I say it's his.The fact is, we're both sharing the laboras we begin this journey,not knowing exactly where it will end but fully aware thatthe journey itself is the...
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New Leaves on the Asparagus? Really?
Chris doesn't like asparagus much. He helped me prepare the soil several years ago, and he even helped plant it, but as far as harvesting, cooking or eating asparagus, uh, not so much. So when he said...
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Farm Market Offerings
For our farm market this Saturday, I made blackberry jam that is cooling on its rack. I also made two pans of black walnut fudge. I had to make two, since one pan was a special birthday gift to my...
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Restoring Old Equipment with Sand Blasting
While I played around with the farm market, Chris had other things to do.He had traded for a very old, 1957 model, Oliver rake and an Oliver hay baler, almost as old. These were partial payment on a...
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Plants are Getting Market Ready!
We are getting a number of plants ready for our farm market. From broccoli, white cabbage, red cabbage, cauliflower plants and fresh green onions to potted herbs. Without the advantage of a...
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Easter Designs of Love, Life, and Shared Times
My grandchildren came over! I love it when that happens!!!One granddaughter decorated before the others arrived. "This is so BEAUTIFUL!!!," she said when she set up the crocheted display. My cousin...
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Early Morning Frost Damage Survey
This morning, after a cold windy night, I took a quick walk-about and here is what I found.The grape arbor at the back deck looks healthy,and terrific tulip and tarragon.Salvaged strawberry plants from...
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Restoring a Rusty Cast Iron Dutch Oven
wall hangersmore wall hangerscast iron skillets that I use dailyI grew up with an appreciation for cast iron cooking, and began collecting new and vintage cast iron and steel pieces at an early age....
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Preparing Garden Spots for the Vegetable Starts
A brief moment of rest for Chris at our camper on the farm where we hold our farm market. He's been working night and day, growing the little seedlings that soon will go into the ground that he's...
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The Broody Hen in her Culvert Nesting Box
This is our broody hen. We're edgy with anticipation. Others of our flock of 48 have tried but this one just might succeed. She has a certain stick-to-it-iveness. Her whole body says she's...
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Sourdough Breadmaking, from starter to delectable finish!
I decided recently, for the benefit of patrons of my farm market, to revive an old skill: the making of sourdough bread. A stone jar works best for the starter that takes several days to prepare.On...
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Two Brooding Hens and Maybe a Chick!
the hens in their culvert nesting boxes in the brooderUpdate from last Thursday: We have two brooding Speckled Sussex hens! The one started again after abandoning her first nest. With ease, Chris moved...
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Connecting Past to Present in a Pioneer Cemetery
Jessi, making rubbings that helped to establish identity and dates.My cousin Stephanie, her husband Dave, and my daughter Jessi recently went trekking to a grown-over pioneer cemetery. No road access...
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Gathering the Swarming Honeybees
In the spring, honeybees swarm as a colony of bees splits to make more room for the ones that stay in the hive. Around here, those that venture out of their old home to find a new one are good news for...
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Hay Rake Rescue
My husband Chris did a residential job recently that resulted in some old farm machinery that the owner wanted "junked". Chris struck a deal with him on a rusty old hay rake that he pulled out of tall...
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Barbecued Baby Back Ribs
Achieving the perfect barbecued baby back ribs is an accomplishment! These were spicy, juicy and with just the right tenderness. Read on and find out my method.I wanted a rub that would give me all...
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Finding a Fun Way to Serve the Community
We are now in the middle of our first year with our farm market and no two Saturdays are alike. It began in March with eggs and some home baked items, pies, breads and cottage foods such as jams,...
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Smoking and Grilling Chicken
I love grilling all year round, lately working on developing different rubs to use with poultry, beef and pork using indirect heat and different hardwoods for smoking. Experimenting has been delightful...
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Old Homestead Farm Market, one year down and counting
This year my husband Chris and I started on a wild new adventure, our own farm market. I enjoy a good laugh, and this brought several! Friends I never knew we had would come, shop our wares at our...
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From Last Fall to the 2013 Old Homestead Farm Market
Chris is never one to sit still. The winter offers very little opportunity for excavation work or residential site development, so he has been a systems analyst, doing a variety of design, mechanical...
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Intro to Bee-Keeping--Dan Williams' Interview
The benefits of honey are numerous! Honey bees are few. I had been sourcing local raw honey for our farm market and not having much luck. Then, at the recommendation of my bee-keeping friend Desiree, I...
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Dandelions and Disease
As some of you know, I hit a bump in the road. Acute myeloid leukemia. That will slow a person down, for sure, those lucky enough to survive anyway! Several friends have asked other friends questions...
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