You’re a peach

Like many of our expressions, “You’re a peach,” originated from an odd tradition. People would give a peach to someone they liked.

Just a note…if you like me, instead of a peach, you can bring me an ice coffee from DD… medium dark roast, pistachio cream, two creams no sugar.

Anyway, the peach trees at the farm produced fruit this year. When we first moved here, they appeared dead, but Michael pruned them way back and that seemed to do the trick. 

We picked the peaches this weekend. It’s funny how organic fruit from a backyard orchard does not look like store fruit. Lumpy, bumpy, bug holes. But the kids picked for about 30 minutes. 

These look pretty nice, but most of the peaches are oddly shaped and bruised. But most of the time the ugliest ones tasted the best. 

A backyard kitchen was set up. The fruit was sorted into eating peaches that looked pretty and peaches for cooking. 

I am pretty sure it was the hottest day of summer so far. 

We cut about two gallons. Ate about a dozen. 

Sorting

Organizing

These were the best looking

The kids used the vegetable peeler.

Trying to cut the skin off.

That night I made a peach cobbler. I tweaked the Bisquik recipe and took away the nutmeg and just sprinkled cinnamon on top. The recipe said 50 minutes to bake, but mine only needed 40. The cobbler was warm and served with ice cream. I am not a fruit dessert person, but this was pretty good. 

Cobbler

To take our peaches to the next level, our friends from Straight Branch Harvest gave us some honey. The honey drizzled over the peaches…whoa. I felt like a pioneer discovering a new dessert. (I had the American Girl Kirsten and was obsessed with coverd wagons and going out west when I was a kid.)

Honey from Straight Branch Harvest

So if you’re feeling peachy, let me know, and I’ll try to get you a few peaches. If you come up with a new recipe be a peach and tell me.

Weaving and Eating Cookies while Helping Local Kids

Who wants to weave and eat homemade cookies while helping foster kids?

Now, that I have your attention, let me tell you about the beginners weaving class at the farm.

Hosted by Morgan Crouch, this event will teach you how to create a wall hanging such as this:

Such a gorgeous piece of art. 

But you’re thinking, I’m not crafty. Well Morgan is one of the most patient people I know, and she won’t let you give up.

Morgan taught me how to make a wreath, helped me make a board to display my children's art and has taken our family's photo on several occasions.

“I have always loved creating things because it’s a way for me to take ordinary things and use them for something beautiful, like God does with us,” she said.

She recently re-taught herself to weave.

 “I use to weave little potholders when I was 10! I am loving playing with all the colors and textures,” said Morgan.

She explained once you learn how the basics work the possibilities are endless and not very complicated. (Now were talking because I am not crafty, but I want my project to be something I can display!!!)

The class is this Saturday from 5-8. Registration is required. Your $35 dollar fee includes all supplies. A portion of the proceeds will go to SMILE FOSTER CARE CLOSEST, an organization that provides for the material needs for foster kids in our region.

So come relax at the farm, eat some potato chip cookies (trust me they are so good!) and learn something new. Also Snoop Hoggy Hog and the gang want to see you!

Oink!

And keep an eye out for future classes and mini photo sessions by Morgan Leah Photography!

Three short farm stories

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog. To be honest, it’s been pretty quiet around here. In my mind, I thought maybe I have grown as a person. I’m not as flinchy, and things are going smoothly.

I guess the universe thought it was time to knock me down a peg or two.

Bringing back 90s slang

Michael does a majority of the chicken work. I work on the fun stuff… collecting eggs or making chicken treats.

The other day I went into the coop to get the eggs. I have a bad habit of not looking into the nesting boxes. Sure enough one of the dark brown chickens was in there doing her thing, and I grabbed on her. She squawked and my natural response was screaming Doi! Super awkward sounding. And I haven’t said that since maybe 8^th grade. But she scared me so bad. Lesson learned. Always look into the nesting box. 

Cash you scared me!

 

These eggs are so good.

 Snake it to you make it

We were practicing softball in the backyard. I went to the creek to retrieve a ball. (I’m not the best catcher.) There was the most interesting root in the creek. I decided to poke it with a stick. 

This is not the exact root that scared me. I couldn't find it when I went back to take a picture. So maybe I did poke a snake. 

But as I started to poke it, I realized just how long it was. A snake! It looked like a milk snake. AAAGGGHHH. I gave a big Charlie Brown scream. But I settled down and realized… just the original root that I thought it was.

Pigs need spa days too

Pigs need their nails clipped just like humans. It was time for Snoop to go to the vet to get his trimmed. We don’t have a horse trailer, and he’s not huge. 

So we borrowed Bailey dog’s crate. I figured since Snoop loves me he would go right into the crate. Guess he doesn’t love me that much. He squealed and oinked at me. I threw some bananas in there and still nothing. 

Now, it was Michael’s turn to try. He pushed up his sleeves and did some pig wrestling. 

So much shrieking, from Snoop I think, but Michael got him in the cage. Snoop was still fussing. Then silence and then chomp chomp. He found the banana and was fine. Had himself a nice spa day.

Michael versus pig.

Snoop is heavier than he looks.

Ok once he found the banana.

Strapping him down.

On the same day, we had to take these two to the vet.

Peaches was over it. 

Birdie just wanted cheese.

We are excited for spring! The potatoes and onions are in the ground. The back porch has been cleaned. And it’s staying lighter later.

Cool rock

Fairy garden

Wildflowers

Deer!

Oink oink

Lazy

Getting the gardens ready

Please don't freeze.

Hoping we get fruit this year. Last year was horrible!

Hiking around the property.

Jars of Clay Predicted My Future

Meet Birdie. Even she can't escape the wrath of mud.

If you went to youth group in the 90s I can only assume you listened to:

·         DC Talk

·         Newsboys

·         Audio Adrenaline

·         Jars of Clay

All fantastic bands that I listened to their CDs on repeat.

One of my favorite Jars of Clay songs is “Flood.” For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, here are the lyrics for the first verse.

Rain rain on my face
It hasn't stopped
Raining for days
My world is a flood
Slowly I become
One with the mud

When I was 15 I thought it was so poetic. Now I am 36 and feel like I am living this song. The farm is a gigantic mud pit.

Pictures don't do it justice. 

It's like gloopy quicksand.

And there is even hidden mud pockets. 

I’ve stopped washing my house floors because of the mud, the animals have muddy feet and the laundry is piling up from playing and working outside.

We recently acquired a new pup named Birdie. She is super sweet and adjusting to her new life. But even she fell victim to the mud. She was running and slipped on some mud and yelped! So sad. I almost fell too since I was wearing Crocs instead of mudboots, but no one seemed alarmed. Next time I’ll yelp louder.

We wonder how big she'll get.

Peaches is our welcome cat. Despite her face, she's super friendly to all the animals. 

Snoop has been doing ok with her.. as long as she doesn't bite his tail. 

She's settling in.

And we love her. 

And when taking down the Christmas décor, the UTV left huge tire tracks in the yard.(I'm posting a few shots of my decorations because I liked them this year and intended to blog about them, but I ran out of time so tada.)

But today, the sun shone brightly and maybe we can go a few weeks without rain. Although, rumor has it snow may be coming soon.

Now I need to go through all my old Christian alternative favorites and see what else may be in store for me…