Fresh Garden Salad made by my girls

The girls were so excited about making lunch for us today! They got to pick lettuces, some greens, a radish, an onion and a carrot out of the garden and prepare our lunch for me! Mariah took the pictures for me as well. She was super excited to be in charge from picking to preparing to presentation. I think she did a fine job! And Anaiah served wholeheartedly....as usual! The salad was super delish!!! Everyone had seconds!!!

Sunset lettuce, butter crunch, spinach, arugula, red onion, freshly grated carrot,thinly sliced red radish and freshly made farmhouse buttermilk ranch with LOTS of fresh cracked black pepper

They were so cute...making sure to write their recipe down for our future cookbook ;0)
What a treat!
I SURE do love this bunch!!!

Homestead craft and children's fair

This weekend was the Homestead craft fair in Waco. It is the weekend after Thanksgiving every year, and has been since its first year which was 25 years ago! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, even though I have had friends insist that we would love it...and now that I have been, I can understand why they would think so. It is everything sustainable living and homestead life style all in this one place. Their goal is to equip people with the necessary skills that are commonplace for those who are seeking to live a more self sustained life, being the shepherds, or guardians if you will, of the gifts that God has so graciously bestowed upon us. I saw people from all walks of life trampling around this huge place. Some were here for food...which was so impressive....some were here for the demos..which were amazing...we were here because we were told that we belong here.lol!

 I was super impressed with So many elements of this fair! I guess because it was modest and homey and family friendly. They have a crafts barn where they have for sale items that were made by apprentices and youngsters that are learning a trade. For instance, I looked at some 8 paneled skirts that were in the sewing booth. On the tag was a description of the item, the size, and the name and age of the seamstress...these skirts are top quality fabric, top quality workmanship, and presentation was far beyond what you see at department stores today. And the price was so affordable, this coming from one who knows that fabric gets expensive when you are constructing an ankle length, heavy weight fabric, paneled skirt.

There were young ladies working the weaving looms while people shopped around. They were so sweet and let the girls have a little hands on. I told Marion that I needed one :0) he knows that I would put these girls to work! Scarves, rugs, blankets, pot holders....all kinds of things you can make with those things!

The girls (with some help from Andrew and i) got to do several hands on activities. Leather working, soap making, candle making, pottery, knitting, weaving...just all Around fun! And we came home with soooo many little hand made goodies ;o)

We watched as they made apple cider for this event. I inquired as to how much they needed for it, and they man working the press said that they had made 450 gallons and were down to just above 100 gallons left on that first day! Yummy stuff! We brought home 2 gallons just for Andrew...he loves it so!

We talked to some very neat people that were so encouraging, hard working(willingly and no grumbling), and honest. If they didn't have an answer to my questions, they were polite enough to say so and direct me to someone who may. I really like hospitality...it is one of the most important things to me. Suffice it to say, we will be going back next year, Lord willing.

With everything from how to make your own solar powered water heater, to bee keeping, to wood working, metal working, quilting, basket weaving, soap making, pasta making, a working grist mill, using milk to make everything from cheese to soap...food that was as old fashioned and home made as anything you would find at an old fashioned bazaar or county fair...home made ice cream, apple cider donuts, freshly pressed apple cider...It was a very neat weekend. Exhausting...but well worth the trip!

P.s. I know that this is a little off topic, but, I noticed that there were no obviously obese people that were a part of this community. They eat organic food, no artificial ingredients, and work very hard to contribute their portion to the efforts of the vision that they have for their community. Intriguing!!!

My new work hat!

Beautiful weaving loom

Tired little girls

 

goofing around with friends

Soap workshop

rope making station and barn raising

the girls making soap

sweet friendly lady making pasta....yum!

Avenlea riding in her wagon

proud little gift makers: after you make a project,

the sweet ladies would wrap it up

so pretty and tag it for you

even the youngsters do their part

watching those amazing sheep dogs

they had some outstanding music

cute little babes ;o)

Sheep shearing demo

Marowynn is ALWAYs making silly faces......she can do all kinds of eye tricks O_o

worn slap dab out!

These were sweet potato fries and a beef dog on whole wheat bun freshly made..so good!!!

Some of my favorite skirts

Here are JUST A FEW of my favorite skirts that I have made from ideas that I have gotten from Pinterest, Etsy, and elsewhere on the Internet. I am so pleased at how these turned scraps of old material, that may not have been used for much otherwise, into something that is fun and comfortable for me to wear. I am constantly making all 6 of my girls clothes to wear and these skirts were all in a days' work for me....ALL for me!!! Well! I have to have clothes too ;o)  I like versatility with my bottoms, because I tend to be a bit boring with my tops. Nursing babies and pregnancies for nearly 12 years straight leave little room for me to play around with tailored tops and time sucking buttons...so, I tend to go with peasant and regular styled tees in familiar colors so I can work my wardrobe in and out of lifes' changing seasons. I rarely put zippers in my skirts for the same reason. I do like a fitted skirt....and do have some....but, these styles just work so easy with my busy life...and...I feel like a lady, which is of the utmost importance to me.
I am going to try to make a post with more of my favorites...a denim that I wear most of all...and a couple of winter skirts that I am working on. Have a blessed weekend!!!

•Baby and Butterfly Pie•

While the other girls were outside enjoying the gorgeous weather and making mud pies yesterday, Avenlea and I were busy cooking daddy's lunch . We made braised pork chops and gravy with basmati rice, sweet potatoes-twice baked ( to Caramelize the sugars and make them crunchy on the outside and super soft on the inside) , sautéed kale, and Johnny cake. I didn't take pictures for some reason :0/

When Marion works nights, it throws us all into a different schedule with school work and cooking. Over the past couple years, we have gotten used to the change ups...somewhat. I still feel strongly that God made the day for work and the night for rest, and fooling around with that order too much leads to confusion in the body. We are thankful that he has a job though, and work around his odd schedule willingly.

Also, when the nights are cold, it takes a while for the school house to warm up enough for us to go do our work out there...so we have a little extra time to piddle in the garden, do laundry and cleaning, sew, begin our dinner for the afternoon. I really enjoy cooking a big meal early so that dinner time is not too busy to enjoy the little moments we have to spend with daddy before he leaves or take a ride on the 4 wheelers in the crisp, cool, fall air.

Anyway! I decided to make a dessert for daddy because he had fasted sugar and sweets for 40 days leading up to the election. He is so disciplined! I know this seems a bit odd for a person that is super particular about chemicals in our food and instant food fobia, but, Marion REALLY enjoys instant pudding and any dessert that is made with it...so this was to humor him. So crazy, because he loves all things homemade...and yet, you stick a bowl of instant pudding in front of him and LOOK OUT!!! I have always found this so....odd. My dad is EXACTLY the same way! And my mom always makes a point to remind me that I married my dad! He is a pretty good fella, so that is alright with me ;0)

As I was making this favored dessert for my love, Marowynn came in and pulled up a chair to help me cook for daddy. And as we put it together, I heard her call in "Butterfly Pie" and thought..."that is a PERFECT name for this dessert!" It is sweet, fruity, and all together delish...even if it is made with easy ingredients! Here is the recipe:

Butterfly pie:
1 box vanilla wafers, crushed in food processor
1 stick butter melted
3 ripe bananas sliced into rounds
1 can crushed pineapple drained well
1 box banana cream instant pudding made per directions
3 cups fresh whipped cream lightly sweetened with 3 tbs sugar and 1 tap vanilla
1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans (I toast in a dry skillet for about 5 mins, tossing around a few times and cooled)

Mix crushed wafers and melted butter well in bottom of a 9x13 dish and press firmly into the bottom of the dish. Layer sliced bananas and pineapple ...and then the pudding. Let set for 15 mins in the fridge, then top with whipped cream and toasted pecans

You could easily adapt this recipe with a homemade custard with wholesome ingredients...and I have done so many times...it was just a once in a blue moon treat that I knew would put a smile on my hubby's gorgeous face ;o)

I gave the spatula with a little whipped cream to this cute little lady---she REALLY enjoyed her little prize, so much so that she stood straight up and demanded some more!

 

 

Won't be long....and my sweet baby will be a walker!

•Fall field trip•

After MUCH deliberation, and a little Senior year guilt, we took the kids to the Texas Renfest school days on Tuesday. We left out early in the morning, after tending the animals and stopping in to vote. The kids thought it was quite fun to watch their parents,in costume, casting their opinion at the church down the road. We got a few double takes and several giggles...definitely something they will not soon forget!

Andrew has always been fond of knights and the renaissance period, so this trip was to humor him, as he rarely asks us for anything. Time is so short, and one must seize the moments and make the most of time that you have. He designed his own costume this year, and attempted to make it himself with a little guidance from me ;0) I will have to add a picture of the outcome. It did turn out nice. He usually goes as a woodsman or archer...but he wanted to be a thief (and hand out essential oils..lol), but I convinced him to be a peasant this year.

We pulled the little ones around in our utility wagon...they had such a ball...watching shows and running into old friends! It was a great day...all but the long ride home, anyway :0)

After years of going, we have a tub full of costumes to choose from. I REALLY wanted the little ones to choose an easier option than wings and tutus...but!!!! Tutus are too fun for little girls, so I lost out on the issue. Mariah made a good pirate, Anaiah was a musketeer, Emari Marowynn and Eowyn were fairies, and Avenlea was a sweet little peasant baby.

I am so thankful for time together...Andrew is quickly approaching his independence...and I don't want to look back in regret.

Back to modern times and loads of laundry and dishes, I must go...it is quite fun to pretend for a while though :0)

 

 

A Giveaway...

My dear friend Quinn from OnJustACoupleAcres is hosting a giveaway for a Lilla-Rose Flexiclip....go check it out! It will be very hard to choose your single favorite hair accessory...or, at least it is for me ;o) I am home from church today with one sick child, one wounded child, one recovering child and one sleeping husband (he is on nights this week). Andrew, that dear young man, has taken half of the girls to church for me, and I am enjoying a little quiet time reading in my husband's new bible, picking around in the garden, sewing on a few things that need finishing, doing some lesson prepping and TOTALLY enjoying the smell of fresh picked arugula and garlic and basil....I am getting pretty hungry here!!! I can NOT wait to make lunch for my bunch! May the Lord bless you abundantly on this beautiful Sunday in November! Enjoy your day of rest in the Lord! <3

fall/winter garden 2012

I now remember why blogging is such a headache for me...

i can't download pictures as easily as most people...

And it JUST ABOUT drives me nuts!

I have about 20 pictures of our 6 week old fall garden

that I am having the toughest time

getting on here...

UGH!!!

 

Here are a few of the beautiful things growing in our fall garden...

 Buttercup squash blooms...we have so many blooms that I can't keep count.

There are several little squashes already growing and a few are near ready to pick!

 I HOPE that we get a good harvest of these scrummy treats :o)

 

 Mustard greens galore!!!

 

 spicy arugula

 

 squash blossoms

 

 Kale

 

 Carrot tops

 

 broccoli

 

Sugar Snap peas and Cabbage

 

 Onions~RED...Sweet yellow....and white

 

 Swiss Chard

 

 Sugar Snap Pea Blossom

 

Radish tops and Turnips

 



 Sunset Lettuce

 

 Acorn Squash

 

 Andrew's Olive tree

(growing quite well)

 

We have gathered SO many pecans already this year! ALL of our trees are LOADED!

We have shelled a 5 gallon bucket full already...

1 by 1..............

 Many hands make a light load! ;o)

 

I hope that all of you are having a WONDERFUL fall! Blessings to all!!!

<3<3<3