Garden Start

We have had these seeds for several weeks and by all rights should have started them long before now. Somehow I couldn't get going on it, could it be because the possibility of snow has been in the forecast off and on?!

Yesterday afternoon I pretended that the sun was out and ignored the flooding in the backyard and chicken run and tucked the tiny little seeds in their new little beds and said a prayer asking for quick germination....Thank you Lord in advance.?

Here they are, 144 little beds with sleepy heads dreaming about the day they get to go out to the 'Big Dirt' to play in the sun....We will check on you soon little ones.

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I hope some of you have been able to dig around a bit. Have you planted anything new this year or are you sticking to the tried and true?

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xo

'Decorate' Winner

The chickens 'volunteered' to draw the winner of the giveaway, there was some cracked corn involved in the deal, but in the end they chose from Scrabble letters and came up with the letter....S....for

......Squirrelhaus blog. Congratulations Christine, if you will email me with your info, then I will get it ordered right away. Enjoy!
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I hope you are all having a good week so far. We are still dealing with wet weather that is making it hard to believe that the garden will ever become a reality. Saturday was very nice and for a moment we thought Spring might be here...still waiting, maybe next week. I do enjoy seeing some of you having beautiful blooms and warm days and thank you for sharing those photos with us.

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Must be off now to tackle the 'List', see you soon.

xo

Entry - Apple Kohlrabi Salad

This recipe was sent in by Monica, she lives in Germany and shares bits of her life on her lovely blog, 3 at 12 . Let's see what she has to share.
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This recipe is from Tim Maelzer, a German cook that is often called the German Jamie Oliver. He is incidentally friends with him, as they worked at the same restaurant many years ago.
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Apple Kohlrabi Salad:

4 Twigs of Thyme
7 oz Low Fat Yogurt
2 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp Lemon Juice
Salt, Pepper & Sugar to taste
1/2 Pound Kohlrabi (German Turnip)
2 Granny Smiths (or another apple with some acidity)
3 Scallions

Take leaves off of thyme twigs, chop and mix with yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and sugar. Peel kohlrabi and cut into thin strips. Wash apples, core, quarter and then cut into thin strips. Wash scallions and thinly slice. Toss all.

It is totally delicious.
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Photo source

This really looks refreshing and good, thanks Monica!

Happy Easter

From our home to yours, may you all have a very happy and blessed Easter.

xo

Entry - Bibb Lettuce Salad

This entry was sent in by Christine, she has a lovely blog titled Squirrelhaus and is a must to visit if you haven't already. This salad that she shares today sounds good enough for company or any special occasion.
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Thanks Christine.
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BIBB LETTUCE SALAD WITH PECANS, BLUE CHEESE AND PEARS
1 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon honey
4 small heads Bibb lettuce, washed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces
6 tablespoons Late Harvest Riesling Dressing (see below)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 ounces blue cheese, such as Maytag, crumbled
2 ripe Anjou pears, peeled, cored, and cut into matchstick-size pieces

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F.

Spread the pecans on a sheet pan and bake until heated, about 5 minutes. Stir together the corn syrup and honey in a small bowl. Pour the syrup over the nuts and toss to coat evenly. Bake until the nuts have absorbed most of the syrup and are glazed, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Separate the pecans that are sticking together and cool completely.

Toss the lettuce with the dressing in a large bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide among 6 plates. Sprinkle equal amounts of the cheese, pears and nuts over the top of each salad. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

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WALNUT AND LATE HARVEST RIESLING VINAIGRETTE
1 tablespoon of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup Late Harvest Riesling Vinegar
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Put the mayonnaise, mustard and garlic in a blender and process until smooth. Add the vinegar and process to combine. With the blender running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream until the dressing thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (The dressing can be prepared up to 3 days ahead, covered, and refrigerated.)

Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Urban Farm $4.99 Yr.

Another great magazine subscription deal from slickdeals.net. $4.99 a year, here's the link and type in code 4065. * Hope your Monday is going well. We are busy, busy and so I must go. xo

Entry - Cranberry, Walnut, Quinoa Salad

Lola Nova sent in this delicious and healthy salad that she first found on the FoodNetwork, it had no picture so she is sharing this link for the, Cranberry - Walnut - Quinoa Salad recipe and the photo above. Lola suggests that we rinse the Quinoa in a fine sieve under cold water for better flavor and she only uses fresh green beans slightly steamed, Never frozen, or asparagus.

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Thank you Lola for your entry and good luck!

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Here is the Link for entry info.

New Release Giveaway

Hello all, I hope your week is going well. We are very busy at both houses these days. The Mr. is getting the Vancouver garage ready to bring a rental truck load from the Little House as it is bursting at the seams with treasures from my thrifting habit. I am digging out and organizing ( making a huge mess) the things to be transplanted. We will be working on this well into next week when all is said and done...Since I feel I have already neglected you all, I am offering this new release...Decorate, by Holly Becker, the author of the famous blog, decor8. * I need some ideas for salads, as Dr. Cowan said more vegetables and fruits so I need your help and that is how you will enter. Thanks in advance! * Rules for giveaway. * 1. Email a recipe for a salad or a link to one. Include a photo if possible, if not I will do my best to find one close to it so we can share with the others. 2. The giveaway starts right now and ends midnight on Monday April 25 and the winner will be announced Tuesday April 26th. * It will be fun to see all of the different favorites from you all.

A Healthy Loaf

I did it, yes I did. Am I pleased with myself? Yes I am! In the past there have been attempts at bread making with only mediocre results, and then there was the time of the experimental, super duper, whole wheat health bread (brick comes to mind).

But now, that is all in the past, as I have conquered the whole wheat flour. Out came the best reading glasses and a pile of baking books from the good old days, back when they put all sorts of things in the bread that was really good for you....So, guess what I found. Dr. Cowen will be so pleased, he will think I am the best wife in the whole world. He said "more vegetables and more fruits". And that is what I did.

Whole wheat bread with carrots and raisins (veg and fruit, ha!) and it turned out so moist and good and not at all like a doorstop. My sweety loved it!

Blackstrap molasses and Mr. B's honey from his very own bees.

Here is where I found the recipe, ah yes, the good old '70's.

I feel like a entire new world has been opened up to me. I am no longer in fear of trying new, healthy and unusual recipes...I guess the sky is the limit now! I am a happy woman.

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Have a wonderful weekend whatever your plans may be.

xo

Sister's Last Chemo, Yippy!

Here is my sister Michelle, yesterday, at her last Chemo treatment..Yea! It has been a long year and I couldn't be more proud of her. Instead of being defeated through this difficult time, she has grown and used this as an opportunity to practice her faith in God and the blessings that He gives us even when things don't look so great. * She's my hero, I love you Bag (my nickname for her)!! * Here's her blog, Hood Acre Farms, if you want to check out her post on this. *

Architectural Digest and BH and Gardens Savings

More great subscription prices at slickdeals.net. Here is the link for A D mag., just put this code in 8636 at the checkout and the total will be $5.99 for the subscription. But hurry as these don't last long.

Here is the link for the Better Homes and Gardens deal, the code is 6029 , it will be $4.99 total for the year sub.

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Remember, the deals don't last long.

xo

Revisiting The Old Ways

I am in the process of some changes, serious changes, in our diet. The Mr. has some numbers that the Dr. says must come down, and I think that is all the inspiration I need to get right on it. Remembering back to the 70's, the health movement was much simpler than it is now, so the first stop will be this very popular author...

Adelle Davis who wrote this book in 1947. In it have found some very interesting facts and quite a different attitude towards bread and the ingredients to be added to it for our optimum health benefits. There are other chapters covering many food types that I will be visiting also but for now it will be bread...mainly because I love bread and now need to make it as healthy as possible.

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Next time we meet, you will see an actual loaf of bread that I make with my very own hands, well, I will be putting the dough in the Kitchen Aid with my very own hands (that counts huh?) and the report of how it all went. Confession, I am not a baker...yet! Please wish me luck!

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Have a good day.

xo

It's Ketchup Time

What time? I thought we were getting busy with the things that have been put off. I didn't know it was time for lunch.

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Oh, so sorry...I meant to say it is "catch up" time, silly me. Yes my friends there are several things that I have been meaning to share with you but have put on the popular back burner (a very crowded place).

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Let us start with the happy package that arrived in the mail from my blogger friend, Katieb. She knows I have a fondness for aprons and surprised me with a box with several vintage patterns and some aprons that someone had started and, for whatever reason, not finished (that sounds hauntingly familiar)

This pattern above, is one that my Auntie Ella must have owned as I remember many of her aprons being this style.

I remember one like this too but in blue..her very favorite color.

This full one on the left would be one for me as I need a complete covering when I am in the kitchen. *

These are all so fun and I thank you again Katieb for thinking of me and sending these along, they will be cherished always. Katie has been a busy gal and just finished the finest knitted socks that I've seen. You can see them over at her blog Life on Coyote Hill.

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A while ago Heather at My Everyday Graces, honored me with A Stylish Blogger Award and then Clara at Clara's Crochet Room honored me Wednesday with the same. They must be mind readers because in my brain there is a stylish blogger that hasn't come out yet but they can see a glimmer of hope somewhere. Thank you lovely ladies!!

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Since I have told you all about myself before, I am going to do something a bit different with this award. I have chosen one blogger that I think is very stylish. I had started to post about her on the day my computer when into fits and was unable to continue and after that..well, you know how that goes...Anyway, now is the time...

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Please take a moment to visit Lindsay and her lovely blog A Wooden Nest. She is planning her wedding right now and she still has time to share all kinds of fun and informative things. Lindsay can take the Award, if she cares to, on my sidebar and do whatever she likes with it.

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I hope you all find some springtime this weekend.

xo