This week we are having fun watching Emory (2 years old) for a few days. She has been quite busy with the chickens, (they come running to her since she gives out tons of snacks), rock hunting, searching for turtles, but really her main focus is playing with Abigail. Abigail’s main focus is surviving the day. Funny thing, she is does not run away, unlike Cosmo who has been in hiding since Monday. Maybe she is enjoying her too!
Just returned from a relaxing trip visiting with our California friends Tom and Angela – from San Fran, to the wine country, Big Sur and back.
With spring in bloom around here, the wildflowers and weeds are popping up. Here’s a sampling of colorful delights that were in bloom during a recent walk along one of our trails in the woods that runs aside the creek. 
I spotted this beautiful field of yellow flowers while driving near the border of Georgia and Tennessee. When I got out to take photos I noticed there was a sign saying it was “Canola Seed”. Very interesting indeed. Canola was developed through conventional plant breeding from rapeseed, an oilseed plant already used in ancient civilization as a fuel. Rapeseed is the highest-producing oil-seed crop in the USA. Canola now has become a major American cash crop.
Answers to”Play on Peeps”
1. Upkeep
2. Perspective
3. Shopkeeper
4. Speakerphone
5. Penelope
6. Peace Pipe
I hope you enjoy “Fowl Play Friday”…..just a little brain teaser for you to try. This is just for fun, no prizes (everybody is a winner/wiener). So get out a pencil and paper to play along. The answers will be revealed next week. Please do not write your answers in the comment section.
PLAY ON PEEPS
Each one of the answers below contains the word PEEP within its letters.
1. Maintenance __P__EEP
2. Insight PE__EP__ __ __ __
3. Store Owner __ __ __ P__EEP__ __
4. Conference call device __PE__ __E__P__ __ __ __
5. A women’s name PE__ E__ __P__
6. Ceremonial Smoker PE__ __E P__ __ __
(2 words)
Happy April Fools! No joke this actually happened to me….while on a gallery tour, I got out of the car and slipped on this banana peel!! I was laughing so hard Dan came around to see what was so funny….that’s when I asked him to take the photo. What are the chances this could actually happen?
It was an exciting day at our Farmers Co-Op, the baby ducks just arrived! How cute are these little ones? 
Wishing you all the wonders of a new Spring season- the Vernal Equinox!
According to “The Old Farmers Almanac” The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” The spring and fall equinoxes are the only dates with equal daylight and dark as the Sun crosses the celestial equator.
Question: According to folklore, you can stand a raw egg on its end on the equinox. Is this true?
Answer: One spring, a few minutes before the vernal equinox, several Almanac editors tried this trick. For a full workday, 17 out of 24 eggs stood standing. Three days later, we tried this trick again and found similar results. Perhaps 3 days after the equinox was still too near. (my girls advise you not to attempt this trick!)
I have been awarded the Liebster Blog Award!
“Liebster” is a German word meaning dearest, beloved or favorite. The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to other bloggers – intended to showcase exceptional blogs. The Liebster Award is recognition from a peer, for which I feel quite honored.
My “thank you” goes to Mary Stori, a fabulous quilt artist, teacher and author from North Carolina, who has bestowed this award upon me. You too will be delighted by her humorous, bead-dazzled, embellished works of art.
Please visit her blog: http://marystori.blogspot.com/
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One of the rules that come with the award is to select five exceptional Blogs to be given the next Liebster Award.
My nominees for the Liebster Award for their creative blogs…..all of which I read faithfully and know YOU will enjoy visiting are:
Judy Simmons, a long time friend and an incredible fiberartist. She creates her own fabric using various surface design techniques; hand dying, marbling and printing. She shares her techniques and works on her blog. Judy’s enchanting work often features nature -“Daisies” is a close up of one of her works. 
http://www.judysimmonsfiberart.blogspot.com/
Brigitte Chavaillaz, a truly amazing paper artist who is inspired by nature – she creates with paper and repurposing vintage items at “Papier-Velours”. Brigitte’s attention to detail will amaze you too – her European background (Swiss/American) influences her style. I have one of her journals; everything she creates is a treasure. Check out her paper magic!
http://papier-velours.blogspot.com/
Paula Begley, The Saucy Southerner – a fab food blog that will make your mouth water. Paula is my go-to-gal for recipes; whether cooking to impress or for just good eats. You will enjoy her witty culinary style. I just got rave reviews on her Smoky Spinach Artichoke Hummus. (As a side serving: Paula taught me how to fly-fish. She and Mr. Saucy own Little River Outfitters…http://littleriveroutfitters.com/) Be sure to check out her archives for more recipes. Bon Appetit!
http://www.thesaucysoutherner.com/
1840 Farm Blog , Jennifer Burcke and her family live on a circa 1840 farm on the seacoast of New Hampshire. Take a visit there – enjoy gardening, farmhouse recipes and see her restoration work. Along the way you will meet her fun loving animals up close (via web cam) energetic goats (that’s Zinnia below, daughter of Violet) and charming chickens too! You will enjoy following this homesteading blog. Visit the farm!
http://1840farm.wordpress.com/
Maya Schonenberger, a fiber artist who loves to explore our environment and nature. She uses the most intriguing techniques to create the fabric for her pieces. Maya’s pieces reflect our ever changing world. Her work is in exhibits and private collections in USA and internationally. Stop by her studio!
“Branching Out” is a beautiful quilt made for me by Rusty (Jane) Hardy Miller. She designed the block pattern, which is called “Watch Your Step”, it is also featured in one of her quilting books entitled “Step by Step”. The blocks are made up of what I call vanilla fabrics – a variety of beiges and creams. Rusty knows I love this color scheme– I collect handmade pottery mugs in vanilla so they all sort of match. She also knows that I love appliqué, so she designed the branches of leaves which are outlined in big stitch quilting. The quilting stitches start out as leaves that become swirls and sunrays as they reach the top. Wish you could see this in person! She has written 4 quilting books, (has a book signing this weekend in Florida) her website is http://www.frenchbraidquilts.com/ I am lucky to have such a talented and dear friend!
Found this fun Chalk Board fabric to use as a tablecloth ! Purchased it from Fabrics.com, they sell it by the yard. I plan to use it for an upcoming party (stay tuned). Happy Valentines Day (our Anniversary too!) XOXOX
The girls want to thank everybody for entering! They have been busy all night tallying the entries and came up with the Winner….
The total eggs laid 2011 was: 3,973
The winning entry was: Lissandra and Anthony (from Florida) who submitted: 4,029 (just 56 eggs off)
CONGRATS! We hope you enjoy the cookbook!
EGG COUNT CONTEST—GUESS HOW MANY EGGS WERE LAID IN 2011
Sharpen your pencils, get out the calculator, the Annual Egg Count Contest is here again! The girls, 23 of them, have been quite busy this past year.
If you can guess how many eggs were laid from January thru December you will win the Grand Prize:”Chicken and Egg” Suburban Homesteading Cookbook by Janice Cole. I received this cookbook as a gift and loved all the delightful stories and delicious egg recipes I knew I had to get one to give as the prize for this year.
Just enter your guess via the comment section of the Blog (or email if you prefer).
Entries must be submitted by February 5, 2012……a winner will be selected by the number closest to the actual count. Only entries from U.S.A. accepted, as prize will be mailed. (Bribes in the form of cash or jewelry are acceptable).
We keep a daily count every single egg laid, even the ones I dropped!
I noticed on another blog that on some Wednesdays a photo was shared without any text. I thought it was a clever idea and wanted to try it. So I figured this one should go first. (pretend like you did not read the text)
My Niece-ling Jamey and Matt who are expecting their first child decided to host a “Reveal Party”. Friday when they went to the doctor to find out if it was a girl or boy they decided not to find out - but to have the nurse call our bakery and tell them which color to frost the inside of the cake: pink or blue.
We gathered at 6:00 for appetizers and to list our guess of boy or girl along with name suggestions. The timer was set for 7:00 to cut the cake for the “reveal”. (Everybody tried poking, staring at the cake, etc).
The frosting was BLUE; they are having a little BOY!! They gave the first slice to Stella, the baby’s great grandmother. What fun!!
The annual hike on New Year’s Day in the Smoky Mountains, a great way to start the year off right! First heart rock of 2012 also found.
Enjoy this cozy drink by the fireplace!
Fran’s Red Velvet Hot Cocoa with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
4 cups whole milk
1 dash water
¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon red food coloring
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2-4 tablespoons whipped cream cheese, room temp
Make the whipped cream:
In a mixer, combine the heavy cream and sugar. Whip on medium speed with the whisk attachment for 2-3 minutes. Just before peaks form, add the cream cheese and whisk for another 2 minutes. Taste and add more cream cheese to taste. Be careful not to over whip!
In a medium saucepan heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and chocolate chips, constantly stirring gently. When almost melted, add red food coloring and stir. When the chocolate chips are thoroughly melted, pour the hot chocolate into mugs and to with the whipped cream.
4 servings
Four Calling Birds….
Ring in the Holidays!
(Mary, Emma, Agnes & Fran featured)
Abigail opening up her gift from Melani early — the catnip just got the best of her!
Visiting Santa can be challenging, you can tell from the photos…..and I still want to know where the heck is my Barbie Dreamhouse?
