What Ive been doing lately

No time for my blog right now as I have two new babies in the house. Its been a challenge so far but they are so sweet...Meet Timber and Meadow

Little Orchard With Big Dreams

It has always been my dream to have my very own orchard. I have been waiting for so long to make that dream finally come true. When we bought our new house I have to say I was a little bit dissapointed because there was not one big old apple tree on our property anywhere,Kind of unheard of for a 100 year old farm.

It was June by the time we moved in so I didnt get  to plant any trees til fall.I picked up a little bitty Granny Smith apple tree and got it in the ground before the snow started to fly. I worried about it all winter because it is at the far end of our pasture where there was no shelter from the wind. I spent those cold days looking through catalogs and decided I wanted to grow as many heirloom varieties of fruit as I could . I also wanted to be an organic farm.When spring finally arrived so did my bareroot trees I had ordered.

I also purchased a few from our local garden centers.Right now I currently have 15 trees planted.The majority are apple and a few peach. This year I will be adding another row to the orchard and hope to do  that every year until the orchards as big as space allows.

I hope to be able to harvest apples in a few years.

This is a Honeycrisp apple tree and the long path I have to walk to water all those trees by hand.I actually look forward to it because its great exercise and I get to enjoy the wildlife that shares our pasture with us.

This is a Red Haven Peach. Still so tiny but I can almost taste those fresh peaches already.Peach PieYum!

We use to drive almost two hours to pick honeycrisp apples at a well known orchard in our area. If you have never tried one I highly recommend  you do.Honeycrisp apples are wonderful. Not the store bought apple Either,one picked straight from the tree. There is nothing better than that. Apples at the store are grown to look pretty and have a long shelf life.They are also treated with a whole lot of chemicals so that they look perfect. While they may be pretty they sure dont taste like much. I am beyond excited to be able to one day walk out into our orchard and pick my own apple,from my own tree,that I have nurtured and planted with my own hands.

Its probably gonna be the best apple I have ever had.

Dressed Up For Valentines Day

With Valentines day just around the corner I wanted to share a very easy but delicious Gift idea. We made these last year and it was alot of fun.

                                        Tuxedo Strawberries

How to make:

Ingredients

• 18 medium fresh strawberries with stems
• 1 cup vanilla or white chips
• 3-1/2 teaspoons shortening, divided
• 1-1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

• Line a tray or baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Wash strawberries and pat until completely dry.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt vanilla chips and 1-1/2 teaspoons shortening at 70% power; stir until smooth. Dip each strawberry until two-thirds is coated, forming the tuxedo shirt, allowing excess to drip off. Place on prepared tray; chill for 30 minutes or until set.
• Melt chocolate chips and remaining shortening. To form the tuxedo jacket, dip each side of berry into chocolate from the tip of the strawberry to the top of vanilla coating. Repeat on the other side, leaving a white V-shape in the center. Set remaining chocolate aside. Chill berries for 30 minutes or until set.
• Remelt reserved chocolate if necessary. Using melted chocolate and a round pastry tip #2, pipe a bow tie at the top of the white V and three buttons down front of shirt. Chill for 30 minutes or until set. Store in the refrigerator in a covered plastic container for up to 1 day. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Remember Spring???

As I am sitting here watching more snow fall outside my window I cant help but wonder how many more days of this I can take.It is really a quite beautiful snow right now but I am tired of all the white and am ready for the green grass, and the blue skies, the birds chirping and the smells of spring.

Remember Tulips?

They seem to never mind that there is still some snow in the forecast.

 Their beautiful colors never cease to amaze me and their promise of what is yet to come

Magnolias

And their breathtakingly beautiful blooms with their sweet fragrance

                                                    Hyacinths and daffodils

And Lilacs, Oh that wonderful fragrance that fills up the house in giant gathered bouquets

When I finally see this visitor in my yard I know that springs beauty is not to far away 

The robin is always the first voice you hear in the morning and last before you sleep

The bright blue eggs are a welcome sight

 

For they are a promise of renewal

And New Life

I guess I should thank winter really. Even though its long and tiring and yes sometimes even beautiful, without it I wouldnt appreciate all the wonderful things that Spring brings with it.

The Crazy Places Cats Decide To Take a Catnap

I dont know how she thinks this is comfortable. Normally she is the one who is on the fluffiest heated blanket in the house.




Aww such a sleeping beauty

Till you disturb her

Crazy Cat!

Farm Livin Is The Life For Me...Unless there is a Blizzard

I am a survivor! The great blizzard of 2011 will go down in history books. I have never seen so much snow in my lifetime. A record 20 inches and 60 mph wind gusts.People  were stranded in their cars and all roads shut down. I wouldnt trade living in the country for anything but I think next time there is a blizzard coming Im camping out in town.