Sunshine in November

The sun is out, its shinning wonderfully. Its lying, its cold out there.
The sky is bright blue with very few clouds, (that's because the wind blows them away).
All the animals are cuddled up to what ever they can find that holds heat. Yes its cold out there. 22  with wind is cold, I don't care how beautiful the sun looks.

We have been hard at work today, 7 qts of sausage canned, 5 qts of hamburger and so fat 7 qts of nice white lard. There will be more lard coming, I did 12 qts the other day. Stuff makes awesome donuts and nice pie crust.
 So thankful the snow hasn't arrived yet and the water line to the barn is still thawed. My day is coming when I awake to inches of snow and a froze line. Which really stinks because we bought a backhoe to do a lot of work and it really hasn't earned its keep yet.

Sold all my rabbits and ducks the other day, at least cutting back for the winter months. With hauling water it makes it quite a chore to keeping bottles thawed and  ponds open.

I do still have my wonderful goats and now 22 piglets under 5mos old, I did cut back to a few dozen chickens and will start fresh in the spring with more layer and put these older one in the pot..
Looking out the window at everyone I can see the horses standing tall watching over all the animals.

Hoping to get back to sewing this week. Also dug out the yarn and knitting needles, its that time of the year. I cant work with yarn while its hot out,, makes my hands sweat.

I suppose the canners have been turned off and now the jars are cooling down, I should go make meat balls for supper and get some bread rising.

I hope you have an awesome day.

God Bless

Donna
The Simple Farm Girl

Middle of November-- ever have one of those days------

The middle of November finds us with no snow. Can you hear my heart jumping for joy. Two years ago in October we were blessed with a blizzard that dumped 2 feet in one storm and melted in a week or so and we had very little the rest of the winter season. Today is  raining drizzly day, not much work will be done out side.
Still trying to batten down the hatches so to speak for winter. It has been a beautiful week a few days were up in the 50's.
Yesterday I sold all my rabbits and ducks. Not that I want to but I guess I am getting tired of doing all the chores myself while others just sit and watch or complain about having to pick up a little of the slack. I have an offer on my goats, but am so torn about selling all of them a few of them or none of them.  Confused and heart broken to think I always give in and give up on my dreams and animals I want. Sometimes I wonder why I try so hard to  make a working farm work.  People that live here are mainly concerned with just the horses who do nothing,, very expensive pasture pets.. Don't get me wrong I think the world of the horses but ya know,, they eat hay and grain year round and they don't earn one penny ,, at least not in the past 4 years. My goats have at least have made money this year. Selling the babies then selling  2/3 of my herd brought in more money than the horses have  since we have had them in 7 years.  I know I sound like I am venting but I cant be the only farmer  around that goes thru this. Some one else must be able to relate. Now we have 22 piglets 3 months old and 5 mos old,, . They cost way more money than they will ever bring in. Big idea,, raise them thru the winter and sell then in the spring.. Great Idea,, but I don't see it happening the way  some think it is going to,, cause aint no one  going to step out and help with chores and help feed, clean and water them all winter but me. Attitude abound today terribly,, so no outside work will be finished at all. I guess I should not be surprised, I don't think one project has really ever been totally finished that  others have started around here. Guess I am getting fed up with the work load, stress load and the anger that other bring with them. Not sure how people can go to bed mad, and wake up angry all the time.
So in my mind I have been mulling over some big changes and I am sure some will have their 2 cents to add, but no manual ambition to go with it.
 I am going to cut back  to just the animals I need to feed my family with, raise just the chickens I need to provide eggs for my family, chickens 4 pigs, I can buy a side of beef every year. Everything else from now on will be gardens for food.  I need to change  how things work around here,cost fo grain is going thru the roof, money is becoming very tight, property taxes have gone up again, my income hasn't. So I am going to start living as they did on little house on the prairie raising what they needed to eat, sold what  was extra,,garden and  put up what I can.
Does any one else have any of these issues,, cant be just me.
I suppose its time for me to go set up the sewing machine and start working on one of the quilts I need to finish for another family who ordered it.

I hope you have a blessed Sunday and sorry for the venting,, sometimes just getting it out of my head makes things a bit easier.

God Bless

The Simple Farm Girl
Donna

Winter is knocking

Yesterday  the first sight of snow flakes were seen..NOT ready.... Ok usually never ready and every year we say the same thing knowing every year at this time it gets colder..
Animals are all getting their winter coats. Leaves are falling off the trees and making the patch work colors that were seen on trees now make the ground a  beautiful rust and orange colors. I don't rake leaves,, I think they are beautiful.. Gardens have gone by, all plants are pulled up and vegetables stored, canned, dried and preserved. meat birds have been processed and tomatoes, carrots, eggs have all been canned.
So some things are ready,, wood pile isn't up to quota yet. But husband will bring  the next 8 cords shortly. We have plenty of wood for the kitchen cook stove. So no worries.

Looking out my front door the sun is shinning thru the glass  casting a warm glow across the floor. All the dogs are struggling  to lay in the warmest spot in the sun.

Heading out shortly do chores and check on the new kittens who are residing in the barn.
 Hoping to sell a few ducks today and more laying hens.. Cutting back on a few animals for winter, making  my chores a bit easier for winter.
My mom has moved in with us and resides in the basement. We have made a small apartment area for her so she has her own space.
We have been doing a lot of baking for the  farm stand and it has gone over wonderfully. We are making bread today and I am doing fudge and cup cakes.

I suppose I need to get busy and go wash eggs, do chores, get laundry started for Nicholas and get baking under way.
I hope you al have an awesome weekend

God Bless
Donna
The simple farm girl

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies


Makes 12-14

Ingredients
...

3 cups  Flour
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 - 15 oz. can of pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
.
Beat together brown sugar, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the vanilla. In a separate bowl, shift together the dry ingredients. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
Using a pastry bag with a round tip, make a  circle of batter, starting from the middle and working outward until the circles are about 2 inches in diameter


Cream Cheese Filling
1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 - 16 oz. package of powdered sugar
 1 tsp vanilla
a pinch of cinnamon (to taste)

Beat together cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Frost flat side of half the pies and top with another piece.

August 9,2013 its Friday

Fridays are suppose to be exciting. I guess. Everyone is always saying TGIF.. But here Friday is just another day. Which is ok, no different than a Monday.

Yesterday was my oldest grandson birthday, he turned 18. I was there when he was born, he took his first steps, kindergarten pictures,, hard to believe 18. I have 10  more coming up behind him. I guess its bitter sweet. His life is what he makes it now,. Love him to pieces.  Ok enough sappy stuff.

It has been raining for most of the day. the humidity was so terrible this morning. Not bad right now.
The gardens are being watered and everything is growing. I just wished I could of gotten it all in a month earlier.  Hoping with all the work we did something comes of it.

Hay season is getting off to a very rough start middle and ending. More rain than sunny days.
2 of the big pigs leave today for a pig roast tomorrow and next week. That will cut down on the grain bill a little bit. The last 3 will get a bigger pen tomorrow, I will open the 2 pens and make it just one., Charlie the pet pig still hangs with the goats. I have a deposit on 5 more that were born a few weeks ago.

Meat birds will go to freezer camp this week also, 20 in the freezer is better than 20 in the pen eating food.
Layers are starting to come back around the heat last month really did a number on the egg production.

Mike and Bob the horses will come home tomorrow from summer fields for a few weeks to allow it to grow back. It will be nice to see them in the big pasture on the hill standing tall.

Tonight will be filled with a lot of baking. 8 dozen donuts for the church fair. Suppose to be an awesome day so farm stand will have goodies on it also.

Got to take my Aunt and Uncle out today and show them our little town today.
Tomorrow is the local church fair, lots of local crafters will be out displaying their wares.
. I do believe it is time for something warm to drink and  getting my hands into some flour of some sort and see what trouble I can get into,

I do hope you have a wonderful weekend

God Bless

Donna

July 31,2013 recipes for Wednesday

Kris Roup shared My Honeys Place's photo.

Pineapple Pecan Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

More Recipes: http://MyHoneysPlace.com/

Ingredients
... 2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Icing:
1 stick butter, softened
1 8oz cream cheese softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla

Direction

Cake: Mix the dry ingredients. Add in the eggs, pineapple along with its juice, and the pecans.Stir just until moistened. Pour into a buttered 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely. Make Icing: Combine cream cheese, butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Frost cake using all the frosting.

Mary Reese shared Welcome Home's photo.

My Mom made these with every kind of fruit you can imagine. Sometimes we had blueberry, raspberry, or peach... but my favorite was always strawberry. That's wha...t I am featuring today but feel free to change them to what you have on hand.

Strawberry Hand Pies

For the dough:
... 3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick (4 oz) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the filling:
4 cups strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar (or more, to taste)

Baking and Glazing:
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 cup powdered sugar
3-4 tablespoons milk

Pies: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugar and cream them together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat to combine, then add the cream cheese and vanilla. Beat until everything is incorporated, then scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.

Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated. Scrape the dough out onto a sheet of cling wrap and wrap it tightly into a flat disc. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour. (Can be made several days ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator.)

Filling: When you’re almost ready to assemble the pies, place the sliced strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle the cornstarch and sugar over them and stir. Let them sit and get juicy.

When the dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly flour your work surface, then roll the dough out until it is about 1/8” thick. Make sure to lift and rotate it occasionally to make sure it’s not sticking on the bottom. Use a round cutter between 5-6” across to cut out large circles. (You can also trace around a bowl using a paring knife if you don't have a cutter large enough.)

Transfer the circles to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place several spoonfuls of strawberry mixture in the middle of each pie. Fold the dough in half and crimp the edges with a fork to seal them together. If your dough starts to get too soft, refrigerate it briefly until you can work with it again.

Brush the tops of the pies with egg white and a sprinkling of sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut a few holes in the top to allow air to escape. Bake the pies at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until they're golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Glaze: While the pies are cooling, mix together the powdered sugar and milk until you have a glaze that flows but holds its body. Drizzle the cooled pies with the glaze.
 

Recipe of the Day End of July 2013

Kentucky Biscuits

INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
... 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
dash of salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup buttermilk Don't have buttermilk? No prob, just add 1 or 2 Tbls of vinegar to milk.
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix dry ingredients.
Cut in butter, add milk and knead into soft dough. Do not over knead!
Pat into a ungreased 6x6 pan. I use a pie pan myself so you can use whatever.
Cut into serving size portions before you cook.
Bake at 400' for 15 to 20 minutes or until done and golden brown.
Copyright © A Cowboy's Wife
SUPER EASY, HUH?! OH, so good:)