SWEET Goodness...

For when the season
is plentiful
take such delight 
in all that is before you.
~Pamela Anthony 

Goodness... spring has came,
and like that, it's ALMOST gone!

Time TRULY moves at a distance,
 when the season's transcend, spilling
into the next!  We seem to search
for that EXTRA moment to breathe, especially
when the harvest is plentiful!

Here at the farm...
it's good, ole' STRAWBERRY season!
With RHUBARB season
fading out, BUT... just the right amount
 savored over to prepare,
one MORE helping of...
'Granna's Strawberry~Rhubarb
Up-Side Down Cake'!

JUNE... on the farm, take's on
a whole NEW freshness
when it comes...
 'STRAWBERRY' pickin' time!
Especially in the kitchen...
SPLASHES of red are tucked
in & about, for that...
Farm FRESH look!

Throughout the harvesting days...
here at the farmhouse, you will find...
 the FARM tables GLEAMING with luscious fruit!

I'm ALWAYS thumbing the pages of vintage,
cookbooks in search of that, one 'can't do without'
recipe, BUT... my heart earnestly seems to
turn back to those, worn & tattered, recipe
cards from my childhood!

One in particular has ALWAYS won
the ribbon award among friends,
family & neighbors!

'Granna's Strawberry~Rhubarb
Upside-Down Cake' offers a combination
of flavor!  With the STRAWBERRIES
bringing into play ALL the sweetness
to taste, then scattering the bottom
with tartness... results in a completion
of SOUTHERN goodness!

'Granna's Strawberry~Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake'

'Granna's Strawberry Cake'

2 heaping cups FRESH strawberries
(stemmed/washed... yielding 1 1/2 cup)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (lightly melted)
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350... Stem, wash & hull 
strawberries, then quarter.  Blend 1 1/2 cup of 
cake mixture into the strawberries!

Add flour, sugar salt & baking soda in a mixing
bowl, blend & stir together.  
Add milk, butter & the strawberry mixture, 
beat on medium, for one minute.
Add eggs, beat on high for two minutes.
Pour batter over the Rhubarb Topping...
Bake for 45-50 minutes until cake is firm
in the center.  Remove from oven, 
cool for 5 minutes... after the 5 minutes, loosen
cake from edges of pan & invert onto a platter!

'Rhubarb Topping'

3/4 cup butter (cubed)
1 1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 cups FRESH rhubarb (1/2" cubes)

Add butter & brown sugar to saucepan,
cook over medium heat until butter is melted,
sugar has dissolved.  
Pour into a 13" X 9" baking pan.

Sprinkle the rhubarb cubes, 
then set aside for batter!

BEST served around room temperature,
letting the juices from the strawberries & rhubarb
saturate through!  ENJOY... til the last bite!

Down-HOME taste JUST
in time for the upcoming summer
gatherings...



Warmly YOURS...

Planting... 'HOPE'

In all thy ways acknowledge

him, and he shall direct thy paths.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Good Day... LOVELY friends!
Hoping this finds you well on your way
to a FRESH start on this BEAUTIFUL
Tuesday!

As ALWAYS... it was a hustle, bustle
time yesterday here at the farm, plus MANY
town errands to accomplish, as well!
It TRULY seems that when the
spring-time duties come calling the
minutes & hours fade JUST as if
they were a vapor! And as the years
pass with age... those minutes & hours
diminish in the time allowed for each!

BUT, with all that's before us...
it's nice to take a moment to give...
to give a token of kindness to others
& to spread a ray of light into
someone's home!

Lately... I've taken to the sketching
board for a dappling of interest in
design for clothing!  And the other day
THIS particular sketch came gracefully
& instantly I had the notion to share it
as a FREE printable!

SO... for your, OWN personal
use & I say personal use, due to the ©
behind ORIGINAL designs! 
Save to your computer, print & create!

It's PERFECT in size for framing, 
painting OR stitching... whatever
YOUR heart desires, it's sure to
add CHARM to the home!

PLEASE, if time allows...
I would DEARLY love to see the
finished projects/creations & SHARE
them across Social Media!

Here's to a 'JOYFUL' day
filled with talent, creation & God's LOVE!

Preserving The BOUNTY...

How perfectly

draining

to at the same

time

always feel like

far too much 

and yet

never quite

enough.

-Tyler Knott Gregson-

BLESSED Saturday... from the farm, tis' the season
for winter's glory, that IS if summer's bounty
was a SURPLUS in '2014'!

There is NO better way to preserve summer's
bounty, than the GOOD, ole' fashion
'drying' way!

AND... here at the farm, herbs
are a MUST for harvesting & drying ALL
... in anticipation of those longer,
winter days that are SURE to arrive!

EVEN... veggie's are hurriedly gathered
before Old, Man Frost comes to visit!

While they are STILL fresh...
I string them one by one with a fine
needle & quilter's thread.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shown here is autumn's bounty of
an HEIRLOOM variety... called
'Fish Pepper'!  THIS one, particular
variety get's TOP performer
in the garden & has a hotness
that goes BEYOND an jalapeno!
I grow this variety for culinary use,
as well as the BEAUTY it adds in
dried floral's & garlands!

The SIMPLEST of detail brings
a setting OR vignette to life!
And what better way... than using
the GLORIOUS wonder, in which
Mother Nature has to offer!

Hoping this inspires YOU...
to bring a bounty of nature indoors!

~BLESSED... day~ 

SPRING is JUST around the bend...

Without the winter, 

how would we 

know it's spring? 

 ~Gail Peterson

~BLESSED evening... from the farm~ beneath 

14+ inches of snow here in Kentucky!  

Looking at THIS post... you wouldn't think it... BUT, 

when you need some spirit lifting... what better way

then a SIMPLE... easy-peasy project that spells... SPRING!

HERE you will see... I've gathered the essentials in order to create
 THESE darling... recycled SPRING can's!

Of course... as you can see,
 I've collected an assortment of tin cans!
Family, friends & customers alike make periodical drop-offs
here at the farm with recycled treasures,
knowing all to well... I will have a purpose OR plan!

Noticing EVEN down to the egg shells...
NOTHING goes to the wayside here!

Come EARLY spring... seed are being sown at a feverish rate,
with wheat OR rye grass being one of the EARLIEST to be sown.
It makes for the fastest growing grass with dark, green lushness...
& brings freshness to the table at spring time!

Taking egg shell halves... fill with a potting soil mixture,
 broad-cast the wheat OR rye grass seed.
 Then VERY lightly sprinkle with a thin layer
of soil mixture... water gently & place in a warm, sunny location.

In order to add height & to create a more whimsical look...
a filler of any kind will do,
here I've used a natural, fine wood excelsior.

Embellishing the recycled, tin can... is the FUN part...
if your like me, you have ALL kinds of string,
ribbon & other snippets
to bring your creation to life!

To add a touch of color & for interest
sake... I tucked a block of VIBRANT
material toward the back of can.

NOW... to nestle in the freshly
grown grass, that's already been trimmed
once for the season... & will surely
need MORE before it's said & done!

Each can received three, egg shell planters!

Lastly, BUT not least...
every token of gratitude... needs
a label OR tag of some sort!
Even if it's for your own home decor...
STILL add a piece of vintage paper,
stamped tag, label... & preferably
with a meaningful quote OR word!

SO... gather your goodes, 
put on a tune of soothing music, 
pour your hot beverage of choice... &
send waves of HOPE!  
HOPE that spring is JUST around
the bend...

"Everything that is done in
the world is done by hope."
~Martin Luther


Sending along... 
SWEET blessings, from the farm!

It's a FAMILY tradition...

It's a FAMILY tradition... 

YIPPPEEEE... the time has came, you know... that time when ALL the family come HOME for Christmas!?  Those moments, that are surrounded by opportunities to share LOVE... to create a NEW tradition OR to carry on an OLD tradition! 

And WHAT a better tradition... than an evening spent gathered in the kitchen, with family & friends rolling out dough!  As the carols are sung & the glow of lights TWINKLE through the window, everyone is merrily adding their personal touch to each HOMEMADE, sugar cookie!

AND look at what JUST so happened joined
the MarketPlace... a set of VINTAGE, Holly Cookie Cutters, with ONLY one set
available!

Happy Baking... from the farmhouse!