Farm Chicks Come Through

The fair has now come to a close; but with that closing comes good results. My daughter chose the Farm Chicks' peanut butter cookies to enter as her 4H baking project this year. And as you can see from the photo, she did very well with them. The judges gave her a perfect score, and even mentioned how good the cookies were in taste, color, and texture. The recipe comes from the book, "The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen". We highly recommend the cookies and the book.

It's Fair Time

Today is the opening day of our local fair. I absolutely love the fair!! I love the entries, of course the food, the animals, the contests, and even the smell. The fair does tend to have its own special scent. It must be just a blend of the popcorn, sausages, hamburgers, cotton candy, etc.

Typically my daughters and I all put entries in the fair. But because we were gone last week when all of the entries were due, we don't have anything entered this year. However, one of my daughters does have a 4H entry; and there is one contest that we never pass up without joining in on the fun. That contest would be "The Mayors' Chocolate Contest", which is judged by a number of mayors from our area. We turn our entries in tomorrow morning. Yesterday we purchased fresh ingredients for our various recipes. Even the woman checking us out made a comment on all of the chocolate, butter, and cream that we were buying. So this morning chocolate will take center stage in our kitchen as we begin making three different entries. Stay tuned for photos in the next day or two.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

I am home from my little vacation, and had a great time. As I mentioned in my previous post, it was a working vacation; but I so enjoyed seeing all of the kids working so hard, and getting to interact with them. It was a gymnastics summer camp, and boy were those kids tired by the last day (which was today). This is a unique gymnastics camp because it is held in an actual "camp" setting. We have campfires, roast marshmallows, sleep in cabins (well I didn't sleep in a cabin), eat in a cafeteria, take canoes out on the water, etc. I am totally exhausted though, and am looking forward to a couple of days just getting back into a routine, tending to my gardens, making chickens, etc. It is great to be back. And by the way, this photo really is where I have spent the past 5 days:

Going to Camp

Today I am packing up my Airstream and taking a little vacation. Actually it is a working vacation since I help out at a week long summer camp that my daughter attends; but it is still a fun time. I won't have a computer with me, so obviously I won't be able to make any posts. I'll be back on Friday, so please come back for a visit then.

(Where I am going looks absolutely nothing like this picture, but wouldn't it be fun if it was)

Happy Chickens

I have had my Etsy shop opened up for a couple of months now; and have found it to be an enjoyable adventure indeed. I find great delight in making my little chickens, and often wonder what their new surroundings will be like after I've popped them in the mail to their new caretakers. A very nice lady by the name of Kris has purchased several of them; and was kind enough to send me pictures of how she has hers displayed. I have to admit that when she sent me the pictures, I was very pleased to see how happy the little hens and chicks appear to be in their new home; and if you look real close, I think you will see them smiling.

My Strawberry Pot

Years and years ago, my in-laws lived in Texas near the Mexican border. On one shopping trip across the border, they brought home two good sized, clay strawberry pots. Probably about ten years ago, they gave me one of them. I have never actually planted strawberries in it; but each year, I do plant it full of flowers. I have tried several different combinations throughout the years; but I have enjoyed this year's display the best. I planted each of the small holes on the sides with trailing lobelia, and placed three red calibrachoa in the top. I just love how the flowers have filled out.

Twinkies

When I was a little girl, the only time that I got to eat a Twinkie, at least as far as I can remember, was on the very last day of school. Our school would typically spend the last day at the park having a big school wide picnic. I can remember knowing that inside my lunch box was going to be a Twinkie for dessert. It was so special. I realize that Twinkies are about as far as you can get from health food; but you have to admit, they are pretty good, in moderation that is. I haven't had a Twinkie in probably a couple of years; but today when I was flipping through a new Gooseberry Patch catalog, this caught my eye:

They actually sell a pan for you to make your very own Twinkies. I'll have to ponder this one as it does seem rather tempting to me.

Time for Tea

There is something special about drinking tea from pretty teacups. It seems to make the experience just all that more enjoyable. Drinking from a mug just doesn't compare by any means. Our entire demeanor seems to change simply by pouring that morning cup of tea into something as pretty as this:

Cooling Off

It has been quite hot here the past couple of weeks. Consistently in the 90's and pushing 100. I'm not complaining, it has been beautiful. But when it gets so hot, in my mind there is one particular way in which I like to cool things down a bit. And that is by pulling out the ice cream and root beer. Root beer floats on the back deck when it's hot ..... life doesn't get much better than that.

A Growing Garden

After a late start in planting my garden, it is finally beginning to show promise that I will indeed enjoy a harvest after all.

The cucumbers are growing (and yes, my garden soil is really this rocky .... that's just how it is where I live; but the veggies really don't mind a bit):

The beans are finally blossoming:

I actually have a couple of peppers for picking:

And the tomatoes might still be green, but with all of our hot weather, it won't be long.