Farm Post number 4/2021

Good Evening dear hearts!

Just dropping by to leave another little farm post.  I won't be long this time!  

Hope all is well with you and your dear families... 

Such a busy time of year with graduations, school letting out and vacations beginning... 

Us old retired folks (us, I mean) 😀 are just doing our thing... 

Every once in awhile I remind you sweet followers that when I began this blog around ten years ago that it would just be the doings of a retired couple who love the Lord.  

And to be honest it has not evolved into any great site with thousands of followers and such...

I used to love decorating my blog and trying out new stuff but now I find I am quite content to share whatever we are doing with you once in awhile and carry on.. 

I am always so happy to hear from you though whether it be here, email, Instagram or Face Book blog page.. 

I think some of you find it much easier to connect on Instagram or Face Book for commenting.. And there I can respond to your comments much easier .. due to computer doings.. 

Anyway... 

As you can see my herbs are doing well out at the farm.. 

I have several pickings of my Chamomile and it is drying .. 

I will be making some tea with it and also a salve which is supposed to be good for redness and blemishes.  It is also soothing for rashes.. 

Also I have some chives in vinegar as I do each year... 

It is delicious on greens like Swiss Chard or to make your salad dressings.. 

I love it for gifts.. 

You can get lovely vinegar cruets at the dollar store and it makes a delicious gift at Christmas.. 

As I mentioned in my Instagram post that one has to remember to use it for such.. I forgot last Christmas.. 

Oh well.. 

Hope to do better this year.. 

My sweet husband as always has been picking flowers for me.. 

Rose Petals galore... 

I dried a lot for soap and lotions and such but decided I would make some Rose Petal Jelly after all.. 😋

It is really tasty!

I know that one thinks it would just taste like flowers but it is one of my fave jellies.. 

And just so pretty.. 

I made the jar covers from some paper that flowers were wrapped in that Terry gave me.. 

Just drew circles and cut them out.. 

Used elastics and string.. 

I see the one above needs the elastic covered better! 😏

This is a delicious jelly to put between your sponge cakes.. 

Then if you have time to sugar a few of the wee rosebuds for the icing is sweet too!

I hope to get that done this week.. 

It is easy to do.. I have done violets before and they are lovely on cupcakes.. 

Anyway... 

Not much food pics to post this time.. 

This was breakfast one morning before leaving for the farm.. 

It was so pretty I thought I would take a pic!

I love this for breakfast.. 

Cottage cheese, fruit and nuts.. 

A drizzle of Prosser Brook maple syrup on top.. 

Yum!! 

We still are not staying at the farm at nights all the time .. 

I thought we would be but circumstances has changed our plans for now.. 

But we are there a lot.. 

Do you see my new plant addition.. 

I almost typed addiction!  😃

And that would have been more accurate!  smile.. 

But it is my newest addition..  

So sweet and dainty!

It is called China Doll.. 

I am hoping the subtle light at the farm will help it grow well.  

My plants do so well in that old farmhouse!

And we had some sweet company!  

Our own little china doll.. 

I am her momma!  

We had a lovely day! 

I forgot to take food pics.. 

And Shonda thought the table was set nice but really I was so busy talking to her that I didn't do all that well.. smile.. 

The pickle bottle was a jar of fresh cucumber refrigerator pickles that my kids love.. 

And the Rhubarb pickles that I had made.. 

I will give you the recipe next time for them.. 

I am on my husband's computer and when I am done then I am done!  lol!  And the recipe will have to be found as I can't remember it.. 

His chair is awful!  When I stand up from this I can hardly move for a few minutes.. 

Anyway.. 

We had Tenderloin, fried rice, egg rolls and Chinese Salad.. 

That is so good too.. 

I will try to remember to give that also.. 

Shonda and Dave brought some Halo Donuts and Sourdough bread.. 

I made my friend Lisa's Jam Bars... 

Oh and I put sliced strawberries in the water.. 

Shonda liked my jug which is a mason jar replica and that is my new doilie pitcher cover ...  

We had coffee and chatted... 

Please excuse my crooked lamp shade.. lol!

We have had a few country road drives.. 

This is one that is always dear to my heart!

We cross Caladonia Mountain and head for the lovely 

Bay of Fundy!

Cape Enrage!  

The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world!

We had a picnic lunch on the beach and Terry slept in the car! 

The breezes blowing in the windows and I sat on the beach.. 

Just enjoying the smells and sounds and wind on my face!  

Then we drove to Alma but not before I picked a bunch of flowers!

The best part of these drives for me is gathering flowers.. 

We take a few drives when we are here at home also!

With the price of gas I guess they are not as frequent! 

But I do love them... 

another bouquet for home.. 

I shared this on Instagram too.. 

My Avocado pit has sprouted and growing leaves!  

So much fun watching it develop... 

Have a couple more on the go... 

Have you ever tried this?

Well dearies this is about it for tonight.. 

Although... 

Just wanted to share a photo of our sweet grandsons.. 

They both graduated from Crandall University!! 

They have a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.. 

These are Trevor and Tammy's sons!  

So proud of them and thankful that the Lord has blessed them and been with them every step of the way... 

We had a wonderful service at church this morning celebrating their success!  

Pastor talked to them and it was simply beautiful! 

Encouraging them to keep God first and foremost in their lives!

Walking with Him down through the years with the goal of bringing up their families in the fear and admonition of the Lord.. 

Being a servant as the Lord Jesus taught us! 

Praying that in their walk of life that all is well because He is in control!  

I pray the same!  

Jeremiah 29:11

Contains a precious promise held dear to the Christian heart.. 

In this verse Jeremiah affirms that God is in control and He has good things in store for those who serve Him..

 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

So that is all for now.. 

I hope to hear from you ... 

I love your notes as I have already said.. 

I am on Instagram much more if you want to join me there.. 

blessedhearth.. 

Take care my dears.. 

Enjoy your summer days and God bless!!

 

Farm Post number 3, 2021

Hello everyone.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth this Sunday evening in June... 

Mid June already... 

I don't want the spring to be finished and summer at the door.. 

But that is time, eh? 

It passes and I am still trying to catch up.. 😙

This is farm post 3... 

It is actually a post of several days.. 

We were there most of the past week but came home in the evenings.. 

Hockey is on, you know... 😀

 

So several of these pics from a couple of weeks ago and such.. 

The apple tree and Aunt Eva's lilac tree have blossomed! 

And so have the Lupins and the lovely cows are out in the pasture.. 

all is well there as you can see... 

Usually, when we arrive at the farm I look around at the herb beds and pick a few for the day.. 

\And a little bouquet of johnny jump ups.... 

In a wee salt shaker... 

In the kitchen I unload my bag of goodies and light the incense.. 

I so love Sandalwood and Patchouli but one of you sweet readers mentioned you love Nag Champa and that it was a remnant of your hippie days... 😀

Well, I was enthralled shall we say and tried to find some.. As Terry has always called me a hippie-want-to-be I wanted to see if I would like it.. And thanks Sue, I love it... 

Terry appreciates it too.. 😃 

So on this particular day I headed for the pantry..

Such a gorgeous day out there but we were out of bread and I wanted it to be ready for lunch... 

Our farmer tills our gardens when it is time.. 

Much later then most of my readers but we still have a harvest even when it is late getting in.. 

Not late for us here in New Brunswick but the rest of the world.. lol.. 

I only made a loaf of no knead as we would eat it with our chowder.. 

I divided it in two loaves and made one chive.. 

I almost always make my own salad dressings as I have mentioned many times, I know... sorry.. 

Terry likes Kraft..  go figure!! 

One part lemon juice, 2 parts olive oil, dash of chili flakes, smashed garlic cloves and salt and pepper.. 

Add herbs of choice.. whisk.. soooo good!!

I was making myself an herb salad so didn't add any to the dressing.. 

He wouldn't like that one so I made him a tossed one.

We didn't have a lot in the fridge yet but the dressing was good.. 

You just mix up herbs that you love and add a bit of this and that.. 

I think I added cukes and onions, probably...

But mostly herbs.. 

then set the table.. 

I will confess... 

We don't eat every meal at the table.. 

We should and if we had children we would for sure.. 

But some evenings we have it on our tray.. smile.. 

Old age tricks, I guess.. 

I know what you are thinking.. grin.. 

That we eat a lot of fish chowders and you are right.. 

One of both of our favourite meals.. 

\

I bought these flowers as they look like violets.. 

Aren't they sweet?

Another day I pasted this little piece of border under that old cupboard.. 

There was just enough... 💗

More pics of the pantry... 

Sorry to have so many pantry pics but I was working in there quite a bit.. 

I still have an old cupboard to paint.. 

Hopefully this week, we shall see.. 

I always have time to read, though.. 

And pick some flowers and press them... smile.. 

This past Saturday I made Chili Dogs from my friend Marie who had the English Kitchen blog.. 

They were so good... 

Her pics were much better.. 

I do have chili there on top of the hot dog.. 😀

One day we had Greek Orzo Salad and on cheat day we almost always have Shrimp Pasta.. 

Oh dear... 

I see I have a food blog going on today... 

Pork Tenderloin on another day.. 

Someone was asking about the green fern vegetable on our plates.. 

They are Fiddlehead Ferns that we eat here like spinach.. 

Our son picks them beside the streams and rivers and cleans them really good... 

We eat them many ways but this is our favourite with butter and vinegar.. 

Just make sure you have the right fern... 

Some are poisonous!

I made some pickles with them this week and tried a few rhubarb ones  .. 

I love fermented rhubarb pickles and the fiddlehead ones but this is a new recipe for the rhubarb so we shall see... 

I love making Herbes de Provence from my own herbs..

a thrift store find..

from France   

And Garlic Scape Salt..

Here is a lovely way to use them when you want a snack or are entertaining... 

Our children took us to Gustos last year and this was one of the appetizers.. 

We tried to figure it out and this is pretty close.. smile.. 

Here is my Herbes de Provence recipe for you.. 

3 Tablespoons dried thyme

2 Tablespoons of dried Savory

1 Tablespoon of dried Oregano

3 Tsp. dried Rosemary

2 Tsp. dried Marjoram 

1 Tsp. dried Lavender.. 

Put in your mortar and pestle and smush it up.. 

Keep in a mason jar... 

For the salt I just blitzed up some herbes and garlic scape salt.. 

Lovely.. 

Cut up a banquette or whatever, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle a bit of the goodness on.. 

Don't tell Gustos... grin.. 

Well, time to go home again dear hearts.. 

Home is where the heart is... 

Just wanted to share my beautiful cactus blossoms.. 

These are here at home.. 

Thanks to Laura and Kathleen for giving me a piece of their antique cactus plant.. 

I love it so.. 

And a few more plants.. 

Love being home too.. 

But you know there is another home I am longing to see... 

My brother in law went there this past week.. 

 

A home way beyond the skies.. 

A home not prepared by mortal hands but by God, eternal in the heavens...

He has made a plan whereby we can prepare to go there when our journey is over.. 

We just have to place our lives in His hand  and follow the plan of salvation.. 

He made it so simple..

Then when our life is over we have a hope beyond the grave..

I love the verse in II Corinthians 5:1

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is when we die and leave this earthly body), we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.. 

Isn't that wonderful!! 

 

My sister lost her husband who she loved so dearly but she knows she will see him again some day.. 

Life is precious dear ones.. 

Live it to the fullest by living it for God.. 

Sending hugs your way.. 

We will hopefully give you some garden pics or something different next time.. 

God bless..