Farmhouse Friday - Week 21 This and That

 

I've inherited this and added to it - seed file box.  Some of them are from the 1980's.  It's time to give them a try and/or toss some I'll never plant.  

There were several packs that I inherited, for lack of better word, so I mixed all the "greens" together in a bag and planted them in a square in the raised bed.  I'm not out anything but my time.

These are my original raised beds, probably 25 years old.  This will be the last year with them as they are decaying, etc.  We will still make raised beds, only higher now for me.  

Al is working on tomato trellis in the garden.  He spaced rows far enough apart so that if it's dry, I can drive my scooter between them for picking.  

NOTE - As I was typing this.....we had a down pour - so, it won't be dry to drive in now. 

I did the same mixing up seeds with some old flower seeds too.

I have some rhubarb in the basket.  I made up a recipe, by mistake, as I had a "senior moment" and decided to just go with it.  I ate a piece, the rest was tossed.     

These were the ingredients.  My eyes saw, what they saw and 2 T of one ingredient became 1/2 C....ughh.  It was ugly too. (haha)

I have more rhubarb .... so I'll bake a different thing...

The crust was good - wink, wink.   

I saw a trick for potato salad on an Instagram reel.  I tried it - best potato salad I've ever made.  The secret is, after the potatoes are drained, while still hot, splash some vinegar (I did red wine) and a little handful of sugar.  I also did onion powder and garlic powder and dried parsley.  Let the flavors soak into the warm potatoes.  I did 1 boiled egg for each potato.  Diced sweet onion and celery.  The dressing is mayo, dijon mustard, little S&P and whip together.  Add the dressing, eggs, veggies once potatoes are cool.  So good.  

I was blessed to have play time with my little grandson.  We had so much fun riding around the farm.  He was getting stuck in all that mud and loving it!  I even pulled him out with my scooter and a tow strap he found in grandpa's truck.  

There is a fundraiser this Sunday for the families devistated by the tornado that hit our community, April 17.  These are the raffle items from our 4H Club and me (my business and event).  I hope it is well attended! 

Other than working on selling estate items, that I do for my business, that's about how my week went.  

On to the weekend...maybe more rhubarb baking?  Do you like rhubarb?  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

 

Farmhouse Friday - Week 20 - Garden Time

 

I'm still able to do "it" thanks to these raised beds Al made me last year.  We are finding other things around the farm to fill with dirt for me to plant in.  

Al bent some hog panels into an arbor for things to climb on.  We are doing the veggies together.  I can't get on the ground safely.  

My hanging basket...Al went to my favorite greenhouse for me.  Stephany owns The Flower Trough, LLC  I need to get over there too. 

This is the "wild flower" area.  This has been a pasture for so long, it's hard to get rid of the "swamp" grass and quack.  So, most of the wild flowers choked off.  So Al did this....around the little VW Bug I made him pull out there (ahahaha).  We planted wild flowers and zinnias.  I hope they come up, it will be so pretty.  

Al's bees are doing good this year - I hope it stays that way.

The pretty bouquets I've been receiving are from a local flower farm.  They are so pretty Green's Flower Farm and I LOVE them!

Happy Memorial Day.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

One Bowl Date and More Bars

 

I am looking for "one bowl" baking recipes.  I found an old recipe and tweaked it a bit.  It probably was a depression era recipe as it is made without butter or milk.  Simple dry pantry ingredients with eggs and vanilla.  I truthfully didn't think it would turn out.  But, they did and are VERY good.  I plan to use this with other combinations of dried fruit in the future.  

1 C chopped dates

2/3 C chopped craisins 

1 C chopped walnuts (could leave out or do less)

1 C brown sugar

1 C flour

1/2 t baking powder 

1/4 t salt 

Put all into a brown and stir around to coat the fruit. 

2 eggs and splash of vanilla - wisk together well and add to the dry ingredients.

It's thick - put into a greased 8" square pan.  Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes.  Or, until lightly brown.  

They remind of something I've had before, Fig Newton perhaps.  Soft, sweet and very good.  

I hope you give them a try.  I may start posting more "one bowl" recipes.  I have to ask for Al to help me when I use the Kitchen Aid mixer...too heavy for me...and he already does so much for me during the day.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - Weeks 17, 18, 19....I know...

 

Spring and early Summer strawberry decor in entryway.  I love this!  

Return to Mayo at beginning of month.  

Had some return of the cold.  Al covered the honey bees to keep warm.  

Flowers coming up

Baking in my kitchen

My mom and dad with 1st baby - my brother Henry.

My mom and 3 of my 5 siblings.  Thinking on her and my MIL on Mother's Day.

We have been doing stuff, I just don't think it's interesting enough to write about.  Every day things, but I'm thankful to do them.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Fridays 15, 16 - Blessings From Ringle, WI

 

Not too much going on in old Ringle, Wisconsin when these photos were taken.  Chickens scratched up all my garlic (ugh!), our cousin made me that fountain, Al made our sauna "fall proof" (prayer hands), our grandson was coming for a visit (ended up being overnight).....why?....because of this.....

EF3 Tornado (winds of 145mph) on the ground in Ringle.  We were going to try to figure out how to get me in a safe spot.  I can not do steps.  Anyway, it blew over us, we saw stuff flying in the wind and our grandson heard Al say words he hardly says (wink, wink) and I hope he doesn't repeat.  We knew it was bad, it hit our neighbor's properties about 1/2 mile up hill.  They both had huge pine trees - now they look like match sticks on the ground.  I'm sharing pictures from our community page.

We have a 3rd generation Christmas Tree Farm....total loss.  Unbelievable amount of damage.  We have friends who have lost so much.  The tornado, wiped out and did damage to 75 homes and our elementary school.  Our daughter's friend was trapped in her basement with her 2 and 4 year old children.  She had to be dug out.  In all of this devistation - Praise God - not one injury!  

The outpouring of support, donations, volunteers from neighboring communities was unbelievable.  Central Wisconsin, Marathon County is a great place to live.  

It will be months for families to rebuild and resettle back into their homes.  I was touched by the messages from those of you who follow me on Instagram and Facebook.  You know I always have signed off "Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin" since post #1.  I had so many people send me "are you o.k.?"  So many vendors from the Ringle Harvest Day, "how is Ringle doing?"  Due to my physical limitations, I am not able to "help" pick up stuff, but I have been praying and donating items.  If you would, you could pray for our community.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.