Chive Vinegar and Panzanella Salad

 It's been awhile.  I'm typing this with 1 hand.  I had to have surgery to replace my thumb tendon.  I'm doing good.  

I made some chive vinegar.

I have an abundance of chives.

Cut off blossoms at peak time.  Make sure to soak in vinegar water to get rid of any bugs.  Then I used my salad spinner to get off all the water. 

Fill a jar with your chive blossoms and pour till covered with vinegar.  I used just regular white vinegar.

Store in a dark place for 2-3 weeks.  Strain and put in clean jars.  

I used it tonight to make a vinaigrette for my panzanella salad.

I had made 2 loaves of sourdough bread and had 3/4 loaf left so I made croutons.  

Croutons are easy to make, dice into chunks, soak in olive oil and spices of your choice.  Bake 350 shaking and tossing until brown and crisp. 

While that was baking I diced up some fresh garden goodies:  garlic scrapes, tomato, zucchini, onions and parsley.  I did this all in same bowl bread cubes soaked in.  I made a vinaigrette dressing using the chive oil, olive oil, spices.  When croutons are still warm, toss in salad, pour over the dressing.  This was the best thing I've eaten in months - so good!

I ate the whole bowl ...

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - May 12, 2023

 Good Morning!

How are you?  How was your week?  

I'm going to a tea today with my daughters and grands.  I'm so excited!  We have a tea house, believe it or not, here, as in within 10 miles from my farm.  Here is a link to her page:  Johanna May's Fine Teas.  We have been many times and really enjoy it.

Monday, my friend Renee shared with me dozens of plants and flowers she started from seed.  I took Lauren with me to pick them up and she was able to meet the horses her mama and auntie Anna use to take care of.   Renee's yard and garden are amazing!  

I did some baking....

And, why wouldn't I?!?  I have a ton of stuff I should do...but, baking was more fun!  And that much melted butter....come'on!

We went down to visit Jon, Anna and Ezra and grandpa helped put up the play set.  I walked around, visited with Peppy (her childhood horse) the sheep and the little chicks.  I also played in the sandbox with Ezra and watched them work (wink).  

We put the idea into motion - Luetschwager Family Reunion and had Olivia (great grand) make postcards using this photo of the Luetschwager homestead.  This is located in Ringle.  To the right of all those trees and down a bit (as the crow flies), is where we live.  The house is still there and my friend Kim lives there.  However, the rest is a subdivision and no longer a farm.

I may not have mentioned it, but I'm having surgery on my thumb.  So, I've been doing LOTS of doctoring the past several weeks.  This week had my doing a stress test at the cardiologist office.  I will share some little funnies from this visit.  As, you all know 7's need to make "light" of even "laugh" in EVERY situation.  It's how we cope!  

So, I bought a "new" pair of cheap tennis shoes from Aldi's (ya, Aldi's) because ALL of my other shoes....well....have "farm" on them.  So, I had to be at the office at 7:45 am, the ground was wet from dew and I did...run over to the chicken coop to open it before I left.  So, as I lay down on the table, I say "I'm not sure how clean my shoes are" and the nurse says, "that's o.k."  She proceeds to put in an IV for the dye and asks "are you familiar with the treadmill."  (HA!) I say "look at me, do you think I'm familiar with the treadmill!"  Oh, she laughed!  Then, the ultra sound guy comes it to hook up all the cords and asks me to roll over and move to the middle of the table.  It's hard for me to do either of those things with my weak back and leg, but as I was doing it, I grabbed his arm.  He said, "you are not going to fall, you're not that big."  (now was this a compliment? haha!)  Then we go over to the treadmill, up hill, going faster....have you seen me walk lately, I don't do faster.  As I'm hanging on for dear life, she says "relax" What?!?  Needless to say, we didn't go as high or as fast as I'm sure they wanted to, but I did it.  So, she says "quick, jump back on the table...."hey, I don't do fast!"....with guidance (teehee) I was put on the table and rolled over....I'm laughing as I'm typing...I hope I was the worst case they had all day.   As they are checking the monitors and doing my blood pressure checks, I happen to see "dirt" on the floor behind the treadmill.  "Did I do that?!  I'm sorry!  Good thing that's only chicken shit, because as fast as you had my going, you're lucky I didn't fall and then you'd be cleaning up a brown streak from off that treadmill."  Oh, they all were laughing....  The nurse had to keep checking my blood pressure like every minute as he did the ultrasound.  She asks me "what are your plans for the rest of the day?"  I said, "well, I'm doing an estate sale and I plan to work over at that house all day."  She asks, "what is the name of your business" (eek, no one knows me, there are so many other businesses in the area, why bother...but I told her).   "Town Hall Trinkets" and she says "are you that lady from Ringle?"  What the what...she knows me!  "I follow your page."  Oh my goodness.  I mean I'm still a big no body, but that body knew me.  Ahahah!  

Speaking of selling stuff....this event is a week away!  I finally NOW can start getting ready.  I mean, I know what anchor pieces I will bring, I still have to dig them out and have Al help to load them, but as far as smalls and marking, I'm just starting.  I know I am a procrastinator, but it works for me.  I designate days and times of day to do different things, I clear my calendar just for that one thing I need do.  Don't get me wrong, I plan and think about events long before.  But the actual working on them, not until they are within a week or 2 of the event.  It's how I roll.

We have a Mother's Day service at the Wittenberg Community Center - FREE chicken dinner.  If you live close, feel free to come.  

I hope you all have a nice weekend.  Happy Mother's day too.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

  

Monday Morning Mood

 Good Monday Morning!

As I lay in bed and as I rose, I was thinking about this....

I was....

ahahha....mornin' bed head!  

So, I made a "honey" cake for one.  So easy!

1/2 C flour

1 teaspoon raw honey (really just a teaspoon)

end of the teaspoon full of baking powder (1/4-1/2 t)

shake or 3 of salt in bowl

1 egg yolk - put whites in another bowl - keep to the side

1/4 C milk

mix all together until smooth (ish).  Whip the egg whites with a folk until frothy

Spray your pan with cooking spray, put on medium/high heat.  

Fold the whites into the batter.

I didn't want to add sugar or additional "fat" other than the yolk.  If you like a thinner batter, add more milk.  

add fruit, butter, maple syrup...and enjoy!  

Now I am ready to conquer the day!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - May 5, 2023

 Good Morning!  

How was your week?  Mine flew by....

I was so excited this week when the first of a new month fell on a Monday....trifecta....I may be a little OCD with numbers.  I thought to myself, it's a great time to start all over....help me Lord.  I actually was really pleased with my progress up until April.  Then, I don't know, my little list of things I did everyday, slowly slipped away.  Could be we were working an estate sale and it's hard to stay on a schedule when you're trying to meet one.   

We need to make room in the freezer, so I have been cooking up stuff from there.  I made some applesauce.  I have so many bags of sliced apples (and other fruit).  I also had 3 bags of carcasses.  When I cook a whole chicken and I don't have time to make soup or bone broth, I bag it and freeze it.  So we had some changes in our plans and Al wasn't feeling best, so I cooked up 2 pressure cookers full of bones.  If you don't do this, you're really missing out.  I like to use everything:  

One for the pot....

One for the chickens.  I always fill the cooker with veggies when I make the stock.

One for the garbage.  However, I saw a video where this lady dries out the bones, put them in a blender, adds water and uses it on her plants.  Now, that is using EVERYTHING!

Look at the liquid gold!  Sometimes, if I am not going to use all of it right away, I freeze it.  

I did make some biscuits .... I'm working up some recipes for just biscuits.  Different flavor profiles.  I hope to share it someday along with the cookies.  Maybe after I "retire" I'll print the cookbooks.  

I shared this photo on Instragram and someone messaged me and said "cat head biscuits!"  I had never heard of "cat head" she said it's a southern thing.  Well I told her "biscuits are in my genes and jeans...ahahah"  - wait, I mean because I'm chubby - I think the urban dictionary has another meaning for biscuit...why??  Do you want to know how many times I need to google the urban dictionary?  Why do words need to mean nasty things?  O.k.....I'm old.

I taught a needle felting class for Shawano County Library at the Tigerton branch.  I had 17 students and 14 were first time felters.  The project was a chicken, but the younger 4H girls and a husband made other things.  I thought all the projects looked great!

We are going to visit Anna, Jon and Ezra.  We didn't go last weekend because Al was sick.  I can't wait to see that little cutie!  Grandpa is going to help put up his new wooden swing/play set.  

Last night, when we came home from church, while walking out to close the chicken coop, I had to stop.  Stop and listen to the birds sing their last song, frogs chirping along, full moon, beautiful spring night....breathe it in.  Wow, I missed this.  How many times do I not stop to listen.  Same this morning, 4:40 am dogs had to go out.  I stood on the porch, Robin first singing, roosters crowing, sun rising....thank you Lord for all your blessings!  Breathe it in.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

35 Years

 April 30th - 1988 - 2023 

35th Wedding Anniversary

We have been so blessed these 35 years!  Like the rest of you, we have had our trials and triumphs; losses and gains.  In all that, 35 years of living (I can hardly believe it), we are still working together every day.  Working, I was hesitant to use that word, but growing, changing and loving for 35 years requires work.  Working on trust, unity, dedication, selflessness, forgiveness, compromise, compassion, passion, loyalty, friendship, Godly ways, patience, grace; these things .... keys to a .... any successful relationship.  

I asked Al this morning what he felt was a key to our marriage.  He said forgiveness.  I would have to agree.  If you can't forgive each other, you will fail.  We also agreed that compromise would be one too.  One person can't get everything they want (even though I do try...ahahah) have you seen my farm.  He really tries to fulfill my dreams.  He has built me so many buildings.  

I was thinking about our big barn remodel.  You can see pictures here:  Barn Remodel  We had neighbors say "Why don't you just tear that old thing down and build a new one?  I'm sure it would be chaper!"  They weren't wrong.  However, they were missing the point.  We had a desire to save it.  I guess I think on this example because, the barn had cracks in the foundation, some even had to be replaced.  However, the old structure was standing.  Taking out the bad, repairing the cracks, rebuilding made our old barn stronger.  Relationships, marriages are like that too.  In 35 years, you'll have a few cracks...but don't give up or tear it down because something new would be easier.  You work....you know all those words in the beginning of this post....and mend.  

And in doing so, you'll still be standing in every season of life.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday, April 28

 Good Morning, it's Farmhouse Friday.  I've missed a few Friday's, but not much going on anyway.

We had a very nice Easter with family.

We celebrated our grandson's 1st Birthday.

We did a Living Estate sale in Clintonville, WI. 

We have NOT been working on painting or remodeling.

My chickens have been busy.

Our daughter hosted 2 clinics at her business,  Wholehearted Herd Counseling, LLC  For one of them, our other daughter prepared the food and I was able to babysit both of my grands.  It was so fun.  I may get in trouble for sharing...but, look at these faces.  They both were so happy to eat a cookie....ahahah!  I can't handle how cute this is!  

We started our next estate sale yesterday.  This one has so many NEW items.  We are doing 1 sale with just the 20 some tubs of plus size women's clothing.  So much stuff!  

I will share something on Sunday...I need to find pictures first.

Have a great weekend.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - April 7, 2023

 Happy Farmhouse Friday - Good Friday

I've challenged myself this year to dig deeper in God's word.  I've been so blessed in doing so.  I'm revisiting so many old stories and studying little details, I never noticed before.   Just as your view and opinion of things change as you get older, mature in life's experiences so does one's understanding of scripture.   The Bible isn't a "one and done" read.  It is more than that!  This week one of my readings was the book of Ruth.  It was a reminder to me, this Good Friday, that Jesus is our "kinsman redeemer."  Jesus is the truth, the way and the life.  He stands at the door knocking.  I would be remiss not to mention that.  He did it all for the remiss..ion of our sins.  

We will celebrate Easter and Ezra's 1st birthday at my mother-in-law's house.  Should be a FULL house.  I'm bringing roasted chickens (3), stuffing and a green salad.  Grandma is making ham, bubble bread, mashed potatoes and corn.  Others are bringing, green bean bake, cake pops and pie.  

How is the remodeling going?  Well... Al did stain all the shelves this week.  We need to buy trim, closet doors and stain all of those.  I need to paint the custom cabinetry my nephew made and all the walls.  I will share at some point.  It's all just so  expensive to do at once.  

We can see some grass now.  The deer are so hungry.

Is there snow by you?  Are you cooking for Easter?  If so, what are you making?  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.