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November 2, 2011

We've got lots of green tomatoes...

Since we had a frost last week, we thought we'd better pick all the tomatoes, red as well as green ones, so we can eat them before a really hard frost ruins them. They are ripening up on our kitchen counter and windowsills. I think this recipe will be good:
(image and recipe from here)
Doesn't this Roasted Tomato Soup sound good?
Ingredients:

  • 6 cups (3 pints) cherry tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 cup whipping cream
Instructions:
  1. Heat the oven to 400°. On a baking sheet, combine the cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and the salt and pepper. Toss the ingredients to coat evenly and spread them in a single layer. Roast the tomatoes until they are shriveled with brown spots, about 35 to 45 minutes.

  2. In a large pot, heat the butter and the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice, the broth, the thyme, and the roasted tomatoes, including any liquid on the baking sheet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 40 minutes.

  3. Using a food processor or blender, puree the soup until it's smooth. Return it to the pot and stir in the cream. Without letting the soup boil, warm it over medium heat, stirring often, until steaming. Add salt and pepper, if necessary.

  4. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with Grilled-Cheese Croutons . Makes about 10 cups.

And on Wednesday, Rob bought me this used bamboo bird cage for $10...it's a great house for all the papier mache birds I've been making! I've got 2 upcoming local events where I'll be selling them. I would like to try to make some smaller bird houses... On the sign I made I wrote "always open." I love the door open, it's a beautiful symbol of freedom.

October 31, 2011

A great time with family and friends...

I thank God for the beautiful weather. Yesterday, we went to Potato Hill Farm in Augusta, KY where we had lunch, featuring breads and sweets baked by my dear friend, Charlotte. Charlotte has become quite the baker and started up Pony Express Bread...read a bit more about it here. Friends, music, singing, sitting by an outdoor fireplace, sunshine, a river, green grass, 15 chickens and 2 donkeys. Olivia woke up and asked me this morning, "Are they going to do it again today?" She said she can't wait to go back again. We drove down the "double A highway" there and then, rode on a $5 ferry across the Ohio River on the way back home, taking Route 52 the rest of the way to Cincinnati.

October 28, 2011

Almond Windmill cookies and Nutella....yum!!!

Earlier this week, my sister brought over some of these scrumptious Almond Windmill Cookies from Trader Joe's...and suggested topping them with Nutella...so, when we had some friends over yesterday for dinner, guess what we ate for dessert?
What a great combination!I sewed a pennant banner...
But I sewed them inside out, then turned them out, so they won't fray at the edges...and I used a thick ribbon instead of bias tape, just folded it over and sewed it atop of each pennant. A little more durable this way, so I can wash it and reuse it over and over...A friend gave us this sweet gift as a thank you, for letting them have our National Park Pass, (which we bought in June for $80 and is good for 2 families for a year). We used it to get into Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and Arches National Park. Our friends went to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado last month.

These are seeds they saved from their garden, dried and will use again next year...that's something that's very special, since nowadays, there are so many hybrid vegetables out there. So, next year, we'll have these heirloom Calypso Shell beans (right), Buran peppers (middle), and Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans growing in our backyard!

October 26, 2011

YARN along...a tiny shawl!

So I heard a little bird needed a shawl...it must be tiny. What do you think?Follow others on their YARN along...here on Ginny's blog, Small things. There, you'll see what a lot of other women are making with yarn (knit or crochet) and reading...
I got Half the Sky (non-fiction, stories gathered by Nicholas D. Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn) from the library, a really dramatic book about women who are treated so poorly in other countries, and how they can turn around their lives (with help from us). It a hard book to read as it's sad to hear what women have to endure...I thank God I was born in America and have a voice. I'm also reading Christmas Train (fiction, by David Baldacci).Hannah saw this doll (which is very much like the American Girl dolls, which are $100 and I think it's unreasonably priced) for sale at Target, and didn't have enough money. The next day, Olivia, however, woke up asking if she could go to Target, she had enough money to buy that doll...and said "I want to buy it for her." It made me so proud...her generosity. She gave it to her, just wanted to see her sister happy.
It's fall here...and you might miss a beautiful tree in a day...there was a maple tree with fire red leaves, the very next day, they'd all fallen off. It's the best time of year for hikes. I love being outdoors...it's not too hot nor too cold. How is fall where you are?

October 21, 2011

"Tweet" handmade birds for sale!

I'm ready to share with you what I've been working on this past week. That's stage 1...and below, stage 2:Go have a look at my etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/people/homemadegoodness
I'll be adding more very soon! I'm selling them for $9 each.

And how are our birds? The chickens are doing well. Rob has worked all week (when not at work) on the chicken coop. It's almost done. My sister and her girls came over just to meet the chickens...and we ended up getting the hammock out and having a fun time together.
Here are some beautiful earrings from Barberry & Lace. Just $9. They're having a $100 giveaway! And 10% off available immediately. I think I might get some Christmas gifts from them.
Another sweet giveaway from Gussy Sews!

October 17, 2011

a giveaway - Gussy Sews

Okay, this really really inspires me! I've got to sew a bit more.
So... go check out her shop:
http://www.shopgussy.com/
And then enter this $75 giveaway to her shop:
http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2011/10/gussy-sews-75-giveaway.html AND
http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2011/10/10/gussy-sews-diaper-bag-giveaway/
I would like the cotton candy tote the best. Think about what you might want to give or get (tell your husband) for Christmas...these are way better than Vera Bradley, as they are made right here in the USA!

P.S. Although I haven't been sewing, I've been crafting lately...papier mache birds! I can't wait to share once I've finished...I do love our chickens!

October 12, 2011

will you give these girls a welcome?

2 hens today joined our family today...meet Nutmeg and Clementine!!!

Nutmeg is a Rhode Island Red and seems to have made herself at home already. Clementine is an Ameraucana, and a bit more shy. We hope to be collecting eggs from them, eventually. As for now, they are sweet little pets.