Happy happy harvest time!!

WOW~!~ the colors outside are just truly breathtaking!! LOVE IT!! As yall know Fall is my #1 favo time of the year!! well I love summer and spring is just absolutely stunning and the snow oh my the snow is gorgeous too!! LOL but fall is my cup of tea!!  So I decided to "farmgirl bling" up some of my shortbread cookies with orange and white colors and filled them with a chocolate ganache filling!!

And since my boys like fall to I did up some of their treats fallish for them!!  I am taking some to market so the boys will have some spending $$$$$ to buy stuff at petco!!  LOL they love goin in and pickin out new toys! 

My bluebery muffins werent exempt from my "bling:" either they recieved a nice drizzel of lemon glaze and the red raspberry muffins got the same treatment. 

Here are some pics on my way home one night last week.  The leaves have been blowin off the trees the last few days so they are leavin us quickly.  The weather though has been exceptional for october.  You know hubby and I got married in late october and I insisted on gettin hitched  outisde at my parents in the orchard that day was just perfect!! 82 degrees outside so noone had to wear jackets or mittens either!  We rented a big canopy, had cornstalks in bundles tied all around, fall leaves hangin with sunflowers and red gingham bows around (my favo red gingham and denim) the aisles were straw bales, fall colored mums everywhere, our unity candle sat on a bed of fall leaves ontop of an old rusty milk can we had on our porch, the alter was wood my hubby made an outline in the shape of a barn, complete with raffia and field corn bundles.  My mom and I saved old metal cans, from like veggies and tied a denim strip around the middle with a bow of red gingham and filled them with cut mums in them for the reception tables.  And i was able to buy red gingham fabric table cloths to go on each table.  In fact I use those table cloths now at market for my tables.  LOL just reminiscing bout that day as we are approaching our 10 year anniversary next week.  October 21!  Cant believe it already!! LOVE ya babe!!!

So another reason i Love fall!! 

Better run and get things packaged up for the last South Haven farmers market of the season is tomorrow!!  Well for most of the farmers Young Earth Farm and I are gonna be goin thurs afternoons november thru april in the hardware parking lot!! email me for more info if ya like!!

Have a blessed evening yall!!

HUGS

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Baking the day away

ARENT these just the CUTEST SWEETEST little danish??  YEPPER THEY ARE !! Susan made them today, they are the mini version of her AWESOME DELICIOUSLY DELICIOUS danish.   Ok these mini pain au chocolat croissants are HEAVENLY!! my absolute favo of all!! especially fresh warm out of the oven.  There is just something decadent about melting chocolate in a buttery soft shell!!  oh yeah!! heavenly!!  HERE are the finished bites from heaven!! 

I love making bundt cakes and try to take at least one to market. This weeks is a lusciously lemon 7up cake!!love them and they last so long and stay perfectly fresh.  Knowin me yall know what is comin next!!>>>>>.. this cake is too pretty to leave NEKKED!! yall know I added my "farmgirl bling" to this baby. and just a touch of some zested fresh lemon to top it off!! smells so yummy if this doesnt sell my name is all over it!! be a nice desert for us tomorrow night!!

Heres' a new recipe I tried today.   Struesel topped crumb cake.   Ok a few things to not on the next try at these I made the dough yesterday let it set in fridge overnight which made it have a super nice texture and was easy peasy to shape, next time however I would  not fill the pans with so much dough, the dough weighed 14 oz and rose well above the top of pan and with the streusel ontop there was NO way the lid was goin on it.   I would maybe make it 10 oz and then cut in 1/2 after baking and maybe add a layer of whipped buttercream?  The streusel topping is just butter, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, and walnuts it was good but the recipe called for you to heat the topping before putting on cake I did it dry after putting thru the processor.  This works great I love the crumbly topping and for the "farmgirl bling" on this I added a brown butter glaze ontop.    This does have a very nice texture and is not overly sweet which is nice.  Zucchini pineapple bread was next on the list to be done, this is a favo all the time.  I am running out of zucchini in the freezer so hopefully my plants will take off and it will warm up enough  to produce some for me!!  hurry sunny weather!!  and at least 70 degrees!! LOL next time I make this bread I will not drain the pineapple as it doesnt seem to be as moist as last year so that was the only thing I can think I would have done differently.  I SOOOOOOOOO need to write tips down in a book with my favo recipes.  I dont think about it until after I have made it!LOL  crazy.

Well it was kind of sunny kind of rainy kind of gloomy outside today so it was a good day for us to bake!!  Susan also made some brioche and oh my goodness!!!!!!!! what a wonderful aroma!! I love brioche and love that smell!!   We made a loaf for us for a snacky poo which had olives, ham, guyire cheese and that was super super yummo!! Will have to make some olive cheese bread next week hubby is already whinin because I havent made it for him lately.  So that is already on the list for next week!! LOVE YA honey and promise to make your bread for ya darlin!!  LOL

So gotta run and get out to pick asparagus for market tomorrow.  Have a wonderful evening!! 

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

NO more!!

SNOW!! Actually there not calling for any snow for us for a few days!! YEAH!! kind of happy can u tell?? LOL

Well Kalamazoo market was awesome yesterday!! It took me a bit longer to get there but it was really a gread market day for me!! I love being involved in a winter market, usually I do get a bit down when the outdoor markets end but this is great!! Now gotta find another one maybe? LOL well maybe not!!

This weekend is all bout being home and frankly doing anything? no plans!! YEE HAW!! the boys are happy about that in fact Buster and Barney are laying next to me on the couch and Mr Bubba is in the recliner on the heating pad. (on low for him) so they are content and chilling. I am hoping to get alot of my food labels put on puter and yepper saved on a cd this time!! Hubby got everything back installed on here so I am good to go!! YEAH!!

Off to try to surf around a bit, Blake Shelton on right now "hillbilly bone" love that song, my boys by me, a good cup of espresso and on the puter!! LIFE IS GOOD!!

Have a wonderful weekend yall!! will see u on monday!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Kalamazoo Expo Indoor Market MI

YEAH finally the other night we got our power back on but too late for me to go to my favorite show in saginaw!! I was so bummed out!!! But there was just no way to make up all that time baking. I am glad I stayed home as my hubby's grandfather was back in the hospital and then I just got off the phone with my mother in law my sister just had her baby!! CARISSA a big welcome to the world sweet baby girl!!

I also wanted to post some pics I took but after searchin for several hours I still havent benn able to find my digital camera!! Oh my heavens I hope it appears soon I need it!!!LOL no tellin knowing me lately I could have it just about anywhere!!
SOOOOOOOOOOO no pics today!! SORRY!!
I did attend the Goosefestival in Fennville and it was fun!! we sold lots of cookies, bars and brownies. I did try a few new recipes this week that really turned out just absolutely yummy!! the sour cream pumpkin bars with a browned butter frosting were a huge hit, after the frosting set i added a piece of indian corn to each top and they looked great!! Also the smores topped brownies and butterscotch/chocolate chip brownies sold out. My grandma Rose's recipe for pumpkin spice bread was a big hit and sold out and also the carmel apples with toppings and 2 kinds of chocolate sold well. My chocolate peanut butter swirl fudge and chocolate hazelnut fudge were top sellers.

I am gonna be at the kitchen baking all tues as I start the kalamazoo indoor market on wed this week!! YEAH !!! that will be fun to be at a whole new location with new customers. SO come on over if you live near Kalamazoo, it is at the Expo center on the fairgrounds from 7am to 1pm every wed. I will be offering lots of samples to everyone too!!

Have a blessed afternoon I am off to try to find this danged camera!!
LOL
HUGS!~
Darlene
~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Bread day

Cranberry orange muffins complete with a bit of butter crumb topping and of cource I HAD TO DO MY "FARMGIRL" BLING on them!! An orange flavored glaze after they cooled.

The start of the multi grain bread!!

A finished loaf a whooping 2 pounder too!!

So what do you think of these??? I love the look and they taste out of this WORLD GOOD!!

A super recipe my friend makes alot of. So we made the rustic white loaves today but I forgot my cam at home so sorry no pics of them but they were wonderfully rustic "primitive" LOL Well I did get alot of cookie doughs made up including my chunky peanut peanut butter ones, some black currant jelly cheesecake cookies complete with my "bling" of white chocolate drizzled ontop, a batch of some of my cowboy and cowgirl cookies, and some butter cookies to maybe top with milk chocolate and toffee bits?? Not quite sure yet. Then I got the mixes together for a batch of lemon buttermilk bundt cakes, which I will add some blueberries or maybe fresh red raspberries? that sounds way too yummy!! A batch of peach streusel topped bread, 5 peach basil crisps, and a couple of peach praline pies.and................ that was it for today~~ So now I am so ready for bed. My poor hubby is not feeling well at all, he has had a rough couple of days tith the damp cool weather he has been really sore and fellin rather yukky!! so he's asleep on the couch in living room. It sure has started gettin darker earlier outside but tonight is just gorgeous and most delightful outside. I picked some squash, maters and some beans tonight but I am thinkin of just goin out and closin the "girls" in and then clean up and off tobed with my guys!! all 4 of them!! LOL Not every wife can say she goes to bed at night everynight with 4 handsome guys can she??? I CAN!! LOL and love em all!!

Well have a blessed evening and I will chat more with ya soon!!

~HUGS~

Darlene

(and the men in her farm life) LOL

BYE BYE!~

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

WET Thursday

Butter crumb topped blueberry muffins

I bought this great mini cake pan the other day and made mini peach blueberry cakes

A peach blueberry pound cake complete with my "farmgirl bling" (lol icing drizzles)

Some of our blazing star peaches! LOVE the colors!!

We got ALOT of rain this am and t storms are comin around mid day. SOOOOOOOO I skipped the Allegan market today! ;( I miss it but once things get wet and damp that is it for baked goods!~~figured it wouldnt be good. So I am heading over to the kitchen to play and then have an order to deliver this afternoon. I did manage to get my Spicy Dill Pickle Slices done yesterday and they smell good!! When I was a kid my mom HAD to buy me one of those big deli dill pickles!! each and every time we went for groceries, LOL remember those?? and i loved to drink all that great dill juice!! Now I get such terrible heartburn I dont even buy pickles anymore.

Well I guess I better get off this puter and get my work done!! No days off here til december maybe?? LOL

Have a blessed thursday yall!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Happy week!!

HEY THERE!!
So sorry it has been soooooooo long since I last posted here!! It has been a very hectic crazy busy couple of weeks!! today I went with my brother and mom for his doctor appointment. Poor kid had to have another procedure on his foot, he had an infected ingrown toenail a couple of weeks ago that they surgically removed, it came back and was infecting again so they permanenently removed it today on both sides. I am so proud of him he did so good!! If any of you arent aware he is mentally handicapped and is a joy to be around!!
So JOSEPH I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU!!
So we went out to lunch afterward and did a bit of shopping and well before we knew it the day was gone!! so didnt get to the kitchen today at all!! so tomorrow will be a long day gettin ready for the markets this week!!
On the menu for this week is:::::::::::::
Peach praline cobbler, (my recipe) lots of muffins, loaded carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting, peach pies, cookies, pistachio bread, lemon buttermilk pecan bread, some raspberry crumb bars and lots of coffee cakes in different sizes... and maybe some homemade kitkat bars!! those are yummo!!~

It has been so stinkin hot and humid here it is a welcomed change tonight!! cooler and a breeze out!! YEAH!! I was about ready to try to get a window a/c unit for the barn for all the kids!! LOL they would love that!!
Well better get off here and make hubby some supper! I picked a 1/2 bushel of fresh purple beans and 1/2 bushel of dragons tongue so I am thinking BEANS for tonight for sure!! LOL
maybe a nice big chicken ceasear salad with some of our fresh grape tomatoes, some cukes, onions, and nice fresh romaine lettuce!! NOW i just gotta go pick all that!! not really just can raid my farmstand and bring it in! a nice perk to having a farmstand!!
Have a blessed evenin yall!! I am plannin on taking the camera with me to the kitchen so will try to post pics of all the new yummyos!!
~~HUGS~
Darlene
~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Sunny sunday

OH WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY TODAY HAS BEEN~~ it is only in the high 70s and sunny and BEAUTIFUL!! what a weekend we have had!! Market was the best of the season yesterday and the weather was just right not too hot, no wind and no rain!! Even though we sure do need a nice rain shower for the garden.

"THE EARTH IS GIVEN AS A COMMON STOCK FOR MAN TO LABOR AND LIVE ON. THE SMALL LANDOWNERS ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS PART OF A STATE. Great statement by Thomas Jefferson.

The flowers and trees are in their full beauty of the summer and it is just so wonderous!! it is light out til about 9.30 pm and well just plain ol GREAT!! LOVE SUMMERTIME!~!

Well the girls are all doin better now that the first big heat of the summer is over, they got really warm, we all did last week. One thing to remember if yall have "girls" chickens dont forget that they get heat stressed quickly and very easily too. I read somewhere awhile ago to make up some of water with the commercial electrolytes in it put in ice cube trays and freeze, then pop a few out and tuck them in their waterers. Be sure to leave out plenty of cool water for them to drink and they will eat early in the am when it's hot. I will also put a soaker hose on and a fan in their coop to help them relax and not get overheated, plus since they are free range i have all sorts of pots and buckets and trays out around their stomping ground for them to drink from.

Well hope yall have a blessed day and I will be back soon with some new pics and garden pics too. It is gonna be a wild week I think so I may not be on here as much as I would like but I am still thinkin about what to put on my blog next!! LOL we do have onions, radishes, carrots, taters, celery, spinach and cilantro for sale now too!! and the maters and squash are about ready too!!

Oh by the way if i hadnt already told yall the pic of the rooster on the left side is my RED FRED!! I love that the gal that made this for me incorporated his pic!! he is one cool dude I tell ya!!

Happy gardening and baking from me!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Wet Wed!!

HEY THERE!~ so it is still rainin and a bit cool outside!! but glad we are gettin this nice steady rain all night!! just hope it is gone tomorrow for market!! then it can start up again after 3 pm tomorrow!! LOL

Well we have a new addition to our farm! A male peacock, now I just have to get a female. I really will go and try to get a better pic of him, we just got him and he was pacing in the pen off the side of the coop so it was hard he was still spooked in his new place. His head and neck are just gorgeous aqua and blue!! I have to come up with a name for him yet but will soon!

So just wanted to say hey and hope yall have a happy hump day!!

!!HUGS~~

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

VOTE FOR BUSTER!!

Ok one of my babies is in a contest BUSTER the clown he is contestant number 5 so go and vote!! LOL not that you have to vote for him but he would be much abliged if yall do!! LOL
There are some ADORABLE fur babies on there too~~

Here is the site : so now run on over and vote vote and vote!!

http://petsjubilee-furbabies.blogspot.com/
GREAT SITE ! check out all the great fur baby goodies they offer!!

So i am gonna go to the kitchen again and finish up frosting the cupcakes, wrappin the bread, and packaging some of the cookies for market tomorrow!! DONT FORGET if yall are in and around ALLEGAN MICHIGAN the market is open from 8 am to 2 pm. Here are a few of my offerings this week:
I made a batch of hot pepper jelly and some packages of my apple crisp mix
some double/triple dipped pretzels
cream cheese frosted loaded carrot cake muffins
grandmas old fashioned chunky peanut butter cookies
some yummy chunky fruity granola cereal
cream cheese frosted red velvet cupcakes
banana nut bread, cheddar pepper bread (my favo), applesauce bread
chocolate chunk cookies
banana muffins
and today am making some scones and more cookies!! And I will have more at market on Sat in South Haven Michigan!! STOP ON BY!!

They are calling for 80 degrees today!! YEAH YIPPEE YEE HAW! love this weather and hopefully will get some much needed rain too!!! SO hope yall have a truly glorious day!! Enjoy!!
~HUGS~
Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Bakin away thursday

LOOK AT MR BOOOPIE WOOPIE BOO!! HE is layin ontop of his little sister Chevy!! He was not hurting her at all and she laid there without makin a peep!! or a meow!! He is so cute whenever she is layin on a chair he does this for some reason!! CRAZY pup!!! He is such a mommy's boy too!! LOVE YA BABY!!! LOL


DARNIT DANGIT OH DANG!!! I left my camera at home when I went to the kitchen today to bake!! so already put it in the truck to take with tomorrow. So here is the list of things I baked today!! after my mom and I went to an early breakfast!!LOL


Banana Nut muffins


Loaded carrot cake muffins


Zucchini Pineapple muffins


Lemon Poppyseed muffins


Cream cheese frosted mini carrot cake loaves


Zucchini, cheddar biscuits with ground up carrots, dried tomato flakes, onions and a bit of seasoning


Chocolate Dipped rice krispy pops


Mini glazed lemon bundt cakes


Butter cake muffins with a raspberry cream cheese frosting


OH and the cutest little ice cream cup cakes with frosting and will have some foodie embellishments to them!! LOL this country gal loves the embellishments whether it be on paper, in a scrapbook or on CUPCAKES!! LOL


so that is all I made today and it felt so good to bake!!! LOVE IT!! truly beautiful day!! This weekend my mom and I are gonna can some strawberry jam and maybe some hot pepper jelly!! so be on the lookout for lots of pics coming to your puter screen soon!!LOL


Have a blessed evening yall!!


~~HUGS~~





~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

BL and Danny Gokey idol

BIGGEST LOSER!! OK I really want to just say I SO WANTED MIKE to win!! Did yall watch last night!! Those transformations are just truly inspiring!! Hubby and I love that show and have watched almost every season!! BOB and JILIAN we love you guys and how much you give of yourself for others!! I could not believe how terrific TARA looked too!! what a pretty pretty gal!! she could be a model again!!
Being a michigander we were rooting for the father son team MIKE AND RON!! and you guys look truly amazing!! We are very proud of you both and how you represented our great state!!
WOW~! now did yall watch Idol tonight??? I have to say i am so so disappointed that DANNY GOKEY is leaving!! WHAT WHAT WHAT???????? CAN U BELIEVE IT??? I cant!! I gotta go wipe the tears off my face, my mascara is running now!! REALLY now I have voted every time for him. What a soulful guy with an amazing voice!! Good luck to Adam and Chris!!! even though i am really quite upset by this vote!! WE LOVE YA DANNY!! cant wait to buy your cd's youll be makin!!

So have a blessed evening!! i am off to bed as it will be an early am i have to get more bakin done for market!!
DONT FORGET IF YALL ARE IN OR NEAR SOUTH HAVEN MICHIGAN stop on by our market for some great finds from everyone!!!

~HUGS~~
Darlene
~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Asparagus and plants

THIS IS MY FIRST MARKET WEEK!! SOUTH HAVEN MICHIGAN FARMERS MARKET DOWNTOWN SAT 8 am to 2 pm~~stop on by~~ there are alot of great booths and yummy goodies for ya!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bluish purple lobelia plant!! This has to be one of my favo colors of flowers!!

One of the gardens that goes along our front bean garden. A dear friend gave me this old bike and I found the back double basket at an estate sale last summer and it was made for this bike!! so this year all the wire baskets will be planted. I have to be patient in planting as last spring we lost several flats of flowers and veggies I planted too early in may and BAM!! DoubLE BAMO!! we got snow in may!!! lost em all ,so I promised myself NO early planting this year!! LOL at least I can plant in the greenhouse though!! LOL

Hubby found this old horse drawn plow at an estate sale too and so here she is in my little garden next to my greenhouse.

One of the first cosmos flats to bloom!! LOVE these guys and they grow and spread each summer!! Last summer my plants were huge at almost 5 feet tall and bushy!!

Some of the tomatoes coming along nicely. Purple cherokee heirlooms, orange sunburst heirlooms.

2 of the blue lobelia plants!! GORGEOUS!!

a few of the girls came out to visit a customer this afternoon. You just have to say "COME HERE GIRLS or OH GIRLS" and they come a runnin on over!!

A few goodies for sale in the farmstand. The stones are made by a very dear friend and are all natural HYPERTOOFA spelling may not be right?? anyway there are pondscapes with a hole in them for a fountain and also deep ones for butterfly or bird baths. The best thing is they were out all winter and they do not freeze and crack on you. They expand with the weather.

Front of farmstand gettin ready for another season!!

Ok that is it for pics today!! I do hope yall had a very very happy MOTHERS DAY!! I sure did spent the first part of the day with my mom at the flower shop and then went to my great mother in laws and then to Grandmas house, my hubbys grandma Jan so we had a fun filled blessed day!! and then came home to spend the rest of it relaxin with my "boys" Buster, Bubba and Barney. My dear precious kids and Hubby of cource!!

OH AND BY THE WAY WE ARE PICKING ASPARAGUS TO SELL!!! IT is in the farmstand and I will bring it to market on sat in south haven. WHICH by the way will be my first market day!! We will have a great selection of our baked goods too!! STOP ON BY!!

Downtown South Haven MI 8am to 2pm

Have a great night!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene