Double Up Farm

So, I have been more or less holed up in my bedroom for the last two months recuperating from surgery. I am headed back to work next week, and today, I crept out to meet a friend for a pedicure. Except that it wasn't just my friend, it was two other friends who drove a long ways to be here. And it wasn't just a pedicure, it was coffee, and a pedicure, and more coffee, and lunch, and hours of wonderful conversation with wonderful women. Such a fabulous time - it almost makes

Two weeks post-op from my knee replacement surgery. Turns out, the spinning wheel is kind of a gentle, effective recuperative activity, so I am getting in a few minutes each day. My house is an incredibly, dirty mess, my friends have plied me with delicious foods, my husband is knocking himself out taking care of the farm - and the dogs just want to know when they can get back in the bed with me. One day, this will all be a funny memory I can smile about. Today is not that

I have been thinking about marriage a lot lately. I recently attended a beautiful wedding, and found myself thinking about the vows used. They seemed to be focused on the bride and groom respecting and retaining their individual rights. This is a good thing, but for me, it is not what marriage is about. Marriage is about partners giving up of themselves to form a couple, about putting the needs and happiness of someone else above their own, about working to form something

Behind the scenes at the market booth - with a special photo-bomb from my daughter-in-law, Kim. Or as I like to call her, my daughter-in-love (because technically, they have not set a wedding date and are not married YET, no matter how much subtle pressure I keep bringing to bear - keeping my fingers crossed for a Thanksgiving wedding.....) Last spring I ran across a little clothing item called Elephant Pants. These are big, baggy pants, that come with wonderful graphics of

On Sunday morning, my husband said "what I want to do today is have you cook delicious things all day while I sit around and eat them." Now, he rarely comes right out and asks for something, AND I do love to cook - so kind of a win, win. First, I made a salmon noodle casserole with some salmon he had smoked earlier in the week. This recipe started life as a beef and tomato casserole, but you know how it is when you get to messing around with a recipe. This was really delic

Sometimes I lose track of why I am keeping this little place on the interwebs - I keep thinking it is for my fledgling business, and it is. But, it is for me and my family as well. And while I am (to everyone's amazement) usually upbeat and enthusiastic, and focused entirely on food, sometimes, not so much. My older sister died unexpectedly last week. We had spent many years estranged, and I am eternally grateful that we were brought back together last year, and learned th

When they were little, and for many years when they weren't so little, I told the girls stories about two little squirrels. These were smart, funny, beautiful squirrels; but they were not always very good about listening to their mom and they had lots of adventures when they didn't do what they were told. Everything always turned out well, and they were particularly interested since the squirrels had names very similar to their own. For mother's day this year Spencer got me

I really love my children, and in fact, have loved everything about them from the moment I got pregnant. But I have never really thought I would be a good nana. And, I am not really anxious for my daughters to make that happen. But lately, watching a good friend fall in love with her grandson, I have been thinking it might not be so bad when it happens. And also, a lady I work with at the Farmer's Market makes these bootie sandals - I have been ogling them for weeks, just

Today is our first Ansel-versary - that is, a year since we welcomed Ansel to our home. Ansel had been rescued from Animal Control as a puppy, but while the rest of his litter were adopted, he was not. And so he grew up in a shelter, spending the better part of 5 years in a pen. I saw his picture, among hundreds of others, and knew immediately I was his person. The rescue seemed hesitant - he was, after all, 5 years old, and had a few quirks. And he is not a traditionally

my mind still talks to you my heart still looks for you my soul knows that you are at peace #Family

I have a terrible tendency to forget my wedding anniversary - mostly because it seems I have always been with this man, and he has always had this place in my heart and my life. March 27, 1998 - Today I marry my best friend, the one I laugh with, live for, love… #Family

My daughters will be the first to tell you that I may be a bit overly focused on weddings these days. Those of you who hang around me, know that yes…yes…I did actually buy my daughter a wedding dress (she was not actually dating anyone at the time, but why wait until the last minute). The girls, however, have this crazy idea that they are going to do things in their own time, leaving me high and dry. So last weekend, a friend mentioned to my husband that he was getting m

On a wintery day in 2010, we went outside to find three puppies curled up under a tree in our front yard. With a little research, we found out where they belonged (they had wandered more than half a mile to end up at our house. The owners came to get them, but by then, the Wolf had found his way into our family, and we kept him. He is a sensitive, smart soul, and we love him to the moon and back! #Dogs #Family

Friday was scheduled to be Family Pie Day, but an unexpected guest meant we moved the date to Saturday, or as it will always be known in the future: FatterDay !!! For most of my life, I was unable to make an edible pie crust. Thanks to Alton Brown, I now make amazing pie crust and we are pie-ing it up with a vengeance!! We love love love pie. So I got up early, and started baking: Appetizer: Salami and Gouda hand pie rollups ​First Course: Feta Cheese and Kalam

My husband does not usually ask for special things. So when he came downstairs yesterday and said "Do I smell cinnamon rolls?", I took the hint. This morning, I made up another batch of these delicious rolls, using vanilla frosting instead of cream cheese frosting - not sure which I like more. And of course, this batch had raisins - just for Dave! ​Dough: 1 c warm milk 2 eggs 1/3 c melted butter 4 c flour 1/2 c sugar 1 packet rapid rise yeast Filling: 1 c brown sugar 2 T

Despite a career in I.T., I am not terribly gifted at the managing my Interweb presence. Mostly, I am tired of trying to keep track of multiple pages, so am giving the Blog approach a go. I don't have a lot to say, but I like to say it often. Today is snowy and cold, I have cooked myself into a stupor, cleaned until I am tired, but the drive to produce has left me here! Made some delicious brownies this morning; Roasted cauliflower sandwiches for lunch (I know, it sou