Spring Chickens And Daffodils II

Have you ever seen white daffodils? For over 17 years, these beauties have bloomed as a sign that winter is finally over and it is time to get out of the house for the pleasant weather and sunshine days. . .

I have numerous daffodils planted all over the farmstead, but these are my favorites because until this year the "cup" was yellow and the petals white. . .What a surprise when March came and they were ALL white! . . .Of course, they fit in well with the farmhouse decor. . .but what happened to the yellow? . .Does anyone know? . .Something missing in the soil, maybe? . .I need some info! 

 Actually, I do like them a lot. . .It's a change. . .

These were saved from the unusual freeze we had a couple of weeks ago. . .I wasn't home at the time but John knew how much I loved them, so he cut a canning jar full. . .I was certainly thrilled to see them. . .

You are probably wondering what all this has to do with chickens? . .Well. . .I posted a story several years ago that is as true today as then. . .About spring bringing not only daffodils but boxes of tiny chicks to my Grandmother's door. . .I knew when those little fluff balls arrived and the daffodils were blooming outside that spring had arrived. . .

SPRING CHICKENS AND DAFFODILS

I think of it every year. . .and hope you'll enjoy the story again. . .

Eggless Chocolate Pecan Raisin Tomato Bread

Tomatoes in a sweet quick bread? Well...it is actually tomato soup. . .I have to be honest with you. . .When I originally found the recipe in one of my 1930s cookbooks, I wasn't quite sure of it. . .No eggs and tomato soup? What a combination!. . .As they say, though, "Don't knock it until you have tried it.". . .If you like spiced quick breads, you'll love this. . .

I was inspired to pull out the recipe and bake several yesterday when I was purging almost out-of-date canned goods that had gotten pushed to the back of the cabinet. . .Lately I have been doing a lot of clean-outs all over the house. . .It's been spring cleaning on steroids. . .When I found four cans of tomato soup, I decided to make bread. . .I know that it freezes well and will be a great treat for John during the summer. . .

 

EGGLESS CHOCOLATE PECAN RAISIN TOMATO BREAD

1 can tomato soup

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves 

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

1/4-1/2 package raisins

 1 level teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water

1/2 cup chopped pecans

 Mix by hand the tomato soup, oil, and sugar until sugar is dissolved.

In a separate bowl, sift all dry ingredients together and add raisins.

Combine the tomato soup mixture with the dry ingredients.

 Stir in baking soda and water mixture. Do not over mix.

Pour into a greased loaf pan.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans, pushing them slightly into the batter.

Bake at 325 degrees until done.

Top with glaze while still warm.

GLAZE

1 cup confectioner's sugar

3 tablespoons lemon juice

SPOILER ALERT: 

This bread is so moist and delicious that you can't eat just one slice. . .(smile)

ENJOY!

Gone To The Farm

It was sometime in the late 1990s that I had a huge task in front of me. . .We had just bought a 1910 Craftsman-style home in a small town in Arkansas. . .It had three floors, the third being a large room attic. . .And it was full. . .Full of old photos, papers, broken furniture, books. . .all the things a family had accumulated for at least 80 years. . .

It fell upon me to clear it all out. . .

While I did find many 'keepers'. . .I think my favorite was this simple note from one of the mothers who had raised their children in the huge old house. . ."Gone To The Farm. . .Ma". . .

I became attached to that note. . .and carried it with me over the years as my job opportunities took me to other states. . .Never realizing. . .nor desiring. . .that I would be returning to the farm one day. . .It was almost as if the note looked into my future. . .and knew what was to be.

So here we are today. . ."Gone to our own farm". . .and the note remains in my treasures. . .I am so thankful that we have been safe down on the farm during these days of the virus and lock-downs. . .It has become a haven and an even greater delight for us. 

One never knows when the smallest thing can become such a blessed one. . .

Christmas At Home. . .

Christmas came in with a BLAST. . .

A fire in the open hearth fireplace was certainly necessary on Christmas Day. . .Outdoors the temperature plummeted to 18 degrees but with the wind howling, it felt like 9. . .May not be unusual for our friends to the north. . .but here in the Delta, where winters are fairly mild, it was COLD!

The fire always adds so much to our Christmas Day so we would have lit it anyway. . .Mr. LaShay loved it. . .If you'll look in the end chair, you can spot him as he gazes at the fire. . .

All in all, it was a quiet Christmas for us. . .but we enjoyed the down-time tremendously. . .Our Christmas dinner was the highlight with smoked turkey and ham, grits dressing and gravy, cranberry apple relish, fresh corn, a green bean casserole (a tradition), ambrosia, pumpkin 'mashed potatoes' with pecans, dates, coconut and lots of butter. . .

And for dessert, fruitcake made with my Grandmother's recipe and holiday cheesecake. . .There may have just been two of us, but we didn't let that stop us from celebrating the day. . .

Additional dollar store buys included those adorable snowman mugs above. . .They are quite large and could double as soup bowls, too. . .Other buys: Christmas plates, Hot Cocoa sign, small Christmas tree, berries in glass, white tipped mini pine cones, white candles, candlesticks, checked bow, checked snowflake. . .making my dollar store $50 challenge a success. . .I'm not sure I actually spent the entire $50. . .It was definitely a fun thing to do. . .

And so. . .with Christmas over, it means a New Year is coming soon. . .It is hard to believe it is that time already. . .My New Year's wish will be for a better 2021 for all. . .and I'll be sure to eat black-eyed peas and cornbread this New Year's Day for luck. . .I don't want to leave any options for a better year undone. . .(grin). . .

Santa Is Ready. . .

Santa has packed up his red farm truck with trees, packages, and reindeer feed for the long trip he will soon be making. . .He'll leave from here at THE COUNTRY FARM HOME Christmas Eve. . .just as soon as the sun goes down. . .As always, he looks forward to bringing joy to young and old as they find their gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. . .but for now, he's happy and content just resting on our sofa. . .

Okay. . .so I'm a little into my imagination. . .but who wouldn't be in this bright and festive living room? . .Now you can see where previous peeks are fitting into the scheme of things. . .for here I continue to add little touches from the dollar stores. . .while using make-do items around the house. . .

My one purchase--not from a dollar store--is the primitive Santa from Whitehouse Creations in Bernie, Missouri. . .He is dressed in a piece from a vintage woven coverlet and holds a cotton Christmas tree and his friend, Mr. Snowman. . .I stuffed a small reindeer feed bag into his arms, too. . .

I decided on the farm truck theme back in the fall, long before Thanksgiving, when the dollar stores began putting Christmas items out. . .I snatched many of them up because I was sure they would go quickly. . .The farm truck theme has been around several Christmases now, and normally I stay away from what has already been done. . .But this theme still tugs at my heart. . .because I AM the Farmer's Daughter. . .I rode with Daddy a lot in the old 'bob' truck. . .and I have Daddy's 1983 'Big Red' Chevy truck sitting in the drive. . .

I bought the metal truck a couple of years ago. . .and have used it in the summertime as well as winter and never tire of it. . .So the dollar stores certainly made me happy when they had the country truck theme with complimentary decor. . .

I think the key to decorating with dollar store themes is to not go overboard with them. . .Add a few here and there. . .coordinate with the other rooms in the house. . .and it ends up being striking instead of  'cute-sy'. . .Make it Plain and Simple. . .Don't over do so that everyone can appreciate the entire scene instantly. . .

From the dollar stores, I purchased: red plaid bows, metal 'Noel', reindeer feed ornaments, black plaid mitten ornaments, red candle, brown wrapping paper and string, red cardinal, and the HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS sign. . .so appropriate for this Christmas when so many of us will be home. . .but it also brings good memories of past Christmases at the farmhouse. . .

The entire setting brings smiles. . .Hope it sends some your way, too. . .

The Candles Are Lit. . .

What is it about candles that tug at our hearts. . .especially at Christmas? . .The warmth and glow set against the cold, blustery winter scene beyond the window brings calm and contentment. . .in ways that only the heart can feel. . .

It is a bright spot in the darkness of gray winter skies. . .as a hope swells up within. . .that life will be even better in the coming year. . .It is the excitement of the season. . .and the joy of family. . .

All very true. . .but there must be more. . .I think candles make me ponder. . .to stop and think about the blessings in my life. . .and to be thankful. . .in all ways. . .In fact. . .every time I light candles. . .I'm reminded of Christmases past when my family was all together. . .including the aunts and uncles and cousins. . .I'm reminded of those times when I couldn't be home because of work or distance. . .and yet. . .I knew those at the Christmas table were thinking of me, too. . .and loving me from a distance. . . 

And I'm reminded of Christmas present. . .when the world may seem topsy-turvey. . .and we may be sheltered in our homes due to this pandemic that has changed all of our lives. . .but in it all. . .aren't we still blessed? . .Don't we still need to stop and be thankful? . .I know John and I are. . .and lighting candles. . .cuddling by the fire. . .and feeling good to be with each other. . .makes all the difference. . .

Tonight I plan to wish upon a star. . .A Christmas star. . .for right after sundown there will be a bright and shining star. . .much as it was that first Christmas. . .There won't be another like it for 500 years. . .And my wish will be that The Light will continue to shine in all its forms all over the world. . .guiding our way through the darkness. . .BLESSING US FOR YET ANOTHER YEAR. . .

The Stockings Are Hung. . .

When I was a little girl, we never had big felt stockings or those knitted specifically for Santa to stuff. . .We chose one from Daddy's sock drawer. . .Always trying to get the largest and most stretched one he had. . .Then one Christmas, my Grandmother made us our first real stockings of felt with all kinds of embellishments on it. . .and of course. . our name. . .That year, Santa had to come up with more goodies to stuff them. . .

But I must say that after all the numerous stockings I've collected over the years. . .I still like socks out of the drawer the best. . .

I've had the plaque hanger for years and never found the right place for it. . .I think this year I have. . .Such a simple thing. . .but it brings to my mind the Christmases of my childhood. 

On our breezeway porch. . .I decided that I was tired of the traditional Christmas wreath. . .so when I saw the Santa and huge stocking at a dollar store, I knew exactly what I would do with them. . .I did fill the stocking with a little stuffing to make it stand out. . .The Santa was one I could not resist. . .The moment I spotted him, I knew he was a keeper. . .Together, they make a fun and festive entrance into the keeping room. . .

Decorating from the dollar stores has certainly been different from my usual decor. . .but I have enjoyed the challenge. . .And there's more to come. . .(grin). . .soon. . .

HOLIDAY BLESSINGS!

The Tree Is Trimmed. . . . . .

It's a gray, cold day outdoors. . .but indoors, the tree is trimmed. . .and the lights are on. . .giving the entire keeping room a soft glow. . .

This year's tree is a vintage one. . .It's been in our family for years. . .It's needles shed a little. . .and some places are a little bare. . .although you really can't see it once all the decorations are on. . .

I decided to trim it in plain and simple style green glass-like balls, "snowballs" and white glittery snowflakes. . .inspired by the green sled I fell in love with and purchased in Missouri. . .Did you notice I've stayed true to using black and white for drama with plaids, gingham checks, and flower-y wrapping paper?. .Underneath I have a few wrapped packages, but decided to make it more farmhouse with a basket and crocks. . .Most people would never think about putting crocks at the tree, but why not? . .Have a little fun.

I did challenge myself this year to decorate with items from the dollar stores. . .and allowed only fifty dollars to make my purchases. . .The rest had to be make-do with decorations I had. . .and some live greenery. . .You'll see most of the purchases later in the living room. . .but I did incorporate a few in the keeping room. . .just to bring a flow within the house from one room to the other. . .

Believe it or not, the sled was already decorated. . .except for the plaid mittens. . .It is small enough to tuck under the stockings and not overwhelm the tree. . .

One corner down. . .more to go. . .But, honestly. . .don't you love the challenge of it?

Christmas decor doesn't have to be expensive. . .Just use the imagination. . .

From the Dollar Stores: Victorian Stocking, Plaid Mittens, Check Snowflakes, Additional Green Balls, Wrapping Paper, "Falalala",  Ceramic Red Truck