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Newsletter>
Where is the summer going?
July 30, 2008
Dear Friends,
Can you believe that July is coming to an end? It is
already August! How can this be? Winter always drags on
and on for me, but summertime slips away before I can blink
my eyes!
It seems that I never have enough time in the long, summer
day to complete all of my tasks. I have gardening work
that needs to be done, the preservation of our harvest as
it comes in, trips to the u-pick farm, cleaning and
painting projects, baby chicks to tend to, and the usual
farm and household chores that need to be done daily no
matter what the season...tending to children, preparing
meals, making soap. I wake up in the morning and before I
can even enjoy my breakfast I am checking off items on my
mental list of what needs done first. I seldom work on one
project at a time. Like most mothers, you can usually find
me multi-tasking on several different things at once. It
is well past my usual "winter" bedtime before I ever shower
and slip into my comfy jammies on these summer evenings.
Even after I ready myself for bed, I struggle with the urge
to get some reading done or plan the coming day...when my
aching, pregnant body is screaming at me to just close my
eyes and sleep! It helps during these busy seasons to stop
and reflect on just what has been accomplished...otherwise
you can feel like you are just chasing your tail! If you
are feeling like you are running in circles, may I suggest
that rather than make a list of what still needs done, you
make a list of all of the things that you have finished
this past month? It will make you feel better! Also, if a
friend or family member invites you over for an afternoon
visit...go! I always struggle with this. I can think of a
million other things that I should be doing. I have "taken
the day off" a few times this past month to visit with
others and though I might not accomplish much on "the
list", I have not regretted any of those visits or
considered them wasted days.
We have enjoyed some delicious meals recently thanks to our
bounty of garden vegetables! What has our menu looked
like? Well, we are loving this season of sweet corn!
Fresh picked corn on the cob is so scrumptious that it
seldom even needs butter. Just make sure that you are
getting corn from small, home gardens. (I read this week
that 85% of the field corn grown now is genetically
modified. We are living in a scary world. Ironically, the
supporters of gmo's claim that these new foods will protect
the world from a food crisis. Isn't it interesting then
that since these "frankenfoods" were introduced we have
seen a global food crisis immerge? Makes you wonder...)
String or snap beans couldn't be easier to prepare.
Lightly steam them, add some butter, sprinkle on some fresh
herbs, season with a bit of salt and pepper...delicious!
We have also been enjoying fresh blueberries! Yummy!
Blueberries are my favorite summer fruit.
Blueberry Drop Bisquits
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 TB baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp natural salt
3 TB butter
1 cup cold fresh milk or kefir
1 cup fresh blueberries
Work the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry
cutter and gradually add the milk. Mix until just blended
and still course. Add blueberries and continue mixing with
a large wooden spoon. Mix gently so that you do not mash
up the berries. Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto a
buttered cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes in a preheated
375 degree oven and serve warm with butter and honey.
We have also been juicing wild crabapples for jelly making
and homemade cider. I have put up pickles almost everyday
too. I finally got my kombucha tea culturing again and,
let me tell you, anybody who is still not drinking kombucha
doesn't know what they are missing. I just really feel
better in general when I am drinking my kombucha tea. I go
easy on it during pregnancy, but without it my digestive
juices just don't work as well. A glass after dinner helps
tremendously.
We have also been busy making lots of fun soaps and new
natural baby products with goat milk and herbs. My little
business venture with my Amish neighbors is turning out
some darling aprons, bags, and dolls! Check out all of our
new stuff at www.farmsteadorganics.etsy.com.
The new kitchen shop is closed temporarily because I
discovered that I was heaping too much on my plate!
I am also going to try to keep our blog updated better with
pictures and updates. I have already posted some pictures
and am planning on posting several more this week! Check
that out at www.homesteadblogger.com/fromfieldsandgardens.
Hope you all continue to have a great week!
Blessings,
Jennifer
www.fromfieldsandgardens.com
www.farmsteadorganics.etsy.com
www.homesteadblogger.com/fromfieldsandgardens
fieldsandgardens@aol.com (e-mail)
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