It's tutu time!

Lovely Kasey (on the right) and friend,  holding up my future granddaughter's tutus.

Awwwwwwwww.....so CUTE!

Mama-to-be.

'Mama-now' Laura with Kate and the back of Collin's head.

The front of Collin's head, a few fingers and some toes. 

Pismo

Me, the Pacific Ocean and sand dunes. 

Jeanette with Pismo Beach in the background.

Tonight's sunset.

I guess there's gonna be some serious snow on the Croft while I'm gone. 

I'm going to take some serious walks on the beach...

Wish you were here!

A Wonderful Mother

Granddaughter Kate's birthday gift to her mother.  Too sweet for words...

 A Wonderful Mother

by Kate M. age 9

A wonderful mother is hard to find,

She's sweeter than honey,

And she's very kind.

A wonderful mother is gentle and true,

A wonderful mother is patient with you.

A wonderful mother will keep the house clean.

Sometimes a mother is not what she seems.

A mother will cook good meals to eat,

They're all very yummy, and they taste quite sweet.

Though this poem has come to an end,

There's more good things about a mother, 

My friend.

My mother about her has many things good,

Just like every mother should.

PS this poem is true.

When Chickens meet Van Gogh

"Starry Night" in the henhouse. 

Maybe I could throw a few chickens into a Monet?

An Ode to Laura on her birthday

Just begun, yet not quite so
My life upon the earth
Seemed to start
(for reasons of recording with the government and others who deem my
starting date so very, very necessary)
Upon the moment of my birth.

The day was cold, trees were bare
Though hints of spring were in the air
And I, all wet and pink and cute,
Made my arrival in my natal suit.

The sun came up, the sun went down
Like Scooge in Dicken's tale
Once a gurgling babe in arms
Now babes follow in my trail.

Their eyes----how bright!
Their clothes---how dirty!
Imagine how I celebrate
On this, my one and thirty.

What once was only brothers
Mom and Dad and me
Did soon become---to my surprise---
My personal family tree!

So raise a glass!
Sing that song
That once a year is sung
To my relief and happiness
I've just turned thirty-one.

More January harvest

                                               
                                      Lunchtime!  What's in the garden today?

Spinich, eggs, red leaf lettuce, turnip, romaine lettuce. 

Mixed green salad tossed with oil and vinegar. Simple. Delicious.

Not too many people eat turnips which is too bad. They are such a versatile plant and so good for you! The greens are tasty when mixed with other greens like kale or chard. My chickens are so stoked when I grab a handful of turnip leaves and toss them into the chicken yard. One farmer I read about fed his cows all winter on just turnips and the cattle fared no worse than if they had been eating hay. The problem with the root is that it tends to be bitter when not carefully cooked, slightly reminiscent of radishes. To keep the bitter out of the bite, you can do one of two things: 

1. When boiling turnips, change the water when the turnips are half cooked. 

The nasty flavor goes down the drain.

or

2. Boil turnips with the addition of an apple.  The apple does 'something' and the turnips taste yummy!

Mash the boiled turnips as you would potatoes.  (I like adding a clove or two of chopped garlic toward the end of the cooking time for a subtle garlic flavor.) 

Now for some chicken trivia....

Question:  How can you know what color egg a chicken will lay? 

Answer:  If the chicken's 'ears' are white, the egg will be white.  If her 'ears' are tan, the eggs will be brown.

This little lady lays white eggs...

This buff's eggs are brown. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted a name suggestion for the watercolor chicken on my kitchen wall. 

Ruthann came up with my first pick:  "Garfunkle"!

It's Snowing in Greenleaf

Once matte and dark

the asphalt road lies quiet 

beneath a snowy batt 

the way I lie, 

warm and still

beneath a drift of quilts

It's snowing in Greenleaf.

January harvest

Bounty collected this morning. 

Kale chopped. Carrots and beets grated.

Eggs poached in a pan.

Veggies lightly stir-fried just until the kale was wilted.

Dab of butter, salt and pepper. 

From greenhouse and henhouse to my stomach in less than 20 minutes. 

Food doesn't get any fresher than that!

A birthday gift from my daughter---she painted a chicken in watercolors just for me!

Don't you just love his quirky expression?  He is currently hanging on the wall in my kitchen, but

he needs a name---any suggestions?