Cloverleaf Farm

Brown Eggs Are Local Eggs...

2011-04-21T05:43:00.002-04:00

Contrary to popular belief, "Brown eggs are local eggs, and local eggs are fresh" is pure bunk. It was an ad campaign, and a poor one at that. Why would they want to alienate the white egg farmer?

Here's the scoop on eggs. The color of the chickens ears are what decides the color of the egg. Yes, chickens have ears. Brown eggs come from chickens with red ears. This includes many varities of chickens including New Hampshire Reds, and Rhode Island Reds. White eggs come from chickens with white ears, like Leghorns and Blue Andalusians. Then you have chickens who lay green eggs. Those are Araucanas or a cross called Americanas.

No matter which egg color you choose, they are all eggs, and all taste the same. There is no difference in nutritional value either.

Much Needed Sunshine

2011-04-11T06:16:00.004-04:00

It was a great weekend here at Cloverleaf Farm. Beautiful sunny weather, with temps near 70.
We got a great deal of work done outside, and finally had the chance to clean out the barn. The chicken coop is temporarily fixed, so now we can have both sets of chickens out and about. They are all happy about that.
We still have quite a lot to do to get ready for the season. First, the rest of the snow has to melt. Then, we will have to let the fields dry out before we get to plowing.
Ah, it was good to be outdoors again!

The Silence of Dr. Oz

2011-04-07T05:34:00.002-04:00

We have still been waiting to hear any response from the Dr. Oz Show. I was hoping to at least speak to someone on his staff, but alas, nothing. He made a big mistake telling people to use lemon balm oil for stress. I am sure that there are thousands of people who got really sick from taking his advice. It makes none of his words credible to me anymore. His silence speaks volumes. Like most doctors I know, he is afraid to admit an error. You can read more about Dr. Oz and the lemon oil factor here.

Waiting For Their Response

2011-03-27T05:23:00.003-04:00

After watching the Dr. Oz segment on the internet, I felt I had to contact both Dr. Oz, and Terri Trespicio. I am now waiting to see if they respond. As a clinical herbalist, it is scary to be watching uninformed people give out advice on national television. Especially advice that is wrong. I have had several clients contact me about the segment, and I have had to tell them that both Dr. Oz and Ms. Trespicio were wrong. Lemon balm oil is not for stress. Lemon balm tincture is. I can just imagine how many people out there that saw the show and are now ordering lemon balm oil and drinking it. Luckily, with my clients I can talk to them, but I can not reach the thousands ordering lemon balm oil from another company. It also scares me to think that someone would buy lemon balm essential oil, not knowing the difference and take that internally. Essential oils should never be taken internally. Doctors should not be giving out advice on herbal medicine, unless they know what they are talking about. I wonder if they realize, that they could be in for some very expensive law suits.

Is Dr. Oz For Real?

2011-03-27T04:20:00.004-04:00

Dr. Oz had a segment on television called Dr Oz Middle Age Cures. During a brief segment, he mentions using lemon balm oil to reduce stress. What they were actually using on the show was lemon balm tincture, not lemon balm oil. Lemon Balm Oil is used topically for skin conditions and should not be taken internally. Lemon balm tincture is used for stress, but it is medicine, and you can’t start putting droppers full of it into your mouth willy nilly like they did on the show. Nor should you squirt dropper fulls into your glass of water. What are these people thinking? Herbs are medicine and Dr. Oz should treat them as such. It was totally irresponsible for him to start adding dropperfuls of lemon balm into a glass, and then putting more right into her mouth. A normal dosage of lemon balm tincture would be 1 dropperful in a glass of water or tea 3-4 times a day. Dr. Oz overdosed this woman on national television, and made a joke of it. Yes, lemon balm is used for stress and anxiety. Lemon balm is a sedative herb. All you need is lemon balm herb and a cup of hot water to drink it as a medicinal tea. Tinctures are made from alcohol, and they never even mentioned this. People who are sensitve to alcohol should not be taking tincures. Lemon balm can be drank as a tea, 3-4 times a day. You don’t want to mix it with other sedative herbs like valerian as Terri Trespicio stated. Valerian is nature’s Valium. It isn’t necessary to mix Valerian with other sedative herbs. When you start mixing herbs, you have to know what you are doing. Too many sedative herbs can harm you. An important aspect not mentioned on the show by Dr. Oz or Ms. Trespicio are side effects nor interaction with other drugs. Remember that herbal medicine is medicine. Just like prescription drugs, you shouldn’t mix them without consulting someone who understands interactions. For example, if you are taking medication for thyroid issues, you shouldn’t even touch lemon balm much less inject it. Know what you are doing before taking any medicine including herbs. You can read more about lemon balm herb here: Lemon Balm Herbal Information. Since doctors normally don't study herbal medicine, why are they doling out advice on national television. Wrong advice at that! So, who is Terri Trespicio, and why is she giving out that kind of advice? According to her bio, she does not have a background in herbal medicine. She has a degree in fine arts and creative writing but there is no mention of any training to discuss herbalism or treatments using herbs. We are concerned that people setting themselves up as experts throw out advice with no mention that individuals should do their homework before taking herbs as medicine. It is unprofessional to have such a light hearted approach to herbal medicine. It is totally irresponsible for Dr. Oz or Terry Trespicio to be doling out herbal advice in a playful manner as they did on this show.

Mother Nature...Give It Up

2011-03-19T07:29:00.002-04:00

I awoke this morning to gray clouds. I couldn't believe it when I opened the curtain and peeked out with my sleepy eyes. It's snowing...again. I could have sworn the weather called for sunny skies today. I was hoping to get some more laundry done.

We've had such nice warm weather the past few days, I was starting to enjoy not having to wear a coat. Sixty degrees in the sun. I even saw fresh green grass growing. It was heaven.
I am not sure what Mother Nature is doing. There is only a couple days away. What's up with the snow? I'm pretty sure we have had enough of it for this winter.
Mother Nature, you need to give up the snow and let Spring take it's rightful place.

New Products

2011-03-12T05:22:00.002-05:00

We have been busy all winter finishing up our new website, getting our new packaging on the shelves, and debuting our line of new baby products. It has been a whirlwind of a winter.

We still have two more new products coming soon. Herbal Eye Cream and Autumn's Baby Body Wash. They are both all ready, we just have to wait for packaging to arrive. Herbal Eye Cream is formulated for the sensitive eye area. This cream is loaded with herbal antioxidants and will help reduce lines, wrinkles and puffiness around the eye area.

Autumns' Baby Body Wash is a gentle herbal body wash for baby's and adults with sensitive skin. The base is castile soap, and includes extracts of calendula and oatstraw to help heal the skin.

We work hard to give you all the information you need to make the correct purchase for your herbal healing needs. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to help you.

Looking Forward to Sunshine

2011-03-12T05:14:00.004-05:00

Lately, we have been very busy finishing up our new products, getting them on the website, and getting things ready for our new wholesale customers.
The days are a bit longer, and a bit warmer, but I still spend most of the days in the kitchen by the woodstove packaging and shipping our products. There is still two more products to debut before the planting season hits us.
There is still a couple more months before we will lose enough snow to be able to get into the gardens, but I look forward to those days in the sunshine. The warm sun on my back and the cool spring earth under my bare feet...it's a feeling that can't be beat. I wait 6 long months to be barefoot again. I never did really like shoes.

A Celebration- Introducing Autumn's Baby Products

2011-02-25T10:16:00.005-05:00

To celebrate our first granddaughter Autumn's First Birthday, we have formulated a line of pure, natural and organic products for baby.

No worry about toxins here. Autumn's Baby Products are safe, all natural and chemical free.
Autumn's Baby and Children Product line was specifically formulated for the little ones in your life. The products use only organic herbs,organic oils, organic butters and pure 100% organic essential oils.

You know your baby or grand baby deserves the best all natural ingredients available, and we know it too.

With Cloverleaf Farm baby products, you don't have to worry if your baby will be allergic to the fragrance or perfumes in them. We don't use them. We use only 100 % pure organic essential oils to add fragrance. We use no fillers either.

Raising kids is hard enough. Now you have one less thing to worry about.

Another Rooster??

2011-02-23T06:39:00.003-05:00

Ordering baby chicks is always fun. They come in a box, which peeps all the way home. One thing, you never know what you are going to get. Even if you order all hens, you are bound to get a rooster or two. The science of sexing a chicken is about 98%…but that gives you a 2% chance of getting a rooster in the batch. Last year, we wound up with 8 roosters, and were not happy with the percentages.
We were hoping this year our luck would go the other way. I guess it was not in the cars.
From the time you get them home as cute little fuzz balls, until they start laying, or crowing is about 5-7 months. Let’s face it, all chicks are cute. Running around the coop peeping. No one can resist just watching them.
Their peeping turns to a clucking, or in this case a crowing. Have you ever heard a young rooster try to crow? It is an awful funny sound. The first time I heard it, I couldn’t figure out what the noise was. I looked around the farm, and didn’t see anyone. It was like someone yelling, with a bit of a gargle sound thrown in. When I finally found the sound coming from Sue, her name was changed to Stallin. A befitting name it was too, as he took charge of the whole barnyard…including us humans. For that, he went to the freezer. We let George take over the flock. George takes care of his hens, but leaves us humans to ourselves.
It is official again this year. Michael heard that gargling sound again yesterday coming from the new flock. Our choice now is whether to keep is as two flocks, or delegate one to the freezer, and let King George continue his reign.

If Winter Never Ends

2011-02-09T05:58:00.004-05:00

We are getting tired of snow. Who isn't? For folks up here in the north, and as far south as Massachusetts, all think we have had enough for one year. I know Mother Nature probably doesn't agree.
We have been having some warmer days, which is nice for all...including the cats. We can all actually go out without freezing our fur off. I know the chickens would like to be able to go outside again. They miss pecking at all the bugs in the green grass.
While Mother Nature decides what is in store for us next, we continue to get out new products on the website. So far, we have added Herbal Infused Oils, Elderflower Rose Day Cream, Rejuvenating Night Cream, Lemon Balm Lip Relief and Hibiscus Lip Cream. We have been working on them all winter, and are happy to finally have them available.
By March, we should have the rest of our new herbal products developed and ready for the website, which will include our Acne Cream with Neem and an herbal Anti-Fungal Oil for athletes foot.
We are most excited about our Anti-Aging Cream and Anti-Aging Serum. We have a waiting list for those already!
Here's to winter. If winter never ends...we'll just keep formulating new herbal products. Being that the summers are too busy, it's the only chance we have.

Night and Day Creams

2011-02-05T06:29:00.005-05:00

After months of R& D (research and developement) we are excited to announce our Rejuvenating Night Cream, and our Elderflower Rose Day Cream. Both have been highly anticipated by customers, and they are available for purchase now.
An organic, pure and natural day time moisturizer, our Elderflower Rose Day Cream will help smooth your face and make it silky soft. Use it under make up or by itself.
It rehydrates, tones and rejuvenates your skin's complexion. The herbal compound is made to help protect your skin from free radical damage.
The wonderful blend of herbs in our Rejuvenating Night Cream will help tone and smooth your face to make it silky soft. Rejuvenating Night Cream will help rejuvenate, and revitalize your skin

Snowy Day

2011-02-02T12:06:00.002-05:00

Outside, a blizzard rages. We've heard it called The Groundhog Day blizzard, but to us it is just a blizzard. We aren't much for this media hype they do these days. A blizzard is a blizzard. Why does it need an official name?
The plow truck have been busy today. We are getting up to 3 inches an hour. The snow has covered our back steps, and is up to the door. That's fine with us. We weren't going anywhere today...except maybe to snow plow.
I, myself, am thinking of baking. It feels like a baking kind of day. It warms the house, as well as the soul. We need some bread, so that is definitely on the list, and perhaps maybe some biscuits to go with our soup tonight.
After lunch, I have to start work on getting some orders ready to be shipped. Then, I need to work on the debut of our newest product...Elderflower Rose Day Cream. It's smooth, creamy, and wonderful for your facial skin.
Later today, we are having fresh pumpkin soup from our stash in our root cellar. It is times like this when I remember why I farm. Who else has fresh pumpkin, on a cold blizzardy day in February?

The Debut of Herbal Infused Oils

2011-01-31T18:35:00.003-05:00

Organic Rose, lavender, jasmine and calendula herbs have spent the last two months steeping on the window sill of our harvest kitchen. Each day they would bathe in the sunshine. The sunshine gently warms the oil, and the healing properties of the herbs are absorbed into the blend of carrier oils.
We are left with Herbal Infused Oils, and they are now available on our website.

Order before February 10, 2011 and receive 10 % off just in time for those Valentine’s Day gifts.Use coupon code HIO at checkout.

Remember to sign up for our newsletter, while shopping on our site. The newsletter will have updates on new products, discounts and specials and other herbal info for your herbal healing.

Oh My, More Snow

2011-01-31T07:24:00.002-05:00

Yes, we have more snow on the way.
I shouldn't be too surprised since it is only the end of January. I guess I am just a little disappointed because we want spring. It is hard to be looking at seed catalogs with their nice glossy pictures of summer, and hear we have another snow storm on the way.
We are still in the process of planning out the gardens on paper. We do this every year. One year, I left the note book in the green house, and the sun faded it. I couldn't tell which tomato I planted where. When they finally came up, it was a bit of a surprise which ones came up where. It was actually kind of comical.
Yet, for now we plan on paper, and watch more snow fall.

Winter Dreaming at Cloverleaf Farm

2011-01-25T11:21:00.003-05:00

Here at the farm, it is much slower in winter than in the growing season. It allows us time to peruse seed catalogs and just plain relax a bit with a warm fire in the wood stove.
Our online store remains busy year round, but having only that to attend to gave us time to develop new products and reformulate existing products. It also gave us the time to finally improve our site and redesign our labels.
Our newest addition to our Medicinal Garden is Lemon Balm Lip Relief. Lemon Balm Lip Relief was specially formulated for cold sores, but this replenishing herbal lip balm will soothe, moisturize and protect all dry, or chapped lips. Gives your cracked, chapped or sore lips the natural healing they deserve.
Other new products that will soon be available will be Rejuvenation Night Time Moisturizer, Elderberry Rose Day Cream and 3 C's Herbal Healing Salve. We will also be bringing back some old favorites like our solid perfumes and Bruise Away Oil.

It is All the Rain's Fault

2009-07-08T12:57:00.002-04:00

We are so disappointed at how our crops are going this season. Or should I say not going.
We have had to plow and replant a good part of what we planted.Due to all the rain, and more the lack of sun that we had in June, we lost upwards of 50% of what we planted. The corn should make a come back, and the potatoes and carrots are doing fine, but the rest of the garden is doing so poorly, I don’t think we will get much if anything.
It is a sad season for most organic farmers in the area.

The Garden Experts Must Be Crazy

2009-06-28T12:47:00.001-04:00

I have been doing research on our so called "garden expert" Paul Parent Garden Club, and wouldn't you know, one of his sponsors in Scott's.
Scott's, no matter if it is chemical or organic is a division of Monsanto. Monsanto is a nasty corporate company, that has made the life of many farmers very difficult...to say the least.
Now why would the Paul Parent Garden Club, or any other "garden expert" want to be a part of them. Money. Money, money, money. It all comes down to the all mighty dollar.
Well, to me and all the other organic farmers out there, the dollar is not the all mighty, and we would rather do things the right way...nature's way.
If our ancestors grew organically, than why can't we.
To me taking a sponsor like Scott's is like selling your soul to the devil. I am sure Paul Parent and the head of Monsanto will have a great time in hell together choking on the chemical fumes they promote.
It shouldn't come down to dollars and cents, it should just come down dollars and sense.

2 Degrees But No Common Sense

2009-06-24T10:41:00.002-04:00

According to Paul Parent, "I have been working in Agriculture for over 25 years and have 2 degrees from University of Massachusetts". Sorry, having a degree does not give some one common sense.
What you put on the ground, comes up through the plant. If you put RoundUp, or any other chemical on a plant, it will come up through the roots.
You do not have to use chemicals to garden or farm. Organic farming is not a new "sceince". It is what our forefathers did. They had no option. It was all they knew.
Chemical fertilzers and weed controll were not "invented" until the time of WW2. You would think someone with 2 degrees and that has been working in agriculture for 25 years would know this. You would think that he should know that you don't "need" these products to have a successful garden.
Paul Parent promotes Scotts products. Scotts, is a division of Monsanto. Monsanto has no morals, and if they have their way, will take over the seed industry and change farming and gardening forever. If Monsanto gets their way, there will be no such thing as seed saving, or heirloom seeds, because they will own the patents on every seed in the world.
Please watch The Future of Food on hulu.com.
The so called "gardening experts" could make a difference, but choose not too. It has to be monetarily driven, just like it is with our government.

Can You Believe This?

2009-06-24T08:14:00.002-04:00

After listening to the Paul Parent Garden Club show on Sunday, June 21, I decided I must boycott it. I have that right. I also decided to blog about it. It is my concern that the "garden expert" is pushing RoundUp, a poison. I am after all, guaranteed free speech by the U.S. Constitution.
I emailed him, and expressed my concern over him promoting RoundUp. It concerns us, as well as other organic farmers that there even is such a product. It bothers me to hear a “gardening expert” promoting it.
This is the response I receive back from Mrs. Christine Parent:
How dare you want to boycott my husband’s radio show. How would you like it if I put on our web site that the entire gardening world should boycott your products. Most of the products that we have for sponsors are completely organic. Only a few are not. You can not teach the world over night to go organic, it takes time and we have been working on it for the last 5 years. Round up is the safest weed killer for the homeowner and breaks down in the soils in 7 to 10 days by the microbs in the soil, no other weed killer works this way. If you know of an organic week killer that will do the job let us know and we will promote it. Now, if this is the way she handles dissatisfied customers, then she needs to go back to cutomer relations 101 . This only incited me to blog more about it.
I then received an email from Paul Parent himself:
Apparently, you do not listen very often to the program! Most of my sponsors are natural or organic and we work very hard to find companies who have earth friendly products for the garden. Many companies have both and that is the gardener choice, NOT YOURS. A company like Scotts works very hard to make sure that there product are used wisely. The chemical industry spends many years of testing before products are released to the public. You may not know this but Scotts has many organic products for the homeowner.
Like you, some people take the extreme and want changes overnight, It’s not possible. If you were a Farmer living on the soil, you would know that without chemicals the world would not exist without them. There is not enough Manure to feed the soil for every farm in the world.
The situation you heard part of ‘only’, was in reference to a man whose field was being overtaken by Multiflora roses. This plant is very aggressive and each plant can cover a 6 by 6 foot area of ground in just one year. Thousands of seed are made yearly that are ejected in to the air and the wind can carry them several yards from the mother. In addition, seedpods are eaten by the birds in the fall and dispensed everywhere they land with their package of Manure. Perfect for seed germination. Farmers who have this problem will lose their field to animal grazing in just a few years if not controlled. The average Farmer does not have time to hand dig problem weed growth by hand, as you do.

If you want to keep your farm organic, that is wonderful but do not tell people how they must garden. Not everyone has so much spare time as you, to pull weed from the garden by hand. To pick insects that find there way to the plants on your property and control disease by removing the infested foliage or removing the plant, As you do. With proper management of garden chemicals, everyone can lessened there use. But not everyone has your time available.

Now, of all weed killers Round up is one of the safest as it only affects plants when entering from the foliage. It cannot kill plants from the roots/soil. Also Round up will die in the soil from the bacteria and the rays of the sun hitting it in as quickly as 14 days. Used according to directions it is as safe to this planet as the soap YOU use to wash your clothing and dishes. The products You use to clean your house and the gas you ask your clients to use to come see what you grow, “gas fumes”. The packaging used for your product and the shipping to deliver them, You pollute with your business even if you know it or not. We all do the best we can for this planet. Some more than others.

I have been working in Agriculture for over 25 years and have 2 degrees from University of Massachusetts. I know the problems better that you ever will. I do the best to keep gardening safe for all gardeners as my listeners are like family to me. Every year I work HARD to find a better product for my Family. Believe it or not I am here to stay and educate gardeners about products Organic, Natural and YES chemical! There is a place for them whether you like it or not. So get off your High horse, get your head out of the ground and learn to do the best for Mother Nature and that means with chemicals when needed.

If you think I am wrong call me. Do not let you feelings about the planet be the right way and the only way. In this country we are all allowed to have our opinion, right or wrong. We both try to do the right thing for the gardener.

All the best to stay organic. The more power to you if you can. But do not force your beliefs to others, give them a choice as I do.

My response:
Mr. Parent,

After reading both your email, and the one sent by your wife, I realize I have made the right decision in boycotting your show. You are both unprofessional, and arrogant to say the least. Instead of putting out the fire, you have fanned the flames.
You both will obviously never understand. Perhaps because you are getting funding from Scotts, or maybe you just can’t open your eyes. It is just common sense to know that if you put a chemical in the soil, you will at some point wind up putting it into your mouth. Doesn’t take a degree to figure that one out.
Please take the time to watch “The Future of Food” http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food and possibly you may understand.

Please Boycott Paul Parent Garden Club

2009-06-21T08:38:00.002-04:00

Paul Parent Garden Club promotes the use of Round-Up for killing "weeds". This product made by Monsanto Corp. is poison. Paul Parent is suggesting we use poison in our gardens, and on our soil.
If you are interested in the future of your food supply please watch The Future of Food on hulu.com. It is a well made documentary on why we should all stop using Round Up and other poisons like it. http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food
Please boycott the Paul Parent Garden Club. Don't listen to his radio shows, don't vist his website for garden information.
As long as he and other "garden experts" are going to promote the use of Round Up, the future of our food is in jeapardy.

Vote For Green Mountain Conservation Group

2009-06-17T17:29:00.007-04:00

Help Green Mountain Conservation Group win round 2 in the “Be an Eco champion” contest on Brickfish.com. They are in the running for a grant to use towards new projects.
Help Green Mountain Conservation by voting as often as you can. Right now they are at number 6, and we need to bring that up to number one so that they move on to the next step of receiving the grant from The North Face and Polartec.
Vote now by visiting Brickfish.com.Thanks for voting and helping Green Mountain Conservation Group recieve their grant

2009-06-09T14:13:00.001-04:00

The kittens are now a week old. They are steadily gaining weight, but are still quite small as kittens go.
Pyewacket is being a wonderful new mother. She stays with the almost all the time, getting up for short stints to use the litter box or stretch her legs. I can't imagine have to nurse 7 babies 24 hours a day.
Puca doesn't know what to make of them. They seem to make him really nervous. Although, he is kind of a nervous cat anyway. He seems much more relaxed when he is outdoors. He becomes the bobble head cat when he comes inside.

Planting Season is Almost Done

2009-06-07T09:57:00.002-04:00

Today, will mark the end of our planting for this season.
We have planted everything from arugala to zucchini and everything in between. For a complete list of what we have planted this year you can visit www.cloverleaffarmstand.com.
You can visit www.cloverleaffarmblog.com for a peek into our life here at Cloverleaf Farm.

New Kittens

2009-06-03T09:53:00.003-04:00

Pyewacket gave birth yesterday to 7 kittens. That was a surprise. We expected her to have just 2 or 3. She is a small cat to begin with, and she didn't get that big during her pregnancy.
It started around 9:30 am, and by 11:30, she hadn't delivered so we called the vet. They had us bring her in. It is a good thing too, because one of the kittens was stuck in the birth canal, and she had to have an emergency c-section.
She got to come home that night, but I spent the next few hours bottle feeding the babies as she was not giving milk yet.
It was an exciting, and very tiring event here at Cloverleaf Farm.
For more of life on our farm, please visit our main blog www.cloverleaffarmblog.com.

At Least I Won't Have to Water

2009-05-27T10:21:00.002-04:00

Rain. Good for the gardens, but not good for the human who has planting still to be done.
I finished plowing most of the gardens yesterday. Only have one more to go over again. Then, I must get down to some serious planting. Yes, I may have to plant in the rain. A farmers work is never done, and I can't take a day off just due to rain. It would be nice, but that would just put me days behind.
Still have to build the pig pen area too. The piglets will be coming soon. Only about two weeks. That gives me two weeks to finish all the gardens, which includes plowing and planting. Then on to building the pig pen and shelter, and the fence too.
Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it.

The Planting Season Has Begun

2009-05-25T08:25:00.003-04:00

While most people were having BBQ's, or going to the beach, we were heading to the gardens and fields to get in our crops.
This Memorial Day weekend was a beautiful weekend, and we got alot done. The fields were plowed up, rows were made, and the planting began. So far, we have just a small portion of our organic heirloom veggies in the ground. To see a complete list of what we are planting this season you can visit Cloverleaf Farm.
Cloverleaf Farm specializes in organic heirloom produce and vegetables, and are proud to say we only sell what we grow. We do not buy from outside wholesalers as other farm stands do. When you buy from us, you can be assured that our produce is truly local.

Cloverleaf Farm says Vote for Green Mountain Conservation Group

2009-05-15T12:50:00.002-04:00

Cloverleaf Farm wants you to Vote for Green Mountain Conservation Group.
They are an amazing group who does wonderful conservation of natural resources in the towns of Ossipee Watershed in central Carroll County including the towns of Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Ossipee, Sandwich, and Tamworth.
Without their work, many lands would be developed and the watershed destroyed.
Vote for them now at brickfish.com

Vote for Green Mountain Conservation Group

2009-05-14T15:39:00.003-04:00

The Green Mountain Conservation Group (GMCG) is a community-based, charitable organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of natural resources in the Ossipee Watershed in central Carroll County including the towns of Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Ossipee, Sandwich, and Tamworth. Founded in 1997, GMCG is a networking and referral resource for area residents concerned about land use issues in their communities. It encourages individual and small group activism based on common sense and non-confrontational approaches to resolving problems.
GMCG is applying for a grant to help with their current programs and to start new ones. You can help by visiting brickfish.com and voting for them. While you are there, you can leave a message or comment on the fantastic work they have done, and will keep on doing.
Vote for GMCG at brickfish.com

The Piglets are Coming, The Piglets are Coming

2009-05-12T13:42:00.002-04:00

We thought for sure that we would not be getting our piglets this year. We have been looking around for months for someone who sells Tamworth Pigs. Tamworth pigs are a heritage breed of pig, and we had decided that since we sell heritage produce, and heritage chickens that we should stick with all heritage breed animals.
We had called or emailed several places, but most were to far away for us to go. Finally, someone suggested Remick Farm Museum. They told us that they had some Tamworth piglets for sale. I called about a month ago, but they had sold out of the first litter, and the second litter had a waiting list. I was bummed. I had her add our name to the waiting list just in case.
Today, we got the call that Sue the Sow had given birth to eight piglets. Everyone else on the list had already gotten their piglets and our name was next. I was so excited. I told her that we would take two....maybe 3.
Now, we have to build our pig pen. We hadn't even started since we figured we weren't getting any this year.
The piglets will be ready to come home the third week in June.

Crafty Kids

2009-05-09T17:35:00.002-04:00

Today we started doing a program at the Effingham Library called Crafty Kids. Crafty Kids will be the second Saturday of each month, with special ones during the summer reading program.
Being that it is Mother's Day tomorrow, today's craft of course centered around making something for Mom. The kids had a choice of making a popsicle stick photo frame, or some jewelry out of dyed marcaroni. The kids did a great job coming up with all sorts of nice frames. We took their picture, and printed it out for them to insert into their newly made frame. They looked marvelous.
The next Crafty Kids is in June. This one will of course be stuff they can make for Dad's Day.
It is always great to see kids using their imagination.

Spring Planting Has Begun

2009-05-08T16:27:00.002-04:00

Our green house is full of trays waiting for the seeds to sprout. I haven't even ordered my seeds from Johnny's yet and the green house is full. We are planning a trip up to Johnny's next weekend.
I planted some calendula in the herb garden, and Bloomsdale Spinach in the main garden yesterday. I'm itching to get the season started, but also know that we may still have a cold snap or even a frost before the full moon in May. It is best not to do to much in the gardens until after Memorial Day.
We'll be in full bloom soon, and the summer will give us the fresh food we crave.

The Future of Food is in Your Hands

2009-05-06T09:29:00.007-04:00

The future of this countries food is in your hands. When you buy food in the grocery store, do you know where it came from, and what they did to it?
I just watched a documentary on hulu.com, about American food, and the future of it, and couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
For those of you interested in the future of your food, I would highly suggest wathcing this documentary about the Future of Food. It talks about how pesticides and herbacides came into use after WWII. It describes what genetically modified (GM) foods, and the cause and effects of this on humans. It talks about how organic food is what will turn it all around. Well, duh, we knew that.
It was fascinating to learn that our governement is more screwed up, and has way to much power.
If we are what we eat, then we are screwed.
This is only one reason why Cloverleaf Farm uses only organic methods of growing food.

Mostly for The Planting

2009-05-02T07:31:00.003-04:00

It will soon be time for the planting season. It is wild to think that just a few weeks ago, we still had snow on the ground. We have a somewhat short growing season, and it is best for us to start our plants in the greenhouse. Now that we have that fixed, we can start our seeds.
This weekend, we will get out our tractor and till up the fields. This has to be done when the ground temperature stays about 60 degrees. If it is done too much before this, the soil's bacteria gets out of balance.
It will be so nice to get some of these chores out of the way.

New Greenhouse

2009-05-01T12:12:00.003-04:00

Okay, it is not exactly new, but we did have to redo the plastic over it. It had been three season, and it had rotted through.
I can now go fulll force in planting all the seeds I have bought. I must get that started as soon as I possilby can. Planting season is right around the corner, and the seedlings will have to be ready to go into the garden.
It is always exciting to plant a seed, watch it grow, and then get to eat the fruits of your labor. We are planting a few new varities this year. For a complete list you can visit Cloverleaf Farm

Digging Their Way to George

2009-04-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

That is what I think they are doing. They see the cats going in and out of this whole under the barn. I kept seeing the hens trying to get in there as well. I kept scooting them away.
I finally realized this morning, I think they are trying to get to George the Rooster. They have been prancing and dancing all around the outside of the pen, and a couple have managed to fly over. The fence is 6 feet high, and that is quite a feat for a chicken. George must have some way with his hens.

Bunnies

2009-04-26T20:20:00.005-04:00

We are happy to introduce our newest addition to our farm.
Nick and Nora Charles, the bunnies.

Nick and Nora will be our breeding pair, and we will sell the bunnies from both Cloverleaf Farmstand, and also the local farmers markets.

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-22T09:26:00.003-04:00

Today is the 39th anniversary of Earth Day.
Earth Day was originallycreated in 1970 by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to inspire awareness and appreciation our planet and Earth's environment.
Although Earth Day is celebrated in many countries every year, Cloverleaf Farm feels Earth Day should be practiced every day.
We are.
We made a decision years ago to buy only products that are Earth Friendy.
We recycle everything, but realized this isn't enough. Although the plastic water bottles have long been gone from our lives, there are so many other products that are marketed in plastic. We don't want to be part of the problem, we want to be part of the solution.
So, we have made a pledge to stop buying products that are packaged in plastic. This is a tough assignment, but if you look around, there are other options to many products.
For example, you can buy lemon juice in a plastic bottle, or go to a natural food store and get it in a glass bottle. It may cost more in the bottle, but we feel the future of our Earth is worth it.
Today in honor of Earth Day 2009, we will plant an Austrian Pine tree seedling donated by Western Maine Nurseries of Fryeburg, Maine. The rest of the trees will go to all the celebrations in Effingham that are happening on Saturday, April 25.
It may be just a small step in making this a better planet, but it is a step just the same.

Raining Again

2009-04-21T12:06:00.002-04:00

Indoor work today. It is raining again, and I don't feel like being out in the damp, April air.
I baked up a storm this morning. I figure I can put most of it in the freezer for my meetings for the craft show. It is always nice to have baked good on hand.
This afternoon, I am going to finish work on my 1890's skirt. I still have to come up with a name for it. The underskirt is done, I just have to do the ruffled overskirt. I have done quite a bit of work on Thornton Square. I still have some pictures to upload and some descriptions to add. It is suppose to rain tomorrow too, so that is on my to do list for then.
Believe it or not, it is suppose to be 80 degrees over the weekend. We went from winter, right into summer. Which around here, isn't that unusual. It is just not wanted.

Begock

2009-04-18T21:15:00.002-04:00

Chickens, chickens and more chickens. We have 54 right now, and are trying to see if we can hatch our own. They are so fun to watch run around the yard. Free ranging chickens have the best life. They have so much fun waddling all over our farm.
Whenever I go outside, they are always there to greet me with a begock. I bring them all our old bread crusts and ends. They love my homemade bread.
Today we cleaned out there coop. I sent them all outside so they wouldn't be in the way. It took longer than I thought and I could hear them begocking at me from the other side of the door. I put some new hay it, and let them back in. They scratched it all around, and made a new room out it. I guess it they were moving their "furniture" around to where they wanted it.
Chickens...always a treat to watch.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

While most people are taking the day off for Easter, here on the farm, there is no day off. There is always someone to feed, clean up after and eggs to gather.
If the animals are set, there are always spring clean up to attend to. It is only about a month before planting season will start. All the old gardens have to be tilled in. The new gardens have to be planned out.
I have started to make a list of seeds we will need to order. We have bought some seeds already, but have many more to buy. This year we are trying out a few new veggies. You can visit Cloverleaf Farm Stand for a peek.
Busy, busy, busy. But, that is the life of a farmer.

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-11T15:34:00.004-04:00

The Easter egg hunt at the Effingham Public Library is over. As always we had a blast with the kids.
We first helped the kids make paper Easter baskets. They decorated them with stickers and markers. Then it was time to decorate the eggs. I brought green egs, white eggs, and a couple brown eggs for them to decorate. We used markers instead of the usual dipping method. We thought it would be less messy. Then I saw the girl with blue fingers. She was funny. They put grass in their baskets and added in their newly colored eggs.
It was then time for the Easter egg hunt. Colored plastic filled eggs were hidden throughout the library. Each child could find four eggs. It didn't take long for the older kids to find theirs. The younger children were helped by their parents and the older kids.
The kids final treat was apple juice and brightly frosted cupcakes. They were torn between the candy in the eggs and the cupcakes.
The kids and parents had a great time. And as always we did too.

Our Easter Weekend

2009-04-10T14:03:00.002-04:00

It seems that all of our weekends are filled with something to do. I guess everyday is filled with something to do, so why should the weekends be any different.
This weekend we are helping out with an Easter egg hunt at the Effingham Library. I am also bringing cupcakes and apple juice. Of course the eggs too. White ones, green ones and brown ones. The kids will search through the library for candy filled ones, and then color the ones I bring. I am sure they will have a ball. I know we will.
Tomorrow is suppose to be cold and yucky weather so I am hoping to get more work done on the Thornton Square website. We started it last night, but I was so tired we didn't get much done. We got the logo and categories up but that was about it. I have to work on the photos of the replica clothing, and descriptions for all the outfits.
Sunday we will be building a new coop for our first set of chickens. For now, I think we will be building a small one, and adding to it when it is warmer out. The sun maybe shining, but the wind is still a little cool.

The Sun Is Shining

2009-04-08T07:33:00.005-04:00

It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. The sun is shining and it looks glorious outside. It isn't as warm as I would like it, but I will take the sun.
The last few days I have been working hard on Thornton Square line of clothes. I have been sewing replica clothes for years, and decided I would do it as a side business. I worked all winter on new designs. I am almost finished. I have one design left. While I mostly do 1800's replica clothing, I did one from a later year. I have designed a dress in her honor of my neighbor who will be 98 in 2 weeks. The dress is from 1911, the year she was born. Most of my research over the years has been for the 1800's, so I had much research to do for this project. I found a picture, and I designed one from that. I have the underdress done, I just need to do the overdress. Then on April 16, I will wear it down to her house and show her. I will also bring the picture and show her that as well. She has been a dear friend to me. She has taught me things about sewing, that I could never learn in any school or book. She herself went to school for sewing, and is passing on her skills to me.
In honor of her, my new design will be called "Muriel".

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2009-04-07T12:27:00.002-04:00

Showers bring flowers, but it is no fun working in the rain. It is damp, and cold. Working outdoors in this is no fun. So many projects, too much rain. We are suppose to have rain until Sunday. Good for the flowers, not for the humans.
We have opened for the season. We will be open weekends until mid May. It is a summer area here, so we don't have much activity until Memorial Day. That's okay with us, it lets us get some much need projects done.
Gardens to plow, chicken coop to build. A farmers work is never done.

Continuing Saga

2009-04-06T09:22:00.002-04:00

It has been some time since I have posted here. I have decided to come back and continue to post here as well as our new farm blog http://www.cloverleaffarmblog.com/. You can check there for an update of what we have been doing for the past year.

Yesterday, we finished up processing the last of our Cornish Rock X. By the end of the day we were exhausted. It is amazing how tiring it is to kill and process 7 chickens. Of course we do it all by hand. No machinery here. It is only the two of us as well.
Very soon, we will start work on the gardens. The snow has finally melted from the two front gardens. Another week or so and they should be dry enough for the tiller to go through.
First in order is to get a new roof on the greenhouse. The roof is made of a tarp like plastic, and with two years of weathering, it caved in on us during the winter. That is one of the first items on our spring to do list. By the end of the month, we have to have a new roof put on, the greenhouse sorted out, and our seedlings on their way to a new life.

Another season has begun.

New Home For Cloverleaf Farm Blog

2008-05-27T06:09:00.001-04:00

Our blog has a new home. To keep reading the adventures of life on the farm please visit www.cloverleaffarmblog.com.

Oh, What a Difference One Winter Makes

2008-03-02T16:31:00.003-05:00

Before the snow fell.

After more than 20 snow storms.

Tell Me Why I Live Here

2008-02-29T10:12:00.009-05:00

I am begining to wonder why we didn't buy a house further south...like Virginia.
We have gotten close to 200 inches of snow, and we have more on the way. Normal snow fall in this area is about 100-150. The only saving grace this whole winter was the January thaw we had. Luckily, that got rid of quite a bit of snow. The roads are getting narrower with every storm. The snow banks are so high, you take your life in your hand trying to pull out of a driveway or intersection. Snow is piling up everywhere. It has gone from being beautiful, to just plain ugly.

Yes, the shop is almost buried.

Will it ever melt in time for opening in May. We are taking bets.

"Back in The Day"

2008-02-24T16:29:00.003-05:00

"Back in the mid to late 1800's, the average inside temperature was approximately 45 degrees." Those words we heard on the tour at Strawbery Banke at Christmas time seemed very real when we realized we had no furnace, and that our wood pile had only one days heat left to it.
The thought of a nice weekend away was quickly squelched with the reality of knowing we had to do something to avoid the pipes freezing. We have enough problems with no furnace, we don't really want an indoor swimming pool in our living room too. We asked a couple neighbors if they had a heater we could borrow, and they did not. Don said he had one, but we wouldn't want to use it indoors. He said, "well, it's quiet, but you won't wake up in the morning". So we thanked him, and then decided a trip was inevitable.
We trekked off to the hardware store to find a portable heater. Luckily they had 2. So we bought them both.
The next on our list was to find some wood. Called a few friends, they gave us a few names and numbers, and lucky enough one man had some left. Better yet his price was reasonable. We will be using him next year for sure.

A Furnace Burial

2008-02-24T10:40:00.003-05:00

On Friday, Michael went down to check on our stock of squashes in the basement root cellar.
There he found soot around the furnace. This was not a good thing.
The furnace repair guy came within the hour, and told us the bad news. The furnace is gone. He said we were lucky that we didn't have boxes and such stored around the furnace because they would have caught fire and burned the house down.
So, we had two choices. Fix the furnace we have for about $1000, or replace it with one that will last about 40 years. If it were not for the $4000 price tag, that would have been the route we took, however, financially $4000 right now is out of the question. Option A, we will fix the furnace we have, and it will hopefully last another two years.
So then, came the question of when. " I have to order parts," he said. That means we would be without the furnace until probably Tuesday.

Wicked Winter Weather

2008-02-13T11:14:00.002-05:00

Today is not a day to be outside. Even the dogs are reluctant to go out.
It has gone from snow to sleet to freezing rain. It is nasty out there.
Today is a good soup day and bread to go with it. Pea soup is simmering, and the smell is filling the air. The bread is next. I want the bread to be hot right out of the oven when the soup is done.
There is nothing better than fresh hot bread with a dollop of butter and a bowl of homemade pea soup. Or any soup for that matter. We only eat home made soups, so we are partial. If only more people would take the time to make their own home made meals, they would understand the flavors they are missing.
While the bread is rising, I will dream about life on a tropical island...where there is no snow, or freezing rain.

No Plastic Needed

2008-02-01T09:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we went produce shopping. I was amazed at the fact that organic produce has to be wrapped in plastic. In order to be a certified organic store, this is one rule that has to be followed. I guess the organic produce can not come in contact with anything else, so they wrap it in plastic. This just isn't organic in our mind. Plastic wrap, with a Styrofoam tray is NOT organic in the least. I am not sure who came up with this rule, but it seems to defeat the purpose of the produce being organic in the first place.
The other thing that struck me was the amount of prepackaged salads, and other produce blazing the isles. There were at least 5 kinds of prepackaged salads. Along with them were prepackaged tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, and others. I understand that the prepackaged salads are a time saver. But how much time does it really save. What is wrong with buying the lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and celery separately and make it yourself at home. Imagine 200 people a day buying the prepackage salads. Take that and multiply by 200 grocery stores. That is 40,000 bags a day ending up in the landfills. This is just a small example of what the real numbers are. Imagine this happening all over the country on a daily basis. Imagine how many plastic bags are ending up in our landfills....just from prepackaged lettuce and produce.
We have decided that we want no part in adding to the problem. When we go produce shopping, we carry along a wicker basket and use that to haul home our veggies. No need for plastic bags.
When we get home, we wash and drain all produce on a clean cotton towel. We then make our own salads, feeling that we did at least a small part in helping our landfill.

Ready For Darkness

2008-02-01T08:20:00.000-05:00

The wood stove is going, the candles are on the table, and we are all set if the lights go out. In fact I always welcome it. No electricity brings a sense of peace and tranquility. It makes people connect in ways we use to. It is called talking. There is no t.v or computer diverting someone's attention. It brings back the old art of actually having a conversation with your family.
I remember during the Ice Storm of 1998. The boys and I were living in our Rebecca Lane apartment. We were without electricity for 3 days. We cooked corned beef hash and beefaroni on the wood stove. We used snow in the tub to keep our food cold. Candles became our light source. We had a little portable radio we used to get weather and storm updates, but we couldn't use it for long or we would wear the batteries down. So, we entertained ourselves with reading, games and singing. We sang "16 Candles", as the candle light flickered in the room, and we all laughed.
It is a time that I will remember for years.

Calm Before the Storm

2008-02-01T08:05:00.001-05:00

One looking out the window right now would never know we have a winter storm on the way. The sun is shining and the sky is filled with beautiful purple and yellow hues. There is only wisps of clouds covering the beautiful sunrise.
The weatherman paints this afternoon as a much different picture. A winter storm is on the way. It will start will snow, and end with freezing rain. The rain is the problem element in this storm. By tonight, we are suppose to have 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice covering our world. With the snow, ice, and heavy winds, power outages are expected.

Life Without Mayonnaise

2008-01-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

To me, mayonnaise was a food group all to itself. I used it on everything.
I think it started way back when I was seven. I had been really sick, and for some reason mayonnaise sandwiches didn't make me sick. So I got hooked on mayo sandwiches. My love for mayonnaise transpired into everything I ate. French Fries meant blobs of mayo. Chicken, covered in mayo was my favorite food. When meatloaf was served, the mayo jar was right next to me. So my love for mayo was born.
There is a few food items I have not put mayo on, like cold cereal, but most everything I ate required mayo on it. And I mean mayo. I would glob it on so it would ooze out the sandwich. If it didn't ooze, it wasn't enough.
For now, those days gone. Being that I am actually reading labels much more carefully, I realized how much fat I was putting in my body. I am on a mission to lose weight, and even a teaspoon of mayonnaise has 11 grams of fat, and 50 fat calories. And it isn't like mayo adds any fiber or other benefits to my diet. So out it goes.
Sorry Helmans.

Learning The Gimp

2008-01-22T08:13:00.000-05:00

This is before Gimp

This is After Gimp

No, the Gimp is not a new dance craze. It is a photo editing tool that I have been working on learning. You can take a photo, and re-colorize things, crop things in and out, and take out unsightly wires. That is what I was spending the morning learning how to do.
I had taken a picture of our house after one of the last big storms. The picture was beautiful, except for the wires over the house. So, I sat down this morning, and learned Gimp, and took the wires out. I also cropped out the road in front of the house.
Next I will learn about how the paint tool works. I want to paint the house an ocra color with dark golden trim. If I don't like that I can try any number of combos until we get the right color when we pain the house.

Our Neighborhood

2008-01-21T08:25:00.000-05:00

This is our neighborhood circa 1917

This is our neighborhood circa 2007

As you can see not much has changed in our neighborhood 90 years. The road is now paved, and the trees have changed a bit, but other than that things remain the same.

Living in a small community is nice. There is nothing else like it. You know the neighbors, and they care about you. If you haven't been seen in a couple days, they wonder if you are alright.
I grew up in a similar kind of neighborhood, and it is nice to know that these kind of places still exist. We all helped one another when it was needed. This neighborhood is no different. If we need help, they are there for us, and we are there for them.
Who are the people in the neighborhood?
We have Earl, the elder gentleman. He will be 86 this year, and still gets up and opens his store every morning at 7. He is there until 5. His day off is only Tuesday afternoon. It is great having a store right across the street to buy eggs, milk and other staples. Even at 86, Earl still mows his own lawn, shovels snow, and be-bops across the street sung to a lighthearted tune. Earl can spin a yarn or two about just about anything. He will eagerly tell a child about the furry fish hanging on the wall. As the story goes, that fish realized how cold it got up here in the winter. So he grew fur. The wide eyed 5 year old thinks, wow, what a smart fish. He doesn't care that it is just a fish that Earl put fur on for a joke.
Bill, Earl's son, owns the eclectic shop that has everything, and I mean everything. If he doesn't have it, you probably don't need it. In the shop he has antiques, collectibles, and much more. Bill is the quiet one in the family, but always lends a hand when a dog sitter is needed. He has helped us out quite a bit since we moved here, and we are very thankful.
Next, there is Allan. Allan is Bill's younger brother, and of course Earl's son. I would say he is the comic relief of the neighborhood. Always there with a smile, and a joke, and a helping hand when needed.
The matriarch of the neighborhood is Muriel. Being 96 has not stopped her from everyday life. You would never guess she was past 75. Winter keeps her in more often, but in spring she will be out and about more often. She has been an incredible help to my sewing skills these last few months. It is always a pleasure to visit with her and listen to her stories of our neighborhood years ago. Our barn use to be a summer theater, and she was one of the players.
Don, Muriel's son lives down the street. He is a quiet man, but still is there to give a helping hand. We don't get to see him as much as the others.
That is our immediate neighbors. We have others that live further down the street. One of our neighbors is 102. We think it maybe something in the water.
Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Every Man His Own Doctor

2008-01-18T15:56:00.000-05:00

I am by nature a curious person. I want to know what and why. Having someone tell me the grass is green is not enough, I want to know why. I have an insatiable desire for the most obscure knowledge, but there are times when it has paid off.
Being an herbalist, I am quite curious and interested in the medical world. I am always interested in knowing how and why a procedure is done, and since in the last post I brought up medicine in the 1800's, I had to find out more about it.
There are many site out there with all sorts of information. I perused for hours and found one I really liked, and it has tons of information. If you too are interested in Early American Medicine you can read all sorts of interesting articles. They even have some pictures of early medicine and guide books. Now mind you, these books were not for a doctor. They were written and printed for home use. They did not go to a doctor for the problems we go for today. They treated themselves and their families at home. The majority of children were born at home, and there had to be someone either in the home or nearby that had mid-wife experience. They had to be able to take care of the child, and post partum mother.
Every Man His Own Doctor is a fabulous way to learn all about Early American Medicine.
I am going back and learn some more.

How Did They Do It...

2008-01-18T13:32:00.000-05:00

For the last few days, I have been nursing my aching back. It got me wondering how on earth they would have gotten through it back in the 1800's. They would not have had the MRI that I was able to have, so if they had a bad backache how would it affect their life.
For a couple days, I even had a hard time standing to make dinner, or do the dishes. Luckily, my husband helps me out. Back in the day, would the man of the house chipped in with the "women's work", or just made her suffer through the pain. I resort to ibuprofen. I think their chose would have been opium or morphine, or perhaps if it was the latter 1800's maybe aspirin. I shall have to look into it.
Other than the back not working right, it has been a quiet week. More snow this morning, but the sun is shining now, and it is beautiful out. Started to make a snow creature, but the back wasn't willing, so out in my yard sits a "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", mashed potato looking sculpture. I shall go out and put the body on later. My neighbors already think we are kind of "weird", so I don't want them thinking we are inviting aliens to our backyard.

The Thaw is Freezing Again

2008-01-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

Well, the January thaw must be over. It is again snowing out. They say we are in for a Nor'easter.
School has been canceled, as well as most everything else. It has been coming down pretty hard, and steady for the last 3 hours.

Last night friends of ours came from the "big city" to have dinner with us. It was great to see them. Being that we moved "way out in the middle of nowhere", we don't get to see them as much as we use to. Dinner was good, even without the fresh carrots from the garden. Just couldn't get them out. Of course the company was nice too. We talked about everything, and laughed even more. Then they were off back to the "big city". Next time, we will venture out and have dinner with them at their home.

My measuring stick is starting to get covered with snow again. I know it was just a fantasy, but I was hoping that it wouldn't snow again this season. I figured we had already gotten our share, and didn't need anymore. I dreamt about green grass and warm breezes. Ah, for now it is just a dream.

Off to Tara

2008-01-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

I finally got that picture of me in the 1860's day dress resized and I thought I would share it. With this computer, I have a new photo editor, and I am still getting to know how to use it.

The dress is a dark blue fabric with small purple flowers on it. It is really pretty, and I have enough left over for a small purse. I worked hard on it so I could wear it for Christmas. Without the layers of petticoats, and pantelets, it is lightweight enough, that I can wear it year round. Although for now, I am saving it for special occasions.

For more on the layers that Ladies Victorian wore visit To Twelve Oaks for BBQ.

Recycling Christmas

2008-01-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, so we are not really recycling the whole holiday, just the trees.

We take our tree, and donations of trees from the neighbors, and dry them out for the needles. Pine needles make wonderful smelling sachets for the home, car or office. We keep one in our car during the winter and when the defrost comes on, we get a blast of that clean pine scent. During the summer, the heat from the windshield heats up the pillow. When you inhale the scent of a pine pillow, you are instantly transported to a grove of pine trees in a forest. Or maybe it reminds you of the scent of Christmas’ past.

For us it is a way to reduce, renew and recycle things we use here on the farm. We pluck off the needles to use in pillows and potpourri’s, and the rest goes into the compost pile. We don’t waste anything.

Snow Is Melting...Thank You

2008-01-14T08:28:00.000-05:00

According to my snow stick, (which is really the highway reflector marker) since we have had all this warm weather and now rain, we are down about a foot of snow. Last weekend we couldn’t even see the top of the marker, and now there is at least a foot sticking up. I am not going out in the rain to measure.

Today has been a quiet day. Raining, slushing, and whatever from the sky, it was a good day to sort through some fabric and get ready for a new sewing project. I inherited 2 bags worth of fabric, and I think with a the poly in there I can finally fix the quilt from Nana. When we moved to New Hamshire, I guess she thought it was the North Pole, and gave me this really heavy quilt she had made. She has passed now, and I thought it would be nice to fix it up for one of the boys. It is afterall their Great-Grandmother, and since it was from the ex’s side, really no relation to me. I always kept in touch with her, and I guess you could say we were related in spirit. She and I, even though years apart thought alot alike.

Off to the sewing room I go. So many projects…so little fabric.

2008-01-14T08:10:00.000-05:00

In fall, we start collecting seeds from all the plants that we can. They are all packaged away in newspaper or brown grocery type bags to dry out. We package up dill, calendula, pumpkin, hubbard squash, acorn squash and others. Once the seeds are dried, we sort through them and hand pick the best seeds. Some we sell, the others we use in our garden for this seasons crops. By doing this we know where are seeds are coming from, and therefore we know that the produce we sell in the summer is the best around.

Sorting seeds is a somewhat tedious job. It can also get messy. Seeds all over the floor, and the paper like coverings of the squash seeds flies everywhere. Of course, in the end, all the hard work all becomes worth it. It makes one feel much more connected to the food they eat, when you can look at a seed and know that by next fall, that seed will be a pumpkin or two.

I can still remember the first time I planted a seed and it grew into an acorn squash plant. It was wonderful to watch the plant grow a little bit everyday. Then suddenly it had a baby fruit on it. I was so excited. It was as if I had given birth to that squash. I watched the squash grow everyday. When it finally came time to pick it, I hated to eat it. It was beautiful. In my eyes anyway. When I finally did cut into it, I realized the seeds inside would be my crop for next year. That is when I was hooked.

Since then, I have grown many fruits and vegetables. I still feel like each and everyone is my baby, and I must protect them. I hover over them each day to make sure they are getting everything they need. When the season is over, and it is time for seed saving, I save each precious seed knowing next year they will be my new babies.

Slush, Mud, Muck Oh My

2008-01-09T13:44:00.000-05:00

If April showers bring May flowers, what does the January rains bring. Slush, mud, muck and ice? Yes.

Our yard is a combination of all of the niceties of the January thaw. The temperature outside has been from 40 - 60 degrees for the past 3 days. It was like May yesterday. Now it is pouring rain out. One spot it is slushy, another is mucky mud. Under all of it is the dreaded ice patches. One would think it was April.

We can see the driveway again. I know it probably won’t last, but it is nice to have a break from all the snow on the ground. The piles of snow have shrunk down quite a bit too. I was hoping to go out today and dig up more carrots before it rained, but I guess I missed that opportunity. It is pouring out, and the winds are starting to howl. I guess I can wait for the next thaw to get the carrots. I was looking forward to some carrot soup.

Time Change

2008-01-08T16:33:00.000-05:00

People usually adapt after a week or so from the dreaded and stupid time change. One may feel groggy for a couple days, or even mess up on the time, but you fix all your clocks and get on with life.
Well, it seems, dogs do not understand the changing of the hour ahead in the spring and back in the fall. Ever since November when we changed out clocks back, the dogs start to get restless for supper around 3:30. Before November the time would have been 4:30.
They start running around the house from room to room, checking their bowls on the way by to make sure nothing has been deposited into them. They then want to go out every 5 minutes, because we always put them out for a while before they eat.
So the dance of dinner starts at least by 4, and continues until 5 or when they eat...whichever comes first.
I have tried to tell them that they forgot to change their belly clocks back by an hour, but they are just not getting it. They just look at me with a puzzled face and wag. Then they want to go out again, because they think this will get them food.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and you can't get him to set his clock right either.

Homemade Soup

2008-01-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

I have always liked playing with food and creating recipes. It seems the less food we have around, the more creative I can get. While I am not Mother Hubbard, the cupboards are getting a little bare. Going to the grocery store seems to be much more of a chore since it is over 30 minutes away. So, we only go when we direly have to.

Yesterday, while looking around to see what I would make for dinner, I decided to make soup. Soup is always good in the winter. I came up with the recipe below, and called it Poor Man’s Soup.
1/2 cup yellow split peas
1/2 cup green split peas
1/4 cup pearl barley
1/4 cup chopped onions
2 medium potatoes cut in medium chunks
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
2 pinches cayenne
1/2 tsp garlic powder
dash dill leaf powder
1 box chicken stock
1 cup water

Put all ingredients into large cooking pot. Boil for 10 minutes. Lower heat and simmer on low for 4-5 hours. Add more chicken stock (or water) if necessary. Should thicken up like pea soup.

Serves 6-8

We had it with fresh homemade onion bread, and it was delicious.

Drying Icicles

2008-01-06T10:56:00.000-05:00

It is going to be warm out today, a whopping 45, so I thought I should get some laundry done. Being that we have to hang our clothes to dry, it will be a nice day to hang them on the clothesline outdoors.
When I went out and hung them, I saw a big icicle hanging down from the line. I thought, no problem, I will just hang the clothes around the icicle. After doing so, I realized it looked like I had hung out the icicle to dry. I just had to laugh, and take a picture of course.

Another Christmas Packed Away

2008-01-05T18:20:00.001-05:00

Except for the lights and decorations that are outside, and buried under 3 feet of snow, another Christmas has been packed away for this year. I don't think we will see the ones outside until May.
It is always kind of sad packing all the ornaments and such back into the boxes. All the kids ornaments they got every year, the ones they made in school, the felt Christmas tree I made in 6th grade, and all my childhood memories are now all tucked safely away in the attic.
Now, we will be finding tinsel until July. It's inevitable. No matter how many times you vacuum, there is always a piece lurking somewhere. They hide while you are vacuuming, and come out when you are done. That is the only explanation I have been able to come up with. Either that or there is a tinsel fairy.
It is kind of nice having the shop closed for the winter. It gives me time to get so much done. Now that Christmas has been put away, I can get started on the husband's birthday gift. First, I have to sort out the sewing room. That is a project for tomorrow I hope.
For tonight, we will relax and watch a movie.

Frosty Paws

2008-01-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

One good thing about January, the January thaw.
Even though the temperatures have only been anywhere from -30- =+16, we are for a heat wave starting tomorrow. Heat wave in winter terminology means 30 plus. According to the weather man, and we all know he is always right, it is suppose to get up even into the 40's by mid week next week. I can hear the snow melting now. The bad thing, is the rain we are suppose to get. In winter, around here, rain means skating rinks everywhere you walk. I can see our yard now. It will be one sheet of glare ice that we could probably open a skating rink on.
Now, if this was years ago, I would be elated. When I was younger, I loved to ice skate. Now, I don't think I would want to try. Not sure my ankles could hold me up, or if my back could stand it if I fell. I think I will for go trying to be Peggy Flemming this year.

Woohoo....It Is Cold Out There

2008-01-03T11:52:00.000-05:00

Wow, I can't believe how cold it is out.
When I got up at 5:30 to let the dogs out, I couldn't see the thermometer. I just knew it as cold from the breeze that came in the door. I turned on the t.v. to catch the weather, and that is when I knew it was cold. Minus 20 with the wind chill. Baby, that is cold.
Now that it is noon, and the sun is out it is still only like 8 degrees. With the wind it is still in the negative numbers.
I know we live in the north, but this is really not normal for this time of year. Just like all the snow we have gotten. Personally, I think that Mother nature is trying to tell us something. She is telling me to stay indoors till spring.
Actually, if you dress right for it, the cold isn't really all that bad. Layers of clothes is the key to keeping warm. In this low a temperature, any exposed skin is vulnerable to frost bite very quickly.
Off to the big city today. Have to get some staple products for the house. A roof rake being on the top of the list. The porch roof has about a foot of snow on it, and really should be cleaned off. Luckily, the house roof is at a good enough pitch, that we don't really have to worry about it.

And We're Shoveling...and Shoveling

2008-01-02T12:32:00.000-05:00

Mother nature can stop now. We have enough snow.

Barn

and we're shoveling...

and shoveling...

and we are still not done shoveling.

Free Snow for the Asking

2008-01-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

Poor Henrietta Scarecrow

Hopefully the green house doesn't get buried.

Cold Butt on top of the snow

Front of Shop

Front of the house

Snow Up to Our Ears

2008-01-01T17:35:00.000-05:00

It has been snowing today since around lunch. The last time I looked out, we had about 2-3 inches. By now we must have around 6-8. It has been snowing pretty steady all day.
Being a so called holiday, it was quiet and we got alot done. I never did start on my sewing projects, but I did get alot of web stuff done. I have been working on more herbal articles for my other blog cloverleaffarmnh.blogspot.com. It is starting to be chocked full with all sorts of herbal information. Need more you could always check out www.cloverleaffarmherbs.com. That site has more information than the dictionary. It took us forever to put it all together, and we are still tweaking it. We want to put pictures on it so you can actually see what the herb looks like.

Being that I haven't been out all day, I think I will go check out how much snow we actually have. Tomorrow I will get around to posting pictures of the 1860's day dress I made for Christmas

Leaping Into 2008

2008-01-01T07:46:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year. Welcome to 2008.
This year happens to be a Leap Year. A leap year happens to make up for lost days the last 3 years. Each year is short by a quarter of a day, so every four years they throw one in to make up for it. It must be funny to be born on February 29. If you are born on the 29th of February, you only have a "true" birthday every 4 years. I guess when you are older this could be a good thing. When you are 50 you are really only 12 1/2. Now I know this isn't really the case, but it sounds good.

We are getting more snow today. It doesn't look like it now, but we are in for a big storm to start the New Year. If this keeps up, I'm not sure where we will put it all. The snow is way up over our porch where we didn't shovel. The snow banks are so high now it is hard to see around them.

Today will be a good day to start on some of my sewing projects. The husband's birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and I want to get started on another petticoat. I bought this soft peach color cotton almost a year ago, and it is still sitting in the closet waiting to be put together.
I am also working on putting together a website to sell my patterns and clothing on. As long as we don't lose power from the storm, that will be a good afternoon project.

Happy New Leap Year to everyone.

It's Just Another New Year's Eve

2007-12-31T15:24:00.000-05:00

Laundry done and hung to dry,
I'm tired now, I don't know why.

Lunch is through, dinner is coming,
Today has been kind of numbing.

Looking past throughout the year,
See what's ahead it is so near.

Another New Year's Eve is close,
We'll have some cider for a toast.

It's just another day you see,
A farmers life it is for me.

Another year has come and went,
How were your days mostly spent?

Ours was filled with work and fun,
Farming in the golden sun.

Fixing this and fixing that,
Racing time just like a rat.

Next year is now tomorrow,
Let's hope for little sorrow.

Storing Winter Squash

2007-12-31T10:48:00.000-05:00

Nothing beats fresh pumpkin pie at dinner in January. How about a fresh baked acorn squash in February?
Storing winter squash is easy. Most store well right into March. However, the process begins in the fall.
In order for winter squash to store well, you must let the vine die with the fruit still on it. You then pick it, and leave it out for a couple of weeks to let the rind harden up. Remember to take them in before a heavy frost.
If you aren't lucky enough to have a root cellar, you can simply use a dark corner of your basement. Be sure to store them up off the ground. Make sure they have plenty of air circulation to prevent early rotting. You can even store them in a cold hallway, or unheated mudroom. Just be sure to keep them out of direct light.
Varieties of winter squash would include pumpkin, acorn squash, buttercup squash, butternut squash, blue hubbard, turban squash, pink banana and others.
Stored well, these squashes should take you through until spring when the first spring greens are coming up.

Storing Carrots for Winter

2007-12-31T10:33:00.000-05:00

You too can have fresh carrots all winter if you do a little planning in the fal. If you store them correctly in the ground they should last all winter.

As the first frost is upon you, mulch dirt and leaves up and around the carrots. You should use at least 12 inches. As the tops die off, the carrots will stay fresh under the layers of mulch. When picked, these carrots will be sweet and delicous.

Now, in order to pick them, you have to have a thaw...or a good pick ax. They freeze in there pretty hard. Much to our dismay we found this out the hard way when we went to dig some up in mid-December. We did however have a thaw right before Christmas, so we had fresh carrots on the table that year.

You can if you wish store them in a root cellar. If you are storing them your root cellar be sure to layer them between sand. A bucket works well, and keeps any lurking critters out. Mice and moles love to nibble.
Be sure to check on them periodically for mold or decay.
Stored properly, you should have carrots throughout the winter months.

Laundry Day at the Farm

2007-12-31T07:29:00.000-05:00

It is snowing outside again. We have gotten about 8 inches in this storm so far. If I calculate the snowfall correctly, we have gotten over 40 inches. That is half of what we usually get all winter in one month.
Figuring that we will be inside hunkering down today, I think I should do some laundry. I prefer to do it on a sunny day so I can hang them out, but I am not sure we are going to see much sun for the next few days. The last time I waited for a sunny day, the laundry got a bit backed up and we were surrounded by clothes racks.
Laundry here is done a bit differently than most homes. We have a washer, but it is not your typical top loader. Ours is a 1945 Maytag wringer washer. We chose to ditch the Kenmore that came with the house for our Maytag. The Kenmore was only about 10 years old, but it leaked. What good is a washer that leaks? The dryer went to the wayside too. It was across the room and totally inconvenient from where the washer was. A floor plan gone sour. Besides that we hardly ever used the dryer. The sunshine is free and it makes the clothes smell wonderful. There is nothing like the smell of a set of sheets and pillow cases that have been dried out on the line in the fresh sunshine.
If there is not sun, we use the clothes racks. Free drying is good. Why pay to use a dryer and waste time and energy when the air is free.
With the Maytag you have more control over the laundry and how it comes out. Since you have to fill it by hand, you can get exactly the amount of water you need. No wasting water from a preset dial. You can actually see the laundry better inside the tub, because the tub is much larger. If there is a stain you need to attend to, you can stop the agitator, put on some soap and scrub away. You can empty the washer when you think the clothes are done. No preset timer. Of course if you don't pay attention, it will wash forever.
You then drain the water, put the clothes through the wringer and put them aside. The wringer is actually comparable to the spin cycle. After all the clothes have been rung out, you refill the washer for the rinse cycle. When they are all rinsed, the ringer swings into action again and then you are ready to hang.

Now most people think we are crazy to give up our automated washer for a 1940's Maytag, but we like it. How many other people can say that their washer will be around 60 years from now? Not many.
Now it is off to get breakfast and start the laundry.

A Bit of History Gone

2007-12-30T16:14:00.000-05:00

One of our local historic houses went up in flames last night. The barn and the ell are completely gone. We went by today to check it out because we had heard all sorts of rumors of what really happened. The owners are lucky that the rumors weren't all true. We were told last night the house and barn were fully engulfed, so we anticipated the house being gone too. From what we hear the flames were unbelievable.
It seems that the house was spared for the most part. Maybe some smoke or water damage, but it looks like they might be able to still live there.
It is sad event. It is always sad to see a piece of history gone. You could see the old timbers of the barn and ell just burnt to a charcoal state. Old beams that have probably been there over a hundred years gone in just a short time.
The foolish people who were renting the house were having back draft problems with the wood stove. Instead of knowing this was wrong, and calling in the professionals they vented into the barn. Well, the barn is gone now. And so is most of the ell. Stupid people shouldn't have wood stoves.

Our Daily Life

2007-12-30T08:41:00.000-05:00

5:30-6 a.m.- Wake up and get the dogs outside.
6-7 a.m. - Get the wood stove going, make the coffee (no Mr. Coffee here). We use an old percolator coffee pot circa 1940's. We then feed the dogs and get them settled. After they have eaten we eat. Oatmeal, eggs and toast, or maybe some pumpkin bread would be on the menu.
7-8 a.m. - We relax. We do watch the new at this time but only for a short time. We can't take it for longer than 1/2 hour or so. Too much input. No one needs that much input. And is the news really news anymore or just a side show for freaks. Who cares if Brittney Spears cut her hair off?
We plan on what we are doing for the day, or we may talk about what project gets done next in the house. That usually takes the longest since we have so many plans to accomplish.
We get the dishes done, the house cleaned up, and then it is off to work.
8 a.m. 12 p.m.- The commute to the office is a killer, especially if the dogs are in the mood to play. It seems as soon as we get up they think it is play time. Our "commute" is about 10 feet from the living room to the office.
During the season, I go out and work the gardens, and then open the shop.
Next it would be to make whatever needs to be baked for the day. Lunch is put on the stove around 9 a.m. to make sure it is done for lunch time.
I can then putter and do what needs to be done. Sewing, cleaning, or working on our website.
12 p.m.- We have lunch around 12 - 1 depending on what is going on at "work".
1 - 5 p.m. - Back to work. There are still bills to be paid. Depending on what we are having for dinner, I might start to cook around 3 or 4.
5 - 6 p.m. - Get the dogs fed. They know what time it is. Then we get dinner. No rushing here. We take our time and enjoy each other's company and the food. We get the dishes and kitchen cleaned up and go relax on the couch.
For the rest of the evening we talk, work on our websites, play with our critter friends or watch a movie. We don't have cable, so we use the VCR.
Bedtime is when we get tired. Usually anywhere from 8 - 10 depending on how much we did during the day.
The dogs go out for their last "business run", and we get the wood stove stocked up to last the night.
Now is it time for bed.
Kodie and Robin go to their room. They seem to like to share a bedroom. Chakra goes off to his room. He likes having his own room with his own big bed.
We then go off to our room for another night of blissful slumber.
Good night John-Boy, Goodnight Maryellen.

Living Old In A New World

2007-12-29T15:34:00.000-05:00

Could you live without your microwave? How about your washer, dryer or dishwasher? Could you live without your hairdryer? Is a t.v. in every room normal for your house? If you had to flick a match to a candle instead of flicking a light switch, do you think you could survive?
In the year that we have lived in our home, we have come to realize that many of the modern day conveniences can most certainly be lived without. It has been our plan to show people that having an iPod stuck in your ear does not make or break your life. You won't find us standing in lines for hours and hours for a Nintendo Wii. All our gifts are handmade especially for the person who we are giving it to. This makes them more special than any game or gift you can buy from any store.
I am sure many people could not live the way we do. We make our own clothes, bake our own bread, and pour our own candles. We don't rely on the outside world and it's "toys"to make us happy.
In season, we grow our own food, and then we can it for winter. We eat seasonally or locally. This means we mostly eat food that is available in our area that season, and what we canned. No fresh tomatoes in the winter for us. They aren't fresh when they are shipped from Mexico, or California. They are sprayed or waxed to preserve shelf life. Yuck! We have canned tomatoes that were canned the day they were picked, and taste delicious. If you think about it, years ago, they would not have had tomatoes in December. Not in this part of the country anyway. They would have salted, pickled and dried their meals for the winter.
If more people did this, it would actually cut down on the "footprint" of everyone. Trucks, planes and whatever is carrying these "fresh" tomatoes from the west coast to the east coast would not be running. Vegetables and fruits coming from half way around the world would be out of the question. It would cut down on fuel consumption and air pollution.
We do have hot running water and electricity, but choose to use other options when we can. In the dark hours of winter we use candles and oil lamps a good part of the time. We keep a pot of water on the wood stove so when we need hot water it is already heated. No need for the furnace to kick on.
Although we do have a phone, I am not sure why. We hardly ever use it.
It is quieter and calmer because we don't have the outside world ringing in at us at every turn. No cell phones ringing, no blackberry to answer. People who say they couldn't live without their blackberries or iPods should possibly seek help for an addiction. They are stressed out because they have chosen that lifestyle.
Our life is simple because we make it that way.
Maybe it is not a life for everyone, but maybe it should be.

A Garden in Waiting

2007-12-29T11:51:00.000-05:00

Under all that snow out there lay a garden in waiting. As I look out at Harvey the old scarecrow, I wonder what magic is taking place out there deep in the earth. As the earth sleeps for winter, the soil is preparing itself for another year of planting. The soil replenishes itself with the help from the composting we do all summer and then add to the garden in the fall. Even throughout the winter, we add compost on top of the snow. As it melts in the spring, it will be turned back into the soil for nutrients.
It looks so cold and desolate out there now, except for Harvey. He holds down the fort, and keeps watch over our carrots. The next thaw we have, we will again have fresh carrots. The ones we dug up for Christmas were the best carrots I have ever tasted. They were sweet, tender and juicy. We picked enough for a couple weeks, and should store well in the root cellar. I will make soup, juice, and of course serve at meals.
We are working on a couple websites that should be up and running soon. One of them will actually capture us "going back in time" with the backdating of our house.

Looking Towards A New Year

2007-12-28T07:28:00.000-05:00

It snowed again last night. I am glad we didn't get too much, as we have another storm on the way tomorrow.
I have been taking some time off to just putter around, and it feels good. The in-laws have been visiting, so it has been nice not to be too busy. It makes for a much more relaxed visit. Yesterday we went to Strawbery Banke, and we had a great time. The liked it so much, they became members. Now, when we go again in the spring, they will be free too. It is so nice there in the spring, summer and autumn seasons. We had never been during the Christmas season, and it was beautifully decorated for the holidays.
Just a few more days until the new year, which always gets me thinking of goals I want to achieve. I have a few "resolutions", but I always like the term "changes" better. We eat well now, but I think we can eat better. This will in result in losing weight, which is of course the main goal.
I will walk more which will be good for my back, and also help with the weight. So that will accomplish two goals.
We will work on expanding the farm and it's operations by at least 50%.
We will continue to work on backdating the house.
I will work on finishing up all the reupholstering projects that are lurking around the house. This will help with the backdating of the house.
I will finish the wallpaper jobs.
We will redo at least one floor in the house...maybe two.
We will continue to redo the kitchen. By the time we are done, you will think it is the 1940's.
For now, I think that is it. That many "changes" should take all year and then some.
Bread is rising, and needs to go in the oven soon. I have to check the wood stove, and start thinking about what is for lunch.

It's A Wonderful Life

2007-12-24T20:29:00.000-05:00

While Jimmy Stewart is on t.v. having a wonderful life, we are sitting here on a quiet Christmas Eve watching Cary Grant in The Bishop's Wife. It is a wonderful, but much less known Christmas time movie. We have already done the ritual of It's A Wonderful Life, and all the Rank and Bass Christmas specials from long, long ago. We will start tomorrow with the tradition of Ralphie and The Christmas Story.
It is quite funny, that I saw The Christmas Story in the theaters when it first came out back in the 1980's. I don't remember liking it as I like it today. Even though it takes place in the 1940's , it reminds me of my childhood. So much of what happens in the movie, also took place at my home when I was a child.
We will attend the midnight service at the church, in full Victorian garb. I in my bonnet, and husband in his top hat, will stroll over to the church as if it were 1870. I must take some pictures. I am sure someone would be willing to take a picture of us.
After the service we will come home and jump into bed and wait for Santa to pay us a visit. The critters are looking forward to him arriving as well. They are sure he will bring them biscuits, as he does every year. Anticipation is at a fever pitch.
The best part of living on a farm....fresh carrots out of the garden for Christmas. Being one of Rudolph's favorites, we had to keep some in the ground to pick for today. Not bad considering we have had two feet of snow. Luckily, for Rudolph, there was a bit of a thaw today, and we were able to dig up a few dozen. Some for him, and the rest for us for dinner tomorrow.
The children will come tomorrow morning, and it will be Christmas as usual. Turkey goes into the oven in the early morning, so our presents will be opened to the aroma of turkey and stuffing. Lucky for us, the Bumpeses hounds do not live next door to us. Our turkey will be safe from the ravages of four legged beasts.
We will end the holiday by watching the Grinch. The cartoon of course. There is no other. Some classics should not be remade into a live action movie. The Grinch was one of them.

And it Ain't Even Winter Yet

2007-12-20T08:48:00.000-05:00

More snow today. They say anywhere from 8-12 inches depending on where you are. Seems like we are always on the cusp of all storms so we never really know until it is over. All this and winter doesn't even start until Saturday morning at 1:08 a.m. The snow is beautiful, but shoveling is not.
I have just about finished all my sewing for Christmas. Just have to put the buttons on the husband's shirt and that will be all done. The only other thing that I wanted to make was a bonnet for churches Christmas eve service. I need buckram to finish it, and unfortunealty the local Wal-Mart does not carry buckram. This means I would have to go to JoAnns, and that is in the opposite directions by close to an hour. We are not headed that way until after Christmas. I may just use interfacing instead, even though it would not have the stiffness it should. Or, I could make another style bonnet. I can always wear the hat I already have.
Yesterday, I made some wheat bars. This was a special treat since I have not had them since 1981 when I left high school. I happended onto our high school website and found the recipe, and just had to make them. They were so delicious. It brought back many memories of the good old days back in high school. I still have to make the peanut butter bars, but since those don't need to be baked, I always make those last. They are always a treat, because I only make them at Christmas.

Let It Snow

2007-12-16T14:11:00.000-05:00

It is snowing like crazy outside. The wind is whipping around. Although it is cold, and blizzard like, it is very beautiful. The back yard is blanketed in virgin snow. It is wonderful. By tomorrow some creature will have left their foot prints, and we will have fun examining the paw prints to see which animal it could be. Could they be after the carrots still left in the garden? Good eating for some hungry critter, if they can dig them up.
I suspect we might be without power by tonight, but that doesn't bother me much. Candles are always at the ready in this house, since we use them as light much of the time anyway. If by chance the lights do go out, I guess we will all be sleeping by the wood stove in the kitchen.
There are times when I wish we didn't need electricity. It would be like living back in 1822 when the house was just built. Technically, I think we could get along without electricity, especially in the winter. One wouldn't need a fridge when it is frigid outside. Other than the computer, we really don't use that much electricity. We use candles and oil lamps for light, and the wood stove supplies most of the downstairs heat. I don't think we need to heat upstairs, since after getting into bed it is warm anyway. Seems like a waste to me to heat the air for you when get out of bed 8 hours later. Why not just turn it up as soon as you get up?
I am sure the owners in 1822 would think we have it pretty good since they had no electricity and would have had just a wood stove in what is now our living room. They would have kept warm from the fire, and from cooking breads, and meals. Being that this was a farm even 175 years ago, I am sure they would have had cows or other barnyard animals to take care of.
We don't have that task as of yet, but come spring, we will have chickens.
I wonder what they would be doing on a snowy Sunday afternoon in our home 175 years ago.

Christmas Is In The Air...And Covering My Kitchen Table

2007-12-14T07:16:00.000-05:00

It will be Christmas soon. If you walked into my kitchen you would think you walked into a tailor shop with all the fabric, and sewing paraphernalia all over my kitchen table. Cloth in pile, patterns in another, and the last pile is half done projects. I really have to get the rest of my gifts made.
I am still at a loss as to what to make for the boys. I don't have enough time to make what I wanted to make for both of them, so I have to come up with another plan. They are so hard to come up with a gift for. Even if I was to buy something, I don't have a clue. I even had a hard time coming up with something for their girlfriends.
The husband knows what I am making him, because he had to approve the pattern, and pick out the fabric. I am making him an 1800's shirt from a Simplicity pattern that will go great with the pants I will be making him next.
We still have to decorate the house this weekend too.
With all I have to do, I should get to it.

Leave Me In Stiches

2007-12-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

Sewing has become a major part of my life. I realized a few years back that I could make most everything I needed. I know I could go to Wal-Mart and buy a blouse for $10 on sale, but there is nothing more pleasurable than making a blouse with your on two hands. I spent $8 on material, and I already had the buttons from another worn out blouse. So if you figure in the material, thread and time, I am sure the blouse cost me over a $10 sale blouse. But how do you measure internal satisfaction. It means so much more than buying something off the wrack. You start off with just a piece of fabric, and then in few hours it is a beautiful blouse.
Along with this desire to sew came a desire to make womens 1800's fashions. I have always been drawn to the Victorian era clothing. Now, living in our 1800's farmhouse, my "dress" fits in much more than it ever did before. Around town, I am known for my long skirts and my Victorian blouses. In fact, one day I wore pants, and someone said "Oh my goodness, you have legs," to which I replied, "yes, that is how I walk". I guess I have an image to maintain. An image I didn't know I had until that day.
Over the weekend I finished two blouses that match a skirt I just made. One, was the blouse to the 1860's day dress I had been working on. I didn't want a dress so I took the pattern and made a skirt and blouse instead. The sleeves on that one was tough. Lots of poof. Lots of gathering, and lots of frustration of taking it apart 3 times. But, it is now done, and beautiful, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.
The other blouse, a bit more "modern", is actually a style that fits into an 1800's clothes closet. I purposely picked this pattern for that reason.
So, I now have the pantelets, the chemise, the petticoat, the skirt, the over skirt and blouse to wear for our Victorian Christmas. The only thing I don't have made yet is the corset. I don't think anyone will be peeking anyway.
These add to my already growing collection of Victorian skirts, petticoats (antiques and homemade), chemises, and other Victorian clothing. If someone were to look into my closet they would be hard pressed knowing if it is 2007 or 1867.

New Lease on Grandma's Antiques

2007-12-08T08:19:00.000-05:00

I decided last night to start the job of upholstering Grandma's furniture that my cousin Deb handed down to me a few weeks ago. She had inherited it from my aunt when she died, and she wanted to pass them to someone in the family who would take care of them. They were passed down to my Grandmother when Aunt Lucy died years ago. I remember as a child, sitting on them in the parlor as Grandma would play the piano. They were crushed red velvet, and a tad worn, but we were still taught respect for the old pieces. The springs were falling through the bottom, and the velvet was torn in spots, but to me they were beautiful. And now they grace my formal parlor. I finished redoing the chair last night, and hope to start on the couch and settee today. They will once again be beautiful. They won't be red, and there is no piano in the room, but they still echo wonderful childhood memories for me.

Snow It Is

2007-12-04T08:16:00.000-05:00

Being it our first snow storm of the season, we sure did get more than I would have like. It would seem from shoveling that we got about 10 inches or so. It does make the trees beautiful. It is the clean up that is such a mess.
The dogs weren't to thrilled about it. Except Kodie. He doesn't seem to be phased by too much. He reminds of when I had Kishka and he would just go out and play then lie down in the snow. It was much different with Kishka, since Kishka was a wolf cross, but it does remind me of him. Kodie, being a Cocker Spaniel, doesn't even think he looks like a wolf. But he sure does act like one some days.
Today we resume the clean up of the snow. I feel bad that my back is bugging me, and I am not able to do what I want to do.
I suppose we should make a path to the carrots too. Being that the root cellar has very steep stairs, I decided that the earth would act as my root cellar and left the carrots in the garden. I packed the dirt up around them for insulation, and now that they have almost a foot of snow on them they have even more insulation. The pumpkins and squashes were put down in the cellar for winter storage. They have there comfy home until we decide to eat them. Growing your own food has to be the greatest feeling. You plant the seed, watch it grow, and pick the fruit of your summer labors. Fresh, right from the garden is the best way to eat veggies.

Snow In The Air

2007-12-02T16:41:00.000-05:00

We are suppose to get snow tonight. First real snow of the season. The last snow was piddly and didn't last. The first snow is always so pretty. It covers all the dead leaves and such on the ground, and makes the trees sparkle like Christmas. It is a photographers dream. Unfortunately, this photographer happens to be out of film at the moment. I could use my digital, but I still don't like how it works. I , personally, find looking through that view finder a real cool experience.
We have been working hard on getting our new website up. I have been editing text and descriptions all day. It was a good day for it. It is cold outside, and there is nothing like sitting by the fire on a cold day. The dogs snuggled up beside me curled into a little ball, it was the perfect setting for a Norman Rockwell
I was suppose to go for acupuncture in the morning, and I am hoping the snow doesn't stop my visit. My back and neck have been bothering me terrible, and I know a few sticks from Kenji would help a great deal.
It is almost time to close the shop for the day and this computer. Sunday is usually our no-electric day, but today we cheated by using the computer. It is nice to have a day when there is no t.v., computer or other gadget running in the background. It makes for a quiet, peaceful day.

A Year In The Life

2007-12-01T15:47:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has already been a year since we bought our farm. We accomplished a great deal in one year. We got our gardens going, opened our shop and farm stand and we even took time to beautify the yard. We also added to our family by adopting 2 more cocker spaniels.
We are a small farm at just over 2 acres, but we have many plans to make this a working farm again. Our house has a rich history in farming, and we hope to recreate a good part of that. For a bit of the history visit www.cloverleaffarmstand.com.
People flocked to our farm stand for our organic produce. Next year we plan on expanding the garden to 4 x the size it was today. It was a wonderful first season.
Our herb and gift shop is one of a kind in the region, so people come from all over. We have been selling on line for years, but this year we changed our name to fit our farm name. You can check out herbal products at www.cloverleafherbfarm.com. The name actually comes from the shape of our property. The land we own is actually in a clover leaf shape, so we chose the name Cloverleaf Farm. Originally, years ago the farm was close to 100 acres, but has been whittled down over time. I can say I am rather glad. I can't see us farming 100 acres.
Farming is a hard life, but so rewarding. I can't imagine doing anything else. We live off the earth and give back to the earth. We feel we now complete the circle in more ways than we have every before.
We have always noticed the seasons change before, but this year we lived by them.