Farm Mail!

Gail's latest e-mail to our visitors:

It’s true:  There is a time for every season. And it’s time for winter to be over and spring to come on in!   I’m happy to say that neither blizzards, nor wind-chills, nor lack of sunlight have kept The Farm gals from their appointed duty.  The shop is once again transformed, and I dare say I’ve never seen it so cute!  See what you think.  We will be open starting Tuesday, March 1^st.  Can’t wait to get started on the garden!

There's even a coupon for e-mail subscribers:)  20% off any non-consignment item during March.  Let us know if you're not on the e-mail list and we'll send you one.

Blizzard at The Farm

Wow, that was some blizzard, wasn't it?    Even though most everything can close down during a storm like this, we still brave the elements to get to the animals.   LoTs of work to get through all that snow!  Spot is safely in the shop and he'll stay there til the weather is more reasonable.  If Gail had her way, she'd have the chickens and the horses in there too!

Special order of posies, given as Christmas gifts

Are you missing the garden these days?  Us too!   Gail's been busy ordering perennials & shrubs.  And today, the mail lady brought seeds :)

Lunch!

Kynda, Barb, Gail, Cheryl

What are you doing to make it through these cold dreaming-of-spring January days?   We thought maybe lunch at Panera would be a good way to touch base during this off-season.     We missed Sue and hope she's feeling better!


Gail showed up bearing gifts--an embroidered pillow, an armillary sundial for the garden, and a box of melt-in-your-mouth caramels with the recipe attached.

We know you'll want to see the recipe for these beautiful caramels, so here it is:

Gail's Caramels

1 cup butter
1 lb. (2 1/4 cup) brown sugar
dash salt
1 cup light corn syrup
1 15 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 candy thermometer!

Prepare the pan first.  Line a 7 x 12 glass plan with foil and then butter it.

Melt butter in heavy pan.  Add sugar and salt.  Stir in corn syrup.  Add milk, sitrring constantly.  Cook and stir over medium heat to firm ball stage (245 degrees) 12-15 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour hot caramel in the foil-lined pan and cool completely (overnight in the fridge).

Using a thin, sharp knife, cut into 15 x 5 rows.  These will fit nicely in 4" x 4" pieces of wax paper.  Twist ends.

These are delicious!  And they make such a sweet gift for your friends when you go to lunch :)

Bouquet Garni

Have you been using your spices and seasonings from  The Farm kitchen?  We know a lot of you stocked up for the winter.   If you didn't, be sure to put those on your list for your first 2011 spring visit.  We'll be reopening March 1st--eight weeks from today! 

  

Bouquet garni  is one of the staples that we keep in the The Farm kitchen and in our kitchens at home.  We've been using the same recipe for years and it comes in so handy for seasoning soups, stews, roasts, etc.   A little bundle of herbs, full of healthy natural flavors and no salt.  Makes the house smell wonderful on these cold winter days. 

Bouquet garni, french term meaning "garnished bouquet"

So what's cooking in your kitchen these days?  We wanna know!

2011

Happy New Year from The Farm!

Guest House Opening 2011

A New Year already . . .  Seed catalogs in the mailbox. . . An extra minute or two of daylight every week. . . We're hoping that spring comes as quickly as the old year flew by.  Wishing all our visitors blessings and happiness for  2011!

  

And a New Greeting

Merry Merry  from all of us at The Farm.  

May your Christmas be filled with love and blessings.

Vintage Greeting

This vintage postcard, found in one of our local antique malls,  says Merry Christmas even after all these years.  It's dated 1923.  Does anybody know of a  Miss Bertha McElroy of Hillsboro?

The message reads:  "We are all well.  Hoping you are the same.  Did you get my last letter?  Why don't you write?  Have been looking everyday for a letter.  Wish I could be at your house for Xmas dinner.  Minnie D"  Don't you know Minnie would have  LoVeD  facebook?!?

ClosingHouse!

 

Lots of deals & steals today as we close down the shop and take a break for the winter.  Thanks so much to each of you--our visitors, our friends--who have helped make this 2010 season one of the best ever.  As Gail said in the television interview, we look forward to going to work everyday :)

Have a great weekend-before-Christmas!

The Farm on TV!

Have ya seen Channel 20's Sunrise On The Farm series?  It's a regular Friday feature, spotlighting a local ag-related business.  And this week, they came out to visit us at The Farm! 

We have to admit, we're not usually glued to the television at 5:45 am on Friday mornings, but we will be tomorrow! 

Pretty exciting when  TV people show up with their cameras and want to know more about The Farm.  Thanks, Channel 20!  Come back anytime :)