If you could come and spend the day

here at the farm with me,

we will sit at the kitchen table

and visit over a cup of tea.

We will talk about the weather

and the happenings of the year,

We will talk about our children, our family,

our life...............what we hold dear.

We will walk through the woods and prairie,

you'll meet the critters

that live here too.

We will walk out to the gardens

where I will pick fresh flowers for you!

A bubbling soup and homemade bread

will be ready for us to eat.

Along with blueberry muffins from the oven

for an after dinner treat!

We will linger in the shade of the front porch

and watch the day come to an end.

I'll feel blessed that you came to visit

and that I can call you  "friend".

But blogging friend, the miles are between us,

there's no way to visit, it's true........

So here's the recipe for those

blueberry muffins

that I can share with you!!



 BLUEBERRY CRUMB MUFFINS

2 cups flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup milk

1/2 cup melted butter

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups fresh blueberries

( crumb topping recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 400.F. Line muffin tin with cupcake papers

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, stir together milk, eggs, butter and vanilla. Then add to flour mixture. Blend well, then gently fold in blueberries.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.

Sprinkle about 1 tbs. crumb topping onto the top of each muffin.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from tins.

Enjoy!

Crumb topping:

6 tbs. butter

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

Mix butter, flour and sugar with pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle onto top of muffins.

How hot is it here in Texas??

Yep, it's that hot!

I have been fighting the battle

of extreme drought, choking dirt, and blasting winds,................and to my delight........

the soil is breaking,

from the zinnia seeds I have planted in my zinnia gardens. I have planned slightly larger gardens this year, and I am anxious to see how they turn out !

I am also trying to raise tomatoes in container crates on the patio, instead of out in the open wide spaces. The patio is more protected, and I am looking forward to many dishes of fried green tomatoes and tomato pie.

Even the pincushion cactus that is accustomed to the harsh conditions on the prairie, seems to be enjoying itself in it's new container home.

I absolutely love rose moss, and planted a large crate full of this a few weeks ago. It has turned out so lovely! As for my pumpkin growing,............it has been a tough season, however, I have planted them in different locations to see how they do. Hopefully, I will have pics to show later. How about you?

Do you prefer container planting or open space growing?

I would love to hear!

On the front steps of the porch

on any given day, a visitor is greeted by a roll of old water kettles....................do any of you remember your granny using these?

I have had them for many years.............given to me by family.........who have told me that they belonged to my grandmother. They all have wooden handles with either heavy wire or metal............

they all have many dings, dents, and probably a few leaks. I never saw my grandmother actually use these, but I am sure they probably came in handy in a time of need. I cant explain why I love them so..........I just do...........do you ever feel that way about certain things?

This water kettle was found right here on the grounds, during the first month that we came to live here. My husband found it half buried underneath an old mesquite tree, and brought it home to me...........I cherish it for this memory.  I wonder who used it...........what the house looked like that use to be here before our home was moved out to this land. When I see them, as I approach the porch after a late afternoon walk, they make me smile..............it feels like home to me.

How about you?

What feels like home to you?

I would love to hear!