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!

  

For just a short time, these past few days,

I had all of my flowers gathered........into one sweet bouquet.

I excitedly ran to the airport and picked up my daughter, Hannah, who has been away in the Navy,..........but worked very hard to get clearance to join

her two brothers, Zack, the computer wiz, on the left, and Joseph, the physics brain, on the right,who were already waiting for her to join them and the rest of our family at Joseph's high school graduation.

What a happy and busy time!

My cheery bunch enjoyed catching up with each other and we spent the few short days, visiting, remembering, and laughing. Now, Hannah has flown back to Hawaii, Zack is back to his job, and Joseph is about to start his journey in life. I am not sure when I will have them all together again.

Life has taught me to enjoy these moments that come and go as if on wings of an elusive butterfly.

How about you? Are you able to have your family all together at one time a lot..........or does it take some planning to make it all happen?

I would love to hear

My roses are heavy

with rain drops...............yes!.........your prayers came through and we got a good soaking the other night!

Thank you for your prayers!!

My chickens nests are overflowing with eggs. I just love to see all of the colors, don't you? I was delivering my eggs to my customers, and now,......... they come out to me for fresh eggs! Something that I have been wanting to happen, and even though I never asked them to, they were able to find me and tell their friends!

 It is wonderful,to me, to know that people are now connecting my "farm" with fresh eggs!!! 

I have been busy getting my nest ready. Children sprouting their wings and leaving and children flying home to visit!  How about you? Have you been safe from the storms? Are you having visitors? or are you having your young ones leave the nest?

I would love to hear!

The smell of cinnamon and cloves drifted through the house

as an applesauce cake baked for about an hour in the oven today. I lingered in the open doorway as the aroma, drifted by me and out onto the porch, making me smile................ and for an moment.........remember. 

There is just something about an old fashioned applesauce cake baking and filling the home with these favorite aromas, that brings back a flood of memories ..........for me. Scent has always played an important role in my "memory bank". Does it do the same for you?  I can smell the heady fragrance of a cabbage rose and fondly remember certain people who raised them.  

The baking smell of applesauce cake, always makes me think of a well worked and gathered in  kitchen, stocked full of vintage figurines and canisters full of flour and sugar.

with canning jars and other glassware on the surrounding shelves. Upon entering this space, one could smell the spices of the baking that had previously taken place that day.

 I remember a tiny and gentle elderly lady, guiding my brother and I back to such a spot and having us sit down at her table...........where a small flower patterned dish was handed to each of us, with a slice of this wonderful cake sitting on it. It was still warm.............and so delicious.

The years have passed and I have made many of these cakes. It is one of my favorites...........

a comfort food of sorts.

How about you? What scent do you remember and smile upon?

What is your favorite smell from the kitchen? I would love to hear!