Girlfriend Getaway

Me and my best friends (since 5th grade) got together this weekend!

We tried our hand at taking some "selfies"! But is it a selfie if there are more than one person in the picture?

Guess what we did together... Toes done

Some fancy cocktails ordered (and drank)...

And one more!  We had a driver...promise!

Strawberry picking on Sunday morning with my besties...doesn't get any better!

We picked strawberries and talked and talked as we walked up and down these rows!

Ahhhhh rejuvenation ! And berries for more shortcake! Lovely weekend! (Thanks Scott!)

Chickens get love too

What a beauty!

Pucker up chicky!

A close up of her feathers. Look closely and you can see some rain droplets that are sitting like clear beads on her feathers.

Sunday on the farm

Ciaran- the cutest goat for miles and miles...except for his half brother Padraig!

He loved itches and I love his soft muzzle!

Little boy was eating his afternoon snack of grass this way!

A siesta under the lilac bush! And do you notice all the missing leaves...naughty lambs!

Lily and Jane sleeping in the job! Tired from being lamb lawn mowers! 

Sleepy girl!

The lambs are getting much less skittish, especially when I approach them slowly and let them smell me!

Family recipe

My mom gave me this recipe book as a bridal shower gift, almost twelve years ago.

Inside she wrote down all our family favorite recipes...including this one for fudge frosting. I love reading a recipe written in my very own Mom's handwriting! Maybe someday I'll write down these recipes for my son's new bride!  But that's quite a long way away...thankfully!

I had all the ingredients with the exception of vanilla so I substituted almond extract instead (using half as much called for in the recipe as almond extract can be quite potent- a little goes a long way.)

Check out my cute measuring spoons/holder my mom gave me.

This one is too cute! Thanks Mom.

I always think brownies look and taste better with frosting! And this frosting is so quick and easy to make!

Frosted and sprinkles added! Perfect for the summer solstice party we have tonight.

Speckled Egg

The brown speckled eggs are some of my favorites! The egg freckles really shine when I wash them.

High protein "breakfast for lunch"! 

Stay dry!

Nothing says summer like

Fresh strawberry shortcake! Farmer J got some strawberries from his mom and dad for Father's Day! A gift for our whole family now!

Summer lunch

We are eating a late lunch because of a trip to the store, haircuts in town for the boys and a mad dash to mow part of the lawn before it rains.

I bought some beautiful, organic fruit and veggies at the store. 

I love to buy a bunch of carrots with the green stems still attached. 

I used my Norwex fruit and veggie cloth to clean the carrots--no need to peel off the nutritious outer layer. 

Pickle helped! He is always my little helper!

Before cleaning...

After cleaning!!!!

Before close-up

After close-up!

The only part of the carrot we won't eat!

But she'll peck away at it!

Lunch: pb&j, avocado, carrots, grapes, no bake energy bite (for dessert) and well water (in a mason jar and all)! Yum!

JJ chomps into a carrot as I sign off!

Beautiful Summer Sunday

Today is all about...

Fishing

Frogs

Feathers

Feisty furry friends (trying to eat my sundress)

And Fantastic views from my front porch

Hope you are able to enjoy the beautiful weather as well! 

Set Free

Another raccoon was seen by our coop at supper time! Within minutes, we had yet another raccoon in the live trap! 

This one was a little feistier than the last! 

Another van ride and then set free!

Gotcha!

J and I were sitting at the kitchen table when we heard a loud screech coming from the coop! Within seconds, farmer J was out of the house. Within minutes, J had the raccoon trapped in the coop.  

And within a few more minutes, we had him in this live trap. 

J is going to take Mr. Raccoon far from the farm! 

So long trouble maker!