The Larder Line Up...

Aside from the heatwave of the last few days, things feel different here in the mitten state.  The air is different, the light is different.  The breeze is crisp, and the flowers are sending forth their last hurrah.  The barn swallows have left early, and the sandhill cranes are starting to gather in small groups, then larger groups...eventually flying away for the winter by the hundreds.  Things beg to be picked, and eaten, and preserved.  We are on the cusp of fall folks!

Here at the farm that means hard core canning, freezing, and preserving season.  So here is your yearly update on how well we've stocked the larder so far.  (And this is not an invitation to come running our way to eat jam should the zombie apocalypse hit) (Kelly!!).

The cherry haul was impressive, thanks to our new friends in town, and we put many pounds of sweet and tart pitted cherries in the freezer.  This blueberry season was just "ok," due to long stretches of cool weather mid summer.  Also due to the fact that when we should have been picking, we were wedding prepping.  But we still have a decent haul in the freezer, and put up quite a bit of Blueberry-Cherry Jam...which is delicious!  We also picked/saved raspberries, strawberries, and rhubarb...so we made a decent amount of Raspberry Jam and Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.

Despite a tomato blight (again, weird weather year here in michigan), we still hauled in bushel after bushel.  We canned the beautiful heirlooms, and stewed them down into marinara sauce for the freezer.  We made red salsa, and Joe's famous hot tomatillo salsa! We also have four sheet pans roasting in the oven right now with heirlooms, basil, garlic, olive oil, sea salt and crushed pepper.  Not sure if we'll freeze or can these yet, but god they smell good!!  And, we kicked ass at pickles this year...crispy and delicious!

We had so much chard in the garden (and still do), that we picked a few bushels, sautéed it in a little olive oil, and froze it in muffin tins.  I popped them out and put them in freezer bags, so mid winter we can pull them out for soups, stews, pasta, etc!

Ok, on to fall fruits.  We picked peaches, but we ate so many, and made so many damn peach crisps, that none made it in the freezer ;).  We had a great pear pick at the home of our cherry friends, and a bushel from our friends at Family Circle Centennial Farm, so we just finished the second batch of canned pear sauce.  

The first of the apples are ready at Uncle Scotty's orchard, so we pressed cider last week and put five gallons in the freezer ( and drank a bunch ;).  The rest of his orchard is close behind, and so is our trusty apple tree out back, so from this point on there will always be a roaster going on the counter roasting apple sauce or apple butter.  This is a bumper apple crop year, so let's put up some apple goodness!!

Our new set of chickens, the "teenagers," are in laying overdrive.  When I have a few extra dozen, I either make ice cream or pie crust for the freezer!  My "Never fail" amish pie crust seriously never fails ;).

And speaking of eggs, we have an incubator going in the basement with turkey and peahen eggs baking away!  My bourbon red turkeys have been a delight to raise, but I don't want to eat them until I get a new round of chicks going.  Fingers crossed that we have some hatchlings by the end of the month!

Come on eggies...I want little peacocks with their tails up to pop out!!

(but that's probably not how it works ;)

The best part about all of this is spending sweet time with my handsome husband and beautiful daughter...lovely mornings in orchards, hot afternoons in the kitchen - it's all about being together.  It also draws in friends, new and old, who want to eat beautiful local food.  

Yay Michigan!  Yay local food!

To Have and to Hold...at the Farmstead!

Yesterday morning, as Joe and I had our coffee, he said with a sigh..."God I'm glad there is no to do list for today!"

Because, for most of this summer, there was a to do list.  A long one.  If we weren't working, we were generally farming, gardening, painting...etc.  All in anticipation of Naomi and Tim's wedding!!!!

On August 15th, Joe's sister Naomi wed the wonderful Tim here at the farm.  It was beautiful, perfect, dreamy...it was all that I hoped it would be for the sweet couple.  On to the pictures!

Oh seriously Naomi....couldn't have imagined a more beautiful bride...but wait, let's go back to the beginning...

The dinner plate dahlias arrived in flats, and it was my job to whip up the floral arrangements!  I live for this shit ya'll.

The sunflowers bloomed, the porta potty made pretty, and the tables were set with the help of both families and the campers out back!

Joe made these kick ass chalkboard signs for the end of the road and for parking, and Naomi made the fabric flags for the front fence.  The details were really something folks!

Craig made the chuppa, and the chairs were ready for the pretty guests!

When everything was set, I had time for champagne and a bath.  Trixie had time for a nap in her wedding colored bandana (orange and teal held the day together).

Here comes Coco and Julia, Esther and Toby, and Naomi the Bride!

Music and words filled with love guided us through the ceremony.

Martha fit in a nap during the ceremony.

Who knew that the corn field would be the perfect picture backdrop!

And Oh the dancing courtesy of The Webbs!

... and desserts courtesy of Sweet Heather Anne!

This Couple!!!!

Amazing Wit Wedding beer courtesy of Tim's own Fitger's Brewhouse,

 ...and an amazing food fair courtesy of Chef Todd at Wesleys Catering!

Hostesses with the mostess.

The morning after.

I couldn't get out of my pretty bed, but the clean up crew was on their way for work and brunch!

Everyone wore their wedding favor, out Wit Wedding tee's!

   Hey, this was one of the coolest things that we have ever done.  This is the very reason we bought the farm.  Nothing makes me prouder than providing a beautiful, comfortable place for the people that I love.  So, until the next wedding (Julia?  Steven?  Luke?  You guys better be before Coco!)...xoxo, e.

Cultural Camping.

So many times this sweet summer, I've thought to myself, "I have to write a blog about this!"  But then we head to the lake, or the pool.  Or I read on the porch, or pick flowers for the house.  Or I snuggle the goats, or sit on the porch with the peacock.  Which means this has been a delightfully perfect summer.  And all of that is way better than blogging.  But last week, we packed up, left grandma on the farm, and hit the road.

Nestled in the pine trees of the great state of Michigan, is the town of Interlochen.  I did not grow up in Michigan, so this magical place was not part of my vocabulary until recently.  Last week, we loaded up a ton of crap, and set out for a camping excursion at the Interlochen state park.  Our good friend Allison and her daughter were attending camp at the Interlochen Center for the Arts (more on that next post).  Myself, the two dads, and 4 kids were roughing it across the way from them.  Allison camped with us at night, and we got Samantha for our final evening.  The trip was filled with fishing, swimming, smores....and going to see musicals, choral performances, and symphonies.  What a truly magical week!!  Some pictures, shall we?

The kids put on staches while mom organized a home sweet home campsite.

We were surrounded by RV's but out little sight was just perfect.

The weather would change on a dime (pics 5 min apart!)

Quick climb up Sleeping Bear!

 Lazy days at the beach ;)

Jojo love.

Joe spoiled us with percolator coffee, pancakes, eggs, bacon, fish tacos....he was in it to win it on the camping stove and grill!

Fishing!!

Little beauties :).

We laughed till we ached.  I love these people, and can't wait till our next adventure.  Stay tuned for posts on the bedroom re-do, and Naomi's big wedding here next week!!!!

xoxo, e.

She's My Cherry Pie.

Every day over the last week, as we drove in and out of Chelsea, we would see it...the big stone farm house by the cemetery, with the 30 foot tall cherry trees -heavy laden with fruit.  Finally I stopped.  I made Joe run up to the house and ask if we could pay to pick...or trade for eggs and honey.

Success!  They were a delightful couple, eager to talk fruit trees, farming, and community, and eager to share their bounty.   They were also headed out of town during peak cherry week, and graciously said we could pick while they were away or else the birds would get em'!

And, folks, this is why we live in a farming community.  Small town values, good people, trading with your neighbor, local fresh food, etc. etc. etc.  Amen to small town Michigan!!

xoxo, e.

Letter From Camp...

Well, the weather has been just delightful, but the mosquitoes have been something awful!  We do a check in the house each night before bed, killing every little monster that might snack on us all night.  If we dope up real good (deet), we can sit and read on the porch...and Oh the birds that come to mom's feeder while we read there!

Coco got a 1940's book on birds this week, and has been cheerfully calling the light and airy calls of the chickadee and yellow finch as they perch and eat..."Ba-beeee  Ba-beeee" she gently coos.  Sometimes at night one can not even imagine what animal is making which sound out in the darkness of the pines.  We pass giant badger holes on out hikes through the fern laden paths of the woods.  A giant barred owl welcomed us home one day, perched high on a plantation pine lining the path.

The mighty Lake Huron is as warm as bath water, and it takes Joe, Mom, and I each taking shifts to fill the little one's need to swim.  But, hey, that's what vacation is about, right?

Mom has a steady stream of amazing food on the table, and last night we walked through the woods to dine with our neighbors, Auntie Chiara and Uncle Peter.  Venison steaks, greens, beets, polenta....with a smooth red wine to compliment the feast.  

One more day in the bliss of having no schedule and no responsibilities....just reading, having a few extra cups of coffee, hiking, swimming, eating...etc, etc.  

filled with gratitude,

xoxo, e.

Have a Little Faith, Honey.

While driving home on a sultry summer night last week, just outside of town, we spotted something.  Something sitting out for the trash...something wonderful.  I pulled into the driveway of the little farmhouse, and waved on the folks behind us who were also going to stop.

A perfect glider.  What in the hell?

I made Joe knock on the door because I thought "there is no way someone put this out for the trash!"

A twenty-something in a bathrobe, full beard, and chest tattoo answered the door and said it was all ours!  (it was a pretty hot seen by the by).  Then I looked at it, then at the  Nursecar (Ford Focus), then at Joe.

"Have a little faith, honey," he said to me.  "It's like a tetras...I just have to fit it in just right."

Coco was yelling "tie it to the roof," and I was offering to walk the last 5 miles and just carry it (because there was no way that I was leaving it there).  (All the while distracted by the hot bearded tattoo guy) (hoping he would offer me a cocktail and offer to deliver it to my house).

But lo and behold, Joe fit that damn thing in.  And now it lives at my house.  And matches my porch furniture.  Score team Cesarz!

xoxo, e.

It's a Parade!

Early Monday morning, large coffees in hand, we headed over to our friend Kelly's farm to load up for the Dexter Memorial Day Parade.  We loaded up animals, decorated the tractor and trailer, and prepared to honor the vets of the community with a kick ass parade!

They close all of the streets down really early, which means you sit in "line" and wait for the parade to start for quite awhile.  And, unfortunately, it was freezing...but that did not stop the day from being awesome!!  So proud to honor the vets by riding on the Cornman Farms float!

Loadin' up the crew!

When you gotta go you gotta go...Good thing Joe's got the pooper scooper!

Are you cold Allison? ;)

 Thank You Vets!  And Thank You Cornman Farms!

The Dexter High School Band, Grandma's Girl Goat, and my partner for the parade, Flirt the Lamb!

The parade beauties! (did I mention it was cold?)

Allison and Kelly passing out Zang Bars (adult candy!! ;).

It was really awesome to see the kids and adults light up when they saw the animals!

Me and Mini Me.

Joe entertaining the crowd!

Thanks for an delightful day Cornman Farms! 

xoxo, e.

Memorial Day, Old School.

We had a jam packed weekend of events, one of those weekends in which I could only look ahead to one event at a time.  Then rush home, change, grab the next "dish to pass," and head out to the next event.  But what a lovely weekend it turned out to be!

We had family in town, and a family confirmation to attend yesterday morning.  After a little family brunch, we ran home and got ready to head out to Bill's 51st annual Memorial Day BBQ!  It was a potluck/picnic/bbq done up old school and right.  There was chicken on the big handmade stone grill, and dishes ranging from hand pulled mozzarella to green been casserole.  There were jello molds and pea salads.  There was rhubarb in every shape and form.  This was such an awesome change from the usual "vegan hipster" spreads at most the parties we attend (not that I'm complaining, I love vegan hipster food!).  But pea salad and jello molds?  Amazing.  Lots of good old farm folk pulling the fresh rhubarb from their yards and whippin' up pies.  Cheers to Bill's delightful shindig, and to his lovely daughters for running the kids and adult games!

 I sent Joe to the barn for lawn chairs, and he came back with 

"Don and Betty."  Never a dull moment.

Some people stayed upright for the sack and three legged race, and some did not ;).

This blog is getting long winded, so stay tuned for pics from the Cesarz' riding in the Memorial Day Parade!  xoxo, e.