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« May 2011 | Main | July 2011 »
Our landscaping has begun. I thought I'd share a picture I snapped with my phone looking out from World Headquarters into the yard.
We went with hydroseeding the lawn because it's MUCH less expensive than sod.
We're just looking forward to having a yard again.
And in other news, the boys and cousins have been making movies. And yes, they own a lot of toy guns. If you don't like toy guns, you might not want to watch Super Awesome Man. Just saying.
Have I ever told you that If you were to drive by any old abandoned farm in the Pacific Northwest you'd be sure to see a rhubarb, lilac, or peony? And oftentimes, all three?
It's true.
And I do believe these to be my favorite plants of all.
Sometimes, when I drive by, I think to myself how glad I am that those plants are still standing tall and proud. And they should be.
Proud.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I saw a farmhouse on a hill, surrounded by
an empty sky,
And though I thought of other things, my heart refused
to pass it by.
This house and barn that stood so proud,
reminded me of what I knew,
Of a land of hope and fortitude, whose strength
lay in her multitudes.
Alone it stood in the midst of fields
of tall green grasses whispering low,
A sturdy barn, a shuttered house, a dog or two
resting by the stove,
My heart leapt up to see it there, this
honored emblem, new and old,
Of a land, a hope, a legacy,
and a promised dream yet to unfold.
~author unknown
Sometimes I miss chatting like the old days, before I got so busy. So I've been thinking wouldn't it be fun for us to be able to do just that?
Join me on Facebook, Wednesday morning, at 8am PST, for a live chat! Simply head on over to The Farm Chicks Facebook page, and I'll be there. (You'll see simple instructions once you arrive).
I look forward to talking with you!
The original Farm Chicks office was located in the corner of my laundry room.
It was October of 2002 and Teri and I had just held our very first sale, in my friend's barn, just a short walk from my house.
I had a strong feeling that The Farm Chicks needed to have a website and set my mind to creating one. I had no idea what I was doing, but really wanted a way to grow the business and anticipated that the internet would be key in doing so.
So, I set up my family's terribly old computer and set out to create the website, using a dial-up connection in my little corner. I worked late at night after the family had all gone to bed, and during the day, whenever I could squeeze in a minute or two. And I'm going to tell you it wasn't the ideal way to hatch the business, but I was working with what I had at the time, which was something I was used to. Making do.
Eventually, Colin and I saved up enough money to buy a desk from Pottery Barn that fit perfectly into a little niche in the hall between the living room and bathroom. The size of a closet. So, I moved the computer out of the laundry room and into my new space. And I began to dream bigger than ever before.
Whenever I'd have an important call or exciting development, Colin and I would laugh about who I was talking with, and the fact that it was all taking place from that little desk. And he began referring to it as World Headquarters. Because it all seemed so crazy, that all that was happening from that tiny little space.
Now that we've moved to our new home, and I have an actual office, I'm still in awe of my new space. The new World Headquarters. And that's what it will always be to us, because it reminds us of where this little business began. And makes me excited about what lies ahead.
And in this space, I feel more inspired than I've ever felt before. But it's still quite a mess. So, before I start moving ahead, I need to get moved in.
And I'm getting there. Box by box.
Right now, I'm getting my paper crafts cabinet organized. Drawer by drawer. And I'm taking my time.
Because, you can't rush these things and I want it to be just right.
After all, it's taken me nine years to get here. World Headquarters is a happy place to be.
Hi! It's me! It's been so long, thank you for understanding my little break. I'll be back on Monday, but until then, I thought I'd share more fun from The Farm Chicks Show, as presented by Seattle's Evening Magazine television show:
P.S. I'd like to recognize Deb Burton, a vendor at the show, who is shown quite a bit in this clip. Deb's "Ormolulu" space was wonderful this year (as always!). And thank you to all the vendors, and shoppers who participated.
Happy weekend to you.
The year our fourth boy was born threw me for a loop.
The three youngest were all in diapers, one had colic, and I had mastitis. I remember the day I made it in to the Doctor's office for the baby's first checkup and being berated by the receptionist for being a few weeks late. And I distinctly remember the way that made me feel. A bad mom. Irresponsible. Overwhelmed.
I wanted to cry.
Instead, I choked this out: That she didn't know my story. That she had no idea why I couldn't make it in until that day. And requested that the next time she wanted to cast judgement on someone or speak unkind words, that she first remember that she didn't know that person's story and perhaps a few words of kindness could go much further.
And then something happened that shocked me.
She apologized.
Not a shallow apology, but one that I could really feel. I knew she meant it.
Today I was thinking about the winter of my childhood where I'm pretty sure we nearly starved to death, surviving on not much more than potatoes and powdered milk. The winter where my sister and I invented potato cereal (no... it's not tasty), I was stricken with scabies, dug through dumpsters for food, and I learned to dig deep within myself to survive. To make it through to the next day. And the next.
I became the strongest person I knew.
And it's a good thing for me to remember. Because sometimes, I need perspective, just like that receptionist needed some too.
But don't we all sometimes?
I think everyone suffers at some point in their lives. What can we do to make a difference?
We can be kind, because it's really easy to do.
Just a smile
or a wave..
a compliment
...or two.
just because.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
I've been gone from here for a bit, but I'm looking forward to returning soon.
Here are some things I'm loving and am thankful for lately...
hearts of palm
fresh mushrooms
the farmer who works our fields
my freshly planted garden
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
I'll be back soon.
Love,
me
I love when the weather begins to take a turn for the warmer and it seems like every meal is done on the grill. One of my favorites is pizza.
You'll need to start with a batch of your favorite pizza dough. I like this recipe from Better Homes & Gardens:
Pizza Dough
2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water (not hot)
2 tablespoons olive oil
In a large mixer bowl combine 1 1/4 cups of the flour, the yeast, and salt. Stir in warm water and oil. Beat at low speed of electric mixer for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. (6 to 8 minutes total).
Cover dough and let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into as many pizzas as you'd like to make and roll out on a floured surface. (I recommend starting out with small pizzas while you get the hang of cooking them on the grill).
Place dough on floured pans.
Lightly cover the top of each crust with olive oil. (I like to use olive oil that can be sprayed on for this). Light grill and set at low-medium low. Hold pan over grill and carefully flip the dough (the side that you've oiled) onto the grates. If the dough gets crinkled, quickly use a spatula to straighten it out, by placing the spatula under the dough and using your hand on top of the dough to guide the dough out. Transferring the dough to the grill is the trickiest part and takes some practice. (This is why I recommend starting out with small crusts). Spray the side facing up with olive oil. Once the crust has very lightly browned and is stabile enough to turn, flip it with your spatula and lightly brown the other side. (You are not trying to completely cook the dough at this point, just giving it a light grilling). Place crusts back onto pans and return to the kitchen for toppings.
Now comes the fun part: your favorite toppings. Add anything you'd like. Here are some ideas:
Pesto, spinach, and parmesan:
Olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, fresh oregano and mozzarella: (fresh basil is even tastier, but I was out at the time)
A sudden windfall of 5 pounds of asparagus from my neighbor inspired this one: olive oil, asparagus, marinated feta, and pine nuts. (I should have added some ricotta or mozzarella too, as it was tasty, but a bit too dry).
And of course, kid favorites like cheese and ham with olives:
Take pizzas back to the grill and cook until the cheese is melted and the crust is browned to your liking:
Then remove from the grill, slice, and serve immediately.
Tips: I buy my pizza pans from a local restaurant supply store in Spokane. (Most cities have these stores). It's really helpful to have a lot of pans when feeding a crowd.
I usually double the dough so there's plenty to go around and to enjoy for leftovers the next day.
If you walked around my house today, you'd see about 15 ladders. The exterior is getting painted and raingutters are going on. And the exterior doors are off, which makes for a noisy house.
But the fields are being planted, the sun is out, and I'm making my grocery list. I love making our menu and grocery shopping.
Friday is often pizza night in our house and I'll be doing them up summer style, on the grill.
Grilled pizza is the best. I'll share the how-to tomorrow.
Who better to talk about The Farm Chicks Show than YOU? Here are your posts:
Heads Carolina / Tails California
The Farm Chicks Show Flickr Page
Dress For Success Inland Northwest
Are you headed to The Farm Chicks Antiques Show this weekend? Well, I have a little surprise in store...
... a sweet little gift for the first 1,000 shoppers on SUNDAY!
Last year, I surprised 1,000 shoppers with a cloth grocery tote bag. What will it be this year?
P.S. It's not candy :)
I hope to see you at the show!
P.P.S. If you'd rather avoid the crowds, Sunday is the very best day to visit the show. And the best part? Vendors re-stock for Sunday, many times with entirely new displays. Less crowded and a free gift? You don't want to miss it!
I'm Serena, mom of 4, author, entrepreneur, & Country Living Magazine contributing editor. I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world and I write about it all here, on my blog.
