The Farm Chicks

Croy Gulch

When I started Kindergarten, my family had temporarily settled into a tiny shack on the Klamath River in California. The house was just off the road, so there was always a lot of action going on beyond our doors. This was Croy Gulch.

My parents made their bedroom in the garden, in part to enjoy the cool that the evening would bring and in part to guard the tomatoes from the deer. An old clawfoot tub was in the garden as well, filled with water to be warmed by the sun and where we'd take our occasional baths. We'd wash our clothes by hand and then run them through the wringer, that sat just on the other side of the garden. My brother and sister slept in the main house and the gypsy wagon was my bedroom, which meant I was closest to the road.

One summer night as we all lay sleeping, a commotion arose in the driveway. Bright lights, scuffling, car doors, banging, and then a booming voice: THIS IS THE POLICE! YOU ARE SURROUNDED! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!

My mom came flying out from the garden with her hands in the air and was met by a police squadron with their guns drawn. "I SURRENDER! I SURRENDER!", she screamed.

What ensued was a standoff between a man who had robbed a store down the river and the police, following a chase that had ended in our driveway. In the end, we were safe and the robber taken away, but it was the beginning of a long string of high drama summer incidents that marked our stay at Croy Gulch.

Living just off the road was a sort of entertainment for us kids and oftentimes, we'd stand at the edge of the driveway watching the cars go by. "Flatlanders!", we'd say about the people in each car that'd pass, imagining they were from the city. The flatlands, as we called it.

They weren't tough like us, we imagined. Because we were adventurers. Tenders of the goats, hunters of rattlesnakes, and always covered in poison oak and big white dots of Milk of Magnesia, applied to dry out the sores.

Our favorite days were the ones when the road crew would come through. When my mom saw them coming, she'd pull out my grandma's old dough bowls and make her famous homemade bread. We'd take the hot, steaming thick slices out, covered in big slabs of butter and feast with the crew. They always made sure to set up their base at our driveway whenever they were nearby.

Eventually, the BLM who owned the land we were renting, informed my parents that they needed to remove the shack from their property. So they threw a huge house tearing down party and then, just like that, we moved on.

Because that's what adventurers do.

Footnote: The 67 Truckin Co. seen on my family car (above) is what my parents sort of named our life. 1967 is the year my parents met and my dad painted 67 on many of our vehicles and gypsy wagon.

Junking

I had an interview of sorts the other day, and was asked about my passion for junking. And you know, it's not something I often stop and really think about. It's just the way I grew up.

I can't explain how much I love when someone calls me to tell me about an old barn they'd like to let me to come and dig through or when I roll up to a farm sale. It makes my heart skip a beat. What will I find?

I found this old toy truck at a farm sale a few weeks ago. The place had been picked over but I couldn't help but wonder about what may be sitting in their enormous barn across the field. So I asked if I could take a peek. "There's nothing in there but junk", they said. Well, that sounded perfect to me.

When I enter a barn, I stop at the entrance and do a 360 degree scan. Then I look up, which is something my dad always taught me, because wonderful things are often stored in the rafters.

On this day, while looking along the wallboards, I saw this filthy old toy truck.

I have a thing for these trucks. I think it's because my parents always used them as vessels in our gypsy wagon. They'd use them for holding various things like onions or buttons... basically anything that could hold something was used and old toy trucks were easily found in the landfills my parents would dig through.

Anyway, back to the barn.

When I emerged from the barn, I showed the truck to the owner who said he had been looking for that toy for 50 years! It had been set down one day and he could never remember where he put it. And after he told me about his memories of that truck when he was a child, he told me he'd be happy to sell it.

So now it's mine. This junky old truck that needs to be cleaned up. It may go into my collection, or who knows, maybe I'll sell it someday.

Someday, I'll have to tell you about the shirt I found at a yard sale for .10 cents and later sold for $860. dollars.

It's true!

Summer Morning

Good morning, sky. You're dark again this morning.

Good morning, garden.

Hello, tracks.

Rise and shine, pumpkins!

Why, hello there, sun! Could you please visit more often? We miss you..... it is summer after all.

It's All About the Chickens

You know how people talk about what's "trending" on the internet? You know what's trending in Farm Chicks World? Chickens.

I just discovered there's a chicken out there with my name on it...

Meet Serena.... the chicken. She belongs to Sandi.

She loves long walks, eating, and hugs. Just like me. hee hee

And my friend, Heather, has put the Belgian coop I recently found for her to good use.

Isn't it lovely?

What's trending in your world?

 

Good News! You Can Shop!

I was so sad when I had to close my shop and had to stop with online orders. I just couldn't keep up. And I've heard from so many of you, wanting to purchase my books and other cute things.

So I have good news to share! I now have an amazon shop where you can purchase my books, other books I love, and products too. And amazon is able to offer my books at such amazingly low prices, it will save you lots.

To go to the shop, you can click on the books icon on my sidebar here or from my website, by clicking on products.

Thank you so much for your support. I adore you.

Serena :)

 

P.S. I'll be regularly adding new selections, so I hope you'll check back often.

Cherry Pickers

Cherry season officially began for our family and friends yesterday with the Cherry Pickers Trot, an annual event here on Greenbluff.

Families come from all around to participate in pit spitting contests, visit with friends, and to participate in the four mile run around half of the bluff. Back in the day, Emily won the race and brought home the outhouse trophy. As the years have passed and as we've all had children, it's fun for us to see them out running the course. A whole new generation of Thompsons.

And I love that the cousins are growing up together here, together so often that they're almost like siblings. They're so lucky to have each other.

After the race, friends and families gathered at our house, a short walk from the festivities.

It was the perfect kick-off for the season.

 

Recovered

When we moved into our new home, I took some of our furniture for World Headquarters. Our old kitchen table is now my sewing table, recovered with a sweet new oilcloth.

This was the table before:

And I did love that oilcloth so much, but was ready for a change. I'm funny that way... looking at certain things makes my mind wander with the memories I have from that piece. So, for example, every time I saw that table, I'd be sidetracked with so many memories and thoughts from our old house, dinners, etc., that it was a distraction from what I'm trying to do in WHQ (World Headquarters).

Time for a tiny change.

And my fabric is slowly getting organized.

And once I'm done with that, I'll be mopping the WHQ floor as my final move-in chore.

Sources:

The desk in the background of the first image is from Pottery Barn.

The cubbies are from Ikea.

My oilcloth (before and after) and sewing basket are all from Cath Kidston.

My pincushions were Christmas ornaments from Martha Stewart.

Much of my new fabric is from Sandi Henderson (Hi Sandi!), Amy Butler, and Cath Kidston. The rest is all vintage.

My upholstered chair and ottoman are from Ikea and the slipcovers are from an old Ikea line named Rosalie that I was able to find on ebay.

Photo Credit: The before image of my table is from my first book, The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen, and was shot by John Granen.

Farm Dinner Style

Ever wonder about farm dinner style? A little bit of country and a little rock and roll.

What would you wear?

 

Advertising

Just a quick note to say I am now offering advertising opportunities on my blog. If you're interested, please send me an email ( serena at thefarmchicks.com ) and we can chat about it.

xo, Serena

Farm Dinner

Last week, Colin and I had the opportunity to participate in one of the most memorable dinners ever.

The dinner was arranged and conducted by Outstanding in the Field, a tiny company, founded by a chef, whose brother is a pioneering organic grower. His vision was to create a roving restaurant without walls, where guests can enjoy a meal with the farmers, growers, and culinary artisans who grow and work the ingredients, oftentimes in the setting the food is grown.

Our setting was Monteillet Fromagerie

where we were greeted with local wines and small bites near their farmstead cheese shop and tasting room.

Then we were off to meet the goats during milking, learn about the cheesemaking operation,

  

and to tour Nourish Gardens, nestled amongst Monteillet Fromagerie's 32 acre farmstead, where I was inspired by the clover paths, grown to add nitrogen to the soil, and learned about biodynamic horticulture and agriculture.

The biodynamic grower and keeper of the gardens:

And then it was time to grab a plate and let the feast commence.

The founder:

The breadmaker:

The winemakers (Rulo):

The winemaker (Flying Trout):

 

The chef (second from right) and crew:

Strawberry Fool

Greetings from the countryside of Dayton, Washington!

Colin and I just enjoyed one of the most memorable dinners ever. (I'll be writing about it next week).

And good news! We enjoyed "Strawberry Fool" for dessert. In honor of Strawberry Week, I thought I'd share the concept of the dessert with you here, and how you can re-create it at home.

Please don't roll your eyes when I tell you this...

This is a very simple dish!

And elegant? YES!

To create, quarter fresh strawberries and gently stir in granulated sugar (add sugar to taste). Let sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, until the strawberries begin to release their juices. Combine strawberry mixture with heavy whipping cream and taste to ensure the mixture is suitably sweetened for a dessert. Beat until cream is stiff.

Scoop beaten strawberry cream mixture onto a chilled platter, top with chocolate cookie wafers and fresh raspberries. Drizzle with sweetened, unwhipped, heavy cream and embellish with thinly sliced fresh mint. Serve immediately.

If you want to get really fancy (and create more work for yourself), drizzle with Creme Anglaise, instead of the sweetened, unwhipped, heavy cream.

And how many times in your life have you gotten to announce that you're serving "Strawberry Fool" for dessert? Yeah, me too.

xo, from Dayton

P.S. Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers are readily area where I live, however, if they're not in your area, the next best substitute (but a pain in the neck) would be Oreo cookies with the filling removed.

Strawberry Fun

Let's have some fun with strawberries around the house!

Little cups of fresh strawberries are darling at each person's place at the table:

An old strawberry ice cream carton turns an ordinary supermarket plant into something sweet:

Strawberry Candies, like these marshmallows, make a lighthearted display:

Sources:

The clear glass mini cakestand is from Pottery Barn.

The Italian Strawberry Marshmallows are from Wal-Mart.

Picnic Pies

Picnics are one of summer's greatest treats, so why not make each picnic delicious? I devised these pies to be highly portable and free of the need for any silverware. The crust is deliciously flaky and the strawberry filling tastes like a sweet kiss of summer. I bet you can't eat just one!

Crust:

3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 cups cold butter, cut into small pieces

1 egg

1/2 cup cold water

Combine the flour and graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles course meal. Whisk the egg and water together and mix into the flour mixture until just combined. Transfer to a clean work surface and gently press to form a dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, press into a disk shape, and chill for at least one hour.

While dough chills, prepare Strawberry Pie Filling.

Strawberry Pie Filling:

4 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered (cut into eighths if the berries are huge)

1 cup brown sugar (not packed)

1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine all ingredients into a medium bowl and stir together until flour and sugar are mixed in. Set Pie Filling aside. Line two large baking sheets with foil or parchment and lightly grease.

Roll out dough onto a floured work surface and roll out to a 1/8" thickness. Use a cereal bowl for a guide, and trace with a knife.

Repeat until the dough is all used up. (Should make about 16-18 dough circles). Divide pie filling evenly between the dough circles, folding and pressing each one closed as you go. Press edges with a fork and prick center for steam to escape. Place the pies on the baking sheets.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling is oozing out from steam holes. Remove pies immediately to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely. (They will harden up as they cool to room temperature).

Notes:

These pies will ooze filling as they cook, as the strawberries are very juicy. If you prefer a less juicy/messy pie, don't use all of the juice from the filling mixture when filling the pies.

Your baking sheets will look somewhat - a lot juicy when you remove the pies from the oven. Don't worry, this is normal. Just make sure to remove the pies while they're hot so the filling doesn't stick to the foil/parchment.

I definitely recommend using foil or parchment, rather than placing these directly on the baking sheet. this way, you won't have a huge clean-up when you're done!

Picnic Pies are rustic and don't need to be perfect. They're meant to be enjoyed! :)

Strawberry Creamwiches

I love a delicately buttery cookie, which these are, but they're made even better with the addition of fresh and flavorful strawberry cream filling.

Cookies:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

Cream the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth - 2-3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until well combined. Lower the mixer speed to medium-low and gradually beat in the flour. Transfer the dough to a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a square disk. Wrap with the plastic and refrigerate for one hour.

Place the dough between two sheets of wax paper and roll out to 1/4" thickness. Cut out the cookies using a cookie cutter of your choice. Place the cookies about 1" apart on ungreased baking sheets and refrigerate for 15 minutes. While the dough chills, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake until firm, but not brown - approximately 12-15 minutes. While the cookies bake, prepare the filling.

Strawberry Filling:

1/2 cup butter

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup strawberries, finely chopped

Beat butter until softened. Add powdered sugar and strawberries and beat until well combined. Set filling aside.

Remove cookies from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Once cooled, spread filling on a cookie and top with another, creating a cookie sandwich.

Note:

I used these wonderful cookie cutters from William Sonoma, but any cookie cutters will do.

P.S. Did you know it's Strawberry Week here at The Farm Chicks? Would you like to share your favorite strawberry recipe with The Farm Chicks reader community? If you're on twitter, you can tweet your recipe link to #strawberryweek for all to see! If you're not on twitter, you can share your recipe in the comments here or blog about it and then share your link.

Strawberry Week Starts Tomorrow

Join me here for Strawberry Week starting on Monday. Recipes, tips, and ideas all around this sweet little berry.

And you can join in on the fun. Leave me a comment with a link to your favorite strawberry recipe, post it on The Farm Chicks Facebook Wall, or tweet it to #strawberryweek

I can't wait!

Strawberry Week!

Grab some strawberries and meet me here all next week for STRAWBERRY WEEK!  It's going to be strawberry-licious!

Treasure

Most Fridays of summer, the boys and I can be found out and about, hunting for treasure. But our treasure isn't defined by monetary value, rather, random objects that have a story to tell or that simply catch our eye. Estate sales are our favorite.

So when Kellie contacted me to tell me about her upcoming estate sale, I knew I wanted to go and get a preview of the contents of her grandfather Joe's 100 year old farm.

You may see chipped dishes, but I love that they were actually used, rather than kept pristine from years of sitting on a shelf. Beautiful.

The best ornaments? Old glass balls, worn over time. Perfect.

I love these old pencils, given out by the local grange supply store. And they're from Fairfield, the location of the farm.

Old cake toppers stop my heart. They speak of true love. Everyone should own at least one, to remind them of their one and only.

If the packaging doesn't get you, the handiness of the contents will. Old paper wall dispensers are the best.

 

I'm collecting old wooden spools of muted thread to display. Simplistic beauty.

Have you ever dug through boxes of old farm junk? You never know what you may find. They're the best.

Old crazy quilts. Every piece stitched by hand. I'd choose you over a boring blanket any day of the week.

And old books? Possibly one of my favorite collectibles of all time. The papers, the print. Books rank right up there with paint for one of the easiest ways to add warmth to a room. Stack them around, display them, open them to expose the beautiful papers inside. Treasure.

What are you doing this weekend? The boys and I will be looking for some good estate sales, like this one. If you live in Spokane, you might want to stop by Kellie's estate sale, featuring the contents of her grandfather Joe's farm. And maybe I'll see you there! (I didn't cheat even one little bit by buying anything early. That wouldn't be fair now would it?)

You can find the estate sale at 4920 East 14th Avenue in Spokane Valley. The sale will run this Friday and Saturday from 9-3.

Cotton Candy Balloons!

Every year, I love creating a fun photo opportunity for visitors at the entrance of The Farm Chicks Show. This year, I constructed a big bunch of cotton candy balloons.

For me, cotton candy is fun. And happy. And wouldn't this be fun to make for a photo op (or decoration) at your next party?

To construct:

1. Hot glue paper cones to bags of cotton candy.
2. Affix long strings to the cones.
3. Hot glue bags together to create a huge bunch of "balloons".
4. Hang bunch from ceiling with several pieces of clear heavy duty fishing line.
5. Once hung, tie all the loose strings (hanging from the bottom of the cones) together to create a knot, just as a balloon peddler would.

Tip: I repackaged my bags of cotton candy using clear bags, rather than the clown themed bags they came in. (It just fit better with what I had in my mind).

Special thanks to the wonderful Samantha Cabrera for these images from the show.

An Ordinary Can

You've got lots of cans passing through your house everyday, right? Did you know you can re-purpose them into many different nifty things? Here's one very simple idea.

Start with a can.

Spray it with an adhesive spray and cover with the fabric of your choice. Wrap the rim with seam binding and hot glue into place.

Fill it with supplies like fabrics...

...or pens

or buttons, stamps, patches, ribbons, whatever you'd like.

Or make a bunch and fill them all.

Notes: The vintage can shown here was shown only for an example, as this project was done a few years ago and I didn't have a before shot. :) I prefer to use new cans that I'd be recycling anyway. (Old cans are so pretty!)

This can was spray painted so the bottom teeny tiny rim didn't distract from the project, however, it's completely unnecessary.