Homemade Ducky Fries ~ ~ ~ >

We always find those funny shaped potatoes when we harvest them. This year's winner is the " Ducky Potato " , hence " Ducky Fries ".


Last Friday , Little Missy and I made " Ducky Fries ". I sliced the potatoes into rounds , then added about a tbsp cooking oil to a bowl , put potatoes in oil and mixed them well to make sure they're coated with the oil. Little Missy helped lay them on the baking pan. Heat oven to 350 , bake until browned on the top side , take them out and turn them to the other side. You can add a little salt or sea salt before returning to oven to let the other side brown. They're delicious , sometimes I add garlic powder to the oil before cooking. The Grands love them and they're much healthier than deep fried.

~ Many Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

Tater Digging Time .......................

I was planning to share this post last week , but had a death in the family. My cousin passed away August 20th , so we spent time with family and friends the first few days of last week. We also had to prepare for Hurricane Irene , but thankfully she by-passed us.

We dug the potatoes week before last , the harvest wasn't as good as years past due to the drought. But we were Blessed with a good amount , hopefully enough to sustain us through the winter.

Little Missy and Little Time helped dig and pick-up the potatoes .......


they were so excited each time they found a potato.


When the work was done , it was time for a ride with Pa on the tractor.

Little Missy decided she wanted to drive the tractor.

They worked very hard , even helping their Dad pull the potatoes to house. They were so helpful and I'm proud of them.

~ Garden Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

I Wanna ..............................

be ..............................

just like ..............

my Pa !!

~ Many Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

Enjoy ......................

the wildness of today !!

~ ~ Be Blessed ~ ~

JoyceAnn

A Budding Herbalist .............

Last Thursday , Little Missy spent the night , she loves helping with the morning chores. We walked around the herb garden and I spotted this old coal bucket that I had herbs planted in last year. Upon closer inspection I found this beautiful Purslane plant growing , it grows wild here and somehow the seeds had sprouted in the bucket. I'll be adding some of the leaves to our salads this week , they're very nutritious and high in omega 3's , you can check it out here ..... http://www.culinarymusings.com/2008/06/purslane-not-a-weed-but-a-wonder/.


Ms. Rose was on the nest , so Little Missy had a chance to pet her and watch her get ready to lay an egg.




After feeding and watering the chickens , goats and guineas , we headed to the field to harvest some red clover. She really enjoyed picking the red blossoms. A friend ask on my last post about red clover , what I do with it , some of you probably know. I make red clover tea , red clover syrup and plan to tincture some soon , it can also be used in cooking.



A Budding Herbalist , Indeed !!





~ Happy Herbal Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

Curious J the Mad Scientist Meets a Pokemon ~>

Sunday afternoon we hosted a surprise " Mad Scientist " birthday party for Curious J , he was a happy " Mad Scientist " (LOL).

We tried to get a group picture , but this was about as good as it gets around here.

We did rocket launches with film canisters and alka seltzer tablets , they really enjoyed watching them pop up in the air.

Little Time loved the safety goggles , he looks so much like his Pa.

Dr. Jekyll checks out his chemical reaction.

C. Einstein shows off his chemical gas.

Curious J the Mad Scientist launches his rocket ...... everybody stand back !

Then it was time for the Mad Scientist to meet the pokemon

" Pikachu " !

~ Many Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

A .....Maze .....Ing

Last Saturday night Curious J and Little Froggy spent the night. Curious J wants to create something almost everytime he visits. So Sunday afternoon we created these marble mazes from an idea I found on the Family Fun website.

Little Froggy thought they were amazing , look at that grin.

Yep , you have to tilt your head to make that marble roll ( LOL ).

The game was fun for a few minutes , but pulling the straws off the box was more fun for Little Froggy. As the saying goes " Boys will be Boys "!!

~ Many Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

A Long Hot Summer ...............

It's been a long hot summer , 100 degree temps and no rain made for a very puny garden. Yesterday morning after milking Ms. Jazz , I made my way through the garden and found one cucumber. I've only harvested about a dozen cucumbers this year. The zinnias are trying to bloom , so I picked a few of them and some wild herbs to make a flower arrangement , needed something to lift my spirit.

Then I saw this beautiful butterfly trying to gather nectar from an almost dead red clover bloom .............


And realized the goldenrod is starting to bloom , a sign that Fall will be here soon. I'm looking forward to Fall bringing cooler temps and hopefully lots of rain.


The poke berries are starting to ripen and turn black , another sign that Fall is around the corner.

The sunflowers seem pretty happy , they stand tall and hold their heads high. The heat and drought doesn't seem to bother them much.

And speaking of a Spirit Lifter ....... Works everytime !!

~ Bee Blessed ~

JoyceAnn

He's 7 ....................

Happy Birthday ................................

To Curious J

May Your Special Day Be Blessed

With Love , Peace and Happiness

We Love You !!

Nana & Pa