And the Winner is...


Happy Easter.


We have had a week of amazing sunshine.


The Art Studio is done.


And already being used.


Went to the Red Door Farm yesterday..


They have runner ducks now.
Which made me miss my girls, but we still go see them and their babies often.
They all moved to a giant nursery with a huge pond.
We learnt the hard way that if you're gonna have ducks...you need a pond.


We bought a new chick for the farm.
And of course some of their green eggs.


How I wish these were mine!
But they aren't.
How I wish I could give all you a cookbook, but today it goes to:
number 17
phaedra said..
Oohhhh.. I would love to win this book! It looks fantastic! Thanks for the chance

Phaedra, please get in touch so I can have the book shipped to you. 
Thank you again for all the kind notes and emails.
Have a wonderful day!

Cookbook Giveaway...




Ok, here is the very first preview of my actual book.



Seems like everyone is finding the book on their doorsteps right now.
Thank you everyone for the support and extremely kind emails.
I'm overwhelmed by your kindness.


I was given permission to show you two recipes, so I picked Broccoli soup...
This soup puts a big smile on my face. What I love even more, is that it makes my daughter smile too. It warms you up, fills you up, and this soup is so darn good. If I had a store, I would serve nothing but soup and warm pie, and this is one of the soups I would serve.


And Meyer Lemon Curd.
If you love lemon, you will make this recipe and then send me a handwritten note saying thank you sweet lady for introducing me to Lemon Curd. You are welcome. Now go for a jog.
Next week, I'll post the other half of the lemon recipes and show you a delicious way to use the lemon curd other than a spoon.  If you have any left!

And, as promised, I get to give a book away to one of you!!
Just leave me a comment and I will draw a random winner on this coming Sunday.
A good Easter present!
If you are finding the recipes hard to read off the site, click on the jump as I've pasted them in regular text for you there.

Farm Fresh Recipes

by Heather Cameron

CICO Books, $24.95; www.cicobooks.com

Photo credit: Photography by Heather Cameron, Kim Christie, and Janis Nicolay

Because...


Because it's spring our new Bee Keeper is coming in two weeks.


Because my sweet fella finished the art studio today...


 ..we had the perfect place for afternoon tea.


Because no one else in this house (who is over 5) will let me get sheep, or the miniature Ram I found in need of a home, this will have to be my 'herd grazing in the meadow' shot.


Because we have our entire vegetable garden planted... in March... we are keeping them safe with 
covers to keep them warm at night.


And, because my very old couch, that was perfect for the art studio, was rotting inside,
 I spent the day stripping it down.  
Because I did this, I now have 5 blisters on my left hand.
Why do I get so obsessed with these things...?
Because.

Distractions...


I was told my cook book is being shipped out this week.
So, I've found many ways to keep myself distracted.
Popsicles.
Lots of popsicles.


Gardening...


Planting a new bed of strawberries, then covering them up to keep them warm.


Turning these ugly lights I bought at a prop house years ago..


Into some fun shots of color for the art studio.


Updating some tables we were given by cutting off the 'royal knobs'.
I've known enough royal knobs in my life.
I don't need them on my furniture.


And making jello from scratch.
By scratch, I mean not the from the pre-mixed box full of..???.
My friend Suki doesn't know how this is done, so 
here is a little 'how to' just for you Suki..
and anyone else who may not know.
You need:
2 cups Fruit juice of your choice - but not pineapple - it won't set
Gelatin - 1 tablespoon or one little pouch from the Knox box
sugar, honey or agave if you like.

Pour half a cup of cold juice in your bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top.
leave it while you do the rest.  It will thicken up.


Heat up the other 1 1/2 cups of juice in a pan on the stove top.  
It doesn't have to boil, just get very hot.
This is when you can add 1/8 cup of sugar, agave or honey and stir till dissolved.
Pour the hot juice into the cold gelatin mix and stir well - about 2 minutes.
Done.
Into the fridge to set for about 4 hours of overnight.


I used unsweetened watermelon strawberry juice with 1/8 cup sugar.

I'm so excited that next week, I get to share some recipes from the book 
and give away a few copies too.
Have a great weekend.






Chuck Wagons...


Hide and Seek with chickens. 
They never look up. 


Spent the weekend painting the art studio.
Another few weekends, and it should be done.


It's treat day at school tomorrow.


So we cut some graham crackers in half, put a marshmallow on top.
Heated them in the oven for 3 minutes...


Smothered the other half of the graham cracker with our Missing Goat raspberry jam..


Pressed it down on top...


Then poured melted chocolate all over the top.
I'm calling them Chuck Wagons.
It's my version of a wagon wheel, but clearly not round and to be honest, no the prettiest looking treat.
But dang, they taste good!

All Paths Lead...



...to the garden today.  
The sun was out and so were we.


Found the blueberries were starting to burst open.
Also found that
every time I looked down today...


...there was a chicken.
Every time I turned around today...


...there was a chicken.
I'm not kidding.


We all felt this way.

But, the sun was out and it's March.
In this house, that means it's time to plant the vegetable garden.


So we sorted the seeds, then planted them.
Even the magic beans found in the bottom of the basket.
'Course, I know they're runner beans.
But what's life without a few magic beans.
Short and adventure-less, that's what.


After the garden was planted, it was in to help out with the new Art Studio.
Next weekend, we can start to paint the inside.


Found that the rhubarb and chives are up.
Then found, that somehow, when we weren't looking, the chickens had time ...


...to lay more eggs.
Honestly, they are laying three to four eggs every day.
If a recipe doesn't call for at least three eggs, I don't make it!