Road to Avonlea

Road to Avonlea (CA)

"Inspired by L.M.Montgomery novel this series follows adventures of residents of Prince Edward Island in early 1900s. A young rich girl, Sara Stanley, is sent to live with country relative Hetty King. Hetty's brother Alec have three children Felicity, the perfectionist, Felix, who always has an idea which doesnt go as plan and quiet Cecily who loves the farm, and they will soon become Sara friends."

Ok, as an Anne of Green Gables-ophile how did I NOT know about this show? Ahhh Netflix...how do I love thee? I am only at disc one presently, which I am sure I can tear through tonight, then will have to patiently await the next disc. Should probably be waiting until summer classes are over, but this is a dvd viewing emergency!

Clothesline

For Christmas my husband bought me a new washer and dryer. Ours got so banged up from moving so much, it was time. Aren't they pretty in my teeniest laundry room in the creation of mankind?

Lately though I have been dreaming of having a good old-fashioned clothesline though. Isn't there something great about line dried clothes? This crispness and freshness of the sheets? Well, I think there is! Our little patio does not warrant such a set up though. Sad. It does however, make the prefect set-up for a retractable clothesline! Gotta love the Farm and Fleet for always having just what I want.

Aaaaaahhhh...line dried clothes and linens. 12 dollars well spent!



Strawberry Day

It was such a gorgeous day I decided to take Rosemary to Thompson Strawberry Farm in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She had such fun and was a pro at finding the best berries!

When we got home we made a small batch of jam just to get started. Here is the recipe we used:

4 cups crushed berries
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teeny tiny pat of butter (cuts down on the foam when the berries are boiling...great tip!)
1 packet of MaryJanes Chillover powder (if you don't know what this is, you really should!)

Heat the berries, sugar, lemon juice to boiling. Cook and mash and cook and mash some more, until it is all cooked and mashed to your liking. This is a very technical recipe, you see.

When it's starts to get foamy like crazy add the butter, then you won't have to skim it off. How awesome is that?! Add the Chillover powder and boil for 3 minutes. Can in sterile jars. I used half pints and water bathed for 5 minutes. Isn't it beeeeeautiful?

I can't wait to have us some strawberry jam on scones for breakfast! We only picked one basket, so I think we just may have to go back! 

Small Space Container Gardening

I love gardening. I love dirt in my nails (though I admit, I bite my nails, so there is not much nail there). I even love the smell of dirt. Living in base housing though there is not much outside space. We currently live in a 4 unit townhouse, so our outside space in limited to our little patio. What's a wanna-be farmgirl to do?

Why, container gardening of course! I had tons of luck last season, so I planned on doing lots more this year. I am using big Rubbermaid containers and some other big tubs and buckets I got from WalMart for 5 dollars a piece. Cheaper than flower pots!

 Tomatoes, green beans, peppers, salad greens...oh my!

Basil, rosemary, oregano, and thyme. There was cilantro, but the mutant squirrels got it. That story is a whole post in itself.

I can't wait to start getting some veggies! They are coming though! Then....let the canning begin!

Canning Like Crazy!

I go through phases where I think I need to can everything in sight. This weekend was strawberries, lemon curd, and some carrots. THe lemon curd turned out to be the most delicious thing to ever makes its way into my stomach. I will attempt to take pictures and directions with my next batch, for now you will just have to trust that is is a combination of sunshine and happiness in a jar!


My mom found me this picture...I think it suits me perfectly, don't you?

First Post!

My very first post on my very first blog! How very exciting! I wanted to set this up as a way for me to show people some of my craftiness, cooking, gardening, and all around wanna-be farmgirl-ness while living in the cramped quarters of this military base.