The Two's Are Tumbling In ...

Our little Sully turned two today!

Sully, you have brought us so much Joy.

We love you

From the curl on the top of your sweet head,

to the bottom of your pudgy little toes.

You have learned so many things this past year;

to walk and to run really fast,

to sit on top of your sister while she giggles and gasps for air,

to point and communicate with hilarious expressions,

to forming your first words - fish, beep, cookie, Elmo and many more

We love how you throw your head back with laughter and smiles,

how you wrinkle up your nose when you smile,

and how you show your surprised look.

Your blue eyes light up when you see Papa.

He can't wait to take you on your first tractor ride and so much more!

We love your visits and your warm wrap around the neck cuddles.

Stay sweet and know that you are dearly loved!

Happy, happy Birthday Sullivan ...

May God bless you and keep you safe till we can hold you and hug you again!

"The two's are tumbling in ...

                          you'll never be one again".       by Alabama

XOXOXOXO

Chocolate mud!

Photo credits - mommy and dadda and some by Nammie

Woodland Ramp and Potato Soup

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Nothing tastes better than a good batch of wild leeks (ramps)

and potato soup on this cold and sunny Earth Day.

The farmer dug a small batch from a neighbouring woodland

for this earthy soup ...

3 slices uncooked bacon - diced

2 slices cooked ham - chopped

1 Tbsp. butter

1 small onion - chopped

10-12 ramps, peeled cleaned and chopped (heads only)

6 potatoes - peeled and diced

4 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock

salt and pepper to taste

1 Cup milk

1/4 Cup sour cream

a few ramp leaves chopped - for garnish

In Dutch Oven, fry the chopped bacon until crisp, remove, set aside and pour off the fat.

Add butter, onions and ramps - saute for a few minutes

Add the broth and bring to a simmer.

Stir in the chopped potatoes and simmer till fork tender

Mash or puree the potatoes and broth.

Return the bacon and add ham to the soup, reserving some for garnish. Heat through.

Add the milk and sour cream and serve.

Garnish with chopped ramp leaves and crumbles of bacon

The soup was tasty - however, now the house has that
lingering "old people's" pungent garlicky smell.
Oh well, no one is coming over for a visit any time soon
and besides - we are the old people - smile!

The sourdough bread turned out really good today.
It may have upstaged the soup!

In spite of not having any of the "required" equipment,

such as the proofing bannetons (baskets) etc.,

I think I'm finally getting onto it?

So glad I didn't give up on this fermented goodness.

It tasted delicious with the soup.

Hosta Leaf design?

I think sourdough baking could become my distraction during this pandemic?
As long as I can find flour ... the store shelves are still scarce on baking supplies.


Do you have a covid-19 distraction these days?
Are you and your loved ones managing OK?

Till next time  - trying to stay positive! 

Day 32 and Counting

Well, that was Easter 2020!

Today on this dreary Easter Monday - reality is really starting to sink in.

My heart literally aches when I think of

how much I miss my little loves and the rest of our family.

However, so much to be thankful for.

Ash Tree Clean-up almost complete

Easter Bunnies made ... '80's pattern

(the farmer's old jeans being used)

Working from home ...

(the farmer with our son-in-law,

 business partner)

Junior Business Partner at work!

And me sewing teeny tiny 1 1/2 inch pieces of fabric together for a 

mini quilt - quilt along. 

I think I need to find a new hobby!!!!

Finally, after a helpful free webinar by Sourdough Schoolhouse,

better success with my latest 2 loaves.

(thanks for the link from Marg B. and Lovella S.)

Not perfect but getting better

No butter lamb made this year,

but Paska served with Ontario Maple Syrup

was a must.

Oh yes, and some yummy "HopCorn" was devoured.

The best part of this Spring 2020 are the sweet pictures and FaceTimes shared

Apparently the word quarantine from Italian means "a period of forty days".

There are so many biblical references to the number 40.

Plus, the year 2020 (20 + 20 = 40) might be significant?

This makes me hopeful that soon this global pause will resume.

I have to confess to having some very "blue" days and finding it hard to

even get meals made and on the table - so many meals to be made it seems.

A fair number of hotdogs and hamburgers have been consumed lately!

Hang in there everyone.

We are all in this together!

Keep your stick on the ice.

Hug the ones you're with.

Stay home!

Till next time ... hoping that your Easter was meaningful and healthy.

                         Trusting in the Lord for better days ahead.