Who Likes Chocolate Chip Cookies??

Or should I say, who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies? They are my favorite! And with holiday baking coming up, cookie recipes are a must!

Gooseberry Patch has the newest chapter of their printable cookbook online!

25 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes by Gooseberry Patch

Where did September go???

I can't believe that tomorrow is October! I'm excited! I really like the month of October. Fall is officially here, the leaves are starting to show their colors! Our anniversary is tomorrow. It's been 10 years! Al's birthday is October 4, and my birthday is October 8. On October 10, Emily and I will be traveling to my dad's to visit with him. That week will also be the Fairfield Co. Fair, and we will be going to that while we are there.

A lot of stuff going on around here this past month.

Emily is loving school! They had "picture day" yesterday, and I'm anxious to see her pictures! Along with her class picture...I may be able to put faces to the names that she chats about when she comes home. 

I have also taken on a part time job, outside of the farming and cheese business. We're still doing what we've always done...just in this economy a part time job may add a little more income and we won't have to worry so much this winter about groceries and utilities.  I'm working at our local diner, Beallsville Diner, which in my opinion is the best place in our area to eat! I have been trained as short order cook, but am going to be trained in everything... so that I can help out wherever I'm needed. I have to say, short order cook is not easy! On a busy lunch, dinner or football Friday night, it makes milking cows look easy!  I really enjoy working there, especially since I'm actually getting the hang of what I'm supposed to be doing. During the first week there, I felt totally lost!! :)  I'm thankful that the folks I work for are working with me on my Saturdays, and I'm able to make it to the farm market and sell cheese. 

I received a letter in the mail on Tuesday! It was from Gooseberry Patch!! In January I will be receiving their newest cookbook because they used one of my recipes! I'm so excited! Al doesn't mind my collecting cookbooks when I get a few that feature one of my recipes in it! Although...I have to admit, the size of my cookbook collection is getting a bit much! But, I don't think I could part with the, and I do make use of them.

That pretty much sums up our September so far...
Our weather is really feeling like fall, today it is rainy and cool. Perfect!! And I smell coffee, so I think I'll grab myself a cup of coffee, with pumpkin flavored creamer and then head in to work.

Emily is Officially in Kindergarten!

On Monday, August 30th Emily woke up at 6 a.m.
She wanted to know if the bus was coming. The bus comes by our place at 7:30 a.m. We got her dressed, brushed her hair, made sure her lunch was packed and ready (because the chicken patty on the lunch menu sounded weird) and made sure her backpack was ready. Her backpack is almost as big as her!

We waited in the milk house for the bus around 7:15, early because she kept asking if she was going to miss the bus while we were at the house. 

The bus pulled up, I walked with her across the road and she climbed up in the bus like she had done it every day! The bus driver gave me the look that said "you can go now, mom. She's fine."  I wonder if he has more trouble with us mom's than he does with the kids. 

She's loved school each day. In fact she was really bummed out that she didn't have to go to school this weekend, or Labor Day.

The "Back to School" Countdown

Why do I hear "The Final Countdown" music playing?

So, we take Miss Emily up to the school today to meet Mrs. Hendershot, her Kindgergarten teacher...we had to practice saying Mrs. and not Mr. We also had to answer the question, "what's the difference?"

Mrs. Hendershot is a really nice lady, and it turns out that we've met her son and husband, as they've been here at our farm before buying some cheese, usually around holiday time.  Emily did great, marched through the office doors..down the hall, and to her classroom. Then we walked into the classroom. My child went from a confident little girl, to an unusual growth on my leg.  We had to literally pry her off!

The funny part is, back in March when we took her up for registration, she cried when we had to leave, she had that much fun. I'm having some really scary visions of our first day of school. She's already stated that she wants to ride the bus. Wonder if she will be getting on of her own free will? Hoping that she warms back up to the idea of school by the 30th. Fingers and toes are crossed.

I've also broke out the camera today. Well, I should admit, I actually found it. It's amazing that I lost it in the first place. I don't know how I do it, but I lose things. All the time. And forget stuff. How early does a persons mind go wandering??

We've found ourselves "blessed" with about a dozen cats. They are cute. So, I took a few pictures of the littlest one. I call her "Chubby". She is very chubby.

Emily snuggling with "Chubby's" sister. We haven't named her yet. And I doubt that

 "Chubby" will remain the other cats name...but it is sticking for now.

I took this picture of one of our "dry cows" the day before she

had her baby heifer.

A baby heifer with her Mama. She is about

2 days old in this picture.

I just can't leave out my "feathered girls". They are so tame, that the white hen

actually came in the house...more than once!

I am off to make something for our lunch tomorrow.

 We are making cheese tomorrow and I like to have our lunch made ahead of time. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Antique Shopping

I really love stopping by antique shops, junk shops, thrift stores and yard sales. You can really find some treasure at these places! Emily says that we go on a "treasure hunt" when we go.

Yesterday, after Emily and I took some time to rest and feel a little bit better, and Al made it in from morning chores, we decided to go for a ride. You can only watch so many cartoons.  I suggested we go to the Barnesville Antique mall.  There are 3 floors in this store. All crammed packed with old stuff. Mostly glassware. Really, expensive, delicate glassware. And yes, we took Emily into this store. She did great. We did not end up buying anything that was broken...whew! And she loves looking at the different colors of glassware. The depression glass was a real favorite of hers. 

We found a couple of old De Laval signs. De Laval is a company that handles milking supplies, and has for years.  The signs are collectible.  We have one already that is in our cheese house, but it's always tempting to pick up one or two more! :) We didn't...but, I did tuck one away, just in case I want to go back and pick it up. 

I did take some pictures, though they are not the best. I forgot to take my camera. What was I thinking??? But, I did remember that my phone has a camera. So, I pulled it out and took a few pics!

Emily standing in front of the rack full of doll babies.

She would've bought them all, I'm sure!

The enamelware is something I really like.

I bought a large, yellow stock pot at a flea market for $8.00, found the

exact same one here at the antique mall for $24.00. I did good!

Glass, glass and more glass. And my daughter right there close to it!

She was interested in the old baby buggies and cradles

Odd N End stuff. I could've taken hundreds of

pictures of racks full of beautiful treasures!

I've also recently been doing a little "treasure hunting" at the Goodwill in Marietta. It's amazing what you can find there. A lot of stuff I pick up there for a song, I seen at the antique mall for quite a bit! I may have to brush up on my knowledge of what is collectible and valuable. Who knows what I may run across!

I found this platter at Goodwill for about $1.00. It's really

heavy and beautiful! Can't wait to use it this Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Since we've done a small antique mall with Emily, and found that we won't break everything in sight, our next antique stop will be the River Front Antique Mall in New Philadelphia, Ohio. If you have a chance to go there, it is an amazing antique mall. It can take hours to look through it all. And, the last time we went they had a little food stand to get a bite to eat and rest your feet!

Talking about Antiques just reminded me...there is 2 new episodes of Pawn Stars on tonight.

I love seeing what old stuff (or fake stuff) people bring into this shop.

Have a great week!

Lazy Sunday

Sunday morning for us is usually busy. Morning chores, getting showers, breakfast, rushing around getting ready for church.
That was my plan for this Sunday too, but Miss Emily was up most of the night with a fever and cough. I'm not feeling the best either, but I'm mom, so I am "grinning and bearing it". 
I actually feel rested this morning. Emily and I stayed in bed longer than usual. She brought some balloons that she was given into the bedroom, and we had a "sick day" party.  That involved making the balloons float above the air conditioner, throwing them around the room, and finally putting stickers on them. We also watched more episodes of Dora, Backyardigans and Max & Ruby than I can count. 

Earlier this week I picked out one cookbook to make my grocery list by, and also made my "Recipes to Try" list. I LOVE doing this.  Yesterday after coming home from the Marietta market, we loaded up in the van and went for groceries.  So, I'm anxious to pick out one of the recipes on my list to make for lunch. I'll be sure to take some pictures and post the recipe.

Our nephew, Martin went home yesterday. He was here for 2 weeks. We miss him, but we're so excited for him to be heading to college in another week! He is an awesome kid!

Not too much exciting really happening around the farm. This time of year is pretty much the usual work stuff. Al is trying to get the last hayfield baled for 1st cutting. We are so very late getting that done. But, the stuff looks to be pretty decent regardless.  After he finishes that field, we'll be starting on our 1st hayfield again for 2nd cutting. It's pretty much ready to go. Lots of 1st cutting hay bales need to be brought in to the barn before we can get 2nd cutting to far underway.  Hoping to get our pastures mowed before fall also. 

We'll be making a batch of cheese this Wednesday. We're making consistently, though, not as frequently as we had planned.  I should know better than to plan our schedule in March! I always say that our schedule is subject to change, and it usually does change!

I think Emily and I will mosey down to the barn, check on things there. Then make some lunch and maybe get some rest this afternoon. It's been a long time since we've taken a "slow day".  I think we'll enjoy it!

Free Cookbook!!

Gooseberry Patch sent me an email awhile back that was a survey. And those who fill out the survey would be placed in a random drawing. 

I was one of the random winners! So excited! It's one of the fall cookbooks, and let me tell ya, after all this heat and humidity this summer, I am read for FALL!!

The one problem....I can't wait to make some of the yummy recipes, but my kitchen just today was near 90 degrees. I am not turning my oven or stove on. Not at all.

I also need to go through the book, and this is my favorite part, make a grocery list and a recipe list and plan my meals. I love grocery shopping. I just hate being on a very fixed income. I could have so much fun in a grocery store with an endless amount of $$. I know...who wouldn't have fun with endless $$? haha!

Now, I am patiently waiting, well, not patiently, but waiting anyway, for the newest GBP cookbooks to arrive at our local gift shops. They say it will be next month or October. That seems like too long to me.

I've noticed some fall/autumn themed items showing up slowly at the farm markets. My friend Marge just made the cutest fall apron. It will be hard not to buy it! I've seen some really cute table runners that a lady made, several fall patterns from fall leaves to Halloween. I'm  hoping to remember my camera this Friday and Saturday to I can get some pictures! I'm always amazed at the unique and beautiful things that are made here locally!

Emily received her letter this last week from her Kindergarten teacher.  We go for a school visit on the 19th. Emily is able to take most of her school supplies on that morning, and we all get to meet her teacher and see the classroom. Emily is determined to ride the bus the first day, and she'll do fine, but will I????  We know her bus driver, in fact we go to church with his wife.  We went to Wal-Mart the other evening. She picked out her Tinker Bell back pack, which I was afraid would cost a bit, ended up it was on clearance for $3. She said she saw the red sticker on it and new it was on sale. That's my girl!! Bargain shopper from the get go!

I am off for now...we have a really busy week ahead! Tomorrow I'm off to Marietta for some diabetic lab work...I do hope the poor girl can get a vein this time..both of my arms were black and blue last time. Yikes!

Have a great week!