The newbies at the farm

Che Che has given birth to two beautiful babies. A boy and a girl.  They were born yesterday and just seeing them around Che Che brings back memories of Donkey as a baby. Donkey her self is due soon, as you can tell by the photo. 

Here is a video followed by photos of these two rays of sunshine! 

Simply pie in the fall

It is that time of the year...

 when the winter socks and fleece sweaters make their sudden appearance, the days are getting shorter and the windows are no longer open.  When the root crops are picked and the garden beds are turned and prepped for winter crops. When the farmers markets are bountiful and the scenery is so beautiful that you wonder what other place offers this kind of living. The cords of wood are stacked and the squirrels and chipmunks are gathering the last of the seeds.  The chimney is swept and the first Delicatta squash is baked and put on dessert pizza. Hiking, swimming, gardening are replaced by social gatherings indoors, board games and football. Just as the leaves are falling, we embrace this fall season for it offers a chance to reflect, share, learn, enjoy and be thankful for the time spend with friends and family, shaping our lives to be unique in so many ways, in this beautiful place. 

 Directions for the BEST Apple pie ever:

PIE CRUST RECIPE
I used organic all purpose King Arthur's Flour, Earth Balance to replace butter and Organic Palm oil to replace the Shortening

Apple pie filling
I used Gala apples and Turbinado sugar. I peeled some apples and some I left the skin when slicing them.

Black and white

Only in real life would you get to appreciate the beauty of it all.  I recommend going out for a wild walk and appreciating the vibrant colors of the forest.  I cannot imagine a world without photography.    Every time I take my camera in the woods or in the garden, I end up taking so many photos. The following are a collection of garden moments and my recent forest walk. 

As an aside note: I love been able to garden in the middle of the forest, even though it has its disadvantages.  The raccoons have been plowing through the corn isles and munching on some of the ears but not eating them all.  That is quite puzzling.  One the other hand,  the fishing line fence, pie plates and clothes pins have been protecting the garden from the deer.  I harvested 25 pounds of potatoes and finally our first ripe tomatoes.  During the forest walk, I picked a bunch of Chanterelles. 

Green frog by the basement condos

Red and white potatoes matched with red onions and garlic seeds

Unknown small orange mushroom

Unknown shell mushroom

Unknown 

Yellow birch 

Chanterelles

Unknown mushroom

Hollow spot