Farmgirl Follies

Silver and gold, sugar and snow

Posted by Farmgirl on December 19, 2009  |  No Comments

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Finally. There’s white stuff on the ground and more white stuff comin’ down.

I LOVE IT!

And I love making sugar cookies - or as we like to call ‘em around here, cut-out cookies. I first posted this recipe back in July on National Sugar Cookie Day. It’s a perfect Christmas cookie recipe. As you snuggle into home with your family this weekend and throughout the coming days, make a batch of these tasty treats. Together.

There’s nothing like dishin’ with your best girls and boys while frosting cookies and getting sprinkles all over the kitchen floor. And they’re very tasty. I recommend these cookies to anyone of any age. They helped me win over friends and teachers throughout elementary school. They won me the affections of a boy in college. And hey, thank goodness that wore off because I had the opportunity to win over FarmGuy a c ouple of years later.

These are winners. And the recipe’s a keeper.

Enjoy!

Cut-out Cookies

Cream together, then add eggs:
1 1/4 c. softened butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs

Combine in a separate bowl:
5 c. flour
1 t. salt
4 t. baking powder
1 t. nutmeg

Add mixtures together, alternating with:
1/2 c. milk

Roll dough onto lightly flour surface and use your favorite cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
(half a batch works for one recipe of cookies, above)
1 stick butter
16 oz. softened cream cheese
4 c. confectioners’ sugar
2 tbsp. milk
Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and milk, beat until smooth.

I spy …

Posted by Farmgirl on November 13, 2009  |  1 Comment

Christmas on display. Come see what’s in store this weekend!

Fabulous primitives. Join us for the Tour of Homes. Three houses. Exciting antiques.

You won’t be disappointed.

You will be inspired.

You may fall in love with worn and aged items all over again!

Gorgeous color. The very best new “old items” can’t compete with time-worn color.

Secrets revealed. We’ll show you our dirty laundry.

Buddy system. We all love primitives and rustic antiques. And we love to share that passion with you.

Come on over to Farmgirl Finds! It’s going to be a great weekend in Augusta!

Five Days …

Posted by Farmgirl on November 10, 2009  |  1 Comment

It’s going to be a busy week around here. The Primitive Christmas TOUR OF HOMES is Saturday, from 10-4. Saturday is also the official opening day of the Farmgirl Finds’ Christmas Open House. Every Friday and Saturday through December 19, we’ll open our doors for you.

Come on in and enjoy the sounds of a primitive country Christmas … the smells of cinnamon, spice and everything nice. We have ornaments and wreaths, twig trees, and rustic Santas and snowmen. Our selection of rustic antiques continues to grow each week. Whether you’re hoping for ladderback chairs, farm tables, a grand old cupboard or crocks under the tree, we can help you out!

Come see us! And if you’re free this Saturday, be sure to stop off for tickets and a map for the home tour. You won’t be disappointed. Three fabulous farmhouses filled with unique antiques and primitive treasures. These ladies have gone to great lengths to deck their halls. Trust me when I say …

You don’t want to miss it!

Group project

Posted by Farmgirl on November 7, 2009  |  2 Comments

Silence is golden … until you’ve been away and come home to an empty house. I dropped my bags and called up the stairs, “Yoooohooooooo!” No answer.

So I did what I normally do … walked outside and listened. It doesn’t take nine years of motherhood to learn it’s impossible for children to be quiet outside.

And I heard them …

They were in heaven. If there’s one thing my kids love — besides Saturdays,  spending time with Daddy and being outside — it’s painting. I rarely let them participate in my painting projects. Then again, I don’t usually have a set-up like this.

Daddies are brave. Daddies don’t worry about paint on clothing or paint blobs and runs that no one will ever see. I admire daddies. They are missing the worry gene. They think simply:

job needs done

put kids to work to keep them busy

make Mommy happy.

And I was. Very, very happy. The kind of pleased as punch feeling you get when there’s a job to do and someone does it for you, simply because they love you.

They are painting the signs for the Tour of Homes. All I have to do is add arrows and numbers.

When I was in school I hated group projects. Not any more. Maybe it’s age … growing patience … softening of the worry gene … I love help these days. Group projects make life worth living. Group projects help the helpers as much as the one accepting the help.

Pay it forward. The painters are painting. I’m alone in the house. I think I’ll go make them something scrumptious for supper … to reward their hard work on our group project.

Farmgirl’s Apple Donuts: downfall of humankind

Posted by Farmgirl on November 5, 2009  |  1 Comment

Yes. They are THAT good. I’d show you a photo, but someone — or somebodies — ate them all.

According to this Web site, November 5 is National Doughnut Day. In celebration, I’m offering you my super-secret-always-under-lock-n-key Baked Apple Donuts recipe.

I know. I love you lots.

First, a few tips: the batter is very thick — a pastry bag works best. Don’t have one? No problem. Spoon the batter into a quart-sized plastic bag, snip off the end and squeeze. You’ll also need a donut baking sheet or pan. Mine is more of a mini-bundt style donut pan.

Most importantly: these are donuts. DO NOT, under any circumstances, use margarine in place of butter. It would be downright shameful! And I suggest you avoid red delicious and Granny Smith apples — they’re not juicy enough to impart great apple-icious flavor!

Farmgirl’s Baked Apple Donuts

Sift together:

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1-3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup Crisco (shortening)

Combine:

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup finely diced apples

After baking:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Cut shortening with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture looks like coarse cornmeal. Set aside.
2. Combine: 1 egg, beaten; milk and apples. Mix well. Add to dry ingredients and mix just until blended.
3. Spoon batter into pastry bag and squeeze into 12 greased muffin, donut or mini-bundt cups; fill 2/3 full.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until done.
5. Meanwhile: melt 1/2 cup butter, set aside. Combine 12/ cup sugar with cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
6. Remove donuts immediately from bake pan. Roll first in butter mixture, coating completely. Roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture.
7. Cool on wire racks.
8. Farmgirl recommends making 2-3 batches at a time. They disappear right before your eyes!

Hope you enjoy these naughty little bites of heaven!

Love,
       Farmgirl

We’re decking the halls

Posted by Farmgirl on October 29, 2009  |  No Comments

Farmgirl Finds will be closed Oct. 30-31.

We’re getting ready for Christmas!

Come see what’s in store for the holidays Nov. 6-7. And don’t forget the

Tour of Homes

Saturday, Nov. 14, 10-4. Get tickets and maps at the shop the day of the event.
Cost: $3 per person. You’ll visit three primitive homes, decorated for Christmas. Travel back in time to an 1800s farmhouse; a new, historically accurate home; and an 1890s farmhouse. All feature fabulous primitive antiques and rustic accents. Bring a friend!

Claim your cozy corner

Posted by Farmgirl on October 24, 2009  |  No Comments

After you’ve cleaned the house, raked the leaves, filled the crockpot with a savory roast for supper, finished the barn chores if you have ‘em, and folded that last load of laundry …

How about curling up with a good book?

Do you have a reading nook in your home? A comfortable old chair … a cozy corner … someplace that offers warmth and relaxation? Sometimes a book is even better if you feel cuddled, and maybe coddled, while reading.

These photos from Country Living make me want to search my shelves for the perfect novel, pull on my fuzzy socks and sink in for a few hours of quiet bliss. I hope you find a few moments to cuddle into a corner this weekend!

Happy weekend!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it

Posted by Farmgirl on October 1, 2009  |  2 Comments

Such a lovely home. Would you like to see inside? You can! 

Come to Farmgirl Finds’ Tour of Holiday Homes on Saturday, Nov. 14. You don’t want to miss touring the beautiful and rustic interiors of three, local historic homes. Cost is $3 per person.

Stop by Farmgirl Finds primitive antiques shop to pick up a map the day of the event. Revel in the feeling of Christmas while you enjoy cookies and carols. Browse our exciting selection of primitive Christmas decor and gift ideas. Come celebrate the start of the holiday season with us … and some of our very good friends.

For Tour of Homes details, visit Farmgirl Finds and click on News.

What I love about fall …

Posted by Farmgirl on September 27, 2009  |  3 Comments

… is family first, of course. Followed by time spent at Manfull Orchards Farm Market. My kids (and my siblings’ kids) are the seventh generation to enjoy our family’s fruit and vegetable operation … and the free pumpkins!

But that’s not all. Sweet corn and tomatoes and fresh veggies in summer … peaches and apples and cider and Indian corn and squash and apple butter and … memories.

Memories are made every single ordinary day.

Even when we’re not trying to make a memory out of something, it happens. Something as simple as seeing your first pumpkin …

… might somehow impact how you feel about those jolly, orange globes every autumn after.

And whether it’s a memory about grandmothers or cousins or brothers … it shapes who we are.

Raking leaves with a cousin might not seem memorable at the time …

Maybe it doesn’t have to be. Maybe it’s a simple feeling of warmth, of safety … of a connection to family that envelopes us when we’re 35 and raking our own yard.

We may not be able to commit every detail to memory, but every detail shapes who we are, regardless. We don’t have to make a memory. We simply have to enjoy the here, the now … the simple things.

Those are the most memorable of all.

Bandit of the night

Posted by Farmgirl on September 26, 2009  |  1 Comment

This is just a quick little weekend post about a wonderful lady I’ve met in the blogosphere: Jayme, the Coop Keeper. Not only does she post fabulous recipes, decorating ideas and general blog fodder, but she also has a cute little chicken coop that makes me envious. And her hens … so very talented!

Racoons! A nasty old coon caused great havoc in Jayme’s coop awhile ago. And she was inspired to write a song about it. She shared it on her blog, and I’d like to share it with you — hope she doesn’t mind!

Go check out Tales from the Coop Keeper — a glimpse in the life of a rural Indiana farmgirl wannabe. Her song is charming, funny, hilarious, truthful, heartfelt and sincere — and a definite warning to those bandits of the night!

May we all be as fun-loving, facing life head-on-with-a-smile (and a shotgun, if necessary), as The Coop Keeper!

And Jayme, if you read this … my girls have been whistling the tune of your song  for two days!