Its that time of year now isn’t it?  The time of the year where we begin to pull indoors and seek out comfort food.  I’ve reflected on what I’ve been making these last few weeks and it’s a list of some of my favorite comfort foods: smoked tomato pasta, beef bourguignonne over mashed potatoes, creamy potato, Swiss and bacon soup, and the list goes on! This week, as part … [Read more...]

Family brings us many characteristics, interests and activities as our inheritance.  From my side of the family, we gained a longing for the north woods and life at the cabin.  I still speak with a Wisconsin accent. My husband’s family has given us the appreciation for county living on the farm with all the work it entails.  One activity my husband’s dad enjoyed was the … [Read more...]

“Mooommm!  There are men outside with funny looking skid loaders that AREN’T ours!” my six-year-old exploded. If we lived in the city, I’d think we were having road construction. On the farm, mystery skid steers in the front yard are a different story. “What are they doing?” I questioned from the oth­er side of the house where I was working. “They’re driving into the … [Read more...]

By Angela Denstad Time and again, it begins in the fall: I get sucked into a seasonal time warp wherein I imagine all the best treats will magically converge on a collective table of sheer memory, citing, “Oh, I made this once!” as evidence that all things should again appear. String together a couple decades of culinary curiosity and that’s a whole lot of recipe re-creation … [Read more...]

There was a 10-foot wall in front of my house that completely blocked my view. Who put that there? It wasn’t there earlier this summer, and I certainly didn’t build it! It was thick, it was tall, and if I got too close it would slice my arms. It’s a cornfield. For the past few years, this field was alfalfa. We enjoyed a fully open view of the bluff country right from the … [Read more...]

“Real soup is to the body, what Peace is to the soul”  – Isabel Allende Some days around here it seems like Ground Hog Day.  Tomatoes and peppers continue to pour out of the garden. So, sticking with my latest F=fall harvest theme I want to share a couple of the things I’ve been doing and making in our kitchen. First and foremost, I have been canning up a storm. You … [Read more...]

Isn’t it nice when you take a break for a change of pace?  That is just what we did.  The pattern of summer’s rainy weather this year made farming a challenge.  Getting work done was frustrating.  Yet, finally the work did get done enough so that we could have a getaway.  We traveled to our cabin in northern Wisconsin.  Although a short visit, it became a much needed … [Read more...]

Have you ever written a list of what you did not want your family to look like? What would make your list? Cluttered home? Hurried? Impatient? Overworked? Overbooked? Over committed? Tired? Fighting parents? Sassy kids? What would you not want? I recently attended an online homeschool planning boot camp in which we wrote down our family vision, non-negotiables, and the … [Read more...]

By Angela Denstad Time and again, back-to-school season comes around, and that means – whether you’re a student, a parent of a student, an educator, friend, fan, or neighbor of students – life shifts into school mode. Even for those who only vaguely recall their own long-ago school days, the fresh, fall air and dewy mornings might just lead to a longing for a new pair of … [Read more...]

“Knowledge is knowing a  tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is  not putting it in a fruit salad”   – Miles Kington The summer abundance is upon us!  There is nothing better than picking fresh and using the bounty of a garden this time of year.  Basil, tomatoes, garlic, onions, cucumbers, herbs and more just spilling out everywhere! The basil took off like a rocket this year … [Read more...]