Thursday, November 3, 2011

Lady Farmer's Seed Swap and Share!



Dear Gardening Friends!
You are cordially invited to attend
Lady Farmer's first official
Seed Swap and Share!
Tomorrow Friday the 4th of November
at 12 noon Pacific time
I will publish my first seed share
post over at

If you grow flowers, veggies or herbs,
package up those extra seeds
and come visit and
leave a comment listing your
offerings and interests.
(I had wanted to use Mr. Linky, but
with dial-up internet it isn't possible.)

Even if you cannot participate
would you be so kind as to post
this image somewhere on your blog
with a link back
for others who may want to
join in?

Thank you! and hope to see you at...





Thursday, October 20, 2011

Vintage...

...irrigators filled with ...

Pansies and Violas...

hang on posts along the driveway...

greeting family and guests
with shots of color... 

on grey, rainy days of October.
~*~
Joining Tracie at Fishtail Cottage for
and
Deborah Jean for

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Squashed!

With the continual rains we have been having
and no cool crisp nights in the forecast,
I harvested the remaining squash
and pumpkins from the garden.
I didn't want to risk losing them
to rot or those pesky deer
who have managed to, once again,
find a way into the garden.
I grew and gave away many
plants this year, saving three of
each type of squash for our
own garden.



Three Rouge Vif D'etampes (Cinderella) Pumpkins,
three Carnival (Acorn) Squash
and three Sweet Meat (Hubbard) Squash
produced more than enough for the
two of us to enjoy throughout the
winter.

I will tuck them into beds of hay
in the barn to store them.
Throughout the season, we can uncover
a tasty treasure to serve with our
cozy winter meals.
~*~
If you have never cooked a Sweet Meat Squash
(or other large winter squash)
join me in The Pantry to see
how I prepared one
for our dinner and
for the freezer!
~*~
And
Amy at Homestead Revival for
Barn Hop #31

Thursday, October 6, 2011

An Autumn Porch

My porch is very small, and I don't have a lot to work with
as far as 'decor' goes, so I use what I have and
what I find in the garden, barn and woodland.
Below is the garden 'Welcome' sign that I made
this Spring. I placed it on the bench and
added a branch of wild rose hips.



A homemade grapevine wreath is also adorned with
wild rose hips.



A vintage milk can from my Grandpa's farm is topped
with a yellow garden mum and Cinderella Pumpkins
(Rouge Vif D'Etampes), Carnival and Sweet Meat
Squash harvested from the garden find a place
to greet guests, too!



An old, brilliantly colored wool blanket is draped
across the bench ~ the cats love to scout for farmyard
activity from here while staying out of the weather.
Another pumpkin temporarily holds the place where a burlap
pillow in the making will sit.



An apple basket filled with more squash (and a wayward tomato ~
how'd that get in there?) and a vintage cream can are
next to the bench and an old twig broom with a few sparse
leaves, grasses and pods hangs above.

It's a shock of color but company has no trouble finding the front door!
That's my porch for today ~ it will change as my mood
changes, just like our weather!

Joining Fishtail Cottage for


and
Deborah Jean for

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Early on a September morning...

The shadowed trees waking from their requisite slumber


The sun's glorious rays stretch forth in radiant jubilation!

Another day has dawned!

White Echinacea glows in the dawns early light.


Persistent lingering Foxglove, too, rises from her repose.


Enjoying the refreshing coolness of the morning.
 

Coveting a kiss from the sun!


Sweet Peas extolling praise and adoration with their beauty and sweet perfumed offerings.
 
Impatiens hanging near a vintage scale, weighing the remaining days of summer.
 
Common Tansy and Russian Sage...
 


bow and curtsy before the Summer King on the carpet of sun parched grass.
  
Fameuse (Snow Apple) reflecting the early morning Majesty!


Fruit of the vine beginning to ripen...

with promised hope.



Rouge Vif D'Etampes (Cinderella) Pumpkin and...


Acorn Squash ~ their time is not yet come ~ but soon!
  



Sunflowers planted by the birds...




Blooming where they are planted
and always
keeping their faces focused on the Sun!
 




Monday, August 22, 2011

Beans! and the 'Berry Tree'?

I am so excited! This is the best my beans have done in a very long time! Usually the deer break into the garden and only leave a few leaves and buds at the top of the teepee's, but they haven't gotten into either garden this year! Yay!










bean teepee's early Sunday morning






Six four-legged teepee's reaching high into the sky




My mouth is watering just thinking of the yummy green beans cooked with bacon, onion and garlic ~ just the way my Grandma used to make them! :~P





Or made into a delicious creamy, garden fresh vegetable chowder she used to call 'Mulligan'!






The bean plants are just loaded with blossoms, too, forecasting an abundant harvest in days to come ~ IF the weather cooperates and the deer don't get into the garden! :~O




~*~




On another note ~




I was up behind the barn talking to the Gentleman Farmer while he was stacking the many cords of firewood he has been cutting for our winter heat.




I spotting a strange sight out of the corner of my eye~




there... up in the fir tree...




Do you see it?





A little closer...now do you see it?




Look half way up the tree branches on the left...





There they are ~ Himalayan Blackberries growing up in the Fir Tree about 20 feet in the air!




Too high for me to pick but I see that they are beginning to ripen and I will have to go out picking some for jelly and syrup! More delicious goodness from the farm!
~*~



and

Jami at An Oregon Cottage for



Thank you, ladies, for hosting!











Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Apple Tree



It is mid-August and apple harvest time has begun ~


at least for the Transparent Apple tree which is the first


to fruit here at Cove Cottage Farm.






Step under the canopy of the tree, peer up and behold


the multitude of golden globed apples!


This has been one of the better producing years


for this old tree. And I somehow have managed to


beat the deer to the majority of them!


These sunshiny orbed beauties are not only 'pleasant


to the eyes' they are 'good for food', applesauce


to be precise!



But before they can fulfill their destiny,


they must be picked!


And to see what they are to become...


please follow me to The Pantry!



Joining Tracie at Fishtail Cottage for

Cottage Flora Thursday!



Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Sweet Peas



































This must be what heaven smells like!
~*~


Joining An Oregon Cottage for




And Tracie for