Imagine, A Day Without This Essential

It's Nov. 30...the last day of the "King Corn" Corn-Free Challenge.

I have to say, to anyone who made it, truly without ingesting any processed corn products, I applaud you. But I'm not sure I'd believe you.

I could hardly get through a meal, let alone a day or 30 without corn products.

So on this last day of the challenge, I thought I'd share a photo and select passages from a little treasure I dug up today among my mother-in-law's effects:

McCahan's Sunny Cane Sugar guide from 1936.

The ad booklet details the history of sugar cane, from references in the Old Testament, to a chronicle of how sugar cane was harvested and processed. But the rest of the 88 pages is devoted to recipes...adding flavor and color to carrots, eggplant, green beans, etc.

Substitute "corn syrup" and "high fructose corn syrup" for "sugar cane" and much of it could have been written yesterday.

Here's my favorite though:

Modern menus which have contributed so much to the health and happiness of humanity would never have been possible without sugar.

Imagine, if you can, a day without this essential. Bread, rolls and muffins, as we know them, would be missing, as would also cookies, pies, cakes, jellies, ready-to-eat cereals, sauces, flavorings, dressing, syrups, many beverages and most desserts.

A day without corn syrup is tough enough. No corn at all, near impossible for my family.

[P.S. Urban Dweller, There's a mulled cider recipe in the book that I'll be testing for the holiday party.]

Looking for Antibiotic-Free Honey

I was looking for the latest on honey bees...the latest on the sudden disappearance of millions of pollinators.

And I came across a disturbing little tidbit that I hadn't realized before. Beekeepers are treating bees with antibiotics. That's the recommended antidote to the vanishing bees in Canada.

I supposed I shouldn't be surprised that antibiotics have been used for years on bees. Note that this FDA release was from a bee antibiotic approval release in 2005.

Just about everything we consume is being treated with some form of antibiotic.

Another reason to seek out local farmers who don't use antibiotics. I'll have to check if the beekeepers in Chicago are treating their bees with antibiotics.

Rock'n Around the Christmas Tree

We got the turntable spinning tonight and unpacked all our boxes of vinyl. Oh how I've missed these.

After Virtual Farm Husband...who will henceforth be known as iFarmer because he's Mac obsessed...tried to hide all the greats -- Air Supply, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Night Ranger (OK, that might make the Goodwill pile) -- we settled in to listen to the collection.

There's lots of jazz and Chicago blues.

First up, though, was Vince Guaraldi Trio's "A Charlie Brown Christmas." We'll be playing that at our tree-trimming party in a few weeks. Plus some Nat King Cole, Perry Como and, of course, Kenny & Dolly.

Are Farmgirls Followers?

Other than an irritating reference throughout...I found this article in the Salt Lake Tribune to be a touching story about the Farmgirl community.

It's about a woman in Salt Lake who was enveloped by her fellow Farmgirls -- many of them would surely make my Farmgirl Hero list -- when she developed a dangerous bone infection.

But the story was ruined by the characterization of this community as "followers."

We all know that MaryJane Butters is an inspiration. And while I've embraced the Farmgirl concept, I am offended to be lumped in as one of her "followers."

How cult-like.

How completely un-Farmgirl.

Administrators Get Schooled on Healthy Lunches

Good news for the future of school lunch programs: Kids will eat healthier foods...AND, the important part for administrators, it doesn't cost more to serve healthy meals.

At least that's what researchers at the University of Minnesota have found.

AP reports the study of 330 Minnesota schools appears in the December issue of the Review of Agricultural Economics.

I have no doubt about the findings. Future Farmboy's school serves whole grain, fairly healthy meals. His school is part of a healthy lunch pilot program. He's a finicky eater, but is trying more new things than I could have dreamed of.

I'm hoping Future Farmgirl -- who is very stubborn (wonder where she gets that) -- is much more selective. The good news on that front is that she loves broccoli. Seriously, have you ever heard a kids yell, "Mama, mama, that's broccoli. I want that, I want that. Get it." Really. That happened when we were walking down the produce aisle at Ultra before turkey day.

Hat tip to Urban Dweller for passing on the story.

The King of Agriculture: Corn

Finally...I had a chance to sit down this weekend and watch King Corn.

It was even better than I expected, partly because it was chock full of the type of information about processed corn, especially high fructose corn syrup, that I've been craving.

I was pleased that the documentary, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the progressive folks at Newman's Own, wasn't a gotcha flick. Curt and Ian were respectful of their subjects and, while they were curious and clearly out of their element, they didn't condescend or ridicule.

And I was happy to see that it wasn't anti-corn (despite the current Corn Free Challenge) and it wasn't anti-farmer.

The documentary, which was made over a three-year period, did leave out a key part of America's corn crop...the corn that goes to producing ethanol. But since the film concentrated primarily on food consumption and corn processed for food ingredients and animal feed, I didn't miss it much. Still, I'd love to see King Corn II: The Impact of Ethanol.

Curt and Ian did a beautiful job filming...from capturing the look and feel of a small Midwestern town and the various facets of the agricultural community to depicting the sheer volume of corn produced in this country (loved the scene in which Curt climbs a literal mountain of corn).

As someone who gets flustered by statistics and anything math related, I appreciated the creative way the producers used an old Fischer Price Little People Farm to show how corn production has changed from the time when Curt and Ian's great grandfathers farmed land in rural Greene, Iowa.

After seeing the film, I'm less inclined to work too hard to go corn free for the rest of November. I'm already pretty close to eradicating high fructose corn syrup from our diets...at least from the food I prepare, even processed foods (thanks to Whole Foods), at home.

But, after seeing feed lots, I'm definitely more inclined to seek out grass-fed beef and poultry and organic dairy products. That's easier to do with a Whole Foods nearby. Still, WF is pretty pricey, so I'll keep trying to shop around.

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Future Farmboy miraculously recovered in the midst of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...I had abandoned the doctor-prescribed BRAT diet and started giving him mild, but energy enhancing foods, like smoothies.

He felt so much better so quickly that we hustled, got dressed and headed to break bread with Virtual Farm Husband's family in NW Indiana.

We had a fabulous time. And the food was excellent! Those Southern Indiana 4H'rs sure know how to put good food on the table.

The next day we headed farther south and started all over, except I was cooking.

Our menu:

• Turkey - rubbed with lemon and butter beneath the skin, then stuffed with thyme, carrots, garlic, lemon and onions for flavor, then rubbed with olive oil to make the skin crispy.
• Turkey gravy (ala Playful Spirit Farmgirl)
• Brussels sprout hash w/carmelized shallots.
• Cranberry sauce infused w/port wine and cinnamon.
• Grandmother's mashed potatoes and carrots.
• Green beans tossed w/roasted slivered almonds (w/canned homegrown green beans).
  
• Bourbon sweet potato mash w/walnuts.
• Whole wheat yeast rolls (ala Real Farmgirl).
• Apple Cider (ala Hainlen Orchard) [Why they don't have a website nobody knows.]
• Sweet potato pie w/chocolate sauce and whipped cream (ala Virtual Farm Husband).
• Pumpkin cookies (ala Real Farmgirl).
• Pumpkin bread (ala Real Farmgirl).

A feast to say the least!

This was only my second turkey, so I was pretty nervous. I had a tricky oven to deal with, so that's my excuse for the breast meat being a little overdone on top. But overall, I was pretty pleased with the outcome. Shout out to the NW Indiana 4H Champion for all the seasoning ideas...and to the Food Network for the tip about rubbing the bird with olive oil for crispy skin.

The Brussels sprout hash was a bigger hit than I expected.

Best of all was the company. My sister-in-law had a great little exercise she learned from her pastor...in which five kernels of corn are placed in front of each place setting. This is a reminder...a tradition dating back to the pilgrims...to be thankful for:

• God's earth and its beauty.
• Freedom.
• A reminder of our love and care for one another.
• Friends.
• God's love and care for all.

She asked us to share the five things we were most thankful for. Here's my five:

• My husband.
• My children.
• My new community.
• The doctors at Children's Memorial and Loyola.

and, of course...

• Farmers.
  

Happy Thanksgiving!

The sweet potatoes are in the oven for our pies. But the biggest success came yesterday with two versions of cranberry sauce...one infused with port wine and cinnamon sticks, the other infused with a hint of orange.

My favorite surprise though was the bourbon mashed sweet potatoes that I'll sprinkle with walnuts or pecans today.

Not sure if I'll get to see if anyone likes them at our family events. Future Farmboy came down with a nasty stomach virus yesterday...so bad we ended up at the hospital half the night trying to rule out appendicitis. The pain is better, but all the icky flu symptoms are front and center today. He's on the BRAT diet too...so being around all that food and cousins he can't play with may be too much.

Much thanks to all the very attentive Loyola doctors and nurses. All of them tender with the boy and soothing for his anxious parents. It's nice to be so close to excellent medical services.

Oh...also...we woke up to snow flurries! Yay.

Cloth Treasures From a Farmgirl Hero

I was looking for some thread to match a torn sweater the other day. And in desperation the Future Farmkids and I started digging through our Aunt Margaret's sewing basket.

In addition to being a feisty spinster Farmgirl, Aunt Margaret was a talented seamstress and quilt maker. [My favorite pictures are of her and a group of women who literally moved an old farmhouse, jacked it up, put it on wheels and toted it by tractor across the road...while the men were at War.]
We ended up with quite a few of her quilts. But it's always fun to dig through a treasure box.

First, we found a bunch of wooden spindles, which were a marvel to my kids. So were the thimbles, which I attempted to define. Then there were more needles -- nickel with gold eyelets -- than I'll ever use.

We also found pinking sheers and other sewing implements in their original boxes, probably from the 40s or 50s.

But buried near the bottom was a real treasure. In an old Penny's brown paper bag was what looked like cloth remnants. But when I pulled out the cloth, I could see that it was the beginnings of a dress or apron.

I'd like to say I'll finish it...but I'm no Aunt Margaret. The last time I did any serious sewing was in Jr. high Home Ec. I distinctly remember making a pair of sweatpants in my school colors. They were meant for me, but my measurements were off. The were well made, but they fit my dad.

Sweet Potato Pie Practice

We've been prepping for Thanksgiving and practicing some new recipes. For Thursday we've been given sweet potato and cranberry sauce assignments.

On Friday, we're starting over from scratch and will be dressing the bird and prepping all the sides and desserts...with some help from some real farmgirls.

Tonight, Virtual Farm Husband made Emeril's sweet potato pie sprinkled with pecans.


Except for the crust, which is store bought for the tests, and possibly the eggs, it's corn free! We took a break from the Corn Challenge this weekend since we had guests in town. The pie is excellent...creamy, milder than pumpkin. Molasses doesn't overwhelm the dish, but keeps it from being too sweet.

We're learning how to use our new Penzey's spices. They can be a bit much, so sometimes we need to scale back the amounts.

More good news is that the Future Farmkids loved the extra sweet potato, mashed with a little brown sugar and cinnamon, then baked in the toaster oven.

Oaken Bucket Goes Home

The Old Oaken Bucket... that treasured Hoosier trophy...will take up residence where it belongs, close to its historic home in Southern Indiana. That's thanks to IU's 27-24 win over Purdue on Saturday.

We didn't celebrate much since we had a nearly devastated Purdue student in our house. But, this IU home is supremely pleased at the outcome. [I suspect he left early, by that I mean before the game ended, so we wouldn't see him cry. Read a sad account of the loss by the Purdue Exponent, where my grandfather was sports editor in the '30s.]

So what's the Farmgirl interest in all this, besides the fact that VFG's forebearers graduated from IU and Purdue?

According to well-documented history, the Old Oaken Bucket was found, in need of some TLC, on the old Bruner farm near Hanover, Ind. Less certain is whether the bucket was used during the Civil War to haul water.

In 1925, it became the most-well known trophy in college football history when Boilermaker & Hoosier alumns decided to pass it back and forth between winner of their annual gridiron clash. Despite Saturday's win by IU, Purdue leads overall: 56-26 w/three ties, including the first game, which ended 0-0.

A Walk in the City After Dark

Here's a shot of Chicago's River North, new construction blocking my view of the Merchandise Mart. But there's still plenty to see. Thanks Purdue-Would-Be-Farmboy-High School-Physics-Teacher-Instead for the visit and the after-supper at Frontera shots.



Best news of the weekend...our nephew got a thumbs up from his cardiologist. Nothing short of a miracle and probably thanks to a ton of prayers that the boy sat still for his checkup and was smiling for lunch and playtime afterward. Children and cardiologists are gifts from God.

Goodbye Robert

Sad news from The Mountains. The patriarch of our little community when I was growing up died today. Services will be over the weekend.

So many memories of Robert. He could be feisty, mean, scary with his rough exterior and stringy black hair. But he was a talented, visionary Outsider Artist.

I remember when my dad had a job making tiles, he brought a load of colorful, hand crafted finished pieces to Robert. Next thing we knew, Robert smashed them to bits. He puzzled them together, nothing like the originals, but in his own pattern to make the main table in his adobe. I can't quite remember the base. Was it a wild branchy tree trunk or a large smooth spindle? My memory is fading.

He could be tender and funny...and social, at least with me and with his fearless, coyote-fighting mutt Nukes at his heels.

I feared him. But I loved him. He'll be missed.

Shopping is Way More Fun Than Dieting

I don't have much to report in my Corn Diary...today was not even close to corn free. Even my new healthy snack, crispy green beans, were coated with dextrin, which is essentially another word for corn.

But...I did have some luck with my other pledge...to Buy Handmade. First, I got a shipment from Bee Haven Maven. If you're looking for an apron, look no further. If you're not, get one anyway. All farmgirls should have an apron, especially one this beautiful. I'll try to post more pix of the others when I hand them out at Thanksgiving.

Then I learned about a future shopping activity. Apparently, pretty close to home, there's a Handmade Market. They meet at the Empty Bottle. Oh, and right before Christmas. I will be there, even if I have to drag my kids along and see if they can convince the bouncer they're both over 21.

Baby Steps, Corn Free One Meal at a Time

Finally had some success at supper with the "King Corn" Challenge...baked potato w/broccoli. Yum. But I won't be able to handle vegetarian for more than a few meals, at least not without some planning. And fake butter isn't much fun.

I did slip at lunch, had to have the Thai fried rice w/chicken. Don't know about the oils, I'm going to pretend there wasn't any corn oil. But the egg and chicken are 99.99% likely to have been part of the corn chain.

Other pitfalls:

- Non-dairy creamer.
- Thanks to Von, I now suspect that the glucose in my Halls cough drops may be corn tainted.

Day Four, Down in Flames

Despite a snide suggestion that I could at least have candy corn during the "King Corn" Challenge...the answer is, actually not. Indeed, candy corn contains real corn...corn syrup. I wish I had that argument when I was a kid trying to in vain to convince the parents that candy corn is a vegetable. Anyway, I'm passing on the candied corn varieties too.

Another sad reality? My favorite Campbell's tomato soup to go...which I had previously stocked in my office desk drawer...is a big no no for me. Not just on the Corn Challenge. It will permanently be removed from my shopping list because it contains high fructose corn syrup, and a lot of it. Sigh.

Good news on the cleaning front though...my new eco-friendly laundry detergent is all soy and a few fancy herb extracts. No need to feel corn pressures there. Too bad I can't eat it.

Right now...my goal is to go corn free for a single day. At this point, I'm thinking this will only work with some more careful planning. Clearly, my refrigerator, pantry shelves and desk drawers are filled with too many processed corn hurdles.

There will be very few easy meals on this challenge if I'm to succeed at all.

Pitfalls today:

- Tomato soup
- Mike-n-Ikes candies from the evil vending machine
- The chicken in my chimchanga, which otherwise seemed corn free. I might be able to make a veggie version that fits the rules. But I'd have to forgo sour cream. That's not as difficult if I can substitute homemade guacamole.
- Butter, egg and whipped cream on the leftover berry crisp.

Corn Challengers: Beware of Cough Drops

I've been nursing a nasty head cold, probably a sinus infection. But, of course, this means cough drops are in my daily diet. Seems that my cherry Halls are just fine. But watch out for off brands. My CVS packages list corn syrup. I'll stick to the name brand for this one.

But, good news: For a hearty - corn free - breakfast, try oatmeal, with a spoonful of brown sugar and, if you must have milk, try soy...or almond milk for an extra nutrient boost.

Even before the "King Corn" Challenge, I was reading labels pretty carefully. My main goal is to eliminate high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils from our diet (which is why I feel so betrayed by my Balance bars).

But I also had to become vigilant about eliminating peanuts when my kids started school. Both enter "Peanut-Free" zones every morning. To send them with lunch and snacks that fit the rules is tricky.

Try to find a healthy, prepackaged kid snack for a birthday treat that isn't made in a facility that also makes things with peanuts. For Aspiring Farmgirl's b-day, I had to settle for 100% juice boxes and caramel coated rice cakes. Apparently they were a big hit. Go figure.

Still No Avoiding Corn, Day Three

I thought I started off the day pretty corn free...but those labels betray me every time.

Who knew there was so much corn syrup in Balance so-called "nutrition" energy bars? No wonder I get so much energy. I'm hopped up on high fructose corn syrup and high maltose corn syrup, which I'm not sure I've ever heard of before.

This is proof positive that not everything at Trader Joe's is actually healthy. The Two Buck Chuck should have clued me in earlier.

Anyway, I folded when I learned I already was tainted by corn today. So I enjoyed milk in my Starbuck's and orange chicken (surely a product of corn feeding) for supper.

Then there was the excellent mixed berry crisp that Virtual Farm Husband made for me this evening. Next to the grill, he is an excellent dessert and drinkmaster.

Depending on your "King Corn" Corn Challenge rules, this may be considered corn free. But I'm counting the butter and egg since I probably wouldn't have either if corn wasn't in my food chain.

Who Needs Store Bought?

After looking around in vain for a unique coat rack for my entryway, I asked Virtual Farmhusband to make one. We didn't agree on the board, but we were thrilled to learn that Hoosier Outsider had a stock of old, pre-Civil War nails. VFH shined them up in the wood shop and we took them home.

I had wanted the wood to be the bead board that we discovered under the front steps of our 1920s craftsman cottage. We suspect that pile of planks once decorated one or more of our interior rooms, or was part of the front porch.

But since I wasn't doing any of the physical labor, I settled for the wood VFH liked...an old, weathered piece of barn wood.

I worried it would be too rustic for the house. But it ended up looking nice, Shaker in its simplicity.

How's That Corn-Free Commute Going?

I thought I was having a pretty good corn-free day...except for that chicken egg and leftover tortilla soup.

I even riffled through my medicine cabinets reading labels. Scary. But other than my multivitamin (c0rn starch) and a couple Burt's Bees hand creams that contain minimal amounts of the vaguely worded "vegetable oil" (my guess is corn, otherwise they would have listed soy b/c soy is totally in these days), no other traces of processed corn so far.

However, I'm hardly in the clear. I'm guessing my drive to Trader Joe's and Aldi would be no no's for Curt and Ian if they were going completely corn free. But they're only tracking food from what I can see on their blog.

Still, in Illinois almost 300 million bushels of corn are harvested each year to produce ethanol.

And according to stats I found, some 95 percent of the gas in the Chicago area is 10 percent ethanol.

The only way I can see to totally avoid processed corn is to hike it or bike it.

Et tu Vitamins?

Just a quick Corn Diary entry to note that if I was participating in King Corn's Corn Challenge, I wouldn't have been able to take my daily multivitamin. Corn starch is among the listed mass of ingredients.

Seriously, it might be easier to list the things I consume that aren't touched by processed corn.

A Hot Pot and Hot Spot for Artists

I wanted to post a photo of this beautiful Dixon, N.M.-made hot pad before it goes into full use and...well, likely, won't be so photogenic.

The pad is handmade and hand screened by Embudo Fabric Design. Thanks to our Mountain Farmgirl friend Thea for sharing.

Anything you miss from Chicagoland that we can send your way Thea?

It's still hard to believe that we have Midwestern-born friends who have found their way to the mountains where I grew up. It's truly a very small world in which we live.

I also can't believe what a happening hot spot Dixon has turned into, especially for artists. I suppose it's no surprise. Dixon, which is nestled in a stunning, picturesque Northern New Mexico valley, would surely look like paradise for many.

Let's just hope the current residents stay focused on preservation and take care of the land before it turns into something out of "The Last Resort."

The Corn Challenge and VFG's Corn Diary

The King Corn creators have my attention with their Corn Challenge. Curt and Ian are attempting to make it through the month of November without eating any processed corn products.

Though some members of my family already think I'm there, I'm not quite "granola" enough to do it myself. Plus, corn is one of two vegetables I know my aspiring farmkids will eat, just about every time.

However, I have decided to follow their challenge. While doing so, I'll keep a Corn Diary to see exactly how much corn I consume. I expect to learn a lot more about what I eat.

Thinking back on the past couple of weeks...I've already had Hoosier Popcorn King Orville Redenbacher's kettle corn this week.

I don't know if I should count eggs. I know the chickens at The Farm are primarily grass (and bug) fed, but they still get feed that I'm pretty sure includes corn from time to time. I've had Taco Bell twice this month...probably a record...and I'm fairly certain their beef is corn fed. And, of course, there's the hard corn tortilla shells and chips from my taco and nacho supremes. But that's all I can think of going back in time.

Plus today...more of what Curt and Ian can't eat, but I did:

- Corn tortillas to top homemade tortilla soup (with fresh hot peppers from last harvest at The Farm...remind me to buy gloves to use when skinning and seeding...my hands are burning up).
- Roasted corn, also for the tortilla soup.
- International Delight, non dairy creamer, w/corn syrup.
- Leftover Indian food w/ chicken.
- Milk and yogurt in a fruit smoothie.
- Milk and probably the pork sausage in my homemade biscuits and gravy.

Good lord...I should weigh 300 pounds. If I really cut corn out of my diet, I bet I'd trim down...a lot.

DocuFarming...King Corn

We had a college friend in town tonight and since he's not farm material, we didn't even try to talk him into going to the King Corn screening in Chicago.

Still, would have been cool to hear straight from filmmaker/farmer Ian Cheney, who along with his East Coast bud Curt Ellis, struck out for Iowa where they documented the planting, growing, harvest and dissemination of their acre of corn.

The Trib gave the film 3.5 stars. Not bad. But I get to see very few movies in actual theaters these days...especially if the only screening is at Facets Cinematheque on Fullerton. Maybe I'll see it if I can find it on DVD.

Fashionista Farmgirl Wear

While browsing Etsy tonight, I discovered an apron that I may not be able to resist. This is way too cute.

If I could get away with it, I would wear it out of the house. Can I have an apron party?

My sisters-in-law and I used to wear aprons at holiday gatherings. I think I have a lace cutie that we all bought while were at Mammoth Cave a few years ago.

This is a French country farmgirl apron from the Bee Haven Maven's Workshop.

Splendidly Handmade

I found these adorable farmgirl aprons at splendid things. Too cute.

If I didn't already have a closet full of aprons, I think I'd have to go for these. I'm already dreaming up an excuse to buy one...or a few for the farmgirls in the family.

I also saw this Handmade Pledge on the site. Signatories pledge to buy handmade during the holidays and request that others buy handmade items for them. Worth consideration.

I've done that before...in a way. I've had handmade themes. My in-laws are big into holiday themes. I haven't picked one yet this year. I've barely thought about the holidays.

But Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I have at least been doing research...drooling through cooking magazines, looking for something new and tasty. I'm hoping to practice new recipes this weekend.

Fabulous Farmgirl Visit Home

Victory! After way too long, we finally made it to The Farm for a lovely visit. We did so much, I'm not sure there's space or time to recount it. But here are the highlights.

Feathered Friends. It's unanimous. We love chickens. We love that they sweep the yard and garden for bugs. We love that they somehow manage to stay close to the house and don't wander to the neighbors. We love that they leave us wholesome eggs...though the fun of hunting for those eggs is wearing thin. The yolks, no kidding are so rich, they're almost orange. Yum. Kids are way back into eggs.



Four-legged Friend. We also love Sammy. What a great dog/chicken protector/goat protector. This Great Pyrenees is quite an animal. He's not exactly anti-social, but he's not unfriendly. He seemed to want to protect us more than play with us. The closest I could get was to pet his nose. But he liked to trot behind me and keep a perimeter around the kids while they explored the woods.


A Thorny Situation. Just before Alzheimer's had a complete grip on my grandpa, my dad drove him for one last look at the river. The route was by and through The Lane. When they returned, they had four flat tires. The culprit? Honey locusts. Those are pretty hanging over the lane, looking like a magical forest. But those trees hold a nasty secret...thousands of icepick-like thorns. Those have kept farm equipment and work trucks from the area for years. Not to mention they have kept foot traffic to a minimum. Anyway, Hoosier Outsider and friends, have almost eradicated that invasive species from The Lane and other key spots of the farm. We helped for a bit, throwing brush from the felled trees into piles and stacking firewood to clear the roadway.




Finding Flint. We took a break to hunt for arrowheads. No luck. But we found some colorful pieces of flint and some likely knives. Hunting here is never as good as in The Mountains, where the obsidian breaks through the clay like shiny glass after a good rain. But that's another story.



Family Farming 2.0. Finally, after reading about it and hearing the praises of the place, we visited Victory Acres, an Upland-based CSA that caters to urbanites in Indianapolis. Lots of interesting experiments with small farming on 114-acres in the Himelick name before my parents were born. While we were there, the team was using and training students to use well-drilling equipment that will bring water to dry, third-world communities. They were over 77 feet down and getting pretty muddy last we checked.



Folks Like Folkie's. And so do we. Ten years ago, wedding dress and all, I beat my brand new groom post reception to a game of darts while Patsy Cline played on the jukebox. Music's pretty much the same and my Irish darts luck held, 'cause I beat him again...by just about one dart this time. It was close. Great to be back in the bar, though we missed seeing Steve.



Warm by the Fire. Turning the corner to The Farm, the bonfire jumped out at us. Maybe 20-foot flames. Not an exaggeration. We found out that even green wood, when hot enough, will burn. Took a while to cool off enough to roast marshmallows. The brave jumped up, shielding their faces with hats and arms.



Farmgirl Fireworks...



Fine Flavors of Nutmeg. Sad to go on Sunday, but not with an empty stomach. Thanks to Bon Appetit, we tried some nutmeg pancakes with bananas and...a little late to the plate...nutmeg syrup. I just couldn't get my simple syrup to thicken in time. Umm. Good. Will definitely renew that subscription. Homegrown, then homemade salsa on the back burner...



Fun in the Shop. Just before we headed out, we discovered some pre-Civil War barn nails in Hoosier Outsider's wood shop. Those are just what I was looking for to create a custom coat rack with some old bead board I found under our front porch in Oak Park. Virtual Farmboy polished them up. If the project's any count when it's finished, I'll post a shot.

Going to the Country

Finally...barring any last-minute kid illnesses...we're headed to The Farm this weekend. Can't wait to see the family and all the new feathered members of the flock.

I'm also eager to see the fields, post harvest, the garden, which I understand is blanketed with a nice grain cover crop.

The kids talk about The Farm almost non stop. Always makes it hard to be away.