Strawberry Rhubarb Bars (another Jackie original)

Have you had enough with rhubarb recipes coming from me?  I hope not.  Because these are yum. 


Strawberry Rhubarb Bars (another Jackie original)

Strawberry Rhubarb Filling:

1 1/2 cup rhubarb
1 1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tsp lemon

Bring all to boil in small pot, let simmer and reduce until reduced to jam consistency, you should have about 1 cup to 1 1/4 cup of filling.  Cool to room temperature

Bars

1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup bwn sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oats
1 T flax seed meal
8-10 oz jam

Mix all ingredients, except jam.  Press 2/3 of mixture in bottom of greased 8 inch square pan.
Spread strawberry rhubarb filling.   Sprinkle remaining mixture and press down gently.

Bake 350 for 25 minutes

Sunsets

Someone who stopped by to buy bread a couple weeks ago volunteered to babysit our kids so we could go out one Saturday night.  We politely declined.  We much prefer watching the sunset from home.  We don't want to miss a single one.


Catching it inside or outside, either way...we're blessed.

Off we go...

I'm thankful, very thankful, to be commencing vacation.  It's that time I wait for all year, a time to relax with my family at the place I grew up enjoying.  The St. Lawrence River.  There's nothing like it and I enjoy sharing that with them. We're packing up, yes, but I'm also thankful that we're leaving this farm and all the gardens with capable hands.



I admit, once my husband isn't around to help, it's been a bit of a disaster packing.  Both kids want to be attached to me.  With one on front, the other on back, I have 50 pounds of kid on me.  It's virtually impossible to do anything. I tell myself that it's okay if I forget something, as there's stores where we're going.  But still...this to do list...

My awesome husband told me to not worry about food, we'll just pick some stuff up on the way.  I stumbled my way through packing an actually got a little done by sticking my kids in front of youtube.  I don't think I've done that since we were packing to move here. It lasted all of 10 minutes. They're so not used to TV, which isn't a bad thing, really.  Except when you want them to stay put. As I tried the not so successful balance of packing and managing the littles, all I wanted was our balance back.  Usually I don't feel so scattered and I'm much more in sync with them.

I left my packing.

 We made cookies.
We got our chickens out. 

I brought them to the garden and we filled this.

 We played with our dog.
I froze some garlic scrapes and some basil. We made bread.  I read them books. In the moment, I wasn't get my list done.  But, after we got our balance back, stuff did get done.


There were a few sad goodbyes to some chickens when he realized they can't come with.



And some excitement of what to come with those who are going (seriously, we could never leave this dog here....she loves camp!)





And our plan to pick up whatever on the way was replaced with lots of mama mades: oatmeal raisin cookies, bread with strawberry rhubarb jam and a garden fresh salad, home canned applesauce and hard boiled eggs from our own chickens. (Recipes on tab above.)

Yes, going new places, eating new things, branching out is quite good.  But, there's also something to be said for familiar loves too. 

Anyway, I'm off to enjoy these fabulous folks.  I will miss our home, our garden and our animals.  But our farm caretakers will be arriving to enjoy the farm and the beaches here, so I have nothing to worry about.

And if you're a northern NYer, come for a playdate and picnic with us on Tuesday July 2nd around 9:30/10 at Lisbon beach.

There will continue to be posts throughout the duration of our vacation, but my facebook appearances will be few.

Have yourselves a wonderful week!

First Birthday Dress

A dress to celebrate our little firecracker.  She was born patriotic.  And I can't wait for her to wear it.

Misc. Before/After

I think I mentioned here a time or two that I am swimming in half started(?)  half finished(?) projects around here.  To make myself feel like I'm making a little bit of progress, I'm going to post a few before/after shots of the smaller projects I've been accomplishing.  Better that than to tell you about my list that isn't ending, right?!

Okay so the before shots.  This is what the marvelous kitchen looked like when we toured.  Great space, but a bit...um...yellow.  Sooo not my taste.  I have half the floor ripped up now...and it has been ripped up for some time.  I'll get there, I promise.

 So, what have I done?  Baby steps indeed...but...I finally painted. Here's the before/after of the same space.
 I took the doors off so my stoneware can be displayed. (Salmon Falls Stoneware.) I love that dish on the wall too.  An older former neighbor I befriended wanted to give me something to remember her by.  So she gave me this platter that she got for her wedding.  I love an item with a story behind it.


I think the wood really stands out with the crisp white paint. (Those are my great, great grandparents on my dad's side.  My uncle gave me those shots.  Neat, huh?!)
 

 I did all the outlet covers in my fave navy polkadot fabric. (See how here).

 I did a bit of spray painting. Here's the before/after.

 And here it is up.
 I've spray painted many of the fixtures, but not all.  Again, my to do list. Here's the before/after.

 And this one my dad did-he spray painted the hood fan so it's not bright yellow anymore. Here's the before/after.
Kitchen is coming together. I cannot wait to have the finished product done, but at least progress is being made.

I also managed to paint the barn door.  Which my little Adrian thinks it looked better before I fixed it up.  Apparently he's a shabby chic kiddo.  Here's the before/after.
What projects have you been finishing around your home?

Strawberry Picking 2013

Last year, we didn't make it.   I was ready-to-pop pregnant and there was some sort of weather condition that made the picking less than optimal.  I remember saying "I'll go tomorrow", but then they'd be closed for ripening. I was a bit afraid the same thing would happen this year.  I was hoping to go as a family of four, but you know, sometimes that's just not as easy as it seems.  So, the littles and I packed it up and surprised daddy with 12 pounds of delicious goodness. Here's his first ever strawberry picking adventure.  And below are pictures from our this year adventure.

I told them we were going out to breakfast. 
 Little did they know their breakfast would be in the patch.
Is there really any place better for breakfast?
 I think not.
















And until these berries are gone, we'll be starting and ending our day with strawberries.  I love this time of year.  And strawberry shortcake might be my most favorite dessert ever (shortcake recipes here).

 
What do you enjoy making with your strawberries?

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