Author Archives: maryjane

WINNER: Magnolia Pearl GIVEAWAY, Day 5 of 5

And the WINNER is:

Karen Buzzell!!!!

who said on October 20, 2013 at 1:37 pm:

“We have just picked the last corn of the year here in Maine. I would agree with all my other grown-up girl scouts out there and vote for an aluminum foil dinner with potatoes. The corn would stay in the husks and be steamed with a little seaweed over the coals at the end. Please don’t forget s’mores for dessert! My Sunday is complete reading all these entries :)

Congratulations! You are the owner of a signature Magnolia Pearl Beautiful Wear. Watch for an e-mail from the farm, Karen.

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And the original Giveaway on October 20 was:

Continue reading

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Balter

Balter: To dance without particular skill or grace, but with extreme joy.

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Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In the above advertisement, dating from the late 1800s, English dancer Lottie Collins sings her renowned vaudeville hit “Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay!” after being healed by Bromo-Seltzer.

While Lottie doesn’t look particularly graceful in the ad, she was actually a beautiful woman who was known for her high-spirited and uninhibited skirt dance with high kicks that exposed stockings held up by sparkling garters.

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Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

For the rest of us, who may not be able to kick up to our ears, there’s always baltering.

 

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Breakfast?

Go ahead and say it. “She’s weird.” Of all the yummy things I could eat for breakfast, I have a favorite that I’ve been eating, ummm, pretty much almost every day lately. (I do ruts well.) On days when I feel like I have a bit more time for prep, I double the amount I make so I can eat it for lunch or dinner later that day with maybe some baked chicken breast or smoked kokanee (from the Okanagan language referring to land-locked lake populations of sockeye salmon—thanks to my husband, who put a winter’s supply in our freezer).

“What is it?” you ask.

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My breakfast starts in the chicken coop. Even though it’s still early out, my hens have eggs for me. (I’m probably eating an egg laid the day before but this time of year it’s cold enough to leave the eggs until my morning visit to the coop.) After feeding my girls, I head next door to my year-round greenhouse (really an unheated hoop house that’s still supplying us with summer-y things like green peppers and lettuce) to grab a pocket full of kale, some arugula, one carrot, some parsley, and a sprig of rosemary.

Back in my kitchen, I drop the egg into a saucepan on the stove for a soft-boiled egg. While that’s cooking, I chop the greens and herbs up along with 2 cloves of fresh garlic and one apple. Slices of carrot go in next and then a few spoons-full of baked butternut squash. (I cook a butternut squash every week to add to just about everything I eat—love that stuff!) Last comes a big dollup of what’s known as the guardian of intestinal health, sauerkraut—the real deal, not the pasteurized store-bought stuff.

With a cup of plain white tea in hand (sometimes I add a bit of fresh cream straight from my cow), I sit down to eat my power breakfast—all of it homegrown. Savory for breakfast? You bet. Sauerkraut? I actually go to bed at night excited to wake up the next morning and eat it all over again. I warned you. Weird. But hey, if you’re up for trying it, I think you’ll agree, yum! Oh, and HEALTHY (all in CAPS with at least ten exclamation marks)!!!!!!!!!!

 

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WINNER! Project F.A.R.M. Broomcorn Johnny’s

And the winner of Broomcorn Johnny’s purple broom is:

Lady Abigail, who said on October 31, 2013:

“I think these are some of the most beautiful made besoms / brooms I have ever seen. I hope you enjoy the blessing. With this broom, tool of my will, This home I cleanse, this is my seal. Purify and prepare this scared space, No negative energy shall be in this place. From this circle now I banish all fear, These are my words for all to hear. Positive energy and light to see This is my will, so mote it be.”

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Watch for an e-mail from the farm, Lady Abigail. Congratulations!

And the original post dated October 31, 2013 was:

Every witch needs a good switch!!!!

Congratulations to Brian Newton, of Broomcorn Johnny’s, on his recent induction to Project F.A.R.M (First-class American Rural Made).

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Broomcorn Johnny’s honors the timeless tool of the ages, the broom, by crafting each by hand with unique skill. A good broom was once the staple of a clean and orderly house. Now, having been “swept” aside for newfangled vacuums and the Swiffer, the broom is making a comeback with the help of caring individuals like Brian.

Thanks to Brian, the tradition of the handmade broom is thriving!
From his website:

A small number of craftsmen keep the historic art of broom making alive and vibrant. Brian Newton, owner of Broomcorn Johnny’s in downtown Nashville, Indiana, is one of them. Using tools from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Brian, a prizewinner at the 2012 Arcola National Craft Broom Competition, is dedicated to creating high-quality, long-lasting, beautiful brooms for his customers.

You may know by now that I give away those Project F.A.R.M. products (sent to us for a look-see) on my blog here. These handcrafted brooms are just SO stunning, I had to keep one.

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But I saved the gorgeous purple broom for you, dear readers. 🙂

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To be entered, post a fun-fact here about Broom Corn. Be creative!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of Brian’s brooms for sale on his website. I absolutely love ’em all!!! They come in a variety of GORGEOUS colors (click here to see).

I am partial to this one …

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And this one …

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And well … just about ALL of these.

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November Sunset

 

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