*Life is in the journey!* ~ Barefoot Farming

 ♥

Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors

~ The Joy of Organic Gardening ~

***

We don't call it Barefoot Acres around here for nothing. Spring hasn't quite sprung round these parts, though this weekend past I certainly found ample motivation in our seventy degree weather to take care of a few farm chores. Mud and manure threatened to pay the inside of my boots a visit with all of the rain that's passing through, but I'm not complaining. I'm ready for Spring! I've already ventured outdoors in my bare feet on frosty mornings to sweep the porch and shake out the rugs in the sun. By mid-May I'll be cussin' those weeds and ankle deep in the cool, moist earth of the vegetable garden. I'm a feet-in-the-dirt kinda girl. Barefootin' it is how I roll.

It was my grandfather that first introduced me to dirt. Not the, "Sittin' in the honeysuckle makin' mud pies," kind of dirt. I'm talking about the, "Grab that hoe and that floppy hat and let's get to work in the garden," kind of dirt. As a kid, I helped pick beans off the bush, plucked tomatoes from the vine, and searched for potatoes alongside my grandpa digging for gold in rich, organic dirt. That good, clean, earthy-smellin' kind of dirt. Dirt that was made nutrient rich with chicken and cow manure and compost; not with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Work never tasted so good, as it did when my grandmother placed supper on the table at their house. 

As the saying goes, 

"We call it organic. They called it food." 

I call it...
 Barefoot Farming!

My garden

Spring is most definitely flirting on our doorstep here in Missouri. Just a few more weeks and I'll be outside more than in every day of the week...

Hauling Horse...

and Pony...

 Chicken...

...and Bunny Poo

...from one place to another; turning over the dirt in the garden, weeding, planting, mulching, and praying for sun and rain... not too much or little of either. Admittedly, I'm not always the most successful farmer, but I've seen more good seasons than bad. It's kind of like having babies... by the time the next one (season) comes along you kind of forget all the crap you had to go through to bring in that good crop of strawberries and beans. You do it 'cause it tastes good, and it's so good for ya.

Well, and 'cause the jars sure look pretty sitting on the counter tops.

Organic Gardens

The joy of organic gardening comes from the knowledge that you're feeding yourself and your family Nutritious and Healthy Food...not serving up residuals from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
I don't know about you, but
 I prefer what's on our family's table to not be doused in poison. 

If you're looking for what constitutes Organic, 

check out Alan Henry's article, from lifehacker (dot) com,

 "What Does Organic Really Mean, and Is It Really Worth My Money". 

And here's another great article by Darya Pino, of Summer Tomato

 "Is Organic Food Really The Same As Conventional."

"How do I get started," is generally the first question that comes to mind when considering a garden. Composting is the answer, even if you're not going to keep a vegetable garden, and is a great way to start living a greener, more self-sustained lifestyle. We (our family of five) live on five acres here in rural Missouri composting everything from manure, to grass clippings, to fall leaves and kitchen scraps. I first tried my hand at it when we lived in a small one and a half story in town, on no more than a half acre lot, collecting egg shells and coffee grinds, and even hair clippings from my attempts at pet and kid grooming at home. Just about all of your kitchen scraps, except raw meat scraps, should go into your compost. If you've got something to grow and a small piece of ground to work it into the soil, then you have ample room to start composting.

~ The Joy of New Beginnings ~

 How to grow an organic vegetable garden

 ~ The Joy of Composting ~

 Setting up a "Backyard Compost"

~ The Joy of Composting, Part II ~

"The Turn"

~ The Joy of Worms ~

 Vermicomposting: You've got worms!

 ~ The Joy of Barefoot Farming ~

 Gotta Love Jeff Poppen, The Barefoot Farmer!

 ~ The Joy of Another Season Ending ~

 How to prepare for the coming winter

For all kinds of information regarding 'the best time to plant', or if you're 'searching for a new recipe', or you'd like to 'consult this year's weather report', by all means, check out this website at the  

Old Farmer's Almanac. 

I look forward to my hard copy every year in the store!

You can also visit Gardenerd

"The ultimate organic gardening resource for garden nerds"

for all kinds of cool ideas.

***

GRANDMOTHER POEM

Sometimes in my dreams
I still see
my Kentucky grandmother
thin, strong, and hungry
holding her egg money
out to me
saying:
buy land, Mary
buy land
buy land while it lasts
they stopped making it

© Mary Mackey, both poems from "Split Ends" by Mama's Press, Oakland CA, 1974

***

  Joy My Friends

... and happy Organic gardening!

“The best way out is always through.”

~ Robert Frost

 

*Life is in the journey!* ~ Three Pines in a Sunbeam

 ♥

Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors

~ Three Pines in a Sunbeam ~

 Dad’s Colorado
1946 ~ 2012

For several months now I've been pretty quiet here in this space; not knowing how to speak of Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors. Not a clue where to begin. And so I've done simply what my spirit and my body have encouraged me to do... Just be. We go about the business of living caring for our children, our homes, our careers, ourselves. And when change happens, we adjust. Well, hopefully we adjust. Our only other option is to wither away... and that is not living.

This past October my childhood fantasies brutally clashed with reality. In one surreal moment, I learned that my dad had taken his own life. There would be no last great rumble with a man-eating bear in the wilds of Alaska, nor would the ocean swallow him up and spit him out onto a tropical island somewhere to live out his days as a castaway, an adventurer, a man among men.That was my dad, after all... Robinson Crusoe. Bigger than life! As a kid, the myth was just easier to live with. Reality was too... well, too real. 

The reality was my father suffered his entire life with, what I believe was, undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder. As anyone who's lived with a family member who has this disease knows ~ If one suffers, all suffer. I don't know firsthand how medication or therapy might have worked for my dad. Though he absolutely knew he was suffering from severe depression throughout his life, he refused to acknowledge that he had a problem he couldn't fix on his own. His life choice tore apart, piece by piece, what he might have held onto with those he loved; and ultimately even the relationship with his children. I loved my dad dearly, but if I've learned anything from my experience it is that misery loves company, and to save a drowning victim you lend a hand, most certainly your pride... but not your life by jumping into deep water after them, no matter how desperately one wishes to do so. My own happiness rode on my discovery that I am worth more than that. 

My dad was life in fast forward; always searching for that one thing that would make him feel more alive and less alone with his own thoughts. His journey was ripe with enthusiasm, adventure, a passion for spirituality, and... an overwhelming fear of loneliness and boredom. Though painful at times, I am incredibly thankful for the love he was willing to share with me. There are some lessons in this life, whether we think we needed them or not, that are simply too precious to ignore. 

I joined my brother on a mountaintop in Colorado just before Christmas to spread our dad's ashes among three pines in a sunbeam. Saying good-bye wasn't the hardest part for me. It was heading back down that mountain. That last step in the grieving process doesn't come easy. I guess that's where I am now... trying to find acceptance. Let me just say, it sucks. Everything is not alright. Opportunity is missing. But I know from experience that that too will change. I no longer have the luxury of debating whether or not I should try again with my dad. What's done is done. The question I ask myself now is, Was I true to myself, as only I can be?  And that my friends is a path we must all eventually take. 

*Don't give up on yourself*

"In the path of our happiness 
shall we find the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime." 
~ Richard Bach, Illusions

Love My Friends

... and happy learning!

“The best way out is always through.”

~ Robert Frost

*i love you* Fudge

Barefoot Love!

*I Cook Barefooted!*

I'm not much of a chocolate fiend.

I wouldn't make a very convincing cookie monster. 
(Though I do like his style!)

And you pro-bab-ly won't see me high-tailin' it 
to catch up with the ice cream man on a hot day.

But wrap some homemade fudge up in a little blanket,

tie a love note to it,

and

address it to me...

and I will follow you around like a fat, sick puppy

because that is what I will be once I'm finished gorging on compliments and candy!

  

Collect.

Compose.

Seal and Deliver.

"I LOVE... 

That you can turn an off handed comment about broccoli 

into a three hour discussion about politics in organized sports."

A dear friend gave *i love you* jars as gifts to all us girls a few years ago for Christmas.

I fell in love with her idea and did the same for my Kentucky family.

After collecting mason jars of all sizes, shapes, and colors,

scouting out the best (and idiot proof) 
homemade fudge recipes I could find,

and hunkering down with pen and paper,

I continued the gift that kept on giving... 

I spread around the LOVE!

*I wonder if she knows just what she's started.*

"I LOVE...

That you get so excited about everything you do.

Nothing half ass for Scarlett."

       ~ A few of my favorites ~

S'more Fudge

 2 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 (7 oz. jar) marshmallow creme

2 cups chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

Butter a small square pan.

In a large pot, combine sugar, butter and evaporated milk.

Bring to a boil over medium heat;

stirring constantly.

Boil 5 minutes and remove from heat.

Add marshmallow creme and chocolate chips.

Blend till smooth.

Stir in vanilla.

Pour into pan and cool to room temperature. 

Score the fudge into small square pieces.

Refrigerate till firm.

Remove fudge from pan and cut rest of way through.

Refrigerate.

"A piece for You. A piece for Me."

Chocolate Mint Fudge

1 (12 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

6 oz. white chocolate

2 tsp. vanilla

1 Tbsp. peppermint extract

Add 1 cup milk to chocolate chips. Melt.

Add vanilla.

Pour half of the mixture into an 8x8 in. wax paper-lined pan.

Let cool for 10 minutes. 

Melt white chocolate with remaining milk.

Add peppermint and green food coloring.

(Mixture will be very thick.)

Spread on first layer.

Cool another 10 minutes.

Top with other half of chocolate mixture.

Cool.

Remove from pan, remove paper. Cut into squares.

Refrigerate.

"A piece for You. A piece for Me."

Maple Nut Fudge

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup cream

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Boil sugar, cream, and butter until soft ball stage is reached.

Add nuts and vanilla.

Beat until ready to pour into wax paper-lined pan.

Cool.

Refrigerate.

"A piece for You. A piece for Me." 

***

You want reviews?
How 'bout,
"I Love... This!" ヅ





 How 'bout You?
Have a recipe you want to share on 
*I Cook Barefooted!*?
Show some Barefoot Love and...

Send it here:  scarlettcolleen@yahoo.com 
Want to include a photo? Fun!

What's on your table?

“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.

All life is an experiment.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 *Barefoot Love* Airbrush By, Colleen 
2012

*I Cook Barefooted!* ~ Call 'em To The Table Chicken Parmisan

Barefoot Love!

Hi.
It's me.
Yeah. I know. It's been a while.
You know that time I said, "I need me some more kids!"
Well, even if it was just yesterday.
Indeed... I do NOT need me some more kids.
I'm up to my neck in them, actually.
Teenagers. Frankly.

Oh, how I've missed summers when we trudged skipped gaily 
through snake and turtle and tick infested woods
searching for the perfect rock  for our goldfish pond.

How I yearn for the days of tie-dye, paint and wet cement staining our back porch
in the hopes of providing a meaningful distraction from ~ Everything.

How I rejoice weep for all of those critters (snakes, lizards, toads) 
who no longer know what it is to be invited into The House.

How I do miss those kids.
And when I do, I just remember this...
They still pick their tomatoes out of the sauce,
peppers off their kabobs, 
and moan incessantly about how they don't like mushrooms to touch their food.
See...
They didn't go far.



I know you've heard me say a few times, I am no cook!

I do, in fact, beg, borrow and steal recipes when given the opportunity.
(Except that A-mazing salsa recipe I am sworn to secrecy to protect! Nope. Can't do it.) 
 To ease my return after a Long HOT Summer, ripe with teenagers...
I thought I would share something relatively new to our house.
 Take a gander at the back of a Progresso Italian Style Bread Crumbs box
and you'll see the recipe I'm stealing from... with a tiny twist or two.

I think the addition of Homegrown Tomatoes and YOUR favorite pasta sauce 
makes all the difference! 
 So, grab your kids... All of the little darlings!
And set the table.
It's suppertime.


☮

  Chicken Parmesan

 1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onions (optional)
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 - 3 cups of Homegrown Tomatoes, finely chopped
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Leftovers of your family's favorite pasta sauce (about 2 cups or so)
4 boneless chicken breast, cut in strips
1/3 cup Italian Style Bread Crumbs
1/3 cup grated parmesan
1-3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large sauce pot, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
Cook onions (optional) and minced garlic for 2 minutes and stir occasionally.
Stir in your finely chopped, homegrown tomatoes; sugar, salt and pepper.
Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
Add your family's favorite pasta sauce. 
(I use Prego Fresh Mushroom)
Reduce heat; cover and simmer.

Cut your chicken breasts into strips.
Grab two shallow bowls, filling one with beaten eggs.
Fill the other with your bread crumbs and grated parmesan, and mix.
Dip your chicken strips into egg, then into bread crumb mixture.
Place your strips in a large skillet (with a lid) with the rest of the olive oil.
Cook chicken on med-low burner for about 10 to 15 minutes, turning once.
Pour your tomato sauce over top of chicken in skillet. Reduce heat.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top of that; and cover with lid till melted.

Serve with green salad and warmed french bread!
Yum!

***

You want reviews?
    How 'bout, 
  "Supper's On!"  ヅ







 How 'bout You?
Have a recipe you want to share on 
*I Cook Barefooted!*?
Show some Barefoot Love and...

Send it here:  scarlettcolleen@yahoo.com 
Want to include a photo? Fun!

What's on your table?

“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.

All life is an experiment.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 *Barefoot Love*Airbrush By, Colleen 
2012

 
 

 

*Life is in the journey!* ~ Poetry In Motion

♥

Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors

~ Poetry In Motion ~

A Brave and Startling Truth

We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

If we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls.

Love costs all we are and will ever be.
Yet it is only love which sets us free.
A Brave and Startling Truth.

It is possible and imperative that we discover
A brave and startling truth.

When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
And without crippling fear

When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonders of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it. 

~ Dr. Maya Angelou ~

Dr. Maya Angelou will celebrate her 84th birthday 

on April 4th, 2012. 

A woman of great wisdom, beauty and courage, 

she is a most beloved poet and spiritual teacher of

love, family, humanity, hope, peace, and joy;

she who believes... 

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. 

Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. 

We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest."

Her triumphs make me proud, 

her beginnings bring tears to my eyes, 

but it is the resounding spiritual vibration of her voice 

carried through to the center of my being 

which stirs my soul.

True poetry in motion. 

"We have to cease the polarization and include ourselves. 

If somebody draws a line, a circle

and it excludes you...

You draw a bigger circle

and you include him."

Join Maya's Email List

Courage My Friends!
"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
it sings because it has a song."
~ Dr. Maya Angelou ~




"The best way out is always through."
~ Robert Frost ~

*I Cook Barefooted!* ~ Devilish Eggs

Barefoot Love!

You know Spring is here when...

that red-checkered vinyl table cloth 

you paid fifty-cents for at that garage sale five summers ago

comes out of the closet again,

along with that fancy wicker picnic basket you always wanted

'cause you were gonna "drive into the city 

to see that FREE Shakespeare in The Park festival 

every weekend in June if it kills us..."  

And then it happens.

What happens you say?

Life. 

Life happens.

And you get all...

"Remember that one time we went to that festival in the park?"

And he gets all...

"Yeah. We suck."

And you get all... 

"Well, that drive-thru is NOT gonna be our home away from home this season!"

And he gets all...

"What's for supper hon?" 

And you get all...

*Sigh*

"I don't know. What do you want?"

And he gets all...

*Sigh*

"I'll pick something up."

And you get all...

"K"

Happy Spring, Life! 

 My lovely friend, IK 
Sharing some Barefoot Love!

 ~ My Blog & Role Fantasy ~

Devilish Eggs ~ Barefoot Love!

☮

Devilish Eggs

*Eggs, a dozen or so, boiled the way your gran'ma taught ya!

*Miracle Whip, approximately 2 Tbsp.

Mustard, approximately 1 Tbsp.

*Sugar, to taste ~ 1 or 2 Tbsp.

Paprika, a shake or two

Boil eggs; peel.

With a sharp knife, cut eggs lengthwise.

Remove the yolk with a small spoon; carefully place in small mixing bowl.

Mix all ingredients, 
EXCEPT the Paprika,
 with a fork into the yolks till smooth.

 Using the small spoon, 
put a nice dollop of your yolk mixture into each egg half.

Sprinkle with Paprika.

Chill till you eat 'em!

*So, here's the thing...

We see A LOT of fresh eggs here at Barefoot Acres!

On a good day, this time of year, we collect 'bout ten a day.

But... if you want your Devilish Eggs 

to turn out pretty (this means intact),

and you don't want to find yourself standing at the kitchen sink cussin' up a storm,

you'd best get yourself some store bought eggs for this dish.

(Check out these egg peeling tips on Jules Clancy's blog, Stone Soup... Awesome!)

*Miracle Whip is a wonderful drug.

 It is NOT mayonnaise!

In my humble opinion, it will always trump Mayo in Devilish Eggs.

*Sugar. 

Go slow on adding this key ingredient!

Too little... and they just won't have that Zing.

Too much... and you'll think you're eating oysters on the half shell!

(Translation: The yolk mixture turns runny and makes a mess.)

You want reviews?
How 'bout...
"Yum! Everybody says so! 
And they ain't lyin'."

Feeling Creative?  
*Check out these Awesome Deviled Eggs recipes!* 

How 'bout You?
Have a recipe you want to share on 
*I Cook Barefooted!*?
Show some Barefoot Love and...
Send it here:  scarlettcolleen@yahoo.com 
Want to include a photo? Fun!

What's on your table?

“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.

All life is an experiment.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 *Barefoot Love*Airbrush By, Colleen 
2012