Windmill Farm

We had a fabulous Christmas with family.  The opening of gifts on Christmas Day with the grand kids is the most wonderful gift we could receive. 

Frank and I gave Collin an electric child's motorcycle and Carli an electric Vespa-turquoise of course!!!  After a few crashes here and there in the beginning, they got the hang of them and were on them every waking moment for the next few days.  They went around and around the fields in the back and in between the fruit trees.  The weather was so perfect to be outside.

I was asked to knit a bunch of these rosettes for a friend to put on her children's packages.  This picture doesn't show them finished as I also knit lots of leaves to go along with them.  The gifts inside were hats and the rosettes were going to be attached to them after they were opened.  Here is the picture of my friend's gifts.

Collin and Carli asked me what was my favorite chicken and I pointed her out-

Carli drew a picture of her for me.  Pretty good likeness!

They have been laying tons and tons of eggs even though the temperatures in the evening have been very cold.

I made these pumpkin pie tarts-

The recipe is: Preheat oven to 425 degrees

In medium bowl, combine 1-15 oz can of pumpkin; add 1/2 cup sugar; 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I used Allspice); 1/2 tsp. vanilla; 1/4 tsp salt; stir well.  (At first this doesn't look like very much but you only put a a tablespoon of this mixture in each tart pastry).

You can use your favorite recipe for pie dough; or use pre-made refrigerated pie crusts from the store.

Roll out the dough and find an object that is 4" round, trace around it on the dough and cut it out. Lightly brush all around the dough with beaten egg.  Put a tablespoon of the pumpkin pie mix in the middle; fold dough over filling; press around edges with a fork sealing in the mixture.  Brush egg on top of each pie and sprinkle with sugar.  Place pies on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray so they won't stick.  Bake for 10 minutes or until brown.  My opinion of this recipe is that it needs some butter, was a little dry.  I think if you brushed the inside of the dough with melted butter, that would make a big different in flavor.  And if you had your own applesauce in your pantry or home made strawberry jam, substitute those with the pumpkin pie mix and they also would be fantastic.

The time together just flew by, how come Christmas just comes up so fast and gone before you know it.
Frank and I have been so blessed to have so many wonderful friends; a beautiful and giving and loving family; to be able to do what we love to do, farm.
We hope all of you that take the time to read our blog about every day life on a small farm had a fabulous Christmas holiday too and will come back to hear more in 2014!!!

Happy New Year

Bella

Annie