We gave my friend Kate a few ducks in return for her help with harvesting them. She roasted one and shared the recipe, saying it turned out so "rich and good!" The recipe she followed is called Duck de Marietta, from the Omnivore's Cookbook. It calls for stuffing the duck with oranges and lemons then … Continue reading Roasted Duck

We are blessed to have a family getaway up on Lake Manistee, between Grayling and Traverse City, Michigan. Lake life for us means relaxed days and lots of time spent together outside in the sunshine. Here's a glimpse into our first few days this trip. We've been doing a lot of swimming off the boat. … Continue reading Lake life

My husband is a tractor man. As long as I have known him, he's been buying little John Deere tractors, tinkering with them, and then passing them on to new owners in a little better state.  For a long time, there was always an extra one in the garage.  He seems to have moved through … Continue reading A New Tractor Already Making Life a Little Easier

I wrote last week about my budding interest in being a backyard naturalist.  Really, it's a long standing interest, taking a more directed form of late.  Anyway, the other day I was driving the tractor across the yard hauling chicken bedding and I passed a small nest on the ground.  I turned around to take … Continue reading A Tiny Nest

Today is your final chance to come out and see my at the New Richmond Farmer's Market.  Corner of Walnut and Center Streets in New Richmond.  10:30-2:30. I have lots of freshly baked bread: country white, country white with herbs, country white with seeds, honey whole wheat, and caraway rye.  I also brought all my … Continue reading Last Farmer’s Market of the Season

We have a huge old pear tree in our front yard that drops loads of pears in the fall.  My neighbor Rita and her husband Frank planted the pear tree many many years ago, just after Rita's mother passed away.  It's been producing fruit for decades now, here on this farm.  No one is quite … Continue reading Pear Harvesting

I started making kombucha about two years ago. A coworker drank it everyday and gave me some to try once. The flavor was a little tart but good, and when she told me all the health benefits, I thought - I should get into drinking this!  When I looked for it at the store I … Continue reading Making Kombucha