Eclairs! Eclairs! Oh My!

Eclairs were a big hit at the Farm Store this weekend, particularly with a certain 6 year old.

Eclairs have never been one of my favorite desserts. Actually, I have flat out refused to make or eat them. When I was a baby, my dad fed me some of his cream puff and we both were violently ill. I of course don't remember being ill, but I hear the story from time to time, especially when someone is offered a cream puff or eclairs. The story goes something like my dad abruptly pulling the car over so that he can vomit, and then proceeding to lay down in the middle of the road and proclaim that he is dying- all the while, my mother trying to take care of her baby (me) who is also vomiting.

Obviously, I steer clear of desserts with creamy middles.

But, besides my dad and I, who can resist this type of dessert?

Practically no one. Hence why we decided to try making them.

Jason worked on the recipe for the eclairs one day while I was at work. I gave him some advice about filling them, and I glazed them for him, but other than that he made them, and as you can see from the above photos they were delicious. (Photo credit: JoAnne Bannister, thank you, they are fabulous!).

After I made the chocolate ganache for the glaze, Jason walked over and was staring at the naked eclairs and the bowl of chocolate. Back and forth, I watched his eyes dart between his new dessert and the chocolate glaze. 

I began to glaze the eclairs by dipping their tops down into the chocolate, allowing the excess to drip off and then inverting them back onto the serving tray. "Oh, that's how you do that!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea how I was going to do that without making a really big mess!". 

Thank goodness we have each other. He likes to try new things that I don't want to touch with a ten foot pole. He pushes me not only in the bakery, but in life, to be a little more adventurous then I would normally be. I know how to proofread and am detailed oriented among other things.

I also know how to add those finishing touches that in the end are simpler than he realized.

Spring ran into Summer on the Farm

While I want to talk about how spring is going on the farm, first you need your weekly dose of the gosling pair. They are growing nicely and have become a part of our family. They love the beautiful weather and spent a long time with us outside this weekend as we try to teach them to run, sun and have some fun! They always have one eye on the sky to look out for predators. Sometimes they spot them before we do, large hawks or buzzards circling over head. 

Seems like the weather went from spring to summer in a matter of a few days. We are enjoying all the new growth and signs of fruit to come on the farm. Both the cherry and peach trees made it through the storm a few weeks ago, so the blossoms have turned into tiny fruits! 

We are looking forward to making some Peach Basil and Southern Peach Jam this year and depending on how many cherries we are able to harvest, I would like to make some fancy Cherry Tarts. We have been baking some fruit tarts for the Bakery Farm Store this season, as customers are longing for the days of fresh berries and baked goods. Fortunately, baking tarts with frozen berries works quite well, so people are enjoying summer tart taste before our harvest has begun. We were lucky to be able to make Raspberry Scones all winter long from our harvest of raspberries last year, we are looking forward to another bumper crop of raspberries this year. 

So, how do we do all of this? My blog's original intention was to describe how we do what we do. Not as a tutorial DYI, but as a means of having conversation about working on a farm and creating a farm business. What I love to share with customers at the Farm Store is that I love to do these things, baking, crafting, making, blending and doing all things that are related to the farm. I have found that I gravitate towards the creative things, and have left the bulk of the baking (especially cookies!) to my better half. We bake together on Saturday mornings, in the wee hours, to have everything be fresh for the farmer's market and the Farm Store. I enjoy those mornings, especially when the baking is done and cooling and we get to rest for a moment, eating breakfast together as a family before running off to pack up the car and set up the Farm Store.

In order to stay sane with working all week at the "Full Time Job", I found that I need to be creative everyday- whether it be crocheting for a little while, writing a blog or taking pictures of my favorite fluffy friends (Gossie and Gertie the Goslings). While the baking and farming can sometimes be monotonous, the smiles on customers faces when they walk into our little store is priceless. They oohh and aahh and make me feel good about all the work and long hours it takes to make this happen. 

Enough for now, I will try to share more soon. Thanks for reading.

Fondly, 

Teresa

Full Time Mom, Full Time Nurse Administrator, Part Time Baker, Creator, Farmer and Blogger!

Raising Goslings on The Grassy Knoll Farm

Ella and I have been thoroughly enjoying raising the two goslings we found on the farm a number of weeks ago. They are growing by leaps and bounds, but are still cute and snuggly with both of us. We take them for walks, for swims in the kiddy pool and often let them wander around the house with us. 

My favorite moment with these two happened just this afternoon. We were enjoying some time in the yard, with the setting sun, always watchful to the skies for hawks (we saw two this afternoon circling) when the two goslings wandered over to sit at Ella's feet. I am amazed by their total trust in us. We scoop them up and walk around with them. We plop them down in the pool. Sometimes Ella carries both of them at the same time in her arms so she can quickly get to where they all need to go. All the while, these birds are trusting, still and quiet as we move them about. It is quite remarkable.

We have bonded with these two little loves. We have named them Gossie and Gertie after one of our favorite children's books about goslings.  It will be very difficult to see them go, but they are wild animals, and should return to the wild. We have already starting talking about how to release them, once they are able to care for themselves and protect themselves. They still require the warmth of the heat lamp at night, and need our protection against flying predators. Once their real feathers come in, and they are able to fly away to escape the clutches of hungry predators, then we need to find them a goose family to live with. Luckily we live in such a wonderfully beautiful place where wildlife outnumbers people. I am sure we can find a lovely new home for them. For right now, we will continue to practice being gosling mommas and love and protect these little guys. And I will continue to fill your Instagram and Facebook feeds with adorable pictures!

Farmer's Market Season

Farmer's Market Season starts this Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Norfolk Farmers Market!

We are so excited to start our summer season of Farmer's Markets with the Norfolk Market. So starts the busyness of the season, planning, baking, making crafts and then more baking in order to fill orders, stock the farm store and have enough to bring to all of our customers at the farmer's markets. Don't worry- we are planning to bring back some of the favorite baked goods you have come to enjoy!

We are also very excited to be able to offer our new and improved Insect and Tick Repellent. A local fisherman, Rob Merly, wrote an excellent review of our all natural bug spray in a fisherman journal in New Hampshire, and so the news of our bug spray has been spreading near and far. Not only is it all natural (you could drink it if you want, and certainly use it on your babies and puppies!) but it apparently also does not degrade your waders! The perfect combination for an avid river fisherman! So useful to protect oursevles and our pets from pesky ticks that spread illness! We can't share the exact recipe, but rest assured that it is made from all natural essential oils and has a lovely scent that is appropriate for all ages and for all types of dogs as well. We spray our house pup everytime he goes out and the ticks don't want to have anything to do with him!

Join us at the Farm Store (Saturday's 9-4pm or Sunday's 9-12pm) and the Norfolk Farmer's Market (Saturday's 10-1pm) throughout the season. Looking forward to seeing you!

Spring has Finally Sprung, Maybe!

We are so excited to see Spring on the Farm again! The winter weather has definitely come to an end and spring showers have been a constant through the month of April. We have had beautiful Saturdays at the Farm Store, and Sundays have been wet and dreary- but that is ok- the showers have brough forth the flowers on the trees, bushes and ground, so who can complain! Finally green grass, leaves are budding, flowers are blooming. We have huge smiles!

Spring also brings babies. We rescued two goslings on our farm last week. Ella has completely taken over their care, and they follow her around like she is their mother. They are awfully sweet. The sweetest part of them is their webbed feet and the little slapping noises they make while they follow Ella all over the house. Ok, well, they also like to snuggle in your arms or on your lap, and that is pretty sweet too.

We put together beautiful herb planters for sale at the farm store. We found lovely terra cotta planters that were telling us they desperately wanted to look pretty with herbs. We obliged and now they have adorned our Farm Store (and some lucky Mother's homes!) with greenery.

The Cherry Trees are in full bloom. It is so exciting to anticipate the little red lovely cherries when you see all of the lovely white blossoms. Even with the rain today the flowers look beautiful.

On the first really warm day, Ella and I cleaned the screen porch and got ready for our annual tradition of painting our toenails. Of course going to a spa sounds good too, but we love the fan gently blowing air from above, the feeling of being outdoors but without the bugs and the overall sense of calmness that comes from sitting back on a porch.

Welcome Spring!

A little post about Hygge

My new favorite word is Hygge. The Danish word means many things, many things to different people.  Hygge promotes coziness and feelings of relaxation and meditation by using light to create atmosphere (preferably candlelight), being present with those around you (turing off your cell phone), creating pleasure with food and drink (YUM!), giving gratitude for those around you, (being thankful is one of those things that is often overlooked but can create such joy) being comfortable with comfy clothes (for someone who wears pantyhose and grown up shoes to work everyday, I love the idea of yoga pants and sweaters) and relaxing with your family and friends (or whoever relaxes you!).

The coziness of my soul in winter when I surround myself with different textured yarns is what Hygge means to me. During wintertime, the bustle of the farm and the bakery slow down enough so that I can relax and think of new things to make and create. I am able to relax from the business of the holiday season, and the stress of the farming season, and just settle in to being myself again, and enjoy my family, time and creativity. Hygge

During our busy season, I long for the cold winter nights to spend time crocheting or creating a new project. This winter I am focusing on warm and cozy articles of cozy warmness including shawls, scarfs and cowls. It has been an experience in crocheting happiness!

I understand that when the farm store opens in the springtime most folks will be shedding the coziness of winter and longing for short sleeves. I anticipate that the coziness that I am creating this winter will not be coveted come spring. However, some of the articles are so beautiful that they will be irresistible despite the thoughts of warmer weather!
 

I tried a new technique this winter called Tunisian Crochet. I watched many a YouTube video to understand what I was doing. It is almost knitting, though folks who knit would probably disagree. Having been unable to teach myself knitting, I opted for Tunisian Crochet. It was alot of fun learning new stitches and working with such a luxiouriusly thick soft yarn. The shawl is beautful. I plan on making others in soft, warm snuggly colors!

Here's to a New Year!

Whew! The holiday season flew by, without a post of thanks and merriment from Berry and Vine! I can say, Happy New Year! I say happy new year until at least the 15th of the month, so I am still on time! Happy New Year and Thank You for making this year so wonderful for us at B&V and The Grassy Knoll Farm!

Even though the holiday season is over, sweet sugar cookies fill our dreams as we start this new year! We put together many a cookie plate and cookie packages this year, not only for Christmas, but also for the farm store and farm truck all season long.

Planning has started for our new season in 2018! We are looking forward to growing, crafting, making and baking for you. I am looking forward to expanding the time I spend on blogging, and bringing you more posts, more recipes and more insight into the farm and the life that revolves around all the growing, crafting, making and baking that happens here.

The Grassy Knoll Farm Test Kitchen will be in full swing this winter, trying new recipes and planning a new treat menu for the farm store, farm truck and even our wholesale friends!

Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts.

Love,

 Teresa, Jason and Ella Fuller