tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37370898254959457532024-03-13T06:59:29.456-05:00Open Gate FarmSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-42412638800158565032014-07-25T10:47:00.001-05:002014-07-25T10:50:38.400-05:00The texture of greenSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-8334116249978210772014-06-20T07:36:00.002-05:002014-06-20T07:36:33.659-05:00Why I don't weed when it is wet...
A friend and I were chatting after class the other day and she was commenting on the great rain we have had recently. "At least it makes weeding so much easier, I bet your thrilled!"
Oh, how I love my flower growing friends!
I didn't have the heart to tell her that vegetable gardeners view rain with a kind of love hate relationship. Yes, in the moment of the downpour we are Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-55474395284221531152014-06-04T18:30:00.001-05:002014-06-04T18:31:10.803-05:00New things coming up
Ahhh. Onions. Always one of my first happy, hearty plants to emerge in the garden. I have selected a few more beds to plant in the square foot method this year and onions were one of the obvious choices this time. For those of you unfamiliar with square foot, check out their website squarefootgardening.org It is a beautiful site with lots of photos that will Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-90386323081448121642014-03-30T20:00:00.000-05:002014-04-01T09:23:38.741-05:00No, I have not fallen off the planet...So it has been an interesting year. Last June rumor started around work that the hubby's job was on the chopping block. I know, don't listen to rumor... needless to say, it was a stressful summer with no work local. An even more trying fall followed with him taking a temp job four hours away and only coming home about every 3rd weekend. Christmas brought a new job that only has Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-80346307100139687912013-03-26T12:41:00.001-05:002013-03-27T07:21:01.623-05:00Starting Your Seeds
The "pretty" version of my garden. Nothing like real life...
We are using tomato plants to start
Soooo, it is that time of year again, spring, where everything in Wisconsin is waiting for the snow to melt the ground to warm so that we can get out into the dirt. Don't get me wrong, we love it here, but the growing season is so short it makes the gardening season somewhat ofSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-36716707125263309982012-08-10T20:02:00.002-05:002012-08-10T20:03:11.091-05:00Blueberry JamI made blueberry jam. It is a beautiful thing, looking at eight jars of black yumminess sitting on my counter, still warm from their magical preserving bath. Eight cups of hand picked, organic, raised four miles from my house kinda local blueberries that I lovingly crushed and turned into jam.
All I can say is...
Yuck
I used pectin like everyone else does, only this time I thought ISonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-50122068934524618192011-12-04T21:10:00.002-06:002011-12-04T21:21:52.763-06:00Spaghetti Carbonara with AsparagusIngredients:2 large eggs2 Tb grated parmigiano cheesesalt, pepper1 lb asparagus, chopped into long pieces10 oz spaghetti, regular or whole grain2 tsp olive oil3 cloves garlic minced4 oz nitrate free ham, cut in pieces1/4 cup soaked dried tomato halves, choppedBeat eggs, cheese and salt and pepper in large bowl while water for pasta is coming to boil. Cook asparagus in water 4 minutes, scoop out Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-3435553826664635602011-12-04T17:56:00.003-06:002011-12-04T21:08:55.383-06:00Menu Monday December 5-11thWhen I plan out my week, I try to keep similar Points Plus values to my meals and snacks in order to make things easier. Breakfast tends to be 6-7, lunch a bit less, supper around 10 with a couple snacks or a beer in there as well. As the weeks go on, feel free to comment things so that I can tailor the menu a bit. Also pay attention to the suggestions at the bottom if you are dealing with "Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-34071360887810584182011-07-27T19:25:00.007-05:002011-07-27T20:00:14.880-05:00The GardenHere it is, in all its 20,000 square foot wonder, complete with a few weedsSquash, cucumbers, peas and onionsThe root bedBeans, pole beans, potatoesTomatoes, peppers and sweet cornSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-77025637488761328662011-05-09T06:58:00.000-05:002011-05-10T07:06:40.375-05:00Menu Monday May 8-15Hello all, it has been busy with school, life, work for hubby and celebrating #2 First Holy Communion. Spring is finally here and the boys came over yesterday and dug up my garden spot with their gianormous tractors! I will post pictures soon of the 20,000 sq foot space so you can see the craziness I am talking about. In the mean time...BreakfastCranberry white chocolate muffinsEggs and Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-23433400795067259092011-04-20T12:12:00.005-05:002011-04-20T12:57:53.369-05:00Why coupons are a good thing... sometimes...My hubby and I were watching TLC's Extreme Couponer the other night. I thought to myself, why am I not using coupons? Usually I don't even look at them in the Sunday paper as they are for things I don't normally buy. For some reason, my neighbor just doesn't run adds for $1 a gallon of the raw milk that I get from him...I decided to check the paper this week because I love a bargain! Who Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-84786855622937521192011-04-20T01:00:00.000-05:002011-04-20T13:03:49.116-05:00Red Snitch LunchSoboro over riceSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-41734187358111944732011-03-25T07:43:00.004-05:002011-03-25T08:02:48.646-05:00Bento4JapanMany prayers have been lifted up for the people of Japan. People all over are thinking of that devastated country and with the electronic capabilities now, keeping up on what is happening through twitter, web news, and blogs. While there are many ways to help, our rotary club is paying for four people who work a vocational job to go for four weeks, sometimes it is overwhelming to know where to Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-88069081283555744832011-03-22T07:22:00.002-05:002011-03-22T10:03:09.042-05:00My beautiful husbandA little love for my husband today.I love his beautiful face. I love his strong character. I love how he encourages me to be whatever I want, and that makes me want to be his wife and the mother of his children all the more. I love his honesty, and how he stands by his convictions. I love his tenderness when everything at home seems to be falling apart around my ears. I love his faith in GodSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-32878758129527073142011-03-20T20:13:00.003-05:002011-03-20T20:37:43.338-05:00Menu Monday March 21-27Irish food week is done here for another year, so it is back to menu planning out of more than one cookbook. While a theme week is fun, I am always happy for the variety that several cookbooks bring.BreakfastCranberry and white chocolate muffins, pearsEggs and bagelsPecan maple oatmealEgg casserole, mangosCereal and bananasKids choiceBrunch- Strawberry french toast, bacon and eggsLunchEgg rolls,Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-38652557550953593802011-03-17T07:48:00.002-05:002011-03-17T07:54:22.508-05:00Happy St. Patrick's Day-2011Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal.From a headstone in Ireland One year today, we still miss you Mr. Olsen! Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-68874162531849528602011-03-15T12:50:00.003-05:002011-03-15T12:52:08.529-05:00Makes me smileGod is good but never dance in a small boat - an Irish proverbSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-33401489954659838922011-03-15T09:28:00.002-05:002011-03-15T09:33:21.203-05:00Brown soda breakfast sconesI like these for a change of pace, but they are not as tender as ones made with butter.2 c unbleached white flour1/2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt2c soft whole wheat flour1 1/2 c buttermilk (plus a bit more)Sift dry ingredients together. Make a well in the center of the flour mix and dump in buttermilk. Stir just long enough to soak in liquid adding more if your flour is too dry. Do not overmix,Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-86984867800662050722011-03-15T08:20:00.003-05:002011-03-15T09:16:12.031-05:00Statements this Mom is grateful to hearI don't know about every mother, but this makes my heart glad....From my oldest:-Mom, there are kids that actually eat the white bread they serve at school! That is so nasty! (nuff said)From my youngest:-I told Grandpa that I only wanted to play at McD*nalds, not eat. That food is yucky. (and he did despite being offered french fries that they were eating)From my daughter:-That girl's outfit isSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-57519792001297369782011-03-14T13:25:00.004-05:002011-03-15T09:34:06.109-05:00Menu Monday March 14-20St. Patty's Week! Yes, it is all week here, not just Thursday, and we are celebrating all week because that's just how we roll around here. We will have Irish food, Irish beer, Irish whiskey, QVC All things Irish on tv, Irish music...not to mention our Irish children we will be doing all this with. Ok, maybe not the whiskey...or too much of the beer, a girls got to cook with it though. We maySonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-57977046378684142042011-03-07T11:14:00.002-06:002011-03-08T11:21:26.272-06:00Menu Monday March 7-13Here is the menu for this week. I already shopped, and spent around $100 total, so that is good!BreakfastOatmeal with bananasCerealEggs and biscuitsBagels with pbPancakesMuffins and yogurtLunchCheeseburger Mac (homemade), applesHam and Swiss sandwiches, grapes, carrot sticksSchool lunch (Ash Wednesday, cheesy bread sticks)Boiled eggs, soba noodles, broccoliNut butter sandwiches, dried fruit, Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-92202686765463589992011-03-02T06:07:00.003-06:002011-03-02T06:09:49.640-06:00Stones in MexicoSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-61614230835319284482011-03-01T08:24:00.004-06:002011-03-01T08:40:11.451-06:00Money Money Money...Always sunny, in a rich man's world....They were playing this song last night on A Nun's Life Podcast Praying with the Sisters. I love this program, there is a chat room and a live podcast where you can see the Sisters as they talk and pray for all requests that are listed in the chat room. ABBA was being played after prayers to celebrate someone getting a job, and this was the song...Somehow Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-62492773679535418012011-02-28T12:35:00.001-06:002011-02-28T12:44:56.312-06:00Menu Monday February 27-March 5BreakfastBrunchOatmeal with apples and raisinsWaffles with peachesEggs and toastCereal and pb toastMuffins and yogurtKid's ChoiceLunch(none since brunch after church)Potstickers, brown rice and edamamePb or almond butter sandwiches, grapes, veggie sticksSukiyaki-style beef, soba noodles, dried fruitCrab sushi, salad or edamameBaked chicken kara-age, brown rice, broccoliSupperCheese Frenchies, Sonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737089825495945753.post-22659049370654899082011-02-02T14:11:00.003-06:002011-02-02T14:21:08.999-06:00Marriage Challenge WednesdaySo, Courtney over at Women Living Well has raised our next marriage challenge. I have to say, for a G-rated post, this one really hit the spot! We are too look at our husbands through the eyes of his fiance and remember how once he made our hearts skip a beat. (Although I am sure that all your hearts still do.) So for this week's challenge, we are to be the womenly women that God made us to beSonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13431955825576910058noreply@blogger.com1