Special Project: Creche

As a surprise for Charlie, I designed a chreche for the cow/calf pairs who need extra care.  The guys were excited to build something during the week as a surprise for him when he arrived on the weekend!  

Starting the surprise! 

Filaberto working on the roof

Finished product

Thankful

Apologies for not posting in a while but November got the best of us as we were busy busy at the farm and in Raleigh!  


So let the start of the holiday season begin.  Thanksgiving is really the kickoff for us and not only a great time to be thankful for friends and family but also to get excited about Christmas!     But let's not jump into christmas trees and holly berry just yet...  


Our Thanksgiving celebration began when Sister arrived the weekend before and we started our food cooking marathon.   With Christmas around the corner, I wanted to get a jump on some of the food that we could freeze.   First on the list is a holiday (or everyday) favorite - Nutmeg's sausage yummies...  It's a recipe from her family that she has made a few adjustments to over the years and they are always delicious!


Nutmeg's Sausage Yummies
Ingredients:
Bisquick
Bulk Sausage
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
A little Sherry
Chopped Pecans


Cook sausage and combine all ingredients together.  Drop onto baking sheet and bake for 10 min at 350 degrees or roll into logs and freeze for future occasion.    

Sister making Nutmeg's Sausage Yummies

Ready for Christmas!  Sister made a triple batch and rolled into logs for the freezer!

THANKSGIVING DAY
For our Thanksgiving feast, it was Sister, Charlie & myself as well as our friends Harriet & Kent.  We had many delicious dishes, but one of the favorites is our cornbread dressing.   We have always made it and each year there is a slight variation but the basics remain the same.  You could also add sausage if you would like! 


Cornbread Dressing
Ingredients: 
3 boxes cornbread mix & ingredients to make cornbread
3 onions, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 bunches fresh parsley, chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup medjool dates, pitted and chopped
Prepare & cook cornbread according to package directions.  Set aside.  Sauté all other ingredients except for dates in butter.   Crumble cornbread in bowl, add cooked vegetables, dates and broth and mix gently.  Cook at 350 degrees for 20-30 min or until heated through.  

Cornbread Dressing in the making

Sister sets the table

Let the meal begin! 

What's Thanksgiving without Jethro size portions? 

Harriet digs in!  

Kent has a slice of both Hoosier & Pumpkin pies

A true sign of a good meal!
Charlie with Clara Belle & Ferret after the feast

Special Project: Quarter Barn

We just recently finished the  Quarter Barn at Lowfields.  It will house building supplies and the drying lumber that we cut on our sawmill.   It was a great special project for everyone involved!

Ted, Larry, Filiberto & Rolando put the window up

More siding!  We make our own on the sawmill.

Our friends Kenny & Robert were visiting
and helped us figure out the shelving needs

Finished!  

Everything in it's place and a place for everything.
 It took us 2 days to get everything off the floor of the barn!