Just tending my plant babies ...

 

A couple of weeks ago I started some of my plants for the garden and for my flower beds.  I usually hate the weather this time of year as everything is gray, gloomy and still brown outside. This year those warmer Spring days are coming fast!

Two years ago my wonderful hubby build a growing rack in one of our buildings.  It has racks for flats of seedlings and some grow lights.  We heat that area to about 50 degrees so it works well for starting seeds early when it is still snowing on occasion here in central Iowa!

Flowers are what seem to take the longest to sprout.  I have petunias, coleus and nasturiums started so far. And this week I should add marigolds, holly hocks and dwarf zinnias to the flower plans.  As far as veggies planted early I have started red onions, yellow onions, bell peppers and hot peppers.  Tomato seeds will be planted next week as well as some herbs and squashes.  

I will be busy tending these plant babies indoors until the week before Mother's Day.  At that point I will begin hardening them off with gradual introductions to sun, wind and outdoor temps.  

Our area's predicted last frost date is right around Mother's Day so I will be prepping the garden soil and getting ready to do my transplanting in mid May.  It will be a busy but fun time digging in the dirt!

I will try to occasionally update the flower and garden's progress here in my blog.  I've gardened long enough to know there will be both success stories and failures along the way, so check back to see what's happening down our gravel road!

~ Connie

Peach Scones for your Spring Brunch ...

 

My son's house has a peach tree so I have quite a stash of peaches in my freezer.  They seem the perfect thing to use up for a Spring Brunch.  I hope you will try this easy peach scone recipe soon.

Peach Scones

       2 cups flour

• ▢1/3 cup granulated sugar
• ▢2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), frozen
• ▢1/3 cup peach Greek yogurt (I use this kind)
• ▢1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• ▢1 large egg
• ▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢1/2 cup fresh peaches (about 1 peach), diced

For the Glaze:

• ▢1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢1-2 Tablespoons milk
• 
  

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

• In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
• Grate the frozen butter and add to dry mixture. Use a fork or pastry blender to cut in the butter.
• In a separate bowl whisk together yogurt, cream, egg, and vanilla until well blended. 
• Add to the dry mixture and use a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients in until it starts to come together in large clumps.
• Stir in the diced fresh peaches. Gently knead mixture by hand (in the mixing bowl) just a few times until it comes together. Try not to handle the dough too much.
• Dust a clean surface with flour and drop dough onto surface.  Gently pat and shape into 8 inch round.
• Cut into 8 wedges then transfer to parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 16 - 18 minutes.
• Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes before drizzling on glaze.

Enjoy!

~Connie

You'll find me in the tiny house...

I've been working lately on some more acrylic paintings.  I did a couple of them as Christmas gifts for family.  The photos above are pieces I painted last winter, and I enjoyed adding them to our home.

My art studio space is out in the tiny house on our property.  The previous landowner used it as a hunting cabin before our main house was built.  When we moved here, I claimed it as my art space and when we have a full house of visitors, it doubles as extra guest quarters.  We hope to upgrade it in the future for our guests, but it works great for me to get away and focus on a painting project.  I don't worry about leaving my art supplies strewn about when I'm in the middle of something ... works better than the kitchen counter in that regard!

The barn quilt was my 3rd, and my largest piece so far.  It looks awesome hanging above our fireplace and I am quite pleased with it.

The windmill, was a first attempt at painting a landscape in acrylic.  It turned out pretty well I think for a first try.  

I have a couple of other projects in mind for this year, will have to see what I actually have time to get done!

~ Connie

Dill pickle stuffed flank steak

 

A favorite recipe from my childhood was what I called "pickle steak"!  Back in the day it was a delicious way to cook a cheaper cut of beef.  Now days I have a difficult time finding flank steak at my local markets but I tried this recipe with a flatiron steak that my local butcher said was similar and the results were delicious!  This photo from the internet shows a version with bacon added as well which I will have to try out next time I cook this up.

Dill Pickle Steak

a flatiron or flank steak

yellow mustard

a jar of dill spears

Score both sides of the steak with a butcher knife and lightly salt and pepper the meat.

Spread one side liberally with yellow mustard.  Place 3-4 dill spears across the meat and roll into a log shape.  Secure with a few tooth picks.

Lay the beef log into a glass baking dish pour some of the pickle juice over the meat.  I like my meat to bake in 1/4 to 1/2 inch of juice.  Cover with foil and bake at 325 for about an hour and a half.  Cut into slices to serve.

I served our steak with a side salad and some crusty bread. YUM!  There were no leftovers!

Happy Eating!

~Connie 

Playing it loose ...

The change of seasons is usually a good excuse to go thru my closet and take stock of what I have hidden in there that I have not worn in a while.  I like this idea of shopping my own closet and coming up with a new outfit or two!  So if you are doing the same at your house, keep this latest style tip in mind.

Style Tip # 2

Fashion proportion is key!  (In other words, pair loose & flowing with tight)
Very few people on earth can pull off head to toe baggy or top to bottom form fitting.  So take a cue here and team your flowing tops and sweaters with something body conscious on the bottom.  Or the opposite with a very form fitting top and a loose and full skirt or wide leg pants!  No matter your shape or size this is a basic fashion principal that can work for all.

Above are all great examples of loose or flowing on the top paired with something slim on the bottom.

(Think skinny jeans, pencil skirts and leggings)

Just as these close fitting tops are the perfect go to with these full and flowing skirts.

(This dress also shows this principal in it's wonderful styling!)

I am sure there are some new combinations lurking in the clothes you already own...so go have some fun and put this style tip into action today!

~Connie

Quick company dessert hack!

 

An easy dessert hack I use often is to keep a brownie mix and an assortment of baking chips on hand.  Then if you have unexpected company coming, mix up the brownie mix and add a cup or so of the flavored chips to the mix before baking and you will have a quick and easy homemade treat!

I use mint chips often but others that work are white chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch, toffee bits, and even diced dried cherries or cranberries along with the white chocolate chips!

This is also a great trick to use if you have to take treats for some event.  Try to keep the supplies on hand and you can easily have something ready to go in a flash!

Happy baking!

~Connie

A little trail thru the woods...

We have been on this property for 7 years this May, and over the years we have been trying to spend some of our outdoor time reestablishing a trail thru our woods to the pond.  At one time there was a trail but it has had numerous years of neglect ...so it has been a challenge to cut back the trees and the under story plants.  That however is the 1st step to creating a neat trail thru our property that we hope the kids and the grands will enjoy in the future!

I hope this summer and in years future to add some cool artwork and signs along the trail.  Maybe a fairy village, a fishing bridge at the pond and a playhouse in the woods will pop up in the next few Springs!  John and I have some fun ideas in mind.  So I will try to remember to share some pics of our creations here.

~
Connie