NA.DA.FARM Pure Prairie Honey!

Jason and I have been wanting to share with you something very special here on the farm.........



OUR BEES!!

The bees are actually Jason's babies

He's been out in that prairie every day taking care of them - making sure they are busy enough, happy and healthy

they sure are!

This past weekend we extracted honey from two of the hives we have.

The bees have graced us with over a 6lb. bucket of honey the first extraction!!!

They are getting bottled up and ready for the shop.

Organic, from our Prairie:

na.da.farm

Pure Prairie Honey

-----------------------------------------

here's a bit of the label...

If interested in pre-ordering, you can email me at:

ndfmama@gmail.com

Ilimited quantities of this super sweet honey!!

There is so much to talk about with these amazing humming little wonders -

~more on that soon & more pictures soon!!~

For right now, we have so much work to do!

and it's sweet!!

A special thanks to our good friend Traci Thorson for photographing Jason with the bees!!

Thank you Traci!!!

Have a great weekend!

= the garden beckons
        my hair grows longer and I put it in braids
        the  cucumbers wind around the beans
        sun bursts through the fence and my boots squeak
        daughter rides bareback amongst the prairie grasses with little sister holding on tight
        baby coos on the sun dappled blanket beneath the giant pine

        a morning kiss to a little one and my coffee mug is filled
        a basket full of scones to take out to Jason sways over the crook of my arm
        the garden beckons
        my hat that was hung on the hook inside this old farmhouse now rests on my head
        more fabric and cupcakes thoughts and prayers



I will be taking a short break here, but will be checking e-mails.  Enjoy your life amongst the heat of the summer and hold onto yourself from the depth of your souls by journeying your life by sacrificing for others and constantly giving to them while thanking Him..........

be back soon


xo+blessings,

he doesn't know the dog doesn't talk....

When baby Daniel sees our dog Bella, she doesn't know that Bella won't talk back to him

this struck me (as does every single thing I encounter in my life) and it really made me think

He was sitting on my lap, tummy down on my chubby thighs (yes, I did say MY chubby thighs) and was talking to the dog..........cooing away..........inflections here and there

trying to get her attention!

she was looking at him, which he giggles at, and their communication was complete

he doesn't know the dog doesn't talk

it doesn't matter to him

Baby Daniel accepts the dog the way she is.........non talking and all

random picture of what I did Saturday morning........came up with 2 new yummy cupcakes!!

= lemon cupcake with fresh blueberry butter cream frosting

= chocolate and lavender cupcake with blueberry butter cream frosting

both will be available at the farm this October with the blueberries the family picked so graciously for me and for you..........as well as the lavender from my garden............organically grown

The Homesteading Series here at NA.DA.FARM will be up and running soon!  

Jason and I can't wait to share some more NA.DA.FARM with you

B&W Sunday...



my girl



truly.

If you have been here long enough to read some of my posts, you totally understand that I absolutely love being here on the farm

in the house

in the garden

cooking

walking the prairie

being with all six of the kids

truly. truly. truly.  i would not have it any other way - God's will be done! -

my human instinct tells me to kick off my shoes and run through the rain.........do a cartwheel at whim..........eat pie for breakfast

I do the pie thing, and have done the rain dance, but I seriously think I would break something if I attempted a cartwheel (which I will attempt after I do some more turbojam videos - trust me - )

the joy is there

I can see it like looking through binoculars

almost touch it it's so close

but the joy is a struggle when you are nursing an almost 4 month old who still nurses like a newborn
trying to write articles for different publications only to change it a dozen times
go out to the beet patch to find the rabbit has been rather hungry
and sacrifice the day at home with the baby so the rest of the family can take the boat out

yes

that is it

jealousy

jealous that I couldn't go
jealous that I don't have more time to pick every single cucumber
jealous that other women wear a size 7 and only have two children at home while they sip champagne on the veranda with their friends in the afternoon (I know of someone who does that)
jealous that I am not someone else?? 

no

jealous that I am not more joyous?

yes

bringing more joy into my life is a daily sacrifice finding it in laundry and this Africa hotness
bringing more joy into my life through more prayer and devotion
bringing more joy into my life with more sacrifice

this is what He wants me to do

funny note.......I seriously didn't even want to mention God.....and yet, here I do it........

bringing more joy into my life with accepting this vocation, silencing my fears

silencing.
fear.

Fear that I might someday be that women with only two children left at home.

Fear that I might pick every cucumber that is in the garden and then have to do something with them.

Fear that there will be no more chubby hands handing me a perfect blueberry

Fear that I will have to be living life solo

Fear is holding back my silence -

I crave the silence yet want to hear the noise.  Of my husband's laughter and the children talk of their adventures with him on the canoe, the boat, by foot or in the air.....

So in the end, I am joyous........so joyful to come into the mudroom and see flower colored flip flops and worn-toed cowboy boots

So overjoyed to see that little onesie hanging out to dry in the warm sun

Tearfully joyful to know that my family is enjoying this sunshine at the lake, eating the sandwiches they packed and the granola bars I made

the ache in my chest is not sadness but joy

JOY!

it's a busy place...

= fans working overtime to cool down our brows
= kids in and out of swimsuits more than the ice cubes in the freezer making their way to the glass of suntea
= trips back and forth to the potager get better every time
= no "in the kitchen" meals, just fresh from the garden and grill
= little hands coming inside with green tomatoes to slice up and add to salad

summer means no worries.........no schedule............

this summer is a busy place full of memories........

spending the late afternoon on our farm with 4 Seminarians

= go kart rides

= swinging from the tree swings

= chasing after chickens

= walking the prairie

= ping pong games

= TONS of laughter

= lots of hungry appetites!!

~menu~

- Blue cheese filled burgers

(served with a homemade roasted red-pepper sauce + sauteed mushrooms w/onions) 

-grilled zucchini (drizzled with olive oil and rosemary+thyme)

-grilled sliced potatoes w/red onions and cheese drizzled with olive oil (wrapped tightly in recycled foil)

-and my (almost) famous chocolate cake

These amazingly joyful group of men filled our hearts and souls with more joy in the Lord, but also made us ache with laughter....

more time!

stepping sluggishly with my cup of coffee into this "Africa" heat

countless blueberries picked, washed, sorted, frozen (I want to be one of those blueberries)

thousands of frozen tokens of my family's blue-stained hands, while I stayed home with the baby, wanting to be staining my hands too

thousands of frozen tokens

gifts

When giving a gift to someone, time and care is taken in picking

Picking out the very best gift you can, that best suits that person, then you wrap it carefully, attach your best sentiment, and make sure they get it in time. 

I have been known to forget birthdays (could it be "milk brain"??), but when I do purchase a gift for someone, I take the time, make it beautiful, and usually go over the budget for that gift...especially for my husband!

When receiving a gift, you never see anyone (or at least I hope not) say 'thanks' and shove it aside.  Even if they don't like the gift they just received from your care in picking it out, they look at it, sometimes ask questions, and  hold it up in all directions.  If they do like it, or get what they asked for, jubilation occurs with almost laughing smiles, a huge hug and many many words of "thanks"........sometimes tears......with the care you put into the gift........

Thanking the gift giver takes time.........Picking out just the right thank you card or special stationary........using your best pen and penmanship..........and saying just the right words in order to truly let that gift giver know how much you appreciate them giving you that gift.

Either way, we stop.

Take time.

Give thanks.

Every single thing in this life we are living is a gift......sometimes we don't like the gifts we are given........other times are we are so gay (joyful).........but either way, we stop, take time, give thanks.

Offering up myself daily to God is a sure way of telling Him thank you and here is my "all", but stopping to give Him thanks, even when I don't like what He is giving me, is slowing down time.......literally.........I am able to stop.

Take time.

Give thanks.

How am I able to see the thanks amongst the weeds to pull in the potager, the horse manure, the hot humidity with no air conditioning, these six children, my husband's back pain, these thousands of blueberries I need to go through.........

Taking time to stop. Take time. Give thanks.

Giving thanks = more time

~ something we all need.........more time ~

letting someone else take control...

how often I am in a constant state of control

my faith humbles me to the point of exhausting all resources within me and I seem to malfunction rather quickly

shut down

letting someone else take control............

= what's for breakfast

= how we garden

= plans for the day

= how to sort the laundry

= what we'll pray on as a family

all this responsibility (and obviously much more than what I revealed) can be heavy upon my shoulders....but never a burden.......just heavy................and sometimes too heavy where I seem to be crushed

like a dog with it's head out the window, the exhilarating feeling of being in a car, windows down, is freeing

maybe I'm saying that because I seriously don't get out that much........but that could just be my saving grace..........the more I get out, the more I want out.........but the more I pray.......the more I want to pray

pushing the door open to the garden gate to go back up to the house, I looked back and my eyes saw my husband watering our newly planted asparagus patch, son was weeding, girl was swinging......big kids were at the last day of a Church retreat...........the baby wiggled under my chin and the Holy Spirit rushed passed me as the wind feels with the windows down...............the objects of my affection were closer than they appear

I started walking up the gravel path, my flip flops flipping on my heels, but my feet weren't touching the ground.  My spirit was soaring with amazement - not being able to fully realize what was happening -

I parked myself upon the comfy cushy chair on the deck and held my baby close and nourished him physically.  Completely letting the moment sink upon me. 

= We are letting our life here be led by something stronger than our hands

= The seasons and changes in weather guide our chores, duties, responsibilities

I am not in control, just along for the ride..........and it's a gorgeous view

respite...

finally a restaurant nearby that sells local organic food!

Two Brothers.........formally known as 'The Roundhouse' - in Aurora, IL. 

and totally get the battered green beans - yum!

We are looking forward to selling some hot peppers and herbs to them!!  yeah!

maybe we'll trade beer instead of money........epecially the dark beer (not pictured here....that glass is long gone)

(can you tell I'm looking forward to the weekend already?)

herbs are starting to be hung to dry in the kitchen.....

and being that I don't have a summer kitchen outdoors (someday I hope!) it sort of feels like it with that ladder up there and the fresh herbs drying

when you are drying herbs, they shouldn't receive any sunshine - hang in smaller bunches from hemp twine in a dark place-

I like this spot because I can snip here and there when needed in recipes, but soon the herbs will be harvested and dried in much bigger quantities for storage for over winter

this is the time I start thinking of food storage....canning......freezing......

I receive quite a few emails in regards to 'how I do things' with the grocery shopping/etc.......

and I'm working on that to show you who are interested

but it takes time

I've been calculating things, making notes, writing this and writing that

August 15th is the big reveal of the October Barn Sale/Event theme as well!! 

I  can't wait to let you all know about it!

back to the potager I go.........

looking back ......

I think a lot of us can agree, that when looking back upon something you are passionate about, you learn from your mistakes, and if you still have that passion, you strive to perfect it......

So recently when I looked back in my 'sewing' files on my computer, I have realized something....

(a dress made with an antique dresser scarf front and buttoned shoulders)

that I love creating things....unique items to wear......

(pillow case dress)

~this outfit for when she was 3 is one of my favorites~

I also love taking pictures of the girls after making them these creations........

(....these below are some of my favorite photos with her in this dress)

Over time..........my designs spun to more hand sewing........in the quiet of the outdoors......

under the oak tree or ancient white pine

Sewing to me, is like how I view food...........taking things slow.........paying attention to details.....

(ruffled pants)

Prices of fabric used to be around $3 - $7 when I first started sewing independently.......

patterns were around $2.75 (generally)

~Prices have gone triple that now~

Linen for example (like the pictures below here) is $14.99 per yard

and patterns are up in the $10 - $13 range for good patterns

(this purple dress here was without a pattern)

for the good stuff - made in USA - high quality

So........

I started not using patterns because of the prices........but could NOT sacrifice the fabric quality.......

and when not using a pattern, my creativity seems much freer to express the mood of the dress with such things as French seams.......mini pleats.......more puff......less poof........a gather here.......and a gather there.........

(see this dress in it's entirety here)

When my daughter started competing in Irish dance, the dresses are literally over $1,000

yes, you read that right.......thousands.......we saw one at a competition and the mother proudly explained it was made in Ireland and was over $3,500.

good heavens.

"I can do that" was my first thought

and this is what I came up with - an almost replica of that $3,000 dress

however, mine is made out of an old red sparkly (cheap looking) dress I cut up for the red, but the rest is all hand done to my daughter's exact measurements with new fabrics

(just in case you were wondering........she won 1st place medals with this dress)

Due to prices increasing with linen, I did have to raise my price of "Elizabeth" and her "companions" (that all sold out right away)

go here to see what Elizabeth is all about 

go here for the full post on "pure miss E":

~have a wonderful Tuesday!!~

the games...

Here's some games that suit a wide range of kids for a fun summer day......

THE SUITCASE GAME.........

- we used baskets

- variety of grandpa's clothes (hat, tie, t-shirt, button shirt, socks, boots)

- divide kids in two teams

- half of the team on each end of the "playing field"

- kids have to dress into everything (don't have to button or tie the tie) and then run to the other side where their team mates are waiting......they undress....put it back into the basket.........their team mate dresses......runs to the other side.......etc etc..........the firs team to finish first wins!!



the suitcase winners :)



THE EGG AND SPOON RACE......

- it's supposed to be an egg on the spoon, but we thought otherwise :)

- divide children in half, put ping pong ball or golf ball onto small spoon.......they have to run to the other side of the playing field, around the obstacle, back to the their team-mates (relay style).....first team to finish wins!!

THE CLASSIC THREE BUCKET GAME

- We used 3 pots, and 3 stuffed animals.........they were timed by my son's stop watch......

- you have to first throw it into the small pot, then the middle one, then the larger one

- have one of the kids stand by the pots to throw it back to the player

- the fastest player to get all three is the winner!!

There were no prizes given, just shouts of laughter and having fun!

Hope you are enjoying the summer!!!