The Radical Homemaker

Warning: Blending authenticity with joy may arouse contempt.

The Big Apple

Saoirse and Ula were given an extra-special Christmas gift this year from their Nanna: A trip to NYC to see the Rockettes. Of course, they required two parental chaperones (how lucky for us!). What a weekend! Overwhelmed by the sights and smells of the city, Saoirse sought refuge in the Christmas tree stalls on the […]

Housewife Chicken?!

I have always wondered about the origin of the name of the French dish, Poulet en Cocotte Bonne Femme, which translates roughly as “Housewife Chicken.”  Regarding myself as a housewife of sorts, I set about making it one day.  I soon discovered that it is a dish that requires a fair amount of kitchen time.  But […]

A Home For Many Talents

Even a cartoonist finds his niche on a family farm. Here, Bob is drawing our annual holiday cartoon for our holiday card.   Posted with Blogsy

Perfect Pastured Pork Chops

I know.  Thanksgiving was only last week.  There are still turkey leftovers in the back of your fridge.  But while the turkey was taking center stage on that holiday table, many of us farmers were also bringing in the last of the pig harvest, and our freezers are now stocked with totes full of pork […]

My Turn

In an effort to prevent further injury to Bob, it is now my job to split the kindling (which does involve a considerable learning curve). And the more I split, the less I think we need the fire…   Posted with Blogsy

Closing Up Shop

We don’t have a dedicated retail space on the farm. The kitchen and dining area are converted into a sales floor, with bins of meat set out for display on the dining room table, boxes of yarn stacked on the cookstove (unlit, of course), reusable bags piled up in baskets beside the woodstove, a check […]

The Hernia (A Love Story)

Bob and I smiled as we watched the checkout girl at the hardware store sass each customer who came through. She seemed to know everyone, and teased them accordingly — from the last minute junk food impulse purchases they made “What, didn’t your wife pack you a lunch today? Can’t you make it yourself?”, to […]

iCompass

  I’m surprised she was able to get reception out here.   Posted with Blogsy

Thanksgiving Discussion

My neighbor and long time customer, Corbie Mitleid, invited me to join her for a discussion about unplugging the Thanksgiving holiday this week on Empower Radio. Feel free to check it out here. Meanwhile, back to one of our annual holiday traditions…   The Truffles   Chocolate truffles have nothing to do with pasture-raised turkeys. […]