Hazelnut Time

I went hazelnut picking today - wearing gloves and rubber boots. The nuts are drying in their jackets and hopefully peeling them won't be to hard on my fingers. Hazelnut jackets have these horrible little needles that get into your skin and feel like they are there forever. But once we get them out and start cracken - Yummm.... :) Another great picking time in Northern Maine!

2010 Craft Fair Ornament Picks

I am playing catch up with my blogs...

This past November I attended the annual craft fair in my town. Every year, I always purchase 2 ornaments, I don't want to overdue it, which can easily be done. The can top snowman is such a great idea, I plan on saving some tops, painting them and attaching them to gifts next Christmas. The tractor ornament is for Sam's 3rd Christmas - they had ran out of green... 

Great craft ideas to store away for next Christmas! :)

Another Great Thanksgiving!

Pilgrim Flowers

Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

- no photo of the Homemade Pumpkin Pie or the

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream :( - recipe to come!

Pumpkin Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

Set Up at Thanksgiving #1

We hosted the Tardif Thanksgiving!

Say Cheese Mama!

Us Thanksgiving 2010

My Bird Whisperer! :)

Hope you all had a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Strawberries Summer 2010'

PERFECT

sleepy strawberry face

nothing like homemade jam

fresh whipped cream and strawberries makes for a most yummy cake!

Can-Am Sled Dog Races 2010

This was the first time I ventured to the Can-Am Sled Dog Races that have been happening in my town for a longtime now. I was either away or sleeping in when I was not in attendance. It was also the husband's first real attendance and Sam's too! So it was a special kinda treat that day. :)

All the people in the streets (visitors & locals) and seeing people you don't regularly see was an added bonus. Sam had a blast and the weather was prime! Now we are just waiting for next year!

It's Moose Hunting Time

The time as come where about 3-5 times a day I see hunters drive by with their prize moose. One guy at the grocery store was saying his was 700lbs, actually kinda small but decent. The meat is rather tasty and with a ticket drawing every year of a certain amount, the moose are well protected from a free for all.

Getting Ready for Winter Part 2

Woo... Nick and I brought in and piled my parents wood for the winter! 3 cords and 2 1/2 hours later.... we finished! I woke up the next morning with sore buns and hamstrings.... at least it wasn't my back!

Picking Potatoes!

My husband and I went into the potato fields today and picked up a bag of potatoes that were left from what the harvester didn't pick up! We got a bag in less than 5 min's! Sweet! :) We will head back and bring a couple buckets so we can store them in our cool basement for winter. Note: Only pick from farmers who don't mind... some do!

Potato Harvest Time in Northern Maine!!

This weekend was the start of the yearly Potato Harvest in Northern Maine. The school's close for 2 weeks so that the farmers can hire the high school kids to work. I did it one harvest my freshman year with my uncle's farm and I vowed not to do it again! Early mornings until dark falls, 7-7 to be exact. It's hard work... and when you go to sleep at night you dream of the potato's going by you on a conveyor belt! :) Everyday while driving to my parents who live in the country side, I pass by the potato fields, yesterday when I passed I came across the harvesters and trucks! Good ole memories!


My husband got all the tomatoes and corn blanched and into the freezers for winter this weekend. We still have lettuce, onions and carrots growing which do well with the cold, so those will wait another month! Unfortunately the zucchini plants died, but we were done with those... we have so many! We have banana peppers we are gonna pickle and can, and a few green peppers left to saute! Mmmmmm.... gotta love gardening!

Getting Ready for Winter

Ohhhh it's that time of year again where we have to get ready for good ole' winter! And here in Northern Maine we have to start early due to the freezing temps that arrive NOW! So we've been piling wood, getting all flowers cut and into vases and emptying the garden and canning/freezing food! The days are beautiful in Maine in the fall, but it's the nights that are not!