European Pancakes....

Part of the Christmas tradition at my house, after the whole holiday paper tearing, jumping up and down, and hugging over presents, is to sit right down and eat a big hearty breakfast.

I mean, no one is going anywhere; it's a big relaxation day at my house, folks. And, it's smack-dab in the middle of holiday season, so you're right in the middle of the 10 pound weight gain debaucle. It's expected. Diets? Please, are you kidding?

So, following that logic, Christmas-time breakfast was usually eaten "European style" (read: what my nice Hungarian mother's family used to do for Christmas)--this included fruit, boiled or poached eggs, fried meat, and any number of sweetened breads or little breakfast cakes. It was the bread factor that was the killer. This stuff had dates, nuts, jams and powdered sugar all over it. Yep, this definitely was an insulin-spiker, for sure.

The one traditional foodstuff that trumped this, year after year? Eastern European style pancakes--hands down the best Christmas food, in my opinion. The pancakes themselves are thinner than your average "American" style pancakes, and less sweet. They are sort of like crepes, but are hearty and the beauty is, they aren't too bad because they don't have sugar--you can control the sugar content based on the toppings/fillings you put on it.

My mother traditionally put out jams (my favorite was either blueberry, strawberry, or raspberry jam), honey, maple syrup (the real stuff from New England, folks, otherwise, it's not worth it, in my opinion) or whipped cream (store bought's ok, better yet is the homemade version). A sprinkel of freshly chopped nuts was also nice.

But the key topping ingredient? Butter. Plenty of it. It's pretty much the "base" of all things European. Slather the stuff on, then add on any of the above ingredients, or maybe a nice combo of the two, and enjoy as you silently kiss your diet goodbye....

And, if you want to be "good," you can sub fresh fruits over the pancakes. But you'll be booed by the rest of us and envied immensely for your complete self-control. I mean, all that caloric consciousness isn't NATURAL on Christmas morning, I say!

Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, I've got the recipes for the pancake (called Palacinta, and pronouced Pal-ah-chin-tah) below. In true "old-fashioned" style, there are no real measurements, just a roundabout "look" and "feel' to it. Which I can't really explain, but if you've been cooking for awhile, you'll know what I mean. For those of you who haven't, I apologize profusely, and I'll try to be as clear as possible, as I'm getting this recipe straight from my mother, and she got it from HER mother, with the same instructions...well, you know the drill...

Anyhow, here goes:

Palascinta (Hungarian Pancakes):

INGREDIENTS

Roughly 1 cup Flour

Roughly more than 1 cup Water
1 medium egg
Salt to taste
1-2tbsp sugar

Oil for griddle
EQUIPMENT
Skillet
Ladle

1.In small bowl or large cup, combine the egg, a pinch or two of salt, and 1-2tsp of sugar (more sugar if you desire a faintly sweet taste to your pancakes).

2.Whisk egg mixture until the grains of sugar are fully mixed and the mixture is smooth. * My mother liked to use a small cup so she could "crush" the sugar and salt grains along the side of the cup walls.
Set egg mixture aside.

3.In medium size bowl, combine flour and water. Mix/beat until the consistancy is smoothe.

Combine egg mixture into the flour mixture.

4. *Now the tricky part: the consistency of the mixture should be rather soupy. This should look like a slightly runny cream soup. Definitely MORE thin than a syrupy looking mixture. It really should be thin and pour like a liquid, and the mixture should NOT stick to a spoon when the spoon is placed upside down. However, it shouldn't be purely "watery" either. Think of it as a slightly "thinner" version of your regular pancake batter.

Thus, if your mixture is thicker than this, you may add water to the mixture until it reaches this "thinly creamy" consistency.

5.Once you reach this, heat your stovetop to medium setting. Place a well oiled skillet ( I prefer almond oil in my griddle because of its light and slightly sweet qualities, but veggie, peanut, or canola is fine, too). Once the skillet is hot, you're ready to go.

6.Get a good soup ladle, and ladle that bad boy evenly to cover the bottom of the skillet. Below, my mother demonstrates the technique on our home stovetop. The top right corner is the overturned ladle.

7. The batter should immediately form little air bubbles and griddle nicely. After half a minute, you can turn one corner up with a spatula to see if its ready. The cooked part should be a soft golden brown with a slight fleck of darker brown. It is at this time you should flip the palascinta over to it's other side, not unlike flipping a pancake.

8.Again, wait until the opposite side is golden brown, then remove from griddle. You can put it on a paper towel lined plate..this will soak up any extra oil.

9.Repeat the process, until you are finished. This makes about a dozen or so tasty golden pancakes..which look a little something like this:


After that, feel free to add all sorts of tasty toppings. A few recommendations:

~Cinnamon, brown sugar and baked apples ( you can also substitute applesauce, but it ain't the same, I tell ya!)
~Fresh Strawberries and whipped cream
~Homemade cream, raspberries and granola
~Sour cream and chives (the neutral taste of the pancake lends itself to either sweet OR non-sweet foods)
~Sweet jams or fruited yogurts

In any event, be prepared to kiss your diet goodbye and delve into a whole new world of taste!

What It's Really About

Wow. I've been really remiss about posting, and I'm sorry about it.

But between the fenagling of all sorts of insurance issues, figuring out how to get back AFTER the holidays, without a car (and please don't MAKE me hafta explain the four hours on the phone to just about every plane, train, and bus company before I FINALLY found the correct connecting flight from the middle-o'-nowhere car rental drop off point! DOH!) and general mayhem, somehow, the idea of writing wasn't such a keen one.

I could explain to you a million reasons why I should be grumpy this Christmas. I ruined a perfectly decent car (although, it was also decidedly an ancient car, at 10 years old). It ended up being totalled out, and I'm not sure if I have the money for another, so I guess I'm lucky to be going back to a city with extensive public transportation system...but still...

I suppose I could sob about the big priced ticket I got for causing an accident I rather well couldn't avoid. I mean, I hydroplaned into another car, and I can't quite blame the tire or brake manufacturer for faulty car equipment, or the public roads folks of the town where I crashed because they couldn't keep their roads less wet, right?

I could lament about the expense of getting back after the holidays, I'm barely making money as it is...or wonder what I did to rack up such crazy karma all at once.

But all of this immediately vanished once I got home. And by home, I mean, where my parents live. Where my sister and I ended up, so that we could all be together for the holidays, since we hadn't been "all together" for several years. And here it was, the idea that I might not have made it at all.

Yep, that's what it's all about, folks. It's the reason why I drive down, year after year, for 10 states and 20 hours each fall or winter. For Thanksgiving or Christmas. Why I trekk through ridiculous weather and risk my life...just for a few moments of people who love me, who encourage me, and who feed me copious amounts of food, no questions asked. Homemade food. Old Fashioned food. From Europe.

Can you blame me? I mean, other than gaining 10 pounds within a week, here are some other wonderful moments:

Our Christmas Tree, in front of the fireplace...

(click to enlarge)

THE stocking hung by the chimney with care. In this case, it holds a little owl friend, as my father's favorite animal is the owl.

(Click to enlarge)

My favorite friend. I mean, a farmgirl's gotta have a farm dog, right? Well, I adopted this girl about 10 years ago while I was still living in Florida, and she ended up staying with my parents when I left to the big city.

Gypsy is a border collie mix. She had three days to live in the animal shelter, and she was such a sweetheart I adopted her on the spot. She's been the family's favorite since, a clown and a protector and a love and my mother loves her to pieces. I miss this mug whenever I go to the city and lament the fact that the city is no place for a working dog.

Here she is, "Big Fuzzy." Next to her is my sister, "Little Fuzzy." If you've ever seen my sister's hair, you'd know what I was talking about.

Christmas was filled with humility and fun. We didn't have nearly as many presents under the tree as we usually do, but that's because we already HAVE everything we ever need. Too much, maybe. We've been blessed throughout the years, that's for sure. My sister was super sweet and got me a doll making book, and I, meanwhile, ended up spending a good deal of time making some creative presents for her, and my mother---wow, those projects lasted me quite some time(which also kept me offline),but I think they were well worth it.

Here is a quilt art hanging for my sister, entitled "Sisters."
(click to enlarge)

The frizzy haired sweetheart on the left is meant to be her, the little one with the hearts on the shirt is meant to be me.

I also spent time walking down the farmgirl lane with my mama. We knitted and baked, and baked and BAKED.

Luckily, in between all of this baking (and eating!) I managed to write down some of these tasty recipes..which I will share with you shortly.

In the meantime, there is roughly another week of sharing all this family goodness, before the real world tries to devour me. Back to the rough city and into the unknown. There is a fledgling art business to worry about, and no job, and an animal care business that is not helping me pay the rent in a massive city that can be a bit merciless. There are my retired parents that might need my help, and any number of hopeful options that aren't really panning out.

So, it's sort of a circus coming up, but for now, where I am in this wonderful moment, that's really what it's all about.

It REALLY is NEVER quite like you planned....

Well....I'm sorry it's been a few days since I've last posted. Right now, I should be finishing wrapping presents, writing a second or third post on city farm goodness, and maybe even drinking cocoa.

But, my trip here sort of changed that; I was in a car accident on the way down to visit my parents.

No worries, though--I'm not hurt, and the poor guy I rear ended is fine. Wow, the weather was horrible, from NY to FL. I won't go into the details other than my poor 10 year old car could not handle too much water and hydroplaned out somewhere in VA. And it's front end got smoooshed in the process. Which basically totalled it out, as far as my insurance was concerned. So I was stuck in VA for awhile, with no car to speak of, before I managed the last leg of the trip in a rented car, with my sister. I also realized that my trusty sewing machine, on which I sewed my dolls...and which I was bringing with me to finish projects, was seriously damaged during the crash.

I am not complaining, I fully realize there could be WAAAAY more complications. I literally walked away with just a slight bruise to my wrist. Not even whip-lash or soreness the next day (which seemed to perplex half of my friends who have also gone through car accidents). And although I feel bad about losing a car with my job status being close to nil, I know that it'll resolve itself (at least I keep telling my guilty conscience that!)...

So here I sit, realizing what I've already realized, but let me reiterate. There is nothing that money can buy. Nothing really important, anyway.

Happy and Blessed Holidays!

Where does the time go?

I mean, wasn't it just the beginning of December like, two minutes ago? And how the heck DID we just get to the end of the year? That's alright, though, I have a feeling that most people would be ALL TOO HAPPY to see this year go by (or is it "go bye"? Hmm).....

Anyhow, I PROMISE I have actual farmy information, but in addition to the madness of getting prepped for the holidays (and making gifts for the family, to top it all off), I am also cleaning, doing last minute errands, packing, and so forth in order to DRIVE DOWN to visit them WAAAAY down South tomorrow! It's been sort of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, race-against-time past few days around here!

But, because I promised...and I have a great hope for this idea, I will kick off this THURSDAY LOVEMONGER FEST today!

So, very quickly..right now, I nominate Katherine Dunn. If you don't know Katherine through her Apifera Farm blog, well, you're missing out on a treat, kids. I suppose I love her because like me she is an artist who lives on a farm, AND she loves animals. Ok, I don't live on a farm...YET, but by golly, I can really relate to her. At the same time, her world is so beautiful and so well played out through her words, it's like little else I've seen. And, it's also enough that it made Blogger's "Blog of Note." She's been doing this for some time, as well as her art, and seems pretty darn sincere, in my book.

Well, like all artists, it's all about eking a living, and though Katherine is a relatively successfully published artist, it's always about figuring what to do with all the rough spots. Which is hard when you're supporting yourself and some odd animals that you are also caring for and rescuing.

Katherine has tried to do this rescuing in a wonderful few ways. And I think it's something you might be interested in helping her with.

First, she supports, Old Dog Haven, which is a rescue that is specifically geared toward senior animals. You know, the ones that tend to get abandoned when they lose their cuteness, "usefulness," or become sickly. Katherine is creating art which will help these senior animals, and will donate proceeds from her work to Old Dog Haven. So go out and purchase some great art and help some sweet li'l ole animals.

Second, she has taken the idea of caring for senior animals to heart by adopting a senior animal herself! She's adopted a sweet 15 year old Pygmy goat named Guinness, but she seems to need your help. She has a donation button up, and I think this is for the adoption and initial coverage for his care. Mosey on over and see all the details HERE. You might also want to shoot Katherine an email just to double check that the costs are taken care of, in case you are interested in helping out.

I understand that I'm mentioning my first Lovemongering as a money donation subject (when I said I would try to avoid it) but in my book, Katherine is tops and a sincere person. At the end of the day though, it is up to you (and all of us, really) to choose if we would like to help.

Alrighty then, off to pack some more. Maybe I can get another blog in by Friday? One will definitely be up by Sunday! Yes, maybe I WILL get around to some soap making...DOH!

The last time I'll bring up this topic (sort of)...

Ok, I know, I know.

You are sick of reading about my writings on Lovemongering. I don't mean to keep bringing it up. Really I don't. I mean, this was supposed to be a blog about learning self sufficiency in the city. It's a blog--for all intensive purposes-- about FARMING, for goodness sake! I had this whole post about soapmaking all ready, dern it!

But this Lovemongering thing...it just...keeps...creeping...back into my thoughts. A lot. I keep telling myself it has to do with the holiday season. Heck, I even wrote an article in BigTownFarmer about it.

But the idea of Lovemongering has been with me for a long time, for years, even. Like all children of this era, I solidly blame my parents for this. Yep, it's their fault. Old fashioned values like honesty and caring for people. They were about that. You could seriously get in big trouble for lack of character at my house. Those sticklers! How dare they....try to instill values for others into their children. Some nerve!

So what ends up happening is that I actually feel that I, and YOU, are here to help each other. Yes, horrible notion, that. That we are all on the planet to help each other. I know, serious fluffy bunny idealism, but I can't apologize. It's just my belief. And secretly, maybe you believe it too.

I'm not saying to throw off your shows, open your hands, and run through the flowerbed of Happy Naivete. I'm not saying that the world isn't full of people that don't deserve trust, that don't do heinous things, that don't let ego get in the way, that don't cause tragedies, wars, strife. Perhaps that is what human nature is: selfishness, mediocrity, anger...it's all EASY to do.

But I also find that there are people striving to be the best that they can be, and there are people who are honest and who care about others and the planet they live on. They CHOOSE to do the hard work, to be kind, to help.

I also know that none of us are perfect; heck I'll have moments of doubt, frustration, anger. I have probably disappointed people, and have been disappointed by them. But in the end, it's all ok.

Now, why am I rambling on like this? Ever since last week, when I really witnessed something I have NEVER seen, and been impressed (and I promise I'll leave THAT subject alone already!) by the wonderful things people can indeed, do for one another, I thought...could this really be done on a larger scale?

I wondered, what if people were no longer tolerant of hurtful things, what if we were all actually Lovemongers? What if we really treated love like a verb? And in so doing, help each other? Since I think we now need to be the best "neighbors" that we can be, even if it's online....

SO what if we took this Random Acts of Kindness one step further. What if we could help, one person at a time, until...well, I can't expect wars to stop or peace on Earth (but I can hope) but, if we could save one person's farm, we could help a hungry child or a person out of work, or an abused dog.

I know it seems overwhelming, but if we do it one step at a time, we CAN make a difference. Any difference is better than none!

So, what I propose is this: If you know of someone that needs help, let me know...every Thursday, I will post that subject, and the need for donation....but there are some conditions.

1. You can submit an individual, family, or organization to the LOVEMONGERING Campaign, if you feel they are worthy but....

2. Please be SURE that the subject REALLY needs help. I hope I am not sounding harsh here, but there are the non-fluffy types that will take advantage of charitable people for their scams. Please make sure you know the person/family personally or know about them, have volunteered for the organization, or someone you know has....just double check and REALLY know that the subject for consideration is legit....

3. To further alleviate any scamming, I will post those subjects that could use ITEM DONATIONS...for example, a family that needs toys or new clothes for their children. The items to give then would be clothes or toys, etc. No money should be exchanged UNLESS...

4. You submit a proven and legitimate organization which needs donations for their operations costs. I ALSO might consider people who can have MANY people vouch for their character, for possible money donations, but I'd have to feel comfortable with them to place them here for money donations. Obviously, if I do so, it is YOUR choice as to whether you want to give donations.

5. I will also put up suggestions that I might find, and I reserve the right to refuse suggestions that I feel might not fit. I hope that it doesn't sound too self important but the more I live in the city and organize, the more I find that "the devil's in the details" and I am trying to be as clear as possible...and help as many people as possible!

So, what do you think? Please leave me feedback or suggestions on this idea, I'd mightily appreciate it!! Would you be interested in participating in something like this? Hmm....

Wow, what a week!

Well, that's how I feel. Yes, I am fully aware that the week isn't over yet, either. And strangely, there hasn't been a whole lotta ACTIVITY-- just lots of hanging around the house, SEWING, marketing, trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing with my art, writing and editing and trying to get a handle of the monster of the house I have at the moment (a.k.a The MESS of 2008). Well, I have a dancer's background, so sitting still is something I'm not quite used to...

However, I am so happy to be helpful to people. I am also happy they are helping me: Thanks Phelan! Wow, one teensy shout-out on a blog, and my traffic has increased by 50%!

Which reminds me: I have some serious new ideas about Lovemongering, but I'll leave that for another post.

Actually, what I CAN tell you, is that I stand corrected: You are not a Lovemongerer
when you push love forward. You are simply a loveMONGER. However, I don't know that anyone's verified that lovemongerING is a verb. Ahh, the English language..beautiful but so very, very complicated.

Anyway, since I've just finished a whole slew of projects, I just thought I'd quickly post them here. My online magazine (yes, I also edit and online city-to-farm magazine, amongst other things. Clearly, I have NO need for sleep), BigTownFarmer is now up.

**For some forsaken reason, we are having problems changing out the cover issue pic...we think the template file is somehow corrupted, so we're working on it, but the rest of it looks great and we want to have everyone be able to take advantage of the charity and craft articles we have in it sooner, rather than later.

ALSO...New ART dolls available at WILD AT HEART ART! Actually, you can see the li'l boogers at the top of the post, but the art page is waaaaay more detailed about them. Please come see my work.
~By the way, it occurs to me that several fellow artists have joined this blog (thank you!)--perhaps not knowing I actually have an art blog. Just in case, I'd let you know I do--so that you don't have to sit and watch me talk about canning veggies and gardening...unless of course, you like that kind of stuff!

Have a great day everyone!

UPDATE!!

Alright, I just managed to check the blog today, and Phelan of A Homesteading Neophyte has reached her goal!

I am so happy I am jumping up and down AND crying (well, less jumping up and down..it just makes it too difficult to type!) I noticed, too, that so many other bloggers, in their attempts to help, also posted Phelan's story on their blogs. Yay! Now, imagine ALL of the other things we could do if we banded together like this?

By the way, I wanted to note to you, I don't know Phelan at all...I am a faithful reader, as a farmchick who doesn't have a farm yet, of her blog...which is filled with so much helpful homestead information. But there is no reason to withhold kindness, even if we are strangers.

Lovemongering, pass it on :)

The art of Lovemongering

I live in one of the toughest places to live in America...New York City. Over a million people live in these tiny boroughs...if I'm not mistaken, I think one million people live on the tiny island of Manhattan alone. It's hard sharing a world that crowded. Too competitive, sometimes loud. Expensive. I guess I could complain about it a lot.

Or, I could worry about not being gainfully employed at the moment. I could be frustrated that my little art venture isn't generating money. I could worry, and worry, and worry.

It occurs to me, though, that there are far worse things to have happen. I currently have a roof over my head. My house isn't being taken away. My family is alright.

So, my thoughts are, if I can help others, I will try to do so. My new term for this: Lovemonger. I constantly hear the words hatemonger and warmonger. Ugly words, but they do exist. How does one combat hatemongering? I think there need to be more Lovemongerers in the world. People who are more tolerant, more willing to help, and more willing to foster tolerance and helpfulness. People who help li'l ole ladies cross the street, carry groceries for others, hug openly, share jokes and bake cakes for strangers. Yes, Lovemongerers are a rare breed, but so very necessary!

So my first official act of Lovemongering is to help a fellow farm-girl. Alright, yes, I am still aware that I am not an official farmgirl. Livestock and acreage are not a reality...but let a girl hold onto a little dream, alright?

Anyhoo...back to the topic at hand: If you've been in the "blog-o-sphere" for awhile, you will know Phelan of A Homesteading Neophyte. She, in fact, has something of a following, and her witty banter about farm dreams, and skills, has been long known. Recently, however, she posted that the bank from which she get her mortgage might default her (you can find the post regarding her house worries a couple of posts down the blog) She might lose everything. Please read her story, it's sort of heart wrenching, I think, and I couldn't imagine losing everything like that.

Of course, after reading, I quickly realized, again, that I have NOTHING to complain about. So, after much badgering, we managed to get Phelan to put up a donation button. If you have the heart and means, and the idea of community, please donate. I know Phelan, herself, might be annoyed I am spreading the word like this, but she really needs help. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, and I know it seems weirdly partial on my account, considering that so many of us have so many woes lately....hmmm...

Maybe this blog will serve in helping each case that needs help, one at a time. Now, there's a thought! Blogging for love! Lovemongering at it's finest! Now that's an idea!

The Power of Helping

The beauty of living the kind of life I do is that I have so many friends from so many interesting and varied backgrounds. I love that sort of thing, learning about various people, their interests, and what makes them so specifically them.

I also notice that most of the people I know, or want to know, are clever, witty, accomplished people, no matter what their profession or background.

I say this because lately, these hard working, artistic, imaginative independent people are all saying: "It's hard to make a living. How do we live in these times?"

Hmmm....

I say THAT because this post is really about help or, rather, helping. Long ago, when I was a wee lass, I remember having the incredulous notions that most of us do when we feel invincible--and a bit arrogant--that it was great to have POWER. Money, power, the ability to do what I wanted and control everything....

Enter SuperMama--like all good mothers,she cooks, she cleans, she can leap tall buildings in a single bound (and not break a nail!), and she quickly put me in my place. "There is no good power, but the power to help others. And even then, consider it an ability."

Ahh, who knew then that SuperMama would be my first Zen teacher and spiritual leader? And she was right. It is a privilege to be ABLE to help people.

So...flash forward to now. I am typing this blog that you are reading (you know, all two of you trusty readers that I love!) and I am thinking...I have this online farmy magazine. And I am doing a holiday issue...SO, if you have a farmy or crafty business, PLEASE RESPOND BY THIS MONDAY Dec 7th and tell me about your business in a couple of lines. I will go ahead and add it into an issue that pegs homemade, oldfashioned, crafting or farming businesses...so then some city folks (you know, the kind of folks that live in the kinds of places I live), will get exposure to homespun stuff and buy it. So, win-win situation? Let's cross our fingers!

Please let me know by this Monday if you are interested! It's a privilege to help!

The week so far --city farm good-ness...

So a friend asked how I could POSSIBLY implement sensible farm-like living into daily city life. Why, very easily. I find it very interesting, the rules "civilized" city folk put onto themselves, which usually involve things they find chic, or sexy or expensive...these are things they want to be associated with. Wealth, fashion, or sexiness.

But now is not the time for these things. Suddenly, people who might have laughed at "the girl with the crazy hair that walked away from a performing arts career to do what??" are coming up to me and asking how to garden, make their own clothing (which, to be honest, I can talk to them about crochet but the rest--hey, they're on their own!), and other spiffy stuff you don't think of around here. Unless you're stretch for a dollar. Trust me, that's an understatement; the job losses are worse in the city, because the price of EVERYTHING else, already sky high, ain't goin' down anytime soon.

So suddenly, the inside joke is "gee, the government really DOES care about farmers and farming--the way things are going, pretty soon, everyone's going to learn about self-sufficiency, whether they want to or not!" And sure enough, people are starting little gardens on their roofs, or fire escapes..heck, I've even heard of people smuggling chicken into their building courtyards just for the free eggs.

Hmm...while I wouldn't go that far, we've definitely done the garden. And other fun stuff. Here's a little run-down of some of the things I've been up to so far this week:

* Finishing Big Town Farmer's Holiday issue....should be out Monday Dec 7th

*Cleaning up...again. The house is constantly a disaster. The dolly crafting constantly has me spreading supplies too far out around the house...

...hmm, I'm gonna hafta implement a system or else my Virgo sense of orderliness will just be shattered.

*Making soap. Not as hard as one thinks, and the stuff lasts forever. It's a rewarding past-time. I just really started, with a very basic recipe. I can admire those soapmakers who can make stuff like Raspberry Lemon Truffe, Cream Supreme, and other fanciful stuff. Mind you, the above names are just something off the top of my head, but having seen the many soaps out there, it's really quite that good!

Here is me finishing a recent batch of soap. Nothing fancy, in fact, I have the final mixture settle in simple greased tupperware before they are cut and set out to cure.





I mostly use the soap for home use. This is the basic lye recipe, though I scent mine with peppermint, or sometimes verbena oil. Very clean and basic scent.


To note...as with the various batches...some seem to lather more than others with the lye based recipe...not sure why...but anyway....

*This week, also setting up Etsy for the Wild At Heart Farm Store (woohoo). It will have dolls, but ALSO, crafts, jewelry, and farmy related stuff. I am also working with my farmy mama on some things. She just sent a whole passle of homemade jelly and jam that she made. Real basic recipes. Here are all the shiny jars of tasty fruit jam..mind you, we've scarfed down a couple of these since then.


I think I will also put these on Etsy..they are "handmade" after all...hmm, something tells me I should probably check the regulations on that. They aren't quite your typical "crafts," after all. Hmm...anyone want jam? Fruit and sugar, that's it...no fillers, chemical, not even pectin? Just good ole fashioned cooking! Blueberry, fig, pear. Small jars $5/Large $10 (This doesn't include shipping costs, though)...

I will also list some herbal stuff I am working on. Where do these herbs come from? I wildcraft them on a friends farm in Upstate New York. I have been working with alot of them lately...herbs, that is, and farmers!! Kate runs a lavender farm....she is one of many that I hope to incorporate into a nice network of small artists, farm businesses and independent crafters that all support each other. So, if you are a crafter, small farmer with items to sell, or artist, please contact me...maybe we could set up reciprical links? I think I will eventually try to add this to Big Town Farmer, as well. I am all about creating a supportive network of honest, hard working crafters, farmers, and more. Now, more than ever, I think it's a good time to help each other!

And that, friends, is what city-farm goodness is all about!