Fall On The Farm

i thought if i went looking for FALL i would snap out of my BLOG SLUMP.... this is my kitchen window this afternoon...see the candle ? i scored a couple of these from Rite-Aid ...those apples are from my tree..they are called Seek-No-Further... if you look close..that white cloth hanging over the window box is my ghost...

i risked my life to get this pumpkin....the pumpkin patch looked abandoned...nobody there today..it was dark and empty and windy and SPOOKY...just an honesty box...but the really creepy part was a man sitting in a car in the middle of a vacant pumpkin patch... what's he doing there ???? i never took my eyes off of him...but i DID get the pumpkin !!!

this is by my kitchen door... i LOVE the old Halloween blow mold in the window...he looks so great at night...i got it at the Goodwill for 25 cents a couple of years ago...and that's a black spider hanging from my old rake....

i got these about 30 years ago at an antique shop in cayucos..some man was making them...i have always loved them...

i painted this bench blue and have it under my kitchen window... click for a close-up..there is a witch on that piece of oak wood...

this was made by a lady from colorado..i used to get them at a shop in cambria many years ago....

some of my old Halloween hanging by my kitchen sink...

just look at that !!! dande's little kitty paws...getting that good late afternoon sun....

Blog Slump

hey everybody..farmhouse kitchen is in a blog slump....has it ever happened to you? it's happened to me before and i snapped out of it....i'll be back soon...but in the meantime...i want to share some pictures of baby Teddy's first day with us.......here on mommy's lap in the car on the way HOME...

in the car with daddy at In and Out Burger...Teddy's FAVORITE !!!! look how TINY he was !!!!

daddy waiting for mommy and teddy to return to the car....

baby Teddy...the LOVE of my Life....

Teddy all grown up... i'll be back soon, my friends.... the orange blanket is Teddy's BOO Halloween blankie....

Taco Salad Santa Barbara

over here at Farmhouse Kitchen, we have a traditon. when it's late summer and we start getting into our indian summer weather....100 degrees...we have a traditon. we make TACO SALAD. this recipe is from the 1960's and was given to my mother from a neighbor when we lived in santa barbara. we had it last night.

Taco Salad Santa Barbara

3/4 lb hamburger, cooked and drained

one 8 oz.can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

one 8 oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

one red pepper, diced

one yellow pepper, diced

one tomato, diced

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/4 cup diced green onion

3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

2-3 cups iceberg lettuce, sliced

1 cup tortilla chips...lightly crushed

one bottle KRAFT catalina dressing ( this is the secret...i don't like french dressing...but the spicy sweet really works here) use as much dressing as desired to taste

toss everything in a bowl

garnish with olives, sour cream, avocado and cilantro

Jury Duty and 11 Eggs !!!!

looks like i will be gone for a while....jury duty

duck update: Pete is a GIRL !!! she layed 11 eggs...

i don't know how long i will be gone

i'll miss you, my friends

GOOD NEWS !!!!

we FOUND PETE !!!! he flew over the fence next door..we are off to rescue him !!!!!

UPDATE: i walked outside to the garden shed to microwave a tortilla...that's where the micro is around here .....and heard.... peep peep peep .... i looked over the the neighbors fence and on the firewood stack....... there he was !!!!! JOHN !!!! i FOUND PETE !!!! he literally flew the coop last night...but he is back home next door...swimming in his pond... Pete is HAPPY...and so are we !!!! welcome back home, my little friend !!!

Missing Duck !!!

teddy's friend, Pete the duck...he went missing last night. we are walking the neighborhood looking for a duck. please send good thoughts our way for his recovery...we love that duck !!!

Farmhouse Kitchen Gets A New Teapot !

my sister-in-law and i hit a couple of stores on saturday...Tuesday Morning was one of them...and i got this great cast iron teapot from France...plus i found the cute calico pot holder filled with dried herbs to put it on... love this greeting me in the morning....

there is my little FARMHOUSE KITCHEN...

my little old Wedgewood stove...that oven makes the BEST pizza...ever !!!

on the top of my stove...

on the wall behind my stove...this stays up year round...it was a gift from my dear friend julie whitmore...and i ADORE it !!!!

more from julie.... up year round as well....

on my kitchen windowsill...gifts from octoberfarm...am i LUCKY or what ??? i have to tell you...i have met my kindred spirits here in this blogland....

a gift from octoberfarm...a redware dish that i LOVE...it sits behind my kitchen sink so i can always see it....

it is really cool out here in california for the end of august...so i will be baking some bread...and making some JAM !!!

i know it is still august...but there are only 69 days left till Halloween...that's not too long...i can never get enough of it ...and it's just me and Teddy in here... do you see the ghost...? this is for a special someone....i think you know who you are !