Spring is coming TOO soon!

Well, it's that time of year again.  Really, it's agony for me!  It's time to choose plant varieties, something I can agonize over forever.  You see, when one spreads out 10-20 seed catalogs, all with pretty pictures and all with delightful descriptions that have your mouth watering, it's simply a crime to have to narrow it down to a few precious varieties of each plant!

I've already been at it for parts of three days and I've gotten practically nowhere. Nowhere!  That's when Chris steps in.  I hate that part.  He wants to pick willy-nilly and say, "There, that's done." (at least it seems that way to me) but I know that this variety sounds special, and that one, and that one, and....you get the picture.  I can't make decisions.  It's just so overwhelming.  But I don't want him making them either.  He may miss the best one in his hurry to move on to other things that need to be done.  I guess that's why we are in this together.  Maybe between the two of us we'll get it done.  Soon.  I hope...

Rosemary-Garlic Mashed Potatoes

  We love rosemary around here!  One thing, beside it's flavor, that we love so much about it is how hardy it is.  Mine still looks beautiful outside!  I think it pairs well with garlic but, then, I put garlic in EVERYTHING!  (Well, maybe not desserts.)

Recipe:
3 pounds potatoes- I used a mix of red and yukon gold
1 T. Kosher salt  (optional)
3 garlic cloves
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
Milk
6 T. real butter
pepper

Peel potatoes if desired (always peel if not using organic) and chop into 1 inch cubes. Place in pot and cover with water.  Smash garlic cloves, peel and place in pot with potatoes.  Add rosemary sprigs and salt and place on medium heat.  Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are tender.

Drain water.  Remove rosemary sprigs.  If desired, find and remove garlic cloves.

Add butter and enough milk for the consistency that you like and mash to desired texture.  Add pepper to taste and salt, if needed.

**You may wish to place rosemary and garlic in cheesecloth and tie them up.  This will prevent rosemary leaves and garlic from being in final product.  It's all in what you like.

Serves 6.

What's happening now

  We have been very busy at the farm.  Many things we are doing right now are experimental, like our winter mini hoop houses.  But as you see from the picture, that experiment has worked quite well, allowing us to have greens all winter long!
  The year 2011 was the beginning of our journey into small farming, if you don't count the years of gardens and animals for fun and our own use.  You see, we have raised a variety of animals, from sheep to emus (yes, emus) to cows and pigs.  It's all been fun, especially when the kids came along to enjoy it.  They love the animals...the weeding not so much.
  Our plans have evolved and continue to, as we determine what is involved in each pursuit.  We unfortunately cannot do everything we would like to, as time is certainly a limiting factor and money even more, LOL!  Right now, we are busy mostly with remodeling the old building that will be our storefront. Behind that is where our chickens and rabbits are currently housed for the winter, and Chris is enlarging their area to make room for many more.
  We look forward to your comments, suggestions and encouragement!