All Creatures Great and Small

 

Many of my blog posts center around food and design, but

I seldom talk about the work and worry goes into our farm. 

Today I'd like to show you the happy side of farming.

The pure delight of fresh, grass-scented air, a wind-rumpled pond, the nicker of a horse, a donkey's warm breath as he searches for apples, or seeing two ducks become best friends.

 

 

I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

 

Hope you enjoyed the mini-tour. Thank for visiting.

Foodie Friday

Welcome to the May 17th Foodie Friday.

 

Our family loves Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.



Did I make them from scratch?

No.

Did I eat them?

Yes.

Foodie Friday "Picks of the Week"

 

 

I enjoy Foodie Fridays because I get to visit the heart of the home: your kitchen. I discover

new recipes and find old ones that I thought I'd lost. I learn tips and foodie facts. Every Thursday evening, I "pin" various entrees; others are given shout outs on Facebook (which goes directly to Twitter).

I'll read a post, get all excited, and want the world to know about it. That's one reason that "Picks of the Week" are difficult. Each post is fun and unique. Bandwidth has been selecting the "picks,"

but this week, he was busy. I had the hardest time--I just wanted to include everyone. Shall we begin?

 

Note: To visit these blogs or "pin" an image, please click on the links beneath the photographs.

 

 

Stone Gable's Parmesan Asparagus Phyllo Roll Ups look absolutely delicious. I've worked

with phyllo pastry and learned first-hand just how quickly it can dry and how fast the cook must be.

I love asparagus, so I can't wait to try Yvonne's roll ups! At a party, they'd be snapped up immediately. And wouldn't they be perfect for a spring supper or a picnic?



Stone Gable's Parmesan Asparagus Phyllo Roll Ups

 

 

 

From the yellow zigzag runner to the fiery red peppers, I love everything about Cooking on the Front Burner's Cashew Chicken Stir Fry.  Don't miss this recipe--it's a keeper.

Cooking on the Front Burner's Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

 

 

 

Once Upon a Plate's Baked Blueberry French Toast with Blueberry Syrup is calling my name. Just look how the syrup puddles onto the white plate, mingling with the berries. I'm ready to pick up the fork and enjoy the best French toast in the world.

 

Once Upon a Plate's Baked Blueberry French Toast- with Blueberry Syrup

 

 

 

Sidewalk Shoes' Tagliatelle with Chestnuts-Pancetta-and Sage merges a recipe with a food story, and her pasta looks divine.

 

Sidewalk Shoes' Tagliatelle with Chestnuts-Pancetta-and Sage

 

 

 

My middle name is Lee, but it should have been bacon. I am always looking for ways to sneak it into food, or just to cook it. The Velvet Moon Baker's Maple Bacon Cookies resonate with my pork-loving soul. I can't wait to try them.

 

The Velvet Moon Baker's Maple Bacon Cookies

 

 

 

The Well Floured Kitchen's Zucchini Pappardelle with Shaved Pecorino is another keeper. It drifts across the plate like chartreuse and cream ribbons. Put this fresh, spring entrée on your "to-do" list.

 

The Well Floured Kitchen's Zucchini Pappardelle with Shaved Pecorino

 

 

 

Four years ago, when Foodie Friday began, people asked if their posts had to be strictly food related. No, not at all. You can do reviews, take photos at the bakery, add a tablescape, or tell us a story. I was thrilled to read Salmagundi's food and friendship story, and I know you'll enjoy it, too.

 

Salmagundi's lovely food and friendship story

 

 

Last but not least, I wanted to honor a cook who merged peanut butter and chocolate. I blame Winnish's Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes topped with chocolate on the many Reeses Cups that I scarfed down after looking at her photos. Can you just imagine the rich layers in each bite, the hard, sweet crunch of chocolate, followed by a soft, peanuty cloud.

 

 

Winnish's Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes topped with chocolate

 

 

 

 

This week, let's kick off the party with a fun activity. Tweet or Pin at least three of your favorite Foodie Friday recipes. You can also give a shout-out on Facebook.

 

Thanks to all of the great cooks who participate each week. I look at each post to make sure it is working, and it is always such a treat to see what you've been cooking. I'd like to invite you to add your recipes to the "Consuming Passions" group board at Pinterest, which can be found HERE.

It is a small, private group, but Foodie Friday folks are welcome. If you'd like to "pin" with us and chat about food, just leave a comment on one of the "pins," and I will send you an invitation. Or you can email me.

Note: Bandy isn't co-hosting this week, due to his busy schedule.

 

To participate in Foodie Friday, locate the blue Inlinkz icon and follow the directions. The red "x"
will allow you to delete your link if you made an error; the "x" is visible to you only.

For a complete guide to this linky party, click HERE. If you have still have questions, click HERE
for a detailed Foodie Friday tutorial.

** By adding your link to Foodie Friday, you are granting us permission

to include a photo of your FF recipe (and a link to your blog post)

to be included in the "Picks of the Week" feature or on our Facebook page.

**Many bloggers add their recipes on Thursday evening. From these contributions, I will select random recipes for shout-outs on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.  

 

I would like to ask pretty please if Pinners will "pin" photos of the "Picks" and all FF contributions from the source blogs, not from Foodie Friday. 

 

Thanks so much for visiting  today. I am always inspired by your recipes--and by you. Food blogging is more difficult than any kind because of the sheer work that goes on behind the scenes--planning, shopping, prep work, cooking, taking photographs, culling those photos, and cleaning.  I am amazed by your ideas and creativity. .

 

I hope to see you again soon! Have a great, food-filled weekend.

Love,

Mlee

 

Another Difficult Color Choice: Vote for Exterior Shutters.

The shutter company is waiting for me to choose a color.

I've tried and tried.

They sent several samples, but nothing worked with my front

door color, SW Urbane Bronze. A gray-green was hopeful,

but it would mean repainting the door.

 

I tried BM's Stratton Blue, and it was so awful, I

didn't take a picture. So, blue was taken off the table.

I also tried BM's Gettysburg Gray, which was beautiful, but

a bit blue-gray, and I'd have to repaint the front door.

Not a biggie, but I love Urbane Bronze with the color of the bricks,

SW's Tennessee Limestone, a muted, creamy gray.

 

For the shutter color, I decided to play it safe and stick with SW's Urbane palette and tried

Intellectual Gray (lighter) and Anonymous (darker).

 

Well. This should be a slam dunk, right?

 

I'd collected a few inspiration photos from Pinterest.

 

source

 



source

Here's Dr. Will's inspiration photo, mainly for

the front porch re-do.

source

 

I like muted colors, myself.

source

After I saw this photo in Veranda (and on Pinterest--see below), I

began a campaign for white shutters,but it didn't work.

"It's a little pale, honey," Will said.

"Ewww," Bandy said.

 

I think it's gorgeous.

Of course, the house in Veranda has a lovely slate roof and the bricks are much lighter than mine.

The doors are white, too. I dearly love it.


source

Another beautiful tone-on-tone house.

Traditional Exterior by Woodbridge Architect Huestis Tucker Architects, LLC

 

My heart sped up when I saw a Georgian make-over at Southern Living.

Here's the before picture. 

source

 

 And the after.



 source

 

The bricks were whitewashed, and trim colors were chosen to highlight

the slate roof. Pratt and Lambert's "Artichoke" was used as

an accent for the shutters beside the front door. The shutter colors are Pratt and Lambert's Lambswool.

 

"Lambswool" is calm and pretty against the limewashed bricks.

 

source 

 

Long ago, I'd gotten bids for limewashing, and it was way more

expensive than painting. I don't regret the decision to paint.

 

However, choosing a shutter color has been a kicker. We're getting

operable shutters, and if the color is wrong, I'm stuck. It's not

like repainting a room -- or ordering a bathroom vanity.

 

The company, Timberlane, will paint the shutters. They're part of the

Endurian line and won't need to be repainted in my lifetime.

So whatever color I pick will stay.

 

 

"Anonymous" is on SW's Shoji White/Urbane Bronze color strip.

But it really doesn't work with my bricks.

 

 

The lighter color will be too anemic for most, but

the darker color just doesn't thrill me.

 

So far, I've only gone through several dozen paint pots. And I
haven't found the Goldilocks Zone.


In sunlight:

Sunlight:

And in shade:


 

What's your vote?

 

A. The darker, SW Anonymous

B. The lighter, SW Intellectual Gray

C. Try crisp white

D. Keep the SW Anonymous and paint  your door white/cream (trim color)

E. Ditch the Shoji strip and start over.