A new Better Homes & Gardens survey shows that country living is on the rise. Among Baby Boomers surveyed (that’s folks who are 49-67) almost 40% say they plan to retire to a small town or farm.
More info here….
talented friends
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When you feel like sending an email to a friend just to say hi, send it through the Wildflowers app with some virtual flowers. It won’t smell as nice, of course, but at least your email will be prettier. Get it in the iTunes store.
The developer is Patti Callahan Henry, an old friend from our Auburn days. You may want to also check out her new book, The Stories We Tell. (Oh, did we fail to mention? She’s a famous author too.) So proud of ya, Patti girl. War Eagle!
brunchtime
Wake up tomorrow and make this dish — easy and elegant!
Baked Eggs with Herbs and Cream
1 tablespoon butter
4 eggs
4 tablespoons Half & Half
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs (such as tarragon, thyme, sage, oregano)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place a kettle full of water on the stove and bring to a boil.
2. Place two ramekins in a large baking pan. Divide butter between ramekins. Crack 2 eggs into each ramekin, then spoon 2 tablespoons Half & Half overtop. Combine herbs, divide evenly and sprinkle over ramekins. Season each ramekin with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Arrange ramekins in a deep baking pan, then pour boiling water into pan so it comes halfway up sides of ramekins. Place pan in oven and bake until egg whites are set but creamy, about 15-18 minutes.
4. Serve over toasted English muffins.
Adapted from Baked Eggs: Comfort en Cocotte (WSJ)
‘this is the way to go!’
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Merlin by Ann Winslow
A beautiful account of how friendship and farm life helped a young girl find her way through the tumultuous teenage years — and how time in the country helped bring her the peace she so needed.
Thanks to our friend Sarah who shared it. You’ve known all along the secret: that a farm feeds not only animals and humans, but also souls. And to our own sweet Merlin who, while living at Linden Hill Farm, often modeled…perhaps unwittingly…for Ann’s drawings.
From Winslow’s Bread Shop…
“My sister posted in Facebook a picture of jonquils on her farm in Virginia, causing me to think of my friend Sarah, who lives on a farm in north Georgia. When I was small, Sarah was someone who worked for my father. I’m trying to remember how I was reintroduced to her as a friend, but I can’t. An email from Sarah reminds me. In this message, Bob refers to my father, and Ford refers to my brother. Sarah writes: Your dad brought you and Ford out to visit…long before the cabin was built. I think you may have been five.
Incident 1: We were all in the lower pasture looking at the spring. I offered to put you and Ford on a horse and lead you for the long trek back up the hill. You chose to ride and after a few steps, turned and called to Bob and Ford…”hey, guys, this is the way to go!” I think you won my heart at that moment.
Incident 2: We took a pitcher of feed down to the big oak tree to feed the goats. You grabbed the pitcher and waded right into the herd, sat down and proceeded to distribute feed to the pushy ladies, totally unafraid of their horns. I think maybe Bob and I were the only ones the least bit worried.” Read more…
– See more at: http://winslowsbreadshop.com/work-as-teacher-4/#sthash.GiKqgbBl.dpuf
My sister posted in facebook a picture of jonquils on her farm in Virginia, causing me to think of my friend Sarah, who lives on a farm in north Georgia. When I was small, Sarah was someone who worked for my father. I’m trying to remember how I was reintroduced to her as a friend, but I can’t. An email from Sarah reminds me. In this message, Bob refers to my father, and Ford refers to my brother. Sarah writes:
Your dad brought you and Ford out to visit…long before the cabin was built. I think you may have been five.
Incident 1: we were all in the lower pasture looking at the spring. I offered to put you and Ford on a horse and lead you for the long trek back up the hill. You chose to ride and after a few steps, turned and called to Bob and Ford…”hey, guys, this is the way to go!” I think you won my heart at that moment.
Incident 2: We took a pitcher of feed down to the big oak tree to feed the goats. You grabbed the pitcher and waded right into the herd, sat down and proceeded to distribute feed to the pushy ladies, totally unafraid of their horns. I think maybe Bob and I were the only ones the least bit worried.
– See more at: http://winslowsbreadshop.com/work-as-teacher-4/#sthash.GiKqgbBl.dpuf
signs of (country) life
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Here are 18 Signs You Live in the Country. courtesy of Country Living. We checked about half of these off the list, which probably makes sense…since we’re still only about “half country.” 😉
One of our favorite signs? #15
“You fall asleep every night to the sounds of cicadas, crickets, and frogs.”
