Wednesday, May 27, 2009

May Giveaway Day - May 27, 2009

May Giveaway Day
May 27, 2009

Ok, I admit it. I am going to turn into a blogging giveaway junkie. This is just a whole lot of fun for me. It's great to have readers come by and leave their comments and I love checking out all of the participating blogs out there. It is amazing how many super talented people are out in cyberspace just waiting for us to come across their blog and share a bit of their world. The fact that there are prizes to be won floating around in all of this is just icing on the cake!

This fun event is being hosted by SewMamaSew. They will be posting a list today with the links to all of the bloggers participating in this great Giveaway. Click here:May Giveaway Day to go to their page and start surfing some awesome and creative blogs.

Entering my drawing is extremely easy. Just leave a comment on this blog entry telling me a memorable crafting/sewing/creative moment or event in your life. I'm using my tried & true old cowgirl hat to draw the number randomly, what you write won't count for the drawing - it's solely for me because I like to hear other people's stories and inspirations. Please be sure that there is a way for me to contact you if you are a winner. The drawing closes at midnight on May 31st. I will draw my winner the next day and post it here. Good luck and happy blog surfing!

I guess I should tell you what I'm giving away. It will be a surprise package full of crafting/sewing supplies & goodies. I haven't really finished throwing together the box so it a surprise to me what will be in it as well! I have quite the stash that would love a new home with someone who is feeling creative..

BTW, if you want an extra entry into my drawing...become a follower or sign up for my email feeds. Then post another comment on this blog and I will give you another chance to win this unknown surprise box!

Wednesday Wanderings

Some of the things that are growing around here:

Mr Lincoln rose (with aphid)


Red Sunflower


Tobacco


Strawberries

Our first hydrangea!


Corn is thriving


Bottle Gourd vine


Astible

Monday, May 25, 2009

Critter Corner - Cailen


I've been remiss in my blog writing as well as introducing the critters that inhabit our world. Today I would like to introduce Cailen (pronounced Kuh-lin). He has many aliases though: Bubba, Pointy Eared Pest and Dingo Dog are some of the more often used. He's a pretty pooch that we love very much.

Cailen was Michael's dog before we met. He was just turning a year old when we got together and I think it hurt Michael's feelings that Bubba took to me right away and was minding me better than he was Michael. I've just had a lot more experience with working dogs than he had so it was easier to try to channel Cailen's natural herding abilities. I'm thinking my mastery of the "mean Mommy voice" also had a lot to do with it.

He's a very smart dog who is extremely quick and very play driven. I feel really bad that he is going to waste as a cow dog since we don't really have a herd to work him on at this point. We try to keep him entertained and from getting too bored by playing lots of games with him.


It really helps that he and Chandler absolutely love each other. They play constantly. It is funny to see a hound trying to be as athletic as Cailen. If Chandler didn't have Cailen to keep him moving, he'd be lounging on the couch eating bonbons. He could easily turn into a slug. Chandler has tried to teach Cailen the art of baying so they can be a really noisy pair at times.

This series shows them :
1) sitting like goods boys,
2) Cailen slamming on the brakes just before Chandler T-bones him at full speed, and
3) the aftermath of the crash (with Cailen having never let go of his toy).

These are our boys!









Sunday, May 24, 2009

Sewn Giveaway & MoonCat Farms Marketplace Grand Opening


I am participating in another giveaway by bloggers. This is such a fun way to get to know others from around the world. I made some very nice new friends from the first giveaway I participated in and was excited to be told about this one!

This event has been coordinated around the launch of an exciting new website for sewers called Sewn http://www.sewn.net.au/ . It will be making its debut in June, but the creators have decided to have a Blog Launch Party to get the momentum rolling. Many different bloggers are participating and giving away some great prizes in a drawing on their site. Anyone can enter or be involved. The drawings will take place on June 8th. What a fun way to launch this much-needed website for the sewing community. Please be sure to check them all out and sign up for the launch of Sewn!

To enter my drawing, just leave a comment at the end of this post. If you are an email subscriber or follower, you get a 2nd entry into the drawing! I will draw the winner on June 8th and post the name here. Please be sure that I have a way of contacting you if you are my lucky winner!

Now, what the heck am I giving away?? I will be giving away one of my original Spring Flower Pincushion/Sachets. This little beauty can be used as a practical & pretty pincushion or to scent a closet or drawers with the lovely lavender. It is made using 100% cotton material and is stuffed with ec0-friendly fiberfill and organically grown lavender from right here on our place. I really enjoy making these as they are a bright, happy addition to anyone's sewing box and they smell heavenly! (I do make them unscented as well for those who can't tolerate scents.) This little flower is in shades of purple and lavender.

This whole diatribe leads into my next announcement as these little pincushions are one of my first creations to be offered in my new Etsy shop!

I am so happy to finally be able to announce a date for the Grand Opening of my new online Etsy shop. I have been working on all of the tiny little details and getting some of my items photographed so that I can get it launched. So, on June 15th, my new shop: MoonCat Farms Marketplace will officially be open for business! Yeah, finally!! It has taken some time, but I am hoping it will be worth it. We are starting small, but will be expanding on a regular basis as new creations take shape.

I am planning on another drawing or giveaway to celebrate this great step forward for MoonCat Farms and our new Marketplace.

If you want to be kept current on our progress and the happenings here at MoonCat Farms, please sign up on the right hand side of the page. We have lots of options to choose from and that way you won't miss out on our drawings and more fun stuff that we have in the works!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Refreshing....


I can't believe it's been a month since I wrote something. I really do have a lot to say... We have been extremely busy here in our own wee (and we) little world. It seems that we are outside until after dark most days just trying to keep up with all of the tasks here at home. Lots of herbs, veggies, and fruits needing tending to. Not to mention the critters and their needs/demands/wants.. Then when I am inside, it's time on the sewing machine (which I must confess I love) and all of the other little chores before bedtime.

Today we're going to my mom's to have a bbq. I'm in the experimenting mood (sometimes good, sometimes sorta scary) so I am going to take some of my herbs that I harvested this morning and try to create something yummy. I'm thinking my theme is going to be "Refreshing". One of things I'm trying is the following recipe for Lavender Lemonade. I've had something similar at a bridal shower & have wanted to try my hand at it for a while:

Lavender Lemonade
  • 1/3 cup dried lavender ( be sure it's food grade)
  • 1/13 cup sugar
  • 14 lemons
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 2 trays of ice cubes
  • 10 cups cold water or to taste

Put ice cubes into a large pitcher. Place dried lavender in a bowl and add the boiling water over the top of it. After about 10-15 minutes, strain the lavender out (with a strainer or a coffee filter will work). Discard the lavender. Add the sugar into the hot lavender water. When the sugar is dissolved, pour over the ice cubes in the pitcher. Squeeze as much juice as possible from the lemons into the pitcher. Add the cold water to the pitcher. Taste and adjust lemon juice or sugar as desired.

To continue along the "Refreshing" theme, I am going to make an Avocado-Cilantro soup. I love chilled soups and this one just sounds wonderful. (I am sorry that I don't know where these recipes originally came from so I can give credit. I have a habit of copying great ones down & not always getting their origins documented.)

Avocado-Cilantro Soup

  • 4 avocados, diced
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth, cold
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tequila (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste

    Combine avocado, shallot, chicken broth, tomato paste, hot pepper sauce, lime juice and tequila in a large food processor. Add about 1/2 of the cilantro, saving some for garnishing. Process until mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper. Pour mixture into a large bowl and refrigerate at least 2 hours, covered.
    When ready to serve, place the mixture into four chilled soup bowls. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and the remaining cilantro.

And lastly, on my creative front, I will make this lovely Pesto Butter/Dip. YUMMY! It doesn't necessarily go along with the Refreshing bit, but it's awesome and I picked the herbs specifically for this so here it goes.. (Now I just need to con Mom into making her Rosemary Bread..)

Pesto Butter/Dip

  • 2 tbsp ground black pepper
  • 2tbsp fresh oregano
  • 2 tbsp fresh rosemary
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsp dried garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

    Grind together all ingredients except for the olive oil. Place the herb mixture onto a small plate and cover with a very thin layer of olive oil. Serve with warm bread or breadsticks.


Mom just called to tell me that she did make fresh bread so great minds are definitely on the same wavelength!!! Now just to fill in the rest of the meal. I'm thinking some grilled chicken breasts and strawberries for dessert......I'm hungry!