Pulled carrots this morning

OK.... I have never grown carrots before, this was so much fun. 

They are so sweet, I will be making a spot for them from now on in the garden. 

I ate my fill and share with my little bunny neighbors

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Have you ever seen a Four O'clock tubular?

I was so surprised the first time I saw one it looked like an elephant's foot.

These are from plants that are about 2 years old. 

They can get many times bigger than what I have here.

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Royal Star magnolias

I have been waiting for this day for 5 years. Every spring, since we left Savannah, I have missed my two royal star magnolias. The first time I saw the star Magnolias was well over 40 years ago,

I walked onto the property of Hunter's nursery off of Old Louisville road,

and they were growing and blooming everywhere.

It was one of the prettiest sights I had ever seen. It ran a close race with Mr. Joyner's day lilies.

I have searched everywhere for 5 years for one. Last year I did find a very small piece of one

which I really thought didn't make it, but I found it this afternoon while planting this new one.

So, if all goes well, I will once again have one in my front yard and one in my backyard

that I'll be able to see from my kitchen window.

Thank you Southern Scapes Nursery & Landscape

For making me a happy girl today.

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Daddy's cabinet

My daddy built this cabinet for me in the early 80's, he really didn't know anything about building or wood working but he would get out there and do his thing. 

Through the years he figured it out just enough to make pretty much anything we would ask for. This piece was made for my laundry room but once we moved, I could not figure out where I could use it in our new home. It is solid pine and that pine coloring just wasn't working with the other colors in the new house, so I have decided to paint it, and I have done a dark brown stain on the top.

Now to find some handles and move it inside.

Don't look at my dust but she's inside

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Half assed homestead bread recipe

I have been trying to find a sandwich bread recipe, but none seemed to fit what I was looking 

for until I tried this one from Half assed homestead. It was simple and perfect.

I did swap out the sugar for honey.

half_assed_homestead

Sandwich Bread

1/4 cup milk

1 1/3 cups water

1 tbsp yeast

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp salt

1 egg

1/4 sup softened butter

4 1/4 cups flour

Combine milk, water, yeast and sugar. Let rest 10 minutes. 

(You’re looking for bubbles and foam, if this doesn’t happen, your yeast is dead. 😵)

-1/4 cup milk, 1 1/3 cup water, 1 tbsp yeast, 1 tbsp sugar-

To the yeast mixture add remaining ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.

-2 tsp salt, 1 egg, 1/4 cup butter, 4 1/4 cup flour

Knead for 10 minutes, or until you have a soft, smooth dough.

Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, divide your dough into 2 equal portions (you’re making 2 loaves!!)

Shape your loaves. Rolling and tucking seams along the way.

Place into a greased loaf pan.

Rise, 1 hour.

Bake at 425° for 20 minutes.

(Internal temp 190° to 200°)

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before slicing!

(This prevents the bread from being squished!)

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February one and there is snow on the ground in Clyo, GA

The veggie shack is covered in snow this morning!

Do you see the paw prints in the snow? Our recue kitty's have been coming back and forth from their cat house to the back porch trying to figure out what in the world all this wet/ cold stuff is. 

They got their breakfast and headed right back to their cozy beds.

Happy February everyone.

enjoy, Cherry

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Simply sandwich bread~ Recipe Collection series

My first loaf of sandwich bread.

I followed Sally’s Baking

Simply Sandwich Bread recipe.

The only thing I changed was I used honey & a little brown sugar instead of white sugar.

She got a little top heavy but tasted yummy.

It will be perfect with this big pot of broccoli cheddar soup on this snowy evening.

(that sounds a little funny to say)

But yes, it started snowing this afternoon and it turned into a pretty good covering.

Notes for the next try at the sandwich bread ~ While the bread had a great flavor and was easy to come together. It was heavy and seemed to be too much for the 9"x5" that the recipe called for. The top pretty much crushed down on to the body of the bread from the weight once I removed it from the pan. Not sure if it was something I did or did not do properly but I will defiantly be trying this recipe again.

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Buttermilk quiche on a cold Sunday morning

If you make quiche, I highly recommend changing out your milk/half and half or heavy cream for buttermilk. This is the best one I have ever had. The tang from the buttermilk really adds to the flavor.

1 unbaked pie shell

3 to 4 oz of cream cheese soften and mixed with shredded cheese

I used maybe a cup and a half of gouda cheese

chopped broccoli and 3 to 4 pieces of crispy bacon broken into small pieces.

I place all of this into the pie shell then I pour the 4 eggs beaten along with

one and a half cups of whole buttermilk on top and bake 325 until a butter knife 

comes out mostly clean.

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Lemon loaf cake ~ Recipe Collection series

Lemon loaf cake made with daddy's Myers lemons.

It's pretty dang good.

It better warm up so I can get outside soon or I'm gonna be a Roly Poly.

Added information on January 19, 2026

This cake was much better about 48 hours after it was baked but it wasn't my favorite lemon cake. 

Not sure if it was because the Myers lemons are not as tart or what, but I don't think it's a keeper recipe.

I followed this recipe.

https://bromabakery.com/lemon-loaf-starbucks-copycat/

enjoy, Cherry

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Pretty lettuce

Question of the day.

Why did mother nature decide that lettuce is a winter crop and cucumbers and tomatoes are a summer crop? I really need a homegrown tomato and cucumbers to go with our 

pretty lettuce that I just picked for supper, tonight.

enjoy, Cherry

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Double chocolate banana muffins

THESE were the best chocolate muffins I have ever had!

Give them a try. 

By ~ Broma Bakery Double chocolate, chocolate chip banana muffins

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Project 2026 has begun and a few other fun things

This man of mine is pretty awesome. He has already started ripping apart this big bed and cleaning it out. He has also already brought in a beautiful trailer load of organic potting mix from Longwood Plantation. 

And he has started working the ground for a big 300' by 50' wildflower bed out in the front pasture. I have said many times one day I will live among the Cosmos this may be my year.

                             

I know it's hard to see but there are blue flags marking the sides

So many seeds but, is it enough?

First project of 2026

First project of 2026 to tackle!

This flower bed is almost 70' across 

it has been a big mess pretty much from the start.
I completely lost control of it when I was laid up with my bad ankles, and I had just given up on even trying to get it back. My thoughts were to just take it apart and let it go back to grass this winter. 

But I just can't bring myself to doing that. 

I had a vision from the beginning of what I wanted this bed to be and I along with help from the hubby are going to make it happen this year!

So, here's to the first project of 2026

 

January 2026 ~In Pictures

Taking pictures of each area to see how much things change throughout the year.

Looking pretty bleak right now!

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Happy 2026

 2026, How did we get here? 2025 went by so fast!

This year I would really like to keep this journal current, my gardens thriving, 

do lots of baking, reading and maybe a little painting.

We already have a list of projects that we would like to get started on 

so now we just need to make them happen!

Happy New Year everyone.