sogn valley orchard

My sister-in-law, Lisa, came over on Friday and was going nuts over this apple orchard they had just visited. We have driven by the sign countless times, but never would have made the trek if she hadn't sang it's praises so loudly! Rory and I looked at a farm in Sogn when we were finding our next home and fell in love with this area. It is a true valley, and the landscape is stunning. Rolling hills, red barns, hay bales and lots of oak trees. We have taken many, many pictures there.

Here's the thing about this orchard. We were there for over an hour, and only three other cars came in and out during that time. It's not a huge you-pick orchard. They have an adorable Apple Haus where you can sample apples and sample cider. And you can buy bags of picked apples. And then you are encouraged to walk around the orchard and we were told to each, "try an apple if it looks like a good one." So we walked all over, under and around the trees. They sell their apples to many area Co-Ops, so they aren't looking to make their big dollars as a you-pick. It felt more like a visit to a relative's farm.

And then there was this Border Collie named Collie. This dog is the best. In fact, at church today another young mom told me that they go to this orchard just so their kids can play frisbee with Collie too! My kids are usually afraid of dogs, but this dog is a wonder. I've never, ever wanted a dog and I came home and googled Minnesota Border Collies. (Rory is firm on his dog plans though. Ivar has to be eight. Because Rory knows the dog care will fall solely on him (Rory). And he's right... But this dog was a dream.) And after much online research I would like to tell you that Border Collie puppies are so adorable. And they are good and herding sheep, and sometimes people.  My Aunt Louie and Uncle Jake always had a Collie named Skippy. Even if one Skippy died, they'd get another and name it Skippy. I just want a puppy so bad now... I even have the name all picked out. A Collie would be so happy on our farm...

But back to reality. Hattie loves apples and gnawed on one the whole time while I bit bites into small pieces for her like a mama bird. It was a happy, happy adventure.

combines and curly fries

This October has been so spectacular I can hardly handle it. I forget that I adore this month! I think I psych myself up for cold weather and forget these stunning fall days. But this last week has been so glorious I have said each day, "we're all going outside! This weather isn't going to last!" But it has!

Saturday we got home from an apple orchard (more later! a gem!) and found combines in our field. Everyone needed a snack to stretch us to supper, so I put some curly fries in the oven and then joined the family (Hattie was napping) to watch the show with fries and ketchup. And what a show! The man who owns the field behind us is aging, and they must have hired a harvesting service. Because there were two combines, two tractors pulling large wagons next to the combines to catch the corn and FOUR semi trucks waiting to take the corn away.

The combines never stopped moving. And it was so mesmerizing. And incredibly fast. We sat and waved to the drivers and they waved back, and made another favorite memory on our farm.

so long, Shadow

The last six weeks we have had a special visitor to the Grovestead. Shadow, the billy goat came for two cycles, with the hopes that come February we will have little baby goats born to Darcy and Precious. We loved Shadow so much. He is a young Billy Goat, which means he doesn't smell like the older billy goats (we had been warned that they can be quite stinky!) Instead, he joined in and was a happy and easy addition. 

He went back to his farm on Monday, and it was quite the ordeal. Rory used brute force to get him into the trailer, and the sounds from all three goats made for a very dramatic farewell. Goat bleating was heard all over the farm and many human kid tears were shed as well. 

But here's a fun fact for your next dinner party: The first time a goat has a baby, she will have one kid. But thereafter, she will have two at a time. So come February, we are hoping Darcy will give us two goat kids and Precious will give us one goat kid. We're eager to grow our herd to help us clear out the grove. 

cheesecake bars

I was temped to name these bars You're-gonna-die Bars for two reasons. 1) They're that good. 2) When you see what is in them, you will realize the great risk of a massive coronary upon consumption.

It was at a neighborhood bbq that I was first introduced to these bars. I took a bite and then stopped the picnic yelling, "excuse me! who brought these bars?!!" It was our next door neighbors and I begged them for the recipe. When he sent it he wrote, "I am sorry for what you are about to read. There is a reason I need to drop twenty pounds."

This week I made a pan for our small group. That's sort of the perfect excuse to make them...a large group to help you eat the pan. Now brace yourselves:

Cheesecake Bars
3 packages cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp Mexican vanilla
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350
Spray 9x13 baking dish
Beat cream cheese with 1 cup sugar and vanilla until smooth
Unroll first tube crescent dough on bottom of the baking dish
Spread cream cheese mixture on dough
Cover cream cheese mixture with second tube of dough
Stir 3/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and butter together.
Dot butter mixture over the cheesecake
Bake until dough is golden brown, about 30 minutes
Remove from oven and drizzle with honey
Chill completely in the fridge

That last step is probably the most important. You have to make these far enough in advance that they are good and set and very cold when you serve them. In fact, I made them on Monday afternoon and served them around 8pm and they were great. But the next morning I had half a bar with the kids and it was sublime. And that must be really good, because I've never used the word sublime in my life before this moment. So I'd recommend making them a day ahead.

File this one away for your next potluck or party. It's a winner!

the start of a sport

We signed up for our first organized sport this fall. Soccer met once a week for a few hours on Friday afternoons and it was the perfect introduction to a new sport. And all I have to say is thank goodness for the shin guards and knee socks. Because the excitement over these items alone seemed to motivate my boy to head out on the field.

It's amazing how quickly you are suddenly the parent. Our very first day brought a lot of nerves and worry. In the parking lot and I found myself repeating all of the things my mom just said to me when I was filled with nerves and worry. "Everyone is feeling the same butterflies. It's totally normal. We just have to be brave for a few minutes and then we'll feel more comfortable. Just try it for today and then you'll know if you like it or not. The coach is there to help you learn. How could you already be good at something you've never learned before?!!" 

And, thankfully, he did feel comfortable right away. And loved it. He wore the same blue shirt with a soccer ball on it, blue plaid shorts and blue knee highs each week and did really well on the field. Hooray for positive experiences when trying something new! And hooray for an awesome coach who could deal with 4, 5 and 6 year olds and their attention spans, tears and enthusiasm!