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Photography

Berry and Red Wine Sorbet

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A wonderful combination of berries and red wine, this easy and elegant sorbet has aromas and flavors of blackberry cobbler and strawberry preserves.  So refreshing, it’s the perfect light ending to any holiday meal. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover wine. 😉   Berry and Red Wine Sorbet: *Use organic ingredients whenever possible. Makes: 12 Servings Makes:  6 Cups Prep: 20 minutes Stand: About 1 Hour Freeze: Overnight Ingredients: 1 pound fresh strawberries, chopped 1 pound fresh blackberries 2 cups sugar 1 1/4 cups dry red wine 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt Whipped cream Black pepper (optional) Ground cinnamon (optional) Method: –In a large saucepan combine the first eight ingredients (through the salt).  Cook and stir over medium-high heat until fruit softens and sugar is dissolved. –Remove from heat; let mixture cool to room temperature.  Remove ginger slices; discard. –Working in batches, transfer wine mixture to a blender.  Cover and blend until smooth.  Strain wine mixture to remove seeds. Transfer blended (seed free) mixture to a 13 x 9-inch dish or pan.  Cover and freeze overnight. –When ready to serve, scoop sorbet into wine glasses.  Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with black pepper or cinnamon, if desired. Nutrition Facts: (Red Wine Sorbet) Per serving: 208 kcal, 3 g fat, 8 mg chol., 102 mg sodium, 41 g carb., 3 g fiber, 38 g […]

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Animals

The Weekly Bleat: Harmony and Joy

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Green Hill Farm Scottish Blackface Sheep Summer 2020   “…with an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.” ~William Wordsworth   “Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inhabit.” ~William James […]

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Inspiration

Never My Love

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Farmgirl Green Hill Farm 2019 Photo Credit: Alison Creasy Photography     “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” ~Steve Maraboli   “Miracles can be found in the most unlikely of places. I found the light not by swimming to the surface, but by letting myself drown in the seas of my deepest fears. […]

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Green Hill Farm

A Morning Walk

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“Walking Dash” Green Hill Farm June 2020   “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards […]

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Acrostic Poem

Whatever!

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Just having some fun with this cheeky, little acrostic poem, because….. you know we’ve all been there at one time or another.  Here’s wishing you a whatever-free day! 😉   “Whatever” by Tonya Rieley Hengerer   When a situation Has reached A perfectly and Thoroughly ridiculous state and Emoting or dealing with it further would be a Very tiring Endeavor, this Really great word just sums it up!

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Family Homeplace

Heirloom Recipe: Tomato Soup

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When we hear someone speak of a family heirloom, we may envision a pocket watch, silver teapot or even a quilt.  Recipes are also treasured pieces of family history passed down from generation to generation.  This tomato soup recipe originally belonged to my great-grandmother, Delia Crumpaker Rieley and dates back to the 1800s.  I remember watching Grandma Rieley making it during the winter months with juice from tomatoes canned the previous summer.  Last week, with temperatures dropping, I decided to make my family’s heirloom recipe for tomato soup; I made it in my great-grandmother’s kitchen with homemade juice from tomatoes grown on our 106-year-old family farm.  I loved being part of that continuity.  In taking time to carry on simple traditions, not only do we connect with the past, but we perpetuate memories that we hold dear. My great-grandmother most likely made this tomato soup with fresh milk from Green Hill Dairy Farm and the summer’s bounty of tomatoes picked from my great-grandfather’s vegetable garden. It is very simple, only requiring 3 ingredients; however, don’t let its simplicity fool you.  It’s delicious!  Just the thing on a cold evening–it really hits the spot!  Serve casually in a mug or in a bowl garnished with a little basil for color (my addition).  Oh, and don’t forget oyster crackers–the perfect accompaniment.  Enjoy! Heirloom Recipe:  Tomato Soup *Use organic ingredients when possible Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 quart tomato juice (homemade is best) 1 […]

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Green Hill Farm

Green Hill Farm: A Retrospective #3 — Faith

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  *This post originally appeared in September 2014.  It is the last post in a trilogy titled, Green Hill Farm: A Retrospective.  I posted the second part of this journey yesterday as I am celebrating the completion of the restoration of my home and sixteen years of living on Green Hill Farm this month.  A kind thank you to everyone who took the time to read or re-read Retrospective #2.   In looking back on the experience of saving my family’s homeplace, I’ve realized that not only was it a gesture of love, but more importantly, it was an act of faith. Faith, or wearing my rose-colored glasses as I like to say, sustained us through difficult times and propelled us forward. I don’t know where we would have been without it. At the beginning of this journey, shortly after my parents offered us the homeplace, my mom and I took a walk through the house. I remember walking through the dark, dimly lit downstairs hallway, the musty smell of rooms left undisturbed for too long, and cobwebs carefully covering yesterday’s treasures. I remember slowly climbing the stairs, counting each one as I went up. It made me think of Granddaddy. He once shared a story of the time his Grandmother Rieley visited when he was just a boy; She asked, “John, how many steps are there?” He quickly replied, “Sixteen!” He told me that he knew the answer because […]

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