A typical day on the farm

Having spent the last two days doing citylife work - it was time to get back to farmlife. For those of you who wonder what I do here - yesterday was a typical day:

Morning - we walked early and then I went to yoga - which is always good. A visit to Carlyle Assisted Living to see David, Verna and Marks's uncle George. Back home, the real work begins. Decided to make flat bread for tonight in the WFO, found a

recipe, made the dough. While that rested, I helped Mark pick

the last of the white peaches, then, because of the glut we decided to make peach jam. Had to do some research before starting. Mark cut up the peaches, I prepared the canning jars, then cooked the peaches, sugar and lemon, and waited while it became a dark rosy red tinged jam. Filled the jars, boiled them for 10 minutes, set them aside to rest for 12 -24 hours. Fingers crossed it will set. Continued preparations for dinner -finished making the flatbread - and we also tried a new Jamie Oliver recipe in the WFO - world's best chicken caesar salad. And it was. The flat bread wasn't bad either. Jam this morning was good - but slightly runny. Room for improvement next time.

The 4th July Party continues

The party never stops. We drove back from Memphis early today, in time to prepare for a Pizza feast tonight. Our friends Angela and Rob had stayed the 4th July in our farmhouse - for some country life and mushroom hunting. They are experienced foragers and welcomed us with the last of the local chanterelles. The WFO was lit, and we got ready for another pizza party. Dale and Ruth were up from Birmingham, Alabama. Stan and Nanci joined us too.

A new benchmark for pizza toppings - Angela and Rob's salmon with Asian flavours and coriander pesto. Dale brought the ingredients for the chicken and basil pesto he enjoys in Birmingham. Three desserts to try - banana cream pie, blackberry pie and a blue berry tart.

A late night sitting outside catching up with good friends. After this weekend I will not be eating or drinking anything for the next few days.

Dinner, Max Style

Max is not only a busy doctor, but also has a passion for food and cooking it. Lucky us. While we were at Graceland he and Sue started preparations for dinner. The basis was a Thomas Keller, French Laundry inspired degustation - with Max adaptations. When we arrived home at 4pm the kitchen looked like a cyclone had hit it. Dinner was at 7pm! I suggested Max conduct the procedures - while Sue, Mark and I sous chefed. I don't know how we did it - but his vision was achieved. Six small courses - a parmesan tuile with goats cheese; three different cherry tomatoes with tomato sorbet and chive oil (amazing); avocado and cucumber salsa with shrimp; a delicious cheese pastry , with a slow cooked slice of beef steak tomato, roasted peppers on top and a drizzle of reduced balsamic; slow cooked pork with roasted carrots, and a peach tart for dessert. Wine to match each course and more. John and Lucille joined us for dinner. I was too busy eating, drinking and taking to take photos unfortunately.

Graceland

We were in Memphis. We had to do it. A visit to Graceland - former home (now shrine) of Elvis. Our friends John and Lucille, long term residents of Memphis had never been, so they joined us, and were we all surprised. A smaller home than we imagined, with 70's decor that I did expect. But the real surprise was how much he did in his short life - the number of movies he made, the records he sold, the charities he donated to. Then, on the way out - his grave. I don't know why, but we didn't expect that. Elvis has not left that building!

4th July Road trip

Fourth July weekend - America celebrates - and we did too, by heading off on a road trip to Memphis, Tennessee - a 5 hour drive south from our farmhouse. We actually travelled through 4 states to get there - Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Due to the limited time I have here each year - we don't often want to go far from our farmlife, but Mark's cousin Max and his wife Sue have visited us here several times and we were keen to see where they have now settled. First up dinner on Beale Street - above BB Kings Blue Bar - speakeasy style and great southern food, which we shared. Fried avocado! and remoulade, lobster ravioli, fried green tomatoes (something I have

always wanted to try but were sadly disappointing), crabcakes, shrimp and scallops on grits and bone - in rib eye.

Downstairs to BBs to hear some blues, then we hit the street. People, acrobats, buskers and blues bars on both sides. First photo is us in the restaurant, second photo in BB's and the third

on Beale Street. As you can see, we had a great time.

Watching the corn grow

For a city girl, one of the joys of being here is seeing the crops grow, and having the time to watch them change from day to day. The beans start to peek up , then pop suddenly out of the soil and the corn seems to grow inches over night. Sitting outside of an evening we are surrounded by fields of green and gold. At sunset, they shimmer and the fireflies surround us.

I have also noticed over the years that a farmers mood is very much influenced by the weather - it is too hot, there is not enough rain, there is too much rain... Right now, while they won't say so, it appears to be perfect. Our corn this year looks good to me - today it is 9 1/2 feet tall. I 'll measure again in a few days.

Peach Harvest

Early giant white peaches have started dropping from one of our fruit trees. We knew we needed to pick them before the beetles got to them. This afternoon Mark hung precariously from the ladder, while I stood and held onto him and the ladder from below. That is one job he has to do when I am here. Most will need to ripen a bit more before we eat them, freshly sliced for breakfast, in a cobbler or homemade icecream. Will I try to make jam?