Why I Love Living on Silly Goose Farm: Reason Five

Because I get to have amazing nights filled with good food and good drink, shared with darling friends who effortlessly fill the house with intriguing conversation and boatloads of laughter.

I'm a very lucky lady.

Why I Love Living on Silly Goose Farm: Reason 4

I love living on Silly Goose Farm because I get to live here with this guy:

Dave and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary on Sunday (May 29th). We had a nice dinner at the American Hotel in neighboring town Sharon Springs, and this weekend we'll be taking our first-ever anniversary trip to Boston (we almost moved to Boston until we stumbled upon the farm). I could go on and on about how wonderful Dave is, but I'll just sum it up by saying I am very very lucky that he chose me for his wife.

Our wedding at Mohonk Mountain House, May 29, 2008

(More) Buds and Blooms

A few more pictures from around the farm. Enjoy!

Buds of the crab apple tree

If all goes according to plans, the house will be getting a

paint job this summer (think cream, green and purple!)

A lot of the shrubs and plants around the house need some serious trimming

Pear tree blossoms in the background. This outbuilding collapsed from heavy winter snows.

We'll be building a pergola in it's place (and hopefully a big fire pit!)

Pretty pale pink apple blossoms (this tree produces MacIntosh)

Black cap canes (can't wait to make jam!)

This HUMONGOUS daylily clump is so weird - it sits in the middle of

the lower lawn, and I have no idea what to do with it 

White lilacs that line the driveway

Sweet Lily of the Valley near the driveway and bay window of the dining room

Our neighbor Lorraine's house. She lives on the other side of the orchard/cow pasture.

She keeps a garden on our property and leaves scraps on her kitchen porch for our cats

John and Doris live right across the street. Their house and our house were built

by the same family (the Gaige brothers), but their house is much older

Doris' vegetable garden

I love the picket fence and tulips! In the late summer, holly hocks bloom around the fence

John and Doris' barn was recently built by a team of Amish craftsmen, and it looks amazing!

Their old barn collapsed in 2010 after a very heavy snowfall (we received 70 inches of snows in 3 days!)

I can't wait to update the barn - new windows, partial new roof, new doors and new paint.

With luck (that is, with whatever free-time my dad had), we will place a cupola on the peak

The colors of the farm are so beautiful and picturesque that

sometimes I can't believe this is actually my life! 

A Silly Goose Farm Thanksgiving

Happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone! Are you all turkeyed-out yet? I certainly am, but I still think I might be able to pack away a little turkey soup, turkey pot pie, and turkey a la king, if necessary. We had a very lovely day here at Silly Goose Farm, and I thought I'd share a few snippets with you.

I try to wake up around 5:30a every morning, just because I like the quiet and peace that this part of the day allows me. And nowadays, it's still rather dark outside at that point. Lucky for me, I was treated to the most spectacular sunrise Thanksgiving morning, something I am most grateful for.

I love the contrast of the black trees against the orange and purple sky.

My parents, grandmother (GG), and the family dog (Baron) made the two-hour trek East to the farm, and we were so happy they did. It was great to have my little family together, even if for a small window of time.

Miss Edith enjoying her food... or at least playing with it. 

My mother and GG - see that lovely milk glass compote dish? This lovely gal gave it to me.

My father and GG

Edie caught mid-smile, or mid-"crazy face," can't tell which

Our menu was simple - just the basics. Let me start off my saying that letting my father watch Food Network is almost never a great idea. He gets a little ambitious (that is to say, he thinks my mother or I should make some ready-for-TV meal, and is very pointed in what he wants). We love him very much anyway. I think as long as I keep him fed, he turns up useful in other ways (fixing stuff, mainly). Anyway... back to the menu. We enjoyed a lovely turkey and roasted chestnut sausage dressing, as prepped by my mother per Dad's request, roasted Blue Hubbard squash, made by GG, gravy (also made my GG, also found via Food Network - it must run in the family), mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls (mom's recipe), cranberry bread, some wicked good wine, and pie. Lots of pie.

Pumpkin Pie (I burnt the crust a little, whoops!)

Chocolate Cream (Mom made this - just as Dad likes it)

Apple Pie

Another shot of the apple pie.

All the apples for the pies came right here from our little orchard. I think that's very cool, and I'm very proud of that. One of these little beauties wasn't consumed, and made it's way to a friend, which I heard he enjoyed with a glass (or two) of McCarthy's Whiskey. My kind of man. Typically, I enjoy mine with a lovely steaming cup of french press coffee and a slice of cheddar cheese, but whiskey sounds wonderful. I think the cheese thing is a Pennsylvania Dutch/Central New York/Finger Lakes tradition, which is where I grew up. No one in the Albany area seems to have heard of this.

I kept the decor pretty simple (plans were sort of last-minute, so I just made due with what was around). Some flowers in a pressed-glass vase and pumkins and gourds from the garden seemed to do the trick.

We had to burn off all the holiday calories somehow. This was Edie's preferred method.

All in all, it was a great day. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, as well! Looking forward to sharing some holiday-inspired ideas, gift guides, and one special little girl's second birthday with you all soon.

Why I Love Living on Silly Goose Farm: Reason Two

Peonies

Because whenever I want fresh flowers to gussy-up my house, I just walk outside and cut them!

Poppies, although they never last long

Bud vase by me

Sweet little roses from the bush near the pantry window

I scour tag sales and flea markets to find old salt and pepper shakers - they make the perfect bud vases!

Phlox from the cow pasture

Bud vase by me