Renfrew Museum and Park. Day Trip.

Last week, my parents took us to Renfrew Museum and Park. It's located in Waynesboro, PA and although, I grew up 20 miles away, I had never heard about it.

Boy, have I been missing out!

Renfrew is a terrific example of a Pennsylvanian German Farmstead on about 100 acres. 

It's a gorgeous location with an amazing Heritage Garden (with numerous Heirloom vareties and TONS of Herbs) and LOTS of space for the girls to run around. They do a fantastic job with the upkeep of all the homestead buildings and the grounds. There are a handful of nice trails throughout the property.

We went on a stormy day and we weren't able to play in the beautiful Creek or take a house tour. We will definitely becoming back.

On September 6th, they will be having a Heritage Day complete with a Conestoga Wagon!

You can learn more about Renfrew here.

Breakfast. This Week.

Over the last year, I have insisted that we all sit down and eat Breakfast together. It's been a really nice way to start off our Mornings. 

Don't get me wrong, many days it takes every ounce of strength I have to drag my exhausted body downstairs and make some food. Nye-Nye is usually whiny and only wants to cuddle. Anala Bears is always getting into something. (Or locking me outside like she did yesterday). 

And, Papa Bear has merrily taken himself downstairs for a leisurely shower. I try not to get too resentful.

It's not easy. But, it's totally worth it.

This week I felt particularly Creative, so we had some extra-nice meals. On the Menu?

Cheesy Eggs with Black Beans, Bell Peppers and Sorrel topped with Crab Meat.

Cheesy Eggs with Thyme, Sorrel and Crab Meat.

Labneh, Cucumber Tartine with Mint and Basil (and eggs).

Rice Cake topped with Sunflower Butter and Dark Chocolate with a side of Melon and homemade Farmer's Cheese with Mint, Honey and Chia Seeds.

Most days it's just Soaked Oatmeal or Poached Eggs with some Fruit and Yogurt. 

Nothing like an itty-bitty Garden right outside your Kitchen window to bring a little Inspiration to your cooking!

Nye-Nye LOVED making the Tartine. The photo is of her own Tartine that she made herself using our own Cucumbers, Basil, Mint and ONE Cherry Tomato. Can't wait to make it again!

Hope this inspires you to make some yummy Breakfast this Weekend. 

Enjoy your Weekend!

Grilled Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Purple Basil.

Papa Bear was skeptical when I mentioned I wanted to make this dish last night. But, after a few bites he was a convert! I reassured him that I left plenty of Green Tomatoes on the vine.

After slicing the Tomatoes in 1/2 inch slices, I marinated them for an hour. Then Papa Bear worked his Grill Magic. I chopped up some Purple Basil from our Garden and added some Goat Cheese.

So easy and so damn good.

Do yourself a favor and make these at least once this Summer.

Marinade Ingredients

• Olive Oil
• Lemon Juice
• Kombucha
• Brown Sugar
• Sea Salt

Lacto-Fermented Okra.

This is the first year, I have ever grown Okra. Since it was an experiment, I only planted one plant. 

It has started producing but there's not a lot to make anything with and so I decided to just ferment them. As I each pod ripens, I will cut it off and add it to the jar. Right now I only have four!

I am using the same recipe as last year's Fermented Green Tomatoes. It such a surprising hit with EVERYONE in our family. 

I added three Garlic Cloves, 3 Dill Flowers (from our Garden), some Black Tea (the tannins help keep the veggies crunchy) and 2 quarts of Filtered Water with 5 Tablespoons of Sea Salt.

I boiled the water, put in the salt and then let it cool to room-temperature before pouring it in the jar.

The okra floated to the top. I haven't quite figure out how I am going to keep them from bobbing to the top and sticking out of the water. I may have to find some grape leaves (which also have tannins) or just use a cabbage leave.

I will be storing the jar in our nice, cool Basement.

I will try and resist and wait until September to try them. Have you ever lacto-fermented Okra? Do you have any advice?

Frontier Culture Museum.

My Sister and I traveled to Staunton, VA this past Weekend. We had a terrific (and sweaty) time at the Frontier Culture Museum.

I stopped taking photos half the way through because (as usual) I ran out of memory on my phone. So I didn't get any photos from the German Homestead, the 1700's American Indian Hamlet, the 1740's American Settlement,the 1820's American Farm or the 1850's American Farm.

One of the most amazing parts about the Museum is that all the houses (except the Igbo Homestead and the 1740's Settlement) are ORIGINAL and were moved to the site.

I liked the design of the Museum and how you started at the Igbo (West African) Homestead and then moved to the European Homesteads before moving to the Americas. Each Homestead was isolated enough from the others, which made you really felt transported back into time.

I enjoyed seeing the differences between the layout of each Garden. Although, most were growing the same crops, each one felt very different.

We went at the hottest part of the day, when it was in the 90's. It made you much more aware of the ways houses were designed to deal with staying cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter.

My girls are too little to really enjoy it now. But, I can't wait to take them when they are older.

You can find more information here.

If you are ever nearby, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Settling In. Part I.

It's been almost two weeks since we moved into our new place.

Two very busy weeks.

Unpacking with a 1-year-old and 3-year-old has been challenging.

Many thanks to my incredible parents who watched BOTH girls for 4 days, while we moved. And, then watched the girls for TWO MORE days, while I had a migraine. Amazing Grandparents those two.

It is finally starting to feel like Home and I can tell that both girls are enjoying the new space. I adore all the light that streams in through the massive Kitchen windows. I get to look out constantly at our growing Garden and it makes me so happy.

Papa Bear was skeptical (at first) of my idea to make the Master Bedroom into the Girls' Playroom. But, I hated the idea of using the Basement as the Playroom. The light is wonderful in their new Playroom and the 3rd Bedroom makes a cozy Mommy and Daddy's Room.

I now have an entire closest devoted to all my Tinctures and Herbs. Such luxury!

We even have had people over for a low-key 4th of July Get-together. I grumbled all Morning while frantically unpacking and hanging things on the wall. But, I am so glad that Papa Bear pushed to have the party. It was so much fun.

Here are a few photos from the last two weeks...