Drum Roll Please...

Taken in CA in April

 Some of you may already know, for those of you who don't, Kyle and I are expecting a Baby Stenersen in October!! We realized our shared hope for a baby last September and then found out we were pregnant on Kyle's birthday, February 11th!  We are so excited to say the least! And we are so thankful! I am now 19 weeks along and am nearly halfway into the pregnancy (which is crazy).  My belly is growing and we are looking forward to feeling the baby move and kick inside me!  We want to be surprised to know if we will have a son or daughter so we are waiting until he or she is born to find out! We are amazed at God's goodness, faithfulness, power and grace as we experience this baby growing inside me! In an amazing way we must lean on Him and trust in Him for He is in control and He knows just who He wants to create and give us as a child.  Please pray for us as we are in the beginning of this adventure of parenthood and as we continue to prepare for our child and continue in the pregnancy. Thank you!
WHOOO HOOOO!

We picked sour cherries from a tree in our yard last weekend
and plan to make a pie and some jam!

Baby Stenersen likes sour cherries too!

The fruit of our labor.  We picked 9 more pints yesterday too!
The tree is now empty.

Sorry Aunt Jemima

These aren't ours, but you get the idea!

For breakfast this morning I made homemade pancakes from the Joy of Cooking recipe for "Pancakes or Griddle Cakes" and they were amazing! I love pancakes and I love making pancakes and these were seriously the best pancakes I have ever tasted. They were for Kyle too! Now I believe everyone needs to make homemade pancakes and taste and enjoy the difference! I think it would be a great thing to make with kids too! So here's what you gotta do:

Whisk together in a large bowl:

     *1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

     *3 tablespoons sugar

     *1 3/4 tablespoons baking powder

     *1 teaspoon salt

Combine in another bowl:

     *1 1/2 cups milk

     *3 tablespoons melted butter

     *2 eggs

     *optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (which I did include)

Mix the liquid ingredients quickly into the dry ingredients. And cook like you do every other pancake! This makes about 16 4-inch pancakes, it made 19 for us. 

***If you have a banana (slice thinly or to your own preference) or chocolate chips on hand they make a lovely addition to the plain pancake which is actually delectable on its own! I made some plain pancakes, a few chocolate chip ones, a few banana ones and a chocolate/banana one that we shared. We sliced some strawberries to put on top then dusted with powdered sugar (Kyle's brilliant idea) and maple syrup!! Sunday pancakes are now a tradition in the making.***

West Coast Travels

We completed the beekeeping class and there are now four hives on the farm!
This lil guy full of pollen was on Kyle's shoulder.

Mom, Lauren and I went to a Young Life camp in Virginia for  a Women's Weekend and had a blast!

Kyle and I were in Roseville, California from April 14th to the 17th to celebrate one of my good friend Julia's wedding.  Julia and I met during college and were roommates for two years. Kyle and I loved being a part of her and David's wedding.  Everyone from Sunset Farms was in the wedding in some form or fashion.  Chris Murray (farm owner) and Kyle played and sang "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman during the ceremony while Jamie Brie (Chris's wife) and Kellay and I were bridesmaids and Eston and Adela Murray were ring bearer and flower girl.  We enjoyed being with Julia, David and their family and friends and getting to celebrate their marriage!

Julia, the bride, is in white! This is at the American River in Fair Oaks, CA where Julia and David now live.

Me with the bride!

 After the wedding, Kyle and I rented a car and took a roadtrip from Roseville, CA up the coast through Oregon and ended in Cathlamet, WA on Puget Island at my Aunt and Uncle's house.  Neither of us had been to this part of the world and we loved the drive which allowed us to take in the beautiful landscape.  We were continually blown away by the magnificence of God's creation! We drove for two days straight making random stops to eat and explore.  Some of the stops were "The Olive Pit" where we tasted a ton of different olives and got to drive through fields of olive trees.  We stopped at Whiskeytown Lake which we drove over for a while then drove through the cute mountain town of Weaverville, CA and stopped in a used book store (I had hoped to stop at a bookstore or 5 somewhere along the drive) and I bought "Practicing the Presence of God" by brother Lawrence which was a short but intensely rich read that I highly recommend!  Next stop was the Redwood National Forest where we stopped at the coast before walking on a 1.5 mile trail through the Redwood Forest.  When we were leaving we got to see some Elk!  Then we stayed in Grants Pass, OR for the night in a lodge on the Rouge River.  The next morning we were on the road again and stopped at a random river with a waterfall, then went on to Tillamook Cheese Factory for a free tour and cheese tasting, and paid for some amazing chocolate peanut butter ice cream (well worth it).  Then we reached the Oregon Coast which is breathtaking! We explored Ecola State Park which had amazing views and where we saw a Bald Eagle.  Then we walked on Cannon Beach before heading to Astoria, OR which is considered the San Fransisco of the Northwest because of its houses built along the slope and the river and beautiful bridge.  We had a delicious dinner before taking the ferry over to Puget Island, WA where we stayed for the night.  We spent the next day with my Aunt and Uncle and Nana exploring their garden and bees, going to a friend's farm down the road and walking along the "beach" (which is technically the Colombia River across the street from their house).  It was great seeing them all and resting from driving a day before we drove to Portland, OR the next morning to fly home to NC!  Here are some of the pictures that I hope you enjoy!

Beautiful flowers on the coast in the Redwood Forest 

The Redwood Forest!

Beautiful View of the Pacific Ocean

View from Ecola State Park in Oregon looking down at Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, OR

We had dinner on the Colombia River in the lovely town of Astoria, OR

The sunset in Astoria

Beautiful trees on our walk on Puget Island, WA

Why Do They Do It?

"Well, I was raised by farmers, have farmed myself, and have in turn raised two farmers-which suggests to me that I may know something about farmers, and also that I don't know very much.  But over the years I along with a lot of other people have wondered, 'Why do they do it?' Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming?  And always the answer is: 'Love. They must do it for love.'  Farmers farm for the love of farming.  They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants.  They love to live in the presence of animals.  They love to work outdoors.  They love the weather, maybe even when it is making them miserable.  They love to live where they work and to work where they live.  If the scale of their farming is small enough, they like to work in the company of their children and with the help of their children.  They love the measure of independence that farm life can still provide.  I have an idea that a lot of farmers have gone to a lot of trouble merely to be self-employed, to live at least a part of their lives without a boss."

Wendell Berry "Bringing it to the Table"

Two Loves: Spring & Baking

I am thrilled that the temperatures are only growing warmer, that life can be found in the tiny, beautiful purple flowers that cover our lawn, and that more and more seedlings are growing in the greenhouse and becoming ready to be planted in the ground! SPRING! This is the first time in my life that I have given much notice to the official first day of Spring, which is Sunday the 20th by the way.  I want to celebrate and rejoice! Living on Sunset Farms and our way of life here has allowed us to appreciate each season and acknowledge the changes taking place.  It all just screams and shouts of the Creator!

Kyle and I are going to our friend Jordan's wedding this weekend and we are looking forward to celebrating his marriage with Ashley! I spent last weekend in Wilmington with my sister as we visited our parents and some friends there while Kyle hung out with Jordan and the other groomsmen playing basketball for hours on end and having a bonfire.  Last night Kyle and I went to a new frozen yogurt place called "Yo Zone" and had quite the experience.  I had been to a similar frozen yogurt place in San Diego, however all this was new for Kyle who was amazed at all the flavor and topping choices (and the ability to sample every single flavor).  A man also reminded us of all the benefits of frozen yogurt allowing us to enjoy our dessert even more! We are excited about the Summer Farmers Market starting up at Durham in April and are awaiting the arrival of strawberries and other delicious produce to arrive in the coming weeks! This week I have been incorporating baking into my meal ideas as much as possible simply because I love it!  There is something about working with flour and kneading dough... I have been having fun in the kitchen! Enjoy the pictures! And your last couple days of winter! Adios el frio miserable! WHOO HOO!

Walking with Joanne, Dean, and Ginger when they visited

Salatin givin me some lovin

Lavender: the curious milk cow

Signs of Spring appearing on my favorite tree in the front yard

The hens have moved to the field next to our house!
It has been fun having them so close (and roaming and talking about our yard)!

Baby chicks have arrived

You  never know where you'll find Snowball passed out in the shop,

My first cheese, sausage, and kale quiche!

I love making homemade pizza... sausage, cheese and peppers, YUM

Chocolate chip scones with cinnamon sugar topping!

Celebrating Kyle's 23 years!

Today Kyle is 23!  Joanne and Dean are coming up tomorrow for a couple nights to visit and celebrate Kyle's birthday.  We are looking forward to their visit and the beautiful weather they are bringing with them!  I made Kyle's favorite, split pea soup, for lunch and we are going to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner, Anna's Thai Cafe, and watching the second Star Wars we have from netflix.  We watched the first Star Wars last week for my first time and I loved it! Last night Kellay and the Murray's had us over for dinner for Kyle's birthday and we ate Jamie Brie's delicious chicken pot pie and Kellay's pecan pie (which we also had with breakfast) and enjoyed the visit with them! To celebrate Kyle I am going to share about two things that Kyle has been loving lately:

1. Since Kyle took a blacksmithing class last fall he has been wanting to have a "Smithy" of his own.  Initially it seemed nearly impossible, however, bit by bit it has all come together: the anvil, the forge, building the shop, the gear and the final step was completed a few weeks ago when we went and bought some coal from a man in Pittsboro! Kyle has already been out hammering on the anvil a few times and has great plans for his future forging efforts.  The "Stenersen Forge" as it is properly named is directly behind our house.  We are looking froward to the future creations that will forged out there!  Here are some pictures:

Kyle working with the fire pot which is part of the forge

Turning the crank to blow air into the fire

Hammering on the anvil

2. We have been taking a beekeeping course once a week since January and are really enjoying it!  Lauren and Brad gave us a bee hive for Christmas which has given us a head start for all that we need to buy to begin beekeeping this spring.  We also applied for a cost share program through the class in which 18 families in Alamance County receive all the equipment for two hives for no cost and we got it! We are so excited that we were selected for the program and so thankful!  I still have a lot to learn and I am still not sure how I feel about working with the bees flying all around me, it will definitely bee (he) something I have to get used to.  Kyle on the other hand is pumped to be out working with the bees.  He has already read a book on bees and knows all their inner workings and is looking forward to the field day for class in March and to having our own bees and honey on Sunset Farms!

I am excited to see what God is going to do in and through Kyle this next year of his life. I am thankful for the joy and blessing he is to me and those around him, Happy Birthday Kyle!

Bon Appetit!

Sweet Potato Chili at its finest

Real Simple magazine is awesome.  Beautiful pictures, ideas, and recipes.  In January 2011 issue there are six "Comfort in a Bowl" recipes perfect for these cold winter days.  I have now made the "Slow-cooker Vegetarian Chili with Sweet Potatoes" twice, which has been perfect because of the great sweet potato crop from the farm (which happens to be stored in our basement) and the many cans of kidney beans and black beans in the cupboard.  The special ingredient to this chili is the unsweetened cocoa powder! It is delicious! I accidentally added a wee too much cinnamon this last time I made it, Kyle didn't notice one bit. Another recipe success was the "Colombian Chicken and Potato Soup".  I used the meat and broth from a farm stewing hen that I boiled for an entire afternoon then some russet potatoes, corn, lime juice, cilantro and avocado to top it all off! If you happen to have the January issue I definitely recommend these two dishes. 

Another recommendation, even though I have only read the first fifty out of three hundred pages, is "My Life in France" by Julia Child.  I enjoyed the movie "Julie and Julia" and I wanted more from the "Julia" and well, her life in France so I checked out the book the last time I was in the library.  I am loving reading about France and the delicious food, culture and beauty there.  I have never been to France or tried learning to speak any French, but I am finding myself wanting to learn and wanting to go! Bonjour!