Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Today I had the honor of participating in the annual Teacher Appreciation Lunch at my children’s elementary school. It’s an elaborate affair, each year with a theme that drives the menu creation and decor. For the last nine years, local chef and indefatigable parent volunteer Melissa Elsmo has chaired been the driving force behind thisContinue reading “10 Table Decorating Ideas a/k/a Thanksgiving in May”

My husband, the birthday boy, handed me the perfect compliment tonight when he bit into his supper and said, “Wow. The spinach is really good. It’s bloggable.” He apparently didn’t like my last attempt, hence the pleasant surprise. So, here I am, blogging the spinach recipe to share and, well, because otherwise I’ll forget howContinue reading “The Perfect Cooking Compliment”

It’s spring at Sandhill Organics and that means we’re back to having a fridge full of fresh veggies every other week. As last season, we’re splitting our spring and summer shares with another family. The spring box isn’t as full as the summer share. But there’s plenty for us to work with this week: MixedContinue reading “Spring Greens in the Box This Week”

I’ve been digging through the basement looking for items to donate to our school’s annual ginormo yard sale. But I won’t be giving up this treasure, “The Guide to Convenience Foods: How to Use, Plan, Prepare, Present.” It’s a 1968 professional catering book that, according to the inscription, was gifted to Sim’s dad in 1982.Continue reading “Guide to Convenience Foods, Circa 1968”

Anyone who knows me knows that The Farm is my Tara, a magical place that can fill my family with wonder and restore my sanity in one short visit. It’s a place to find pieces of myself I’ve lost. My dad experienced a bit of The Farm’s magic today on a “long walk to forgottenContinue reading “Once Was Lost…Now Found”

The Great Egg Hunt The other day, as I started making plans for Easter Sunday, prepping for the Easter Bunny and planning our menu, I found myself in a funk. I’d realized it would just be the four of us this year. With soccer, gymnastics and family with their own plans, we’d found ourselves decidingContinue reading “Just the Four of Us, Plus Two”

Bad news about piglet No. 2, aka Deuce. I’d had high hopes he would survive. He was getting feisty, bottle feeding and starting to enjoy the great outdoors. But his little body never could recover from his birth wounds and he died. Now my family has a third injured piglet: Trey. I’m pulling for theContinue reading “Piglet Update – Bad News”

“My tummy hurts.” That’s the first thing Future Farmgirl said to me after we got home from the Taste of Irving Centennial celebration. No doubt. There was enough food to feed a hungry Army, at least an army of elementary school kids, their parents, siblings and alumni visiting the old school. My favorite thing wasContinue reading “The 101 Reason* to Love Irving: They Throw the Best Parties”

Because I gave a piglet update, I thought I needed to give equal time to the spring chicks at The Farm. They’ve doubled their size from this photo. And, like the runty piglet, they’re starting to spend more and more time outside, where they’ll eventually be free range (helping keep the bug population down whileContinue reading “Spring Chickens”

I’m happy to report that the baby piglet – the one from the great swap – is continuing to improve. He’s eating more and more. And with the weather improving, he’s spending more and more time outside. The ultimate goal, other than to fatten him up, is to re-introduce him to his momma, sisters andContinue reading “Piglet Update”