All Hallow's Eve

Don't Let The Goblins Get You

Daily Farm Photo: 10/31/05

Happy Halloween!

Weekend Dog Blogging #7

Bear Would Take A Tummy Rub Over A T-Bone Any Day

Click here to see the thrilling action shots.

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging!
If you'd like to see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup and links to this week's participants. We'd love to have you join us. Just post your pup and e-mail the permalink to Sweetnicks.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/30/05

Tail End Of This Year's Fabulous Fall Colors

Click here for a pre-show peek.

Weekend Cat Blogging #21

Kiri's having a party? And it's already started? I'm so out of the loop!



Of course I want to go. It's just that. . .um. . . well. . .



Hey Smudge! Can you please bring me that ladder?


Special Additions! Click here to see the Wild Party Crasher!
Click here to see the lovely but shy Miss Domino, our Farmgirl Fare Foster Blog Cat.

Attention Cat Lovers! It's time for Weekend Cat Blogging #21: Kiri's Birthday Celebration!
Yep, that wild and crazy cat from Down Under is turning one, and Clare is having a party. Just click here to head over to Eat Stuff, where you'll find all the links to this week's party cats. We'd love to have you join us for Weekend Cat Blogging. Just send your permalink in a comment to Clare (Kiri's slave) at Eat Stuff and add a "Weekend Cat Blogging" tag to your post.

SOLD To The Little Lady In The Overalls!

Meet The Coolest Couple On The Farm

That's right--nobody guessed correctly. This is what I bought last Thursday night at the Livestock Auction Barn. Two llamas! (Click here to read about my night at the auction. Click here if you missed the auction photos.) And no, the auctioneer didn't actually say "Sold to the little lady in the overalls!" when I ended up as the high bidder--he called me by name instead. I do live in the house he grew up in, after all.

The handsome devil on the left is a male, and the cutie pie on his right is a female. Yes, a breeding pair. Other than that, I really don't know much about them (which is often how it is when you buy something at auction). I do know that considering these two have had a tumultuous past couple of days, they appear to be settling into their new home quite well. They survived their first frosty night here, have already scoped out every inch of their large pen, and are showing a keen interest in everything and everyone around them.

Everyone around them, on the other hand, is not quite sure what to think. Robin, who spent several years living with the llama I used to have, has completely forgotten that she loves llamas--it's cows she hates. Bear, who loves every living thing but also believes they all need herding, has already received a perfectly aimed kick in the head for his rather aggressive efforts (he's fine). Uncle Dan (who hurt his front leg last week but is completely recovered) just stood staring at them, dumbfounded, then let out a small cry and suddenly redeveloped his limp. Last night the sheep took a very long detour back to their barn in order to avoid passing by the llama pen, and a little while ago I spotted them huddled tightly together, all eyes pointedly fixed on the intruders--from a safe distance of several hundred feet away. (My four older ewes are the only ones who lived with my previous llama.)

Joe and I, meanwhile, are absolutely thrilled that they are here, and I'm sure that in time they will succeed in making friends with everyone--even jealous Dan. The plan is for the llamas to run with the sheep, guarding them and keeping the flock together while they are grazing, instead of widely scattered about as they have been lately.

Of course, the other part of the plan includes a baby llama.

Llamas are wonderful, unique creatures. These two newcomers will no doubt be making regular appearances here as the stories unfold and we all get to know each other better. In the meantime, here are two more photos of them for you to enjoy.








And no, they don't yet have names.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/29/05

Special Delivery! What is it? What is it?

A Night On The Town--At The Livestock Auction Barn!

I Was Bidder Number 52

Every day it becomes a little more difficult to scratch out a living as a small farmer in rural America. Let's just say there's not a lot working in our favor. And for every farmer who (either by force or by choice) gives up, it isn't only a farm that dies. Entire communities--from the feed dealer to the bank owner--are dependent upon the success of local small farmers. Those who do stick it out often must rely on off-the-farm income. A difficult, honest, and incredibly rewarding way of living is teetering on the brink of extinction.

But there is hope. Last night our local livestock auction barn saw 770 'head' run through its doors during its new monthly Goat & Sheep Auction. That is a very big number for a tiny, family run operation, especially considering we are deep in the heart of cattle country. It also saw some of the highest prices paid for goats in the state. But last night was about much more than just numbers. It was about laughing with strangers, smiling at friends, and being a part of something that was not happening 'just for fun,' was not a ride at an amusement park, was not a game of Let's Pretend. It was about being surrounded by hard working people who know they will never be rich and who really don't care. People who want nothing more than to be able to keep doing what they're doing. It was real.

Sitting on my wooden perch in the highest row of bleachers, I take a slow, deep breath, blink back a tear, and regard everything and everyone around me. I want each detail of this moment, this now, this real, to somehow be absorbed into my soul. I am grateful to be here. I am filled with the kind of joy that cannot be explained--only experienced. And I know that, at least for tonight, my little corner of Small Town America is alive and well and kicking and stomping and squealing and baaing. And I can only hope it stays that way.

I arrived at the sale barn early, as much of the 'show' begins well before the auctioneer switches on his microphone. It is crazy yet calm. You can quietly wander among the animals back in the pens, or you can strike up a conversation with a stranger. Everyone is in a good mood. Once the real action starts, though, things are fast, furious, and lots of fun to watch.

At a small animal auction like this one, you never know what might come shooting through the doors and racing into the ring. It could be anything from an extremely pregnant sow to 44 adorable baby goats. All the while, the auctioneer keeps up a running monologue in that lightning-fast language of his, urging the crowd to bid, bid, bid--and he doesn't stop until the very last animal is sold. This is country living at its best. Are you ready? Then let's go. Just click here.

Daily Farm Photo 10/28/05: Local Real Estate

Cozy Cottage with Gorgeous Views

© FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Where Did I Go Tonight?

Here Is A Hint

Daily Farm Photo: 10/27/05

Where Sheep Sleep, Take Two

Click here to see Take One.

Why We Cut Firewood

Say Hello To Twenty-Four Degrees This Morning

Daily Farm Photo: 10/26/05

Where We Cut Firewood

Daily Farm Photo 10/25/05: Some Rather Organized Stacking

Nothing Feels Quite Like The Warmth From Wood Heat

Daily Farm Photo: 10/24/05

Sheep, Sunlight, Shimmering Leaves

Weekend Dog Blogging #6

Are You Smiling Yet?

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging!
If you'd like to see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup and links to this week's participants. We'd love to have you join us. Just post your pup and e-mail the permalink to Sweetnicks.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/23/05

Flaunt It While You've Got It

Weekend Cat Blogging #20: Smudgie Up High

Farm Cats Rescue Themselves

© Copyright FarmgirlFare.com, the no fear of heights (for some of us) foodie farm blog where there's nothing like watching a cat walk up and down a ladder.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/22/05

So Brief, So Beautiful

At Last! We Have A Winner!

It's Been Fun Being Yellow 21, But I'm Ready For My New Name!

*Note: In an effort to keep this post a manageable length, I chose to include links to many of the comments and entries that are mentioned, rather than put them in here. So you can read just what you see, or you can click on the links for the lengthier (and much livelier) version. What? You want to skip right to the end? Uh, yeah sure, go ahead. Just promise me you'll come back and read the whole thing, okay? It took me forever to put this together.

After three weeks, more than 250 comments (on 70 printed pages), over 150 names entered, and enough laughing to burn off at least 400 chocolate babycakes (and that's just on my part), our lovely Yellow 21 has a brand new name.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Farmgirl Fare First Ever Name That Sheep Contest (which even managed to receive international notoriety. ) I am overwhelmed by your amazing response, your marvelous creativity, and your non-stop enthusiasm (click here to read the 40+ zany comments that were left yesterday alone. And don't forget to click on the names of the commenters to find out who some of them really are.) Everyone was an exceptionally good sport throughout the contest (though we did have one mild threat from Shauna regarding Cookiecrumb's entry of "Girl.")

I have had more fun than I ever imagined--and the Secret Panel Of Judges had one heck of a time choosing a winner. We were tempted to take Cherrybegonia's advice and "name this sheep Grace because only by the the grace of God are you not going to give up and just keep Yellow 21!" And that was 40 pages of comments ago. Then there was Kitchen Mage's suggestion that we "declare Larb [her entry] to be of a culture where everyone gets 1000 names and dub her Larb Butterbean Muffaletta Pepper Coriander Matzo Ball Pecorino Pepato Clementine Kiwi Meringue Cashew Skittles Fluffernutter Sugarlump Marzipan Cupcake Chocolat Mocha Cappucino. As long as Larb is first."

But we perservered. And while you can rest assured that all judging was done on the up and up, there were definitely some tempting offers. This lovely lunch arrived via e-mail from hopeful contestant Kat. Kitchen Mage, in her quest to make "Little Larblet" her own, put all her heart into baking some special bread in Yellow 21's honor. And Heather revealed a secret family recipe in hopes of swaying the judges toward the name Willow. But the most tempting offer of all had to be the one from Mathilde, who suggested some interesting Danish names and then added that she "would SO love to see the face of my boyfriend telling him I won a live sheep. He will be afraid she will have to live with me and the cat in too little space and he will turn all green in the face. I will promise you a picture of this if I win!".

But as I said, the judges did not receive any actual bribes. (Pssst! Nic! Your package never arrived.) So on with the contest. The variety of names entered was simply astounding. And it was certainly interesting to be allowed a look at just how some of your minds work (like Anna's, which came up with this entry, and Amy's, which came up with this one. And then there was Geekwif's first choice: Hot Rod Mama.)

Because you are probably curious (and at the risk of hurting the feelings of other entrants--as Brett suggested, we really should declare "a hundred way tie for second place."), here are some of the names that made it through the first rounds of judging. They are (in no particular order): Kiwi, Willow (or Woolow, as one the of judges preferred), Gemma, Emma, Missy, Matilda, Ewegenie, Chloe, Hannah, Estella, Darla, Fiona, Philomena, Tallulah, Lottie Lou, Mrs. MacTavish, Patience, and Grace.

The judges also liked the name Patricia, which was suggested by Spiral, as well as the reasoning behind her choice. (Plus one of the judges thought it would be kind of cute to call her Fatty Patty when she was pregnant.) Spiral also did an admirable job of bashing every one of the previous entries.

Once we had a list of finalists, our job became even harder. And while Yellow 21 has only one new name, the judges would like to call attention to a few contestants who, each in their own (sometimes slightly demented) way, rose above the throngs of other players and outdid themselves in their efforts to win themselves a sheep.

Let's start with Alisha. She didn't enter right away, as she wanted to wait until she came up with the perfect name. And she did. It was Lydia. Which Karl had entered on the first day of the contest. Aghast at what she had inadvertantly done, she came back with an entirely different idea, a rather convoluted (and slightly frantic) explanation to go with it--and no new entry. That's right, for Alisha was willing to win only half a sheep as long as she knew it had the right name. We had to admire her for that.

We also couldn't help but admire Brett, who confidently waltzed in and cleverly dissed more than 70 names with one click on the "Publish Comment" button--then left us with his entry of. . . Pecorino Pepato. Which he returned to valiantly defend not just once, but several times, armed with ammunition from such places as ThinkBabyNames.com and Wikipedia.org. In the final round of Pecorino's defense, he also offered up two contingency names: Ewenice and Coletta (the latter he brazenly admitted stealing right off the blogger Word Verification thingie that appeared when leaving his comment).

Then we have Tana, who jumped right in, happy to show off her knowledge of sheep breeds (but who, despite the fact that she spends much of her days visiting small farms, still doesn't know what noise a sheep makes.) Tana submitted the name Rita Merino, and although I did publicly disclose Yellow 21's background here, specifically mentioning (for Tana's benefit) that Yellow 21 is not even 1% merino, she stuck by her name, popping by now and again to defend it when necessary. This was usually just when you thought she'd given up the fight--like last night at 5:44pm when a comment appeared out of nowhere saying, simply: "Ahem. Please click here!"

Next we have Lindy, who entered just one name: "Muffaletta, after the sandwich." And who came back several times to defend her entry and point out its many virtues. (We do have to agree, Lindy--it somehow actually does sound wooly.)But when it started to look as though Yellow 21 might never become a sandwich, Lindy put in a shameless appeal for the sympathy vote with this story. (Wait, you gotta go back and read the story first.)

And then there is Jeff, who lurks in the background at Culinary In The Desert, feasting on Joe's gourmet cooking and no doubt keeping the entire household in a constant state of hysterics. Jeff entered several names, but when he learned that one judge was getting a real kick out of his very first entry, Cashew, ("If you are raising her for any sort of profit-reasons....Cashew. As in...Cash-Ewe Hee hee hee!") he took the hint and ran like hell with it. At one point he even started channeling sheep. It's going to be awfully quiet around here without Jeff's witty comments peppering nearly every single post that I've put up since this contest began. He definitely outdid himself with this one.

And that brings us to The Final Three. You probably know who they are. Sam. Lisolette. Wendy. There is no way I can even begin to rekindle the competitive (and absolutely hilarious) fire that was burning here this past week--and these three were definitely the ones most responsible for fanning the flames. If you haven't been following along with the contest, I can only urge you to go back and read the comments section of the original post, especially the second half of them. Now I'll do my best to give these girls the credit they deserve.

Wendy was our latecomer, joining in the game just last week, but oh how she made up for it. She entered over 30 different names, starting with Mushmello. Then she really got on the ball--and just kept rolling. She also had me (and I'm sure many other people) rolling on the floor in fits of laughter with her wacky comments. (Don't believe me? Just try saying "Cream of Sheep" out loud with a straight face.) Wendy says she works as a barmaid, and, well, one can't help but wonder. . .

She eventually hit upon the name Marzipan, along with a bribe.

Meanwhile, there was Sam. Sam, who entered just one name: Guinevere ("aptly meaning 'fair and soft'"). Sam, who faked technical difficulties on her own blog, Becks & Posh, so she could devote more time to the contest. And she has played fair alright, but she has been anything but soft on the competition. Last week I was absolutely thrilled when I saw that there had been a record number of visitors to Farmgirl Fare--and that the previous daily high had been broken by several hundred hits. Then I discovered the truth. There were no hundreds of new readers--it was just Sam, checking in every six minutes in the hopes of finding a newly entered name to bash.

And when Liselotte first joined in by entering the name Karen, Sam was right there, ready to pounce on it. When Liselotte came back to check on her name, she saw that I had explained how I once had a sheep named Karen. She also noticed that I mentioned how I liked the name Liselotte and wondered why she hadn't entered it. And so she did.

That was when Wendy jumped on the bashing bandwagon, and things really got going. Cupcakes and accusations were flying everywhere. When Wendy accused Liselotte of really being a man named Bubba, Liselotte calmly walked into the kitchen and put her culinary and artistic skills to work. And when Liselotte demanded to see Wendy's cupcakes, Wendy explained that she had been sharpening up her sheep raising skills.

So where was Sam while all of this was going on? First she pointed out that she knew exactly who had first come up with the name Liselotte, and then she faked yet more technical difficulties (see the very believable sounding note at the end of this post)
on Becks & Posh and went off to call in a few favors from some celebrities. Meanwhile, Wendy and Lisolette made their closing remarks.

Three finalists and five strong competitors. But, of course, there can only be one Big Winner. And while we thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Wendy's wit and humor and enthusiasm, there was no denying that her final entry was, well, Marzipan Cream of Sheep. Just not quite up to par with Liselotte and Guinevere.

What to do? What to do? How to reward seven deserving players without dividing up Yellow 21 into little bits? And then it came to us.

This contest was created because it can take a while to get a name around here. In fact, there are a few other sheep roaming around without proper names--including some that were born this year and last, and thus need names that begin with an 'A' or a 'B.' (So that it would be easier for us to remember which lambs were born when, last year we decided to give all the female lambs born that year names starting with an 'A.' And this year we gave them 'B' names. That was the simple reason why no 'A' or 'B' names were allowed in the contest.)

In a flash of brilliance, we realized that we could celebrate some very deserving people--and get a few more sheep named at the same time. And so without further ado, I would like to introduce you to



Alisha! This cutie pie was born in 2004 to Doll Face, and previously known only as Green 33. Congratulations, Alisha (the person)! You have received a Special Judges Award!

Next, please meet the newly named


Brett! Brett (the person), you have been named Best Basher! Little Brett was born this spring to Auntie Rose and used to be called Green 43--though she chose to remove her eartag. Click here to see another picture of her.

Moving on, we come to a slightly older sheep. Poor Yellow 24 has spent over two years without a real name. Until now. Introducing



Taaaaanaaaaa! Congratulations Tana (the person), you have received a Special Judges Award! (Tana the sheep is a little camera shy, but we did manage to snap this picture of her as well.)

And then we have Lindy. Lindy, who knows so well that somebody has to be the fifth place winner. Lindy, you too have received a Special Judges Award. Congratulations! Now please say hello to this formerly nameless beauty,


Lindy The Chicken!

Up next is Jeff. Jeff who, even as I sit typing this, is still leaving witty comments on other Farmgirl Fare posts. What can we say? This contest just would not have been the same without nuts. Congratulations Jeff, you have been given the Laugh Out Loud Award! And, if all goes well, five months from yesterday (how's that for perfect timing?) Yellow 21 will give birth to little Cashew! And if it's a boy? Well, then it'll just be Cash. . .

And Wendy. Wendy, who, in the spirit of competition, even eartagged her husband. She really put her all into the contest, but you have to admit that many of her comments were pretty silly. But in a good way. In the same way that this pretty lady was named Silly back in 2002 when she was born to Doll Face. She has always liked her name, but she was absolutely tickled to find out that from now on she is going to be known as



Silly Wendy! Congratulations Wendy, you have been given the Artistic Genius Or Borderline Psychotic? Award! (Please click here to see Silly Wendy in a more refined pose.)

And that leaves us with Sam and Liselotte. To say this was a close call would be making a huge understatement. If this had been a horse race, it would definitely need a photo finish and a magnifying glass. Both players fought to the very end with unstoppable wit and charm and humor--and stamina. Both entered excellent names, and, really, both deserved to win.

But, once again, Yellow 21 can only have one new name. The judges were stumped. We even put the question to Yellow 21 herself, though we did not expect any help since up to this point she had not responded in the slightest to any of the names we had called her: not to Snorf, not to Tallulah, not to Patience, not even to Marzipan Cream Of Sheep. Nothing. Not a twitch. So what happened when we called out the final two names to her? Well naturally she answered to both of them.

It was back to us. We thought long and hard, and we finally figured it out. What does it all come down to in the end? Not who bakes the best cupcakes. Not who you know in high places. No, what it all comes down to in the end is Love. And while we can only assume that Sam was planning to love Yellow 21 with all of her heart, she never actually came out and said it. And Liselotte did.

Sam, we present to you the MVP Award for Most Vigilant Player. And we hope that you will be pleased to know that in 2010, when we reach the 'G' names, the softest and fairest of all the female lambs will most definitely be called Guinevere. In the meantime, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to


Becks. . .



And Posh!

Yes, we realize Becks has food all over her chin, but as a diehard foodie we figured that Sam would understand. Becks (who used to be called Green 42) was born this spring to Trixie, a triplet whose mother is Mary (Doll Face's triplet sister). Click here to see another picture of Becks.

And Posh (formerly known as Green 32) was born in 2004 to Clare, one of our oldest and dearest sheep. Click here to see another picture of And Posh.

Phew. That means all we have left to do is say Goodbye Yellow 21. . .


And Hello Liselotte!

Congratulations to you both!

And now I do believe it's time for some champagne. Thank you all so much for playing (and for your patience). This contest has truly been one of the most memorable events in my life. (No, I'm not crying. There's something in my eye. Yes, in that one, too.)

Goodnight!

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap

Now works for us. Why isn't it working for you?


I'm typing as fast as I can!

While You Wait

Yo! What in the world is taking so long? Hel-lo? We're being seriously neglected over here!

Okay, so not everyone is anxiously awaiting the announcement of Yellow 21's new name. But many of you are, as evidenced by the flurry of zany comments that came in yesterday while I was attempting to type up the final contest post. If you're looking for something to occupy your time until the Big Moment, click here to read them. And be sure to click on the names of the commenters to find out just who (or what) was visiting the farm. It was quite a day.

Oh, and don't worry Vickie; you weren't the only one who was impersonated yesterday. It was all done in good fun, I'm sure. But of course I would never point fingers at anyone.

Daily Farm Photo 10/21/05: Last BLT of the Season

Local Bacon, Garden Tomatoes, Freshly Baked Farmhouse White

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the well fed foodie farm blog where I savored every delicious bite.

Notification Of An Overnight Delay

That's It. We're Outta Here.

Please accept my sincere apologies. I'm afraid that Yellow 21 is going to have to wait just a little bit longer for her new name. Thanks so much for your patience and understanding. Please check back tomorrow to find out who the lucky winner is!

Notification Of A Definite Delay

Now What?!

The storm has passed and everything is still up and running. Just one little glitch: a few moments ago my entire post, except for the first couple of sentences, vanished from the face of the blogosphere. It's going to take me a little while to reconstruct. Thanks for your patience.

Notification Of Possible Delay

Are you kidding me!?

I'm sure everything will be fine, but I felt I should warn you (while I can still get online) that we are in the middle of a fierce thunderstorm--and you know what that can mean.

I am typing as fast as I can and hope to announce the winner of the Name That Sheep contest later tonight. Until then, please keep hooves and fingers crossed that the power and phone don't get knocked out. (Already blogger is doing some very strange things--like making entire freshly typed posts disappear.) Thanks for your patience and understanding. Now please excuse me while I check on Dan and round up some very soggy sheepsies.

P.S. No, this is not a 'fake' emergency I invented just to buy myself some more time. Though I may have to resort to that later. There have been an incredible number of interruptions today. . .

Sweating It Out

Yellow 21 and her mother, Doll Face, are anxiously awaiting the final decision of the judges. . .


You're Not Going To Choose Something Really Weird, Are You?

The winner of the Name That Sheep Contest will be announced tonight!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/20/05

My Favorite View Wears Autumn Well

To see it in July, August, and September, click here and here and here.

Scenery While Out Shopping Yesterday

Daily Farm Photo: 10/19/05

More Fall Color And That Handmade Fence

Daily Farm Photo: 10/18/05

Look Up, Look Down, Look All Around--Always

Chocolate Babycakes: Easy Little Cupcakes Made From My Emergency Chocolate Cake Recipe

For Small But Serious Chocolate Cake Emergencies

According to The Stores Out There, the holiday baking season is already upon us--and we are woefully ill-equipped to handle it. We all have our weaknesses. Some girls fall prey to expensive clothes. Others own 45 pairs of totally impractical shoes. And there are those who cannot live without 'just one more' designer handbag. I lose control in the kitchenware section. This is a dangerous time of year for me.

Captivating displays of shiny accessories stacked 12 feet high shimmer in the blazing glow of overhead flourescent lights. I stand there mesmerized, mid-aisle, blocking traffic, swept up into my own little fantasy world full of all the Wonderful Things I could make if only these items were part of my culinary arsenal. They beckon to me. And then they begin to look vaguely familiar. I am knocked out of my mouth-watering reverie by the realization that I bought half of these things last year. (Or was it two years ago?) They are sitting, never used and (until this moment) completely forgotten, in the dark recesses of my pantry.

Everyone knows that it is difficult to rationalize buying more of (or an upgraded version of) whatever it is you desire when you don't even use what you already own. There are, of course, sneaky ways around this, but the virtuous thing to do is to simply put your previous purchases into action. This means, though, that you must have the knowledge, not only of their existence, but of their location in your home. I'm not real good at this part. I am constantly amazed by the things I come across tucked here and there that, at some time or other, I bought (and obviously thought I needed). And so it was with great surprise that I recently found myself helped out in this area by yet another of my weaknesses.

I was in a state of Chocolate Cake Emergency. Unlike a generic chocolate emergency--when anything from a Snickers Bar to a spoonful of fudge sauce will do--nothing will cure this one except a piece of chocolate cake. I wrote all about this condition in this post, which also includes a lifesaving recipe.

Usually in a situation like this, one loses all ability to think clearly. Actually, one loses all ability to think of absolutely anything except getting one's hands on some chocolate cake. But the other day was different, and I must give credit to The Chocolate Force. It is out there, and it is very, very real. Its influence usually has me frantically tearing into a bag of chocolate chips and practically pouring them down my throat because they are the quickest source of chocolate I can get my hands on. But not this time.

I already had my simple Emergency Chocolate Cake recipe and my newly purchased (not on impulse) electric hand mixer at the ready. But I was craving more than just a plain hunk of cake. Suddenly I remembered the mini muffin pan still in its original wrapper in the pantry. And while blindly grasping around the cupboard for the cocoa powder, an unopened package of mini muffin papers decorated with cute little flowers jumped into my hand. Then when it turned out I had extra cake batter left after filling the muffin pan, I walked straight over to yet another never-before-used pan languishing on a dusty shelf in the pantry. I was obviously acting under some influence other than my own. The Chocolate Force was with me. On the spur of the moment, I created a delicious new buttercream frosting and even managed to scrounge up a few tablespoons of mini chocolate chips that had miraculously been spared during some previous chocolate crisis.

Ta dah! Ten minutes in the oven, and the delicious little darlings pictured above were born--and immediately shot straight to the top of my favorites list. And not only that, but when I head Out There tomorrow for a day of running around, I know that I will be able to hold my head high and my hands out as I enter the kitchenware section. I have put my previous purchases to good use, and I have plenty of extra space in the back of the pantry. I am ready.

Farmgirl Susan's Chocolate Babycakes
With Mocha Buttercream Frosting
This is the same recipe I used to make my Emergency Chocolate Cake; I just baked it in different pans (and added frosting). As always, I urge you to use organic ingredients if at all possible. The frosting does add a little extra work, but you could always make it ahead of time (perhaps a double batch), keep it in the fridge or freezer, and just spread individual cupcakes with frosting as necessary. You can omit the espresso powder if you prefer plain chocolate buttercream. I think these taste better the next day; the cake has more flavor, and the frosting is mellower (but you can eat the cake warm if you need to). The mini muffin cups measure 1-1/4" across the bottom, 2" across the top, and are about 1" deep.



The cake batter is thick, so I used this small scoop to fill the cups. It worked really well. As you can see, I also baked some without the paper liners. I wasn't sure if the cake would stick to the papers or not. They didn't stick at all, and they came out taller and cuter using the papers. Although this is a non-stick pan, I oiled the cups without the papers using canola oil spread with a paper towel. They popped right out.


Not Quite As Adorable, But Just As Yummy

This recipe made 24 mini cupcakes and three of these baby loaves. They measure 3-1/2" x 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" deep.


Serves One To Three, Depending On Size Of Emergency

Cake
1/2 cup (1 stick/4 ounces) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup yogurt or sour cream (or a combination)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, alternating with yogurt. Beat just until smooth. Turn batter into prepared pans. Bake mini muffin size 10 minutes and baby loaf size 15 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean. Do not overbake. Cool in pan. Frost cooled cakes and top with mini chocolate chips or sprinkles if desired.

Mocha Buttercream Frosting
1/4 cup (1/2 stick, 2 ounces) butter, softened
1/4 cup (about 3 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted (or not)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
About 1 Tablespoon milk

Melt chocolate chips and a small amount of the butter in the microwave. In a small bowl, beat remaining butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla, then cocoa powder, espresso powder, melted chocolate, and enough milk to make desired consistency.

Still hungry?
You'll find all of my Less Fuss, More Flavor sweet and savory recipes in the sidebar of the Farmgirl Fare homepage.

© Copyright 2005 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres - and we sometimes eat chocolate cake for breakfast.

Daily Farm Photo 10/17/05: Fall Color By The Barn

Not Everything Happens Slowly In The Country

Click here to see this same view just ten days ago.

Last Call To Name That Sheep!

She Keeps Hiding Her Ear Tag From The Camera

We're getting down to the wire. The Secret Panel Of Judges is eating, drinking, and sleeping sheep names. Yellow 21 is all atwitter. (And Big Chip is so jealous of the extra attention I am giving her that every time I get near him, he puts his ears back as if he is getting ready to charge at me, gives me an amazingly dirty look, and demands that I give him a hug.)

The Big Winner and Yellow 21's brand new name (along with a surprise or two) are going to be announced on Thursday afternoon or evening, right here on Farmgirl Fare. Why the wait? The judges are taking their job very seriously. They are carefully reviewing the nearly 150 comments you have left during the contest, and they do not want to miss a single thing. Then, once the winning name is decided, there are photos that will need to be taken, the post to write, etc. etc. Do you think The Academy chooses all those award winning movies and then announces them the very next night? Of course not. So you'll just have to be patient for a little while longer.

In the meantime, it is not too late to join in the fun and Name That Sheep. You have until Tuesday afternoon to enter a new name, defend a name you've already entered, or tell us why everybody else's names should not be chosen.

Or, if you simply need a reason to smile, go back and read through some of the comments. I guarantee you'll be laughing out loud even before you reach the 'Cream of Sheep' entry. And things have been getting pretty heated lately. No holds barred--some people really want this sheep! Click here to read the original Name That Sheep Contest post (where most of the entries are). There are also some good laughs to be had in the comments section of this follow up post. (As well as the reason why no 'A' and 'B' names are allowed.)

Thank you for all your enthusiasm and support. I'm overwhelmed. I have been having so much fun with this contest, and I sure hope you have, too. And if anyone happens to be counting all of the sheep names submitted, please let me know the total number you've come up with. Thanks.

Weekend Dog Blogging #5: Evening Roundup

Checking For Stragglers

They're All Here! What's Our Next Job?

Lucky Buddy Bear is half Australian Shepherd and half English Shepherd. He loves his sheep!

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging!
If you'd like to see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup and links to this week's participants. We'd love to have you join us. Just post your pup and e-mail the permalink to Sweetnicks.

Daily Farm Photo 10/16/05: It's A Hard Rock Life For Us

Part Of My 'Good Rocks' Pile (Yes, I Collect Rocks)

I have found plenty of nice ones, but this is the rock I have been drooling over for five long years. I pass it every day on my walk through the woods, and I always pause for a split second to imagine it down on the farm. Too bad it probably weighs two thousand pounds and is located on the ridge road 400 feet above us. But a girl can dream, can't she? Maybe someday I'll figure out how to get it down here. Until then, at least I don't have to be too worried about anyone stealing it out from under me.

Saturday Dose of Cute: Weekend Cat Blogging

New Cat Loves Lounging On The Roof Of My Car

© Copyright FarmgirlFare.com, the furry foodie farm blog where this guy really blends.

Uncle Dan

Faithful Protector—Or Bored Beyond Belief?

So here's what's been going on. Leopold, our strapping young ram, is in the middle of, well, his One And Only Job. And he doesn't like other boys around while he's, um, working. So last Monday morning seven little wethers moved away from their mothers and in with Donkey Doodle Dandy.

It sounded like such an easy, this-should-be-no-problem-we'll-be-done-before-you-know-it kind of task: simply transport a few cute little sheep from the barn to a large pen about 25 feet away. Yeah, right. One should never assume anything is going to be easy when livestock are involved.

The first lamb escaped right out of the barn and was not apprehended until that evening. The remaining six (who were by then absolutely terrified) were chased, grabbed at, yelled at, tackled, captured, harnessed, pushed, shoved, cajoled, dragged, and flat out carried over to Dan and their new home away from home. The only thing more embarrassing than admitting how long it took to do this little job is admitting how whupped the two of us were once it was finally completed.

Then there was my brilliant idea. We could put the older, wiser, one-year-old Teddy in with the frightened young wethers to make them feel more comfortable. Perfect! And not only did Joe think my plan was an excellent one, he actually validated the existence of my useless, sweet, orphaned, never going to be eaten because he truly believes that I am his mother, pet wether by giving him a purpose in life.

"We could do this every year. This could be Teddy's job, staying with the scared young wethers when we separate them out." Yes!

"Like a lambsitter?"

"Like Uncle Teddy!"

And so wise, unafraid, comforting (and much larger) Teddy was also dragged across the road to begin his important new job as Fearless Role Model.

Fast forward a few hours. Joe announces he is going to walk down and check on Dan and the boys. A long time passes. Too much time. Enough time that I assume there is obviously some sort of problem.

I walk outside and find Joe working on a project in the farmyard.

"Is everybody okay?"

"Yes, but you won't believe this. Teddy escaped!"

"Uncle Teddy?"

"Terrible Teddy! Right over the fence--he practically cleared it. I only found a tiny piece of wool stuck to it. I'm still in shock. What a disappointment."

"Do you think we should put him back in with the boys?"

"Why? So he can show them all how to escape?"

Anyway, it's been six days now, and everyone else has calmed down and is still where they're supposed to be. The devastated mothers have completely recovered from having their children torn from their sides, and Dan and his little charges appear to be getting along. Dan is a social creature, and he enjoys company of any kind. For the first few days either he was stuck to the boys like glue, or they were stuck to him (it was hard to tell), but now they're spending more and more time apart. Again, I'm not sure whose decision this was.


Dan Always Sounds Exactly The Same: Very, Very Loud

It is difficult to know just what Dan is thinking. He is unlike any other animal I have known. The first time he let loose with that amazingly energetic bray of his, I was afraid that the world was ending and/or that my darling new donkey was about to explode. I have recently been put in charge of locating a Getting To Know Your Donkey book. This should help a lot. I am sure somebody has published one, as there seem to be books written about taking care of practically anything. We own books on the care and feeding of creatures we do not even (and probably never will) possess: ducks, bees, roses. (Dreamy ambitions and reality are rarely one and the same on a farm.)

I'll let you know if I find a book and figure anything out. Until then, well, we can only hope that Donkey Doodle Dandy is getting a kick out of living here. I know I sure am.

© Copyright 2005 FarmgirlFare.com, the foodie farm blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/15/05

Dan's Opinion Of His New Charges

Daily Farm Photo: 10/14/05

Dan & His New Charges

You still have time to enter the Name That Sheep Contest!
You could win a sheep!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/13/05

Autumn From A Different Angle

You still have time to enter the Name That Sheep Contest!
You could win a sheep!

Fallen Behind

Catching Up On Farmgirl Fare
It's been a discombobulated sort of autumn around here so far, and I'm feeling a bit scattered. Some comments (and people) and various other things have managed to fall through the cracks lately (mostly while I was away), so I thought I'd try to do a little hodgepodge of catching up here.

First of all, I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to all the new visitors to Farmgirl Fare. And if you've been stopping by for a while but have just started leaving comments, I thank you for taking the time to write. I pride myself on personally welcoming everyone to the farm, but I know I have missed some of you lately. Your feedback (both positive and negative) is a valuable and entertaining part of this blog. I really love hearing what you think, answering your questions, and just getting to know you. As you know, I don't get around to writing a whole lot of text-filled posts, but I feel that the comments sections of the daily photos often turn into informative and amusing mini posts themselves.

Name That Sheep Contest Update
The Secret Panel of Judges has been hard at work trying to choose a name for Yellow 21. Your response has been overwhelming; the judges don't have a clue how they're going to pick just one name. (But they are having almost too much fun with this.) The winner (along with a surprise or two) will probably be announced Monday, so you still have time to enter a new name, go back and defend your previous entry, or bash some other names you feel are totally inappropriate. Click here to meet Yellow 21 and learn more about how you can win a sheep.

Book Swap
Last summer, Amy at the wonderful Beauty Joy Food hosted the first ever BJF book swap, and it was a great success. Click here to read the round-up, and click here to find out how you can join in on the fun with Book Swap 2. Sign-ups are going on now.

E-Mailing Me
I know some of you have hunted around Farmgirl Fare trying to find my e-mail address, but it isn't currently posted anywhere. Here it is: farmgirlfare at gmail dot com.

The Pita Project
I know many of you are already familiar with the saga I now (that it is over) refer to as The Pita Project. If you are not, and you like pita bread, click here to read more. It has been wonderful hearing from so many of you who were inspired to make your own pitas after reading about my adventures.

There are also a few recently added comments and questions to the pita post that I would like to respond to:

Beejay, Welcome to the farm! I enjoyed hearing how you made yeastless pitas. Bernard Clayton (whose recipe I used) did say that the steam is what makes them puff so it makes sense that they worked. Sounds like you had a delicious pita party!

Tabehodai, Welcome to the farm to you, too! I would definitely be interested in baking something together, as we both have a DeLonghi Convection Oven, though mine is rather small. I mostly use it to heat up bread or leftover pizza or bake pita chips and pita pizzas. (The link above is to a new model that is identical to mine only larger; it'll hold a 12-inch pizza. I think I may have to trade up.)

Regarding your (not stupid) questions: when you are baking pizza in any kind of oven, you want to bake it directly on the hot stone (or tiles). Let the stone heat up as the oven heats up, and be sure to give it enough time to get very hot (up to an hour in a conventional size oven, less time in a small toaster/convection oven). Never put a cold stone into a hot oven or it may crack.

I wrote more about using baking stones and tiles in the following posts:
Bread Bakers, Start Your Ovens!
Three Onion & Three Cheese Pizza
and Loving Leftover Pizza

Elizabeth, congratulations on making your own pitas. I appreciate your suggestion that I add "let the dough double in size in a draft-free place" to the recipe, but I'm going to leave it as it is since I actually let the dough "rest" for a set period of time (30 minutes) rather than until it doubled in size (which it didn't in the 30 minutes). Also, between the half dozen fans on full blast throughout the summer and the frigid air blowing into our very old house during the winter, I don't think I've ever let any dough rise in a completely draft-free place!

Kitchen Mage, you mentioned using pre-ferments (sponges or starters). I didn't come across any pita recipes that used them, but of course I was too scared to do a pita google search (or I'd probably still be making pitas). I do know that I have tossed a cup of my four year old sourdough starter (straight from the fridge) into everything from Farmhouse White bread to pizza dough, always with positive results. (I never make pizza dough without it now.) This idea has me intrigued; the next time I make pitas, I'll add a cup of starter to the mix and let you know what happens.

You also asked about pairing wine and pitas. I'm no expert, so I'll just give a few brief, personal suggestions. Red wine with pita pizzas. White or red wine with pita chips, depending on the flavor of the chips and your taste. And with warm, unadorned, unpuffed pitas hot from the oven? Champagne!

Summer Harvest Soup For Fall
Last month I posted this recipe for Simple Summer Harvest Soup (made with sweet red peppers and summer squash) which Alanna then featured at A Veggie Venture. Last week Alanna found herself unable to resist the bargain 25-cent sweet red peppers at her local farmer's market, so she once again turned to my recipe for inspiration. However, she managed to come up with this totally different soup (that sounds delicious). Sweet peppers and squash are still readily available in many places (like sitting on my kitchen counter), so it's not too late to try one of our versions--or to improvise and come up with your own. If you do, I'd love to hear about it.

Getting Yourself A Little Donkey
No, I am not holding a contest to give away Dan. Are you crazy? But I know that after seeing pictures and hearing about him, there are at least a few of you out there (like Jamie) who are now hankering to share your life with your own dandy little four-hooved friend.

Unfortunately, Jamie, you are going about this all wrong. You say that you "keep showing my significant other your lovely photos of Donkey Doodle Dandy and telling him I want one of my own, but so far he is resisting the idea." Okay, while I do admire your "I will win eventually" attitude, I fear you have a very, very long wait ahead of you. That is unless you do one simple thing: Take delivery of the donkey while you are home alone. That is what I did, and I plan to do it again just as soon as I find a suitably adorable girlfriend for Dan.

A picture is one thing. The actual donkey is something else entirely. Resistance will be useless. Plus, what is the unenthusiastic naysayer going to do? Your new donkey is already happily ensconced in the backyard! Call someone to haul it away? I don't think so. I hope some of you find this advice helpful. And please don't forget to send me pictures of your new donkeys.

(P.S. When you think about it, this strategy could probably work with all kinds of things besides donkeys. . .)

Coming Up
I had an anonymous request for my homemade pesto recipe and will hopefully be posting it in the next week, along with some information on the types of basil I grow.

And I haven't forgotten that ages ago I promised to share the recipe for my Oatmeal Toasting Bread. I just wanted to give you enough time to familiarize yourself with the Ten Tips For Better Bread first so that your loaves will come out perfect on the first try. Has everyone found a wooden dough bowl?

I also have a pile of half-written posts and a whole stack of other ideas and stories in my head. Some of my favorite cold weather and holiday recipes should be making appearances, too. Of course, all these plans could be waylaid by something totally unexpected. It's happened once or twice before. But you can be sure that whatever does transpire, there will never be a dull moment (and there will probably be pictures). I sure hope you'll join me.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/12/05

I'm Addicted To Our Daily Walks Through The Woods

You still have time to enter the Name That Sheep Contest!
You could win a sheep!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/11/05

Into The Mist

It's not too late to enter the Name That Sheep Contest!
You could win a sheep!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/10/05

Haybarn & A Hint Of Color

It's not too late to enter the Name That Sheep Contest!
You could win a sheep!

Weekend Dog Blogging #4

It's About Time Weekend Cat Blogging Ended

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging!
If you'd like to see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete round-up and links to this week's participants. Weekend Dog Blogging is only in its fourth week, but it's taking off faster than Lucky Buddy Bear chasing after poor New Cat!

Have you entered the Name That Sheep Contest yet?
You could win a sheep!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/9/05

Weekend, Work, Wood, Warmth


Have you entered the Name That Sheep Contest yet?
You could win a sheep!

Weekend Cat Blogging #18

Where Did All These Cats Come From?

Attention Cat Lovers! It's time for Weekend Cat Blogging #18!
Food Bloggers around the world unite each week and share pictures of our favorite felines. See cute cat photos and discover yummy food blogs. We'd love to have you join us. Just leave me your blog name, URL, and permalink (with a Weekend Cat Blogging tag) in a comment.

Below are links to this week's entries as the regular WCB hosts, the wild and crazy Kiri and his slave, Clare, at Eat Stuff in Sydney, Australia are in the middle of moving and their online access is iffy. Clare did have a chance to put up a WCB photo of Kiri this week--being naughty again!

Also check out:
Rima at Les Carnets de Marie in Paris
The sticky situation that Muse got herself into at Tarzile.com
Pekoe at Belly-Timber in Washington
Bella & Tasha at A Few Of My Favourite Things
The dueling kitties at Masak-Masak in Malaysia (and the link to an important SPCA petition that can be signed by anyone in the world)
Darling Glinda at Anne's Food in Sweden
Ike on display at Restaurant Widow in Columbus, Ohio
Houdini Watching For The Neighbor Kittens at Middle-Fork
Eleven year old Nepal at Le Sens du Gout
Tigger at Look Hunny, I Cooked in The Netherlands
The cute kitty monsters at Rosa's Yummy Yums in Switzerland
Chelsea & Spencer at Je Mange La Ville in Portland, Oregon
Romeo loving the mohair at Basic Juice
Agnes at Kayak Soup in Vancouver, British Columbia
Miss Kitty at Culinary In The Desert in Arizona
Little Toejam & Earl at So Cal Foodie in their first WCB pics
The Unnamed Usurper at Kitchen Mage in Washington
The nameless little stray at Indy Foodie in Indiana
The double dose of cuteness at The Food Pornographer
Tigger at Too Much To Love
Happy Tsar at Cook & Eat in Australia
Lovely Lolita in patchwork style at Les Gamelles d'Emmanuele
Sweet Luke surrounded by blogging dogs at Sweetnicks in New Jersey
Neo the freckle-nosed mouser at Earth Home Garden in California


Meanwhile, have you entered the Name That Sheep Contest yet?
You could win a sheep!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/8/05

First Fall Lettuce & Few Final Tomatoes

First fire in the woodstove last night (so cozy!).
First frost outside this morning.

Have you entered the Name That Sheep Contest yet?
You could win a sheep!

Grab Your Camera & Your Cat

Portrait Of Patchy Cat

The 18th edition of Weekend Cat Blogging starts tomorrow, and it's being hosted at Farmgirl Fare. Kiri and his slave, Clare, at Eat Stuff in Australia are usually in charge of this fun feline event, but they are busy moving into a lovely new home this weekend and have limited internet access.

The cats and I were tickled when Clare asked us to help out. So if you're one of those people who has been meaning to join us but just never gets around to it, now is the time! Snap a pussycat pic and post it pronto. Then leave me a comment with your blog name, URL, and permalink with a Weekend Cat Blogging tag added to your post (if, unlike me, you actually know what that means).

Not a cat person? Weekend Dog Blogging starts on Sunday!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/7/05

Settling In

You Still Have Time To Name That Sheep!

Yellow 21---But Not For Much Longer

Wow! I am absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible response to the First Ever Farmgirl Fare Name That Sheep Contest. I had no idea how many people out there want a sheep to call their very own. And it is really wonderful to hear from all of you new visitors. Welcome! Yellow 21 (who was kind enough to pose for these new photos just moments ago) is thrilled by all the attention, and The Secret Panel Of Judges is having a great time sifting through the dozens and dozens of entries. You have certainly come up with some interesting, innovative, often hysterical, and, well, truly unique names!

Because we want to give careful consideration to each and every entry (and because we are also sort of swamped by farm duties after being away), it is going to be a few days before The Big Winner is announced.

In the meantime, new entries (or comments stating why other suggested names should not be chosen) are still welcome. And as per your request, I also have a little more information for you about our girl--as well as these up-to-the-minute photos.


A Good Sheep Knows To Stay Alert When Out In The Field



Yellow 21 And Her Mother, Doll Face

Yellow 21 was born sometime between 9:00pm Sunday, March 23rd and 2:00am Monday, March 24th in 2003 to Doll Face (one of my oldest and favorite ewes). At 9:00pm I knew Doll Face was fairly close to giving birth, and so I put her in a bonding pen for the night. When I went down to check on her at 2:00am, she was busy taking care of her healthy, newborn twins.

Doll Face's father was a black Border Leicester named The Count, and her mother was a Finn cross named Ulla (after Ulla Procope, a Finnish potter; at that time all sheep were being named after early 20th century female potters).

Yellow 21's father was a large, friendly Hampshire ram named Big Boy.

In late February of this year, Yellow 21 gave birth to the first lamb of the season, an adorable girl named Babs (or Babsie).

And a few miscellaneous comments:

The original contest photos of Yellow 21 were fairly dark because I took them in the barn. I am wondering if the people who suggested names such as Cocoa and Chocolat are thinking she is a brown sheep. She is actually (dirty) white with a dark greyish face. My apologies for any confusion. (And your entries will still be considered no matter what color you thought she was.)

If you really, really want to win this sheep, you might want to read through the entries again, as I noticed some people voted for names that had already been suggested (Alisha, this would be you). Or you can stick with your original vote and realize that you may only win half a sheep. I know I didn't list the past and present names of all my sheep, but I will quickly mention that I already have a sheep named Mary (she is Doll Face's triplet sister), and one of the sheep in my original flock was a wonderful Rambouillet named Gertie (short for Gertrude). Oh, and Molly Doodle absolutely refuses to allow a sheep to be named after her.

And just one last thing. You know those obnoxious recipe contests where they claim complete ownership of your recipe even if you don't win? Yep, well, I'm doing that. This means I can use any of your entries to name any of my sheep without even giving you credit (which of course you know I would never do) and without giving you the actual sheep (which I may or may not do).

Good luck, and I sure hope everyone is having as much fun as I am naming that sheep!

Click here to read the contest rules and the dozens of names already submitted.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/6/05

There Is Absolutely, Positively, No Place Like Home

I'm baaaaack!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/5/05

I Know Better Than To Expect A Warm Welcome From This One

Note: Farmgirl has left the farm. Back on Thursday!
Have you Named That Sheep yet?

Daily Farm Photo: 10/4/05

Do You Think Donkey Doodle Dandy Misses Me?

Note: Farmgirl has left the farm. Back on Thursday!
Have you Named That Sheep yet?

Daily Farm Photo 10/3/05

Winter Food For Sheep Or Giant Dog Fort?

Note: Farmgirl has left the farm. Back on Thursday!
Have you Named That Sheep yet?

Weekend Dog Blogging #3

Robin Sitting Pretty

Note: Farmgirl has left the farm. Back on Thursday!
Have you Named That Sheep yet?

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging!
If you'd like to see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete round-up and links to participants. Weekend Dog Blogging is only in its third week, but it's taking off faster than a beagle hot on the trail of a squirrel!

Daily Farm Photo: 10/2/05

Where Sheep Sleep

Note: Farmgirl has left the farm. Back on Thursday!
Have you Named That Sheep yet?

WCB #1

Yo! Listen up everybody!

That's right, it's me, Whitey. And I've had it up to here with this Weekend Cat Blogging. For 17 weeks you've all been bouncing around the blogosphere, ooohing and ahhhing and cooing and going absolutely gaga over each others' useless balls of fluff. How boring is that? Enough already! It's pathetic. And I, for one, am sick of it. I mean, just look down there. 'I Heart Patchy Cat.' Oh, puh-lease. Have you ever seen a chicken throw up? Well, let me tell you, it isn't pretty.

Favoritism, that's what this is. And now even the dogs have joined in. The dogs! This is getting ridiculous. So I've decided that while the servant girl is away, I am going to take control.

Oh, it's still WCB alright. Yeah, Weekend Chicken Blogging! Time to admire and celebrate a beautiful, useful animal for a change!

Oh, and comments please! I'd better get at least as many comments as furface down there, or, or, well. . . I'll come up with something, and believe me, it'll be bad.

Okay, so how do I look?

Weekend Cat Blogging #17

I Heart Patchy Cat


Have you Named That Sheep yet?


Attention Cat Lovers! It's time for Weekend Cat Blogging #17!

Food Bloggers around the world unite each week and share pictures of our favorite felines. See cute cat photos and discover yummy food blogs. You'll find all the links to this week's entries here at Eat Stuff in Australia (run by the adorable Kiri). We'd love to have you join us. Just send your permalink in a comment to Clare (Kiri's slave) at Eat Stuff and add a "Weekend Cat Blogging" tag to your post.

Daily Farm Photo: 10/1/05

I Wonder If Anyone Has Noticed I'm Gone

Have you Named That Sheep yet?