Farmgirl Friday # 39 and WHATS NEW for 2012

 

 Welcome back to  the Farmgirl Friday blog hop; our first of 2012! 

When I started this hop way back when I had no idea how much I would come to love it! You are all so inspiring to me and I thank you all for all you share each week!

 I want to introduce you to our newest Sister in Blogging and my ( 300th follower) Becky Neville from Thoughts from a Daughter of the King blog. She is brand new to blogging, so after you link up today, head on over and shout out a howdy to Becky and welcome her to blogging and our sisterhood! 

What's new for Dandelion House in 2012? 

I feel so grateful for the community of kind and talented blog friends I have made and I want us all to know each other better so I'll be introducing you to your new Sisters in Blogging as I meet them from here on out! If ever there was a supportive and giving group of people you can always count on to inspire, bring a smile, lend a hand or give a virtual hug it is bloggers! Don't you agree? 

I also plan to take the Sponsor my Blog leap and ask for the support of like minded bloggers, crafter's and sustainable living advocates to put their hard earned dollars here! I love the idea of sharing new products or services with you that will help you in your journey to coming home. 

Finally, Missy of Graceful Little Honey Bee blog posted a recipe that I just had to try when I made a big pot of southern pinto beans last week. If you missed it, you must try her Sweet Southern Cornbread! I did and it was wonderful! I know I'll come back to it again and again!  Missy, if you're reading today, thanks, it was de-lish!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl Friday blog hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

 I'm looking forward to a wonderful year of growing and sharing in blogging sisterhood!

I'm Scattering Dream Seeds over on the MJFBeachfarmgirl blog! Come on by to see what I'm planting!

 

Scrap Stone Patio FINITO

 It's been a long time coming! Those of you who've been following for a year or more have seen snippets of this project from time to time. Today we are happy to tell you that after three years of picking away at our UP-cycled  Scrap Stone Patio my handsome Yankee can finally check this big project off of his list! He has worked for an international stone importer/retailer for the last ten years and being drawn to dumpsters the way he is, he came up with the idea for using scrap pieces of granite normally used for counter tops, kitchen islands and bathroom vanities as a patio surface. Fabricators have loads ( literally ) of scrap stone they have to dispose of each week and they were happy to see it go to good use.

The stone was free but what a laborious job! He was out there whenever he had spare time picking away at his project.

 Here he is last winter working on the rock retaining wall with a fire going and hot coffee at the ready!

 Here you can see the stone dust he laid down for the slab pieces as well as the rocks for proper drainage underneath the stone wall. 

Pennsylvania Fieldstone

Getting close to the end of  laying the stone.

Because our patio is a large circle each edge piece had to be cut to size to fit the curve.

 

 The over all design is random because each slab piece varies in colors ranging from gray, charcoal, tan, brown, red and black. Because the scraps were left over from large slab pieces cut for inside jobs most of it is polished on one side to bring out the colors in the granite.



 In this outside application the pieces were turned over so the underside is the surface. We love the look of it this way and it's not slippery when wet!

Here is our Council Ring Patio this fall after a light rain. 

Now, I can dream up what to plant around it to soften the edges ( isn't that just what we girls do ) of his wonderful project. The Yankees got SKILLS! In other words, my FARMBOY ROCKS!

I'm thinking about adding pink or red Knock Out roses above the wall. What do you think ?

 

COST: The most expensive part of this project was the wall. We used almost two full pallets of stone to build the rock wall. $550.00 delivered
Stone dust and gravel : 150.00 delivered 

The Saw: Boz purchased the saw at a used tools place for $40.00 and bought two additional wet saw blades for $20.00 each. 

 Additional Supplies: Sound Proof Headphones, Knee Pads and a Face Mask.  

A patio of this size  " retail " could cost up to 12,000 dollars in our area. Walkways, garden pathways and small sitting areas outdoors would be great places for Scrap Stone too! If you like this idea, find your local Stone Fabricators and pay them a visit. They just might be willing to let go of some scrap stone for you too!

I think you all need to come over for a big garden party to celebrate!  

Linking to this weeks Barn Hop!  

Exciting news over there... Be sure to dosado on over for more great homesteading posts! 

Heidi of My Simple Country Living blog is hosting a new blog hop for gardeners too!

Southern Style Country Breakfast

 Backyard FARM FRESH Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Cheddar Cheese, Home Fries, and Biscuits with Strawberry Jam

 What better way to start off a New Year than with an old fashioned breakfast? 

When I was growing up we often had a big southern style country breakfast on the weekends. My dad was a Texan and the kitchen was his on Saturday mornings. He loved cooking home fries and a big batch of scrambled eggs with biscuits and bacon or ham on the side. I couldn't wait for those Saturday southern breakfasts and I love to re-create them for my family now a days when Boz isn't in the kitchen on the weekends! 

Our home fries are red potatoes cut  into bite size pieces and fried with the skins on. I like the rustic appearance and the taste too! I salt and pepper them while I'm frying and again one more time right before serving. They'll keep warm in the oven, but they taste best served immediately! Timing is everything with a country breakfast! 

I cheated and made biscuits from a can for this breakfast but they aren't hard to make from scratch. 

Have you tried MaryJanes Budget Mix?   It comes in gluten free, unbleached white and wheat. So good and GOOD FOR YOU too! 

  Stay tuned for more country breakfasts coming your way!  I guess we are gonna eat our way through another New England winter and we might as well do it together! 

What's your favorite weekend country breakfast? Share it in an upcoming Farmgirl Friday Hop or leave us a note on the kitchen door! 

Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true!