Taking Pics for the Website and More Updates from #9 Farms and this Weekends Event

Hello and a big welcome. If you had noticed my flipflopsandpoptarts.com website was down for several days and OH MY GARSH what a MESS! None of it was simple Bruce and I both spent days on the phone everyone we talked with sending us from one provider to the next....from Google, to Icann, to all the providers of the website......finally there was this one guy named Brian and He IS a SHINING STAR! He and another assistant were able to fix the problem that more than 10+ people and hours on the phone couldn't do. So Bravo Brian! If you didn't see it down then no biggie you didn't miss anything...We went to the Smithfield Farmers Vendor Appreciation dinner last night and it was very nice, super awesome to see the other vendors and chit chat for a bit. See the numbers for the year which improved nicely from he year before at our motto of the year "steady as she goes" Everyone seemed to be doing well and we picked up our new applications for the 2020 year. The first market is one on March 14 which will also be the same day as the St. Patricks Day Parade. So get your green out and ready to see all our smiling faces at the March 14  Smithfield Farmers Market behind the BSV Bank on Main Street in Smithfield Virginia. Then Grand Opening day will be April 04, 2020 we will not be there that day as we have the Daffodil Festival in Gloucester Virginia. The times will be 9-12 Saturdays for the Smithfield Farmers Market. 

My neighbor brought over the Girl Scout cookie sheet and of course the boys wanted me to order one of each and some more than one of each.  We did Girl Scouts for 15 years and our troop took some amazing trips from selling cookies one year when Colby was born Alexis was one of the Councils top sales girls. I was even the Service Unit Cookie Chair for many years and the counties cookie cupboard too. So PLEASE do remember the girls this year when you are out and about or they come to your jobs, community centers etc. I have also been working on getting some of the other shows ready for the year. That is a job in itself for sure. Like when I make posts it takes days to get them done....I can only sit for so long for one I got to keep busy. Plus as you know so much work here. 

We were checking on all the bees yesterday midday and I pulled out one frame o honey just to see where they were in the middle of winter. Look at that beautiful sight. It looks so wonderful.....of course in the process I got a few fiends to land and help me with that frame. 

A video on some of our bees in the bee yard up by the high tunnel 

Yum Yum! The sweet taste of honey.........Love 

One of my handmade beeswax candles. Look at the bee getting ready to land on the beeswax candle. Note the white on the candle that is the beeswax "bloom" a note that its pure beeswax. 

The elderberry bushes are starting to bloom already yay! 

I love pouring my Buddha candle and it sells right regular, which in turn makes me so happy. 

So our market manager wants pics of everything we do and those of you who know me, know this is all the real deal....we make our soaps, we make our pickles, our jams, we make all our products except the essential oils...and I said to my customers I went that route before and there is no way I can do that. 

you can watch my video in my certified kitchen of the pickle making 

cinnamon pickles which are always a HUGE hit 

bread and butter 

The are the Polish Dills with yummy garlic 

Bread and butter out of the canners 

They are always so pretty and taste like candy oh so yummy

These are the owl soaps so when we are pouring we always have a tad bit more so instead of wasting which I am a firm believer of NOT wasting anything we pour it in these little adorable owl molds. 

Selling some of th bracelets I make at the market, I sit in the bed at night and set goals to what I need to get done that night. So if I say I am going to finish up five bracelets then that is what I do. 

 So when the soap comes out of the mold it s a 15 lb mold remind you and then we cut the large log not three five pound blocks then into bars.

A YouTube video of us cutting the soap and how we do it 

       

More soap drying on the racks.

Which I was also happy to receive the request from the Georgia Peanut Institute again this year yet another commission to make the peanut butter soap for them again, YAY!!! So happy to make it and makes me so HAPPY they asked me! #HappyDance 

So I worked and worked on the rest of the post and it didn't save it...oh wow I literally typed and typed for an hour...now to start over.......head hung low! 

Rats!!! Now I am finally back to the post its now Saturday...ok so like a week of working on this and still no post. 

Yesterday on Friday I made two jams the strawberry rhubarb and strawberry jalapeño as I had sold out and had to make more. As you know all the rhubarb comes from Wisconsin from my daughter Alexis, who has some in her yard and Garrett's grandma Charmaine has a lot in her yard that has some of the biggest leaves ever....it grows well up north however not so well here due to the extreme heat. 

Well I am back again and now it is Tuesday morning....yesterday was super busy we made our order deliveries in Suffolk but not any further as I had to take one of our dogs to her check up appt. in Greenbrier so we made two trips to Virginia and did the normal stuff here so it didn't leave us much time to parade around town with more orders. We have this show this weekend in Fayetteville North Carolina so that will be quite a ride. On Sunday I made Strawberry Pinot Noir Jam for the Valentine's Day Uncorked Event. 

Go HERE for the Link.  You will see the sponsors and vendors and look at some of those other folks we will be selling with. I am so excited.!!!! 

okay LOL now its Wednesday...it seems it is so hard for to actually finish somethings as I am always doing something other than sitting down. 

So every day and night I am cooking something so I shared how I cook all these yummy sweet potatoes and trust me it is so easy!! 

I have been hooked for awhile on the Instant Pot so much so I have THREE a 6qt. I got when they came out, then an 8qt. I watched and watched till it went on sale and I bought that one, then I thought well I cooked so much I could use that 3qt. and one day it was on an Amazon special so I got it. Bruce says all the time WOW these things are the greatest!! He used to say the Crock Pot was (and it still is) the greatest invention ever!!! LOL Now he keeps saying those Instant Pots are the best!! No objections there!! 

Here is the rice I cook in my Instant Pot and how it is so easy and like every night I cook rice...the boys love it and there are never any leftovers. 

Making rice in the Instant pot. 

Colten and Dusty have been having fires in the pit for a. while now, enjoying the evenings outdoors and one night Colten actually cooked some chicken and venison burgers on the fire. He overcooked them a bit but everyone still ate them.....

When Ledger goes to Target he is quite a shopper, it was warm that Sunday in Wisconsin despite al the snow on the ground.

for Christmas the boys received these awesome golf clubs with these adorable bags. Alexis said she found them at Target. What a great find!! These boys have played with their clubs and bags, and the balls. Everyday since they got them. Riggs even slept with his putter. Adorable! ledger laughed and laughed "you slept with your club" LOL 

That much warmer Sunday with snow on the ground. I would of still been frozen...lol. 

I was so GLAD to know that Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow so we are expecting an early spring! YES!! 

2020 so lets HOPE for early spring this year. 

This is where we will be the day after Valentine's Day ......<3 EXCITING!! If you go to this page you can see all the venue and sponsors and vendors. It is in Fayetteville NC so we are very much looking forward to this. We are so very thankful for Holley and Amanda for that they did to get us into this really big event!!! We will be selling our Mead there and we can't wait. You can see the post here of when we got our ABC License. Just look at the line of Vendors that will be there! 

Vendors

Thanks again for stopping by.....

HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND 

HUGS,  

DAWN 

Also Note I added in the current up to date shows as of now some further out I know we will be at but too early to list

On February 22, 2020 we will be at the Grassfield High School Spring Craft Show in Chesapeake Virginia 

Our following show after that will be the Smithfield Farmers for the Shamrock Parade on March 14,  2020 which we are super excited to see everyone!!!!!!! 

Tweet

Poppies In Full Bloom Here at #9 Farms

Hello everyone I wanted to make a quick post tonight before the market tomorrow. Its been so hot and dry here the poor corn looks like brown two foot tall dried stalks.....it is really scary..... I have a serious headache tonight. The kitchen while canning gets sooooo HOT its insane.... plus with the gas stove....the sauna has nothing on that. My poppies have really enjoyed the dry heat and have really out shined themselves this year. The whole wildflower field is loaded with them.

I have been seriously out of the loop this week....its just TOO BUSY for me to even do anything....I keep telling Bruce this is too much for me. Everyone thinks I am some kinda superwomen when all I am is totally EXHAUSTED. Do not get me wrong I enjoy the things I do I just need help....but anyway for those who have been thinking I am ignoring them of just plain Mia... I am just working around the clock with doing the best I can to keep up with demands.

Skylar graduated from Kindergarten. Dusty is having to get glasses. Many cases of the Mead is ready for us to pick up...we will be seeing John tomorrow for the pickup...excited about that too! The Magnolia Market starts on Tuesdays in downtown Manteo this coming Tuesday May 28.

Wanted to make this short....
Tomorrow we will be at Smithfield Farmers Market from 9-12
and Bruce will be at the Women's Club in the OBX at the Thomas Baum Center from 9-4.

I made a
YouTube video today so forgive me for the delays in posting things...I really have not even had the time to take pics....I made several jams this week too.....YUM! a

Have a great weekend and with the start of summer the HEAT we have been having is a sure sign the summer will be a HOT one!
Take Care,
Dawn Gallop

Tweet

This is what's been happening on the Farm

We have new kids on the farm.......which is always exciting and fun! These are two girl Anne Marie and Lisa Marie plus we got a Andy. Both does and kids are doing awesome. 

Its been busy week and tomorrow as I type this up we have a SHOW at Larkspur Middle School in Virginia Beach from 9-1. Not a long day but when you get up at 4 am to get this ready laded and dressed and chores done....somehow it is VERY LONG>....Tonight we made pepperoni rolls which the boys absolutely loved and ate too much as thy said. I had yellow squash an onions. Doing the usual chores and making sugar scrubs and taking care of all my seedlings.....I made a dreamcatcher today....I will share that once its a sunny day....its been cloudy and cold today did manage to go on the walk.

Beautiful.  #love 

I love it!!! 

So much fun and adorable.......

Hello sister.....

Oh my I just love this time of year....I can't ever seemed to ever tire of growing stuff.....this year I have huge head-start which I am so thankful for.....

Little Andy

This is one of our roosters Jorge 

I have made these tags for the Art Retreat this weekend I can't really go but going to stop by and see the girls tomorrow after the show I am excited about this and let the boys go swimming in the pool at the hotel that they are at. 

Here is the video on how I made these...

All the supplies on on the info of the video 

One of Bruces' and the boys breakfast look at how wonderful those farm eggs look.....we love our eggs. 

Another day.....

Saying goodbye until next time.....hoping for a great weekend for everyone....and remember eat healthy, go for nature walks and enjoy life to the fullest. Next week I will share the dreamcatcher and some of the good times at the retreat this weekend. 

I'm posting this other video of the moving day on the chickens last Sunday....this week we are hoping to get the chicken tractors built as I don't have a dental appointment which is the first week since January 11 of this year that I don't have to go...yay! Looking forward to the day I am amalgam free......

Bruce has ran me a bath so gotta go.......

Cyber hugs, 

oh yeah the vid....

chicken moving day

Seedling update using the growing lights 

Later......

Tweet

Recipe for Making Strawberry Jam and Canning the Yummy Goodness

Hello everyone and welcome.  I will be teaching a class at Wine and Cake Hobbies tonight March 7, 2017 in Norfolk Virginia. I am making this post to help the students or anyone else along the way.

The finished pint jars for my families use only.

 

I have been canning since I was a girl with my grandma Grace who is now in her 90's.

Although I didn't quit know why or what I was doing then I just remember standing at the sink and stove with her, and her telling me over and over you will hear a "ping" when the jars start sealing. I also loved eating everything she canned. My favorite was pear preserves......oh my!!! I asked for that every time and Welch's Grape Juice when I was at her house. To start with the basics of jar preparations please see this post

Canning Tomatoes 

this will help to prepare your jars for canning. I use Ball canning jars most of the time as we buy a pallet full at a time. The Ball website is wonderful and has great recipes and instruction.

 

 

Here I am going through the strawberries to see if there are any that aren't in great shape such as a moldy one of really yucky one (you will know)

Wash them well moving them around to get all the strawberries and allow to drain

Too much water on strawberries and cause them to water downed tasting so try not to soak them, I have had ones that had so much sand and dirt on them I had to resort to that but do so briefly.

 

 

Let me also remind you to always wear some kind of covering on your head and an apron. I just love my Grateful Dead one my mom got me.....Thanks MOM!

 

 

Begin by capping the strawberries I use a tool I have had for many years and you can still find them on Ebay or other sites search from strawberry huller, strawberry capper, or even tomato huller.

Once capped you will need to use a bowl of a 13x9 dish to smash the strawberries with a potato smasher. You don't have to puree them just create juice and break them down some. I like mine "chunky"

 

 

You can see I don't completely pulp them

 

More smashing of the strawberries

 

Here you want to have 5 cups of mashed strawberries usually as reference its takes about 8 cups of whole strawberries to make the 5 cups of mashed berries. I always have so many that when its strawberry time I could can jam until I had 100's of jars so I always have more than enough.

 

Have your seven cups of sugar already measured out so once your strawberries are boiling you can have that ready to pour in the pot when its time.

 

Begin warming the strawberries on the stove top

add in your pectin (I use pectin in bulk) but whatever pectin you use read the instructions some pectin's are added at different times and have different directions, SO PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS of the PECTIN YOU are Using!!

 

 

Add three tablespoons of lemon juice

add your pectin I use one box of pectin

 

mix together the pectin and the lemon juice and begin to bring to a boil once you have a boil that cant be stirred down add your sugar

 

Add sugar in (*the seven cups already measured out) into the pot, bring to a full rolling boil that cant be stirred down and once you are there set your timer for one full minute. Then your jam is done.

 

Some don't want to use pectin and if that is the case you can carry your jam to a temp of 220 degrees Fahrenheit. This is only if you are not adding the pectin. Strawberries are very low in pectin and the older they get the less pectin there is.

 

These are the flats and rings in water that is approx. 180 degrees you don't need to boil them, just bring them to a temp of approx. 180 degrees and then keep them around that temp until ready to use.

 

Now you can skim off any white foam that has occurred while stirring I usually use a rubber spatula that is high temp safe and NSF. The canning funnel and the ladle can be purchased thru Ball

 or look at your local canning supply store.

You can begin now spooning in the jam with your ladle and your canning funnel. If you note the clear spatula in the jar that is to remove air bubbles, if you don't have one of these you can use a long knife such as a cake icing spreader that is narrow. I have that one for many years. Ball has a green one now to purchase.

Here I am wiping the rim of the jars with very hot water to insure there is no drippings and anything on the lid to keep the flats from sealing.

 

 

Place your flats and rings on the wiped jars and tighten as you would normally

 

Place the jars in the warmed waterbath canner and once all jars are in make sure the water comes 1" above the jar lids. Begin to increase the temperature and once it comes to a rolling boil begin timing for 10 minutes.

 

Once it boils I turn the stovetop down some and place the lid on the pot and vent a little to make sure the water is always boiling. Time for 10 minutes and once the timer is up time again for 5 minutes then remove the jars from the canner and place on a dry towel on the counter top. Allow them to cool on the counter until completely cooled. They will begin sealing some right away and others can take longer. If it does not seal you can use right way or try to water bath again. I usually have them all seal but every once in awhile there is always one that doesn't, we usually just eat that one. My boys don't mind. LOL!

Finished!!

 

Me making the jam.

 

Recipe

8 cups of whole strawberries

mashed to make 5 cups

1 box of pectin see above foe instructions

3 Tablespoons of lemon juice

7 cups of sugar

see above for directions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tweet