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Why Autumn is My Favorite Season

For as long as I can remember, I have loved autumn.

Maybe it had something to do with Halloween and my love of sweets or maybe it started when I had my first bite of pumpkin pie when I was a toddler. Even into my teenage and adult years, I always longed for the cool, crisp air of fall after a sweltering hot and humid Florida summer. To this day, autumn holds a place near and dear to my heart.

The first day of fall was almost a month ago, but it has been just this last week that the temperatures have started to agree with the season - highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's with overcast skies that beg for winter's arrival.

This is the best time of year to bake - cookies, cakes and pies.  The heat of the oven warms my soul and makes me feel the warmth of home as I create these delectable sweets, an "I Love You" of sorts for my husband, friends and family.

From a hot and humid summer to a sometimes very cold winter, the pause that is fall makes me appreciate the perfect weather that my body and soul so much enjoys. If only it could be autumn every day of the year!

Cover Reveal - I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Along the Bumpy Road of Rural Life

Mark your calendars for November 1st!

Or if you like, you can pre-order I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Along the Bumpy Road of Rural Life (Book 2) at the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015IG50IM


Description:


After ditching a full-time career and moving to a small hobby farm to enjoy a slower pace and a healthier lifestyle, isn't everything supposed to be idyllic or "peaches and cream" as they say in the South? Well, not exactly ...

In this second installment of the "I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak" series, follow the author as she holds on for the ride, "along the bumpy road of rural life" where her friendly neighbors become not so nice and her farm animals evolve into completely coddled pets - with her Royal Palm turkeys becoming the most pampered ones of all.




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About the Author: 

S.A. Molteni is a retired systems engineer. She is also currently a hobby farmer, avid traveler and an author of several award-winning short stories. She lives on a small homestead with her husband and a menagerie of farm animals.

S.A. Molteni can be found on the following social media sites:

Blog - http://samolteni.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/author.samolteni
Twitter - https://twitter.com/samolteni

Happiness (on the Farm) is ...

Watching a baby chicken emerge from its shell and peeping for the first time.

Listening to the frogs croak and the crickets chirp after a rain shower.

Seeing a rainbow after a torrential thunderstorm.

Having freshly laid eggs for breakfast and seeing the chickens who laid them.

When the tractor starts on the first try.

The smell of freshly mowed grass.

The beauty of the cows grazing in the pasture.

Having a turkey jump in your lap to take a nap.

Petting a baby dairy calf and it leaning into you for more.

Watching the chickens, ducks and turkeys eat a side of watermelon.

Having a piglet follow you around the barnyard.

Laying your head down on a soft pillow at night after a long day of farming.


What's makes you happy on the farm?

Let's Talk About Ringworm ...

Ringworm is an occupational hazard when living on the farm. It is a skin fungus that is highly contagious and must be taken care of in its early stages.

The fungus is in the soil and can be transmitted from livestock and poultry to humans as well.  Practice safe animal handling by washing your hands after touching your animals and wearing gloves when working with soil or mud.

Since I have been working in the garden quite a bit lately and digging ditches for drainage over the past couple of weeks on our property, I am not at all surprised that I contracted it.   There were days I was covered in dirt, grime and mud, thus it was almost certain I would get something from the soil.

A few weeks ago, I noticed a small patch of a rash on the back of my right hand.  I had no idea what it was and it was so terribly itchy, I just used some hydrocortisone on it and forgot about it.  The itching stopped, but then I noticed another itchy patch and a similar rash on my wrist.  I suspected it was ringworm and it had spread, yikes!

I did a little research and found that the same over the counter topical cream (clotrimazole and/or micanazole) for athlete's foot is supposed to work for ringworm. So, I bought some of that and have used it for the past two weeks (of a 4-week regimen).  I am happy to report that the patches on my hand and wrist are gone.

BUT, and you all knew there was BUT coming on this ... It appears to have spread to my inner elbow on my right arm, CRAP-O-LA!  Now I am slathering the cream there as well for the next few weeks.

Wish me luck! :-)

Here's a good link to educate yourself on ringworm:

http://www.medicinenet.com/ringworm/article.htm

Farm Girl Freak's Red Potato Salad

Ingredients:

6 - 8 medium red potatoes
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
4 boiled eggs (shells removed and chopped)
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup yellow mustard



Directions:

1. Wash 6 - 8 medium red potatoes.
2. Cut potatoes into cubes with skin on.
3. Place cubes in a large pot of hot water that is 2/3 of the way full.
4. Place the eggs in the same pot.
5. Boil for 15 minutes or until potato is tender when poked with a fork.
6. Drain cooked potatoes and eggs in a colander and let sit to remove all water. Let cool for 15 minutes.
7. Shell the boiled eggs and chop into small pieces.
8. Chop celery and onion into small pieces.
9. Combine potatoes, onion, celery and eggs into a large bowl and toss to mix ingredients.
10. Add celery salt, apple cider vinegar and table salt, toss mixture again.
11. Fold in mayonnaise and mustard until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
12. Let chill in refrigerator for one hour, serve chilled.

Farm Girl Freak's Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

 

Ingredients:

Cake

3        cups all-purpose flour
2/3     cups granulated sugar
1/3     cup light brown sugar
1 1/2  cups mashed ripe bananas (2 - 3 medium)
2/3     cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3     cup finely chopped nuts (optional)
1/2     cup milk
1/3     cup heavy whipping cream
4        teaspoons baking powder
1        tablespoon cinnamon
3/4     teaspoon salt
3        eggs



Frosting

1/2             cup peanut butter
2 - 3           cups powdered sugar
1 1/2          teaspoons vanilla
1/4  to 1/3  cup milk or whipping cream


Cake Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. 
2. Grease bottom and sides of one 13 x 9-inch pan or two 9-inch round cake pans with oil spray (OR use shortening and lightly flour). 
3. In large bowl combine the cake ingredients. 
4. Beat with electric mixer on low for about 1 minute, scraping sides to incorporate all ingredients.
5. Beat on medium for another 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. 
6. Pour batter into pan(s).
7. Bake 13x9-inch pan 45 to 50 minutes, round cake pans 35 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 
8. Cool completely for about 1 hour before frosting.

 Frosting Directions:

1. In medium bowl, beat peanut butter and powdered sugar with spoon or electric mixer on low speed until blended. 
2. Add vanilla and milk.
3. Beat until smooth and spreadable. 
4. Spread mixture one 13x9-inch cake or two round cake layers.