Kindred Spirits GIVEAWAY

Sorry for the wait, I hope you all are well.

I had a giveaway planned for a week now.  All ready to post, all ready to go.  Until I changed my mind, changed my post and changed my giveaway...read on please.

***

It all started with an ordinary day. I awoke with the sun, made my morning coffee and awaited for my babies to rise.  I sat in the quiet of the morning drinking my coffee and listening to the birds in the backyard. 

***

The children awoke and we set out to getting on with our day.

Mid-way through the morning the door bell rang but I wasn't expecting anyone. 

***

I walked to the door to greet my visitor but no one was there except a box from my postal carrier who was now getting back to carrying on with her route. 

***

Curious, I gave a wave and picked up the box.  I hadn't ordered anything so I wondered just what it could be.  Once inside I opened the box and here is what I found.....

Surprise!  A beaut-i-fully wrapped present, with my name on it! 

Ohhhh, I was so delighted and now very curious as to who sent me such a thing. 

Upon closer inspection, underneath of the bow I spotted this tag and with a familiar name upon it!

Addressed to me by a sweet customer of mine who sends me the most delighful letters along with her orders.  All so beautifully hand written, not your ordinary letter, you could certainly tell that this person takes great care with her writing and intends to send something very special to it's recipent.  I plan on sharing more of them very soon.

Over the past year this sweet friend, Donna, has ordered numerous times from Farmhouse Mercantile and each and every time she has sent me these  pretty letters to accompany her orders. 

It truly is a treat for me each time.

Under the beautiful cherry wrapping paper (which I hated opening because it was so pretty) were two smaller packages each wrapped in this cheery yellow tissue paper adorned with a green paper flower....

Oh, the details!

Inside the first package I found this cookbook.  Where Hearts Gather

by Susan West Cannon.

And just when this gift couldn't get any sweeter, I opened the book to reveal that it has been

signed by the author!

My sweet friend revealed that the author was a relative of hers and put sticky notes inside several of the pages detailing where some of the recipes came from like the one from her mother in the side picture.  Girls, I have to admit that I got a little teary eyed that Donna was so thoughtful and generous to have shared these stories with me and send this very special gift my way.  I was very touched to say the least.

Just when I was getting it together, I realized there was a second package in the box to be opened....

and inside that package I found

When Friends Gather

also signed by Susan.

Inside this book Donna revealed a recipe that was her grandmothers.  She told me all about the flood of memories this pound cake recipe brings back to her when baking it....

Oh, the sweetest things! 

(Donna, I have to tell you that I will always leave these little notes in this book!)

This is just one page of how sweet this cookbook is.  I love reading the heartwarming stories that are with each recipe too.

On the back cover is a picture of her young mother and aunt.....and the author.

.

Inside Donna's beautiful letter to me she told me that the FHCS blog brings her joy and that is the reason for this gift.  I was so touched!!  I am so pleased that this blog of mine can do that for you!  Because of this blog, you certainly are someone I have been blessed to know that I otherwise may never have made a connection to since we live on opposite sides of this big country! 

How fortunate for me!

Not only have you blessed me with your sweet comments but you have also with friendship!

Thank you Donna from the bottom of my heart!  I love this special gift very much, I have already read through the cookbooks and tried one of the recipes...

HOMEMADE MACARONI & CHEESE

My family said that this was the best Mac-n-Cheese recipe I have ever made....I have to agree with them, it was really delicious!

Of course I will be making more of the recipes and I will share with my blogging friends very soon!  Click here to order your copy today!

Now I have a giveaway of my own to share.....

A (large) Kindred Spirit Sign

I have had some friends for many years, I have made new friends too.  Some throughout different stages of my life and some have been there for ever.  Some I speak to daily and some I catch up with several times a year.  But I have to say that the most facinating friendships I have formed have been with those I have never even met before! 

Several sweet ladies have formed a kinship with me through this blog and what a blessing you all have been to me.  Some of you have been customers, some of you have been commentors, some I communicate with through email every now and then, many of you all of those things!  

Alot of you have been inspiring, uplifting, encouraging, supportive and all of you a blessing to me in one way or another.   All the things women need of friends in their lives.  Some of you I have found through your blogs, message boards and some of you have found me. 

Although most of us have never  met personally, I certainly feel a kinship with several readers in one way or another.  Be it through the way we like to mother our children, take care of our homes, issues that are important to one another, projects we share, recipes we make, crafts and simply when we need to lift one another up....all without ever having met one another.  I'm so facinated by the way these relationships are formed without ever having seen the face of the recipent or really sitting at each others kitchen table for a cup of coffee!

This sign reminds me of one of my all time favorite childhood book...

Anne of Green Gables

by L.M. Montgomery

" Miss Barry was a kindred spirit, after all," Anne confided in Marilla. " You wouldn't think so to look at her, but she is. You don't find it right out at first, as in Mathew's case, but after a while you come to see it. Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world."

If you would like to sign up for the Kindred Spirts Sign giveaway, please leave a comment on how your life was touched by someone you have never physically met before.  I would love to hear some of your stories!  If you don't have anything to share yet then be certain to leave a comment anyway! 

As stated in my last post, the recipient will be chosen by random number generator.  Extra entries if you post this giveaway on your blog, have a FHCS button on your blog, and are a customer. You must be a FHCS follower to enter.  The giveaway closes Midnight August 14th winner to be announced Sunday the 16th.

Take Care,

Dee

Where I come from....

On any given Summer Evening

You can find us here...

The heart of our town set deeply in it's Maritime history.

We stroll the old fashioned boardwalk and it feels as though we've simply stepped back in time.

We live in a coastal shore town where clamming, crabbing, fishing, and hunting
is a long part of its history.

Generations of families have survived and thrived here with those occupations.

A coastal town in which a light house such as the one shown below has guided

many a fisheman home safely to their families.

A small town from which fresh seafood is still readily available on the docks

where the fishemen bring in their day's catch.

And many a market has stood the test of time, passed down through families.

Long standing names in our community grace business signs.

A place that reminds the residents of

how our community came to be.

On certain summer evenings we gather together with family and friends here to listen to the

live concerts they put on for the locals. 

Including locals of the webbed foot variety...following us down the clam shell path.

While listening to the music we walk through the town and enjoy the sights

of things and appreciate times that once where.

I love history,

I especially love the local history where we live.

Standing outside old bait shops and fish markets that had a strong hand in keeping this community standing makes you appreciative of the old timers you pass by on the docks.

Can you tell if this picture was taken 60 years ago?

 Or maybe taken just yesterday? 

If it weren't for the light in the peak and air contitioning unit peeking up
I don't think that you really could tell.

All in all, it's still the same.

So what is your local history?  What type of local commerce has kept your town afloat for generations, coal mining, logging, fishing maybe farming? 

Let me hear all about where you are from!

PS.
Well gals looks like we have hit 500 followers now and I did promise a giveaway when the blog hit 500 and a giveaway I shall give.  Be sure to check back in about a week for all the details.

I'll give you a tip off on the requirements now, you must be a follower, bonus entries if you leave comments, more bonus entries if you have my link in your sidebar, bonus, bonus entries, if you blog about the give away and mega bonus entries if you are a customer.  As usual, the winning entry will be drawn by random number generator but more on all that later.  I'm off to pick the perfect giveaway sign now. 
Have a great week!
Take care,
Dee

Summertime Signs

A few Summertime Signs just listed in the Mercantile....

Well I've been busy painting again.  Yes, I'm totally covered in the seasonal shades of blues, purples and pinks, oh I'm such a messy painter lol.  Painting into the evening hours I love listening to the crickets, they keep me company while I create.  I am a night owl, that is when I do my best work!

Want a peek?

Sand Castles

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51608215/sand-castles

Wiggle Your Toes in the Sand

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51609963/wiggle-your-toes-in-the-sand

Dreaming of Seashells By the Seashore

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51500845/dreaming-of-seashells

So, what do ya think?

I think I'm ready for the beach now....

I'll be back with a real post in a couple of days.

Thanks for peekin!

Take Care,

Dee

Crab Boil 2010

It's Crab Boiling time again...

Ahhh, I should have known that when I was taking these photos

they would come back to haunt me. 

Tease me.....yes, taunt me.

Mouth watering.

WARNING:  If you are a Seafood lover...you may not want to look at these photos,

they are just plain naughty.

Alright...I'm not going to show you all these photos without sharing the recipe so you can have a Crab boil of your very own...that would be just plain cruel. lol.  So here goes:

Low Country Crab Boil

Shuck 6-8 ears of corn & break in half

1 lb. of petite red "taters"

1 lb. of sausage-sliced into 1" pcs.

1 lb. Fresh Mussels

1 lb. of fresh little neck or mahogany clams

1 lb. of king crab legs

1 lb. blue claw crabs

1 lb. shrimp

**Fill a large pot (I use my canner with metal inserts removed) 1/2 way with water, add 2 cups chicken stock , 2 T Zataran's Liquid Crab Boil, 2 bay leaves, 1/4 c fresh parsely chopped. 2 T old Bay Seasoning

**Boil sausage, taters and corn for apx. 20 minutes or until taters are soft.

**Remove taters and corn with slotted spoon or tongs reserving broth in pot.

Yeah, go ahead girl, slap some butter on those cobs n taters!  You know you wanted to.  Put aside in a seperate covered dish to keep warm.

**Into the simmering broth layer (in order) Clams, then lobster claws and cook for 3 minutes. 

**Next layer king crab legs, blue claw crabs, then mussels and cook for 3 more minutes. 
(Leave everything in the pot...and proceed to next step)

Is your mouth watering yet....don't worry we're almost finished!

**Lastly, add the shrimp on top.  Cover and boil for apx. 3-5 minutes or until shrimp is PINK.

Remove everything with tongs.

***reserve the stock ***

***I make a red Clam Chowder, using the broth, left over taters and corn....

everything marinates in the broth and it is the best chowder evah!***

(You can also freeze it for future use.)

 **Serve with melted butter, garlic butter, and

Homemade cocktail sauce made from 1 c ketchup, and 1/4 c. grated horseradish.

NOW....

Grab Your Claw Crackers and go to TOWN.....do not expect this to be a neatly eaten meal...

that's just not going to happen!

Fresh homemade coleslaw to go with it.

Make sure your table is layered with a plastic table cloth then covered in newspaper, plastic plates and cups for easy cleanup! I put out wood crab crackers and lobster picks with a whole roll of papertowels...this meal is to be enjoyed, no fancy eatin' here, you will be a mess when through!

Now if you compare the cost of making this meal to the cost of going out to a good seafood restaraunt and feeding 8-10 people this wins hands down.  We live along the Jersey shore so Fresh Seafood is readily available and sold at a reasonable cost to us.  We spend alot of summer days catching our own crabs and clamming so if you can do the same you can eat your own catch as part of the meal too.

My family looks forward to this each summer.  Lots of great memories have been made around our Crab boil table and I can't wait for the next one.

Take care,

Dee