All friends bright and beautiful! Cuppa anyone?

One annoying thing about the winter is that my car, that runs on recycled cooking oil, has to switch to diesel. When it is really cold the oil solidifies and the car will not start… oh dear.

A positive thing about this part of the winter is that Johns beer and Pepsi (which he cannot give up no matter how many lectures I give him about fake Pepsi sugar destroying his liver) are shifted to their own natural chiller on the verandah, at least until it starts to freeze. I on the other hand am shifting inside. I completed my chores this morning in a snow flurry.

I once lived in a house in NZ that had a box that was built out from the kitchen wall on the cold side of the house. It had little windows of very close mesh to keep the bugs out and protruded from the outside wall about a foot, while standing about two feet high,  catching all the cool breezes. I accessed this little cold box from inside the kitchen through a small  carved heavy wooden door. I want one of these old cool boxes for my kitchen.  But I cannot remember what it is called.

Anyway enough of the rambling,  lets think of something cheerful.

Jessica is a lovely girl residing at Misty Maple Farms. She has llamas.  I want a llama.  I want a peacock too just for the record. Jessica has been kind enough to pass on the Leibster Award to me.  But, Oh dear my computer is being naughty and won’t let me load the actual award. Ah well. The most important thing about this award is that we thank the person who remembered us and pass the mantle on to 5 more bloggers.

Thank you, Jessica. Your writing is lovely and your outlook on life is wonderful. It is always a pleasure for me to visit your farm in my blog travels.

Now for my famous five. I have decided to collect a group of people who I think would have fun if I sat them all down at the same table, for a most unusual dinner. These bloggers  all work with the land one way or another. They grow food to eat.   And they are all new to my table and maybe new to you as well.   I know the Leibster award does not have any requirements but each link will take you to the dish that I would love them to bring to our cyber award dinner.

Naturally I shall host the award dinner here in front of the fire. Well we have to, because my car won’t start in the cold and Daisy just will not be harnessed to drag the dray. Selfish cow.

So here is my guest list.  These five are the recipients of the Leibster award. The logo is on Jessica’s page so zoom over and grab it to display on your pages. I hope it behaves better for you. It is a slippery bugger.

Promenade Plantings does her gardening on what could simply be described as an allotment, but a bigger more comprehensive plot of land.  And she has beautiful plants. She loves to grow. I was hoping she could bring her fried green tomatoes. I know they are out of season but this is a cyber dinner party. We can do whatever we want.

Marcus  from Country Woodsmoke might cook up a pretty wild smoked salmon in the kitchen. You have to see this. He also has a pizza oven. A real one!

Lynda on her Farmlet  is going to bring the tortillas for our dinner.  Well, there is no theme, I am just picking out my favourites!! And Our John loves tortillas.

Willow Archway are coming to have a long hot bath. They are as far off the grid as you can imagine. Just let them soak.  Oh what the heck, let the dogs soak as well. We will drag in another bath for them and poke food under the door.

If we can entice Jean away from her barn renovations, (although she is a bit of a self proclaiimed brat,) I am hoping she will bring apple pie.  I will supply the freshest cream ever!

I will pick a huge fall green leaf salad. The last of the greens before the winter.  They are very crisp this morning.  I do not know how I can grow greens here in the deep winter.  I hope we don’t all end up with scurvy, you know how i am with supermarkets!

Oh no, I have forgotton the  potatoes!  I cannot live without my spuds! Maybe my mystery guest will bring some. He is not getting an award you understand, because he already has one, I just cannot have a dinner party without his potatoes.  I am using him for his potatoes and witty repartee! Shame on me!

Oh no AND I forgot the wine. Whats that Daisy? Wait, hush everyone, Daisy has a suggestion.  Speak up!  Alright, Moo Up then!!  Pedantic Cow.  Ok I’m back.  Just for Daisy we will have another mystery guest. If he brings the wine. ‘He is not getting an award either Daisy, he gives you way too much attention as it is.’  But I do love a feisty pinot gris.

Just imagine.

Kettle’s on! Cuppa anyone! Oh and by the way I made this copper kettle when I was 13.  And it still holds water.  Soon there will be a big pot of chilli cooking away on this woodstove, next to the copper kettle.  What a life!!

c