The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

December 13, 2021

No.598: Advent at the Farmhouse // Homemaking Notes for the Third Week of Advent

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The weather outside is //

Looks like it’s going to be a pretty warm week!

As I look outside my window // I am mentally parceling out future pig paddocks. We move our pigs onto fresh pasture every week and then let the land rest for at least 80 days before using it again. We’re almost through our first rotation – time flies! For the second time around, I’m going to try to set up my fencing in a more rectangular fashion – my first try was pretty wonky.

As I look around the house // I’m trying to figure out how to decorate the mantel. Everything I’ve tried so far has just looked…off. I can’t seem to get the balance right. At this point, I may scrap it all, leaving just my framed print of the Madonna and baby Jesus, and wait until we set up the stockings next week. Life’s too short to get caught up on mantel decorating!

Smiling // at a feel-good story that happened in our community. I am signed up with our local Nextdoor app group and we recently got the notice to be on the lookout for a lost pregnant cow. A few days later, we received an update: “Cow came home with calf by her side. Both healthy. Thank God.” Oh man, this country life…I love it so much.

On this week’s to-do list //

– make cinnamon rolls for St. Lucia’s feast day (today!)
– observe the Advent Ember Days on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
– wrap more gifts
– make sure I have enough stocking stuffers for all of the kids
– clean out the refrigerator

Making me happy right now // beautiful Christmas cactus buds arriving right on time + candles in the windowsills + silly pigs gaining weight + hens still laying at full production rates + happy memories of my grandmothers + a roaring fire in the fireplace + big dreams being planned for 2022

Currently reading //

Fiction: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
Nonfiction: Communism and Conscience of the West by Fulton J. Sheen
Religious: Come Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting by Mother Mary Francis, PCC and Wisdom from the Lives and Letters of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal by Louise Perrotta

On the menu this week //
Monday: steak fajitas
Tuesday: homemade Chick-fil-A chicken tortilla soup
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday: pasta with Bolognese sauce, garlic bread
Friday: tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

December 10, 2021

No.597: Advent at the Farmhouse // Our Gaudete Sunday Tradition & a Recipe Too

We are just days from the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. We symbolize this midway point with the rose candle on the Advent wreath as well as a day of celebration: the Lord’s coming is near! In our family, the tradition has always been to have our annual gingerbread decorating afternoon after Mass. We play Christmas carols, decorate and eat ourselves silly with cookies and candy decorations, and completely ruin our dinner. Sometimes I pre-bake the cookies and sometimes I hurry through the process when we get home. Each year is a little different, but we love the tradition all the same.

Below is our go-to recipe:

Download your copy of the Gingerbread Cookie Recipe here!

P.S. Our favorite book to read on this day is Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. Also, if you’re in the market for cookie cutters, take a look at these and these and these! (affiliate links)

December 9, 2021

No.596: Advent at the Farmhouse // A Dried Orange Garland for the Kitchen

Today I’m back with another easy and homemade decoration, perfect for the kitchen: dried orange slices! This year, I used my dehydrator (affiliate link) and it didn’t go according to plan. It took forever for them to dry! I think it’s because I didn’t remove the excess moisture with a paper towel before placing them on the trays. Oh well, you live and learn!

Last year, I dried them in the oven and it was also super easy. You just place the sliced oranges on parchment (be sure to dab off the extra juice!) and bake at 200° for one hour. Flip the slices over, then continue baking for another hour. The exact time will vary depending on how thick your slices are. Be sure to check every so often to avoid burning.

Once my slices are fully dried, I’ll be stringing them and adding them to the garland on my kitchen window. I’ll have to update this post when it’s done, but here’s how I used them last year: