FFG ~ My FarmGirl Heart!

To join the Fun of Friday FarmGirls@Heart, please include a link to my blog in your post, or grab one of my FFG buttons for your posts and to place in your sidebar!  You can grab code HERE.

I am SO very excited to kick off the first week of what I hope becomes a really fun meme for everyone! I am not a true farmgirl...I just wish with all my heart that I was, but my sweetheart is a city-lovin' boy, so here I am, my country-heart making a life in the uber-suburbs of Chicago!  I don't know if I will ever live in the country, but I am blessed to take an occasional vacation to beautiful places (the suburbs are not beautiful), and those times away fulfill my need of peace and God's monuments instead of man's.  I struggle, in the crazy-fast paced way of life out here that is all-pervasive around me, to find ways of slowing down, of doing on our own instead of shortcutting by "calling someone," of growing it ourselves (even though it's just a little, since I don't have a yard that is good for growing veggies so I have to grow in containers on my concrete patio), of learning to sew it instead of buy it, etc.  

For those who don't know me yet, I have 2 sons, one who is entering college in the fall (community college, close by so he'll still stay home, yay!) and is on track to becoming a sheep farmer, and another who starts his junior year in our homeschool high school this fall, and plans to go on to college and get his Masters or, Lord willing, his PhD in engineering.  So different!  Yet they are each other's best friend, PTL!  I am in the process of turning the oldest son's story, which I'd blogged in the past, into an e-book...watch for it on my blog at the "e-books" tab above, it shouldn't be too much longer!  It will be free, btw.  It's called, "I Wish I Could Go To A Farm ~ A Homeschool Story of Vision and Hope."  

So, my FarmGirl@Heart offering today is my homemade blueberry pie, made with blueberries we picked in Michigan and froze last summer.  I had one bag left in the freezer, and had picked up a fresh quart at our local farmers market on Saturday, so I took a chance on how good the year-old berries would be and made a pie to take to my Mom & Dad's when we went there for dinner this week.  I didn't have any lemons on hand, and the recipe calls for lemon zest and juice, but I had some limes.  We've just returned, a month ago, from a dream trip to Mexico, so I kind of like limes now (!!!)...blueberries and limes sure look pretty together, why not try it?  I cut back on the sugar by almost half, too.  Guess what?  Blueberries and limes taste great together, too!!!  I had one piece leftover tonight...and it called my name.  Yummm, what a delicious way to end the day!

My cup of tea is in my favorite china cup that I found in an antique shop here in town. I have searched for more of this pattern, which is no longer in "circulation" and have only found one dessert plate online.  It's by Royal Tuscan, and the pattern is called "Florida."  I would sure love to have more of this one!  (Tina?  You're such a pro at finding cool things on your shop walks...keep one eye open for this, would you? Thanks!) 

OK, that's my story for today...I'm looking forward to hearing from other FarmGirls, both real AND "at heart," like me!  I will visit each and every one who joins and comments, but know that it will be a little later on Friday afternoon and evening, as in the morning I'll be at our County Fair, watching Bryan (my oldest) show sheep for Kline Creek Farm!  (Pictures will have to wait for my Weekly WrapUp post this weekend.)

Blessings,

IllinoisLori

Here's how to join the fun:

1) Grab an FFG (Friday FarmGirls) Button for your blog and post it in your sidebar so others can join with you. I have 3 styles you can choose from, and you can get code HERE.

2) Write your post and publish it on Friday...be sure to put your FFG Button at the top of your post, and link it to my blog ( http://www.illinoislori.blogspot.com/ ) so your friends will know where to come to join in each week.

3) Add your name and the URL of your post to the "Mister Linky" provided at the end of my post each week.

4) Leave me a comment, and visit the blogs of the other participants listed and leave them comments as well. If you visit and leave comments, you'll be visited and receive comments...it's as simple as that!