Brrr! Icy winds brought Winter to our farm yesterday and it is shiveringly cold. We’re piling on the layers now, bundling up as we head outside to feed animals, water the gardens, and work on all sorts of projects.

It’s been a project-o-licious week as we get ready for the Abbey Medieval Festival while tackling farm duties that just won’t wait. It’s been really fun but boy, are we ever tired.

Yesterday I made a good start on planting all the garlic my friends and I harvested, and Bear and I stayed up until well after dark sewing the last few hems of a new tent for our medieval encampment. We sewed pillows and bags, tarps and more bags, and it feels so good to cross each item off our list.

One of my favorite projects has been cooking over the campfire, trying out new recipes to make for our medieval group. Some have just been for us – nachos, stuffed potato skins – but others fit the medieval criteria such as roasted pears with caramel sauce and freshly baked spelt rolls. Mmm, so good. Can’t wait to make them for everyone next week.

winter campfire

Today was a baking day, filling up cookie jars so we have something on hand for when friends drop by. Oatmeal Raisin are Bear’s favorites, especially when I cram in as many raisins as possible.

oatmeal raisin cookies

I, on the other hand, had a hankering for peanut butter cookies with a light dusting of Celtic sea salt to go with my hot chocolate.

I also made spelt bread rolls and planned out lunches and dinners and now we’re all set for the weekend.

peanut butter cookies

Tomorrow I’ll be wood-burning, mixing up medieval remedies, getting the rest of the garlic in, and writing two columns for the newspaper. And I’m definitely taking a break over lunch to try a few more campfire recipes I’ve been mulling over.

I sure love this crazy life of ours.

roasting pears on campfire

But now I’m going to crawl into my very warm bed and listen to an old time radio mystery and sleep, sleep, sleep.

What are your favorite cookies? xo