The Kitchen Window

The Kitchen Window
Antique Milk Bottles with Herbs and Flowers

Welcome!

Welcome to the Frog Hollow Farm blog! I've been blogging since January 2010 and have switched from Blogger to Word Press, but I'm back to Blogger because, for me, it's easier to use. My husband and I live on a little farm in Northwest New Jersey. We have some chickens and a very large vegetable garden with asparagus and raspberries, and rows and rows of sunflowers, snapdragons and zinnias. Traveling, entertaining, gardening, spending time with family, studying Italian, blogging and reading keep us busy and happy. With all of this going on, moving towards a simpler life seems almost impossible but it's definitely a daily goal.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Frog Hollow Farm Bear

Good morning.  I was so excited (crazy, I know) to look out my kitchen window this morning and see a fuzzy black bear grazing behind our pond. 


Bears are common here during April, but I haven't seen any in the past couple of years. 


One time, many years ago, we had a bear in our back yard. When FHFB went out to shoo it away (his strategy was clapping at the bear, but that's another story), the huge bear hid behind this skinny little maple tree, thinking that FHFB couldn't see him. It was a riot, but the bear did finally lumber back into the woods, which is where we wanted him to go. Although beautiful animals, they can be dangerous so one can't be too careful around one.



Here's one last shot of the bear - he's looking at this crazy woman on the back porch in her pjs, wondering what the heck she's doing!

********Tonight********

Aperitivo

Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, organic tomatoes and chopped chives
grilled garlic and olive oil semolina bruschetta
roasted organic cabbage wedges

Dinner

fresh, organic spinach salad
baked leftover whole grain pasta pie with Frog Hollow Farm marinara sauce
 oven-roasted chicken/turkey meatballs


PS:  Emeril's Chicken-Patty Pockets that I made the other day from Martha Stewart's April issue of Everyday Food were out of this world.  The combination of all of the spices used with the ground chicken gave the little burgers a phenomenal flavor, give them a try!  I can send you the recipe if you can't find it!

Ciao, bella! 

11 comments:

  1. WOW! Maybe its the same female i saw last summer!

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  2. Wow...now that's something we don't see around here. I'm glad you got a photo of her. Hopefully she will keep her distance though. Thanks for sharing.

    Jackie

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  3. HI FARM GIRL,
    KATIE IS SURE GROWING UP, I BET YOU MISS HER. SO DID YOU GIVE THE BEAR A NAME YET? I GUESS YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE ALERT WALKING OUT TO YOUR YARD.
    LOVE YOUR MENU, YOU ARE SO TALENTED. HAVE A NICE DAY.
    LOVE, AUNT RIZ

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  4. He's beautiful! How exciting to see one in your backyard. I know you have to be careful, they can get grumpy, but I'm glad you shared the pictures. Would love to hear the story of Frank clapping at him!

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  5. Hi Ann Marie, Wow, that is so cool!! We haven't seen one in a few years here at The Paris House, I always love to see them but am worried about the kids and the pets. Your images are wonderful.
    Have a nice evening at the Farm
    xoxo
    ps, I am working on my hens still. I want 6, but need to figure out how to care for them if we go away and they are babies. I think our pet sitter should be able to do it.

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  6. Wow, that's pretty cool seeing a bear, although I think I'd be afraid to step out of my front door after that!!

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  7. How neat! We've only had one bear sighting at MHC. My husband was in the bathroom and he very quietly said, "Honey, come here. Now. There's a bear in the back yard." I ran to the window, but by the time I got there, the cub had turned around and was climbing back up the hill. I saw the rear view. It was pretty amazing!

    xo
    Claudia

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  8. This is exactly why I don't want to camp.

    Warm wishes to you, and I am so glad I found your blog.

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  9. I'd love to see one!! It has been 10 years since we've leaved here, we began a list with my kids : all the wild animals we saw that you never (or rarely) see in France : groundhogs, chipmunks, deers, skunks, cardinals and blue jays, coyotes, foxes, eagles, vultures and... squirrels everywhere (black ones around Princeton!)... But NO BEAR yet :(
    Btw, your blog is very nice!

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  10. A sweet hello 16Everafter! Thanks so much for visiting my blog, your comments are very much appreciated! Black squirrels, I've heard about them but have never seen one around here. I thought they were only in Europe - I'll have to keep my eyes open next time I'm driving around Princeton! Ciao, bella!

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