This week's Featured Friday blogger shares and writes about all the things we love...in her own words, "homemaking and gardening and the love of aprons and overalls and family and food."
Does it really get any better than that?
It does, if you're Susan and by homemaking you mean amazing photos of really yummy looking recipes plus gardening and sewing that will make you want to run out and plant something or make something yourself!
If you haven't already, you MUST make Not Quite June Cleaver a regular stop on your weekly (or daily!) tour of blogs...we're sure glad we have!
We caught Susan with a few free moments and she was happy to answer our getting-to-know-you questions. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom...dear Ms. NQJC is hosting a giveaway that you won't want to miss!
Tell us a little about yourself, your family and home.
I live in rural NW Louisiana on a little dirt road, in a little green house we call Rose Cottage. My husband and I have 6 children ages 31-14 and one grandson. We have been married almost 33 years. My husband works in Tunisia (North Africa) so we spend quite a bit of time apart. When he is home, we garden, entertain and try to spend as much time together as possible, much of it in the kitchen.
Who or what originally inspired you to start blogging?
I LOVE crafting and foodie blogs. I love to sew, learn new crafting techniques and food is as much a part of our lives as anything. So I guess it would be worthwhile to share what goes on in my world. I love reading about other women's lives, so why not share my own?
We know from reading your blog that you're a fantastic cook and baker...care to share a favorite recipe?
Absolutely. I suppose my favorite recipe to cook, mostly because everyone loves to
eat them, is my Chicken & Dumplin' recipe. They're a favorite at our house. My Ganky (my mom’s sister) made THE best and this is a slight variation on her original recipe. We thoroughly enjoyed these and I always wonder why I don’t make them more often.
You have an extensive and inspiring garden...can you tell us what
you've planted (or will plant) this year? Any tips on getting started?
Right now, we have planted corn, okra, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and probably 30 or so herbs in various little plots and pots. We will plant pumpkins around the last week of June as soon as the corn is harvested. I sell pumpkins every Autumn and try to plant things that can't be found just anywhere.
My advice for getting started gardening is to JUST DO IT! I don't care if you live in an apartment with only one window - plant something - ANYTHING. An herb or two. An ivy. We all need to get our hands dirty, you know? I have 27 Things I live by and #13 is Plant a little garden.
I can't imagine not having a garden and we have had something planted ever since we set up house. Our gardens grew in size as our family grew and now we are back down to a much more manageable size plot! My next adventure will be chickens. I plan to have a little flock by next Spring!
Aside from friends, family & pets, what are 5 things you just could NOT do without?
#1 Good coffee.
#2 A little dirt to dig in. (and a few seeds if possible ;) )
#3 Something to sew.
#4 Something to write with and on.
#5 My daily nap!
Tell us something that no one would ever guess about you.
Wow...this is hard. Mostly because I am a sharer! Maybe that I couldn't cook when I got married nearly 33 years ago. The first meal I cooked for my new husband was interesting at the very least! And his mom was a caterer! Best line of that night: "Um...
Honey...ummm...how much milk did you put in the creamed potatoes?" to which I responded "You put milk in creamed potatoes??"
Yep, you're right. After reading your blog, we'd NEVER guess that, especially considering how many delicious dishes you share on your blog...in one post alone, we found THREE recipes we want to try!
As if all the goodies we mentioned weren't enough to make you want to visit Not Quite June Cleaver...
That's right...a brand new copy of our book, Farmers' Market Favorites PLUS a one-of-a-kind market apron, handmade by Susan herself! There are lots of ways to enter so get on over there to find out all the details...there's so much we know you'll enjoy.
(Grab a button while you're at it.)
