pictures inside of the farmhouse today

Looking south from the guest bedroom The "Sellers Estate" Guest Bedroom from the front door looking in
a faux fireplace but we actually have 3 fires going in different spots today

my favorite spot to read

looking west

The master suite

the farm is always a work in progress...

UPDATE! Holiday Cookie Exchange!

After much consensus, you are all invited to this but YOU DO NOT have to participate in the cookie exchange if it seems to much this time of year. Come and visit Maple Valley Farm, inside and out, decorated for the season! Eat a wonderful farm lunch and enjoy a horse drawn hay or sleigh ride (depending on the weather which one) only $30- (suggested donation) and enjoy a free gift from Maple Valley Farm as well! Sign up soon as this should fill quickly!

December 5, 2009 10 am - noonish

Come to a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza cookie exchange and celebrate your heritage! Please bring your HOMEMADE gooiest, fattest, sugary and wonderful good favorite family recipe Holiday cookie. You will bring 8-12 dozen and we will let you know the exact number as the class approaches. You will leave Maple Valley Farms with a wonderful assortment of holiday cookies! Please come prepared to “re-transport” your goodies home. Then enjoy a wonderful Christmas luncheon at the farm! A special farm tour will be available this day with the animals all in their glory! The farm will be decorated with our family heritage as well. Don’t miss this special time at Maple Valley Farm! Suggested donation is $30-. Please call the farm to reserve your spot no later than December 1, 2009 by 6 pm. Hope to see you! ~Angela~ 616 566 8481

a great soap making class at the farm today!

We had a beautiful day today here at the farm! Besides making soap (we ate alot!) here is part of the menu.... Maple Valley Farms very own Squash and apple sauce... Grass fed beef with curry, our Maple Syrup drizzled on top and butter was stuffed in the organically grown squash...The table before the guest arrived with Leelanua Snickerdoodle Coffee and gift bags! Our official sponsor's today (and free gifts from) Johnny Seeds (Maple Valley Farms exclusive seeds) and Green Prints Magazine! Thanks Pat!

Maple Valley Farm's tasty pumpkin cakes with cream cheese frosting and nutmeg spice topping! (I ate 3 of them :) ) Don't feel bad you missed these cakes, we will have plenty of goodies at our organic Pumpkin Pie Make and Take and we are officially inviting YOU! Here is a photo of the peppermint soap we made.... Wrapped in raffia as well as some added wild rose hips from Maple Valley Farm! On the left of the soap is an Osage orange. We decorated the table all in Michigan nature... Rose hips, chestnuts from our tree and Osage oranges!

Here is homemade cranberry sauce (Michigan Cranberries of course) drizzled with our very own honey over Maple Valley Farm's goat cheese from our Matron Goat Sylvie...

We also had Beautiful weather today, again unseasonably warm, and a wonderful day to take a Belgian Horse Drawn Hay Ride for the farm tour! Thanks to our wonderful Guests, Lisa, Nancy, Linda, Amy and Sherry for coming out to the farm today! (more pics of yesterday here) And if you would like to see more photos of today from different angles simply become a friend of Maple Valley Farm on facebook!

farmers have fun too

After a successful harvest season we are taking advantage of unseasonably warm temperatures! even a day for berkies!
eating his first "pig dinner" at the house of flavors... a boy after momma's own heart!

pickin' milk weeds on the beach

the pig dinner in all it's glory!

drawing important lines in the sand!

kitty cats runnin' on the beach!

a day at the beach in November! who knows what a day of weather will bring in Michigan!

Turn up your speakers as you are invited to a special event!

A SATURDAY EVENT AT THE FARM!

DECEMBER 5, 2009 10 AM - NOONISH

Come to a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza cookie exchange and celebrate your heritage! Please bring your HOMEMADE gooiest, fattest, sugary and wonderful good favorite family recipe Holiday cookie. You will bring 8-12 dozen and we will let you know the exact number as the class approaches. You will leave Maple Valley Farms with a wonderful assortment of holiday cookies! Please come prepared to RE-transport your goodies home. Then enjoy a wonderful Christmas luncheon at the farm! A special farm tour will be available this day with the animals all in their glory! The farm will be decorated with our family heritage as well. Don't miss this special time at Maple Valley Farm! Suggested donation is $30-, mature children (prefer over age 10) $15- with parent. Please call the farm to reserve your spot no later than December 1, 2009 by 6 pm. Hope to see you! ~Angela~ 616 566 8481

we have been busy making homemade cider!!!!!! all from our very own apples!!!!!

okay, it should be translated to this:

The children made apple cider from our very own apples all on their very own and surprised me, and its good!

I should add that whenever I say "we" on this blog, usually means the children :) but not always, but a lot of the time!

pics coming... computer is on the fritz as well as camera. OH NO!

Another new class at the farm!

***NEW*** Homemade Laundry Detergent Makin’/Take…

December 1, 2009 10am-Noon
Come spend a day at Maple Valley Farms and learn the art of making homemade laundry detergent. This powdered recipe is easy and you can choose your very own scent for your soap. You will take home a 1 quart Mason style jar of soap all ready to go and the easy recipe. Wow your friends this Christmas with this lost heirloom art of homemade laundry detergent. You will also enjoy a bountiful farm lunch with most food organically grown from Maple Valley Farms. Enjoy a Belgian Drawn Farm tour as well. All laundry detergent ingredients will also be for sale this day so you do not have to drive all over town to find some of these difficult things. So grab a friend, your farm apron and take some time away before the holiday rush and enjoy some time in the country. This class should fill up fast, so please call the farm at 616-566-8481 to reserve your spot. ~$50~ Hope to see you and a friend! ~Angela~