Saturday, December 22, 2012

Christmas Hours: Looks Like a White Christmas Ahead!

I hope everybody is having a jolly season so far!    The snow is so pretty!   Wishing everybody safe travel if you are visiting friends and relatives to celebrate the holidays!

Merry Christmas! 

If you still haven't decided what to have for dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, think about a nice leg of lamb roasting in the oven or lamb shanks in a casserole!  We have several whole boneless legs that weigh about 3 pounds and some half legs with bone the bone that way about 2.5 pounds.  Also we have some whole legs with bone and boneless shoulder roasts too.

Homer Village Market will expand its hours for the winter season beginning in January 2013 and will be open again on Mondays but will be closed on Sundays.   Hours will be Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  If you are on your way and need me to stay open longer and wait for you, just call ahead and I can stay until closer to 7 p.m. if needed.

 

Christmas Hours:


Open Monday 12/24 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Closed Tuesday, 12/25

Open Wednesday, 12/26, Thursday 12/27 and closing early on Friday 12/28 by 2 p.m.

Closed Saturday, 12/29, Sunday 12/30, Monday, 12/31, and Tuesday, January 1, 2013


Reopening with new Winter Hours beginning Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 10:30 a.m.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Smith's Eggnog-French-Toast Casserole Recipe

SMITH’S EGGNOG FRENCH TOAST
INGREDIENTS
· 7 large eggs
· 2 cups of Smith’s Eggnog
· 1/3 cup sugar
· 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
· 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
· Salt
· 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
· 1 French bread loaf, cut into 1-inch slices
· Powdered sugar
PREPARATION:
· Beat together: Eggs, Eggnog, Sugar, Salt, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Vanilla
· Dip slices of bread in the eggnog mixture, and place them side-by-side in a greased, ovenproof, glass dish. Pour any remaining mixture over the slices
· Cover and refrigerate overnight
· Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
· Bake on bottom rack for 20 to 25 minutes (watch overbrowning bottom)
· Place hot dish on rack to cool slightly, and dust with powdered sugar
· Serve with maple syrup and melted butter
· Makes 6-8 servings
Note: tsp. = Teaspoon

Lamb for the Holidays

I was browsing the recipes on the website of the American Lamb Board.  There are links to other sites that also have some delicious sounding recipes for lamb.  Lamb shanks are featured in several recipes, since they make such a nice family-style dish with potatoes and carrots.  The long, slow cooking with wine and fragrant herbs and spices makes a wonderful aroma in the kitchen.

If you are interested in having lamb for your holiday meal, please stop by or call and let us know which cuts interest you.  We have whole, boneless leg roasts (rolled and tied), whole and half leg roasts with the bone, lamb shanks two per package, lamb chops two per package, and ground lamb in one-pound packages.   Lamb meatballs make a festive meal!

Here are some links to interesting lamb recipes:

www.americanlamb.com

http://www.saveur.com

http://www.foodnetwork.com

Tis the Season!

Season's Greetings!   Welcome to December!   Where did November go?   

At the farm, our chickens just enjoyed eating the two pumpkins that provided nice, fall color outside the store from mid to late November prior to being wilted by several nights of frosty temperatures.   Now it's time to decorate for Christmas at the farm and the store.

If you are doing some holiday shopping and looking for stocking stuffers or other small gifts for your friends and family, stop by Homer Village Market and take a look around.   Here are a few ideas:

How about a hand-made cotton dishcloth - very pretty!  Only $2 each



Who wouldn't enjoy a fragrant and pretty bar of botanical herb soap made in a small batch?  We have lemongrass and also eucalyptus only $2 for small bar and $4 for medium size.  These make nice hostess gifts at holiday parties, and so does a pretty dish cloth.


We offer local maple syrup from Butcher Family Farms, which is located less than two miles from Homer.  Half-pints are $5, Pints cost $9, and quarts are $16.  We can also get half gallons or gallons if you order a few days in advance.

 
 
 
 
All greeting cards are on sale including boxed Christmas cards.   Gift mugs and small toys are also on sale.
 
 


Friday, November 23, 2012

Hope You Enjoyed Your Thanksgiving Holiday

As usual, Homer Village Market was closed on Thursday, but we are open on Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving week.   What a beautiful day we had on Thanksgiving this year.  Sunny and temperatures in the 60's!   Who could ask for a better day to go for a drive, walk in the yard, or even look out the kitchen window while preparing or cleaning up after the Thanksgiving feast! 

Today is "Black Friday" as the big stores and savvy shoppers like to call it.  It is business at usual here at the Homer Village Market, but in the spirit of the season, we do have a number of specials in the store:

Greeting cards are 50 cents off per card, limit 5 at this price
Thanksgiving cards are 50% off each card
Boxed Christmas cards are 20% off
Gift Mugs are $7, regularly $9
Toys are all on sale, priced as marked

If you are looking for a hostess gift or a Christmas gift, we have two unique items you may like:

Handmade (crochet) dish rags, 100% cotton, $2 each - very pretty and useful

Rose's Botanical Gardens Herbal soaps:  $4 each including Eucalyptus and Lemongrass



If you are out shopping and driving around, you are probably getting hungry for a snack!   Besides our every-day huge selection of snacks, we have ice cream on sale and pre-made sandwiches in the cooler.

Need Energy?  RockStar energy drinks on sale $1.99 each. 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Nickle's Bakery Now Featured



It is a complete coincidence that Homer Village Market is introducing donuts in the store the very same week that iconic Hostess has stopped producing Twinkies, Ding-Dongs, Ho-Hos, Cupcakes, and Wonder Bread!   

Heiner's has been Homer Village Market's bread supplier since we opened the store in 2006.  There are many loyal Heiner's bread customers who will probably be sorry to see no more Heiner's bread on the shelves.   Heiner's was purchased by Sara Lee and then again by Bimbo (yes, Bimbo) and a decision was made by their management to stop serving small businesses in the area.

Although we are sorry to lose the previous product, we are thrilled to have an Ohio bakery such as Nickles take their place.  Especially since Nickles has more varieties of bread available and a complete selection of sweets such as donuts.

If you have a favorite Nickles bread or sweet baked concoction, please stop by and let me know or go on our website and drop us an email.  

You can visit Nickles website to learn more about them and their products, here.

November Happenings

There has been so much going on in the world, that it is easy to get lost in the shuffle!   November in the US has been filled with anticipation and aftermath of the Presidential election, interrupted by the huge tragedy of Hurricane Sandy in the northeastern US, which is still affecting people there to this day.  Just to add to the anxiety of the already hectic season as we think about the holidays, there is the sex scandal in the CIA and the erupting war in the Middle East, Gaza, affecting Israel, Egypt, Syria, Palestine.  Continued bombing in Iraq and Afghanistan putting our troops in danger.........and the looming "fiscal cliff" endangering our fragile economy in the US, even as the price of gold is soaring.   Some factories are closing, including Hostess, but new businesses keep forming.  Many people are hoarding food and supplies underground for that doomsday scenario that isn't hard to imagine with all the troubles we see today,

Despite all the tension in the US and the world right now, the human spirit seems alive and well.   School children are bringing home report cards making parents proud, school pictures show smiling faces of graduating high school seniors, prayers are being said for our troops, our friends and family, and even people we do not know who are suffering the many troubles here and everywhere.  People are getting married, having babies, and buying houses....not always in that particular order, of course!

This weekend, families are out with their children, hunting in the woods for deer, a tradition in our rural area, with this weekend designated as "deer-gun" season for children who are licensed to hunt.  It is an exciting time for families, and cherished memories will be talked about for years to come.

And people are buying food for their Thanksgiving feasts, looking forward to visiting with family and friends, and thanking God for all they have to be thankful for in their lives.   Some are already looking forward to Christmas and Chanukah, which are right around the corner in December!

Homer Village Market is open today, a sunny Sunday in November, to be part of the family tradition of being outdoors this weekend!    Normally closed on Sunday and Monday, today the store will be open until about noon, and tomorrow the store will be open part of the day.   

I am thankful for all my loyal customers and friends and family who have been supporting my efforts to have a store in Homer for the community and all the people passing through on this busy highway for over six years now.   Many of you will be enjoying a leg of lamb for Thanksgiving, or maybe venison stew or roasts to celebrate the harvest season.  It is fun to try sometihng new, and let some of those turkeys have a holiday too!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!   The store will probably be open Thursday and Friday with reduced hours, so please stop by or phone ahead!  

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Wild-caught Louisiana Alligator

Alligator is available in the freezer finally!   This is first of the season, wild-caught alligator from Louisiana.  These are one-pound packages of boneless white-meat which has been marinated for tenderness.    These fillets are delicious pan-fried, grilled, or breaded and deep fried.   Many recipes are available on-line.   You can also visit our website and join our mailing list to receive recipe links and suggestions.    The meat cooks in three or four minutes, similar to shrimp, until it is translucent.  It is a great addition to a cajun stir-fry or gumbo!
  

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Now that Lamb is Back in Stock....


As previously mentioned, we are back in stock with our very own Spring lamb! If you are feeling adventurous for new flavors and haven't tried the ground lamb yet, why not try making an easy curry?

Here's one easy way to prepare a curry using ground meat: Just brown the pound of ground lamb with a half cup or so of finely chopped onions (pour off any excess grease), add optional other chopped veggies to saute such as sweet or hot peppers, celery, mushrooms, tomatoes; add some fresh garlic or dried/minced garlic or garlic powder if you like.

Next add a pat of butter to the saute and spice it up however you like with a tablespoon or so of any standard curry powder blend, or make your own curry blend with cumin, paprika, salt and pepper, tumeric, a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for heat, and a little ground or whole cardamom seed...cinnamon is nice too--so is bay leaf. Add about a cup or two of water once the meat is browned and the onions are tender so you can simmer the curry and add more veggies (or not).

If you like garbanzo beans (chick peas), add about a half cup of those or else you could substitute green peas, or skip the beans/peas entirely. You could also add a diced carrot and a diced potato or turnip or cauliflower. Once all the ingredients have been added, simmer the curry for about 20 minutes to blend all the flavors and allow the root veggies to become tender, if used. 

Now to make it your own....taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed or a little tomato paste or ketchup if you like a little sweetness. ( If you want the sauce thicker, add a spoonful of flour or cornstarch blended in a little cold water or mash up some of those root veggies in the sauce.) For extra richness if you like, just before serving, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or a few tablespoons of half-n-half or cream (next time try some coconut milk). If you made your curry really spicy with cayenne or red pepper or hot peppers, you could serve some plain yogurt along side. If your curry is very thick with veggies, you could serve it like a hearty soup. If it is thinner like a gravy or meat sauce, you could serve it over rice, such as basmati or brown rice.

I think you get the idea that the curry is your own creation! If you like the flavor of curry spices and enjoy eating lamb, next time try making lamb curry the more traditional way using longer-cooking cuts of lamb such as stew meat or shoulder chops and larger chunks of veggies.  . To speed it up, you could even use a pressure cooker!

Lots of New Products!

I guess I must have been hungry when I chose the latest assortment for the store.   Besides restocking the favorites such as Pilgrim's Pride chicken salad, Chuck and Dave's  chips and salsa, and Arnold Palmer half & half  iced tea/lemonade......we now have a larger selection of Italian-style products such as canned Italian plum tomatoes, roasted red peppers, garlic/cheese toast, and Margherita Pepperoni Sticks!   Also new is Borrelli brand mushroom medley gourmet pasta sauce and cannellini beans (white kidney beans).





We also just received Yoder's mustard potato salad in the deli section and Johnsonville bratwurst in the freezer.    Don't forget to request specialty bratburst buns from the freezer section!  Now you are ready for football on TV!

For some good snacking, we have Walnut Creek all beef summer sausage, which goes quite well with our Wisconsin apple-smoked gouda cheese,  the sharp cheddar, or the Amish mild-lacey cheddar.

On a  healthier note, we have canned, sliced beets; canned  pineapple tidbits in their natural juices; and jars of sliced, red grapefruit, refrigerated.

Local Lamb in Stock Now and New Fall Hours!

Finally, we have harvested some of our Spring Lamb and are back in stock now with:   ground lamb, lamb chops, boneless leg roasts, boneless shoulder roasts, lamb shanks, and 1/2 leg roasts with the bone intact.  Those of you who have been on a waiting lsit since July 2012 should have received a call by now or an email to let you know of the availability of our wonderful lamb!  

Since Fall is a busy time around the farm, we have new hours for the store:

Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The store will be closed on most Sundays and Mondays except by appointment for purchases of lamb or eggs or for special events in the community.

Not sure if we are open?   If it is Sunday or Monday, and the Open Flag is not flying outside the store, and the sign on the door says "Closed", then we are not open.   Feel free to call ahead to verify our hours and whether we are open.  (740) Eight Nine Two- Three Two Four Two is the phone number for the store.

I hope you are enjoying all the beautiful fall colors!   Looking forward to seeing you in the store!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Time for Salad

I don't know about you, but I love to eat lots of salad when the weather gets this hot!  Cool, fresh greens, with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions tossed with Garlic Expressions salad dressing and sometimes some feta or blue cheese and a few dried cranberries.   Sometimes just a little drizzle of olive oil and vinegar with cracked pepper hits the spot, especially if I have added lots of tasty items such as bacon bits or cheese to the salad greens.

Stop by Homer Village Market for fresh produce.  Chopped romaine and green leaf lettuce just delivered today.  It's already washed, so no fuss.  Also fresh vidalia onions, vine-ripened tomatoes, and large, fresh mushrooms arrived today along with poblano peppers, great on the grill.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

A Fourth of July We Won't Forget

I was in the store at 5:25 p.m., June 29, when the power went out during a serious thunderstorm.  The sky was dark, and the rain was coming down in sheets.  Cars were pulling off State Route 661 into the parking lot because they couldn't see to drive down the road.

The temperatures had been flirting with 100 degrees all week in Ohio and all of the eastern US, and wild fires were burning in Colorado.   So a big thunderstorm wasn't a huge surprise, but the power outage went on for days!   This was the longest week ever, with the temperatures near 110, no electric to power the water wells or air conditioning, and even the phone service went out for a few days when the generator powering the substation ran otu of gas.

There were long lines in nearby Utica where people found the Marathon gas station had gas for sale to power the portable generators.  Ice was hard to find as everyone bought what was available to try to save the food in their freezers and refrigerators.  Even the ice companies had no power to make more ice.  This was a wide-spread outage, and the local power company AEP was telling customers they expected to have 90% of the customers back up by July 7.

Homer Village Market lost all the cold and frozen food in the store because we didn't have a generator when the storm hit.  We were initially hopeful power would be restored in a day or two and were reluctant to open the coolers and freezers to let out the cold air.  So the store remained closed during the power outage.   We were able to secure four small generators on the third day of the outage, and these were used to save the frozen food in the chest freezers, such as alligator, frogs legs, duck, ground beef, lamb, and prepared entrees.    Near the end of the outage, we were able to find a much larger generator which will help us avoid this problem in the future, and was helpful to be able to run more freezers for a longer period of time before resting the generator.

Luckily, Homer Village Market has insurance to cover the lost food and the business interruption as well as the addtional expenses to get back up and running--subject to deductible of course.  We are very thankful our insurance company was prompt in advancing funds to restock the coolers and freezers pending settlement of the claim.   Full restocking will occur over the next few days, as the established delivery days with various suppliers need to be observed.  By early next week, July 17, the store should be fully restocked with the usual assortment of favorites.  Currently we are about 80% restocked including milk, ice cream, all the dairy favorites, bread, some meats and cheeses, and lots of produce including vine-ripened tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and cabbage, locally grown.

The hardest part of being without power was making sure our flock of sheep had a continuous supply of fresh, cool, water to drink in the hot temperatures.  Luckily, the wool-sheep had recently been sheared, and the hair sheep were holding up fine without wool.   Some of the sheep could drink from the pond on the farm, but those in pastures near the barn were unable to go there for water and it had to be hauled to them from the pond or from the nearby Homer Volunteer Fire Department, which had a hose available for the community.  Neighbors were helping each other out with what they could do, but most everybody was in the same "boat"--no water, no A/C or fan, no phone or TV, and spoiled food.

Friday, June 22, 2012

HOT, HOT, HOT!

I think this may be the hottest week in June that I can remember!   Sorry to say that we are SOLD OUT OF ICE until Monday, June 25.   No ice this weekend!  There will be plenty for next weekend though and for the Fourth of July holiday.

This heat really calls for grilling outside!  We have lots of grilling meats including locally raised, all natural, grass-fed angus beef, ground.  Also, fresh sirloin steaks, all beef hot dogs, garlic knockwurst, alligator, frogs legs, salmon burgers, and more.

Somebody was wondering how many pair of frogs legs are in a 5 pound box.  Since there are 6-8 medium size frogs legs per pound, let's use 7 as an average, then you will have about 35 pairs of frogs legs in a 5-pound box.  I counted them once, and that's about right.  So you can buy a pair of individually wrapped frogs legs for $1 (minimum 6 pair)  or a 5-pound box for $35 regular price or $30 on sale.   They are quite good on the grill, and also make a nice cajun stew with tomatoes, butter, and garlic.  Go ahead, add some alligator to the stew, and make it a seafood gumbo.

Be sure to stop by for fresh sirloin steak.  They are USDA Choice grade, approximately 6 oz. each, and only $3.95 each or 6 for $22.   Great on the grill.  Next Tuesday, the extra large (13 oz) pork chops will arrive.  The pork chops are porterhouse-style cut with the loin attached and are marinated for your convenience in getting a nice, tender chop without overcooking.

 Speaking of $22, you can get 3 pounds of salmon burgers (that's 12 individual burgers, 20 ounces of protein each) for $22.  They are great on the grill or baked in the oven or warmed in a frying pan.  They are meant to be cooked from the frozen state, so it only takes about 4 minutes per side if you cook them on the grill or in a frying pan.  They take a little longer in the oven, like 10 minutes per side.   These salmon burgers are delicious, all natural,  and are made with wild-caught Alaskan salmon and no fillers such as bread crumbs.  They are lightly seasoned and have mild smoke flavoring.

We have extra large mushrooms which are so delicious stir-fried at high heat with butter and olive oil and garlic.  You could also put them on a skewer with some other veggies and cut up steak and have a tasty shish-ka-bob.

I hope you are staying cool.  It is nice and cool inside the store!  Hope to see you soon!



Here is a picture of some frogs legs ready to grill.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Goings on at the Farm

Lambing season has finally come to an end, and many of the lambs already appear to be as large as some of the ewes!   They have an amazing, lush pasture this year due to the early warm temperatures and mild winter. 

Last week, twenty-six of the sheep had an appointment with the sheep shearer for a haircut.   They are very happy to have lost all that wool now that the temps have been getting into the upper eighties and nineties.   Even the black-faced great-grandma ewe got sheared...first time in a couple of years at least.

One of the Black Spanish turkeys was sitting on a nest of eggs in a remote corner of one of the barns, and became the proud mother of nine babies at the end of May.   While they were a few days old, we kept the mom and her babies in a large cage for about a week with food and water to protect them from predators and assure they had food and water.   As they got a little bigger, we let mom and the babies out to roam the fenced front barnyard.  Mom was very protective, chasing after any sheep, chicken, duck, or human that got anywhere near them.  At night she kept them huddled under here wings.  Sad news is that one morning three babies were missing and then a few mornings later three more, and now she only has one baby left!   We kept that one baby in a cage overnight hoping to save it.   We really need to build a secure area for young turkey families.  Currently we have none that would keep them contained in a tightly woven mesh fence.     I'm glad I got a picture or two of the turkey family before their demise.



The Store is Overflowing!

Come by for some fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, vidalia onions, and kale while it is still nice and fresh!  Also we have some eonomical steaks for the grill this weekend:   ball-tip sizzlers, which are from the bottom sirloin.  These are USDA Choice, well marbled for flavor, and are each about 6 ounces.  You can buy 6 for $22, or they are $3.95 each.

If the kids want pizza, we have Tony's 12-inch pepperoni on sale 2 for $8 or 5 for $18.  Go ahead and pig out on pizza....and don't forget the salad!

For grilling, we have a few lamb chops left from our own farm as well as plenty of shoulder blade chops.  Salmon burgers from wild-caught Alaskan salmon are still available as well as one pound packages of, free-range/grass fed local angus ground beef, and Louisiana wild-caught alligator.   Frogs legs are on sale for $30 per 5-pound box, (usually $35) or you can buy pairs of frogs legs for $1 each if your freezer space is limited.

Swiss cheese is on sale this week.  We have Amish Lacey Swiss sliced or in an 8-ounce half-moon chunk.   There is also a wide selection of other cheese varieties at every-day low prices.

Monday, June 4, 2012

June Picnics

Picnic season is upon us again!  The kids are out of school, and the livin' is easy!  Did you know that Homer Village Market has everything you need for a great picnic, including the charcoal and lighter fluid, styrofoam coolers, packaged ice, and citronella candles?  

For appetizers, you can find ingredients to make your own amazing recipe; or you can pick up salsa and chips, french onion or ranch dip and potato chips, hummus and pita, or cheese and crackers.  Don't forget the fresh veggies:  carrots, celery, tomatoes.  Soon there will be garden produce too!   How about some cheddar cheese curds to go with the wine you can get at the local winery on nearby Bennington Chapel Road.  We have a wide variety of cheeses from Wisconsin as well as Ohio.

For grilling, how about some local, grass-fed ground angus or local, grass-fed lamb?   We also have natural casing, all beef hot dogs, garlic knockwurst, and cajun andouille sausage.  Want to go cajun for your picnic?   We have cajun seasonings as well as wild-caught Louisiana alligator white meat from the tail.  We also have frogs legs, which can make a great cajun-style stir fry or grill entree.   Emeril Lagasse has a great frogs legs recipe on the Food Network website, made with lots of butter, garlic, tomatoes, and his special spice recipe is revealed.

If you are headed to a picnic and want to bring something but don't have time to make something yourself, you can find prepared chicken salad, potato salad, tuna salad, ham salad, or a selection of desserts such as cheesecake, pie, cookies, or banana-nut bread.     The host and hostess would always appreciate extra beverages.   You can find cold beverages here including gallons of iced tea or punch, two liter or twelve-packs of Pepsi products, and single-serve products as well.

If you decide to take the plunge and make something fantastic to take to the picnic, keep in mind we have a good selection of spices, marinades, dressings, and sauces to make your recipe unique.  Yes, we even have capers!

If pasta is your thing, you will be amazed at the variety of brands and styles of pasta on the shelves here.   In addition to several varieties and flavors of Rossi Pasta and sauces, we have pastas from Italy including spaghetti, bowtie, rigatoni, and rotini, angel hair, penne and even cavatappi.   We have what you need for your salads including sour cream, fresh vidalia onions, Idaho potatoes, bell peppers, celery, mustard,  eggs, pickled beets, pickle relish, salami, Italian dressing, many varieties of vinegars, as well as honey, maple syrup, and sugar.

If you prefer to bake something for your picnic, we have flour, sugar, eggs, cocao, baking soda, baking powder, salt, dried fruits and nuts, chocolate chips, butter, margarine, and oil.  Need a short cut?  We also have a few cake mixes and prepared frostings, puddings,  as well as food color and birthday candles. 

Speaking of birthday candles.....did you know we have greeting cards?   Yes, now you can find birthday cards, graduation, wedding, bridal shower, sympathy, get well, Father's Day, and every occasion cards.
  

Be sure to check the Homer Village Market website often to see what's new and the in-store specials.   Look for the link on the home page.  http://www.homervillagemarket-generalstore.com
You can also find us on facebook.  Find the link on the home page of our website.




Sunday, May 27, 2012

No More Crumbling Steps


Last week, a long awaited project was completed:  a wooden deck now stands where the crumbling concrete entry steps and old rotten deck once stood.   Parrish The Handiman was the winning bidder, and he and his crew completed the project in two and a half days.  It took a long time to remove the old concrete patio and step since they really made quality concrete landings 40 years ago!!!  I wanted to do a composite decking material, but it was just too expensive and also I had some concerns about the weight of Pepsi deliveries coming over the deck.   We doubled up on the decking materials to support the extra weight, and added a ramp. 

Now it's time to wait for the deck to "cure" before it can be stained.  Meanwhile, the stray tom cat finds this new habitat a great place to relax in the shade and listen to the birds.    He wants to know if the deck makes his butt look fat!

Store Closed on Memorial Day, Monday 5/28

Hope you are stocked up on ice, cold drinks, and grilling meats!   The store will reopen on Tuesday May 29 before 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Hand Made Baby Shawls

My Aunt Verne loves to crochet!  Her handiwork is beautiful and colorful.  She especially loves to crochet baby shawls, while her sister Wilma loves to knit matching baby booties, sweaters, and hats.  The two of them have made some beautiful christening outfits that make nice gifts.  I have four of the baby shawls on display this weekend and they are available to purchase.  We have yellow, lavender, white, and a multi-color pastel.  Also we have a selection of handmade kitchen dish rags crocheted of heavy-duty cotton yarn.  They are such a pleasure to use!


Saturday, May 12, 2012

Will Be Closed on Sunday, Mother's Day May 13

Hope everyone will be having a Happy Mother's Day!  I will be celebrating Mother's Day with my Mom and family.  The store will be closed and will reopen at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 14.

Somebody else will be celebrating Mother's Day at our farm!!!   One of the big, black Spanish turkeys just hatched eight babies!    I can't wait to go see them tonight and get a picture to post!   She is being a very good mom.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Here It Is May Already

We have been so fortunate to have a mild Winter this year.  Lambing was not nearly as difficult as it normally would be in February, March, and April. 

Here's a picture of a lamb born last week on a cold rainy morning.  His mom left him in the rain, and possibly her scent washed off of him.  We have been bottle feeding him and also letting him out in the pasture with another orphan we raised.


He is in the car for "take your lamb to work" day at Homer Village Market.  I knew he needed his bottle every few hours, and that day there was nobody at the farm to feed him.   He enjoyed the ride and all the attention.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Goings on at the Farm

Lambing season is just about done, but there are still a few ewes expecting lambs in the next 30 days or so.   We are weaning "Buddy" the one bottle baby we've been feeding for a couple of months since her Mom died giving birth to five lambs!  Buddy is the only survivor of them now, and he seems to be healthy though a little small for his age.  He has had several rides around town to visit friends and neighbors, and is always welcoming attention from humans.

Drilling of a traditional (vertical),  Clinton-formation gas well was just completed on the farm last week and is not yet operational.   It was a noisy week with the drilling crew working 24 x 7 to get it done.  This is the first well since we've owned the farm, and are looking forward to the day we will have free gas to heat our home, and maybe enough royalties to make some improvements to the property.  

I took a picture of the drilling rig while it was out there, so I'm posting it here.  The tower, trailer, and all the equipment are gone now, and we are waiting for the crew to return to install the pumping gear and pipelines.  We'll be putting in some new fencing and gates to keep the area secure but accessible to the gas company without letting our sheep out of the pasture.  Will be good when it's done!



We have a lot of brown lambs this year, and here is why!   Look at the Daddy!!!





Greeting Cards Are Here!

The next time you want to send a card, remember to stop by Homer Village Market to see the new selection of greeting cards including:  Birthday, Thank You, Sympathy, Wedding, Anniversary, Congratulations, Get Well, Thinking of You, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, and all the major Christian holidays.   Be sure to check out our display of gift mugs.  We also have gift certificates, and many fancy foods that make nice gifts.


We plan to add additional greeting card options such as boxed assortments, value cards, and collector's cards.   If you have any special requests of card themes, please let Jean know!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Lamb for the Holidays

We have sold out of leg of lamb about one week before Easter and Passover holidays this year.  For those of you who wanted a leg roast for your holiday meal but were not able to get one from Homer Village Market due to demand exceeding supply, I apologize.  We have a small farming operation and even smaller freezer storage space for those large roasts.  Next year we will probably take orders and make the roasts available a few months prior to the holiday so that you can buy what you need and store in your home freezer.  We wish that lambs had more than two legs, but that's all God gave them!  It's funny that we look at them and say they have four legs, but those two in front are their arms!!!   Shoulder roasts are much more flavorful than leg roasts, but they are a little trickier to cook since they require moist heat, and longer cooking at lower oven temperatures to be nice and tender.  Crown roasts and loin roasts of lamb chops are a festive and delicious meal for holidays but they also need to be ordered in advance due to limited supply and special processing required.  These chops and roasts are the most expensive cut of the lamb and are considered a delicacy.    Recipes are available on the website of the American Lamb Board (see links on this blog) and also on many cooking websites on the internet including food network and epicurious.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Early Summer? What about Spring?

Having several days in a row of 80 degrees and mid seventies with 50's at night makes a person want to do all the things we do in the summer such as gardening, eating ice cream and popsicles, spraying everything with the garden hose, and eating more ice cream!!!   I guess we could still get a snow storm, so planting flowers might be a little bit foolish--but so hard to resist!

We hope to get the food cart open in the next week or so if this weather holds out!   The local youth softball leagues are already practicing at the ball fields, and the parents are working up an appetite.
People are making campfires and doing overnight camping too!   The fish are jumping, and with all the rain we've had, the streams are a great place to enjoy the outdoors.  

Be sure to check out our website http://www.homervillagemarket-generalstore.com and see what's new in the store.  We just got Velvet Ice Cream back in stock today!  Today we also have strawberry rhubarb pies, almost 3-pounds a piece, ready for your oven.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Reopening Tuesday March 12, 2012

Wow, the time has sped by, at least for me, while the store was closed in February and early March!  I have missed seeing all of you in the store and around town!  

You will notice a few changes in the store and more to come.  We are introducing some new products in our dairy and meat departments,  and will be adding more as the weather keeps improving.   

Please stop in and say Hi!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Winter Close-Out Sale Extended to Saturday, February 4, 2012

By popular request, we are extending the in-store specials through the week of the end of January.  Many of you said that you do not get paid until the first of the following month, and were not able to come in when the sale started in the middle of January.

We have sold out of pizza and have not restocked Smith's milk or ice cream.  We have some ice cream left and plenty of candy, baking supplies, pasta, sauces, canned goods, and a lot of frozen sausage.

Following the sale ending Saturday, February 4, Homer Village Market will close for the rest of February and part of March until SPRING arrives!    We will be making some changes to the store format and hours, so check back with us to find out What's New!!!

You can still shop by appointment if you need grass-fed lamb or beef or if you need to get some more alligator or frogs legs to hold you through the winter!   Also if you need Rossi Pasta, we will take special orders.

Thanks for shopping with us!    Looking forward to seeing you in the Spring!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Happy New Year!

The first week of 2012 has come to an end, and it sure doesn't seem like Winter!  We have been fortunate to have some sunny days with temperatures in the 40's and 50's! 


Homer Village Market is having a big sale during the month of January!  You can find some very good buys on

Ohio Pasta
Ohio sauces
Pickles and Jams
Cheeses,
Smith's Ice Cream
All natural Pepperoni Pizza (frozen)
Baking Supplies
Sausages
Candy,
Produce,
Snack mixes 
Pepsi Products
Heiner's Bread

So don't miss out.  Stop in during the month of January, the sooner the better, as there will be no rainchecks. 

Also, we just got our USDA inspected, locally pastured, grass-fed black angus beef cut to order, vacuum packed, and frozen just in time for making some wonderful chili, beef stew, and pot roasts!    Hurry in to try some of this local beef!