Cheyenne milking one of our Nubian dairy goats

Here at Mountain Valley View Farm, we feel continually blessed. Our farm is relatively small, encompassing only 30 acres here in the Spokane Valley, and is entirely operated by the Hood family. We are lucky to have a large family that enjoys helping out with all the chores and tasks involved in keeping the farm running. Last weekend when we harvested our first crop of organic rhubarb, everyone got involved–and a good thing too, because the haul was so large it would have taken forever without all that help! We are proud of our children’s diligence and cheerful helping hands, for they are growing up with strength of character and fortitude that will make them into wonderful adults.

Keisha and Rosy with one of our Icelandic horses

All of our children love animals, and we have taught them to be be respectful of all life and this great planet we live on. Growing up on a farm is a wonderful experience for them, and they learn so much each day about responsible, sustainable ways of living that are good for the earth and all its creatures. We have a great variety of animals on our farm, from horses and goats to chickens, ducks, geese, and even turkeys. The kids love interacting with all these different animals and are eager to help feed and take care of them.

Corbin feeding two of our baby Nubians

For our family, running Mountain Valley View Farm is not just a job: it is a way of life, one we take great pride and pleasure in. Although planting, harvesting, and taking care of our many farm animals takes a lot of hard work and can be very demanding at times, everyone enjoys seeing the fruits of our labor when we bring in a harvest or watch the goats and horses frolic playfully in the pasture. We also know that in providing fresh, nutritious organic produce and dairy to the public, we are filling an important role in our community and helping others enjoy a healthy lifestyle. We love getting to know the people who purchase from and support our farm, so please take a moment to stop by and see us at one of the local farmers’ markets–we’d love to meet you and tell you more about our family and farm!

You can find us at the following area farmers’ markets:

Spokane Public Market
32 W. 2nd Ave
Spokane, WA 99210
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wed – Fri

Spokane Farmers’ Market
5th Ave between Division & Brown
Spokane, WA 99210
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wed & Sat

Spokane Northside Farmers’ Market
315 E. Francis
Spokane, WA 99205
Wed 3 – 7 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Liberty Lake Farmers’ Market
1421 N. Meadowood Lane
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sat

Great news! We just received a new member to our household on February 6th. Her name is Lily and she is a Newfoundland Landseer with black and white markings. She is 8 weeks old and such a cutie and so sweet.  At 6 weeks she was 14 pounds, and upon arrival here she weighed in at 21 pounds on our scale. She’s growing fast!

I have wanted a Newfoundland ever since I read about Lewis and Clark as a girl growing up in Montana. They had wonderful stories about their Newfoundland, Seaman, who accompanied them on their travels across the country. Seaman was invaluable to them on their journey, and Lewis mentions several times in his journals that this loyal dog was able to scare off some buffalo and even a bear, saving the explorers from dangerous situations.

Newfoundlands are an ancient, hearty breed of working dog with a long and proud history. Vikings who visited Newfoundland Island in 1000 AD wrote about seeing strong water dogs  working with the native people. Today’s Newfoundlands are descended from these dogs and the mastiffs that were brought to the island in the 16th century by Portuguese fishermen. The Newfoundlands were used to haul fishing nets and retrieve objects or people who fell into the water.

A typical Newfoundland weighs between 100-150 lbs, and some have been known to exceed 200 lbs. The largest Newfoundland on record was 260 lbs and measured 6 ft long from nose to tail. They are powerful animals uniquely designed for swimming in rough ocean waters. Their oily double coat is thick and waterproof, keeping them warm and dry for hours in cold northern seas. They have webbed feet that enable them to swim with a powerful breast stroke, rather than the dog paddle used by other breeds, and their large lung capacity gives them the ability to swim great distances through strong currents and choppy waves. There are many instances in which Newfoundlands have saved people from drowning, and these are fascinating and inspiring stories. One Newfoundland saved 60 shipwrecked sailors alone, and another is believed to have rescued Napoleon when he fell overboard during his escape from the island of Elba.

Today, Newfoundlands are known as gentle giants, a beloved breed of calm, loyal animals that are equally good as caretakers and watchdogs. They are caring by nature, and are exceptionally well-behaved and nurturing around children and other animals. Easily trainable, devoted, and hardworking, the Newfoundland remains a popular pet to this day.

Did you know that February is not only National Children’s Dental Health Month but is also National Pet Dental Health Month? I was surprised to learn this as I drove past a veterinarian’s office that had this message posted on a sign in front of the building.

Having a National Pet Dental Health Month is a good reminder to focus on what keeps your pet healthy. You see, pets need to have their teeth cleaned, too. Bacteria can lead to a buildup of plaque, which in turn harms your pet’s gums and teeth. I’ve been told that scheduling teeth cleanings for your pet is highly ridiculous and very expensive. That may or may not be the case, but some people do choose professional dental health treatments for their pets. Another way to help keep your pet’s dental health in good shape is to clean their teeth at home.

A problem we have in today’s culture in the United States is the growing dental health problems in pets, which is often due to feeding a diet which is not natural for your specific breed. This contributes to gum disease and tooth decay. It has been proven that bacterial infection can adversely affect the health of humans as well as pets.

Be sure to feed your pet a healthy diet specific to your particular pet, and then make sure they have the appropriate items needed. For example, dogs have evolved from canines that were used to chewing on bones. This naturally helped clean their teeth. It is also worth it to use a soft, small toothbrush to brush your pet’s teeth from time to time. This will protect your animal’s dental health. This in turn will save you from having to pay for more expensive treatment later.

The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages us to celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month by checking with your local veterinarian for the best methods of keeping your pet’s mouth, teeth, and gums healthy.

Our Dogs’ Health News: I am worried about one of my beloved pet dogs, Dromi, who is a 14-year-old male Icelandic sheepdog. Dromi was actually my daughter’s dog, but we inherited him when she went away to college and was unable take him with her. He was imported from Iceland and has a wonderful character. He has been a terrific dog, but his health is failing. His eyes are still bright and alert, but he is definitely getting worse. He has tumors that are spreading all over his body, and I’m afraid that he doesn’t have too much time left. Losing a much-loved pet is always difficult. He has had a great life so far, and yes, he chewed on lots of bones to keep his teeth clean!

Greetings to all my family and friends and those who simply like to read blogs. Today is February 1, 2011, the beginning of a new month. Each month I plan my new resolutions to have a more productive and peaceful month. Today is no exception.

Today is also the beginning of National Children’s Dental Health Month. The entire month is devoted to promoting children’s dental health, which is extremely important for the overall healthy growth and development of any child. Since my husband is a dentist and devoted to helping children, he wants to make sure that everyone takes the time to call their family dentist and make an appointment for their children. Remember, if you haven’t made an appointment for them since school started, now is the time. Be sure and ask your dentist about the latest protocol in giving children x-rays, fluoride, and any type of dental treatment. To make sure your visit to the dentist is pleasant, avoid using any negative words when taking your child to the dentist. As a  resource to help parents with this, I developed an activity and coloring book, Adventures of My Dentist and the Tooth Fairy, which introduces children to the fundamentals of healthy teeth and mouth: fluoride, toothpaste, and brushing.

If you need any more information, please visit my husband’s dental blogs: Dr. James G. Hood’s Blog and Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley Blog. He is constantly adding information that is helpful about the dental industry.

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On February 8, 1949, the American Dental Association (ADA) held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day. This was only a one-day observance. In 1955 the observance was lengthened to a week-long event. Then in 1981, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. February was the month chosen to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Through the efforts of the American Dental Association, National Children’s Dental Health Month messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

To continue this education, the ADA has free online coloring and activity sheets that can help you as a parent teach your child about good dental health in a fun, entertaining manner. Click here to access these coloring and activity sheets.

It is Monday morning and I am in New York City getting ready to go to the airport and return to Spokane, Washington. I just attended The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference that was held in New York City at the Grand Hyatt Central Hotel. The conference attracted visitors from all over the world. This was my first time at this particular conference, and it was very worthwhile. I had never attended any children’s book writers conferences before, as I had been enrolling in writers conferences for books for adults. They are two totally different markets, and as an author and writer, it is important to keep up with the trends and what is going on in each market.

I met a lot of wonderful writers as well as the teachers and speakers at the seminars. They talked about what is going on in the world of illustration, picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, and of course the ever-popular and growing teenage and young adult market. The expansion of the market of these books was also discussed, with everyone trying to find the next breakthrough topic.

I was inspired by the wonderful keynote speakers that they had scheduled for the conference. Author R. L. Stine, the children’s book writer of the Goosebumps series turned out to be quite a comedian. Everyone had expected him to look like a person who writes horror stories for children (whatever that would look like), but instead everyone was surprised by his refreshing sense of humor and his inspiring thoughts for children’s book writers. His message to all writers was to only think “yes.” By saying “yes” writers are exposed to many different possibilities in the writing industry. For example, he worked as an promotional writer for the bottling industry in the United States, which was something he never set out to do. This job led him to other writing jobs. His goal was to become a comic writer and to have his own magazine, but he had to go through different hoops and jobs to get there. He never thought he’d be an author of horror fiction for children, and yet that is what he ended up doing.  R.L. Stine has sold over 450 million children’s books, and they are currently becoming more popular on the international scene. “You never know what life has in store for budding authors” was his message.  That will now be my plan … that is to say “yes” to all writing possibilities out there, including contests that I find.

Well, it is time to zip my bags and head downstairs to the taxi. The taxi will take me to LaGuardia Airport. From there I fly to Denver. After a short layover in Denver, I will board a plane to Spokane, returning to the wonderful Northwest, the land I appreciate so much.

It is unfortunate that New York City is going through such difficult times. When I was there they were arguing over budget cuts and were talking about laying off 15,000 teachers! That put people up in arms, as they didn’t think that’s where the cuts should be. The cold snap had caused problems with garbage pickup. They had gotten the streets plowed but the garbage was still stacked up on sidewalks. I heard that people were complaining about garbage on some sidewalks, but I must say I was pretty shocked to see it when I was visiting there. New York City is wonderful for the busy, exciting life, but it’s definitely going through some stressful times now as they try to figure out how to run the city with a small budget. But of course those problems are being dealt with in other cities of the country.  It’s just that in New York City budget cuts are on a much larger scale.

I compliment all of the people of New York, but I must admit I’m a Northwest country girl, born and raised in Montana and currently living in Washington State. I enjoyed my time and the education I received at the writers conference  in New York City, but I’m very glad to return home. You’ll be seeing more news about my children’s writing and children’s book releases in the near future. Thanks again, and please comment and join in on my blogs. Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you.

Karen Jean Matsko Hood

Dear Readers,

Today our family celebrated Jim’s birthday, and it was grand! Family came home and all of our sixteen children were here except for Janelle and her husband, Paul, who had traveled to Portland, Oregon, to be fair and spend time with Paul’s family for Thanksgiving. They alternate every other year, so we look forward to next year and having them here.

Brianne and her husband took Jim and me out for Jim’s birthday breakfast at the Max, where we talked for four hours! Meanwhile, back at the house, Kyler and Kelsey cooked homemade turkey pot pie from the Thanksgiving leftovers. It turned out great. And of course, Jim also chose to have his favorite dessert—German Chocolate Cake and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

Check out the pot pie recipe below for a tasty way to use up your leftovers.

Take care!

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1½ c. frozen peas and carrots, thawed under cold water

5    Tbs. butter

5    Tbs. all-purpose flour

¼   c. chopped onion

½   tsp. salt

¼   tsp. pepper

1¾ c. turkey or chicken broth

⅔   c. milk

3    c. diced cooked turkey

pastry for 9-inch two-crust pie

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Drain peas and carrots; set aside.
3. Heat butter in 2-quart saucepan over low heat until melted.
4. Stir in flour, onion, salt and pepper.
5. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat then stir in broth and milk. Place back on heat; heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
6. Boil and stir 1 minute.
7. Stir in turkey and vegetables.
8. Prepare pastry.
9. Roll ⅔ of the pastry into 13-inch square; ease into ungreased 9-inch square pan.
10. Pour turkey mixture into pastry-lined pan.
11. Roll remaining pastry into 11-inch square; cut out designs with small cookie cutter.
12. Place square over filling; turn edges under and crimp.
13. Bake until golden brown, about 35 min.

Yields: 6 servings.

Thanksgiving is wonderful day to pause and reflect on the many blessings that we have and realize we have.  It is also a day to reflect and give thanks on the many blessings that we take for granted, which include the many freedoms we take for granted each day, and the many gifts we have that come to us in a variety of packages.

The difficult challenge is to stretch our comfort zone to return our thanks and share our blessings with others in our all too busy lifestyle.  Thanksgiving is a great time to take time and analyze how we can spend time giving to others in our daily lives and to those in our local communities and global communities.

Keisha made a pecan pie for our Thanksgiving dinner, and it was great. Following are the recipes she used. This pie crust is now our favorite!

Best Pie Crust

Ingredients:

1  c. all-purpose flour

7  Tbs. cold salted butter

¼ c. ice water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift flour into mixing bowl.
3. Using large holes of a hand grater, grate butter into bowl with flour.
4. Lightly blend butter and flour with your fingertips until texture is like coarse cornmeal; be careful not to overwork dough.
5. Add ice water and blend until thoroughly incorporated.
6. For dough into ball, and place on floured surface; roll out dough to ⅛-inch thick, adding flour as necessary.
7. Place 8½-inch pie pan face down on dough, and cut dough to fit, leaving a border of about 1 inch.
8. Line pie pan with dough, trim edges, and refrigerate until ready to use.

Yields: One 8½-inch pastry shell.

Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

3    eggs

1    c. white sugar

1    c. dark corn syrup

2    Tbs. melted butter

1½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

⅛   tsp. salt

½   c. darkly roasted pecans, ground

1    c. med. pecan pieces

¾   c. pecan halves

1    unbaked 8½-in. pie shell

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Prepare pie shell; set aside.
3. In electric mixer, add eggs and beat on high speed until frothy, about 1 minute.
4. Add sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, salt, and ground roasted pecans; beat on medium speed until well blended.
5. Stir in pecan pieces; pour filling into prepared pie shell.
6. Spread pecan halves on top filling, and press lightly.
7. Bake for 40 minutes; reduce heat to 325 degrees F., and bake until filling is brown on top and crust is light golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and cool at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.

Yields: One 8½-inch pie.