Homestead Morning

Poem by Evangeline Holmes

Photographed by Cari Griffith

Walking to the barn,

pail in hand, and boots on feet,

the cow in her green pasture,

waiting there to greet.

Mooing when she sees you,

glad that you are there,

rubbing up against you,

sniffing at your hair.

The frothy milk sings,

as it swiftly hits the pail,

the smell of elder flower is drifting in the air.

The jars now full,

we walk inside,

to put the milk away,

cheese 'n butter 'n sour cream,

will be made another day.

Evangeline is one of five siblings growing up and homeschooling on her family’s 8-acre homestead at Rose Hill, a historic house built in 1823 in Jackson. She loves to read, pick blueberries, and bake pies, and her favorite place is home.

Evangeline's Vanilla Ice Cream

"My favorite ice cream to serve with pie — or sometimes I add protein powder and have it for breakfast with fresh berries!"

2 eggs

1/2 cup of maple syrup

1 cup of milk

2 cups of cream

1 teaspoon vanilla powder or 1 tablespoon

vanilla extract

In a blender, blend the eggs on low/medium for 1-2 minutes. Add in maple syrup and blend to mix. Add cream, milk, and vanilla; blend until combined. Pour into an ice cream maker and use the ice cream setting.