Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
SunChoke Flowers in the Morning
 | ||
|
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Monday, December 21, 2015
Happy Solstice, Happy Winter!
The latest improvement at the place is this barn that is going up around and over the chicken coop.
In the past we have just been putting tarps over the pen and the coop during the winter months to keep it clear of snow and a bit warmer, but it has always been ugly, wet anyway, and awkward to work under.
With this structure we have plenty of head room to walk upright and it will keep the area dry. The barn, as I am calling it, is made from all reclaimed materials and a few posts of downed trees from the woods here, except for the roofing material, which is corrugated fiberglass, which I purchased new.
It's is way expensive but I love the light it lets in. We have been using it for years around here and so far it has held up well to the heavy snow loads and falling acorns and branches and the UV.
Another nice thing is that the LED rope lights that I have hung in there, solar charged, have their light dispersed and reflected by the fiberglass, so the whole place glows at night. It helps when we go in there after dark.
We are thinking of using the glass panels from reclaimed sliding doors to close up the sides this winter. Eventually I think drop down fabric shades will be the choice for the walls. These can be easily raised and lowered seasonally.
I still have some finish work to do on the barn but it can do it's job as it is. The mild season so far has allowed me to enjoyably get this job done even though I started it late.
Happy Solstice.
 |
| Our micro-barn/chicken coop Still under construction but functional. The chicken wire behind and above the picket fencing is there, but not visible. |
With this structure we have plenty of head room to walk upright and it will keep the area dry. The barn, as I am calling it, is made from all reclaimed materials and a few posts of downed trees from the woods here, except for the roofing material, which is corrugated fiberglass, which I purchased new.
It's is way expensive but I love the light it lets in. We have been using it for years around here and so far it has held up well to the heavy snow loads and falling acorns and branches and the UV.
Another nice thing is that the LED rope lights that I have hung in there, solar charged, have their light dispersed and reflected by the fiberglass, so the whole place glows at night. It helps when we go in there after dark.
We are thinking of using the glass panels from reclaimed sliding doors to close up the sides this winter. Eventually I think drop down fabric shades will be the choice for the walls. These can be easily raised and lowered seasonally.
I still have some finish work to do on the barn but it can do it's job as it is. The mild season so far has allowed me to enjoyably get this job done even though I started it late.
Happy Solstice.
Monday, November 2, 2015
That's my Pie kitty!
This year is the first that we have had enough apples from our trees to really be in good stores. I think I am on my 5th pie of the season. One a week might be about what I am making but I could be eating more than that. The apple trees, a granny smith and two winesaps, that are bearing right now really produced this year. There is yet another tree to reach an age that it might bear fruit, maybe next season.
When I was young and going to college I used to spend a good portion of my mornings sitting in my Grandmother's kitchen, drinking coffee and eating apple pie. The pie was store bought, but the quality of the company made up for the quality of the pie. Now, after she is many year's gone, the pie is compensating for my missing her company. It's not the same as having her around, but it helps.
My pies are simple:
peel and slice up about 5 or 6 medium apples
marinate in a bowl overnight if possible w/ cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, teaspoon of vanilla extract, half tablespoon of lemon juice, and about a table spoon of brown sugar.
Non of these ingredients is absolutely necessary since fresh apples are plenty flavorful on their own.
The crust is 2 cps flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3-4 tablespoons milk or water
one stick of butter
Baking is for 10 minutes at 450, then 45 minutes at 350, and usually turning the stove off and letting the pie sit for another 10 minutes.
 |
| Apple pies, a constant in our kitchen this year! |
My pies are simple:
peel and slice up about 5 or 6 medium apples
marinate in a bowl overnight if possible w/ cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, teaspoon of vanilla extract, half tablespoon of lemon juice, and about a table spoon of brown sugar.
Non of these ingredients is absolutely necessary since fresh apples are plenty flavorful on their own.
The crust is 2 cps flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3-4 tablespoons milk or water
one stick of butter
Baking is for 10 minutes at 450, then 45 minutes at 350, and usually turning the stove off and letting the pie sit for another 10 minutes.
Monday, October 19, 2015
First Frost
Over the weekend we had our first frost. Two nights in a row with below the freezing mark on the thermometer. I don't have much care for getting out before the sun on cold mornings like that. I'd rather stay inside, tend the wood stove and enjoy the morning coffee and light moving thru the windows.
We are only two years into keeping the chickens here and as such I am still a bit unsure of things like how cold is cold to a chicken. What makes it even more perplexing is that although the thermometer is reading below the freezing mark, I go out and don't feel awful, but then again, I am dressed well and can return inside when I want. I suppose I will put the shutter on the last window that lets in cold air, just to be on the safe side.
So now is the time for fires at night and in the morning and during the day we'll just let the sun warm up the place. The trees are showing more orange, yellow, and red than green and the air seems to be constantly filled with falling leaves. Now, instead of ducking into a shady spot, I find I tend to move into the direct light and warmth of the sun.
The new roof is on the shop and that is a comfort. I just hope none of the big oak trees happens to fall down on it after all that work. The kitchen is full of food and cooking seems to be the main activity indoors. Caning and drying and freezing so that thru the winter we have many choices of tasty things to eat.
While working the market yesterday I looked up to the north and thought that the dark edge on the clouds signaled a bit of rain possibly coming down on us. I was wrong, what came down was snow flurries. It is the middle of Autumn.
We are only two years into keeping the chickens here and as such I am still a bit unsure of things like how cold is cold to a chicken. What makes it even more perplexing is that although the thermometer is reading below the freezing mark, I go out and don't feel awful, but then again, I am dressed well and can return inside when I want. I suppose I will put the shutter on the last window that lets in cold air, just to be on the safe side.
So now is the time for fires at night and in the morning and during the day we'll just let the sun warm up the place. The trees are showing more orange, yellow, and red than green and the air seems to be constantly filled with falling leaves. Now, instead of ducking into a shady spot, I find I tend to move into the direct light and warmth of the sun.
The new roof is on the shop and that is a comfort. I just hope none of the big oak trees happens to fall down on it after all that work. The kitchen is full of food and cooking seems to be the main activity indoors. Caning and drying and freezing so that thru the winter we have many choices of tasty things to eat.
While working the market yesterday I looked up to the north and thought that the dark edge on the clouds signaled a bit of rain possibly coming down on us. I was wrong, what came down was snow flurries. It is the middle of Autumn.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Peaches and Apples
We are into the second week of September and yesterday I noticed that the ground under the peach trees was littered with fallen fruit. Today will be gathering, cutting, cooking/freezing. The peaches are sweet, a bit on the small side but juicy and good.
The granny smith apples have looked ready for a week or so now and today I decided to pull one off to try it. Delicious! I will pull enough off today for a pie but leave the rest to be taken as needed. The winesap apples look as though they still need a week or so yet.
The granny smith apples have looked ready for a week or so now and today I decided to pull one off to try it. Delicious! I will pull enough off today for a pie but leave the rest to be taken as needed. The winesap apples look as though they still need a week or so yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)