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Delicious Scotland

Posted on September 6, 2015 by | Comments Off on Delicious Scotland

Ever since we got home we have been meaning to re-create a delicacy we enjoyed in Edinburgh.

Deep-fried Mars bars.

Deep. Fried. Mars bars.

We had heard about them from Jessie before we went over, but it wasn’t something that necessarily sounded appealing at the time. Would we try it? Meh.

But then, we got to Edinburgh, and our first day was cold, rainy, and windy.  We traipsed all over the Old Town and though the sun occasionally made an appearance and briefly warmed us, the weather was mostly a cold, grey, bucket of suck. (Not that that would deter me from moving there in a heartbeat!)

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Firth of Forth bridge – our very first view of Scotland.

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We walked all around this part of the city, taking it all in, trying to keep warm and dry, and failing.

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We kept passing this little hole-in-the-wall advertising Deep Fried Mars Bars, but we were trying to sample more traditional Scottish fare.

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And though we were fairly successful at finding good Scottish food, we did have a challenge finding a dinner spot we could get Neve into. In Scotland, under 18’s are not allowed in restaurants past 8 pm. The rule is they have to be “In by 6, out by 8”.

So after wandering, cold and damp, we gave in and decided to try the fried candy.

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It was delectable! Warm, gooey, full of sugary goodness to give us that boost we needed to make the trek back to the hotel.

On our last night in Edinburgh we tried them again – along with deep fried Snickers – with our friends.

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Eating deep fried chocolate bars and tasting authentic Scotch Whiskey with our best friends is still one of our favorite memories.

Back home, we knew we could get our hands on some Mars bars from World Market. But how to go about making them?

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First,  I knew they had to be frozen pretty solid. But beyond that, I wasn’t sure what batter would be best.

So, the other night we tried our first round. I made batter from flour, corn starch, milk, baking powder, and salt.

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I’m going to give it a B+. The batter was a bit too thick and too bread-y, and the Mars bar was not gooey enough.

Paul, Oona, and Emily were sold, but they hadn’t tried the original.

However, based on this first try, Neve and I are pretty confident we’ll nail it.

Then we can enjoy them and pretend we are looking at this view:

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Tagged: food, Trips

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September, Honey!

Posted on September 1, 2015 by | Comments Off on September, Honey!

It’s September, and it’s sweeter than ever around here, because we got our first honey harvest!

I’ve been keeping a careful eye on the hive all summer, after they attempted to swarm this past spring. Actually, they may have actually had a successful swarm, but if so, it was a very small one.  The hive has been crowded and busy and super productive.  I administered two feedings of sugar syrup early in the season, but they’ve done well on their own since. One entire 8-frame “super”, or box, was filled to the brim with beautiful honey.  They actually began making comb and filling it with honey in between supers as well, and every time I picked one up to check on them it would break and leak, so I gave them an extra box to fill.

As it turns out, they didn’t bother with it much, but it was also late in the summer at that point.  Out of 8 frames, I took 3, so I could leave them with plenty to get through the winter.  That gives us enough for a decent amount to enjoy and I don’t feel like we are robbing them entirely. Especially since I keep them expressly for pollination; honey is a secondary benefit!

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To get the honey off the frames, I used the “crush and drain method”. You can get special centrifuge extractors, but with only 3 frames, it didn’t seem worth it.  I managed to get the comb and honey off of 2 frames without damaging the wax frame, but I mangled the third.  Oh well. Can’t win ’em all!

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I drained it all over a very fine mesh sieve to filter out the wax and any bee parts.

In the end I got 9 jars’ worth, or about 5.5 lbs!

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I’m so proud of my little honeybees!


Tagged: Farm, food

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Sweet Stuff

Posted on August 23, 2015 by | Comments Off on Sweet Stuff

Have you seen Magic Custard Cake????

Alicia Paulson blogged about it recently and I just had to try it. And now, you should, too!

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So creamy and delicious!

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I’ve made it twice now; my family keeps asking for more! It was super easy, and though I was sure it wasn’t going to turn out properly either time, it “magically” did.

Speaking of sweets, Oona turned 8 this past Friday.  As usual, she requested a Carvel ice cream cake. She decorated it herself, and where Neve usually writes “Treat Yo Self” or similar on her cakes, Oona wrote “This cake is MINE”.

Can’t say I blame her – those things are so terribly good (and bad for you!).

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You see the size of that thing? She has eaten almost all of it now – two days later – on her own. We all have some of it on Friday, but she has claimed it all for herself since. I told her to enjoy it, because at this rate I’m going to withhold all sugar from her until Halloween!

The news I am particularly happy to share, however, is that I finished the second sleeve of my Shepherd Sweater!

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I am now working steadily on the hood. In fact, I’ve done precious little else all weekend. My needles are on fire!


Tagged: food, kids, Knitting

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Summer’s Sunday

Posted on August 14, 2015 by | Comments Off on Summer’s Sunday

I’ve been seeing a meme on both Facebook and Pinerest lately about how August is summer’s Sunday, and I quite like it.  It’s appropriate this year, given the changes I’m already seeing.

Though, to be fair, it isn’t always like this.  This summer (and last, too) was pretty mild.  In Augusts past we’ve had brutal days and nights where it’s still 90 degrees at 10:00 at night. Now may days are bracketed by farm chores completed in downright comfortable temperatures.  Three years ago I had to be out by 8 am to beat the awful oppressiveness of it. Evenings I would just sweat through it.

But these last few……..

It’s been perfect.  My friend Lisa and I agree that we can put up with frigid “polar vortex” type winters if it means we can have these summers.

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The stream is totally overgrown, but it’s a lot of wildflowers and color.  It’s so difficult to properly photograph.

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See that wild morning glory in there? It’s that time!

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Alabama, in our pasture wasteland.  The grass (not that we had much to begin with) is all gone for the year.

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Happy Sabine.

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Roquefort is so “majephtic”.

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Sweet Keswick

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Yeardley

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Basil, who has never lost his cuddliness.

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Chicken watering hole.

Our curriculum for the school year is submitted, plans for share dyeing are in the works, Emily the shearer has been contacted about shearing the Angora goats. Our first tentative steps toward fall have been taken.


Tagged: Farm, Homeschooling, Pets

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Another Beach Trip In The Books

Posted on August 11, 2015 by | Comments Off on Another Beach Trip In The Books

One last summer getaway, and now I’m back.  Local schools started up again yesterday, and though we aren’t starting until after labor day, I’ve realized just how precious little time I have to enjoy summer’s remainder and finish my before-school tasks.

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I did get to put my toes in the water before the “Hazardous Water” warnings went up.  Friday the beach and the water were perfect, but Saturday and Sunday we simply sat and watched the waves, as the red flags warning of rip currents were up.  We couldn’t believe how many people were still swimming. Worse than that, how many little kids were playing in the dangerous surf. The news yesterday ran a story that lifeguards rescued 22 people from the waters on Sunday. Crazy!

Despite that, we enjoyed our time immensely and it was just the respite I needed.

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Look at those beach colors!  I want to knit with those colors.  Time to go stash diving!

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Looking down to Gabi and Theresa.

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Laura enjoying the breeze

The great thing about our beach trip each year is that we’ve been there enough times now to know where to eat, what’s fun to do, and how we”re going to manage it all.  Our traditions mean we don’t have to think too much or worry about planning.  We can simply enjoy our time together.

It’s also, apparently, Neve’s signal to herself that summer can be over and we can start doing “fall” things.  That kid.

I’m not ready to give up summer, though. There’s more swimming to be done, more marshmallows to roast, more fresh pesto to eat, more mornings to sleep in.

Slow down, August!


Tagged: Homeschooling, kids, Trips

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August Again

Posted on August 5, 2015 by | Comments Off on August Again

There’s something about August.  I want it to be all about enjoying the last month of summer, of no school, of swimming. I want it to be about never-ending fresh garden tomatoes and basil.

In a sense, it is.  But there’s something else. There’s something in the late afternoon light, and something in the way the garden starts to stretch out and look ragged and ready to give over to the cooler-weather crops. Something in the way the wool starts to look ever so much longer on the sheep than it seems it did just last week. There’s something in those first tendrils of Morning Glories stretching up the porch railings that reminds me to think about getting the canning jars ready and spend the next few weeks putting up the summer’s bounty.

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I’m starting to get lots of monster-sized “German Johnson” heirloom tomatoes out of the garden.  The basil looks just awful, and I may have to harvest it out and make pesto a few weeks earlier than usual.

The butternut squash looks great; I’ll probably cut them up and freeze them in cubes for soup. I’m completely over the zucchini, as per usual this time of year. Thankfully, the plant itself has had enough as well.

Egg production has slowed somewhat as the heat has intensified lately.  We also have two broody hens who have stopped laying in an effort to hatch a few, and that’s not helping matters.  I’ve marked two eggs and left them there for them to hacth; whether or not they do only time will tell.

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The tomatoes that we are not eating right away are getting slow roasted for sauce. It makes the house smell divine to have these lovelies roasting all day long.  Sometimes I like to throw them on some fresh pasta with a bit of olive oil, some garlic, and some basil.  Fabulous summer dinner!

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The jars are patiently awaiting tomatoes and pesto.  If things continue to go well in the hive, some of those honey jars may get filled as well.

As for the milking buckets and milk bottles, I’m about 85% sure I’ll start to look for a rental buck soon to breed the dairy goats. I’m craving fresh goat cheese for the spring.

But that is a concern I will focus on later, because tomorrow I am headed to Virginia Beach with some of my favorite people.

Summer’s not over yet!


Tagged: Farm, food, Garden

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Scenes From the Farm, Mid-Summer

Posted on August 1, 2015 by | Comments Off on Scenes From the Farm, Mid-Summer

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Tagged: Farm, Garden, Seasons

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Of Gardens And Sewing

Posted on July 29, 2015 by | Comments Off on Of Gardens And Sewing

As much as it pains me to admit defeat, I’m throwing in the towel on the pumpkins. The squash bugs have won that battle.  I got one good pumpkin picked before they destroyed it, and managed a photo of one that was being turned to mush on the backside by the bugs.  Those fifteen days I was in Europe set the stage for a mass takeover of pests that I could not reverse.  But, it’s okay.  I’m still calling this year’s garden a win, and every year I learn a bit more and get better at how I manage growing food.

I did get several jars of green beans canned, and a good dozen or so jars of pickles made.  I picked lots and lots of zucchini.  I got three butternut squash, one field pumpkin, and four delicious cantaloupes (we are SO growing those again next year!).   There are two watermelons looking pretty decent still out there, and many, many large tomatoes waiting to turn red.

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Next year I will use the deep mulch method again (it helped dramatically with the weeds!) and double down on the diatomaceous earth and Neem oil early on.

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As for the rest of this year, I have carrots, beets, and parsnips going in now, and at the end of the summer I’ll put Kale and Chard in again, along with some brussels sprouts starts. And THIS year I have floating row covers so I can hope to avoid little critters munching down my plants!

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September will once again see a massive basil harvest and several solid days making pesto ravioli. Tradition!

I’ve also been trying to get back into the craft studio on the rainy days (when I can’t get work done outside) and work on finishing up projects that have been languishing (Shepherd Sweater, anyone?) and working on my skill set (I need to work on fitting and finishing techniques).

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I cut out another Washi tunic in cotton jersey, hoping to give it a bit of Alabama Chanin flair.

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The animals in the house LOVE when I work on crafty things.  It’s their cue to hover.

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Three big dogs piled onto the tiny round carpet in the studio. They’re pretty good company, actually, when I’m not tripping over their gigantic-ness.

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The tunic is coming along nicely; I added a ruffled edge to the neckline and left the waist with a ruffled raw edge as well.  I’ll be adding cap sleeves and hemming it  next.


Tagged: Farm, food, Garden, Pets, Sewing

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Swimmy Days

Posted on July 25, 2015 by | Comments Off on Swimmy Days

My littlest fish has finally found her fins and enjoying summer’s heat from the cool of the pool

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Now that she is taller than the water is deep she has found her confidence, and is even enjoying splashing and underwater swimming.

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Today she enjoyed having the whole pool to just herself (and me) since her sisters are at a sleepover with the Girl Scouts at the Baltimore Aquarium tonight.

This is what summer is all about!


Tagged: kids, Seasons

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A List

Posted on July 22, 2015 by | Comments Off on A List

1. It’s been six weeks since my miscarriage. I am 100% healthy and feeling pretty good in general. Thank you everyone for your sympathies. Even if I wasn’t in the headspace to talk too much, it really meant a lot to hear from you.

2. This summer has been nothing but change. On top of the above, my husband and I are both working outside the home. The only other time this has happened in our entire relationship was while I was pregnant Felix, who is now in daycare. It’s a huge transition that we’re all still wrapping our heads around.

3. Because of all this change and upheaval, my attention span has been short. The only thing that I have spent any significant time on has been my novel.

4. I started my fourth big revision to my original Nanowrimo story last week. I’ve come to the conclusion that my method for writing novels is the most arduous and slow that there is–you know, besides not writing at all.

5. Once I gave myself permission to write and rewrite and let anything happen in my universe that I wanted to, I might have got carried away doing just that. I explored every nook and cranny, and it got me up to almost 140,000 words. That’s way too long!

6. Cutting 50,000 to 60,000 words sounds like a big job. That’s a whole Nanowrimo! But so far, I am having a blast revising it down, keeping on subject, keeping just to what’s important. That was the valuable part of all that exploration over the last few months.

7. I miss blogging.

8. My knitting and fiber arts have been all over the place. I have only finished one project since April: a toy giraffe for Athrun for his birthday.

9. I’ve been posting knitting photos to instagram and twitter. I’m tinydinostudios on both.

10. Have you seen what they’re doing on etsy right now? They are running a crowd-sourcing pilot program, and it’s awesome. I was wanting this exact thing the entire time my shop was open to allow me to buy a whole clip of wool and send it to the mill. Ah well. I’ll pass the love along.

11. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the campaign for Sarah Welch Pottery before it was over and will have a new ceramic travel mug headed my way in a couple of months. It’s worth the wait, I’ll drink my coffee iced out of glass until then.

12. Yes, I am enough of a coffee snob that I don’t like plastic or stainless coffee mugs. One retains old rancid coffee flavor. One makes the coffee taste like metal. No, I am not delusional. It’s really there.

13. I just finished a honking long book–about 1000 pages–and I don’t know what to read next. Any suggestions?

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