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Archive for the ‘All In A Day's Time’ Category

Misc 001

I am having a busy Saturday in the office as well as in the shop.  But what I have not failed to notice is the beautiful color!

Have you caught yourself this season, even on the darkest of days, stepping out the door, sensing that something was different? I admit…one day I was deep in thought, walking down the front walk, and suddenly sensed fire.  It was the large autumn adorned tree that hovers over the slope above the pond.  Extremely bright colors.  No fire.  A gentle reminder perhaps to remain appreciative of the change in season? I thought so.

I am not fond of autumn because of what follows, winter.  What I do love are the cool temperatures, the color, and I dearly love to see the harvest going on around us.  The grain trucks have been rolling up and down the road.  I can hear the grain elevators and dryers running through the night.  Such a blessing…a reminder, life is very good.  A bounty of blessings!

Speaking of blessings…in a short 1/2 hour I am shutting down the office.  This is a weekend for peace, relaxation, and re-connection with friends.  I hope you can do the same.

 

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”  – George Eliot

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In my post yesterday I walked around the farm and took pictures of fall growth, including our apples.  I said something about putting the diet aside and making a pie.  My good friend Debbie asked, “Can I come and pick all the apples off your tree? I’ll make you a pie :)” Oh yeah, bless her heart! I had a wonderful giggle, it was a beautiful thought.  The pie was already cooling.
Preparing Apple Mixture For Pie
Preparing Apple Mixture For Pie

 Aren’t these pretty? Pretty and already smelling luscious!

This is what went into the apple pie filling:

6 to 7 medium tart applies (peeled, cored, and sliced)

3/4 C sugar

2 T flour

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t butter or margarine

1 to 2 T lemon juice

Mix all ingredients well. 

Set aside.

Healthier Pie Crust (one crust):

1  1/2 C flour

1/2 t salt

1  1/2 t sugar

1 T milk

1 T white vinegar

1/2 C canola oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. 

Mixture will be thick.

Press ingredients into a 9 inch pie pan.

Pour or spoon in pie filling.

I baked at 400 degrees, 60 minutes (for the apple pie recipe above).  Baking time will vary depending upon apple variety.  Bake until the apples are tender.

My exceptions:

The pie crust mixture is thick.  I try to crumble it evenly around the pie pan before I press it down.

This recipe will not make the type of pie crust that can be rolled out.  To make a top crust, sprinkle crumbles evenly to coat the top of filling and press down as well as possible. 

You can ue 2 T of milk in the crust recipe (and drop the vinegar), but I find vinegar makes for a lighter, flakieer crust.  You cannot taste the vinegar in the finished product.

The pie does brown evenly, and it cuts as well as a normal pie (with a standard rolled out crust), once cooled.  It tastes wonderful! I cannot tell the difference at all! Crust will always have more fat in it than we would like, but forget the shortening or lard! And besides…it ain’t too sinful to have a (healthier) indulgence now and then…is it?

 

Healthier Apple Pie

Healthier Apple Pie

 I love to cook! I just cannot find the time to do everything I love to do! How about you?

 

 

 

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Autumn 2009 001I walked down to the apple tree today.   The big tree is fully loaded.  I need to get busy and make something of the fruit.  The tree produces tart and crisp apples.  Good for cooking! I am thinking…put the diet aside and make a delicious pie!!! MMM…that’s the ticket, ma’am!!!Autumn 2009 002

 Still have some tomatoes to pick…these might be our last…the color is amazing!

Autumn 2009 003

I have always been very fond of the flowers that love fall temperatures, such as zinnias and marigolds.  I love to stagger zinnias by height.  Oh…and I am considering some marigold petals (Calendula) goat milk soap.  So healthy!

Autumn 2009 004

The mums are beautiful as well.  

Autumn 2009 005

And last, but not least, for those of you better with plant names than I (apparently) are, what are these called? They bloom beautifully in the fall.  They have grown into a huge plant, planted here when the Amish owned our home.  I still get surprises from their plantings, by the way! Like the Lady Slipper’s that popped up this year!

Autumn 2009 006

I wish I could include all of these beautiful bounties in soap!

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Sunday Ohio Drive

Warning…you are not drunk, but you may get dizzy.  The following photos were snapped in a moving truck on a mobile phone.  The horizon is on a tilt!!!!

Some of my favorite houses and farms near our abode:

Majestic Old Farm House

Majestic Old Farm House

Another older farm...I love them!!!

Another older farm...I love them!!!

Always intriques me.  Center front is living quarters, the rest is barn!

This property always intriques me. Only the front center is human living quarters, the remainder is barn!

This home is beautiful year round!

This home is beautiful year round!

Waving hello and goodbye to my (much loved) vet!

Waving hello and goodbye to my (much loved) vet!

Mammoth gas pipeline coming through Ohio farmland.  Natural gas stretching all the way from Texas.

Mammoth gas pipeline coming through Ohio farmland. Natural gas stretching all the way from Texas.

Almost home! Hard to see the roller coaster-like dips.  In trees, upper left, sits our house.  Behind our house is a hill.  We look over the roof lines further down the road.

Almost home! Hard to see the roller coaster-like dips in the road. In the group of trees to the left sits our house. From this very window, behind the house, we look over the roof lines of our neighbors. The area goes from flat to not flat at all!

Glad you could join me on a Sunday drive!

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Day Trips

Misc 008

 

For a number of years I have been satisfied with taking short necessary trips away from the farm that last no more than a quick afternoon.  I normally am quite eager to turn back home.  I find home to be my castle, my sanctuary, my peaceful comfortable place!

Recently I have been thinking about a day trip. 

The list of possible trips:

My husband recently talked about a train ride across the Ohio valley.  Yes! I have always been fascinated with trains.  As the daughter of a father enlisted in the military, I remember riding a train across France 44 years ago.  We travelled from our small town to Paris, staying a few days before catching our flight back to the United States.   The thought of a trip on an older refurbished passenger train, wow, does that sound like fun?! I can dig it!

I would love to go to Zanesville, Ohio where they make pottery.  Years ago I started a collection of Fiesta Ware, both new and antique pieces.  Oh so colorful.  One of these days I am going to add to my collection.  Funny thing is, I do not want an entire set.  I want pieces here and there.  And, honestly, I would prefer the old.  The old comes with a history that I can wonder about!

Somewhere in Ohio is a train museum.  You can step onto real train cars, walk through.  I love the old passenger cars.  The cabooses are fascinating by themselves.  I enjoy seeing how workers kept warm with wood and coal fired stoves on the trains! Have you ever walked through a kitchen of a retired diner car? Nothing but stainless steel, very professional, elite!  I would imagine it took some effort to get used to the motion of a train while cooking!

I want to go fishing! We have a large pond.  We do not fish in it.  I have no idea why, ha! I want to go to a big lake somewhere and fish until 2:00 A.M. like we did years ago.  I have no idea how we did not get covered with mosquito bites as we fished into the night, somehow we dodged them! We drove back home so sleepy! My husband’s words always were, “I have to be careful, I am seeing Carebears!” I remember driving home with the truck windows down in the damp night air, enjoying the early morning scents of the woods and fields.  Having to turn on the wipers now and then to clear the moisture, and talking A LOT to keep each other awake.  It was fun times!

Last, but not least, I want to travel to Cincinnati this fall or winter for the symphony.  I want to get lost in the music.  Peaceful, exciting, clear and crisp! Music that stirs the imagination!

How about you, any day trips in mind?

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I was 15 years old when I noticed the long shadows cast by the setting sun in late August.  As I enjoyed the evening outdoors with my family, I appreciated the cool change to the air and quietly thought the shadows were beautiful.  An awareness of nature set into place once more.

I see the long shadows as I write this morning.  I am a few feet away from a southeast facing window.  The shadows from the trees and other objects definitely make their stretch across the lawn.

I equate the long shadows to the changing of the seasons.  A visual reminder that taps us on the shoulder, “Fall is coming.” 

I found interesting sites as I did a search on the long shadows of August!

A winery called Long Shadows:  http://www.longshadows.com/aboutlsv.aspx I do enjoy a small healthy glass of red wine most evenings.  As I added wine to my evening regime, I crinkled up my nose at what seemed like bitterness.  Now I am beginning to enjoy the difference in wineries and regions.  Have I developed a nose and taste for it? Not yet. 

A beautiful photography blog displaying an urban scene of the long shadows that I so love! http://www.capturethisphotography.com/2009/08/long-shadows.html I can just imagine a wonderful stroll!

And relating to love and aging:  http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/as-evening-shadows-advance A letter to think about.

And beautiful long shadows at sunrise:  http://www.pbase.com/merriwolf/image/58729735 This photo makes me homesick for my grandparents.  I loved to go on garden walks early in the morning.  Cool air, dew everywhere, and quiet. 

Long shadows, appreciating the advancing of the seasons. 

Have a beautiful day!

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Misc 002

You are going to be HOW old? Gasp!

 
Life is one fast ride! 
 
Sunday is my 51st birthday.  Isn’t it amazing how 50 years old seemed so ancient when you were 20? Now, I find it entertaining that 70 can seem young when I am 50!
 
What was your most significant birthday?
 
25 was a difficult one for me.  I can laugh at it now.  I had 2 small sons.  I was happy as a mother.  My existence wrapped around those two boys! But somehow the mile markers in my life had whipped past me.  12 was a big birthday, 13, then 16, 18, 21…and 25, what was so special after that? Believe me, I was not depressed, not one moment…but I felt really-really old! Tee hee!
 
Life is special!
 
I love the wisdom, the learning, the blossoming of who you are.  And with an older age years under the belt comes the warmth in really knowing the true friends and family, those that are cemented into your life.  Would I want to turn the clock back? No!
 
Could I possibly, though, turn some of the body parts clock back? Just a tad bit? Please? Then I remind myself that God designed this body, He thought it was pretty special, and he knew it would someday begin to age.
 
Have a great weekend! Enjoy!
 
 
 

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pic 0181

My tiny flower bed got a late start this spring, and then it got attacked by some night-time munchers. Those little creatures finally let it go!

Why is it, I wonder, rain always sends both the weeds and flowers to growing something beautiful and bountiful?!

I collect rain water to conserve on water, and I am on a well, but the fresh rain does much wonders.

I am enjoying this quiet rainy Saturday. I cannot remember the last time I woke to morning thunder (not severe), I found it rather peaceful today.

I hope you are having a relaxing day too!

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The fog is lifting and the sun is showing a lot of promise…promise for a beautiful Sunday, and a wonderful new week!
This has been a odd week at Annie’s Goat Hill. So…I am going to do some ramblings here…a recap of sorts.
I was “off” by one day each day during the week. Somehow the holidays seem to do that to me. On Tuesday, of course I thought it was Monday. I worked on that thought all day on Tuesday. When the day started on Wednesday I thought it was Thursday. Ha ha! Working from home tends to do some of that too. Oh boy…but that is behind me (us) now.

We had problems with sick kids as well. There was a lot of humidity, rain off an on, no real closure to the dampness. It is dissapointing when you have a great kidding season, no loss of kids, and then you lose two just as they are near the weaning age. But, that is part of life on the farm. Had goat buyers on the farm yesterday, a good couple that come every year. They had the exact same scenario at their farm this week. Sort of knocks the air out of a person. It can be expected from time to time but it happens so quickly and helps us to remember how fragile these lives we care for really are.

I did accomplish a lot of soaping this week, but I need to do a LOT more! I am testing new recipes. Always a big job! Too soft, too hard, not conditioning enough, want good lather. Wave the magic wand, or add chemicals, and you might have it. But the magic wand is Mary, and Mary goes as natural as possible. I wouldn’t have it any other way! When I placed my hands on my first bar of hand crafted soap many years ago I knew what I had, and I will continue to present it in that same fashion.

We had dinner with friends yesterday evening. Luise has Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately she has really been progressing. She is becoming more quiet and her episodes of confusion seem to be growing worse. She has good weeks, but when the difficult times arrive they come in bunches. It is a very sad disease. I have learned a lot from being with her, and I feel blessed to be one that she trusts completely, but there is nothing very good that comes out of it. The good part is someone that I love that I can be a friend to, help whenever I can.

Last night the storms rolled through. When they announced the tornado warning I listening. Bob and I have been in one tornado, thankfully it was a small tornado that pulled us off of the road. But that was an experience enough! So, now I watch and listen. I do not freak out but I do not ignore. Anyhow, we lost power right at 9:00 PM. We tend to forget just how quiet it really is without the sounds of the refrigerator humming, or how dark it is without the lights on the barn, or in the church parking lot next door. It really is beautiful to only hear the sounds of the bull-frogs on the pond. But, yet, we are spoiled by electricity and want it back quickly. It arrived back after a couple of hours.

Today we are visiting with friends, probably going to work on the tractor project. And after we arrive back home for evening feeding, we are going to start the week off right, with rest.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

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Power outages are definitely challenges to any of us, and it is truly a challenge to me on the farm.
Yesterday evening the power went out right before I brought the girls into the barn. I waited 20 minutes and then…I hand milked the 9 girls. Needless to say, my carpel tunnel syndrome is doing double duty today. But I am surviving. I really do enjoy milking, and wish I could do it by hand each and every day.

I was determined to make oodles of goat milk soap today, and I got the job done (a little later). Right before I started the 3rd batch the power went out again. So, the husband and I headed to town to get a much needed garden rake and a few flowers. I always get the red, purple and white petunias for the front porch.

I was able to resume soap making later in the afternoon.
I made a soap today that smells wonderful, grassy, with a touch of juniper berry. I love it. So far, so good!
I am running behind again…scooting down to the barn. Oh, by the way, we ran into the power truck down the road on our return home, my husband had to tease them, “Are we going to lose power tomorrow too?” Nope…the switch has been repaired.
Have a good evening!

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