| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ashley |
Posted - Aug 29 2018 : 1:15:04 PM
The last few days have definitely had a "fall is just around the corner" feel to them. Today is supposed to be much warmer than the last few, but it looks like a lot of mild, pleasant weather in our forecast.
I keep peeking at the pumpkins in my garden, and a few of them are starting to ripen. We have mysteriously not had many ripe tomatoes--I suspect a little beagle is grazing while we're away during the day. 
Sadly, summer break is over, and my girls were off to school this morning. Adria is starting 3rd Grade and Alina is off to Kindergarten! Brian and I are breathing an audible sigh of relief that they are both finally at the same school. I suppose I will spend the next few days (years) trying to wrap my head around the fact that I have two school-aged kiddos.
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sylvia Jacobus |
Posted - Sep 06 2018 : 11:11:38 PM
I will be an avid reader of your emails regarding this new turkey adventure. There is a farm nearby which allows their birds to roam freely in pastures. Hopefully with the right conditions, they stay home. It should be fun for your family to raise them. |
| Ashley |
Posted - Sep 05 2018 : 1:40:16 PM
How funny...the local turkey menace! Turkeys will be an adventure for sure. I've read that the hens have a strong drive to escape searching for a safe place to raise their young, and the toms blindly follow the hens. So much to learn, but I am so looking forward to it!
Mmmm...cardamom would be delicious in the Bara Brith. I have a batch on Einka Bara Brithgoing today. I though about you saying you like Irish breakfast tea the best, but I had English breakfast tea on hand, so I used that. I'll have to get some Irish breakfast tea for my next batch.
Alina does still play with her Brown Baby. On Saturday, she hauled her babies and blankets to the trampoline and set up a little fort for them all to play. I was watching her rock and soothe her babies--it was so sweet. |
| Sylvia Jacobus |
Posted - Sep 05 2018 : 11:14:48 AM
Mmnnn-turkeys. My girlfriend, who still manages her family farm in Iowa, told me a tale of turkeys. I guess they get loose and start inhabiting neighborhood farms and trees. Her farm was home to a very large rouge turkey who often raided the chickens' food and hung out in a large tree. He went after anyone who walked along the road by the farm. Chased people and bit them. One day outside their dining room window they saw a fellow farmer sitting on a chair with a rifle in his hand. Being scared, they never went out to ask what he was doing. Later in the day they heard a loud gun shot. He knocked on their back door to show them his prize. He shot the big turkey and intended to make soup and stew with the bird. He was too big and tough to roast. Their farmer neighbor, who did walk the road everyday, hated this bird. He insisted that she and her mother take a picture of "their" turkey and he also asked her Mom to take a photo of him with the bird. These photos and his story were published in the local newspaper. I had to howl listening to this story as my friend was unusually animated telling the tale. A great childhood memory for her.
I love the Bara Brith batter but will use dried apples, currants, cardamon, along with cinnamon and nutmeg. I would think a sweet batter more like the brioche would the one using free apples. I like your idea of cooking the apples first, dusting them with some flour and spices.
Does your little one still play with her Brown Baby? |
| Ashley |
Posted - Sep 01 2018 : 09:04:15 AM
The Bara Brith is delicious. It’s been a little crispy here the last couple mornings, so warming foods are on my mind for sure. Are you thinking of using the Bara Brith recipe as the base for your apple bread? I wonder if the apples should be sautéed a little first so they don’t release too much moisture into the bread dough?
I’m off to finish putting together a trampoline for my girls. They are very excited about the new addition to their backyard landscape. After that, Brian and I are going to work on the roof for our turkey house. If all goes according to our plans, we will have poults next spring! I’m definitely feeling the push to button up our summer projects and get ready for the next season. |
| Sylvia Jacobus |
Posted - Aug 31 2018 : 4:15:14 PM
I'm quite sure the garden raiding does help their longevity.
Today is Bara Brith bread day. The smell drives me crazy. Could easily burn my tongue trying to eat this bread before it cools!!! My favorite tea after all experimentation is the Irish Breakfast tea.JMHO.
Apples are calling me. Next experiment is an apple sourdough sweet bread. Thinking I would make a flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice mixture and put some finely diced apples in it before putting the apple into the dough. What do you think? |
| Ashley |
Posted - Aug 30 2018 : 3:36:55 PM
Perhaps all of the fresh veggies aided in his longevity. Our beagle is 15 1/2. We don't have the heart to make it so she can't raid the garden. Brian says "Let her graze". She likes the strawberries and cabbage too.
First day of school went off without a hitch. The girls were tired when they came home, but excited to get up and tackle the day today. So far, so good! |
| Sylvia Jacobus |
Posted - Aug 30 2018 : 1:06:36 PM
I love seeing them in your sunflower garden. I was sad when my youngest left for all-day kindergarten. The feeling only lasted for a few minutes....:)
I owned a doxie who raided my tomatoes, pumpkins, jalapenos, etc. Very well-fed dog. He lived to age 17 and has gone over the Rainbow bridge. Good luck with your beagle. |
