Tuesday, October 18, 2011
CHANTERELLES
This is a skillet FULL of Chanterelles we picked about mid-Summer. The season lasted about 12 weeks here, with several large flushes of these. Fry in butter, or saute in butter and red wine for a yummy treat!
MUSHROOMS!
One of the many and various species of edible mushrooms we have growing here. This one is a cauliflower mushroom we found on the hill.
Things We Did Over the Summer.....
One of the high points of Summer this year was having an "apartment" added on to the back of our house for my Mom and brother. We all wanted to live together on this beautiful piece of property, but realized we would all need the privacy we had been used to sometimes. So after much debating and plan drawing, changes and add on ideas, we came up with a house plan we all thought was appropriate!
Things literally went as slow as molasses from that point onward. It seems that it's much harder than you would think to find people who are actually wanting to work for their money! That being the case, we've slogged our way through a lot of the detail work. We were able, however, to find and hire a gentleman from Ohio to come here with an Amish crew and build the outer shell of the add-on. It was a real experience to sit back and watch the Amish guys as they put it all up from scratch.
There were only five guys on the crew, they came by way of a driver, whose only job it was to be their chauffeur. They brought with them all the necessary lumber and roofing supplies needed for the shell. We also had them to put up board and batten siding for us while they were here. I LOVE THIS SIDING!!! It is all knotty pine, which incidentally we have got to get sealed before old man Winter makes his first visit.
What we thought could be done in a few short weeks has turned into a bit of a nightmare for us. Truly nobody we know seems to want to be hired! In this economy this is somewhat of a surprise to all of us. I can't imagine turning my nose up at good money for honest work but that is exactly what has happened over and over. So... my 13 year old son, Ethan, has decided he is grown up enough to do things like hanging insulation, laying tiles, and generally doing anything he is capable of! He's doing a wonderful job so far, and is earning some honest money from honest work. He is learning the value of a job well done, he is learning about work ethics, and learning that getting filthy while working is a perfectly natural and acceptable way to earn a living. Most importantly, he is learning that family is one of the most important responsibilities you have while on this Earth.
Things literally went as slow as molasses from that point onward. It seems that it's much harder than you would think to find people who are actually wanting to work for their money! That being the case, we've slogged our way through a lot of the detail work. We were able, however, to find and hire a gentleman from Ohio to come here with an Amish crew and build the outer shell of the add-on. It was a real experience to sit back and watch the Amish guys as they put it all up from scratch.
There were only five guys on the crew, they came by way of a driver, whose only job it was to be their chauffeur. They brought with them all the necessary lumber and roofing supplies needed for the shell. We also had them to put up board and batten siding for us while they were here. I LOVE THIS SIDING!!! It is all knotty pine, which incidentally we have got to get sealed before old man Winter makes his first visit.
What we thought could be done in a few short weeks has turned into a bit of a nightmare for us. Truly nobody we know seems to want to be hired! In this economy this is somewhat of a surprise to all of us. I can't imagine turning my nose up at good money for honest work but that is exactly what has happened over and over. So... my 13 year old son, Ethan, has decided he is grown up enough to do things like hanging insulation, laying tiles, and generally doing anything he is capable of! He's doing a wonderful job so far, and is earning some honest money from honest work. He is learning the value of a job well done, he is learning about work ethics, and learning that getting filthy while working is a perfectly natural and acceptable way to earn a living. Most importantly, he is learning that family is one of the most important responsibilities you have while on this Earth.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Spring Has Sprung!!!
Oh my goodness, it was the longest, dreariest Winter I can ever remember. But can it be that Spring is truly here at last? The answer is YES! It IS FINALLY Spring here on the Fork. We've had a ton of rain so far, but yesterday Eric was able to plow up the main garden and today he went over it again. I must say its looking pretty good for a brand new garden! It appears to be very nice dark loamy soil that should grow veggies like gang busters. The field is huge compared to the garden spot at the other farm, so we doubled our garden area, and may even till up more if we run out of space.
Our chickens are looking fat and sassy, I'm so pleased that they are so healthy. We have around 15 hens with three roosters and get approximately 12 eggs a day. We also have 20 new chicks in the brooder to replace a few older layers and to put some in the freezer. This week I have to find time somehow Even more exciting, I've finally located a quality milk goat that should be perfect for our needs. Right now I'm just talking back and forth with the owner, trying to firm up a date when I can go pick her up. She's a registered Alpine doe, seconds freshener, with a wonderful udder. I'm really hoping she can supply all our milk and cheese needs until I can locate a second doe so I can stagger lactations.
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