They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
The weather is not cooperating with our hopes and dreams, these days. We had originally been planning on butchering our big Meishan barrow ("Bacon") this coming weekend, but the weather is going to be over 40 degrees all night, several nights in a row. In fact, last weekend was likely our last night below 40… Continue reading Salt Cured Lamb, Continued
It's getting that time of year again! Time to plant the garden. We planted a dozen or so rutabaga last week, and this week we are starting the peas. On the crop rotation plan (yes, there is one) they are going to be in row four this year, so the first task was: Cleanup on… Continue reading Cleanup on Row Four
The lamb legs that were set down in salt last Saturday and the Saturday before (that is, February 21 and 28) were supposed to be rinsed and either hung or re-salted on March 7, but, alas, the National Guard continues to ruin everything. It was a drill weekend. So we didn't get to that project… Continue reading Salt Cured Lamb, continued.
Last week during lamb butchering I did something a little different. I harvested both kidneys with their fat caps. Not sure why, other than everything was going so smoothly, it seemed a pity to waste anything. (Don't worry, we still haven't attempted making haggis). But then, as often happens around here, we found ourselves with… Continue reading Steak and Kidney Pie
The last lamb we slaughtered was a difficult and frustrating process. The kill was quick and humane, but a single slip of the knife early in the dressing process resulted in slicing the achilles tendon and dropping the carcass, then a difficult skinning, which in turn delayed evisceration, resulting in the stomach falling and rupturing.… Continue reading Lamb slaughter and butchering, take 2
Monday morning, harvested 6 stalks of brussels sprouts. These have been let go a month too long, and some of the larger buds are starting to open. When that happens they lose some of the sweetness and become a bit tough, and they don't hold together for cooking or pickling anymore. So it was time… Continue reading Brussels Sprouts
Nothing goes better with late winter weather than soup and fresh bread. Especially when you have been Rosary ruck marching. Like a man. Saturday was a divide and conquer day. After First Saturday Mass, Mommy and the older girls went shopping for one set of necessities (mostly fabric), while Daddy and the little two went… Continue reading Saturdays and Soups
Ellie finished her school early. So she gets to learn how to make focaccia! Focaccia is one of the easiest breads to make. It is very simple, but time consuming to make it. We weigh out 500mg of high gluten pizza dough. Then we whisk in 3 tsp yeast, and a teaspoon of salt. We… Continue reading Focaccia!
Allow me to introduce you to one of our kids' favorite books. The children call it "Christmas Family" for reasons that become obvious as soon as you read the book. One of the key moments in the early part of the book is the family preparing candles from the wax of bayberries, to burn on… Continue reading The Day Before the Day Before Christmas
Little Farm in the Big City 