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.
October 13th, 2026: The 109th Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. We had decided to commemorate the event by hosting some friends for a bonfire and a rosary. If we had know what kind of a day that was going to be we probably wouldn't have, but we did and it turned… Continue reading One of Those Days
Last year after cider fest we had some issues with our (attempted) hard cider turning green. One possible cause of this, according to our cider book is that the malic acid in the fresh juice can leach iron out of the cast iron crushing components which can turn green if oxidized. So this year when… Continue reading Hard Cider 2026: Primary fermentation
After a big weekend, nothing gets done. After three big weekends in a row, even less gets done. That's why we have not been blogging for the last week or so. Daddy had to work the day after CiderFest. However, Mommy made some pies while Daddy was at work. She is very worried lest he… Continue reading Recovery
It was a lovely,Almost a perfectApple tree. For fifty yearsOr maybe a hundredIt stood. From grace of slender youthBright-with-blossomGreen wood Pruned by hand of manTo shapely vigorReceiving the sun. Fifty or a hundred springtimesKissed by virgin beesTo fructify: In sweet-smelling scarlet curtainsRedolent of every treein Eden; In golden ooze from the combIts sweetness bringing to… Continue reading The Apple Tree
Well, folks. It came, it went. It was a whirlwind of pressing, canning, laughing, talking, joking, eating, drinking, and all the other things that go along with CiderFest. We outdid last year's count, with a grand total of 129 gallons (6 fermenting for hard cider, the rest canned) divvied out between almost 20 households. Started… Continue reading CiderFest 2026
(20 The girls have been listening to Les Misérables. ) We have a few. Clearing off tables. Even the rickety one.  Lunch break! A few more apples, and everything is rearranged, ready to chop them up and press them. One press inside, two presses outside, room for another press, then the straining station on… Continue reading One Day More…
We have stockpiled an apple or two in the last few weeks. Might need to do something with them in the next couple of days.
Around the black elderberry and some of the hazelnuts. This will be covered with wood chips as time and morning workouts permit.
If you are in the Tacoma area and you are looking for a friendly, slow-growing, pasture-friendly feeder pigs, look no further... Check out the link on Craigslist.
Last Tuesday (Michaelmas) we noticed there was a windfall quince under our smaller of the two quince trees. It had a big rotten spot on the bottom, so it would not keep but rather than waste it we incorporated it into supper. Did a light sear on a rack of bone-in lamb loin, then braised… Continue reading Lamb and Quince
