We had a nice warm up overnight and it is in the mid-20's this morning, a great improvement over yesterday.
We did do errands yesterday, but just the library and Wal Mart so it wasn't too bad. We sailed right past the store that carries King Arthur flour and didn't turn around to go back. If I run out before, I will just use what is available at our local store. I keep thinking about getting a mill and ordering bulk wheat berries but wonder if the end product would be as good as King Arthur. What do you think Ilene and anyone else who has done this. It appeals to my 'earth mother' sensibilities to grind my own.
I got a 5x7 cheap rug to place under the heater and my chair to keep Sugar from doing further damage to my old pine floors in the kitchen. So far she hasn't laid on the new rug much. I got a neutral thing but it is so drab I think I will get a green one and put this on the back porch. It will be wall-to-wall width out there. It is just a temporary thing so I guess it doesn't really matter except the drabness offends me!
This is the area in the kitchen we refer to as my 'nest'; now we have to call it Sugar and My Nest. DH only gets to sit there if I am cooking.....he says he will buy me a new chair when we get the dog weaned....I could use one.
This morning we are heading to our local slaughter/meat place to pick up a hog we ordered two months ago. They have a local farmer raise hogs for them and you have to get on a waiting list. So far (3hogs later), we have been very pleased. We will have to wait a few weeks to pick up the cured things and the brats. They are a little distance from us but we enjoy the ride. We pass by a place that has a few buffaloes. I always want to get pictures, but so far been unable to.
Our son will take half. I think a whole hog would take too long for us to use and pork doesn't stay good in the freezer as long as beef probably because of the fat content. I will soon be rendering lard again. We also hope we can pick up some big dog bones for the beast!
Random Pictures
I thought I wouldn't add any more flowers, but looking back at this 2011 picture, I realize a lot of my fragrant garden phlox had disappeared. I do love them and think I will restock. You can tell I am feeling better these days......
These old pictures remind me of how I use to garden when I felt really well. I am keeping my fingers crossed for this year!
We did do errands yesterday, but just the library and Wal Mart so it wasn't too bad. We sailed right past the store that carries King Arthur flour and didn't turn around to go back. If I run out before, I will just use what is available at our local store. I keep thinking about getting a mill and ordering bulk wheat berries but wonder if the end product would be as good as King Arthur. What do you think Ilene and anyone else who has done this. It appeals to my 'earth mother' sensibilities to grind my own.
I got a 5x7 cheap rug to place under the heater and my chair to keep Sugar from doing further damage to my old pine floors in the kitchen. So far she hasn't laid on the new rug much. I got a neutral thing but it is so drab I think I will get a green one and put this on the back porch. It will be wall-to-wall width out there. It is just a temporary thing so I guess it doesn't really matter except the drabness offends me!
This is the area in the kitchen we refer to as my 'nest'; now we have to call it Sugar and My Nest. DH only gets to sit there if I am cooking.....he says he will buy me a new chair when we get the dog weaned....I could use one.
This morning we are heading to our local slaughter/meat place to pick up a hog we ordered two months ago. They have a local farmer raise hogs for them and you have to get on a waiting list. So far (3hogs later), we have been very pleased. We will have to wait a few weeks to pick up the cured things and the brats. They are a little distance from us but we enjoy the ride. We pass by a place that has a few buffaloes. I always want to get pictures, but so far been unable to.
Our son will take half. I think a whole hog would take too long for us to use and pork doesn't stay good in the freezer as long as beef probably because of the fat content. I will soon be rendering lard again. We also hope we can pick up some big dog bones for the beast!
Random Pictures
I thought I wouldn't add any more flowers, but looking back at this 2011 picture, I realize a lot of my fragrant garden phlox had disappeared. I do love them and think I will restock. You can tell I am feeling better these days......
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| From Summer Gardening and Flowers |
These old pictures remind me of how I use to garden when I felt really well. I am keeping my fingers crossed for this year!
Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteWe are back up to the 50's these days!
DeleteWow, I really needed that garden picture! Thanks for the wonderful picture :)
ReplyDeleteAs for grinding your own, I highly recommend it! We have a Nutrimill and it can grind wheat coarse, fine or "darned fine". I like it because I actually prefer flour a bit more coarse than the K.A. flour in the stores in my breads. But for cakes, I like it finer and I think the mill does wonderfully. We've had it for seven years now, although it did break a "tooth" in the grinding plates, although a small stone could have done it. Paul was able to fix it though.
And not sure how much wheat you store & go through, but we order from clnf.org and they will deliver to you for free, although you have to spend $500. We go in with a few people once or twice a year to make up the order.
I need to track how much flour I use before I get carried away here.
DeleteI don't have a neighbor that even makes bread.......let alone would grind their own berries. I do have a fairly close (Fordland, MO.) Amish store that can get me the Wheat Montana wheat or could. I need to recheck prices.
Gotta love those summertime pictures. Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling better; hope you can have a great gardening year.
Ray
Thank you Ray. Me too (hope I can have a great gardening year).
DeleteI second grinding your own wheat. The taste of fresh ground is so amazing! We have a Country Living (hand crank) and a Nutrimill (electric). Both do a great job. WalMart carries little 25 pound bags of wheat these days. Last I bought some, there were two types but I can't remember what they were. We've bought berries in bulk before as well, directly from the farmer, but I prefer WalMart's now that I've tried it. Prairie Gold, I think is the brand?
ReplyDeleteI saw some at our WM last year but none this year. Prairie Gold is a Wheat Montana product. I have used it before, bought at an Amish store (flour form) in Fordland. It is listed at 13.75 % protein.
DeleteMy friend grows her own wheat and then grinds it for her bread.. Getting it from WalMart would be easier.. I love the smell of bread baking in the oven.. and of course eating it right from the oven with butter oozing..
ReplyDeleteWinter is 1/2 way over and now we are on the downside of winter.. Only a month or two and Spring will be here and warmer weather and then work in the yard again..
Have a great week-end and ta ta for now from Iowa:)
I am ready for spring. My sis lives near Adel Iowa. She got lots of snow.
DeleteGlenda,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your doing a much better and I hope your both over the colds.
Funny you mentioned Sugar scratching the floor, my old dog did this on my parents floor in the foyer of the house. My dad found this liquid you spread on the wood and it makes it look brand new, the scratches are no longer visible. I can't remember the name but it can be purchased at the building supply store for just unde $20.00.
I have to agree with several of the bloggers above, it's nice to be able to grind your own wheat.
Have a great weekend.
This goes way beyond a scratch! It is a foot long and maybe 1/8-1/4 inch where she pulled up splinters.....should have let the remodelers talk me into new oak flooring back in 2004!
DeleteWell, here's my opinion on the wheat for what it's worth.
ReplyDeleteThe Nutrimill does a wonderful job and I highly recommend it. It will also make flour from dry beans and some other stuff. BUT, your kicker is whether you can get good wheat to grind. I had a terrible time finding a source for wheat berries. Now I order it from the Oklahoma Food Co-Op. It's not cheap because it's organic. Our local WMT does not carry wheat berries. My first wheat, we drove quite a distance into Kansas to get. We had a nice little holiday and it was fun, getting away. But if we'd factored in our trip costs, we'd have been better off ordering it and paying the huge shipping costs. So, do your homework and see whether you can find a reliable source for good wheat berries. Pay attention to protein count. The wheat I get has a pretty low count and I have to add dough enhancer if I want to get a decent rise. I think (look this up because I could be wrong) the best wheat is like 18% protein and what I get from the food co-op is 12%. There's also a farmer's co-op where they sell wheat as cattle feed. It's protein is low, also, although they told me that they do have people who buy the wheat to grind for flour. I don't know if this wheat has chemicals in it but it probably does. It's a lot cheaper. I don't think any of the wheat I'm able to get is as good as the wheat that's in the King Arthur flour. --Ilene
The Amish store near Fordland, Byler's Supply did carry either Pleasant Hill or Wheat Montana berries and could get it in either 25 or 50 lb bags for me. I would have to check with them again about it but the drive isn't too far.
DeleteThat flower bed just warms my heart, Glenda. It snowed for 12+ hours yesterday and got over 6". Those flowers sure hearken to warmer days. And they look beautiful. You're a great gardener.
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought this house the hardwood floors had been scratched by a lab. I used Orange Glo Hardwood finisher (as used to be seen on TV). It did a terrific job and 6 years later I still can't see any scratches and the floor still gleams.
I envy you that half-a-hog. *drool*
We had pork steak, mashed potatoes with peas and a carrot/cabbage slaw for lunch. The pork has such a delicious flavor.
ReplyDeleteStill no snow here and it got up to 50° yesterday.