Quite literally!
This is the pumpkin patch this morning.
Life on the Farm
The fencing man who was supposed to show up Sunday and did not, finally did come on Tuesday. He finished trimming my broken Red Maple and the other maple in the west yard. He also cut down the broken peach tree in the orchard and hauled off all the debris. He will be returning (no set time you understand) at some point to trim around the concrete building that is the orchard's west fence and to build a fence around the orchard hydrant that has always been a weak link for the cattle.
I have lots of other things for him to do.........will add as he returns. We make no firm plans knowing how these things go.
Daily chores continue. The chickens are giving us 7 eggs consistently. I am getting way ahead. DH is checking cattle daily. He also has rounded up and out three more calves that are ready to be weaned. I can hear them bawling. They will do that for a few days before settling down.
We are still not feeding hay to the herd. We are feeding to the weaned group near the barn. They are basically dry-lotted, meaning not grazing open pasture.
Cooking
I made orange marmalade. The first time I tried using Ina Garten's recipe and it was a disaster. The problem may be my candy thermometer is not correct. I should have just used common sense and the cold plate test but tried to get the batch to the correct temp. Never did and ended up with jars of rubberized or candied stuff. I think I can redeem it in my next batch of mincemeat.
I had oranges left and they were not really of good eating quality so I made a smaller batch using Alton Brown's recipe. However, I used the time element not the thermometer and also used the cold plate test. I think it turned out OK. We did have a small test this morning on a half English Muffin.
I am very wary of internet recipes..much safer to use ones from friends or sisters!
I have several things I want to get done before Thanksgiving: paint two extra kitchen chairs; wash down the kitchen cabinets (DH will help me with that) and fasten the back porch shelving to the wall with very long screws we got yesterday. I also will be soap making again. I would like to have several batches curing. I may try a different recipe or two.
This is the pumpkin patch this morning.
Life on the Farm
The fencing man who was supposed to show up Sunday and did not, finally did come on Tuesday. He finished trimming my broken Red Maple and the other maple in the west yard. He also cut down the broken peach tree in the orchard and hauled off all the debris. He will be returning (no set time you understand) at some point to trim around the concrete building that is the orchard's west fence and to build a fence around the orchard hydrant that has always been a weak link for the cattle.
I have lots of other things for him to do.........will add as he returns. We make no firm plans knowing how these things go.
Daily chores continue. The chickens are giving us 7 eggs consistently. I am getting way ahead. DH is checking cattle daily. He also has rounded up and out three more calves that are ready to be weaned. I can hear them bawling. They will do that for a few days before settling down.
We are still not feeding hay to the herd. We are feeding to the weaned group near the barn. They are basically dry-lotted, meaning not grazing open pasture.
Cooking
I made orange marmalade. The first time I tried using Ina Garten's recipe and it was a disaster. The problem may be my candy thermometer is not correct. I should have just used common sense and the cold plate test but tried to get the batch to the correct temp. Never did and ended up with jars of rubberized or candied stuff. I think I can redeem it in my next batch of mincemeat.
I had oranges left and they were not really of good eating quality so I made a smaller batch using Alton Brown's recipe. However, I used the time element not the thermometer and also used the cold plate test. I think it turned out OK. We did have a small test this morning on a half English Muffin.
I am very wary of internet recipes..much safer to use ones from friends or sisters!
I have several things I want to get done before Thanksgiving: paint two extra kitchen chairs; wash down the kitchen cabinets (DH will help me with that) and fasten the back porch shelving to the wall with very long screws we got yesterday. I also will be soap making again. I would like to have several batches curing. I may try a different recipe or two.
I love orange marmalade!!!
ReplyDeleteFrost for you, heat and humidity still happening down here in s.e. FL. Right now it is 1:07 p.m. EST, 85 and feels like it is 91. Does NOT feel like fall weather at all.
It sounds like you've plenty to keep you busy inside and out.
Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady
That is an amazing difference but you are so far south of me, I should expect great differences. Frost and freeze is predicted again tonight.
DeleteMy Sis didn't think we would like the marmalade but we both do.
Glenda,
ReplyDeleteIt's been cold here with all kinds of rain today. Stay warm, and enjoy your orange marmalade.
Your marmalade looks delicious!!!
Sandy, we are enjoying the rain and are supposed to get more today and tomorrow. I don't mind the freeze; I am more than ready to be done with outside work!
DeleteI wonder what else the marmalade would be good on? May have to do some testing.
Your marmalade looks wonderful. Redeeming it in mincemeat sounds even better.
ReplyDeleteI saw a recipe for macaroni salad the other day that used 3 boiled eggs and not very much macaroni. It sounded wonderful. The rest was pickles and mayo and whatever you usually put in Macaroni salad. I think extra egg would be what would make what is usually for me not a big hurrah, macaroni Salad.
I don't think I have every made macaroni salad, but I do love potato salad and put lots of boiled eggs in in. I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo (it's what Mama did) Some things I do because of her cooking and just have never changed.
DeleteYour marmalade looks so nice! I like it on occasion...but have never made any. I would love to know how to make soap, though. It's on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteAlicia, you need to jump in the soap thing. It sounds scary at first but now I look forward to making it.
DeleteGood to know you found a good orange marmalade recipe. I've tried it a couple of times, but not been satisfied. How about using it with a plain(er) scone? Lots of people like orange and chocolate together so maybe a scone with chocolate chips in it?
ReplyDeleteAlthough we've had two hard frosts, we are getting a light frost like you some mornings. Also, we've had rain most of this week. Temps are in the 40s during the day and down into the 30s at night, not always freezing.
I put a lot of eggs in my potato salad, too. Nine eggs to 3 pounds of potatoes.
I suspect it would be good on anything, but I like the lightness of the English Muffin.....maybe a little on the top of a buttered waffle? I could give that a try in the morning. Wil let you know if I do.
DeleteThirty-two exactly this morning.
ReplyDeleteWe never showed that low but we did have a thing skiff of ice on the bird bath.
DeleteI've never eaten marmalade. Do you eat the rind in the mix?
ReplyDeleteOh yes. It is candied and tastes very good; only mildly bitter. I think the bitter offsets the sweet....strange.
ReplyDeleteGlenda,
ReplyDeleteLast year I had scads of green tomatoes. I found a Green Tomato Marmalade recipe on line. I ended up chopping the rind very small but I made it and it was honestly wonderful! I will do it again. We have never eaten much Marmalade but this was right down my alley: "If ya got it, Use it!" and I had the green tomatoes to use. ha!
What an interesting idea. Usually I have lots of green ones; this year, I didn't even have ripe ones! There is always next year. I think I saw a green tomato mincemeat when I was searching around working up my current recipe.
Delete