Soft Bananas

There are (were) three bananas sitting on my kitchen counter.  They are over mature as far as eating bananas go, but not quite as rotten as I like my baking bananas.   But, I was tired of looking at these fruits deteriorating by the minute.  If it was summer, the kitchen would be filled with fruit flies.  Good thing it is not summer.

 

I decided to make a loaf of banana bread.  I usually use my Mother-in-law’s tried and true recipe, but I wanted to be a bit more adventurous today.  I had already made my own version of tzatziki sauce for ground lamb burgers (so good - now we know the attraction for our huge and ever-present coyote population) earlier in the week which was followed by my own homemade pizza, crust and all, twice thereafter.  The old standby banana bread just would not do.

 

So, I searched the net and the first recipe to appear on the screen was Chocolate Banana Bread.  I love chocolate.  Glenn usually passes on Chocolate.  Glenn loves banana bread especially with nuts.  We have some precious black walnuts cracked and gifted to us by the guy we give hunting rights to on our farm.  He collected the whole walnuts from our farm and returned them in a very edible form.  Glenn eats those nuts wisely as he knows how hard it is too pick them out of the shells. Those black walnuts would also definitely make a special banana bread.  I do not like black walnuts.

 

Chocolate, black walnuts, chocolate, black walnuts.

 

Chocolate won!  I had no doubts.

 

And, that chocolate banana bread is (was) so delicious particularly with a glass of milk.

 

That banana bread…gone!

Selling the Calves

 

our frozen pond

 

 

Today, the dogs and I walked down to the pond.  The water was so still.  In reality, it was frozen.  I was surprised! The temperatures have gotten colder over the past week, but I had no idea there was enough cold weather to freeze the pond…yet.  Evidently, there was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, a large stock trailer rolled up our driveway to collect our 2015 calves that we had sold.

It was cold. The ground was frozen. The weather was perfect for loading cattle.

I actually bundled up in a heavy hooded sweatshirt, down jacket and rain boots (I have no insulated winter boots) to help Glenn and Becky separate the herd prior to the truck’s arrival.  I am no fan of cold weather, but I had to admit that I felt very comfortable.

 



cattle and sheep coming into the barn lot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, all the cattle and ewes were the led out of the pasture and into the barn lot. Easy. Some of the early leaders along with all of the ewes were secured into the back pen. Then, a slight miss cue caused the remaining cattle to reverse course and run downhill through the fenced paddock, out the still open gate and back to their pasture.  The process had to begin again, this time with a bit more frisky animals as if they were playing a game.  The recapture was no game for Becky or Glenn.  The fourth attempt by Becky and Glenn finally yielded success with all the cattle back into the barn lot. Gates closed and chained.

 

The ewes were moved into the empty barn paddock. Our ram lambs already occupied the second barn paddock.  All the cows were separated from the calves.  It was my responsibility to open the paddock gate to let the cows back into the pasture.  So, every 6-8 cows separated, I would release them from the barn lot. I had the easiest job, and one which I performed without incident.

 

Next, the horse and donkey (yes, they have been hanging out with the flerd) were moved in with the ewes.

 

Then, the bred (pregnant) yearling heifers (yet to have a calf), 2015 open (not pregnant) heifer calves, and a few steer calves were separated off into the third paddock.

 

Are you still following this process?

 

We ended up with 14 steer calves in the barn lot to load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once loaded, Glenn and I followed the trailer to the steers’ new farm home where they were weighed and retagged with new numbers before being put on their new pasture.

 

loading a calf onto the scale

the weight of our largest calf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the end of the story.  But, the story of loading the calves actually started on November 30.

 

The purchaser, Daniel, had a free day before leaving on his annual holiday trip to see family in Texas. November 30^th was that day.

 

The stock trailer arrived.  We had been having weeks of rain and the pastures and farm tracks were muddy and slick.  The calves were at the lower loading area as our upper loading area had been in the process of being rebuilt for over one year and the containment fence still was not complete.  Daniel made the decision that he could get his truck down the hill, load the calves, and return up the hill with no problem. Besides, Glenn was at the ready to help with his tractor.

 

The calves were loaded.  As the truck with loaded trailer made its way uphill, the tires started to spin.  It inched its way, sliding, until it could proceed no further.  Glenn retrieved his tractor to help pull the truck and trailer up the slick hill.  That trick worked once before, but not this time.  The calves were unloaded.  They would have to be picked-up another day (that being yesterday, January 6, 2016).  Daniel backed the truck and trailer up, hit a rock and took out his fuel filter. The inoperable truck and now empty trailer was pulled up the hill by John Deere, the tractor.  The damaged rig came to rest in our yard.  Daniel would need an alternate ride back home.  His truck was rescued the following day. And, Daniel made his trip to Texas as scheduled.

 

Having the upper loading area is really the best option for moving livestock by trailer.   So, after the above incident in November, Glenn seriously got to work and finally completed the rebuilding of the barn lot pens and fences.  Not only is the barn lot more functional now, but it is aesthetically more pleasing to view which I do on a daily basis.

 

Hallelujah!

 

Note:  The upside of selling calves is finally getting a paycheck for a year’s worth of labor.  The downside of selling calves and weaning calves is the near constant bellowing by mama cows and calves.  Basically, the mamas are engorged with milk and the calves no longer have access to that milk. The normally peaceful farm is obnoxiously noisy. Thankfully, the clamor subsides in a few days.

Last of the Apple Harvest

Winter arrived.  A mere 8 degrees when we woke this morning.

 

I was concerned about my potted plants in the solarium, but the temperature was a balmy 36.  We may have to think about adding a heat source for the really chilly days so that my plants do not succumb.

 

My dental appointment for today was canceled because my dentist arrived back from a holiday trip to California with the flu.  I was informed that I would be seeing the other dentist in the office, but I did that once before when my regular check-up was scheduled during my dentist’s vacation.  (I guess he really likes to travel - especially during my 6-month check-ups.) It was not a thorough examine, so I opted to be rescheduled.  There was an opening on Thursday.  Two days from telling me my dentist had the flu did not give me confidence of having a germ-free appointment.  I am now scheduled for March 11 - ugh!

 

So, I decided to make apple pie instead.  The crisper drawer in my refrigerator is filled with apples getting close to being discarded.  I do not mean discarded as to the trash, but discarded as supplemental food to the other animals on our farm.  Not much goes to waste at Mountain Glen.  The chickens, horse, donkey and cattle would all love a treat even if that treat is a bit on the south side of crisp. Let’s just call the fruit a bit fermented and a bit rotten.  I am also going to try something new.  I have several local Asian pears, a gift, which I plan to mix with the apples.  I think the combination sounds delightful.  I will let you know.

 

I have recently changed my pie-making norm of baking a large pan, 9” X 13”, to making two 8” rounds and freezing these, before baking,  for a future time.  I just learned this little trick and I am completely sold.  I use to think that I had to eat the entire fresh apple pie in a day or two.  And, I usually did.  Silly me.  Besides, once I make the two pies to freeze, I still have enough dough and filling left to make two 6” tarts perfect for the evening’s dessert - a definite win-win in my mind.

 

Well, time to thaw the Cool-Whip and get to my peeling. 

 

P.S.  The chickens will relish the peeling and the cores - yummy!

 

P.P.S. Apple-Pear Pie - absolutely delicious!  Note to me: make this combo again.

First Day of 2016

WELCOME 2016!

HAPPY  NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Last Day of 2015

BYE, BYE

YEAR 2015

YOU SURE DID FLY!

Springtime?

We are nearing the end of the year, 2015, and one full week into the winter season although it feels more like spring.  The temperatures have been quite mild throughout the fall and they continue to be mild into early winter.

 

And, if I think it feels like spring, so do all my perennials plants.  I totally enjoy the warm temperatures, but I know the plants are confused.  The grass is still green and growing even though it is usually brown by now.  This is a benefit for our pasture-grazing cattle and sheep.  Green grass is tastier and more nutritious than brown.  But, I am more concerned with my garden softscape. Perennials that have died-back for the winter season have responded to the warm weather and are beginning to grow again, prematurely.  The growing tips of bulbs are starting to peek out of the ground.  And, several of my spring-flowering perennials are actually flowering.  This is not good.

 

 

 

Don’t get me wrong.  I am enjoying the surprise gifts of bright color among the grey and muted colors of a hibernated winter garden, but…

 

what flowers now will not flower come the ‘real’ spring.  Those flowers buds will have been spent off-season. 

 



Of course, there is nothing I can do about the weather, so I appreciate the blossoms now.  I imagine the flowers that I will miss in the spring, due to their untimely blooming,  will be diminished by the outstanding show of many more flowers that will be in bloom...at the right time!

 

I guess I can categorize this unseasonably warm season as a win-win situation.

 

Yep, I will take my flowers anytime, anywhere I can get them.





 

My spring flowering ‘flowering quince’ is flowering.  The coral-pink blooms are beautiful against the backdrop of the winter greys of the forest trees.

Winter Tree

The sun is finally shining.  After days, probably weeks, of overcast and raining days, the house is bright once again.

 

Yet, there is a positive side to all this gloom and grey. The good thing about the darkness, especially during the Christmas holiday, was that I was able to enjoy the lights on my Christmas trees throughout the entire day rather than only at night.

 

Yes, you read that right…trees. My main tree is the traditional, cut down your own, fresh white pine.  My second tree is a new white and glittery artificial tree. 

 

crystal snowflake with drop heart
gift from a dear friend

angel blowing horn accented with
gold highlights

In previous years, after I decided that I needed a smaller tree to showcase my sparkling clear glass/spun glass/crystal ornaments, I use to go and find a small dried tree branch outside and spray paint it white.  That version was not very glitzy nor very stable.  One of my favorite ornaments, a biplane representing Glenn having a pilot’s license, flew off the tree and made quite a crash landing on the hardwood floor below. The plane shattered and was immediately destined for the trash as any type of fix was impossible.  That was about the same year Glenn let his license lapse... was that accidental crash a sign?

Last year, after Christmas, I purchased a small white plastic tree, adorned with lights and glitter, at half price. Reduced prices are my favorite kind of prices. The boxed tree went into storage.  I had no idea whether the lights worked or not.  This year, I pulled the two top sections (just the right height) of that tree out the box and assembled it on top of my Grandmother’s old treadle sewing machine which dwells in the corner of our dining room.  The initial intent was to set it up on my Grandmother’s old round oak table which resides in the living room.  I decided that two trees in one room was unnecessary duplication, and I wanted each tree to shine on its own. Therefore, the recently relocated sewing machine was the perfect size and in the perfect spot for my new holiday tree.

 

I temporarily moved a watercolor picture off the wall and hung an antique mirror in its place. The tree is positioned right in front of the mirror which greatly intensifies all that sparkle.

 

The white of the tree, the glitter that coats the twig-like branches, the glow of the LED lights and the glass and crystal ornaments all make for amazing energy.   It brightens my every moment when I walk by it. 

 

Now, just after Christmas, I realize I have an additional benefit. This tree can remain up long past the Christmas holiday.  It will not dry out, it will not lose its needles and it will seamlessly blend into the winter season.

 

When our weather eventually turns cold (it has been very mild) and maybe even snowy, this tree will not cause a chill, but it will be a beacon in my home… warming my spirit and my heart.