Brown pastures and constant watering aside, our extended dry season has been a blessing. If it holds (notwithstanding the occasional day of showers, like today), we just might get the shop dried in and firewood stored before the rainy season sets in. Last Sunday we got the retaining wall backfilled and the remaining dirt spread out; hopefully that will keep if from turning our driveway to a mud slide. I slipped off to OFFF for the afternoon while Rick continued working on it; when I got back we set the three support posts for the east side. This is going to be a more imposing structure than I might have wished for across the driveway from the front of our house, but a barn quilt in the peak of the gable end might add visual interest. Maybe if I paint one, Rick will mount it. Maybe.
At OFFF I had an extensive list of spindles to buy for others (as usual) and managed to pick up some beauties for myself (also usual), as well as a few needed items. My new needle protectors will save me grief while knitting Ariya; I didn't have any that would stay on the 3mm needles I'm using.
I can get kind of obsessed about "one more row" on Ariya, but must tear myself away to take care of other pressing needs. On top of the lovely tomatoes our own garden is producing, one of our neighbors has given us more so I've had enough to preserve. I've canned 21 quarts and 13 pints (one broke), and am making a batch of condensed tomato soup (so much better than Campbell's) today. I was also given a bunch of bell peppers, so I'm going to try this. 'Tis the season to try new recipes to use all the fresh produce!
'Tis also the season for Shetland hormones to start circulating. The other morning this greeted me in the ram lot:
No one is hurt, just lots of pushing and butting. They will stay frustrated; with my overabundance of sheep and underabundance of hay, there will be no breeding this year. I wanted to put Bridget with Bijou before he leaves for his new home since she didn't settle last year, but can't figure out where I'd put them. The lambs need to be weaned and on top of that, Bud needs to be separated from females, but I hesitate to put him with three adult rams in rut. I guess the easiest solution would be to put him with Bridget, but he wouldn't be my first choice as a sire. Sigh; if I could just get one of my guys to fix the gates of the Ram-ada Inn so they can be secured, my current logistical problems would be solved....
Sky shows continue both morning and evening; the days are definitely getting shorter:
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| sunset from horseback along our lane, with tethered raptor kite over vineyard |
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| same sunset from back at home, looking west |
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| sunrise |
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| sunset, looking north |
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| same sunset, looking west through our obstructed view |
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| this morning's sunrise, before it clouded over and started to rain |
5 comments:
You really have some beautiful sky pictures!! I'm always amazed at them! We don't get many like that.
I'm anxious to see your new building, when it's finished. I'm, sure it will be nice.
Such stunning photos! Would you care to share the canned tomato soup recipe please?
I do love our sky vistas, Jeanne! The building will no doube be useful; I hope it isn't an eyesore.
Sure, Melanie!
5 quarts pureed tomatoes (I core them and puree everything else)
1 onion, pureed,
3 stalks celery, pureed
3/4 c. EVOO (original recipe calls for 1 c. butter)
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. salt
1 T. garlic powder
Make roue with fat and flour, then add the rest of the ingredients. Cook until thick, pour into hot, clean jars, and hot-water process for 10 minutes.
Note: because of the other ingredients, the hot-water process has always made me a bit worried, but I've been making this for almost 40 years without any issues. Your mileage may vary!
Everything's looking good there. We finally have had some rainy days here. We really, really needed them.
Glad that you are doing well. The sky pictures are so awesome !!
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