Monday, May 21, 2012

Monkeying around on a Monday...

  And that just about sums up my relationship with dirt.  LOL

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   I spent the whole day today catching up on blog reading, fooling around on Facebook and talking on the phone. In between (to avoid any guilty feelings I may or may not experience) I vacuumed and dusted, I baked a loaf of bread (last batch of dough in the fridge), I made a quinoa chili, I  made a new batch of granola, this time with dried apples and bananas in it and I swept the front porch.  In my defense, the front porch runs the entire length of my house.  All in all, it was a good day and I felt pretty good about it all. 

  The storm came in yesterday evening and blew things around, but didn't really drop that much rain on us. Still, things outside look like they enjoyed the massive energy input from it...the tomatoes look taller and the onions are now all above ground, instead of here and there. Nearly everything is up now, somethings a little better than others, but still in all, it's looking good out there. I am waiting for the sweet potato slips to come in at Pappy's Market, where I usually buy them, and that will be it until we plant the late plantings and fall crops.

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  That quinoa chili was delicious. I got a little carried away putting veggies in it...I used onions (red and yellow), 6 cloves of garlic, minced. I put in a large sweet potato, diced and a zucchini and a bell pepper, diced. I used about 3/4 of a cup of quinoa, a small can of tomato paste, a small can opf chopped green chilis and probably a gallon and a half of water. 3 types of beans: cannelini, black beans and navy beans. I used smoky paprika, black pepper, cumin, chili powder and sea salt. It was a delightfully hearty sweet and spicy dish that went well with that small loaf of bread I had just baked. I was going to make corn bread, but...I didn't.  Enough for leftovers and enough to freeze 2 large yogurt containers. (Are those a quart??) 

  Tomorrow I will probably make another batch of the bread dough...by the time you make the last loaf of it, it is getting pretty sour and has a wonderful taste.  The crumb was absolutely beautiful. I think I will add vital wheat gluten to this next batch...maybe it will raise a little higher.  That would make me very happy.  lol

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 Had a hysterical moment today with the Kelley critters. The dogs were out front and went into a barking frenzy. I kept hollering at them to be quiet, but nothing was getting through to them, so I went out the front door, and there were little Roxie and Caylee down in the driveway. The other 2 were up at the porch barking their brains out. I look to see a mylar helium balloon that says Happy Birthday laying in the drive--apparently had floated in from somewhere. Roxie was going nuts and suddenly the wind moved it about 2 inches and she turned and ran as if her life depended on it, barking furiously the whole time.  Caylee was next and the wind caught it again...and she jumped like someone had poked her and ran back up to cower behind my legs. With Roxie.  I nearly died laughing...my 2 guard dogs....

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  Little Roo is trying his best to crow. He's getting better, but still sounds damn funny. They are getting big, and I need to check my blog to see when we got them, so I can figure out how old they are. At 16-22 weeks, they should be getting ready to lay, and we'll need to change their food too.  The 2 older hens have finally finished their moult and are starting to lay again. I don't recall that our Rhodies ever stopped laying completely when they were moulting, but maybe they did.  I should probably keep a chicken journal, like my garden journal. Or maybe just a general homestead journal... or hell, just check my blog. I put everything in here anyway. LOL

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  Well, that's about it from Honeysuckle Hill.  My family reunion is in 12 days.  My pregnant niece is coming and we are apparently having a baby shower for her while she is here (she lives in Florida). I heard about it once and haven't heard another word...maybe I'm just not invited.  lol

   Not sure what all is on tomorrow's agenda, but whatever it is, I'll tackle it with a clear head and an open heart, being grateful all the while that I get to live such a life as this, and share it with friends such as you. 

And I'll cook.  Oh yes, children...THERE WILL BE FOOD.



Namaste.

4 comments:

DJan said...

Wow! That quinoa chili sounds like something I'll have to try. The amazing stuff you put in there made me want some. I just had to laugh out loud at your guard dogs, I can see them in my mind's eye, you described it so well. I so enjoy your farm life, so different from my own, but I get to experience it vicariously. Thanks, Annie! :-)

Anonymous said...

Clear head, open heart, AND a tied apron. That's kind of your signature thing ;-)

Beth said...

Good Morning Annie!

I always feel good after I read your blog! I don't know what half of the food items are that you are talking about but I know the end result sounds delicious.

Have a great day Annie and take along a shower gift just in case when you go to the reunion.

Rita said...

Me, too! I always feel good after reading your blog. And I have a hysterically funny picture of the dogs and the balloon right now, too. Oh and a funny half crowing young rooster. Have a super day tomorrow!! :)