Coffee...and for July 29, 2006

OK everyone - watch out for the explosion tomorrow when Samson sees Maria! Talk about the shot heard 'round the world! I suspect we will *all* know when Sampson sees Maria!

Maria, welcome home, and sorry you couldn't stay longer at such a wonderful B&B. Ernie and Linda are as lucky to have had you as a guest as you are to have been their guest. What a fun time for all.

defoe-I love Sungold tomatoes, they're extremely sweet, and I wanted to make a tomato sorbet. But I would tomato ice cream would just be a frozen version of cream of tomato soup....and that sounds pretty good right now!!

Tomato Ice Cream???? Now, I will leave that one for those of you who like/love tomatoes. I only cook with them, *do not* eat them raw!!! And, YES, I'm Southern!!! But how many of you can say that, as a child, your favorite meal was liver, rice with onion gravy, spinach and biscuits?

I do *so* wish we had a good farmers market around here. There are places that the farmers show up when they have enough extra to sell, but finding them at the right time is a "catch as catch can" type operation. I would love to have a freezer full of garden veggies!
ginni

ginni ... Yuck!! :-)

I can't picture tomato ice cream, either, though. but I'd take that over your liver. LOL

Yes talk about dog hair. There'll be an explosion of fur for sure at Maria's tomorrow!!!! LOL I'd love to be a fly on the wall at that reunion. ;) Don't know who will be happier ... man or beast. hehehehe Pardon me Maria ... you know what I mean. LOL

I think the ceiling would be slightly safer than the wall!

LOL!!

Tomato ice cream- gross, I'll pass on that one!! But it is so hot here, that I think I'll get myself a bowl when I am done here!!

M5- yup- that was the brother with the kids that I house sit. In fact my SIL asked me if I wanted to do it last night- NO THANKS! I think they have the picture...

I haven't been to a farmer's market in years. We grow our own stuff and trade wtih the neighbors.

I have an absolutely no taste buds- everything tastes good to me. Oleo and butter all taste the same. I can tell a taste difference in one kind of oleo made with yogurt I think (now that I typed that, I don't think it is correct) anyhow, it had a funny taste to me. Maybe it was the consistencey tho that turned me off.

defoe - show us a pic of your 'new self' LOL I have something in my mind as to what you look like!!! Hope the bees met a timely death. I've been in the pool 2x's today - put on a different suit from the other day (no elastic left) man, do I look awful in suits!! I have three distinct bumps in front... and I've not been bitten by a bee!!

Hi Maria- let's hear about your travels - and by the way, the treat table has been mighty bare with you being gone...hint hint

Darius- what is Ghee? Was that a typo??

Mom just called and hinted that they have nothing to do. We were together last night and even tho I enjoy them, I think I need some alone time...

I'm off to tour the gardens!!

Here's a pic of my DM/SFon brother"s boat> Hope when I am her age I can still go boat riding!!

Sarv, Ghee is clarified butter but it keeps a long time. You can buy it in jars on the supermarket shelves in the imported goods section usually.

HAY,Darius do u remember clabber? I had the recipe and lost in when I moved. Makes the best biskits and all I can remember is u start it w/ instant milk? Geeze I hate brain cramps ha ha. Loves ya, Cork

Sarv------ DB has a good job. I know what a boat like that cost. Yeah if it ever happens i will take you on in a game of horseshoes. This is my second season. My ringer average in tournament play is about 22% that is why some think I am going to be real good in time. but I am so inconsistant it is not funny. I have shot several games near 40% but just last wednesday I shot 2 games 4%. I play on full regulation court and have to pitch from 40 ft. You could pitch from 30 ft. since your female. I would win. I would set up peanut butter somewhere and get something to send the smell your way.

hahahaha oz you are tooo funny! You *do love to jab poor sarv and Defoe! LOL

Corky, clabber is very interesting, most definitions say soured milk (not spoiled milk).
http://www.uslegacies.com/Kitchen/Memories/kitchen_memories.shtml
http://urban-agrarian.blogspot.com/2006/03/clabber-and-bonnyclabber.html

Just came back in from a short juant. Very loooong trucks have been passing the house for 3 days now with long pipes on the, Thought I'd go see what's up.

They are bringing a gas line over the mountains from West Virginia. Here's a couple of photos, sorry they are dark but it was 8 pm.

Darius the picture turned out good.

The other side of the road. I have seen at least 30 of the long pipes pass my house, so I wonder if they have hauled them over the mountain already.

Some years ago I bought milk by the gallon from a farmer and churned my own butter. I skimmed off some of the cream but not enough to make it skimmed milk (which locals call Blue John because of the slightly bluish cast).
Then I put it in the churn, set it somewhere reasonably warm and let it ripen for about 3 days. Then I checked the temperature. I forget what it was supposed to be, because I became adept at just sticking my finger in it and if it felt slightly cool, it was ready to churn. I sat down in front of the T.V. and turned on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. When it was over, I had butter floating on top.
If you try to churn it when it is too cool, it will not make (separate from the whey). If it's too warm, it will be too liquid and very hard to dip out of the remaining whey. Setting the churn in your kitchen sink and adding warmer or cooler water into the basin, as need be, would get it to the proper temperature pretty easily.
Organic Gardening had a book called Stocking Up and I think that's where I learned how to do this.
Butter made this way is much more flavorful. Of course you have to drain off the excess whey; I didn't have cheesecloth so I used Handi-wipes and then put it in a bowl and stirred it around, mashing down a bit with the back of the spoon to squeeze out any whey left. Then you could put it in a mold or just a small bowl and let it get cold in the fridge. I used a small cut-glass bowl and when I took it out of the fridge, turned the bowl upside and held it briefly under hot water to unmold it. The cut-glass design made it look mighty pretty.
Because the whey is highly nutritious, some people used it to cook rice. I never tried that so I have no comment on using whey.
I tried an experiment. As there was only 3 of us at home, we didn't consume a whole lot of milk. So I only got one or two gallons at the time and skimmed some of the cream off until I had enough to churn and froze it until I had enough. I think the churn held 2 gallons of cream and I filled it about 2/3 full. I was very pleased to find that freezing the cream until I had enough did not stop it from making butter.
I still have my churn; it decorates the entrance to our house.

M-5,
Yup, pulling up stakes for a friendlier clime and where I will get more bang for my retirement ( tight budget) buck.

I think it is awful the way this state charges so much tax for my humble 100 year old farmhouse. Bah-Humbug ! ! ! !

Hate to admit it but I'm afraid the deed will not get done before our cold weather arrives unless I am really, really lucky .................


so here's to my last miserable Wisconsin Winter

scoot- how'd ya get a pic of me?? LOL Good luck selling the old homestead. Where ya moving to? I would love to relocate in a warmer climate, but can't bear to leave family behind in Mich.

Oz - tell me how much $$ a boat like that would cost. DB has a McMansion and bought the slip to put the boat in. I think he is in debt up to his eyeballs!! Both he and his DW work at GM....I'm sure they pull in a nice income....You can't distract me from beating you either!! I am very competitive....I'm gonna start practicing up - just to beat the pants off you...(not literally...LOL) hmmm-40% is great!!

Darius - nice pics- everything looks so lush there...Love all the trees.

DS/DGS/DIL just left. They all came over for a dip in the pool - we all stayed in there for a couple of hours - now I am sporting a nasty sunburn on my shoulders/back. Drat - what was I thinking...

Maybe some peanut butter cup ice cream would soothe the burn.....LOL

I'll prolly be about one state south of Darius lol

havent stopped going long enough to check in today until now. Just finished reading today's posts. That first link Darius put up about cathead biscuit recipes is the exact way I make mine. Cathead biscuits, I think, are a southern thing. I like to lay one open and pour honey or maple syrup over them. Also just plain ol' butter is good. mmmmmmmmm.... I think I know what is for breakfast tomorrow. LOL!

Scooterbug- that pic is hilarious!

Dmc- I am sorry, did you say TOMATO ice cream??? Cant imagine how that would look or taste. And I love tomatoes, but still....they have their place. LOL

Darius- great to hear that you have some good help now.

Cece- best wishes with your granddaughter. I am sure that was very heart breaking watching her be tested and held down. Good to hear that she is okay and enjoying her new toys!

I got a little yardwork done today, but kept having to come in and cool off. I think it was somewhere in the upper 90's today. Went to DMIL's this afternoon and just got back about 30 min ago. She made taco soup for supper. Have you guys ever had it? She is the first one I heard of it from several years ago and have heard others mention it since. It's so good - corn, black beans, ground beef, rotel tomatos, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, a little water. Then serve with sour cream and cheese and taco chips. YUM!

Going to go finish reading a book I have been working on and will check back in later.

Katy

Sarv---- I have never heard of the Mc Mansion line of boats. Around here they all run Scarabs and Formulas, and you do pay more by the name. But from the pictures I can tell the boat is what is called a cuddy cabin style around here and must be between 30 and 32 ft long. I do not know if he has 1 engine are 2. From the puicture you have of your mother I can see what appears to be dual eddies in back of the boat that would lead me to think it is dual engine. But I can tell you at any rate whatever the make we are talking way over 100k and maybe, depending on the manufacture and a few other things, close to 200K just for the boat. It probably has a 400 to 500 gal gas tank. If it has to hot engines like most that style do it will burn most of that gas in one day.

LOL oz, the term Mc anything is just to make sure that we realize the size, price, status. Like McMansion, etc. A take on McDonalds, big mac I think. Mc means rich!! I sure am not in that category.

Want to clarify the tomato ice cream. The guy that had it for sale, said they used the Isis Candy heirloom cherry tomatoes, peeled them, smushed them up, and added cherry flavoring. He was selling it for $2.50 a small bowl, and being the skeptic that I am, was not willing to pay that price for maybe one bite!!

Additionally Sarv and Oz, when that horseshoe match takes place, I want a ringsize seat!! That has got to be the contest of the century.

Maria, have you got protective gear to wear when you meet Samson tomorrow? Remember folks, I have met Samson, and wouldn't want to go one on one with him after an absence of that length. Me thinks that you will spend several days, assuring him that you are not going anywhere else in the near future. Maria, so glad that you enjoyed your trip, and Ernie and Linda, thank you from Ky. that you provided Maria a nice vacation.

Okay, and update on the steak dinner birthday party. This kid raked in about $600 in cash, plus all the other gifts he received. There were probably about 50 people there, the meal was delicious. I forgot the bug spray, and spent a good part of my time there swatting bugs that wanted to feast on me. I think I have had a very bad day attracting the insects. Maybe I am too "sweet"? My previous stings sites are receding, and do not plan on having special upper garments tailored to accommodate them.

To everybody else, please excuse me if I didn't comment to you directly. Has to be an early night, as I am taking DM to church tomorrow, and I have to leave at least an hour earlier than I normally would.

So ~~~~~~ to all, will be back shortly with the new daily.

Okay everybody the daily is up, but feel free to keep posting here, but please do it quietly, as I need to get in bed. Follow me over here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/633118/

*snicker* defoe , you are a hoot !

scooterbug, is your house sold and you're just waiting for the closing?

I want to be Ernie and Linda's houseguest next! They had a great time with Maria.
Ernie~ You did have plenty of onions there. My Auntie is gone for a week...maybe I can sneak out while your at work to see what new goodies are growing:) We're going to try to do a bit more crabbing this week. If it proves lucrative, we will bring some out. A guy on Vancouver Island wants to trade Dave straight across for a 24' sailboat...Dave is drooling at the thought....I'm about ready to heave! "You'll love it," he says. Whatever! It's still tips sideways and is in water you can't see the bottom of. I don't crab because I enjoy it, but because that is 5 more crab! (My DH thinks I "crab" at him because I enjoy it!)

Maria~I guess I missed meeting your Sampson...what kind of dog is he?

Thanks for the twin comments. They are cute BUT we call them the "evil twins". I get to spend lots of time with them...they live just 4 blocks over and come here for babysitting 2-3 days a week in the summer. They are each other's best friends but they can be a handful. Looks can be deceiving.:^))........We don't know if they are identical...never tested. But...this is the first year I have been able to tell them apart and I have spent plenty of time with them. Karrie does have a scar on head...I think Hali is a bit taller.

Went to a family reunion up the Skagit River...beautiful place....my cousin's. We are actually going to start spending a lot of time up there in the guest house over the garage. It's so peaceful, I love it!

Our getaway....above the garage

side yard view....somehow we missed the main yard....... In the very.....WAY....back of this pic is an overgrown garden space...next year we get to be the gardeners:) I did see a snake in the creek!!! That could stop my gardening there!!! I know they are only garden snakes....I DON'T CARE!!!! THEY ARE SNAKES!!!!

The other end of guest house with Wisteria and Honeysuckle...mmmmmmm.

Yes, Karen it was a wonderful visit with the most perfect hosts, just love both of them, I think I will come back to your gorgous state before another year passes

Samson was very happy to see me again, he is a golden retriever and very handsome but naughty too, he is only a year and one half old
here is a picture of him