Tomato Season

Last year, most of our tomatoes were stolen. By humans. This year, either the people moved on, or the raised fence and locked door to the garden is working, because we are in the tomatoes! I planted so many plants, in the hope that it would just be too many for the thief to get around to, that he would leave us a few to enjoy. And now, we are swimming in them.

We've gotten too much rain for tomatoes this year and the last time I was in the garden, they were bursting, which is sad to see. However, We have more than we know what to do with at the moment, so we'll take what we can get and leave the rest for next year's seeds.


I know I've said this many times on the blog, but it is so rewarding to see something that you planted in the house, from seeds, while snow was still on the ground, turn into something edible, beautiful, delicious.

What is He Building in There? (Something Awesome.)

Aaron's been working diligently in his workshop since well before our anniversary on a mysterious gift made of paper, the traditional first anniversary gift. That's all I knew. Time went by and things came up. Chicken houses, birthday gifts (more on that later), and it has taken until this afternoon to finally see what it is he was working on. Aaron made me a beautiful paper lamp.

And it's not just any old lamp. He designed it himself. It is made of walnut and has little lattice pieces all around it and fine paper made with imprisoned mulberry leaves. It is really incredible. I couldn't believe it when he finally gave it to me.

The paper has little flecks of pink where the mulberries lay.

The walnut base has purplish tones.

It's so pretty. Like something I would want but wouldn't be able to afford. I can't believe he made something so lovely. Thank you, Thank you. Happy anniversary, darling.

Two Eggs

I don't think I've mentioned yet that we got a replacement chicken. We found someone willing to give up a Rhode Island Red. She's quite a bit bigger than Henny-Penny. And meaner, uglier, bossier, and mouthier (she's taken to waking up the neighborhood at 7am). We decided to name her after someone who deserves to have my meanest chicken named after them. We decided to name her Large Marge.

I don't think I would get another Rhode Island Red if I continue to raise chickens in town. Way too loud and too big. Also, interestingly, even though Henny-Penny (a Red Star) is much smaller, she lays eggs that are way bigger. They won't even fit in the egg carton.

Yesterday we got two eggs in one day for the first time. Marge's morning whining actually paid off, because it happened that we fed them twice in the morning, and came home to find two eggs. We fed them twice before we left for work again today: two more eggs. We've got a system and we're in business.

Birthday

My birthday trip to the U.P. was really, really great. Aaron loved Michigan in the summer. I loved Michigan in the summer. It's very different without snow. We did so many nice things. A photo recap:


We took a couple of hikes out to see waterfalls.





We went to Lake Superior.


My aunt made a caterpillar cake just for me! It was so cute and tasty!

Yes, that is a bear popping out of the wall behind me!

We saw more than one fireworks display

Hey there lonely girl...

So, for those of you that haven't heard, we had a chicken incident and Lady Bird is no more. All that was left was a pile of feathers. Poor Lady Bird. Poor Henny-Penny. She was hurt, but she'll be okay (no eggs since this happened, though). Aaron found the only vet in town that would see a chicken. Sweet Aaron.

I think Henny-Penny is lonely. She won't go downstairs and just sits at her roost all day until we take her down to eat and drink. If we're outside, we put her outside, and she likes to dig around and make nests, eat bugs, and preen. But we need to get her a friend, I think.

the things you will do to make a living

This was on the front page of our local newspaper this morning. Guess who was the only (willing) staff member short enough to fit into the costume? Yep. We could have made one of our fabulous volunteers do it, but then I would have been obligated to give them a break every 20 mins...if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

I have to admit that it was a lot of fun, though. Also, this was the first event that I really planned the vast majority of myself, so to see more than 200 people walk through the door and to get it on the front page of the newspaper was awesome. It was really great to get community recognition and get publicity for the library. I love my job (even if it means doing really silly things like dressing up like a caterpillar).

Best Breakfast

I've gotten a few requests for recipes lately, and since it's all about eggs here at the ranch, I thought I'd post my favorite way to spend a Sunday morning. Or any morning, for that matter.






I've spent a lot of (probably unnecessary) time trying to make the perfect hard-boiled egg. It is not an easy task. Failure lies in a greenish hue around the yolk and a chalky texture. I want something on the semi-soft side. Just boiled, but not over done. If you know me, you know I have serious issues with eggs and their level of perfection (or lack thereof). I think I am ready to share the secret of the boiled egg.





To boil the perfect egg


Put eggs in a small saucepan and cover with warm water. I add salt to the water. I think it's supposed to prevent cracking. Anyway, start it off on low heat so that the eggs can adjust, then slowly turn it up...but not too slow...the idea is to not let them heat for a super long time. When it just starts to boil, take the eggs off the heat (or let them boil for one minute if you're not convinced) and cover the pot. Let them sit for 10-12 minutes (depending on hardness-of-yolk preference). Rinse with cold water, crack the shell if you need it cooled faster.





If you have a better way, I'd like to know about it. I am always trying to improve.





Just-Hard Eggs with Tomato on Toast


1 perfectly boiled egg


1 tomato, sliced thin


1 piece of wheat bread


a little cream cheese


good salt and pepper





Toast bread, then add a thin layer of cream cheese. Layer tomatoes, then egg slices, then salt and pepper. A softer yolk will make this breakfast something special.

Now I just need to work on my soft-boiled skills. Any tips?

He's kind of a big deal...

Check out this article about my special man! I'm so proud. He's great. Notice beginnings of the Einstein 'do. This article also appeared in our local newspaper this Sunday.

Success!

Lady Bird laid her first egg!

Almost Instant Gratification

I spent this weekend finishing up the rows for the garden and getting everything in and planted. It was quite a process…I started before Easter. It feels good to get that huge task taken care of, and just as the hot weather is settling in, too. It's already doing better than last year. I'm really using what I learned last year to improve things and I can already see the changes. We’ve already been enjoying our first garden lettuce.



Planted Easter weekend and ready for the past week, we've been picking as needed, and it sure is lovely. Everything else has a long way to go, but it's nice to get something from the garden so soon. It makes all of the work worth it.

Lettuce is really easy...everyone could have lettuce growing, even in apartments. A window box of this or a pot on your porch would be such a nice summer treat. It's so soft and delicate. A bowl of this sprinkled with oil and vinegar and a glass of Riesling. Yes.

I have to say that the garden is pretty much solely my project this year. We've reached a silent agreement that Aaron would do most of the yard work and I would tend the garden. Which I think we're both okay with. Aaron hates weeding. I hate the noise of the mower. Last year, we had a reel mower. We really tried with that thing. But our lawn is just to big for that much work. Dang. We were killing ourselves. So now we're guiltily using a regular push mower we found on Craigslist and composting the clippings or using them as mulch. Oh well. We can't do everything. But for now, we'll eat our lettuce and be happy that our energy is now going into growing, rather than cutting the lawn.

Homesteading Progress

Start a garden? Check. Bake our own bread? Check. Make our own yogurt? Check. Get chickens?

Henny-Penny and Lady Bird

CHECK!

On Sunday, we picked up these two lovely ladies and added them to the family. They are Red Star pullets and we got them from a farmer who raises free-range/organic eggs. They should be ready to start laying eggs in about four weeks.

Aaron's been busy for the last few weeks building their new home.

It took a long time. We were still working on it they day we got them.

It's called a chicken tractor, and the idea is to provide a semi-free-range, yet enclosed area with the coop on top. You move it around the lawn every couple of days so that they can have fresh ground/bugs/etc.

It looks kind of weird because it's on a slope

This is where we'll steal their eggs

Aaron designed it himself after looking at several different ways of making one. He's so cute. More chicken love to come! Stay tuned.

Newly Wed No Longer

I can't believe it's been a year since the wedding! Man, this year has just zipped by. Right about now, I was probably nervously going over my lines in my head, peeking through the window to watch as people arrived, and trying to remember to breathe.

It was a labor of love and it turned out to be a beautiful day. I am so happy that we did most of the details ourselves...that gave us so many more memories. And I still can't think of a better place to have a wedding. It was perfect.

My favorite memories: The gardens, the pies, the relaxed atmosphere, seeing Aaron in seersucker, seeing Cody, my beautiful snapdragons, the way the rain stopped just in time! (I've been owing the weather gods on that big time, by the way. Every major day for the last year has been rainy...but it was sooo worth it.)

So after a year, have I learned anything about married life? Choose your battles, never put up wall paper with the one you love, a small gesture (like waking someone up with coffee in bed or putting a special surprise treat in their lunch bag, or really listening to what they're saying) goes a really long way. Patience is invaluable. Friendship is the most important thing in a marriage. I am ready for year #2!