Accidental Homesteader
…a funny thing happened on the way to the bar
How ‘Bout Them Apples?
In addition to the nectarines, I also got a three-pound bag of Jonathan apples.
I decided to make applesauce/pie filling. Nom.
So making applesauce is easy as pie.
Cut up the apples into chunks. In a saucepan, put some water, and the apples. Put in cinnamon and sugar to taste. We like tart, so we don’t put as much in. For a deeper flavor, you can add butter or vanilla, or a spice blend like Penzey’s Apple Pie Spice.
Some people like the peeler, corer, slicer contraption here,
But damned if I can get this thing to work on softer types of apples.
So simmer your apples and spices until soft. Mush them up to your desired chunkiness. I like some pieces, so I use a potato masher. You can put in a blender or food processor for smoother applesauce.
I pressure canned them, processing for 25 minutes.
See? Easy peasy.
Vanilla Nectarine Preserves
I bought a big bag of nectarines at the farmer’s market this weekend. What to do…
I looked at Pinterest and found some ideas for preservation. Decided on a vanilla nectarine preserve.
Alright, Alright, Alright
That’s what I love about these High School chicks man, I get older, they stay the same age. – Wooderson
So Noah II has started hanging out with the teenagers. They are juuuust reaching adulthood.
On the other hand…
We started getting eggs from the spring peeps. One, maybe two, are laying white eggs. So I think maybe leghorns.
Woohoo!
Alas , Poor Buffy
I knew her Horatio. A chicken of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. Good night sweet princess.
Book 24 and 25
Next Year in Havana. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
I contain multitudes.
Book 23?
So my grand plan of reading a bunch went away. I’ve got some lovely new podcasts I’ve been listening to, but alas… not so much reading. But I checked out an audiobook, and listened to it over a few days.
Saint X – not great. A book about the protagonist’s sister dying while on a vacation. I think I would have liked it better if it hadn’t taken itself so dang seriously.
Bully Pulpit
So we put our purchased peeps in with the hatched peeps. All went reasonably well for the first couple of days. The new peeps stayed below in the pen, and the hatched stayed with mama in the coop proper.
…And I will love her and pet her and name her Buffy.
From the first day, Buffy the Wormslayer has loved Lou.
And Lou loved Buffy. Well, I believe they are not going to be as close.
The Husband went out to let out the chickens and feed Lou Thursday morning. He came crack with Buffy. She didn’t look so good.
In fact, when he went out there he was pretty sure she was dead. She was laid out like a rubber chicken. Eyes closed and everything. He picked her up, and she fluttered her eyelids. So good, not dead.
