While the temperature is still pretty high in the afternoon (87-91), the evenings are showing a definite cooling off period. We shut off that air conditioner Saturday morning and didn't need to turn it back on the rest of the weekend and into today. Tomorrow might be a little different story but for now, we're really enjoying being outside and being able to open the windows and doors. I will have to get a real coat and some gloves though because it won't be long before it's really, really cold outside and my hands just don't want to cooperate when they get cold. As I type for a living, this presents a major problem.
So you might be saying to yourself, if I work inside then what's the problem? They keep it freezing-_ss cold in here LOL Not that I'll be able to type with gloves on, although I can see myself trying, but at least my hands will be warm until I get here. Claudia and Beverly have offered to take me to Columbia where they say I'll be able to stock up on some winter necessities; coat, gloves, turtle neck sweaters, wool socks, etc. I'm not looking forward to the shopping experience at all. :( But I have no choice. It's the same as going to Wal-Mart, I know I have to do it but I sure as heck do not want to. They both enjoy shopping so you can imagine what my day will be like. We're supposed to go this Sunday coming up. I'll let you know how I do.
Well Friday was peaceful for us. The guys had finished working for the day and were gone by the time I got home. It rained just a little bit when I stopped for beer. No rain prior and no rain after but just while I had to get out and back in the car - naturally! Otherwise the drive was very nice coming home. The schools were all on half days so I didn't have any school zones to worry with and I didn't get stuck behind any buses.
Traffic? Almost non-existent. It feels really good to say that too :)
So I made us some dinner, we watched some tv, and hit the sack early. Saturday we were up with the birds and off to breakfast in Centerville. I'm not one much for going out to breakfast when I can easily make it at home with the ingredients of my choice but we had to go to the dump and we needed to fuel up the truck so off we went. Fuel was $2.46 a gallon. I don't know what you're paying there but this is the cheapest we've seen in a while.
We headed to the dump and got rid of our garbage (aren't you excited to hear that!) and then off to the Homestead Restaurant in Centerville. While en route we figured we better stop at Fred's and get some freezer bags because we needed to slice up and bag the whole ribeye Wally bought from the Value Plus Grocery store. We hit Fred's and then drove to the Homestead Restaurant. HA! Apparently everyone in Centerville decided to go there for breakfast the same morning we did. If you know me, you know that standing in line for food (or just about anything else) is just not happening. I have zero patience for lines. I don't know how it developed or if it was inherited but it doesn't matter - I simply can't do it.
We decided to go to the diner instead. There were a few people in the diner but nothing like that Homestead place. Not to mention the fact that the Homestead is a buffet, while the diner lets you order off the menu. Actually, you can just ask them if they have what you want and they'll cook it for you anytime of day or night if they have it. Since Wally is a regular there, we asked if we could get cheeseburgers and were told it was no problem. Did we want regular or waffle fries? LOL Waffle for Wally, regular for me :) Forget all that egg, bacon, biscuit thing - the burgers were just what my mouth was watering for. It was delicious! You can get the regular breakfast fare and they do a really good job of cooking it how you want it but if you're in the mood for a burger, around here, the diner can't be beat. Kat, I'll keep you in mind for it when/if you come visit!
After breakfast we made it back home only to find Daryl, Claudia and Daniel at the gate. Daryl was just opening it up as we arrived so we pulled on through with them. Kurt, Beverly and Tenesha were down at the other gate awaiting our arrival so the guys could put the finishing touches on the swimmin hole. Instead of going through the holler, we loaded up and took the long way to the other gate so Claudia could see what that end of the property looks like. Us girls stuck around for an hour or so but then we started getting hot and bored so we left and went back up to the cabin. Tenesha stayed with the guys - she has a little crush on Daniel :)
Beverly and Claudia helped me wrap that whole, smoked ham that has been sitting in the refrigerator. It wasn't going to go bad but it sure did take up some room. Not only that, every time we opened the door, we wanted to pull a hunk of it off and eat it - it smelled so darn good! It was in the best interest of the ham that we get it in the freezer. Beverly held it up while I spread out the plastic wrap in two overlapping rows. Claudia made sure we didn't miss wrapping any part of it and helped me keep the cutting board clean while this was going on. After the plastic wrap was on, we wrapped it again in butcher paper. That was a little bit tricky since the ham isn't round or oval but rather a little of both. We got the butcher paper on it and wrapped it one more time in plastic just to make sure all the air was out so it would remain freezer-burn free. I felt better knowing it was in the freezer and I could reorganize my refrigerator so that everything is back in its rightful place. whew!!
We grabbed our chairs and headed for the front porch. What a beautiful day it was. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, the little humming birds were feasting and the horses were grazing about in the front yard. We sat there talking for the rest of the day. It was just idle conversation but it was with my new friends and it was nice to visit. They've known each other for years so their stories were fun to listen to. They had also been out the night before and had some good stuff to tell about the night's events; who drank too much, who got into fights, etc. Sound familiar? Sounded like the Oriole's but with a different cast of characters! lol
The day before the horses had been tied up and given their last round of sweet feed. While they were tied up, Smokey decided to untie his lead rope so he set himself free. The only problem was that his lead rope was hooked to his harness under his chin. For two days he wandered around with that thing dragging the ground. As you know he's not the most likely candidate to come up to me, even for food, so he was pretty much stuck with it. I got him to eat out of my hand but he wouldn't let me bring my hand up to the clip. He would just walk off every time I tried.
Well the guys got back to the cabin a couple hours after we did and Wally decided to try and catch him. He wanted to send them all back down the hill to the real pasture so they can do some much needed mowing down there. Rebel and Jimbo came right up with no problem but Smokey, as usual, was a different story. I think it took probably 20 minutes to catch him but Wally was patient and wasn't giving up. I'm not sure which one is more stubborn... lol
After he caught him, he tied him to the hitchin post so we could pet him before he would be let go again. He stands there with this completely sorrowful look in his eyes like he's in trouble and shies at the very slightest movement. I try to talk in a very calming voice and I always wait until he's looking my way before reaching up to pet him. Even though he's tied, he can still kick if he wants and I wouldn't want him to hurt himself or me :) He's a brindle color now that he's been in the sun all summer long. He still shows a little of his pitch black winter color but there's a lot of tans and browns now too. He's truly a specimen. If I can ever get my phone to send a picture again, I'll post his and Rebels on the blog.
It was nice to pet him. His hair is smooth as silk, his mane is long and full on both sides and his muscles are big and strong. When I stand beside him, my head doesn't even come up to his back. You could almost feel sorry for him having to stand there if you didn't know what we went through to catch him.
Wally took them both to the gate and set them free and then they loaded Jimbo in the trailer to take him down to the bottom pasture. He's a real loner so we didn't want to put him in with the other two since he doesn't know his way around and might not be able to find the spring. Smokey and Rebel were already in the pasture by the time Jimbo was loaded and on the road. He was dropped off where the spring is so he knows how to find water and he has more grass than he'll be able to eat in a lifetime.
Everyone started getting ready to leave and I started cleaning up the porch. There were some beer cans, some cigarette butts in the ashtray, hair from Beverly giving Daryl a haircut and a couple Mt. Dew cans. It probably didn't take 10 minutes to clean up and then we got ourselves cleaned up. We still had Mel's birthday party to go to and it wasn't until 7ish so we had time. I got a load of clothes up on the line while Wally got showered and then it was my turn.
At that point we could have easily stayed home for the night. The air was cool and refreshing blowing through the doors and windows and all my chores were done except finishing the laundry which I had planned for Sunday anyway. I started reading an old cookbook that my cousin Connie gave me that had belonged to her mother. It is very cool and I plan to quote some of the sayings in it on the blog when I remember to bring it to work with me. It talks about refrigeration and newly modeled electric ovens. It takes me back to a time before I was born - although, I probably should have been born back then - and it gives me a greater appreciation for all that our grandmothers and grandfathers had to do to keep foods fresh while still providing plenty of nutrients. Most of the recipes say they serve 8-10. That was a normal family back then.
We went to see Mel for her birthday and stopped at Pee Wee's on the way. Mel happened to be there so we stayed for an hour or so and then came home. They were going on to keep partying but we were ready to be back at the farm, sittin in our chairs in the cabin. We watched the race and called it a night. I was ready for a good, long sleep but of course that didn't happen. lol I woke up at 3:30am fired up and ready to go. It was way too early to actually get up so I made myself lay there enjoying the morning quietness and knowing that I still didn't have to get on a plane and go back to FL. No offense but I really like knowing that.
I did all my laundry Sunday and I made a pot of chicken soup. The picture doesn't really do it justice but at least I was able to get my phone to send it over. The picture is the stage when the chicken has started cooking and all the vegetable scraps have been added. At this point there has been no seasoning added but I have skimmed off the foam that comes up. After letting it simmer for an hour or so, I strained the veggies out and let the chicken pieces cool off enough to be able to pull the meat from the bones and toss it back into the pot. I added carrots, celery, onions and a little cilantro along with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. When it came to a boil, I added the pearled barley, tasted it to adjust for additional seasonings and put the lid on it. After 40-45 minutes it was hotter than a firecracker and ready to eat! Whew did it ever make me sweat :) That's how you know it's good! I put some in a bowl for lunch and stored the rest in the refrigerator.
There were two deer in the yard while I was cooking and even when I was changing out the laundry, they didn't run off. Silly of them. They shouldn't trust me so whole-heartedly. There will come a time when one will have to go the way of the freezer but that time isn't yet upon us. :) hee hee
The house was clean and smelled good, the laundry was blowing in the wind and the deer were in the yard. In my mind it seemed like it must have looked like a Thomas Kincaid portrait. Wish you were here to enjoy it with me. C'mon!! :)
"As the days grow short, some faces grow long. But not mine. Every autumn, when the wind turns cold and darkness comes early, I am suddenly happy. It's time to start making soup again." ~Leslie Newman
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