Bourbon Ham & Potter shed mini sneek peak

This Thanksgiving, I am in charge of the Ham. I wanted something different. No pineapple either. I went with the Man who taught me how to make a tender moist turkey which received all around raves. After all, he has yet to let me down. Alton Brown has a recipe for City ham which is a bourbon glaze as well as gingersnap crust. I am omitting the gingersnap crust being I am not a fan of gingersnaps and in the reviews it is mentioned it becomes soggy on leftovers.

A late night trip to the liquor store had me toting home a small bottle of Wild Turkey 101 bourbon{that's 101 proof} for spraying down the ham. Not bad tasting in it's raw form and if you go beyond a little "taste", this recipe calls for 6 hours oven time. More then enough for a little mid day nap.

Alton Brown City Ham Recipe link

I am also whipping up some airy yeast rolls to take over for the dinner. Have you noticed out of all things made for Thanksgiving, the rolls are the most overlooked in the kitchen? I understand it can be hard fitting in the from scratch making & baking with so much more going on in the oven. But dismiss those store bought tasteless "things" and have these yeast rolls ready and waiting so as the turkey is "resting" fresh from the oven, you can pop in the rolls which take just 10-15 minutes for baking. Here's an easy & rather tasty when you add a splash of herbs to it's making, recipe.

Parker House Rolls recipe link. 

As for my Potters shed, I have yet to finish it. Our weather has not been kind in cooperation.

I still have some touching up & adding to do before the painting {if it ever dries up enough so it will stick}. I am not a carpenter and being I used an already built frame {the 4 tier pallet}, not everything is exact upon close inspection. 

One MAJOR flaw & downside to re purposing wood is that nothing is straight. There are "cracks between almost every piece applied. 

Keep in mind, you are viewing something in the middle of it's process. I still have some roofing to do and a door to hang after I finish up the window areas.

One of the 6 pane windows After screwing in the hinges:

Under the window is a potting shelf I put in on one side, which came from some extra pieces I grabbed with those Display tables I had re purposed & gifted Mr.J .  

Remember those Privacy fence sections I picked up last year? After making them into my garden picket fence, I still had one left over. I removed the slats & re purposed them into the back wall of the potter shed and to flank the front door- which is that newer pallet wood slat thing towards the bottom. It is laying on it's side until I get the hinges in place.

Can you see what I mentioned about the downside of re purposed wood? Notice the "cracks" between the fence slats? Just another thing I will have to brainstorm on disguising.

Well it's not like anyone will see it with all this land surrounding us... And your not gonna judge me on my "Bag lady outhouse" potter shed, now are you? No, I didn't think so. Your better then that and exactly why I do not mind sharing a little sneak peek despite it's rather rough & tumble beginnings.

I hope each of you have a most wonderful Happy Thanksgiving.

Be thankful for what you do have and no matter what, remember, there is always someone else who has less or worse. We each must make a conscious effort to stay positive in order to prevent the negative from taking over. It can be rather trying at times but it will help you get through and help those around you stay focused on what matters most.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

p.s. Did I use the word re purpose enough in this post? jeesh....

Potter's shed progress, apples from heaven? & pie bread

The cement block compost bin is still lacking it's stucco finish being I have yet to buy the mesh & such. Instead, I started working on a Potters shed to store all those garden tools I have a horrible habit of leaving out. The notion is to have a spot I can leave them close at hand instead of trudging them the distance from our house to the back everyday. I am using pallet wood being it is so freely available. I emphasize FREE.. I found the perfect frame base already put together, re purposing from a 4 level pallet used by a locally owned garden center for transporting potted plants from their supplier. The perfect size for me to step inside and even The Captain would not woe from hitting his head.

I still have some finishing up to do as well as it's painting to match our chicken coop of a French blue base & white trimming. In it's current state, The Captain keeps chiding me it looks like an old outhouse. I guess it did not help my case being I was dressed in a dark old flannel with jeans and a neon orange beanie hiding my pulled back hair, which he burst out in laughter with first glance, exclaiming "You look like a bag lady building an outhouse!". Thanks Honey. I know I can always depend upon you for putting a smile on my face...

Being the work on my tool shed has been stalled due to the high wind, rain & my kidney stone out patient surgery, I will at least for now share the perfectly small 6 pane wood windows I scored for it's sides:

My potter's shed will sit at the back outside corner of the garden, butting up to the picket fence. Frog is begging for more flower variety so the space between the "bag lady outhouse" and the opposite end of the picket fence will be a 5 foot wide x 12 foot long strip of her flowers. I do believe it will look rather nice being flanked with her cutting flower garden and possibly some more woody herbs on it's grass  side.

Little Man & I went into the side woods yesterday looking for fallen tree limbs to collect for the winter fires. When what before our wondering eyes should appear? But apples! Fallen from the heavens, leaving a trail for the deer. O.k, not really from heaven but the very tops of these ancient apple trees gave a beautiful sight of golden apples laid out as though they are urging you to explore down the path.....

We were thrilled to see all the hoove prints amongst them meaning the hunters on neighboring property have not scared off the locals from our woods. We rather enjoy the chance encounters we have with the deer which may also be due to their leaving my garden alone. The two of us collected some of the most perfect organic apples into our button up shirts , backwards tied around our waists, made into a makeshift apron. We left our wagon of logs & sticks for just a moment to release our treasures onto the kitchen counter.Making quick of our work in the woods knowing what awaits us.

We sat in the living room, shredding apples for the delight of a Fall favorite. Apple pie bread! I clipped this recipe from an old Better homes & garden magazine some years ago and have found a link to share with all of you whom may very well find this to be a Fall favorite.

I add 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice when I add the flour in the recipe. They do not mention any spice and despite tasting nice without it, the addition makes it glorious. I also use GOLDEN raisins and on occasion add the streusel topping depending on my supply of walnuts.

The sonic blasting of the largest kidney stone today seemed to go well. I was surprised to discover, just 6 hours after surgery, to have such a blatant "battle wound". Panda was grossed out by it and the nurses told me it would turn even nastier as it sets in with blues, purples/black of healing.

But it's not as painful {yet} as it may look. I can not wait to get back to my workout routine {it's been a month!} and to finish up my outdoor projects without aching. I have another item I scored from a big name hardware store which was used in their garden center and will now be an organizer for the after school throw downs. THAT you will have to wait for as well, which is bare in it's current state. Lacking the layer of paint to tie it in to the living theme & appeal.

Until next time...

Sweetest dreams,

~Tammie

Outdoor Fall projects BEGUN!

Remember that Free cement block I picked up earlier in the year? The cement compost bin has stage one complete! I spent this amazing 67 degree F day getting that off my to do list. I finished the first stage just as the kids got home from school. Keep in mind, it's not finished yet :

Tomorrow {if all goes right}, I am hoping to get back out there to finish the exterior with stucco for a nice finish. {You can see what I am working towards by clicking the link in my first sentence above for that post.} The stucco is stage 2. After that I will add the wood compartment boards for separating into 3 sections which is stage 3 of the project.

As I left the mortar to dry, I began prepping Frog's flower garden. This will be on the backside of my main garden, just beyond the picket fence. We sat here looking through various sites, making a list of all the flowers we dream to grow in her plot that can be used for cut flowers. Reneesgarden.com is full of beautiful cottage like flowers and Frog loves the variety. My pocket book would say otherwise, but we still have time to trim down the list. We even have 5 different varieties of sunflowers which we all know, it's not one of my gardens unless it has the sunflowers thrown in.

I found this blog http://www.debraprinzing.com/ while seeking out ideas on what to plant. She has a book titled the 50 mile bouquet coming out next April.

 Her site is not just about flowers. From refreshing decor to even chicken coops of others. A pleasure to read and to view the beautiful pictures. I simply love all the flower inspiration. Such great pleasure in dreaming up what gems we will have to grace the tables, mantle and window sills. And think of all the ones we will have for sharing with friends! I do believe it will be a nice addition to the shared fruits & vegetables as well as the jams & wines we make.

Mr. J has been out planting his big plots of garlic and found it rather entertaining to see that chickens are not fond one bit of garlic. Someone had left their gate open and of course when they see people, they make a mad dash that in some cases, can be intimidating if your not use to it. Luckily, he was already out there when one of the gals spotted him and alerted her crew. He was their new best friend when they thought he had something tasty... Until they attacked the garlic he was planting. Thankfully they did not stay around and scratch up everything and decide his plot was the latest & greatest dust bath spa. Ohhh the wreckage they can do in such a short period of time but his garlic proved to be of no interest and they were back to bug hunting amongst the grass blades.

Their evening treat {o.k more like bribe to get in the pen} consisted of the Jack O Lanterns from our front stoop. I did not think they would make such a fuss over them being Mr.J has been sharing squash from his garden on a regular basis. I guess they really enjoy their squash varieties.

The nights are getting cooler so they have their red heat lamp on in hopes to keep them from not laying due to the energy used for warmth. I'll be adding their regular color lamp this week for extending the hours and again... in hopes to prolong their laying. I waited 10 months for these eggs and no way am I letting them slack off when they JUST begun sharing. They better work for my staying of the ax hand after such behavior!

Frog has her first Father daughter dance this coming weekend. Remember when the excitement was for Panda's Cinderella ball every year?  sigh.... They really do grow up so quick. Just a few more years & I'll be taking Panda for Homecoming dresses... yeah. I'll just file that thought away so all the other scary stuff starts coming to mind with her getting older... Now I must be off to get drops in The Captains eyes. He apparently has his first case EVER of Pink eye. Looking rather Egor right now too. Poor guy.

Until next time...

Sweet dreams,

~Tammie

A woman collecting firewood? Frost Morn's & Lovely Ladies

12 truck loads.. That how much free wood logs I was able to pick up & load myself thanks to the county road crew cutting & trimming trees on one of the back roads. Many as big round and almost as tall as myself.  I became proud when recognition of the crew's supervisor stopped by as I loaded the last of it. I thought for sure I did something wrong being he came by after all his guys left. We exchanged pleasantries when he got of his truck then commenting how nice it must be to have all his guys cutting firewood for me. I responded "It would mean a batch of homemade cookies and hot coffee if they could cut as fast as I can load.". He knew I meant it in jest as we both laughed. Before leaving he told me "it's pretty cool to see you out here hustling all this wood.. It's not something we see very often. if at all being your a woman.". I took it as a compliment and then understood why his crew seemed so amused with each new visit. { They even shared some anti poison ivy/oak wipes with me.}

I have alot of chainsaw play ahead of me and The Captain will do the splitting. I really suck at splitting. So fair trade in my favor.

 We have been waking to many days of frost. An early morning walk outdoors provided such interesting sites for Frog & I.

Russian Kale growing by the picket fence:

 Beautifully frosted Oak leaves in the front yard:

 And a rare in focus shot with 1 of the 2 new hens! I have yet to send their previous owner pictures due to their evading ways. My brood flock me every time, making it hard to get anything in focus when you have 12 chickens pecking anything they find interesting... like a camera strap, shoe laces, or my wedding ring {sparkly stones are sooo irresistible}.

Our 2 new ladies are a mix of Barred rock & Americauna! See the tufts? The only tell tale sign they are not pure with the only other coming when they lay... BLUE EGGS!

Sweet gals and slowly being accepted. My Andalusian hen tries so hard to partner up with them. She follows them around and stays a few feet away. Never intruding the bond the 2 have but trying so hard to be accepted in their small circle. I guess the one with the other gals left Andalusian at the bottom. She follows them everywhere, slowly at times getting a little closer until they allow her stand by them. Almost as though she is waiting for them to say "come on over".

Time has gone by so quickly and my job has gone from a 1 day a week  to a coming soon official manager job, around the first of the year. At least I enjoy it and I get to work out for free. O.k, more like the Ladies have given me no excuse NOT to work out.

Actually, the working out part is on hold this month due to the kidney stones. Did I mention I have NINE of them? 1 being stuck in the tube from my kidney to the bladder? yeah. Fun times. Fun times... Sonic blast Surgery is in the middle of the month, so it wont be long before I'm back to sweating, laughing with the gals over what they say are funny "concentration" faces I make when I get going on the machines. : rolling eyes. Their a trip.

Today is coop cleaning and bread baking. I also have a new Pie bird I can't wait to use! Such a low priced item but not something I see in many places. A trip to the Kitchen collection store produced one so I hopefully can avoid any more burnt pie filling in the oven bottom... Man, that stuff is like cement! Oh yeah.. Add that to the list of my day activities. Cleaning out the burnt black mess of my oven floor.

Until next time...

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie