The Cottage on the Hill

I cleared this pile of sticks and brush out just in case we decide to use this space to put up a small barn and fenced area to house some goats.  This is the back point of our pie piece property. Wearing my British Woolie Pullie (or is it Wooly Pully?) Firewood, stacked by my oldest and I.   And I moved the compost bin to the edge of our property so it gets more sun and makes more room for a possible fenced in area for goats....that's if we don't decide to move by next spring.

I feel like my whole week so far has been spent in the kitchen! Peaches needed canning and freezing since they were ripening quickly. Not wanting to waste the peels and just dump them in the compost, I put them in the blender and made peachsauce. I canned one quart of that and the rest I turned into homemade fruit roll-ups. I've also made fruit roll-ups out of strawberries and mixed berries. My 5 year old son asked for apple-cinnamon fruit roll-ups. It's a little extra work on my part to make the roll-ups, but at least my 3 year old daughter is eating fruit this way! CHEESE!! I've been cheese-making! Mascarpone cheese was the first one done. I was pleased with the results, and so was my mom who got half the batch just because I know how much she LOVES mascarpone. I also made goat's milk mozzarella. That was fun and made a delicious chicken parm that night. That took a LONG time to make. I still have some goat's milk left to make some chevre out of later ...

Yesterday, the weather finally turned for the better and old man winter gave way to Spring! As soon as Baby boy went down for his nap, the older kiddos and I attacked the clean-up waiting for us beyond our storm doors. Well, my kiddos attacked the sand pile which is finally free of snow. My kitchen porch is clean and decluttered! Hubby is stringing up a new clothes line for me tomorrow! It'll be so nice to hang clothes on the line from the window of my kitchen porch again. I cleaned out the dog's run from a winter's worth of poop and old straw and lay out a new carpet of straw. I planted strawberries around an old stump using a newspaper barrier, compost from my heap, and a mulch of leaves and straw. I dug up horseradish and ground up nearly a quart of it! Today, I cleaned the garage and cleaned off the bbq grill. It's all set for a season of grilling! Next, I have huge amounts of yard work to do. Hubby's tackling what he can this weekend. I have the she...

I read in a magazine a reader submission that they simply didn't see the financial advantage in gardening. I'm guessing it was their first year in gardening. They said they added up all their costs and compared it to their yield and determined that it was cheaper to buy bags of frozen veggies at the grocery store. Here's where I can't agree with them. 1. You cannot compare fresh off the plant, homegrown, organic veggies to bags of frozen veggies from who knows where. Granted, I can see their point. They weren't necessarily interested in eating fresh, organic veggies. They were more interested in saving money. However, gardening can still be cost effective if: 2. You consider that start-up costs for anything is always more than maintenance because: 3. You can save money by composting and befriending a farmer who's all too glad to get rid of his overabundance of manure. Both methods are free. I do believe this reader bought bags of compost and manure ...

The problem with leaving grocery stores behind and heading to the farm stand is that you can't go back. Once you've eaten farm-fresh foods you realize that what is sold in the grocery stores can't hold a candle to REAL food. What's even better than farm fresh is home grown. I've been buying farm fresh potatoes every year from a local farm, but when I dug up my own just last week, the taste was unbelievable. DELICIOUS! Of course, heading to the farm stores and stands aren't always possible, so back to the grocery store I go. Although, I simply cannot return to processed foods. They're discusting to me. All I taste are preservatives and salt. The flavors aren't even good. Sometimes, you just can't go back.

I'm trying not to be green with envy this year. So many good gardening reports have been coming my way, even from first time gardeners. Then I look at my garden and feel down. Of course, I have to remind myself time and time again that gardening season came at a time when I simply could not devote proper time and effort into my space. Neither could hubby since he was working out of town at the time. Consequently, the bird, woodchucks and weeds got the better of it all. There is still time to do fall crops. And there's always next year, which of course must be in planning now. My plans include 3 raised beds for onions and garlic, asparagus, and strawberries. Currently, my strawberries are up in a little plot by the pond. It isn't a very good spot for them. Instead, I'm going to remove them from that plot, put them in fresh soil and compost and move the blueberry bushes to where the strawberries were. The soil is more acidic for the blueberries by the pond. I...

I had read somewhere that lemon water is good for easing heartburn, but I just brushed it off. After all, I have a big container of fruit flavored tums to put the fire out during pregnancy. Then, I started getting sick in that I was sick of plain water and the tums were making me terribly nauseous-I mean viciously nauseous! So, I started drinking lemon water and fully expected the citrus to aggravate the heartburn I experience every pregnancy (and yes, I do give birth to children with full heads of hair). After all, orange juice brought on the burn. The opposite occured. I could eat nearly anything I normally would and not experience heartburn! So, the tums lay untouched and I am now a believer in lemon water. One glass every other day (and carefully not overdoing it and sleeping properly) have nearly completely eliminated my heartburn! This is especially comforting because of sugar issues I'm having during this pregnancy I have to eat before I go to bed or else I awaken i...

The first crocuses of the year! My son wanted to pick them for Daddy so I had to explain to him that they need to stay in the ground. I assured him that soon enough there will be dandelions for him to pick. You probably can't see it very well because of the strange orange haze I didn't realize appeared on the camera, but this corner of our property is going to be our shade garden. Since we don't have acreage, I like to make the most of my plantings and plant things that are edible as well as pretty. So, what's edible that grows in the shade? I'm thinking fiddleheads! There's also plenty of room for bleeding hearts, trillium, periwinkle and other dainty shade lovers. The matting of tree debris my son and I raked up in the future shade garden was at least 6" thick! He gave up helping me after his little rake broke and tried his hand at the tricycle for the first time this year. Both kiddos were so happy the snow finally melted off the sand pile, but da...

Is this print gorgeous!? Do you know how hard it is to find a lovely, feminine and modest picture of a pregnant woman? This one is called "Pregnant Woman By a Lake" by Daniel Eskridge . I cannot believe I am 5 months pregnant already! Time is flying with this pregnancy, which I am glad for. I am getting more and more eager to hold my little baby boy. I'm also desiring to be done with such an uncomfortable pregnancy. Yeah, I'm whining a bit. :) I can't sleep on my back anymore. I did two nights ago and ended up nearly passing out from low blood pressure in the morning. I have to sleep on my side, which despite efforts with pillows all around is terribly uncomfortable for me. I'd much rather sleep on my back. It'll be over before I know it. Soon I'll be carefully washing and folding tiny baby frocks, packing a bag for the hospital, and before I know it I'll be bringing home a tiny newborn. As usual, winter always seems to take forever to e...

One of the reasons I love the Farm Show is that it is a benchmark in a bleak winter that assures us Spring is on the way. Everyone walking around the show had one thing on their minds, the coming Spring season. Unfortunately, there weren't any booths with information on tomato blight and fungicides. During last year's major blight, this is the information I gleaned from Cooperative Extension's articles in the newspaper: The blight came from tomato plants sold at big box stores that came in from other states. *Solution* Buy local tomato plants or grow them yourself from seed. The blight will last a couple of years in the soil. *Solution* Do NOT plant tomatoes or potatoes in your existing garden plot (other plants seem to be ok there). I am personally planning on putting my tomato plants in pots up on the other side of my house away from the garden and away from any cross winds from the garden. To help eliminate the blight, use a fungicide. In fact, it is recommended to...

Sorry that the images are out of sync. Here are some pics of what we've been up to lately here at Taigh Beag: There is a frost advisory tonight so the herbs had to be harvested. Here is a layer of Stevia to be dried. We also when to a re-enactment. My little boy loves riding in the wagon. Sister, on the other hand, prefers to walk. Taking a picture of her constantly moving is impossible with a camera phone. If my husband asks anyone what he should get me for Christmas, I'd like a really good digital camera! We love art in our house. Here is my daughter happily working on a paint with water. My son has poster paints and loves to paint pictures of farm machinery like this combine. Here they are at the re-enactment climbing on a fence. We didn't stay long. It was COLD and they don't really have proper cold weather gear. Daughter didn't seem to notice the chill, but my dear son was shivering. My son wanted me to make a Play-doh pig for him, so I did and h...

Garlic will need to be planted soon. To accomplish this, I want to build a raised bed with a hot box on one end. I’m hoping I get paid for a sewing project I did soon so I can buy the lumber for the bed at least. The hotbox may have to wait until next year. I’m considering shallots. They need to be planted in the autumn as well.

You can get this print at http://www.art.com/ My father has a fine little orchard. Every year I am welcomed to come harvest apples. He divies the apples among his 5 children and a few neighbors. However, only he and I get the crab apples. He makes wine, I make crab apple jelly. If you’ve never had crab apple jelly, then boy, are you missing out! While I love sweet Taigh Beag, our property is set up in a way that makes having even a couple fruit trees impossible. It would be such a blessing to have an orchard of my own. For now, I am thankful for my dad’s dedication to his little orchard.

While flipping through a back issue of Victoria Magazine I came across their fashion spread based on the Land Girls Army of WW II England! Back during the war there was such a lack of men in the country and such a lack of food that agriculture needed to be boosted on the backs of women. Thus the Land Girls Army was formed. I also found out that they have a book and a movie! I’m fascinated by the 1940’s and the hardships these people endured with such faith, hope and patriotism. Slackness was not acceptable. Everyone was expected to do their share to ensure victory (a far cry from today’s war in the Middle East). I have an original food rationing cookbook from the era and in it they express the need for quick, healthful, economical meals to ensure the health of the Allies, to save money for the war effort, and to save time so the cook could spend more time knitting socks or what have you for the soldiers. I’m struck by how cushy we have it now. I’m struck by how wasteful we are now. I’m...

Isn't she beautiful? I can't believe I gave birth to such a pretty little girl. The poppies this year are huge and gorgeous! These grow wild at the edge of my property (when they're not run over by a 4-wheeler). Here she is again having fun this morning. And here's big brother. He posed like this himself, my little ham! And no, that's not a bruise on his wrist. That's sidewalk chalk. Yes, he's right by the road, but we get little traffic and I was right there. He's not allowed near the road otherwise. I love that I can go in my own backyard and pick good things to eat and season my food with. Tonight, I made Quick Salmon Croquettes with a Hollondaise sauce, seasoned rice, green beans with parsley and my home-canned plums with real whipped cream sweetened with my brother's home-made maple syrup. The salmon was seasoned with parsley and rosemary from my herb garden. As a side note, I'm trying not to throw about perfectly good food. ...

More plants came in today. I received rhubarb, currant bushes, rose bushes, mock orange bushes and lilacs. Those were either potted or planted. I also strung up the fencing for when I plant the peas. I will be off line until the 27th, with perhaps a small check-in halfway through. There are just so many projects to be done that I really need to discipline myself to stay off the computer and get them done! When I return, I promise updates, pictures, and at last that graham cracker cake recipe.

It was so nice to wake up to sunshine today! I also woke up to Bubby throwing up and running a fever. He probably caught something at the doctor's office. I really don't like doing well-child visits because they always get sick anyway!! Anyhow....I managed to get several rows of soil turned in the garden ready to receive beets, turnips, spinach, peas and scallions. I'll plant them after Easter. We're expecting more cloudy, foul weather this weekend. Peat pots fill the south and west facing windows of my porch. I started bells peppers, cukes, fennel, dill, lettuce, spaghetti squash and rosemary. I ordered heirloom tomato plants and will probably pick up a few romas and a cherry tomato at the greenhouse. I'm still trying to decide the color theme for the wall garden. Yellow and purple come to mind for this year.

Dark, cloudy, windy, cold, and SNOW!!?? Grrrrr.......I went outside to empty my carpet sweeper and actually got stark raving mad about the cold, wind and snow. I think my neighbor's daughters heard my rants. *blush* I'm in a better mood this afternoon. The morning's errands went quickly and smoothly and I had plenty of time to help out my parents with some house cleaning. My son didn't want to leave! I think he's ready for another overnight there. Perhaps when Grandpa's back gets better. In absolute spite of the weather, I bought peat pots and potting soil. Oh! At the farm today I bought green eggs! They had eggs that have naturally green pigmented shells on sale for $2.00 a dozen! (I usually pay $2.50 a dozen for farm fresh eggs). Green......we need to see more green here. The fields and lawns are slowly turning green, but no green buds yet. There are some green bulb shoots (crocuses have already come and gone, though).

Bush cherry bushes arrived in the mail today. As usual, mail-order plants always arrive on the worst days. :b It's pouring rain out and the weather man even mentioned the s-word....snow. I doubt we'll get snow here, though. That's the nice thing about living in a valley. I opened the box and the roots were just about dried out, so I secured my children, donned a rain slicker and wellies, grabbed some large pots and a shovel and ran out to my muddy, poo-slicked, stinky garden and potted the bushes. As soon as the weather clears, I'll have to get some top soil for where I want to plant the bushes. Otherwise, life has been very busy and rather unpredictable. There's a cloud of uncertainty floating around. I do feel better when the days are sunny and warm, though. I just feel a bit detatched, lately. Something's bothering me and I haven't figured out what yet. Spring is a good time to try to lower my electric bill. I want to see how low I can get it. ...

Thanks to all who voted on my recipe poll. Looks like I'll be making the Graham Cracker Cake. Of course, I'll post the recipe. :) It's going to be a little bit before I make the cake because I forgot to buy graham crackers!! So, bear with me. I'll be running errands on Saturday. I had my first garden harvest of 2009 today!! Now, what could I possibly harvest while there is still snow around? HORSERADISH!!!