Monday, February 25, 2019

A Rather Blustery Day!



Image result for winnie the pooh windy day quotes

Along with the rest of the northeast, we are experiencing very high winds!!!

Winds are at least 23 miles per hour with sideways snow!

We won't be working out in the sugar bush today... too much concern over falling branches and trees!

I sure hope I'll be able to find the pig's feed dishes!

I may be looking in the next county!

* Update: the feed dishes weren't in the next county... just halfway across the yard!











Saturday, February 23, 2019

Call Me! Honey Bee Swarms



Call me if you see this!


No photo description available.

When you see bees in a cluster like this, it is due to the fact 2 queens were together in a hive and it got cramped in there.  The mother queen left with half of the colony. They cluster like this near the hive they just left until searcher bees find a suitable new home. They usually leave fairly soon. If not, NEVER call an exterminator. Call your local beekeeping society. They will send a keeper to relocate the colony.





Thursday, February 7, 2019

Microgreen Success!


I started growing yummy microgreens as you probably remember from my earlier post and they grew wonderfully!




So I decided to use them on a delicious Caprese sandwich.  Toasted French bread, olive oil, fresh mozzarella cheese slices, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, microgreens, and a balsamic vinegar drizzle.  Yum!



Then I used them to top a mushroom tart.  Mmmmm!  The addition of the microgreens and some crumbled stilton cheese made this dish!



You can find the recipe for this tart on the King Arthur Flour page here.

I used sliced cremini mushrooms instead of the wild mushrooms called for in the recipe because that's what I had on hand and I didn't pickle the shallot garnish because I felt the addition of strong flavored stilton cheese would give the tart plenty of flavor.  Boy, it was good - and really rich tasting! - we decided this would be best cut into small pieces as an appetizer - or small piece would pair perfectly with a nice glass of a semi-dry white wine. 


In the barn, my boy, Bandit, begs by turning his head sideways when he feels he's not getting the attention he deserves!



Work has begun in the sugar bush (maple trees areas) in preparation for maple season.  Photos will be following!





Monday, February 4, 2019

The Mountain "Sea"


Last week's polar vortex came along with very high winds and left behind a frozen sea -
can you see it?






And then the frozen mariner with her trusty water bucket beside her.



This week we've already warmed up to temperatures in the 40s - sheer heaven!