Taming the Beast

This lawnmower was a gift from Tom Breen.  It is a 1977 Ariens model 16 horse mower with a big mowing deck.  Since we got the mower, fondly referred to as the "Beast", Michael has fussed with the ignition switch, the choke lever, changed the fuel filter (no wonder we were going through gas so fast!!), and then the mower belt (a challenging task indeed!).  There was an incident in which the thing could have easily caught on fire!

Cut grass last weekend and it's running like a charm! This old lawn mower has new life!!

The Picture You've Been Waiting For!

Yup.  There was a sliver in his hand.  Complete with paint even!!  I picked Michael up from recovery (they knocked him out for the digging around procedure) around 6 pm last night.  Here is a picture of what was causing all the fuss.

Of course, the sliver was in his right hand.  He is on his way this morning to the farm to figure out if changing irrigation pipe one-handed is even possible.  Doctor visit tomorrow.  All are hoping for a quick recovery.  That takes care of this year's health insurance deductible!!  We wait for the culture results to see what kind of bad stuff came along with the sliver of wood.

Hand Surgery

Two weeks ago, Michael went shopping at Home Depot.  While there, he got stabbed by a piece of wood, right in the crook of his hand, palm side, by his thumb.  The next day, his hand started swelling fast.  He found a doc.  The doc dug around and sent him home with antibiotics.  Yesterday, taking the last pill, there was still a tender spot.  Called the local (famous) hand doc.  This afternoon, he had surgery on that hand!

She called to tell me a 2cm sliver -with paint - was found!  Surrounded by infection, they will do a culture to know how to kick the germ's asses.  He's in recovery (surprise on that for me) and I am off to pick him up here shortly.

It rained all day on the alfalfa.  Perhaps he might think about taking tomorrow off......

Sorry I don't have a cool picture to share!!

Crazy-Cooking!

Okay, I am super-sold on this new appliance; my Insta Pot.  All week I have been trying out new recipes.  It's been hot and I am really pleased with the fact that the entire kitchen isn't getting hot as I cook.  A bonus, for sure.

So far, 3 successful batches of Jasmine rice (really, you say....you two are eating that much rice?), beef broccoli, pork roast, Asian beef, a whole chicken, and the best of best of all - potato salad.

I gotta say, I was sure this was going to be a disaster.  Following the online recipe, I put water with chunked potatoes into the pot and added 4 raw eggs.  Set them right on top the potatoes.  Closed it up and cooked it.  I was sure when I opened the thing I'd find egg whites and yolks and shells all over the thing.  Nope!  It worked!  The eggs were hard boiled, the potatoes cooked perfectly - done, but yet firm.  Michael is raving about this potato salad.  Says it's the best he's ever had!! Of course the dressing is key, but still, the eggs - they didn't burst!! Who woulda guessed?!  Here is a picture of what this looks like before the lid goes on.....

You can find the recipe at Miracle Potato Salad

Fast, furious exhausting work continues on the Freedom Farm.  Mike has been dealing with an infection from a puncture wound (he may need surgery.....), a tweaked back, an ancient (free) Ariens lawn mower with a blown belt and cracked fuel filter (no wonder it was slurping up so much gas!), hot and dry weather (the alfalfa needs irrigation), post holes that won't dig, and Hoback picnic ticket sales.  Starting tonight.  Groan.  Oh, I forgot to mention we had no water at home one day too.  That required a new pump, cleaning of a filter, and now the door - left open by the well dude  and ripped off during a storm - needs replaced (note, I did not say repaired).  

This is the view over a neighbor's barley field.  Beautiful, soft fields grace the country landscape.  This is beer barley.  Really pretty fields down south now. 

Another Appliance

We live in a small space.  There is no room for superfluous items.  In fact, it would be good to cull some things away to the second hand store!

So, when I kept reading about this new contraption called the Insta Pot, I resisted.  The thing kept showing up - especially on one of my favorite blog sites, French Blog Writer .  She raved about the thing.

Then, I had some baked beans made by a friend after branding their calves and cows.  The beans were delicious!  Pam couldn't quit raving about the thing and went on and on about its many features.

So, I did some research.  This is an electric pressure cooker, a crock pot, a machine that can saute and then pressure or slow cook, a really great RICE cooker (something I've always wanted but hesitated on getting; another appliance!), and much more, from what I'm learning.

The thing is intimidating.  I will confess, I was intimidated.  There are a bunch of buttons and it's a pressure cooker!!  Following the directions, learning the parts and buttons, one can feel comfortable using the thing in two or three tries.

So far, I've made two successful batches of jasmine rice.  Easy peasy and quick!  I pressure cooked up a thin sliced tri tip and seasoned it into something quite delicious and tender for an excellent dish served over the rice.  Last night, a whole chicken went into the thing.  In less than an hour, the chicken was tender and cooked through with nice, tasty juices - to serve over the rice!

Anyway, I recommend this.  Yes, it is one more appliance.  However, currently the thing now lives on my stove top - and not only for the reason that I haven't figured out where to store it - I'm using the thing every chance I can.

A great gift for your favorite cook who is sure to groan about another appliance, certain to be a bit intimidated by all the buttons, and almost guaranteed to fall in love with the thing!! All this for $100!!

PS.  There are tons of recipes on Pinterest.

Back from the Mountains

A great trip into the wilderness!  We set up camp and did day rides out.  Wonderful.  Relaxing.  The bugs were not bad and the stock - including all the dogs - did great.  New pack tripper, Jaicie (age 9), rode in on So-Long Sally and impressed us all.  Good kid!  We came out on our 11th year anniversary day (good grief, how did all those years fly by so fast??) and have since enjoyed spending some time with Jean and George.  Another sour cherry tree was planted at the Franch yesterday and today's tour took us all to Red Rock Ranch up the beautiful Gros Ventre drainage.  Nice to see you on the road today Addie!  Have a great day and next week - you are all in the midst of your summer busy season.  The place looks beautiful!!  Flowers are gorgeous!  

Hot Hayin' Weather

If we had full-grown alfalfa, we would be full-on haying now.  Hot and dry, the neighbors work in fast frenzy to cut, rake, bale, and stack this year's crop.  Mike moves his pipe today before we leave on a pack trip which is shorter this year for many reasons - alfalfa needing water being one.

Thanks to Mom and George who arrived on Thursday for watching our place while we are gone.  Feeding the cat, the fish, the chickens and keeping the plants watered is a lot of work and we appreciate them coming!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Until we return, July's picture of our place.  Stay safe out there!

The Art of Cutting Grass

In the midwest - and probably around the country - large lawns reflect on one's wealth.  Growing up on the farm, we had an enormous lawn, or so it seemed to those of us charged with cutting the lawn.  A white and yellow Cub Cadet riding mower was the tool to get the job done and the job was one the youth were tasked with performing.

I recall Dad critiquing my grass cutting skills, "You're just driving around and around in circles."  As I cut the grass at our new place in Freedom, I ponder this comment, remembered from my youth so well.  To this day, I still don't understand how else one can cut grass.  As I work toward straight lines (always a goal), I find myself.....going around and around in circles.

The lawn at Hoback is a long narrow lawn on a fairly steep slope.  You ride the side of the seat most of the time to keep from tipping over.  In some places, the slope is steep enough the gas won't flow in the fuel line and you have to aggressively rock the mower - on the slope - to keep fuel running until you level out.  To date, I have not tipped over the mower.

Mike has me cut at the highest setting.  When completed, the thick lush lawn looks like a polar fleece green blanket with lighter shades of green striping it lengthwise.

I long to cut this yard on the diagonal.  The steep slope makes it pretty much impossible, but I still yearn to cut across the grain.  The small square lawn at the Jean Street AFrames made diagonal cutting a breeze and I'd change up each time I cut. Diagonal to the right, diagonal to the left, then straight across.  There are few things more visually pleasing than a fresh cut, straight-lined lawn.  This could be a personal penchant toward nicely kept lawns, I fully realize.

A day off - of work at the Franch - tomorrow.  This is the week to get gathered up for the annual pack trip vacation.  A break will be nice!