Spring, interrupted

Yesterday.

Today.
1 to 3 inches expected.

Earth Hour 2009

I love this concept.

To think that there are people
all over the world
turning out their lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m. local time,
creating a voluntary rolling blackout.


And we're watching a movie by candlelight.

And by television, of course.

Small Joys

Why is it that the smallest thing
can suddenly lift my spirits?

I went out to unpeg the laundry from the clotheslines -
it's 19F and supposed to get down to single digits tonight.

As I started taking the laundry from the line
in the still and frosty air,
I looked up.
The sky was soft with dusky colors,
the quarter moon was shining,
and my heart lifted.

I would love to be able to bottle that feeling
and take deep breaths of it when I need it.

Morning, interrupted

The snowfall wasn't a surprise -

we had lots of warning about
the first major snow "event" of the season.

But the broken storm window
wasn't on my list of activities for today.

It seems a falling branch must have hit the upper storm window
with enough force to put a significant hole in it.
I didn't hear it happen,
but when I opened the blinds early this morning
before going out to shovel -
Surprise!

Thank goodness it was a first floor window and not a second.
And a storm window and not an interior one.

It took much longer to pull out all the glass than I would have imagined. I went outside armed with a ladder, a large paper bag, and heavy gloves, thinking I would just pick the pieces out one by one and drop them in the bag. But no. After the first one wouldn't budge, I went back in to get safety goggles and a hammer. After a bit of that activity, back in again for a pair of pliers.

Then, back inside the house to open the window from the inside and pick out all the broken glass pieces that had fallen between the windows. Finally removed the screen and storms.

I took the broken glass (thinking they might be able to recycle it, but no) and the empty storm window to a local glass place, who will have the window repaired later today or tomorrow at the latest.

And was greeted by Scooter.

G would have a fit if I tried to do that to Quincy.

Sweet dreams, Liberty Garden

Arugula

I have not been a good steward of the garden. More was wasted than I harvested.

But - at least I planted it. Thanks so much to Angie for her encouragement - I never would have done it without you, Angie!

Radishes

And I had fun with the time I did spend with it. Radishes, arugula, carrots, swiss chard, and tomatoes. Chives, basil, oregano, parsley, and rosemary.

The spinach flowered before I got around to harvesting it. The bell peppers (there were only two) got nibbled on by some insect before they were ripe enough to pick. The butternut squash never sprouted, and by the time I realized that, I couldn't find seedlings to buy.

I may not have saved money, if I figure in the cost of the fencing to keep the rabbits out (very effective). But it was a small investment.

I grew local food. Not a lot of it, but some.

November 20th - a few hardy Swiss chard leaves are hanging on.

Thursday the forecast was for 18F overnight temperatures (it got down to 16), and I knew there were still carrots waiting to be dug up.


The last of the carrots, November 20th.

Not beautiful, but I'm sure they'll make great stew and soup.

And in another few weeks, when the ground is hard frozen,
I'll dump mulched leaves on the bed, to sleep away the winter.

Cold Wash

22.8F, the temperature this morning when I hung the laundry.

In April, I switched from using our gas dryer to hanging clothes outside on a line. Most of the time, it's been enjoyable - working outside, surrounded by whatever is in bloom, knowing I'm saving money and energy.

August

And the more I've done it, the easier it gets, as I figure out little ways to make it easier. Like, keep the clothespins in the pockets of a spare apron; wear the apron when hanging or removing clothes from the line; use an adjustable-height pole (a gift from my very kind neighbor who noticed my dilemma) to prop up the line to keep the clothes off the grass ; wash clothes when there is enough for a load, rather than waiting a week and washing multiple loads on the same day, so there is enough room on the line.

April, BC
(Before my neighbor's gift of a Clothesline-prop)

But I've been wondering whether I will be willing to continue once the weather turns cold.

So - I've had a few opportunities to try it out.

What I've learned:

• When removing the clothes from the washer, either hang on a hanger or put clothespins on each item before placing in the laundry basket to take outside. It minimizes the time spent outside with fingers freezing.
• Whatever can be hung on a hanger, do so; it saves space on the line - and it's quicker to hang up once outside. If it might slide off the hanger (V-necked pullovers), secure it with a clothespin.
  
• If it's snowing a little, and it's a dry snow, that's OK. It doesn't seem to stick to the clothes.
• If the clothes aren't dry by dusk, and a dry night and day are in the forecast, leave them on the line until the next day.
• It's better not to hang clothes in the shadow of the garage, as they don't dry very well (this wasn't much of a problem in the warm weather).
• And, the one I learned today (temperature: 22 F): find those old glove liners from downhill skiing days, and wear them while hanging and unpegging the laundry. Keep them clipped to the clothespin apron so they are always in reach.

It's hard to see, but these are silver-sparkly.
And reduce frozen fingers.

Appelmoes

Say "AH-pull-moose." That's Dutch for applesauce.

Ida Reds

G loves applesauce. Every September since we've been married, I've made applesauce from Cortland apples from an orchard near my parents' summer cottage. Because we weren't going to be in the area at the right time this year, I tried an Illinois orchard. The first trip, in October, I bought the last bushel of Cortlands they had. The owner warned me that it was the end of the season for that variety and they were probably best pressed into cider, but I really wanted Cortlands, because, not only do they have great flavor, but they also make a beautiful pink sauce. I should have listened - the sauce is good, but the bright color isn't there. Note for next year - visit the orchard in mid-September.

On the road to the orchard.

Last year for the first time I canned the applesauce - in previous years I had frozen it. But I knew last year I wouldn't have enough freezer space, so I found out the process needed to can it, and put out a request on our local Freecycle for quart canning jars.

Apple boxes stacked near the barn.

Last weekend I bought another bushel of apples, this time Ida Red. Excellent flavor, but still not the pretty pink of the Cortland sauce. But I'm not complaining. I think I'll go back today, the last day of the season, and get one more bushel of autumn deliciousness.

Wash apples.

Remove stem and flower end; cut into chunks, and
place in heavy saucepan with a tablespoon or two of water.
Cover and cook over low heat.


When the apples are soft, spoon them into a food mill.
(or into a borrowed 1930's Kitchen Aid with food mill attachment.)

Puree the apples through the mill.


Put a container under the mill to catch the sauce
before you turn on the machine.
Don't ask me how I know this.

Transfer the applesauce to a slow cooker to keep at 212F before filling canning jars.


Process in boiling water bath (also borrowed.)

Enjoy!