So busy

Things have been so busy around here since we got back, its like i have to do everything now that i missed last week. Thankfully my brother has come to stay for a few weeks to help me get some stuff done.The day we got back one of our Americauna chickens started laying so its been so nice to go into the hen house and find a little blue/green egg with the lovely brown ones.
I started a batch of sour cherry wine this week. I got the recipe from my mom and its the first time i'm trying it. So far it smells really good; kind of like cherry pie and yeasty bread. Its bubbling away now and hopeful it will work. If it dose i'll share.
I must say that the one time i feel at peace with everything that is going on here is when i'm hanging clothes on the clothesline. It must be in the evening while Liam is hanging out with Matt. Nothing seems as overwhelming and it feels like i'm getting something done. As i'm shaking out the wet clothes the fact that the counter is coved in dishes or that i'm not sure what to do with 12 cats (oh yes ginger her kittens) dose not seem to weigh on me so much.

My first Dinner party....er.....

Well almost, we had are two good friends over for dinner and it was wonderfully(so much fun). I planed the menu about 5 hours before they came over and everything worked out pretty well!
We started off by playing Scrabble and eating my Rye bread with Chev and my nummy homemade peach salsa. For dinner: maple glazed pork chops, a kind of potato and cheese pie with bacon as the crust and mashed lemony peas. I topped it all off with molten cakes (which were just a little overcooked, so not as molten we i would have liked) and mint whipped cream.
I was going to take some pictures but it was all eaten up fast that i had no chance.

Cooking day

We just bought a hind quarter of organic, grass feed beef and its wonderful! The bad news: we had to make room in the freezer for it, which meant cooking whatever we can to make room.
Yesterday i made Beef stock (with the bones from the quarter), an apple tart and wheat and honey bread (not from the freezer, but we were out).
Today list includes: chicken soup. meat balls, egg noodles and maybe another batch of beef stock (I still have half the bones left).

Holidays

We went to see my parents on their little farm for a few days before Christmas. It was great to see them and be in the country. It was also nice for Liam to spend some time with his grandparents and great grandparents. My mom roasted a Turkey breast with beacon and veggies, and for dessert: maple shortbread. It was so amazing! I could not believe how big her birds are, her last turkey was over 35 lbs. We came back Christmas eve and enjoyed waking up together for Liam's first Christmas. He seems to really like his Waldorf-like doll i made him, he was hugging it for some time.


Reading right now:
Farm City:The Education of an Urban Farmer, by Novella Carpenter