Pressed

Wordpress it is from here on for all my posts.  I hope you will continue to follow along at www.monabrifarm.com

Thank you!

Still debating...

I'm still debating whether or not I like Wordpress to blog on.  My photos do look better on my blogs, but man is it a pain in the ass to understand and navigate.  I lost pictures on my first five posts and had to delete the posts!

Just a reminder

I've moved the blog.  You can visit the new one here.  If it sucks, I'll move it back ; )

Moving On

Its time for a change... the Blog is moving.  I hope you will come along and continue the journey! This blog will stay and continue as a point of reference for all the past posts, recipes and photos, so feel free to revisit at anytime. 

Mon Abri Farm

Egg Salad

After going through a number of recipes searching for an egg salad that I could love, I ended up settling on my own creation and I 'm pretty happy with it.  No measurements, I just take hardboiled egg, add a little mayo, a little Dijon, some chopped green olives, minced onion, and a little fresh ground black pepper.  Though this morning I also added a little diced ham, because it was there and needed used up.  Piled on some toasted homemade rye, this version (minus the ham) is now my favorite.  Its a fast breakfast or lunch.  My mother always made her egg salad on the sweet side, and heavy on the mayo.  I like mine thick and chunky.  Now I'm on a quest to gather a ton of egg recipes of all sorts, since I'm lucky enough to have such a great supply.

Big dog and medium dog were showing off their best moves for me this morning while I was having breakfast.  I think they know the weekend is about to begin. Garlic has to be planted this weekend... and if I'm really smart I'll also take time to hang some Christmas lights, before it gets too cold and I won't be bothered with it.

The First Frost

Yesterday evening I sat at the kitchen window enjoying some wine and admiring how the setting sun illuminated the back woods on the farm.  "Middle" dog admired the view also, though I suspect for different reasons. 

When I woke up the next morning, the view was a bit different.  And so was the temperature.

The birdbath was even frozen!

What if?

What if.....what if the shit hit the fan?  Would you be able to handle it?

This past week I was renewing some old, and subscribing to a couple of new magazine publications.  I know, how unfrugal of me right?  But I look at it as investing in my "homesteading" education.  These are not frivolous fashion magazines mind you.  These are magazines I keep and refer back to as needed.

Anyway, "Mother Earth News" of course was one of them, and also a new one for me, "Backwoods Home Magazine."  While visiting their website to subscribe, I came across an interesting article titled "How America can be saved from stupid people" written by Dave Duffy.  It was an eye-opener to say the least.  If you'd like to read it in its entirety, you can find it here at Back Woods Home.  It refreshed my memory on how important it is to be prepared to take care of yourself and your family when the shit hits the fan, so to speak.  Duffy's "short list" (there does exist a longer one) of top priorities were:

1. Get out of Debt (obvious)
2. Set aside an emergency stash of cash (and I would add, keep it safe somewhere at home)
3. Diversify your assets (again, obvious and see #2)
4. Keep a large pantry - can your food! (and a good stash of drinking water)
5. Plant a garden for a regular supply of fresh food
6. Keep chickens (not always possible, but rabbits are, and they are higher in protein, though you are out of luck with eggs)
7. Keep dogs and cats (burglar protection and mouse patrol)
8. Learn how to barter
9. Volunteer in your community -it will keep you connected and knowledgeable about your area, its resources and residents 

The ultimate point is to learn how to better control your life now, so that you are able to come to your own "rescue" (if the need arises), rather than wait for the government, or someone else to do so for you. And you never know when a power outage from an ice storm/tornado/hurricane/ etc. could set things back a week or two, or God forbid something worse, leaving you and your family in a crisis-mode for an extended period of time.

I feel fortunate that I at least live on a small farm.  The food portion of my survival plan could be met pretty easily for a good period of time.  The water situation would be tricky, but doable.  I have a small stream, but it would have to be purified for drinking.  And I have a well, but it has a pump that is controlled by electricity.  I really need to get a manual pump for back up emergencies.
 


My main pantry is seriously low on canned garden goodies...

I also need to make an effort to get more canned meat and other items on my pantry shelves, and build a small rocket mass heater to heat the canned food if needed.  Propane only lasts so long you know.  And my kitchen stove is electric.  No help there in a power outage. And a heat source - the coal / pellet burning stove needs to be reconnected to the chimney.  So many things to consider!

I guess my whole point is that I really do need to sit down some afternoon and come up with a plan, and plan B, C, D,,,,, etc. of how to best get myself and my household prepared for an unfortunate situation, should it happen. My hope for you is that you'll also take a moment to stop and consider what you would do and how you would handle something like a two week power outage if you were unable to get to a store, or if the stores had empty shelves?

Better safe than sorry.  ~A 

Farming

Sometimes I wonder why I bother.  Why I don't just keep ONLY a cat or a dog like a normal person.  Then I head into the barn and quit wondering...

Hidden Treasures

Can you see the two little guys peeking out?

The first day of October brought along the discovery of some new little chicks peeking out from under a hen this morning.  Now comes the challenge of moving them all into the barn and off the top of the haystack where she decided to brood them.  I'll wait until Saturday morning though, to give them all time to hatch.  She has anywhere from 8-12 eggs under her.  I didn't count them for fear of losing a finger or two - she was so vicious while sitting on them.  Good mama.

Happy October to All ~ A

French Onion Soup

The other day, I drove to a nearby farm to look at a registered......

On second thought, I'm going to wait and elaborate on this when I go and pick up the animal I bought, which will be on this coming Saturday. This way I can include some pictures of it as well.  Pictures are always better.

Where I'm going to keep it yet I have not a clue.  There's going to be some moving around in the barn this week and figuring it all out.  But I will.

The chimney cleaners were also out on Monday to clean the chimney, which didn't happen, because it was too loaded with creosote and they'll have to come back another time with more equipment?  I'm not so sure about this company.  But the cold has not set in enough yet for the need of a fire so I'll be patient - for now.  I still need to order more slab wood too.

But it has gotten a bit chilly and is feeling more fall-like.  This makes me crave soup, and so I decided a pot of French Onion soup was in order and this Tyler Florence recipe was my go to for inspiration.  What follows is my version, modified slightly, using a little less butter and a little less wine, etc. It was still very rich and tasted amazing. Of course.

French Onion Soup

1/2 stick of butter
4 medium large onions, sliced
3-4 cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped
2 bay leaves
2 fresh thyme sprigs or 1/2 tsp of dried thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
3/4 cup of dry red wine
3 tsp of flour
2 quarts of quality beef broth
1 baguette or artisan loaf, sliced
1/2 pound of your favorite cheese: Gruyere, Swiss, Provolone, etc. ( I used Swiss)

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Dust the onions with the flour and give them a stir. Turn the heat down to medium low so the flour doesn't burn, and cook for 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Now add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

When you're ready to eat, preheat the broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Rub the slices with the cut side of a piece of raw garlic. Cover the slices with the cheese and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Ladle the soup in bowls and float a cheese "crouton" on top. Serve immediately.

Happy "Last Day of September" ~A

The "Orchard"

What my tree will hopefully someday look like...

As I mentioned in my last post, on a whim I bought another tree to add to the so-called orchard that i've tried to piece together tree-by-tree.  I confess I don't know a damn thing about growing fruit trees and imagine is isn't as easy as one might think.  But like most aspiring homesteaders and small farmers, the idea of having a backyard (or front yard) full of beautiful, fruit filled trees takes precedence over first educating oneself  before starting such an endeavor.  But whatever... 

I did however, just this morning, order a book to get me started since I now have seven trees in the "Orchard."  Its titled Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Orchard Fruit. I thought it was a good place to start. If anyone has a better recommendation I would love some direction...

So the tree is in the ground and has been watered twice now.  Does it look good?  Not so much, but as I said, it didn't look so hot when I bought it and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for springtime flower blossoms.

What is a Keiffer Pear tree?  Well, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, its a hardy tree, grows fast, and is disease resistant.  It also has a crisp flavor, is excellent for canning, baking and preserves, and it produces fruit in late September to October.  That all sounds good to me.



What my tree looks like in reality...

The light was bad, and I'll try to get another picture over the weekend, but here is my poor little pear tree. Let's hope it grows and someday thrives on the farm. ~A

 

 

Mindless

Sunday afternoon began with a broken lawn tractor belt, which resulted in quick trip into town, which isn't so quick when you live in the country.  It actually takes around 45 minutes round-trip.  Anyway, the broken belt led to a stop at Tractor Supply for a new belt, which led to me drooling over all the fruit trees they had for sale out front, and the next thing you know I was buying a pear tree.  And also a pair of gloves, and of course the replacement belt.

So I bought a sort of sad looking, tad bit stressed Kieffer Pear tree, and I'm hoping it makes it through the winter.  I might even go back and get an apple tree.  Thankfully, the tree is self pollinating. Which I didn't bother to even think about until I got it home.  I can be so mindless sometimes. But sometimes its good to stare off into the clouds...

Later in the day, I decided to put all three pigs together.  I was worried at first that Penny might harm the two little dudes, but she was thrilled to have new friends!  Let's hope she doesn't grow tired of them. 

Speaking of mindless, I agreed to adopt two pot-bellied sister pigs from a farmer friend.  What the hell was I thinking?  So now I'll have two more "lawn ornaments" to keep the goat company sometime soon.  I need names!  Any one have suggestions for two potbelly girls?  ~A

Home

When I arrive home in the evening after a one-hour commute from the city, I grab a glass of wine and shuffle out to the barn for the evening feeding routine.  This is the best part of my day, knowing I don't have to rush. 

The dogs (and goat) like this part of the day better too.  More time to romp while I run around tending to all the animals.

I take time to go on my daily "Easter Egg Hunt' gathering up eggs from the quail and the chickens, and to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the barn.

And it's not about the smell of animal poop - mind you.  Have you ever stood in a hay loft full of fresh cut hay and taken a deep breath?  Its a small piece of intoxicating heaven.

Peasant Soup Anyone?

Make yourself a big batch of this soup and then throw it into the freezer in mason jars.  When you need something fast to eat for dinner, or something to bring to work for your lunch, look no further!  I skipped the pasta in mine this time, and used kidney beans as my bean of choice.  I also did not puree my beans this time around. But it doesn't matter.  Play with the recipe and have fun with it.

Pasta, cooked al-dente and set aside. (Use a small shaped pasta)

• Dried beans, soaked overnight in a large pot of water and boiled. (about 1/3 lb)
• 1 medium sized onion
• 4 or 5 cloves of garlic, smashed well
• 2 stalks of celery
• A palm full of parsley, chopped
• Tomato paste (a couple of tablespoons)
• One large peeled, chopped fresh tomato
• Olive oil
• 2 quarts of water (or more or less, its a preference thing)
• 1/4 to 1/2 a head of cabbage, chopped
• 1 large bunch of spinach, Swiss chard, or lambs quarters, roughly chopped
• 1 large potato, diced
• Some strips or hunks of ham, bacon or pancetta
• Small piece of parmesan rind (optional, but decadent!)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Roughly chop the onion, celery and parsley and sauté gently in olive oil. When they begin to turn golden, add the chopped greens, garlic and potato. Season with salt and pepper and add tomato and paste, to your taste, then add some of the water you used to boil the beans, or vegetable or chicken broth to obtain a soup consistency.

Puree (or don't) half of the beans, and add these with the other half (left whole) to the soup, along with the meat scraps (and parmesan rind if using). Allow to simmer further until vegetables are cooked, then, taking it off the heat, add your cooked pasta, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.  Garnish with fresh grated parmesan if desired.

A good "cold-as-hell" kind of winter day meal when served with fresh warm bread.  And those kind of days are just around the corner...

 

Time for a nap...

 

Saucing it up

I just realized its been nearly a month since my last post. Time really does go by fast.  The past two days the sky has looked like November, with the kind of dark clouds that threaten snow is on the way.

Its been a  "Ping-Pong" like guessing game for next winter's weather predictions. The weather channels are predicting a strong El Nino, bringing in a warmer winter. On the other side of the table, the Farmer's Almanac is predicting another cold and snowy winter. I'll come up with my own forecast by what the animals are telling me at the end of October.  Lot's of hair growth on the horses and goat is usually a pretty good indication I better have my firewood stacked.

The garden was not at all what I'd hoped for this season, but I did manage to get some tomatoes, popcorn, yellow squash, green beans, lettuces, a great crop of garlic, and some miscellaneous herbs.  The rest of it went to hell.  I've resigned myself to putting in the past and moving on to other things.

So be it. ~A

Old Dogs

I prefer sunrise to sunset.  To me, the beginning of the day seems filled with promise and energy.  The evening makes me feel like the day is ending. It's over. Done. There's nothing left of it.  A little sad really.

 

The sunrise makes me want to linger in the barn with all the animals and drink coffee, run my hands over my horses neck and breathe in their horsey smell.  I talk to the pigs, take a look at the bunnies,  feed the chickens...  They're all just waking up too you know. 

Sometimes I think it takes Louie a little longer to wake up than the rest of us.  When he accompanies me out to the barn in the morning he just sits and stares.  I can't imagine what goes through the old dog's mind...

Burnout

Defined as "exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration" 

Owning a farm can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.  I've been feeling worn down, lacking focus, and a tad depressed lately.  One of my first and biggest challenges is learning to say "no." 

My calendar is cluttered with commitments that derail my focus and drag me away from the work and projects that I truly want to do, and those that really need to be done around the farm.   By not saying "no" to people, and creating more commitments for myself, I start feeling irritated and resentful that I have to give (or have given) my precious time away to someone or something else.  And on top of that, I often end up feeling like I received nothing of benefit or joy for myself in exchange.

How do you tell someone "no" without hurting their feelings or damaging the relationship?

Last night was one of the few times lately that I've actually gotten caught up with things (just barely though) to spend a few minutes enjoying my surroundings on the farm (and actually make dinner too)!

 

My soul needs more of this quiet time.  I crave it.  It keeps me sane and lets me rest my mind.

Though it sounds horrid of me, I'm going to try to dissuade any visitors from coming to the farm this weekend.  I hope it isn't taken personal by anyone, its just that I have not had but one weekend free to myself in so long I can't even remember.  The farm girl needs this selfish time to herself or she's going to go mad! 

And the weather, damn the weather.  It hasn't even felt like summer, and I still haven't gotten my hay cut and my garden is a complete disaster!  Too much rain.  Enough is enough.

I promise my next post will be more upbeat and I'll show a little gratitude. ~A

Blue Moon

When the fog rolls in on Mon Abri Farm, it always seems so enchanting to me.  Especially on the night of a full moon.  Things tonight are quiet, still and peaceful, and the air is heavy and thick and cool.

In fact, July will have two full moons.  This gives a grand title to the second one, which is deemed a "Blue Moon."  A special and lucky month it is. Happy July friends...