Monthly Archives: August 2011

Longing for scones

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

In my accent scone rhymes with long.  Just so’s you know. This  blogging is such a silent affair. Because we are not making a scone that rhymes with bone today we are going to make light fluffy scones for which … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Photography, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 69 Comments

More wine, less whine.

Posted on August 30, 2011 by

Illinois was the fourth largest producer of wine grapes in the US up until Prohibition in 1919.  Johns Great-grandmother being one of those paid up card carrying tough old prohibition women. I even have her prohibition prayer cards to prove … Continue reading →

Posted in Vines and Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Daisy lost in the cornfield and grandma’s rissole recipe,

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

So the pasture is beginning to wane a bit. Not as much grass. At this time of year we put a harness on Daisy, the milk cow to be, and take her on a dog leash into the wild long … Continue reading →

Posted in Farm Animals, Farming, Life, Living the life, Meals, Photography, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

My grandmother made wild rabbit stew.

Posted on August 28, 2011 by

My grandfather, who we called Pa,  loved rabbit stew.  He had been a rabbiter in the Great Depression.  After losing his trucking business, this was how he fed his family. He took his rifles, his old truck, his ammo and … Continue reading →

Posted in Vines and Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Easy Tomato Chutney

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

My mother was the jam maker and my father  preserved hundreds of jars of fruit,every summer. We ate one huge jar of peaches or pears every day at breakfast –  if  the season had been good. So it was kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Farm Animals, Life, Meals, Photography, Preserving, Recipes, Vines and Wine | Tagged , , , , , | 36 Comments

Confessions of a Basement Farmer with a Frisbee

Posted on August 25, 2011 by

Back to the Farm. There is more to this little farm than meets the eye. And in the interests of honest and transparent discussion I feel I must tell you something. I have been hiding this from you. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Farm Animals, Life, Living the life, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments

Old Route 66 Service Stations should have served Mama’s Lasagna!

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

A wee while ago we travelled down Route 66 from Chicago to California. We did not get to eat any lasagna on our travels. Because no-one wants any lasagna other than Mama’s.  I am going to part with my old … Continue reading →

Posted in Meals, Photography, Recipes, Route 66, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Don’t look, revolting shots today.

Posted on August 23, 2011 by

My Mother had a spider, who sat down beside her and lived in her wash-house (in our house we called the laundry the wash-house). This spider was called Elizabeth. A  perfectly lovely name for a spider I always thought. Anyway … Continue reading →

Posted in Bees, Life, Photography, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

The 7 Links Challenge is well met

Posted on August 22, 2011 by

I have been writing in the world of Blog since July 4, 2011. So you can imagine my surprise when I was asked to join the illustrious cast of the 7 Links Challenge and have a go myself.  It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Farm Animals, Flower Garden, Living the life, Photography, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Bridge on Route 66

Posted on August 21, 2011 by

Yesterday we were on Route 66 and we found an amazing working drawbridge.  I am now a confirmed drawbridge stalker. I am gobsmacked by the engineering and sheer weight of the components and how they all link into each other. … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Photography, Route 66, Travel | Tagged , , | 15 Comments