Sunrise. Do you see that particular shade of barely bruised gray just above the uppermost layer of new light? I hope to find a scarf in that colour one day. Or maybe a full length skirt. It is such a delicate shade. 
Charlotte is back. 
She is still listing to starboard but gamely waddled out into the field and had a lovely day in the cool autumnal sun. 
Much as I love that word autumnal I shall soon have to put it back in the book and take out the word: Wintry. Sigh. I am not a wintry girl.
Chocolate Mousse. 
I have discovered that there is NO WAY I can write my Novel while The Bears (Football, not to be confused with Footy) is blaring away in the room next door. My little travelling headphones were not up to the job, I need a noise-OUT pair. So I gave up and read some more of Last Chance To Eat by Gina Mallet. And then I made Ulisse’s chocolate mousse. When in doubt – cook.
This is so simple and so decadent. Use 8 very fresh eggs. Todays eggs are best.
In one bowl 8 egg yolks beaten, in another bowl 8 egg whites whisked stiff.
Melt 8 oz of chocolate with 3 tablespoons of very strong coffee, then add 1 good slug of brandy.
Beat the melted chocolate into the egg yolks, then fold in the egg whites. This is a very old French recipe, and demands the very best ingredients and all I had was ordinary cooking chocolate bars and rough cooking brandy but still I was having real trouble waiting for it to cool enough to eat. This is light and divine. When you scoop out a portion it is all gorgeous pockets of chocolate air like a souffle. A very healthy dessert. Gabrielle we must make this when I visit.
Refrigerate until quite cold and set. Eat in tiny portions or you will get as fat and happy as Sheila
.
Daisy is milking much better with her new cups, it is a bonus for me to be able to see when the milk stops flowing through the little window at the top of the cups. So there is no danger now of over-milking her. She is happier. The surrogate milkers are happier too. They still come every evening. They chose to start the training early and it was a good choice as it has taken a while to establish a rhythm that works for them and the cow. She only gives about 20 pounds a time now, which is about four gallons a day. This barely covers the calf and the pigs and the cats and dogs and about a gallon a day for the house. So the days of piles of yoghurt and fresh cheese are over for a while. I am seriously looking at the grass now to see if it can sustain another milk cow.
The chickens are just coming out of their molt, and will soon start laying better again. When I come back from New Zealand I shall extend their days a little with a light. But there is no point pushing them quite yet. If we all ate eggs in a natural rhythm then there would be few eggs on the supermarket shelves during the deep winter. It is a natural rest time for the birds, (especially after their first year) they need 14 hours a day of light to lay well, but consumers demand eggs all year round and so they are forced to lay with artificial lights shining in their eyes day and night. However my new pullets (Easter chickens) will toddle along (I get 6 0r 7 a day)and cover for the old girls who need a lengthier recuperation period. And as the days get longer egg production will rise.
The Daily View
Yesterdays highs and lows.
There now. Someone forgot to inform Daisy about the outdated principles of Daylight saving. Falling Back an hour. In fact my little Paddington Bear brain has trouble getting it together as well. I hope you all have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
66 responses to “A Delicate Shade of Lady’s Gray and Chocolate Mousse”
How funny it was the Bears keeping you distracted! It was a great game, though!
was it? excellent! c
Yay for Charlotte! So long as she isn’t in pain, a little listing in her stride adds mystery. “I love that little wiggle in your walk …” Keep an eye on that girl!
I agree with Eha. Seeing the pics of the kittens at play are my favorites for today.
I come here every day to read how things are going on the farmy and to learn a few things. I sometimes forget what an excellent cook you are. Today’s mousse was a good reminder,
The mousse looks yummy! Thanks for the warning. Posting a pic of Sheila on the refrigerator door should do the trick! Glad to see Charlotte is up and around, love the shadow pic. Cooking/baking is a creative exercise that fuels the brain. When you get back to your novel, you will not have missed a beat.
That mousse! I could eat it for every meal and most of the non-meals in between. (One must allow for satiation though.) Happy like Sheila and exercising like mad. Worth it? I think so.
The mousse sounds a good solution to a listing pig, onset of winter and too much music blaring. I hope all of its nutrients went straight into your writing brain!
Oh just realised my ignorance on reading other comments. I guess the Bears are a team and not a music group!! (yes, I see that you put this vital piece of information into brackets; just shows what my mind glosses over because of lack of interest)
I always eat, I mean cook or bake when I can’t seem to write.. it puts me in a different “place” in my mind. This little recipe sounds extremely dangerous, I must approach with caution because it could be very addictive for me:) xx
For she’s a jolly good piggie, for she’s a jolly good piggie..
Overall a happier farmy day – yay.
🙂 Mandy
I am sorry I have been away for a bit and just trying to catch up. What is wrong with Charlotte? The chocolate mousse with brandy and coffee has got to be absolutely amazing and addictive.
I’m pleased to hear Charlotte is better. What a lovely dessert. And no, I cannot write with someone watching TV loudly from the next room. I definitely need the house to myself and that is a rare thing! xx
So lovely to join you as I watch our misty sunrise. Thank you.
Kitties are too cute! Mousse looks divine and sounds very easy – thanks for sharing. My husband went to the feed store yesterday for oats and hay….I was hoping for a dozen fresh eggs from the farmer who owns the store but he said, “days are too short, no eggs for a while”. I began to think about all those poor chickens who must live with light in their eyes for countless hours just so we can have eggs anytime we choose. Funny, then I read your blog this morning and it’s exactly what you’re talking about. I wish that all Americans would get on that rhythm of natural, fresh and free range! Better for the animals and so much better for us! I guess your bees are holed up for winter now? Mine are waiting later in the morning to venture out as nights are chilly but days are still warm and beautiful.
I’m so glad to hear Charlotte is on the mend! And that’s how I make chocolate mousse too – such a joy to have homegrown eggs, isn’t it? 🙂
Wow thats a good recipe for mousse, I love them but yes like what you said have to do it in small portions
Wonderful images…of farmy, piggies, sheep and kitties, and that great looking mousse.