Ups:
1. Getting news that our home loan is approved (new house here we come!)
2. Finally dropping off prescriptions for allergy medicine and heart medicine that will help with my circulation (I've had these for a week, oops)
3. Getting a call as my boyfriend & I were starting dinner that they had a big dinner spread ready at the Big House. (Explanation to follow)
5. Eating cider doughnuts. I love these little miracles. I helped myself to two last night during the blanket making.
Downs:
1. Meijer had what looked like a mob milling around the prescription pick-up area, so I did not bother to wait the predicted hour for my pills so now I have to go back today.
2. We've had dinner/brunch at the Big House about 3 times in just as many days and I feel guilty for not contributing anything more than wine (but it's been delicious every time!).
3. I'm down to only 6 cider doughnuts.
4. The gale force winds caused half of one of the big trees in the yard area between the houses to rip off falling onto the 3 power lines below it. (Explanation to follow)
5. No power to the Big House means no water in our house. (Explanation to follow)
Explanations:
"Big House": On the farm we live on (also work 2 other farms) there are over 40 acres of orchards, 2 enormous barns, a large circle drive and 2 houses (on separate ends of the drive). My boyfriend and I live in the old caretaker's house (the "little house") at one end and his parents live in the large farmhouse at the other end which I lovingly refer to as the Big House. Many activities are centered around this house.
Tree + Power Lines: This was quite the spectacle. We were inside the little house and thought lightening had struck something outside (I was praying not the farmstand). We ran out to discover the tree down and the power lines hanging (had caused the flash). I also discovered that there were large puddles on the gravel drive which I happened to plow through wearing my slippers and wool socks (hadn't noticed them walking back and forth earlier in my work boots). I think my wool socks won that fight as they absorbed most of the puddle. Yuck. One of my biggest dislikes are wet socks.
No power = no water: The upside to the situation was that only the power to the barns and Big House was knocked out. This is the first time in everyone's memory that the little house did not lose power with the Big House. Unfortunately, the well's electrical is part of the Big House so the pump that brings it to our house will not work. This is a bummer and something I'm not used to being from the city. Thankfully there was enough water in the water heater to get me a shower this morning :)
That's all for now! Cheers,
Farmer Kari
Ok...cider doughnuts...I must find them because that sounds like all kinds of wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, glad there wasn't more damage from the storm. I love the sound of the whole layout there, the big house and little house. Reminds me of the Cider House Rules, or that's what I'm picturing.
ReplyDeleteAnd what are these wonderful-sounding cider donuts?
Funny you should mention CHR, Becky. That's one of my boyfriend's favorite movies! In addition to the barns and 2 main houses, behind the barns, on the path to the orchards are 9 or so picker cottages and a bath/shower house (different than the one large bunk style housing shown in CHR, yet similar in some ways). They are now run down and used as storage, but look like that must have been extremely cool back in the day. I'll need to post some pictures of the farm. Now we don't have the workers live on the property, which I think greatly reduces what we need to pay for liability, and reducing costs on a farm is the name of the game!
ReplyDeleteYou all MUST find some of these to try this Fall. So good and as I'm determined to learn how to make these little wonders, I have found a recipe (althought I've heard that they only need to cook for about one minute on each side):
1 cup Apple cider
1 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Solid vegetable shortening
2 large Eggs
1/2 cup Buttermilk
3 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp.Baking soda
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
Vegetable oil or shortening -for frying
1 cup cinnamon-sugar mixed
Boil apple cider in small saucepan until it is reduced to 1/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes; cool. Beat sugar with shortening until smooth. Add eggs and mix well, then add buttermilk and reduced cider. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in another bowl. Add to liquid ingredients; mix just enough to combine. Transfer dough to lightly floured board and pat to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2- to 3-inch doughnut cutter; reserve doughnut holes and reroll and cut scraps. Add enough oil or shortening to fill a deep pan 3 inches; heat to 375'F. Fry several doughnuts at a time, turning once or twice, until browned and
cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove to paper towels with slotted spoon. While still warm, shake a few at a time in a paper bag containing cinnamon sugar. Cool on a rack.
Let me know the results if anyone manages to try to make these before I do!