Hello Again!

Well hello again (and finally).  The end of a very busy year is winding down. So much has happened in a short twelve months.  I have been away often and very busy when I return home.

Here are some of the highlights of the year.

The year started with Barry working in Fort Mac and me heading to Saskatoon for a few weeks. My dad caught pneumonia and ended up in the hospital for a few days.  My mom doesn't drive so it was nice to be able to help out. Dad has completely recovered and is his busy self again.

I also got to spend some time baking with Josie and Mikhyan (my new grandkiddies) which is always fun. Over the year we made cookies and heart-shaped pizza for Valentines Day, chocolate chow mien noodle nests for Easter, pizza sandwiches and bush pies in the summer and chocolate wacky cake and cinnamon snowflakes this fall. 

spreading cinnamon sugar on snowflakes

cutting ham for pizza sandwiches

wacky cake ready for the oven

 

             

chocolate nest cookies - messy but tasty

I become a grandma again when Becky and Mike became parents and presented me with Katrina Grace April 5^th. She was 6 lb 2 oz and 19 1/2 “ long. I was lucky enough to meet her when she was one day old.

Proud grandma

smiling for grandma

shirt from my sister

Becky asked if I would make jam as wedding favours for their upcoming wedding. I got busy and made 150 jars in total of five varieties. Becky cut out the cloth caps and mom and I labelled the jars and tied on the lids. They were very cute in red and white. 

Barry and I decided to plant one of the gardens to lawn this year. It is easier to mow than to weed the area. If we want to plant there again, it is just a matter of tilling it up. The grass grew thick and green due to all the chicken fertilizer that was in the ground. That was where the chickens ran and dug for bugs and ate chipped vegetables.
 

Since we have more lawn to cut, when Barry came home in June, we went to Kamloops and bought a John Deere riding mower. Boy! Now I can whip around and cut the lawn in no time! Some tree branches needed to be trimmed as I got scratched several times driving the mower around and under the fruit trees. Now Barry has to prune them from the bottom and the top (they can't hang too low for mowing but I also don't want them too tall so I have to use a ladder to pick fruit). I do have trouble backing up the tractor when the sweeper is attached to dump it. A semi driver I will never be.

Since I was away so much this summer, I only planted a few cukes and tomatoes. I missed the rest of the fresh produce but decided watching Katrina grow up was more important than growing my own veggies.

Most of the fruit trees produced quite well this year with the exception of the apricots. Spring was rainy and cool so the apricots were slow to grow. Then the summer heat hit with a vengeance and they started to ripen without growing any more. The result was fruit with very little flesh – mostly pit and skin. They never did get as juicy and tasty as usual.

The cherries produced well this year, but each tree had its own schedule - none of them ripened at the same time. This made for a longer cherry season than usual.

I was in Saskatoon the end of July for Mike and Becky's wedding. All three kids were part of the wedding and all of them looked wonderful. Josie was the flower girl dropping petals along the path and Mikhyan was the ring bearer but also pulled Katrina in a red wagon up the aisle. And Katrina just sat and stole everyone's heart. The day of the wedding started very cloudy and it rained hard but stopped just before the ceremony started when the sun broke through. It was a lovely day with food, music, good friends and family.



Josie spreading petals

Mikhyan pulling Katrina

Mike holding Katrina, Becky, Josie and Mikhyan

Katrina in her flower girl dress

The next day, my sister, Joyce and my family threw me a surprise 60^th birthday party. I had been so wrapped up in Kat and the wedding that clues went over my head the whole weekend. Needless to say I was speechless. Joyce organized 60 chicken presents for me to open. Luckily the kids were there to help out with that or I might still be there. I received stuffed chickens, chicken mugs, wall hangings, ornaments, kitchen items, and more - ALL CHICKEN RELATED!  I was lucky to share the day with out of town guests from Calgary, Edmonton, Carstairs, White Rock, Shellbrook, Prince Albert, Regina and Battleford as well as the Saskatoon area. I was so honoured that so many people took time out of their busy lives to make the trip to celebrate the day with me.

Mikhyan and Josie helping open presents

chicken placemats made by my dad

fabric detail of tablecloth sewn by a friend of my sister

I visited my sister-in-law, Louise in White Rock several times this year. The last time was in October when it was nice enough to walk in the ocean barefooted. That evening, we also had supper on the patio of a beach-side pub and were able to watch a glorious sunset.

Our view from the pub deck, White Rock, BC

I decided to do some advertising to see if I could sell more jam. I advertised for jam as wedding favours as well as everyday use. I made around 350 jars of jam and chutney in more than a dozen varieties this year and only have around a dozen jars left. People seem to like the idea of jam made from homegrown, handpicked fruit with less sugar than the store bought jam.

Barry worked around Edson this year so I visited him there a number of times. It is about 8 hours from home and I can easily make it in one day. Before when I traveled with Lulu, we could make 6 hours max because of stops along the way. I still think of Lulu and miss her but having a new granddaughter did wonders to fill the empty space in my heart. I would like to get some chickens again but am waiting until Kat is older because I don't want to miss too many of her milestones. She recently got her first tooth and is learning how to crawl.

family picture taken at Josie's Kindergarten Grad

Kat and friend

Kat's first Halloween

getting into trouble

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting - it depends on how many trips to Saskatoon I take through the year.  ;)

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.  

Christmas is Upon Us

I haven't been blogging much lately.   I was away again to Alberta to pick up my car.  We had to dig the car out of a huge snowbank and knock off the ice before I could even open the doors. I stayed and visited relatives when Barry went back to work up near Fort Mac.  I also did some shopping as well before heading home.

I got home and finished my fall cleaning and got my Christmas cards and letters all sent out.  I also had fun mailing parcels and shopping for the new grandkiddies.  There are such sweet clothes and crafty toys out there.  Shopping for kids is so much fun!

Barry got home about a week ago and we had +15°C when he got here.  The snow was all gone until Friday when we has about 6" and have been shovelling a fair bit since then.

I am planning on taking a break from blogging for awhile as I don't have much to share.  I do have some pictures of Lulu left that I plan to share sometime.  Since it is winter, there is no gardening to share.  And since Barry is away so much, I don't do much baking or trying out new recipes.

In the new year, I will be painting the ceiling in the kitchen so will not spend much time cooking anything too special with that mess in there.

I am still having a hard time missing Lulu.  I finally put away her kennel and stuff from her corner of the kitchen.  I just couldn't bring myself to put it away until now.  I would have never thought I would miss her so much for so long but I still have a hollow place in my chest when I think about her.

I found this poem that I would like to share with you.  One member of a Facebook group called The Chickenistas, that I belong to, posted it.  It is called The Night Before Christmas at Rainbow Bridge by Cindy Morgan.  I hope you take a few minutes to read it, especially if you have had pets that you have loved and lost.

I wish all my friends and readers a Merry Christmas and Happy and fulfilling New year.  Take care of yourselves.  Joan

Merry Christmas

To all my friends, family, readers and fellow Lulu lovers - Have a very merry Christmas, safe holidays, and happy and healthy New Year.  All our best,  Love Joan and Lulu.



Eggnog Loaf

We had extra eggnog left after Christmas.  I found this recipe and it looked interesting.

http://www.emcottawaeast.ca/20111222/lifestyle/Suggestions+for+using+leftover+eggnog

Ingredients

1/4 c melted marg or butter
3/4 c sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 1/4 c flour

2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c chopped pecans
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c mixed candied fruit1 c eggnog

 Combine the dry ingredients with the nuts, raisins and candied fruit.

Stir together to coat the fruit and nuts.

Mix together butter and sugar.

Beat eggs into the mixture.

Stir in about 1/3 of the eggnog.

Add about half of the dry mixture and stir just until moistened.

Add another 1/3 of the eggnog, and stir, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients.

Finally, stir in the last of the eggnog.  You don't want to stir loaves and quick bread too much or they become tough.

Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.

This recipe makes two full sized loaves.

Bake at 350F for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove it from the pan and cool completely before slicing.

I found the loaf very tasty with the mixed fruit and nuts.  You can taste the flavour of the eggnog.  It has a Christmasy taste and look to it.  Enjoy!  ;)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I've been having computer problems lately so won't be posting until the New Year when I can get them fixed.  Living in a small town sometimes has its disadvantages (my computer guy is gone until after the New Year so I'll just limp along until then).  I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, safe and healthy holidays and a very happy New Year!  See you in 2012.  Best wishes from Joan and Lulu  ;)

Red and Green Jellied Salads

I usually make these two jellied salads for Christmas.  The green one is called Colleen Vegetable Mold and is taken from Jean Pare's Company's Coming Salads.  The recipe for the red one is from my mother-in-law and it is to die for.

Ingredients - Green Salad
1 small pkg lime gelatin
1 c boiling water
1 c crushed pineapple with juice
1/4 c salad dressing
1 c cottage cheese
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c shredded carrot

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water.

Add pineapple and cool slightly.

Stir in salad dressing until all lumps dissolved.  I found if you cool the mixture too much, the salad dressing does not dissolve and remains lumpy.

Stir in cottage cheese.

Add celery and carrots. 

Chill until set.  I serve this salad in a bowl and spoon it out instead of putting it in a mold.

Ingredients - Red Salad

1 small pkg cherry gelatin

1 small pkg raspberry gelatin

1 1/2 c boiling water, separated

1 c cranberry sauce

1 c crushed pineapple with juice

1 10 oz pkg raspberries, thawed  or 1 c fresh

1 c whipping cream

125 gm pkg cream cheese

1/2 c sugar

1st layer:  Dissolve cherry gelatin in 3/4 c boiling water.  Add pineapple and cranberry sauce.

Pour into 9x9 cake pan and chill until set. 



2nd layer:  Beat together whipping cream, cream cheese and sugar until firm and fluffy.

 Spread onto first layer and chill again.

3rd layer:  Dissolve raspberry gelatin in 3/4 c boiling water.  Mix in raspberries.  Chill until mixture has thickened but not set.

 Carefully spread on cream layer.  Chill until set.  Cut into squares.

Enjoy them both!  They are favorites around here.  :)

Homemade Eggnog

One of the popular Christmas drinks is rum and eggnog.  I've not been a big fan of it because I think store-bought eggnog tastes artificial.  There is something about it that leaves an aftertaste in my mouth.

When I was young and taking home-ec (before the days of not eating raw eggs), we learned how to make eggnog.  It was simple - beat one egg with a spoon of sugar and a bit of vanilla, add milk and drink.  Sometimes I would add cinnamon or nutmeg or both.  I would sometimes add ice cream so it was thicker.  As I grew older, I quit making the eggnog because it didn't have enough taste.

I belong to the Backyard Chickens Forum and Miss Prissy shared her eggnog recipes.  I adapted mine from hers.  http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=202168#p202168

Ingredients
12 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
4 c (1 liter) half and half
4 c (1 liter) 2 % milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
nutmeg for sprinkling if desired
**optional - spiced rum if desired for extra zing for the adults

I used my Cuisinart and several large bowls to mix the eggnog.  Separate the eggs and dump egg whites in mixer bowl.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and slowly pour in 3/4 cup of the sugar while beating.  Gently move the egg whites to another bowl so you can reuse the mixer.

Notice how lovely the egg yolks from my girls are - none of those pale store bought yolks for us.  ;) 

Beat yolks until creamy and slowly pour in the other 3/4 cup of sugar.  The egg yolks will be thick and light yellow in color.  Mix in vanilla. 

Pour egg yolks into a large bowl. 

Add egg whites to bowl.

Fold egg whites into beaten yolks.

Sprinkle on nutmeg.

Pour in milk and cream and stir carefully.

Look at those lovely frothy clouds of goodness.

Pour into glasses.  Sprinkle with nutmeg if desired.  Add spiced rum if desired.  Enjoy!

Miss Prissy used whole milk and heavy cream in her recipe but I think mine was rich enough.  Next time I would make a half recipe since it is so rich and creamy.  We each had 2 glasses of the eggnog because it was so good but now no one wants supper.  It was too filling.  I still have 2 1/2 containers in the fridge for later.  We'll see how it fares staying in the fridge to use another day.

PS:  The eggnog does lose its fluffiness sitting in the fridge but is still very tasty.  It also doesn't seem as filling.  When it is so foamy, the air that was beaten into the eggs had a filling effect on us all for a number of hours.  So I retract what I said about halving the recipe - its not needed.

To all my readers and friends - have a very Merry Christmas.