Johnny and I have spent the last week or so hauling “stuff” from our old store in Coolville, OH to the newer store in Lottridge, OH. The Cville store was run for us by his sister and a combination of factors (cold, economics, time) made it better to consolidate everything into one place, or storage, or the dumpster!
I once thought I was the major pack rat in a crowd of a multitude of pack rats, and I'm sure Johnny would agree! But, as we boxed up his sister's “stuff” we decided that we're pikers compared with her! She has/had so much stuff that it defies description. Too bad she couldn't help us much as we'd have liked – she has gone back to college to get a new career for herself and her family. Applause to her for all the effort it takes of her to study and care for her family, but we sure wish she had found time to help us out...we're bone sore! We made some executive decisions on some of her stuff just like we did with ours – dumpster!
Spring has finally arrived in our little hollow, I think. Most of the piles of snow have disappeared and there are little green things poking themselves out of the very wet ground. Daffodils are showing their green stalks, daylilies we potted up to move are showing green, and even the mums we decorated with last Fall are showing some green, much to our surprise. They'll soon have a permanent home somewhere around here. We wandered the acre together and decided where a weeping willow, redbuds and a red maple or two will take up residence very soon. We've talked with the neighbor who has a tiller and marked out where the vegetable garden will go – a 3-family shared space. Oh, the joys of finally having a place to call our own!
Along with the good happening outside is the work that will continue inside. We'll replace the windows with more energy efficient ones this Spring. And, we've decided to forgo the decorative exposed brick walls to deal with the cold they transmit – they'll be framed in and insulated this summer, unless some nice reader (you'll be amply rewarded!) can suggest a way to seal the brick to keep this place warm! We're thinking of getting a wood stove for the top floor too since the one in the shop seemed to work so well this year.
I've rambled enough. Time to tame the belly. We received a bag of apples recently so I was foraging around for recipes to use them and came up with
SAUTEED APPLES AND BACON
8 slices bacon
2 tblsp. brown sugar
4C tart apples, pared, cored and cubed
In a frying pan, saute bacon until crisp. Remove and drain, reserving 2 Tblsp. Fat. Saute apples in bacon fat until translucent. Sprinkle with sugar. Arrange apples on a platter surrounded by the bacon.
NOTES:
1. Green Jonathan apples are best for this recipe, but we used red apples cuz it was what we had! Cook them until they're softish but not applesauce.
2. Thick slice bacon is what we use, and the best of that we can find.
3. A great way to serve this is on waffles or pancakes instead of the suggestion above. If you do, make sure you use real butter! It really is healthier for you than that other stuff.
Keep on eating well, and hugs to all of you from the cub and the old daddy bear.
Mike
Pitamom
Johnny and I have spent the last week or so hauling “stuff” from our old store in Coolville, OH to the newer store in Lottridge, OH. The Cville store was run for us by his sister and a combination of factors (cold, economics, time) made it better to consolidate everything into one place, or storage, or the dumpster!
I once thought I was the major pack rat in a crowd of a multitude of pack rats, and I'm sure Johnny would agree! But, as we boxed up his sister's “stuff” we decided that we're pikers compared with her! She has/had so much stuff that it defies description. Too bad she couldn't help us much as we'd have liked – she has gone back to college to get a new career for herself and her family. Applause to her for all the effort it takes of her to study and care for her family, but we sure wish she had found time to help us out...we're bone sore! We made some executive decisions on some of her stuff just like we did with ours – dumpster!
Along with the good happening outside is the work that will continue inside. We'll replace the windows with more energy efficient ones this Spring. And, we've decided to forgo the decorative exposed brick walls to deal with the cold they transmit – they'll be framed in and insulated this summer, unless some nice reader (you'll be amply rewarded!) can suggest a way to seal the brick to keep this place warm! We're thinking of getting a wood stove for the top floor too since the one in the shop seemed to work so well this year.
I've rambled enough. Time to tame the belly. We received a bag of apples recently so I was foraging around for recipes to use them and came up with
SAUTEED APPLES AND BACON
8 slices bacon
2 tblsp. brown sugar
4C tart apples, pared, cored and cubed
In a frying pan, saute bacon until crisp. Remove and drain, reserving 2 Tblsp. Fat. Saute apples in bacon fat until translucent. Sprinkle with sugar. Arrange apples on a platter surrounded by the bacon.
NOTES:
1. Green Jonathan apples are best for this recipe, but we used red apples cuz it was what we had! Cook them until they're softish but not applesauce.
2. Thick slice bacon is what we use, and the best of that we can find.
3. A great way to serve this is on waffles or pancakes instead of the suggestion above. If you do, make sure you use real butter! It really is healthier for you than that other stuff.
Keep on eating well, and hugs to all of you from the cub and the old daddy bear.
Mike
Pitamom