After a very mild winter (so far), spring is getting an early start. Zip is feeding the bees so that they'll hopefully survive until they can start making it on their own. I've been busy making candles as usual, but seem to be a little slow on production this year.
I've started a new walking schedule in the morning. Kenna and I walk around the lake which is a little over 2 miles. The weather has been really helpful in encouraging me to get out there. It's a little tough with the time change, but we start a little before daylight and are able to finish in about 45 minutes.
Most of the trimming has been done in the garden. There are still a few fruit trees that need to bud up before they get trimmed, but the raspberries, blueberries, grapes and most of the trees have been taken care of. The daffodils are poking thru the dirt and so is the garlic that was planted last fall.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
a typical day
Most of my days are spent making beeswax candles - I make a LOT of candles. I've been doing this now for over 20 years. It's been a learning process over time. When we got our first molds (20+ years ago) we didn't have much of a clue what we were doing. Through trial and many errors the job has gotten a little easier. Here's a photo of one of our original molds that I have wicked and ready for hot wax
My job starts adding a little water to a large kettle then adding chunks of unprocessed beeswax and slowly melting the wax until it's all melted. Then I add a little apple cider vinegar to help clean some of the impurities from the wax and let it simmer for almost an hour. Eventually I remove it from the heat and let it all settle for about another hour.
When the wax is cooled enough so that the water and residue have settled to the bottom of the pan; I ladle off the top clean wax into smaller pans so that I can use them to make candles. The very last of the melted wax is left to cool in the big kettle until it's cool enough to handle. Then I scrape off the residue and start all over again.
The cleaned wax is then ready to be poured into molds. Right now I'm just making 8" colonial candles, 10" hexagonal candles and 10" taper candles.
I know...it's a messy job...but someone has to do it!
My job starts adding a little water to a large kettle then adding chunks of unprocessed beeswax and slowly melting the wax until it's all melted. Then I add a little apple cider vinegar to help clean some of the impurities from the wax and let it simmer for almost an hour. Eventually I remove it from the heat and let it all settle for about another hour.
When the wax is cooled enough so that the water and residue have settled to the bottom of the pan; I ladle off the top clean wax into smaller pans so that I can use them to make candles. The very last of the melted wax is left to cool in the big kettle until it's cool enough to handle. Then I scrape off the residue and start all over again.
The cleaned wax is then ready to be poured into molds. Right now I'm just making 8" colonial candles, 10" hexagonal candles and 10" taper candles.
I know...it's a messy job...but someone has to do it!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
long cold winter
Although we haven't had any major snow storms this winter season, it seems like one of the longest, coldest winters that I can recall. It's time to start thinking about springtime and gardening - even if there's STILL too much snow on the ground. Next week we hope to get thawing temperatures and even some sunshine.
Because it's been such a long cold winter, it gave me a good excuse to drag out some of the yarn that I've been accumulating and use it up. I wanted to get my spinning wheel in use too, but with a closet full of yarn I decided that it would be better to use some of the yarn up before spinning any more. Seven scarfs, eight pairs of fingerless gloves, and five winter headbands have used up a portion of the yarn. I've started a sweater with some wonderful merino wool that I spun about a year ago, but it doesn't appear that I'll have enough yarn for the whole sweater so I'll unravel it and save the yarn for a different project. My next knitting project will be made out of a pretty gray alpaca yarn that I spun a year or two ago.
It's time for me to find my miniature greenhouse and get some of my seeds out of cold storage. I have little to no talent for starting seeds, but I'm always willing to try. This year I think that I'll take the greenhouse over to the shop and set it up with a grow light over it. Hopefully that will help me get over the winter doldrums. It's time to plan out the garden for the upcoming season too. Last year the older strawberry plants were removed and 100 new plants were planted in a new spot, so that we had room to plant the garlic late last fall. I'm having a senior moment, but I'm fairly certain that I planted about 200 garlic bulbs. I've decided to try fennel again this year, but I'll make sure that I get the heading variety this year.
The garden last year provided us with more food than we know what to do with. The frozen strawberries make wonderful smoothies. They're quick and easy to make.
Strawberry Smoothie
1 banana
1-2 pints frozen unsweetened strawberries (slightly thawed)
1/2-1 c. whole milk vanilla yogurt
1 T. sugar or honey
splash of milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Mix in Blender 'til smooth...enjoy.
We also have oodles of butternut squash leftover from last year's crop. I tried this recipe last week because we had some leftover ham that I needed to use.
Bean and Squash Soup
1 lb. dried northern beans
1 qt. chicken broth
2 c. water
1 meaty ham bone
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. of each salt and pepper
2 lb. butternut squash
Place beans in a heavy dutch oven: add water and cover beans by 2". Bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 2 1/2-3 hrs. Drain and rinse beans.
Return the beans to the dutch oven. Add the broth, water, ham bone, onion and salt and pepper. Simmer for about 2 hrs. - 'til beans are tender.
Peel and cube squash, boil 'til tender, mash squash.
Remove ham bone, remove meat from bone; cut into chunks. Add meat, and squash to bean soup; heat through. Makes about 12 servings.
In January I entered the honey baked goods category at the PA Farm Show and received a second place award for my honey carrot cake, three third place awards - one for my honey raspberry pie, one for my challah bread and one for my cinnamon rolls.
I've already been practicing with new recipes for next year!
Monday, September 20, 2010
26th annual
Our twenty sixth annual honey sale officially started on Wednesday Sept. 15th. It was a curious first week. We had visits from several customers that have come to our bulk sale for many years, but in general things seem to be going a little slower - maybe a sign of the times. People that consume large quantities of honey know that $2.00/lb. for honey is a bargain, but the people that just buy a small jar or two seem to be forgoing it this year. We still have six weeks to go, so we'll have to wait and see how it all turns out when November is here and the sale has ended.
Looks like this will be the year that the retail shop closes. Zip and I are getting older and now that Josh has his "real" job, we have to prioritize. Although we've met many nice people that come to the honey shop, it'll be a relief to not have the responsibility of having to be there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9-5.
We had a good scare last week. We had a couple ton of honey on the flatbed truck and were traveling up Rt. 29 when the two rear wheels on the back of the truck decided to fall off. For some reason, all of the lugs sheared off and before we knew it there was one wheel rolling up the road in front of us and a big THUD when the back quarter of the truck hit the road. Amazingly...this happened in front of my sister's house and she and Rich were huge lifesavers helping us. Laurie and I have decided that our Mother had something to do with this and is sending us a message about not staying in closer touch :) Other than repair on the truck there was no damage, and considering how bad it COULD have been - we count ourselves lucky.
Looks like this will be the year that the retail shop closes. Zip and I are getting older and now that Josh has his "real" job, we have to prioritize. Although we've met many nice people that come to the honey shop, it'll be a relief to not have the responsibility of having to be there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9-5.
We had a good scare last week. We had a couple ton of honey on the flatbed truck and were traveling up Rt. 29 when the two rear wheels on the back of the truck decided to fall off. For some reason, all of the lugs sheared off and before we knew it there was one wheel rolling up the road in front of us and a big THUD when the back quarter of the truck hit the road. Amazingly...this happened in front of my sister's house and she and Rich were huge lifesavers helping us. Laurie and I have decided that our Mother had something to do with this and is sending us a message about not staying in closer touch :) Other than repair on the truck there was no damage, and considering how bad it COULD have been - we count ourselves lucky.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
garden 2010
Hmmm...things have been busy and I haven't been inspired enough lately to post anything, but we finally finished planting this years garden today so I thought I'd make a note of it.
The weather this year has been very unreliable but we have managed to get the garden in. We started almost a month ago with the cooler weather crops and today we finished up with everything else. I'm going to try to squeeze some sunflowers in over at the gardens at the honey house - there was no room for them at the farm. Our potatoes were looking pretty good two weeks ago, but then we had a late freeze and they died back. We were fortunate that they did come back - this year we've planted red Pontiacs, Yukon Golds and Kennebecs. Today we planted four different kinds of sweet corn, french filet beans, butternut squash, cantaloupe, three different kinds of tomatoes, three different kinds of peppers and finally got the dahlia tubers in the ground.
The asparagus crop might not be as abundant as last year, but we're doing pretty good so far with the cut totaling over 36 lbs. so far - YUM!
The strawberries did have a little damage from the cold weather, but it still looks like there's oodles of them.
I've been trying new rhubarb recipes - just finished a rhubarb custard pie. The most appreciated recipe so far has been the rhubarb cheesecake dessert - tasty.
Kenna is growing like a weed - she's earned the title devil dog. I've lost track of all of things that she's eaten. Fortunately the garden is fenced...I hate to think what she may have done to it otherwise. The clematis that were planted by the side of the house last year seem to have been an annoyance to her and she showed them...they're much smaller now, as well as the hostas that are planted in the same bed. Shoes aren't safe anywhere - Zip left his boots on the porch this morning and watched her try to waltz off with one. She's made a bit of a lair behind the sofa and come to find out has eaten bits and pieces of the skirt on the back of the sofa.
Needless to say - she's still spending nights in the crate or we wouldn't have a house left. It was a good day when she was finally big enough to wear one of the electric collars and stay at the farm all day. And to show her appreciation - one day she brought home one of the electric collars that Jack had lost over a year ago!
I'm still not sure that Jack is thrilled that we brought Kenna home, but she does keep him more active and hopefully that means that he'll be healthier. He has lost 5 lbs. since she's been able to stay here during the day with him. I remind Jack all the time that now he's the "good dog" :)
Guess I've rambled on long enough - hope to get around to posting some new pics soon.
The weather this year has been very unreliable but we have managed to get the garden in. We started almost a month ago with the cooler weather crops and today we finished up with everything else. I'm going to try to squeeze some sunflowers in over at the gardens at the honey house - there was no room for them at the farm. Our potatoes were looking pretty good two weeks ago, but then we had a late freeze and they died back. We were fortunate that they did come back - this year we've planted red Pontiacs, Yukon Golds and Kennebecs. Today we planted four different kinds of sweet corn, french filet beans, butternut squash, cantaloupe, three different kinds of tomatoes, three different kinds of peppers and finally got the dahlia tubers in the ground.
The asparagus crop might not be as abundant as last year, but we're doing pretty good so far with the cut totaling over 36 lbs. so far - YUM!
The strawberries did have a little damage from the cold weather, but it still looks like there's oodles of them.
I've been trying new rhubarb recipes - just finished a rhubarb custard pie. The most appreciated recipe so far has been the rhubarb cheesecake dessert - tasty.
Kenna is growing like a weed - she's earned the title devil dog. I've lost track of all of things that she's eaten. Fortunately the garden is fenced...I hate to think what she may have done to it otherwise. The clematis that were planted by the side of the house last year seem to have been an annoyance to her and she showed them...they're much smaller now, as well as the hostas that are planted in the same bed. Shoes aren't safe anywhere - Zip left his boots on the porch this morning and watched her try to waltz off with one. She's made a bit of a lair behind the sofa and come to find out has eaten bits and pieces of the skirt on the back of the sofa.
Needless to say - she's still spending nights in the crate or we wouldn't have a house left. It was a good day when she was finally big enough to wear one of the electric collars and stay at the farm all day. And to show her appreciation - one day she brought home one of the electric collars that Jack had lost over a year ago!
I'm still not sure that Jack is thrilled that we brought Kenna home, but she does keep him more active and hopefully that means that he'll be healthier. He has lost 5 lbs. since she's been able to stay here during the day with him. I remind Jack all the time that now he's the "good dog" :)
Guess I've rambled on long enough - hope to get around to posting some new pics soon.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
tomatoes!
We finished pulling out our tomato plants yesterday :( The tomato blight has been devastating in our area this year. I've had a few tomatoes to enjoy that we picked green and let ripen, but if they were picked after the blight got to the plant they just turn black before ripening.
The glads have been gorgeous this year - I've been enjoying them cut in bouquets for the house and honey house.
My pie pumpkins are all starting to turn orange, so hopefully I'll have some to freeze.
The shell beans, black turtle, aren't looking too healthy but I'll wait for them to dry and hopefully have a few for the winter.
Yesterday I canned some summer squash (an experiment) and some dilly beans. The day before I made a batch of sweet relish, hopefully I'll get enough cukes to make some dill relish too.
The corn is DELISH this year, at least the honey select is - it was the first to ripen. The peaches are starting to ripen and we should have about a bushel of them sometime this week. Between the deer and the rain we'll have zero shiro plums.
The glads have been gorgeous this year - I've been enjoying them cut in bouquets for the house and honey house.
My pie pumpkins are all starting to turn orange, so hopefully I'll have some to freeze.
The shell beans, black turtle, aren't looking too healthy but I'll wait for them to dry and hopefully have a few for the winter.
Yesterday I canned some summer squash (an experiment) and some dilly beans. The day before I made a batch of sweet relish, hopefully I'll get enough cukes to make some dill relish too.
The corn is DELISH this year, at least the honey select is - it was the first to ripen. The peaches are starting to ripen and we should have about a bushel of them sometime this week. Between the deer and the rain we'll have zero shiro plums.
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