My Beet "Soup"er Girl

Lydia loves beet soup. I found the simple Beet Soup or Borscht recipe from the Joy of Cooking to all our liking. I modified it by sautéing the finely diced onions, carrots, and beets in butter before covering with water and simmering for a short while. Then I add home stock, shredded cabbage, young beet leaves if I have them, a couple Tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, and voilá! We drain the pot rapidly.
Our dear neighbor Sue bobby pinned the blossom above Lydia's ear. It matched her coral red Crocs perfectly.

Fir Floor - Old Beauty

Marshal spent last weekend on his hands and knees rubbing Osmo Polyx Oil finish into this old fir - about 2000 square feet of it! That is one coat. Cousin Steve helped him with the first coat. This room, Marshal applied three coats to. Two nights ago, I was feeling quite chilled with the invasive cold dewy fingers that creep inland from the sea at dusk. I asked Gabe to build a fire. I took this photo a bit later, and relished the visual warmth of the glowing floors as well as the physical warmth of the fire.
It has been a long drawn out process of painting cupboards and drawers. I painted most of the kitchen cabinets yesterday, three coats. What's the saying, "Three's a charm?" I'm enjoying the color, Daisy White, a historic color according to Kelly-Moore.

Kefiring

Gabe is straining kefir grains. Gabe and Lydia love the rich probiotic beverage made from raw grass-fed Jersey cow milk from Bellingham. Kefir grains mulitply rapidly when happy, and they are readily given away. Kefiring is catching on nationwide from person to person. There are many resources for information on the internet. It is an easy way to introduce oneself to the nourishing, healthful world of culturing. Pour milk over the grains in a clean glass jar, cover but don't seal, and leave at room temperature for 24 hours. The milk proteins and sugars are pre-digested for you, resulting in a plethora of B-vitamins and the rich nutrients of the whole raw milk. Kefiring will work with any milk, although many of the vital nourishing qualities of raw milk are absent if using a pasteurized milk.

I just like this photo. My hubby's hands are cutting into an artisan sourdough loaf. Someday I'd like to make my own sourdough! What treasures from the earth and air God gives us for life - yeasts and bacteria, salts from ancient beds and seas, green herbs....

Birthday Boy

Our Gabe turned NINE yesterday! He was a happy birthday boy, growing like a weed, as his dad says! The day was beautiful. Provided a pleasant morning for taking the chickens for a stroll in the green grass outside the coup.
He spotted the balloon twisty kit at the supermarket the day before, shopping for traditional Crosse and Blackwell mint sauce for his requested lamb birthday dinner. The balloons were a nice twist to the morning. They provided creative fun, and festive hats!

Apple crisp and homemade vanilla ice cream were the unconventional chosen birthday dessert. He blew out all nine candles! Lydia below looks like she was in on the action. She was sleeplessly excited for brother's birthday the night before.
It was a satisfying day complete with Dad home timely to grill the lamb steaks, our special neighbors, fast friends, joining us for the celebration, and presents to match Gabe's hopes. A blessedly sweet day for a blessed son.

Sunrise - Sunset

Picturesque farm. Gabe's exclamations drew my attention to the "orange" sunset lit trees of the neighboring farm.

Sunset reflected in the windows. Kids jumping for joy. New shingles today. Exterior is nearly buttoned up for the winter.

October 1st Sunrise

Views from the deck. This was a special morning without the seeming common place marine layer above. The fog hung in the valley as the sun rose this morning, awakening a cloudless October 1st day.

Cedar Siding Was In

Yesterday's accomplishment. The preexisting door was reset and sealed in. New siding looks too pretty to paint! Nothing like fresh clean wood!