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Frankentree

May 22, 2012

Last August, Hurricane Irene roared through the northeast leaving devastating damage in her wake.  Compared to many, our damage was slight, we merely suffered damage to two lovely mature trees, and many garden plants were pummeled to the ground.  Later in the fall our arborist-turned-archaeologist friend Bill help prune the damaged limbs off the lovely old flowering crab.  The sugar maple, in worse shape, waited for professional help. The several trunks of the tree had split vertically, and without intervention, the tree was doomed.

Jon McKenney from McKenney Tree and Landscaping came in late October and repaired the maple.  While he was here, he told Dan the cable he put in the old tree six years ago to prevent damage probably saved the tree, and our barn, from worse damage.

This time, McKenney drilled two holes completely through the trunks and then put two enormous rods through the tree, effectively bolting it together to prevent additional splitting.  The poor tree looks like a maple Frankenstein, and I am glad I wasn’t here to see it done, but the repair seems to be working.  It might just be the best $150 I have ever spent.

This spring the maple looks as good as ever.  Phew.

Posted in gardening, life | 9 Comments »

Bread baking at the Stone Turtle School

April 22, 2012

It is no secret to long time readers that I hope to someday build a wood-fired oven.  My dream plan calls for a brick Pompeii-style round oven.  In the meantime, I crank the heat in the range oven, and cook my pizza on clay quarry tiles.

This weekend, I took a breadbaking class at Stone Turtle Baking and Cooking School. The instructor, Michael Jubinsky, has been teaching breadmaking for many years, and after retiring to Maine, he and his wife Sandy started the This class focused on pan breads, but I did get to see the wood fired oven in action, and learned a few things about working with bread dough.  I also had a lot of fun.

The school is located at his home in a separate building complete with the wood oven, a pair of wall ovens and a large range oven, and we used them all.  The hands-on class had 11 people.  We gathered around a large wood-topped island where we made and shaped three different doughs and shaped some dinner rolls.

Michael was very knowledgeable and approachable, and filled people with the confidence they needed to succeed.  A friend who had never before made bread accompanied me to the class and had no problem turning out several delicious loaves of bread.  I developed a better feel for dough, and feel more confident now about adding the correct amount of flour, which can vary with the humidity.  The school recommends and uses King Arthur Flour, as I do, so I was already familiar with the feel of the flour and how it handled, which I am sure was an advantage for me.

The school offers several other courses.  I want to attend the (naturally) pizza and flatbread course, and maybe an artisan bread course focusing on rye flour.  Once I get my oven constructed, I may need to attend the 2 day wood-fired oven intensive course, too.

It was a fun day and I highly recommend it to my nearby readers interested in developing their baking skills.

Posted in food, life | 8 Comments »

Maine Maple Sunday

March 26, 2012

Although the early spring weather and extra warm weather this week has put an end to maple sugaring for the year, on Sunday we celebrated Maine Maple Sunday at Henbogle.  Friends joined us for a brunch featuring that nectar of the gods, maple syrup, and eggs, as the hens have been very generous now that spring is here.

Brunch feature Maple Sticky Buns, Sausage and Leek Quiche with Provolone and Sundried Tomato, Goat Cheese and Leek Quiche, Maple Black Pepper Bacon, Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple Syrup, and Spinach Salad with Maple Lime Dressing, Blue Cheese and Dried Cranberries.  Friends contributed Irish Soda Bread, Fruit Salad, and Mimosas.  Yum.

Unfortunately, the photographer was busy cooking so the 2 photos seen are all I have, but judging from the laughter and paucity of leftovers, I think we all enjoyed ourselves.  I can’t think of a better way to welcome Spring, or celebrate friends, than with Maine Maple Sunday.

 

Posted in food, friends, life | 9 Comments »

Lion in winter

March 15, 2012

March roared in like a lion with snow on March 1, but the lion is turning out to be a pretty little pussy cat.  The weekend temps are predicted to be in the upper 50s!  The nights are still cool, I hope cool enough for the maple trees to produce copious amounts of sap for sugaring.

Just 2 more days until the weekend. I feel like the little engine that could — I think I can I think I can! (make it to the weekend).

Posted in life, weather | 3 Comments »

Mamma’s got a brand new… range!

March 10, 2012

Long time readers will know I do a lot of canning, enjoy cooking and baking, and love to make pizza.  Well, my pizza/canning/cooking tools have been improved:  Henbogle has a brand new range.

Dan and I were shopping for refrigerators, looking to see if there is one that will fit our quirky kitchen’s space, (there is not) when we learned my gorgeous new range was available at 60% off.  Agonizing about buying a range when it wasn’t on the list ensued.  Dan talked me down, pointing out that the old range was going to need oven repair as the igniter was unreliable, and that new ranges with the features I wanted would cost more than the new range did on sale.  Sensible, is the Dan man.  The range has 5 burners, including a super hot burner in the middle perfect for bringing a full canner to a boil, grates that will make it easier to move said full canner around on the stovetop, and a convection oven.

Yesterday, my new baby came home.  We christened it with cast-iron cooked comfort food:  grilled cheese sandwiches.  Pizza tonight!

Posted in food, life | 20 Comments »

Happy Groundhog Day!

February 2, 2012

Groundhog Day is my favorite holiday, marking Imbolc, the halfway point between Solstice and Equinox.  By Saturday, Maine will see 10 hours of sunlight, increasing daily ’till June.

Normally, I’m not a fan of the garden-devouring little rodents, but on Groundhog Day, I set my animosity aside and make a temporary peace, despite Phil’s  many   past crimes.

Or maybe not.  Now that I think about it, I don’t think I can forgive him for eating to the ground the flowers I so carefully planted and tended for my wedding the year we came to Henbogle.  The ravenous, evil little rodent.

Nonetheless, spring is in sight.  Bring it on!

Posted in gardening, life | 6 Comments »

LC the adventurous chicken

January 30, 2012

LC, a hen from New Gloucester, Maine, has become a regular at the New Gloucester Village Market.  Since first wandering into the store one day, she has become a regular customer, and is now posing for ads and is regularly featured on the market’s Facebook page.  Perhaps I’ve found some work for my aging hen, Bea, who is not pulling her weight in the egg department?

I hope LC comes to no harm crossing the road on her way to the market.

Posted in hens, life, Maine | 9 Comments »

Dwindling seed diversity

January 26, 2012

As part of an article entitled Food Ark, National Geographic Magazine produced this great graphic demonstrating how hybridization is reducing the varieties of food crops.  A 1983 survey showed that since 1903 there has been a huge loss, of with over 93% of the 66 varieties in the survey now extinct.  The article highlights efforts to preserve genetic diversity in the seed supply, and is well worth a look.

Posted in environment, gardening, life | 12 Comments »

A sunny start to 2012

January 1, 2012

After a dreary freezing rain and drizzle yesterday which spoiled our travel plans, today dawned bright and sunny.  Dan and I decided we needed a breath of fresh air to start the year, so we headed for the coast to let the salt air and sea breeze blow away the cobwebs of 2011.

The sun shone, the temps in the upper 40s were warm enough that I abandoned my fleece jacket.  We clambered about the rocks, and I played a bit with my splendid new camera.  It was a nice day, and the parks were pretty busy with people out enjoying the weather.  I was so busy enjoying the coast and the company I didn’t actually take many photos, but here’s a couple.

Isn’t he cute? I just love that smile.

Trying out the self time feature.  Two seconds is NOT enough time.  Look at that blue sky!

I made it, but no Dan.  The exposure is a little off, but I haven’t learned how to adjust that feature yet.  Fortunately, Dan managed to snap the one of the two of us I used in the header file.

We enjoyed a nice seafood lunch, and then made our way back to Henbogle. We’ve been puttering about this week, working on our travel plans.  I ordered travel information from our primary destination states, and we joined AAA and ordered some maps and travel info from them, and this afternoon, we created a travel planning center from an as yet un-restored bookcase.

The stack of travel mags on the left of the center shelf includes Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota.  The stack on the right is all Oregon.  Oregon must have a very large travel and tourism budget.  For some reason, I forgot to order Washington state materials.  I’ll be fixing that right quick.

I think we’ll have enough maps.

Tomorrow we are working on New Years’ Resolution #1 — cleaning up the barn, getting ready for a project.  No before pictures to avoid self-incrimination.

Posted in life, weather | 8 Comments »

A white Christmas

December 23, 2011

Much to the dismay of the hens, we’ll be having a white Christmas at Henbogle!

 

 

Posted in life, weather | 12 Comments »

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