Busy Weekend

Well finally got a little more accomplished on the extension. In the photo archives can be seen the latest update titled 28/10/07. Here can be seen the 2 walls for the dormer kind of thing sticking out from the bedroom (second floor). Above and on each side I have begun to frame in and sheet for the windows that are at the inside balcony level. You can also see that I've started installing the roof trusses and closing in the top side walls. By the way, the vertical opening at the corner lower level, is so I can get in and out. It will be closed in when construction moves along. If you have been following the dates it is obvious that this is a long project, but remember I'm doing it all myself, the weather must be co-operative and I still must feed myself (household stuff, etc.) and do work around the garden before winter comes. It may not look like it, but actually a lot has been done. The lettuce, zucchini and squash beds have been composted, turned and prepared for winter rest. The main garden hasn't been touched yet as there is still cabbage, beets, etc. to harvest. I've also got about half my winter wood supply cut and stacked. The wood shed isn't ready yet, but there's still time and hopefully I'll be able to cut, haul, junk and split the rest of the necessary supply shortly. The tractor will make this a little easier I expect. Must go get some sleep, tomorrow will come soon enough. Bye for now and take care.

Good Meal

Last night I tried a recipe I've been thinking about for quite a while. Pictures to accompany are posted in the archives. In pic labelled 22/10/07A can be seen a 'Boneless Pork Loin Roast' (this was what was printed on the vac pack) that I have sliced 3 quarters the way through length wise. In the opening I placed dried apricots and pitted prunes alternately. On top of the fruit I smeared apple sauce then closed the roast and placed it in a pan which subsequently was roasted at 325 degrees till done. While the pork was cooking I boiled carrots, beets and swiss chard from the garden. The carrots and beets can be seen in 22/10/07B. You can see a piece of leaf in with the beets. The chard was in an un-pretty pot so I haven't shown it, but it still tasted good! For the last half hour or so of cooking I placed potatoes in with the roasting meat. When all cooked, I placed meat and veggies on platter (left chard in ugly pot) and made gravy from meat drippings in pan. Finished product can be seen in 22/10/07C. The black spots on roast are not scorch marks but rather the prunes showing through. Very tasty meal, but next time may marinate pork in apple juice first. Though there were subtle hints of the fruit, it lost most of it's flavour. May also try stewing next time so meat stays moist and flavours won't be lost. That's it for now - have a great day and keep the faith.

People are Strange!!!!

I spent today loading composted manure. Actually, I loaded a tandem dump truck twice with composted manure at a local horse stable. The loads were taken to Phillip & Julie's place where I later spread it. WOW! its neet what the tractor can do. Upon arriving home I found that someone had visited and decided to: a; cover the truck with mud, b; cover my steps and house with mud, c; leave ruts in my soft driveway and d; chew up my lawn with tire marks. The lawn chewing can be seen in the latest pic at photobucket archive titled Oct. 21/07. Very inconsiderate!!! I still haven't heard any apology or explanation. But, on to other things. I took the picture of the tractor not to show the lawn chewing but to show the colours of the leaves with the tractor in the evening sun. It was really more spectacular than the pic shows. Hopefully tomorrow, if the weather is with me, I'll get a bit more done on the extension. I've neglected it the last few days. The new toy (tractor) has been much more fun and definately more relaxing, but the pouring rain last night reminded me that I must get the house secure before the weather turns more toward winter. The driveway still isn't fixed and I must see about getting that done. I have been thinking of doing it myself, but it would be wiser to let a professional do the job, also the tractor was built to do farm work not construction jobs. Well must go get something to eat and then to bed. Take care, keep well and remember every day is a new begining.

New Babies

The title might be a little weird, but these are my new babies (see 3 new pics in archive). The first is me climbing aboard 'Other Baby', my new 55 hp tractor parked about half way along the driveway. In the upper left hand corner can be seen the tail end of the Suzuki stationwagon. The second pic shows tractor and again in upper left hand side now can be seen (partially) the lettuce beds. Third picture is of Sucki - my new other baby! She's digging into turkey from Thanksgiving Dinner. A lot has been happening in the past little while, but I haven't time to record it all right now. The weather is clear this morning and I must really be out doing work (ploughing and carpenter type). The extension is slowly coming along and I'll have new pics and post shortly. Farming activity is just as intense, especially since the new tractor. Again, I'll try to have more pics in the next post. Now I must get outside and do some work. Take care and hug someone today!

Wow! October already!!

OK, its about time I added another post! So here goes, but first.....new pics have been added to Photobucket. (See the archive link on left side of this page) The first photo - Sept 30 - shows the new kitchen nook with 1 wall of bedroom alcove installed upstairs. The next 3 pictures all show the nook extension during construction and were taken on Sept. 28. In the one titled Zucchini & Squash, you can see the zucchini bed under the beam overhangs and the squash patch in upper centre of the pic. The shot labled 'Henrietta Supervising' shows the grouse instructing and directing construction. It was taken on Sept. 25. The last several days has been taken up with niddly things that aren't really interesting to show such as filling in around the base, cutting firewood and building roof trusses. I have been totally exhausted from the heavy work and only had the energy for these small jobs. Hopefully I'll get a second wind in the next day or so and will push ahead then on the remaining work. If I wasn't so stubborn, I'd hire a contractor, but then I couldn't say the work was all mine even though the aches and pains would probably go away. Ah well, let's see how it goes? Am preparing to retire the truck. Have got 2 new cars, a Honda Accord as a sporty project car and a Suzuki stationwagon as a practical everyday run about. The Mercedes was nice, but not my type and the truck was too hard on gas and falling apart. In different ways, I'll miss them both.
Well must get some sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough and if the weather holds as promised I want to get a lot accomplished. Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the people that surround you.