Appo pie

I've only made 4 pies in my life. First one I made, my ex-husband laughed at the crumbly crust and the next 3 were made from that stuff you buy at the store in the freezer section-WELL after he became my ex.

And then, my kids were diagnosed with celiac disease. So, pies became a thing of non-existence in our world. The fear of pie crusts from NORMAL flour was embedded deep within my soul. There was no way I was going to try to make a pie crust from a crumbly flour.

So then there's Don Juan.....he of the silent movie screen presence(really, I should call him Valentino for all his silence) a year ago, at the age of 4, Don Juan was finally learning to speak, after years of "Eh! A-ee-oh!"- Don Juan-ese for "Hey! Apple pie!"

 Last year, he popped  up in the kitchen, watched me for a minute while I made a pumpkin roll, and then blurted out "What cha makin' Mama?", only to squeal with delight upon being told what I was making and then wandering away.To hear him speak is truly a marvel.

So this year, I had no choice(being a sucker for my brown eyed, curly headed Silent Movie Star Curly Joe Don Juan when he is actually able to express a genuine, attainable desire verbally) when Don Juan begged "Mama! Please make me a appo pie! Want appo pie!" I cringed, and was certain he'd never ask for apple pie again, when the dry gluten free crust crumbled faster than my first from-scratch pie had.

So I was amazed when the gluten free pie crust listed in Carol Fenster's newest cook book rolled out and didn't crumble, lifted easily, molded well and shaped to the pie pan. I called a friend to tell her-because she and her family are gluten free and love making pies.

ME: T! I found the perfect gluten free pie crust!

T: Really??!! Can I have the recipe?

Don Juan: Appo pie! Where my appo pie?

Me: 1 cup Carol's blend

Don Juan: Appo pie! Oh appo pie! Where are you appo pie??!!

Me: 3/4 cup tapioca starch

T: She really uses a lot of tapioca starch, doesn't she?

Don Juan: Appo pie! Appo pie! Is it appo pie yet??!!

Me: Yes, she sure does. 1 cup potato starch

Don Juan: Appo pie! Appo pie!

The entire conversation was punctuated in this manner. And it just amused me to hear him sing song through the house about his 'appo pie'.

The pie came out of the oven. He spied his apple pie. He squealed with delight.

"It's a appo pie! Me wanna eat me appo pie now! Gotta wait to tomorrow for the appo pie! Cover my appo pie Mama! Love appo pie! Slurp! Appo pie mine all gone!"

His grammar is atrocious. His joy is infectious. The tears streaming down my face as I hear my boy use full sentences all the time are thankful.

Even if the crust crumbles, it'll be the best appo pie in the world, and I am certain, a new tradition for the holidays in our home.

Be a part of history

The 2010 Capitol Christmas tree came through our town today. I had no clue until a friend texted me. So, we loaded up and headed into town.

The tree is from the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It is 7 stories high, and is approximately 85 years old. They give it 65 gallons of water a day. 

The kids got to climb up to see it. For some reason, it reminded me of when the Liberty trains came through in 1976. I was 6 years old that summer. I found myself wondering today if my children(especially the younger ones) will remember this day. 

It's already lit. Don Juan wanted to touch it, but wasn't allowed. I was shocked at the military presence for a CHRISTMAS TREE. Has humanity sunk that low? That we have to guard a tree that will sit in front of the Capitol building?

Waiting in line to sign the banner.

Pickle somehow managed to escape the house with just this light weight jacket. I think this is the last picture I have of her actually smiling instead of shivering.

Cactus Jack puts his John Hancock on the banner.

The entire town turned out for the event. Hot cocoa, crowds of kids sitting on the courthouse steps, hugging friends, smiling, laughing. It actually choked me up to be there. I don't know how many of them thought about it, but they were part of history today. How much of our lives do we have a hand in history and we don't realize it?

It was a good morning. My kids loved it. Even Princess Crankenestein. As usual, she was Royalty.

Fiber obsessions

It's no secret that ever since our house fire 4 years ago, I've become addicted to natural fiber for my crafting. It reached a point where my husband informed me that I could no longer hide my desire to take the next step-spinning my own yarns. So, considering how much he loves me, he took me to a fabulous place and bought me my very own spinning wheel-an Ashford Kiwi now named Shaun-after Shaun the Sheep. I'm already looking for Rumpelstiltskin. :)

He also indulged me more and bought me a sheep. Yes, I have my own sheep to sheer in the summer. Her name is Zinger Binger.
My friend Catherine came up a few months ago and showed us how to process our own fleece. She brought me 5 raw sheep fleeces and one alpaca/llama fleece.

This is a raw fleece shorn off a sheep. It's pretty nasty. Ticks, leaves, feces, twigs, mud. I put it in my washing machine in 160 degree water, with some Dawn dish washing liquid, after I shook out as much crud as I could, picking out the stuff I could see.

This is after 3 washings, and picking it clean after each wash, then two complete rinses.

Here I have carded the fleece I washed and picked clean yesterday. Carding is essentially like combing the wool, getting it lined up to draft and then spin.

After you card it, you roll it into a rolag, ready to draft.

Here I have drafted it-it's basically teasing the fibers apart, ready to spin. It makes it easier to spin smoothly this way.

And here is yesterday's nasty fleece spun on the bobbin, a nice smooth single ply. I am still learning, so my yarn goes from fairly consistent to really thin and back again. I'll get it right! :)

Young love

The weather is being it's usual bi-polar Wyoming weather. Snow on Saturday, and Sunday and today it's supposed to get up in the mid 40s. Then up into the upper 50s Thursday and Friday. Sigh.

Don Juan is on cloud 9. Tomorrow the woman(girl) he loves will be in his life permanently.

Back in June, our former pastor announced his intent to resign as our pastor. It was a shock to everyone, but we understood he was following God's call elsewhere. So as a church we got busy, looking for someone else to call to lead us. The deacons found someone, called him to come preach adn to see if Wyoming could be home to him. He brought with him his family-a lovely wife and 3 beautiful daughters, all in the age range of my kiddos. The girls were ecstatic: new friends to play with! The boys initially were not impressed. Girls? Bosh. We don't need no stinkin' girls! And then Don Juan met Miss Redhead. And promptly declared her to be his own.

Keep in mind both these kids are 5. Yet, my son has declared he is going to marry Miss Redhead. He followed her around with serious intent the entire week the family was here. The last Saturday she was here, she broke her arm. A cow stepped on it. Hey. It's Wyoming. What did you expect? That last Sunday, my son, ever the charming suitor, helped Miss Redhead everywhere, expressing profound concern for her injury and doing his mighty 5 best to protect it from further injury. He was devastated when Miss Redhead and her family left.

We had opportunity to visit the local Greek festival a few weeks after Miss Redhead and herfamily left to go back home. Don Juan had a line of little girls waiting to dance with him.

(not Miss Redhead-this is one of the dancing girls)

 I was mildly stunned at my son's charming magnetism. I stated "I thought you were going to marry Miss Redhead." to which my son replied "Well yeah, but I like a lotsa girls Mama." All righty then. My son is a playa. God help me.

And the cheers were mighty when he learned that she was coming here permanently-that her Daddy had accepted our church's call. He immediately began drawing pictures of their impending wedding.

Yeah. I'm blessed with forward thinking children.

When we announced that we needed to pray for them to find a place to live, he announced that they could come live with us. :/

And now, he is counting down the hours until he sees her again tomorrow night at AWANA. All I am hearing from him is "Miss Redhead. Miss Redhead. Miss redhead this, Miss Redhead that." It's rather precious. He's most intent and sincere in his pursuit of her.

I'm growing concerned that her father will need to be asking my 5 year old what his intentions toward his daughter are. And I'm very concerned over the fact that my son seems to have a propensity for liking girls. A LOT of girls. All at once.

Holiday traditions?

It's that time of year. We're approaching the holidays quickly. What do you do that you consider tradition?

Thanksgiving has become a mish-mash. We're starting some new things this year.
My Teenager requested deer roast instead of turkey, and a more 'traditional' meal, as in "pilgrim" traditional. That really surprised me, because she's always been the one to resist traditional family events or things. Perhaps being in the girls school has changed her perspective on things. So we'll be doing deer roast, potatoes, acorn squash and cranberry dishes-the salsa I posted already, and one that I just cannot live without at the holidays that my Mom makes-a cranberry jello, made with the pulp from fresh cranberries, cherry jello, celery and walnuts. Two pans for Mom and one for the rest of ya'll. :)

And I think that this year we will start the season off with a movie fest. What movies does your family prefer for the holidays?
We'll watch Christmas with the Kranks(based on John Grisham's Skipping Christmas)
White Christmas(can't leave out Danny Kay sing Sisters with Bing, now can we?)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles-I love Steve Martin!
Scrooged. I can't help it.
We've also got A Christmas Carol with both George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart. I prefer Stewart's version.

And we kick off the season reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It chokes me up every year.

So, what do you do to start the holiday season?

cranberry salsa

We're adding this to our food line up this year for the holidays!

Cranberry Salsa

1 orange, chopped finely
4 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/2 cup liquid sweetener (honey works well)
1 t ground ginger
1.5 t red pepper flakes

Mix together all of the ingredients in a small bowl. For best results, make the day ahead and let mellow in the fridge. This can be frozen for later use.

Goat love Parts 1 and 2

My life is just warped.

I thought that James Taylor-the little man that we debated forever on keeping as a buck but finally banded the very day my Nubian doe named Stargarzer went into season-had managed to breed Star before he was banded. I wasn't TOO devastated by this. Jamey would have made pretty babies. And his temperament is one I would not mind passing on at all. He is PRECIOUS!

This morning, I went out, only to be informed that Cebu was "barking" at Star. (making love sick boy goat noises) And yes, there he was, hanging over the side of the fence, tongue hanging out in all his depraved glory. Don't ask what ELSE was hanging out. I just might tell you. What's worse, the hussy was trying to get over the fence to him. I called our friend with the only known dairy bucks in the county and asked if we could bring Star over. I don't mind late March babies. We debated..........Starbuck for my Stargazer-he throws spotty babies. He is SNG's Twinkling of an Eye's Daddy and she is just the PRETTIEST little thing-looks like a long eared baby deer, all soft fawn colored and spotty.
OR
Handy Manny-a Nigerian Dwarf. he's stunningly gorgeous. Dark chocolate brown, white blaze on his side, muscular, tiny, looks like a wild animal off the African savanna.

We decided on Manny. They'll make mini Nubians. And then perhaps we can get a mini category at the Fair going.

So,we loaded Star up in the back of the pick up(I so need to find a good used bumper pull stock trailer) and took her to spend an afternoon  with another boyfriend. They have so many don't you know?

We opened the gate to Manny, Star rushed in, and Manny jumped on her. Finished in 3.6 seconds(they really aren't known for their longevity) and THEN decided to say hi.

Hussy animals. Not even a "How ya doing sailor? How long you in town for?"

Just............

Sex.

I'm still recovering from the shock of it all.

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So I had to post this one.

Last year, in the fall, we acquired 2 new goats, May Surprise and her foster daughter Amazing Grace. (That's TWO goats I've had on my property named Amazing Grace. The second one is much more graceful as well as amazing). Pure Nubian, gorgeous conformation. She has but two flaws.
1) The original owner hadn't the heart to de-horn her. So, unfortunately, despite her stellar breeding and blood lines, I cannot show her.
2) She's taken the True Love Waits pledge.

Yes. My goat is saving herself for marriage. Or something like it.

Last year, she showed signs of being in season. So we took her to the brdder. they put her with Handy Manny, as a very young buck, with hopes he'd breed her. No such luck. She backed her rump into a corned and kept it there the entire afternoon she was with Manny. When we brought her home, she cried piteously and made as if she were still in heat. Hussy. We put her with Cebu the Sad Goat. he still didn't get happy, because she just kept that tail tucked down low.

Yesterday morning, Cebu was making those love sick boy goat noises at her and she was responding. So we took her to the breeder again, and put her with Starbuck(who has already bred one of my does- last New year's eve, producing Twinkling of an Eye, Glory's Hallelujah and Glory's Mercy). And she promptly backed into the corner, despite the fact that she was OBVIOUSLY in full standing heat. She certainly like my husband's attention......tramp goats. I tell ya, I have tramps for farm animals. They adore my husband. I wonder...does that mean he is a beast? ;)

So we left her there overnight. This morning, the breeder texted, telling me that Starbuck was still flirting, but Grace was in HIS house, refusing to come out and refusing to let him in. Sigh. I really don't want to get rid of her. She is just precious in personality and looks. She is truly one of my favorite does n the property to this point. But, Darling put his foot down and said "No baby this year, she GOES. I'm not feeding lawn ornaments."

While dealing with the agony of a doe in obvious heat but not wanting the attention of any buck in  three counties, the snow started to fall. I texted the breeder(who also happens to be a good personal friend, so we have tons of good giggles over the hussy behavior of our animals) and told her I had to run to the post office and then I'd come get her. About 20 minutes into my errands, the breeder texted and let me know that she was FINALLY letting Starbuck woo her, and attempt to breed her. I say attempt because last year, Starbuck tried to jump his fence and got tangled up, tearing ligaments. They thought they were going to have to  put him down. So when it gets cold, his leg seizes up and he has trouble being, well, a buck. The other issue was that they were outdoors, and with the swiftly falling snow, had gotten VERY wet, so they were slippery and he was having trouble mounting her. I spewed coffee. Seriously.

Pretty soon, she texted back with a decision...........she and her husband went out to the buck pen, and gathered up Grace and Starbuck and taken them to the barn, and were in the process of.............drying them off so they could breed.

O-o.

Just when I think homesteading couldn't possibly get any stranger.........