Archive for the ‘Family – Emma’ Category
August 27, 2011 – Putting Tomaotes Up
Today was a long-anticipated day. Last year, we only had enough tomatoes to can seven quarts (it was a good thing we had canned 89 the previous year and had enough left over to get us through). This looks like a great tomato year. It was wet to get them going, hotter than blazes in July, now bone dry in August (avoids bacterial wilt and fungus).
Martin with the first sweep through the garden of the year looking for ‘maters.
A bushel of Romas waiting to be skinned and peeled.
To enable safe boiling water canning of tomatoes, we add 2 tbsp of lemon juice and a tsp of salt for taste.
We throw the tomatoes in boiling water until their skins crack and then put them in cold water to cool.
Then cut out the stem and slip the skins off.
Take about 1/6 of the tomatoes and crush them and bring them to boil, then slowly add the rest (no need to crush). After all the tomatoes are added, bring to a boil and boil for five minutes.
Put in cans and boil for 50 minutes. Today’s haul was 28 quarts of tomatoes. Seems like a lot, but it’s only about two jars a month. These are a staple in our cuisine. Love them as the base of a minestrone soup and an essential part of red hot dish!
one year ago…”Ag Incubator Ribbon Cutting!”
August 22, 2011 – First Day of School
For the record, first day of school, 2011.
Martin and Daisy.
Emma and Maizy. Who ever thought of confusing dogs by giving them rhyming names!
August 12, 2011 – Putting Away the Apples
We’ve been working at preserving the early Williams Pride apples. It’s a wonderfully tart and sweet apple that ripens this time of year.
So far, from just one tree, we’ve put up 18 quarts of apple pie filling, and numerous bags of dehydrated apples, and eight gallons of frozen sliced apples, awaiting another later variety to make applesauce next month. There’s still a good number of apples left on the tree for more applesauce fixins. Oh yeah, I also found some blueberries at the store for 99 cents a box, so since we missed out on the berries up north, froze about half and canned the other half.
But by far, the best concoction is the apple pie filling. It’s a bit of a hassle to make, but all Linda has to do is make a crust, pour in the filling and bake. Great for potlucks and last minute desserts with little fuss.
one year ago…”Thingamajig Thursday #220″
August 8, 2011 – Emma Returns from Boston
While we were in the Boundary Water, Emma had a much different experience – in and around Boston.
She was a youth leader on a church trip to Boston, to the roots of the Unitarian Universalists and founding fathers (many of them both!). This is the first Universalist church in the US, in Gloucester.
They visited some historical sites important to the beginnings of the church in the US.
They also took in other historical sites, like the with this guide on the Freedom Trail – evidently, if he had to choose, he would choose Emma!
They lounged in the fountains at Frog Pond in Boston Common, bordered by Beacon Street, and next to UU headquarters.
They enjoyed a high-speed, choppy ocean whale-watching (and barf watch as well).
A visit and swim in Walden Pond was also on the agenda.
Finally, who could turn down this wonderful seafood pizza in Boston?
July 16, 2011 – On the Water
One of the attractions of a week on the lake is the clean water.
Martin tests out a kayak.
Linda revels in the water – free to swim anywhere in the lake devoid of motorboats and jetskis.
Martin and I out for a beautiful canoe ride on a calm evening.
Emma and I out another evening soaking up the lake and forests.
July 15, 2011 – Dock Life
A large part of our life on vacation revolves around sitting on the dock.
Emma and Kate greet canoers on their journey.
It’s pretty much a law of the universe that the smallest person gets thrown off the dock.
Dock jumping hardly ever goes out of style.
Neighbors one cabin down fish near sunset.
Our travel compatriots relax on the dock – our cabin is straight up behind the dock.
A view of the dock facing out to the lake.
July 13, 2011 – Emma’s First Parentless Overnight
This year was Emma’s first parentless night in the BWCA.
Here they are at sendoff from the dock.
At their campsite as the parents paddle away.
Is their anything more thrilling than cooking your own wilderness meal?
They had a great campsite overlooking the lake.
They passed hanging the food pack up in the bear tree.
July 8, 2011 – Gothic Garlic
It was garlic pulling day at high hopes today.
Here’s the kid version of the American Gothic with some of the garlic we pulled today.
The parents and their gothic pose.
oe year ago…”Thingamajig Thursday #216″
June 27, 2011 – Emma Visits St. Olaf
Emma’s 2nd college visit was to St. Olaf in Northfield, MN.
It was very kind of them to put up a banner to welcome Emma to the visit day!
I can totally see how this dining hall might be decorated like the Great Hall in Harry Potter.
I’m thinking it might be worthwhile to go back to college for four years, just to get meals like this every day.
The Regents Science hall is one of the most impressive college campus buildings I’ve ever seen. It’s Leed certified and has abundant natural light. This is one of the corner atriums.
It has rooftop access to look out over the surrounding countryside and sit for a spell.
In addition to the new buildings, it’s got some older ones to maintain the character of the place.
Rumor has it the yellow object in the center and middle of the stained glass behind the alter in the chapel is a hockey stick. Way to go Oles!
An amazingly relaxing place to sit is under the wind chime carillon.
Just a bit of the sound from the structure.
one year ago…”On-Farm Chicken Processing”
June 25, 2011 – Emma At Dorian Music Camp
One of Emma’s favorite weeks of the year is Dorian Music Camp at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Nestled in the driftless landscape of trees, streams, hills and forests, it makes a great setting.
She has a week to concentrate on music and hang out with other kids with similar interests.
Dad cleaned up pretty good after being on the trout stream in the morning!
one year ago…”Cherries to Food”
May 31, 2011 – World War I Refresher
Courtesy of Emma and a few members of her AP History class, a short video rehash of the highlights of WW1.
one year ago…”India Looms for Claire’”
May 25, 2011 – Plugging Away on Getting Garden Planted
It’s been a slow start to the gardening season – mainly due to weather, but also due to Linda’s trip to DC and now her trip with Claire to the BWCA wilderness.
So Martin and Emma are enlisted to set some starts out in one of the beds.
one year ago…”Getting Tomatoes In”
May 14, 2011 – Emma’s College Visits Begin – Gustavus
As the last few days have been cold, wet and miserable, it’s nice to get out and start Emma’s college search. It was off to St. Peter Minnesota to Gustavus Adolphus today. Although she’s not sure what she’d exactly like to pursue, it seems most likely that some science-related pursuit with a side of music are in order. So, the list of colleges to look at is slightly different than the first daughter’s.
Almost as soon as we stepped out of the car, Emma was very happy to see a fire pit with comfy Adirondack chairs! She appreciated having these chairs sprinkled throughout campus.
More Emma on campus, after a lunch.
The view from campus down towards St Peter and the Minnesota River valley. We have a few more Lutheran colleges on hills to visit (Luther and St. Olaf) among others over the next few months before getting serious with one and starting to date one.
one year ago…”Closing Out the School Year”
May 3, 2011 – Elegant Farm Girl
Thought it might be cute to take a picture of Emma in her prom dress somewhere on the farm.
Emma with lamb. Not many young ladies in formal dresses have ever been able to hold a lamb.
