I have no picture for todays blog because my pc with all my pictures has been moved to my husbands desk and it is not connected to the internet, because I have no idea how to do that. Therefore I must do my blog on my laptop which is connected to the internet because my brillant 19 year old son did that for me months ago. BUT at this time my laptop does not have my Kodak Easy Share software loaded on it thus no pictures.
Because, after all, the laptop was suppossed to stay upstairs in my library and only be used to write my book.
Why, you might ask did I move my pc to Keiths desk in the first place ? Well, it was doing all that dramatic moaning and groaning, pre-crash noises (it is 6 years old you know) and I needed to make room on MY desk for the brand new pc we bought over 3 months ago but were too busy to install.
So last night I finally started to install the new pc. Really how hard could it be? You just match up the blue cord to the blue port etc..right ? But the keyboard would not work, then I got the keyboard to work but not the mouse. Then the dang thing would not turn off. I struggled for two hours, sprayed it with PAM , set it aflame and went to bed. This morning I called Dell and bonded with a man named Emene whom I could not understand who (whom ? what ?!) could not understand me.
Over the course of the next hour and 1/2 he said something about my mother which ticked me off. Turned out it was my motherboard he was unhappy with. A technician of some sort is going to show up sometime and do something to my new computer so it might work. When we were all done my good frined Emene asked me why I had only bought a one year warranty instead of the five year warranty. I told him it was because I was already 96 and didn't plan on being here in five years. He did not laugh
Lighten up Emene.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Dirty Pig Love
Some days you get the cute scenes but you forget your camera inside. Other days you have the camera but the animals are acting dull as Brad Pitt in the movie " A River Runs Through It". But then every once in a while you get one of those great shots.
Our Registered Red Wattle Hog Lady Anne and 3 week old piglet who we will obviously
have to name Kissy Face.
have to name Kissy Face.
The Bristol in Bucktown
Last Thursday, May 6, Keith and I left Dodge and ended up in Bucktown. We made whole pork deliveries to Green Grocer, Old Town Social , Then Elysian, and finally to The Bristol. This was just our third delivery to the Bristol but the most enjoyable one as we decided to spend the night in that Chicago neighborhood and return to the farm the next day.
Of course, since we were in Rome we needed to do as the Romans do, so after settling in at Rays Bucktown B&B ( my next blog will focus on that funked up place) we headed back to The Bristol for dinner.
Voted one of the top ten new restaurants in America by GQ Magazine
http://www.gq.com/food-travel/alan-richman/201001/best-new-restaurants-2010#slide=9, it is in my opinion also the one with the coolest sign. I mean just look at the way it runs up the side of the building all lined up perfectly perpendicular with the light pole. This was no accident I can assure you
And, and AND...the food was a work of art as well. These two farmers (still talking about Keith and me, try to keep up) were exposed to so many new flavor combinations, it made the rubber on our chore boots curl up with delight.
First though, I must talk of the service. Well there was none.
Service is something you get from strangers. We instead received a reception fit for pig farmers of the Queen . Greeted at the door like we were good friends coming by for a visit, we were then asked, "Where would you like to sit ? " WHAT ?!?
You want me to choose what is best for us instead of what is best for the waitress, waiter or chef ? How cool was that.? I choose a window seat as I love to watch people, but my first inclination was a seat in the kitchen. I wanted to watch the magic being created. Maybe next time
We sat at the comfortable butcher block table and then we met our server who was super friendly, but knew when to give us space, was well versed in the menu, but knew not to push, and was attentive to our every need, without getting in trouble with the law. She was so wonderful and her name was...dangit ! Dangit all to Hades ! I've forgotten. Red ponytail, huge genuine smile. Oh wait, I have a picture.
If you know her please refresh my over 50 memory. I'd love to send her a real Thank You card.
So then the food began arriving. All of it fantastic but I must elaborate about the dessert because I am the dessert kind (insert shock and awe here). Called Chocolate Sabayon which is French for Chocolate that will make you froth at the mouth like a big fat Red Wattle Boar in heat, it started out innocent enough. Chocolate mousse in a glass cup.Then one noticed the drizzle of olive oil and the glistening diamonds of chunky sea salt. Hmmm? One might ask. Then they bring the homemade Nutter Butter cookies which is the only acceptable utensil for scooping up the posh pudding. OMG. (I never say that, its so dumb but it works here,) OMG !! The taste was so rich, so thick so beyond chocolate.
And I washed it down with more wine. I was one happy , relaxed and totally satisfied (food, people, I am still talking only about food.) farm wife.
Thanks very much Chris Pandel and all the staff at The Bristol. You have no idea how proud we are to say we provide some of the pork for your outstanding restaurant.
And now a few pics of the Bucktown Neighborhood.
A great place to visit and perhaps live. Apartments are available
Of course, since we were in Rome we needed to do as the Romans do, so after settling in at Rays Bucktown B&B ( my next blog will focus on that funked up place) we headed back to The Bristol for dinner.
Voted one of the top ten new restaurants in America by GQ Magazine
http://www.gq.com/food-travel/alan-richman/201001/best-new-restaurants-2010#slide=9, it is in my opinion also the one with the coolest sign. I mean just look at the way it runs up the side of the building all lined up perfectly perpendicular with the light pole. This was no accident I can assure you
And, and AND...the food was a work of art as well. These two farmers (still talking about Keith and me, try to keep up) were exposed to so many new flavor combinations, it made the rubber on our chore boots curl up with delight.
First though, I must talk of the service. Well there was none.
Service is something you get from strangers. We instead received a reception fit for pig farmers of the Queen . Greeted at the door like we were good friends coming by for a visit, we were then asked, "Where would you like to sit ? " WHAT ?!?
You want me to choose what is best for us instead of what is best for the waitress, waiter or chef ? How cool was that.? I choose a window seat as I love to watch people, but my first inclination was a seat in the kitchen. I wanted to watch the magic being created. Maybe next time
We sat at the comfortable butcher block table and then we met our server who was super friendly, but knew when to give us space, was well versed in the menu, but knew not to push, and was attentive to our every need, without getting in trouble with the law. She was so wonderful and her name was...dangit ! Dangit all to Hades ! I've forgotten. Red ponytail, huge genuine smile. Oh wait, I have a picture.
If you know her please refresh my over 50 memory. I'd love to send her a real Thank You card.
So then the food began arriving. All of it fantastic but I must elaborate about the dessert because I am the dessert kind (insert shock and awe here). Called Chocolate Sabayon which is French for Chocolate that will make you froth at the mouth like a big fat Red Wattle Boar in heat, it started out innocent enough. Chocolate mousse in a glass cup.Then one noticed the drizzle of olive oil and the glistening diamonds of chunky sea salt. Hmmm? One might ask. Then they bring the homemade Nutter Butter cookies which is the only acceptable utensil for scooping up the posh pudding. OMG. (I never say that, its so dumb but it works here,) OMG !! The taste was so rich, so thick so beyond chocolate.
And I washed it down with more wine. I was one happy , relaxed and totally satisfied (food, people, I am still talking only about food.) farm wife.
Thanks very much Chris Pandel and all the staff at The Bristol. You have no idea how proud we are to say we provide some of the pork for your outstanding restaurant.
And now a few pics of the Bucktown Neighborhood.
A great place to visit and perhaps live. Apartments are available
Sunday, May 9, 2010
To Thelma Lu, Thanks for Everything.
Dear Mom,
Its been 12 years since we celebrated Mothers Day together and I miss you. I miss the way you would let the hem out on my blue and white plaid uniform skirt, every year to make it last just a little longer . I miss how you would keep adding water to the one pot of coffee you would allow yourself t make in the morning and then how you would reuse the grounds in the evening. I miss the way you would hide the red plastic wrapped bulk chuck of bologna in the frig behind the crisper drawers to keep your kids and husband from eating a weeks worth of luncheon meat in a single sitting, as we had been known to do.
I miss the sound of playing cards slapping on the formica table as you competed in yet another pinocle match with your "hackling" friends. I miss watching you endlessly rock my little sister Bernie Jo after yet another long night of caring for your seriously ill baby. I miss the way you would curl our hair with socks, and then bobby pins and later in the more "prosperous" years, pink foam curlers. I miss the way you called our dad "Shagnasty" (among other things )and I miss the way you would say "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out !" whenever one of us threatened to run away.
I miss how well you could wear dark red lipstick.
I miss how you made a weeks salary last a month, how you loved Chinese food, how you thought Shower To Shower bath powder was as good as any expensive perfume. I miss how you would write me letters when I was at college or living 1000 miles away in South Dakota, or when you knew I was going through a tough time and needed some encouragement. I really miss the Maxine cards you would send me.
I miss your harsh smokers cough, even though it was in the end, the cigarettes that took you from us so early. That cough was unique to you and it was how we kids knew we were never lost at the huge KMart store. If we could hear you cough we knew we were safe and close by. Mostly though I just miss you and I'm sorry we did not have more Mothers Days together. But you are ALWAYS and forever, in my heart.
I love you mommy.
Your Madame Butterfly
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Castration Gyration
Every year I add some new skill to my middle age collection of hobbies. Last year I learned to use a reciprocating saw. The year before that, the table saw. This year, the castration scalpel. No, I do not see a trend.
Baby pigs have testicles, if they are male, and the story goes that if left in place they will work well as breeders but be a disaster for the fry pan. EVERYONE says you must castrate baby pigs if you are going to sell the meat. But a couple more inventive folk think this may not be true. They believe the boar taint can be bred out over time.So we are in full experimentation mode here on South Pork Ranch, because really, we hate doing stuff just because EVERYONE else is. We are keeping one boar intact to use for meat for ourselves. In the meantime I am castrating the others.
The first two times were a little tricky since helpers of mine, the MEN in my family, kept running away screaming every time I brought out the glistening, sharp and oh so perfectly curved little blade. But they got better. First the men restrained the piglets by holding them in thier laps, then I restrained the men with a ton of duct tape.
We also moved the babies away from the mommies with this cool box and castrated them out of earshot. After seeing how close Kyle got to Keith with the tractor spears, I did conduct an immediate farm safety inservice.It is titled 'Be careful You idiots !" , and is available on Power Point.
The box kept us from getting eaten by mommy sows as well. Getting them in the box was easy. With a little sour milk everything is easy with pigs. Each time I do this little procedure I get better, the stress on the little ones is less. It is the only "alteration" we do on the pigs . We do not clip tails or notch ears, we do not cut their little eye teeth. I hope one day to stop castrating as well. I will need volunteers to taste the boars meat in about 3 months. You can sign up anytime
Baby pigs have testicles, if they are male, and the story goes that if left in place they will work well as breeders but be a disaster for the fry pan. EVERYONE says you must castrate baby pigs if you are going to sell the meat. But a couple more inventive folk think this may not be true. They believe the boar taint can be bred out over time.So we are in full experimentation mode here on South Pork Ranch, because really, we hate doing stuff just because EVERYONE else is. We are keeping one boar intact to use for meat for ourselves. In the meantime I am castrating the others.
The first two times were a little tricky since helpers of mine, the MEN in my family, kept running away screaming every time I brought out the glistening, sharp and oh so perfectly curved little blade. But they got better. First the men restrained the piglets by holding them in thier laps, then I restrained the men with a ton of duct tape.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Purdy Girl
Just two days into our week and man are we cramming a lot in. Farm cleanup prior to pasture walks planned in June and July, record keeping updates and filing in preparation for our organic re-certification survey due any day, juggling of vehicles and staff (sons Jason and Kyle) as we plan tomorrow to deliver one milk cow, drop off three live hogs , pick up two dead, I mean processed, hogs as well as pick up two processed beef, at TWO different locker plants no less.
While Keith runs livestock all over three different counties, I'll be cleaning freezers and rearranging meat. Being just 5 foot tall this process always worries me. Falling into the freezer and knocking myself out is a real fear of mine. Not that I am worried so much about my own death but any time a wife is found folded like a chubby pretzel at the bottom of the chest freezer, the husband gets a few glares. Keith is too nice a guy for this kind of stress so I think I'll go stash my cell phone in the freezer now while I am thinking about it
We also continue to tell everyone we can about our availability of raw milk since there are only 11 days left until our last Milk Truck pick up by Foremost Farms USA. Crazy Monkey Business.
AND...Purdy has not yet had her babies nor have any of the other 3 pregnant goats. I still say triplets which is rare for goats but common for me to say.
On Thursday we get a break. After delivering meat to three restaurants and two grocers Keith and I are going to spend the night at Rays Bucktown B &B in Chicago. http://www.raysbucktownbandb.com/
Son Jason will do two sets of chores. We plan to eat at least two of the restaurants we sell to. Time to check out the magic our chef friends are performing with our farms meat. We'll get home Friday afternoon and my weekend night shifts at the hospital will begin again Finnagan.
We are never ever never EVER bored.
While Keith runs livestock all over three different counties, I'll be cleaning freezers and rearranging meat. Being just 5 foot tall this process always worries me. Falling into the freezer and knocking myself out is a real fear of mine. Not that I am worried so much about my own death but any time a wife is found folded like a chubby pretzel at the bottom of the chest freezer, the husband gets a few glares. Keith is too nice a guy for this kind of stress so I think I'll go stash my cell phone in the freezer now while I am thinking about it
We also continue to tell everyone we can about our availability of raw milk since there are only 11 days left until our last Milk Truck pick up by Foremost Farms USA. Crazy Monkey Business.
AND...Purdy has not yet had her babies nor have any of the other 3 pregnant goats. I still say triplets which is rare for goats but common for me to say.
Son Jason will do two sets of chores. We plan to eat at least two of the restaurants we sell to. Time to check out the magic our chef friends are performing with our farms meat. We'll get home Friday afternoon and my weekend night shifts at the hospital will begin again Finnagan.
We are never ever never EVER bored.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The lights are on, but no one is home. YEAH !
Woke up. Got out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head. Then I realized the house was shhhhhhhh......QUIET !!!!! I plodded down the stairs after my post night shift nap and still...nothing. Oh the usual guinea hens screaming because dog Freddie refuses to stop herding them, and a few roosters complaining about lack of access to the currently penned in chickens, and yeah somebodys donkey was braying like a drunk Mick staggering out of O'Laughlains in Ballyvaughan, but other than all that, it was quiet.
I was all alone dahlink and oh do I love that ! What to do first ??!?! Watch a a movie ? I did. The last third of Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. So cute. They make the Dugger family look like amateurs. Then I checked email and sent off more pics of our For Sale Cows to a few more email requesters.Then I spent 20 or so minutes trying desperately to find my blog buddy Walter Jeffries. He was moving his blog a few days ago to Wordpress but those folks were no help. I suppose I could actually call Walter but that seems so weird since we only know each other in a blog sense.
Then I saw a butterfly outside. Wait, no, it was garbage our dog Fannie was throwing up in the air. Well not throwing up like an emesis, I mean tossing into the air after chewing into pieces. Sheeesh, you people are so literal.
Then I remembered I was alone again and not wanting to waste any more of that precious time I began to blog. I love blogging when I am alone. No one chatting with me about what has to be added to our massive daily schedule, no one reminding me about yet another paperwork deadline. (Finishing off the Organic Re-Certification paperwork for MOSA was a killer this past week), no one telling me I'd better call the locker plants to make sure all our meat would be ready for the 5 Chicago deliveries we have this next week. Oh wait, I was the one talking to ME about all those things. No wonder I can't focus. Not only do I have to deal with all my own voices in my head, I was talking with a friend of mine at work last night about the movie Sylbil and now I have all HER voices in my head. I can't remember the names of the two male split personalities she had of the 16 total. Anyone ? Beuhler ?
Criminy. I just wasted all that time and now my family is home. Guess I won't train Nora the horse.to jump 6 foot fences or repaint the rusting "Truck Lettering "sign my father painted over 20 years ago. I 'll do that NEXT time I am all alone. Sure, I will.
Really, does anyone know where I can find Walter Jeffries ?!?!?
I was all alone dahlink and oh do I love that ! What to do first ??!?! Watch a a movie ? I did. The last third of Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. So cute. They make the Dugger family look like amateurs. Then I checked email and sent off more pics of our For Sale Cows to a few more email requesters.Then I spent 20 or so minutes trying desperately to find my blog buddy Walter Jeffries. He was moving his blog a few days ago to Wordpress but those folks were no help. I suppose I could actually call Walter but that seems so weird since we only know each other in a blog sense.
Then I saw a butterfly outside. Wait, no, it was garbage our dog Fannie was throwing up in the air. Well not throwing up like an emesis, I mean tossing into the air after chewing into pieces. Sheeesh, you people are so literal.
Then I remembered I was alone again and not wanting to waste any more of that precious time I began to blog. I love blogging when I am alone. No one chatting with me about what has to be added to our massive daily schedule, no one reminding me about yet another paperwork deadline. (Finishing off the Organic Re-Certification paperwork for MOSA was a killer this past week), no one telling me I'd better call the locker plants to make sure all our meat would be ready for the 5 Chicago deliveries we have this next week. Oh wait, I was the one talking to ME about all those things. No wonder I can't focus. Not only do I have to deal with all my own voices in my head, I was talking with a friend of mine at work last night about the movie Sylbil and now I have all HER voices in my head. I can't remember the names of the two male split personalities she had of the 16 total. Anyone ? Beuhler ?
Criminy. I just wasted all that time and now my family is home. Guess I won't train Nora the horse.to jump 6 foot fences or repaint the rusting "Truck Lettering "sign my father painted over 20 years ago. I 'll do that NEXT time I am all alone. Sure, I will.
Really, does anyone know where I can find Walter Jeffries ?!?!?
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