Open Hearth Cooking

Have you experienced open-hearth cooking? Either by participating or watching demonstrations? What did you think?

We cook in our cabin that is part of our Abram’s Delight Museum at least a couple times of year. In the hot, hot summer and the cold month of December.

This year because of our Country’s 250th Celebration we have cooked on several additional special events. Have you celebrated our wonderful country’s 250th birthday this year in one way or another? It has been a busy, joyful year here Virginia celebrating. But I digress.

The cabin at Abram’s Delight Museum, Winchester, VA
Our cabin draws lots of attention.

Built around 1780, our cabin originally stood in downtown Winchester. Doomed for demolition the Historical Society purchased it and moved it on the property of Abram’s Delight Museum to give tourists a real life look at homes on the frontier.

Our kitchen work space where delicious meals are prepared.

It is fun demonstrating how our kitchen is able to perform every type of cooking a modern one can, sans the microwave. That is we can broil, bake, fry, simmer, boil and roast.

Our busy oven/stove at work.
Hot coals are placed under cast iron pots and for baking, coals are placed on the lids as well.

It takes a good amount of time for a fire to build good coals, which is what is needed for cooking. So, it can be a bit troublesome for us since the fire is started the same day as the event. Good dry wood is always helpful for coals.

We cook some real delicious food. In the forefront is a yummy Apple Pie. Behind it is Macaroni and cheese!
Brats are frying to perfection here.
Folks enjoy watching us cook, and ask many questions.
Getting a badly needed new roof this year!
It is hot work in the summer and enjoyable in the winter.
Heating a cup of water by the fire.

You are invited to join us should you be in the area in cooking day!

We would love to have you join us!
Happy Semiquincentennial, America! AKA: 250th Birthday!🇺🇸

The Real Feel of Retirement

My husband retired this past February. We are nearly 70 years old, so I would say it is time to end that phase of our lives.

What I would also say though is that it has struck me in ways I never really thought about. Such as, how do I describe my husband when people ask me about him? For nearly fifty years I would say, He is in Telecommunications, in Sales. Now what do I say?

The usual remark, He’s retired suffices, I suppose. He was so good at his job that that answer just does not seem enough. Is that what it is? Too simplistic? I’m not sure I know yet.

We purchased a couple rental properties years ago. Because he traveled so extensively, I managed them. By Gods good grace, they both were vacant this summer, and now my husband is the Property Manager.

I stay out of them entirely. He seems to enjoy this new responsibility, and I am grateful. They fill the void retirement created, as one of the properties needs a good deal of fix-up.

The other issue is just being retired. How odd it is to simply say that. The paycheck has stopped, period. That is big. Life is different in retirement. It is a whole new ballgame that I am still trying to figure out. We both are for that matter. Filling our time, paying bills, how to manage our household and farm, are just a few of the big questions to answer.

I recall a finance man I listened to for years over the radio, Dan Celia, who passed away in 2022, saying that retirement depends on what one has built over the years, because eventually the paycheck stops. Boy, does it. It is what one has built and saved that carries into retirement. I am thankful, so thankful we took his advice. It has made all the difference in these, our retirement years. I believe we shall get adjusted to this new phase of life just fine.

Here is an adage to surely live by:

Prepare for tomorrow today.

Triplets!

She seemed quite rotund for her first time pregnancy, the little dwarf goat named, Cookie, that our daughter and her husband own.

There is such excitement in waiting for a new baby of any sort. Anticipation is such fun. Being a first timer for baby goats made our daughter pretty anxious as birthing time neared for Cookie.

She knew the signs to watch for and had her birthing stall all ready. She’s going to be a good midwife I thought to myself last week when I was there for a visit.

As we were preparing lunch , we heard an odd sound from outside.

“What was that?” Helen said. I did not know, when suddenly she exclaimed, ” It’s Cookie!”

She was right, for Cookie had birthed her baby in front of the grain barn.

Helen quickly got to work rubbing down the big baby with a towel.

She needed to be in her birthing stall away from all other livestock. So we pushed and pulled Cookie into her stall, where she gave birth to number 2 baby.

Husband Jon and I were running around doing birthing jobs, while Helen tended to momma and babies.

Number two was healthy and responding well, when suddenly Helen announced the third baby coming!

Helen did a fine job of the attending midwife to momma goat and her sweet newborn babies.

To me birth of any sort seems a grand miracle. You did a great job, Helen, and Cookie is one good momma!

Cookie and her three healthy babies.
Helen was a fine goat midwife!
The first born was the largest, and a male.
Cookie tending to her newborn babies.
Cookie needs some nourishment!
Hello world, I’m the third-born baby!
Aren’t my babies wonderful?
Cookie tending lovingly to her babies.
Welcome to the world cute baby goats!

It was great being a midwife assistant!

Oh, the joy and mystery of birth! Thank God.

Save Your Seeds?

Do you save flower seeds for next season? Several garden flowers and vegetables are easy to save their seeds.

Cosmos. These simple, fun flowers come up all over if given the chance.

Cosmos seeds are easy to save. They grow happily anywhere it seems. However, late in season mildew can be a problem on their leaves. Spray if you desire.

Leave a few flowers to dry on the stem.
Look at all those seeds from part of the seed head!

Coreopsis are just as easy.

It is important to allow the seed head to completely dry on its stem.
Seeds come right off when dried.
Simply dropping seed back in flower bed.

Truly, I have success with sprinkling the seed simply back in the bed. They will winter over and produce next season. I also put some in a marked envelope, save for next season or share with friends.

Lettuce gone to seed.
See the tiny lettuce seeds?

Allowing lettuce to go to seed will produce enough to share with others next season.

Note: Saving vegetable seeds works only with Heirloom plants. Hybrids are not dependable, only purebred seeds.

Dill is another easy one.
Beautiful flower head of dill.
Drying sunflower.

These big, full sunflowers heads dry on their stems. I will cut them, save some seed and leave the flower head in the garden for birds. It is fun watching the Goldfinches eat from them.

There is much joy in sharing too. Would you like some? Let me know. I would be happy to mail some for your garden!

Happy end-of-season to you!