Open Hearth Cooking

Ever cook open hearth? I get the joy and pleasure of cooking open hearth a couple times a year where I work seasonly, at Abram’s Delight Museum. Winchester’s oldest home.

Our cabin, circa 1780, is a fine example of early American cabin homes here in our area. They were put up quickly for basic shelter, as crops and orchard planting came next, followed then by adding onto or building the permanent house.

My boss, and Executive Director of the Frederick County/Winchester Historical Society is an expert open hearth cook. I am the able-bodied assistant. One might call me the sous-chef. It is a job I immensely enjoy.

We have cooked in the hot, hot, HOT summer, and in this cold December. We could see our breath in the cabin this December! A hearth fire is cozy in winter but brutal in summer.

Preparing our food and cast iron pots quickly warmed us up whether it be summer or winter. Little relief can be found in the hot summer. As for winter, a step into the other room quickly cooled us down.

We are able to cook every way a modern stove can cook today. That is, we boil, deep fry, turn on a spit, bake, simmer and broil. It is just a matter of know how, and placing the right cast iron pots in their proper places plus keeping good coals on the fire. Truly it sounds easier here than in doing.

I have thought often of how these women managed in these tough times, as we know them. But, these woman did not know any different. They knew what they knew, just as we do now. Not too many years from now folks may wonder how we did what we have done. Who knows? Only God knows. He knows far more than we think we know.

Just the same, folks enjoy visiting the cabin, most especially when we are cooking. Regardless of the season, the food smells good! That is simply because it is good.

Open hearth cooking at its best. Here at Abram’s Delight Museum.
We cook twice a year.
We can do anything on this open hearth that’s cooked in a modern kitchen.
It is hot, hot, HOT in summer.
In winter, the fire keeps us warm.
The food is so good! This is Shepherd’s Pie.
The dining room table.
Sourdough English Muffins.
Cooking Open Hearth is lots of works, yet very satisfying!
Come visit us while we cook old-time recipes!
Come by on our cooking days. We would sure like to show you all around our open-hearth stove and cooking!

Our ‘Little’ Road Trip

A recent road trip with my twinster, my brother-in-law and myself took longer than I thought, but I am glad we went. More importantly, I am glad Kent came.

We had decided to go visit Bill’s and my one son living in Idaho attending school at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. He is studying Nursing.

Since I was “so close” while visiting my twinsters family out west this month, we decided a road trip would be fun. This was no little trip. Kent did nearly all of the driving, while I sat comfortably in the back seat of his smooth-riding, spacious Ram 3500 truck taking pictures.

Well, I have since learned that their idea of “so close” is not the same as my Virginia idea. As it turned out the travel time was over 13 hours, covering over 900 miles! One way! What? That’s close?

After leaving Colorado, we traveled through Wyoming, Utah, and finally to Idaho. We did take a bit longer route going as we spent a night at Bear Lake, Utah.

Known as The Caribbean of the Rockies, Bear Lake shares the Northern Utah and SouthEast Idaho borders. Historically rich as a focal point in the settling of our United States with wagon roads, fur trading, and early settlements. It is a busy summer destination. However, in the middle of November it is very nearly a ghost town.

The beautiful turquoise-colored lake is just as stunning regardless of time of year.

I believe every American should drive cross our beautiful, vast country at least once in their life. The expanse and desolation in those midwestern states was stunning. Miles and miles of nothing but rocks and brown dirt. No towns, one lonely house here and there. Where do they go for milk and eggs?

Three fun days were spent in Idaho with Gordon. Right behind his house is a big potato field! How neat is that? He said the potato trucks lose potatoes all along the road when loaded!

We made a bee line back to Colorado upon departing. And now I can check Idaho off my list of states to visit, with only three states left. Nebraska, Oregon and North Dakota. Almost done with this bucket list.

Happy road trips to you, gentle reader.

Green Mountain Falls, CO.
Vast open land.
To Idaho to visit Gordon.
Beautiful Bear Lake.
Wilderness area in Utah.
Now here is a load of hay!
Wyoming seemed like only rock!
Snake River Gorge, Utah.
Our ‘little’ road trip was great fun!
Back home in Colorado. Thank You, Lord, for safe travels.

A Hike up the Mountain

Or should I say a little hike up the mountain. Visiting my twin sister and her family out West has always been fun and exciting. The Front Range has been home to them for around twenty years.

Hunting, hiking, and horseback riding has been their life since moving out here thirty years ago. Hunting excursions are not my thing, but the hiking and horseback riding have been terrific. We have done both in some of the prettiest wilderness areas I have seen.

All her children are now grown, and we both are grannys. As Mom used to say, “I ain’t the horse I used to be.” So now they are the ones to take the big hunts, hikes and horseback rides. Their lives have enlarged and mine have decreased. Such is life.

So this morning when my way-taller than me nephew invited me to join him on a hike, I was happy to oblige.

“You’ll just need to walk slower though and let me catch my breath. Ok?”

Virginia has lots more air than way up here in Green Mountain Falls, CO, elevation about 7,700ft. While my Winchester, VA home is around 725ft.

A bright morning sky warmed the air and made the patches of snow easier to walk on.

My nephew was a patient guide. He stopped frequently for me, which was helpful because we talked the entire little hike to the big rock. Talking between an ‘ole Aunty and a young nephew is easy and comfortable out on the trails.

A breathtaking view awaited our arrival. My thoughtful nephew guide offered to help me atop the big rock for an even better view. What a fun, special time we had on our little hike this morning. It was wonderful and spectacular.

Our little hike to this rock. Can you see it?
A better view.
My way-taller than me nephew-guide helped me atop the rock.
The wonderful and spectacular view from the rock. Pikes Peak in background.
Pikes Peak is peeping overtop the mountain range.

Election Day

Tomorrow is Election Day. I hope you plan on doing your civic duty and will go or already have voted.

I am working the polls tomorrow. Going to be a long day.

I am voting policy. Like it or not there are only two choices. My vote goes to policy. I do NOT want 1.6 million more illegal aliens into our country.

It is as simple as that.

See you at the polls!