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Kirkwood ag auction

Aren't they handsome?

So this morning I went to the Kirkwood Ag Auction.

Twice a week, horse-drawn wagons line up along with pickup trucks and trailers while they take turns pulling their loads of produce through the auction house. Box lots are auctioned right off the wagons as bidders stand to one side behind an iron rail. After the wagon loads, selling progresses through the aisles of hand carts. Anyone can buy, as long as you need a LOT of any one thing. And all sorts of people are buying - from people like me who would like some produce to "put up", to folks who have stands at farmers markets. At this time of year, you can find quite a few mums and pumpkins there. 

I was looking for hot peppers, apples, and cabbage. I did buy a box of habaneros so I can make some hot sauce, but would like to go back and see if I can't get some hungarian wax peppers. They make a wonderfully mild "hot" sauce - just slightly hot while still mild enough to be able to enjoy the flavor of the pepper. I also bought a box of cabbage and a bushel of Crispin apples. So it looks like applesauce, hot sauce, and sauerkraut will be on my to-do list this weekend. I've been wanting to try making sauerkraut and if it works, late cabbages will be on my list of things to grow next year along with more hungarian wax peppers. 

Now, those of you that know me know that I normally don't start conversations with total strangers. But I met a couple of very nice people while we were all standing around freezing our butts off. One was an older gentleman who had the most beautiful hand-carved walking stick. He told us he carves them himself and has quite a few of them at home. An Amish lady and I were both standing in a pool of sunshine trying to stay warm when we struck up a conversation. She was there because they raise mums on their farm and had brought a load of them to be sold. They raise most of their own food and have a greenhouse to extend the season. Another woman I met is the gardener for her church and was there to buy mums and pumpkins to decorate with. As we talked more, it turns out we have a lot in common. She also has sheep and dogs. She keeps about 20 sheep and has them to raise lambs for meat as well as for training her border collies to herd. I've gotten better at meeting new people over the years. And you know, usually, in some small way, I'm a better person for it. I need to do it more.

meadow tea

Now you know when I saw this sign, I just had to stop. If you haven't tasted meadow tea, you're missing something. Cold, slightly sweet and very refreshing, it's one of my favorite summertime drinks. And home made root beer isn't much like the mass produced stuff you can buy. Both these beverages bring back memories of childhood summers that seemed to stretch on forever. Now that I've been reminded of it again, I'm going to try to find some meadow tea to plant for myself (after all, I do have a meadow). It's different than the mint teas you can find in garden shops and I've never seen it for sale in any of the local nurseries. I'll have to ask around. And yes, I bought a half gallon jug of each.

signs in southern lancaster county

It's not everywhere you'll see a sign like this one, but what a kind gesture on the part of the farm owner! They weren't selling anything else, merely offering water for their fellow amishman's hot and thirsty horses on a hot day. Sort of made me wish I were driving a buggy so I could take advantage of this small kindness. 

"When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one and a flower with the other... for the loaf feeds the body, but the flower feeds the soul." Chinese proverb

While many farm stands offer food for the body, here was one offering food for the soul. There is something so special about having fresh cut flowers in the house. A small beauty that brings so much pleasure. While I did have peonies and irises this spring, I didn't plant any cutting flowers for the summer. I think I will next year - maybe some zinnias and small sunflowers.

farm stands

One of the things I love about where I live is the abundance of locally grown fresh food. There is something special about preparing and eating produce that was just picked that morning at the peak of ripeness. There is a rhythm to the seasons that can be enhanced by the appreciation of seasonal foods, if you'll let yourself feel it. And since I can't grow everything myself (nor do I really want to), I enjoy supporting the local farmers. This morning I stopped at a stand not far from my house for the best Red Haven peaches. Later, I'll make peach pie and home-made ice cream (from that fresh milk I bought). Maybe that's what I'll have for dinner. Yum.

Fresh Peach Pie

4 Cups peeled and sliced peaches

3 Tablespoons Clear Jell (or instant tapioca)

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 Cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1.5 Tablespoons butter

Mix everything except the butter in a large bowl. Allow to sit for 15 minutes while you prepare the crust and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Use your favorite crust recipe*. Fill the crust with the fruit mixture, dot with the butter, add a top crust, pinch the edges, cut some steam vents, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 50 minutes. 

*I have to say that the Pillsbury rolled up pie crust in the grocery store's refrigerated section is really quite good, so for any of you who don't make pies because making a crust is a hassle, you no longer have any excuses!

Home Made Vanilla Ice Cream

1 cup sugar or honey (I like honey best)

1 Tablespoon vanilla

1.5 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups half and half or light cream

6 large egg yolks

Combine cream and half&half in saucepan and bring to a simmer.

In the meantime, combine egg yolks and sugar/honey in a bowl and whisk together.

Whisk 1/2 of the hot cream into the egg mixture a little at a time.

Pour egg mixture into pan with remaining cream.

Stir constantly over low heat just until slightly thickened, remove immediately from heat.

Pour through strainer into clean bowl and add vanilla.

Chill until cold or overnight.

Freeze in an ice cream maker and serve immediately as soft serve or store in freezer for up to a week.

clay, fresh milk, and covered bridges

On Thursday afternoons, a group meets at the Octorara Art Association to work with clay. This is a medium I've been exploring in my mixed media sculptures and so today I headed off once again to go play in the mud. Along the way, I pass a dairy farm with a sign advertising fresh milk, cheese, eggs and beef. I'm used to seeing stands selling baked goods or produce, but this is a bit unique, so I decide to stop in. What a find! Not only do they have whole raw, unpasturized, unhomoginized milk, but they also have grassfed beef! Imagine, milk that the cream actually separates from. The way it was meant to be. I immediately bought a half gallon with thoughts of home made ice cream and butter. From this one jug, I can have heavy cream, half and half, whole milk, skim milk, or any combination thereof. What flexibility! Maybe next week I'll stop in and get some of their cheese or a nice cut of beef for dinner. mmmmmmm.

On to the art association. The clay group was great as usual, with a lot of friendly chatting and also some work getting done. I'm working on a set of earthenware checkers in the shape of eggs on nests. I'll post a photo when I'm done. Next to the building where we meet is the Octorara creek. All summer a construction crew has been dismantling, improving, and rebuilding the covered bridge that crosses the creek. As you can see, they are almost done. There aren't that many covered bridges left and it's nice to see one being preserved.