Cobbled Together

I had to find a purpose for some blackberries I was cleaning out of our refrigerator in preparation for the move. Cobbler it is! I had already packed my pie pans, so this was created in the tin of the "to go" leftovers from our anniversary dinner. That was Jeff's brilliant idea (never one to let lack of equipment stand in the way of dessert)!

Sarah's Blackberry Cobbler

2 1/2 cups fresh blackberries
1 cup raw sugar
sprinkle of cinnamon
zest and juice of 1/4 lemon
1 cup flour (I like to use half whole wheat pastry and half all-purpose)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted

Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir together blackberries, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon zest and juice. Let stand about 20 minutes or until fruit syrup forms. Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and vanilla (some lumps will remain; don't beat too hard). Stir in melted butter until blended. Spread in ungreased 8" square pan or 9" pie pan. Spoon blackberry mixture evenly over batter. Bake 45-50 minutes or until dough rises and is golden. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.

So much to do, So little time

Happy Cow Appreciation Day! You should take a much-needed break and head over to Chick-fil-A for a peach shake (only available in the summer and absolutely delicious). If you are in a cow costume you get a free meal (and if you're not, you get to enjoy watching those who are)! Jeff and I were hoping to go for lunch but got too swamped.

And since today is our 10th anniversary, Jeff decided to take me to dinner at a slightly nicer establishment than Chick-fil-a ;-). But, in all our running around with responsibilities, errands, jobs, etc., we missed the televised last shuttle launch. We were almost hoping the mission would get scrubbed so we could watch the rescheduled date on Sunday while we pack boxes, but I would have felt sad for the estimated one million people who came out in the rain to see Atlantis!

So, just to recap, what a historic day. Cow appreciation day, tenth anniversary, last shuttle launch. We will certainly have many reasons to remember July 8, 2011!

Sold!

The sign in the front yard of our current house is unmistakable. The only one in a large sea of "for sale" markers around the neighborhood. What a blessing! Jeff and I feel rather soothed by the whole miracle of it. If troubles and difficulties and trials arise at the farmhouse (wait, not if; when!), we can be comforted in the knowledge that this was an incredible open door and we walked through as God intended.

I try to be a "can do, go to" woman, but sometimes I worry that, in doing so, I push too hard on doors that God is leaving closed. But we prayed for this door to be kicked off its hinges or slammed shut. We asked and God answered.

Crazy

No, not the Patsy Cline kind. The loco kind! If you've ever thought the whole "old farmhouse purchase" sounded a bit crazy, just know you are not alone. We think we're a bit nuts, too! Here we sit in peace and quiet and safety, and now we've decided to go and upset the apple cart. But Jeff and I frequent remind ourselves: Comfort is overrated. That includes physical comfort, not just the oft referenced "comfort zone".

I had a moment of fears and tears a week or two ago when all the inspections on our current house passed and there were no more obstacles to the sale. Maybe somewhere deep down I thought there would be a hold-up or a problem that derailed the purchase (well, not so deep down, because there were some issues we thought were going to be deal-breakers, but God worked them out).

So once there were no more outs, I had a small panic moment as reality set in. At night was the worst, when the realization of no air conditioning, no kitchen appliances, lack of outlets, crazy wiring, peeling paint (lead based, I'm sure), problematic plumbing, no laundry, muggy basement, lack of doggy containment (how does one begin to fence an acre with a roaming dog on a somewhat busy road with speeding drivers?), propane and septic tank dealings (I've always had the luxury of city utilities that pump my necessities to and fro), and numerous other concerns, decisions, and factors weighed on my mind. I think it really hit when the fridge and window units we had been relying on (to get us through a few months until major renovations) were stolen. What kind of silly people sell a perfectly good house to live in 100 degree weather without the cooling comfort of AC or ice or cold beverages?

I have to admit, we hadn't bargained on that situation developing quite as it did. But, in for a penny, in for a pound! Perhaps this is something like the couple who decides to bring another child into the family. The idea is lovely at first, the dream builds, then the recall of all the labor and difficulties set in, but the decision is already made. And of course there is never any regret afterward. I think we are in the third trimester phase and labor is about to begin. I know it will result in a wonderful end product, but sometimes it would be nice to fast forward to the finish line!

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a lovely, busy, fruitful Independence Day long weekend at the regional campout. I had more responsibilities than ever before and was in the camp kitchen before, during, and after almost every meal. Preparing, serving, and cleaning up food for 140-160 people three times a day is quite an experience!

I must admit, I had to make a bit of an attitude adjustment early on. I had brought my favorite knives and kitchen tools preparing to perhaps lead one (maybe two) meals and enjoy some fellowship and relaxation the rest of the time. Instead, I was assigned supervision of 10 teams of multiple ladies and teens, responsible for all the serving and clean-up activities of every meal. I didn't see much of Jeff for three plus days, but when I did, he was always there to bring me a drink, retrieve some necessity, save me some food, assist where he could, and encourage me along; he was my watering station in the marathon! It was exhausting at times, but I honestly must say it was the best campout I've been to yet. It really is true that you gain the most by giving.

If only we could have given away some gnats and flies! More than the heat and humidity and sun, the bugs were the main nuisance. We had to work extremely hard to prevent the food from being contaminated. Raw meat was not their only target; eyes, ears, nose, any exposed flesh, they were not picky. I was also on first aid, and the poor kids who suffered any cut or scrape had their boo-boos instantly inundated with pests. We tried all the natural and less offensive repellent products with minimal to zero success. If anyone knows a reliable bug spray with low risk, please let me know so I can stock up for next year!

Unpacking to Pack!

We've been busy the last few days culling, cleaning out, donating, selling, and packing. In addition to planning for the move, we are preparing for the regional biannual campout. We leave early tomorrow morning.

So it wasn't until today that I realized I had already packed several items I need for the campout into moving boxes! I had to dig them out and retrieve them. It's hard in some ways because we have two weeks left before the closing. I want to get a head start on all the packing, but then things will be inaccessible for weeks. It's a challenge to accurately assess whether I will need a given item in the next 14 days!

Ladies Club and Graduation

Congratulations Jeff!

Another "degree" to add to the wall! After many years of not having Spokesman's Club available, Jeff finally had the opportunity to complete the program. He also served as secretary for the club year, which was even more challenging than passing all the speeches sometimes!

(Here he is showing excellent use of gestures during his speech ;-)

It was a fun evening, and I'm very proud of you Darling!

Packing it all in...

The reality of having to actually pack and move is just starting to set in. The house sale is still moving forward, although with bumps and hiccups along the way. Nothing is final or feels settled yet, which just makes the process more difficult. When we sold our last house "by owner", the communication was much more open. We also leased the house back for a month after closing, so we had plenty of time to adjust to selling and moving. We also had a professional moving company (paid for by Jeff's job) do the work!

So, any moving tips for us? We still have most of the professional moving boxes (especially the nice wardrobe boxes with the hanging bar) and lots of rolls of packing paper stored. Someone recommended some bankers boxes too, because they are sturdy and easy to carry and access. I might call a liquor store and see if they have any compartmentalized wine boxes in which to put glassware and such. Our pro movers wrapped all the furniture in some kind of giant "cling wrap" stuff to protect upholstery and finishes; I might look into something like that for the leather sofa and fine wood. And I've seen ads for these forearm straps that help hold and support the load of big, bulky items; anybody out there ever try these?

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug

Jeff and I worked several hours at the farmhouse Sunday afternoon. It was hot and humid (of course), and I'm still not over my cold. I didn't realize how out of energy I was until I was carrying load after load of linoleum and underlayment across the porch.

I say "load", but all I could manage was about one scrap at a time. It was heavy and slippery and sticky, all at the same time. I only had to carry it about 15 feet and hand it over the porch railing to Jeff so he could heave it into the dumpster. I was even in the shade! But it still took just about everything I had. And to add insult to injury, the pieces of lino had odd jagged remnants that kept slipping down and scratching my legs. I came away with several battle scars and a tingling sense of deja vu...

(cue the dreamy flashback music and soft cloudy images)

Back in our Arkansas bungalow, we had to redo the living room ceilings. We stripped two layers of acoustical tile off, hoping to reveal plaster. Nope, just the lath and some furring strips.

So plan B was 12 foot sheets of drywall, to minimize the number of seams necessary. We planned a few strategic days off and rented a drywall jack to accomplish the task. And then I got sick. Really sick. But the work had to go on.

Did you know that a drywall jack only lowers to about six feet off the ground? And that 12 x 4 sheets of drywall weigh over 80 pounds? And that a sick Sarah can't lift an awkward 40+ pounds over her head? Nope, neither did we.

I think that one sheet in the above photo was probably the extent of my contribution. After the second or third try, I ended up curled up on the floor sniffling and snotty and sneezing and crying. I just wanted to go to bed. So Jeff called in the sturdy teen reinforcements.

They made the whole project look fairly easy. Except the same drywall jack that couldn't lower enough for me couldn't raise enough for our 10 foot bungalow ceilings. Did you know most drywall jacks are only meant for eight foot ceilings? And that they stop about six inches short of a 10 foot ceiling and require the use of one's head to raise the drywall into the place and screw it up? Nope, neither did we. But the boys managed, and we saved taping and mudding for another day.

And it was all worth it for the beautiful smooth ceiling overhead.
The End.

Tomorrow is another day...

A month or so ago, when I was being overly dramatic about something rather insignificant, Jeff conjured up a new nickname for me. In his comforting way, he talked me down and pointed out the molehill under my make-believe mountain. He also endearingly called me "Scarlett O'Sarah". It's become our running joke. It helps me gain perspective of my sometimes all-or-nothing way of thinking. (And it also brings to mind the hilarious Carol Burnett curtain-dress scene in their "Went with the Wind" parody, which can't help but bring a smile.)

So today, as I lie sick for the fourth day in a row with cough, chest congestion, killer sinuses, and ear blockage, I hear a stirring refrain swell up and the words "I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be [sick] again"!

Blackberry Summer

I have heard of a "blackberry winter", although I have no idea what it means.

(Isn't the Internet so handy? I just read at http://davesgarden.com that oldtimers knew that blackberries need a cold snap to set buds on the blackberry canes, so as sure as night follows day, there will be a cold snap when the blackberries bloom, called "Blackberry Winter".

Well, okay, now I know. And I also know we're having a blackberry summer!

Jeff and I were over at the farmhouse this morning working. I took DaVinci out for a little spin around the acre lot and checked on the blackberry bushes. Bonanza! They must have been just ready because about a quarter of the fruit was plump and ripe with the rest fast maturing on its heels. We finished up our work a few hours later and spent about 10 minutes picking blackberries. Here's our bounty from that scant amount of time!

Jeff had to tear me away from the fence row. I'll be back for more in a few days.

Requested Recipe

Here is the recipe for the bread I posted on Monday. It can be a bit tricky at first, but if you're familiar with other artisan breads, it will be no sweat. I weight my ingredients on a scale, so I converted my ounce and gram measurements to volume as best I could; it should be close.

The Dutch oven creates intense heat and seals in the moisture (so you don't have to throw ice cubes in the oven, one of my other tricks with artisan breads). It really gives it that "brick oven" crisp crust, so I don't recommend this recipe if you can't get your hands on a good cast iron or enamel Dutch oven. Besides, you need one anyway for perfect stews and roasts, so now's the time to invest!

Rustic Dutch Oven Boule

2 cups bread or all-purpose flour, plus extra
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp instant yeast (or active dry, but proof it first in the water)
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup water, room temp
1/4 cup mild lager
1 Tbsp white vinegar

Whisk flour, yeast, and salt in bowl. Stir in water, beer, and vinegar until shaggy ball forms. Cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature for 12-18 hours.

Lay a long strip of parchment inside a 10” skillet or other similar sized bowl (the parchment is a “sling” for moving the dough later; DO NOT use waxed paper as a substitute! The skillet or bowl just helps keep the shape as the loaf rises). Grease parchment lightly. Transfer dough to lightly floured surface and knead 10-15 times (it will be fairly wet and slack, but try not to add any flour). Shape dough into ball; transfer seam-side down to parchment-lined skillet/bowl and spray dough with nonstick cooking spray. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size (2 hours).

About 30 minutes before baking, preheat Dutch oven and lid on lowest rack in oven to 500 degrees. Mist dough with water and sprinkle on coarse salt, if desired. Slash dough with razor blade or wallpaper knife (several patterns work, but a simple X is good). Transfer dough with parchment sling to hot Dutch oven, cover, and place in oven. Reduce oven to 425 degrees and bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove lid and continue to bake until deep brown and center registers 210 degrees on a thermometer (about 20-25 min more, but everyone has a kitchen thermometer, right?). Cool loaf 2 hours.

Variations: Add grated Parmesan, fresh or dried herbs, olives, oats, nuts, etc., to the dough as desired for extra flavor and texture.

A bun in the oven...

No, not that kind (we're apparently very poor chefs in that arena). The tasty, crackly, crusty, chewy, delicious carbohydrate variety.

The just baked boule in the Dutch oven

I haven't baked artisan loaves in a little while because 1) I was out of my favorite go-to, never-fail, must-have yeast, and 2) it's been so hot and humid I didn't want to leave my oven on 500°F for over an hour.

But Friday felt like a baking day. Actually, Thursday felt like a baking day and Friday like an eating day, because I have to start almost 48 hours before. But the end result was a lovely golden boule with a crisp crackle to the crust as it cooled. And a tantalizing taste on the tongue when tested (forgive the excessive alliteration, but I think you get the picture ;-).

Cooling its heels
(oh, haha, that's pretty funny; the crusty ends of the loaf are called heels,
so it's an almost literal phrase in this case; what a good pun!)

The "magic" of marriage

Not long after we were first married, I joked with Jeff that he must think his underwear drawers are magic. He takes out socks and undergarments all week long, the neat pile dwindles, and then suddenly it's full again each week like clockwork! We were laughing over this again the other day, and Jeff added that it must be like my "magical" bank account: I spend money through the week, but miraculously more appears on the balance sheet twice a month!

It really is such a blessing to be a full-time stay-at-home wife. We're both frugal and we share the responsibilities of financial management, but there is only one bread-winner (and he always comes home with a good loaf). At times, I feel I may not be earning my keep, but Jeff always assures me that my position is secure. No lay-offs for Evans, Inc!

Going, going......gone?

We have accepted an offer on our house! It's officially under contract, but, as with any big transaction, there are still potential snags along the way. Our previous real estate selling experience was rather simple and painless, so we are hoping this one is also. The buyers are pre-approved, which is great. The first hurdle is the inspection, so I'll update when we pass that test!