What We Preserved on Our Summer Vacation

Got a new recipe from our Canadian connection. Peach Rum Jam. It's as pretty as it is tasty.

The 20 pounds of peaches we bought off a truck did not cooperate completely by ripening at just the most convenient time. So they got to go on a trip even farther from Georgia than the Lake Hallie Farm and Fleet parking lot to end up a stone's throw from Lake Superior where they ripened nicely in their own sweet time.

It was kind of fun to have a project to do in the Northwoods in between sessions of porch sitting. And as it is usually 5 to 10 degrees cooler there it is not such a hardship to be steaming up the kitchen.

As always you are welcome to stop over for toast and jam anytime. The pantry is stocked. But if you are going to have seconds please walk over or bring a designated driver. We have plain peach jam for her.

What We Foraged on our Summer Vacation

Every now and then when we are at the lake doing the thing we most love to do of a summer day, we do occasionally get up out of our deck chair. Usually it is just to refill a drink or make room for the next one, and then right back down we plunk into our spot. On one occasion however, we noticed, out of the corner of our eye, something brilliant orange in the woods just below our perch.

The warm, damp weather had made so many unusual fungi appear could these be chanterelle mushrooms? We knew they grow in Wisconsin.

We took some into the local museum naturalist who also thought they were chanterelle. But to be on the safe side she offered to send a photo to her Mushroom Guy.

He gave this reply: "Beauties! That's the "rainbow chanterelle," Cantharellus roseocanus. I can

even tell you where the visitor picked them, roughly, as they grow with

conifers only. Definitely safe and choice edible!" Bingo!

Well who can you believe if not the editor of Fungi Magazine? So we picked some more.

Fried them up in butter and ate them!

And did so four or five more times before the end of August. And no one asked to share them. We did offer. 

Not really surprising as some family members have been know to remove with surgical precision an errant mushroom on the pepperoni side of a pizza and treat it as if it were biohazard. 

So sad. 

More for us!

Cemetery Sheep

One of the most beautiful final resting places we have ever seen.

We suspect the grounds keeping may be handled by the occupants of the adjacent pasture. 

This seems a fitting conclusion to Sheep Week. Hope you have enjoyed it.

Guiting Power Sheep

These are not Northumbrian sheep. They are kept sheep.

Kept in the Cotswolds town of Guiting Power in the village center.

Right across from one of the only two pubs in town. The one where we had a delicious lamb dinner. 

Monster Mystery Sheep

Sheep Week bonus post.

Could this have been left by a sheep? Run away! Run away!

Chic Sheep Feet

This little lady has some fancy, spotted spats as do the rest of the gals.

So many sheep questions remain unanswered despite our quizzing of anyone who might possibly know anything about sheep. Are there spots under that gorgeous, all white fleece?

Twice Brewed Sheep

The view from our home away from home in Northumberland, the Twice Brewed Inn, includes tiny sheep in the distance who sometimes become regular sized sheep just on the other side of that wall.

Mind the Sheep

Don't mess with 'em. Don't mess with their babies.

Don't allow your dog to be a thug.

Sheep in Sheep's Clothing

Yes, you have seen this sheep before under the title Horny Sheep.

She deserves a second look to study the fact that not only is she horny, but she appears to be wearing a sheep coat. Do you suppose having been  recently shorn she's been given her fleece back to wear for a while as a fashionable poncho until the weather improves?

Odd Tree Sheep

Every year we take a photo of this tree and the Northumbrian sheep below it.

It is just too great not to.

Horny Sheep

Next up this fine sheep week - horny Northumbrian sheep.

Yes, females in some species have horns too. Let's hear it for the horny girls.

Can't wait to see what kind of internet attention this post gets, and from where.

Eat and Sleep Sheep

Most of the ladies are getting a start on their siesta.

Gladys needs to put down her fork and get with the program.

  

Siesta Sheep

Let's ease back into blogging with Sheep Week, shall we?

 It is a well know fact that sheep tend to take a little post-lunch siesta. 

Lambs do it. Ewes do it. Even big old rams do it. 

These are fine Northumbrian sleepy sheep.