So Lets Get Started!
First off lets look at Jim's Deck Project.
This is the demo phase- I don't have a before picture-
But it was an old splintering deck and Jim made quick work of demoing it.
Well Done! He filled up his entire truck with wood.
Another view of the old deck area-
The concrete support posts, were buried WAY too deep (2-3 ft) for the size and strength of the old deck. Jim had to dig out each one- 6 Total.
The Old Concrete support posts.
After Hauling dirt from up the hill to level the area out, The new deck area looks like this....
Well Done Jimmy!
He created a smaller flagstone deck, and will seed in grass in the surrounding area- The whole side yard seems so much more open and accesable.
And you can throw a ball out there now, Which was secrectly Jim's intention all along.
Another view of the deck and custom stairs Jim built.
Another View.
One of our Gigantic sunflowers.
The upper wall Jim is building to contain the dirt he is leveling off up there.
This was a work in progress picture-
As of now, he's done a pretty great job of leveling it.
A LOT of Dirt Moving.
Another Work in progress picture. I can't wait to post the final product-
I'm sure it will be beautiful.
It's been getting rainy and cold here lately- Which I happen to like :-)
Jim laid down a deck on the lowest wall-
this will be the greenhouse floor.
Tiger Lily's
Echinacea
We took a hike with my Dad and Ragnar up to American Lake-
One of my favorite hikes out here.
Ragnar at the Lake.
Way in the distance you can see Jim fishing with Ragnar.
Jim caught a Big trout!
A grove of Aspen trees on the descent from American Lake.
Recipe Time!!!
Cherry Pie-
I didn't write down a recipe for this one- it's still in experimental phase.
While this one was delicious- after a few tweaks, i'll have a better recipe down, and then i'll post it for everyone.
Our last bounty harvest from the Garden.
Carrots and Swiss chard.
We got a LOT of carrots.
Some really big, and some really small :-)
But both really delicious!
Corn Bread.
The delicious result of our garden harvest, Carrot Soup.
And Finally the recipe for all that goodness.
Garden Carrot Soup with Corn Bread and Sauteed Swiss chard
1 medium onion diced
1 Lb fresh garden carrots (I'm not sure how many- just a lot)
2 cloves garlic
1 large handful Swiss chard stems
Salt and pepper to taste
large sprigs of rosemary, thyme and oregano left on the stems
2 tsp curry powder
6 cups water
Sauté onion until softened. Add garlic cook a few minutes more. Add carrots Swiss chard stems, herbs and spices. Add water and cook until carrots are soft. Once carrots are soft fish out herb stems and puree soup with immersion blender. Adjust seasonings.
Serve with sautéed Swiss chard and muffins (corn bread or other)
Sautéed Swiss chard
2-3 cups Swiss chard
1 large clove garlic
1/4 lemon
Sauté Swiss chard with garlic and lemon until wilted- covering with lid when needed.
Corn muffins
1 1/2 cups corn meal
1 cup gf flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp ground flax seed
1/4 cup corn oil
Preheat oven 400. Spray muffin tins or line with muffin papers. In medium size bowl Mix dry ingredients. In another bowl combine, remaining ingredients. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes. Spoon batter into muffin tins filling them 3/4 full. Bake for 15 minutes, until tops are golden brown. Remove from pan and serve immediately.
Best Banana Bread
Yum!
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups GF flour
1 tsp xanthum gum
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup vegan butter (1 earth balance stick)
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs ground flax seed beaten with 3Tbs warm water
2 1/3 cups mashed over ripe bananas (3 bananas)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt and spices. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in flax seed mixture and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Fold in walnuts. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
Spicy Apple Muffins
These are delicious healthy muffins, if you want them a little sweeter add more sugar.
1 2/3 cups GF Flour
1/2 tsp xanthum gum
3 Tbs sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs ground flax seed
2 Tbs Vegetable oil
1 cup almond milk
1 cup apple finely chopped
1. preheat oven to 400. Grease muffin cups
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and spices in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
3. Combine flax seed, oil, and almond milk in small bowl and stir to combine. Pour into center of dry ingredients and mix until moistened.
4. Fold in apple.
5. Bake at 400. for 20-25 minutes. Make 12 muffins about 100 calories each.
And Finally Jims current project, the baby room.
He took out the old window and replaced it with a beautiful much bigger one.
He is putting in a skylight as sit writing this- which is why i'm trying to hurry, so I can go help him :-)
Here is the demo of the old window area.
Here is Jims New gorgeous Window- I LOVE how he framed it!
He's so talented.
If you look to the upper left of the photo you can see where he began to cut the hole for the sky light.
We'll paint the room soon- ( I say we, but i really mean he- since I'm not suppost to breathe the fumes- I would love to help paint if I could :-)
So that's it for now folks. Hope you enjoyed it!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful day and contuniues to have a wonderful week!
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