Chop pumpkin, haul wood

The cycle continues – going through stores looking for spoilage, and the most vital task?  Using up those stores in a timely manner.  For me it is pretty easy to jam the pantry full, emptying it takes more work.  Plant, nurture, harvest, put up, consume, repeat as needed.

punky and limb

I took advantage of a dry window the other day to bring a jag of wood from the woodshed to the house.  Being a half-empty kind of person means that when I say we are out of wood in the basement means we still have quite a bit.  Being the keeper of the woodpile is a big responsibility 😉  But, since I do the cooking, I want certain wood for certain jobs.  It’s been warm here too, so I can burn some punky wood in the furnace, which puts off medium heat, and that allows me to save the good stuff for when it is really cold.

Douglas fir limb

Most of our wood comes from storm damage, and tight grain limbs from Douglas fir are an essential for slow cooking or holding a fire.  Trees grow big around here, as you can see the limb is as big as some trees in other areas of the country.

Uncle John beans

Throw a nice limb in the cook stove and the beans can simmer all day.

Jonathan - Hansen 1881 orchard

This time of year I have to keep a close eye on the apples, I have them stored on the porch and I need to go through them a little more often now.  Meal planning includes apples this time of year.  All the applesauce I canned is still in storage, more than likely to be eaten in the late spring and early summer, before any fresh fruit is available.

Styrian naked seed pumpkin

This week was the last week for the naked seed pumpkins.  I stored them in the haystack, and the haystack is now being used too, so the pumpkins need to be dealt with.

OK english

I decided to open them all and dry the seeds, and give the cows a treat.

will work for pumpkin seeds

The dogs love the seeds, so they were eager to help.

complete with prize inside

Yummy!  When the growing season was still fresh in my mind, I thought these naked seed pumpkins were a bother, but as the winter drags on, I am realizing how much we like them.  That’s why the rules here are only guidelines – I change my mind lots!

treats for the cows and hens

Of course, escorting the pumpkin to the cows requires guards.

And the best part, seeing the weeks’ empty jars go back on the shelves.  The contents? From the freezer:  cilantro pesto, roasted peppers, sautéed mushrooms, peas, corn, butter, milk.  Canned goods:  roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, and green beans.

Putting the jars in their place on the shelf starts the cycle all over again.