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Potato Tart

 There are lots of Potato Tart recipes out there…this is a Rachel Ray variation –  I found it in a local newspaper and I love it.

Potato Tart with Thyme and Manchego

Olive oil cooking spray
1 lb baking potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (the thinner, the better)
1/2 medium yellow onion, very thinly sliced
salt & pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
3 cups grated Manchego Cheese (Italian cheese not unlike Parmesan)
Diced green or red hot peppers like pickled Jalapenos (I used roasted red peppers )

Preheat oven to 425. spray glass pie plate with olive oil. ( I made a big batch for Easter family dinner using large pyrex)  Arrange single layer of potates over bottom of pie plate, edges slightly overlapping. Spray potatoes with olive oil. Place half of onion slices over potatoes, season with salt, pepper and 1/2 of thyme.

Top onions with 1 cup of spinach, spreading evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over spinach. Then second layer of potatoes over cheese, press down gently.  Spray potatoes with oil.  Repeat layering by topping the potatoes with remaining onions, seasonings, spinach, 1 cup of cheese and final layer of potatoes. Spray with oil, then top with remaining cheese and sliced peppers.

Bake 40 minutes or until edges are golden brown and potatoes are cooked through. Yum!

73 degrees

 That’s what the thermometer read yesterday.
We spent a good part of the day working outside and it felt . so . good.
My side door rock garden with Newport and Hammonasset  real estate.
I need more rocks – a near future trip to Newport is in order.
I planted three kinds of phlox in the border and there are
purple cone flower and daisies coming up, but most of  the Lavender didn’t make it
through that bitter winter.  I’ll have to find something to replace it.

New kind of phlox I haven’t seen before… not sure of the name, I found it at the grocery store.

A dozen fruit trees have been planted behind the garage/barn next to the coop.  This is a Red Haven Peach.

  The chicken sh*t has done a glorious job.. the grass is incredibly green after less than a week! 
  Amazing.
The aroma has died down, but it’s still present when the wind blows a certain way. 

Ben couldn’t  care less.

 The Geese were moving yesterday…

After a few hours work and before the family Easter gathering,
 I turned my face to the sun and silently gave thanks for all that is good.
I hope you were able to do the same  –

Firsts

 Today was a big day for these two.
My little man and niece….
She is at her first big horse show with her first horse, Dude…
 ..and He is outside washing his first vehicle, which we picked up this morning.
I’m pretty sure it was spotless at the dealership…
but since we won’t be driving it for a year or so,
 I guess there will be a lot of washing & waxing.  
He’s been saving up his money and talking about his first vehicle since he was about three, no joke. This one needs some work, so he’ll have plenty of time to do what needs doing alongside his Dad until he actually gets his license.
Lord help me. 
Please.


For the Dogs!!

We have just gotten the go ahead to host a dog adoption event through
 the non profit organization Dog Days Adoption Events
 on the last weekend of August  ( 27th-28th) 
 at Parmelee Farm!!

  SO….this announcement is for any local or not-so-far-away folks who might read my blog…. If you are interested in adopting a dog or puppy, please come visit  Parmelee Farm and the dogs available for adoption on the 27th and 28th…  

OR if you have any interest in volunteering in the million different roles that are available on that weekend, please send me an e-mail at karenthisoldhouse@hotmail.com      

  (Liz J., Beth Y., Carol F.,  Lynn R, Helene F, ……you know I’m talking to YOU)

Words from their website….

“DOG DAYS is a non-profit, mobile “pop up” shelter dog adoption event in Connecticut. Our event philosophy is based on the premise “it takes a village to rescue a dog” and we rely on the community volunteers, merchants and civic organizations from the town that “hosts” our event, to take part in the adoption weekend.
Each event will have 80 dogs for adoption, 40 large breed dogs and 40 small breeds and puppies. They will all have been seen by a vet, current on all shots and spayed or neutered. Rescues from around the state of Connecticut are invited and beyond if we can’t find enough dogs to fill the event. Training demonstrations as well as grooming information, diet, veterinary care and more are at every event to help a new adopter take care of their new best friend. “

 I can’t tell you how excited I am to be able to help out with this event…
 Lord help me  find the strength to not bring home another dog
 lest I want a divorce immediately thereafter. 
 I suppose that will depend on the day.
More to come….

Peeps!!!

 My chicks from chickensforbackyards.com have arrived!  The box actually read “Randall Burkey”, so that’s the hatchery they are originally from.   As promised, the postmaster called me when the came in, and I was down there within 15 minutes. Those poor babies hadn’t eaten or had water since they hatched!

Meet Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, Rose, Gracie, Giselle (hello Sallys girls)
 Lucy and Ethel 

They all look pretty healthy and are eating,
drinking and pooping with stellar performance.
So far, so good.

They ate the grow gel (green stuff) and chick crumbles
 and drank more water than I thought they could hold
 

 I did check for eggs this morning,
 nothing yet. 
🙂

Ric

 My cousin Ric was a handsome guy – rock star looks with out the snarly.  Even better -he was a kind hearted old soul with an ear for music – a drummer and sometimes singer who’s potential was never realized.  Unfortunately, his constant companion throughout his adult life was alcoholism.  He tried many times to kick it to the curb, but it kicked right back and the last time…the curb took his life.  How ironic.

 I didn’t see him often, as he always lived states away, but when I did, I adored him… with his rock star good looks and his musical ability and that big heart and smile that brought you right into his circle when you were near. He had the same twinkle in his eye as his father, brothers and sister… and I think a little of the depression that plagued his beautiful mothers soul.

 I remember the last conversation we had in my mothers kitchen… he was in a bad place, struggling so hard to come back to “normal”. He had two beautiful kids and a granddaughter who he loved very much. He wanted so much to stay healthy and sober so he could spend more time with them.  I was giving him all the advice a person who’s never been in his shoes would typically say, and I feel stupid  now thinking I had any answers for him.  I didn’t have a clue as to what he was really up against.

 My cousin, who is a gifted writer and was once a ballerina – wrote a moving tribute yesterday on her blog about her brother. This had to be a very painful process for her.  They were a close family all their lives despite hardships – and there have been many.  Until reading this post,  I didn’t quite know what Rics last days on this earth looked like and it breaks my heart in two. He deserved better.

http://augustinesconfessions.blogspot.com/

l to r – My sister, Ric’s brother and wife, my Nana in purple – and behind her  my little guy on the shoulder of my big guy along with baby niece “S”,  Ric’s sister in pale blue with husband behind her and Ric on the right. 

So much has changed since I took this picture.

Live your moments

 In the checkout line she looked at my cake mix and two candle numbers and said “Do you have a 51 or a 15?”  ..and I quickly replied… “15!!! –  no 51’s yet!”  We laughed.  It’s not that many years away… the 51. I need to stop mentally reading that as “Omg… I’m this number already.”   It needs to read more like… Thank you thank you for every moment of the years I’m given.  I’m reminded through some of my blog friends out there, (you know who you are) just how precious life is.  These blog friends have taught me a thing or two about grace under pressure.  Gratitude for life.  I want you to know,   I’m working on it…every moment… and I thank you for the message.

So this is what 15 looks like…

These guys have been hanging around together since Kindergarten.
I love that they get to do that.  

Live your moments

Sh*t happens

  I know for sure we are not the neighborhood favorites today at This Old House.  I’ve discussed a few times the hideous pile of chicken manure out in the back field…that rich black mountain of pure organic gold fertilizer that stinks to high heaven?…. THAT pile.  Well it’s gone, baby, gone….the last of it  has been spread all over the fields and tonight we’re supposed to get a rain storm.  I’m doing a rain dance for good measure. 

  Yesterday as my son and I were driving home late in the afternoon… about a mile away from our little spit of land we saw a woman walking her dog with a scarf up over her mouth and nose.  Odd, because it was warm out.  Then we rolled down the windows and OMG the stench was gut retching.  And I do mean RETCHING.  It was coming from our acreage, yes it was.   This morning the man went to breakfast up the road with his friends.  When he came out of the little restaurant… he could smell OUR CHICKEN SH*T all the way over there!!!

  No, my friends, we are NOT going to be nominated for a good neighbor award any time soon. 

  Some of you may remember the subdivision neighbors who didn’t like looking at our farm equipment and vehicles parked two fields away from them on our property?   Yes well…. their two dogs came on over into our field to have a look at what we were spreading… and they took a good roll in the process.

 I already called the Town to give them a heads up in case they get another complaint.