Good morning everyone,
We had 31° the last 2 mornings and the ground was white with frost. Then the sun comes out and warms up the air and the days are lovely. The clear call of the Blue Jay and the sweet song of the White Crowned Sparrow are a few things that I enjoy during the Fall.
As I look out over the countryside there are still a lot of trees in the woods that have leaves on them, although most of them are now brown. It is already the middle of November and we still have lettuce growing in the garden. I just took out the last of the radishes. It is time to cover the carrots and beets with leaves, hay, etc. so they don’t freeze. They keep best if they are left in the ground and then we dig them out as we need them. I took out the biggest red beet I’ve ever seen! It weighed 6 lbs and measured 23 inches in circumference.
Most of the corn and soybeans have been harvested, but I see one farmer picking the last of his corn and he might finish today.
It is hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving already and that means Christmas is just around the corner.
Last month I put in a recipe for pumpkin pie. This time I will include a recipe for gluten-free pie crust that turned out well for ,me.
Gluten Free Pie Crust
1/2 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour, 1 tbsp. water, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt
Mix flour, salt and baking powder together, cut in the cold butter, mix until fine crumbs. Beat egg, add egg and water to the flour mixture. Mix well. Form a ball and roll out between waxed paper on plastic wrap. Fit into a 9” pie pan. For a baked pie shell prick bottom and sides of crust and bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes. If using filling bake at 425° for 10 mins on low shelf, then reduce heat to 350° until done.
Here is a little story that I would like to share with you all as it was told to me. The account took place in Hillsboro, Wisconsin one day in May.
A man went outside, thinking we would try and clean up his property. Some time ago he had gathered some brush, twigs, etc onto 4 different piles and had let them set. By now they were well dried out so he decided he would get rid of them by burning them. At the first pile he came to he held his torch to on side and also to the other side and the fire blazed and soon the pile was all burned up. At pile number 2 he held the torch to both sides but the fire did not burn. He tried again but still it did not burn, only fizzled a little at the leaves along the edges and dried out. Puzzled, the man looked at the pile and wondered, why does it not burn? It looked the same as the other pile.
He went to the 3rd pile, held the torch to it and it burned up without any problem. (He had given up on the 2nd pile) Also, the 4th pile burned up quickly. Going back to the 2nd pile he thought perhaps if he would push it down somewhat it might catch on fire easier. He picked up his foot and stepped on it to crush it together a little and out flew a Brown Thrasher. Upon closer inspection, he found a nest with 4 eggs.
One could think – it was only a bird, only a nest, only 4 eggs. But if God takes care of the birds, He will most certainly take care of us.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving, Sovilla
