THE LUXURY OF CITRUS.
Since coming back from our holiday break, Jesse has been a bit under the weather. He hasn't had a lot of appetite - but has been craving fresh juice.We don't normally buy things like oranges - simply because we try to only buy local and in season - but we have been stocking up this week. It is quite a luxury for us to enjoy a treat like citrus - which is one of the best things about eating the way we do. It is a lovely life when something like an orange or a banana or a simple trip to the movies is something special. I hope we never take these things for granted.HAVING SAID ALL THAT - we do have a bit of a dream to grow our own citrus some day! While you may have never heard of Kentucky oranges, there is a variety - called Trifoliate Orange (or Flying Dragon) - that grows in more northern climates. We plan on buying some plants from Hidden Springs Nursery (where we bought our blueberry plants and fig trees in October). Also, our friends Paul and Alison of Au Naturel Farm have given us hope in our citrus ambitions - they've had success growing oranges, lemons and limes in their high tunnels. If they can do it in Bowling Green, then surely it is possible in Bugtussle! Now if I can just figure out how to grow an avocado tree....- Hannah.
WHAT WE'RE READING.
We got this lovely set of books for Christmas! I have never read them, but Jesse loves All Creatures Great and Small....he is excited to read the rest of the series. These appear to be first edition, and as a BONUS - there are a bunch of newspaper clippings scattered throughout the pages! There is truly nothing like a good used book.
Here is one of Jesse's favorite quotes from All Creatures Great and Small...."Kit was a lorry driver... kept a pig at the bottom of his garden for family consumption. The snag was that when killing time came, Kit wept for three days. I happened to go into his house on one of these occasions and found his wife and daughter hard at it cutting up the meat for pies and brawn while Kit huddled miserably by the kitchen fire, his eyes swimming with tears. He was a huge man who could throw a twelve stone sack of meal on to his wagon with a jerk of his arms, but he seized my hand in his and sobbed at me 'I can't bear it, Mr. Herriot. He was like a Christian was that pig, just like a Christian.' " I am eager to get started! What are you guys reading these days?- Hannah.
A HANDMADE CHRISTMAS.
Merry Day-after-Christmas! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday, spent in good company and good health. We had a lovely few days with family and friends in Kentucky - and it was definitely all about homemade gifts for us this year - all the way down to the envelopes. We hope to be in a better position to give next year - honey and bottles of wine for everyone!- Hannah.
