I grew up helping grandma churn the milk to make butter. We had a large crock with a wood cover that fit over the paddle. My job was to operate the paddle until she checked to see if the butter was ready. Watching her form the round shape and placing it on the round butter dishes with decorative covers was interesting. She always completed her works of art using a small wooden paddle/spoon to make designs on top of the ball of butter. Funny how we remember the smallest things our elders allowed us to participate in on the farm.
I suppose my start in life is similar to yours. I wasn't the only making the paddle go up and down but I had my share. When the butter formed on top my mother would skim it off,then work it in a bowl with a flat wooden paddle to get the rest of the milk out.We then put the buttermilk into half gallon jars to sell. The butter was formed into a cube of 1/2 pound wood form then wrapped in wax paper and stored in the icebox until we got it out with the buttermilk,put our eggs in a basket and went to our route to sell. That buttermilk we kept was consumed at noon and supper along with moisture to form our cornbread. Whoever thought of cornbread being made without buttermilk.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian premiered on May 7, 2008, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, before it was theatrically released on May 16 in the United States and on June 26 in the United Kingdom, by Walt Disney Pictures."
17F here and I spent an hour chiseling ice from my track loader's bogie wheels -- tracks froze up(nearly), could not plow the 1/2 mile lane from the road. Yesterday had to park the car at the bottom of the hill because it could not get to the top ever with AWD. Ice under 1" snow.
The good news: in 3 days . . . 38°F predicted. Heat wave baby.
Now you have really done it, instead of dumb clucks calling Robert "Bob", now it can be legally Rob. I never thought of Rob as an alternative! Love your personal take on life in general; humor and common sense go well together!
Been meaning to write/comment here as a fellow Madison neighbor! I appreciate the work you guys do and your writings. FYI, by luck I bought the greatest $10 Costco purchase back in December for dealing with ice/snowcrete 🥶. Look up Snowtrax - they go right over any shoes and have been a lifesaver to my almost 57 year old bones! Thanks again 😊
I meant to tell you about our last trip to Key West. We were much younger, 20 years ago. Flew into Miami, rental was a convertible, what a beautiful ride, over 40 bridges! We stoped at a Marina on the drive down and had fresh fish caught that morning for lunch. I still remember that fantastic lunch. We were staying about 4-5 blocks off of Duval Street at Eden House in KW. We met a young Japanese couple on the Wharf that we befriended and shared sushi made by the restaurant. I was sick for 2 days. So, I’ve made it a point to never have sushi again! We haven’t been back to Key West, but now at our age I’d opt for Islamorada, nice and quiet and a lot less expensive!
Yaaa, it’s really a temperment issue and what work you want to do.
By the way, we cross Angus and Hereford to produce baldies for meat. This is doable because both breeds produce newborn calves at similar weight, though the Angus grow faster to market weight.
For beef cattle, the Hereford moms are easier than Angus to handle and keep, but that heavy Angus marketing is trending the beef industry towards monoculture, which I think is a bad idea.
Actually, if you tame one, you'll find that she'll be milkable. You won't get as much as a milking breed, but they do produce. Now--Go bring in a bred heifer and make her a pet!
Indeed they are! And you'd probably have to bottle feed, at that. And then wait until breeding age--year and a half? Two? That's a big investment in time, but you'd have fresh milk (and all the headaches that milking can bring). OTOH, get a milking goat.
Thank you for the instructions for making butter. I'd like to try this at some point.
Some weeks ago, I described my efforts at making ice cream (two batches, mint chocolate chip & carrot cake) with my newly ordered equipment. On Kroger's website, I read the reviews beforehand for heavy cream options, the best of which was just above the midpoint for the ratings spectrum.
I bought the best of what was available in the refrigerated section: Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream. $6.29. Per pint. If I recall correctly, I needed 3 pints to make 2 batches. A 48 oz container of Breyers currently shows at $5.99. Still, no regrets. My ice cream was great.
Speaking of Austin...Attorney General Ken Paxton Demands Documents as Part of Investigation Into Austin ISD for Facilitating Student Protest Against Lawful Immigration Enforcement Activities
Yeah. Some hard choices. Wish Paxton stayed AG and Chip Roy in the Congress. But maybe will take a Paxton to ease out Cornyn. He has endorsed a member of his AG staff so...though other candidates seem o.k.
The cold can cause problems for people who have to work out of doors. In the Fall after harvest or sometimes during harvest dad would drive the tractor , whether it was harvest or getting the fields prepared for Spring before the Winter hit. His face would get frostbite or sunburned. This was before the really nice tractors they have now with heated or air-conditioned cabs. Sometimes during potato harvest we would get a freak snow storm or a big freeze. One time a big freeze hit the potatoes. We had to make sure to get all the frozen potatoes out of the piler before the potatoes made their way into the potato cellar. My brother put me on the outside piler where the sun would shine on the potatoes and you could tell which ones were frozen. I was a fast picker. I preferred to drive the ten wheeler truck , loading the potatoes from the field and taking the potatoes to the cellar. The cab had a heater. I remember dad going out in the middle of the night during calving season. That was a big deal. I watched the vet try to pull one calf out by chains. He was coming out the way. The mama cow ended up having a c- section. When we would herd the cows and I would look for the cow with the scare on its side.
Sounds like your childhood was much like mine. 🥰 Mine was a dairy in Upstate NY, though. For us, I remember it feeling warmer in the barn with 60 cows than the 200 year-old farmhouse! I remember the midnight carvings and baling square bales of hay in summer heat, pulling them straight from the baler and stacking them in a wagon. Hardest work I've ever done, and I've done heavy work all my life! The most dreaded sound of winter was "The barn cleaner's frozen!"
I grew up helping grandma churn the milk to make butter. We had a large crock with a wood cover that fit over the paddle. My job was to operate the paddle until she checked to see if the butter was ready. Watching her form the round shape and placing it on the round butter dishes with decorative covers was interesting. She always completed her works of art using a small wooden paddle/spoon to make designs on top of the ball of butter. Funny how we remember the smallest things our elders allowed us to participate in on the farm.
I suppose my start in life is similar to yours. I wasn't the only making the paddle go up and down but I had my share. When the butter formed on top my mother would skim it off,then work it in a bowl with a flat wooden paddle to get the rest of the milk out.We then put the buttermilk into half gallon jars to sell. The butter was formed into a cube of 1/2 pound wood form then wrapped in wax paper and stored in the icebox until we got it out with the buttermilk,put our eggs in a basket and went to our route to sell. That buttermilk we kept was consumed at noon and supper along with moisture to form our cornbread. Whoever thought of cornbread being made without buttermilk.
Like.
Loved the comment under Prince Caspian’s picture! It made my day start with a good, long laugh! Thank you!
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ...
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian premiered on May 7, 2008, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, before it was theatrically released on May 16 in the United States and on June 26 in the United Kingdom, by Walt Disney Pictures."
The books were around a lot longer, and better, too.
Thanks did not know that...
Great article. Love learning about how things are done on the farm. Hope you both have a great vacation and happy anniversary!
Thanks for informative update, Jill...I will forward to family & friends.
The look in Gizmo's eye is pure love; and Prince Caspian is one handsome (Peacock) dude.
BTW, President Trump has nothing on you, two, work ethic wise.
Looks like Austin days will be in 70s at least early next week according to Accuweather. Grain of salt,required of course.
that's just not fair. man!
17F here and I spent an hour chiseling ice from my track loader's bogie wheels -- tracks froze up(nearly), could not plow the 1/2 mile lane from the road. Yesterday had to park the car at the bottom of the hill because it could not get to the top ever with AWD. Ice under 1" snow.
The good news: in 3 days . . . 38°F predicted. Heat wave baby.
Now you have really done it, instead of dumb clucks calling Robert "Bob", now it can be legally Rob. I never thought of Rob as an alternative! Love your personal take on life in general; humor and common sense go well together!
Been meaning to write/comment here as a fellow Madison neighbor! I appreciate the work you guys do and your writings. FYI, by luck I bought the greatest $10 Costco purchase back in December for dealing with ice/snowcrete 🥶. Look up Snowtrax - they go right over any shoes and have been a lifesaver to my almost 57 year old bones! Thanks again 😊
I meant to tell you about our last trip to Key West. We were much younger, 20 years ago. Flew into Miami, rental was a convertible, what a beautiful ride, over 40 bridges! We stoped at a Marina on the drive down and had fresh fish caught that morning for lunch. I still remember that fantastic lunch. We were staying about 4-5 blocks off of Duval Street at Eden House in KW. We met a young Japanese couple on the Wharf that we befriended and shared sushi made by the restaurant. I was sick for 2 days. So, I’ve made it a point to never have sushi again! We haven’t been back to Key West, but now at our age I’d opt for Islamorada, nice and quiet and a lot less expensive!
Have fun in Key West!
Recommend having crampons to avoid falling on ice!
Coool.
Bet that real butter is yummy.
(Our beef cattle are not milkable, LOL.)
Same problem here with the snow that won't melt. We're all tired of it. Big hassle to keep animals watered.
Someone was telling me that Angus make good milk cows. You don't get as much - but if using for meat anyways, you can train one or two up...
Yaaa, it’s really a temperment issue and what work you want to do.
By the way, we cross Angus and Hereford to produce baldies for meat. This is doable because both breeds produce newborn calves at similar weight, though the Angus grow faster to market weight.
For beef cattle, the Hereford moms are easier than Angus to handle and keep, but that heavy Angus marketing is trending the beef industry towards monoculture, which I think is a bad idea.
My brother used to raise Chianina. I was surprised they were so mellow, but I still walked carefully in the pasture when the bull was around.
Actually, if you tame one, you'll find that she'll be milkable. You won't get as much as a milking breed, but they do produce. Now--Go bring in a bred heifer and make her a pet!
If I were to designate a milker, I’d start the socialization effort with a brand new calf. They’re pretty rambunctious by the time they’re bred.
I think that would be wise... Even Jersey's by the time they are yearlings can be a bit much.
Indeed they are! And you'd probably have to bottle feed, at that. And then wait until breeding age--year and a half? Two? That's a big investment in time, but you'd have fresh milk (and all the headaches that milking can bring). OTOH, get a milking goat.
If I go for the dairy biz, some goats would be fun. They're special in their own way, though. Like Houdini.
🤣 love it. Thanks for a good laugh. Given this weather we need it
Thank you for the instructions for making butter. I'd like to try this at some point.
Some weeks ago, I described my efforts at making ice cream (two batches, mint chocolate chip & carrot cake) with my newly ordered equipment. On Kroger's website, I read the reviews beforehand for heavy cream options, the best of which was just above the midpoint for the ratings spectrum.
I bought the best of what was available in the refrigerated section: Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream. $6.29. Per pint. If I recall correctly, I needed 3 pints to make 2 batches. A 48 oz container of Breyers currently shows at $5.99. Still, no regrets. My ice cream was great.
hmmm. sounds just a bit easier than milking your own! or finding a farm anywhere nearby.
Speaking of Austin...Attorney General Ken Paxton Demands Documents as Part of Investigation Into Austin ISD for Facilitating Student Protest Against Lawful Immigration Enforcement Activities
He's been hitting every angle, including MAHA issues. Hope his March will be successful!
me too
big primary coming up. I like Ken, not sure yet who I want to replace him.
Yeah. Some hard choices. Wish Paxton stayed AG and Chip Roy in the Congress. But maybe will take a Paxton to ease out Cornyn. He has endorsed a member of his AG staff so...though other candidates seem o.k.
Republicans establishment here seems to be wary of paxton and leaning toward Cornyn imho
Establishment= rinos+ uniparty. Cornyn highly unpopular with mozt voters and Paxton very popular. So will take,some dirty politicking.
The cold can cause problems for people who have to work out of doors. In the Fall after harvest or sometimes during harvest dad would drive the tractor , whether it was harvest or getting the fields prepared for Spring before the Winter hit. His face would get frostbite or sunburned. This was before the really nice tractors they have now with heated or air-conditioned cabs. Sometimes during potato harvest we would get a freak snow storm or a big freeze. One time a big freeze hit the potatoes. We had to make sure to get all the frozen potatoes out of the piler before the potatoes made their way into the potato cellar. My brother put me on the outside piler where the sun would shine on the potatoes and you could tell which ones were frozen. I was a fast picker. I preferred to drive the ten wheeler truck , loading the potatoes from the field and taking the potatoes to the cellar. The cab had a heater. I remember dad going out in the middle of the night during calving season. That was a big deal. I watched the vet try to pull one calf out by chains. He was coming out the way. The mama cow ended up having a c- section. When we would herd the cows and I would look for the cow with the scare on its side.
Sounds like your childhood was much like mine. 🥰 Mine was a dairy in Upstate NY, though. For us, I remember it feeling warmer in the barn with 60 cows than the 200 year-old farmhouse! I remember the midnight carvings and baling square bales of hay in summer heat, pulling them straight from the baler and stacking them in a wagon. Hardest work I've ever done, and I've done heavy work all my life! The most dreaded sound of winter was "The barn cleaner's frozen!"
Jill, you are a real trooper. Please be super careful on that ice. You are NOT replaceable - those ungrateful emus are.
Huge blessings!
This is Jill. Robert has been insisting on feeding and watering, as I have a bionic ankle.
Happy Anniversary! Enjoy Key West! Fun place to visit.