Chocolate Box Cottage Diary, Volume 2

Week 26: July 2, 2022

Join me on a tour of a flower be-decked week at Chocolate Box Cottage! The roses are in bloom; so are the old fashioned daylilies, and other floral and herbal gems.

The petals from these roses will be added to my ongoing jar of Half Century Potpourri.

I am making an effort to do more of what I love. It’s harder than it sounds! I’ve been a responsible adult for a good long while now, and notice that being responsible often squeezes out enjoyment of what I love. Have you?

Hot pink roses appear red in the shade; oh-so-lightly spiced with mossy notes, this rambling rose travels up a trellis.

The daylilies are just starting to open.

Another small harvest of calendula flowers for an infused herbal oil.

A healthy start of bay laurel, culinary herb extraordinaire! Thank you, Deb!

This little female hummingbird didn’t know she was being rescued. She was knocking herself silly flying into the greenhouse panels. Don’t worry, I set her on her feet and she buzzed away with a whir of wings.

Easy gardening project: plant seeds from citrus fruit like Meyer lemons.

Dried chamomile, Enchanted Forest Chai tea blend, and sundry other lovely thrifted items grace my tea station, which lives in an odd corner of the kitchen counter.

We celebrated a family birthday with tea and lunch at Mom and Rolly’s. Tea followed this week’s floral theme, as chamomile is a flower. I really love this borosilicate glass tea pot, which having a pouring lip instead of a spout, is easy to clean.

The birthday dessert was untraditional, but very much enjoyed: a Germans-from-Russia (Ukraine) family favorite, Baked Rice with extra cinnamon. Made with leftover rice and eggs from the henhouse it tastes familiar and special.

Before we got up from the table, we heard a lawnmower start. It was Rolly, already starting on yard work. That man is a marvel!

Our sweet Squirrel loves the garden. We are anticipating a good blackberry harvest this year.

Meanwhile, Sam got up at 3:30 AM as he does every morning and went to work. In his off time he is working on cutting, splitting, and hauling the downed pine trees to the woodshed and keeping up with maintenance projects inside and out.

Egyptian onion in flower with top setting bulbils that can be replanted, which inspire its other name: walking onion.

Sam blessed me with half of his Saturday, spent helping me in the Apothecary Garden. We are making steady progress and the vegetable garden is coming along nicely. Fortunately the massive thunderstorm we had last night didn’t cause any damage.

Sam cooked me an omelet with bacon, tomato, and cheddar for breakfast so I could have a slow Sunday morning with Pearl and a book.

Have a good week, friends! Have a happy Independence Day!

Chocolate Box Cottage Diary, Volume 2

Week 10: March 12, 2022

Mild weather is perfect for washing quilts. Gentle detergent, gentle cycle, dry partially in the dryer to remove water weight, then finish hang drying. I remember sitting in the garden of our previous Central Point home hand stitching the binding on this quilt on a sultry 4th of July evening in 2010.

I made 2 of these quilts, one for Quilt A Smile and one for me. But Miriam fell in love with mine, so I still need to make one for myself.

In case you are interested, the pattern is called French Roses by Heather French and it’s a fun one for scraps or hand-picked fabrics.

New facia and trim boards to exclude mice. I hope!

“Great Stuff” appears to be nothing more than silly string for guys, as evidence above indicates.

Sam is making steady progress on repairs to our vintage A-frame greenhouse and the new herb garden space. He works hard and sacrifices unflinchingly for me, because he loves me. There is no doubt I am exceedingly blessed among women! Thank you, God.

In the Kitchen

Grandma’s recipe…Baked Rice (custard). My very favorite indulgent comfort food.

Waterglassed (or limed) eggs for egg salad sandwiches. As you can see from the date on the gallon jar, these were stored since October. We are using up our last jar of waterglassed eggs in March and the chickens are laying well again. We only had to buy 2 dozen eggs this winter.

Learn about waterglassing eggs here.

Wild Tabouli Salad is a forager’s take on traditional Lebanese or Syrian Tabouli (or Tabbouleh). Soft wheat berries were soaked overnight and then cooked. Instead of parsley and mint, I used wild herbs: shepherd’s purse, purple dead nettle, self-heal, and dandelion greens – with just a little parsley and mint that survived our recent 13-17F (-11- -8c). You might have all of these green goodies growing naturally in your backyard.

Note: Correct identification of any plants used as food is critical.

Blood oranges. Eat the marvelous, citrus-berry-flavored fruit, dry the peels for tea, and plant the seeds.

In the Garden

Planting seeds saved from blood oranges.

Work on the new Herb Garden continues, a piece at a time.

Rooted Pussywillow Cuttings from Meadowwoods Farm have been planted around the outside perimeter of the Herb Garden.

Moringa is a tree from India that produces edible, protein-rich leaves. The seeds require a 2-3 day soak in warm water, changed frequently, before planting. I am starting these Moringa seeds in extra large (5 gallon) pots with good organic potting soil and plenty of bunny berries so that they won’t need to be transplanted.

Planting time in the greenhouse: tomatoes, peppers (including seeds saved from these gorgeous flame-colored Aloha bells purchased at Fred Meyer), tomatillos, and herbs.

A happy little Meyer lemon seedling basks in the warm greenhouse on a March afternoon.

Mayo Bule gourds are an heirloom treasure. The vines are rampant climbers to 10-12 feet (3-4 meters) or even more, bearing big heart-shaped leaves and night-blooming flowers, which attract hummingbird hawk moths at dusk. In time the vines bear beautiful light green gourds 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) tall, shaped like Bartlett pears, covered in peanutty warts. Most unusual! The gourds eventually cure to tan or gold and make wonderful birdhouses. (Entrance holes should be drilled lower; these are used as decor)

Mayo Bule gourd seeds are unfortunately not available commercially. I have been growing them and saving seeds from about 2003. If I am able to multiply them to sufficient quantity, I may offer them for sale.

The plant in the Victorian shoe planter is a variegated Swedish ivy, Plectranthus variegata.

Old Friends

Speaking of women, we attended the memorial service of a dear friend, Terri Murray, on Saturday. Terri not only lived well, she set an example of how to die well. Not something we talk about – even in church. Thank you, Terri.

I crossed paths with my high school Spanish teacher, Carmen Tillery Adams. She was a very young teacher! She and I have both since married and raised families. We also saw Sue and Harold Steward. Sue is one of my quilt mentors at Quilt-a-Smile at New Life Church.  

Don’t forget Dessert!

Someone mentioned cake, so I went to the greenhouse and picked a lemon for a cake.

Made-from-scratch Lemon Buttermilk Cake is quick to pull together from pantry ingredients + 1 lemon.  

We are planting several interesting new or heirloom varieties this year in the ongoing quest to refine our home food system while keeping it lighthearted and fun.

How about you, are you planting anything different or unusual this year? Have you increased the size of your garden or are you planning to preserve some of the bounty?

Blessings to you this week – and thanks for visiting! If you have a few minutes, to spare, feel free to enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and another Cottage Diary entry.

Chocolate Box Cottage Diary, Volume 2

Week 7: February 19, 2022

Cool, frosty mornings are right around freezing and afternoons in the mid 60’s F (18c). The birds are happy and fill the air with chatter. It is surprisingly loud. Anyone who says they, “crave the quiet of the countryside,” has never been there. Or here.

The skunks have returned. From where, we do not know. We enjoyed being skunk-free these last several months, but when we heard the cat food bowl hit the side of the house on Monday evening Sam and I knew that meant the reprieve had ended.

We haven’t been sprayed (badly) yet, just small puffs of nauseating stink that last only a couple of days so far, and that due to Sam who persists in chasing them off. Sometimes I think he is worse than Toby, our grumpy old Maine coon cat. “Get outta here, go on, get!” says he, gesturing with his arms.

Skunks retaliate by picking up the empty cat food dish and flinging it against the house. And spraying, of course. Then ever so leisurely slipping under the gate to seek vittles and hospitality elsewhere.

Which means re-washing whatever is in the dryer because the scent goes right up the dryer vent and permeates the wash. Gahhhh!!! But as I said it hasn’t been terrible – yet. That day is coming, I am sure, and wouldn’t you love to be here visiting when it does?

Maybe you’d rather play my apprentice as I go through the farm kitchen tasks of the week: cooking, gardening, fermenting, inventorying the pantry, adding herbs to the apothecary, as well as shooting a video and answering at least a few hundred questions on all of the above subjects in online venues! I wish you could, it would be nice to have the help and the company some days!

Simple pleasures: cozy, beautiful socks (handmade by a dear friend, Linda Chandler, in Kentucky who send them to me as a surprise. Thank you, Linda!) a cup of tea, and a homemade cookie.

Valentine’s Day lunch at Mom’s. We packed a basket with a big jar of German Vegetable Soup with Dill, Baked Rice (custard), and Red Velvet Chocolate Tea from Farmhouse Teas.

PNW-Style Bacon and Veggie Fried Rice with garden greens, carrots, leftover chicken, and eggs from our chickens. A great use of leftovers, cool-season garden veggies, and odds-n-ends in the fridge.

Preparing to shoot a Bosch bread making video for Homesteading Family. Carolyn Thomas’ Art of Homemade Bread masterclass teaches you everything your grandmother (or great grandmother) used to know about baking soft, fluffy, and sliceable homemade bread. This is a batch of 5 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread.

One good way to get to know a far-away place is through their food. Get to know Ukrainian food and you will fall in love with the people. My mom’s side of the family is German-from-Russian, which is actually Ukraine. Summer Kitchens is one of my most-cherished cookbooks, it brings me closer to my family roots.

Four bowls of splendid salad greens: buckwheat, sunflower, pea, and radish (from left to right). I find seeds in many places: bulk bins at the locally-owned grocery store, Sprout People, and Johnny’s Seeds. Seed racks at garden centers frequently offer a small selection of seeds expressly for sprouting and eating. (You would not want to use treated seeds for food.)

I’m guessing grumpy Maine coon (Toby) locked the beautiful damsel in the hutch? Your guess is as good as mine.

Musqueé de Provence seed pumpkin, identified by the macramé yard I tied on the stem after hand-pollinating the female flower last summer. A peek inside reveals rich persimmon-colored flesh wish sweet, melon-like aroma and a wealth of sturdy seeds to save and replant.

Early spring pantry check. Your pantry may be spread out in different places like mine is, between kitchen cupboards, baskets on the floor, a closet, under beds, perhaps a shed or garage, and don’t forget your freezer!

A basket of garlic with many options for preserving before it begins to sprout. This time I plan to turn some into garlic salt, roast and freeze some for savory soups, and ferment some as a paste to season marinades and dressings and add flavor to stir fries.

We have been eating from the winter squash heap all winter and still there are plenty. Some will be baked and pureed for future pies, creamy soups, muffins, and other baked goods. Varieties left here include: Waltham butternut squash, porcelain princess pumpkin, and Musuqee de Provence pumpkin.

We are using up the last gallon jar of water glassed (or limed) eggs preserved in lime water. I keep a pair of rubber gloves draped over the top for ease of grabbing eggs. You also see a gallon of coconut oil, a crock of sauerkraut (in back), a lone bottle of huckleberry kombucha, and several jars of fermented garden produce including tomatillos and tomatoes.

A peek in the chest freezer reveals whole stewing hens (also known as spent laying hens) for broth, a turkey purchased at a discount last Thanksgiving, and local beef and fish.

Five gallon buckets with Gamma Seal lids are a convenient way to store whole grains like wheat, rye, barley; beans, popcorn, salt, sugar, and more as the lids easily spin off and on with one hand. No more struggling with a bucket tool to open a lid. I keep quart and half-gallon jars of individual grains in my kitchen cupboard and refill from the buckets as needed. Since I get into the buckets regularly, we do not use oxygen absorber packets. We eat from our food storage and continually replenish it throughout the year.

Happy mail from Starwest Botanicals included astragalus root, licorice root for, more amble glass tincture bottles, and a new set of tiny stainless steel funnels for easy filling of tincture bottles. Three homemade additions to the apothecary this week included diced dried organic tangerine peels, diced dried ginger, and dried hawthorn berries from a local tree. Some of the ginger was made into a fizzy ferment to add spice to stir fries and peanut dipping sauce for summer rolls.

Family-friendly movie recommendation: Support Your Local Sheriff. James Garner stars in this classic Western comedy, aided and abetted by the late Jack Elam, a southern Oregon local. You might just laugh through the entire movie like we did!

Coming soon: a new roof for the greenhouse!

If you have a few more minutes to relax with your cup of tea, feel free to take a peek at last week’s Cottage Diary entry. Thanks for visiting!