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Project Discussions:  May~2020  |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
3452 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
3452 Posts |
 Posted - May 29 2020 : 05:21:53 AM
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Denise, I can’t believe May is almost finished. Time this year seems warped with all the changes resulting from the pandemic. Sometimes it feels like the days go slower, but it is whizzing by at the same time. We have transitioned to Summer the past week. It has been hot , humid, and two tropical storms have already happened. There was about 2 weeks in mid-May that the humidity was low and we had cooler nights. Then, it vanished and here we are for the next 4-5 months. Poof!!
Julie, how exciting that you have your own apple and other fruit orchard growing on your farm!! What variety of apples did you plant? What are the favorites for your northern area? When you get a chance this Fall, I would love to see a photo of your apples on the tree all fat and beautiful! And when you do your first pressing of cider, I would love to see a photo of that happening too. I recently was looking at the Lehman’s Catalogue(my all time favorite shopping source) and they have apple cider presses too. This year, when we have a our September Farmgirl Apple Festival, you can share more about your latest endeavor to start your own orchard . Apple Pie Sunday is going to be really fun by being able to pick your fruit fresh from the tree and put it into the pie crust. Now that has got to be a little slice of Farmgirl Heaven!! LOL!!
Marilyn, your littles are gorgeous! I love that deep color for the Summer. |
Winnie Nielsen #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Girl of the Year 2014-2015 |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2020 : 06:21:12 AM
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In have enjoyed those lillies so much. Since there is a tub on either side of the walk...oh my goodness..
The scent takes me back to the flower shop I loved as a teen. |
Texasgran |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
1189 Posts
Julie
medina
ND
USA
1189 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2020 : 4:04:53 PM
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This year I planted a Honeycrisp and a Prairie Magic. Both bloomed, shortly after I planted them. They were potted trees and are quite tall, I think I will only allow just a few fruit to remain on them so I can taste them, but I want thier energy to go into root establishment this year.my daughter planted 2 golden delicious and a Fugi. I always have my own apples for apple pie sunday, but I though the cider press would help us utilize them a little bit more.
Marilyn, I agree with you, I love my lilies. I have several varieties growing in my flower beds. The stargazers are my favorites. Several years ago I bought Iris bulbs from Mary Janes farm and they smell just like grape juice when they bloom.
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A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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darlenelovesart
True Blue Farmgirl
5996 Posts
darlene
Loleta
California
USA
5996 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2020 : 4:20:03 PM
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Those are good apples Julie. They will be nice next year!
We have an apple farm in the area! They make great Apple cider every year and usually have a harvest festival every year, O don’t if it wii but that is in
October I guess we wait and see.
Hugs
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Farmgirl # 4943
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for what he has done.
Philippians 4:6
Just follow God unquestioningly.
Because you love Him so, for if you trust His judgment there is nothing you need to know.
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2020 : 04:25:22 AM
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Julie,
Honeycrisp are so good! Just right sweet. I really love apples of all kinds. The store bought just don't seem to have much taste anymore. Looking forward to September when we can get them from the farms. Farm markets aren't open here yet except for strawberries. Looking forward t o the peaches too. I dried pears and they are so good that way. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2020 : 04:48:14 AM
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Denise, are dried pears chewy or leathery or more crispy?
Tell me more, please. We have one tall old pear tree at the end of our property. Last year I made pear honey. Never even thought about the dehydrator! |
Texasgran |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2020 : 6:59:48 PM
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| They can be any of those Marilyn, depending on how long you leave them or how you like them. I don't do mine to crispy but some get a little crispy. They are more chewy than crispy. I don't like when they are leathery. They seem tough to me that way. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2020 : 7:33:14 PM
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| How thick do you cut your slices? And do they take a lemon water bath before going to the dehydrator? |
Texasgran |
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quiltee
True Blue Farmgirl
4642 Posts
Linda
Terrell
TX
USA
4642 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2020 : 7:36:57 PM
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Our tree has a lot of plums. Can you dehydrate plums?
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Linda B
quiltee
Farmgirl #1919
FGOTM for August, 2015 and April, 2017
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2020 : 7:41:52 PM
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I'm sure you can. I have not done it...yet
I have made fruit roll ups. For them I put peel and all Except the Pit99s(seeds) into the blender thing and when I have a thick liquid I pour it on the silicone tray liners and try to get them even.
One problem...i eat way too much...they are so good.
I also do frozen fruit the same way. |
Texasgran |
Edited by - TexasGran on May 30 2020 7:43:53 PM |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 07:11:20 AM
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Marilyn I cut them either in 1/4" slices or small chunks. I prefer the chunks for trail mix or granola. I do dip them in lemon water.
I have never done plums Linda. Would they be prunes when done? |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 07:22:29 AM
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There is a prune plum. I have not grown any...
Thanks for your help Denise, I appreciate it. |
Texasgran |
Edited by - TexasGran on May 31 2020 07:23:38 AM |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
1189 Posts
Julie
medina
ND
USA
1189 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 10:51:33 AM
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| I have done many varieties of fruit roll ups. Some of our favorites are Apple cinnamon using the applesauce I can in the fall. We also really like strawberry and raspberry. I remove the seeds before I put them on the dehydrator and sweeten them with a little honey. |
A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 11:57:42 AM
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Julie,
Do you put them in a sieve to get the seeds from the strawberries and raspberries? |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
1189 Posts
Julie
medina
ND
USA
1189 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 1:35:02 PM
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| I do Denise. I actually have an electric one that separates the pulp from the seeds. It works on many different types of fruits if you use the different screens and makes canning things like tomato sauces, fruits and apple sauces very quick and easy. |
A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 2:16:05 PM
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| When I use the frozen fruits I run them through my Ninja that I use to make smoothed. Then I pour the mixture on the trays and dry. I don't worry about seeds. I've never even noticed. Sometimes hI must add a bit of sugar. |
Texasgran |
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quiltee
True Blue Farmgirl
4642 Posts
Linda
Terrell
TX
USA
4642 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 5:41:55 PM
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| My dehydrators (I have 2 alike) are the round ones. I am sure the larger cube-shaped ones work a lot better. Right now I am drying some basil that my son gave me from his garden. The leaves are huge! He also gave me some nice rosemary. |
Linda B
quiltee
Farmgirl #1919
FGOTM for August, 2015 and April, 2017
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Edited by - quiltee on May 31 2020 5:46:50 PM |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 7:04:01 PM
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Linda, mine is a round one. I've never used the square trays so I don't know much about which works better or why.
Thanks Julie. Come to think of it I have one of those. I used it for tomatoes when I made sauce. It's been awhile. So many gadgets that sometimes I forget what I have when I don't use them in a long time. Lol. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2020 : 8:01:14 PM
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Several years ago my husband kept on and on about us needing a dehydrator. I always told him that we had one...a round one...under the cabinet. But to stop his constantly wanting an excaliber, finally I ordered one from Cabelas. It must have been on sale of something because I thought it was quite reasonable at the time. I have really used it. It has nine big trays with no hole in the middle...that bugged me with the round one. You get precise timing, with the chart on top of the unit. I just made some jerky for Triston for his birthday. Four hours drying time. It took longer to marinate.I
Long ago when my son and as a teenager I began to make jerky. No dehydrator. After slicing the meat, thin and seasoning each layer, I wrapped the blob in plastic wrap, and put it into the fridge overnight. A big piece of aluminum foil was put on the bottom of the oven, to catch the drips.
Then came the tedious work of putting a toothpick through one end of each piece of meat and oh so carefully hanging it on the oven rack. Then the oven was turned on as low as possible and a pencil was placed at one corner of the oven door to allow warm air to the escape. After a couple of hours you checked to see how it was drying. Basically you were tied to th kitchen until it was finished. No more!!! Thank goodness. |
Texasgran |
Edited by - TexasGran on May 31 2020 8:05:45 PM |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2020 : 05:49:54 AM
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| I don't mind the hole in the middle. Mine has the motor on top and it has settings for everything. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
1189 Posts
Julie
medina
ND
USA
1189 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2020 : 06:19:06 AM
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| I have a full day of yardwork. Our farm yard is several accres and it all needs mowing and weed eating. I also have weeding the potatoes and watering the garden on my let. We had our youngest granddaughter yesterday so had a full day of playing. We actually have her a lot this week so need to get the lawn mowed so I can put up her little swimming pool. |
A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9176 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9176 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2020 : 07:58:37 AM
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| I hope your weather is cool for all that mowing Julie. Always fun to have the grandchildren with us. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Project Discussions: May~2020 |
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May~2020
