Let The Countdown Begin!

[Trillium]

Our backyard is in desperate need of mowing too, but it gets a bit swampy so we have to wait until we have several days of no rain....  Our poor pug is in danger of getting lost back there.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Our backyard is in desperate need of mowing too, but it gets a bit swampy so we have to wait until we have several days of no rain....  Our poor pug is in danger of getting lost back there.

I've got Great Danes and we've had to attach ATV flags to them. 

[PollyPoPo]

Great Danes with ATV flags attached - 

That is funny.

[LadyJessica]

Fraser!  I have a special bottle I found that I need filled!  It's a wine bottle but it come with a glass cork!  Let me know how I can get it to ya!

[Rani Zemirah]

Pffftt... it's been raining so much here that the grass is DROWNING!    I'm pretty sure there's not going to be much of ANY kind of summer crops, at this point... and who know what our pecan harvest is going to look like this fall.  Still can't be as bad as last year, though... that late April hard frost we had killed ALL of our paper shells.  I don't know anyone who managed to gather a single pound of them, although the tiny natives did better, but that's because they're tough, and not as sweet... and serious pain to get out of their shells!  Hiopefully all this water will actually HELP them, this year... because I didn't get to make a single Maple Pecan Tart for the holidays, last year... and I know some of you here have tasted them, and know what we missed.   

(sigh)  I really DO need to finally get on the Loki making bandwagon, this year!  I now have ALL of the equipment for it, including an amazing HUGE stainless stockpot for sugaring off, and several slightly smaller ones for flavor mixing... as well as at least a dozen high quality swing-top bottles, with probably a dozen more coming this summer (a local store has them in 750ml size with several different flavors of sparkling lemonade for $2:50 per bottle... and the lemonade is actually GOOD! )  I also STILL have a gallon of Everclear (too bad it won't mellow on it's own from just sitting, huh?), and a few flavors, and some ideas for non-traditional recipes using some flavored liquors and liqueurs, as well.  It would be nice to have some really mellowed and ready for our Haunted Castle, even if we can't make it down there for All Hallows... and equally nice to have some on hand for Yule and our Medieval Fair in the spring.  I might even be able to do a bit of advantageous bartering, if it turns out well. 


Jess, that sounds like an interesting bottle!  Got any pics?  I wanna see! 

[Trillium]

OOOHHH, maple pecan tart sounds yummy!  I need that recipe!  Our pecan trees dropped tons last year.  I still have half a storage bin in need of shucking....

[Rani Zemirah]

Trill, you might want to try those pecans before you use them, or at least get them hulled and in the freezer before the full heat of summer hits!  Up here, if they don't get hulled then they tend to shrivel up in the shell and go stale.  We've got at least 40-50 lbs from year before last that didn't get hulled because none of the companies that usually will crack them by the pound for folks had any time, since it was the biggest crop in several decades, and the growers had them all booked through the whole season.  So our squirrels didn't go hungry this winter, at least!    But they aren't any good for cooking, now... and it just kills me.  I can get you that recipe... but you have to trade me your best, absolutely most favorite Family Gathering dessert recipe for it!  Believe me... it's well worth it!  People line up for this tart... and they will ask you every year after the first time if you're bringing it... especially if you have fresh pecans to use!  Experience talking...    Oh... and the recipe trade will be going into Miss Scally's recipe box that she has been gathering since she was 8 years old.  It's got every family gathering favorite from all of our family members (the one dish that each of them brings to each gathering, depending on the season), plus the ones that have been passed down from my grandma, great aunts and family friends... and a very few that have been traded for.  So yours will be in excellent company!   

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

JULY 2nd THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!
Write it on your calendar...

[Trillium]

Rani, I definitely plan to check them first.  If they aren't any good, I'm sure our white squirrel will be eternally thankful!  My family loves sweets so I will have to figure out which will be the best to give you...oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, candy cookies (no bake cookies), chocolate pie, chocolate walnut pie, strawberry cake, punch bowl cake....hmmmmm

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Ok, all... final flavor for the season (unless I can beat up an old lady for her SS check), will be...

BNB!
*Now to figure out the money part of it*

[Yrose]

Thinking I might try and make the white chocolate macadamia again. Have most of what I need already.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Thinking I might try and make the white chocolate macadamia again. Have most of what I need already.

LONG TIME NO SEE, YROSE!  It's been a while since you've chimed in!

You've been missed!

[Blood Raven]

There will be much drinking and celebration this year!

For it has been foretold.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

There will be much drinking and celebration this year!

For it has been foretold.

Welcome, Blood Raven, to the Never-ending Countdown. 

Pull up a chair. 

[Rani Zemirah]

Hey, there, YRose!  Mmmmm... that sounds tasty!  I wish I could get a "care package" sent up here with a whole box of small(ish) sample bottles, so I can try everyone's flavors this year!  I need to get some little bottles with blank labels, a small funnel and a box, and bribe Nasty to take it down there for me and fill them... and NOT drink them on the way back!  LOL Fraser, have you heard if he's going to make it down there this year? 

Trill, what is Punch Bowl Cake?  That sounds intriguing... 


Welcome, BR!  Glad you've joined us.    Come on in and make yourself at home!