Barn/Cottage Update & Homemade Treats

The Blacksmith and Fiddler accomplished a lot today on the Barn/Cottage! We now have a fully functional, flushing toilet. Additionally, bead board panels now surround the entire bathroom, and a door was installed thus making the privy area pretty much private now.

Here is a view of the manifold, which is where all the water originates  for the Barn/Cottage.

There are many more details yet to finish for the bathroom area – a door knob, water heater, ceiling, install sink & vanity, hook up water to the tub/shower, install trim, a permanent light fixture – just to name a few items. But a lot was accomplished!

Additionally, the Fiddler, almost singlehandedly framed up this wall that separates the Cottage from the Barn. This was his first framing lesson ~ well done! We have a French door that will be installed in this wall.

I spent the day catching up on laundry and other neverending chores. I also started painting the metal chairs for the porch. This morning I “churned” butter and baked whole wheat beer bread. I got this fabulous butter recipe from Evening Shade Morning Latte. You may view the recipe here, and be sure to check out her other great recipes.  Here are a few glimpses of my butter-making process. Yes, I cheated and used the KitchenAid mixer. It was SO easy! Here you can see it turning to butter, and separating from the buttermilk.

After about 13 minutes on medium-high, here is what I had.. draining the buttermilk here.

And into the crock it went.

I have to confess I tried this butter recipe the other day and I ended up with salty whipped cream. It never quite made it to the butter stage – guess I hurried it up a little too much! Homemade butter calls for homemade bread so I used one of my favorite quick recipes - Farmgirl Susan's Almost Too Easy Whole Wheat Beer Bread. My bread never turns out as pretty as Susan’s, but this recipe is always tasty.

All in all, a tasty duo, and a good treat for my carpenters and me! (Yikes, and another reason to start that diet Monday!)

Hope you’re enjoying the weekend!