Saturday, June 13, 2009

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.

toilet1

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

manifold

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.

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.

butter1

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

butter2

And into the crock it went.

butter3

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.

breadNbutter

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!

sig3

10 comments:

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

Wow, they did get a lot accomplished! Progress that you can see during a project always keeps me motivated!
The homemade bread and butter are right up my alley! My downfall, too!
Have a great weekend :)
Misha

Lara said...

Hi Tammy,
Thanks for the comment on my blog! I love reading about other small farms in Missouri. We're first-year farmers and hardly know what we're doing. :)
How do you make your photo collages on the blog? You have taken some beautiful photos!
- Lara

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

Dont' tell me you milk cows too?
If you go on that diet you might consider a low cholesterol. But boy oh boy that butter sounds yummy!
Tell fiddler man to guard those precious fingers when hammering.
Patti

Keeper of the Home said...

Things are really coming along. I know you will be so happy to have it completed.

Pooh! I'm sorry your butter didn't turn out. That's so disappointing.

Your bread is so pretty. But I have to admit, I don't think I have found a loaf of bread yet that I didn't like. *grin*

~Mrs. M

Gwenieann said...

I was scrolling back through the blog to days that I missed. How is that I missed the homemade butter? I am now going to add that to my to-do list for the weekend. Do you have a variation that puts Honey in it? My little perfect Angel Kylea loves that honey butter. If anyone knows please share. :-)

Girl Tornado said...

Well, thanks for introducing me to a blog I've never seen before - Farmgirl Fare! I've copies off that bread recipe and I'm definitely going to give it a try when hubby is back in town. Sounds divine.

Girl Tornado said...

Oh gaw. Now I've researched that butter recipe and I want to do that too. But I think it's pushing me over the edge to finally buy that KitchenAid mixer I've been coveting for YEARS!!!!! I've been admiring it on Amazon for the last 30 minutes now....

Kilauea Poetry said...

This is really cool..I think I'll at least attempt to make some bread to start with..I haven't done that in quite awhile- thanks for the inspiration. Oz girl left a link.. I like your blog and your post is super! Have a great day-

Unknown said...

Hi there! I'm glad Oz Girl mentioned this post on her blog. I really, really want to try making my own butter. I'll keep you posted. Hhmm, no pun intended! : )

Be well! ~Andrea~

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

I can't wait to get me some cream!

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