The Majestic Oaks
We have a lot of red oak trees around our property. Our back field is surrounded by a row of lovely oak trees. This time of year, they turn a beautiful russeted amber. They’re not a flamboyant in their fall color as the maples, but they bring a lovely brightness to the darker days.
At the moment, I’m trying to soak up all this lovely color before all the leaves are gone and things are brown until the snow flies.
Do you have a favorite tree?
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Friday Favorite: Brussels Sprouts
I used to try to grow Brussels Sprouts and never managed to do a good job of it, until a few years ago. Now we always have a nice harvest to eat during November & December. Brussels are great because they can take the cold. They will patiently sit by, coming through the coldest nights with perfect poise, waiting for all other vegetables to be exhausted. Just when all other vegetables are a distant memory, brussels are ready to eat with glorious abandon, which we do for a month.
They will keep for longer in the root cellar, but we enjoy them most within a month of harvest. This year I have 8 nice stalks to enjoy. For the most part, we eat them for breakfast, with onions, balsamic vinegar, bacon, and fried eggs on the side. It’s a hearty way to start a dark, cold day.
Do you like Brussels Sprouts? What’s your favorite way to enjoy them?
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Harvesting California Poppies
This was my first year for growing California poppies. I grew them for two reasons, their beauty and their medicinal value. Being an insomniac, it is said to have properties that help you fall asleep more quickly. Since it’s pretty expensive to buy the tincture (I purchased this kind to try a few years ago), I figured it would be cheapest to grow my own.
I harvesting the entire plant, leaves, stems, and flowers, cut them up and put them in a mason jar. I also harvesting some try dry to make tea.
The mason jar was topped off with grain alcohol and I put it in the pantry. It should be ready in 6 weeks. I’ll let you know how it works, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it helps me fall asleep quickly.
Do you grow any medicinal herbs and make tinctures? What’s your favorite?
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That Dressed Up Chiots
Lucy, the garden’s namesake has been gone for a few years now. It was sad to lose her, but she lived a long and happy life with us. Around Halloween I always think about her because she LOVED to dress up and go trick or treating with the nieces & nephew. I searched through my photos and found a few to share.
Lucy was a great do, she was larger than life and still lives on in our hearts. We were blessed to have her in our lives for almost 13 years.
Happy Halloween from all of us at Chiot’s Run
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Early Christmas
When my sister and the kids were up last week, we celebrated Christmas. Typically, we head back to Ohio around Thanksgiving, but this year we knew we weren’t going to be able to make it. Mr Chiots took the kids out and they selected and cut a balsam fir from the back 40. We set it up and the girls added some decorations. While they were doing this, I was making our Christmas dinner, complete with ham, green beans, and mashed potatoes.
It’s always nice to extend the holiday season out a little more. Instead of a mad rush with lots of gatherings, we end up celebrating them here and there over the course of a few months. The kids loved cutting a real Christmas tree, it was a new experience for them.
Do you celebrate any holidays at off seasons?
