A Phenom Friend

Reagan's friend, Madison

One thing that overwhelmed us when leaving California was saying "good-bye" to our friends.  That was sad, just plain sad.  Reagan misses her friends, extremely!!!  We all do.  But, God intervenes, He provides.........and has blessed Reagan with phenomenal friendships.

Madison 

Recently, these past 3 days, Reagan helped Madison house sit while Madison's parents escaped the everyday mayhem for an anniversary get-away.   This was quality time for Reagan, for sure.  The 2 girls were left with a herd of goats to tend, 4 horses to hay, chicken eggs to collect, one goat to milk, babies to bottle feed,  dogs to keep track of (Jack Russells), cats, cats, and more cats, mice to keep caged .........plus all else that goes on at the Bowland homestead.   Kelly (mama) left them with LOTS of food to eat.............like PW's cinnamon rolls and, and, and.  Remember, Kelly LOVES to cook.
Here are the 2 of them milking Guerty.

Today it snowed. Lots and lots of snow!!!  So, when I went over to check on the girls, I took some pics.........of course.  Here's a few!!!

Check out this barn cat.


Madison took care of the horses.............

 

After chores the girls had some fun with the snow.........on the trampoline!

 

  

  

What a great 3 days Reagan had...........watching the Olympics, watching all 3 Pirates of the Caribbean, in a row.........studying Algebra (thank you Maddie!) and eating great food!!  That's phenom!!!

We thank God for our friends.

How to "fell" a tree

 

We are Woodcutters!

Our picture above proves it and our existence relies on it.  For the cold weather, we thank God.  More cold, people need more wood...............simple as that.

I took pictures one great cloudy day on how the Dyer men (my 2 wonderful, God-fearing, reformed Christian men) "fell a tree".  This is terminology in logger talk for cutting a tree down.
First, find a perfect tree.  This day, the Dyer men both found his own tree.

It is sad, because these once beautiful Live Oak trees are hundreds of years old and they have died due to "wilt" disease. Science really hasn't found a cure yet.   Meanwhile, people like our Bar-B-Que place in town need hard Oak wood...........so, we deliver.

This tree, as most of the dead trees that day, was dark and haunting.
The first thing to do is to cut off all branches within reach.

 

This is not a "safe" position.  But, the job was getting done and Jody assured me the footing was solid.

Our family uses Stihl chainsaws.  Our good friend, Colby Crockett, has a Stihl retail and service center in Dallas.  Not that we are experienced with many brands, but we know that Stihls are the best.  We have run these machines for days at a time working on very hard oak wood.  We are not your weekender wood choppers needing a little firewood.  I mean, these saws are industrial strength.  Good Company.......Stihl.


So, after removing reachable branches, the important next step is making a notch.  What is a notch?  Defined this way from Loggingterms.com, "A section of wood sawn and removed from a tree's base. Its removal allows the tree to fall and assists in direction where it will fall. The face is comprised of two separate cuts which have constant relationships; the horizontal cut must be at least 1/3 the diameter of the tree, the sloping cut must be angled enough to allow a wide opening and the two cuts must not cross each other.  This will control the direction the tree will fall."  We pray that it controls the direction it falls

  Joel first cuts close to the ground, parallel to the ground, or horizontal as it says.......

Then he makes another cut, like a half moon above the bottom cut.   This will cut out a wedge.  This is the process of cutting a notch.

 

  

  

Now the tree is sure to fall that way (to the left).

Joel now goes to the back side away from the notch.  He cuts and pushes at the same time.  He loves doing this!!  Big machine, big tree, BIG THRILL!!!

Now I run far around to get out of the way of the high branches.

It scares me to death to see Joel on his knees sawing on a teetering tree.

But, he gets out of the way!!!

  

  

Well DONE!!!

Meanwhile Jody is making his notch...........

  

Oh he is handsome!!!  He just shaved off his beard leaving this gotee look.........less white, more skin.  Just right!!!

Jody makes a great notch.  Joel comes over to help his old man!!! 

Trees are both down, Now pictures please!!!

(I love my camera)

 

I love trying to get Joel to pose.  It is almost like catching a mouse. 

God has blessed us with a wonderful son.

I didn't get a close up of Jody that day, well actually, I did............and , well I need to use another picture.  Here is one of my favorites from Christmas Day.

No matter, this is how to "fell a tree".

My Man, in whom I am proud.  He is a woodcutter!!!!

When it SNOWs............

One snowy wintry day...........last week, God blessed us with snow.  Fact is, it was said that every state (49) had snow last week.   Records were set everywhere, across the nation with snowfall.  How's that for global warming??

So, once we got over the incredible sight of WHITE when we woke up that morning, what did we do????  I ran out with the camera and took pictures of course.............

This is a group of trees in our back yard.

Reagan armored herself with some weapons........

Joel looked innocent, a perfect target............

And Marigrace fed her chickens, oblivious to the evil schemes of her siblings.......

Then we made snow cream.  Yep, a lotta snow, a little brown sugar and cream.  Oh, this was not a dream, but real life living on a cold, snowy day.

YUMMMMM!!!
Later, Reagan and I cooked.  She made doughnuts from Pioneer Woman's website.  There's a few things we might change next time, but they turned out famously.

The holes were a little big, but the taste was even bigger.  Yum yum!!

I made Challah.............my favorite bread to make.

The woodcutters enjoyed some time off...............drank cocoa and watched "I love Lucy" and the "Andy Griffith Show"...........with a lovely fire of Texas Live Oak burning in our great fireplace.

Great day!!! 

Strawberry Mile High Pie.......for Valentine's

An Ambrosial Delight


This is a Dyer Family favorite, thanks to my Aunt Camille.  Not only is this dessert fluffy pink heavenly goodness, it has been in our memories forever.  We've never taken it for granted because when Camille cooks, we know that culinary bliss is to be experienced.  Get the point, she is a cooking genius that creates comfort foods at a five star level.
So, recently Reagan and I were craving her Strawberry Mile High Pie, a fluffy pink heavenly goodness.   We graced the Valentine table with its tantalizing, fruity beauty.
Here it is:  Oh, Aunt Camille credits The Caldron Cook Book for this delicacy (a side note).

First make the crust:  This crust is NOT a store bought situation, it is homemade and worth it.  Don't buy a plastic wrapped imitation...........EVER.
Joel made the crust for me.  He was in the middle of making the chili for our Valentine dinner and wanted to help out with this piece of goodness............he LOVES strawberries!!!
In a baking pan Joel mixed 1/2 cup of melted butter with 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 cup of flour.
He then pressed it down to fit the pan (about 1/4" thickness).  He baked it for 15 minutes or so at 375.

After it had cooled he crumbled it all up.  (his hands were clean, ......I think)

Then with a little more than 1/2 of it, he pressed it into my spring form pan.  Not the sides, just the bottom.

Crunchy goodness, for sure!!!  Now, set that aside.

Put the following in your mixer bowl.

2 cups of frozen/thawing strawberries (I had close to 3 cups and used them all)

1/2 cup sugar

1 T of lemon juice (I think I used a little more)

1/8 t of salt ( I have nothing that small, so I'm sure it was 1/4, in the palm of my hand kinda thing)

2 egg whites (now, the Dyer chickens lay some medium and some large eggs.  So, I used 3 medium egg whites)  ((especially since I used more strawberries))  (((Sorry, Aunt Camille, going off the recipe here)))

Now, put the wire whipper attachment on and let it whip!!!  For 20 minutes.  Did you read that??  20 minutes!!!

Right away those egg whites started fluffing into goodness

RED is for LOVERS 

Each of us around the mixer hovers....(sorry)

We had fun cleaning the dishes and watching the goodness fluff a mile high............

The color started to lighten as it rose to the top of the bowl

Oh look at that cloud of pink sumptuous BLISS!!!
After 20 minutes it was a mile high.  We (all of us were in the kitchen watching this baby grow) put this pink cloud in another bowl.

What a satisfying, gratifying feeling when you transfer fluff without it DE-fluffing, if you know what I mean.
Then for the final 3rd step, as if this pink cloud of puff wasn't enough to stimulate the taste buds.
Back into the mixing bowl put
1 cup of cold whipping cream (my grandmother always said COLD, as if it wouldn't be out of the fridge.  She would even freeze the mixing bowl.........)

1/4 cup of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Beat this into another white cloud of delight, but not too stiff.  Mine might have been a tad too stiff.  If too stiff, it won't mix in completely with the other.  (Don't worry, it is still to die for.....)
Fold the white cloud in with the pink cloud of goodness.

The kids were clamoring to lick any utensil I was using.
Then pour the united creams of ambrosial goodness into the spring form pan.

Finally sprinkle the remaining crumbled crust on top.

Put this in the freezer.  It's great because you can make it days ahead of its intended use of pleasing the sensory.  Before serving, remove the outer ring and put the bottom on a pretty plate.
I just can't get enough of its prettiness.......and its ease to please.  A mile high of strawberry delight!!!

Thank you Aunt Camille.