Hi Everyone 😊
I hope you're all doing well! I made a Jarlsberg cheese this past week. This cheese is SO good! It's currently aging and will be ready in about 5-6 weeks. I love how milk turns into such yummy good cheese.
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My beautiful wheel of Jarlsberg...ready February 15th 2020....gone and eaten by February 20th 2020!
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The last time I made this cheese was last December and this is what it looks like when it's all aged with big Swiss-style "eyes"! I can't wait to eat this again, it's my most successful cheese!
There is a grouse couple living in the trees on my acreage, right next to the house. They mostly hang out in the birch trees.
Even though the nights are getting cool here, around 10C, the days are still very hot. I made this gif from photos I took when I was walking Jack and Charlie. It's so windy lately, I felt like Jack might take off as his ears picked up the wind!
The skies here are definitely stunning.
Well my Friends, I finally did THE TASK. I sat down and did a brutal assessment of all the work that needs to get done in the next 2 months. This is just some of it. There is also finding a better home insurance plan, redoing the budget, figuring out Alex's studio, putting up curtains, canning tomatoes, I have 2 doctor's appointments, we have an appointment with our lawyer to draw up our wills, monthly meal prep and shopping, pet care, day to day stuff and ME time. Plus Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween are coming up quickly! I feel a bit overwhelmed!
I've decided to take a Blogging break for at least a month until I can get a handle on my life here. I'm still going to host the weekly art date though! And I will try to participate! So I will see you on Thursday for our art date! The theme is
The Old Masters. 🎨 Thanks for understanding! ❤️❤️❤️
Yes, a break from blogging is definitely a must for you my dear!
ReplyDeleteI'm moaning about what we need to do here which is nothing as complicated as your long list! Just take time and be careful - a lot of those jobs are heavy work.
Meanwhile hope the cheese is good - it will be - and that you, Alex and the babies stay well and safe.
Hugs - Mary
A well deserved blog break stay well and keep calm.
ReplyDeletei could almost taste that cheese just by looking at it! with a list like that i'm surprised you aren't taking a year-long blog break!
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed that you make your own cheese and it looks amazing! Looks like you have your work cut out for you. Have a productive month wile on break. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break away from blogging, just as much as I would enjoy that cheese if I could get my teeth into it!
ReplyDelete!Enjoy' your break, hope you get all the work done. Valerie
ReplyDeleteThat Jarlsberg looks so yummy! I enjoy its nutty flavour too. Yes, you will be a bizzy bizzy bee over the next couple of months, so a blog break will help ease your time crunch. Good luck with your "to do" list!
ReplyDeleteMost of us think we're at our max of busyness in the spring and summer, but come this time of year when living in a climate that has actual winter weather, it requires some real scrambling to make sure we are ready to make it happily and safely through the next six months! Our daughter lives in the deep woods and reports that she's never seen such frantic squirrel activity in their efforts at accumulating and saving food for the upcoming winter. (Hmmmm, I think we maybe should pay attention to these natural signs.) Good luck completing the necessities on your list. I haven't sat down and made my list yet! Best get on that . . .
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteYour cheese looks delicious. I love your cute dogs. Beautiful sky capture. It is neat you have Grouse hanging out on your property!
Enjoy your break, sounds like you will be busy! Have a happy day!
I would move the changing locks on the doors to the first slot. Then look into fixing the roof and upgrading the wood stove before the weather gets bad. The other things like shower,shelves, and organizing can be done over the winter months when you get snowed in. I have a question. remember that cow you took a picture of? Did you ever look into possibly asking the owner of that cow if you could buy the milk straight from him for the cheese making and maybe cream and butter making. You could do like this one cheese maker in Switzerland does. He gets the milk from the farmer and makes the cheese and gives a percentage back to the farmer. It works out quite well for him and the farmer.
ReplyDeleteYour Jarlsberg looks so delicious, I can understand that you can hardly wait to cut it!
ReplyDeleteit's pretty cold with you but it's not so hot with us during the day with 20 degrees.
What animals live like that the grouse couple! Great. laugh Jack's ears, he plays helicopter!
Wonderful the photo of heaven, you already live great
You have a lot of preparations and appointments *wow*You will also manage everything, work off one by one!
Have a good time, hug Elke
Wow - that is quite a list. Just reading it made me feel a bit overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break. You will be missed but we will keep the light on for you.
Love your clever gif - and that cheese looks amazing.
Your cheese looks wonderful. Enjoy the blogging break, tho I know you'll be very busy! I think I've only posted once before, but I do so enjoy your blog and art work. Best, Celie
ReplyDeleteOh, and I love, love your recipes!! Celie
ReplyDeleteI've never even thought us non-cheese makers could even have seen it as possible.
ReplyDeleteTackle that list and your cheese can be your reward when you are done! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteRain,
ReplyDeleteI'd say blogging break is in order after a hectic spring/summer as yours. It sounds like you still have a lot on your plate. Yum, cheese! Jarlesberg is a good one. I haven't bought any of that in quite awhile. I might have to change that. ;) Enjoy your time away. I'll see you on Thursday, my dear!
Oh my that Jarlsberg looks so good I wish i had some fresh baked bread and a big piece right now, Rain! I can "see" why it was gone so fast. And, yes a blog break is definitely in order with the list of things to be done before the holidays and cold months come and the months certainly are going by so fast even with shutdowns.That sunset was so beautiful and it's nice to leave in an area where you can see such beauty every day and night.
ReplyDeleteRain ... that cheese looks amazing ! You really put your heart into making it and enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteThat is one heck of a list to accomplish .. I wish you the best of luck and that it will all come together for you. There is no grater satisfaction then getting a list DONE !
That was a stunning picture of the sunset .. I so wish I lived in an area that I could see the western sky with sunsets.
Yes ... taking a time out is essential .. I am doing that as well with life getting a bit more complicated here .. we all need a break at certain times .. take care and stay well & safe !
Well my dear friend you are SOOOO busy a break is indeed a good idea. Glad you will still be doing TAD. However, this week I will not be able to join in. I have eye surgery on Tuesday and will have to be down a few days and no PC. Mr. M. and I just finished the last of some Jarlsberg. It is so good. Yours looks amazing and the freshness has to make it better. Ohhh when we lived in N. ID. I would step out my back door with my bow and bring in grouse dinner. There is nothing like hunting your own food. The dogs look happy to be there and that sky. WOW!!! Remember, do one thing at a time. Hugs. N
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing. I don't know how you do it all. Your cheeses are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHave a great break. I shall miss you.
I agree, Rain. If my list were as long as yours, I'd be taking a blog break, too. You'll be back right before it's time to unwrap the cheese. If it is as lovely as your previous batch, I am going to be jealous. Please stay safe, healthy, and PLEASE don't overdo each day.
ReplyDeleteLove the doggies! Don't work too hard.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely need a blog break! I love reading your posts but understand you need time out. What a massive list of things to do and they aren't small tasks either (and here's me fussing over when I will ever get round to fixing my kitchen blind, extractor and painting a couple of walls lol!) I think as the Seasons change you will get to know your house and land and settle in for the Winter - Halloween should be fun - hope you're growing pumpkins :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a long list! Good luck on doing it all before winter comes. Glad you will still host the TAD event on Thursdays. Sorry, that I couldn't make it last week. Couldn't wrap my mind around "Still Life". Thanks for stopping by my blog for PPF! I feel the same, that I always see new things, I want to try. *LOL*
ReplyDeleteI hope your blogging break is very productive, Rain - of course it will be, you are the most productive person I know! How good of you to leave us with a picture of some of your beautiful cheese. Take care of yourselves as you prepare your home for winter. How satisfying it will be to have so many important things finished. We'll see you when you get back! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have plenty to do! I totally get it if I were you I would get all the locks changed on the doors first. You just never know who has keys out there floating around please. And I would do all of the wood stove wood roof stuff first also. Don't want to Leaky house or cold house!
ReplyDeleteI need to make a new list and get more things done around here. We'll miss you! Take pics of what you are doing to share when you get back! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWow -- your winter list is intense -- much to do. It wouldn't hurt for me to make a new list. I can think of a couple of things -- like replacing an interior broken window pane in the family room!
ReplyDeleteI think I missed why replacing all the locks would be important to do now. But the wood and roof -- definitely! And I am SO impressed with your cheese. WOW!
Oh sweetie, I've finally gotten around to catching up with my blog friends and you're taking a break! I think you must need it with all the work you need to do.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you've moved and I missed it, I'll have time to go back over the last year and read about it.
Take care and enjoy your new home <3
That's a huge list of things needing to e done essentially in about one to two months! None can wait either. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a quite a list! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThe Jarlsberg looks wonderful.
Good luck with that list — it’s pretty daunting to lay it all out like that. The cheese looks remarkable. You must be experienced to get such a professional array of holes.
ReplyDeleteBe well... mae at maefood .blogspot.com
ouch, that is a lot. You need a break. I have actually wondered how you manage do do everything I see you do. :)
ReplyDeleteTake care, see you when you have time. :)
That cheese looks and sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blogging break, and take care of yourselves.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
You do have so much ahead of you. I'llcontinue to follow you on instagram and see how things are.
ReplyDeleteYour plate is full ( of cheese ) 😜 couldnt resist ... lol
ReplyDeleteYou can tackle it one step at a time.
I know things can get overwhelming especially when u know that time is limited before it gets cold and the snow comes. We are in the same "panic mode" right now.
Clarabelle is due to her first calf in the spring ... I can't wait for gallons of milk ... to be turned into cheese. It looks so delicious !!!
Fabulous Cheese!!!
ReplyDeleteyour cheese looks great dear Rain :)
ReplyDeleteoh i loved wind moving his ear and grass yes :) soothing
your list sounds tiring though i know your courage is like undefeated mountain :)
best of luck for all you have to do dear Rain
hugs!
Your cheese looks amazing.
ReplyDelete