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Maybe the Puppy

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Her real name is Maybelline.  But we call her Maybe.  We picked her up from the breeder at 8 weeks.  She is a second generation golden doodle and should top out around 30 pounds.  Three weeks later, she is part of the family and all dogs are happy again.

Here is Maybe’s arrival at home.

Moonshine, the 110 pound golden meets his new sister and pack member.

Moonshine has been excellent with the puppy so far.

First visit to the salon!  Maybe is destined to be a shop dog.

David the vet meets Maybe.

 

Roughhousing as set in.

Spring Peak Three: Rocket Time

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What’s the difference between Dame’s Rocket and Prairie Phlox?  Why the difference between four and five (and alternate toothed leaves).  This is rocket on the trail by the river that we walk every day.

Moonshine

 

And some black locust to perfume the air.

 

Final Moonshine

Peep peep peep

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The 2023 batch of chicks has arrived.  12 peeps: 6 barred rock and 6 noir marans.

Moonshine would like to eat the peeps.

One week later, the peeps were twice as big.  They will be introduced to the flock on April 20th.

Big Dog, Little Girl

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Look at that smile on Moonshine’s face.

Tree elf.

Chopsticks

Little creatures are exhausting.

Moving wood in circles

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The thing about having a fire is that you work on wood a bunch well before ever having the fire itself.  The kitchen fire is going all winter when it is below 40.  Why that cutoff?  Because first you have to cut the wood, spilt the wood, move the wood, stack the wood, move the wood again, store some on the porch, move some inside and then finally burn it.   See?

Fortunately, I have help most of the time.

In the truck again.  Moonshine supervising.

The woodshed stack.

The porch stack with a photo bomb by my finger.  Once again, moonshine is supervising.

Ginko Yellow

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This is apparently the largest Ginko stand in North America, found at Blandy Experimenal Farm in Virginia.  We went during peak color change with Moonshine.

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Moonshine the Puppy (2-10 months)

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Moonshine the puppy is now 90+ pounds and is not even a year old yet.  He is growing up fast.

Here he is on his first day home.

And on the beach in mid-October.  Still a gangly adolescent, but a big one!

Now we’ll go back in time…

 

The Great 2017 Amer Picon Experiment

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Because of the Liberal, that’s why. It all started as a hack of Torani Amer and Regan’s Orange bitters #6. But that was before Amer Picon from France. Now there is always Amer Picon in the house, a band called the Bitter Liberals, and a house cocktail.

Then came a Thanksgiving, Christa, and talk of Neroli-Petitgrain oranges growing in East Tennessee.

So yes, Amer Picon. Lets make it. Using ultra local super hot white dog. Lets make it.

December 15

December 19

SOLSTICE

Christmas Eve

And then the big day: January 5, 2017

The final ingredient mix

The final ingredient mix

Orange peel infusion jar

Orange peel infusion jar

Straining the peel infusion with a coffee filter

Straining the peel infusion with a coffee filter

Measuring the proof

Measuring the proof

A drop from 165 to 110

A drop from 165 to 110

*** 110 proof orange peel infusion

Straining the orange leaf infusion

Straining the orange leaf infusion

*** Orange leaf infusion

Caramelized orange juice with brown sugar and butter

Caramelized orange juice with brown sugar and butter

*** Caramelized orange juice

Gentian

Gentian

*** Gentian

Quina

Quina

*** Quina

20170105_202514

Very close but needs some sugar, so simple syrup of demerara.

Demarara

Demarara

Blend, taste, adjust, work. (Two half batches combined was our methodology.)

Notes and the final recipe.

Notes and the final recipe.

Proof is in the Liberal.

A Liberal with homemade Amer Picon

A Liberal with homemade Amer Picon

Success!