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  • Meet Our New Pig: Dorothy Dottie Dot

    We have a new pig!! DDD is an American Guinea Hog. She is still a bit shy after having been separated from her litter mates.  My husband created a comfy room for her in the barn for now but soon…

  • Public Events, Private Values: Some Observations

    It is the annual autumn season of fairs and festivals. When I visit such events I notice a continuing set of issues that trouble me; issues that concern not only the event venders but should concern visitors as well. My…

  • First peaches in the jar this season

      It’s an overcast drizzly summer day here at my house; perfect for canning peaches. Local peaches have gone up in price this year but I was able to find one orchard that would sell me seconds; fruit a bit…

  • Our Fabulous Homemade Chicken Plucker

    Next weekend is hen culling day; we have some older spent hens and some hens who don’t lay enough to justify dealing with their aggressive barnyard attitude.  So on Sunday the flock will go from 29 to 15.  This time…

  • Chefs and Slaves: The Cooks in Jefferson’s Kitchens

    Originally published as: Fossett, Gillette, Hemings, and Hern: Putting Names to Monticello’s Cooks http://www.kitchensisters.org/hidden_kitchens/herculeshemings_story27.htm This is an excerpt from my foodways lecture series entitled “Fossett, Gillette, Hemings, and Hern: Putting Names to Monticello’s Cooks.” Edith Hern Fossett and Frances Gillette…

  • Thanksgiving Traditions in Virginia 200 years ago

    Originally published as: Slow Food – before Thanksgiving – 200 years ago – 1813 – food traditions in Virginia – http://www.slowfoodusa.org/thanksgiving In Virginia of the Jeffersonian Era as the dark days of late fall and early winter closed in people…