SO... are you sick of turkey yet ?
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| A NORMAN ROCKWELL THANKSGIVING |
Thanksgiving has been an established tradition in the United States since President Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday at the end of the Civil War .
It's a good time to think about how much we have to be grateful for. Remember heroes past and present who have made it possible for us to live in freedom in this glorious country.
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| Wild turkey feathers we have collected on our property |
The Declaration of Independence was signed with a turkey quill.
Antique Documents framed in simple black frames
make a stunningly graphic display
make a stunningly graphic display
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| A receipt for family silver signed - Paul Revere |
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"I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country... the turkey is a much more respectable bird... a true original native of America."
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
The national bird of the
United States of America
A protected bird used as a
decorative symbol to perch on everything
from flagpoles to mirrors.
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| With the turkeys in Washington today a gobbler would be so much more appropriate on that pole. The Federalist Era - 1790 - 1820 Patriotism was running high in the new republic . Eagles were a very popular decorative motif |
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| Antique Bull's Eye Mirror @ 1810 |
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| ELMQUIST INTERIOR DESIGN |
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| INTERIOR by SUZANNE RHEINSTEIN |
45 million turkeys were consumed over this past Thanksgiving.
Would statistics have been the same if Mr. Franklin's vote had carried the day ?
Would statistics have been the same if Mr. Franklin's vote had carried the day ?
Spare a turkey- eat chicken !
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| I fear this POULE is going au POT |
We have had a flock of hens
for the past 12 years.
for the past 12 years.
They live at the Motel Chix
free to roam in their enclosed garden safe from predators.
free to roam in their enclosed garden safe from predators.
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| The Motel Chix |
None of our 'girls' will ever see a pot.
They are farm pets that happen to lay
delicious fresh eggs in a gorgeous array of colors.
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| HOMESPUN LINEN from Summer Hill ltd. |
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| All the girls were chosen based on looks and personality MACMURRAY HATCHERY |
BUFF BRAHMAS
BUFF ORPINGTONS
GOLDEN LACED WYANDOTTES
AURACANAS
AURACANAS
The Auracanas lay blue eggs.
The color was the inspiration for the foils on our wine and olive oil bottles
The color was the inspiration for the foils on our wine and olive oil bottles
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| "birds of a feather..." Cabarnet Sauvignons from the Calistoga Appelation The Auracana blue capsule stands out on the GLEASON Feathers don't appear often as motifs in textile designs even though the colorations, textures, and patterns are amazing- actually reminds me of the always popular leopard motif. |
CHICKEN FACTS
A chicken will lay an average of one egg every 36 hours for about 3 years but they can live to the ripe old age of 25 if kept safe and healthy.
When their egg laying days are over, our girls continue to live out their lives on guaranteed social security.
By the way- you do not need a rooster for hens to lay eggs.
You only need a rooster if you want fertilized eggs - hence... to make more chics- but frankly the thought of eating a fertilized egg grosses me out.
The color of an eggshell does not effect the taste of the egg. Egg flavor and yolk color are influenced only by what the chickens are fed. Orange peels, corn and marigolds make for bright yellow yolks.
When I order a new batch of chics I specify them sexed-all female. It's not easy to determine gender at that young age so there is no guarantee you won't occasionally get a future rooster.
The dynamics in our coop changed dramatically when a gorgeous young cockerel emerged strutting his stuff -- a relatively peaceful sorority became a competitive henpecking mayhem.
VIN-cent (aka Vin-E) - had to go. I gave Vin-E up for adoption and subscribed to a " DON'T ASK - DON'T TELL" policy.
NO RECIPE HERE FOR COQ AU VIN
Chickens and Roosters are popular icons
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| A cheerful way to wake up the morning When you keep chickens you become the recipient of almost anything 'Chicken' |
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| BECKY DOODLE TOILE from Summer Hill Ltd |
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| Gift wrap a small space in a Toile and it 'expands' the space |
The beloved Chanticleer is as much a national symbol of France as the Fleur de Lys.
Brave- Bold- Vigilant and Virile
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| An antique French weathervane Le Coq has graced steeples from churches to dovecotes for many centuries |
The Gallo Nero on the neck of a chianti bottle certifies that it is a true Chianti Classico made of at least 80% Sangiovese grapes
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| Traditional Chianti bottle with straw carrier |
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| A Lamp made from an antique wine bottle is amazingly modern from Drum & Company Antiques San Francisco Our one and only rooster is a bronze one sculpted by Miri Margolin, the Israeli sculptress |
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| In the studio |
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| Perched on the entry wall crowing welcome |
acclaimed for her bust of Raoul Wollenberg, installed in the capital building in Washington, D.C.
Raoul Wallenberg is the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II by issuing them protective passports and sheltering them in buildings in Budapest that were designated as Swedish territory. He was detained by the Soviets in 1945 and mysteriously dissappeared, never to be seen again. There is much speculation about what happened to him, and speculation that he may have had ties to US intelligence.
His bust stands as a continuous reminder that one man with the courage to care and the conviction to know right from wrong- can make a difference. Nothing "chicken" about that kind of hero.
His bust stands as a continuous reminder that one man with the courage to care and the conviction to know right from wrong- can make a difference. Nothing "chicken" about that kind of hero.
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| This solitary and moving image from Lars Sjoberg's CLASSIC SWEDISH INTERIORS photography by INGALILL SNITT |
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| 'Inspiring images of rough-edged but strangely regal 18th-century farms, country houses and city mansions. Poetic, accessible juxtapositions abound.' New York Times |
Speaking of heros and World War II, I am reminded of Leslie Howard, the British actor best known for his role as Ashley Wilkes in GONE WITH THE WIND, starring with Vivien Leigh (curiously also a Brit) and Clark Gable
The film classic was being filmed in the United States as Hitler was marching into Czechoslovakia.
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| The Pulitzer Prize winning epic novel about the Civil War and the Restoration  |
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| Vivien Leigh |
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| LESLIE HOWARD |
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| This 16th century house outside London was the home of Leslie Howard. It is now owned by our friends Alex and Terry. They have restored the grounds and the house. The screening room now quite derelict is a future project |
During World War II Leslie was active in anti-Nazi propaganda, and it is widely believed he too was connected to British and US intelligence. His death in a plane crash in 1943 is not mysterious but certainly suspicious in light of his espionage activities.
My parents met and married when they were stationed in Italy at the end of World War II
During their Italian stint my dad learned to make eggs BURRO NERO ( black butter) now the traditional way our family prepares eggs. With the fresh eggs from our girls the recipe is perpetuated better then ever.
Scrambled Eggs Burro Nero
serves 2
4 large eggs
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 TBLS butter
8" skillet
Beat the eggs and salt hard until fully blended. ( I do eggs in a Cuisinart)
Place skillet on a high heat and allow pan to heat up for 30 seconds.
Add the butter;
allow foam to subside and butter to turn a dark brown. This is the BURRO NERO
Pour the egg mixture into the skillet in a slow stream using a FORK to drag the egg and swirl it around incorporating the brown butter . DO NOT REDUCE HEAT
Keep dragging with the fork until eggs reach the dryness you prefer.
DON'T EVEN THINK OF USING A SPOON OR A SPATULA and don't make more then 4 eggs at a time in this size pan. They need to be able to cook FAST.
