“By early evening all the sky to the north had darkened and the spare terrain they trod had turned a neuter gray as far as the eye could see. They grouped in the road at the top of a rise and looked back. The storm front towered above them and the wind was cool on their sweating faces. They slumped bleary-eyed in their saddles and looked at one another. Shrouded in the black thunderheads the distant lightning glowed mutely like welding seen through foundry smoke. As if repairs were under way at some flawed place n the iron dark of the world.”
― Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
Our farm has epic storms. So much sky to see them coming. I stepped out on the porch Thursday night to let the dogs out. I saw lightening way in the distance but the stars were bright. They weren’t calling for a severe storm, but ….
There was a loud crack. The kind that makes you catch your breath. The kind we have heard before. Like the time a tree was struck and made my horses levitate. Or the time the propane gas line got struck and blew like a torch out of the wet ground.
And when it is dark you just wonder what you will find in the morning. I worried the electric fence was struck and along with it horses or cows. Of course, we weaned calves the day before and Moms and calves were all up against the fence missing each other. And Curtis’s horses in the alley, with hot wire on both sides.
Luckily it just got the fence and the fence charger. Blew the plugin clear across the yard, and the switch half in two.
Farm News: We weaned our calves this week. I always hate doing it because it is always hot and the flies are bad. But we separate Moms and calves leaving only our hot wire fence between them so they can see each other. Stand right next to each other. Lay down and sleep beside each other. Nevertheless they bawl and miss one another fiercely. I hope our neighbors can sleep…..it is loud.
Last week to sign up for Dog Days CSA. If you haven’t signed up and paid yet, you can go to our online store. Just click on the home page link of the website and hit the shop here link. Or mail your check to: Circle S Farm, 1930 Gilreath Mill Rd, Menlo, GA 30731. Full share is $400 for 8 deliveries, half share is $225 for 4 deliveries (every other week). This is just produce for Dog Days, no eggs, flowers or Dog treats.
If you are tired of chopping and cooking, and need a break….no worries. If you are a half share and did not sign up for the Dog Days CSA, this is your last week. Make sure to leave your bucket out and I will leave you a paper bag with your last share. Thanks so much for buying local produce from our farm.
What’s in the bucket: Big beef slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers or okra, sweet corn, sweet onions, and a new herb to try, Papalo. Papalo is an herb similiar to cilantro. Try it in pico de galla, or salsa. Start with a little bit, it is a different taste and might be an acquired taste. Search it to find out its medicinal qualities, and other recipes. If you want to dive right in, following a recipe for Papalo pesto. Great on sandwiches. Mix with mayo if you need to dilute it a bit:)
Papalo Pesto
- 2 cups of papalo, large stems removed
- 1/2 cup blanched almonds or pine nuts
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1 teaspoon (or less, to taste) chopped and seeded serrano or jalapeno chile
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Optional juice of 1 lime
- Mix the papalo, nuts, onion, chilies, optional lime juice, and salt until paste-like (food processor or mortar & pestle required).
- Slowly mix in the olive oil and continue working into a paste. If using a food processor, add the oil in a slow, steady stream.
- Makes around 1 cup, whatever you don’t use right away you can freeze in ice cube strays. Pop the cubes into a freezer bag or long-term storage container.
- Recommended as a sandwich spread, mixed with cubed Monterrey Jack or Queso Blanco as a salad topping, or on pasta served with fresh garden tomatoes.
Happy Papalo experimenting, and thanks for buying local food from our farm!