In which the rain stops, things grow, we still aren't on fire, and there's some sweetness

"Social disruption" here on the farm continues to consist of

Foxie Loxie barking at the recycling truck every week.

Otherwise, it's pretty much same-old, same-old

I understand that the media outlet that rhymes with Ox Chews is still flapping around spewing vitriolic nonsense about my Swamp and the people who live here and the hell and damnation we are supposedly throwing at each other...

...but a lot of us ain't got time for that.

We still aren't on fire, and the gardens need tending.

Fox makes sure none of the corn gets away from the rest of the herd

The beans are up and climbing!

Sunflower?  or Triffid?  Whichever, it's growing fast.

Pickles' plum tree is heavily laden.  It also throws welcome shade,
which Roo and Fox frequently enjoy

Asparagus ferns next to the barn

Snow peas.  We aren't yet eating them for breakfast, but at every other meal...

Our crop of strawberries is substantial this year, in part because we moved the plants
to a place where dogs can't steal them off the vines.

Purple potato flowers = purple potatoes! 

Broccoli seems to like it here.  This is my first attempt to grow it.

For the first time ever, we've had enough time to cull apples in the orchard,
which will (in theory) result in fewer, larger apples this fall. This is Mimsy's tree.

Our friend Anne had good news this week.  Usually, we would celebrate with singing, and cake, and hugs, and fireworks, and a marching band, and a bouncy house, and fire dancers.

This year is different.  

I decided to make her a Cinnamon-Braid Coronet.  Here's how that works:

Start with the "Whatever You've Got" bread recipe, and make a batch of bread dough.  Or, if you have a bread dough recipe you like, use that.

I used a cup of sourdough starter, 3 cups of whole wheat flour, and 2 cups of white flour.

After the dough has risen, been squished down, and risen again, I smashed it flat with my flat-smasher.

I rolled the dough out to a bit less than 1/4 inch thick

The sweet paste is a mixture of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

I like a lot of brown sugar and not so much cinnamon, but you can suit yourself.  
If you like spices, maybe nutmeg?  or ginger?  or whatever you have handy.

fold the dough in thirds

Anne doesn't live with a crowd of people, so she asked me to make hers "half-sized".

I cut the folded dough in half to make two coronets

Cut three strips.  I leave a bit connected at the top to
make an octopus...umm, triktopus?

Braid it.  See, those horse-skills come in handy.

Not completely un-like braiding a horse's tail.

Starting at the octopus' head, coil it up a bit.  Approximation is fine.

I like to put an egg-wash on the dough, just to make it pretty

Haiku Farm eggs have bright yellow yolks!

What to do with the extra egg-wash?  Hmmmm.

"We can help you with the extra egg!"

The finished product:

It looks more complicated than it is. 
Also, the house smells wonderfully of cinnamon.

Socially distant delivery took place in a parking lot.  I think she liked it!

Congratulations on your new contract, Anne!  

Maybe next year we will have a marching band and a bouncy house.