The Hobbit Hole IV – The Road Goes Ever On…

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

The Road Goes Ever On…

• First thread: New Zealander builds Hobbit hole
• Second thread: The New Hobbit Hole
• Third thread: The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads! (Congratulations, we filled it up!)

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

[Lil'freeper]

How's the house? How's the new office digs?

*sigh*

The house is gorgeous- I'd just like to see it during daylight sometime soon. Never did get those crocuses planted, spent all weekend scrubbing down the condo getting it ready to rent. We hand over the keys tonight- what a relief!

I also spent a good chunk of yesterday down at juvenille court. It seems the boys who broke into my jeep last winter were finally up for trial. It was fascinating waiting for the case to come up. Everyone was in a big lobby- parents, young criminals, lawyers, victims, etc- so I got to overhear all sorts of stuff that made my blood boil.

1) the parents all knew each other, most went to church with each other, it was like a potluck: "Oh, how have you been? Oh, you look marvelous! Is this your son? Oh my, he's grown!"... blah blah blah. No one was dressed for court: baggy-*** jeans, oversize jersey shirts. Juvi court- come as you are!

2) the parents were all convinced the system was out to get them, and that it was personal. Nevermind they let their children wander the streets at all hours, nevermind their children are criminals. Their children are perfect, oppressed little angels in their eyes.

3) the defense strategy was to plead guilty and then dispute the veracity of the victims' claims for restitution. These boys stole thousands of dollars worth of stuff (admittedly even!) from dozens of people, but anyone who makes a list of missing items is a liar. Lawyers! Heaven help us.

Haven't moved the office yet- might be January before it happens, but when it does, it'll be for 6 mos or so. But my roomies are going to be shipped out 01 Nov, most likely. Ah well, I'm up for an adventure.

[RosieCotton]

Good morning!

Court sounds like a nightmare, LF. Never a dull moment in your life, no?

You and Corin....

[2Jedismom]

Those are g'nad's eyes, that's fer sure.

That's it exactly.

(I'm catching up...went to bed early with a back ache and now I gotta catch up!)

[Lil'freeper]

Court sounds like a nightmare, LF.

It was an inconvenience, nothing more. I had accidentally left the jeep unlocked and there was nothing valuable inside, so no harm was done. I was just fascinated, and angered, by the segment of society for whom juvi court is an everyday event. Our country is in series trouble.

[RosieCotton]

How's your back this morning, 2J? Feeling better?

[RosieCotton]

There are kids like that here. I had a lot more respect for college age kids before I started working here.

There are some who will lie to your face and plead innocent when caught redhanded doing something they shouldn't. And seem to believe their own lies. It's incredible, really.

[2Jedismom]

You know, people will pay handsomely for freshly-laid eggs.

I know it! Oh...it's my dream to have enough chickens to sell the eggs and have a bit of egg money on the side! You are talking about something I would love to do!

Fresh eggs sell for $2.50 a dozen...and that doesn't even mean they have to be free-range, like mine are...they can be penned-up. Mine are not organic, (the feed is expensive and a hassle to find pre-made and to make) but if they were, organic free-range would likely go for about buck more.

My short term dream is to someday have enough eggs to actually give away as a ministry to my fellow homeschoolers...many of whom live on one paycheck in a two-paycheck world.

[2Jedismom]

So, I just fired off this detailed email to my step-brother.

This sounds like a good idea...the thing to do.

[2Jedismom]

eBay for $4.00.

Excellent. I hope you enjoy it...I just enjoyed reading it!

[2Jedismom]

Yowzers!

I didn't get but maybe 2 dozen this year...birds kept getting them.

[2Jedismom]

GASP!!!

FMM!!!

When do we get some samples??

[2Jedismom]

Now...I'm all caught up...gotta let the chickens out. BRB.

[RosieCotton]

Having some of my fresh bread for breakfast - with real butter. I need to remember how I made this batch, 'cause it's vey good!

Also got up early this morning and put the fixin's for black bean chili into the crock pot. Can't wait to see how that turns out! (And yes, I know REAL chili doesn't have beans in it...I'm a Yankee, remember?) I soaked the beans last night and got rid of the first rinse water...seems like black beans taste better when you do that, IMO at least. And this morning I browned the hamburger with some garlic and onion and chili powder and Tabasco, and put that and the beans and peppers and more onions and tomato sauce and all that into the crock pot. It smelled good already!

Now...does anyone have a good recipe for cornbread? I want to make some to go with it tonight.

Also have to round up some eaters...I think I need to find more friends, or adopt more brothers.

[RosieCotton]

Whoa...just reading this fully for the first time. I really like Renee Fleming...and the tracks with Billy Boyd and Viggo will be interesting, I'm sure. Can't wait!

Wish we didn't hafta wait...I hate waiting!

[2Jedismom]

Now...does anyone have a good recipe for cornbread?

Suzi, I'll let you handle this one...the only tip I can give is to melt the butter in bottom of the cast iron skillet before you pour the batter in. Melt a good amount of butter and it'll "fry" the bread on the bottom while it cooks, turning it a nice golden brown and very crispy. Mmmmm!

My back is better this morning...don't know what I did to it last night, but was just having twinges of pain.

[2Jedismom]

The best way to remember a bread recipe is to write it down...then send it to a friend...

hint

hint

;-)

[ksen]

Yes, but once I read it, the musical made so much more sense.

I read, well listenend to an unabridged version, of les Miserables about 9 years ago. I loved it and thought it was a wonderful presentation of Law vs. Grace.

I saw the video of the ten year(?) anniversary of the musical and there were parts that brought me to tears. I don't know if they would have if I hadn't already known the story and the characters.

[ksen]

Weren't no dwarves at the Cracks of Doom.

Each Dwarf seems to be a walking Crack of Doom.....in a sense.

[ksen]

~One particular harbour~

Wasn't he banned?

[RosieCotton]

Trouble is that I don't measure! So I can remember WHAT I put in, but mostly just eyeball the amounts.

Here's a guess...should be fairly close! I know the water amount is right...that's the one thing I DO measure.

1 1/3 cup water
1/3 cup molasses
1 package yeast
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 cups wheat flour
1 cup rye flour
white flour to make a soft dough

Mix first three ingredients and let stand until foamy. Add egg, salt and wheat flour, mix. Stir in the rye flour, and then add white flour a little at a time until the dough is stiff and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl into a ball. Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic (test by poking your finger into the ball of dough...when it springs back and almost fills the hole, you've kneaded enough), adding a little flour as necessary to avoid sticking.

Put the dough back in the bowl (I usually rinse it out and put a little oil in it) and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise for an hour or until puffy - it won't double, as the dough is fairly heavy. Form your loaf (one big round one is easiest) and let rise for another hour or so. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.