Thunderstorms, flash floods, torrential rains and mudslides all predicted by forecasters finally arrived, but disguised as their mild-mannered alter ego: Light drizzle and the odd brief cloudburst. So much for the science of weather forecasting.The broccoli is growing great guns, and should need thinning by Sunday. Several of the salad greens, now, are up, with three tiny romaine sprouts and a bunch of other miscellaneous peeking out. No corn salad (maché) up yet, which gives me pause. Still, I tend to plant too deep, and the other things are up just fine.
Almost to confirm my unfortunate sowing skills, two new garlic bulbs have sprouted among all the 6-8 inch plants; it apparently took awhile for them to grow enough to get past the depth of the soil (sigh).
Cider Press Repair
Took apart the cider press yesterday, to install a new pressing tray. Found a couple of small unpleasant surprises, but nothing too major.
First, when we purchased the press I built then sealed it with “e-z-do” a foo
d-safe butcher-block sealant. As a result, I did not get sealant on the parts where wood touched wood. Under the pressing tray, one section had a little mildew; the other had a small wood eating creature making its home.Cleaning up these two bothers delayed re-installation of the drip tray and our cider pressing by another day
We will press cider in the morning, as it is a school holiday and everyone will be home. Might even have a little fire in the outdoor fireplace to take the morning chill off. If I can find enough scrap wood. (We haven’t either picked up or purchased significant firewood this year. Just plain busy, what with the new baby, and not a lot of spare change for a cord of wood from the local supplier.)
Share the Road
Just noticed today that Share the Road signs have gone up all along Mountain as promised by the city. We really needed them on this little strip of road, as it is a major linkage between two bike paths. And the local folks did not seem inclined to follow the law and allow bikes the use of the roadway. This should help some.
2 comments:
I am planning a trip to Oak Glen this weekend. Any suggestions?
Well of course!
Law's Coffee Shop is a place that time forgot; very Mayberry RFD, kind of 70's kind of 60's even. Great for lunch, albeit not in an LA gourmet kind of way, and they have an apple stand in the parking lot that is pretty nice -- like the people. It is at the far Yuciappa end of the loop. If you think of it, tell Kent Colby (the owner) that you saw the store on the blog -- he'll remember me as the tall guy with the baby asking about the old Clapp Ranch; he's the guy with the apple box label on the wall.
Snowline Ranch is the funky homiest (for real, not living history) that I've found. That's where we got our cider seconds, for a very good price. Their price on bushel boxes of eatin' apples is good too.
Riley's Farm at the far other end of the Glen, is run by a friend, and does well on the living history aspects. A great place for the kids -- and you can press your own cider by hand, using the same model press we're about to crank up. They do this most weekend days, I believe, .(not 100% sure on that).
The Riley's are leasing Los Rios Rancho in the middle of the valley, and do 100% organic on that spread, so the bushel prices are a little high. It looks pretty commercialized, but the Riley clan On the other hand, the Sno-line Fujis we got were organic, although I don't think they others were.
Most places will be out of u-pick apples by now, but again, go up early, look and shop around and there may be a few places still pickin'.
Hope that helps! The key is to shop around a bit on price, and be sure to check the ranches a little off the main road.
Have fun!
Roger
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