Will There Be a Lots of UME Growing This Year?

 Wow! All the new braches are flowering in February.

 Lots of bees are visiting. UME is going to grow for sure? 

Interestingly the truth showed up in March.  When all the flower petals withered, the fruit formed only on the original stalk, yet.  It must take a few more years before these new branches would grow UME.  Exciting to wait and see.

Saga of Fence Repair - Photo Journal

Does Home maintence come one after the other after 18 years?  Some neighbors had replaced quite a few appliances fives years ago.  I can consider myself lucky.  After my sink and garbage disposer replacement saga ...that took three months or so, two nights later on a very stormy rainy Sunday evening,  as I resting in my living room watching a show, a door knock brought a bad news.  It's my neighbor who is on their way to Florida for 10 days vacation.  He asked if I had noticed that our fence fell down.  I stood there speechless for very good seconds. My head was just blank. He told me that he had to leave for the airport and just want to tell me and gave me his phone number.  I just said, "I will figure out something.". That was that.  What a headache!!.  I just finished fixing the kitchen.  Now this!?  Shall I call a professional? I think I have too much of my dad in me.  Watching him fix motor bkies, visiting airfield and while riding in pilot's seat, watching him drive to town the aircraft... I end up checking YouTube and fixing the fence myself.  How to erect 20 feet long fence is challenging. Luckily one of the fence's breakpoint is leaning against the neighbor's house wall.  So here is my photo journal of fence fixing.

Chicken Pot Pies

Chicken Potpies are always heart warming during cold months.  I normally make my own puff pastry for the top crust, but I decided to test make regular pie dough if butter and Crisco oil.  I thought about using lard, but the commercial ones contain preservatives, and I don't have my own rendered lard in the kitchen.
Search for Chicken pot pie recipe in my blog or just use your own recipe.
My recipe is adapted from Alton Brown's Curry Chicken Pot Pie.  For topping crust, I tested missing butter and Crisco oil.  Very little Crisco oil.   1/2 stick butter and 2 Tbsp Crisco.
The result is pleasant light crust.  I knew the pie shell made with Crisco oil would turn out quite well but it's been a very long time since I used Crisco to make anything for health reasons.   But I guess "As you like it" could take precedent.
Make your favorite filling.  To make thick filling add roux.

 I didn't want to waste the dough, and extra crust - when turn out good is always yummy helps filling your tummy.  Brush with egg wash and bake.