Sparkling Hard Cider Sale

I am so very happy to announce that our hard cidermaking business is up and running.  We are now selling in a few local places and are gearing up for more.  If you live in out area of Western Mass (specifically the Northampton/Hadley/Amherst area) then come on by this coming thursday for our very first barn sale.  Here are the details:

When: Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 4-8pm
Where: Our Fermentation Barn
          295 River Drive (that's route 47)
          Hadley, MA


We are 4.1 miles north of route 9, on the right.


What: We are selling bottles of our delicious sparkling hard cider and having a wee tasting too.


1 bottle (750ml.) for $12
2 bottles for $22
3 bottles for $30
and a full case (12 bottles) for $108


Come and taste what we have pressed and fermented.  We would love to see you and anyone you know.  Spread the word.


For more information go to our website:
carr's ciderhouse

Crafting for The Today Show

This week has been filled with intensive crafting for a Family Fun segment on The Today Show that is coming up (next week, I think).  One of the Top Editors is heading down to New York to show off the different things you can make with your kids for the holidays and I am making those things.  I have to say, it has been a great week of crafty fun.  I became practically addicted to making these Tree Placecard  Holders.  It was a good thing, because I had to personalize them for the host's children and various other children that will be on the show. Harry ended up making one yesterday as an ornament gift for a pal of his.

I don't know if I have ever linked to Family Fun for crafts.  I love working for them and I think it is a great magazine for families.  If you haven't seen it before, you should pick one up sometime.  And, it only costs about $10 a year to boot!

Despite my work as a crafter, I don't craft with my kids as much as I would like.  I am embarrassed to think about all of the times I have said (possibly sharply) not to touch what i am in the middle of styling for the magazine.  But now it is the holiday season and all of that changes.  We have things to make!  I set my kids up and we craft a ton and I couldn't be happier. I'm not sure why we don't make gifts for people we love all year long. It feels so good at so many levels.

Gift Idea!!!
If you need a good holiday gift that kids can make, head over to my other blog Improv Diary for a decorative wooden spoon idea.  And it involves a wood burner, so your kids will love it!

Thank you

I can't begin to thank the people in my life enough for who they are and how they deeply affect my life. I wanted to start making a list of names but knew there would be people I would neglect to put down and it wouldn't be because I am not thankful for them.  So, you know who you are.  I hope you feel from me my deep gratitude for the blessing of your place in my life.  I really hope you do.

I am, at this moment, baking a huge apple pie.  Pumpkin is done.  Going for a run soon.  Playing an enormous game of Capture the Flag with many families and that should simply be the biggest blast ever.  Going to our dear Catherine and Michael's for a feast that will be too delicious to describe, I'm sure.  It is sunny.  We pressed 300 gallons of cider on Monday. Ava and Harry and Jonny are amazing. Things are really good and I am so freakin' thankful.

Now, before I start to cry, or something, please head over to Pacing the Panic Room to see Ryan Marshal's beautiful video of our apple press in action.  It is short and truly worth your time.  He is crazy talented and inspired. In case you don't read his whole post, here is another link that will bring you to Kinfolk magazine, where Ryan wrote and article and contributed the same video.  It is a magazine devoted to celebrating small gatherings and is lovely,

Have a great day and wear loose fitting clothes!

Tutorial alert

Hey, did you know that I just posted a new tutorial over on my other blog, Improv Diary? Well, I did.  AND, I even made a little video as part of it so you might really understand how to "draw" with thread on your machine.  Let me know if it is helpful, if you are so inclined.

It is a canvas project envelope, based on a regular paper 9 x 12 envelope.  You can read all about it here.

Pork Belly

Okay, I am posting about a roast pork belly I made for a picnic up at our cider barn on Sunday.  I have to admit I am torn about posting these shots because they are diametrically opposed to what I just posted over on Improv Diary.  Head over after this and you'll see what I mean.  I am not heartless, just for the record. I feel good about raising pigs to feed my family and friends for many many reasons, but it isn't without its complications.

I have never made a pork belly before so I read a lot before doing it and followed the directions I found here.  I did the slow first, hot second version and it was AMAZING!.  You may have heard this cut called Pork Layer Cake before, and here is the reason:

The lean meat is at the bottom, then comes a thick layer of fat, then atop the whole thing is the skin all crispy and crunchy.  The fat might seem like a bit much, looking at it running off the table (the dog was underneath being bathed in and licking up the treasure) but even I ate it and that sort of thing usually revolts me. This was so NOT revolting.  It was sooooo good.

I cut it up into squares and folks stuffed it into a baguette with a sweet vinegar slaw, mayo, hot sauce, and pickled beans and radish.  It was insane.  I don't have a picture of a fixed sandwich - sorry.  I don't know why I didn't think to snap one. Duh.

 We also had our first press day of the season with our whole new cider press set up.  New and improved. It went off without a hitch and our relief and joy was great.  Everyone went home with some fresh cider and much too full bellies.

This is me pulling the lever that operates the apple elevator.  They fall into the grinder above the press and then fall in a heap at the bootom of that plastic tube.

Here is the ground apples on top of the press cloth.

We wrap the press cloth around the ground apples like an envelope.

 We do it 6-7 times on press racks all in a stack like this.  Then it gets pushed into the press and smooshed.

 The juice runs through a tube into a container outside the barn. We were doing a small run, so it was into a 50 gallon drum with a liner.

Last year fermented cider under snow.

 A very cute boy eating a pork belly sandwich.  

my girl

I have a 12 year old daughter named Ava, as many of you know.  Since she is my kid, you might not believe that I am unbiased when I say she is pretty flippin' amazing, and of course, you shouldn't.  I am wildly biased but I know it is true.  She recently started a blog to share her art and creative life.  She is also a devoted writer and sometimes we get a glimpse of those stories on her blog.  I wanted to invite you all to go have a peek at Popcorn Cadence.  She, like most of us who put our work out into the world, loves comments, so don't be shy. Pass it along to young friends you have that might be interested.

Mason Jar Pendants

I use mason jars a lot, and I know I am not alone in the world now or back in the day.  We drink out of them, burn candles in them, dip paint brushes in them, and preserve food in them.  They are just so darn useful and they are pretty.  So yesterday, we made them into pendant lights for our dinner table and I couldn't be happier (well, I could be a little happier with the cords they dangle from, but the kit was given to us out of my Mom's attic, so...)

Our IKEA pendants were beginning to break and look yucky so we switched it our for this.  Nice, huh!

 Currently, there is a different sized jar on each light, but my husband prefers the little half pint jars.  They can be switched out by unscrewing the lids, and then screwing different jars on.  Maybe I'll even tint some for fun.

 Right now, we are using a piece of cardboard that I cut a hole in for the lid, but we will swapping them out with actual mason jar lids that are drilled today or tomorrow (or in a few years).  I keep checking the cardboard, and it isn't hot at all.  Still, just in case.

This really could not have been easier.  And, I LOVE IT!