10 pm, and still 55°f. So warm the heat is off. Rain all day yesterday and today. We are officially out of the drought. Thank goodness.
These rainy days have kept me indoors, cleaning, doing laundry, and baking. Yesterday I made fruitcakes. I had not really planned to make them, but Debby's post got me inspired. I had bought candied cherries and orange peel anyway, and had dried cranberries, golden raisins and nuts on hand, so that's what went into my cakes. I halved the recipe too, ending up with 7 small cakes instead of 14. Fourteen is just too many.
This morning I soaked them down with brandy and wrapped them up in cheesecloth, waxed paper, and plastic wrap to cure. They actually taste pretty good without soaking, but I do like the deep, rich taste the brandy gives to the cakes. I brush them again every couple months, and have had them keep for 3 years this way. They might have kept longer, but we had eaten them all.
Today I made chocolate chunk pumpkin bread, again in small loaf pans. I just like that size better than the big pans, and they are perfect for gifting. (We keep the fruitcakes, as so few people like them.)
Larry has had to be oudoors even more than usual lately, because of our bad boy Buddy. Did I tell you that last week he took off and ended up at a bar about 5 miles away as the crow flies? Fortunately the people who found him posted photos on Facebook and a friend saw them. He had taken Little Boy with him, and Larry spent most of last Monday looking for them.
We have had Buddy for 2 years, and he has always run off from time to time, but for two weeks he was running almost every day. So this time when we got him home, we decided on drastic measures. Buddy is kept inside and can only go out on a lead. He has adjusted pretty well, surprisingly. I am afraid to take him out because he could easily make me fall, and that would be bad for this new knee. So Larry has leash duty, which has not been fun with all this rain.
Meantime I ordered a stronger PetSafe electronic fence, and a run cable so we can tie him out in nice weather during the day. I hate this. I can't stand putting a dog on a chain but until we can feel assured that he will respect the new electronic fence, it is the only option that will allow Buddy more outside time.
Ah me. It's a good thing we love him. Someone suggested a tracker that will pinpoint his location if he should run off, so I am looking into that too. This dog is getting expensive!
Sometimes I am really sad I don´t like sweets much. Yours sounds so yummy made with love!
ReplyDeleteIngo sure would love to visit you!
Buddy reminds me of the dog I had (when I wanted a cat). I was 5 years old and had no control.
Yes, trackers are on ads here, too.
But really, I freak out when I see an unleashed dog without a human (once one tried to attack me).
Hope Buddy adjusts and is happy and friendly.
wow Buddy went to a bar 5 miles away...was he used to be a street dog?
ReplyDeleteIt is good to have steady gentle rain that will fill up the water table not just run off.
ReplyDeleteA lovely baking session..I can't remember when I last did that
Not a fan of fruit cake but sounds like you are making it just the way you like it. I had no idea it could keep that long. I tend to make banana bread because there are always 2 bananas that get too ripe for Dan to eat.
ReplyDelete...perhaps I have never had a good fruit cake!
ReplyDeleteYour fruit cakes do sound delicious. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYou’ve got alive one there, but it’s best for you not the ‘walk’ him if you’re ot sure. My SiL recently had quite a fall bc of her dog.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that fruitcakes will keep FOREVER! I don't know if that's true or not.
ReplyDeleteI'm the only person in my family that likes fruit cake. My grandmother used to make it and no one but me would eat it. :)
ReplyDeleteBuddy sounds like a hand full but hopefully he will adjust to the new rules and behave and be a good boy.
One of our dogs was on a 'running line' when I couldn't walk him. This was a long chain with a loop on the end, and the loop went over the clothesline and that stretched from the front left to the back right of our very big yard. It made a zinging noise when he chased a cat or squirrel. But I hear you about runaways. We lost our beagle that way. He got away from me, went after a deer and disappeared. We looked for days. No appearance. The girls were quite young and they were so very very sad.
ReplyDeleteSo, leashes and chains are better than the alternative for sure.
Not sure I have ever even had a slice of fruitcake. You make it sound appealing.
ReplyDeleteMany jokes are made about fruitcake but we like it and I just gave one to Sheila's partner on Sunday ( he gets one every year and is always thrilled to have it).
ReplyDeleteHopefully bad boy Buddy learns to stick close to home. GM
I'm so glad Buddy was found. Lizzie pulled an escape artist trick a couple of months ago and the first thing I did after she came back was order a collar with her name and phone number on it! So worrying. Those fruitcakes look great!
ReplyDelete