The worst of the largest California storm in 7 years has passed, but we have a long night of rain ahead. The threat of mudslides will persist for weeks, as layers of loosened topsoil are want to gradually slough off the deeper and sturdier sandstone and bedrock hills.
Out our house it was a white-knuckle afternoon of howling horizontal winds. We didn't lose any trees or sustain anything worse than a mess. AK's flight from Phoenix was canceled so his team had to rent a car and drive the 7+ hours home.
I just made a last check on the coop and found all the birds snug and dry on their perches. Here are a few flashlight assisted shots of the yard tonight...
A row of chicken bums!
The new guy sleeps alone, but only because his girlfriend is preoccupied...
This is the first time Kuu has used a nesting box to lay her egg. She's been abandoning her nests after about a day, so we'll see how long she sits on this egg.
Those black dots? Snails! Alfred Hitchcock could have filmed a horror flick here on a rainy day.
Our taro tuber is askew, that's about the only casualty of the wind.
Today I made a batch of soft snickerdoodle cookies. When I'm anxious (about the weather) I bake and clean. Here's the recipe:
Snickerdoodle Cookies
1 cup butter
1-1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 more tablespoons
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2-2/3 cups flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 T cinnamon
(Preheat oven to 400°)
1. Use mixer to cream together the butter, 1-1/2 cups sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
2. In a separate bowl sift together the dry ingredients.
3. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
4. In a small bowl mix 2 T sugar and cinnamon
5. Roll dough into 1" balls* and then dip them in the sugar & cinnamon mix.
6. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes. About 12 cookies fit on a standard cookie sheet.
Cookies are done when the tops lose their doughy sheen.
7. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack.
*Tip: If dough is too sticky to roll into balls, add a bit more flour or try refrigerating dough for 30 minutes