George Morland born London 1763-1804. He was known for is
animals and rustic scenes. He was exhibited at the Royal Academy at the age of
ten. He had a severe dislike for formal education. He painted what he knew, whether his wife or
subjects in the world around him. He was
one who led a hurried life and was know for sacrificing perfection in his haste
to finish individual works. He brought
interest and prominence to the most ordinary of subjects. He and his wife were a life long love that
ended very close together.
It all started years ago in Mr. Souwee’s barn. The night was dark and cold, despite it being
April. Mrs. Souwee stood with her small
son holding blankets and water as Mr. Souwee crouched next to the family’s old
sow, Betsy. The sweet old pig was
laboring with her most recent litter of piglets. Mr. Souwee, though a baker, had always kept
the prized pig to help pull his bakery cart, and tenderly cared for her through
the whole night.
Sam, the Souwee’s only son, insisted that they name each
piglet as it was born. The first and largest was to be, Hamish. In no time at all Chop was brought into the
world as round and pink as fresh cotton candy.
Yet Betsy still labored for what seemed eternity, until finally a tiny
piglet was born, he was immediately named, Riblet- being the runt of the litter.
Both the Souwee and
the new pig families were now exhausted.
Mr Souwee quickly put out fresh straw for the old sow and went inside to
start baking the loaves of bread that had been rising, despite his weariness the night’s lofty events. As the
sky started to glow with the first rays of dawn, three piglets had survived the
night with Betsy glowing with pride over her small brood, While inside the
smell of the oven’s latest delight filled the chilly morning air.
Summer Stuffing- yummy
light stuffing great for filling up tummies of all animals
1 small pan of day old cornbread- Recommend
using half of the 9x13 pan or an 8x 8 pan on its own to provide the base. If
the bread is not stale at all cut off top half and then cut into large
cube. Place all cubes- there will be
some crumbles on a cookie sheet in an oven turned to 350 for 15-30 minutes-
depending on how moist the bread was to begin with.
1 large washed peach cut into a large dice
no larger than 1inch pieces. Peeled if your preference
1 cup frozen corn kernels
6-8 slices cooked bacon (option if not
feeding to pigs) drippings reserved
2 TBs dried Parsley or 1/3 c finely chopped
fresh parsley
Combine everything
except the bread in a large bowl and stir to mix. Gently add in and incorporate the bread into
the mixture. Drizzle with below recipe
while dressing is still warm folding the mixture gently. Use only half at first
to determine if you want the stuffing to be more wet or dry.
Dressing:
½ cup small diced red onion
1/8 tsp ground cloves
½ cup bacon drippings or an equal amount of canola oil if not using
bacon.
2 tsp cornstarchmixed with 2 tsp water
½ cup apple cider vinegar
½ water
2 Tbs white sugar- or more to taste
salt and pepper
Add
onion to oil or bacon fat in medium sauté pan and cook 5 minutes until onion is
soft. Remove onion from pan leaving fat.
Set onion aside. Add fat/oil to cornstarch mixture and set aside. 9
Combine vinegar, water, sugar, cloves salt and pepper in small saucepan and
heat to a boil. 10 Add cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened about 1-2
minutes.
In no time at all it seems both the piglets and the small boy
from that cold night grew up, relying on each other as only the best of friends
do. Sam tried his hardest to make each
pig the happiest on earth. He would
feed, and wash, and play with the piglets daily to make sure they grew up
strong. Then one day, Sam realized that he needed to protect his pigs from the
animals that roamed in the woods. Sam took the extra bricks from the old brick
oven and built a quaint little shelter for all the pigs, but Hamish and Chop
refused to sleep on the hard cold surface.
Peanut butter
Mortar
Combine 1 cup of
your favorite peanut butter, 1 cup of powdered milk, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
and ¼ to ½ cup honey-depending on how sweet you want your
masterpiece to be. Mix well, and add baking chips, dry cereal, or nuts to
taste. Portion out into marble sized balls and chill until ready to enjoy. This
combination also works great as ready eat play dough if you would like to try
your hand at making a home for your own pet.
Despite the difficulty in finding sticks of the right shape
and size, Sam built a wood shelter next to the other in the backyard for the
two more picky pigs. Sam was
concerned because no matter what he did
to make the shelter as safe one of bricks.
No matter he thought. It was steady and would not fall down any time
soon.
Thankfully, Chop walked straight in and made it his own, but
Hamish went straight into the grassy field and laid down. Hamish Refused to sleep on the uneven sticks. Sam was so frustrated with Hamish, but Sam
worried that if the pigs could not sleep in the open where animals could grab a
free meal.
Grudgingly, Sam went out into the field and cut the tallest
grasses, braided huge matts large enough to house a pig, and glued the whole
construction with clay. No matter how Sam tried he could not figure a way to
secure the door with a lock to protect Hamish at night. Sam figured that as long as he tied the door
shut with string each night that the giant pig would remain safe. Finally,
Hamish was in hog heaven, soft grass made the perfect bed.
From Mrs Brownie: Thank you for allowing me a leave of absence. I have settled in our new home in Texas, and have a thriving 10 week daughter. I appreciate your patience in awaiting this next story.
As always smile and savour.
