Skiff of snow...30º

Gusty winds, little snow, the weather watch is on until 11am this morning.

Yesterday, except for a cold breeze blowing, was about as perfect as February can get in this neck of the woods...Sun shining all day long.

With the smell of chicken broth simmering in the kitchen I started my noodle dough...Very basic recipe...measure 2 cups all purpose flour into a mixing bowl, add a little salt, make a well in the flour and add 4 eggs...With a fork break up the yolks and start to stir gradually incorporating the flour & salt into the eggs, leaving some flour on the edges...When it gets to thick to stir, gently knead with hands still pulling the flour into the dough and keeping the "gooey" dough off of your fingers...Add more flour around the edges if needed until you have dough that you can dump out on a board and keep kneading...Now my Mom made a supper stiff dough, I prefer a softer dough because they are easier to roll out...Works either way...I section this dough into 4 pieces, let it rest for a few minutes or an hour, whatever.

Now on a floured board, I stretch and flatten into a disc then roll with a rolling pin until it is very thin...Keep lots of flour on top and under it, fold and set aside until you have all 4 pieces rolled out...Now unfold and stack each circle, dough, flour, dough, flour, one on top of the other and roll all of these together into a roll as if you were going to make cinnamon rolls...I use a serrated knife to cut either thick or thin slices...unroll each slice and you have lots of long noodles with flour to keep them separated...Some people now put them to dry, I don't...Mine go straight into the boiling broth, with celery and onion and spices added to it...Cover let simmer for 10 to 20 minutes until tender, add chicken meat from the bones and you have dinner...I usually cook half the noodles and place the other in ziplock bags to freeze and use later when I'm in a hurry or need some to add to soups or casseroles.

Mid afternoon Herb and I chunked a couple of wrinkled apples and carrots, walked a mile to Pat and Brian's pasture where Anna Belle and Celia (two mules) reside...We fed them apples and carrots, petted and talked to them, then made our way back home...Later Herb fed John's mules and horses and cat Dobbie...Another day on Barton Heights...Hugs... OWAV:)