Hamptons Happenings

Hamptons Chick featured as National Cover Girl.

2010-04-04T15:17:00.001-08:00

Our Alaska State Fair-Palmer Division Champion hen, Walburga, is now a cover girl for the national magazine Backyard Poultry.

Walburga exhibits the blue phase of the blue-black-splash Orphingon breed. Even though she is blue, her chicks can be any combination of the color phases. The cover photo was taken at the Alaska Hamptons by Dorene M. Lorenz when Walburga was just a pullet, around five months old.

Two additional photos of Walburga were featured in the companion article, "Cook"ing up the Orphintons, a history of this rare breed written by Alaska Hamptons owner Dorene M. Lorenz.

Walburga was bred by Tori Yancy at the Sterling Meadows Hatchery in Sterling Alaska. Tori's breeding program features rare heritage breed poultry, Walburga's sire is a beautiful blue rooster named Bob who took honors twice at the Alaska State Fair in Ninilchik.

New Website Launch

2010-03-27T22:36:00.000-08:00

Spring is here, as well as our new website. Booking now for summer, $300/night with a two night minimum.

The Art of Boiling Eggs

2010-01-02T00:18:00.001-09:00

For most of my life, making a boiled egg was a haphazard event. I wasn't sure how long to boil the eggs, how much water to use. More often than not I ended up with eggs that were rubbery from over cooking, hard to peel, with a green yolk, or a bit on the raw side.

Then I discovered The Farmstead Egg Cookbook by Terry Golson, and all that changed.

I learned the science behind boiling eggs. That creepy green yolk? That comes to a reaction of the iron and sulfur in the egg yolks that occurs at high temperatures.

Boiling a fresh egg makes for a nightmare when it comes time to peel it. As an egg ages, the membrane around the white begins to separate from the shell, allowing for easier peeling - but the flavor also deteriorates, so the best eggs to hard-cook are between one to two weeks old.

To hard-cook eggs:

1. Place the eggs in a pot and cover with two inches of water. Bring water to a simmer. Don't let the water come to a rolling boil. As soon as the water is simmering, cover the pot and remove from heat. Set a timer for 12 minutes for small, 16 minutes for large, and 18 minutes for jumbo eggs.

2. Meanwhile, fill a bowl with ice water.

3. When the timer goes off, drain the water out of the pot. Then shake the pot back and forth so that the eggshells crackle all over. Immediately immerse the eggs in the ice water. The water will seep under the shells and loosen them from the whites.

4. When the eggs are cold to the touch, remove them from the water and peel. Any tiny pieces of shell stuck to the eggs can be rinsed off under the tap. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days for optimum quality.

Dani Babaneaux Pecan Pie

2009-12-30T14:43:00.007-09:00

2 1/2 c. Pecans, chopped
30 perfect Pecans for top

1 c. packed Darke Brown Sugar
1 c. light Corn Syrup

1 stick Unsalted Butter
2 T. Vanilla

1/2 t. Sea Salt
4 large lightly beaten Eggs

1 Pie crust, edged with leaves, sides covered with egg wash.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Stir together eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt in medium bowl until well combined. Stir in chopped pecans, and pour mixture into prepared pie crust, spreading evenly . Garnish top with whole pecans.

Place dish on a rimmed banking sheet and bake, rotating halfway through, until filling is just set and crust is golden brown, about 90 minutes. Tent with foil if pecans start getting too dark. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely.

Dani Babaneaux is a firey redhead I worked with
on several New Orleans Projects.

She is the Real Deal.

Moon Lake Apple Blackberry Pie

2009-12-28T22:49:00.001-09:00

3 lbs. Granny Smith, Jonagold and Honeycrisp Apples
2.5 c. Fresh Blackberries
1/2 c. Baker's Sugar
2 T. Cornstarch
.5 t. Cinnamon
.25 t. Sea Salt
2 T. Cold unsalted Butter, cut in small pieces
1 Large Egg Yolk
1 T. Water
Cinnamon Sugar for decoration
2 Pie Crusts

Preheat over to 400 degrees with rack in low position. Whisk dry ingredients together. Add peeled, cored, .25" thick apple slices and black berries. Toss to coat. Pour into pie crust. Dop butter pats on top.

Mix yolk with water. Brush over edge of piecrust. Cover fruit with second layer of pie crust, leaving holes for venting. If you are using leaves like I did, cover them with egg wash to make them stick, overlapping them slightly. Brush entire surface of pie with egg wash, but don't allow the wash to pool. Sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar. Freeze 30 minutes.

Place on rimmed baking sheet in center of oven. Bake 20 minutes until crust is golden, then lower heat to 350 degrees. Bake 50 minutes, then turn pie. Bake another 50 minute to an hour longer. Transfer to wire rack. Allow to cool completely before slicing. Service with Vanilla Ice Cream.

Cook-ing up the Orpington and Australorp

2009-10-22T01:53:00.000-08:00

In 1886, a large, bold, upright chicken stratched its way into being. English enthusiast William Cook wrote in the Fanciers Gazette that he crossbred Black Minorcas with Black Plymouth Rock, then crossed the progeny with clean-legged Langshans to create the Black Orpington. The end result was a table fowl with excellent meat, a prolific winter production of brown eggs, easy to breed and fast to grow.

Cook was born in St. Neots, Huntingdon, England in 1849. He worked as a coachman in Chislehurst, Kent at the age of 14, but the poultry on a neighbor’s farm soon caught his attention. Cook and his wife, Jane, moved to Tower House in Orpington, Kent, and began to breed chickens, two daughters, and three sons.

The business of William Cook and Sons grew to include a London office at Queens Yard, 105 Borough London SE. Cook invested his time in publishing his magazine, Poultry Journal, giving lectures, writing Poultry Keeper's Account Book, making an intensive study of poultry diseases, and selling medicines, food, and fattening powder.

Cook’s birds were introduced into various Dairy shows in England, and won much acclaim. At the 1886 Chrystal Palace Poultry Show, Cook won grand prize for his Black Orpington pullet. By 1888, Orpingtons were given their own classification, and Cook’s bird took home the cup.

1890 was a big year for the Orpingtons. The Cook family moved to Walden's Manor, which they renamed Orpington House, and Cook’s eldest child, Elizabeth Jane, took over the operation. Single Comb Black Orpingtons were first exhibited in America at the Massachusetts Poultry Association Boston Show, and the first consignment of Black Orpingtons were also imported to Australia.

In 1894 Cook created his most popular Orpington, the Buff, which became the symbol of the Orpington Rugby Football Club. The Buff was produced from crossing the Golden Spangled Hamburg with the Buff Cochin and Dark Dorking breeds.

Buff Orpingtons were one of the most popular varieties. Mature Buffs typically start laying at six months, producing large brown egg every two to three days.

1897 saw the introduction of the introduction of the Speckled or Porcelain Orpington, which was named “Jubilee” after the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, who accepted a pen of these birds. The Buff Orpington Club was founded in 1898. The late H M Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was Patron of the Club and showed regularly.

Cook and his children continued breeding Orpingtons to other color variations including Blue, Mottled, Spangled, Red, Partridge, Birchen, Chocolate (Bantam only), Cuckoo, Gold Laced, Lavender, Lemon Cuckoo, and White.

Cook made a large exhibit of Black Orpingtons at the 1895 Madison Square Garden Show in New York, but they were slow to gain popularity.

In 1896, four Blacks were exhibited at New York by C. S. Williams of New Jersey. William McNeil of London, Canada entered one Black cockerel at the Boston show in 1897, and five Blacks were shown in New York, by George M. Shaw in 1898. A careful examination of records shows no other entries at poultry exhibitions in the United States.

New Jersey’s Wallace Willett wrote that in October of 1897 Farm Poultry printed a picture of William Cook and his Black and Buff Orpingtons, along with Editor A. F. Hunter’s account of meeting Cook and touring of his Orpington poultry farm.

Hunter said that Cook's business included the shipment of 10,404 sittings of eggs in nine months. This instantly gave Willett “Orpington fever”, and he immediately took steps to import two sets of Black, Buff and White Orpington eggs from Cook.

Previous to 1898, perhaps a dozen Blacks had come to America. Willett imported the first of Cook’s Buff and White Orpingtons into the United States, but he wasn’t the first New Jersey boy with skin in the Buff Orpington game.

New Jersey’s Charles E. Vass imported Buff Orpingtons from another successful English breeder, and was the first to exhibit them in America at a show in Pennsylvania. Vass made two entries at Boston, and he and his neighbors made seventeen entries when Single Comb Buff Orpingtons were first exhibited at the Madison Square Garden Show in 1899.

There were 43 entries at the New York show in 1900. Willett made his first exhibit at Madison Square Garden, winning two firsts with his two Cook Blacks and nothing with his two Cook Buffs.

In 1901, Vass, Willett, and Doctor Paul Kyle increased their entries to nineteen single and one pen of Buffs. Orpington fever took hold in America. By the 1910 New York Show, 157 Single Comb Buff, 122 Single Comb Black, 134 Single Comb White, 17 Diamond Jubilee, 5 Spangled, 25 Rose Comb Buff, 13 Rose Comb Black, and 5 Rose Comb White Orpingtons were exhibited, for a total of 478 Orpingtons.

Orpingtons have a wide chest, broad back, and a relatively small head, comb, and tail; a combination which creates gentle contours that are attractive to the eye. Soft, profuse feathering, which almost hides the legs of the bird, creates a curvy shape with a short back and U-shaped underline. A heavy bird at eight to ten pounds, its fluffy feathers make it look distinctively large.

In 1902, Cook was honored with an award of the Poultry Club Medal. His thriving business interests included poultry farms from South Africa to America.

A New York Times article that ran on January 10, 1903, covering the New York Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association Annual Show at Madison Square Garden read:

“William Cook of Kent England, who has been very successful in the matter of prizes, spoke highly of the American judges and the American breed of poultry yesterday. He said that the judges here were vastly superior to those who officiate in the majority of poultry shows in England, and that their awards were in every instance very satisfactory. The Cooks, father and son, had a large number of Orfingtons on exhibition, and they won twenty-three first and seventeen second prizes for birds, and a first prize for eggs. In two classes they were beaten by the birds shown by the Willow Brook Farm, Berlin, Conn., which was awarded first prizes for its single-comb buff Orfington pullet and cock.”

Cook arranged his great string of English Orpingtons in a clever manner at one end of the show’s big arena, and the fulsome press notices of his exhibits in the daily papers launched a real Orpington boom in the United States and Canada.

Willett wrote that “as an advance agent, William Cook was in a class by himself; as a salesman he was a star, the prices realized by him for Orpingtons at that memorable show being exceedingly high. The purchasers were men of wealth, as a rule, who realized that aside from the fancy end, it would be a good business investment as well. A study of the comparative growth in popularity of Orpingtons…will justify the judgment of these shrewd fanciers who bought at that time.”

Orpington fever was running high when William Cook died in 1904. Cook was sick when he returned to England, went for a brief holiday to Skegness, took ill on the day after his arrival, and died from emphysema. He was buried with his wife in Star Lane Cemetery.

Wallace P. Willett became the editor and publisher of "The Orpington." He and Charles Vass, Dr. Paul Kyle, Frank W. Gaylor and William Davis were the early pioneers of the breed in America.

Few believed at the time that Orpingtons would thrive in a commercial climate in the United States. Objections to chicken with black legs and white skin were lodged against Black Orpingtons, and later the white or pink legs and white skin of Buff and White Orpingtons were considered a serious marketing handicap as Americans demanded yellow-skinned and yellow-legged poultry.

Cook’s masterful promoting and advertising for the breed was at work in England, Australia, Africa, and America. He took full advantage of great quantities of free advertising by cleverly writing on poultry topics, and demonstrated his shrewdness as a breeder and dealer as well.

With a blind eye to its defects, and a loud voice shouting its superior qualities, the result of Cook’s efforts was that for a while Orpingtons were the most popular fowl in England, and White Orpingtons were dangerous rivals of the American Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes , Rhode Island Reds, and Leghorns.

In Australia, the Black Orpingtons were bred with the Australian Lanshans. In a 1922-3 Papanui Test, a Orpington hen named Kismit Dot laid 342 eggs in 51 weeks. In 1923, Australorps Farms Ltd. imported the birds back to England. The Poultry Club refused to recognize them as a separate breed, first calling them Austral Orpingtons, and finally Australorps.

Elizabeth Jane Cook married R. Wakeman Clarke, and ran William Cook and Sons until 1933. She exported birds all over the world, and was one of the first to use airlines for shipping fowl.

The Orpington is a highly intelligent and docile bird and is suitable for families with small children. Hens mature at a young age, will set and rear chicks on their own if allowed to do so, and are attentive mothers.

Orpingtons are a cold-hardy breed and thrive well in both confined spaces and as free-range birds. They lay between 110 and 160 light brown eggs year round. Still considered a multi-purpose bird, it is bred for meat and egg production as well as for show purposes.

Orpingtons are listed as “Recovering” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, “Endangered” by the UK’s Rare Breed Survival Trust, and they are at Number Five in the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia’s Poultry Top Ten.

Best of Show Swooped by Our Silver Grey Dorking Trio!

2009-08-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

Walbuga New Division Champion at Alaska State Fair

2009-08-28T13:31:00.001-08:00

Goth & Punk Ready to Rumble

2009-08-25T09:55:00.002-08:00

Punk and Goth are from Triple D Farms in Wasilla and reside at the Seward Alaska Hamptons, where they enjoy pushing the chickens around. Casmir Lorenz and Taylor Quales raised Punk and Goth, who seem to love bird dogs.

Goth and Punk are being shown in the Cayuga duck division at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. They can be seen at the Poultry Barn August 26-31st.

The traditional story for the development of this breed is that a miller in Dutchess County, New York State captured two wild black ducks and used pinioning to keep them at his pond. The ducks were named “Cayuga” after the native people of that area. In 1874 the Cayuga duck was accepted into the American Poultry Association.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists the Cayuga as "threatened," meaning there is less than 1,000 breeding ducks in the United States.

Walburga Ready for the Ring

2009-08-25T09:49:00.003-08:00

Walburga is from Sterling Meadows Hatchery and resides at the Seward Alaska Hamptons, where she rules the roost. Casmir Lorenz and Taylor Quales raised Walburga.

We are showing Walburga as a Blue Black Splash Orpington Pullet in the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. You can view her at the Poultry Barn August 26-31.

Orpingtons were developed in England at the town of Orpington in County Kent in 1886 by William Cook. They were brought to America in the 1890s.

They tend to be smarter than other breeds, some Orpingtons have learned tricks and they usually come when their name is called. Orpingtons are a highly docile bird and are suitable for families with small children.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists the Orpington as "recovering."

Chaz, Tilly & Fleta Getting It On

2009-08-25T09:39:00.002-08:00

Chaz, Tilly and Fleta are from Sterling Meadows Hatchery and reside at the Seward Alaska Hamptons, feasting on clover and strawberries. Casmir Lorenz and Taylor Quales raised them.

They are being entered in the Alaska State Fair in Palmer as a Silver Grey Dorking production group. You can view them at the Poultry Barn August 26-31st.

The Roman Writer Lucius Iunius Moderatus Columbella (AD 4- AD 70) mentioned dorkings in Volume 8 of his 12 Volume text Rei rusticae libri, our most important source on Roman Agriculture. Columbella felt Dorkings were the purest breed of chicken as they had five toes instead of four.

Dorkings are the only breed with red earlobes that lay a white-shelled egg. From Julius Caesar’s Italy Dorkings made their way to Great Britian, first appearing in a poultry show in 1845.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists the Dorking as "threatened," meaning that they are globally endangered and there are less than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States.

Jonathon Lack is Ready to Shine

2009-08-25T09:30:00.003-08:00

Jonathon Lack - hatched by Triple D Farm in Wasilla, raised by Kelsey Hecker of Blue Moon Dairy, and currently enjoying a leisurely life at the Alaska Hamptons in Seward.

Jonathon is being shown as a Delaware Cockerel at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. He will be on display in the Poultry Barn August 26 - 31.

Delawares, or "Indian Rivers," were developed by George Ellis of Delaware in 1940. Known for their calm and friendly disposition, this unusually broody rooster loves everything and everyone.

A very rare heritage breed, Delawares are listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as “Critical”. It is one of five chicken breeds developed in America that are in danger of disappearing globally, with fewer than 500 birds in the US. The Delaware Club of America was founded in 2008 to save this endangered breed from extinction.

Ethel Struts her Stuff in Palmer

2009-08-25T09:23:00.002-08:00

Ethel is from Sterling Meadows Hatchery & resides at the Seward Alaska Hamptons, where she labors under the mistaken belief that she is really a dog. Casmir Lorenz and Taylor Quales raised Ethel.

We are showing her at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer as a Silver Grey Dorking Pullet. She will be on display in the Poultry Building from August 26 - 31st.

The Roman Writer Lucius Iunius Moderatus Columbella (AD 4- AD 70) mentioned dorkings in Volume 8 of his 12 Volume text Rei rusticae libri, our most important source on Roman Agriculture. Columbella felt Dorkings were the purest breed of chicken as they had five toes instead of four.

Dorkings are the only breed with red earlobes that lay a white-shelled egg. From Julius Caesar’s Italy Dorkings made their way to Great Britian, first appearing in a poultry show in 1845.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists the Dorking as "threatened," meaning that they are globally endangered and there are less than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States.

Punk and Goth

2009-08-01T09:59:00.006-08:00

Our two Cayuga ducklings, Goth and Punk, have matured into a beautiful duck and drake.

Recent wrath of God rains in the Seward area created havoc with most of the area, closing the Alaska railroad, the roads to Exit Glacier and Lowell Point, and canceling most popular tourist excursions.

The Alaska Hamptons sat high and dry, and our guests reported they would have been bored to death sitting in a hotel room, but instead enjoyed their stay watching movies, reading books, and playing games. Knew that entertainment cabinet would come in handy sometime.

An uncapped well in the picnic area did decided to become a gusher, and after two weeks of steady hard rain, flooded the lower areas of the shoot range - creating a small pond.

Punk and Goth took to it like ducks to water. They spent most of the afternoon playing in the warm, shallow water, with a few tasty sojouns to the flowered-out vegetable garden. They seem to really like hiding in the circle of brilliant yellow flowered bok choy, nibbling on the kale in the middle.

Calliopsis Grandiflora "Early Sunrise"

2009-07-21T10:08:00.001-08:00

A new additions this year include several blazes of the constantly blooming Coreopsis Grandiflora "Early Sunrise," also known as Tick-weed. The plants are also popularly called "Calliopsis." The name is derived from the Greek word koris, meaning Bedbug.

These flowers offer a profusion of showy yellow daisylike flowers over long periods; and are common to both North and South America. It is very drought tolerant, which is a good thing this year as it has been so dry. A suitable position for this beauty is in full sun to partial shade, with a free draining soil.

They are very attractive to butterflies, their blooms are perched atop narrow slightly hairy green stems. The plants leaves are similar, green and hairy providing the perfect foil for the June to August flowers.

Coreopsis grandiflora “Early sunrise” grows to around one foot, with the long stalked blooms adding an additional when they arrive. I tucked a couple in hanging baskets on the front of the railcar as the yellow-orange flowers really pop against the dark blue. Also used in half barrels in the garden, and to define some spaces.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Coreopsis

Nigerian Dwarf Kid, Craigafer

2009-07-14T00:36:00.004-08:00

Taylor named him after Craig Mabbit, lead singer for Escape the Fate, Bless the Fall, and The Word Alive. Craigafer is about a month old, we purchased him from Blue Moon Dairy in Wasilla. He is a tri-color roan wether and weighs about 10 lbs.

Travel Host Scott McMurren Stops by for a Visit

2009-07-12T12:01:00.004-08:00

Scott writes:

I was impressed with Dorene's project--out on the edge of a swamp on the other side of Seward. A garden, free range chickens, a trail down to the river and a big rail car from the Alaska RR. Folks--you can't make this up. Perfect if you're headed to Seward for a week this summer. Two suites--sleeps 7. Design by Dorene...very kewl.

Nice vacation rental that Dorene completely refurnished, using her best interior design skills. She painted the paintings, burnished the trim, picked out the flooring and arranged it to reflect both the history of the old rail car--and her own family history as a fourth-generation Alaskan from Seward. Really cool. Can't wait to return.

Pushki, Wild Celery, Cow Parsnip

2009-07-11T09:00:00.001-08:00

Pushki is a tall hardy biennial herb which grows one to three feet in height. It has the characteristic flower umbels of the carrot family (Apiaceae); these may be flat-topped, or more rounded, and are always white. The leaves are large and divided into lobes. The stems are stout and succulent.

Pushki is found throughout the United States except the Gulf Coast, a few neighboring states and Hawaii. It is listed as "Endangered" in Kentucky and "Special Concern" in Tennessee. In Canada, it ranges in each province except Nunavut.

This plant does best when placed in a sunny location with noon shade. It needs to be protected from strong winds. Seeds should be sown after the last frost is gone, ideally in late spring. Seedlings need to be thinned so that they stand sixteen to twenty inches apart. This plant does poorly indoors.

To harvest wild celery, pick the leaves in late summer or as needed. The young immature stalks and leaf stems were widely used for food with the outer skin peeled off, which is said to have a sweetish flavor. Seeds can be collected once they have fully ripened. To preserve the product, dry the seeds. Leaves can be dried, frozen, or infused in vinegar.

Be forwarned, however, that the juices of all parts contain a phototoxin that can act on contact with skin and exposure to ultraviolet light, causing anything from a mild rash to a blistering, severe dermatitis, depending on the sensitivity of the individual. The plant is a pernicious weed especially in pastures, where it can ruin the milk of cows that eat it.

Native American peoples had many different uses for this plant. The most common use was in poultices that were applied to bruises or sores. Dried stems were also used as drinking straws for the old or infirm, and to make flutes for children. The roots can create a yellow dye. An infusion of pushki flowers can be rubbed on the body to repel flies and mosquitoes.

For culinary uses, it has been suggested that the seeds can be ground to create celery salt which is wonderful for soups, curries, and casseroles. It gives pickles a nice kick. It can also be used in place of regular salt for sodium restricted diets.

The leaves make a nice addition to salads, for poultry stuffing, or as a general garnish. Cream cheese spreads always seem to taste better with a pinch of wild celery leaves. When poaching fish, a handful of fresh leaves can be added to the milk for extra flavor. When adding to soups or stews, add wild celery at the very last minute. Cook for no more than three or four minutes to prevent flavor loss.

For medicinal purposes, the seeds can be made into a decoction and used as a sedative to calm a frazzled person, or relax after a stressful day. This tea will also ease flatulence after a five bean casserole! Leaves are high in minerals and vitamins, which make this a healthy addition to any diet. It can be used as a general tonic to ease indigestion, or calm a colicky individual. Juices extracted from the leaf and stem act as a urine stimulant. Wild celery is a safe plant to consume, however as a general rule excessive doses of any ingredient should be avoided.

Broody Delaware Rooster

2009-07-10T09:28:00.001-08:00

We picked up this rooster at the Blue Moon Dairy when we got the goats. The lovely 4H blue ribbon winning proprietor's representative, Kelsey, gave us a tour of their facilities, and threw in the rare breed rooster as kind of a gift with purchase.

He turned out to be a dream. Loves, loves, loves everything and everyone. Very much a caretaker personality. By far the favorite fowl I have ever known. Look at him warming up the papillon, with the little chick tucked in the middle of the puppy pile. Mr. Congeniality! We named him Jonathon Lack because he is so diplomatic and loving.

Ducklings & Doggies

2009-07-07T09:49:00.001-08:00

A pair of Cayuga are the first ducks we have introduced to the Hamptons. We have great designs to make them their own space, and add some friends next year should they thrive. The rush of the Fourth of July turned our plans astray, so we bunked them down with the papillon puppies for a few days. They didn't seem to mind.

A truly stunning breed with their iridescent beetle green plumage, Cayuga ducks were first shown at the Great Exhibition at New York State's Crystal Palace in 1851. We have a brook that runs through the property, and the hope is that some day the boys will take the excavator to the wellspring and create a small pond for these beauties.

1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria 4 door Sedan

2009-06-20T09:45:00.000-08:00

Uncle Dale actually shot me a note to tell me he likes my new iron, so I thought I would give the passersby the skinny on my new sign - the 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria.

According to How Stuff Works, the 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria was the crowning gem of the bright two-tone and chrome era. One of the most imaginative cars of an imaginative decade, it took off for the heavens in looks -- but never in sales.

Ford's Crown Victoria, king of the new Ford Fairlane series, named after Henry Ford Senior's Fair Lane estate in Dearborn. The "Crown Vic," as it has been affectionately nicknamed, was a stunning "non-hardtop hardtop" featuring a stainless steel tiara (or "basket handle") wrapped over the roof of the hardtop body.

Ford prosaically called it a "bright metal roof transverse molding." Wrapping from the base of the B-pillar location over to the other B-pillar position, it was fixed -- so the Crown Vic wasn't really a "true" hardtop with an unobstructed side view.

Total 1955 Ford Fairlane production was 626,250 units, or about 45 percent of total 1955 Ford production. The number of Crown Vics was 33,165, plus 1999 Skyliner versions. Victoria production, at 113,372, underscored a public preference for Ford's traditional hardtop, which had been around since 1951. In 1955, this model listed for $107 less than the Crown.

The 1955-1956 model years stand as a unique period in Ford history, marked by excellent handling for the standards of the day, engineering that was better than most, and styling that has weathered the test of time. In fact. Crown Vic Skyliner models have been awarded Milestone Car status by the Milestone Car Society.

The Crown Victorias are truly the crown jewels of the Ford collection from that "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" time period.

Mountain Man Moose Tooth

2009-06-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

This little scene is from the shadow box in the Latouche railcar. The portrait of the pioneer is from the Brown & Hawkins collection, circa 1907.

The tooth is from a moose's jawbone found in the spruce forest behind the railcar. After a few years the teeth have become loose, and this one fell out.

In order to stay healthy, a moose must eat 40 pounds (20 kg)of browse a day, and there are around 150,000 moose in Alaska. Several moose can be found chewing alders around the Hamptons.

Alaskan moose grow 8-10 ft long (240-310 cm) with a shoulder height of 4.6-7.8 ft. ((140-235 cm). They weigh between 440-1,815 pounds (200-825 kg) full grown. Only the males have antlers, with a spread up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) which weigh between 44-77 lbs. (20-35 kg) They usually live between 8-10 years, rarely more than 16 years.

Like range cattle, moose are unpredictable in their behavior. They have excellent hearing and smell, but poor vision. When moose perceive a threat they will often withdrawal silently into the trees and stand quietly until the danger has passed.

When they are startled they will crash noisily headlong through the brush reaching speeds of 34 mph (56 kmph). They hold their heads back so their antlers lie along the shoulders and the branches are pushed aside.

Moose are solitary creatures and do not form permanent groups. The only social bond formed is between mother and calf, and it is wise not to get between them. Russians, and early Seward pioneers, had some success domesticating moose for meat, milk, riding, and early draft work. In Alaska, this is no longer legal.

Moose is from "musee", an Algonkian Indian name. The Alaska Moose Federation encourages responsible conservation of this beautiful natural resource.

If You Were Born Without Wings

2009-06-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them growing. Coco Chanel.

From the Words to Live By series of original acrylic paintings by Dorene M. Lorenz. Click here to buy a print, magnet, postcard or other merchandise.

Original is available, priced at $500. To purchase contact Dorene M. Lorenz directly.

Moonstruck Mukluks

2009-06-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

The little scene is from the shadow box in the Latouche Railcar. The tiny mukluks are handsewn from seal skin, circa 1940s. They were part of my grandparents, Chris and Millie Sorenson's estate.

The photograph is of a young native couple in the Seward area, circa 1907. It is from the Brown & Hawkins collection.

The Qutekcak Native Tribe is the tribal organization for the Alaska Natives in the Seward area.

It is a unique native community made up of Alaska Natives who migrated to this area from all over the state. Members are Yupik, Inupiaq, Aleut, Tlingit, Alu'utiq, Siberian Eskimo, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Cherokee.

Seward is located in the Chugach Alaska Corporation area, one of thirteen regional corporations set up under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1972. A signifiant departure from the established federal Indian reservation system used in the Lower 48, ANCSA is a system of corporate ownership assets, and was developed to ensure long-term profitability and financial independence for Alaska Natives.

Today, Alaska's Native Regional Corporations and their subsidiaries are strongly represented in the Alaska Business Monthly's Magazine of Top 49ers - a ranking of the top Alaskan-owned and operated businesses. 23 of Alaska's Native-owned businesses generated over $8 billion in revenues in 2008.

Hamptons Wildflower Spotlight: Starflower

2009-06-12T11:46:00.003-08:00

In the wildflower beds, as well as sprinkled through the estate, you will find the Alaskan broad-leaf starflower (Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia). These seven petaled beauties are a forest loving groundcover.

The brilliant white flower is suspended upon an extremely thin stem, giving the illusion that the flower is floating above the lush green terminal whorl of leaves.

The flowers grow from 6-12 inches high, are shade tolerant
Asexual reproduction from the small tuberous rhizomes is more common than reproduction by seed. See can be collected in late summer, rhizomes in fall and winter. No action is required to break the seed dormancy, and the seed has a short shelf-life. Stratification results in delayed germination and extended germination time.

You should air dry the seeds for late summer planting in flats. Cover with 1/8" moist organic/sandy acidic soil. They like the soil to be loose, and to be planted in large clumps 2-4 inches apart. They flowers can be expected to live over three years. Dense patches will persist indefinitely and will expand as a self-sustaining colony.

Mother hen, Walburga

2009-06-11T09:25:00.003-08:00

I named her Walburga before I ever picked her up, the blue black splash orlington hen we bought from Sterling Meadows Hatchery. She is the most inquisitive of the bunch, and the bravest as well.

The Orpington is a large bird from the English class of chickens. It is a bold, upright breed with a wide chest, broad back, and small head and tail. The Orpington was bred as a dual-purpose breed (meat production and eggs), but its popularity grew as a show bird rather than a utility breed. Their large size and soft appearance together with their rich color and gentle contours make them very attractive. Wikipedia

I am told that they quickly learn tricks and come when their name is called. We are working on that one. Problem is that we keep calling her Burtha even though her name is Walburga.

New Sign Has Arrived

2009-06-10T12:54:00.003-08:00

I know, it really looks like a 1950s Ford, but, honest, it is the new sign for the Hamptons. Anyone who knows me knows that I am big into re-purposing, it is part of my Alaskan pioneer heritage, so when Leif was complaining that he didn't want to take this car he found in the the woods to the dump - I volunteered to make it into a sign.

I actually volunteered my Dad, Marty Lorenz, to re-paint the rusted body and install some windows to keep the neighbor cats out of the interior. He offered to get the motor running, but on closer inspection decided it was going to be more work that he has energy for. Having that stroke has really slowed him down.

It is not a restoration, although the car is perfectly restorable. It is a saving of an asset until someone else decides that it is important enough to them to make an investment in.

Meantime, it is going to sit by Nash road advising folks where to turn to get to the Hamptons. If anyone is interested in taking this girl home and giving her a good second life give me a hollar, once we get a real sign we will ring you up and see if you are still interested.

Birds of a Feather

2009-06-10T00:48:00.002-08:00

Rare Silver Dorkings, five hens and one rooster. We got them from Sterling Meadows Hatchery.

The Dorking is one of the oldest British breeds, descended from stock brought to Britain by the Ancient Romans. The Dorking is listed as vunerable on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. It is a very rare breed, listed as threatened on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) priority list. This means that there are fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the US, with seven or fewer primary breeding flocks It is a globally endangered.

I was actually planning on getting some silkies this year, but Keith fell in love with the Dorkings. Dorkings were developed in Victorian times mainly as a table bird, having delicate white flesh with a long body and short legs. They are a docile breed but they do like to range.

Dorkings make good mothers and lay moderate numbers of good-sized tinted white eggs. Chicks can be sexed at hatch. Colors available are Silver Grey, Dark, Red, White and Cuckoo and features common to all of them are five toes and white legs. They are a classic dual purpose bird - they lay well, and are wonderful meat birds in addition to being a beautiful addition to your yard.

The five toe thing is funky, as it is an extra digit that is doubled up with another toe, not a equally spaced toe. They are really cute chicks, lots of visual texture, and very chatty. They are not as inquisitive as the Blue Black Splash Orphinton hen that we also picked up at Sterling Meadows, but more on her later.