[Above: Ritsabittle #2: A journey to the Salt Springs. This was the view from the bench where I read for about an ?hour? (I did not keep track of time). The mossy oaks and plentiful palms made it a true southern setting in which to read “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. ]
12/13/2020:
Dawn of 12/13/2020. 
Misato Rose Radishes seem to display readiness for harvest by pressing their way completely out of the soil. 
A salad comprised of cucumber, onion, tomato, and Misato Rose Radish. Quite delicious and refreshing. 
A piece o’ Master Blend Wagyu chuck steak. 
Dusk of 12/13/2020 – A line of estrus-influenced bovines may be seen on the left. 
Meanwhile… the audience. 
Dinner: ‘Monte-Cristo Pie’ filled with prosciutto, cheddar, and a tri-berry jam. The crust was homemade puff pastry dough. 
Spectacular for the eyes and delectable for the palate.
12/14/2020:
Dawn of 12/14/2020. 
Result of an early morning harvest: three prime Misato Rose Radish specimens (the one on the left was especially impressive). 
Lunch today: Master Blend Angus ground beef atop a bed of sauteed mustard greens. 
I’m fairly certain this is a Rapeseed plant (Brassica napus) which is member of the cabbage / mustard family. Padre and I found it near where the potato-hauling trailers are parked.
12/15/2020:
Dawn of 12/15/2020: Mother #992 laying with her offspring as the sun rises. 
Ritsabittle #2: A journey to the Salt Springs. This was the view from the bench where I read for about an ?hour? (I did not keep track of time). The mossy oaks and plentiful palms made it a true southern setting in which to read “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. 
A view of the adjoining body of water: Lake George. 
This oak bore a plethora of flora on its overhanging branches. The air plant (Tillandsia) was probably the largest and healthiest I have ever seen. 
This is one of the fissures from which the brackish water of Salt Springs issues forth. 
Particularly impressive oak trees. 
I saw this place on the way to the springs, so I decided to stop by on the way home. During the ensuing short visit, I witnessed the workings of a small mushroom farm and the recent improvements that had been made after a bear decimated the growing area. The initial ‘Mycelium’ stages were quite unattractive, but I did get to see some satisfyingly large clusters of gourmet fungi. There were also medicinal mushrooms that have been shown to fight and even help cure some forms of cancer. It should also be noted that at the beginning of the visit, I purchased about 1.5 pounds of Blue Oyster mushrooms (seen later). 
The high bridge over the Ocklawaha. I did not take a picture on the bridge for obvious reasons, but the varying colors of the trees were unlike anything I had seen in Florida. This is probably due to the recent frost. 
Dusk of 12/15/2020. 
Blue Oyster Mushrooms… I find them quite reminiscent of ‘hen of the forest’ mushrooms. 
A Master Blend sirloin tip roast ready for consumption. This 2 lb. roast was cooked at 250 F for 1 hour and 30 minutes, rested for 25 minutes at room temperature, and then seared at 500 F for 9 minutes. 
Dinner: beef roast, salad (arugula & spinach topped with balsamic & olive oil), and multiple servings of blue oyster & button mushrooms.
12/16/2020:
Dawn of 12/16/2020. 
Due to the damp weather, the Jacobhouse Kitchen became my clothesline. 
A delectable lunch procured from sushi bistro. 
Santa Gertrudis mother #326 tending to her newborn British Blue hybrid. 
This evening, Padre and I fastened new ‘cow-wood’ boards in place. Moments after they were installed, a plenitude of bovines sauntered over to begin performing an ‘inspection’.
12/17/2020:
Dawn of 12/17/2020. 
Lunch consisted of mustard(green)-wrapped meatloaf. The filling for four of these delicacies contained: 1 lb ground beef, 4 chopped mushrooms, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano, 1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and 1/8 tsp rosemary. I next sandwiched the mixture between olive-oil coated mustard green leaves and proceeded to grill them on high heat–3 minutes on the first side, 2 minutes on the second, and 3 minutes resting on low flame. 
Bovines gathered once again at the feed-gate. A cowntain. 
An especially old piece of fence near Padre’s studio. 
It was a cool and cloudless afternoon. There may be a frost tonight. 
Dusk of 12/17/2020. #326’s calf is now clean and fluffy. 
Two especially large Misato radishes harvested from the Jacobhouse garden. 
Dinner: A delectable combination of springmix salad and Padre-made pizza. 
Dessert: Homemade blueberry pancakes doused in handcrafted maple syrup. Excellent.
12/18/2020:
Dawn of 12/18/2020: The sky was a clear of clouds as the eastern pasture was clear of bovines. 
Lunch: A grilled Master Blend chuck blade steak seasoned with olive oil, salt, pepper, pecorino cheese, and frequent mistings of white vinegar. 
The newly installed outdoor light at the front of Madre’s office project. And something peeking around the protective door. 
Dinner: A radish & Pecorino topped pizza dressed with a vinaigrette sauce. Fresh mozzarella was utilized as the primary cheese-base. 
A closer look. The pecorino caramelized quite well atop the Misato radish slices.
12/19/2020:
Dawn of 12/19/2020 – Flop-horned mother #694 standing regally beside her British Blue offspring. 
Lunch today: Reverse seared sugar-and-salt-dried pork chops. 
A delicious radish (Misato), cucumber, onion, and tomato salad was served to the side. 
Late-afternoon of 12/19/2020; clouds were beginning to gather in the East. 
Meanwhile, the west continued to display brilliant blue sky. 
Sunset of 12/19/2020.
Final Note: Salt Springs was a superb outing, and I plan on going back and/or visiting another spring quite soon. Tuesday, Madre and I will venture to the Rainbow River for a kayaking river-bound ritsabittle.
Great post, even though it’s late the food pictures made me hungry