Oz Girl's Picks: American Harvest Dehydrator

So, based on my reader comments last week, I ended up choosing a more modest and economical dehydrator.  I ended up going with the Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Express. 

The price was around $60 - I see it has already increased to $64 on Amazon.  I should have it by the end of the week, so I'll let y'all know how I like it once I've given it a whirl.

In the meantime, I picked most of my spearmint over the weekend and dried it in the oven.  The bugs were starting to snack on the leaves and I didn't want to take a chance of losing it while I was waiting for the dehydrator to arrive.

We also picked some of our corn - the worms were starting to nibble at the tips, so we cut off the tips and the ears were still good.  I mean, they were DELICIOUS! 

First time ever in my life, growing our own corn, and eating it fresh from the garden.  We bought our seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds and they were definitely a "winning" choice.

The reason I bought our seeds from Johnny's this year:  Eliot Coleman of The Winter Harvest Handbook fame recommends and uses products from Johnny's Selected Seeds. 

If you haven't had a chance to read his "Winter Harvest" book, I highly recommend it.  Fantastic book.  Also, check out his Four Season Farm website.

Ok, I think I've blathered on enough today - 

I have definitely gotten off topic, huh?  

Sometimes I just can't help myself....

One more off-topic moment - I got a little closer to our family of deer yesterday morning.  You'll have to click on the photo to enlarge it....  hey, it's better than last week where all you could see were their little heads poking up above the prairie!!

Don't forget - the Country Giveaway is coming

and it starts this Thursday!

Oz Girl's Picks: The BEST Dehydrator

The Excalibur 3926T is, quite simply, the Cadillac of dehydrators.

The Excalibur 3900 series has 9 trays (15 square feet!) for drying veggies, fruits, fish and meats, beef jerky, fruit rolls and home crafts.  Model 3926T has a timer, enabling you to be away from home when the drying time is over and the machine needs to be turned off - set the timer, and you don't need to be up at 4 a.m. to turn it off!

After all my research, and reading the rave reviews of other users, the Excalibur 3926T has earned a spot on my wish list.

What about you - have you ever contemplated the purchase of a dehydrator?  If so, what would you use it for?

Note: The link to the 3926T model will take you to a web special page which offers additional freebies with the purchase of this model.  Also note, the Excalibur company has never heard of Oz Girl, and likely never will - this blog post is simply my opinion and personal recommendation.

Oz Girl's Picks: Top 5 Historic Hotels

Everyone has a dream place they want to visit.  But instead of the top 5 beach or mountain resorts, I'm putting out my list of the top five historic hotels I'd like to visit.

I must admit I haven't had the opportunity to visit ANY of these spectacular hotels.  This list is purely the result of wasteful web surfing and a strong desire to "want" and "must have".

Disclaimer: Most of these don't fit into a farm girl's budget.  They pretty much go on my wish list. And none of these hotels have endorsed their inclusion into my "top 5" list - this list is strictly the opinions (and desires!) of Oz Girl.

1. Wort Hotel - Jackson, Wyoming
This is one gorgeous stone hotel which dates to the early 1940's.  It tragically burned down in 1980, but was restored to its full glory by June 1981.  From the carved wood to the silver dollars found throughout the hotel, including the 2,032 uncirculated Morgan silver dollars inlaid at the bar, this is my kind of old hotel.

Gorgeous historic stone entrance

2. Rancho de los Caballeros - Wickenburg, Arizona
Doesn't the name of this one just scream "western"?!  It's gorgeous Arizona desert beauty all the way around.  This is not your usual historic hotel - as their website proclaims, they're the "ranch resort with the soul of a bed and breakfast".  I'd sure like to try out their breakfast with the rising Arizona sun as a backdrop.

Beautiful western themed lobby

3. Old Edwards Inn & Spa - Highlands, North Carolina
Veering away from our western theme for a moment, I like the Old Edwards Inn for its old time European atmosphere.  I've always loved old stone buildings, so this one fits into the dream list nicely.  With a location like the Blue Ridge Mountains, how could you go wrong by staying here for a getaway weekend?

More stone - my favorite historic hotel building material

4. Hotel Ambassador - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Ok, this one probably doesn't rate as spectacular as the first 3 on my list, BUT Tulsa is not too far away, and I love the corner suites with their huge window views of the city.  This historic landmark hotel promises an easy weekend getaway (2 hours south of me) and it might actually be within a farm girl's budget!!

Opened in 1929 to provide upscale temporary housing for oil barons and their families while mansions were being built, it has gone through some tumultuous changes.  After the oil business decline, it became senior retirement housing, and then closed entirely in 1989.  Reopened in 1997, it underwent a $5.5 million renovation to restore it to its early day elegance.

Corner king deluxe - NICE!!

5. Manka's Inverness Lodge - Inverness, California
This one has been on my list for a LONG time.  If you've ever been to the Point Reyes area of northern California, then you'll agree with me about this area's haunting beauty. (Yes, I've stayed in the area, but never at Manka's!)

This photo of Manka's Inverness Lodge is courtesy of TripAdvisor

I was devastated when I heard that Manka's 1910 hunting and fishing lodge was on fire in 2006.  The main lodge and restaurant burned to the ground; there are plans to rebuild, but my understanding is that they've still not been rebuilt.

However, one can still choose from 4 rooms in the annex, Manka's Cabin or Fishing Cabin, or one of two suites in the Boathouse on Tomales Bay. Manka's has all the trademark of a northern California getaway, with loads of 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor and other hotel rating websites.

So there you have it, my top five list of historic hotels I'd like to visit someday.

Tell me if you've already been to one of these grand places.  

Or tell me of another great historic place

that merits a mention on this list!

Two readers have already recommended the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego and "a wonderful b & b in Cape May".  C'mon, give us details please!!  :-)

And just in case you're in the market to BUY a truly vintage historic hotel, the Hotel Metlen in Montana is for sale - there's infinite renovation possibilities here!