Thursday, February 28, 2008

Guess what!!

FINALLY---we have broke down and purchased a Country Living Grain Mill.
Whoopee!
I have wanted a hand mill for a long time now but have never been able to say "o.k, I'll spend that large of an amount of money on it." It is after all a bit expensive. Yes, I could have gotten a smaller/different one or even an electric one, however I like non electric items (guess why) and the comments (many) on this particular grinder are very very good. Enough said.
So this year---with the direct deposit of my income tax money already here---I decided it was "nigh" time to just do it. Kind of like Nike---but better and longer lasting.















(The picture is from Walton Feed that has a nice web site that compares some of the different grain mills---both hand and electric--among other things.)
I emailed the other day and asked Country Living Grain Mill company about a "blemished" model which supposedly are still top quality and come with the full warranty of the non blemished models. They are selling it to me for $60 less than the non blemished plus throwing in a power/extension handle to boot. Nice.
As I said I have looked and looked at these mills, watching and searching for a used one but unfortunately never able to find one. The few that come up on Ebay go for close to original price. So...I am happy to say the least.
The gentlemen I spoke with said they are running behind a bit and it will be about 2 weeks before they get it shipped out so when I gets here I will grind some different things and post some pictures. Supposedly you can taste the difference with fresh ground versus pre ground flours. I don't know if that is true but in my life I have found that home grown meat and veggies ALWAYS taste different than store bought so I highly suspect that the flour will too.

Now, in my slightly contemporary/mid century style home I have to find a place to permanently mount a grain mill. Hmmmm....

5 comments:

Tim Hodgens said...

Monica,

Good for you. I've heard others talk about the quality of the grain mill. I also saw somewhere that someone accached it to a bicycle on a stand and did some of the grinding that way.

Also, concerning the "to live by--update 1/30/08" to the left of your page, I would add that prosperous could also include those who choose to not feel compelled to purchase, to buy, to get more and more "stuff."

That choice, repeated, allows you to be in the world but not of it...and in a totalitarian world, or a cosumerist dominated society, to live a better quality of life and also to remain beneath the radar.

Tim

Anonymous said...

Congrats - that's quite a deal. I've looked at those models too.

Hayden said...

wow, congrats! I got a grain mill last summer - granted, an electric one - and I do think it makes a difference. I don't grow grain here on my urban lot (!) so could be that the quality and freshness of the whole grain I can buy is better than the flour. Don't know. But the bread is tastier!

Congrats on a GREAT purchase!

Cheryl said...

Ooh, great purchase! I've always wanted one too - I can't wait to hear what you think!

Dancingfarmer said...

Thanks everyone---we are on pins and needles waiting for it to come. Obviously we are not the only ones that "longed" for a grain mill :-D

P.S Tim---I agree with you on that but had never thought of it that way. Good observation.

Monica