tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486089520568964202024-03-13T19:33:35.686-07:00Welcome to the Hen houseLife on a very small working farm with humorous stories starring the animals that keep the owners on their toes. Includes information and tips on raising animals, gardening, and occasional ecological ravings, recipes, photography, and disaster preparedness.sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-29399648795148118042014-09-19T10:01:00.000-07:002014-09-19T10:01:24.047-07:00Autumn Haze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love Autumn. The dusty, musty smell of the soil winding down in the garden for the year. The low slung golden light filtering through leafy trees just beginning to give in to the inevitable lack of light that will turn their trusses into a fiery crown. Falling to the ground, their beauty spent, their leaves will nourish the next flush of green with the warming of days next spring.<br />
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The early morning garden had started shrouded in fog. I now look across this little farm where the holly hocks stand guard at the garden gate the setting sun turning their blossoms into little panes of stained glass more beautiful than any church window. Beneath them between the lavender and the rosemary I can see divots in the soil where the chickens spent the afternoon happily tossing dust a foot or more into the air as they took a languorous dust bath. I make a mental note to repair them. For what purpose I don't know. They will only be at their happy destruction again tomorrow. I don't mind. I love having animals that are so obviously happy and healthy. I call the masses home with a "chook chook chook" and lock them safely into their run. They seem to visibly relax once tucked inside, searching for bits of food or just resting in a corner, waiting for the sun to tell them it is time to go to bed.<br />
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Picking up my basket I head for the garden to see what the days offerings will be. Tomatoes perhaps. Green tomatoes for sure but I'm not quite ready to give up on the possibility of a late flush of ripe tomatoes and another Caprese Salad (recipe follows) before cold weather takes these little beauties. If there are enough I can dehydrate them for using on pizza in the dead of winter. Yum! Summer in January!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4THyoihdZrJo0WR88ptr3MnjbI5INhmH9lfR3eTid-kOy3nMMeUqdi4wqerfqTyrZ4oOmFwL0U3FCes8qEFMMGyOk6GO-b4PwuOjxcQHHHwYcJvV5CuoCOYlNpFphuR3WNPqdqJjcdC_/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4THyoihdZrJo0WR88ptr3MnjbI5INhmH9lfR3eTid-kOy3nMMeUqdi4wqerfqTyrZ4oOmFwL0U3FCes8qEFMMGyOk6GO-b4PwuOjxcQHHHwYcJvV5CuoCOYlNpFphuR3WNPqdqJjcdC_/s200/037.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Zucchini would be great too. I discovered that my family will eat all the<br />
zucchini I can grow when I make baked Zucchini Fries. (Recipe to follow) I see spots of orange peeking out from under giant prickly leaves and make another mental note to write in my garden book to plant more pumpkins next year. They are so much fun and a versatile calorie dense vegi that stores amazingly well if not allowed to get too cold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeYM0wFdQRcJq9CORxvvEO2ckNQUCfpTWN4-EKoCxJqfzvxRiILwapuR8eZ75AfzKSAjJY9FZadp3P6KS3eDeWbh25B38mO_CvKCn2WhDeMHCBzBi25fxsVOaJt15fdFKcJSgyvKNLHvS/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeYM0wFdQRcJq9CORxvvEO2ckNQUCfpTWN4-EKoCxJqfzvxRiILwapuR8eZ75AfzKSAjJY9FZadp3P6KS3eDeWbh25B38mO_CvKCn2WhDeMHCBzBi25fxsVOaJt15fdFKcJSgyvKNLHvS/s200/042.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Green beans dangle from tangled vines and I pick the garden's offering. Pencil thin and straight french fillets and big fat Blue Lake beans. There is also tender wax beans and a collection of long purple beans. They will turn a deep green when steamed but it is always fun to bring a basket of multicolored beans into the kitchen. Boring vegis are not in our repertoire of daily fare at this time of year. The beets I planted in August look gorgeous with their ruby colored stems glowing in the setting sun and the ferny foliage of new carrots as a backdrop. They will be a tasty dish this winter. The beets need thinning in order to have room to become beets so the "culled" leafy greens will be dinner tomorrow. I leave them until then.<br />
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Walking back toward the gate I spot some small pear shaped tomatoes hiding under the skirts of a protective branch. I pick one and pop it into my mouth enjoying the sweet acidic explosion on my tongue. I haven't any lettuce or greens big enough to make a salad but decide a small bowl of plain naked tomatoes would be just the ticket. Better than a candy dish without the guilt. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluh7FcDaZwGv__Mq36htjM0yhtLctCnnxNM30ikxSkANE6x4a3Bz4vC33DOx9LZWkpOA4-ogg-GJkG8MXGTk3tSQcdTIQi2-mFZ1YlrQtR_6SP7z-bXGnBICjuOY48YPwdIf3eoEsMLGb/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluh7FcDaZwGv__Mq36htjM0yhtLctCnnxNM30ikxSkANE6x4a3Bz4vC33DOx9LZWkpOA4-ogg-GJkG8MXGTk3tSQcdTIQi2-mFZ1YlrQtR_6SP7z-bXGnBICjuOY48YPwdIf3eoEsMLGb/s200/046.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Picking up my basket I trudge toward the house with my booty wondering if we will get tired of green beans before they are done for the season and if they will taste nearly as good when I use the frozen beans that I have put by.<br />
In the kitchen I pour the beans into a large bowl to sort into beans for dinner and beans for pickling. Shining jars of peaches have cooled and sealed on the counter and are waiting to be labeled and added to the growing larder in the pantry. Partly ripened tomatoes are covering every available surface including an extra table that I have set up specifically for that purpose. Not trusting the weather I brought in all the tomatoes except the Pear and the Pacino's to ripen in the house. This year I am going to beat the blight to the harvest. I place these tomatoes into a zip bag as they ripen and place them in the freezer to be turned into sauce later. The smell of blackberry jam is still heavy in the air and reminds me of my mothers late summer kitchen. All this is a lot of work now but so easy this winter when I need a jar of something to round out a meal and I don't even have to go to the grocery store. I take the peaches out to the pantry and admire the colored jewels preserved in gleaming jars.<br />
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I'm tired after the days work but it is a happy contented tired. The kind that means you will fall asleep tonight and sleep clear through until morning and wake up ready to do it all over again. Perhaps tomorrow I will try making green tomato relish right after putting out eggs and a few bags of green beans for my customers that make the long trek down our dusty driveway. It's fun to share the harvest and see the appreciation on other peoples faces. My only regret about the waning summer is that I didn't find the time to use the hammock set up in the front yard. So tomorrow morning I will make it a point to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee on the front porch and admire the turning of the season before starting my day.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Baked Zucchini Fries</span><br />
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Italian seasoned bread crumbs<br />
Grated Parmesan cheese<br />
Seasoned salt<br />
Zucchini<br />
Olive oil or egg whites (depending on your diet egg whites can be used in place of oil)<br />
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil<br />
Combine bread crumbs, cheese, and seasoned salt in a pie plate.
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Cut the zucchini in half length wise and remove seeds. Slice into 1/2 x 1/2 x 4 inch pieces and place in a large bowl. Drizzle oil over the zucchini and quickly toss with your hands. (Zucchini absorbs the oil)<br />
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(Or beat egg whites just until frothy and toss with zucchini).<br />
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Press zucchini into crumbs gently shaking off excess and place onto the prepared baking sheet.<br />
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Bake in preheated oven until the fries are golden and tender about 15 minutes. (I find that a convection oven makes them even crisper.) <br />
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Serve with catsup, sweet chili sauce, or just plain.<br />
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For those that don't know what a Caprese Salad is here are some directions. (my youngest calls this leaves and cheese)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Caprese Salad</span><br />
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Fresh garden tomatoes sliced about 1/4 inch<br />
Fresh basil leaves<br />
Fresh Mozzarella cheese slice about 1/8th to 1/4 inch<br />
Your favorite olive oil and vinegar type salad dressing. (ceasar works)<br />
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Alternate tomatoes, leaves, and cheese in a circle around the edge of a plate piling left overs in the middle to make an attractive display. Drizzle with dressing. Let marinade for at least 15 minutes before serving. You can also drizzle a thin line of balsamic vinegar along the salad.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-65034808218340482162013-11-01T09:43:00.000-07:002013-11-01T09:47:46.105-07:00A New Twist on "Gardening"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4l0ZEbBewlq2QbIBdQ3PaUq5DHVdLFAC0oJgbKy3iSnu14r1u98lPQnb_WfDEXp95WWDNP8VPkkvqDS4zT4CerT-2WT45FYW8poC4HfT9wUd-9BslPexBV7bdwNlyHWixgIz8S8sPJmt/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4l0ZEbBewlq2QbIBdQ3PaUq5DHVdLFAC0oJgbKy3iSnu14r1u98lPQnb_WfDEXp95WWDNP8VPkkvqDS4zT4CerT-2WT45FYW8poC4HfT9wUd-9BslPexBV7bdwNlyHWixgIz8S8sPJmt/s400/IMG_3067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This summer I've been working on inviting native bees to my garden. </td></tr>
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We are enjoying unseasonably dry and warmer temperatures than is the norm for fall. This is what passes for a drought here. A month at a time without rain. Although I normally spend September cleaning up the garden and canning or freezing the stragglers, this year I am working outside straight through October. There has been no frost and not enough rain to keep me inside which means some canning is on hold and my house is suffering immensely. After all, rain is the gardener's excuse to clean house. That brings me to the fall garden. I have been working on putting in raised beds because I have just had it with fighting the sandy soil that wont hold ANY water. What a difference. I planted carrots and beets (yes we love beets) and they are growing like crazy. I also as of October 15th got all three varieties of my garlic in. The raised beds are so easy to weed and maintain and they hold moisture.<br />
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Got another good crop of potatoes this year although not as good as last year. I have to chock that up to the fact that I didn't get them planted in a timely fashion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMVSm7tMfXKCMB62cgPVUI1v7d6S6Vzd17FIymTiPQ6X-uxGAWLZDfsYzcLHighP-YuiN3RgQZceeTJAIAQGdtrefBP03rl0x_gKseM2cxWbvtLdnPNVQTyIjdIbTFT1a-wQ5Kyfcbvtn/s1600/IMG_2969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMVSm7tMfXKCMB62cgPVUI1v7d6S6Vzd17FIymTiPQ6X-uxGAWLZDfsYzcLHighP-YuiN3RgQZceeTJAIAQGdtrefBP03rl0x_gKseM2cxWbvtLdnPNVQTyIjdIbTFT1a-wQ5Kyfcbvtn/s320/IMG_2969.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yukon Gold, German Butterball, Cherokee Red, and a Russet.</td></tr>
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This also brings me to the cold frame. Now that my neighbor cut down all his trees to put in a horse arena, my cold frame and grapes get tons of sun. Yep. I actually harvested bags of sweet grapes. So it was time to clean out the cold frame a few days ago and replant some spinach. I needed to enlist some help from a friend that is really good at spotting what looks like cut worms.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea3dz1pgWYfDvHWpCrJXmTid9YaOa3fgjbh_F0BHgud5hA6yqJ73AeL6-yvQn_ZpUtBuAgS6tfntQeaBcpcKQ2zS3reHkwcj0fJtIXVd14BYtgaeSJhS8Fvek8b6jVnSICLe1d3zhmR0c/s1600/IMG_3275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea3dz1pgWYfDvHWpCrJXmTid9YaOa3fgjbh_F0BHgud5hA6yqJ73AeL6-yvQn_ZpUtBuAgS6tfntQeaBcpcKQ2zS3reHkwcj0fJtIXVd14BYtgaeSJhS8Fvek8b6jVnSICLe1d3zhmR0c/s320/IMG_3275.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy! Lunch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomN_XvsgQpNHPy1gUhP0kYt83jsi1wWJrXR3mumDFqpWHu4YPHzH6MSP5fPizYzm4EiF0iOL_1sR0-xFVeyo3I-cpHRvV5KWs4owboy6brlQaL8KK6izyPZ5IDl2FO7_J2roCnQidTYla/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomN_XvsgQpNHPy1gUhP0kYt83jsi1wWJrXR3mumDFqpWHu4YPHzH6MSP5fPizYzm4EiF0iOL_1sR0-xFVeyo3I-cpHRvV5KWs4owboy6brlQaL8KK6izyPZ5IDl2FO7_J2roCnQidTYla/s320/IMG_3277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She also likes taking a nap in the warm sun.<br />
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Will finish with pictures of what has been happening around here since spring. I also want to thank you all for sticking with me while I went through my writers block. I can't guarantee I will be much better but with the advent of colder weather maybe, just maybe I will find something interesting to write about.<br />
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Out of 15 baby geese we kept two, one died (see previous post) and we sold the rest. However I wont be doing that again. There are too many bird factories churning out unusual birds for people that think they want them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3Jri1Wtljjlh5bgJO49bigUPm6z3R-2cUwTbGJ0XsPP0ci8lJ8bfhFKsno4Fq0TO_K6TbvuiT1qnJzatfx9KlxOptv2JosgANX0mZWMpiifaU6vok7ypeOmAEfuMWjgehpnPsJu4_69-/s1600/IMG_2862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3Jri1Wtljjlh5bgJO49bigUPm6z3R-2cUwTbGJ0XsPP0ci8lJ8bfhFKsno4Fq0TO_K6TbvuiT1qnJzatfx9KlxOptv2JosgANX0mZWMpiifaU6vok7ypeOmAEfuMWjgehpnPsJu4_69-/s320/IMG_2862.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our youngest graduated from high school in June and will<br />
be in her second year this fall at the junior college thanks to<br />
Running Start.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHWAWeLZ7TfSy4OOfVIJESth3aJ0NV2HlRrwyfXLvbcLgv9ylTg2U22p37dA0oa0imKMpPp84G12_-0AwdDgZbjlqwACWlLANykxp-hd7Vm2yR7iLglxOj_Ft489cF1JXGtsud2_67s0n/s1600/IMG_3182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHWAWeLZ7TfSy4OOfVIJESth3aJ0NV2HlRrwyfXLvbcLgv9ylTg2U22p37dA0oa0imKMpPp84G12_-0AwdDgZbjlqwACWlLANykxp-hd7Vm2yR7iLglxOj_Ft489cF1JXGtsud2_67s0n/s320/IMG_3182.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got 5 Lavender Orpington chicks in July. This is a picture<br />
in September. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVEfKrMd3-f8QWiJxobdDqlklddHmPOO9YTRzuq2H1wSU6e3UhIhkspBatJlF_22j1Xwy0TzYK4bzDBlvH1vOtHGRx23UMiDQ3tUTV2menAfZaZEifqT2uDWxl0zFSCThDoiWc1hOacK_/s1600/IMG_3273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVEfKrMd3-f8QWiJxobdDqlklddHmPOO9YTRzuq2H1wSU6e3UhIhkspBatJlF_22j1Xwy0TzYK4bzDBlvH1vOtHGRx23UMiDQ3tUTV2menAfZaZEifqT2uDWxl0zFSCThDoiWc1hOacK_/s320/IMG_3273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were finally able to remodel the deck that has been rotting<br />
off the house (read dangerous to walk on) since we bought<br />
the house. I am really pleased with it. </td></tr>
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In addition I have finally started renovating the landscaping in the front yard however that is going to have to wait until spring now. I have coop winterizing to do. Then on to the indoor projects.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-16772890806098278192013-09-11T23:12:00.000-07:002013-09-12T07:33:55.907-07:00Because Izzy asked <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know it has been some time since I have published anything. April to be exact. I could say I just got busy and that would be true. But the truth is I was struggling with a lack of desire to garden or do anything else on this small "farm". As a result almost everything in the garden got planted late. Potatoes, peas, onions, pumpkins, zucchini, you name it. Except the corn. I managed to start that in pots and transfer it to prepared beds and that worked great. My good friend K asked me if I was perhaps depressed and I guess I was/am. More so then than now. I also felt like blogging was just a waste of what little time and ambition I was able to muster. I hate the feeling that I am pushing off my stories onto friends and family. I have had not one person ask why I am not blogging so I think it must be true. Except Izzy. So Izzy, this one's for you.<br />
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Most of you know we had 18 Sebastopol goslings hatch this last spring. All four adults were perfect parents, there was tons of excitement, and the babies all healthy........except one. It became evident that one of the babies was not able to quite keep up with the rest. She would try but would soon just give up and sit down panting and it was apparent that her little heart was having a hard time keeping up with her. Sometimes I would walk out to where she was sitting and carry her to her family so she wasn't alone. She soon ended up in the house with us and my daughter named her Holly Go Lightly after the character in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Holly for short. I knew she couldn't possibly live very long and actually expected her to not last more than a couple weeks but I was determined to give her a happy life while she was here.<br />
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Holly had the best personality perhaps because she was raised with more human interaction. She gave great goose hugs and could talk up a storm and would call to us from her box in the bathroom that was in the laundry/mudroom just outside the kitchen door. Of course once she got someone's attention she would beg to be let out of that box. As a result we ended up carrying her around in a baby sling fashioned from a long scarf tied around our necks or watching TV at night snuggled up in someones lap. Even the man was pressed into babysitting. Nestled in a big towel Holly would watch the news with him on the computer. Sometimes she was allowed to wander around the kitchen but she didn't like the dogs much so that didn't happen as much as she would have liked. During the day after it warmed up and the grass dried off I would take her out to be with her family. I also made sure she was always fed separately and would hand pick dandelion leaves for her. She loved those. Being the smallest she was pushed away from the communal food.<br />
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To make a long story short Holly became my baby. Always looking for me to come out in the yard and telling me when she was ready for breakfast or dinner. It took her longer to grow up. She was late getting feathers, didn't try swimming for a good month plus after her siblings and had to put up with some bullying but handled it pretty well. She had a favorite brother that she would cuddle with and follow around too. Here are pictures. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIr5XwcwZgfjbAu9qiIzUCNECTGw0yXo7ibHzJxv2BAYU_ZYk8Kr5gw7GLeU9_biP3U1fn0gZ_grp0Ks0jcQYHI3QrlUPnOglfhOHNVEESheBE4dAZPFC6axRwMW5lwTim_MCs-nwSLC4v/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIr5XwcwZgfjbAu9qiIzUCNECTGw0yXo7ibHzJxv2BAYU_ZYk8Kr5gw7GLeU9_biP3U1fn0gZ_grp0Ks0jcQYHI3QrlUPnOglfhOHNVEESheBE4dAZPFC6axRwMW5lwTim_MCs-nwSLC4v/s320/IMG_2740.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For awhile the other babies had to take turns keeping Holly<br />
company in the house. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6tj-OoXQVD0dhdkOxI3HS4cHGeXAHuWkKT1ywXWJwUmhuhPvT4gQ89Dr_hEivyeXbTB0segrDIC00sleVGwnsUsdOzI6h3L1FmlDIDOo9NUk4mknNSkYMKG1Kvn1Go905Wb_FYIPTTOE/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6tj-OoXQVD0dhdkOxI3HS4cHGeXAHuWkKT1ywXWJwUmhuhPvT4gQ89Dr_hEivyeXbTB0segrDIC00sleVGwnsUsdOzI6h3L1FmlDIDOo9NUk4mknNSkYMKG1Kvn1Go905Wb_FYIPTTOE/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly riding around in her scarf. </td></tr>
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in<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nqL9e5o_lkYz4wVDek1oKTKebgiBslubr3qokDhBqa68dNiNbE81-2cbUpNPv4hvNGxf1WhOoN4YVTqoebFV_hLWSu3EggPEL82uimaaVAZFtaqi3W3sQxV4cifFaXtoYyz1hM9HsjVm/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nqL9e5o_lkYz4wVDek1oKTKebgiBslubr3qokDhBqa68dNiNbE81-2cbUpNPv4hvNGxf1WhOoN4YVTqoebFV_hLWSu3EggPEL82uimaaVAZFtaqi3W3sQxV4cifFaXtoYyz1hM9HsjVm/s320/IMG_2779.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family at play</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZbkZmopFHUtIc-pEP1c_y5CdNyXDhGWfx4dVHHHmlV7QF6lYR5I_P1Mp23J_o6ot3KxrzrBmXDHKl8_Z9fsLawcW23SJsQ7v2S8cjs4bDLwJ6zRSCvXvW0t_5knkxW-5D4zCKc_a2ksK/s1600/IMG_2792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZbkZmopFHUtIc-pEP1c_y5CdNyXDhGWfx4dVHHHmlV7QF6lYR5I_P1Mp23J_o6ot3KxrzrBmXDHKl8_Z9fsLawcW23SJsQ7v2S8cjs4bDLwJ6zRSCvXvW0t_5knkxW-5D4zCKc_a2ksK/s320/IMG_2792.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was her favorite sleeping partner</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMx-Rui9xAYJus4vTzbz_oheoV11FNSX0aE5v06LyqUz3ayNjQjTiWiCEtyKLDdCkiRcGMF74SUizueJSmuhYtwU0jEThNFEvCrcGoWdoUQaCodY-WF2OugpEcHLB3ltuzL6hl-D5JYSr/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMx-Rui9xAYJus4vTzbz_oheoV11FNSX0aE5v06LyqUz3ayNjQjTiWiCEtyKLDdCkiRcGMF74SUizueJSmuhYtwU0jEThNFEvCrcGoWdoUQaCodY-WF2OugpEcHLB3ltuzL6hl-D5JYSr/s320/IMG_2788.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly loved her brother and he didn't seem to mind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZbwBY-tLDp3IIf_J1IW0TUk1kpsZ2dl4KtGPTOJrdxhuekBY7f6HdaeL6sOp8M_cyQAcB0_bNNQ87S_n3jLLsb61wTfoG2nZmSjbbdTeuoecRqiPUpHMGZlGqyg30Kd4hoZlA3f4dod5/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZbwBY-tLDp3IIf_J1IW0TUk1kpsZ2dl4KtGPTOJrdxhuekBY7f6HdaeL6sOp8M_cyQAcB0_bNNQ87S_n3jLLsb61wTfoG2nZmSjbbdTeuoecRqiPUpHMGZlGqyg30Kd4hoZlA3f4dod5/s320/IMG_2794.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly is the little yellow one. What a difference. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGprxbI595e4NgZMeCpIdqsN1bnlPn4njgQyNR7tTekVZNrRx5bIjmgkt1zcIQzOCr80vPeHx6KmIDhplvCXaGzIyBi_515d0thK7SJUYuWqnZjKGcXp9JclI4N1KlhAJaR7VnUbJ8mtH/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGprxbI595e4NgZMeCpIdqsN1bnlPn4njgQyNR7tTekVZNrRx5bIjmgkt1zcIQzOCr80vPeHx6KmIDhplvCXaGzIyBi_515d0thK7SJUYuWqnZjKGcXp9JclI4N1KlhAJaR7VnUbJ8mtH/s320/IMG_2805.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly admiring herself in the mirror....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfWLBO0XRWhNWH9w8udxHNfrMQh0N1PIBP9geFbLOVQuFHe5o60uohdU-qFbdyXATlBSs7EhDvDEz6rH8w4wV0qTqat4f6GNGxnMYcdfW49wSCyKI7_p_glNthKZDJb_2wi_7dzRSGHvu/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfWLBO0XRWhNWH9w8udxHNfrMQh0N1PIBP9geFbLOVQuFHe5o60uohdU-qFbdyXATlBSs7EhDvDEz6rH8w4wV0qTqat4f6GNGxnMYcdfW49wSCyKI7_p_glNthKZDJb_2wi_7dzRSGHvu/s320/IMG_2802.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and yelling for company from her bathroom basket.<br />
This always got my attention. </td></tr>
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Holly was a happy little thing and made me smile every day. Her siblings grew so fast, became beautiful fully feathered beauties that were sold to good homes. Holly was never going to another home. It was still evident that she had a defective heart and I couldn't have sold her in good conscience nor did I want to. She did eventually get her beautiful feathers although not as many as her siblings and I could tell the effort of growing was taking its toll on her. One day in July Holly asked to be put in the chicken coop. This was usually her way of asking for her dinner and it was late afternoon. We had been out in the yard working all day so I fed and watered her and went in to take a shower and start dinner. When I came back out less than an hour later Holly had died. She was 3 1/2 months old and had lived much longer than I thought she would however I was still devastated. I still miss her funny little self around here.<br />
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But life goes on. We have added 5 Lavender Orpington chicks to our flock and after my late start in the garden I have been a woman on a mission. I have been putting in raised beds for vegetables (I got sick of fighting our sandy soil) and renovating the landscaping around the house. Right now the man and I are replacing the rotting decks (plural) on our house and I am harvesting and canning out of the garden. Our weather has been unseasonably hot and dry this summer so I am actually getting red tomatoes! and corn! The new lavenders are sweet as can be and growing fast. We will see how they do with the rest of the flock.</div>
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sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-52319090955364342592013-04-07T20:32:00.000-07:002013-04-07T20:34:46.021-07:00Lessons Learned from Geese?<br />
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It's Sunday and so far there is no movement from the last 3 eggs in the goose nest which means we have 15 goslings divided between two nest. The boys had not left the gate all day yesterday and last night when I let them into the pen I stood and watched to make sure all would be well. I've done the goose thing before so I didn't expect any trouble from them and I was right.<br />
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They immediately went to the nest to check it out. Both girls stood up straddling the goslings tucked in their cozy nests. The boys stuck their heads in to check out those babies and actually pushed some of the babies further under the moms. When the moms finally settled back down one gander snugged up to the outside of one nest while the other stood guard in front. They stayed that way all night.<br />
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Morning came and unfortunately I needed to check on the remaining eggs and knowing I would have to argue that point with the boys I took my mini leaf rake and broom with a half handle into the run with me to coax them both out the gate. The guard gander immediately started protesting while the other attempted to climb into the nest with the babies. I had to literally lift him off with the plastic leaf rake and move them both out through the gate.<br />
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The moms were fine with me messing around but much to my disappointment the last three eggs were still intact. Mom on the right seemed to be having a harder time covering her babies which may be why daddy was in there so I moved two over to the other nest.<br />
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The great thing about these guys is that they seem to be practicing cooperative parenting. They also did this last year when the eggs were not fertile. Last year I only had one nest with one sitter but when she got off the other mom got on and kept them warm. When mom #1 came back the other would get off and stand guard with the boys until she was needed again.<br />
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This year I only saw one gander breeding with one goose. That was Alphy and Mimi. Sebastian and Bella just seemed to hang around lending assistance and support. Apparently the alphas are the breeders with this breed. When Mimi was ready to sit on 19 eggs I divided them into the two nest boxes and both geese started sitting even though I am pretty sure Bella had not contributed many if any to the nest. I removed 1 egg a few days later because there was no growth when I candled them.<br />
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My point is this family group of geese seem to be raising these babies together. So far there is no fighting. All four seem to have only one purpose and that is to raise these babies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsQRpjyo03fGRePfYybz-aYqL4Z3lUR2LgAUpx5UT7KOca87M-mvUuhzQFI340H0ViPB2LzUyhQBy3cCBjV6bl_rw1c_mlgFl8YYXe799lbgKDz8NSCNHYRT8SPjN5Ip-e8rC34JqWuYj/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsQRpjyo03fGRePfYybz-aYqL4Z3lUR2LgAUpx5UT7KOca87M-mvUuhzQFI340H0ViPB2LzUyhQBy3cCBjV6bl_rw1c_mlgFl8YYXe799lbgKDz8NSCNHYRT8SPjN5Ip-e8rC34JqWuYj/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Earlier today just before I was heading out to a neighborhood meeting I went to check on them one more time. All the parents were in one nest box! My first thought was cold half dead babies so taking my life in my hands I entered the run and physically carried each male out the gate one at a time so I could see what was going on without getting eaten. They didn't like it but they also didn't bite me. Dressed in my Sunday go to (neighborhood) meeting clothes I crawled into the empty nest box to rescue the <strike>orphaned</strike> babies. NO BABIES! What the heck! All the babies and both moms were in the next box over. Now I don't think geese pick their babies up like kittens and these guys aren't old enough yet to have their running legs so the only thing I can think of is that the boys pushed them there so the whole family unit could be together. Never seen anything like that before but everyone of them were in that box. I quickly readjusted the empty nest to be deeper and wider and added straw around the edges to create a deep berm, added half the babies to it and got a mom over there. That lasted about 6 hours when I let the boys back in and went in to start dinner.<br />
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Those boys are determined to keep the family together so I give up. They must know what they are doing. The girls are both in one nest with all the babies and the boys are the front guys. Again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzEQsdaLh_uaObyHLKgX4C4DTUlnYAinqcWmYCH0Rry0F89W_NIvabOhnhjxWH9zI7mIZAtPXyWeMTzDj-hqKP4xf1ba2jO2ilriXSg8d8ZqNDLW3fh2K9dIC0zpFzge6wWqiHdOF3C36/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzEQsdaLh_uaObyHLKgX4C4DTUlnYAinqcWmYCH0Rry0F89W_NIvabOhnhjxWH9zI7mIZAtPXyWeMTzDj-hqKP4xf1ba2jO2ilriXSg8d8ZqNDLW3fh2K9dIC0zpFzge6wWqiHdOF3C36/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then some of the babes decided to go out and meet daddy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDomWMGpAdVzNDNFpEDGQRKTIDQSd_Zf2JI2bwCAhBh0ozIt8Ki8pHnxRAtIp5EdTIscS5iX0DrsfYYHgUd8RhBsavDXHBjjTu3GvwXyaClF4gJnOWqfg1SoO_OqOt6FLTJ-LjCd24U16r/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDomWMGpAdVzNDNFpEDGQRKTIDQSd_Zf2JI2bwCAhBh0ozIt8Ki8pHnxRAtIp5EdTIscS5iX0DrsfYYHgUd8RhBsavDXHBjjTu3GvwXyaClF4gJnOWqfg1SoO_OqOt6FLTJ-LjCd24U16r/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess that answers the question as to how they all got in the same nest. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMEmTcCJpx3GZ_irabsvlv9pu5ZMMJZ9_ojujXTd6vbMewEAJIo6EFZxBGHZMNhNIxdYUqH_CGIpRQ8JqmZG1_Tu_HxbzWKvEY9sWobtJKc9Z2-b3uKIGvge8V7lD2PAItFmQqzwoKmpj/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMEmTcCJpx3GZ_irabsvlv9pu5ZMMJZ9_ojujXTd6vbMewEAJIo6EFZxBGHZMNhNIxdYUqH_CGIpRQ8JqmZG1_Tu_HxbzWKvEY9sWobtJKc9Z2-b3uKIGvge8V7lD2PAItFmQqzwoKmpj/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Lessons learned from Geese?</b></div>
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Leave them alone. They know more about family and cooperation than most humans. </div>
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-43666068031420603222013-04-05T19:28:00.000-07:002013-04-06T07:48:10.766-07:00OMG!!!!!! THERE COMING!!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfubnzBSbUYtHBVLcOz3qXb2yyTFwFTDNaFxXZPC1hVKPOelOTVm8LOX0MkXxE2ndC0n4eRaVE1O78uCJopjks0_axXU9SZBkmMXZSMIrOCKT2ih13apy_driPazJWkimoApHKnLkLm866/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfubnzBSbUYtHBVLcOz3qXb2yyTFwFTDNaFxXZPC1hVKPOelOTVm8LOX0MkXxE2ndC0n4eRaVE1O78uCJopjks0_axXU9SZBkmMXZSMIrOCKT2ih13apy_driPazJWkimoApHKnLkLm866/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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CAN YOU TELL I'M EXCITED!!!! Earlier today when I got these girls off the nests for their bath and to get a drink I checked the eggs. One looked like it MIGHT have a crack but other than that things were pretty quiet. It is 7 pm and I just checked again. This time I didn't make the moms leave and go out to the pasture. I just moved them off the nest while I checked so I was eyeball to eyeball with a mom that was giving me the "what the f... do you think you are doing" hairy eyeball. I am always surprised at how calm these girls are with me. So while mom was staring at me I started picking up each egg and OMG! Cracks and holes and peeps! OH MY! I kept hearing a really loud one but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. So I moved over to the next nest (on the right) got moma off and started to look. As soon as I did an egg started screaming at me! Has to be one of Mimi's because she is a screamer too. That's why the name. Screaming Mimi. The man named her. So while moms are staring at me but being calm the boys are at the gate wanting to rip me a new one. Literally.<br />
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They have spent most of their time sitting by the gate waiting, or, when I do get the girls off for their daily bath and drink they run up and down the outside of the fence screaming at them. Get back on! Get back on! You're killing my babies! This is why we don't let ganders' into the delivery room. So we should have babies tomorrow.<br />
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You may wonder why I am so excited. Metzer farms where I bought these lovelies said this on their web site;<br />
<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><table border="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top" width="66%"><span style="color: magenta;">Fertility seems to be a problem with most Sebastopols, along with lower than normal egg production. Fertility is adequate early in the season (and they do seem to come into production earlier than most breeds) but quickly drops off. Oftentimes we will have no fertile eggs the last three weeks of production in the spring. In 2005 we tried artificial insemination with our Sebastopol but with discouraging results. We hope to try it again in the future but with some basic changes in our methods and materials</span></td></tr>
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and last year all the eggs were a big fat ZERO so I was not expecting anything this year. In fact both girls together only laid a total of 22 eggs. Three went in the fridge for easter and one was not fertil so I tossed it after candling. The remaining 18 eggs were full of baby so pessimistic me was just wondering how many would die in the egg. I can't wait to tell John Metzer. Maybe he needs a few tips! hahaha<br />
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I will keep you up to date when they get here. If they get here. So far they sound really robust. Here's a shout out to Chuck. You're gonna be a grampa!<br />
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<a href="http://www.metzerfarms.com/" target="_blank">Sebastapols and ducks at Metzer Farms </a><br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-83058282413920210292013-03-16T23:19:00.000-07:002013-03-17T08:13:12.160-07:00The Unintentional Farmer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxn170LfmqdmhQW65D3aevx0nInXMR84QneJxVxwDJDGcdXvDsgbDWRqYjbWsEQjed3u5sJ4qTEln9622k0Hzq04BIA01evwf_BdtlzwRCk-SYgR90qdV88FFB4F23VRLJX7nl70BGtsm/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxn170LfmqdmhQW65D3aevx0nInXMR84QneJxVxwDJDGcdXvDsgbDWRqYjbWsEQjed3u5sJ4qTEln9622k0Hzq04BIA01evwf_BdtlzwRCk-SYgR90qdV88FFB4F23VRLJX7nl70BGtsm/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What Are You Doing In There?</td></tr>
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This was the year I wasn't going to get new babies. No chickens, no ducks, and the geese are suppose to be difficult to get goslings from. Well I have a silkie sitting on 4 duck eggs (to go to someone else) and the geese laid a total of 22 eggs three of which are in the fridge waiting to become blown out Easter eggs the rest are sitting under the two moms. They have been setting since the beginning of March and of course I didn't mark it down since I assumed that like last year it would come to naught. My plan was to let them set for awhile then candle the eggs just to make sure and then toss them. Today I was able to candle the eggs while the moms were out stretching their legs and taking a bath. I think I am going to have to re-think that no baby plan. Out of 19 eggs 18 seem to be well on the way to being babies. The one egg that looked, well, like an egg was just that. I cracked it open and tossed it in the garbage.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrWBy26lhO7R7kF5jxT9MxNAH0KrjmbGR-1ex_z_vICxbd1wxAGzYUPpOZBz8jCT-oExaYbm98hUvO8PzGotC6OklvXAtnGgpHQbzHkiUVf7qPn6k0NZl1ciryAWmbL_bu8tmUMCAe7rk/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrWBy26lhO7R7kF5jxT9MxNAH0KrjmbGR-1ex_z_vICxbd1wxAGzYUPpOZBz8jCT-oExaYbm98hUvO8PzGotC6OklvXAtnGgpHQbzHkiUVf7qPn6k0NZl1ciryAWmbL_bu8tmUMCAe7rk/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaidOHp8STvHmnmJkywWyUt5Fqfs0i_yO4XRUCLP-uNj_OKeNmToszWuJMvv8Lv-bdLhiK-zZJlJCiFH3AmxdE4Ju1yWu0IWG27LQwcRvPfBEmIRFUSDshp6AXw2Yp-2S3gb6zsZ6CcyTU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaidOHp8STvHmnmJkywWyUt5Fqfs0i_yO4XRUCLP-uNj_OKeNmToszWuJMvv8Lv-bdLhiK-zZJlJCiFH3AmxdE4Ju1yWu0IWG27LQwcRvPfBEmIRFUSDshp6AXw2Yp-2S3gb6zsZ6CcyTU/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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I have 4 Sebastapol geese. Two ganders and two geese. The funny part is that only one gander has mated with the one female but both females are sitting on the eggs. They seem to be getting along but I had the man build two separate nest boxes for them with a wall between so they can't see each other. However the four of them talk to each other constantly. I call them the screecher creatures. I gave the non-laying goose 9 of the eggs and they are both being very good moms.<br />
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So good in fact that when neither of them had been off the nest for food or water for 4 or 5 days I finally went in and picked them up off the nest setting them near a food and water dish. They were absolutely joyful about the reprieve. They were also a little wobbly on their feet so after a good drink and a short bath they both got back on the nest. Guess I will have to do this every day.<br />
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The boys are also working in tandem. Both of them guarding those girls. My family has dubbed them "the evil geese" but they really aren't that bad with me. Compared to other breeds of geese that I have had these guys are a piece of cake. They can be pretty scary though when you don't know them and that is the point after all. Here they are hissing at me through the fence. I am inside with the girls and they don't like that at all!<br />
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Will keep you updated on our progress.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-26787966003483623362013-03-09T21:43:00.001-08:002013-03-17T08:16:06.636-07:00Finished Enough? Bathroom Update. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is mostly finished or maybe what you call finished enough for now like most of our projects. I am having a heck of a time finding just the right mirror or at least framing for a mirror so we are temporarily using one from the hall. If anyone out there has an idea where to find a really large, affordable (approximately 54 X 36 inch) frame molding let me know. So far frame shops are somewhere between $400 and $800 for just the molding. <a href="http://www.mirrormate.com/" target="_blank">Mirror Mate</a> is much more affordable but limited in what they carry. We were going to try to make a frame but didn't like anything we came up with.<br />
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I am also trying to decide on a roller shade for the window. <a href="http://estore.smithandnoble.com/category/shades/fabric-shades" target="_blank">Smith and Noble</a> has good looking roller shades for the window but kind of spendy too and the man and I can't agree on what looks good. I will probably end up buying a plain fabric shade and making a valence that I can change when I get the urge as I so often do.<br />
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The bead board and cabinets are glacier white and the top half of the walls are Ivory Tusk paint from <a href="http://www.wral.com/new-paint-brand-clark-and-kensington-hits-the-mark/12181269/" target="_blank">Clark and Kensington</a> paint, an Ace Hardware Brand. Really nice paint but also spendy. However it did cover in one coat and spatters were minimal. Apparently this paint also got kudos from consumer reports too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6b4__MybizKpF0hC0Ur6XvE5gBvTFu6c03BzF31A3NZ_hvmKqtT_6pfiRXMhWjICQT40ERd7kF87Ro0IeVgyu3am_fEzfCm3V-JDqHnLjtp7qI7sfKDgOnySKJLmhKA6Bq4Z6vYiI0dt/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6b4__MybizKpF0hC0Ur6XvE5gBvTFu6c03BzF31A3NZ_hvmKqtT_6pfiRXMhWjICQT40ERd7kF87Ro0IeVgyu3am_fEzfCm3V-JDqHnLjtp7qI7sfKDgOnySKJLmhKA6Bq4Z6vYiI0dt/s200/019.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually white. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgzTlm8eFzeFF58nPzkokmHqH0hZiqAwpfCFxnML0ZcYnZWDYj8JeO85qso46MOkrkHCTmeEwtcSzdIvxBFV_8YjvwfZXuHLKtcFgTnY_RkDaQHwvbVYu4O-7tIYvThj89Ptp2AnWUUQ9/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgzTlm8eFzeFF58nPzkokmHqH0hZiqAwpfCFxnML0ZcYnZWDYj8JeO85qso46MOkrkHCTmeEwtcSzdIvxBFV_8YjvwfZXuHLKtcFgTnY_RkDaQHwvbVYu4O-7tIYvThj89Ptp2AnWUUQ9/s200/013.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
We used white subway tile in the shower with a decorative border and a high quality white shower pan on the floor. Then we had Dennis Meszaro, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeszarosGlassStudio/photos_stream" target="_blank">Meszaros Glass Studio</a> put in the glass door and panel. He did a great job and even though our wall was 1/4 inch off he was able to compensate for that giving us the clean look we wanted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMfd_zSswlQfkACLxzCCKN20QzphzebW8D5cTY57tL40c08Ul_lfgOeSwnDttbshXufv55csgFZpHq-d8pypDcUY4Yzsz5cnmMr77ITVaTnzCxdT1Iju2qFJzj7rgEjP80EnQpWtCO7Os/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMfd_zSswlQfkACLxzCCKN20QzphzebW8D5cTY57tL40c08Ul_lfgOeSwnDttbshXufv55csgFZpHq-d8pypDcUY4Yzsz5cnmMr77ITVaTnzCxdT1Iju2qFJzj7rgEjP80EnQpWtCO7Os/s200/012.JPG" width="200" /></a>One of the best things about this bathroom is the new <a href="http://www.build.com/american-standard-2989-101-cadet-3-elongated-two-piece-toilet-with-concealed-trapway-everclean-surface-powerwash-rim-and-right/p1711732" target="_blank">American Standard</a> toilet. No more trying to clean all those curvy pipe like things on the bottom that catch every piece of dirt and crud that floats by. The profile is simple and clean and it flushes like a dream without any extra help. Call me weird but I love it when things work the way they are suppose to.<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6XAxVwG5trS8-rz41ssKtntXvZKIjg_p5PwnZIHOCSFZwjN4dESqsPTB3imnA3wQl9vJVecOSxzH_zlkJMKMskpWfnf1gaptxi0w8WsF8-ytwRYLl_aFWA9L5zUTNroq0NapxMqC_Qw-/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6XAxVwG5trS8-rz41ssKtntXvZKIjg_p5PwnZIHOCSFZwjN4dESqsPTB3imnA3wQl9vJVecOSxzH_zlkJMKMskpWfnf1gaptxi0w8WsF8-ytwRYLl_aFWA9L5zUTNroq0NapxMqC_Qw-/s200/006.JPG" width="200" /></a>We have two stained glass windows that came out of a garden trellis in the front yard. The trellis was rotting into oblivion and we really wanted to save the glass. I would like to hang or display them on the wall above the tub after we refinish them but we will see about that. In the mean time here are pictures. The bathroom is more than usable and I love the colors. Being neutral will let me change colors with the seasons with the addition of towels and rugs.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpM_G7ymjbAZJxCutr3LOZxlOf3rxoXss2ez5xxIm2fdq5eRZh5BETWteH2L5a9HutS-WWdh_prb0lNa70wfPBfBH2aBTx1i1gAAwzOgTTCDNWg2mwUXwOl9FUpsgsEpoOb1jTFl05ECw/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpM_G7ymjbAZJxCutr3LOZxlOf3rxoXss2ez5xxIm2fdq5eRZh5BETWteH2L5a9HutS-WWdh_prb0lNa70wfPBfBH2aBTx1i1gAAwzOgTTCDNWg2mwUXwOl9FUpsgsEpoOb1jTFl05ECw/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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Click on the pictures to see more detail. </div>
sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-81888451011068912522012-10-28T21:12:00.000-07:002013-03-17T08:23:10.448-07:00Self Sufficiency is...... ....Not blowing your hard earned cash on a $6 bottled salad dressing.<br />
<br />
We love salads. Ceasar, coleslaw, poppy seed fruit salad, garden salad, potato, pasta, Caprese, Spinach salad with bacon, you name it. What I don't like is spending upwards of $6 for a bottle of salad dressing. Oh ya sometimes I find dressing on sale for $2.50 or so and I would stock up. That was the case a few months back when I found the mans garden french on sale. I bought 3 or 4 bottles of it. Then one day when I was idly hanging out in the kitchen waiting for something I read the ingredients. High fructose corn syrup was bad enough and almost all dressings contain xanthan gum which is used as a thickener. I can almost live with that since you only use a little on a salad. Right? However when I got to propylene glycol red flags went up. I'm feeding this stuff to my family???? NOT! How many of you have seen this ingredient in different foods and casually wondered what it was only to go on your merry way? I looked it up. It has many uses. It is said the <i>"acute oral toxicity of propylene glycol is very low" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol</a> </i>It is also used as an anti -freeze component in newer vehicles and a de-icer at airports. Propylene glycol is made from propylene oxide, a colorless <u>volatile</u> liquid use in the manufacturing of plastics. So yes! I want to feed this to my family! Bring it on!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4MLdwGuhhYrRDXxAhpKb4MhDYd78erY3fwNcoiiOouYb7aKgVDWLeoEsGFrCWlonxC3R9zBsTW67RGmFxjJ0g9JHR1j0SKHZHcbgLj_fqkEC1nY9a_lL8ZzH9jnMmckzbLU31w-CFeZW/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4MLdwGuhhYrRDXxAhpKb4MhDYd78erY3fwNcoiiOouYb7aKgVDWLeoEsGFrCWlonxC3R9zBsTW67RGmFxjJ0g9JHR1j0SKHZHcbgLj_fqkEC1nY9a_lL8ZzH9jnMmckzbLU31w-CFeZW/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a>Why is it used? It keeps the ingredients in salad dressing in suspension or mixed up so the oil and vinegar doesn't separate. Well excuse me but I think I am quite capable of shaking a bottle. I might work off a calorie or two doing that. Because I prefer to feed my family simply healthy food, as opposed to chemicals, and because spending $6 on a bottle of salad dressing really irks me I am on a mission to learn to make all the salad dressings that we use. Mostly that is french, thousand Island, Ceasar, and poppy seed dressing to name a few. In addition I am going to share them with you. So tonight we had a wedge salad with blue cheese vinaigrette. I really like blue cheese but I think I prefer a blue cheese dressing that is creamier than the vinaigrette. Too much vinegar in this recipe. The recipe said I could use white or champagne vinegar and I used white because that is what I had. Next time I will try the champagne. For those of you who like vinaigrette here is the recipe.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Blue Cheese Vinaigrette</span><br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1/4 cup white or champagne vinegar<br />
1/4 tsp. Balsamic vinegar<br />
2 tsp. Dijon mustard<br />
2 Tbsp. sour cream<br />
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or tsp. dried)<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese.<br />
<br />
Put in a blender or food processor and blend.<br />
The salad itself was a wedge of iceberg lettuce (I almost never buy this) with cucumber slices, red onion tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, and toasted pecans sprinkled on top. I will do this with romaine next time.<br />
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My personal favorite and one that my family really likes is this Ceasar dressing. Toss with a basic romaine lettuce, croutons, and grated Parmesan cheese.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Caesar Salad Dressing</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>2 small garlic cloves, minced</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tsp. anchovy paste or mashed up canned anchovy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice (or bottled)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tsp. Dijon mustard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 hard boiled egg, mashed yolk only<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 cup mayonnaise<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ cup freshly grated <o:p></o:p>Parmesan</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¼ tsp. sea salt or kosher salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a medium bowl whisk together the garlic, anchovy, lemon
juice, Dijon mustard, egg and Worcestershire sauce. Add the mayonnaise, Parmesan, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to
your liking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Now before you go eeew anchovy. Take a look at your bottle of Worcestershire sauce. It's made with anchovy. Believe me you wont really know it's there and it is only a teaspoon. You can use the canned anchovy in oil (last forever in the fridge) just mash it up or a tube of anchovy paste from the store. (Sounds inviting doesn't it?)<br />
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Traditionally Ceasar Salad dressing is made with a raw egg and used immediately so because I wasn't sure how long raw egg would last in a dressing stored in the fridge I decided to use a hard boiled egg yolk. Worked great. This dressing was such a hit that we eat it as a dip with romaine lettuce pieces.<br />
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Once you have a collection of salad dressing recipes it is a snap to make them. Most of the ingredients are already in your pantry. Vinegars, oils, herbs etc. If you add a few other condiments you will find making these are easy and you can do it way in advance and put them in <a href="https://secure.cnchost.com/weckjars.com/productsDetail.php?category=7" target="_blank">pretty bottles</a> like these. Or you can do what I did the first time I made honey mustard dressing and just use the plastic mustard bottle that was empty after I got done with it. No red neck in me. LOL!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Honey Mustard Salad Dressing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4eZlTmWy6-Y8LsK7sDtHD_Q0MEDg116d7tC8Zhuo3YYBqVTLsiHnAf1DpWyPwuqJE4BVuYqgECnxD_m-MSON5ljaHZ0LMwBWVCjtGUWRRq9J9NsrhcUNj9BoaYjYn-oR46I1FFmblIse/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4eZlTmWy6-Y8LsK7sDtHD_Q0MEDg116d7tC8Zhuo3YYBqVTLsiHnAf1DpWyPwuqJE4BVuYqgECnxD_m-MSON5ljaHZ0LMwBWVCjtGUWRRq9J9NsrhcUNj9BoaYjYn-oR46I1FFmblIse/s200/004.JPG" width="108" /></a>1/3 cup honey<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/8 cup Dijon mustard (or more to taste)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¼ cup white wine vinegar or cider vinegar (I used cider)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 Tbsp. lemon juice<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 minced garlic clove<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ cup vegetable oil<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Combine first 5 ingredients in a blender. While blending,
gradually add oil in a steady stream until smooth and creamy. Store in refrigerator. Use this one on any garden salad or let your kids dip chicken pieces in it. We don't need no McDonalds. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am going to estimate that these salad dressings cost me $1 on average to make and they taste better than store bought. You could say they are more convenient because you don't have to make a special trip to the store when you find out at the last minute that you are out of dressing and your mother in law just arrived for dinner. Impress the old bat instead.<br />
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I will do a follow up blog with recipes for Thousand Island, (super easy) Garden French, and Poppy seed dressing for a green salad with fruit. That's the one the kids can't get enough of. I have to use my biggest bowl when I make that salad. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMCvpI3XcZyoNyujHoM8sbOkNkOmwOAjDXx7T4jPcdtOzpLN0iOaTRd_XxalM4e1cyjrL4S-FrXsbD7bh-obMn_onNUs0OqhSE2-iz0y384DcKbxk2QLJVgucva2670kLgm4HLmXxuNMx/s1600/The+Chicken+Chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMCvpI3XcZyoNyujHoM8sbOkNkOmwOAjDXx7T4jPcdtOzpLN0iOaTRd_XxalM4e1cyjrL4S-FrXsbD7bh-obMn_onNUs0OqhSE2-iz0y384DcKbxk2QLJVgucva2670kLgm4HLmXxuNMx/s1600/The+Chicken+Chick.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/10/clever-chicks-blog-hop-6.html" target="_blank">http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/10/clever-chicks-blog-hop-6.html</a><br />
<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-17056952535289316542012-10-24T09:41:00.002-07:002013-03-17T08:28:24.739-07:00After Apple picking days.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9xM2L1wi5CcM-AJ_3A03K3xLXLFgGpkvW8ty825OJTBgoBLsIJygNn19dOSJiIW2F7n2bKTesvrks6YJI08CfRT_g1y31xlAdA9grxr3p0EipuQrjAmBM1hvE2mFL20gR_z9udmNE098/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9xM2L1wi5CcM-AJ_3A03K3xLXLFgGpkvW8ty825OJTBgoBLsIJygNn19dOSJiIW2F7n2bKTesvrks6YJI08CfRT_g1y31xlAdA9grxr3p0EipuQrjAmBM1hvE2mFL20gR_z9udmNE098/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made apple cider...without a press.<br />
My juicer worked pretty good for this. Now we have<br />
apple juice to make apple butter with. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg116AwEp0A5f3r2CTJZc30CyfSKYqO01WiHxhUV6ka3IvP0FvrNPXSBfsMwoiukQRaplh1_KEfw42C1SMoaurCUHyN0Th-1vlaJ_twFtcWeZ8F_jvzb3zkHY63lJOJfj2_JsBiNm3fXqK_/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg116AwEp0A5f3r2CTJZc30CyfSKYqO01WiHxhUV6ka3IvP0FvrNPXSBfsMwoiukQRaplh1_KEfw42C1SMoaurCUHyN0Th-1vlaJ_twFtcWeZ8F_jvzb3zkHY63lJOJfj2_JsBiNm3fXqK_/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple washer extraordinaire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkbLljXQKo_Id5zSI-lX27_uHKR9p1uO2kJHei8etO30PQinBae-THNDhxoWRqIEXEgujkDztq1nFPs3caeRJDeiq8OplwHbX0J8OdwSBppn6ey7jPtFOn6xTEUwAeXjk-N0aiV1RCoAb/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkbLljXQKo_Id5zSI-lX27_uHKR9p1uO2kJHei8etO30PQinBae-THNDhxoWRqIEXEgujkDztq1nFPs3caeRJDeiq8OplwHbX0J8OdwSBppn6ey7jPtFOn6xTEUwAeXjk-N0aiV1RCoAb/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and apple peeler extraordinaire. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGFTZ5R_BZhQaFL8pPsl4pMzHO-M1z69k9saeeEw6xu6i5gsTPCF3IJ5YwCiyv_Cvo0JJaIAMup3zVeHZw9bTwZUE5Tp8SVxh-wBc7R2bMXpy6K0rKS0TEd3Z9OGGsBT_RxaYgxmn4yxd/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGFTZ5R_BZhQaFL8pPsl4pMzHO-M1z69k9saeeEw6xu6i5gsTPCF3IJ5YwCiyv_Cvo0JJaIAMup3zVeHZw9bTwZUE5Tp8SVxh-wBc7R2bMXpy6K0rKS0TEd3Z9OGGsBT_RxaYgxmn4yxd/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple butter maker extraordinaire. In addition to <br />
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and Allspice I put a little Cardamom<br />
in for a little taste flair. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-Zq9ek2lGzVHx61qEQbANE35mDLCwMGH8XPzXxl2sOj6xV5pKAROXG0HfE4mtSLqm5T58y7-khCBa_GUsb2jHAus3zJCDaecZbMnLrMIM5I9-rEbkVFLNjymi2wIGHfIdZaAjBJbYQhB/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-Zq9ek2lGzVHx61qEQbANE35mDLCwMGH8XPzXxl2sOj6xV5pKAROXG0HfE4mtSLqm5T58y7-khCBa_GUsb2jHAus3zJCDaecZbMnLrMIM5I9-rEbkVFLNjymi2wIGHfIdZaAjBJbYQhB/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one didn't seal. It was yummy on toast this morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdaJSQP31z1NhwP9FRtCj_yVblO0G6YF00xKZNwcV7KRwd-2CoeCcREhheylcn63vJTFq6BLvkANVNhAwl_PkdawQZUHeAES5hnw5rR1ItCsu_ADI7qScqV7MZ1RipBUN_708JzerSgLy/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdaJSQP31z1NhwP9FRtCj_yVblO0G6YF00xKZNwcV7KRwd-2CoeCcREhheylcn63vJTFq6BLvkANVNhAwl_PkdawQZUHeAES5hnw5rR1ItCsu_ADI7qScqV7MZ1RipBUN_708JzerSgLy/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also apple dumplin' maker extraordinaire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFCuUT_9Le1HYwISilCUYmvoVzy9Yb0yubg3xWKH7DnEqNyyMpR_Kb2Bb2LvrtUs5J5nNFfINMu1-5xCTIKzIEL5FOIhiQWbDBxeqqx_9z8TtAFXe8qyvMgYzb9udoiYLPpVuwPjb20nx/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFCuUT_9Le1HYwISilCUYmvoVzy9Yb0yubg3xWKH7DnEqNyyMpR_Kb2Bb2LvrtUs5J5nNFfINMu1-5xCTIKzIEL5FOIhiQWbDBxeqqx_9z8TtAFXe8qyvMgYzb9udoiYLPpVuwPjb20nx/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her first attempt at pie crust was a raging success! (with a<br />
little direction from mom). She rolled out four squares<br />
of dough. Small apples are peeled, cored and wrapped<br />
in pastry after adding sugar and spices and a pat of butter.<br />
Then the four corners are gathered together on top.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli5MLnJ11CCGxxW7IGDHnbAeTfwQf482b1a5kU1oHHOJo42334M2O24HXwI4chh42q-ilxk-cRSXXmlo9SlP3w1KeqfHQ-kOHpdzkGi0Mw3iPyTsVjEPgdlrzCyJMYUc7cyRRFEZlss9g/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli5MLnJ11CCGxxW7IGDHnbAeTfwQf482b1a5kU1oHHOJo42334M2O24HXwI4chh42q-ilxk-cRSXXmlo9SlP3w1KeqfHQ-kOHpdzkGi0Mw3iPyTsVjEPgdlrzCyJMYUc7cyRRFEZlss9g/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were so surprisingly good that we have been talking<br />
about them all day! Tempted to make them again. However,<br />
we have something else waiting to be made tomorrow so<br />
we are saving our calories for that. I hope they are as yummy!<br />
OH! What are they? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjeH6pVNCAZxeMvZfhrjkhT9o-CfQvR35S1L6C2R5DTAmH0GGQqKAHYg_VjWR1iMegiITRHc9j0oBQcfXtPRvbKxRmpfFOBgbR92I6nPx4ZDKCvWdCFploJU1BIVb_midtE4Uyumj9xug/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjeH6pVNCAZxeMvZfhrjkhT9o-CfQvR35S1L6C2R5DTAmH0GGQqKAHYg_VjWR1iMegiITRHc9j0oBQcfXtPRvbKxRmpfFOBgbR92I6nPx4ZDKCvWdCFploJU1BIVb_midtE4Uyumj9xug/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raised Apple cider donuts. Yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWkdrbtD_oxOzsMwvq_rhefu8XNCtp2B3aLSs0-6XzoVq-6g1GDIgCdBe13Ooy6mVmRsqcQWLHbwD7qwEzeGUKujP4Bab642hshcp0DMSFuf9Xc-YaQ-abg2KtO-vURprsQ7jGOaPxaTm/s1600/Preparedness-Challenge-Artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWkdrbtD_oxOzsMwvq_rhefu8XNCtp2B3aLSs0-6XzoVq-6g1GDIgCdBe13Ooy6mVmRsqcQWLHbwD7qwEzeGUKujP4Bab642hshcp0DMSFuf9Xc-YaQ-abg2KtO-vURprsQ7jGOaPxaTm/s1600/Preparedness-Challenge-Artwork.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2012/10/preparedness-challenge-40.html#comment-form" target="_blank">homesteadrevival preparedness-challenge</a><br />
<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-48679664794144771042012-10-21T23:43:00.000-07:002012-10-22T00:18:28.171-07:00Apple Days<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyyYsmsd2iLvuBRfs6plqq83whW1NjRmnvVKnjaPdBLGKQsnmi4F4PPuOrynbo58Nmm_x5wV9wmzezbuZPYIp7FouSvdNaaJ-nwvFX83V1LrEwrkXWlY0qopYTftbzvP-E8gGcHL3HC9c/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyyYsmsd2iLvuBRfs6plqq83whW1NjRmnvVKnjaPdBLGKQsnmi4F4PPuOrynbo58Nmm_x5wV9wmzezbuZPYIp7FouSvdNaaJ-nwvFX83V1LrEwrkXWlY0qopYTftbzvP-E8gGcHL3HC9c/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My family loves apples. Apple pie, apple butter, apples for lunch, apples with pork, apples, apples, apples. Probably a good thing we live in Washington. Two out of the four of us could eat an apple every day. That is 730 apples a year just for those two and that isn't even counting the pies and apple sauce etc. So when we bought this house and I discovered an apple tree on the property I was pretty darn happy. Not just any dwarf apple tree. A real full sized, reach for the sky, I dare you to try to pick these apples way up here, type apple tree. Yes, it is about 20 to 25 feet tall so the job of picking those apples usually falls to one of the kids since they are part monkey anyway. That job had always been the oldest daughters job until this year when<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOila9yr8MCXpwGsZlrg-VKiwEVlqdiGPUa7dDrfKSnB3Oyzt_TxdmkACypOkgCpJ9Kwnatr6WZMCO2CmGlR6CUkvZDAPls7Oisi63lmbIH_Vs9BSuWCzGleCYVmmGWMSedYZZnxZ_Zn3/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOila9yr8MCXpwGsZlrg-VKiwEVlqdiGPUa7dDrfKSnB3Oyzt_TxdmkACypOkgCpJ9Kwnatr6WZMCO2CmGlR6CUkvZDAPls7Oisi63lmbIH_Vs9BSuWCzGleCYVmmGWMSedYZZnxZ_Zn3/s200/009.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Gpxp4fIKfjXKSp5ymCRoYk_yfULX5W4yhfpdIjQV4uNg-QSeZPZwq-c0P4ScsCp_cDdTYNgOil0YCutZe-FZFfdEPjxvpoqUVXw4R782RQ_fm42F3EsleteBcYHsla9GUwYDs_6EkfR5/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Gpxp4fIKfjXKSp5ymCRoYk_yfULX5W4yhfpdIjQV4uNg-QSeZPZwq-c0P4ScsCp_cDdTYNgOil0YCutZe-FZFfdEPjxvpoqUVXw4R782RQ_fm42F3EsleteBcYHsla9GUwYDs_6EkfR5/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a>she moved to the city to go to the University. Last year I had the fore site to buy an apple picker. At the time I thought $30 was a lot of money for a tool that only did one thing and only did it once a year. So far we have used it to hang and remove Christmas lights, pick apples, and goose the geese. Guess it was a good purchase. This year the youngest daughter and I picked the apples. I used the apple picker from the ground but she climbed the tree and the ladder to reach the apples higher up. We had a contest to see who could get the most apples in the basket without dropping one. Seven was the winning number. We also had some unexpected "help". As soon as the geese and ducks figured out we were picking apples they were right there to make sure they got their share. When all the apples were picked except the unreachable apples our youngest climbed up the tree as far as she could and shook the branches. My job was to beat the geese to the apples that fell to the ground and put them in a separate box for processing right away due to probable bruising and goose bites.<br />
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When one bird got an apple the rest would chase him/her to steal it away. Pretty comical.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP1bQuoBrisoGNVXGRPoTDWaSvicZ7nfJFa3zeK2mX9UYB748NzN7RR8f4HU_MGZSGCT0p5OLQSx5GFc63GM6wCThOI-F1bqdBO2zGwRJRzgdjBL5qpRDof2FLIrtV7PuGbUGZLY-Uzoe/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP1bQuoBrisoGNVXGRPoTDWaSvicZ7nfJFa3zeK2mX9UYB748NzN7RR8f4HU_MGZSGCT0p5OLQSx5GFc63GM6wCThOI-F1bqdBO2zGwRJRzgdjBL5qpRDof2FLIrtV7PuGbUGZLY-Uzoe/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lucy the Wanna Be Guardian Dog helped pick up apples too. When the apples were shaken from the tree she would run over and pick them up. There was never a tooth mark in any of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC9Kgv5LBsl9RrylNBqz3lZuhio11iOLTS87hIifzJbDKyufIIE_aV4zyJi12wwUyGM3RQpwImKxn40J7oUCs-wtiqJTZYii9yXAZOTmDuxRV7vdOm4uhNdlIiaz6fILGzF7Rve9BVFOO/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC9Kgv5LBsl9RrylNBqz3lZuhio11iOLTS87hIifzJbDKyufIIE_aV4zyJi12wwUyGM3RQpwImKxn40J7oUCs-wtiqJTZYii9yXAZOTmDuxRV7vdOm4uhNdlIiaz6fILGzF7Rve9BVFOO/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA92d1QhTuySfBiWGWemkYmCUtQT35p2plovzh37wn9BQ-mZ2knqI7y5tct8xZ3wQK6eFe1MDW9sNa4BmrACyze0nqRqLqN8vjDC9yIsOMUkO4N8fO9vIvv8lIuC1EHfzgM9lc42LKPztG/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA92d1QhTuySfBiWGWemkYmCUtQT35p2plovzh37wn9BQ-mZ2knqI7y5tct8xZ3wQK6eFe1MDW9sNa4BmrACyze0nqRqLqN8vjDC9yIsOMUkO4N8fO9vIvv8lIuC1EHfzgM9lc42LKPztG/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She catches on quick.</td></tr>
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We got done picking just as dark clouds started to rolled in and there seemed to be a noticeable chill in the air and the sound of distant thunder. So we went down to put the chickens back in their run and get the hand truck to move the three large boxes of apples that we had picked. <b><i>BUT</i></b> after we got the chickens in I thought it was a good idea to go get the rest of the lettuce out of the garden <b><i>BUT</i></b> while we were in the garden I decided we should maybe thin the carrots a little. Much to my surprise this is what we got when we thinned them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gI-U4e_oZNUybm-xI-x9IfTv6saH5EfxQwOvDypwV0BUQjggGF8-8WFj2jqThxD4M41d-pE5sueCZzpRSMJNZLx1WwbHNAhlA69FMWKpXgHl5HLGt2Vki_gSHMiH9zxcNzLQPyZ3XxIr/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gI-U4e_oZNUybm-xI-x9IfTv6saH5EfxQwOvDypwV0BUQjggGF8-8WFj2jqThxD4M41d-pE5sueCZzpRSMJNZLx1WwbHNAhlA69FMWKpXgHl5HLGt2Vki_gSHMiH9zxcNzLQPyZ3XxIr/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall planted carrots!</td></tr>
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The clouds were getting more ominous so we headed back to get the hand truck and put the apples in the garage along with the ladder and the oh so helpful apple picker. I was thinking it was time for a hot chocolate break <b><i>BUT</i></b> then I noticed the recycling was building up in the mud room and since I had the attention of a very helpful girl we started loading that into the car and off we went to the recycling dump.<br />
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On the way back Old Man Winter decided to try and sneak in without anyone noticing. We saw it first on the windshield. That tell tale lacy splat of frozen rain also known as snow. The snow turned to hail and by the time we got home we had..... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW2nKNe51ucRFybs0Tz4RdMr8E-mbce8ZCNJRvgDOb0qfylZpYVApssI94m5be1r8pkvB0HEDD23NdQCGH8zgs8aqOU5s-2W-uTC3VAg417Pp1KNlZXYRbhOEhlbTblvdr2aKYxwSTGYr/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW2nKNe51ucRFybs0Tz4RdMr8E-mbce8ZCNJRvgDOb0qfylZpYVApssI94m5be1r8pkvB0HEDD23NdQCGH8zgs8aqOU5s-2W-uTC3VAg417Pp1KNlZXYRbhOEhlbTblvdr2aKYxwSTGYr/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>THIS!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj2x0OAXsTQLJHdfpZoO0jhCvont2TUVqeoizqJI5y_TbcNPwMfMOriGlONsCLipJfPVRgFblm1l_xH-vWPTNaYhX-9xu0CAt_xFziLmV8TGpWvo7vefnTo7iksuSzvYXIDGtYqMLmi4M/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj2x0OAXsTQLJHdfpZoO0jhCvont2TUVqeoizqJI5y_TbcNPwMfMOriGlONsCLipJfPVRgFblm1l_xH-vWPTNaYhX-9xu0CAt_xFziLmV8TGpWvo7vefnTo7iksuSzvYXIDGtYqMLmi4M/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>AND THIS!</b></td></tr>
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So we finally had our hot chocolate. Then we made apple <strike>cider</strike> juice with my electric juicer out of the apples that we shook out of the tree. Tomorrow we shall make the rest into apple butter.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2012/10/barn-hop-84.html" target="_blank">Homestead Barn Hop</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uTLo7kKfkJiXUo2S4kPM0n_m4dv1_BCvIHZj9YtboXUQhG8NhmpB3HMNVUjdEthFKz8xS6u_WeY1EugFWFloQeoAC1vmZt_BCbExTxSfDT0tdA0jR5GK31IriYWFJvmG8UiTJ3pAz9ha/s1600/Barn-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uTLo7kKfkJiXUo2S4kPM0n_m4dv1_BCvIHZj9YtboXUQhG8NhmpB3HMNVUjdEthFKz8xS6u_WeY1EugFWFloQeoAC1vmZt_BCbExTxSfDT0tdA0jR5GK31IriYWFJvmG8UiTJ3pAz9ha/s1600/Barn-Hop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-27395210536729180832012-10-12T10:25:00.002-07:002013-03-17T08:38:51.217-07:00More on Ready-ing the Coop for Winter<br />
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As a lot of you know not only do I have 28 chickens but I also have 8 ducks and 4 Sebastapol geese. I love those guys! The geese are not only beautiful but a lot like a dog in that they follow me everywhere. In the garden they will stand outside the fence for hours while I am working and then follow me back up to the house demanding a green bean or leaf of lettuce along the way. After all they have been very patient. I always know when someone pulls into the drive way and predatory birds think twice before crossing their paths giving a small measure of safety to the chickens. Not only are they beautiful but hand raised Sebastapol geese are very gentle. Except during breeding season. Even then they will tolerate me. They are also very family oriented. I always know when one has managed to become separated from the rest of the group by the forlorn call requiring me to go outside and lead the poor sad thing back to its group which is probably just on the other side of the house eating wind fall apples or what ever tomatoes are within reach through the fence on the patio. Unlike chickens geese are also all vegetarian. Now I don't know about you but when it comes to poop I much prefer the vegetarian variety. There is a lot of it mind you but if you can control where they get to wander not only do you keep the "mess" in a given area but you also have some of the richest garden soil EVER! They are like composters on fast forward.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken pen on the left geese on the right</td></tr>
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Which brings me to the fact that their pen does get a little slippery when wet. Preparing the pen for winter isn't much different from prepping the chicken run. In fact it is a mirror image of my chicken run minus the ramp the chickens use to get inside at night. Geese prefer to stay outside. Unlike ducks though Sebastapol geese do not have feathers that lay flat along their body giving them the same insulation factor that ducks have. In other words water does not run off their backs. Their feathers are curly and fluffy allowing wind to lift the feathers and chill the bird on the windiest days so because of this they need a wind break in the run. Other than that both bird runs get the same treatment with 2 to four inches of sand. This can also work like a litter box if you are so incline. As seen here at <a href="http://communitychickens.blogspot.com/2012/09/5-tips-for-cleaner-coop-with-less-effort.html#.UHhAC8XA9JM" target="_blank">the chicken chick</a> you can make a big scoop from a pitch fork and a little hardware wire. Although Kathy prefers sand over chips in the coop itself I still prefer the idea of wood shavings mostly for the warmth factor and deep litter method. However I am thinking of stealing her idea of making a giant litter scoop for chips with larger holes for the wire. The idea of deep litter is to warm up the coop but sometimes I just want to get some of that mess out of there. I will let you know how that works.<br />
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In my last blog I mentioned a system for growing grass in the chicken run that keeps them from digging up the grass roots.This enables them to have a continuous source of greens inside the run for those days when I am unable to let them free range. The man cheerfully built these for me using two 10 ft treated 2x4's. Because they are smaller they are also much easier to move if need be. I left this corner of the run sand free so I could install the grass growing frames and toss in the grass seed to get it started.<br />
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Also in my last post someone mention that they liked having the birds be able to dust bathe. Well so<br />
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do I so when we originally built the coop we added a small lean to roof on the back to give the birds a dry place to go in inclement weather. The soil under here is dry as a bone and they love to dust bathe in it. I add a little poultry dust to assist in keeping the bugs off and a little straw just to make it interesting for them. This summer I got over my paranoia about predators being able to get under the coop and at my ladies. As a result I opened up the underside of the coop so the chickens now have an 8 x 12 foot dry area to play in that is out of the rain. The whole bottom of the coop is enclosed with 2 x 4 inch welded wire that bends out at a 90 degree angle onto the grass outside about a foot and is held in place with garden staples. This allows the grass to grow through and the lawn mower to go right over the top but keeps digging predators out. Because I am paranoid, I also installed chicken wire over the top of that but in all honesty that was more to keep baby chickens from escaping through the 2 x 4 wire. I also re-purposed an old dog carrier for a nest box for the ducks which is tucked just under the coop.<br />
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I should probably explain the elevated chicken ramp too. Although the ducks don't need as much protection from inclement weather they do need protection at night from predators. So once the chickens go in for the night I let the ducks into the run. However one of the ducks has learned that if she goes up the ramp into the coop she scores big time on chicken food. She is very good at teaching this to the rest of her friends and they have been seen leaving the scene of the crime with crops so full they can barely move or see their feet. Fortunately the man had the fore sight to install the ramp with a hinge. I now have a draw bridge.<br />
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For once I am ready for the foul weather animal wise. Good thing too since our first fall storm is suppose to be here this weekend with 4 inches of rain. This will be a good test. Will let you know how it goes. Have a great weekend.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/10/autumn-giveaway-clever-chicks-blog-hop-4.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">http://www.the-chicken-<wbr></wbr>chick.com/2012/10/autumn-<wbr></wbr>giveaway-clever-chicks-blog-<wbr></wbr>hop-4.htm</a><br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-41083389061179254432012-10-10T08:58:00.000-07:002012-10-10T09:15:38.111-07:00Remember This? Bathroom Remodel Update<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How about this?</td></tr>
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This is the ugly bathroom of my nightmares. This is the bathroom that almost made me put the kabosh on buying this house. This is the bathroom where the vanity top was not attached to the vanity, where you couldn't plug in and use the hair dryer the same time as someone upstairs was using an electrical appliance or when someone was using the micro wave in the kitchen without blowing the breaker and where the floor tile crackled underfoot because the prior owner installed it over the existing linoleum. This is the bathroom that had a constant smell of urine no matter what you did to it because (unknown to us) rats had climbed through a pretty large hole under the shower pan and gained access to the walls where they had families of little rats.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamm91SifPLwGw7fzkYGEmlgH9fjEnSR7Em3GUWIu3vEpeKgAKsMT_CnyDARDgDPlxiGCfLP0ZkAELitAGRCLrFfg_7U0BDEUHd6oxyQegOYhJ_7k23UEfHThpCmCiHDfuaCS7QoJbBsGV/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamm91SifPLwGw7fzkYGEmlgH9fjEnSR7Em3GUWIu3vEpeKgAKsMT_CnyDARDgDPlxiGCfLP0ZkAELitAGRCLrFfg_7U0BDEUHd6oxyQegOYhJ_7k23UEfHThpCmCiHDfuaCS7QoJbBsGV/s200/009.JPG" width="200" /></a>(Fortunately they were all exterminated before we bought the house but we still found 2 or 3 petrified bodies inside these lovely puce colored walls.) This is the steamy, nearly unventilated bathroom off the Master Bedroom where the closets were located and where I found mold growing on my suede belt when I was finally able to move our clothes into the beautiful new closet in the bedroom that my man built me for Christmas.<br />
THIS IS THE BATHROOM REMODEL WE STARTED IN JANUARY 2012!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNjc9E8Ah-v083HRhaWOF8r_nnNL30ODMwTknLo9gsKOfppypuIv2DJQVk6gL8f1gEyPR459v3D4gSrtsPfC_M0z4vNOzh-kiBpvcpnuMtFoF7pELusmiW5pM_tiSAFkXXsFXsMzDO9X2/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNjc9E8Ah-v083HRhaWOF8r_nnNL30ODMwTknLo9gsKOfppypuIv2DJQVk6gL8f1gEyPR459v3D4gSrtsPfC_M0z4vNOzh-kiBpvcpnuMtFoF7pELusmiW5pM_tiSAFkXXsFXsMzDO9X2/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a>Why is it taking so long? Well first, the man has a job with only Sundays and Tuesdays off. Second he has me, the person that can't make up her mind where she wants something and makes him rewire lights three times, once on a completely different wall and twice on the same wall because I decided on a different configuration. (My bad). Third, we are trying to put a lot into a small space and every inch has had to be measured and remeasured and redesigned to see if we could actually do it. Two inches to the left or right or in the wrong place could mean you couldn't get to the toilet or that the beautiful claw foot tub that I found wouldn't fit in the space that was once occupied by the horrid closet. Fourth, money. Enough said there. <br />
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So where are we now after 10 months. We are still not done, that's where. But we are closer. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I will shut up now and show you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Subway tiled shower with dual shower heads. Glass doors are on order.<br />
New toilet, vanity, floor and trimmed out window.<br />
Click on pic to enlarge. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9wleaAFjSCSLuEgq3x5MYBdhAcDDLej3ychgJfhxO-XnfPyq3RD7PtAptZ3RVP46UXLrWlGeYUCXyuqw8gbOxfKaLwU2s0kbkYI6Q_Y2Ki9OAeiCdEbM1ipGJa8QSx73YzF2k3UcGyb_/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9wleaAFjSCSLuEgq3x5MYBdhAcDDLej3ychgJfhxO-XnfPyq3RD7PtAptZ3RVP46UXLrWlGeYUCXyuqw8gbOxfKaLwU2s0kbkYI6Q_Y2Ki9OAeiCdEbM1ipGJa8QSx73YzF2k3UcGyb_/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of deco tile in shower. Love the leaf pattern.<br />
I always was an Autumn. Click to enlarge. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Rewired twice with lights finally installed. Who says I<br />
can't make a decision?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh-H3WtD8xGOI2E5tVPy-hBSQ35CD_6Aia4a04lAo1TT6z56F-vPtr28kL055JyVSsMf7XuYVXsWf9bNbOLU3JGQ-iTUJgTW_5sP6i2Ki2jldhGIB9jtGXaus4sOOncgXrPIstd69RH9P/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh-H3WtD8xGOI2E5tVPy-hBSQ35CD_6Aia4a04lAo1TT6z56F-vPtr28kL055JyVSsMf7XuYVXsWf9bNbOLU3JGQ-iTUJgTW_5sP6i2Ki2jldhGIB9jtGXaus4sOOncgXrPIstd69RH9P/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fell in love with these Hudson Valley lights. Two polished nickel<br />
restoration vintage sconces and matching 3 light vanity light. Got the sconces on sale but had to pay full freight for the vanity light.<br />
Spent more than the budget allowed but has been the one big splurge. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjZ2gg8RvipUn4or9l87Lm5XP3nhCjPWfH_cng06oZMZPdKUx_zg9YeeE_96eBrrbqlkp1TsPJ37zKqIPsLxWk5bxzvMmL3jF5rr610mQELVeRnAUek8OILtyslBgbfgzZ4IM5Bm9toGn/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjZ2gg8RvipUn4or9l87Lm5XP3nhCjPWfH_cng06oZMZPdKUx_zg9YeeE_96eBrrbqlkp1TsPJ37zKqIPsLxWk5bxzvMmL3jF5rr610mQELVeRnAUek8OILtyslBgbfgzZ4IM5Bm9toGn/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My free toilet! Notice the smooth easy to clean bottom! None<br />
of those curly pipe looking forms to catch the dirt and (gag) hair<br />
that accumulates on those forms. Bead board surrounds the room<br />
and will be trimmed out with 3 inch trim on top.</td></tr>
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Ok so the story here is that I bought this toilet online because I actually DID know what I wanted this time and Lowe's (big box store) had it. I took a ferry at 6 AM to go get it the next day and got home at 2 PM just in time for the man to install it before his eye appointment. Upon opening the box we discovered vital parts missing so being the <i>NICE</i> and <i>CALM</i> person that I am I called the store and demanded to talk to the manager. Then firmly told him how much <i>MONEY</i> he had just cost me because I had a <strike>PLUMBER</strike> trying to install a toilet without parts <u><b>AND</b></u> the ferry was going to cost me another $20 just to come get the parts <b><u>AND</u></b> I wanted them NOW!!! To his credit he offered to get the parts and have them at the store the next day <u>and</u> refund my money. OK! Deal! This definitely helps with the price of those beautiful Hudson Valley lights I bought at Lamps Plus.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you like this wood floor! Not! This is a vinyl floor<br />
that comes in strips that fit together kind of like tongue and<br />
groove but with a special glue. The tongue part has one kind <br />
and the groove has another so when you put them together <br />
the glues react to each other giving you a tight fit. This floor wasn't <br />
my first pick but it looks nice, feels good on your feet, was <br />
easy to install and it was very affordable. (gee those lights should <br />
be paid for by now) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFLyp93hl4MwqNgGITAzrUQE-ZXjr06LjypA4PPljexOTXossGkCLjLt-7hC4xDCEYw6dQ0b951XX5Anzx3fqqMQfyM9KhMIVftSb5_Bp_fttF9rHFW97-cbUe0fczPGUYKMslCUe9kdW/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFLyp93hl4MwqNgGITAzrUQE-ZXjr06LjypA4PPljexOTXossGkCLjLt-7hC4xDCEYw6dQ0b951XX5Anzx3fqqMQfyM9KhMIVftSb5_Bp_fttF9rHFW97-cbUe0fczPGUYKMslCUe9kdW/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We use to have a bathroom door with clear glass panes. <br />
Great for privacy. We now have a lovely pocket door that takes<br />
up no space. This is one of the ways we got a little more room in here.<br />
The walls are paneled in bead board and this wall will have <br />
wooden pegs for bathrobes and towels. </td></tr>
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We were going to put a granite counter top in but with a vinyl floor that seemed too weird besides it was $850 on sale for a remnant. I found a Formica brand of vinyl that looks like marble called 180fx and we really liked it. Plus an 8 ft piece cost $45 on sale at Home Depot. The man will install it. I think those lights are actually paid for and then some. Will show you the finished product hopefully before the holidays. I am currently working on stripping and painting the outside of that claw foot tub. Almost done! And my man is the most patient on earth.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-61064288403090428552012-10-07T10:53:00.001-07:002012-10-18T17:35:21.619-07:00Ready-ing up the Coop for Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7JZD2MJRM33lV7cOaK0ZtS-zla4lG-XwvkNyDSMdrXy2UairTQVkjsHi1J6yuNWyyBOlwCoae5HsrHtWBbjEdSTPDz52Yau3N-rIyZ_YpjAvDlgIr0Bh7o55cKdtIOtpY4YR86GS-L-s/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7JZD2MJRM33lV7cOaK0ZtS-zla4lG-XwvkNyDSMdrXy2UairTQVkjsHi1J6yuNWyyBOlwCoae5HsrHtWBbjEdSTPDz52Yau3N-rIyZ_YpjAvDlgIr0Bh7o55cKdtIOtpY4YR86GS-L-s/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrw5b1HviVclaTRceVaiJvZb4o-rBDgVVQVY7Anb_azldVN3ef-_oSJ0f0L5-WIu9UkqLTA9DY7T2_bbj7h_tMC1LMtBMbXo2hxRWefMkKonAVJMp9mazcQLE7Qta7xHkJ51pxBxQBsF8/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrw5b1HviVclaTRceVaiJvZb4o-rBDgVVQVY7Anb_azldVN3ef-_oSJ0f0L5-WIu9UkqLTA9DY7T2_bbj7h_tMC1LMtBMbXo2hxRWefMkKonAVJMp9mazcQLE7Qta7xHkJ51pxBxQBsF8/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a>Weather has been beautiful so far this fall. Apparently mother nature is trying to make it up to us for having no summer until late July. I was sure we wouldn't get tomato one and it's sort of true since we haven't had any normal size tomatoes get ripe. However the cherry tomatoes are taking over the kitchen and although it was time intensive I made salsa.<br />
Since it is October and this is the Pacific N.W. I am going to go pull the rest of the green and red-ish tomatoes tomorrow. I am ready to plant garlic in that spot and need the tomato plants gone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6kqdFekZFcrmZQn8aHcDFeUj9rTipmrmtEYBs4OjU_FOuBRPgiKr1fi8i0WbRUyG8KyGS7XNH3VyhRYDOU2CMQog6WCyL5I595WJnh7heqrZ4Lc4I0C0QRQQQ7YZyHo6ICzPD7JTdnJM/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6kqdFekZFcrmZQn8aHcDFeUj9rTipmrmtEYBs4OjU_FOuBRPgiKr1fi8i0WbRUyG8KyGS7XNH3VyhRYDOU2CMQog6WCyL5I595WJnh7heqrZ4Lc4I0C0QRQQQ7YZyHo6ICzPD7JTdnJM/s200/011.JPG" width="200" /></a>In the mean time I am getting the chicken coop ready for winter. First a very thorough cleaning is in order so today I took everything that wasn't fastened down (and a few things that were) out of the coop and cleaned every square foot. All bedding was removed, walls and wire dusted off, feathers removed, nest boxes cleaned out, and the whole inside white washed with a mix of hydrated lime and water an old fashion way to clean and beautify your coop. Ok maybe it isn't on the top of the list for interior decorating but it does disinfect and repel pesky bugs and I don't want another round of Northern Fowl Mites this winter. White washing<br />
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is an old farming idea that use to be used a lot. It is cheap and helps seal and clean surfaces and brightens up the inside of your coop by reflecting light into all the darkest corners. Around here in the winter light is a good thing. Last winter I used lime in the bedding to help keep it dry. I just mixed a little in every other day or so and gave the bedding a good stir. I will be doing that again this year since it was very helpful and didn't seem to harm any of the ladies.<br />
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To make a whitewash use hydrated lime only. Wear goggles, gloves, and a long sleeved shirt as this mix is caustic and can cause burns. Safety goggles are especially important because this stuff can burn the cornea of your eye if you happen to splash some and that is very easy to do. In a bucket mix water and hydrated lime together until it is just slightly thinner than paint. Use a cheap brush to apply it to the walls of the coop. I did not apply it to the nest boxes or the perches just in case it caused irritation to perching feet. This stuff does rub off onto clothes and hands kind of like chalk so just the walls were good for me. I also cleaned and re-organized the storage/hospital side of the coop. This is the side the Silkies use at night. It is separated by a wall and door between the two sides. I only white washed the table. The nest boxes are made of used melamine shelving that we had laying around and is a snap to keep clean.<br />
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A couple days ago I tackled the chicken run. Last winter, spring, and most of the summer this was a mud pit. Every hole and depression in the soil held standing water, a no no if you want healthy birds and the soil was so slick when it rained that you would slip and slide around the run like an ice rink. Every feather (and there were plenty from all the molting going on) was raked up and disposed of just in case there were any lingering mite eggs. Then I rototilled with my little cultivator. Perfect for this job. After raking the area smooth and<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWJb-P9otIbHnP9hIbVNg2AMxQLWZLQAjJB1sCX3uwa7CAE_4IeyIHkbcV1aGZ9tgtiKwy9cgKvKEU7Svw65CmWU_HW8-M_qVSZmMNbuJP3dTyqlhZMV0kT9WF__uqeYlvMt8CZztuath/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWJb-P9otIbHnP9hIbVNg2AMxQLWZLQAjJB1sCX3uwa7CAE_4IeyIHkbcV1aGZ9tgtiKwy9cgKvKEU7Svw65CmWU_HW8-M_qVSZmMNbuJP3dTyqlhZMV0kT9WF__uqeYlvMt8CZztuath/s200/013.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialj_5KizTXxkx_hxzeui9HRQGw_DLw6EJzQ11DS1qdPlfeweRz02s8eihPiPZkHbQa82_9l_YOc1bmUE48WPjBxGn8IW5CgD-AakLGGXfIk1nliIVFOF7kKTxjZntQ9CJSqKGDptC7lnG/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialj_5KizTXxkx_hxzeui9HRQGw_DLw6EJzQ11DS1qdPlfeweRz02s8eihPiPZkHbQa82_9l_YOc1bmUE48WPjBxGn8IW5CgD-AakLGGXfIk1nliIVFOF7kKTxjZntQ9CJSqKGDptC7lnG/s200/015.JPG" width="200" /></a>even, I shoveled and raked a yard of sand on to the top of the whole thing giving a 2 to 4 inch depth of sand on top. Not sure if this is something I want to leave or if I am going to lightly mix it into the top of the existing soil. The chickens don't really like to dig around in the sand since there are no bugs but it does seem to keep them from digging holes for dust bathing. I just wanted a little drainage and some grit to keep from falling on my butt in the mud.<br />
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In addition I have asked the man to build me a frame from treated 2x4's so I have a box that is 3 or 4 foot wide by 8 ft long. I will fasten 1/4 inch hardware cloth to the top, place it in a corner of the run and plant grass seed. As the grass grows up through the wire the chickens can eat it without digging up the roots. I will post pics when I get that done. If anyone out there has a suggestion I am all ears. Leave a comment. I really do appreciate any input.<br />
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<a href="http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/">http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-84396507503997665082012-10-01T00:09:00.001-07:002012-10-01T07:40:26.010-07:00Potato Experiment Update<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trench on left, tower on the right</td></tr>
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I just harvested the last two potato plots in the garden. Both were experiments of course because I just can't leave well enough alone. I had russet potatoes that never got into the ground until the first week of <u>July</u>. Even though I was waaaaay late and my other potatoes were well on their way I decided that I could let the russets rot then throw them away or just plant them and see what happened. I opted for the latter. TA DA! Another experiment is born. I built one more <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/potato-harvest.html" target="_blank">potato tower</a> and planted 5 potatoes in it. Two more than my normal 3 but what the heck. I had plenty. Then because I saw this on another blog I decided to build a <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/potato-harvest.html" target="_blank">potato trench</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trench-click to enlarge</td></tr>
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Here are the results. I slipped the chicken wire basket off the potato tower and quickly and easily ran my gloved hands through the soil. The potatoes were perfect! A little small but what do you want when you plant in July. This took me less than 5 minutes.<br />
Then I went into the garden to harvest the trench. The idea of the trench was to be able to pull the chicken wire lining the trench up and have the potatoes roll out of the soil. It wasn't that easy. The wire was hard to pull, cutting into my hands and the soil so heavy that I finally just dug out the excess soil in the trench until I found the potatoes. This took over half an hour and a lot of work and sweat. A couple potatoes had grown into the wire in spite of the straw lining. But the potatoes in general were just as beautiful and small as the potatoes in the tower.<br />
Potato tower 7 lbs. Potato trench 12 lbs.<br />
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Since the trench was about 6 feet long with approximately 15 to 18 potatoes planted in it I will say it was equal to three (2 ft diameter) potato towers in size. The total for both plots was 19 lbs of russets. Not a bad haul for planting them in July. However if you compare the two techniques the trench should have produced 21 lbs. (not 12) to be equal to the tower. Given the fact that the trench was so much more work and produced less I will continue using the towers. BTW. The russets are really good.<br />
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My other conclusion is even if you have missed the normal planting date for your potatoes plant them anyway. These are an easy, delicious, and calorie dense crop that anyone should be able to grow and the biggest bonus of all? No pesticides! Potatoes (along with celery and strawberries) are one of the dirtiest chemical laden food you can buy at the store. Do yourself a favor and limit your families exposure to them and grow your own lovely potatoes. <a href="http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/" target="_blank">http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/</a><br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-80900792379828554122012-09-26T01:35:00.001-07:002012-09-29T20:27:58.971-07:00A Winter Garden? Everyone Should Have One<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuAXX1t15DVdW8E2VyOtDbhlj3BFmaXLRMUbAcrtH2cUlI-f6g9oDeD7G688olC39Wk6TLqxPhaIl7s-NFJI8IpJjA1739Mc1DOn3wcqwry77rfuZN7V5KB6S7UGSAHCyQBZEAeCH2v2z/s1600/sue's+camera+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuAXX1t15DVdW8E2VyOtDbhlj3BFmaXLRMUbAcrtH2cUlI-f6g9oDeD7G688olC39Wk6TLqxPhaIl7s-NFJI8IpJjA1739Mc1DOn3wcqwry77rfuZN7V5KB6S7UGSAHCyQBZEAeCH2v2z/s200/sue's+camera+001.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last years Cheddar Cauliflower </td></tr>
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Ok. I know your tired. Fall and winter you are looking forward to a little down time and book time, holidays, etc. But if you happen to think about it you can get a fall garden started. It is just a little bit closer to being more prepared and self sufficient. I have chosen to put in some basics for the winter. Cauliflower, three different varieties of broccoli, beets, carrots, lettuce, and maybe some spinach. Although I think I am a little late for the spinach I will try it in my cold frame.<br />
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Here in the Northwest cool weather crops are the only thing that will grow with a little protection. I don't want anyone to think I am some expert because just about everything I do is an experiment but I have had some pretty good results. Last year I grew broccoli, brussel sprouts, and a variety of cauliflower called Cheddar that was to die for. I also grew a variety called snow crown with terrible results. I didn't know you had to "blanch" cauliflower or that there are self blanching varieties. I didn't even know what blanching was but I do know it doesn't mean using hot water. Apparently when cauliflower gets to be about baseball size you are suppose to wrap the leaves around it and hold it in place with something like string. This protects it from the sun and helps it turn white. Turning white was not a problem for me. Knowing when to harvest was. Harvest when the heads are about 6 inches in diameter otherwise they get a ricey look and are past their prime. Since I lost my cauliflower to hard frost I think perhaps this is a better reason to blanch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpxnJoZLtkzKOwvr_TQkEzJHiFTFZyQQ9iOYCHPCZGx2cxI_XjTqPI3x_AFsjx8RFpLdeQDKRv1EqbBQsydYY-Cawnh2nAyuuiuqY3KduuPuyqQ-Bi77L2eLXSZdigvlG9JcRW7WdQ5cB/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpxnJoZLtkzKOwvr_TQkEzJHiFTFZyQQ9iOYCHPCZGx2cxI_XjTqPI3x_AFsjx8RFpLdeQDKRv1EqbBQsydYY-Cawnh2nAyuuiuqY3KduuPuyqQ-Bi77L2eLXSZdigvlG9JcRW7WdQ5cB/s200/049.JPG" width="200" /></a>This year I put in some simple raised beds to make the job a little easier and to battle the constant crappy soil. I bought three pieces of 2 x8 x8 foot Douglas fir and cut one in half for the ends so the bed would be 4 ft. by 8ft. I didn't want to use treated lumber and cedar was just too darned expensive. So following the lead of my friend Cindy, I applied boiled Linseed oil to all surfaces and let it dry then had the man screw it<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beets in the foreground carrots in the back</td></tr>
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together for me with 2x2's in the corners. I filled, fertilized, and planted beets and carrots in it and did it in August. A little late for beets so I chose a fast maturing variety called Merlin (55 days) and another that I had in my seed file called Chioggia (65 days). Beets and carrots were direct sown into the first raised bed about mid August. Although I had doubts about the beets due to the late planting they are doing great. I planted thick enough that we have had two meals of beet greens. Not bad for a four foot square planting. During August in spite of my attention to watering, my beets would wilt slightly during mid day. Too much sun. So I placed a piece of 4 x 8 lattice on the west side of the raised bed held in place with three metal fence posts and plastic ties to hold the lattice to the post. Worked perfectly. No more wilting. My carrots need thinning but look great. The beets have formed little one inch beets already. The only thing I would do differently is not use so much compost. I can see the beet roots are going to be somewhat hairy.<br />
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Around here you need to plant your fall and winter gardens in late July and August to allow for adequate growth prior to the onset of fall. The difficulty comes with the fact that you are planting cool weather crops and it is still hot at that time of year. So it is very important to water, water, water. If you let broccoli and cauliflower dry out even once it will bolt instead of growing. Because I was building the rest of the raised beds at the time I needed to be planting them I opted to start the Cole plants in pots on my patio. My patio gets morning sun until about 1pm then it is in shade the rest of the day. A perfect place to start cooler weather plants. I also put the pots in flat pans so that the pots could sit in a 1/2 inch of water lessening the possibility of drying out when I forgot to water. When transplanting be very careful to not disturb the roots as this will cause a set back in growth.<br />
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I went ahead and put in two more raised beds that were 4x12. These I am using for the Cole crop and because I grew the plants in pots I had a ready made garden as soon as I was able to fill the bed with soil. This time I used a three way mix from the local soil company.<br />
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One of the things I don't like about Cole crops is the green caterpillars and aphids. The caterpillars are the larvae of the white cabbage moth or butterfly.<br />
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You will see them flitting around your garden looking for a spot to lay their eggs on your lovely broccoli. Brussel sprouts seem plagued with a grey aphid. Both are a real pain. The caterpillars can be controlled with a couple doses of BT but not only do I not relish the thought of eating that stuff no matter how harmless I also don't like paying for it. So I came up with this idea. As soon as I plant the broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts I cover them with nylon netting that I purchased at the fabric store last year. Not to be confused with tulle. It's cheaper than row covers or tulle and does the job. (Tulle also blocks more light than the nylon netting.) Not one greenie meanie. Last year when it got cold enough that the butterflies where no more I took the cover off. Unfortunately the grey aphid attacked the brussel sprouts when I did so this year I am leaving the cover on all winter. According to my companion planting book Cole crops do well with onions so I planted some bunching onion from seed between the broccoli and cauliflower in the hopes of getting green scallions for the winter. They are just starting to come up and are about 1-2 inches tall. Nice thing about planting in the fall is everything seems to germinate faster and better. The bad thing about my set up is the onions skinny little spikes want to grow up through the netting because it is just gently laying on top of the Cole crop. So I placed some hoops to hold the netting up off the soil. I sure don't want those onions to grow through that and have to either cut them out or rip them off. In general I am pretty happy with the job I have done so far. I will plant the cold frame with lettuce and spinach and then relax a little and just do some clean up and weeding and putting the rest of the garden to bed for the winter. The chickens and ducks will be invited in to the garden to clean out any lingering pests. Then I can get started cleaning and winterizing the coop. Guess I wont be relaxing after all. Hmmmmm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUA8MgEp3KXEu9NlPVJxg8-ijeMEUjjZua7lecXjGMWJDD1y_aCgNGnf9Tg2uRh3A5omqzR5fVc5r0iB3paZhuXUYQ2qqsYN2Okg4e1kMadh8qlhlN13_IKjDvaPkBf0nUUa7IhonJw91/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUA8MgEp3KXEu9NlPVJxg8-ijeMEUjjZua7lecXjGMWJDD1y_aCgNGnf9Tg2uRh3A5omqzR5fVc5r0iB3paZhuXUYQ2qqsYN2Okg4e1kMadh8qlhlN13_IKjDvaPkBf0nUUa7IhonJw91/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a>Sunday the oldest came home with her boyfriend to partake in a small family tradition. We celebrate the first day of fall with a family dinner. We had a pork roast on the rotisserie and a <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/autumn-haze.html" target="_blank">Caprese</a> salad, acorn squash baked with butter, brown sugar and a slice of bacon, <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/autumn-haze.html" target="_blank">Zucchini</a> and potato fries then topped it all off with home made pumpkin pie. We even had a little goat milk ice cream. All out of our garden and home made. (The goat milk was from a local farmer) Of course I forgot to take a picture so here is a picture of the table instead. Both of our girls start school the next day. First day at junior college for the youngest and first day as a junior at the University for the oldest. There are many things to celebrate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmpma-O9EVb22qcPB4gAnintGzGiLqF43l42xXU8IN6cgBfbhtMeIooTLUML1wrFjlmnAOJltHQP96TAV4x1zzIuXb9UcW1CWzLPSHNFZ__4sFwEbZLfA2FLyZX4W8xnQ2U83weM8U6AT/s1600/amywalker63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmpma-O9EVb22qcPB4gAnintGzGiLqF43l42xXU8IN6cgBfbhtMeIooTLUML1wrFjlmnAOJltHQP96TAV4x1zzIuXb9UcW1CWzLPSHNFZ__4sFwEbZLfA2FLyZX4W8xnQ2U83weM8U6AT/s1600/amywalker63.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2012/09/preparedness-challenge-39.html#comment-form">http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2012/09/preparedness-challenge-39.html#comment-form</a></td></tr>
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-5635601718821418292012-09-14T10:21:00.000-07:002012-09-17T13:55:19.080-07:00Potato Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGgKmVanMFziMRT1cf0_78UG1EAuHTlxVwB6u8yZ3HCbtCrAdzfTxQiTAai16_KAr5GjDmPAeLN0I_-5keSLeYREemkHt819FAy0lHjrRQWjs4bTXEjk3NVwLoEvmsloLaVlIVklUK9lo/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGgKmVanMFziMRT1cf0_78UG1EAuHTlxVwB6u8yZ3HCbtCrAdzfTxQiTAai16_KAr5GjDmPAeLN0I_-5keSLeYREemkHt819FAy0lHjrRQWjs4bTXEjk3NVwLoEvmsloLaVlIVklUK9lo/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscVLc5fsbdASMp_pNUogiFyLvxxkHIrkTwFQq8WA5sN3m8toEDmrj_ng_hRIgCd1cwHcFqlTC8nPwUcZZlvwmFrpCMRQzt1WGMUsuBP1p_iMg3vp_bgyq6EuSY0cEyn5QxHCU8kcFP_On/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscVLc5fsbdASMp_pNUogiFyLvxxkHIrkTwFQq8WA5sN3m8toEDmrj_ng_hRIgCd1cwHcFqlTC8nPwUcZZlvwmFrpCMRQzt1WGMUsuBP1p_iMg3vp_bgyq6EuSY0cEyn5QxHCU8kcFP_On/s200/017.JPG" width="200" /></a>Sorry it has taken me so long to post. I think I have several subjects simmering and waiting to be written about. I will get to it. Most of you remember how I made potato towers last year out of chicken wire lined with straw and filled with soil. (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=848608952056896420#editor/target=post;postID=7332141913121236331">see here</a>) This year I used the many paper grocery bags that I got from the grocery store as liners. They were a lot easier and quicker to put together. (cheaper than straw too) I planted 9 towers with three seed potatoes in the bottom of each one adding a liberal amount of bone meal (my dog Lucy was convinced I had buried bones and was very confused). I covered each with about 3 or 4 inches of soil and waited. When the plants started showing up I started adding more soil to each tower. I kept doing that until the towers were filled and I ran out of soil. I also placed a layer of straw mulch on the top of each tower when I was finished filling them. This allowed me to water less. Over watering potatoes can lead to rotting and I think less is more. I watered well when I first planted and then left them mostly alone watering only if and when they got dry. I think if the towers had been five feet tall those plants would have just kept growing. As it was each tower was about 18 inches to 2 feet high, the width of a grocery bag. Those potatoes grew so well that the spuds were poking out of the top of the soil. Needless to say we had several meals with those potatoes. It was fun to trek down to the garden just before starting dinner, put on a glove and shove my hand into that nice soft soil and yank out a big fat potato. Several dinner guest got a kick out of doing that too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8E1OUWJKX4dj_cdsU6CJI2fde86-QGKdTAcXn-C2xI6ZpFGKv1ug8LS-vnV31uIqhnCZ7n3fO8_pKdqTx7EcGn-4bErkS18jbWBExsIT0-D9T0VU6uKww1eWXfe6xD6jsp2tRDf18ND6/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8E1OUWJKX4dj_cdsU6CJI2fde86-QGKdTAcXn-C2xI6ZpFGKv1ug8LS-vnV31uIqhnCZ7n3fO8_pKdqTx7EcGn-4bErkS18jbWBExsIT0-D9T0VU6uKww1eWXfe6xD6jsp2tRDf18ND6/s200/009.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq5OkWpoCXcumWsm-vpjyAurPNNR4exYbm8A_8p6nO6_nBHnIS1dVQ7mKdUjH13fs0t72QPR8K0AOC31QO7qzuFkjN3al4lPa_f-ylyYriXr4ii0qf-27XytWC8l4UPAqYvUEKkoX0Khj/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq5OkWpoCXcumWsm-vpjyAurPNNR4exYbm8A_8p6nO6_nBHnIS1dVQ7mKdUjH13fs0t72QPR8K0AOC31QO7qzuFkjN3al4lPa_f-ylyYriXr4ii0qf-27XytWC8l4UPAqYvUEKkoX0Khj/s200/029.JPG" width="200" /></a>They were growing so well that I finally just had to bend the plants over and stick them inside the tower to get them to quit growing! This also shaded the potatoes that were trying to jump out of the soil. After leaving them for two weeks to age (this allows the skins to set and increases storage ability) my daughter and I harvested two banana boxes of them by simply lifting the wire up and letting everything fall to the ground where we could sift through it. Now this is a kid that doesn't like gardening but she kept saying "Oh! Potato!" every time she picked one up. Well almost every time. I had planted both red Chieftain and Yukon Gold. I don't have a scale so if I had to guess I would say we had about 30 lbs that we harvested and at least 15 more that we had already used. Not bad for an investment of less than 30 seed potatoes. Some had been saved from the previous year.<br />
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I have tried several methods to grow potatoes and so far this is my favorite. I think the fact that the towers are lined with paper or straw allows the plants to "breath". I have tried growing in buckets and garbage cans but this works the best so far. I save the chicken wire baskets from one year to the next so once they're made your good and they can be flattened for storage. The towers keep the chickens from scratching in the soil and this allows me to grow potatoes outside the garden fence extending the total growing area of the garden and killing the grass so that the next year I can extend the growing area without killing myself removing the turf. The deer so far have left the potatoes alone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potato trench. Click to enlarge</td></tr>
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I was very late planting the russets and they went in in July. I ended up making one russet tower outside the fence and the rest of the russets were planted in a trench inside the garden fence. That trench was line with chicken wire, a thin layer of straw, then potatoes were lined up in the trench on top of the straw and covered with soil and bone meal. I used the soil that had been dug out and placed on the sides to hill up as the plants grew. The idea is to be able to harvest the potatoes by pulling the wire up. We will see how that works. I was about 2 months late getting those in so they are still in the garden and the geese ate all the leaves off of the russet tower last week so who knows how that will be.<br />
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I use to think growing potatoes was a waste of time. After all they are usually relatively cheap at the store. I was wrong. There is no comparison. A fresh potato actually cracks like a fresh apple when you cut into it and the taste is amazing. Plus what else can you plant in the garden that can give you such a calorie dense return? Maybe carrots? Potatoes are fun to grow and add a lot to your self sufficiency. Next year I think I will try taller towers.<br />
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What I learned this year?<br />
1. Potatoes will not grow in wood chips even if they are full of chicken poo. I had been dumping the wood chips from the coop in the area that I was going to put towers to help kill the grass. I noticed that not one potato had rooted in the chips.<br />
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2. Towers allow the potato plants to breath. I think that garbage can trick is a myth.<br />
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3. Use bone meal. Apparently potatoes are a potassium rich vegi.<br />
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4. Don't over water!<br />
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5. Plant early.<br />
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6. There is no potato like a fresh potato.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-58609722972246674812012-08-07T10:03:00.000-07:002012-08-07T10:03:02.021-07:00An Old Texas Tale Retold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a quick note. As you have probably noticed I have been somewhat absent this summer. I have been really busy attempting to grow and preserve and stock pile for what I consider to be a threat to our food supply this next year. The drought in the rest of the country is already causing a lot of people to unload their animals including dogs and cats due to feed prices. Our cool and wet weather here is making it difficult to grow anything that requires sun. I am currently trying to get a fall and winter garden in and preserve anything I can get my hands on at a reasonable price.<br />
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In the mean time here is a good article on another threat to our environment, our freedom, and our well being all for the sake of a dollar to be made in China.<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/old-texas-tale-retold-farmer-vs-transcanada.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/old-texas-tale-retold-farmer-vs-transcanada.html</a><br />
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This is a family being threaten with the loss of their farm to an oil company. They are planning to condemn and take the property and the oil that will be transported through this pipeline is some of the dirtiest. Refining it and burning it will only add to the environmental problems we are already experiencing. They make the buck. We get to pay the clean up and donate our lands. This family needs all the support they can get. They are fighting a fight that should concern all of us and they are brave people. Here is a quote from the women leading the fight for her family.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">“We may lose the case. Hell, we’ll probably lose,” she said. “But I played basketball for A&M. I was raised to compete. It doesn’t matter if you’re going to get your teeth kicked in. You go out there and fight.”</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">If after reading the article and you feel you want to help go here. I know it's hard to come up with five bucks here and there and I don't usually promote this sort of thing but if everyone gave a few maybe just maybe she could make a difference. </span><br />
<a href="https://sumofus.org/campaigns/stand-with-julia/?akid=701.151238.nB-kIq&rd=1&sub-taf+=&t=5">https://sumofus.org/campaigns/stand-with-julia/?akid=701.151238.nB-kIq&rd=1&sub-taf+=&t=5</a>
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-13701240323603342502012-07-28T10:22:00.000-07:002012-07-28T10:22:52.284-07:00Summer in the Northwest (I've been busy)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think this is going to be photo heavy. We have been canning, preserving, and gardening. My youngest and I canned Bing cherries yesterday. She pulled the stems and sorted while I washed them, filled jars, and processed. We did 14 quarts and froze the rest (9 lbs frozen?) A total of 36 lbs. Oh ya. I made a pie too. I think I prefer pie cherries for that but the family liked it.<br />
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Sugar snap peas have been abundant and long lasting this year due to our cooler and wetter conditions. We have eaten them until everyone is complaining, sold some, froze 20lbs, and given some away to family.<br />
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Potatoes are going great guns. The reds are popping out of the top of the soil and many of them are huge. The vines are still going so I don't feel like I can quite harvest them yet but I have pulled a few here and there for a couple meals. They are great. I am a little concerned that with all the rain they may not store well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were great roasted with garlic</td></tr>
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Beans are coming along and I have high hopes for them. Tomatoes not so much. Maybe some green tomato relish. I haven't got but one ripe tomato this year. Just too cold. I'm glad I didn't plant corn.<br />
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Last year I submitted a photo of one of our baby ducks fresh out of the shipping box to the dept. of Ag for a photo contest. <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html">see it here</a> It was placed on the first inside page so this year I submitted four more photos. Let me know what you think.<br />
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<br />sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-45474796294448576082012-07-07T09:47:00.001-07:002012-07-07T09:47:58.072-07:00Homestead Revival: Sizzling Summer Round Up: Timber Press!<a href="http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2012/07/sizzling-summer-round-up-timber-press.html#comment-form">Homestead Revival: Sizzling Summer Round Up: Timber Press!</a><br />
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Here is a terrific blog. I have found infomation, contest, and other blogs through this one. Take a look.sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-6098341630682783942012-07-04T23:14:00.000-07:002012-07-04T23:14:32.443-07:00Strawberries, Canning, Gardening, Ducks, the Milk Man and a Berkey!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82y2inZm_twAS_Qwxk4OvGWMq6uWR9N2JW9ilYZUG2pKh_YJ4BgO-t1P3qv1qK1Y8a4rYWSyyc8ZaUeMg-iOyhGQx6QFAZt0KnCNxuJWXUJ_V1QikBjWVfrw9JDWhS1qkhlnNqn0AZ3Mo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82y2inZm_twAS_Qwxk4OvGWMq6uWR9N2JW9ilYZUG2pKh_YJ4BgO-t1P3qv1qK1Y8a4rYWSyyc8ZaUeMg-iOyhGQx6QFAZt0KnCNxuJWXUJ_V1QikBjWVfrw9JDWhS1qkhlnNqn0AZ3Mo/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
When I was a kid we had a milk man. It was normal to have milk delivered to your doorstep and put in a little insulated box every week. As a kid I never gave it a second thought. The Smith Brothers Dairy was just a few miles from our house. When I became a teen some of Smith Brothers Farm was bought and a really big shopping mall was built on some of the best and richest farmland in the valley. We stopped getting milk on the porch and the dairy moved several miles further south in the valley. As an adult I moved in the same direction only up on the hill above the valley and I still didn't have milk delivery. The store was so close. Now I live several miles north and west on an island and guess what I just discovered I can do? Ya! Milk delivery! Half and half and buttermilk and anything else I might want. And who have I chosen to get milk from? You guessed it. The same dairy I grew up with. And why? Because I am tired of wasting my money on dead ultra pasteurized milk.<br />
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I'm also tired of lugging home that yummy milk in the cute heavy glass bottles that cost twice as much and that requires a deposit. Then you have to remember to return the bottles. Not to mention the occasional broken 1/2 gallon of milk in the bottom of the grocery bag and the fact that the nutritional value of milk is depleted when it is exposed to light. Smith Brothers delivers for nearly the same as the grocery store charges, delivers in cartons that are made of recycled material and the milk is fresh and NOT ultra pasteurized. This means I can actually make cheese out of it too! Haven't tried it yet but I am about to. I will let you know how it works.<br />
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Strawberry season is finally here. In a good year the season would have started the last week in May. A normal season starts sometime in the first 2 weeks in June and only last a couple of weeks maybe three. I know this because it was always so easy for me to miss it. The last few years strawberry season has been extremely late due to wetter and cooler than normal weather and has actually been overlapping raspberry season. Around here we have a saying that summer doesn't start until the 5th of July. I never minded that it was wet for the 4th. I figured it just cut down on fire hazards. But this berry thing is getting a little hard to manage. I need the time between strawberries and raspberries to get another pay check. Not to mention Bing cherry season is in full swing. I can a lot of cherries. It is very handy to open a quart of cherries and put them on the table with dinner in the dark of winter when you need to round out a meal. At any rate<br />
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Notice the picture of my jam to the right? In the background is a gift from my man. Recognize it? Ya! A Berkey water filter! I have been complaining about the taste of our water since we moved here. For the first time in years we are on city water and it is very chlorinated. It taste awful and sometimes it taste like dirt. Nothing like the clean fresh tasting water we use to get from our well. Even our finicky cat hates the taste. I have also not been too keen on having to rely on the water company in the event of some catastrophe to provide clean potable water. With the Berkey we can filter the pond water if we have to. This could come in handy since the Cascade earthquake fault runs right in front of our four acres. In the mean time I'm going to drink water that resembles the good stuff we are use to.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOdDIURKuuHCKDNCHd1ubC63n9npKEd1gJtNtKsd26mrd0OZkavdOpVdoQa2qPJf1vlOERpo9IS-cVPDh69Obl_g3LIqBJWnCd3JcV8GW0A7JZSE-slWm-kHM1nZ9iW9Rkssi6mHNqOmI/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOdDIURKuuHCKDNCHd1ubC63n9npKEd1gJtNtKsd26mrd0OZkavdOpVdoQa2qPJf1vlOERpo9IS-cVPDh69Obl_g3LIqBJWnCd3JcV8GW0A7JZSE-slWm-kHM1nZ9iW9Rkssi6mHNqOmI/s200/011.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The garden is finally almost under control. (if that is possible) I will be harvesting sugar snap peas this week and from the look of it we should have a bumper crop. The tomatoes have some size to them and I was smart enough this year to space them far enough apart to have room to grow. I did get the out of control section of garden weeded and the squash, pumpkin and zucchini plants all put in. I bought those as starts so<br />
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I'm on to planning a winter garden. I am hoping to convince the man to help me with a small hoop house/row cover to plant broccoli, cauliflower, beets and other fall crops.<br />
The geese and ducks are all doing well and seem to have got past what ever was making them <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2012/06/botulism-poisoning-in-waterfowl.html">sick</a>. I still don't know what it was for sure that was doing it and I still can't help but look out the windows and count heads every hour or so. That is my update. Now I am going to try to switch to the updated blogger interface so if I disappear you will know what happened. Blogger ate me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-26279912026405600612012-06-22T00:05:00.000-07:002012-06-22T00:05:35.485-07:00Botulism Poisoning in Waterfowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ8qd6h8nJQBaf1EQ9n8j0AjfTQFaFsSWzy5ZT0Ow0MYW9GWhcrTHxI9hfvHoJ9fmJcDB8039s2I8TD5AC95OnBIFu80x-NR66n3oaAOBUx0v9WpYVZ5LO7iyjVy5TgaHou6Hb0B-vIR7/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ8qd6h8nJQBaf1EQ9n8j0AjfTQFaFsSWzy5ZT0Ow0MYW9GWhcrTHxI9hfvHoJ9fmJcDB8039s2I8TD5AC95OnBIFu80x-NR66n3oaAOBUx0v9WpYVZ5LO7iyjVy5TgaHou6Hb0B-vIR7/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have been accused of being too attentive to the animals entrusted to my care. I will admit that I am not one of those people that acquire animals just to corral them behind a fence and forget about them, letting them fend for themselves. You can learn a lot about animals if you take the time to observe them on a continuous basis. You can even learn their "language". For instance I know when there is something threatening in the yard by the noise my little 1 1/2 pound bantam rooster makes. Certain noises from him send me to the window or out the door to check. It is the reason I have him. He may be small but he does all the rooster things that the big boys do including defending the girls.<a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/harbinger-of-spring.html">see story here</a> I know when one of the hens has been cornered by one or both of the ganders after trespassing on their territory by the kind of racket the geese make. It is different from the other vocalizations they make and I have had to rescue more than one chicken who has had the misfortune of getting on their bad side. Ducks on the other hand don't have as many vocalizations as geese and chickens so I have to depend on knowing visually if something is amiss. This I have learned the hard way.<br />
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This year I decided to increased my duck flock so that I could meet the demand for duck eggs. After raising 9 ducklings and finding homes for 4 drakes I have ended up with a total of 8 ducks. Three of them are my original girls that I got last year and the other five are new and about 3 months old. Starting about 10 days ago my young ducks started getting sick one at a time. The first time, I had stuck my head out the door to check up on everyone which always brings them running. One of my Rouen ducks was missing and he was never separated from the flock so I went looking. I found him floating on the pond barely able to move and just minutes from drowning. He was unable to lift his head out of the water and he was paddling feebly with one foot. I quickly grabbed a leaf rake and placing it under him pulled him to the edge of the pond where I could lift him out. (I was ready to go in after him if it had been necessary.) Since I had already been through this <a href="http://welcometothehenhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/small-miracles.html">last year</a> I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong with him. So into the house grabbing the "pet" towels as I went, I placed him on the kitchen island and started giving him Epsom salts water with an eye dropper. (2 Tbs. dissolved in a cup of water). You wont use all of it but this is a good amount to make. By early next morning he was recovered and ready to go out with his friends.<br />
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Now about this time you are probably wondering how I have so much time to baby sit my birds. I probably wouldn't have noticed this ducks absence if it hadn't been for an incident a few days earlier. A coyote had crept onto our property and after attempting to snatch one chicken and getting only a mouthful of feathers it successfully snagged another one on its way out. Lucy the WBG<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy,WBG (like Phd. for dogs)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>(wanna be guardian) dog was in the house and barking like crazy and since it was one of those rare times that I decided to attempt taking a power nap it took me about 30 seconds to get up and see what she was going nuts about. By the time I made it out the door all we found were two piles of two different colored feathers, a slightly injured and terrified chicken hiding in a bush and a dying flapping chicken at the edge of the woods where the coyote had dropped it. I didn't see the coyote but a predatory bird does not try to snatch two chickens at the same time. I am really glad Lucy wasn't outside. I really didn't need her tangling with a wild dog. But then again maybe it wouldn't have happened if she had been there. So yes, when I found the duck I was being especially attentive to what was going on in my yard. <br />
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Botulism poisoning seems to be fast acting. Especially if you don't recognize the early signs. Often by the time you notice something is amiss it is too late to save them and if your duck or goose happens to be swimming when symptoms begin they will drown. The earlier you get to them the better your chances of saving them. That said here is a list of symptoms listed in order.<br />
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The bird starts moving slower and starts separating itself from the rest of the flock. You will question weather or not you are seeing something off in your bird.<br />
They seem to not be able to see you when you approach them.<br />
They will take a few steps then sit down.<br />
They become unable to walk or walk like they are drunk.<br />
When they sit you will notice their head starting to waver around like they are drunk. This gets much more pronounced as symptoms progress.<br />
Eventually they are unable to raise their head progressing to laying flat with legs out behind.<br />
Twitching and convulsing.<br />
Inability to swallow.<br />
Death.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convulsing duck throws its head around. </td></tr>
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I have become quite expert at seeing the early symptoms because in the last week I have had 5 ducks affected and lost one. The last time I had two ducks showing symptoms at the same time and it is because I was working out in the yard that I noticed something just a little off. The sooner you get to them the faster they recover and it is much easier to get them to take the Epsom salts water. In fact they seem to actually want it and will drink out of a bowl if you find them at the very early stage. However you will need to direct their bills into the water because they don't seem to be able to see it. My last two ducks took two hours for the one that was only showing signs of blindness to 8 hours for the other one that<br />
was beginning to stagger.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paralyzed flat duck</td></tr>
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I have no idea what it is in my yard that is causing this but for now my ducks are going to stay locked up in their pasture with only an occasional supervised walk to go play in the pond. Botulism poisoning is usually caused by ingesting rotting or spoiled things such as dead animals or produce. I don't have either on my property but I have noticed an abundance of mushrooms and toadstools lately. Probably brought on by the rain we are having. The duck that got sick last year got sick at the same time almost to the day as these and it only seems to be the young ducks that are affected. Maybe they don't know enough to not eat the mushrooms. So far this week we have had no sick ducks for about 4 days and counting. Either they have learned not to eat the bad stuff or locking them in is keeping them safe. It is sad to watch them stand at the fence gazing longingly at the pond. Especially since the geese and the older ducks get to go play in it. I will let them out again when I feel comfortable doing so. I will also be watching them like a hawk.sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-72483969722702755522012-06-15T08:09:00.000-07:002012-06-15T08:09:00.690-07:00Junuary (No This is Not a Misprint)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFe0UY_hVdbRawOUGn9wfKX4q3bOQiBqXVA8jnevR3AjZltWmTaS26Z51AvacVLkzmiSvHosSLsgxXg37QAHKQrnMhhWa47l0yfIGv3p3YUWi3Ew6jJEqz-UsqMlcZmlbW8QY0gkXK3Ayt/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFe0UY_hVdbRawOUGn9wfKX4q3bOQiBqXVA8jnevR3AjZltWmTaS26Z51AvacVLkzmiSvHosSLsgxXg37QAHKQrnMhhWa47l0yfIGv3p3YUWi3Ew6jJEqz-UsqMlcZmlbW8QY0gkXK3Ayt/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Once again I wake up to the sound of rain. I ask myself why I live here on days like this. It's June and the beginning of strawberry season and I was hoping to be able to pick a few flats at a local farm to put by for the winter. Every year it rains on the strawberries and every year it seems you hear a story or two about strawberry farmers worried about their crops rotting before they can harvest. I put my rain coat on and grudgingly pull the hood up as I trudge out the door to do morning animal chores. Lucy, my golden retriever and Want a Be guardian dog, faithfully follows in my footsteps until we clear the porch then runs along the property line of my farm yard barking and searching for the interlopers that she is sure are lurking in the bushes around the perimeter of her kingdom. Most of the chickens are huddled outside their coop under the small roof covering one corner of their fenced run, the ducks happily play in the slick combination of mud and pools of water covering the rest of the run. I am always happy that I had the fore thought to provide the chickens with that dry corner on days like today and always kick myself for not making it larger. I enter the coop and turn on the overhead light for the hens to help make up for the dreary day and open the door to the other half of the coop giving the girls access to more nesting boxes and dry room to roam among the stored feed and equipment. Outside again I empty and refill water containers in the adjoining fenced pasture and prepare to let the ducks out of the chicken run where I had tucked them in the night before to sleep in relative safety. Standing there in the quiet of the morning it occurs to me that the rain sounds like a river or creek tumbling over the leaves of the trees like a stream rushing over smooth rocks. I look up into the dripping canopy of green surrounding our property and marvel at the different shades of green mother nature has provided on this small acreage. This is the norm for this time of year in this part of the country. I look across the property to the garden fenced with the best fencing the man could get to keep the deer out and I fret about the fact that I don't have the beans planted yet. It's still a little cool and I don't want them to just rot in the ground. The bean patch has been weeded and tilled for two weeks waiting for the soil to warm. Perhaps I will install the bean trellises today in anticipation of a warming trend. Pumpkins and cucumbers also need to be planted and in this area that means buying started plants from a nursery. We have talked about building a green house and weighed the pros and cons of the expense. I guess the $10 or $20 that I spend on started plants every year always out weighs the green house expense but oh how wonderful it would be to spend a rainy afternoon tucked away in the warmth potting up seeds and cuttings and maybe fussing with a few tomato plants. We don't intend to stay on this property so putting in a green house means leaving it for the next owner. The house will be too big when the girls go off to school and we want to build something smaller and more efficient. The man loves to fuss with technical stuff and wants to install solar and wind power on<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5FvsdZnv-9luN8S0-pDcPkdAW1r1CKX_8F0j1oYx_Y0a5vn5h8Tfu2ugcAcR_rWbDoUkbRHtvY0n71MywHz1wDBgWhemx4zxUgXISf6soqdIv9a9G_fYLPnxxj9LJkMkOZE8SCYI5Zl1/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5FvsdZnv-9luN8S0-pDcPkdAW1r1CKX_8F0j1oYx_Y0a5vn5h8Tfu2ugcAcR_rWbDoUkbRHtvY0n71MywHz1wDBgWhemx4zxUgXISf6soqdIv9a9G_fYLPnxxj9LJkMkOZE8SCYI5Zl1/s200/042.JPG" width="200" /></a>our fantasy property. He dreams of finding a piece of property with a stream or small river so he can build a small hydroelectric plant. Property that includes a river or stream can be expensive so that may just be part of the dream that we have to give up. Standing in the rain and watching the seasonal stream running through our property, a ditch really, I imagine a picturesque farm with a mill wheel turning in a pond with cool dark pools of water deep enough to hide huge trout. It's a far cry from what I am looking at but the sound of the rain helps with the fantasy.<br />
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I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and I know there is no place more beautiful. Summers here are warm but not agonizingly so. We are surrounded by snow capped mountains painted against a backdrop of azure blue sky and accented with mounds of cottony white clouds and the sea is but a short walk or ride away. Winters are mild and what snow we get doesn't usually last<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEift0hWZIi7Qhi_cw2B_m2p98iazH4W6VBByHam1hwu8v_RJvH0J226-SpHFyVfpqFokGKBbLAAArrbydayPMWgwUrL5Gw5lXihB-NdgWotPDoNOrFkLl4ejXihQGRHKzp4nmFO-jTUzfpc/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEift0hWZIi7Qhi_cw2B_m2p98iazH4W6VBByHam1hwu8v_RJvH0J226-SpHFyVfpqFokGKBbLAAArrbydayPMWgwUrL5Gw5lXihB-NdgWotPDoNOrFkLl4ejXihQGRHKzp4nmFO-jTUzfpc/s200/054.JPG" width="200" /></a>long. Spring is filled with blooming fruit trees accented with tulips and daffodils....and rain. My favorite season is fall. I love the harvest and the leaves turning brilliant colors against a backdrop of sky and low slung sun. Everything has a golden glow and a peace that only comes at the end of a hectic summer.<br />
Chores finished I turn my steps and thoughts to the house.Waiting for me inside is a hot cup of coffee, the first of the day. I will make a list of things to do inside today. Bake bread, clean the forever dirty "mud room" do a load or two of laundry. All the things families need on an ongoing basis. Today I will also expand on a homesteading skill or learn a new one.<br />
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After all. Rain was invented so gardeners could do house work.sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-81746467581281205922012-06-08T20:45:00.000-07:002012-06-08T20:45:36.407-07:00My Buddy, My Pal.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK5UGK6K1XhQFFfQm2BOxgEw77pNKB3rKCpFaoS99o2S-Aw-d0fFXvqqeoc_hD8K7ymzA_LUXeXkADpl2gFBScZv4sFQwlDwU0z3nkS3Dpm2v9f-CXPuhCO6ww1ICP0ByZBqSELUy5F7B/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK5UGK6K1XhQFFfQm2BOxgEw77pNKB3rKCpFaoS99o2S-Aw-d0fFXvqqeoc_hD8K7ymzA_LUXeXkADpl2gFBScZv4sFQwlDwU0z3nkS3Dpm2v9f-CXPuhCO6ww1ICP0ByZBqSELUy5F7B/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I have had one or two pictures of one of my best buddies on this blog but never really introduced her. This is Lucy. I got her when she was just a pup and she is now 10 this spring. Some times she is a royal pain but for the most part she is one of the best dogs, friend, and helper I have ever had. She wasn't always that way and in fact when she was about a year old I was seriously thinking of getting rid of her. She chased the chickens, chased the kids and nipped them, harassed the goats, peed on the carpet and would take off to see her "boy friend" Booker or her other human friend, Felix, down the road when I let her out the front door. I would get the phone call that she was visiting and they would bring her back in an hour or so. Today she is a watch dog that lets me know when someone has driven on the property, or when there is a bird fight or fright in the yard. She chases the hawks and breaks up squabbles between the geese and the chickens and keeps a watch on the whole yard. In case you didn't notice Lucy is getting a little white around the eyes and muzzle.<br />
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She is 10 years old this spring and I can't help but wonder what I am going to do without her someday. In fact thinking about it is something I can't do for very long. I have thought about getting another dog so she would have a buddy or maybe teach it to do what she does but I just can't go there. She is the princess and that's all there is to it.<br />
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I will end this post with a stranger than fiction item. Name this thing. I told the kids it was a chicken ovary.<br />
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</div>sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-23568471058182496732012-05-31T09:59:00.000-07:002012-05-31T09:59:04.469-07:00Another Example of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXtvF2czdmlC3NtMlzeiVurNNNrHVt1ZlZZ-V5nGokf56AeWk6MM-ogtxzLA3cnyOLShxSXHPt3zIKvV7oQvqfid4md8DrwGjj6b2NtrCpkm3DsgCnqJa0t6oCMy5ru1J1RWKkml-WNh8/s1600/DMFERRY22_800px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXtvF2czdmlC3NtMlzeiVurNNNrHVt1ZlZZ-V5nGokf56AeWk6MM-ogtxzLA3cnyOLShxSXHPt3zIKvV7oQvqfid4md8DrwGjj6b2NtrCpkm3DsgCnqJa0t6oCMy5ru1J1RWKkml-WNh8/s320/DMFERRY22_800px.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />
Remember Ferry Morse Seed Company? Well remember well because that is all it is going to be is a distant reminder. <a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/home/ticker/Area-seed-company-sends-hundreds-home-after-sale-to-out-of-state-corporation-152115545.html">Ferry Morse Sold</a> It has been gobbled up by the same company that gobbled Plantation Products. They are both now owned by an investment corporation called <a href="http://boston.citybizlist.com/7/2011/2/17/C.W.-DOWNER--CO.-ADVISES-PLANTATION-PRODUCTS-ON-SALE.aspx">RFE Investments</a>. Although I can't say they were a great company that only uses organic non-GMO seed they have been around for decades and the people that worked for them got booted in a very inhumane way. (Plus their seed packets were beautiful enough for framing.)<br />
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So I am asking my readers to pass this information on. I am passing it on from the Never Done Farm blog with added information. Check out the links in this post.<br />
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I am also passing on this interesting link to you. <a href="http://www.garden-of-eatin.com/how-to-avoid-monsanto/">http://www.garden-of-eatin.com/how-to-avoid-monsanto/</a>sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848608952056896420.post-73497655828666612072012-05-28T13:00:00.000-07:002012-05-28T13:00:31.906-07:00Say Cheese! (a book review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzD6gBdSNrNhyphenhyphenvpdg12ZhLoEf4Foj5-P7zYdJC-NQ2-VJSVpSKMeeNuMGM8ZQ6hnvQUftQBcCjI8Q4goTupuuovxQqqBQZwbS66UjAV3AZ1XByO4-K0NxJcI05CJvlonQY4zD779fMvsi/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzD6gBdSNrNhyphenhyphenvpdg12ZhLoEf4Foj5-P7zYdJC-NQ2-VJSVpSKMeeNuMGM8ZQ6hnvQUftQBcCjI8Q4goTupuuovxQqqBQZwbS66UjAV3AZ1XByO4-K0NxJcI05CJvlonQY4zD779fMvsi/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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First off I noticed that Blogger is going to force us all to use the new interface. I hate change. Guess you could say I would be one of the species on this earth that would disappear because I refuse to change to meet the new environment but Blogger is a pain and just when you get it set up they change it. ARRRRGGGGG!<br />
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Second I am on a roll in the garden so my post are going to be even fewer and farther between. Between that and changing my blogger I could disappear completely. However since I have to change the interface I may take the opportunity to change the look of the whole blog. That said here is my new post.<br />
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I have been making mozzarella cheese for about a year now and decided it was time to branch out so I bought this book featured at Mother Earth News. I was so excited! It had 3 recipes for mozzarella which I thought would be a good place to start because the recipe that I had been making didn't really taste the way I thought it should and was not as soft as the store bought variety. I found a cheese supply store and bought some supplies and started in. I made the first mozzarella. It was just ok and very similar to what I had already done which works great on pizza but I wanted the kind you can layer with tomatoes and basil leaves so on to the next. Same results. More work. The third recipe took me about 4 hours, was difficult to follow and turned out worse than the first two. At that point I just put the book away and gave up for awhile.<br />
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Now because I use to raise Kinder goats I have always been on Hoegger Supply's email and blog list. Just so happens they sent me a link to a couple videos that I watched on making cheese. They are trying to sell a cheese making book by Mary Jane Toth and because I already had a cheese book I resisted thinking one book is as good as another and Mother Earth had recommended the one I have. Well to make a long story short I watched the video on making sour cream. I am now a convert. This granny looking lady doesn't mess around with fancy equipment and starters. She just does it. The sour cream couldn't have been any easier so I am going to get the book. Her recipe was 3 Tablespoons of cultured buttermilk in a pint jar of cream or half and half, put a lid on it and shake. Set on the kitchen counter for 24 hours. VOILA! The best sour cream ever!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRdO3J1q1tEU27mX3t9VlW8Bu02iecrzODSb2mUypEwMOAp0TnFMvUvar9gOTzSNOWzo-oy-ZS9THyd-MH08DkUA59j7Z_e5ZyGQzyakDBj_Vl3c4lmE5R7Aqc_MJFyc2af542vbPjZ_U/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRdO3J1q1tEU27mX3t9VlW8Bu02iecrzODSb2mUypEwMOAp0TnFMvUvar9gOTzSNOWzo-oy-ZS9THyd-MH08DkUA59j7Z_e5ZyGQzyakDBj_Vl3c4lmE5R7Aqc_MJFyc2af542vbPjZ_U/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I immediately ran out and got some strawberries and then made baked potatoes for dinner. Yummm!<br />
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I compared this to the recipe in my book. The recipe wanted you to go buy a direct set sour cream starter, heat the cream to 86 degrees, add the starter, and let set undisturbed for 12 hours. Now I have two gripes with this. First I have to go buy the starter ($$$) heat the cream (work, time, and dish washing) and the recipe doesn't even say whether you should stir the starter in or let it float. My biggest gripe is while making the cheese I found the directions to be unclear.<br />
<a href="http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/the-farmyard/cheese-making/">http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/the-farmyard/cheese-making/</a> So if you are looking for a book on making dairy products try A Cheese Makers Journey first, or better yet try the videos. They are free and there are quite a few of them. Here is another link with some recipes. Looks like it is older and it is from Countryside magazine. <a href="http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/83/83-3/Mary_Jane_Toth.html">http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/83/83-3/Mary_Jane_Toth.html</a><br />
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So here are some pics from making that cheese recipe from Home Cheese Making.<br />
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Looks good doesn't it? My oldest daughter ate some of this and politely told me it was yummy but it wasn't.<br />
If anyone has experience with this book Home Cheese Making by Ricki Carroll, give me a shout. I would like to know your opinion.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568280906820691641noreply@blogger.com1