Just Plain Country Living

I'M BACK!! The Truth Is .....

2011-11-28T18:08:00.009-06:00

.....since I have to be home for the next 3 (THREE!!!!!) months... mending from knee surgery, I have been looking for some Guinea Hens. Something to make some noise around here.... just too quiet, and I can't stand tv hardly at all .....

I need something ALIVE ........

something that MOVES ..........

( besides Izzy ..... shes quiet )

I had the chickens before, all pretty colors of them, till they got et by the possum. (well ........ now I just have to plug the hole in the chicken fence....)

And those guineas are like watch-dogs and will make lots of noise if someone comes around. Which, no one ..... hardly ...... does...... just sayin'....

AND, just to make them worth their keep ..........they eat TICKS!

So what do ya say??? You know me by now.... I like to have an alternate plan, just to cover my BE-hind..... never know what the gas prices are going to be.... or if Social Security will take a dive...... Yep, alternate plans are good ones. Besides it helps keep me from being down in the dumps because I can't go to Arizona right now. BOO-HOO

So Many Changes ......

2011-09-14T21:58:00.010-05:00

I didn't intend this to be happening ..... it just is. My life ...... is changing. After years, and more years of heading in the same direction ......

Doing this home-made, and homegrown ...... home-business ....... homesteading...... Doing as much as we could for ourselves, and trying to help others who wanted to learn to do the same.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now that there is only myself ...... to cook from scratch for ..... to grow a garden for ..... to can for ..... to bake bread for ..... to make cheese for ..... to raise my own meat for,

It just doesn't seem as important ..... or needful ......not even wise ........ to expend all that energy and time for the little bit I use. I have found that too much food goes to waste ...... so I need to change my way of producing, cooking, shopping, and storing. Is it wise to keep a flock of chickens for eggs? .... or a couple dairy goats for milk? ....or some rabbits for meat?

What would I do with more than one tomato, squash, or cucumber plant? ...... or one row of beans , peas, or corn?

How long does it take me to use one jar of apple butter, when I don't always eat a slice of bread every day?

Is it even worth my effort of making my own laundry soap, when I have only 2 loads of laundry most weeks?

So I can see my "just plain country" way of life is taking a new twist of its own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hence, my new blog, "Changing Lanes ....." It will cover my newly-found station in life, pursuits I have had in the recesses of my mind for years ..... thoughts on how widowhood has changed my life ....... and the struggles that go along with it all.

I have enjoyed writing this blog, but as my hubby always reminded me, the only thing constant in life is change. And so I must learn to embrace it .... thankful for each new day. I hope that many of you will follow along with me as I grope my way along this new road. Otherwise I will miss each of you who have been such an important part of my blogging life.

Sincerely,

Sunny

Knitting - Not just for Winter time

2011-07-15T12:01:00.002-05:00

It was just a year ago my eldest daughter Tina, the family "Knit Wit", came to visit while I had scopes done on both my knees, and she got me back to knitting , which I hadn't done since being a very young mother. I progressed during the following months from knitting dishcloths, to a shawl, to a tiny hat and leg-warmies for my new grand-daughter, to my very first pair of socks!

I have heard it said the knitting is a great wintertime project. I found it also to be a great project during a time of bereavement. These are the projects I have been working on the last few weeks. My second pair of socks (for when I am out plein air painting in the cold) is now finished....

.... and I am now doing a pair for my youngest daughter. She loved these colors! She also likes her socks short so knitting these should go a little faster than the regular length. I have just turned the heel and picked up the stitches on the sides , ready to do the gusset.

Knitting is such a relaxing project, almost mindless at times once you know the pattern. And such a great reward for the work put into it. The next pair I am planning to make has cable design down the sides. That may prove to be a challenge!

Ecclesiastes 3: A time to mourn....

2011-06-19T20:05:00.003-05:00

http://atsunnysplace.blogspot.com/2011/06/ecclesiastes-3-time-to-mourn.html

Some Strange Going's -on

2011-05-14T17:21:00.008-05:00

........at the end of our long driveway....

I saw this little Killdeer wandering around, (bottom right) ...

leaving and coming back to the same area.....

On further inspection, I saw she had a nest of 2 eggs on the very edge of our driveway! Concerned that her eggs might get run over I quickly decided on a plan of action. Going to the workshop, I located a couple fence-rods and some bright orange plastic tape. I took the chance of scaring her completely off, and put the posts in the ground at an angle that would keep my dear hubby or the truck driver who delivers rabbit feed, from running over them.

Since then she has laid two more eggs and has been setting her nest, getting off only for short periods of time. She will even stay on the nest as I drive s-l-o-w-l-y by. It is interesting how she fans her tail feathers over her nest and keeps her body toward you as you pass by. Here, she is standing just over her nest....

I am glad she decided to have her nest where she did instead of in the field, because
the next week .......

...... the cultivaters, the fertilizer trucks and the corn planter came in to plant 87 acres of corn!!

Now ..... how did this little bird know to keep her nest out of the field?? Doesn't it remind us of the Lord's loving care for all His creatures? and how much more for his children!

Any strange goings-on at your place this spring??

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T10:14:00.005-05:00

I am blessed to have four lovely daughters! They are all so very special, each in their own way.......

These are flowers from my oldest daughter in PA

I love geraniums..... especially pink ones!

Aren't they pretty???

Thank you so much, Tina!

What's in there???

2011-04-28T07:58:00.005-05:00

Miss Izzy just has to see whats going on....

Hmmmm.......

Three weeks ago we gave a bucket of eggs to farmer friends, as they were starting an incubator and had room for more eggs. Forty-one of ours hatched out, they kept 10 for their troubles, and gave us 31. Do we need more chickens?????

Not really, but they are so cute!! ....and fuzzy!

There are just all colors!!! Paint-spiration, I call it :)

Stripes, and yellows, and blacks .... and ones with gray butts!

I think this in my favorite!

And Miss Izzy keeps watch. She is checking them out every 5 minutes. She is a little short so we set a brick in front for her to step on so she can ... see..... better. She's such a litle momma!

Spring Blooms

2011-04-26T08:28:00.005-05:00

These irises are blooming early this year!

Just at the right time actually..... giving me renewed hope....

And there are more on the way... I have white/lavendar ones yet to bloom.

I have been quite busy with doctor appointments lately.... New glasses (which needed re-done 2 times; they finally got them right) last Thursday; before that to the orthopedic doctor for a cortisone shot in my left knee; yesterday to the podiatrist for fitting for badly needed orthodics..... WHEW! (So glad for hubby's job where we get some insurance coverage)

.....so these early blooms gave me a sense of encouragement :) I believe the Lord uses different ways to encourage each of us, if we but take time to look and to listen.

What picks you up.... encourages you..... re-news your hope?

Auction Purchase

2011-04-06T14:01:00.002-05:00

We had to run in to town the other evening for a couple errands and hubby decided he'd like to take me "out". There was an auction across the street from one of our stops, that we had never been to. Oh there was lots of stuff, an old wooden shovel, a set of light pink kitchen accessories from the 50's, a bottle capper and bottle caps, etc. Hubby decided we "needed" this. I said I didn't think so but I was out-bid. Now mind you, I am not one to have stuff just sitting around to have something else to dust. So my guess is this will eventually be put to use :) But it does have a nice nostalgic feel to it doesn't it?? (and I can always do a painting of it to add to my "homestead collection" :) At least I gave the dining room a good cleaning today. Couldn't bring a prestigious piece like this in and give it a dirty home, now could we?

For "Save the Chidren" of Japan...

2011-04-05T10:05:00.008-05:00

To my blogging friends....

I have taken the opportunity to donate one of my paintings for auction with all proceeds goint to Save the Children of Japan, because of the recent Tsunami and resulting damages there. There are 2 days left for this piece to be auctioned off so....

"Culinary Arts"

6" x 6" Shelf Setter, Oil on Canvas-covered block.

I decided to ask my blogging friends if anyone would like to help out by bidding. (I have already embarassed myself enough by begging on facebook :) )

Look what you would get in return ..... besides the joy of helping others. I keep none of the profit. It all goes to children of Japan. I have decided I will pay for the shpg myself. I will accept a check, and as soon as it clears, your painting will be shipped.

You can bid by clicking here "Daily PaintWorks" and scroll down to where you see the challenge entries. Put my name (Rebecca Jennings) in the search box. My painting will come up and you can bid. They will notify me of the winning bidder, and notify the winning bidder as well. Then we make the transaction. Or you can access the page and scroll down to see many other fine paintings on this site if you would rather bid on something else.

Thanks for your kind consideration.

Sunny

Garden??? No pictures, just thoughts.

2011-03-23T15:22:00.003-05:00

Well, ya'll..... both our tillers bit the dust last year and so we decided not to garden this year as hubby works alot of summer overtime anyway. But, the way the weather has been I am thinkng on trying to spade up a bit and at least put in some carrots, beets, spinach and peas. How am I going to live without my garden????

Project finished- 1 pr warm socks!

2011-02-25T09:24:00.004-06:00

Finished these last night

Whoo-hoo... comfy!

Love 'em!

Kentucky Burgoo ... and other things

2011-02-18T08:59:00.000-06:00

BURGOO (ewww) .... a southern soup-like dish I never thought I'd care for, but Hubby brought home some fixing's the other night .....

.... and we got at and added to, and made 3 huge pots-full. We canned 15 qts., put 1 qt in the freezer and had enough left for a couple meals for the 2 of us. (We had googled for a recipe to see what to add)

Doesn't it look good?? It is!

We just cannot see good food going to waste. So, leftovers from a company dinner, and a couple bags of lima beans, blackeyed peas, and celery, carrots, and onion that we had on hand.... oh, and 4 bottles of BBQ sauce and seasonings. and we have quick meals to open at a momments notice!

The kitchen had already been cluttered cuz I was out all day seeking references for paintings. But we pushed things aside and did it anyway. BTW, one of the most useful things I learned growing up was...

... how to stack dishes! Our canning was done and kitchen clean by 11 pm.

Meanwhile I have only a few inches til my 2nd sock is done. I will post when they are so you can see too (two ?)!

Ah, yes.... and I need to give Izzy a bath and a trim. Doesn't she look like she needs one???

Maybe I'll get to pick up a paint-brush yet this afternoon.

Winter is Alive and Well... but I Must Paint

2011-02-11T19:23:00.006-06:00

We had blizzard like conditions a couple days ago. Total 6' - 7" snow. It lasted all day long until about 9 pm.

Next day almost as bad.

A very crisp, cold morning. yesterday. I had planned to get out and do some plein air painting but woke up to a -5* !! No outside painting today...

(I thought this was KY ... not PA!)

Today it finally warmed up to 17* by 9:30 am, so I got my stuff ready to go and pulled on my wind-suit over several layers of clothing. Paint, thinner, canvases paint rags. Yep... going to do it!

I was back home at noon with this... at Sunny's Studio.

Thanks for visiting!

Here They Come....

2011-02-07T11:34:00.002-06:00

.... back again.

Second day of seeing this band of turkeys.

Only this time, closer to our house.

They are good-sized birds for being wild ones.

These turkeys, huge as they are, can fly up into the trees and roost at night. We have come upon them before in the woods, and they make a loud sound flying away.

Country life is grand.

PS. Right now SW Kentucky is getting a white-out :)

Turkey, anyone?

2011-02-05T23:32:00.005-06:00

We had visitors today... of the feathered variety. I got up early to let Izzy out to do her potty chores and this is what I saw from our front porch.

A herd of turkeys! .... well, a flock. But it looks like a herd to me, don't you agree??? Must have been 50 of them at least!

They didn't waste too much time getting across the field. Do you suppose they knew we had... er.... well.... they were in a hurry anyway. Didn't stick around too long.

Amazing what you find here in the country. Thanks for visiting!

Off the Needles!

2011-01-25T08:01:00.005-06:00

My first sock!

Not perfect, but a sock none-the-less.

I am thinking about "framing" this one :)

and buy yarn to make one more. It takes 2 skeins of this yarn to make a pair of socks, This one can be my "practise" one.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2011-01-17T07:00:00.001-06:00

Good morning! As Mondays are my scheduled wash day I thought this would be a good post for today.

I got this laundry soap recipe from Sue at Peartree Lane Farmhouse. I could not find her post on it when it came time to make mine up so I emailed her and she graciously sent me the recipe. Thanks, Sue!

My ingredients boxes look a little shabby (...ok, aLOT shabby) but thats because my jug of distilled water for my iron had a pinhole leak and it caused dampness in the sodas.

Anyway, I grated up my 3 bars of Fels Naphta soap and then...

ran it through my blender on the pulse/grate speed.

In the bucket I carefully mixed (being careful not to breathe it in as it creates quite a fine dust as you stir) 4# box of Arm and Hammer soda, 3# 7oz box of Washing soda and 4# borax. After that is combined, I added the blender grated soap and mixed it in.

I keep mine in a 2-gal bucket.

2 of these scoops = 1/4 cup.

I put the soap into a 2-cup measure and run hot water into it to disolve (mostly) and add it to the washer, then pile in my laundry. I have had very good results with this and it saves at about of what commercial laundry soap would cost, of course depending on the brand you buy.

This recipe made 24 cups of soap powder. I use about 1/4 cup for a large load, which means I can wash 96 loads of laundry.and at an average of 4 loads per week, it will last me 24 weeks or half a year.

Look what I Won!

2011-01-13T12:01:00.004-06:00

Look what I won from Jennifer at "Our Little Farm" blog for guessing the closest to her little pot-bellied pig, Porkchop's, weight.

Isn't this just so neat? Especially as I didn't raise any sunflowers of my own last year. And that little bird-house.... of course with Jen's "signature picture" on it, as she is all about chickens and really knows her stuff! So cute!! I'll be hanging this in under my bird trees ;-)

Thanks Jen .... it was my first-ever blog win!!

A New Dish

2011-01-11T10:34:00.006-06:00

Baked, stuffed rabbit breast and pieces, with Mandarin Fruit sauce

... in the wood-stove oven, of course.

..... accompanied by our own frozen corn, and baked sweet potatoes w/ brown sugar/cinnamon topping.

Oh, YUMM it was good!! and Hubby gave his approval!

Mandarin Fruit sauce

1 can (11oz) mandarin oranges

3/4c orange juice

1 1/2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp lemon juice

1 T cornstarch (I added a little more)

2 T brown sugar

3/4 tsp ginger

a few marashino cherries, sliced

Drain oranges and reserve liquid. Combine andarin orange liquid with orange juice, soy sauce and lemon juice in saucepan. Mix cornstarch, ginger,and brown sugar and add to the liquid; cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Fold in oranges and cherries. Stuff the rabbit breast cavity with your favorite stuffing and place in roaster pan or dutch oven with other rabbit pieces, Pour sauce over rabbit pieces and bake in oven on med. heat (325-350) for 2 hrs, basting occasionally. Take lid off roaster the last 20 mins. Enjoy!! I am sure this could also be used nicely with skinless chicken breasts.

Get R' Done...

2011-01-06T12:35:00.011-06:00

A couple days ago I decided I need to finish up some projects before they got put too far on the back burner (pun intended),

so I got out my Dutch Oven and used the Christmas ham-bone in the makings of Split-Pea soup. There may be 2 servings left..

Last fall when the Amish brought in a semi-load of apples we got 3 bushel; one to make applesauce and two to keep over winter in the "cold room". As I was checking the 'keepers' over yesterday I decided we needed to use some up as the Cortlands were starting to wither some. So today I put a kettle of apples on to make apple-butter.

I have about 1/3 of a gallon of apple cider left from the holidays so that will go in to the makings and give it a richer flavor.

Meanwhile in the evenings I finished my grandson's hat that was to be part of his Christmas, but due to mistakes and UN-knitting it was not ready. This is called "Seaman's cap" and you can find instructions here.

I also had yarn left over from DD's Slouche' hat I knitted for her so I decided to make a scarf to go with it. She already recieved the hat... It was made from the Homespun brand Nouveau; a kind of chunky yarn in painterly color.

I don't make New Years resolutions, but I am going to try to keep on top of things a little better than last year.

For instance, tomorrow I will be making up a fresh batch of laundry soap, as I have only enough left for next weeks laundry, and I don't want to run out. Too easy to just go buy it then.

I tend to be a bit of a procastinator, so I figured the best way for me to keep up is just to "Get R' Done"! How about you ? Do you find it hard to stay motivated, especially at this time of year??

New Years Day

2011-01-01T20:46:00.001-06:00

New Years day or not , it was the weekend and the only 2 days of the week Hubby and I get to spend together.

Because it had been warm the last couple days, we decided to let the woodstove go out, and give it a good mid-season cleaning.

The top of the oven is accessed through the lid on top left and the ashes and hard stuff is scraped to the side, and falls to the bottom.

By working the handle (that you pull to circulate the heat around the oven) back and forth, you also loosen any creosote build-up on it.

As well as the handle in back that opens and closes the draft, which is not really a problem unless you are constantly burning a low-heat fire.

There is a little trap door in the back (bottom right) where you clean out that ash and any creosote that builds up on the side walls.

The ash drawer gets cleaned, not only at this time but also every 2nd or at least 3rd day, and that is located under the fire box.

The oven gets a cleaning now also

As well as the entire outside washed and polished. The stove-top can be cleaned with a very fine sand-paper or emerycloth and a light rub with mineral oil shines it up nicely. This project promotes safety as well as a bright spot in the house.

That is the first of my "2011 clean-up, clean-out projects"

Wishing everyone a happy, blessed new year. Let the past be the past... this is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts.

Our Christmas Tree - per request of daughter :)

2010-12-22T07:48:00.015-06:00

Always ... the star at the top

Middle... too bad I don't know how to line these up

Bottom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some new ornaments I made this year....

Dried orange slices look like stained glass with alittle light behind them. (shown with my favorite hanging icicles to the left of them)

Cinnamon logs tied with flannel ribbons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Older ornaments I treasure:
This next is an embroidered wreath made by the youngest as a home-school project when she was about 11.

a beeswax angel we used to make when we had our honey and beeswax candle business. I still have my supplies and have plans to be making more... They smell soooo good! Just a hint of honey smell

A bee-keeper ornament made by my SIL , the year was 1990

A primitive wax star (don't remember where we got this one)

a cross-stiched nativity (I LOVE this one .... so dainty)

The Christmas goose (we used to have geese... one got stuck in 2' of snow and I had too wade out to get her and carry her back... wore me out at age 40 or so!)

A cross-stitched bulb, made by my sister if I remember right

Lots of wooden toy onraments from when youngest was little.

there are others I didnt get unpacked this year, and some I sent on to the older children that I had made after the fire when they were little (thats another story).

But I think this is enough. I am a believer in balance in everything , because I tend to get overwhelmed and discontent if it isn't. The important thing to me is that even though Christ wasn't born on the actual Christmas day, we celebrate His birthday at this time. and God sent his Son into this world to give His life for us, and I for one am so grateful, because I am such a brat, I really needed a Saviour. Yes, so glad......

and now I have to get my house cleaned!!! and finish knitting that hat!!! Have a blessed day, y'all!!

Home-made Gifts

2010-12-21T08:36:00.005-06:00

I have been thinking about gifts for miscellaneous giving; ie, mail-person, Hubby's boss and/or co-workers, lady who runs the Todd County Welcome Center..... and came across this recipe from Leh*man's blog and decided to try it out.

Pumpkin Bread in a Jar

This recipe makes 8 pints! That's 8 gifts!!

With a Home-made card I think it makes a nice little gift.

What do you think??

Recipe (because I knew you would ask ;) )

Pumpkin Bread In A Jar
Ingredients:

2/3 c. shortening

2 c. pumpkin ( I used my home-canned)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. ground cloves

2 2/3 c. white sugar

2/3 c. water

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

4 eggs

3 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

2/3 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar; beat in eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture. Stir in nuts, if using. Pour mixture into greased wide-mouth pint canning jars, filling them each half full. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes. When done, remove one jar at a time and wipe off sealing rim with a cloth. Screw lid on tightly with band. The heat will vacuum seal the jar. Makes 8 pints.
Variations: Substitute one of the following for the pumpkin: 2 cups shredded apples; 2 cups shredded carrots; 1 can cranberry sauce; 2 cups mashed bananas; 2 cups chopped peaches; 2 cups applesauce; 2 cups shredded zucchini; 2 cups fruit cocktail; or 1 3/4 cups applesauce plus 1/4 cup raisins.

(Changes; I cut the sugar to 2 cups and 2 T, used 5 very small eggs cause thats what I had, and added 2/3 c raisins. (we cut one open this morning and Hubby liked it really well!)

Add your ribbon and a tag and there ya go! (I made my ribbon out of a strip of plaid flannel left from Hubby's quilt)I was able to gift one yesterday about an hour out of the oven to a lady who came to get a trailer-load of rabbit manure for her garden. When I told her I had baked it in my wood cook-stove oven, that made it all the more special to her!

Well, Merry Christmas to you all. Happy baking! Wishing you all a very Blessed New Year!

Yay! We are having a blizzard!!

2010-12-12T16:46:00.005-06:00

I love snow!!! Don't get to see it much in Kentucky...

But today we are having a blizzard. See it blowing across the fields?

I am wishing for a sled, a long hill and a young body!

Just for today :)

Pie Crust Recipe and Odds n' Ends

2010-12-09T07:15:00.003-06:00

For all who requested, my pie crust *recipe* has been added to the Apple Pie post from a few days ago.

I greeted my 2 new Nubian goats this morning on my way to turn the lights on in the rabbit barn and hen house. They greeted me back with "Maaaaaa" ...... no they are not purchased yet; just gettin' in practise :) (those of you who hold to the teachings of the Bible will especially understand this... )

I need to finish clipping Izzy now that I have found the combs that go onto the end of the clippers. Picture will be forthcoming.

Other things I am planning to do for today;

1.I will be baking bread ... or "Dorothy" will (the fabulous bread machine)

2.I am also getting presents ready to mail out by the 10th.

3.Knitting a slouch hat for youngest daughter.

4.Put nest boxes in rabbits pens that are due on the 11th (9 I think)

I am sure most evryone is is decorated and ready for Christmas except me, but I'll get there. No hurry, no rush :)

So what does your day consist of ??

Decision Update

2010-12-07T08:47:00.012-06:00

I really appreciate all who took the time to comment your thoughts on my goat decision. Its always good to get other imput.

So, here it is....

1. The decision on these particular 2 goats was made for me, as they were sold as I was deliberating.... I'm ok with that.

~~~~~

2. My hubby and I talked long about it, throwing ideas around, pros and cons, what would be needed as far as housing, feed, care.... and he actually was quite supportive. When I said we didn't "really have to (have goats)", he'd come back and say "well , we could put the door-way here..." He even told me about a co-worker that makes an alfalfa/grass hay we could buy...

~~~~~

3. Beings as HE bought me my first-ever goat before we were even married, we do have a long history with the animals, and do realize what all it entails, so not like we are jumping off a cliff here.

~~~~~

4.This would be different from our past history with goats; in that we would not be registering, showing and milk testing for awards, raising for export, and not multiplying, as in not having our own buck(s) and not keeping the kids.

~~~~~

5. So.... we will work towards (get ready to) have our 2 goats by early spring, for our milk, cheese-making, yogurt and a once-in-a-while awesome batch of goat -milk fudge! Just our do-it-yourself preference over consumerism.

~~~~~

I could post many, many pictures, and write alot about our past goat ventures; starting a goat 4H club in our county, then on to showing in 3 states through ADGA santioned shows, and once nationally, a wall full of ribbons, trophies, top-ten-in-the-nation milk awards for the Saanen and Nubian breeds, grand champions, best of breed winnings, top bloodlines, you name it.... those days were exhilerating! I'll just show you one here, lol ..... but.... that is in the past. And I prefer to go forward. So I choose to be content with not trying to do all those things and just enjoy two ( 2 ...... only two) goats for our use and purposes.

Again, I really appreciate the imput offered. It helped me think with a clear head, not just react. I appreciate all of you and count you as my friends!

A Delema or A Blessing??

2010-12-06T09:38:00.005-06:00

I am about to do something either very exciting (to me) or something very stupid. Please help me out with your imput.

I have been aware for sonmetime that I cannot drink/use cow milk even from a raw dairy without some stomach upset. Ice cream has also been making me sick as well (I CAN do without the ice cream though). I can do ok with yogurt.

I have just found I can purchase 2 goats (wow! honest-to-goodness dairy goats .... in KY... amazing!! ...... ) (we have raised goats previously for 20+ years in PA) and have fresh goats milk again... YUMMMM! These goats will be fresh early in the spring.

Question.... do I want to go this route again? The 2 x's a day milking?

1.Would probably mean no trips to PA unless the goats were dried off (where my kids and grands live) but then have only been once in 7 yrs anyway...

2. Would be a poss thing for me to look forward to each day. Loved my goats!! plus the milk !! Goats milk is good for you!!

How does one choose what to do??

Apple Pie - My Way

2010-12-04T07:00:00.006-06:00

There's no getting around it...... my Hubby likes to eat pie!

If I am going to eat pie, it has to have something in it other than fluff and sugar.

I make the crust using a good bit of old-fashion oatmeal added (1 part oatmeal to 2 parts flour)

Then I like to use fresh apples. I wash them good, then slice them up with skins on, saving all those good nutrients.

I stack it as high as I can, till they are falling off and can't be stacked any higher. More apple to crust ratio. I mix 1/2 cup flour and 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1-2 tsp cinnamon (its good for you) Dot with butter and "put the lid on". Sculp an apple shape in the top crust to let out steam.

Bake at 375* for about an hour. When it is done I sprinkle a little cinnamon-sugar mixture on top . It will melt into place from the heat of the pie.

......... and there you have it , a Good-For-You apple pie!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those that requested, my pie crust recipe is simple, I am a "dump" cook.... a little of this , a pinch of that.

2 parts flour

1 part oatmeal (the old-fashion kind)

1 1/2 parts Crisco or lard

enough cold, cold, water to make into a nice dough.

Roll out immediately and put in pie tin. Make the top crust over-sized to fit over the apples. Crimp edges, cut slits and bake. I do my apple pies at 375* for about an hour

A Boy and his Dog

2010-12-02T09:17:00.006-06:00

Faithful friend

"Don' mess with da Boy...."

Actually our Grand-dog Simon is a BIGGGGG Baby. Want to see???

Shown here with Papa and Little Miss Izzy.

Happy "Dogs on Thursday!"

Tomatoes??

2010-12-02T08:16:00.000-06:00

I took a cutting off of a cherry tomato plant several weeks ago; rooted it in water, and planted it outside in a raised bed for a while.

A couple weeks ago I brought it indoors with the intention of trying to save it and see if those tiny 'maters on it would ripen.

There are even more blossoms on it now. I am going to try to pollinate them with a tiny brush. I thought it a pretty plant none the less, even in Christmas-y colors!

(I know it looks nice outside through the window, but its been 25* at night and only 36* right now!)

Fall Firewood - a Good Time of Year

2010-11-30T09:05:00.012-06:00

One of my favorite activities on our homestead/farm is bringing in firewood. Hubby and I get to do this together, at least part of the time.

This day about 3 wks ago was a beautiful day, 50-some degrees, just right for the task.

The sun was shining through the leaves, making the colors glow!

Reds, yellows, greens!

And there's my sweet hard-workin' Hubby,

He cuts and splits the wood...

My job is loading it on the truck (of course, he helps me with that, too :) ) and stacking the wood in the carport. I love stacking wood! (I think I told you that last year...) Did I mention that I love stacking wood????

And did I mention the fact that we heat almost exclusively with our wood cook-stove??, saving many $$'s. There is a picture on my side-bar of my stove. When I have time I comment there what I am cooking that day. Today happens to be lentil soup and whole-wheat rolls w/homemade strawberry jam. We will have pumpkin pudding for dessert.

Project completed

2010-11-20T10:12:00.006-06:00

This was my knitting project for my new Grand-baby, Maddie. Its cold where they live in Pennsylvania!

Got to keep that little girl warm.

Quilt painting finished

2010-11-18T12:59:00.002-06:00

You can see it here if you like.....
I am chasing my tail today...
Ya'll have fun!

Making Bread

2010-11-17T08:47:00.006-06:00

... yesterday. I am so used to just throwing my ingredients in, varied a little if I want, and whipping up a big batch of bread!

However, kneading bread has been wrecking havoc on my wrists the last few months. I need my wrists for important things like .... well... quilting... painting.... knitting, you know , the really important things. So talking to DD on the phone (after the fact) she suggested I get a bread making machine from Wal*Mart. I didn't think ours carried them but I called anyway.... then ran (in the car) to grab this on clearance, reduced bargain of the week! a whole $25! Made by Oster, it has so many features it will take me a month to learn!

I know.... you've seen bread machines before (sheepish grin)

but, oh it will save my wrists..... and

hubby can have his different kinds of bread without having to eat 6 loaves of one kind at once ....... and

no more freezer bread! At least not as much... but it is good to know, that I can still whip up a batch to feed an army :)

I "AM" quilting ......

2010-11-11T13:17:00.004-06:00

One of the reasons I am a Slow-P0ke-Quilter is because I also paint them :)
In fact, I paint much more than I quilt, but I just hafta quilt too... it's in my blood!

Momma Made This called for SPQ's to unite! I thought I'd do my best to do my part...

I will let you all see this when it is done. Ok, lunch-time is over.... back to painting!

New Residents

2010-11-08T08:19:00.004-06:00

Hubby went to the Fairview bi-annual auction a couple weeks ago. He knew I wanted some more chickens..... and wanted to surprise me ..... he did...... 36 more surprises!!!

Some of the pretty new banties...
"Is it safe to come down??"

"Who's down there??" ( love this little buff brahma hen!)

Just too many roosters ....

There are 3 Araucana hens, all different colors. Isn't she pretty??

"Does this say 'Cafeteria' ???"

all sizes....

all colors....

Now have lots of black hens, and 2 nice big white ones...
None seem to have alot of age on them.

" 'I' am still master here!!" says my little Japanese rooster :)

There is also several Rhode Island Red hens (my least favorite of the chicken world) a couple Barred Rock hens, and a pair of Partridge Cochin bantams. Quite a menagerie, but isn't variety the spice of life??

New Knitting Project

2010-11-01T06:15:00.000-05:00

Can you guess who this is for?

I'll give you a hint..... Its being made out of baby weight yarn :)

AND,,,, I am successfully knitting on 3 ( thats three) needles!!

Anyway, I am making baby leg warmies and a hat to match for Baby Maddie. I do have one of the leg warmies complete and working on the other. I will post when I get this project finished.

Knitting Projects

2010-10-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

I posted the beginning of my knitting venture a while back. Daughter Tina had started me on it as I was re-couping this summer. I did get my shawl finished ...

and the back view ....

Plenty easy ; just knit 4 purl 4 until its the length you need.

Then I saw these amazing dishcloths, and just had to try my hand at that. Natural color cotton yarn with red stripes, done in a waffle-weave pattern. (I varied the designs)....

and with blue stripes.....

I have quite a pile of these started for .... well... whatever

They were fun to do, good practise, and functional as well.

I am now started on another knitting project, which I will post later.

I like knitting in the evenings, when it is too dark to paint (I like good daylight to do my oil painting) and when I am too tried to do anything else. It keeps my hands busy while Hubby is watching TV and eating ice cream :0

New Grand baby!!!

2010-10-21T10:12:00.004-05:00

Introducing Miss Maddison Renae Jackman! weighing in at 5 1/2 #, 18" long, arrived yesterday afternoon.

Because of the age of her mom and previous complications, 3 times weekly monitoring was neccessary for the safety of both Mom and Baby. Gwen was able to carry her till the last 2-3wks of third trimester. Monitoring yesterday morning showed the placenta had died and the baby had lost weight, so a c-section was performed immediately.

Daddy Rick and baby

Mama and baby

What a miracle! Baby is just lovely and very healthy with a good healthy appetite. Mama had been battling near pnemonia for the last week and can now be given antibiotics for it. I am so full of gratefulness to the Lord for His mercy and goodness!

Hen Party!

2010-09-29T10:54:00.003-05:00

Ok, the "Hen Party" painting is finished and framed! Go here to view. Don't forget to leave a comment. I am interested in what ya'll think!

Soy Bean Harvest

2010-09-23T16:15:00.009-05:00

They arrived yesterday afternoon to begin the harvest on our farm

By the second round I had found my camera and was ready.

This was very exciting to me to be able to watch the hugh machinery up close. and it was the first crops grown here since we became the owners. (Previously we had raised Hereford cattle here)

When the combine shells the beans it sure makes alot of dust. The beans go into the combine and it "spits out" everything else back onto the ground.

Turning around .....

Here they go again!

Look at how the dust billows!

A massive width on that combine head!

Massive equipment all together!! It will make short work of our 87 plantable acres!

But in actuality it did take all afternoon, all evening,

.... and went on til after dark. I was so impressed I had to get out my paint last night. You can see that painting here.

Still canning ....

2010-09-10T21:42:00.004-05:00

The other evening we went to the Mennonite farm and came home with a bushel of wonderful green beans. They were able to raise them this late in the year because of their drip irrigation system.

I was sure glad to get them as we hadn't been able to can when green beans would have normally been available.

We canned 14 quarts and 16 pints. That added quite a bit to our winter pantry stock.

Besides that, it inspired a new little painting, posted on Sunny's Studio.

Rabbit meat processed

2010-09-08T08:47:00.006-05:00

Ok, here it is .... this is what we did over Labor day week-end. Not exciting I know, but given the fact that hubby had to work Sat urday, Sunday afternoon and Monday; and we needed meat in the pantry, it was a good time as we had 10 rabbits we needed to "process".

14 pints tender, boneless rabbit meat, 12 quarts of broth for soup stock, and fried rabbit last night (Tues) for hubby's birthday supper (no way are we going to pay someone else for a lesser meal)

Oh yes, birthday supper included, besides the fried rabbit, baked potatoes, long green beans, and carrot-raisin salad with added pineapple chunks and mini-marshmellows, and one of his favorites, Banana cream pie! Sorry no photos of that, as Dd and Grand arrived and we had such a good time I forgot to take pictures (my bad).

The canned meat can be used for sandwiches, pot-pies, soups, cassaroles, and meat gravy over biscuits; any way chicken can be used. It is very nutritious and very low-fat.

Do any of you "can" meat of any kind?

Well, I did it! I finally made the switch ....

2010-09-06T10:00:00.006-05:00

My original blog "Sunny's Place" is now "Sunny's Studio", new design and all, dedicated strictly to my painting.

"Hen Party" unfinished

Everything else, such as happenings, homesteading, frugal living, and just good old down-home friendly chit-chat blogging will be here on this blog.

(A girl's gotta let her hair down sometime, don't cha think??)

Most of you visit both blogs anyway, and you are all listed here on this one, so I can quickly get from this blog to yours to keep up with all your happenings. Check it out and let me know what you think. ..... and don't forget to check out my paintings from time to time.

Christmas is coming, and even though I don't take part in alot of the commercialism that goes on any more, I do offer paintings for sale, and do do custom orders. So if any of you are interested just contact me privately through email listed on my profile. I will not be making a habit of sales pitches on this blog. Just letting you all know....

Thanks for staying with me through this switch-a-roo and ya'll come back now, ya hear??

2010-09-04T10:10:00.010-05:00

I recently joined the "Slow Poke Quilters" group that I found on the "Momma Made This" blog. I am a slow-poke quilter because;

1.I spend most of my time being a home-maker and pursuing the frugal-living life-style.

2. We raise raising rabbits ( LOTS of them!) commercially, and I am in charge of breeding, feeding and management.

3. I also do custom original oil painting, and have recently been able to pursue this passion of mine once again, as I am no longer working at a "paid" full time job.

For relaxation I like to hand piece and quilt and also recently took up knitting again (alas, I probably have too many interests for my own good ...... )

So ~ I thought I'd post the BOM squares I had been doing with Joann, of "Pieceful Afternoon" . She has been so good to send me the links to the blocks and let me join in with her and others who are also taking part.

I still have 4 to go and am probably going to make a wall hanging out of these. I have a couple other quilt projects I am working on and will post on them in the near future.

Are you a Slow-Poke quilter? Go to "Momma Made This" (link above) and join in!

Do I NEED another "project"??

2010-09-03T13:11:00.007-05:00

While my oldest Dd was here in July, she got me started knitting again.... just to "help me recover" after my knee-scopes (as if I didn't already have enough projects going ;) I already had some yarn and all I needed was needles. She had me try these new-fangled ones that have 2 tips on either end of a plastic wire. I thought I'd never remember which way I was going ....

So here is my project, well underway I might add. I remembered how to knit and how to purl and that was about it (30+ yrs since my last attempt), so after deciding to make a shawl, I had her figure for me how many stitches I needed to cast on, and decided on a wide rib-knit pattern. As I got further along I was glad I had chosen that pattern, as it is real stretchy. I decided it could be dual-purpose; wear as a scarf, with my winter coat to church, and when I take my coat off ..... it is stretchy enough to wear aross my shoulders and pull down across my back to keep me warm, as I am never warm enough at church in the winter. Now, the youngest Dd thinks it would make just an awesome sweater! (is this a hint??? I have been told I am pretty thick-headed)

Also Ihave been following Rhonda's "down-to-earth" blog, and had been interested in all the ways she saves $$'s. Don't we all like to do that?? I saw where she had posted about making these neat dish-cloths with cotton yarn. Great because they last so long and would make nice Christmas gifts! So I checked out the price of the yarn, added it into my budget for this month, and here is my hand-knit dish-cloth .....

Oh, but you see, I had to get the BIG bolt of yarn (cheaper that-a-way, .... just sayin').... plus a couple colors, of course :) .....and different size needles than my shawl needles.
But isn't this neat???

And it looks so pretty all folded up.....

You can find the pattern here, at "home-spun living", another really neat blog.

I have posted before about the socks Dd made me and the tea-pot cozy. So do some of you knit? What do you like to make?

Summer Happenings

2010-08-10T13:14:00.009-05:00

We have had alot of company over the summer. My cousin and husband stopped in on their way through from Colorado to Pennsylvania, and took me with them so I could have a long awaited visit with my children in PA.

Next Hubby's cousin stopped in on their way back from PA to their home in Tx. We hadn't seen them for several years.

Then my sister came to visit in June and brought me these for my birthday (sorry, no people in this as I just took the picture) Don't they perfectly match our shutters?? And she got these beauties at a yard-sale and hauled them down in the back of her van.

We had a nice visit but we weren't able to do much in the way of "fun" things because of the limitations of my knees and the HOT-HOT-HOT weather. So we just enjoyed each other's company.

Also my niece and family were here the first part of July and Hubby and her husband Dave, both being of the "work-is-having-fun" type of guys, enjoyed themselves doing some needed electrical work and mounting more fans in the barn, while Rhonda and I cooked and chatted about several common interests, and the kids entertained themselves with Izzy and the rabbits.

A week and a half break and DD Tina was here to be with me for 2 1/2 weeks while I had knee-scopes and repair done. While here, she...

canned up 28 qts of delicious peaches,

and several pints of peach butter and peach jam.

We also stopped at a yardsale on the spur of the moment and found the bargain of the day...

a tread-mill walker for me to exercise on, as I can no longer use the eliptical I had.

She also got me started on a knitting project and I got her interested in doing at least a quilted table-runner. She is a fantastic knitter and has knitted some socks for me as well as a teapot cozy, which I have posted before.

This last weekend, we had emergency visitors, as our Amish friends who had moved to IL a couple years ago, were here for a funeral and needed a place to stay overnight. We were so glad they called us. It was not the first visit from them and hopefully won't be the last, but hopefully under happier circumstances next time. We are blessed with this home the Lord has provided for us, and glad there is room for company.

How about you? Have you had visitors this summer?

Waiting for Papa ....

2010-07-08T06:12:00.000-05:00

Every day, about time for Papa to be home from work, this is the scene at our house. This particular night Papa happened to be working over and it was getting late...

"Come eat your supper, Izzy"

But Papa will be home soon....

I'll just wait a little longer...

He shoulda been home by now....

I see headlights!!

...and now all is right in Izzy's world .

Happy D.O.T. to you all from Miss Izzy!

Plans .... Interrupted by Life

2010-07-01T08:30:00.002-05:00

Sometimes that is the way it seems..... we just get going on a roll and then hit the wall, or at least some pot-holes in the road (if you are from Pennsylvania you know just what I mean). The humidity has been bad for my knees this summer, so my plans to re-organize my "sun-room / studio" haven't gotten as far as I'd like.

But it hasn't been all bad by a longshot. Last week we got to meet Chuck and Mary Reagan , (you can go here http://www.americafoundbestofthefreelife.com/Home_Page.php

to view their website and follow their travels) who started in eastern KY and are making their way by mule-drawn covered wagon to CA.

They had stopped in our little town to rest the animals from the heat and were given a welcome, and permission to "camp out" in a large, shaded, grassy area behind some local businesses.

We got to meet the mules, Pearle and Pauline,

and their horse, Dan, and a black Lab named Pete (no pic)

and talk with them about their travel.

This trip sure takes alot of "water-barrels" .....

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other than that, my sister came from NY to visit for a few days, but had to cut that visit short as one of her friends had passed away and she needed to get back for the funeral.

Hubby just had surgery to repair his left shoulder and now I go for scopes on both knees on July 14th. We are about 3 good legs (sometimes only 2) and 3 good arms between us! That is a hoot at times.....

Our soybean fields have really taken off and are doing wonderful.

(I sure am glad we don't have to be managing cows with all our "repairs"going on.)

We are getting nice-sized blueberries from our bushes and some raspberries

.... and the hens keep laying those big wonderful eggs,

but this one wants to set constantly and she doesn't realize,
THERE IS NO ROOSTER!!

So thats whats happening down on the farm......

How's your summer going??

Sometimes I still miss...

2010-06-28T08:33:00.005-05:00

SGCH Honey Acres ClassicKaraoke 5*M
as a 2 yo she was
~Permanent Grand Champion
~Top Ten for her breed nationally for milk and bf
~LA score of 90
~National All-American 2 yo Sable Saanen doe

20+ years of breeding and raising dairy goats, for milk, show and export..... some of the best times in my life.

I miss the days I could sit down to milk one of my goats, lean my head on their side and relax...

Company's Comin'!

2010-06-04T17:24:00.002-05:00

First of all, I want to welcome my new followers! I hope you will find something here that will be of use to you, or maybe give you a smile. I will be getting around to your blogs and gleaning what I can from you also.

Company's comin'! Remember way back when we were kids and that announcement would make excitement run through your veins? Well, "Kissin' cousin" Connie and hubby Bud from TX will be stopping in tonight on their way home from visiting relatives in PA.

These daylilies bloomed just in time to greet them! They should be pulling in the driveway about 8 pm. It's been a few years since seeing them.

When hubby was a young boy, Connie would always stop and take him fishing with her own kids. After hubby and I were married, a visit from Connie was always something to look forward to. One year she bought me several cases of canning jars so I could put up all the garden produce we were harvesting from our huge garden. In turn we sent her home with many jars of honey produced by our own bees.

While driving truck OTR in later years, we were always welcome to stop at their home on our way through Texas. She would come pick us up from the truckstop and take us back a few days later.

Tomorrow we may go to some of the 400-mile yard sale taking place across 68/80 in Kentucky. I'll be sure to let you know any of the bargains we find... Have a great weekend!

(PS.... back to my organizing next week )

Organization .....

2010-05-25T08:26:00.006-05:00

My goal for this week is to turn my Sun-room into an organized room for a painting studio/sitting/guestroom. (well..... maybe two weeks) It is located off my dining room and leads to the deck off of which used to be a swimming pool, which we felt no need for (they are expensive to run) The room is 10'x 21'.

When I dug out my long-neglected oil painting supplies this spring, the only place to set it up was a cardtable in the dining room, using my old wobbly easel....

Then a month ago I found THIS....
on Craig's list for half what a new one would cost!

It was very barely used... and has a drawer for paints and brushes, adjustable canvas holder, and adjustable , foldup, legs.... all with a strong handle to carry, making it compact to take for painting anywhere.

I was so blessed to be able to get it! (and it came in handy, making it possible to take my painting supplies on vacation with me to PA) But, it does take up more space than I am wanting to part with in the dining room.

So one thing leads to another, and it is a good excuse (interpreted, reason) to get this job done! The sunroom has been the "catch-all" room since we have moved here. It holds all the memorabilia (as in ribbons, trophies) from past goat shows, and honey and beeswax candle displays and awards; the remains of my candle making supplies; old milk bottles and gallon jugs to be painted and made into cute lamps; old crosscut saws, handsaws, round saws, and slate, from my sawblade painting days; an old roll-top desk, file cabinets, table and a bench; and boxes of what-not.

After it is cleared out, I am hoping (please, please??) hubby will go ahead and put another double window in the east wall, as has been the "talked-about" plan. There is room to have a daybed in there as well, (I love daybeds), for over-night guests that visit and who have a hard time going upstairs to the guest-room. What do you think?? Can I make a welcoming room out of this chaos?? Any suggestions? Do any of you have a daybed and do you like it?

Yogurt by the Gallon ... and other good food

2010-05-24T12:04:00.010-05:00

Now that I am back home from a wonderful, refreshing vacation and seeing PA family once again; its time to get back on track with what I need to be doing as far as frugal living is concerned. I had been so homesick I had "fallen off the frugal wagon" so to speak. But that is behind me now and I am looking forward to each new day!

I stopped in the other day to pick up good wholesome, raw cow's milk from my Amish neighbor, Sarah. I had been wanting to get back to making yogurt and cheese so I purchased 2 gallons.

First on the agenda was to make some home-made yogurt.

I poured 1 gal into my 5 qt. stainless steel pot and raised the temp to 165* for 15 sec to pasturize it. (I don't try using raw milk for yogurt, as there is too much chance of failure and I need to be frugal especially after going on a spur-of-the-moment vacation ;) Then I cooled the milk in a sink of cold water to 115* and added my 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt as culture. After stirring that in, I lit my electric oven and heated it to 120*. I had a thermometer in the yogurt and one on the oven shelf. As I timed the temp drop in the oven I decided I needed to relight the oven for a few minutes every hour to keep the temp right. This worked very well, as the large amount of yogurt took a longer time to change in temperature, than it would have if I'd have put it in smaller containers. The temp range for this recipe called for 11o-118*.

It took only 4 hrs to set but I left it another hour to solidify more. I am really pleased with the result! No bitterness or sour taste at all. I will make half of it into yo-cheese and add herbs to it for a cracker spread, and use the other half for yogurt, adding a few strawberries or other fruit.

Our strawberry patch is producing quite well. Although the berries themselves aren't gigantic they have a very good, sweet flavor.

I made this Fresh Strawberry Pie for hubby soon after I got home, in appreciation for the vacation! (he stayed home and went to WORK, including many overtime hours, took care of our little dog, Izzy, fed the chickens, AND did all the RABBIT chores - He's an amazing man.... sigh)

(He likes his pie topped with a huge helping of vanilla ice cream.....)

.... and the chickens didn't even miss me, as proven by the beautiful eggs they are still laying.

Nothing says country like wonderful fresh-made yogurt, home-picked strawberries, and fresh home-grown eggs!

I had a wonderful time with my kids and Grands, but I am glad to be home again!

Pennsylvania Daughter's Place

2010-05-07T20:26:00.010-05:00

Since I am currently on vacation in Pennsylvania where my grown children live, staying at my oldest daughter's home, I thought I would show you the highlights of her yard, flowers and herb garden.

Quaint front porch, where hostas, old tinware planters, roses and herbs line the porch.

On the east side of the house, lilacs and hostas are plentiful. Her bird feeding station near here has a huge pine tree for feeders and shelter.

In the back is this wonderful rock garden......

with Ivory White Columbine.....

Bleeding Hearts........

and full of Lily of the Valley and Forget-Me -Nots,

with a little toad house.

A sun garden above the vegetable garden, hosts many more herbs and lilies, and an old garden bench.

on the back and west more hostas and lilacs,

which were in full bloom when I arrived,

and a beautiful Japanese Maple for accent.

Those of you who have followed my blog will know that we have very much in common in the way of gardening! It always feels peaceful and homey here, which she also says when she visits our place.

Do you other 'mothers and daughters' have similar gardening interests?

Critters Around Here

2010-04-24T10:55:00.011-05:00

As we got up early one morning to get hubby off to work, out the window we saw a shadowy thing moving around in the field, head down , looked like it was hunting something.

At first we thought it was a coyote as they are not scarce here. Then as we got a better look we saw it was a red fox, probably hunting moles. I was able to get this photo of him through the window with my zoom.

Yesterday, as I set out to divide some of the mint and move it to the edge of the woods .....

........ I was pulling away some of the old dead shoots from last year to get a better look at the root system, when I came upon this patch of hair and leaves. Ahaa! a mouse nest, I bet!

I pulled back a little to get a better look so as to do them in with my shovel, but wait.......

THESE weren't mice! They were baby rabbits! Eleven of them! Well I just couldn't do them in..... they were so cute!

So I tucked the nesting material back in around them and let them be. This patch of mint will just have to wait til these babies leave their nest before it gets divided. Just what we need ..... more rabbits ...... especially with the barnful we already have here.

What kind of critters are in your neck of the woods??

Strawberries! and Daffodils! and Clematis! Oh My!

2010-03-18T09:42:00.012-05:00

Yep... I see GREEN! NEW Green!

and YELLOW!

LOTS of Yellow!

CLEMATIS is waking up after her winter's nap!

and the HENS are out in their yard ... peeking over the board....

What on EARTH are they LOOKING at??

.... oh! COMFREY!

They LOVE comfrey!

How does YOUR SPRING GARDEN grow?

Making Sourdough - Walnut Raisin Twist

2010-03-16T07:50:00.001-05:00

This sourdough starter is made with Prairie Wheat unbleached flour that I get at our Amish bulk foods store about 20 miles away. It has a nice fine texture with all the good nutrients left in.

Let the starter get to room temp, meanwhile starting 1 1/2 cups warm water, 2 1/2 tsp yeast and 1 T sugar in the bowl to start working. After 10 min add 1 cup starter and mix well. Add 1/2 cup softened butter to the mix

...... then proceed to add 3 1/2 cups unbleached Prairie Flour and 1 tsp salt to stir in. Add enough more flour to make a soft dough. ( It takes about 6 1/2 - 7 cups altogether)

.... put it on a floured board and knead for about 10 min, adding flour as needed. Meanwhile, wash and grease your bowl.

... eh, I found it a little hard to knead AND take pictures at the same time.

Knead until it is nice and smooth ...

then form into a smooth ball and placing it back in the bowl, turn it once to grease it all over. Cover with a clean cloth and set in a warm place to raise.

Let rise about 1 1/2 hrs or until double (mine rose too much as I had to pick up Izzy from the vet after her "surgery")

When you punch it down, add 1 cup raisins that have been plumped in warm water (drain the water) , 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and 1 tsp cinnamon and gently knead it in. Divide ino 4 equal pieces making ropes about 20in long of each. Twist 2 together, then form it into a circle on a cookie sheet. This gives you 2 "Twists", one for you and one to share with a neighbor. Bake 30 min at 375*. When cool frost with a thin cream-cheese frosting. I cut this one into sections as it would not fit on any of my plates :)

(for some reason these last pictures turned out funky)

Umm, love it, chock full of nuts and raisins! Old-timey goodness!

Just in time for St Patrick's Day!

2010-03-12T14:07:00.004-06:00

From this...

to this, in a couple days!

and, BTW, looking at that empty garden plot and that green grass, reminds me ....

This came in the mail a few days ago...

They sure have me pegged!

Wish it were that easy...

but there are some good ideas in this book. I think I will get it from the library and save my $39.95 + shpg and hndlg charges :)

"Changes" means progress .... doesn't it?

2010-03-03T15:21:00.011-06:00

Changes are never easy; but hopefully, the changes we make will produce positive results. Our beautiful herd of Hereford cows are now gone, sold to a private individual ...

We will miss the cows' gentle presense, and the frolicking new calves...

These fields will be growing soybeans and corn this year.

It was a hard decision to make but we have found in the past that when one door closes, another opens. We are looking forward to a much lighter work load, putting our time into our commercial rabbit operation, Sunny's Bunnies , and will be able to sit on the front porch and sip ice tea following a still-very-full day!

The Monster in my Kitchen!

2010-03-03T09:00:00.004-06:00

(a re-post from the earlier blogging days, for some of my new readers)

There is a monster in my kitchen! ........You would think I could get rid of it, with just 2 people living here, and use the space more wisely. This monster fakes me out every time I give in and let its call beckon me; to let it do something for me that I already know good and well I can do better and quicker myself! It pleads with me, like a small child saying, "I wanna help! " .... just to find that I have to do at least half the job again anyway. I have to bend over and "bow" to it whenever I let it bribe me by its beckoning presence. Soon as its mouth is open I have lost the battle. I have to fill that mouth, and it will take many handfuls of what it likes best to ever get to the place where I can shut its mouth and silence the guilt within myself for allowing it to be open in the first place. Then there is the constant "bowing" again, to undo what I previously did at the start! And, deep inside I know ...... I know ..... that that so-called time-saver is actually a waste of MY time.

And really, I could get better results asking a toddler to clean up his plate than I do from this monster that I am slave to....

So ........ If anyone would want to take my dish-washer, and replace it with a nice cupboard of 2 shelves and a deep drawer, I would be ever grateful!

( Are you listening, dear hubby? )

Eggs ... Too cute to not share

2010-02-20T08:14:00.010-06:00

This was emailed to me. I don't know who the author/artist was but thought it would be okay to post. I take no credit for this. It is hilarious!!

EGGS

love the facial expressions!

Hope you having an “Eggcellent” Day!

Saturday Morning ... and an Afternoon Surprise!

2010-02-15T09:49:00.010-06:00

We started off with a breakfast of bacon, eggs and Homey Oatmeal Scones, with dried cranberries and raisins! Baked in my cast iron skillet in the wood stove oven..

Topped with real butter and Pennsylvania honey! (the best of course ;)

Then it was out to cut another pick-up load of wood for hubby while I cleaned and puttered in the house. He cuts and splits the wood ...

and it is my job to stack, which I just love. Its great exercise!

Meanwhile in the early afternoon, a package was delivered to the door....
It had gloves and tee-shirts and cookies for hubby, a toy and treats for Izzy, and for me a teapot cozy knitted by my daughter Tina, to fit my Brown Betty tea-pot; along with an infuser that sits in the teapot, and some natural organic Lavender and Chamomile loose-leaf tea, and Stevia from Restoration Herbs. I made some and sipped it all afternoon Sunday! You can click on the photo and bring up the detail on the cozy. See the buttons in the back where it buttons under the handle? Didn't she do a fantastic job??

Taking a "Me" Day

2010-02-10T15:01:00.008-06:00

Since I have pretty much goofed off all day, after goofing off yesterday because my internet was down, I decided to cook, really cook for hubby. We had been eating last week's meatloaf and venison vegetable soup for several days. He came in last night and looked at the soup .... again .... and said with a smile, "Oh, something new I see!" Yah, bread and peanut butter with it!

So I decided to apply myself today by making Scalloped Potatoes and Baked Beans and a nice coleslaw with pineapple,

(I didn't think about pictures until supper was in the oven)

and bake a Country Apple Pie with Oatmeal crust .......

(picture taken before I baked the pie) It is still in the oven. I am not very organized :)

I was working on my "Sunflowers" oil painting this morning, that I had started months ago and never gotten back to. I now have about 7 hrs in it so far. Art work needs to be done in the day time when the light is good ........ I am supposed to be working , you know , at a real job, but things are very slow right now.

Besides, everyone needs a "Me" day once in a while. Don't you agree??

Bloggin' Woes!

2010-01-28T13:12:00.000-06:00

My floors are dirty,
My house is a mess!
The dishes need doin'
But I need a rest .....

The wood needs a carryin'
Thank you, Lord, for the cart!
With all of this work
I just can't fall apart!

(But just an hour,
or two.... maybe three,
To do my bloggin'
Don't you all agree??)

The hens need a feedin'
The garden a weedin'
But I'll just be a moment ....
My bloggin' I'm heedin'

Then on to the supper...
Oh! its later than late!
I'll throw on some 'taters
For my hard-workin' mate!

Oh mercy, oh me!
Time goes too fast!
TV's a time-waster
But bloggin's a blast!!

~Written by Sunny~

Early Frosty Morning on the Farm

2010-01-27T03:17:00.005-06:00

Sun barely up .... but light enough to get hay out to the cows

One is at the pond drinking, where they have had to break ice to get water. Hubby will have to break it up and keep it broken up so they can drink. The ice can get pretty thick near the banks of the pond if the temperatures stay low for long.

I linger for a moment to get some photos of the sun's reflection on the ice.

Here comes hubby with the bobcat and one of 3 hay rolls he will put out

Cows on both sides of the path head for the hay rings... they know where to go when its feeding time.

This is #13, herd Boss, and she makes sure everyone knows it

Calves follow close behind the momma cows.

One cow with her new-born stays off away from the rest, but will get to the hay eventually.

You can see the steam rising from their breath, as they congregate around the feeding area.

Cows are content so we start back toward the house, the sun rising higher by the moment.

I pass by the dead tree that fell, where hubby got the last load of fire-wood. It will be nice to get back to that wood stove heat in the dining room!

Sunday Afternoon Lunches... which would you pick?

2010-01-20T10:15:00.004-06:00

His n' Hers salads ....

Hubby likes a good hearty salad with leftover grilled chicken, FF's and cheddar cheese on top of a mixed lettuce/ veggie base. Mine is the Slim n' Trim one ( how come I'm not?? :) ) with same base, avacado, red beans and swiss cheese. Now wouldn't you think that would be healthier ?

Father Knows Best .....

2010-01-19T22:30:00.003-06:00

Remember the "Ever heard of Chicken Fever?"post?
(I had already bought some chicks ... which ended up in the stew pot)

Well, hubby's fine pick went from this ....

....... to......

....... these fine looking birds ......

to these wonderful eggs we are now getting .....

... in a few short months.
Sometimes, father still knows best ...

Look what Hubby got for Christmas!

2009-12-30T10:03:00.009-06:00

No more lugging each armload of firewood up 3 steps into the house!

What a back-and-knee saver! I found this handy wood-hauler through Lehman's online store. I had been looking for something like this for the last couple years but nothing I found was this sturdy. We need to make adjustments as we get older to keep living the country life that we so love.

The wheels are spaced so that we can just roll it back the hall, through the door, and let it set on the top step as we fill it from the side. It holds about twice the wood you see on it here; plenty for 24 hrs in our stove. We are going to enjoy this handy tool!

More wood-stove baking

2009-12-23T12:42:00.005-06:00

This is the oatmeal bread I baked a week ago but was not able to post the pic b/c my knee has given me trouble again and I couldn't get upstairs to the 'puter I use to download my pictures. But as you can see, it is possible to make nice even and evenly browned loaves of bread in a wood cook-stove oven. If anyone would like the recipe just email me or leave a comment.

I made these Banana-nut muffins the other day as I had bananas coming out my ears and needed to get them used. This is one of Hubby's favorites. My oven wasn't quite up to temp (400*) but they baked well anyway. It has to do more with keeping the temperature even during the baking process.

Since I am not going to get to make Christmas cookies as usual this year, I would delight in at least seeing what any of you have made. Are you baking in a wood stove oven? Or an oven on top of your wood-stove? I'd like to hear....

You all have a warm, merry and Blessed Christmas!

Getting Chummy with Your Wood Cook-Stove

2009-12-10T07:47:00.004-06:00

Wednesday snuck up on me this week!
Actually I haven't cooked much on my woodstove this week as I had been trying to use up leftovers from the huge meatloaf I'd baked in the oven over the weekend. I had also made 4 loaves of my easy oatmeal bread.

Baking in the oven is not hard. Once you get your oven going at a nice even temperature that will hold for about 45 min at least, you are set to bake your bread. The main point here, at least for me, is to remember to turn the bread pans around about 2/3 way through the baking to allow them to brown evenly.

Maintaining even temps in your oven does take practice, but dont be discouraged; every oven is different. Take some time to getting to know your particular stove. It just takes a little attention to detail.

As for a meat loaf or a roast, again, once your fire is stable for however long it takes to cook your meat, it is much the same as baking it in gas or electric oven, except for the richer flavor that is :)

If you cook on a woodstove, please leave links to your blogs so we can all learn from each other. Also, do any of you have a grandmother, mom or aunt who used to cook with wood? Tell us your fond memories of it.

Thanks for visiting! Happy wood-stove cooking!

Wood-stove Cookin' Wednesdays!

2009-12-02T11:45:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the first post on Wood-stove Cookin' Wednesdays!

Nothing tastes better that food cooked on a wood-stove! It replaces the need for electric wintertime crock-pots, and can pop up popcorn to out-do Or*ill Reden*ocker !

There are many wood cook-stoves available to choose from. We happened to choose an Amish-made Kitchen Queen because of the larger fire-box and oven. You can also cook on the surface of any number of wood heating stoves, if that is what you happen to have.

The basic requirements for keeping a wood-stove in good operating condition are the same, whether it is a heating stove or a cook stove.

1. Keep the ashes cleaned out and the chimney clear of creosote.

2. Use dry, seasoned firewood, not green wood; as green wood tends to cause more creosote build-up.

3. Have a good supply of kindling, and a couple different sizes (diameter) of firewood for varying degrees of heat.

4. Allow the stove to heat up slowly; don't build a "fast fire " all at once or you run the risk of warping the grids and sides of the fire box.

The best varieties of wood are oak, maple, apple, walnut or any of the other hardwoods. We have used pine and hemlock also. You will likely need to use whatever is available in your area. Get to know the kinds of wood, their heat out-put and burn times.

These few simple tips will have you well on your way to successful cooking on your wood-stove!

We welcome any and all comments, tips and experiences! We will try to find a way to link up with other wood-stove cooks!

What does Breakfast Mean to You?

2009-11-17T12:08:00.003-06:00

Dear hubby took over in the kitchen the other day :)

This is what he calls a "Now-I've-had-breakfast-I-can-get-to-work" meal! Didn't even need the toast!

Country Cookin'

2009-11-04T15:23:00.004-06:00

I had a small Golden Hubbard squash I have been wanting to bake, but still too warm this week for the wood stove so I did it in my regular oven.

I cut it in half and removed seeds, baked it for 30 min, then filled it with sausage balls (cooked till done in my iron skillet) topped it with walnuts, dried cranberries and a little bit of brown sugar, and baked 20 more mins. Doesn't it look scrumptious??? It was!

Neat give-away

2009-10-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

Hey ya'll! I have just been over to Kentucky Farm Girl's blog, and she has a wonderful give-away
going till Oct. 29th. Take a hike on over and look at what all is there! Just click on this link, "Sit-Back-and-Relax" give-away

While you are there, be sure to give her a nice country "Howdy!" and check out her other posts. Very informative! I especially liked her post on how to make a bird suet feeder out of a piece of tree limb!

Re-visiting Nutrition

2009-10-17T07:51:00.004-05:00

I think it is good from time to time to do a check-up on the foods we are taking in, at least for us. It is easy to slip back into " it tastes good so I'll get it , just for a treat". Since I am packing hubby's lunch once again, it has become too easy to pick up bags of chips at the grocery store to include in his lunch. Not only is that expensive but has no nutritional value. I usually pack a good sandwich on whole-grain bread, a fruit of some kind, or cottage cheese and fruit, and a couple homemade cookies or pie.

I decided to make my own trail-mix with items I had picked up at the bulk foods store. It contains a pretzel mix, dried pineapple, apricots, cranberries, raisins, cashews, and a few dark chocolate chips. I would have put in brazil nuts if I'd had any, and some pumpkin seeds. Maybe next trip.

Those of you that pack lunches, what do you add for a nutritional snack?

Fall is in the Air

2009-10-14T12:44:00.003-05:00

Nothing like crisp fall air to make a person want to gather the last bouquet of the season and cook up some heart-warming food!

Below is rabbit stuffed with Cranberry-Walnut stuffing on a bed of seasoned brown rice, chunky applesauce, and a Turk's Turban Squash pie.

I also made a Bean n' Barley soup with Kielbasa. In addition, a Skillet-Corn-Bread makes this a nutritious meal!

Now if that wouldn't warm your tummy, I don't know what would!

My Frugal Hubby ... on using what you have ...

2009-09-24T09:53:00.011-05:00

Time to fence in the new 16-acre field that hubby made hay from this year (we have one week to get our fencing materials together )

We have fence posts that we brought with us years ago when we moved here, many of them pretty rusted up, bent, and many too short, all different lengths. But when my hubby goes to work on something he does a terrific job! And thankfully, over the years, he has accumulated the needed tools and taken very good care of them.......

He needed 100 T- posts to go in between the wood posts, and at about $5 or more each for new, he decided to keep his money in his wallet and make do with what he had. Step by step, and spending many evenings after work he got the job done.

1. Weld posts together to make them all long enough and all the same length

2. Wire brush to remove all rust, with a grinder tool and wire brush disks

3. Move what he can out of the workshop to set up room to paint them, as we have been having rainy weather here for eons.

4.Paint and try to get dry running a little heat in there.... Flip and paint the other side... then again.

Finished product.... 97 like new t-posts!

My hubby is one frugal dude! We are ready for fencing to begin!

Fall Garden

2009-09-21T11:20:00.009-05:00

The peas poked their heads up out of the ground about a week after I had planted them. We had just about the right amount of rain to give them a good start.I plan to get some wire strung for them to climb on

The lettuce is also up ...

and the zucchini ...

and the swiss chard

We are also having a fall crop of raspberries...

I am going to re-seed in some spinach and it is about time to put in the garlic. My asparagus replacement plants will be coming in the mail any day now.

If you are growing fall garden veggies I would like to know how yours are doing.

My Mom's Chunky Applesauce

2009-09-21T08:45:00.006-05:00

My mom always made chunky applesauce when she had the time. It is simple to make, just more time consuming. but that is the way we like it best. I was fortunate to get some apples this year that were pretty good and I decided it was worth the extra effort.

I cored and peeled, and cored and peeled, instead of running through a food mill. When I got a kettle full of apple chunks I put them on to cook over a med-low fire with about a half-cup of water in the bottom. I let them cook down and then mashed them into smaller chunks with a hand potato masher. I do not add any sugar or cinnamon until the jar is opened to be used. That way if a lid happens to come unsealed without your knowledge, you only lose the apples. Besides, most of the applesauce I've canned actually needs no sugar.

As the sauce and jars were hot , I just filled the jars and placed each one in a boiling water bath as it was readied. I processed 30 min for pints.

I made 20 pts this way . This chunky applesauce is good just as is. But, also a good alternative topping for pancakes or waffles. Nothing like having your own home-processed food the way you prefer!

New Office Mascot

2009-09-03T09:35:00.004-05:00

Hi everybody! ...... Meet "Bailey"!

There is quite a story behind Bailey. For the full scoop, go here

Fall garden

2009-08-27T20:47:00.007-05:00

I don't really know much about how other people in Kentucky do with their gardens, but I am going to be experimenting with fall gardening this year. Besides, I felt a little cheated this spring with all the constant rain preventing me from planting a good bit of my veggies.

I have planted a double row of Sugar Snap peas, 2 double rows of English peas, some mixed lettuce, baby spinach, and swiss chard. That is sweet potato vines you can see to the right of the new rows.

I also used 1 row and sprinkled in some cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower seed to see if it would germinate and grow. I covered all rows with a thin layer of straw, like when you plant grass seed, figuring it might shade the seedlings til they get a start and also help keep the ground from drying out so fast.

Then early this morning I soaked it all down good with the sprinkler....... well, to be quite honest, I almost flooded the garden area because I got busy and forgot to turn the sprinkler off until 7:30 tonight. So the seeds are good and soaked. We are due for some rain the next couple days and cooler weather the next week so I thought I'd just "stablize the seed" by giving the ground a good soaking. Time will tell if anything grows.

I also had to sit down in the shade from time to time under the pin oak tree in the yard next to the garden. Look what grew up beside my garden chair this summer .... another little volunteer sunflower!

Do any of you in the middle southern states plant a fall garden ? I would like to know what crops you plant and when and what you have had succcess with. All comments welcome.

Give credit where credit is due ....

2009-08-26T19:20:00.008-05:00

Woohoo! I did it! I made a Susan McMinn Peach Pie !

Thanks so much to Susan for posting this peach pie recipe on her blog, "Chickens in the Road". I have never made a successful peach pie before in my life. Other pretty good pies yes, but not peach. She made it look so good and the recipe was so easy to follow. She has many wonderful recipes posted there.

My hubby was very happy with it! Doesn't it look delicious?
I will also be trying Susan's peach-pit jelly recipe.

Food Preservation - part 2

2009-08-26T07:43:00.005-05:00

I love the bright sun coming in my hall entry in the morning as if to say "Good Day" to me on my way to the kitchen

It will be a busy place today with all this........

Yumm! spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, and canned-tomato time is here! And there are plenty more tomatoes in our garden where these came from ......

Herbs from our herb garden are used to make a nice aromic and flavorful sauce.

..... oregano and basil here .... after cleaning, inspecting the leaves, and removing from stems, I chop them up fine. A pizza wheel run back and forth over them does a great job.

I make my sauce the lazy way, and just whurr the whole tomates in the blender; seeds, skin and all. No waste that way. Then cook it down with added salt, bell peppers, onions, celery, and when reduced in volumn I add the herbs.

Cook another 20 min, add precooked ground beef and sausage, put in jars and process. Spaghetti sauce is done in quart jars, pizza meat sauce (with our own farm-raised beef) on the left is done up in pints, and so are the canned tomatoes..

Nothing like home-made. A lot of work, but every bit worth the trouble. There is something very satisfying about putting up your own food. Time to go pick the next batch of tomatoes!

Food Preservation at Our House - part 1

2009-08-19T20:25:00.003-05:00

I use many methods of preserving food from our gardens to keep us through the winter months and beyond. I freeze corn, broccoli, melon chunks or balls, grapes; can or freeze green beans; can peaches, pears and applesauce; pickle beets; make saurkraut in the jars; cool-store winter squash and sweet potatoes; and the list goes on .....
This year I am especially enjoying my pepper garden ...... just look at all the colors!

I cut these in strips for fajitas, mixed them with cut up onion, and tossed into freezer bags. Do you know how much this stuff costs in the stores in off season?? Peppers are so easy to freeze.
But they do take up room needed for other things, so ....

I also dehydrated some. This little bag-full came from a good-sized 3-gal pail of peppers!
My oldest daughter now has the dehydrator her grandmother had, an ExCalibur, so last year I bought a new one, same brand, both have 9 trays with a temp control and timer. Great dehydrator!

This morning I was up at 4;45, could not sleep , so I cut up some yellow squash ( great for adding to veg. soups) about 7 small ones, and started them drying.

I also added a sliced roma tomato on one shelf to see how it would turn out.

and there is the finished product. My hubby has also made a mean beef jerky using this dehydrator. That stuff is expensive to buy..... The thing is making sure to get the food dry enough, so mold and bacteria cannot grow.

We did not always have a dehydrator. Years ago I dried my onions, garlic and dry beans on old window screens and covered with cheese-cloth in the sun in the back yard. I hung my herbs from the rafters in the barn loft. Fruit leathers were dried in the oven. As for canning, I had a three burner hot-plate on a home-made stand on the front porch (way out in the country) and made my tomato sauce in a double boiler, one that covered at least 2 burners. One year I canned 700 hundred qts of produce, Well, gracious.... I had 5 children to feed! (#6 came along later) But I never canned that amount after....

We have also canned chicken, rabbit and venison. I may be canning hamburger this year to be able to shut down a freezer and save the utilities. As far as other meat we have also "salt-cured" hams from our home-grown pork... but thats another story ..........

and now I am off to work for a hour on the border of my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. A restful end to a busy day!

Just a Walk in the Park...

2009-08-18T06:35:00.001-05:00

I had started letting the chickens out for about a half hr. before dark so they can run, and eat bugs and greens

My rooster thinks he is just "Cock of the walk"

They sure enjoy the freedom; picking and running and flapping their wings.

I don't leave them out too long or they would find the garden :0

And they all need to be tucked safely in at night. Too many predators looking for an easy meal!

Do you let your chickens free range?

Banana-Applesauce Muffins

2009-08-07T11:56:00.003-05:00

I had hurt my back and was down a couple days, but this morning I got up, no pain and feeling full of energy! So I used up my over-ripe bananas in this new (to me) recipe using applesauce instead of oil in a banana bread recipe, only I made muffins instead. They are so moist! .... and nutritionally better for you!

I am going to have one right now for my lunch ..... with cream cheese on it! want some? I'll share...

Processing Chickens (not for the squeamish...)

2009-08-06T20:10:00.005-05:00

We like our chickens and they have a good life while they are here, but the time comes for some of them to serve their purpose.... on our dinner-table.

Here in a nut-shell is how we process them. Hubby takes a sharp axe and with a swift blow cuts the head off, immediately rendering the chicken dead. The nerves of the body still cause it to move some for a couple minutes, but no pain is felt as the brain is seperate from the body. This procedure also allows the carcass to bleed out.

We immediately remove the feathers, skin and inerds, and remove the feet and legs to the first joint, then plunge the bird into a 5 gal. bucket filled with cold, cold water. The bucket will hold about 3 good sized birds, and we change the water frequently. After the chickens are butchered we cut them up into pieces; legs, thighs, breast, backs necks and wings, and put on the stove in large pots to cook until the meat starts to fall off the bone.

While it is still hot, we pick the meat off the bones, pack the jars, and pour broth over them.

Processing takes 1 hr and 15 mins for quarts, and 1 hr for pints, even though it has already been thoroughly cooked.

This makes for a wonderful meal that can be gotten ready in short order. It can be used for chicken and noodles, chicken and biscuits, chicken noodle soup, baked chicken cassarole, chicken sandwiches, and the list goes on and on....

We processed 14 quarts from 12 chickens, one did not seal and went to the fridge, and one went in the freezer. But doesn't this look absolutely yummy? We had chicken and noodles for the first meal with a side dish of fresh green beans from the garden. Another side dish of fried apples compliments it well.

D-Day

2009-08-01T06:35:00.002-05:00

Today is D-Day for the roasters, er.... roosters, red and black both.

We will be keeping several black hens for layers.

Hubby will do the butchering and I will be cooking, cleaning meat off the bones and canning it up . I wonder how many quarts of chicken meat I will get from 12 chickens??

Spoiled Chicks!

2009-07-30T11:02:00.012-05:00

There they go! .... they have discovered they can squeeze through the holes in the fence.

My six little hatchlings are now brave enough to leave their mother's side.

The older ones, I am sure, enticed the younger ones to follow them! ( you know how kids do........ "follow us, we know the way!")

Leader of the pack (you can tell by the "hair-do")

Oh yes, into the rhubarb patch ( "lots of worms and bugs in here ya'll!")and on they go, round and round the hen-house, and further and further out. Until....

There they go, down by the woods, not thinking about the "Big Bad Coyote"!

Way down by the tall fennel .......

well, someone had sense enough to call it quits and head home ....

"Lets see.... I think this is how we get back in....."

Ah, home safe and sound, even though a scolding from Mom and Aunt Henrietta was forth-coming. ........ but they will go again tomorrow. The grass is certainly greener on the other side of the fence!

More good food...

2009-07-28T12:57:00.010-05:00

I know most everyone around here is sick of rain, but it has done wonders for our garden that got planted so late......

These are our first pears on the tree we planted last year.....

and our blueberries got soooo big......

so are the cantalopes...

and peppers galore ....... it takes lots of water to grow good peppers.

I have to keep my volunteer cukes picked before they get too big

The corn was doing very well ,

.... until the raccoons visited. But it did not go to waste.

We salvaged what we could for ourselves, then cut the stalks and fed them to the cows....

Meanwhile the green beans and tomatoes are also coming on..

How is your garden doing?

Good Food!

2009-07-16T09:19:00.003-05:00

Picked these yesterday before the storm...

These are Green peppers, Ivory peppers, Lilac peppers, and Chocolate peppers

..... other good food includes fresh tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash, the last of the blueberries and raspberries; and a freshmade cornbread which we had with kidney beans topped with grated cheese and coleslaw for a satisfying dinner!

I just love summertime produce from my own garden!

Too many hens.... not enough chicks

2009-06-30T18:03:00.006-05:00

Four more chicks were hatched out yesterday. The problem is, three hens want to claim them. Three hens were sitting on 1 nest that had gotten split into 2 nests and this is the result. I thought, "Wish I could talk to King Solomon. He would surely know what to do." When I went back out later to get a pic, this hen was the one who ended up with the chicks; the silkies must have been scolded away :)

I think two of these are silkies and other white w/gray butt islike this hen. The black one is from one of the little banty's I got at the farm sale early this spring.

Oh yes, one silkie jumped back up on the remaining eggs. I will let that go on a few days and then pitch them if none hatch by then.

Can I get some Volunteers please?

2009-06-25T09:27:00.006-05:00

my one and only mammoth sunflower for this year ...

Two huge watermelon plants .......

Dill, that I transplanted from the herb bed to the garden ...

Raspberry plants .... with berries on! .....

A tomato plant with our 1st tomato of the year, 3 times the size of the plants I started....

and a cucumber vine climbing up the hummingbird feeder pole near my front porch! See the little cukes on it?

What has volunteered in your garden?

A Sweet Deal!

2009-06-22T13:03:00.008-05:00

Last winter, when we lost our freezer due to power surge during the ice storm, we were able to replace it with this......

It is an "either-or" 13.5 cubic ft freezer/refrigerator. We also got $50 off b/c of being the last one in stock. This means , once we use up most of the food it holds ( right now the last butchered cow) we can move the rest into our regular freezer and use this as a refridgerator at garden time when produce comes in faster than can be processed.

We are looking forward to watermelons, cantalopes, corn, green beans, tomatoes, corn, squash, cabbage, swiss chard, and did I mention corn?? all from our own garden.

On another note ...... I am also looking to go to a harbor freight store and get one of those 3-burner hot plates and hook up to a 20# propane bottle and do my summer canning outside in the carport, instead of heating up my kitchen. Oh, yumm! I could slow cook my spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce all day and still be cool! not to mention vegetable soup to be canned!

No, the power surge did not blow my mind, this is the "real me" talking.

Country Apple Pie ......... and other uses for oatmeal

2009-06-19T13:27:00.005-05:00

Somehow I inherited a tall canister of "quick" Quaker oatmeal. Oh yes, it was when dear daughter decided to go on an extended vacation and didnt want food to go to waste. I already had a 5# bag of the "old-fashioned" kind I bought at the bulk food store. Okay, how many ways can I use extra oatmeal?

My first choice was this Country Apple Pie. I decided to use oatmeal in my piecrust, which I have done on occasion before, but this time I used half oatmeal and half flour. (I love to experiment) Even with the extra oatmeal the crust held together well and made it into the piepan. I loved Rachel Ray's way of making a pie! Just make the bottom crust extra big and fold it over the filling (made with brown sugar and plenty of cinnamon). No need to bother rolling out a "lid". Walla! This was a hit with dear husband!

I also made a meat loaf, and so combined 2 cups oatmeal in the mix in place of seasoned bread crumbs or breading. It turned out real tasty! We have been eating it several days now.

Granola is next on my list. I love it for cereal in the morning . That will be an early Saturday morning project. There are numerous other ways uses for oatmeal. The Quaker Oats box used to carry a cookbook offer on the back. I have mis-placed mine and don't know if they still offer it, but it has many useful recipes in it. Oatmeal is so good for you ..... a natural grain, low in fat, and supposedly helps lower your cholesterol (if you eat it :) )

Homemade soap with oatmeal, for a gentle exfoliator, is a good project for wintertime. We have made goatmilk soaps using oatmeal and it is a very nice soap.
If any of you have favorite ways of using oatmeal please post them. We would love to hear.

Sunday afternoon Surprise!

2009-06-08T14:53:00.007-05:00

Late afternoon I walked to the hen house just to talk to the chickens. I heard a little "peep-peep" from the floor. One little yellow fluff ball making that big noise! I had thought they weren't due for another week (somehow I lost a week!) I scooped her up and put in with the hen on the nest and got a good hard pecking and scolding for my troubles!

This morning she was off her nest and had 3 little peeps with her. I love diversity in color, so of course I commended her with doing a great job!

I took the water unit off the hanger and set it on bricks on the floor with a ramp so they could reach it, and threw a handful of feed into their corner. She is teaching them to eat ....

.... while standing guard. Not another hen dares go near!

Got to Make Hay while the Sun Shines!

2009-06-07T14:54:00.011-05:00

Hubby had a good start on making hay 2 weeks ago .....

Then the rain came for several days ......

When the sun came out, a few rounds of the field were made ...... and the old mower flung its last blade and died ..... actually, where it had been welded twice before was again broken, this time too bad to be fixed. There was danger of doing damage to the tractor if we tried to continue using it. And there were 55 acres yet to mow.

Fortunately our calf sale three weeks ago had reaped the funds for a new mower.......

Our old Zetor tractor needs worked on once in a while but it does a good job. I hope it keeps doing just that because by next year the rickety old rake will be the nessessary replacement.

(The swallows follow after the hay is cut to get their fill of bugs)

We are glad the rain held off .....

until he could get this hay field rolled .....

Hubby enjoys what he is doing... being a farmer.... and I enjoy him being happy. It makes me smile!

Summer is for Sandwiches!

2009-05-29T21:30:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but around here the busy summer time means sandwiches appear on the menu more than at any other time of year. Sometimes my hubby has to jump on the tractor first thing in the morning, especially at haying time; no time for a sit-down breakfast, and later I run a sandwich out to him at noon. Here are some of our favorites combinations .....

Breakfast sandwiches
1.Peanut butter, honey and raisins on cinnamon-raisin bread (mine)

2. Ham, bacon, or sausage and egg scramble, topped with shredded cheese in a skillet-heated tortilla wrap (his)

3.Fried egg and sausage patty or bacon, cheese slice and mayo on w/w toast (his)

Lunch on the run

1. Tuna salad with chopped celery and onions on w/w bread or wrapped in a tortilla shell with lettuce

2. Tomato and onion slices (thick sliced) with mayo on w/w or oatmeal bread

3. Swiss cheese and dill pickle stackers, mustard and mayo on multi-grain bread

Now for the meat lovers .....

4. Cold left-over roast rabbit or chicken, lettuce, cheese (any kind), tomato, onion, mayo and mustard on whole wheat or oatmeal bread (any choices of the above)

5. Sloppy-joe (with home-grown beef burger and home-made sauce) and cheese on whole-wheat buns, add pickle if you like

6. Shredded home-canned venison in bbq sauce, cheese and pickle in buns

To any of these meat sandwiches, a layer of potato chips under the top "lid" of the sandwich gives an extra interesting crunch, for those that eat them. And thats about as far as my time and imagination will take me.

Do you have favorites that you would like to share?

Memorial Day week-end .......

2009-05-27T15:48:00.004-05:00

Hubby had to work Saturday so I busied myself with things I needed to get done....

... made fresh strawberry freezer jam

... cleaned the chicken coop ... and they just didn't know what to think of that ....

Then Monday afternoon hubby surprised me by building us a new raised bed for the rhubarb! just in back of the future greenhouse ....