Grow Your Own!

This is a link I recently found and when I can find some time, I plan to take part in it. It's not that hard to grow a little something. It can even be done in a pot on your kitchen windowsill!

I did a lesson for Enrichment (a monthly meeting for ladies at church) a couple of months ago on gardening large and small. I had the ladies planting tomatoes and peppers in pots. They loved it and I was surprised that many of the plants had been well tended and were producing for them!

Some of the things we love to eat grown on our place: marinated cucumbers, tomato sandwiches, egg sandwiches (both on homemade bread), smothered pork chops, pork roast with gravy, sausage gravy and homemade biscuits, omelets, french toast from homemade bread and our eggs, lamb stew, lamb curry, rosemary lamb chops, stuffed cabbage rolls, veggie soup sometimes with meats-many times without. Soon we'll be having ribs and steaks, hamburgers and roasts...all from our steer calf. Steve can't wait! Then it'll be time to put the fall garden in. YUM!

It's official...

we are being overrun by eggs! We're getting a dozen a day right now and my fridge perpetually seems to have 5 dozen at a time in there! We pretty much walk out there with a carton and fill it up! It's nice though seeing them all laying so well.

I am going to be putting up a flyer at the feed store to sell some of these babies and a couple of goats. I really need to downsize. The feed went up again two weeks ago. Horse feed jumped a dollar in two weeks, cow feed .75 cents more, goat and chicken feed .50 cents more. This is the fourth hike this year...it's just nuts. Luckily we've got pasture and grass to put the animals out on. I need to get a bale of hay for the calf so he'll have something to munch on in there. I so wish I could let him out in the pasture, but the fence isn't good for that.

I'm heading out in a sec to feed some of them and let the smaller livestock out into the back and front yard. Atleast they'll keep it mowed down and we'll save gas from the mower, LOL. Gas is rediculous right now too...

If only he knew...

If he knew he was going to be going to Freezer Camp in the near future, then he would not come anywhere near me! LOL...

Today was a bit of a breakthrough. The calf we got turned out to be one of the most standoffish of the bunch. Even the owner was surprised. I told them that it wouldn't take too long for him get used to someone messing with him though. Patience and food seems to always work! I started sitting on a bucket and letting him get used to eating near me, then I moved closer. Then I started trying to touch his forehead. I would leave once he let me touch it without moving away. I had to be sort of quick though since at first he would move away a lot...now I can actually sit there and after a few minutes, I can scratch his whole head, check his ears out and scratch all down his neck. I like to be able to handle or atleast get near and touch all my animals...even the soon to be food ones. I need to be able to keep a check on their weight, trim feet, check eyes/teeth, and tend wounds if needed. He has what looks to be some hair loss around his right ear. I think he's got some itchiness there and I'm going to have to spray something on it...another reason for him to get used to me handling his ears...I've been making a lot of spraying noises too as I sit near him. I would like to be able to use some citronella during the summer for a little fly control. I don't like using a lot of chemicals on my animals, especially the ones we are going to eat, but I hate for them to be tortured by the amount of bugs we have here.

We also are starting to get more pullet eggs! They are so little compared to our older hens' eggs. Little Man likes them for breakfast...call's them his miniature eggs. LOL.

UHG......

I am still upset about the chicks and hens being killed. This morning I had two calls from people I know, wanting eggs...eggs I don't have, eggs I won't have come this fall as I had planned-thanks to some dogs, money I won't make off the eggs I won't have....that's now a waiting list of over 20 people....I really wish I had eggs to sell to them...heck I even wish I had enough eggs to eat myself! LOL!

I think I'll be taking some of the eggs and incubating them. What a fun winter project for the kids and come this spring we'll have eggs if all goes well. A few things have to be taken care of first before that can happen, but hopefully we can do it.

I hope the goats are all bred and that we'll have milk and kids in the spring. I was reading an article about milk today that a friend sent me. Do you know what's in your milk, where it comes from, how it's processed and shipped? Cheaper milk does not mean better. I never buy Wally World milk or other off brands...haven't for a few years now because I think it tastes funny, it goes bad too fast, and it comes from way too many sources that use questionable practices. My family and I don't want or need anything synthetic added to it. I buy Organic whenever possible, which is getting easier to find in my local stores (buy local whenever possible, support your local farmers!). Mostly I'm able to get Horizon Organic in half gallons; I really like their milk. It's only 30-40 cents more per gallon when not on sale than some other brands. I like the cardboard cartons, easier to recycle and the milk does not take on funny odors. I'm also trying to stay away from liquids in plastics...plastics have their own set of issues.

I guess I'm kind of funny about a lot of food. If I can't make it, raise it or grow it for our own use, then I'm a bit leary of it. I even have a hard time eating out. That's one reason I got the goats for milking and meat, plus B is lactose intolerant and will be helping me to milk the girls. I'm funny about eggs (and Chicken meat, although we haven't started raising them for that yet, contrary to what my dang dog thinks), so I got chickens. Plus chickens are just fun to watch and who needs a manure spreader when you have chickens. I have very little problems with manure control near the barn which means less flies! Can't beat that. They make short work of keeping all spilt grains cleaned up too.

I got sheep for meat. Store bought lamb doesn't come close to what we've been eating. Ours is so much more mild in taste and tender. Plus it really costs nothing to feed them...they stay fat on grass in the summer and hay in the winter with a little cracked corn for a couple of months.

We hope to try raising out a calf next spring. I'm researching it now and we'll see.

The pigs are almost ready. They are getting big. I need to go take measurements and see what they weigh now.

Steve remarked yesterday and said that he thinks I was born into the wrong time period! That I should have probably been born around the 1700's. LOL! I need to look the 1700's up and see what was going on then and what life was like. I think that may be a bit too early for me though...we'll see!

Cast iron pans...

I love them. Yes they can be heavy, but I don't care. They are virtually indestructible (for me that is a big selling point right there!) and once seasoned properly, can easily fry an egg without sticking.

A few days ago, we found one of our hens had laid this humongous egg. It really looked like one of those plastic jumbo Easter eggs that come 6 to a pack at your local Wally-world. It seriously was huge and could have fit snugly inside one of those plastic eggs...anyways. J wanted it for himself. He helped me gather them that day and felt the prize inside was his! LOL. The next morning he requested his, for now, favorite breakfast: an egg sandwich. He wanted 'My Big Egg' as he called it. :-)

He pulled out our little 6" skillet and turned on the stove...did I mention that I love having a gas stove? I do. Whenever the power goes out. I don't have to worry about a hot meal. I fire that baby up and dinner is ready in no time. We also have the propane grill (and while I love what grilling with charcoal does to your food, I hate the time it takes, the expense of the charcoal and the mess...I like the ease of my gas grill. Plus it does a darn good job).

So back to the egg...he pulled out 'His' egg and 'let' me do the honors of cracking it. He says he didn't want to bust the yolks. I half expected two undersized yolks and a lot of white...I was surprised. That poor hen did good! Two huge yolks and a nice amount of white. That sandwich looked so good when I put it together! I tried to get him to let me have it...no such luck. As a matter of fact, he told me "No Way!" and suggested that I instead could make myself one, but use two of our regular eggs. Isn't he sweet, LOL!

Those skillets just cook so efficiently. I also have cast iron stew pots and a couple of smaller pots for doing small cuts of meat or side dishes. Baked beans are great in them. Cleanup is a breeze most of the time and if not, a stiff brush or scrubby will work. I also like how I haven't yet been able to burn off the finish like I do with 'no-stick' pans, course if stuff's sticking, it's high time to season again. Or heck, fry some fish or fries in them, let it set overnight, empty it out in the morning, wipe it out and your set. I don't have to worry about loving people here using metal utensils in them cause it's no biggie...can't say that about non-stick pans.

Try one sometime. They even come preseasoned so that first step is already done for you!

Yummy Bread!

I have to admit that I did buy two loaves of bread since I began making our own...I truely don't want to do that again; it's like eating fluff...there is not much to it. Homemade bread is just way better once you find the right recipe that your family enjoys. I have found it...it was another recipe that I found and then did a little tweaking with for our own likes. It's an oatmeal wheat bread that is just Yum! I'll have to post the recipe if anyone wants to try it. I do mix it in my bread machine, but take it out to rise and bake. I do not like the way my machine does it.

There is nothing better than a warm slice of this bread slathered with butter and homemade jam. Today my jam of choice happens to be peach...tomorrow may be blueberry or blackberry! The kids love it this way too, although J prefers it 2 slices toasted and buttered with one of our farm fresh eggs fried and put in between. That is just a little piece of heaven right there!

Calgon take me away...

Let me preface this by saying that my kids are normally really great when we run errands. People compliment them on their manners and behavior. They are quite patient and I explain the places that we'll be going and about what time we'll be done so they'll have a little understanding of what will be going on for the day....today was not one of those good days...

This post is a major vent and so will be kind of long....

This morning started off good. The kids were excited that we were going to be 'skipping' school for today. I had tons of errands that I needed to take care of and wanted to visit the Scholastic book warehouse downtown for their 50% off sale-the kids love books too and so they were excited. I didn't end up finding a whole lot, but did get a huge animal book (great reference book for school) that the kids wanted, a Christmas gift for my nephew and two stocking stuffer's for our two. Plus I had a $10 off coupon I got to use. Anyways....

I herded the kids along to get dressed in some timely manner and then out to feed the animals, check for eggs, and get things picked up before we headed out. I had nicely agreed to let them bring their Nintendo DS along for the ride (I hate that thing though-most of the time they gripe when each other is playing it-they know if I hear it, I'll just take it)...thought I was being nice, but it ended up biting me in the butt later. I've now learned my lesson.

Headed to the bank, took them over to the nearby Waffle House (their favorite and we're getting one in our little town. They are ecstatic!). Had a nice quick breakfast and then out the door to Scholastic. Heard a little grumbling that so and so was getting more time on the game...I had to warn them that I didn't want to hear it and that I was watching the time so they each got the same. That if they kept complaining they'd be done for the day. Checked out and headed over to Target (my favorite store). Made them put the game up since we would be in and out of stores for a bit-more grumbling. We got some groceries, they spent their allowance and off we went to Smoothie King since everyone was thirsty and I had a 'buy one get one free' coupon (I love coupons). The "Can we play the game?" badgering had already started while leaving the store and "Aren't we done yet". No! Off to Office Depot to make a return, then over to PetSmart to get a harness for Maggie and some more dog treats, one of which she's devouring right now. Kids ask to play games on the way home and I agree to flip a coin (daughters favorite). We did the "pick a number 'tween 1 and 10" the first time (son's favorite). So I flipped and it didn't flip, just fell to the console-sister is gloating that she won, but I always flip three times and she knows it, so she pitches a fit that "that's not fair, I won" and brother is hollering that it didn't flip and so I turn around and holler back...NO ONE IS PLAYING THE REST OF THE DAY! That went over well and I dared them to fuss...they know I'll add another to it. Did I mention I hate that thing. Oh and another "Aren't we done yet?". NO!

Then to Wal-Mart (a place I despise-many, many reasons why) to make a return. Well after dealing with the 'service' desk associates (what ever happened to good customer service? I worked that department for a time, some years ago...one thing you don't do it imply that a customer is lying!) I let them know that they just added another reason that I have stopped shopping in the Wal-Mart stores. So now I'm off to Taco Smell (YUCK!) to get my son a Crunchwrap Supreme that I agreed he could have weeks ago after passing another one on our hurried way home. Sister doesn't want yucky Taco Bell (don't blame her) and we drive next door to McD's. Don't care for that place either, but their little snack wraps are a filling little snack. Asked her three times what kind she wanted: Grilled with Honey Mustard. Are you sure you want grilled? Yes, not crunchy. So I ordered...she opens it up and all of a sudden she busts out squalling with crazy alligator tears...what the! I pull over and look at her only to hear her say: "I didn't want this one! I wanted the one with the crust!" Ummmm...that's not what you said... you said, "Not crunchy". You do know the meaning of crunchy and grilled don't you?--Nods head a little--One is on the grill and one has a crispy crust. Just give it to me...I was going to eat it. She stuffed it into her mouth....the Drama Queen at her best. I really don't want to see what she's going to be like when the hormones start kicking in! She's already way too overboard some days for me...

We get back on the freeway and I text messaged my hubby...been having issues with it though and once again I got the message: "duplicate message: deleted" back...so I decide to call Verizon (nice customer service). They have to take care of it when I get home...I need to be off the phone.

Got home, started to head out to feed animals...had to ask the kids multiple times to get the stuff out of the truck and put away. They're still aggravated that they can't play 'games'. Got all the feed ready and headed out to the back. Got the goats fed, but got ticked that the darn horned buck had rammed me in the back of my leg and horned me behind the knee! That spot is tender. The pigs had just rolled in their muddy wallow and as I went to feed them they decided to get up close and personal and then shake...Gross! Got the eggs collected (had a friend coming for a dozen) and then started on the horses.

I have to tie them right now because the shed area is out of commission with all the dirt sitting there. Pedro (17 yrs old) is a pig and gets barely a handful of feed and will go steal Charmers who is a yearling and gets a good bit since he's growing. I tied them up and got started on the feeding...I don't know what set Charmer off, but all of a sudden he sat back on his halter (a 'be-nice' halter-they aren't nice when a horse pulls back) and started to thrash...then he thrashed more when he realized the halter wasn't coming loose...all I could do was watch as he proceeded to pull my wooden post and rail fence backwards...he cracked the 4x4 post at the ground (cemented in-that's going to be fun to fix) and pulled 3 of the 2x6x8 boards off and 3 others loose from the neighboring posts...the fence held though and he quickly realized that he wasn't getting loose and came forward. I don't think he'll be doing that again for a while. He tried that the day before while tied to the trailer, but with a regular halter on. Hence why I changed to the "Be-nice" one.

Little did I know I had an audience of 3 men (neighbors) and 3 kids (2 being mine) heading to the pond to fish. The men were snorting, one saying..."you shoulda tied him to a better post". (Uh, Yeah I know that!) and my son was asking "whatcha doin' "-he asks me that all the time, but I sure wasn't in the mood for it then- as I untied the horse, put him on the post I usually (and should have) used and proceeded to start repairing the fence...

Good Grief...

I didn't feed him right then, but took him off to lunge him...for some reason he's 'forgotten' how to circle round me and respect my space (he's been bad about that lately so we've been working on it. Yesterday he tried to run me over and smashed my calf muscle with his hoof-nice!). I refreshed his memory on how to circle, back up, whoa, move forward, keep trotting and stay out of my face...some of it wasn't pretty and I found out that I still had an audience of 3 men! I'm sure they had a running commentary going on over there...

I'm heading off to bed now with a headache, a few more bruises, and a sore knee that the arthritis has started in on this evening...gotta love that. It's going to take me forever to get to sleep at this rate...tomorrow will be better...at least I hope so!