Know more about Chickens

Know more about Chickens

     I know yesterday I talked about eggs, now let’s get into the meatier part of the story. Do you think you would be interested in raising a few chickens at your house or farm? Did you know that many towns these days will let you raise a few chickens in the city limits as long as you don’t have a rooster?  I am glad I have a farm because I love to hear the rooster’s crow. There are so many to choose from and depending whether you want to use them for just egg laying or eating them or both, you have a huge variety to pick what is best for you. Being ready to take on the job of collecting eggs every day and cleaning the area, feeders and waters can add work to your already busy day.

 Be prepared at any rate, how to raise chickens

     Before you get started buying your chickens, do some research on what you need to house them  where you will house them and how many you will be buying. Feeders and waterer are things to think about too. What are you going to feed them? Scratch feed for just your everyday feeding but if you plan for eggs you need laying pellets. Will you free range or keep them in a pen?  Right now we have our chickens in a large pen because there are too many stray dogs and other predators in our area. There is no ordinance for dogs here either. This poses a huge problem when it comes to protecting your chickens. We have had 50 or more killed in one shot here even though we had them in pens. The dogs dig in and that was devastating because they were all to an age where they were getting ready to lay eggs. Now we have wired bottoms and barbed wire around the edges. Others can let their chickens out and coral them in at dusk and lock them up. We even tried that before. I counted and still count all my babies every day and back when we let ours free range the bird started disappearing every day. We didn’t just have chickens either. We had ducks, geese, guineas and turkeys. It is heartbreaking to see their bodies dismantled or just finding feathers scattered as they were drug off. 

     Chickens are basically easy to raise if you have a good set up. We use self-waters that hang from a rope to keep the water from getting dirty. We do the feeders the same way because the chickens will scratch out all the food onto the ground and waste it. If you are raising them for eggs you need to have a good nest box when they are of laying age. When buying chickens, I will tell you to buy from a reputable chicken company of farmer. Whether you are buying from chicks which need a lot of TLC or older birds, know how and where your bird started from. We have bought several of our birds from Tractor Supply Company and sometimes it is a hit or miss thing with that. McMurray  is a great place to order birds also. We have bought birds from farms that raise them also. Choosing a brooder box and heat source is your next thought. Will you keep them inside or out? Small feeders and waters are needed for this job. And some type of bedding that is dust free and absorbent.  Stating a compost is a must when you have to change out bedding every day, chicks tend to be messy.  A heat light and good thermometer is needed too, to keep an even temperature. Chicks are smart though because if it gets too hot they will go away from the light. Too cold and they will be right under the light.

Great egg layers are a good choice if you do not want to spend time cleaning birds to eat. Here are several birds that you may find to start out with.

·         Rhode Island Red

·         Australorps

·         Orpingtons

·         Dominique

·         Maran

·         Sussex

·         Leghorn

·         Plymouth Rock

·         Ameraucana or Easter eggers

Here are some chickens that produce a lot of meat.

·         Jersey Giants

·         Delaware

·         Dorking

·         Rhode Island Red

·         Orpingtons

·         Leghorns

·         Chantecler

As you can see there is a few on the two lists that overlap each other.  So you can have less birds for doing both jobs. There are also many of these birds that are in the Bantam list that produce smaller eggs. Bantam chickens are cute but I like big eggs. But now if you wanted chickens that could produce chicks that is another list of birds because some get broody and sit nicely and some lay eggs and leave them. Here are a few.

·         Silkies

·         Cochins

·         Sussex

·         Orpingtons

·         Brahma    

Whether you are planning to raise chickens for eggs, meat or babies you always need to be prepared before you ever buy your first birds. Know what is available, know the ordinances in your area and realize that it is a job to raise and protect your birds. There is so much more I could tell you about raising chickens and it could take a little bit more typing but I hope this can get you off to a great start whatever you choose to do.

     Quote of the day:

The domesticated chicken is probably the most widespread bird in the annals of planet Earth. If you measure success in terms of numbers, chickens, cows and pigs are the most successful animals ever.

Yuval Noah Harari

     Scripture of the day:

ECC 3: 1 There is an appointed time for everything, a time for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time for birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted; 3 a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to wail and a time to dance;  5 a time to throw stones away and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;  6 a time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away;  7 a time to rip apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent  and a time to speak;   8 a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

Weather today:

Blustery with a chance of rain or maybe snow just depending here you might go.

Chicken Eggs and More

     Have you ever thought about the eggs you buy at the grocery store. I know that we have and that is why we have raised our own chickens. We always think about what goes into the food we eat.

We have had a great winter for eggs this year. We raise a few Delaware hens, a few Australorps, Road Island Reds and a trio of Guineas (which are too young to lay eggs yet, and we would like them to hatch babies for the farm.) So far though the Delaware chickens have been laying eggs on a regular basis. The Reds and Australorps have taken a break for the winter.

Size Differences and Colors in Eggs

     Over the years we have seen some of the craziest kinds of egg shapes and sizes. We have had eggs come out very pointy and some very round but this past week we had a very small egg laid. We have had eggs that were even wrinkly on one end. Those eggs that have been laid smaller (sometimes called a fart egg or fairy egg) than usual could be caused be the cold winter weather or even due to the environment in which your birds of living in. For instance it could be the beginning of a moult or a lack of water or food or possible threat from a predator. I would have to say this small egg was caused by the start of a moult. Regardless the chicken may have started to produce the egg sooner than it was supposed to and it just didn’t become a fully productive egg. They are still good to eat and may not even have a yolk just whites.

     Eggs that are wrinkled or Albumen (as the professional term) are cause by the whites of the chicken thinning or becoming watery. This occurs in an older hen. Sometimes this is also cause by the viral disease Infectious Bronchitis (IB). These eggs can still be eaten, but we usually fed them to the pigs. They love eggs.

     There are many different causes for eggs not to form correctly. Some eggs even produce double yolks and I love those kind because I am not keen on the whites. This is possibly caused by overactive ovaries in the hen and the yolks pass too rapidly and join the previous yolk and it occurs in heavy breeders.

     We have had so many different colors to our eggs too. Some have speckles some are lighter and others darker. This can be caused by the time of year they are being laid or the time in which they moult. The same chicken can lay an egg with lots of speckles one day and lay one with less the next, there is nothing wrong with these eggs either. All our chickens lay brown eggs but there are some that lay blue green and even purple eggs. Yet others lay chocolate colored eggs. It just depends on the breed.

     Our Guineas are the best alarm system we have as far as predators go. They have a call that we can hear all over the farm area. We have ours in a huge dog pen right now because they are still young birds and we need to teach them that this is their area to protect. This summer we will put them out in the pasture with the pigs and they should stay where they can eat ticks and ants etc. We would love for them to lay eggs and hatch them to have more protection for the farm.

     Fresh eggs are great for all kinds of cooking and you can definitely taste the difference between a store bought egg and one from the farm. We have sold our eggs and shared them too. I always have a good supply in the refrigerator. Did you know that you should always store your eggs point side down? This keeps the air from the yolk and keeps it fresher longer.

     Here is one of my favorite ways to use eggs:

We eat lots of deviled eggs here and I take them to get togethers all the time and they go so fast.

First let me tell you the secret to an easy peeled egg. I have this wonderful steamer pan that I use to do up my eggs. It is a huge pan so I can steam as many eggs as I like at once. I put water in the pan just enough for the streamer to be above it, then I place the eggs in carefully. I turn the temperature to high until the water is boiling in the bottom of the pan then turn it off and let the eggs rest for 20 minutes. (Usually I just let them cool completely.) Time to peel them. Shells just pop right off with one crack.

I cut my eggs in half and take out all the yolks and place them in a medium bowl depending on how many eggs I have done. Most times I do 2 or 3 dozen at a time. Next I smash them well, Place whites in egg trays.

 For 12 eggs

 1/2 cup mayonnaise

 1 -2 teaspoon mustard

¼ teaspoon of garlic powder*

1 tablespoon sugar

Mix well.

Add a dollop of yolk mixture into each white and add a sprinkle of paprika to each egg. They are a hit at any get together and if you are last in line you may not get one.

I hope this gives you a great reason to check out eggs from a small farm in your community. You can’t beat the taste of a farm fresh egg. No matter if your eggs are white, blue or brown, double yolkers or some other kind of egg besides chickens, they are just good eating.

Quote of the day:

“This recipe is certainly silly. It says to separate the eggs, but it doesn't say how far to separate them.”
Gracie Allen

Scripture of the day:

Ps 139:16 Your eyes even saw me as an embryo; All its parts were written in your book Regarding the days when they were formed, Before any of them existed.

Weather Quote:

“When February sun shines cold, there comes a day when in the air the wings of winter, slowly unfold, and show the golden summer there.”
–Philip Savage (1868–99)

 * See my previous post regarding dehydrating

Just can’t seem get out of the Weather!

Just can’t seem get out of the Weather!

     This past week has been a rollercoaster of a ride when it comes to the weather and I can’t seem to get passed it. We started out with temperatures in the upper 70’s on Monday.  Tuesday and Wednesday we had some rain. As I said in the other page we had warnings of flooding for days and had little rain accumulate. Thursday was when the bucket literally broke. We had torrential downpours, thunder and lightning, tornadoes and high winds with hail in some areas. Downed trees and by Friday we had the roads washed out. Saturday’s forecast was snow and accumulating to boot.

      I always tell my husband how I think it will play out and he seems to disagree with me many times. This time I told him to go buy his milk on Friday night so he had some when the snow came. His reply was it isn’t going to snow here. Well we all knew how that played out. He did go to the store and pick up my g daughter in the process. Our driveway is far worse now from all this crazy weather and I guess I am glad I am not driving right now. The rut is deep he said. I hate to hear that because just about the time we get it drivable again we have this happen. I feel like we have our very own Baha route from the road to the house which is at least a ¼ mile long straight up.

     Today we have weather that I had never heard of; freezing fog.  Define- “Freezing fog is fog that forms when the temperature at the surface is at or below the freezing mark (32 degrees Fahrenheit).” (AccuWeather) Yup and there you have it. I learned something new, how about you.  To tell you the truth I have learned a lot about weather this last week. I can tell you now that I understand how the weather folks can predict one thing now and have another in just a moment’s time too. 

     This just came across the news today: Mild earthquake hits Gwinnett County. The magnitude 2.3 quake struck just north of the city of Lilburn at 4:20 a.m., according to the USGS. LILBURN, Ga. ... The United States Geological Survey recorded a 2.3 magnitude earthquake near Lilburn early Sunday morning.2 hours ago.

www.11alive.com 

 I think the sign of the times are tell us something! Just saying!

     Tomorrow we are supposed to go back to rain and we will get cumulative amounts again so where we already have flooding that occurred we can add to that and  that ca mean more downed trees and power outages. This forecast is for the rest of the week for us for the most part.  Monday and Tuesday heavy intensity rain. Wednesday is light rain. Thursday the same as Monday and wow Friday clear sky and Saturday cloudy. Oh then back to heavy intensity rain fall again. We have managed to have our February rainfall all in one day last week so we may end up in a drought by the end of the summer, right. Temperatures will be in the upper 50’s and upper 60’s too this week until the clearing and cloudy days then drop down to 40’s and freezing at night.  

     Yup, are you sick yet? I know I am and I mean that literally. Back to coughing and I don’t get out much.Weather is a crazy thing and I am glad I am not a weather person. We have had more than enough for my liking that is for sure. I just want it to be warm again. 

     Today’s Quote:

“Weather forecast for tonight: dark. “ George Carlin

“In light of the weather I thought it was perfect.” Emma Dorsey

     Scripture of the day:

Is. 28: 17 And I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the leveling tool. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will flood out the hiding place.

      “Weather today: Changing every second of the day” Emma Dorsey

May your day be a bright sunshiny day with your families on this wonderful Sunday afternoon.

Snow Day

Snow Day

Start of snow

     For us folks who live in this part of Georgia it is an uncommon sight to see snow. Usually Atlanta gets it but we are on the wrong side of the Mountain range and it cuts off in the middle of our county, pretty much straight up I-85. That is good for me as I only like to see it once in a blue moon or in this case it will be close to that Snow moon.

1 hr later

The back yard

     Everyone is posting their pictures of the snow here. It is so funny you would thing we were all little kids seeing the snow for the first time. Today it will be short lived because it is supposed to stop by 1PM. It never last more than a day unless it is snowmaggedon type. In that case we are all in a jam because most folks don’t know how to drive in it because of the lack of it. Unlike back home where we always had lots of it and for the bigger part of winter. I use to do backwards donuts in the church parking lot back home it was a blast.

     I use to love the snow! But now not so much. I had a back injury in 1990 and it ended my snow fun days. Sad too because when I was growing up my dad bought me my first pair of skies when I was very young and we skied all the time. We use to ice skate and sled too. My kids never got to see much snow because we moved here shortly after that and snow just goes as fast as it comes.

      Today the weather is my way of reminding me of the back surgery I had in 1994. My old bones can feel the pain. It is funny how old injuries can remind us of so much. My ankle always reminds me of the time I fractured it in gym class by Cindy Fishbaugh jumping on it playing volley ball. Not to mention my thumb I broke when walking out the front door at mom’s as we were going ice skating in the creek. I still love the snow don’t get me wrong it is just pretty as can be but here today and gone tomorrow or buy lunch is fine with me. I have already shoveled the steps out front. I am sure the kids will be having a blast playing in it. As for me I will stay in where it is warm and enjoy it out the window.

     Today’s quote:

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

     Scripture of the day:

Is 55: 10 For just as the rain and the snow pour down from heaven and do not return there until they saturate the earth, making it produce and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

     Weather today:

 Looking pretty white to me!

Weather, Whether or not to know Warnings

Weather, Whether or not to know Warnings

     For the last several days we have been sent out messages for severe flooding in our area and we didn’t get much rain at all. Last night the rain started and now we have plenty of rain to deal with. The weather folks want us to know the weather whether it is happening or not but to put up warnings so far in advance and having maybe a few drops of rain here and there is crazy. Now is the time the watches start for most folks. But the pre-warnings seem to go unnoticed by most.

     We have had thunder storms and power outage here this morning and yes the rain has come down in huge buckets. I didn’t get a tornado watch till after the rains slowed, and my daughter just about 25 miles from here was under a warning and just 10 minute after she put my g kids on the bus. Really they waited that long and they knew schools would be taking off. Thankfully the school has sent out several messages to parents to tell them the kids are safe. They even had a tornado drill yesterday. We are under a tornado watch till 5 pm. It is still pouring here and I am sure the roads are flooding in the lower parts. My son just took a flight to Guatemala this morning and had to be rerouted through Florida due to the tornadoes in the state here. Now that is weather!

     I wonder if many think about warnings and take them serious when they are giving in advance. I know that many folks we have gone door to door about the warnings of this old system coming to its end soon and they seem to think it is possibly coming but not anytime soon. The majority will agree but do nothing to prepare for it. It is written in the Bible the signs of the times and yet not many see that. How about you? Do you heed the warnings to change what you shouldn’t be doing? Have you given it any thought to thinking you will be one of those saved when Armageddon comes?

I know I have made many changes in my life in the last 30 years and still keep on the watch. (MATTHEW 24:42) I am wanting to be prepared so that I will make it.

     Many folks might read the Bible but do they truly understand it and can they see that Satan is wondering around ready to devour up as many as he can  because he knows the time is coming to its end for him. (1 Peter 5: 8) If Satan knows how close it is he will blind anyone he can to make sure they don’t see the truth. How is Satan the Devil misleading the nations you might ask? Just look around at all the folks who are busy doing “me things”, not concerned with anyone but themselves. Look at the violence we see every day! We are possibly worse than Sodom and Gomorrah by this time. And in Noah’s day, we saw people eating and drinking and being married just like today and wow look at what happened there. Now I know that God promised never to do such destruction again to the earth but what of those folks who refused to see the warnings?  

     Just as we watch the weather and whether we prepare for it or not we all need to be prepared for the coming of Our King and Ruler Christ Jesus. I know we all want to be saved. I know I do. So the next time you have a knock on your door will you listen or will you just blow it off and say oh I know I am going to be saved? Will you? I hope so.

     Quote for the day:

“I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature.” Paulo Coelho

     Scripture of the day:

Matt. 24 :3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?

     Weather today is: 

Whether or not we will have some! Hope everyone is safe and dry in whatever weather you might be having. Keep in mind all the warnings!

Spaghetti Day 

     I don’t know about you but I love homemade spaghetti. I make up a huge pot of it when I make it too. All my kids loved my spaghetti when they were home and so do my G kids. It takes me a bit to get everything prepared but it sure beats opening up a jar of some companies and heating it up.

I cook a pound of Italian sausage and a pound of ground lean beef for starters. Chop up finely an onion and 8-10 cloves of garlic. Once I have the meat just about cooked I add the onion. Add salt and pepper to taste. When the onions are turning clear I add the garlic. Strain grease and add to sauce.

      In a large pot, I use about four cans of sauce, but when I can I use two quarts. One can Tomato juice and a tube of tomato paste. Remember I am a dumper but this is my herb list I put into my sauce: 2 bay leaves, thyme, oregano, today I used fresh and dried basil, marjoram, sage and rosemary. I add a ¼ cup of sugar to tone down the acidity of the tomato. I let the sauce reduce down to about ½ cooking it on low to medium heat with a splatted screen over it. Stirring occasionally. 

Not reduced down but simmering.

     We like the angel hair pasta for our noodles, cooking and draining then I will add them to the sauce after the reduction. My hubby likes to add a couple of slices of yellow American cheese to his, but I love my freshly shredded parmesan cheese on mine. 

      I make up garlic bread to go with it. I melt the butter and mix in chopped garlic and spread it on the bread then top it with Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese and pop it into the toaster oven to melt it all together.  You can’t have spaghetti without some way to sop up the sauce!

     Now the cat is out of the bag because I have never shared my recipe for my spaghetti before not even to my children. Here is the sauce before it is reduced. I hope you will try my recipe it has always been a hit at my house. Unfortunately my spaghetti sauce was started a bit later than I usually make it (which takes all day to cook down) So I cannot show you the final part and have a picture of the meal all together. Life happened.  Sorry I will post a picture later. 

OO WE it was yummy!

     Today’s quote:

“The secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” -Mark Twain

     Scripture of the day:

I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?​—Ps. 118:6.

     Fact about the weather:

    

     Did you know that this next full moon we are about to see is called the Snow Moon and it is the second full moon of the winter? This year the moon will be a super moon too. This moon is known by the Indians as one that brings heavy snow to many places. Here is a link for a video on it. https://youtu.be/gye4drwPXAQ  Now I sure hope we don't have a lot of snow this month but they have forecasted it for the next week! I  like a little bit of it but I don't want snowmagedon

 Anyway keep warm, eat hearty and enjoy life while you can. Bon Appetite!/youtu.be/gye4drwPXAQ

Busy Day Yesterday

Busy Day Yesterday

     It was an unplanned day for me. I forgot our son-in-law was coming to slaughter that last rascal of a pig that escaped a few months back. When he came he brought us several boxes of chicken and sausage and told us to do what we may with it. So while the guys were working on the pig, I spent my time in the kitchen bagging meat. I had enough to share with a few friends of mine and it would be a great time just to drop by and see them. I divided up a few boxes and squeezed into our freezer some that we could use, which was not very much since our freezer were filled with pig from the last slaughter.

     After the guys finished up, I washed down all the pig parts and bagged up a few for one friend and the rest was going to another. She came and picked hers up. While she was here, I also gave her a faux stained glass that I had done and a small picture I painted for her earlier for her housewarming gifts.

     After showering we were off to deliver the rest. First to Nicholson. My good friend Pam and her son Hunter are always on my list to help out. She and I had become friends through school when I helped with her son’s class. He is one of my favorite kids as I said before in one of my earlier posts. I was glad school was out and I got to see him. He makes me happy. It was so great to see her too. I wish I have my car and we would hang out more!

     Next we were off to our dearest and oldest friend Sybil’s. She is in Athens. We really need to visit there more often as she is getting up there in years. She will be 94 this October. She and I use to work at BI-LO years ago when we first moved to Commerce. Her and her husband were exotic bird breeders too like we were but on a larger scale by far. She and I talk almost every day just so I can make sure she is ok. She is like a mother to me.  She loves to find goodies for me every time we go there and we take stuff for her and end up bring a truckload back from her. My hubby went to the hospital to visit a friend of his while we girls visited. Before we left she wanted to take us out to dinner so we went to eat at her favorite Chinese restaurant. We didn’t get back home until late. So I am going to say sorry for no blog page yesterday. And yes we came home we came home with a truck load of stuff too and 5 basil plants to go in my garden.

     

     I love helping out my friends when I can and it is always good to take time out timeout to visit with the dear ones in life. I can say my day was a busy one, but it was a great one.

      Quote of the day:

“Friendship isn’t a big thing- it’s a million little things.” Paulo Coelho  

     Scripture of the day:

 Ps. 107:1 Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; His loyal love endures forever.

There is no greater friendship the being great friends with the Grand Creator Himself.     

    

Storm/Root Cellar and More

Storm/Root Cellar and More

     We have been talking about building a storm cellar here in the hill for a while now. We have always used our neighbors when we had bad weather, but now he has moved and we just haven’t talked to the new neighbors about using it if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

     The last time we really used his storm cellar was when my daughter was pregnant with our granddaughter and that has been 11 years ago. (Now that was a scary day too we thought she was going into labor.) We never even ventured out the day the end of our house got taken out by the hurricane a few years back. I will tell you first hand, I am deathly afraid of storms and there have been times when I have been by myself and wished I had a place to take the cats and dogs to protect myself and them.  We really don’t have a good place to get away too here. We are on the very top of the hill too. We have had several trees come down on the house and barns and  in the yard in general since we moved here 16 years ago this month. We have rebuilt and fixed here and there too, but it is a money pit.

     I have made plans for this project since we have the ravine and seems to be the best place to start. No digging or not much will be needed, and we have so many tires from when we were going to build an earthship house, that we pretty much have all we need to build one. The tires will make a great wall system and to back hoe the dirt to it will make it that much safer. I want to make it big enough to have room for a living room area and a small kitchen area for a summer kitchen where we can use it in the heat of the summer and stay cool. It can also have storage for the vegetables and plant that need to be stored in over the winter months. I want to have my office space down there too and maybe even a bedroom or two if things get bad weather wise for the g kids and my daughter and her family will be safe also or where the g kids can hang if they choose. They live just down the hill from us and we always called them to come up when we went to the neighbors when bad weather came.

     That is only half of the plan. I would like to build an upper level for the house, but it will be conventionally built. I would like to have a 1 bedroom and 1 ½ baths house built over the top. Since we have collected windows and doors to repair this house and have not used them yet, and a lot of the materials bought for fixing it up, we just felt it better to use it for new instead of just patching a place that is still coming down around us. 

     So weather permitting this week I am going to start moving the downed trees and such out of the ravine to get started. Make some measurements to see where this cellar will go exactly. That will be a start and that is my plan for this month.

     I think storm cellars are far more important when you live on a hill!  What do you thing?

Quote of the day:

“Don’t Panic and don’t forget your towel” Douglas Adams

Scripture of the day:

Matt. 6 :19 “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Unexpected Change of Plans

     Unexpected Change of Plans 

     You know that plans sometimes change during my day and today is one of those days. I got up this morning to get my tea pot going, put wood in the stove, feed the cats and let out the dogs, fix my breakfast and start my routine. Oh that is my routine J but before I had a chance to do that this morning this is what I found in my chair in the living room.

     

    Now I knew Moochy was due any time now as she was searching for a place to hide the kittens. Well hiding she didn’t do! I got a box ready for her and set her four kittens in the box and moved it to the corner of the room where she would have some privacy. I was wondering when I picked her up if there could be more to come as she felt a bit solid still. I hope four is the trick because I have more cats than I need now both inside and out. Even if we fixed all of them which most are there always seems to be more that find their way here. :(  

     I called my daughter to ask her if she had any Resolve, as she stock piles that kind of stuff from work when they have bucky days. I told her I needed a couple cans of it to clean my chair.  That was not in the plans for the day either.  Well kids happen and I will have to redo my plans to clean furniture.  I will be giving kittens away in 8 weeks so if you were thinking you might need one keep me in mind.

Do Folks Read these days?

Do Folks Read these days?

Photo by Sally Dunn

     When was the last time you sat down to read a good book or did some research on something you were getting ready to do? I wonder if many of us even read at all anymore. Sure you pick and choose what little things you read on Facebook but most of it is just short and cute for the most part. I am talking about more than a few words. So many of us seem to want to take a glimpse of something and move on.

     When was the last time you thought about taking a trip? Did you plan it out or did you just get in the car and go? I doubt many do this, but I bet there are a few who do. I would hope you checked hotel prices, restaurants in the area you were wanting to go and sites to see when you were there. Yeah, and you might check that bank account and car to see if they would make it too.

Well that is what I do when I sit down and write my blogs. I research when I need to and make sure I have something that I have a passion to write about, because if I wrote about something that I cared less about it would be a pretty dull read.  I would hope that my readers like what I write and tell others.

     Reading to me is one of those things I could never figure out as a kid. See I was a poor reader. But as time went by I found that reading took me places I couldn’t have gone to even if there was such a place. Now I love to read and I even love to research. I found that out in college.

      It is sad though that most kids in high school never read a book and choose not to. They think it is boring. I think it is because they haven’t got an attention span to sit long enough to even get through the first paragraph. Reading is one of the most important things you can do in life. Reading a direction on how to put something together or a recipe it doesn’t matter because if you didn’t read the instructions you are bound to fail. I sure wouldn’t let someone just willy nilly work on my car. I would hope the person read manuals and researched the problem many times before, at least before they dove into fixing it.

     I have learned so much in life just by reading. But that is not where I stop, I take notes and research some more. I study the stuff I really want to learn so I can do it right when needed, like CPR. Wow now that is a life saver! I love to compare other people’s stuff too, you never know what kind of perspective they may have to offer that someone else may only see in their way. You may find that one thing you needed was right there all the time and you just didn’t see it in that light.

     I know folks don’t read as much as they use to because there are too many other things that take its place.  TV, You Tube games etc. Don’t get me wrong I do those things too but in moderation. I have to make time for reading the Bible every day and studying my lessons for my meetings and even sitting down to write a blog not many read.  I find that time to be creative too. But I do it I make plans to do these thing along with all the farm work and house works I do every day. Sometimes I feel that there is enough time in the day to get it all done but if I don’t follow through who will do it for me? I just put the most important thins on the top of my list.

     Facebook has taken a back burner yet I post my blog there and my scriptures every day and check to see what my kids are up too. I do hope that some of you find your way to my blog because I do put much thought into what I write. And I do it daily or at least I try too. To me reading and writing keeps me sharp and now a days we all need that!

     So maybe you might find a good story or two to read or even a great book to enjoy in your quiet time. I love to read mysteries. I always try to figure them out way before the ending and sometimes I am quite good at it too.  It never hurts to learn something new like herbalism or how to cook some far away dish. Try it someday. Enjoy life and share your thoughts on what you learn.

Quote of the day:

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”
― Robert Greene

Scripture of the day:

Matt. 24:45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?

A Little Taste of Havana

 A Little Taste of Havana

     Do you ever have one of those days where you just don’t know what to fix for dinner and you are tired of the same old stuff? I know I do and it drives me crazy. I have a freezer full of pork from the early summer slaughter and I never know what to do with it. Yesterday I got out a pork shoulder and threw it in the crockpot. I didn’t want to have just a roast of it so I did some research on how to make Cuban sandwiches.

     Now if you have ever had a great Cuban sandwich you know how delicious they are. We have a great Cuban sandwich place in Atlanta that my hubby use to frequent a lot when he was younger and we have eaten there a few times when we venture down that way. "The Havana Sandwich Shop" It was a place that made you think you were in Cuba sitting at a table eating your favorite Cuban treats. They had a small area that had groceries you could buy and the older folks there were all part of the restaurants family in some way. The place was always packed. And don’t forget the music and all the awards for great food! Family tradition. If you are ever in town and you want a truly amazing lunch  check it out.  HavanaSandwichShop

     A few years ago the place burnt to the ground and they moved it to a new location. We visited there also but it did not have the charm of the old place. One of the other family members had started the new place and there wasn’t that flair.  They still had great food but it wasn’t just the same.

I heard they had so many neighbors and patrons that helped the original family members get the old place back together and started a new. I haven’t been there since but I bet the place is close to the old way of doing things

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     Any way I looked for a recipe to use for my pork shoulder and I came up with one that I combined a few for.I had cooked the meat enough to cut it off the bone and I sliced it up.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons of Himalayan salt (called for Kosher but we use Himalayan)

2 tablespoons of cumin

1 teaspoon pepper (I grind mine fresh and use the multi colored kind.)

¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

7-8 cloves of garlic finely chopped

2 tablespoons each of lime juice, lemon juice and orange juice

A few bay leaves

A finely chopped small onion

I cooked it until it was falling apart for the most part.

To serve it, place on a sub roll with a piece of Swiss cheese some mustard and a garlic dill spear. I am not one for Swiss cheese so I used white American on mine.

I served it with homemade coleslaw and black beans.

I know I could never make it as good as they do down in at Atlanta but it was a great dinner. So if you are tired of the same old meals here is a great way to add some zing to your taste buds.

My version of the cuban sandwich lunch.

Quote of the day:

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Scripture of the day:

Matt 4:4 But he answered: “It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s mouth.’”

  

Earthsblessing Farm Sustaining and Surviving: Z Day- No ZZZZ here! It’s time to get down to it.

Earthsblessing Farm Sustaining and Surviving: Z Day- No ZZZZ here! It’s time to get down to it.: Z Day- No ZZZZ here! It’s time to get down to it.      I have decided to take my blogging to another level and that is to start ma  ...

Z Day- No ZZZZ here! It’s time to get down to it.

Z Day- No ZZZZ here! It’s time to get down to it.

     I have decided to take my blogging to another level and that is to start ma If you hit Follow you will get the link that tells you when I have posted a new page. I will be doing a few new things and I hope it helps me in the long run. I hope you will help support me in my journey.

king money from it. I am taking a course to get serious with my blog. I do need some help here from you readers. I would love to have you follow me if you read what you like. To my friends who do not know how to follow there is a button on the top right hand corner of my page “Follow”.

     Quote of the day:

“It is never too late to be what you might have been”. Mary Engelbreit

     I keep this hanging on my office wall to remind me I can still do anything if I want to.

     Scripture of the day:

James 1: 22 However, become doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. 

Y Day- Yoda and the Yellow Flowers

    Yesterday I spent a good bit of time with my youngest kitten Yoda. He and I have become best buds. I have had to do a lot of nursing on him since birth. He had infected eyes and snot nose. The routine was to clean his eyes and nose every day. Now he has gotten use to that and when I pick him up he knows what is coming first thing. I keep telling him, "I hate boogers and kitty poop in eyes."

Last night he spent most of the night snuggling up to me in the bedroom even sometimes under the blanket. Today I was in the bathroom brushing my hair and he came galloping down the hall and slammed on his breaks right at the door. He sat down and meowed at me a few times then galloped back down the hall. He has never done that before. Back down the hall he comes and does this all over again. I picked him up and brought him into my office cleaned out his eyes and nose and sent him on his way. Funny how cats do some of the funniest things when they pick you as their person.

     Now for the yellow daffodils that are blooming all over my yard, it is far too early for them to be blooming. The weather we have had, has sent them into overload and before we know it they will not make the early spring show. Did you know that they are highly poisonous to animals? My pigs have rooted so much of the yard that they have uncovered those ones that have been buried deep enough that they wouldn’t bloom. I guess they know they are not good to eat because they leave them uprooted everywhere.

     I really thing that there has been a huge change in our geological area and we are becoming more like the Florida neighbors. I am saying this because I am 50 south of the most northern part of Georgia and it is just crazy. Our temperatures this year alone have been way above the norm for highs. We have only had a day or so of freeze, which will hopefully kill off the bugs, which I doubt. This winter has brought so much rain and my yard has really taken the shots from it. Our driveway (which we have had fixed several times over the years) is a wreck again. No one wants to venture up it, not even my kids. All I have to say is this better bring the best growing season this year. This week along has been forecasted rain every other day, cold and warmer, cold and warmer, and we all wonder why we are all getting sick.

     I know in between the rainy days I am going to have to get out and start cleaning up the overgrown wisteria and move some rock if it isn’t too awfully cold. Some much to do!

     Today’s Quote:

"She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head, And whispered to her neighbor: "Winter is dead."
— A.A. Milne (When We Were Very Young (Winnie-the-Pooh, #3))

Scripture of the day:

Dan. 2:21 He changes times and seasons, Removes kings and sets up kings, Gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those with discernment.