14 Acres +/-

A (little late) Thanksgiving Post

2011-12-05T18:03:00.004-06:00

I'm a bit behind the times, but I wanted to share my Thanksgiving pictures, particularly the turkey. I was able to get a locally raised and butchered, free range bird.

Since the weather was too warm to cook him (yes it was a him) on the wood stove, I used the grill instead.

He got stuffed with fresh Rosemary and Sage, had a nice mayonnaise massage and a dusting of salt and pepper. I put some water in the bottom of the roaster, tented him with foil and cooked for 3 hours in a 300ish closed grill.
These birds have more natural fat so basting was not necessary and he came out moist but with crispy brown skin.

Boogie enjoyed him very much!

'Tis The Season, Already?!?!

2011-12-05T17:13:00.004-06:00

OH MY! Hard to believe how quickly this fall flew by. The weather has been fairly decent and we are just getting our first week of consistently below freezing weather. This is the time of year I like the least, primarily due to frozen water buckets! That and the fact that it is dark by 4:30pm. A friend of mine observed that after the 20th the days get longer and spring will be right around the corner, but I am not that optimistic.

I have a critter in my pasture that has been helping itself to duck dinners! It is likely fox based on the dens and the fact that it takes the smaller ducks and doesn't carry them off. Time to dust off the live trap. I'm guessing my first capture will be the barn cat, and hoping it won't be a SKUNK!

I've finally gotten back to knitting in earnest and have a number of hats and scarves for sale at my Hyena Cart shop, EUC. I can also knit a variety of styles in colors to match your coat or jacket.

Boogie had one visit to Santa so far and actually sat next to him and told him what he wanted for Christmas. Last year he was absolutely terrified of the guy. I guess our weeks of practice paid off. He swore he would 'be brave' and ask Santa for a 'Diesel 10 with Pinchy'. For those without young boys, it is a specific 'Thomas the Tank Engine' train. I have it on good word that he just might get one. Now we have to write Santa a letter so he can give it to him next time he sees him 'just so Santa will remember'.

Still need to drag out the tree and decorations, hope you are all into the spirit of the season, I need to get myself into gear.

The Harvest

2011-09-16T19:17:00.012-05:00

It's much too early for this frosty weather. Three weeks too early by our average first frost date. With the cool spring I still have far too many tomatoes on my vines and I am not ready to start carting firewood.

The apple trees planted last year produced a small harvest of very yummy fruit. We also discovered this interesting looking creature munching the leaves.

Boogie really enjoys apples (and is asking for one now as he sees these photos LOL).

Looks like there will be plenty of squash and beets. The eggplant and okra and beans were also good producers. The tomatoes were mediocre and I didn't plant nearly enough of them. By next spring I want a better tiller so I don't have to depend on anyone else to get the soil ready.

We did have a beautiful harvest moon.

And a worn out helper.

Still need to get the plastic on the hoop house so the potted tomatoes will have some extra time to ripen. Some of the plants were touched by the frost, but none seem to have been killed off. Here's hoping the warm weather returns and hangs around for a bit.

Say It Ain't So......

2011-09-01T18:01:00.006-05:00

WOW, I knew I had been lax in posting, but didn't realize I missed the whole month of August. It's not that nothing has been happening, there is just way too much going on.

Today I had a BIG scare at Walgreen's. If you don't know, I do a lot of couponing and when I stopped today at a friends to pick grapes (she also happens to work at Wags) she told me they were notified TODAY to stop accepting printed Internet coupons. O.M.G. does that throw a spanner in my works.
I don't have a CVS or Rite Aid nearby, nor do I have access to any of the big grocery chains that double coupons, so I channel my efforts to deals at Walgreen's. Using printed Internet coupons is an integral park of my system. So quick like a bunny I checked out the corporate coupon policy on line and it still plainly stated they accept valid home printed Internet coupons. So twenty minutes later, with Internet coupons and printed policy in hand I was at Wags for my regular Thursday shop. Immediately one of my regular cashiers broke the news to me so I showed her the policy and she called the manager. At that point I was told i could use my coupons today, but I would need to check on the Internet next time as the policy would be changing. Next I was told it would be at the managers discretion and FINALLY, what sounds like the most sane option. They will take the printed coupons if they can be scanned or recognized when the numbers are entered. They must also have a picture or list the item(s) they are good for. The cashier cannot over ride. Sounds good to me, I can live with that. It really stinks that folks will actually fake coupons and ruin it for the rest of us.
So I was able to breathe a sigh of relief for now, but I can only believe that between 'extreme couponing' and counterfeiters rules will just get tighter and tighter. :-(

The heat and humidity today is putting a damper on my canning mojo, maybe I can catch up this weekend. I also have a ton of posts I'd like to catch up on in the next few days too.

Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend.

Dog Days......

2011-07-16T13:32:00.004-05:00

We are preparing for a long stretch of weather with highs in the 90's and lows only in the upper 70's with high humidity and stagnant air. Times like this makes me want an air conditioner!

So so so many things going on this time of year. Picking the last of the broccoli and the first of the cucumbers, tomatoes and potatoes with beans added to the list before long.

I have had dismal results with Muscovy eggs in the incubator this year (ironically I'm having trouble keeping the humidity high enough) but the hens are doing a good job setting.

The Guinea keets are also starting to hatch and the 4 Light Brahmas are producing a steady stream of eggs for the incubator. I did purchase a few from a hatchery to diversify a bit and hope to have my flock up to pre neighbors dog decimation levels soon.

Independence Day Fireworks

2011-07-04T21:44:00.002-05:00

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

One Fish, Two Fish!

2011-06-26T16:56:00.005-05:00

Grandpa has made it back up North for the summer and a few weeks ago we managed to get over for our first visit of the season. I have spent the winter listening to Boogie ask to go fishing with Grandpa on an almost daily basis, and finally he can! Boogie is old enough this year to have a grasp of what fishing really entails.

While it was too windy to take the boat out on the lake, there were plenty of pan fish within easy casting distance from the shore.

Grandpa cast out a bobber with a piece of artificial worm on the hook ( this things are really weird, they are not the plastic kind and look incredibly lifelike, ick!) and the impatient Boogie-monster wanted to reel in every cast.

Well his technique worked and his first ever fish was a really nice bluegill.

He had a bit of a problem with releasing the fish, but I explained that the fish needed to go back in the water to live and he finally agreed. He went on to catch two more small fish before the ADHD kicked in and he ran off to explore. We are planning to head over again this week and Boogie is hoping we can go out on the boat this time.

More Robin News

2011-06-02T10:09:00.002-05:00

The last few days it looked like there was no room left in the nest for all four fledgelings. It got to be a pretty tight squeeze and then * POOF* they were all gone.

Quick Robin Update

2011-05-21T22:16:00.007-05:00

Parent on patrol!

Spring finally appears to be here and a lot of things are (in addition to a 3 1/2 year old!) demanding my time. Lots going on in the garden, chicks are hatching and the robins eggs have hatched.

I have been trying to take pictures every few days despite Mom and Dad being very protective.

Just hatched.

2 days

Six days

Watchful eye!

On a sad note, the ground nesting Song Sparrows that have nested in the front garden the last few years returned only to find one of them dead of unknown cause near the fence line. The mate has been calling and I am hoping it can find a new partner.

Robins Egg Blue

2011-05-03T21:12:00.004-05:00

Despite Mother Natures best efforts to the contrary, including a frost last night that managed to kill some of the tender plants out in the hoop house, some signs of spring are still emerging.
You may remember that last summer I was able to chronicle a family of ground nesting Song Sparrows in the garden. This year a
Robin has decided that the support post for the over hang above the door of the shop was a good place for a nest. This is greatly hampering my ability to work on getting my resale store ready to open, but it has taken this long so a few more weeks really won't make a big difference.

There are 4 eggs in the nest and I will update as soon as they hatch!

HAPPY EASTER!

2011-04-24T20:25:00.002-05:00

From the kitchen......

2011-04-03T14:41:00.005-05:00

A flat of basil seedlings, waiting on spring.

I like to cook, not the 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' cooking, at least not every day. I really like simple, yummy food. Meals that make good use of my stockpile and garden. Meals that you cook once and eat twice, maybe even three of four, times.

Since I am starting to work out of the house again part-time I really need to find time savers. I don't like processed foods from a can or a box and try to watch out for sodium and artificial ingredients.

Breakfast is always a tough one for me. I was looking for something to do with the ridiculous amount of cereals I have stashed and remembered a recipe I used to use to make muffins with Raisin Bran cereal. I happened to have a box of Raisin Bran Crunch that we were not fond of and had some buttermilk in the fridge so I made up a batch. The recipe is available from Cooks.com.

1 (15 oz.) box Raisin Bran
2 1/2 c. sugar
5 c. flour
5 tsp. soda
2 tsp. salt
4 beaten eggs
1 c. vegetable oil
1 qt. buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients together, add beaten eggs and buttermilk and oil. Fill muffin tins almost to top.

Bake at 400°F. for 15 minutes. They will be dry if baked too long.

I KNOW! It makes a huge batch, but I just bake what I need and then keep the remaining batter covered in the fridge. Fresh, hot muffins in just the time it takes to bake them in the oven. It really will keep 4 - 6 weeks. They are actually better after the batter rests a day or two.

You really can have fresh baked muffins whenever you want!

I'm planning on taking a dozen into work with me, may as well start working on my job security right away!

A Snake in the Wood Pile!

2011-03-27T17:07:00.004-05:00

While preparing dinner Boogie was occupying himself with the fire wood we had carried in. It wasn't long before I heard screams of "SNAKE! Mommie! Mommie! SNAKE!" from the dining room. Dear Son, it's 20 degrees out, I'm certain there is no snake. As a dutiful Mommie I responded to his cries and found......

a grub!

He was quite fascinated by it and fortunately was in bed before it met its end in the wood stove.
Yeah, contact PETA, but I wasn't going to try to raise the darn thing!

Dear Mr. Groundhog, You lied!

2011-03-23T14:42:00.007-05:00

It has now been 7, yup count 'em 7, weeks since you predicted an early spring, so why is it still cold with snow showers? I really want to get the potatoes in and I still can't leave the broccoli and cauliflower seedlings out in the hoop house some nights. What's up with that Phil?

Sunday morning one of my young does had her first kid, the cutest, teeniest little doe. I think I am done with goat kids for the season now, unless my youngest has a kid this summer.
I am still expecting I-Lean, my three footed Jersey heifer, to have her calf the end of this month. Can't wait to have milk for the baby goats, homemade cheese and
ICE CREAM!

I have a lot of seedlings started and still need to start LOTS more. I also need to get Boogies live Christmas tree planted as soon as it is dry enough to dig a hole.

C'mon Spring!

More new babies!

2011-03-05T15:50:00.004-06:00

Two more kids! A doe and a buck!

Battle for the Bed

2011-03-04T09:45:00.001-06:00

Apparently the fact that it is called a dog bed has no bearing on the Boogie-man. He has decided that the new pet bed should be for his television viewing comfort.

Poor Tank has been forcibly evicted many times now.

While he has been victorious a few times, for the most part the bed is now Boogie territory! LOL

The child has even been known to 'share' the dogs treats with them :-{

Nothing sweeter (or quieter) then a sleeping Boogie.
Waiting on 2 more does to freshen, need to pick up new rabbit cages from a friend about and hour away and still have some work to get done on the hoop house.
The wood pile is dwindling, but I think there is enough to make it through to warmer days. I am hoping that day isn't too much further off!

It was a dark and stormy night.....

2011-02-19T23:49:00.006-06:00

We are expecting a snow and ice storm, so Whitney decided this would be a good night to kid. After I finished evening chores I put her in a stall with a bale of fresh, dry straw.

At 10pm I checked her and found a beautiful buck kid.

An hour later, while checking on him, she produced another buck without incident, affording me the opportunity to get these somewhat graphic photos of the process.

You don't get any more newborn then this, just seconds old.

The barn cat, who appears to have picked a fight with someone tougher then he is, watched over the proceedings from the safety of his perch on the stall wall.Well that was it, two bucklings.
Two more does left to kid this spring and one in summer so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some girls!

Just another reason I love my wood stove

2011-02-16T22:45:00.002-06:00

There is nothing warmer then wood heat, at least not in my opinion. It is very drying, so I keep a pot of water simmering thus giving me a handy bottle warmer for the goat kids.

Cooking on a wood heating stove can be a challenge, but given my frugal nature I want to make use of every opportunity I have to save money. Since I am already dealing with a big old ugly wood heater in my dining room then damn it, I am going to use that heat to cook! To start, I put a grate across the top to give me a flat surface to work with.

Obvious candidates are soups and stews which like a nice long simmer, but I've done roasts, prime rib and even a whole turkey using a large roasting pan I picked up at auction.

I own a number of the 'Turbo Cooker' pans and really like the way they work. Yup, the ones from the info-mercial, but I have found them on ebay, at garage sales and even had one sent to me for free after I mentioned how much I liked the on the Hom esteading Today forum. They are really just a big, deep skillet with a dome lid and steaming rack and have a pretty good non stick coating. And yes, I actually do use them to 'bake' cakes and they come out great! I also like cast iron, though it does take longer to heat.

While it does take some time, my absolute favorite way to cook bacon is on the wood stove. The fat drains away and the bacon gets nice and crispy without burning or splatter.

I place a rack on a large baking sheet and lay out the bacon in a single layer, placing the cookie sheet on the hottest part of the stove top. I turn the pans as necessary and how long the whole process takes depends on stove temperature and thickness of the bacon.

I also use a camping box oven for some baking, however I am still looking forward to installing my vintage wood cook stove so I can do some real wood stove baking. I only have a small camp oven, which limits what baking I can do. I've been kicking myself all winter for passing on a large vintage wood cook box oven last summer because I didn't want to pay their asking price.

The next project that I am really looking forward to is building a solar oven.
If anyone has built or used a solar oven I would love any insight as far as design and tips and recipes for cooking.

The Promise of Spring

2011-02-13T22:18:00.000-06:00

Here I sit with warming temperatures and the huge drifts of snow melting and all I can think of is my garden. I've begun sorting through the seeds I have on hand (properly stored they can last for years) and deciding what varieties to plant this season. I also need to determine what seeds I need to purchase this year.

Lessons learned from last years garden is that I need to plant more beets and carrots. Rose is still my favorite general purpose tomato and the polish romas may have replaced oxheart as my favorite plum, all heirloom varieties of course. I'd like to start enough seedling to have extras to sell.

The lights are all set up, I just use standard 4 foot florescent lights that were removed from a building in town and destined for landfill. I really could use one more.

The first bits of green are flat leaf parsley seedlings I planted two weeks ago.

I've also planted broccoli and Cheddar cauliflower, Bright Lights Swiss Chard and cabbage.

I plan to set out seed potatoes in the raised beds as close to St. Patricks as possible.

I need to run to Dubuque tomorrow and pick up some 6 mil plastic to cover the hoop house. I'm hoping to get it filled up with seedlings for the garden and sale later this spring.

SNOWmaggedon! BLIZZaster! No, just winter in the Upper Midwest.

2011-02-02T20:21:00.010-06:00

Well I can't say that things lived up to all the hype, though I must admit we were not in the middle of all the truly heavy precipitation. Now I'm not saying we didn't get a big storm because the wind was terrible and the drifts are very high, but I can't imagine anyone in this area not able to get out and about by Wednesday afternoon.

We started with some snow on Monday into Tuesday with the worst predicted for Wednesday. Boogie and I took advantage of the break to run a few errands and make sure we had plenty of animal feed. Play group was canceled, but we visited a friend who does daycare so the little guy got a bit of a play fix in anyway.

The bulk of snow and wind came on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with it all ending up about 4 am. SO most of Wednesday consisted of running the snow blower, shoveling and getting the truck up the drive way. I also hauled up a bunch more fire wood in anticipation of frigid temperatures expected for Wednesday night. The drifts in the fenced yard behind the house are as high as the fence and the puppies can just scramble right out!

Yes, there IS a wood pile under there, some where....

We now have three doe kids and Boogie loves to help feed them.
All three girls waiting for breakfast

I hope you all survived the 'big one' with relative ease, upside is Phil says spring is just around the corner. You can always trust a ground hog, right?

Involuntary Hiatus and other January Excitement

2011-01-26T10:11:00.007-06:00

So...........where to start. I was MIA for two weeks because my poor old computer finally succumbed to the abuse that Boogie has (literally) dumped on it for the past few years. The power switch had broken and the motherboard was fried. I had just replaced the monitor he dropped with a used unit I found on a local Craigslist style board and was able to get a refurbished computer from the same guy. He also transferred over all my data, which was very helpful and very reasonably priced. Once I can finally get high speed internet I will consider a bigger, better, faster computer, but for now it wouldn't make any difference with my dial up connection.

I am helping a friend with a dairy get through her kidding season and somehow managed to bring home two misfit kids. One brown doe was stepped on and has some issues getting around. She is doing just fine now and has a great appetite.

The white doe was chilled and is having issues with regulating her temperature and taking a bottle. Keeping them in a box in my warm bedroom has helped immensely. I've been tube feeding her and didn't have much hope but today she took a few tentative sips from the bottle and still continues to stand and be alert and happy. Only time will tell if she will make it, but I am cautiously optimistic at this time.

I am lucky to have a great little helper!

Yesterday, the chimney from the wood stove, the heat exchanger actually, got clogged from a build up of creosote and ash.

If I tried to open the door to add wood, smoke just billowed into the house, another draw back of having a wood stove in the house. I had to let the fire burn out, take apart the chimney and clean up all the build up that was restricting the flow of smoke to the main chimney.

After putting the chimney back in place, I cleaned out the fire box. The fire wasn't actually out, there were a lot of banked coals, but I did dig out the ash built up towards the back of the stove which gives me a lot more space for wood now. Having a nice bed of coals left helped to get a new fire burning right away.

It was down to 55 degrees in the living room this morning, but I was able to keep the bedroom nice and toasty for Boogie and I by running the propane heater intermittently in there through the night.

The Boogie-monster did have commentary when he came downstairs just after I finished loading the fire box - BRRRRRRRR Mommie! It wasn't long before the temperature was well into the 60's and all is well. I have to say that I am strangely lucky, despite the fact that this is all a lot of work and a pain the the butt. It just happens that this is the warmest stretch of weather we have had in about a month, it could have been much worse during the sub zero temperatures we had just last week.

We will be spending another afternoon at the dairy, and I imagine I'll end up with one or two more little goats before it is all over.

I need to get out and get some chores done, but I am really enjoying the heat from the wood stove right now!

Handy, Dandy, Quick, Cheap and Easy Fire Starters!

2011-01-06T19:45:00.007-06:00

There is nothing better then wood heat and the dogs certainly love sleeping by the wood stove. No matter if wood is your primary source of heat, supplemental or just a cozy fire now and again, getting the darn thing started can be a challenge.
Try these home made fire starters, they are quick and easy to make and they work really well.

All you need is a cardboard egg carton, wood shavings and some paraffin. Here I am using pine bedding, but any bedding or sawdust will work. I'm also sure you noticed my wax is red. It is cheese wax that I found on Freecycle, but canning paraffin, beeswax or even old candles will work.

While you are melting your paraffin, discard the top of the egg carton and fill the cups with wood chips.

Pour the heated paraffin over the shavings to fill the cells, tapping gently.

Allow the wax to cool then break into individual cups.

When you are ready to use, just light the paper cup and place with your kindling.
They will continue to burn long enough to get your fire going.
For a pretty starter, wrap a pine cone with candle wick and dip that in paraffin.

Boogie has been helping with my knitting, here he models a Moebius Cowl that I made for myself. Visit my Hyena Cart if you want me to knit one for you!
Cowls, scarves and hats can be hand knit to order.
We are expecting the temperature to drop again this weekend, so enjoy your wood fire and get some knitting done (or at least wear something hand knit ;-).

1.1.11 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-01T19:23:00.005-06:00

Boog and I spent a very uneventful New Years Eve. We had sweet and sour chicken and egg rolls for dinner with popcorn for a snack later. He managed to stay up until the ball drop in New York but then asked to go to bed. He climbed in with me about 6am and then slept until nearly 10am.

Boogie and his last mess of 2011!

He and I spent part of the day today taking down the last tree and trying to cut down the drafts from this wicked WSW wind. The weather went from the 40s yesterday to the 'teens with bitter wind today. What a way to start out the year.He can be quite the character!

Made venison and rice stew, bread and brownies on the wood stove since we had it cranked all day today.
I'm not really one for resolutions, I wake up with new ones every day, but I do wish all my friends and family a healthy, happy and prosperous 2011

Winter Wonderland - Frozen Fog

2010-12-27T12:41:00.008-06:00

After waking up to this winter wonderland, a high temperature of 45 degrees with rain is forecast for Thursday. Dare I hope we skip winter and head right on to spring? Time to start planning the garden!

Trains, Tractors and FISHING! or Christmas with a 3 year old.

2010-12-25T17:42:00.007-06:00

A pictorial recap of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house - Lots of cleaning and last minute preparations were underway.

Boogie was nestled all snug in my bed, watching claymation Christmas stories, eating popcorn and tracking Santa on NORAD.

I, on the other hand, could only dream of a long winters nap!While the little guy tried as hard as he could to stay awake to see Santa, he finally nodded off. He awoke to more boxes then he could imagine and he had a wonderful time ripping off wrapping.Lots of Thomas and train related stuff, race cars, tractors, books, clothes and DVD s. Mommie knitted him a cardigan and matching hat from a wool/mohair blend. He didn't want to take it off, despite it being quite warm I am certain.Grandpa also got him a fishing game like the one he obsesses over at the cabin and it has been going almost non stop since it was opened.

After a nice Prime Rib cooked on the wood stove (nice and rare, just how I like it!) with home made rolls, veggie and potato and a bit of a clean up, I set up a TV and DVD player in Boogie room so he can watch his Thomas DVD s as much as he would like. We have home made chocolate for dessert and Mommie may just have a Jager Bomb or two!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL, A GOOD NIGHT!