That Puppy tires me out!

Hey there, Buster here....

"Boy, Am I pooped.. I needed to come sit in my Dad's chair to get away from that silly Auggie. He is a bit too big for me to play very long with. He is always ready to jump on me...see him in this picture? He is always waiting to play.

He sure does like to chew on things, I don't remember If My Dad had to yell at me to stop doing that. He chews on my ears and runs at me so hard he knocks me down. My Dad says he is very clumsy too. He finally lost his baby teeth and now it doesn't hurt so much when he nibbles on me to get me to play. He teases me with my rawhide bones & when I get them from him he really wants them back quickly, We play a take away game a lot. Auggie sleeps in the utility room every night and he likes to lay in the sun on the porch too. He is finally getting potty trained. I told him the our mom & dad were gonna make him stay outside unless he got with their program..He is doing lots better.. I got to go with Mom & dad yesterday to get the new chicks . Auggie had to stay home, but he did get to watch them awhile when Mom & dad were making room in the studio... I guess we are gonna keep him cuz he got his license when I got mine last week.. I will keep you posted as to how well he behaves....or not!"

Cluck Cluck Cluck...

I overheard the girls talking yesterday, after we moved their nests and filled the "Vacant space" in the Studio....

"So, Lucy, you go ahead make her move... She can't sit there all day long!
"Ok, Dottie, I will give it my best shot..."Goldie, Can We talk?"" You gotta move so Dottie & I can share the nest too...!"

"Nope, I am perfectly fine right here... go find another..."Clucked Goldie...

Now as their Chicken mama, I do know they can find another nesting place... I even baited a couple great spots with fake eggs....

I hope they settle in another one so we can gather an egg or two this week....

No Vacancy...Chicken Studio Full

All snug and happy as can be

My babies are home. We had to reorganize things in the studio.

The cage for the 7 new babies takes up 1/2 the studio floor. I had to remove a nesting shelf and the "Miss Goldie's nest" was placed just inside the door on the floor under a shelf. Here she likes the dark corner. I filled A nice big basket with straw and she settled right in. The other two were not so quickly settled and were curious as to what those babies were doing there..We shall see how they manage through the night. It will be nice to have all 10 girls together and after a couple more weeks I will let the babies go out side in the caged pen. They really liked sitting in the sunshine outside while their new home was being re-vamped.

The cage is a loaner from Gail...*A dog kennel no longer used . Thank you so much farmgirl!

Georgia Farm woman Giveaway!

Hey all, The Georgia Farm woman is giving away a great prize, two of her hand made Nesting boxes check it out.. http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com/2009/04/chicken-nest-box-giveaway.html

Pullets are growing quickly

Our chicks are really growing, I went out to Gails' this morning to meet with the charming chicks hen party for a craft a nice lunch meeting. We have two new gals interested in joining our flock. We worked on our Chapter Journal and just had a nice chat time. I had to go see my chickies and take their photo. I want to bring them home as soon as I can.. but need the weather to be a bit warmer & make an area for them in the coop. All but 4 of the Buff orphingtons are ours. They have really grown and look very good. Gail has done a great job as their Nanny.. and I am sure she will be happy to move her chicks also into a permanent coop that her husband is building. Our weather is warming this week up into the low 70's by next week. We have our truck load of soil coming Next Monday so perhaps we can move the chickens & start the garden by end of the month.

Sunday Morning Drive

Easter morning we took a long drive in the country. Our destination was Mt. Shasta. We often take a detour down a country roads, sometimes a few less traveled, like over bumpy dirt roads to let the dogs run a bit. I snapped this picture of Mt Shasta in the back ground.

As we drove further down this road I took this shot of tiny yellow wild flowers were popping through the pastures. A nice drive for a Sunday. Very peaceful here listening to meadowlarks. The day was pleasantly warm with a few clouds. Very relaxing , I do believe Spring is on her way.

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter Everyone!

Spring is really here when Easter arrives I think. It has been a long time coming!

Easter is a time of looking ahead, and I think we need to take a break from our daily tasks, Take time to rest, reflect and prepare for what the New Spring brings. We will probably take a nice drive in the country and enjoy the peace & quiet because this year we will not have the joy of having the grandchildren with us, No Easter egg hunt, just a very quiet day is planned for the dogs & chickens here on the farm. I wish you all a very Happy Easter spending the day with your families and friends. Don't eat too much candy, if you are so lucky to get that Chocolate Easter Bunny in your basket.... I think I will have to go buy myself one for sure and also some of those marshmellow Peeps!... Oh yes and jelly beans...all colors & flavors..

Rainy days mean baking..cookies.

What better thing to do on a rainy day....and Oh, the kitchen will smell heavenly. These cookies are fabulous. I have tried many recipes and I think they are the best. My Husband will agree and they are especially good right out of the oven warm with a glass of cold milk..or a cup of tea... Yummy! Of course you can make them anytime...

Double Peanut Butter Cookies
( from the Essential Baker Cookbook...by Carole Bloom)
If you are a peanut lover, these cookies are for you.
Loaded with peanuts & peanut butter. I recommend using extra chunky peanut butter.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Adjust oven racks to the upper 1/3 and lower 1/3
Line two sheets with parchment paper or non stick liners.

2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp salt
Sift together in a large bowl and set aside

In the bowl of an electric mixer: mix well until creamy
6 oz ( 1 1 /2 sticks unsalted butter softened with
1 cup of peanut butter
Stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl.

Next add and mix until well blended
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and 1 cup granulated sugar.
Slightly mix with a fork 2 large eggs ( at room temperature)

Pour into peanut butter sugar mixture and beat at med speed, until well blended, again scrape down sides of bowl.

Add the dry ingredients that were set aside gradually blending completely.
Add ½ cup chopped lightly salted peanuts to the cookie mix and blend well.
Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop to scoop out dough onto baking sheets leaving 2 inches of space between cookies for expansion.
Bake in 350 oven for 7 minutes switch the baking sheets and bake another 7 -8 minutes until the cookies are set and golden brown.
Depending on size of scoop.. Makes 3 to 5 dozen cookies.
Store in airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months..
Mine never make it past 3 days…..
Enjoy
　

Already Drinking buddies..

Happy Birthday Kandace. I Love you and hope you have a good day!

Yes, my oldest grandaughter has become of age to drink Alcoholic Beverages. She is away at college at WSU and I am sure tasted a few brews, wine coolers and hard lemonades. I am sure that is a Mike's Lemonade in her hand.... Charlie is still addicted to mama's milk and a bit of formula sometimes. What a good boy!

I know she will drink responsibly to provide a good example to her younger brother by 21 years.

Wow where do the years go. I was present for her birthing debut as well as little Charlies. Seems like only a few years ago that she was a tiny little girl. Her dad commented that she could take "Charlie " out for his legal drink when he was 21 . Of course she may decide by then at the age 41 that it really isn't a big deal.. I know she plans to "Party" with her college friends tonight but she told me she has an exam tomorrow so she will be sober when she goes to bed tonight. I am very proud of her, She is working and enrolled in womens studies. Keep up the good work Kandace.

Just because... We could

Sometimes you just gotta do it!. Silly as it is. The opportunity lent itself to a Kodak moment. My son & I found these two playyard turtle shells in Woodlandark Zoo last week and we just could not resist the temptation. Yes, thats me too.. You are never too old to play with your son are you? Well he is only 42 and you know I have to be older..(and bigger.) it took a little squeezing to get this grandma inside the darn thing, but well worth the laugh as his wife Watched us while Charlie slept! Of course only family will appreciate the humor here...I think we were in backwards...maybe not..

Yes, a real farmgirl lives here!

When I moved to the "Blue Sky Farm" I knew we only had an acre, and I have great plans to use every crook & crannie inside & out.





Ever notice how men think you can have too much stuff? yeah, Mine sure does...I wanted Dh to build a piggie pen, but so far I am getting a "LOUD NO". We do have 10 chickens..* 7 babies coming soon) , 2 dogs, a hive of bees, a couple wild mallard ducks ( currently on the pond.) Hope we see babies... I also have hinted at getting a couple goats.. with a bit less resistance than the Pig Idea.. but probably won't budge onthis one either. I do have a huge garden spot for my veggies to grow in , So inside has become my minagerie of farm animals. I have many chickens as I have posted before, and I have two nice piggies now too. This guy is useful & eats nothing but "chaulk, Now I also have a big rule in the house "The Kitchen is Mine!" and I will continue to fill every empty spot to Scream " A farm girl lives here, and she loves her kitchen." I am not complaining believe you me, My dear husband is outside at this moment rototilling the garden. He really doesnt mind too much what I do inside as long as I do the dusting.. He will vacuum and help with laundry & dishes... I guess I am a very lucky farmgirl! I do know the property around our little acre could be purchased.....Hmmmmmmm I will have to work on that one....

A Broody Mama

I am learning a lot about raising chickens, Again today Miss Goldie has decided to sit on her nest all day long.. She was setting there all day yesterday too.. I sneaked in and removed the one and only egg that she so "motherly"sat on. She pecked at me as if to say "Excuse Me, there is big business going on here"

Now I know what a Broody hen acts like... and the secret is ...today I moved her to another nest and there is nothing under her. Not even the plastic egg we used to get her to nest inthe first place... Of course since she is "hogging " the nest the other two hens are nestless. Happily foraging the premises of Blue Sky Farm yard. What's this Chicken mama to do?

Tomorrow if she remains on guard I will again move her and not let her back in the nest so the other two can deposit their little packages of gold. ( we are down to two eggs in the fridge. )We do not have a rooster so no chance of any babies in this Hen Studio until I bring in the newest chickies home that are temporarily enjoying their " sleeping over" with Gail's babies. The only good thing I can see is that if we do get a Papa Rooster our Miss Goldie will be a great protector of her babies....

80 years old and looking good!

I am posting a picture of my Mom today. She would be embarrassed if she knew I was doing this but I am doing it anyway. I hope to look so good at her age. She is a very sweet person and I want to share her with you. I enjoy spending time with her when I can. She is a great scrabble, upwords & yahtzee player. She also enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles ( has one going all the time on her dining table)and does crossword puzzles too.

So, here she is : My mom with her newest great grandchild. Charles Nash 5 months old. My mom is 80 years young no. Today, She is visiting my sister in Arizona for a couple weeks, soaking up some lovely vitamin D rays and enjoying my sister and her family. My mom also keeps busy crocheting & reading & watching her favorite tv programs and keeping her home sparkling clean. She enjoys spending time with her neighbors in her community when not with her immediate family. We are very glad she enjoyed her surprise birthday party March 28th. She was totally surprised and it was a great opportunity for us as family to come together to celebrate this woman, friend, mother, sister, grandma & great grandmother. My mom has 4 daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren who love her dearly.

More Chicken Stuff!

My dear friend Leila, started me with my chicken collection. She has decided to change her kitchen theme and has given me many more chickens for my home. I received them when I went to visit her while in Washington last week. I Love them and will be finding places to display them. It may take me awhile to find the right places for them. My poor husband is shaking his head...wondering what I will get next.

My Family in one picture!

Here is my family... We had a great time "Happy Birthday Mom..She is in the middle with the two young great grandsons on each side. 20 of us in this photo. I am standing behind my mom next to my blonde daughter. It was my mom's 80th birthday Surprise party. My flock consisted of 5 grandsons 1 grandaughter and my son & two daughters..then add their husbands & wife and a cousin, & her daughter, her mother who is my aunt (88 yrs old my mom's oldest sister) sitting in front white hair ...add 2 sisters & one of their spouses . We also had others there that were friends & neighbors of my mom's a total group of 26 ! A loud Bunch for sure.. It is so nice to get together but really nice to get home to my husband too...

On Vacation to Washington

Ok Readers, I have packed up my car and Tomorrow, Monday Morning 3/22/09. I will be on the road until March 31st. I will not have computer access until I return. Celebrating my Mom's 80th Birthday with Family in Washington. I hope you will come back to read my blog April 1st.. (not a joke) I will be back! With pictures & stories for sure..... Clay & the doggies will be home taking care of the chickens!

I wish you all Happy Spring, Happy Planting, Happy Thrifting, Happy Week. Enjoy and Relax when you can. Be safe......

Cozy in completed Studio

We finished the Hen Studio Finally!

The girls have lived here a few months while we slowly finished the exterior .
It is ready and occupied by three happy hens. Later we will bring the 7 new girls to join them when they are ready.

Lucille is laying there in the nest (if you look closely.)

We found extra cedar siding behind the backyard fence and there was just enough to put on the studio. It matches our house perfectly. My husband did a fabulous job. (I helped and gave many Unsolisited suggestions , which did not go un-noticed through out the project. ) Today he is still on the helping end of the honeydo list, He transplanted a forcythia bush in the front yard. I have a few other things for him to do, but will be happy to assist him in his timeframe..... The list includes tilling the garden, getting aload of compost dirt so we can plant and I want some more shrubs planted, including the marion berries, and a fig tree.. I know he will be happy that I will be gone a few days so he can relax & do his own projects.. He has built 3 nesting boxes and put those around the property, We are hoping the Mallards that arrived last week on the pond, will settle in and raise a few ducklings. That will be cool.. I will be leaving to visit my Mom & sisters & my kids Sunday morning in Washington. We are having a surprise 80th Birthday party for Mom. We expect a large turnout of family & friends. My Husband will stay home this trip to tend to the chickens, ducks, & dogs, but to show my appreciation I did baked him some oatmeal cookies today. It was the least I could do don't ya think?

A great Gift from Gail

I went to Gail's house to see my baby chicks. They are doing very well. I loved the visit with Gail. We shared many ideas, thoughts and true friendship in the making. I have found it more than once when I meet certain people, you know when you just click and you have a lot in common. I feel this way when I am with her. What a great testiment to farmgirl sisterhood. I had admired an idea she has displayed on one of her walls, A rake head , she has hung her wine glasses on the tines. What a great idea. Well, Gail gave me one today. She said she knew I liked hers so now I have my own. I decided to use mine differently, I am hanging my aprons on mine. I think it is a cute repurposed item. Perfect in the entry to my kitchen. Thank You so much Gail! I think she will be a good companion to thriftshop with for sure.

A little visitor is coming!

Yes, Charlie is coming to visit his Great Grandma. My mom will celebrate her 80th birthday on March 28th. This little guy is her 11 Great Grandchild. She does not know that my son & his wife are coming from Denver with Charlie. I have 3 sisters and we are planning this Surprise Birthday Party for Mom. I will be driving to Washington State Next Monday. Topping off the surprise, I am bringing along with me Mom's sister! another of her sisters is already in Washington visitng her daughter..It has been a big job gathering people *30 in the count so far to attend. To make it more special.. for me...All 3 of my kids will be there too. But back to this little guy.. he is going to be 5 months old Thursday, and look at those cheeks! My son is a magician (by trade) and his wife is a muralist. They are fortunate that their work schedules allow one of them to be with him so he does not have to go to daycare. Charles was born, if some of you remember on my birthday,October 19th , so I have not held this little dumplin since I left Denver two weeks after his birth. Yeah, this Gramma is very excited. Now th biggest problem I foresee is that his "2 aunties" my daughters.. have not even met him yet & they will be fighting over who gets to hold him. I think I should get priority don't you? After all He was my birthday pressie..

St Pat's Day ( Are you wearing Green?)

OH, I am not of total Irish Heritage, but do have a wee bit o' Irish blood running through my veins, along with the English, Scotch and the Dutch. Mostly I am American and when I think 0f St. Patricks Day of course I think, of my childhood days when upon waking for school I recalled, "I must put on something GREEN as not to get pinched." I also think of Shamrocks & Leprechauns like most people. But I also think Spring and with Spring come new growth, new farm babies and a promise of good things happening. (I suppose because I am an optimist I would think that.) I also like many others think about Corned Beef & Cabbage for dinner.

Well, Guess what? It seems that corned beef and cabbage is more of an American St Patrick’s Day tradition. According to *Bridgett Haggerty of the website Irish Cultres and Customs their research shows that most likely a "bacon joint" or a piece of salted pork boiled with cabbage and potatoes would more likely have shown up for an Easter Sunday feast in the rural parts of Ireland. Since the invention of refrigeration, people eat fresh meats. Today corned beef and cabbage is considered a peasant dish and is more popular in the United States than in Ireland. People eat it on St. Patrick's Day as a nostalgic reminder of the Irish heritage

Over the years, I have learned to love this simple dish . This year again I am among the millions of meat eaters who will enjoy a traditional feast today as I prepare a simple and delicious meal.

Beer or Wine?

Well, since, the Irish are not known for their wine and to try to pair it with one would be a stretch.. I think perhaps if you prefer wine over beer a Chianti Classic may do the trick...but I would be very happy with a nice micro-brew of an ale for sure.

Easy Corned Beef & Cabbage
* serves 5

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet (most grocery stores carry these in the meat department)
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and julienned
1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
DIRECTIONS
Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain.

Cheers!