Forget-Me-Nots Along The Way

Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes! I can't believe how many tomatoes we have in our garden. It was a slow start, but they have been growing like crazy lately. We already canned 7 quarts of spaghetti sauce (and used 4). We have at least 80 tomatoes on the counter right now. After church tomorrow we will probably make another batch of sauce before the tomatoes go bad.

Yesterday my husband and a couple of our kids killed 3 roosters for dinner tonight. I soaked them in salt water all night and put them in my large roaster all day to slow cook with potatoes and carrots. Everyone enjoyed them. We are just starting to be able to eat the "fresh" chickens. We get more than a dozen eggs a day from the hens. We have at least ten more roosters to eat. We have at least 20 turkeys that we can eat. We are going to let them get big enough first. We have 3 huge males that are ready for Thanksgiving.

I am going to start preparing my family for a "no power" day. We are going to not use any unnecessary power on Sundays to see the effect if will have on my power bill. My power bill is way to high and I know there are things we can do beyond what we already do. All of my light bulbs are the twisty bulbs. We have the air set a little hotter than I like. I hang out most of the laundry (except the endly white load of socks, and on rainy days). We limit the lights on to whatever is needed, but not to leave a light on. Next I think we should only use the power for the air, fridge, freezer, etc., but not for lights, laundry, TV, etc. on Sundays to see what effect it has on the power, then if it is significant enough I could try two days a week. The kids will love the lanterns and I will love the quiet.

***Chickens ***

Robert E. Lee had a chicken he took with him the whole time the Civil War was going. Many a soldiers tried to cook the chicken, but he managed to rescue it saying, “Boiling the hen will give us one fine meal, but keeping her alive will feed us every day.”

So, as I said, not only are we preparing to buy a home, we'd like one with land so we can have our chickens. Today I emailed our county law division and asked them stipulations pertaining to keeping hens and the local zoning laws pertaining to the subject. I am awaiting for more information so we can keep in mind those stipulation while we look.

In the meantime, as you may have already noticed, I'm looking at both city coops and plans for regular ones. I have an idea of what I'd like for a bigger one if we find a place in the country. I'll share those plans later. Right now, I'm picking out which chickens we'll order once we move.

Let me just say that there are lots and lots of chickens out there. Bantams which are smaller in size and tend to lay eggs with more yolk than whites, then there are the common chickens, the specialty and the Cochins which have the cute feathered feet but have a reputation for being poor layers (please, all jokes aside here, I'm having a chicken breed crisis). There are crested breeds with feathered crowns and heavy breeds which are used for meat.

With all those breeds, I felt more and more confused at choosing exactly which ones would work for our area with cold Northeastern snow and wind. Ones that were well mannered, lay eggs quite often, and are good setters. (now I'm starting to sound like a singles add.haha)

Murray McMurray is a hatchary with good, healthy chickens. Not only do they sell chickens, but other game birds like turkeys, ducks, geese. Lets not forget about pheasants, quail, peacocks, and guineas. If your ever in the market, I HIGHLY recommend Murray McMurray at www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

One decision I do know, we are looking for brown egg layers. So, that trims the list down a bit. The best part of Murray McMurray is they have "assortment" options for different breeds and egg colors. So we have now decided to order the BROWN EGG LAYERS ASSORTMENT.

How easy was that? We know we wanted brown egg layers, we just weren't sure which ones to choose because we've never had any of them. Choosing the assortment, Murray McMurray throws in an assortment and you'll only know once they get to you which breed they are. I like that alot because we don't have to choose just one breed, but can see which ones we really prefer for our next order. In the Brown Egg Assortment, they guarantee 5 of the following breeds:

Black Australorps; Lt. Brahmas; Dark Cornish; Black and White Giants; Buff and White Orpingtons; New Hampshire, Rhode Island Reds, Barred, White, Partridge, Buff Rocks;Deleware, Sussex, Turkens; White, Silver Laced, & Columbian Wyandottes, Red Star and Black Star.

A couple other breeds we were introduced to from our homestead friends, and plan to also purchase are Araucana and Dominique Chickens. They produce green and blue eggs. Our friends called them "easter eggs". They're both pretty friendly and by exeperience with our friends when we were there, they are pretty good natured and do well in the winter months. Check out a Youtube video above that I found on the breed.

How exciting to have made our choices. We hope to introduce them late summer, early fall when we close on a home of our own. Woohoo!

here I go again

Well here I am again. I haven't been blogging lately. I needed a break to get myself emotionally together. I am feeling like a new woman and ready to take on this homestead and life. I have been gardening, sewing, cleaning, everything to get myself feeling good again.

I will start taking pictures to show some of the stuff I have been working on. The weather is getting a little cooler and more enjoyable. I have been schooling the kids. In Texas they do 6 - 6weeks instead of 4 - 9weeks. I am trying that this year. I am taking a week off in between. We are loving the new schedule.

On my week off from schooling we are going to empty the full garage, sort everything out, and frame out one of the garage doors to start our addition of two rooms there. I am so excited about this. The garage right now isn't sealed because one of the two garage doors is broken. I have everything that doesn't fit in the house in the garage. I have a task before me. I want to sort every box and container and make sure it is needed, then put them in plastic totes to ensure nothing gets ruined. Next week is sure to be a lot of work, but it will be worth it.

***The Eglu*** A Traveling Chicken Coop

So I've been searching for plans for chicken coops. In our search for a home here in NYS, I'm trying to keep in mind we'd like some land in the country to have chickens, goats, etc. Sounds silly to those of you who know doug and I in real life, BUT we've always had this dream.

Thing is, he works in the city limits and finding a small homestead or a home on a small piece of land within our budget, has proved to nothing more than trying.

We won't let that get us down though. If the good Lord wants us in the city limits, then we should plan accordingly. Some cities allow chickens. In fact, some allow chickens, just not the loud roosters within the city limits.

With that in mind, I've been looking for regular chicken coop plans AND small city type chicken runners that can move. You can imagine my surprise when I found a site by OMLET that sells Eglu's. Yup, IGLOOS for chickens are made from energy efficient polymers using modern construction techniques and at the end of its life it can be 100% recycled.

Above you'll see a guide to keeping chickens. The little girl is SO CUTE and the eglu is in the picture. I just found the little girl to be so precious that I had to post this.

My one true concern with this is in the harsh Upstate NY winters, how the chickens would get on and not freeze to death.

This is where you avid homesteaders come in. What do you think? Have any ideas on what to do in the wintertimes? Have any other ideas or plans? How bout plans for bigger size coops if we do find a home with some land?

Musings...of Autumn?

*** Barak Says HE has more experience than Sarah Palin...Who's right? You do the math! ***

Barak was in office 767 days when he announced he was going to become president.

Sarah Palin was in office 635 days when she announced she was going to be a candidate for Vice Presidency. If they get the presidential slot, she'll have 24 MORE days experience on January 20, 2009 when she'd enter Vice Presidency than Barak if he became president.

Since Baraks Candidacy, he's raised about 21million dollars a month for his state.

Sarah Palin? As Governor of Alaska she has 1.025 BILLION. That's right, BILLION, she's been handling which is 47 TIMES as large as Baraks.

Sarah Palin? Handles 77,000 employees which is 31 times as large as Barak handles.

SO, if Barak, as he's stated on the news recently, is more than qualified with experience to be president of the United States, then Sarah Palin is 31 to 47 more times qualified than Barak. You do the math!

YOU as an individual American Citizen have a Freedom and Right to vote for whomever you want. YOU have that right and really the OBLIGATION to your children and children's children, to uphold your duty as an American Citizen.

I don't care who you vote for! Democrat, Republican or a Third Party you have an obligation and freedom from our Founding Fathers, to participate in electing your government leaders. Take time to educate yourselves on all parties candidates running for office and REALLY look past "special interest groups" who help to form your opinions without you really knowing it. Find out what each candidate stands for and vote according to what YOU stand for.

What do you stand for? Who do you stand for? If someone walked up to you today and asked what you stood for could you answer yourself? Or would you answer the way you were taught by someone else?

Understand that this is America. We have certain freedoms that our Founding Fathers founded this country on. One with pride and accomplishment. In helping others and learning to be neighbors even if we disagree with one another.

President George Washington said that if we become "Party Oriented" instead of Americans United, we would falter as a Country of freedom.

Use your freedom to vote wisely. Vote for The United States of America and not by Party Loyalty. Enjoy that freedom. Some don't have it.

Homestead Snapshots...

Not sure how good these will be. I'm not what you would call tech-saavy in the least. Even joking, one probably wouldn't call me that. My 'techie' is off in Arkansas, so I'm all you have when it comes to sharing pictures here. I'm using the video camera (it takes still shots as well) and working to figure out how to upload them...it's slow-going, to say the least.

10,000 calories...

Today we are back from a short visit with Sunshine and dad for the Labor Day week-end. It was short but nice and we even squeezed in a short trip to War Eagle Mill.

Upon arriving home all the animals were happy to see us although Big Miss did a great job in taking care of them. My, the birds have grown.

And here are the guinees, no longer babies too (although they still stick with mom -she is a real chicken)

This was taken when her friend Jersey from London was staying with us a few days before leaving. Big Miss is planning a 10 day trip there in the Spring if she can get her finances in line.

Recipes to share...

2 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 3/4 cup oatmeal (not instant)
2 cups Grape Nuts cereal
1 Tablespoon flax seed meal (optional suggestion)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened ** (see note below)
1 3/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple
2 cups raisins

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, oatmeal, Grape Nuts, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Stir to mix. Set aside.
Beat together butter and sugar; add vanilla and eggs, beat well. Stir in crushed pineapple (including juice) and raisins. Add flour cereal mixture and stir until blended. Drop by large spoonful on lightly greased baking sheet or use a #30 ice cream scoop. Slightly flatten cookie dough. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Store cookies in closed container. Freeze extra cookies until ready to use – reheat in microwave, if desired. Makes 48 cookies.

**NOTES: Try substituting 1 cup crunchy peanut butter in place of the butter

1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry (I'll use my own recipe here)

1 tablespoon sugar

Dash ground cinnamon

FILLING:

2 teaspoons butter

2 cups diced peeled tart apples

3 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons fat-free caramel ice cream topping

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon salt Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface; cut into twenty 2-1/2-in. circles. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of miniature muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Prick pastry with a fork. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over pastry. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add apples; cook and stir over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in the sugar, caramel topping, flour, cinnamon, lemon juice and salt. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until sauce is thickened and apples are tender. Cool for 5 minutes. Spoon into tart shells. Yield: 10 servings.

Yogurt is expensive to buy in the store but SO EASY AND INEXPENSIVE to make at home. Give it a try and I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised. It costs less than 50 cents to make a quart of yogurt. I use the cannery dried milk.

4 cups very warm water (not over 120 degrees)
1 3/4 cups regular nonfat dry milk (3 cups instant)
1/3 cups plain yogurt with active cultures, no additives (if bought from the store to use as a starter)
OR 1 packet of yogurt starter (I buy mine at Good Earth or Wild Oats )

Mix well with a hand mixer or in a blender at the lowest speed. Pour into a ceramic or glass dish with a lid. Put a heating pad on your counter and turn it on low. Cover it with a kitchen towel, put the yogurt mixture on the towel and cover the entire thing with a large bath towel so it retains the heat. I do this just before I go to bed and it is perfect when I get up in the morning.

Do not disturb the incubation. During the incubation period the cultures multiply and thicken the milk.

I then refrigerate the incubated mixture for 2-3 hours until it has cooled completely and is cold clear through. Divide it in half or as you wish and flavor each in different flavors with cannery jams. Mix the yogurt and the jam together with a hand mixer until well blended. You can add chunks of fruit it you wish.

Set aside 1/3 cup plain yogurt before flavoring to "start" your next batch.

Oatmeal Breakfast bars

Submitted by Marilyn Park
I particularly liked this recipe, easy and quick to put together. The bars you buy at the store are loaded with sugar and have preservatives and things I don't want in my food. Plus these are high in fiber! Love that! Try this recipe.....I think you will really like them.

2 3/4 cups old fashioned oatmeal or 1 cup 6 grain rolled cereal and 1 3/4 cups oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons honey
1/3 cup applesauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup dry milk
1/4 cup water
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 to 1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup golden flax seed ground
1/2 cup palm shortening (or whatever you use)
1 grated apple with skin on

Cream egg, shortening and brown sugar and applesauce. Add all other ingredients and mix well, add raisins and nuts and grated apple last and mix in. This is a thick batter. Spread evenly on a non-stick 9X13 pan with a heavy spatula. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-16 minutes. 12-15 good sized bars.

Forget-Me-Nots Along The Way

tomatoes

Chickens

here I go again

The Eglu A Traveling Chicken Coop

Musings...of Autumn?

* Barak Says HE has more experience than Sarah Palin...Who's right? You do the math! *

Homestead Snapshots...

10,000 calories...

Recipes to share...

Tuesday Visit

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