4/20/15

And...we are done kidding...

Peep (out of Emily Elizabeth)

  Jack (out of Emily Elizabeth)

4-h this evening, ds did a presentation on leatherwork and the necessity of dampening your leather before you stamp it.

Cleaned out the barn for Emily Elizabeth, so have just about finished the second compost windrow....wish things would quit going poooooooooooooooooooooo

4/19/15

Praise the Lord! Today was a wonderful day to worship at Harvest Church.

Came home and took some pictures!

Tripp holding Blackie (out of Sniffy)

 Blackie and Brownie (out of Sniffy)

4/18/15

Well...

When we put Bill and Bob out in the goat lot this morning, I noticed that Sniffy was looking around for babies...and I thought, uh oh! smile emoticon

After breakfast, laundry, and a walk, we headed down to the barnyard to work on compost windrows. I asked Tripp on our way down to the barnyard if he wanted to see the new babies, he looked at me like I was crazy, "We don't have any new babies..."

Well, we had new babies! a brand new little baby girl (Brownie) and a baby boy (Blackie). Mom and babies are all doing well. I didn't have my camera, so no pix yet..
And in other news!
After we got them settled and did some work, we took the bicycle across the road to the field and, I've gotta' tell ya', Tripp is doing awesome on his bike!!!!

Sewing...
Have modified the Irish 8-piece cap pattern, added length to the panels. Will get that stitched together tomorrow or Monday.

4/17/15

Well, we haven't been doing much small farm, homestead activities...we've been teaching our ds how to ride his bicycle! And he has been successful! YAY!

I have continued to work on hauling manure out of the horse lot.

We have lost one more chicken...so we are down to seven. I need to build a small chick nursery and get an order of chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery. We have always purchased day old chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery...except for last year. We purchased about 8 week old chicks from someone local. I don't know what the difference has been, but we have NEVER had these types of problems with raising chickens. So, yeah, back to https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html!

We have been infested with fruit-fly like flies...ugh. We made fruit fly traps with jars, paper cones, red wine vinegar and banana butter. Put the red wine vinegar and the banana butter in the bottom of the jar, make a paper cone-wide enough to cover the mouth of the jar, short enough to keep it up out of the red wine vinegar. Lots of success.

4/14/15

Second day with the goat kids out. They seem to be doing fine with it.

The broccoli sprouts continue to grow-reaching above the pot rims now.

Busy day doing business paperwork, and taking care of Cub Scout tasks.

Blustery cool weather, however, we haven't heard any thunder (yay-no lightening!) and no rain so far.



Yellow Squash Fritters
1 yellow squash, shredded
3-4 mushrooms, chopped
2 T olive oil
1 egg
salt
pepper
1/2 - 1 cup flour


Sautee squash and mushrooms in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Remove vegetables from frying pan. Place vegetables in mixing bowl. Add additional tablespoon of olive oil to frying pan, adjust to medium heat.

Add egg, salt, and pepper to the vegetables. Add enough flour to form fritter batter that is no longer damp, but is not dry.

Drop by mixing spoon into frying pan. Fry on each side until lightly browned.

Serving suggestions: sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, hot sauce,

4/13/15

Unloaded the hay from the trailer today.

Moved the Bob and Bill (13 day old goat kids) out into the goat pen with their mom for the day. Checked on them mid-day and they seemed to be doing fine. Certainly enjoying the additional room for romping and frolicking! Locked them in the barn this evening so that we can continue "milk sharing". I am taking almost a quart off of the doe in the mornings. We certainly won't be making cheese anytime soon at that rate, but it is nice to have milk for the table...

Did a soil texture test today. Did this test on the soil naturally found on our property. Followed this test format:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/214.html

Still waiting for the last of the sediment to settle out. The results so far indicate heavy sand percentage. Will post actual results upon completion.

Did a simplistic pH test as well. Did this test on the soil in our raised garden beds (purchased top soil and home-composted materials (straw, hay leavings, and manure). Followed this test format:

http://preparednessmama.com/testing-your-soil-ph-without-a-kit/

The results were not surprising...we have alkali soil! :)

4/12/15

Well, it was dh's birthday today. He usually enjoys spice cakes, and I thought I found a good recipe with this cardamom cake...

http://www.food.com/recipe/cardamom-cake-190805

I topped it with a white frosting, which I added coffee, cinnamon, and cloves to. A sprinkling of flaked coconut on the top and drizzled with caramel! Tbh-the jury is still out. I would like to make it again and take it out of the oven may 2 mins earlier. It was a little dry...but it used European temperatures and cake pan sizes, so might have miscalculated a bit.

Also celebrated our ds's birthday-we got him a slackline, some folfing discs, and a tetherball. Our outdoor adventure areas are definitely blossoming!

Have a line on some free raspberry plants, roses, and snowberry bushes. Hopefully that will pan out. :)

Checked the seeds and we have some broccoli sprouts started!! Yay!

Our last two does look like they are about to pop...but no additional goat kids yet.