There was mutiny in the kitchen tonight. Arms were crossed and toes tapped as I was informed that no one was going to eat any more turkey. But, but.. I picked some beautiful broccoli today and I thought a nice turkey divan would be good. I was met with cold, hard stares. We want beef or fish but NO turkey. I plundered through the freezer and came up with some crab cakes reserved for special occasions. I guess this was going to be one of those. So I steamed the broccoli along with some carrots I pulled and made a roasted red pepper sauce from peppers from the freezer. A side of pasta completed the meal. Peace was restored on the home front, tonight anyway!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas is for.... KIDS?
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The better part of the day was spent cleaning up yesterday's party mess. Lots of dishes to wash up and things to put away.
Next on the list was butchering the Christmas turkey. He weighed in at 20 lbs. A little smaller than Thanksgiving but a big bird all the same.
While plucking I happened to look up and see the ditch beside the shed was on fire. Seems hubby dumped yesterday's ashes too close to some leaves and they caught up. Turkey forgotten we scurried to get water in that direction as it was closing in on a very large leaf pile. I was carrying buckets while he went to get the pressure washer which, thankfully, was full of water. Fire put out, we got back to the task at hand and finished the bird. Never a dull moment around here!
Next on the list was butchering the Christmas turkey. He weighed in at 20 lbs. A little smaller than Thanksgiving but a big bird all the same.
While plucking I happened to look up and see the ditch beside the shed was on fire. Seems hubby dumped yesterday's ashes too close to some leaves and they caught up. Turkey forgotten we scurried to get water in that direction as it was closing in on a very large leaf pile. I was carrying buckets while he went to get the pressure washer which, thankfully, was full of water. Fire put out, we got back to the task at hand and finished the bird. Never a dull moment around here!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
The Annual Turkey Cooking
Since the world didn't end yesterday we had our scheduled annual turkey cooking. Every year my husband cooks smoked turkeys for all his employees and some neighbors. A roaring fire is built before daylight to burn down hickory coals for the cookers and for warmth. We serve three meals beginning with ham biscuits for breakfast. Lunch is soup, chicken wings and a spread of snacks..veggie trays, sausage balls, ect. We end the day with ribs, chicken, beans, potatoes and slaw. This year we cooked some of our home grown lamb too. It was a fun day!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Barking Dogs and Barfing Goats
I am sleepy today. One of my dogs lost his mind and barked most of the night. I tolerated it for about two hours before I snapped. I was telling this to my sister this morning. What did you do? I threw an onion at him and he shut up.The onion basket was sitting by the door and it was the first thing I could get my hands on.
While we were chatting I heard our drive alarm go off. I figured it was the painters arriving. It was not. It was the sheep heading up the drive and out the open gate. I scrambled to get on boots and started yelling "sheep, sheep, sheep!!" in her ear. They turned and started running full tilt towards the barn. From her window she could see them barreling down the drive. She said, "Please tell me you aren't in front of them!" In addition to the loose sheep all the dairy goats that were sharing the pasture with them were out as well. I got everyone up and went to inspect the damage. The ram in that pasture had a very bloody head. I know he was fighting through the fence with the other ram but have yet to find where. The blueberry bushes were missing their beautiful red foliage, but no harm done there. The magnolia tree was trimmed as high as hind feet would allow. Thankfully they had not made it as far as the garden. It looked like the damage was minimal.
Everyone secured, I went out to run a few errands. When I got home and started afternoon feeding chores I noticed a couple of goats looking a bit strange. Upon further examination I realized that they were actually throwing up! Barfing goats are not a pretty picture. I had three. I assumed it was the magnolia tree. leaves. I called the vet. He told me to dose with activated charcoal, wait a few hours and follow up with pepto bismal.
Everyone's tummy seems to have settled and they are all doing fine. Oh, and the dog has forgiven me.
While we were chatting I heard our drive alarm go off. I figured it was the painters arriving. It was not. It was the sheep heading up the drive and out the open gate. I scrambled to get on boots and started yelling "sheep, sheep, sheep!!" in her ear. They turned and started running full tilt towards the barn. From her window she could see them barreling down the drive. She said, "Please tell me you aren't in front of them!" In addition to the loose sheep all the dairy goats that were sharing the pasture with them were out as well. I got everyone up and went to inspect the damage. The ram in that pasture had a very bloody head. I know he was fighting through the fence with the other ram but have yet to find where. The blueberry bushes were missing their beautiful red foliage, but no harm done there. The magnolia tree was trimmed as high as hind feet would allow. Thankfully they had not made it as far as the garden. It looked like the damage was minimal.
Everyone secured, I went out to run a few errands. When I got home and started afternoon feeding chores I noticed a couple of goats looking a bit strange. Upon further examination I realized that they were actually throwing up! Barfing goats are not a pretty picture. I had three. I assumed it was the magnolia tree. leaves. I called the vet. He told me to dose with activated charcoal, wait a few hours and follow up with pepto bismal.
Everyone's tummy seems to have settled and they are all doing fine. Oh, and the dog has forgiven me.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Loosing Track Of Time
Time does pass so quickly these days! One minute we are thinking about Thanksgiving, then it is over and the Christmas rush begins.
We have been quite busy here on the homestead.
Lots of wood has been split and stacked awaiting the cold winter. We had a short cold snap but this past week temps were back in the upper 60's and low 70's!
We butchered our turkey for Thanksgiving. He weighed a whopping 22 pounds. That was okay though as we were blessed to have 25 at our table this year.
The garden is starting to produce some yummy things to eat. Lots of greens, broccoli, turnips and carrots are being harvested almost daily. And FINALLY our young hens are starting to lay. I had taken to standing by the coop chanting stew pot, stew pot.....those thing cross your mind when you only gather 3 eggs from 30 hens!
The sheep have enjoyed the cooler nights and the parasites have momentarily disappeared. All the dairy goats are bred and some are starting to show a bit.
Of course there has been the never ending round of keeping up with the leaves. Mowing, munching and dumping in the garden each weekend. Soon it will be time to turn them under.
Another thing keeping us quite busy is the remodeling project my husband decided to take on...right here at the holidays! He tends to ponder things long and hard but when he puts his mind to it, things tend to move so fast that it literally leaves me breathless. So, for the past week a steady stream of workmen have been in and out. Here at the break of daylight and staying well after dark. We were in desperate need of a new roof. The house needed painting. The upstairs bathroom had a leak in the tub. The garage doors need to be replaced with insulated ones. Our house is 22 years old and needed some TLC for sure. BUT NOW? Being that we host Christmas, I begged to have things done before then. All of the guys have assured me that will happen....and now if you will excuse me, I must go breathe into a paper bag. ;o))
We have been quite busy here on the homestead.
Lots of wood has been split and stacked awaiting the cold winter. We had a short cold snap but this past week temps were back in the upper 60's and low 70's!
The sheep have enjoyed the cooler nights and the parasites have momentarily disappeared. All the dairy goats are bred and some are starting to show a bit.
Of course there has been the never ending round of keeping up with the leaves. Mowing, munching and dumping in the garden each weekend. Soon it will be time to turn them under.
Another thing keeping us quite busy is the remodeling project my husband decided to take on...right here at the holidays! He tends to ponder things long and hard but when he puts his mind to it, things tend to move so fast that it literally leaves me breathless. So, for the past week a steady stream of workmen have been in and out. Here at the break of daylight and staying well after dark. We were in desperate need of a new roof. The house needed painting. The upstairs bathroom had a leak in the tub. The garage doors need to be replaced with insulated ones. Our house is 22 years old and needed some TLC for sure. BUT NOW? Being that we host Christmas, I begged to have things done before then. All of the guys have assured me that will happen....and now if you will excuse me, I must go breathe into a paper bag. ;o))
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