tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53925063862662753222024-03-05T19:37:43.129-08:00Diary of a Pagan HomesteaderKittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-79555320826248400472013-05-10T18:36:00.002-07:002013-05-10T18:36:32.346-07:00Homesteading is often a roller coasterI have had some great luck with the 3 litters of kits that have been born in the last 2 months. I was hoping to have 2 more litters born this week. Sadly so far no kindling from Rowan or Fearn and on top of that, one of Holly's babies (same age as Chubby Butt) was dead when I got home this morning... I have no idea why...was fine this morning is plump and looks healthy. *sigh*<br />
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In other news, I got a bit of gardening done tonight. I planted another 2 rows of field peas for the featherheads. The first 3 rows are doing great. I planted 2 rows of sugar daddy peas for me since the ones I planted before didn't do so well. I also got a row of zucchini planted and a row of spaghetti squash. I weeded and made the herb garden a bit neater and planted white yarrow, winter thyme, sage, roman chamomile, garlic chives and mammoth dill. I don't have a lot of luck with herbs fromm seed so I am crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer! I give thanks for what is growing so far. Hail the landvaettir!<br />
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And, I had the very last of the winter squash for dinner tonight....so sad, I do love my squash. I baked it with sage from the garden.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1SEJiHbOdEXrnvYXh57ceptBWHQ_p9hNFxzjmqBnboVvLHn9F7A-RN9460UiUmTqpFKWrmeXMKu2vsRaioU_Xln9oMz2HqYBveg1QC7X0D8JqX8Yge7PJexfEGlSkYgwN1LMB9uWFuBF/s1600/lateApril+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1SEJiHbOdEXrnvYXh57ceptBWHQ_p9hNFxzjmqBnboVvLHn9F7A-RN9460UiUmTqpFKWrmeXMKu2vsRaioU_Xln9oMz2HqYBveg1QC7X0D8JqX8Yge7PJexfEGlSkYgwN1LMB9uWFuBF/s320/lateApril+136.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my oregeno</td></tr>
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Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-64729692915860517842013-05-08T09:21:00.000-07:002013-05-08T18:36:56.076-07:00Beauty as well as bread...Okay, here is the post that I said I would write after the Living with Intention post. Living with intention and feeding your body is important. However, there are other things that I think are just as important... how you treat that body and what you do with it and your mind are important too. There has been a lot of emphasis on diet and exercise and there are many different ways to do that. Many valid ways... these are just a few thoughts I have on "moving my body" and nature.<br />
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As a homesteader, I do get exercise outside, hauling feed bags, moving things around, cleaning coops and rabbit poo, weeding, hoeing, etc. I don't really like the idea of going to a gym which I can't afford anyway. I honestly wouldn't have the time anyway....not with all the work to be done on the homestead plus still being in school and working a full time job. So, my exercise is not consistent and it is generally need based...I may be a bit chubby, but I know I eat healthy food and I move my body a good amount more than the average person. (I just happen to like my bread and hate treadmills in a building filled with tons of other folks - although a pool that was accessible would be nice)<br />
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I also feel the need to be outdoors. My philosophy of life and how I live it, in what I want as my career and with my homesteading, is all about living in harmony with the natural world. As an environmentalist and a pagan, I want my footprint to be light but I also want to enjoy the world around me. I really enjoy hiking and kayaking, fishing and hunting...feeling a part of nature. This is also where I feel the gods the closest. I talk to the landvaettir as I work the homestead but I feel closest to the gods on the water or in the woods. Spiritually I believe part of my purpose in re-enchanting the world is to help others see the value in living close to the land, the Mother that supports us all. I believe that you can't value something you don't spend time enjoying in some capacity. A recent article I read reminded me of the healing powers of nature too...and it is true, when I need peace, healing of body or more often, of mind and spirit, I need time just to be with nature.<br />
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As John Muir says:<br />
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Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. <br />
<dd>-- <cite><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/our_national_parks/">Our National Parks</a></cite>, 1901, page 56.</dd>Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike. <br />
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- <cite><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/the_yosemite/">The Yosemite</a></cite> (1912), page 256. <br />
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I truly believe that to be a part of this world...truly a part of it, we need to live with intention and to walk and see and play within it... not in concrete buildings and asphalt parks. There are advantages to cities and I have lived in and loved them at times in my life. Culture and art are also a great part of being human but for me to truly live, I need to be a part of nature, to see the art in a simple stream or bud of a leaf, the connections that make it all possible. I have always know that everything is connected, but with my studies I learn in more detail of how and it is truly amazing.... biogeochemistry, the way that everything is connected...we couldn't have designed it better.<br />
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So, in order to not be all work and no play, I try to find the time to play in nature and just experience. In the winter, that is hunting and walking trails. There is something amazing about sitting in a tree stand on a crisp and clear cold winter's morning as the sun rises, listening to the birds wake up and watching the light change from a dim glow to full daylight. I experience something similar when I take time to fish at sunset at Trap Pond. I rarely catch anything but listening to the inhabitants settling in for the night and the frogs waking up as the light moves to that magickal twilight is just so peaceful. I try to take time to walk the trails in the parks around me and to kayak on nice days. I spent a lot of time last year kayaking places like the Pocomoke River in my Viking kayak and exploring the swamps in my sit on top kayak, my favorite places being the local Trap Pond with the Cypress swamps and down in North Carolina, Merchants Millpond with the Cypress and Tupelos draped with Spanish Moss.<br />
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So, this Spring, I am hoping to do a lot more and making a concerted effort to spend that time in nature...it is too easy for me to sometimes just say that I have too much to do and skip the "play time". I am hoping to do Delaware's Trail Challenge (a selection of trails around the state) along with other trails in the neighboring area. Of course, I will be back in my kayak soon, as well, the weather has just been a bit chilly and windy lately. I will be documenting the trails on land and water at my site on <br />
<b><a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2122060&code=bbfadf4c5fd9a3e6b2232f0b97a09cea">http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2122060&amp;code=bbfadf4c5fd9a3e6b2232f0b97a09cea</a></b><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I truly believe that we need the beauty as well as the bread to live a whole life.</span></strong>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-88643211055886505882013-02-08T06:37:00.000-08:002013-02-08T06:37:18.680-08:00The choice of natural medicineThis is an article written by a woman on one of the blogs I follow, a homesteader like me. I couldn't have said it better so I am just going to paste it here.<br />
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By Jill at the Prairie Homestead:<br />
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<br />Last night I was flipping through a magazine and came across one of those run-of-the-mill pharmaceutical ads.<br />You know the ones– they are usually about four-pages long and a serious annoyance when you are right in the middle of a good article.<br />Usually I can’t flip past them fast enough to get to the good stuff, but for some reason, I was compelled to read through this one in particular.<br />It was for a prescription inhaler, and while the first page had uplifting-looking photos and touted the benefits of the drug, the next three pages included massive lists of side effects and warnings for everything from severe allergic reactions and pneumonia, to respiratory tract infections and bronchitis. (Uh, I thought an inhaler was supposed to help your lungs?)<br />I initially shook my head in disgust, and then proceeded with the rest of the magazine.<br />But it popped into my mind again today, and the more I thought about it, the more mad I became. Yes, mad.<br />I’ve been pondering this whole idea a lot lately, especially after reading this recent article about essential oils. The article itself was fairly innocuous, but it left the reader with the impression that essential oils are fairly dangerous with a variety of risks. The comment section was even worse, with many folks mocking those who dare to choose essential oils over conventional drugs.<br />Now, let me clarify– essential oils should be used with common sense. For example, I certainly wouldn’t recommend slathering yourself in undiluted oregano or cinnamon oil…<br />But I guarantee they aren’t near as “dangerous” or “toxic” as many of the conventional pharmaceuticals that doctors are prescribing left and right. (Like the diabetes medication I saw advertised the other day… There is a big bold warning at the top of the ad that says it may cause thyroid cancer in humans like it has in rats… Um hello?)<br />Since when did it become “normal” and acceptable in our society to happily and willingly accept all these drugs without ever questioning the consequences?<br />How come the same people who would never, ever question the long-term side effects of their prescriptions meds, are the same ones who question and criticize our choice of a natural lifestyle and insinuate that we are “living on the edge.”<br />Sure, I’ll fully admit that there is a time and place for conventional medicine. If I’m in a car accident, you can bet I’ll be thrilled to be in the hospital. However, if I have natural options available to me to treat other issues, why not at least explore those?<br />As many of you know, my husband received a substantial dog bite wound on his hand about a month ago. We were very proactive and decided to treat the wound ourselves using natural remedies and essential oils. The results were spectacular, and it healed more quickly that I could have ever imagined.<br />But I’ll be honest– I was scared to death to tell anyone what we were doing until AFTER the fact. Although I was confident that we were taking the necessary precautions and that it would be just fine, I didn’t feel like dealing with the raised eyebrows or people shaking their finger at us for being too “risky.”<br />It’s a common perception in our society that a doctor and multiple prescriptions are an absolute requirement for any and all medical “issues,” whether it be a common cold or a small wound.<br />But unfortunately, the backwards nature of our culture doesn’t end there…<br /><br />Why do we think it’s normal to chow down on every manner of false, processed, pseudo-food we can get our hands on, yet consider it so unsafe and ”risky” to drink raw milk like people have been doing for thousands of years?<br />Why do we think it’s normal to happily take any prescription that the doctor gives us without question, yet raise our eyebrows and scoff at using essential oils or other natural, time-honored treatments?<br />Why do we think it’s normal to eat pale-colored eggs from chickens living in horrible conditions, yet get squeamish when the “farm fresh” eggs we get have a speck of sawdust on the shell, or a meat spot inside.<br />Why do we think it’s normal to spend countless hours and dollars mowing, watering, and fertilizing our strangely un-natural patches of perfectly manicured green grass, yet think putting the time into growing things you can actually eat is too much work and inconvenience?<br />Why do we think it’s normal to get upset over a child putting a piece of grass in his mouth, yet obediently inject that same child with multiple vaccines at the same time without ever questioning the repercussions?<br />Why do we think it’s normal for that one pound of hamburger you buy at the grocery store to be the product of hundreds of different cows and ”puffed” with ammonia hydroxide (their words, not mine…), but so many people get nauseous at the thought of cutting up their own meat?<br />Why do we think it’s normal for foods that have been genetically modified and sprayed with chemicals to require no labeling, yet if a farmer wants to go the organic route, he or she must jump through all manner of hoops and paperwork to have the “privilege” of placing that little “organic” sticker on their products?<br />Why do we think it’s normal for people to go from their garage, to a parking garage, to their place of work without ever feeling the wind on their face or having their shoes touch anything but asphalt for weeks and weeks at a time?<br />photo credit<br />To answer the question posed in the title of this post– No– I do not think that natural choices are inherently more dangerous.<br />Most aspects of life involve some element of risk, and I encourage you to take the time and research the choices in front of you and your family.<br />I don’t have all the answers, but I firmly believe that I am placing my family at far less risk choosing to live a naturally-minded lifestyle, than I would be making conventional choices like the rest of society.<br />And if you are facing the same sort of raised-eyebrows that I do sometimes– take heart and remember this: I guarantee you aren’t alone in your natural choices, even though it might feel like it at the time. People have been doing things like using essential oils and drinking raw milk for thousands of years– Long before Big Pharma ever told us not to… <br />Have you ever been questioned for choosing the natural/homesteading lifestyle? What was your response?Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-4235866900106928542013-01-15T19:05:00.001-08:002013-01-15T19:05:22.718-08:00Salmon and broccoli with lemon parsley butter / pumpkin scone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Salmon and Broccoli with Lemon Parsley butter, Caesar salad and Pumpkin Scone</b></div>
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Tonight's dinner was very simple tonight with dessert that was left over from breakfast I made for my co-workers this morning.<br />
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<b>Salmon and Broccoli:</b><br />
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I sauteed the salmon in a little olive oil. I cut broccoli from the garden and steamed it very slightly. I topped them both with the Lemon Parsley Butter - simply some melted butter with fresh lemon juice and fresh parsley.<br />
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<b>Caesar Salad:</b><br />
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Fresh lemon juice, parmesan, garlic, anchovies and olive oil.<br />
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The dessert was not primal, of course, but is good real food for a treat. I made it for my co-workers this morning from pumpkin I baked last night.<br />
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<b>Pumpkin Scones</b> - one of the best moist recipes I have found: (this recipe I got from one of the online homesteading forums, I forget which one. It originally called for a sugary glaze that I eliminated)<br />
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(all organic)<br />
2 cups flour<br />
1/4 cup sugar<br />
1 Tbs baking powder<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1/4 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger (plus more to top the scones)<br />
6 Tbs cold butter<br />
1/2 cup fresh pumpkin<br />
3 Tbs milk<br />
1 egg ( used a small turkey egg)<br />
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- combine dry ingredients<br />
- combine wet ingredients<br />
- mix together<br />
- form into a round disk shape on a baking sheet cut into triangles and sprinkled with spices<br />
- bake at 425 F for 15 min<br />
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<br />Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-24484211729534113762013-01-13T20:12:00.000-08:002013-01-13T20:17:00.330-08:00Living with intention (food)The other night at our discussion group we talked about "Is the body sacred". The talk came around to living with intention, eating with intention... really just thinking about how we treat our bodies. One thing that struck me was "if you would be embarrassed to put it on an altar to the gods, why would you put it in your body". It has definitely been something I have thought about for quite awhile. I think this will be the first part of a series. This one is about the food we eat.<br />
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I didn't always put it together with my spirituality but what I eat has been a concern since I was very young. (That doesn't mean that I was always good about not eating junk). When I was 18 I stopped eating meat because of the industry and animal rights.... even back then I knew how horrible CAFO's were. Over the years my thoughts on animal rights have not really changed but have matured. After working in, and burning out of, the animal rescue field I knew where my beliefs were but getting there was not something I was sure how it was going to work out. My thoughts on animal rights/pets/shelters is a topic for another discussion, lets just say I understand why "no kill shelters" won't work until people's attitudes and sense of responsibility changes and in my darkest days of animal rescue I had/have doubts of it ever happening, faith in humans is hard sometimes when you see what they can do to animals.<br />
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Anyway, for me, I realized, that I was not against humans eating meat...it is natural. What I was against was the treatment of those animals that became our food and the blinders that people wear. Not until the last couple generations have people started to eat meat they did not know where it came from or even what it was. The concept of going to the grocery store and picking out a package of meat and not wanting or caring to know its source is just plain wrong, in my view. I dealt with people with blinders a lot in the animal rescue field and I found that the amount of blinders people purposely wear about where their food comes from is unbelievable. My thoughts were that if I couldn't have the courage and honor to kill it, I couldn't eat it. The very least is people (kids) should learn where their food comes from. Chicken is not a square in breading...it is an animal with a life, though sadly a very short miserable one usually.<br />
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My concern was at first and mainly for where meat came from and for that I was a vegetarian, with occasionally eating seafood, for about 20 years. But then I started to learn about what monoculture farming is doing to the land and realized that it is as much of a concern as CAFO's. The monoculture farming requires an unbelievable amount of fertilizer and that fertilizer not only taints the food but is one of the major reasons for pollution in our waterways.<br />
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So I started homesteading and buying primarily local. The only meat I put in my body is raised by me, hunted by me or someone I know or is from a local farm. The vegetables are from my garden or local farms and the CSA I belong to...all organic or very close to it. All my fruit is from a local orchard except for the bit of avocado, mango, banana and citrus - if I still lived in Florida I would grow all this myself but even though the zones are shifting we aren't there yet.<br />
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I have really been concentrating on eating whole foods, meaning "real food", real milk (raw), real butter, nothing boxed or canned. I have learned to can and I have been doing more and more each year. This next year I hope to double my garden and start providing even more food for the animals I raise here.<br />
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The next part of living with intention is (moving my body)...Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-14533629263695466522013-01-08T19:08:00.001-08:002013-01-08T19:08:25.909-08:00Weekend and Tuesday foodsI am a bit behind on the food for the weekend and tonight is Primal Tuesday. Dinner was not totally primal but it was still good real food.<br />
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Blackeyed Peas with cornbread<br />
Cornbread in milk<br />
Applecider donuts<br />
Lentils with tomatoes and smoked ham<br />
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So, dinner Friday was Black eyed peas cooked with a ham hock and real southern corn bread (no sugar!) This was the first full dinner I made after the new year...and since it is a traditional new year dish I decided i should try it. It came out really good.<br />
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<b>Black Eyed Peas Soup:</b><br />
1 lb dried blackeyed peas<br />
Ham hock<br />
3 cups home made chicken stock<br />
3 cups water<br />
couple cloves garlic<br />
cayenne<br />
cumin<br />
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let cook in crockpot all day - saute ham hock slices in cast iron pan and sprinkle on top of soup.<br />
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<b>Cornbread</b>:<br />
1 1/2 cups cornmeal<br />
1/2 cup flour (organic white)<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1 1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
2 eggs (local organic, of course)<br />
2/3 cup melted butter<br />
1 cup buttermilk (or whole milk if don't have, I used raw that was just starting to sour)<br />
baking grease for pan<br />
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put cast iron pan with baking grease in it in an oven set to 425 degrees. Mix ingredients and pur in hot pan and put back in oven for 20 minutes.<br />
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Saturday morning breakfast:<br />
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<b>Cornbread in a glass of milk with pepper</b>.<br />
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<b>Apple Cider Donuts</b><br />
Sunday morning was definitely not paleo but I made apple cider donuts, baked and with a bit Vietnamese cinnamon. Not primal but still real food.<br />
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2 cups flour (I used organic white this time but want to try with other flours)<br />
3/4 cups sugar (organic cane sugar...want to try honey net time)<br />
1 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
pinch of salt (I use pink Himalayan that I use for bread)<br />
1/4 tsp each nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon (I used Vietnamese which is strong)<br />
1/2 cup apple cider<br />
1/4 cup applesauce (I used my own unsweetened)<br />
2 eggs (from my hens of course)<br />
1 tsp vanilla (I used some that I made, it is pretty strong)<br />
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And tonight: (sorry no pic)<b> Lentils with tomatoes t</b>hat I canned and ham left over from making the black eyed peas along with caesar salad and naan from the Indian store (I haven't learned how to make them yet).<br />
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I used the crock pot, added about 3/4 lb lentils, 4 cups water, a quart of canned tomatoes, bit of chili powder, ginger, garlic and fresh cut onion then just let it cook all day.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-64993947545384444042013-01-07T11:51:00.000-08:002013-01-07T11:51:09.037-08:00A very cool little storyI got this from Homestead.org, a great homesteading forum. It kind of puts things in perspective for me.<br />
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Snuffy:<br />
<br />One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. <br />
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?' <br />
'It was great, Dad.' <br />
'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked. <br />
'Oh yeah,' said the son. <br />
'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father. <br />
The son answered: <br />
'I saw that we have one dog and they had four. <br />We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.' <br />
The boy's father was speechless. <br />
Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.' <br />
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. <br />
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-18065077215463591102013-01-03T12:39:00.000-08:002013-01-03T12:51:59.385-08:00New Years goalsPersonally, I don't make "New Year's Resolutions", I just do what needs to be done. However, sometimes it is good to take stock and refocus. In my personal life it is just a confirmation to move forward with school, career, home organization, spiritual growth and remembering to take time doing things I enjoy like kayaking, hiking and diving. I missed all of my kayaking trips this year due to illness or finances or just "too much on my plate". I will take some time this year....<br />
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For the homestead, it means the same but with an effort to move forward, learn and remain positive even when I learn the lessons the hard way. I do have to step back and remember that I didn't grow up doing this, I don't have a direct mentor to learn from and I don't have much help and I do still have to work full time and attend school. And most of all, to remember the goals... I do all this because I believe whole heartedly in my goals, they have become a part of who I am and a big part of my spiritual responsibility... living closer to earth. My goals are simple, to live a simple life eating real food, knowing how my food is raised and to step as lightly on Mother Earth as I can. In order to accomplish this goal, I am learning to raise my own food both vegetable and animal and with it comes many frustrations and heart aches but also comes satisfaction of goals attained and movement forward. I have only been doing this a few years and if I think back to how I started... I really have come a long way. <br />
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Sometimes that is hard to remember when things are going wrong, when I lose a favorite animal and particularly a bunch goes wrong all around the same time like last month. There are two things that have kept me going recently besides that I love my animals and I really don't want to think about being without them. (one of my personal goals is to remember to take time to hug Big Tom and watch the crazy antics of the Polish and the ducks... Farm TV is the best entertainment!)<br />
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One of the things that has givien me encouragement recently was the outpouring of support when my turkey tom went missing... that meant a lot. The other was something my father said to me in an email... he said that he was really proud of me with my homesteading and that he really thought it was a great thing I was doing. My father and I have not often seen eye to eye but this simple statement meant a lot to me.<br />
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So, my goals for the homestead are simple...move forward. Specifically I want to be sucessful at breeding and raising my birds and rabbits and to expand my garden so I am providing even more of my own food and food for my animals. I provide about 40% of my own food now, another 40% is local and the rest is mostly things that aren't grown around here like citrus, flour, etc. I want to be at 60% grown myself by this time next year. I want to grow more of the animal feed too, I already supplemented quite a bit from my garden and local this fall but I want to be able to do more, meaning buying less feed which is helpful money wise but also to get away from GMO grown crops which I am sure have made their way into the poultry feed. <br />
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My biggest challenge is raising the animals. My thought of letting the turkeys, ducks and geese raise their own young last year didn't really work well. None of the turkey eggs came to term although I know they were fertilized and started, I think my 3 hens fighting for the nest and the heat did them in. The duck and goose eggs were taken by a snake I believe. The chickens managaed to hatch a couple chicks but the mothers didn't keep track of their babies and they were lost to the weather and/or predators. This year I will be incubating. I have a decent incubator so hope to be successful with that and if I am then I will let my broodies raise some later in the season. <br />
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I have settled on breeds that I will be concentrating on:<br />
Ducks: I already have a couple pairs that were given to me (Daffy and Donald are the Pekins and Ivanhoe and Rowena are the Roens so I will raise a batch of each)<br />
The two breeds I am concentrating on though are the Muscovies and Khaki Campbells. The Muscovies for meat and the Khaki's to sell the babies and for eggs. I have my breeding groups with a group of black and white muscovies lead by Lancelot II and Gwenafar and a couple other girls and a group of brown lead by Cynric and Sabrina with the rest of Charlie's brood (Sabrina is the brood's mama).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daffy and Rowena</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabrina and a young Cynric</td></tr>
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Turkeys: I am concentrating on the Standard Bronze and Buff breeds. Big Tom is my stud for the Bronzes with Spring and the young girl who doesn't have a name yet. Beowulf is the stud for the buffs and he has 2 Buff girls and a Royal Palm girl because I didn't want to keep the royal tom, he was a jerk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beowulf</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Tom</td></tr>
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For Chickens: <br />
I have Henry and his girls but some of them are getting pretty old, particularly Henrietta (Astralorp), Buffy (Buff Orpington) and Lucy (RIR) and Vivienne and Merlin (Americauna). So, I have decided to concentrate on the Buff Orpingtons, Astralorps and Americaunas. I have some babies growing right now and hopefully they will survive to adulthood and I will be breeding them. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry and Buffy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merlin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henrietta</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivienne</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy</td></tr>
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Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-55484372453458964302013-01-03T12:34:00.002-08:002013-01-03T12:34:43.891-08:00Too funny and things to keep in mind for the garden this year!Garden planning has started for the season...yes it is only Jan 3 but I am hoping on taking advantage of a cool weather spring crop before the summer wilts the entire garden. And this post just made me giggle... hopefully not like a raccoon!<br />
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<a href="http://homestead.org/SheriDixon/BlackThumb/BlackThumb.htm?utm_source=Adam+vs.+the+Post+Pounder+-+December+16%2C+2012&utm_campaign=12-16-12&utm_medium=email">http://homestead.org/SheriDixon/BlackThumb/BlackThumb.htm?utm_source=Adam+vs.+the+Post+Pounder+-+December+16%2C+2012&utm_campaign=12-16-12&utm_medium=email</a><br />
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Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-70860935997576052882013-01-01T16:45:00.000-08:002013-01-01T16:45:40.022-08:00New Year on the homesteadDecember was kind of a yoyo month, some good things, some not so good, the end of the semester finals, holidays, being sick, new landlords, etc.<div>
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So I have been trying to get organized, house and homestead cleaned, etc slowly, a bit at a time. The to do list is overwhelming sometimes and I think stress has been a good part of me getting sick and feeling so tired all the time...so, taking it a little chunk at a time is how I am trying to handle it. Today I got a bit of that chunk done...still lots more to do but it is a start.</div>
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I have laundry mostly caught up, fresh sheets on the bed, clothes set for the rest of the week. I have food set for the week for breakfast and lunches at work and dinners at home so I am not tempted to eat out. I made scones this morning so I have 3 more for breakfasts with the blueberry cheese I made. I have the rest of the french bread I made from last night's oyster po boys so I will have that will the salmon cakes I made the other day and the rosemary cheese I made. For dinners I have soup that I am making now, black eyed peas and tomato. The kitchen is mostly cleaned and organized and so are my other rooms. </div>
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On the homestead, I got my last wayward Khaki girl in the pen thanks to Shawn's help. Her partner is in the garden, so within fence but not in the secure pen but he isn't leaving her so hopefully he will be in their soon too. I got some pins in to secure the other up front pen that the duck boys are in. </div>
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I also got a bit done in the big barn:</div>
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1. I got the turkey girls out of the small coop and into the shed with the ducks for the time being. I also got Beo (my Buff tom Beowulf) into the shed because the boys are starting to fight. Believe it or not it is the beginning of spring for everyone... the girls (turkeys and ducks) are just starting to lay eggs and the boys are starting their turf wars and giving the girls lots of attention! So Beo is with 2 of his 3 girls and i will be moving his 4th in some time this week. I hope to get the big pen started in the next couple weeks so the ducks and Beo's crew will have more room outside...until then they have enough room in the shed but will have to stay locked up, I can not afford to lose any more of them. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beowulf</td></tr>
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2. Since the turkeys are out of the small coop, I put the babies in with the polish featherheads. Hopefully they do okay but it is past time for them to get out of the baby brooder. </div>
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3. I got the barn raked out and hopefully will get all of that into the garden tomorrow evening.</div>
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The rest of this week I want to get some work done in the shed (light up); clean the rabbit cages and get their poo into the garden; get some prep work done for new big pen attached to the shed and make some plans set for a decent turkey poult brooder and separate duckling brooder since I know brooding time will be upon me way too quickly particularly with classes starting again next week. And this year, I am going to brood my own babies! </div>
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So...that is the start of my new year with determination to make things good and successful.</div>
Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-87396325526945942082012-12-29T18:50:00.001-08:002012-12-29T19:39:07.030-08:00Duck with blueberry peach butter <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lNwaw0N0uhVNB8mqt6J_hOQLJAI_cw46YlRUdfuTaOWdwDo5oZ0lhjLO-HSq0_SxCgx_983fQs5G04uG9W82H9fjkXxHk1wItCMvIh8NLYFhzExfuX3OBl66WsjIy1Hvn16KpEf_dzds/s1600/Blackduck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lNwaw0N0uhVNB8mqt6J_hOQLJAI_cw46YlRUdfuTaOWdwDo5oZ0lhjLO-HSq0_SxCgx_983fQs5G04uG9W82H9fjkXxHk1wItCMvIh8NLYFhzExfuX3OBl66WsjIy1Hvn16KpEf_dzds/s320/Blackduck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Tonight's dinner was duck (black duck to be specific) with a blueberry peach sauce along with sauteed red and white cabbage and a caesar salad. (and a framboise lambic!)<br />
<br />
<br />
Trollie had dinner of a bit of duck, some salmon, little bit of turkey, baked squash, cottage cheese and egg with vitamin of salmon oil and vit B.<br />
<br />
The black duck was a bit too gamey for Shawn who was sharing the dinner but I guess my palate really is different. I believe it is because I haven't eaten meat from the grocery store in over 25 years. But even though he thought the meat was gamey he said the sauce was good. The cabbage and salad were good side dishes. The recipes are below.<br />
<br />
Duck:<br />
- thinly sliced duck breasts (I had a black duck that y boss hunted and gave to me but mallard or other duck would probably be better if you don't like gamier meat) - would work with chicken or other bird too<br />
- blueberry peach butter (I made this butter which is basically just blueberries and peaches cooked down into a thick "butter") - any kind of butter or jelly would work<br />
- mead (I have home made mead but any kind of wine would work here as well)<br />
- garlic (fresh and minced)<br />
<br />
Get a cast iron pan hot and place the duck slices in pan and sear on each side, (don't worry about cooking all the way through it will continue to cook after you take out of pan and you don't want to over cook).<br />
Deglaze pan with mead adding the butter and garlic and let reduce until thicker sauce consistency<br />
Pour over duck slices.<br />
<br />
Cabbage:<br />
- sliced/shredded cabbage (I had a little bit of red and white cabbage so I used what I had, I personally think the red works best)<br />
- butter or bacon fat<br />
<br />
Saute cabbage in the butter or bacon fat.<br />
<br />
Salad:<br />
- romaine lettuce<br />
- 1 egg coddled, preferably farm raised (boiled for just under 1 min so it is still soft)<br />
- anchovies<br />
- shredded parmesan (preferably fresh and not from a jar with added fillers)<br />
- garlic (fresh minced)<br />
- lemon juice (fresh if possible)<br />
- olive oil<br />
<br />
I don't really measure anymore because this is a staple dish of mine but I would say combine the egg, about 1/3 of a cup of cheese, a couple cloves of garlic, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/8 of a cup olive oil with a couple minced anchovies in a bowl...adjust to taste. Pour over broken up romaine lettuce and add croutons if you like (I make them sometimes but often go without), some more parmesan and anchovies on top.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-41956020885650631142012-12-20T10:18:00.000-08:002012-12-20T10:18:08.433-08:00End of the year disappointments and hopes for the futureWell, it is getting to the end of the year and time to harvest on the homestead and hopefully a moving into a slowing down period. It isn't all going as planned though. Because I am in school and work full time, December is a rough month because of moving into winter for real on the homestead which can always cause problems for any animal that may be a bit weak, it is time for me to cull any unecessary animals so I can afford to keep my breeders and pets and for the realization that what I have put up is what I have and won't get any more until the growing season again. On top of the homestead stuff to take care of, it is exam time and then I have to think of gifts too. <br />
<br />
For school:<br />
I have made it successfully through exams, not as happy with grades but I did my best, so now I move on... <br />
<br />
For gifts:<br />
I have great ideas for gifts for everyone but every year I seem to run out of time faster and this year, in particular, time and money have been an issue. I always make as much of the gifts for family and friends as I can but that takes a lot of time. I did start working ahead and I do have jams and butters made up already. I hope to get a bit of baking done though too.<br />
<br />
For homestead:<br />
Well, I have had some really big disappointments. I lost one of my rex rabbits, I think she was on the "weak" end of the scale and the weather and all just took their toll. She was in the barn with everyone else but she just wasn't as active and she is one of my new rabbits. I have a pair of rex now but I like having the extra security of 2 does. Also, none of the does that were bred took, so no kits...probably just as well though because the weather has been so up and down. I have also lost a few more baby chicks, I have no idea why.<br />
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My biggest losses however have definite causes. My muscovy black/white drake, Lancelot, was hit by a car, along with one of the girls. They had been free ranging and much healthier and had chosen their own place to hang out at night sheltered under a tree. Even though there are 12 acres of farm field and 70 acres of woods behind me, they decided the road was interesting. :-( They are now all locked up in the shed. I took one of the meat ducks out of the meat pen and added him to the flock that is staying to replace Lancelot. So, one more loss of food for the freezer plus the female for eggs in the spring. <br />
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Worse of all though is the human thief. I get frustrated with predators like the owl that took nearly my whole flock of teenage Khaki campbells and the fox that took several of my new hens. However, it is nature, it happens and you mourn the loss and move on. This is a violation and I feel violated and very angry. Someone came onto my property, went into my rabbit barn and into my secure coop inside where I had 4 turkeys, one a tom just ready for harvesting and 2 polish chickens and took the tom. I was away for the weekend and when I got back I saw that the turkey was missing (my brother fed and watered everyone but never opened the coop and didn't really keep track of who was where...he knew the turkeys in there were healthy looking each day and that was all he was concerned about). There is absolutely no way the turkey tom could have escaped that coop inside the barn...it is completely secure and is inside another building with a door. Someone earlier last week had stopped by and was upset because my brother told him the drakes he asked about were not for sale... my suspicion is that is was him but of course, I have no proof. That turkey would have been Yule dinner plus about a weeks worth or more of other meals plus broth and food for Trollie. The loss of that bird plus the duck is just a big set back. I understand whoever took him may have a need greater than mine but I doubt it. If someone was in that much need, they could have asked and I might have been able to help... however, I am barely making ends meet, actually, most months I don't, making the sacrifice to feed these birds over that past season was so that I could have them in my freezer to feed me through the winter... there are several places in town where a family can get a turkey dinner, no questions asked. As much as I would like to be charitable, this just has kind of ruined my "happy" feelings around the holiday.<br />
<br />
However, I am not destitute... I planned on certain animals to get me through the winter, it will be a bit of a stretch now, more so than it was already going to be and I will probably be taking one of the ducks early for holiday dinner. I have had people offer to get me a bird but as sweet as that is, it isn't the same. I raised this turkey up, he was treated well, in fact he was partly raised by someone else with a couple of the girls I have and when I tried to separate him so he would have more space he got really despondent and kept calling for "his" girls so I kept him with them and he was much happier. I know he had a good life and was hoping he would sustain me and my family too. Now, I don't know how he will be treated, if he will be wasted, etc. I had plans of stock and soups and using his feathers in crafts and his big wings and tail for sweat lodge. I am just really upset and trying to let it go.<br />
<br />
So, part of this post is just letting it all out there and letting it go. I want to start the solstice off on a positive note and work on moving forward with my goals.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-15432495938167750632012-12-08T11:24:00.000-08:002012-12-08T11:24:18.206-08:00Friday Primal Dinner/Saturday Breakfast<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqSsjdHdk9rZAQt-4WQPTQxwY7PqljEIImS01W7_qGj7N4T9xWb7TFOL4gkuVzHPl0c9AOYTHQMwhkNsDiUAJb-stX3PmdKwwqUbzDDpcgo3taCBC2iJp-7RSndXRafxyCatWjngfm-F3/s1600/Friday.Sausage.apple.squash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqSsjdHdk9rZAQt-4WQPTQxwY7PqljEIImS01W7_qGj7N4T9xWb7TFOL4gkuVzHPl0c9AOYTHQMwhkNsDiUAJb-stX3PmdKwwqUbzDDpcgo3taCBC2iJp-7RSndXRafxyCatWjngfm-F3/s320/Friday.Sausage.apple.squash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sausage, Roasted Apples and Squash/Apple Soup</td></tr>
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This week I made all the recipes up myself by what I had on hand.<br />
<br />
Dinner for Friday night was Sausage sauteed with sage, Roasted Apple in balsamic vinegar and sage and Roasted Banana Squash and Carmelized Apple Soup.<br />
<br />
Sausage:<br />
local country sausage<br />
fresh sage from garden<br />
<br />
- cut into pieces and sauteed in cast iron pan<br />
<br />
Roasted Apples:<br />
local apples<br />
balsamic vinegar<br />
fresh sage from garden<br />
<br />
- cut apples into slices with skin on<br />
- place in baking pan at 350F drizzled with balsamic vinegar and sage<br />
- roast until tender<br />
<br />
Roasted Banana Squash and Carmelized Apple Soup<br />
banana squash roasted and pureed<br />
local apples cooked down and carmelized into butter<br />
home made beef stock<br />
garlic, onion, tumeric, sage, cayenne<br />
<br />
- combine all and let simmer to combine flavors<br />
<br />
Saturday Primal Breakfast: Bacon Pieces, Sauteed Apple and Fried Egg<br />
<br />
I had a package of bacon ends so I cut the meaty parts off into bits and saved the fat. I cut the apple into small bits and sauteed in the bacon fat, then fried the egg after and combined in a bowl.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-32534811739859634052012-12-08T07:21:00.003-08:002012-12-08T07:21:47.857-08:00December Antlerless morning huntWell, we were not so lucky to see deer this morning. We got out there around 5:30am or so. It was a slow sunrise because of the rain and fog. It was still too dark to see and I could hear something relatively big walking to my right but I couldn't see anything. A bit later I could hear a bunch of running around and something actually ran under my stand...so finally I turned on my headlamp and it was a big raccoon. Other than him and couple squirrels, I heard Mr. and Mrs. Great horn calling to eachother. The same pair that fed on my khaki campbell ducks this spring, I am sure.<br />
<br />
We headed in around 8 since there didn't seem to be much action....I'll be back out this afternoon.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-10275197794242770052012-12-03T16:53:00.001-08:002012-12-03T16:55:42.881-08:00December cleaning and organizing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a busy one. I have done quite a bit of cleaning of this house...sorely needed. It still has a ways to go but it is tons better. (and there are 5 bags going to goodwill!) It is just so hard to keep up with while working and doing schoolwork and doing the homestead chores and making good food, on top of that is the fact that it is never just my stuff to clean up but my brothers' too. I don't clean up after them but it makes it harder to keep things organized. Anyway, it is a sight better today after a bit of work and little sleep. <br />
<br />
After the main cleaning and the inspection by the prospective new landlord's mortgage company, I got a few things done. I made this beautiful bread pictured here. It is an herbed bread with sundried tomato and rosemary. It is a butter bread so can't make it all the time but figured it will do me well for breakfasts this week. I also made another standard bread with rosemary so I can freeze and have the dough in the fridge for next week. I took advantage of the nice weather and cleaned everyone's water bowls and planted onion and garlic, apples cut for more sauce and peels for apple vinegar, beans started for sprouts, cabbage soup started, laundry done and clothes out for week.<br />
<br />
Now to study for finals this week.<br />
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And some pics from the week:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabbages before they became kraut and soup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTWXkZNQDPKg6v759CO9voYm9Hq7MUnLBCT7Hg4Lpxyj9UaI7X8wweoT7nFYxOt6HSc34aaWq-tC33A4Oxb0zm2TVXpTUF1xzDmsYB9PNuCS7BTjon76fcfnw3QIikDuVuPuTt3bOU01q/s1600/homestead+Dec+and+bread+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTWXkZNQDPKg6v759CO9voYm9Hq7MUnLBCT7Hg4Lpxyj9UaI7X8wweoT7nFYxOt6HSc34aaWq-tC33A4Oxb0zm2TVXpTUF1xzDmsYB9PNuCS7BTjon76fcfnw3QIikDuVuPuTt3bOU01q/s320/homestead+Dec+and+bread+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The warm weather obviously made them think it is Spring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbF0vKHiSrzejlvhfn-knE9t6N328zP-K1Oy3EDb6b5dPJwXfwwmqBp00f4y491V1tPS857DPQvMT_STWMSOP3hXT6qHOtP3tgmmyHKW0L0jhGAbJvH4ewEFnDqS1kjPJuLwu8lQ5-Trcy/s1600/homestead+Dec+and+bread+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbF0vKHiSrzejlvhfn-knE9t6N328zP-K1Oy3EDb6b5dPJwXfwwmqBp00f4y491V1tPS857DPQvMT_STWMSOP3hXT6qHOtP3tgmmyHKW0L0jhGAbJvH4ewEFnDqS1kjPJuLwu8lQ5-Trcy/s320/homestead+Dec+and+bread+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gwynafar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5iGLZm9P6AGVxOsCt92rXzx-EWZzVA5HamS8JU9mAIidKNtvpOe7SaohqoxjIqnb7LC-GUnHGGd316nK183lcG7yDHqzW9wjqKo0VQGCauu5axnsrUX4W3M0Z_Ss5brMYupT8yYWQbz7/s1600/homestead+Dec+and+bread+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5iGLZm9P6AGVxOsCt92rXzx-EWZzVA5HamS8JU9mAIidKNtvpOe7SaohqoxjIqnb7LC-GUnHGGd316nK183lcG7yDHqzW9wjqKo0VQGCauu5axnsrUX4W3M0Z_Ss5brMYupT8yYWQbz7/s320/homestead+Dec+and+bread+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two of the boys (one is Val's)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasD5V3EfEECXXLYKlazuzrPSyFYvNIksqi_SXJuviW97xUvyPKg3LQIH_Bj96BVWiS2uFydn6YSOUHF7Qe3Sof85_duQ9lo3lSWEfm4dyUYb46SKEJdKhO4Eu_7WoIAGGh22KYsayWkrp/s1600/homestead+Dec+and+bread+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasD5V3EfEECXXLYKlazuzrPSyFYvNIksqi_SXJuviW97xUvyPKg3LQIH_Bj96BVWiS2uFydn6YSOUHF7Qe3Sof85_duQ9lo3lSWEfm4dyUYb46SKEJdKhO4Eu_7WoIAGGh22KYsayWkrp/s320/homestead+Dec+and+bread+034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowena is a very loud and free girl<br />
(she won't stay with her partner in the pen and runs around talking all day)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0aH1grrBB2u55V45K_x4sUWpPb_JkGOOTrwa0flyF6uvYmhMZNbsdFKFT8fFhJUhHPKVcVBPm5mWBhQW-K0O6IF7qm-gdKsrmfIB-ZPhAw2yi3QCxbRKhKUOY6yrkoCRTZzKCRnKx5hO/s1600/homestead+Dec+and+bread+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0aH1grrBB2u55V45K_x4sUWpPb_JkGOOTrwa0flyF6uvYmhMZNbsdFKFT8fFhJUhHPKVcVBPm5mWBhQW-K0O6IF7qm-gdKsrmfIB-ZPhAw2yi3QCxbRKhKUOY6yrkoCRTZzKCRnKx5hO/s320/homestead+Dec+and+bread+038.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Sven, he doesn't like the camera but I was able to pet him for the first time today.<br />
He is one of the strays that show up here. Freya is inside now and sadly both Grendel and Rothgar <br />
are gone....Rothy was very sweet but he got hit by a car. Hopefully Sven is around for awhile.</td></tr>
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Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-60047168328613431072012-11-30T17:25:00.003-08:002012-11-30T17:25:52.896-08:00Primal Friday: Sesame Crusted Tuna, Wasabi Sweet Potatoes and Egg Drop Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tonight I decided on an Asian type dinner. I had some sushi grade tuna and I wanted to make a soup but didn't want Miso (hard to find any without MSG) so I looked up Egg Drop Soup and it was easier than I thought it would be. I had sweet potatoes too so I decided to make them wasabi mashed.<br />
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It all came out pretty good except that I cooked the tuna a little too long, they were kind of narrow pieces so they cooked much faster than I thought but it still tasted good with a little added wasabi and soy sauce. Yumm. The soup came out pretty good but I used fresh ginger instead of powdered...I will either mince finer or use powder next time. <br />
<br />
Seared Sesame Crusted Tuna:<br />
<br />
- toasted sesame in a bit of olive oil<br />
- coated tuna with sesame<br />
- sauteed tuna on high<br />
- sliced tuna<br />
<br />
Wasabi Mashed Sweet Potato<br />
<br />
- peeled sweet potatoes (I had regular and white)<br />
- cut into cubes and boiled<br />
- mashed and added wasabi paste<br />
<br />
Egg Drop Soup<br />
<br />
- sauteed onion in butter<br />
- added sliced ginger, a tsp of sesame oil and soy sauce<br />
- added 4 cups veggie broth and 4 cups water (called for 8 cups beef broth but I had used mine up already)<br />
- mixed 4 Tbs arrowroot with a little water then added to stock<br />
- brought to a boil and let thicken a bit<br />
- whisked 6 eggs in a bowl and slowly added to stock while stirring with wisk<br />
<br />
Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-36929225678367724412012-11-26T09:26:00.002-08:002012-11-26T09:26:38.126-08:00Preserving Challenge week 2Okay, I have been much more successful at "putting up" thank I have been at writing about it!<br />
<br />
So, I am heading into week 3 and the past two weeks I have put up:<br />
<br />
1 batch of Cardamom Apple Sauce canned<br />
1 batch of Ginger Apple Butter canned<br />
1 jar of Kimchi (I count this because it will be around for a bit then I will try stew...and this is my very first Kimchi...came out a wee bit, okay a lot, spicy!)<br />
1 quart of RoastedBroccoli Cauliflower Soup to freezer<br />
1 quart of Broccoli Soup to freezer<br />
1 gallon bag Broccoli to freezer<br />
2 gallon bags Cauliflower to freezer<br />
6 gallon bags Cabbage to freezer<br />
2 batches sauerkraut on<br />
1 pint bag okra to freezer<br />
1 batch Okra Cauliflower stew in freezer<br />
2 batches turkey stock to freezer<br />
2 batches veggie stock to freezer<br />
2 pints tomato paste canned<br />
1 pint dehydrated tomatoes canned<br />
2 quart Sweet Potato Soup in freezer<br />
1 quart of Cream of Broccoli and Cheese Soup in freezer<br />
1 quart + 6 pints apple slices canned<br />
1 batch sage dried<br />
<br />
More preserving to do this week! I am enjoying making the soups, having some for dinner and putting the rest of to freeze! I am crossing my fingers for the sauerkraut...the last batch didn't work right, think too much air was allowed in and the cabbage didn't release enough water soon enough and I didn't catch it in time to add saltwater...so I dumped it and started over. I made 2 batches in different containers, hopefully they work! I plan to make some cabbage soup and an Indian cabbage dish this week, some for meals now and the rest to put up in the freezer. Hopefully I remember to blog at the end of the week!Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-74888286477339388132012-11-23T17:32:00.000-08:002012-11-23T17:33:41.584-08:00One more step in the organizing and purging - closetSince I live in an old house with my brothers, I don't have a lot of storage space. My bedroom is part of the newer part of the house and has a walk in closet so it ends up accumulating alot of stuff. My living room ends up cluttered with all kinds of things, like my hiking and camping and kayaking gear...etc. <br />
<br />
So, I finally tackled the closet and after a couple days got it organized and purged a bunch of stuff...this is my goal, to simplify, organize and get rid of what I don't really need. I consolidated and organized my clothes so they take up less than half the space. This left room for me put a tuffy tote of ritual clothes, and a couple tuffy totes of all my kayaking, diving and hiking gear. I should have enough room for all my camping gear too once I get that organized. This means it is all in one place and out of the living room. I have a couple laundry baskets full of stuff and clothes to go to good will. More work on hiking gear and then sewing and craft supplies should make the living room a bit less messy and crowded. Hopefully will be done by end of weekend.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-54028046471339143372012-11-23T17:16:00.000-08:002012-11-23T17:16:51.485-08:00Primal Friday - Bison Meatloaf and Mushroom SoupThis week's Primal Friday dinner is a Bison meatloaf with mushrooms - super easy. I made some extra Cream of Mushroom and Celery soup yesterday when I made the soup for the Broccoli Casserole so we had that with the meatloaf. Tasty and filling!<br />
<br />
Both recipes are pretty easy:<br />
<br />
Bison Meatloaf<br />
<br />
2 lbs ground bison (from local farm)<br />
mushrooms (I didn't measure but half a large package)<br />
1 egg (from my chickens, of course)<br />
Cheddar<br />
<br />
- mix up the bison, mushroom and egg<br />
- put in loaf pan, bake 45 min in 350F oven<br />
- add cheddar to top (I just sliced) and cook another 10 min or so<br />
<br />
Cream of Mushroom (and Celery soup)<br />
(I decided to make a combination soup and leave it chunky - but it can be pureed)<br />
<br />
half package or more mushrooms<br />
couple stalks celery<br />
broth (I used turkey broth I had just made) - 1 1/2 cups or so<br />
onion<br />
parsley and sage (from garden) - I added sage because I had that in the turkey sauce too<br />
cream (mine was fresh and real)<br />
butter (fresh as possible - mine was from Amish store - didn't get to make my own)<br />
flour<br />
<br />
- saute mushrooms, celery and onion in butter (I did in cast iron dutch oven)<br />
- add broth<br />
- in another pan melt butter and add just enough flour to thicken<br />
- add roue to broth<br />
- add cream and cook down until as thick as you want.<br />
<br />Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-85727084043213411672012-11-22T20:17:00.000-08:002012-11-22T20:17:08.959-08:00turkey dayWell Turkey Day started yesterday...when I got home from work and harvested Mr. Royal. So, first on my "thankful for" list is: I am thankful for the life that fed us tonight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Royal is the black and white <br />(a Royal Palm Turkey)</td></tr>
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We had a very simple dinner this year, just me and my brothers. I was up until 2am processing Mr. Royal after getting my homework done. I decided to breast and leg the turkey and use the back meat and everything else for "Trollie food" and not cook the turkey whole. This is what I usually do throughout the year. It came out okay but it could have been better if I had basted more or kept whole. I made a nice sauce that i had originally basted the breast and leg with but I think it needed a bit more basting throughout. It was all good but the meat was a little dry. The sauce ended up mostly on the bottom of the pan so I made a gravy and it was very tasty. We also had my family Broccoli Casserole but instead of the canned cream of mushroom soup I made my own, instead of frozen boxed broccoli I used the local broccoli I had put in the freezer and instead of store bought mayonnaise, I made my own. My brother made a home made stuffing and we had our traditional stuffed celery and stuffed dates for appetizers through the day.<br />
<br />
The turkey sauce was a Blueberry, Apple and Sage. I took one of my blueberry jams that was a little soft, put it in my cast iron pan, added 2 chopped up apples and sage from the garden. When I scraped it from the pan after cooking the turkey, it was mixed with fat, so I sautee'd it in the cast iron pan again and reduced down with some mead. Quite tasty.<br />
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A small amount of each will be given to the landwights. The rest leftovers in the fridge. <br />
<br />
And for my being thankful:<br />
<br />
For my health, my family - chosen and actual, friends, for having rewarding work, a chance to grow and have a career in the future, a place to live that enables me to continue my goals of homesteading while I continue in school. I am thankful for many things including all my furry and feather heads...they bring me joy, a feeling of hope and purpose and responsibility. For all my blessings now and hopes into the future. I give thanks.<br />
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Hail the Gods, Hail the Ancestors and Hail the community.<br />
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<br />Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-87263280541726800742012-11-19T18:06:00.000-08:002012-11-19T18:09:29.408-08:00homesteading prep...house work...<br />
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Today was general homestead work. I cut up all the ripe tomatoes, filled a couple trays of tomatoes to dehydrate:<br />
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filled the crockpot with the rest to make tomato paste and both are cooking along now. And I have a basket of green ones still that I will probably add to a stew.<br />
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Then I cut up apples, have a bucket going to make apple cider vinegar with the scraps and have the apples on the stove making a thick applesauce with green cardamom. It smells amazing. Other than that, I chased a rabbit around a bit and did cleaning of the kitchen and living room...it is all slow work but I am purging lots of stuff and rearranging and hopefully it will be all organized at some point soon...with less clutter.<br />
<br />
And I took some pics of my free-ranging ducks and chickens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizzy<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lancelot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gawen (Front) and Cynric (back)<br />
(They are Charlie's babies and the two boys I am keeping besides Lancelot)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Igraine</td></tr>
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Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-58568240514181606242012-11-17T18:39:00.000-08:002012-11-17T18:39:02.031-08:00Hunting Day 3I went hunting again this evening, the last day of regular shotgun season until after the new year, there is still one week of antlerless before the end of the year. I was not successful in bringing home a deer but it was one more step in my hunting experience. I enjoyed the usual time of peace in the woods, The most exciting thing was seeing a pileated woodpecker, they are just so very cool, it was pretty awesome. <br />
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The most amazing part of the hunt however was just a little before end time. A doe started walking into sight...I have never seen a deer on a deer hunt, believe it or not. I have seen them when I have been out hunting other animals but I have never been able to get a deer because I have never seen one during deer season, I have never shot at one either, obviously. So, I was like...oh my...now what?! My adrenalen kicked in and I was all shaky. The doe stayed mostly behind a tree for quite a bit of time. It was getting darker and since I knew I would either hit the doe or completely miss, not much chance of wounding, I finally took a shot. Sadly, I missed and no meat for my freezer but it was an amazing experience. It was the deer's day and I do not begrudge her life. Hunting is all about luck and skill, being at the right place at the right time and a bunch of fate. Today's fate was I want home empty handed and the deer went on running through the woods. I will have another chance to put food in my freezer and I am thankful for the opportunity and the experience of being out there and a part of that natural cycle. <br />
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Hail the landvaettir and hail Ullr and Frey!Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-64535205625177471912012-11-14T17:53:00.002-08:002012-11-14T17:54:16.254-08:00Day One and Two of Hunting This week is shotgun season. I missed most of antlerless for a variety of reasons...Weddings, Hurricanes, important things like that! So, I really wanted to get at least a little time in this week...not like it produced anything for my freezer but I usually enjoy the time anyway.<br />
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For one thing, it forces me to slow down and just be. I was only able to spend a couple hours Monday afternoon and this afternoon. I was off Monday and doing a lot of work on the homestead and today I went into work early so I could get out early. The guys that lease the woods behind where I live said I can use their stands when they aren't in town.<br />
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So, Monday I spent a bit of time watching a Red Bellied Woodpecker, he was quite amusing, carrying one piece of corn at a time to the nest by hopping from tree to tree, depositing it and then ziplining back to the corn pile where a couple squirrels were munching away. Today i watched squirrels mostly at a different spot. The squirrels were the active ones this time and zipping all around with leaves and acorns. I watched one stuff its cheeks so much it couldn't close its mouth and then went zipping up to a nest at the top of the tree. Another squirrel kept playing peek a boo with me from the tree next to mine and then went bounding back and forth almost smacking me in the head. One of the amazing things when sitting in the woods at sunset is when it just starts to get dim out and the birds just erupt in song everywhere at once...pretty awesome!<br />
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Sadly, no deer but It was nice to chill with nature for a bit. Then I got home to all of my Muscovies out of the coop and refusing to return...so they are all hanging under the Juniper tree because I wasted quite a bit of time trying to chase them back in the dark and finally gave up! <br />
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So, now I have bread rising and am trying to relax a bit because homework is done and I have a very busy next couple days working out of town at training - gonna be nice because it involves hiking through woods and wetland but also long hours and lots of driving.<br />
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Next hunting opportunity will be black powder week in a couple weeks.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-7576819314428166982012-11-13T17:48:00.000-08:002012-11-13T17:48:35.577-08:00Primal Tuesday - Smoked Ham and Broccoli Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tonight's Primal Tuesday dinner was a smoked ham that is from the last of my half hog I got from Green Branch - grass-fed, organic and local. I slow cooked it rubbed in olive oil, lavender and rosemary last night then refrigerated it and collected all the drippings. I harvested all the broccoli from my garden for the other part of dinner, a simple broccoli soup with chicken broth (from my chickens), a bit of mead, garlic and green onions from my garden. I made that last night too.<br />
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Tonight I took the ham out, cut some slices, heated up the drippings and cooked it down with a bit of mead... sadly, I am about out of mead. :-( I took the slices and heated them up in the ajus. I heated up the broccoli soup and served it with a sharp cheddar. The broccoli soup could have used a bit more spice I think...but I will freeze it, as is, and spice when I heat it up.<br />
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Very simple but good dinner. I will take the rest of the ham and slice up some for sandwiches with cheddar, homemade mayo and cheat a little with some homemade oat bread since I need a good quick lunch for training classes this week. I will bring the sandwich and my applesauce, eat a good breakfast before I leave of egg omelet muffins. The rest of the ham will be cubed up and some frozen for a part of another meal and the rest will be to go with the kimchi this weekend.<br />
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Trollie food for the night was local bison liver with pumpkin puree I made the other day and some cottage cheese (was bought, gotta figure out how to make) and an egg.Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392506386266275322.post-42592185234467844352012-11-09T19:11:00.001-08:002012-11-09T19:11:51.742-08:00Friday Primal Dinner and mystery on the homesteadWell, first dinner...sorry no pic tonight. I made a Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli soup and Stuffed Pork Chops. I made the soup last night, took a little time but was really easy, had a small bowl last night for dinner and let the soup blend overnight...was even better tonight. So, when I decide on a dinner I often figure out one type of food I want to fix and then try to make them work together. I had cauliflower and broccoli that had to be used, so found a simple soup recipe and the rest was put in the freezer. I also had boneless porkchops that I thought would be good for tonight. So, I decided to add some blue cheese to the top of the soup, the parmesan was good but I thought the blue cheese would add a good contrast. I figured i could stff the porkchops so I mixed some of the blue cheese with some roasted garlic (also in the soup) and some sage, 'cause sage is just awesome! It all came out well and I enjoyed...the rest of the soup is in the freezer for another meal. The recipes are below.<br />
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Now for the mystery. This morning as I was feeding eveeryone I found Mr. Royal (the Royal Palm turkey tom) in the pen with Mr. Buff and big tom...they were not happy with eachother but I didn't have time to deal with. I figured maybe he got out and my brothers put him in there the night before (though they know he doesn't get along with the other toms so was curious). When I got home tonight I found out that my brothers did not put him in there and that he was there last night when they got home around 10pm. Mr. Black was out all day yesterday and was still out this morning...I decided to let him free range for a little bit before chasing him down. Mr. Royal has always been the aggressive one and he is the reason I had to split everyone up in the first place. Well, it is dark when I get home from work so I fixed dinner then decided to make sure everyone is in bed. Oddly Mr. Royal was not in the coop with the turkeys or in hanging with the ducks...after searching with the flashlight I finally found him hunched up in the far corner of the pen and I finally got him to hobble out...he has a bruised leg and a bloody face. Apparently he isn't king of the mountain anymore. As much of a pain he is I felt bad for him. He let me wal in the pen and pick him up. I brought him in the house, checked him out and made sure there were no injuries I needed to take care of and then put him in the small pen where I put Mr. Black this morning. *shakes head* If it isn't one thing it is another! Hopefully everyone behaves until I can work on the pens tomorrow and sort everyone out!<br />
I still haven't a clue how Mr. Black remained roaming around while Mr. Royal escaped the front pen and ended up in the big pen??? <br />
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And now the recipes if anyone wants them.<br />
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Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup (original found online and adapted - original had a lot more stock, I like a thicker soup)<br />
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1 head of local broccoli<br />
1 head of local cauliflower<br />
1 bulb roasted garlic<br />
olive oil<br />
1 large onion<br />
butter<br />
2 quarts home made chicken stock<br />
paprika, salt and pepper<br />
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1. chop broccoli and cauliflower florets and put in roasting pan with , drizzle with olive oil, paprika, pepper and salt.<br />
2. roast at 400F for about half hour or until tender (flip if browning too much)<br />
3. carmelize one sliced onion (slice onion, saute in butter until golden)<br />
4. place roasted vegetables and carmelized onion (don't forget bits scraped from pan) with chicken stock into blender in batches (I actually put in food processer first but it didn't make it smooth enough so then put in blender)<br />
5. put all in pot and simmer to blend flavors.<br />
6. enjoy as is, with parmesan cheese, blue cheese like I did or yogurt or sourcream (might try next)<br />
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Blue Cheese, Roasted Garlic, Sage Stuffed Pork chops<br />
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1. mix blue cheese, roasted garlic and chopped sage<br />
2. make pocket in boneless porkchops<br />
3. saute in olive oil on med high so the outside browns then turn down to make sure the chop is done throughKittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13772615709287337723noreply@blogger.com0