Oh My Goodness, what a storm we had last nite. Not Joplin bad, not a tornado, but the worst severe storm i can remember for a very long time. So scary that the two legged kids and i spent a good thirty minutes in the interior bathroom with the cushions from the couch. Don't even remember the last time we did that.
The interior bathroom in my "Custome Home" has been under construction for the past three years. I call this palace "custome" because everything in it was hand made. Out of scraps. None of the cabinets or shelves are the same length or width, or are level, for that matter. Some day i am going to tell you some of the "custome home" stories, and why i am going to shoot the man that built it, if i ever see him. But that is not for today. The pertinent information today, is that the (fifth) toilet that Jed has tried to install in this bathroom is sitting over an open pipe, as new toilets are fitted differently than the toilets the builder had specially imported, presumably from an Eastern Block country during the cold war. Or from somewhere in the Ottoman Empire, perhaps. Lets just say there has been difficulty getting everything to line up. At least it is sitting on a floor now. The pier and beam inspections could be done from the bathroom for about a year, as the floor was nothing but studs and joists. During that time, we had a farm collie mix that was afraid of thunder. Every time we had lightning, Commando would go under the house and end up crying in the bathtub. We would bring him a bowl of water and toss him a bone, and he would ride out the storm. When Commando and Ruby started showing up in the bathtub looking for dinner, Jed got busy and put in the flooring.
Anyhoo, the kids and i are sitting in the bathroom, listening to the storm howl outside, and Jethro is really unnerved, shaking and praying. Took me about ten minutes to figure out that what was scaring him the most was the sound of the wind traveling thru the exposed toilet pipe. When i told him what the sound was, he did a visible sigh of relief. Poor little guy. He tends to shut down after and adrenaline rush, so when the immediate storm was over, he crashed and slept thru the rest of the events.
Of course the power went out, and was out for about 16 hours. So the rest of the story takes place in the dark. Storm lasted about 2 hours. We went out in the dark to go check on everybody. The poor goaties were traumatized. I walked into the doe barn to find Moon Pie standing in the middle crying like she was dying (of course,) and from the pile of babies, Splendora looked at me and gave a weak, sad little questioning "maaaaa" like, "Is it over, yet? Where were you an hour ago?" Everyone was nervous but fine. Same thing in the buck barn. Did a head count of rest of animals, and saw everyone except Jesse and Owens. Figured they got blown away, but this morning they were in the bovine hot tub, so all good there, too. Isabell and the Bobs were flustered but fine. The problem came when we got to the chickens. Everyone in the coop was fine, but the chick pens were devastated. We are running three pens of chicks, 34 all together, and there were three piles of bodies, with only two heads raised, doing the pre-death silent chirping. I thought they were all dead. Ellie called for towels and got to work sorting. Jed was home by this time and helped us dry those that were still alive. Of course there is no power, so no heat lamp to warm them. We all had chicks tucked in our undershirts until we ran out of room. I had been running two canners when the power went out, so i filled a hot water bottle out of one of the canners, and we put a bunch under towels with the bottle. Ellie took some to the coop and stowed them under a couple of hens known to be broody on occasion. I lifted the racks on both canners, we laid towels over the tops of the still warm jars, and put chicks on top of those. We worked on the chicks for about two hours, and as of this morning, only one more died, so we only lost a total of 8 chicks, which is phenomenal, given what they went through. But with our luck the ones that survived will all be roosters.
On one of the sorties, Ellie found a dove wedged in the fence, and came in with it sitting on her finger, doing a kind of Foster Brooks wobble (the dove, not Ellie.) Suddenly, it straightened, got a "how did i get here?" look, and took flight. No light in the house remember, and the poor thing hit the ceiling about six times before it realized it wasn't outside. Ellie captured him off of a high shelf, and he spent the night in the brooder house with most of the chicks. He was released this morning on personal recognisance.
Lots of limbs down, lots of flooding wash, some sheet metal loss, that kind of thing. But the Custome Home still stands, and no animal loss except the eight chicks.
We are feeling truly blessed, today
We now return to our regularly scheduled programing.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Ellie May's 4H Poultry Story: Part II
It didn't seem like long until it was time to start a new 4H year. My mom got volunteered to run the cooking club, (Staci did it) so she put me in charge of making the sign for the sign-up table. I also made an arrangement out of fake flowers, chicken feathers, and a whisk. It looked good. We also brought supplies to make trail mix. We got lots of compliments on our table. (This was when we met Baas & Her Minions, BTW.) At our first meeting, we decided to have a proper kitchen staff instead of club officers. We would have a chef, sous chef, and maitre'd. My mom would be chef the first month and then the sous chef would take over, and the maitre'd would become sous chef and we would elect a new maitre'd. Each semester the staff would rotate up and we would elect a new maitre'd. I was elected maitre'd, and was also on the apron committee. We made two dozen aprons for the club. We had lots of fun, and enjoyed many months of learning to cook great meals.
Our county 4H holds and annual pet show to help us learn ring etiquette. I entered Angus' chicken hat trick and won second place for best pet trick. I also entered Adam in the ugliest pet division and Adam got first place. I had to admit Adam was pretty ugly, even though he is beautiful to me. I won other categories, too. When we got home I gave Angus her favorite treat, crushed pecans. She gulped them down. Then Angus decided it would be a good idea to choke on her treats. She started gagging and rolling around. I was scared, but I knew what to do. I gave her the Heimlich maneuver. After a little while the pecan came flying out of Angus's beak! She coughed a little, but soon started breathing like normal. She didn't like pecans too much after that.
Soon it was time to raise 4H animals for the livestock show. Once again, I raised chickens, but wouldn't be showing a goat. When it was time to pick up our animals, i was ready. I had done research on how to keep my chicks healthy and make them grow bigger. When we got home I put my chicks in the brooder house and made a mix of pecans, chick starter, Calf Manna, and peanuts paced on a banana. When the chicks would peck off the mix the would get banana with it. It was the best way I could think of to get the chicks to eat fat and potassium. I also gave them goats milk and Rooster Booster every day. My chicks got big fast.
When it was time for the show, I weighed my chicks and picked my three best, and then I gave them a bath. While I was waiting for my division to be called at the show, I had fun judging the other animals. I was surprised how similar my placings were to that of the judge. When they finally called out chickens I was so happy,. Showing chickens sure beats sitting around staring at smelly pigs! I led my chickens into the arena. I had been in this arena many times and I remembered all the fun that I had in other contests. Since I had three chickens and only two hands, my dad helped me hold them all. I had given him a quick briefing on showmanship before the judging had started and hoped that he had remembered most of it. The judge walked down the line and judged each kid's chickens and then moved us into place. When the contest was over, I had won 3rd place. I was very excited!! For the record, the 1st and 2nd place winners were a brother and sister, and they took the top spots every year. If those kids were showing chickens, everyone automatically knew who the winners would be. Therefore, when Ellie took 3rd, we considered it a first place win.
About a month after the livestock contest, one of our hens was badly injured. She had and "L" shaped gash on her breast that was a good eight inches long. When I showed my mom she said that we ought to put the hen, Cherry, out of her misery, but I thought I could save her. I asked mom for a suture, clorhexadine and scissors. Then I began to stitch up the wound. I had never done this before, or even seen it done, but it didn't take long to get it all stitched up. After that I put Underwood Horse Medicine and baking powder on it. Then I put her in a cage in our laundry room so the other chickens wouldn't peck on her and ants couldn't get to her and eat the wound. Every day I sprayed fresh medicine on her and changed her food and water. In two weeks she was ready to go back with the other chickens. They didn't remember her at first, but soon welcomed her back into the flock. She limped around the first month after her stitches, because the wound was right over her leg. But after six weeks she started laying again and it was hard to tell her apart from the other Rhode Island Reds.
The funny thing about all that is the girl HATES to sew. But she did a lovely job, very small, neat stitches, and even did a great job on the corner. It was so sweet, when she was getting ready to start the stitching, she was hesitant, and her hand was shaking. I was started singing a song that we used to sing together when she was a little bitty thing, and she calmed and got started. By the time she was finishing up, she was quietly singing along with me, and working with absolute confidence. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
We found a baby bunny this spring, and Ellie May put her skills to work again. Jethro took these pictures for us. Unfortunately, Bun Buns was too far gone by the time we got to him, he was only with us for about 12 hours after surgery, but it was a valiant effort.
Speaking of rabbits....i have been looking for a place to throw this story in for quite a while. Looks like as good a place as any. Jethro was raising rabbits, and had a doe that rejected the babies, but we found one that was still alive. The day before, the barn cat, Kitty Girl, had a litter. Ellie May spent all day out in the doe barn working with the critters, and at the end of the day, Kitty Girl had accepted Stewy, the rabbit, and Stewy was nursing along side all the kittens. Stewy was thriving and growing, getting fur and the whole nine yards. Sadly, Stewy was so much smaller than the kittens, that he got smothered under the pile one nite. It was a heart breaker, but had been an amazing thing to see a cat raising a rabbit.
Next time on Ellie May's Poultry Story: Ellie births babies
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Ellie May's 4H Poultry Story: Part I
Most people think of chickens as a tasty main dish, dogs think of chickens as chew toys, but I think of Chickens as beautiful creatures and there aren't many things I would rather do than spend a day in my coop. Hi, I am Ellie May, and I live on a six acre homestead with my mother, father, seven year old monkey...uh...I mean brother, and 54 assorted animals.
My love for poultry began when I got my first chickens back in 2005. My favorite was Polly, who would jump on my shoulder every chance he got. I've loved birds ever since. A couple of years later, I was given a chicken named Adam to care for. His back had been chewed off by dogs, but I doctored him and today you would never know he had been injured. I was really interested in learning more about how to care for my chickens and Mom told me that she had learned a lot about raising and showing animals when she was in 4H. That's when I began my 4H career. Since then I have been in the cooking club, horse club, livestock show, livestock judging team, and more.
My first year in 4H was very exciting. I joined the horse club and learned a lot about horses and their mentality, but my favorite part was raising animals for the livestock show. I chose to raise chickens and a goat. Everything was fine until about two weeks before the show, when a big storm blew the door off of my chicken coop and our dogs got in and ate all but one of my 4H chickens!! I named her Reba, because she's a survivor. (Reba is the only chicken we have ever taken to the vet. After the fiasco we doctored Reba's wounds, but Staci wasn't satisfied, insisting that we take that baby's last remaining chicken to the vet, and when i didn't, she made the appointment, and had the bill put on her tab.) The night before the show, I gave Reba a bath and a blow dry. When I carried her in to the arena, the lights made her plumage glow. Since I only had one chicken, I was disqualified, but learned so much about showing animals that I felt like a real winner!
I liked raising my goat so much that I joined the livestock judging team so that I could learn more about what a good goat looked like. I studied hard and learned many things that I had never known about market steers, heifers, hogs and more. My team went to district contest in Paris, where we took fourth place in intermediate judging and I took forth place individual.
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Shortly after I joined 4H, my dad and I built and incubator out of an old ice chest and hatched 9 out of 12 eggs! One chick named Zeus was nearly too weak to live, so we forced food and water down his throat. He didn't like it at first, but would soon open his mouth and chirp when he saw me. Zeus wasn't very smart though. If he was a human he would probably try to steal a car with an alarm parked across the street from a police station. He got eaten by a dog, later. Not long after Zeus died, one of our hens named Holly got a huge, deep wound and would die if I didn't save her! I rinsed the wound out with clorhexadine, then put Underwood's Horse Medicine and baking powder on the cut and bandaged her with alligator skin. After a while Holly was all better!! Holly is still alive. Saving Zeus and Holly got me interested in veterinary science.
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When my birthday came around, Mom and Dad asked me what i wanted and I said that I wanted chickens. It was hard choosing the breeds, but I soon decided on Americanas, Black Crested White Polish, and Buff Silkies. I couldn't wait for the call from the Post office to tell me they were here!! When they arrived, one of the chicks had a crooked beak, and appeared very weak. I gave him crickets, (home grown, btw, i didn't know she was growing them until she had a simultaneous hatching and escape--there were HUNDREDS of crickets in every nook and cranny of the house...but that is a story for another day) pecans, Rooster Booster, and B complex. I named the chick Angular Angus, and it soon showed improvement. Angus turned out to be a hen, and needed a lot of attention, because of her beak. I took a toothpick and scraped out any food and dirt that got stuck in her beak once every day. Because I handled her so much Angus soon got very friendly, and began to come when I called. Angus had become the best chicken I had ever had. Since Angus had a bad beak she could only eat chick starter. Dad had found an old tub to put Angus's feed in. That made Angus happy. But soon enough all the feed made Angus fat. Too fat. She needed a lot of exercise. I found a choke leash that I could put under her breast, under her wings, and over her neck. Every day I would take Angus for three laps around the chicken yard and one lap around the goat pen. I also started buying her feed with less fat. Angus soon started to walk like a chicken as opposed to waddling like a duck. She was losing weight, but she was still a little too fat. One day I had an idea for an exercise to make Angus work her wings and back. I laid Angus upside down on top of my head. The I said "roll over, Angus" and tilted my head a little to make her roll off. In doing this i trained her to roll off my head on command. Once Angus got the hang of what I called "chicken hat trick," it became part of our daily routine. After a while Angus was no longer a chunky chicken.
Next time on Ellie May's 4H Poultry Story: Suturing a hen's wound.
My love for poultry began when I got my first chickens back in 2005. My favorite was Polly, who would jump on my shoulder every chance he got. I've loved birds ever since. A couple of years later, I was given a chicken named Adam to care for. His back had been chewed off by dogs, but I doctored him and today you would never know he had been injured. I was really interested in learning more about how to care for my chickens and Mom told me that she had learned a lot about raising and showing animals when she was in 4H. That's when I began my 4H career. Since then I have been in the cooking club, horse club, livestock show, livestock judging team, and more.
My first year in 4H was very exciting. I joined the horse club and learned a lot about horses and their mentality, but my favorite part was raising animals for the livestock show. I chose to raise chickens and a goat. Everything was fine until about two weeks before the show, when a big storm blew the door off of my chicken coop and our dogs got in and ate all but one of my 4H chickens!! I named her Reba, because she's a survivor. (Reba is the only chicken we have ever taken to the vet. After the fiasco we doctored Reba's wounds, but Staci wasn't satisfied, insisting that we take that baby's last remaining chicken to the vet, and when i didn't, she made the appointment, and had the bill put on her tab.) The night before the show, I gave Reba a bath and a blow dry. When I carried her in to the arena, the lights made her plumage glow. Since I only had one chicken, I was disqualified, but learned so much about showing animals that I felt like a real winner!
I liked raising my goat so much that I joined the livestock judging team so that I could learn more about what a good goat looked like. I studied hard and learned many things that I had never known about market steers, heifers, hogs and more. My team went to district contest in Paris, where we took fourth place in intermediate judging and I took forth place individual.
Next time on Ellie May's 4H Poultry Story: Suturing a hen's wound.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Ellie May's 4H Poultry Story: Prologue
For several weeks, i have been working on a post about some of the things that Ellie has done with the animals.
A couple of days ago, it occurred to me that i was working too hard for nothing. Ellie has already written her story.
When she was twelve, she entered a 4H event in which the children keep records of their projects. She won 1st place in the district with her recordbook. We were at a 4H camp a couple of weeks after the judging, and several of the judges introduced themselves, and told us that it was the best recordbook they read, and that the judges from other sections were waiting in line to read hers. They also said it was unfortunate that she was only a junior, if she was a senior she would be headed to state competition. Ellie did win the Silver Award that year, the highest award that is given each year in 4H.
Yes, i know i am bragging, but she is MY baby, and this is MY blog, and i can do what i want to. So THERE.
When she undertook the writing portion of the project, Ellie spent days and days hand writing her story. I transcribed it word for word, and she had twice as many pages as allowed by contest rules. Everything in this story is exactly as she wrote it, the only thing i did was edit for length, and correct some spelling. The rest is all Ellie.
We didn't own a camera or a computer at the time, so we borrowed both to put her recordbook together, and while we have the original copy, the pictures are all lost to the sands of time now, as i did not know how to save them. I have learned much since then.
The pictures included in the following essay have been taken since, and were not a part of the original essay. My interjections will be in blue as usual, and were not a part of the essay either, but, ya know, it is my blog, i can interrupt if i want to.
I will post the essay in several parts. Partly because it is rather long. Partly because i am buying time. Don't have a lot of creative juices left right now, and there are still tomatoes to put in jars. And i know that Baas gets the jitters if she doesn't get her Tails Up fix.
Stay Tuned!!
A couple of days ago, it occurred to me that i was working too hard for nothing. Ellie has already written her story.
When she was twelve, she entered a 4H event in which the children keep records of their projects. She won 1st place in the district with her recordbook. We were at a 4H camp a couple of weeks after the judging, and several of the judges introduced themselves, and told us that it was the best recordbook they read, and that the judges from other sections were waiting in line to read hers. They also said it was unfortunate that she was only a junior, if she was a senior she would be headed to state competition. Ellie did win the Silver Award that year, the highest award that is given each year in 4H.
Yes, i know i am bragging, but she is MY baby, and this is MY blog, and i can do what i want to. So THERE.
When she undertook the writing portion of the project, Ellie spent days and days hand writing her story. I transcribed it word for word, and she had twice as many pages as allowed by contest rules. Everything in this story is exactly as she wrote it, the only thing i did was edit for length, and correct some spelling. The rest is all Ellie.
We didn't own a camera or a computer at the time, so we borrowed both to put her recordbook together, and while we have the original copy, the pictures are all lost to the sands of time now, as i did not know how to save them. I have learned much since then.
The pictures included in the following essay have been taken since, and were not a part of the original essay. My interjections will be in blue as usual, and were not a part of the essay either, but, ya know, it is my blog, i can interrupt if i want to.
I will post the essay in several parts. Partly because it is rather long. Partly because i am buying time. Don't have a lot of creative juices left right now, and there are still tomatoes to put in jars. And i know that Baas gets the jitters if she doesn't get her Tails Up fix.
Stay Tuned!!
What is a Friend?
Any idea what it takes to process 8 cases of tomatoes for canning?
True friends.
And sturdy shoes.
Am still worn out, brain not functioning. Body barely functioning. And it's not over yet.
For a variety of reasons, we didn't put in a garden this year, so i am putting up produce purchased locally. We use a lot of tomatoes here, and my goal is to not buy any commercially canned tomatoes this year (or again, for that matter.) One of the local produce growers calls when he has canning tomatoes--the ugly ones that don't sell but are perfectly good food. There have been quite a lot of them this year because we haven't had any rain. Two days ago he made me an offer i couldn't refuse, so i rallied the troops and we spent a day slip skinning, packing and processing tomatoes. There are still a couple of gallons worth that i have in the crock pots right now for pizza sauce, and some waiting to be turned into salsa, but most of it is done.
They say that a friend will help you move, and a good friend will help you hide a body. I say a true friend will help you can tomatoes.
I have a WHOLE BUNCH of true friends.
Thanks, guys, i luvs ya!!
True friends.
And sturdy shoes.
Am still worn out, brain not functioning. Body barely functioning. And it's not over yet.
For a variety of reasons, we didn't put in a garden this year, so i am putting up produce purchased locally. We use a lot of tomatoes here, and my goal is to not buy any commercially canned tomatoes this year (or again, for that matter.) One of the local produce growers calls when he has canning tomatoes--the ugly ones that don't sell but are perfectly good food. There have been quite a lot of them this year because we haven't had any rain. Two days ago he made me an offer i couldn't refuse, so i rallied the troops and we spent a day slip skinning, packing and processing tomatoes. There are still a couple of gallons worth that i have in the crock pots right now for pizza sauce, and some waiting to be turned into salsa, but most of it is done.
They say that a friend will help you move, and a good friend will help you hide a body. I say a true friend will help you can tomatoes.
I have a WHOLE BUNCH of true friends.
Thanks, guys, i luvs ya!!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Jealous Jewels
Does this look vicious?
Look closely.
There are not that many teeth left.
But somehow, she has managed to get her bluff in on the Big Boyz.
Jed bought everybody bones the other day. Little bitty bones for the little bitty dog. Medium sized bones for the medium sized dogs. And Great Big bones for the great big dogs.
But somebody got greedy.
I walked out to the back yard and saw George, the dominant Anatolian, laying down with his nose on his paws, watching Jewels gnaw on his bone.. Jewels had stolen it, and was growling at anyone who came near. This bone was as long as my forearm. She couldn't get her mouth around it, let alone carry it off. I called her into the house, and she commenced trying to roll the bone to the back door.
George never made a move, even when he had an opportunity to snatch it.
Ralph and his bone were nowhere to be seen.
Maybe i have underestimated Ralph's intelligence.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Ding Dong The Snake is Dead
Jed came home and got right on the problem. Caught that snake with his bare hands, put it between his teeth and shook it till he broke it's neck.
Not really. But he did shoot it. Twice. Sorry, Susan, but it was eating eggs, and i do have all these baby chicks that are tender and juicy. And cute.
Jed insists that it was only six feet long and as big around as his arm, but i think he wasn't wearing his glasses or something. My original estimations were far more accurate.
Big sigh of relief. I was looking around while i was milking tonite, waiting for the darn thing to wrap itself around my ankles and strangle me or something.
Unfounded fears are such a pain.
Not really. But he did shoot it. Twice. Sorry, Susan, but it was eating eggs, and i do have all these baby chicks that are tender and juicy. And cute.
Jed insists that it was only six feet long and as big around as his arm, but i think he wasn't wearing his glasses or something. My original estimations were far more accurate.
Big sigh of relief. I was looking around while i was milking tonite, waiting for the darn thing to wrap itself around my ankles and strangle me or something.
Unfounded fears are such a pain.
We Have Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself...And Snakes
A couple of years ago i had a three day gig in the big city, so Staci came to take my place as Head of Operations here at Tails Up Homestead. Staci is a voracious reader, and had been consuming how-to books on homesteading, so we both thought this would be a great learning experience for her and the girlz.
Apparently, as soon as i was out of the driveway, she backed her car up to the slider and unloaded a trunk load of paper products. She was very well aware of the fact that i would rather put phosphates in my ground water than use products that require petrochemicals or chopping down trees. When i found out about this--much, much later i might add...she swore the children to secrecy--i chided her until she explained her time management theory. She figured she could spend her time doing the work that needed doing around here, or she could spend her time washing dishes. After giving me a while to concider her theory, she was able to convinced me that there is a place in my world for disposable aluminum pans. But i digress.
As soon as i got home from my gig, and i mean within 10 minutes of arrival, Staci and her kids were pulling out. The car had already been packed up, and they were waiting for me. My kids assured me there had been no problems, so i was baffled by the speedy exodus. I tried calling the next day, no answer. Called the next day, had a very brief conversation. Called the next day, and things were back to normal. Turns out Staci had to sleep for two days to recover from the three days she spent leading my life.
"Homesteading is not as romantic as they make it sound in all the books," she told me, "it is d*** hard work!!"
To that i say HA!!!! The hard work is just the beginning of it!!!
So here is how the last twenty-four hours of my life have gone.
We lost Andy last nite. He was my yearling buck that gave us the monster babies this year...Utopia, Veribest and Splendora. Was really looking forward to next year's breeding, since we now knew what he would produce. He had been off and on sick for about a month, then this past week, he crashed. Achieved nothing else the last three days but doctoring the goat, but couldn't find the magic combination.
So that was a heart breaker.
This morning i go out to do chores, went to pull a new bale of alfalfa, and killed a little spider off the top of the bale. Inspect it, and all looks well. Pulled it off of the stack and three hobo spiders the size of dinner plates (ok, that is an exaggeration, one of them was only as big as a salad plate) crawl out of the bale. I am not really afraid of spiders, i just HATE getting bitten. So i dropped the bale.
Went to open the doe barn door, and i see, headed under the pallet that the coastal hay is stacked on, the tail of a snake skin.
As you may recall, i firmly believe that there is only one kind of snake in the entire world. The Copper Headed Water Rattler.
And there appears to be one living in my doe barn.
After giving a little girlie squeal (ok, it was a scream) and jumping back, i regained my composure and reached down to pick up the skin. I pulled and pulled and pulled. This is a HUGE snake. I only retrieved about half of the skin, but that piece was approximately 74 feet long, and about 8 feet in diameter.
And it is living in my doe barn.
Fortunately, all this happened after i had taken my blood pressure medicine.
Unfortunately, all this happend before i had coffee.
Mrs. H. told me one time that in every situation in life, you ALWAYS have two choices. I have found this bit of advice to be sage, and absolutely true.
Given the options that i have at this time in my life, i CHOOSE this path.
But i do have days when i wish i could put on a pretty dress, go have a mani/pedi, and then go buy a superfluous pair of shoes that don't go with anything i own but make my calves look good.
Apparently, as soon as i was out of the driveway, she backed her car up to the slider and unloaded a trunk load of paper products. She was very well aware of the fact that i would rather put phosphates in my ground water than use products that require petrochemicals or chopping down trees. When i found out about this--much, much later i might add...she swore the children to secrecy--i chided her until she explained her time management theory. She figured she could spend her time doing the work that needed doing around here, or she could spend her time washing dishes. After giving me a while to concider her theory, she was able to convinced me that there is a place in my world for disposable aluminum pans. But i digress.
As soon as i got home from my gig, and i mean within 10 minutes of arrival, Staci and her kids were pulling out. The car had already been packed up, and they were waiting for me. My kids assured me there had been no problems, so i was baffled by the speedy exodus. I tried calling the next day, no answer. Called the next day, had a very brief conversation. Called the next day, and things were back to normal. Turns out Staci had to sleep for two days to recover from the three days she spent leading my life.
"Homesteading is not as romantic as they make it sound in all the books," she told me, "it is d*** hard work!!"
To that i say HA!!!! The hard work is just the beginning of it!!!
So here is how the last twenty-four hours of my life have gone.
We lost Andy last nite. He was my yearling buck that gave us the monster babies this year...Utopia, Veribest and Splendora. Was really looking forward to next year's breeding, since we now knew what he would produce. He had been off and on sick for about a month, then this past week, he crashed. Achieved nothing else the last three days but doctoring the goat, but couldn't find the magic combination.
So that was a heart breaker.
This morning i go out to do chores, went to pull a new bale of alfalfa, and killed a little spider off the top of the bale. Inspect it, and all looks well. Pulled it off of the stack and three hobo spiders the size of dinner plates (ok, that is an exaggeration, one of them was only as big as a salad plate) crawl out of the bale. I am not really afraid of spiders, i just HATE getting bitten. So i dropped the bale.
Went to open the doe barn door, and i see, headed under the pallet that the coastal hay is stacked on, the tail of a snake skin.
As you may recall, i firmly believe that there is only one kind of snake in the entire world. The Copper Headed Water Rattler.
And there appears to be one living in my doe barn.
After giving a little girlie squeal (ok, it was a scream) and jumping back, i regained my composure and reached down to pick up the skin. I pulled and pulled and pulled. This is a HUGE snake. I only retrieved about half of the skin, but that piece was approximately 74 feet long, and about 8 feet in diameter.
And it is living in my doe barn.
Fortunately, all this happened after i had taken my blood pressure medicine.
Unfortunately, all this happend before i had coffee.
Mrs. H. told me one time that in every situation in life, you ALWAYS have two choices. I have found this bit of advice to be sage, and absolutely true.
Given the options that i have at this time in my life, i CHOOSE this path.
But i do have days when i wish i could put on a pretty dress, go have a mani/pedi, and then go buy a superfluous pair of shoes that don't go with anything i own but make my calves look good.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tradition.......TRADITION!!!!!
I have lived long enough to learn that there are basically two undeniable, irrefutable, unchanging facts of life.
The first is that the only thing in life that doesn't change is the fact that things are gonna change.
The second is that we all--and i mean every one of us--have one thing in common. We all have the weirdest, most dysfunctional family on earth.
Let me show you why mine is more weird and dysfunctional than the resta y'alls.
Exhibit A.
My little brother. Ok, he is not very little. At 40 years of age, he can still bear hug a washing machine, pick it up out of the bed of a pickup and SET it on the ground. I think it is fair to say that on our best days, most of us would be lucky to PUSH a washing machine out of the pickup.
Boo is special. Jerry's kids kind of special.
The man has FIVE, count 'em FIVE Jack Russell Terriers. One of them is named Jihad. Tell ya anything?
He is one of those people that has always grabbed life by the um....tail and given it a good swing. He has been a surfer dude, an underwater welder, whatever they call those guys that climb the radio towers to fix things, worked clean up in New Orleans during flooding from Katrina, he has done three tours in Iraq (2 military, 1 civi,) one in Afghanistan, and one in Somalia.
He has always been a hard working, hard playing man, and, as he admitted openly and freely on a news segment interview when asked why he climbed radio towers, "I'm just not right in the head." He has no filters whatsoever, so you always know just where you stand with him. And he has one of the biggest hearts you will ever find.
He is one of the funniest, sharpest witted people i have ever met. I cannot imagine him driving home saying "I should have said....." Stuff just comes right off the top of his head and out his mouth. He is like a real life cartoon character. My children adore him. Heck, i adore him, i just have to warn the kids that if they ever repeat anything, and i mean ANYTHING their Uncle Boo says, they will be grounded for life.
When Ellie May was a little bitty thing, maybe 18 months old, i was trying to take a picture of Ellie and Boo, when he convinced her to put her little finger in her little nose. She squealed with laughter, and a family tradition was born. Since that time, the first picture, no matter what i do, always involves fingers in noses. I used to protest and scold and harrumph, but it did no good, the more i got upset the more they laughed. In time i gave up and learned to embrace the tradition. It is not something i am proud of, mind you, but i can respect the value of stupid, harmless traditions. I guess.
In my old age, i have learned to look for the positive in unpleasant or embarrassing situations. In this case, I am pleased to say that the silver lining is that neither of my children will be able to get a date until they are at least 25, as i am going to produce THIS picture every time they bring home a prospective suitor or girlfriend. I am so proud. What mother wouldn't be??
Exhibit B.
The family scuttlebutt the last couple of years is the mausoleum, or as Ellie calls it, the sarcophagus, that one of Paul's brothers has erected in honor of his life's achievements. Just in case one of us forgot some of it.
Most of my dad's people are buried in a beautiful little country cemetery here in east Texas, complete with the little white church across the road. It is a peaceful, lovely place. Quaint. Unassuming. Simple.
If i may be so bold as to quote Addie from the book "Paper Moon," this sarcophagus is "about as inconspicuous as a turd in a punch bowl." No disrespect intended. Really.
Anyway, Boo hadn't seen it yet, so i made him promise not to go out to the cemetery until i could go with him. I couldn't wait to see and hear the first reaction. And let me tell ya, it was a doozy. I was not disappointed. Except in myself. Don't know what i was thinking. Shudda made the kids sit in the car. This is a family story, so i am not going to be able to share the first words out of his mouth with you, but will happily tell it upon request. How about i just show you a picture....
Exhibit C.
Turns out there are things about my brother that i didn't know. Seems he loves to shop in truck stops. Naturally, we all had to indulge him and spend a delightful half hour perusing the offerings of one of the more upscale truck stops i have ever been to....the restaurant was a Lenny's.
Here we find Paul Adeen sporting his Dan'l Boone meets Minnie Pearl look...
The first is that the only thing in life that doesn't change is the fact that things are gonna change.
The second is that we all--and i mean every one of us--have one thing in common. We all have the weirdest, most dysfunctional family on earth.
Let me show you why mine is more weird and dysfunctional than the resta y'alls.
Exhibit A.
My little brother. Ok, he is not very little. At 40 years of age, he can still bear hug a washing machine, pick it up out of the bed of a pickup and SET it on the ground. I think it is fair to say that on our best days, most of us would be lucky to PUSH a washing machine out of the pickup.
Boo is special. Jerry's kids kind of special.
The man has FIVE, count 'em FIVE Jack Russell Terriers. One of them is named Jihad. Tell ya anything?
He is one of those people that has always grabbed life by the um....tail and given it a good swing. He has been a surfer dude, an underwater welder, whatever they call those guys that climb the radio towers to fix things, worked clean up in New Orleans during flooding from Katrina, he has done three tours in Iraq (2 military, 1 civi,) one in Afghanistan, and one in Somalia.
He has always been a hard working, hard playing man, and, as he admitted openly and freely on a news segment interview when asked why he climbed radio towers, "I'm just not right in the head." He has no filters whatsoever, so you always know just where you stand with him. And he has one of the biggest hearts you will ever find.
He is one of the funniest, sharpest witted people i have ever met. I cannot imagine him driving home saying "I should have said....." Stuff just comes right off the top of his head and out his mouth. He is like a real life cartoon character. My children adore him. Heck, i adore him, i just have to warn the kids that if they ever repeat anything, and i mean ANYTHING their Uncle Boo says, they will be grounded for life.
When Ellie May was a little bitty thing, maybe 18 months old, i was trying to take a picture of Ellie and Boo, when he convinced her to put her little finger in her little nose. She squealed with laughter, and a family tradition was born. Since that time, the first picture, no matter what i do, always involves fingers in noses. I used to protest and scold and harrumph, but it did no good, the more i got upset the more they laughed. In time i gave up and learned to embrace the tradition. It is not something i am proud of, mind you, but i can respect the value of stupid, harmless traditions. I guess.
Exhibit B.
The family scuttlebutt the last couple of years is the mausoleum, or as Ellie calls it, the sarcophagus, that one of Paul's brothers has erected in honor of his life's achievements. Just in case one of us forgot some of it.
Most of my dad's people are buried in a beautiful little country cemetery here in east Texas, complete with the little white church across the road. It is a peaceful, lovely place. Quaint. Unassuming. Simple.
If i may be so bold as to quote Addie from the book "Paper Moon," this sarcophagus is "about as inconspicuous as a turd in a punch bowl." No disrespect intended. Really.
Anyway, Boo hadn't seen it yet, so i made him promise not to go out to the cemetery until i could go with him. I couldn't wait to see and hear the first reaction. And let me tell ya, it was a doozy. I was not disappointed. Except in myself. Don't know what i was thinking. Shudda made the kids sit in the car. This is a family story, so i am not going to be able to share the first words out of his mouth with you, but will happily tell it upon request. How about i just show you a picture....
Turns out there are things about my brother that i didn't know. Seems he loves to shop in truck stops. Naturally, we all had to indulge him and spend a delightful half hour perusing the offerings of one of the more upscale truck stops i have ever been to....the restaurant was a Lenny's.
...and this one, well, it just speaks for itself, doesn't it?
Exhibit D.
There is another brother. He never attends these functions. Apparently we embarrass him. I just cannot imagine why.
So whaddaya think...is yours as wild as mine?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Maud the Marauder
Apparently Maud has been casing the dairy barn.
The last three days she has been joining me in the dairy barn when i am milking the senior does.
Uninvited, i might add. Guess how she is getting in there. Little barn crasher.
Been hot, so have been working with doors open.
Was thinking she was being friendly. Then decided she was just trying to learn protocol so that she knows what to do when she is a milky goat. You know...familiarize herself with milk stand loading and unloading procedures, stand etiquette, how many and what sort of treats are involved, that sort of thing. But yesterday she started inspecting the door latches. Scrutinizing, one might say. Then she jumped up on one of the closed feed barrels, and looked thoughtfully into the open one. I could see the wheels turning. I know what was on her mind. If my back had been to her, she would have been in it.
Now i know she is not just being friendly.
But i don't see the Big Plan yet.
Am not sure if she is planning a Big Breakout and Cookie Caper, or if it is going to be The Great Grain Heist of 2011.
Either way, i think i am in trouble.
Pray for me.
The last three days she has been joining me in the dairy barn when i am milking the senior does.
Uninvited, i might add. Guess how she is getting in there. Little barn crasher.
Been hot, so have been working with doors open.
Was thinking she was being friendly. Then decided she was just trying to learn protocol so that she knows what to do when she is a milky goat. You know...familiarize herself with milk stand loading and unloading procedures, stand etiquette, how many and what sort of treats are involved, that sort of thing. But yesterday she started inspecting the door latches. Scrutinizing, one might say. Then she jumped up on one of the closed feed barrels, and looked thoughtfully into the open one. I could see the wheels turning. I know what was on her mind. If my back had been to her, she would have been in it.
Now i know she is not just being friendly.
But i don't see the Big Plan yet.
Am not sure if she is planning a Big Breakout and Cookie Caper, or if it is going to be The Great Grain Heist of 2011.
Either way, i think i am in trouble.
Pray for me.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Silver Jubilee at Queenacres
Congratulations, Susan and Bob.
Here's to the next 25!!
(p.s. all the Bob's send their regards, too!)
Here's to the next 25!!
(p.s. all the Bob's send their regards, too!)
Monday, June 13, 2011
Meet Bob
Here is where we wound up on the ducky names....
Samuel/Samantha somehow became Isabelle.
The runt is Bruce (Jenner)
The rest are named Bob.
One of our favorite baby book authors was (is) Sandra Boynton. Loved every one of them, couldn't pick a favorite. Turns out, since my babies were babies, Sandra and the Bacon Brothers have put out an album called "Philadelphia Chickens," way, WAY fun if you ever run across it. One of the songs is about the singers pets, and they are all named Bob. He has a dog named Bob, a cat named Bob, a turtle named Bob, and three hamsters named Bob, Bob, and Bob. Yes, Mackerel, i know that isn't exactly how it goes, but i am old and infirm, it is late, and everyone gets the idea.
We can't tell whether they are male or female, and aside from the crested one and the runt, they all look alike. Therefore, they are all named Bob.
This evening we got a couple of dozen baby chicks, all different breeds, some of everything. And our mama hen has hatched out two chick in last two days.
One of mama hen's chicks is named Edgar.
Guess what the rest of them are named?
Samuel/Samantha somehow became Isabelle.
The runt is Bruce (Jenner)
The rest are named Bob.
One of our favorite baby book authors was (is) Sandra Boynton. Loved every one of them, couldn't pick a favorite. Turns out, since my babies were babies, Sandra and the Bacon Brothers have put out an album called "Philadelphia Chickens," way, WAY fun if you ever run across it. One of the songs is about the singers pets, and they are all named Bob. He has a dog named Bob, a cat named Bob, a turtle named Bob, and three hamsters named Bob, Bob, and Bob. Yes, Mackerel, i know that isn't exactly how it goes, but i am old and infirm, it is late, and everyone gets the idea.
This evening we got a couple of dozen baby chicks, all different breeds, some of everything. And our mama hen has hatched out two chick in last two days.
One of mama hen's chicks is named Edgar.
Guess what the rest of them are named?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
They're Here!! They're Here!!!!
And oh, my goodness, are they ever CUTE!!!!!
Picked up the Indian Runner Ducklings last nite from Susan, dear Susan. They are MUCH bigger than i anticipated...have been trying to think of how to describe them to you...they are almost a double handful of yellow fluff with huge ol' feet and a long neck sticking out. And those beaks! The beaks are about two inches long, but not yellow yet. And the eyes.....they just kill me.
The special one? It's crested. TOOOO FUNNY!!! That is just going to add to the goofy look when they get older.
Have taken a couple of pictures. Will try again to get the pics on here, but you know what a struggle that is for me. Otherwise, you are gonna have to wait until i get back to Susan's.
Still need to name them. In keeping with the runner theme, Susan suggested Bruce Jenner, so am thinking one will be Bruce and another Jenny (don't forget we are hoping for females, here.) Susan also informed me that the Joyner lady was Jackie Joyner Kersey. And Baas said they used to call Florence Joyner "FloJo." I was thinking this was a good name for the crested one, but Jethro has named it Samuel, reserving Samantha, if needed. Not sure why Samuel, but not going to argue. When Jethro feels strongly about these things, i just go with him. Even if it looks like a Fro duck to me.
When you scare the duckies, they stretch their necks out and run to a corner of the cage, all of their beaks fitting in about a six inch diameter circle, their bodies fanning out from there. They just THINK they are making the target smaller.
Took them for a swim in the kiddie pool this afternoon, and they were just hysterical diving and flapping their little winglets. Did you know that a duckling can drown? I didn't. Susan said they get waterlogged. It isn't until they get their feathers and "waterproof" them with oil from a gland by their tail that they are out of danger of drowning. The preening is actually spreading the oil to the feathers. Which would explain why water rolls off a ducks back.
Picked up the Indian Runner Ducklings last nite from Susan, dear Susan. They are MUCH bigger than i anticipated...have been trying to think of how to describe them to you...they are almost a double handful of yellow fluff with huge ol' feet and a long neck sticking out. And those beaks! The beaks are about two inches long, but not yellow yet. And the eyes.....they just kill me.
The special one? It's crested. TOOOO FUNNY!!! That is just going to add to the goofy look when they get older.
Have taken a couple of pictures. Will try again to get the pics on here, but you know what a struggle that is for me. Otherwise, you are gonna have to wait until i get back to Susan's.
Still need to name them. In keeping with the runner theme, Susan suggested Bruce Jenner, so am thinking one will be Bruce and another Jenny (don't forget we are hoping for females, here.) Susan also informed me that the Joyner lady was Jackie Joyner Kersey. And Baas said they used to call Florence Joyner "FloJo." I was thinking this was a good name for the crested one, but Jethro has named it Samuel, reserving Samantha, if needed. Not sure why Samuel, but not going to argue. When Jethro feels strongly about these things, i just go with him. Even if it looks like a Fro duck to me.
When you scare the duckies, they stretch their necks out and run to a corner of the cage, all of their beaks fitting in about a six inch diameter circle, their bodies fanning out from there. They just THINK they are making the target smaller.
Took them for a swim in the kiddie pool this afternoon, and they were just hysterical diving and flapping their little winglets. Did you know that a duckling can drown? I didn't. Susan said they get waterlogged. It isn't until they get their feathers and "waterproof" them with oil from a gland by their tail that they are out of danger of drowning. The preening is actually spreading the oil to the feathers. Which would explain why water rolls off a ducks back.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Where Is Calgon When You Need It?
Been a wild couple of weeks around these parts. So insane i haven't even gotten to go pick up my runner duckies yet. Am missing one of the good parts, but it can't be helped. Speaking of which, you all know what an avid sports fan i am....not. I want to name these guys after famous runners, but am having trouble thinking of any, besides Jesse Owens, that is. What was that Joyner lady's name? That is the only other one i can think of. Any help and contribution to the naming of the new duckies would be greatly appreciated.
Immediately following my 48 hours of vice, we had our Sweet City Cousin come visit for a week, and had to bring the hay in. But you know all that. I am just going for the effect here, so you will realize how wild it has been. Then we had the big family family reunion last weekend. Much to tell as Uncle Randy and his Lovely Bride were there this year, am saving that one for when i have a large cup of coffee and a couple of hours spare. Will require pictures in order to be fully appreciated. You will just have to wait. Trust me, it will be worth it.
Today we are trying to get Ellie May off on her Big Adventure. Her girl scout troop has been working toward a trip to Disneyworld the last couple of years, and they leave this Saturday. I have to get her up north today to meet up with the Sweet City Cousin and her family, as my Most Amazing Woman in the World Sister-in-law is the troop leader and organizer of this event.
Ellie had a good start in scouting before we moved out here, but we couldn't find a troop in these parts that was a good "fit." Ellie would attend troop functions when she went to visit SCC, and over the course of a couple of years, became part of the troop. They are really kind and lenient with her, she makes a lot of the campouts, and we do what we can from here on community service, cookie sales, etc. Apparently she makes up for all the absence when she is there by working double hard.
Anyway, we are buzzing around trying to get her ready to go. Mixed blessing is that she is not a shopper. Fabulous in the Grande Scheme of things, but a real pain when we have to have a bathing suit and shorts that are suitable for something besides life on the farm. Think we are about to get her lined out, though.
In the midst of this, the local produce guy called and said he had the first box of canning tomatoes ready for me this season. Bad timing, but have to take them, or he will start calling someone else....
Then an acquaintance of ours scored some cherry and sweet tomatoes, so i am running those through the dehydrator while i am blanching, skinning and prepping others for the crock pots.
At the same time, am prepping and packaging snacks for the girls road trip, have 5 1/2 pounds of home made beef jerky, five batches of frozen cookie dough to slice and bake, muffins, and marshmallow chocolate cheerio bars. Thought i made something else....hope i think of it in the next three hours.......
So imagine what a wrench it is in the system when Becky (Ren's progeny, and taking her place as "The Cranky One,") thought the grass looked greener and got her head stuck in the gate. Bottom rungs. No clue HOW she did it. Couldn't find the camera, so that is another one for Whirled Peas. Had to find tools, and then alter the gate. In the meantime, my tomato salsa became sauce. Gonna be Becky sauce if she doesn't straighten up!!
Sound like fun?
Couldn't be half as much fun as Paul Adeen is having. He is currently Cruise Director for the Big Smokes World Scooter Tour 2011, in charge of fending off paparazzi and groupies, and fetching pie.
Will explain that one when i have that cup of coffee. In the meantime, Aloha, Paul, been thinkin' of ya. You will reap your reward in heaven--you are a better man than i am!!!!!
Immediately following my 48 hours of vice, we had our Sweet City Cousin come visit for a week, and had to bring the hay in. But you know all that. I am just going for the effect here, so you will realize how wild it has been. Then we had the big family family reunion last weekend. Much to tell as Uncle Randy and his Lovely Bride were there this year, am saving that one for when i have a large cup of coffee and a couple of hours spare. Will require pictures in order to be fully appreciated. You will just have to wait. Trust me, it will be worth it.
Today we are trying to get Ellie May off on her Big Adventure. Her girl scout troop has been working toward a trip to Disneyworld the last couple of years, and they leave this Saturday. I have to get her up north today to meet up with the Sweet City Cousin and her family, as my Most Amazing Woman in the World Sister-in-law is the troop leader and organizer of this event.
Ellie had a good start in scouting before we moved out here, but we couldn't find a troop in these parts that was a good "fit." Ellie would attend troop functions when she went to visit SCC, and over the course of a couple of years, became part of the troop. They are really kind and lenient with her, she makes a lot of the campouts, and we do what we can from here on community service, cookie sales, etc. Apparently she makes up for all the absence when she is there by working double hard.
Anyway, we are buzzing around trying to get her ready to go. Mixed blessing is that she is not a shopper. Fabulous in the Grande Scheme of things, but a real pain when we have to have a bathing suit and shorts that are suitable for something besides life on the farm. Think we are about to get her lined out, though.
In the midst of this, the local produce guy called and said he had the first box of canning tomatoes ready for me this season. Bad timing, but have to take them, or he will start calling someone else....
Then an acquaintance of ours scored some cherry and sweet tomatoes, so i am running those through the dehydrator while i am blanching, skinning and prepping others for the crock pots.
At the same time, am prepping and packaging snacks for the girls road trip, have 5 1/2 pounds of home made beef jerky, five batches of frozen cookie dough to slice and bake, muffins, and marshmallow chocolate cheerio bars. Thought i made something else....hope i think of it in the next three hours.......
So imagine what a wrench it is in the system when Becky (Ren's progeny, and taking her place as "The Cranky One,") thought the grass looked greener and got her head stuck in the gate. Bottom rungs. No clue HOW she did it. Couldn't find the camera, so that is another one for Whirled Peas. Had to find tools, and then alter the gate. In the meantime, my tomato salsa became sauce. Gonna be Becky sauce if she doesn't straighten up!!
Sound like fun?
Couldn't be half as much fun as Paul Adeen is having. He is currently Cruise Director for the Big Smokes World Scooter Tour 2011, in charge of fending off paparazzi and groupies, and fetching pie.
Will explain that one when i have that cup of coffee. In the meantime, Aloha, Paul, been thinkin' of ya. You will reap your reward in heaven--you are a better man than i am!!!!!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Ham and Scalloped Potatoes
Have ya missed me?
Well, it has been one crazy week around these parts. Our Sweet City Cousin came and spent a week with us, during which time the hay was cut and baled. SCC, along with our favorite family (to be addressed at length very shortly, now that i have decided on appropriate psuedonyms for all of them...Makerel, Breezy, LaWren, CheshireCat, Petite Delicate Flower or PDF, Cbear and The Baas...does this meet with everyone's approval before i put them in ink?) helped us bring in the hay from the field and stow it in it's various spots. It was a hard days work, but lots of fun. Don't know if SCC is ever gonna wanna come back to visit again, though.
The next day we rewarded ourselves with a letterboxing excursion. Found a couple at a really pretty cemetery, then went to a basket making factory, and then had a picnic in a park. On the way home we stopped and treated ourselves to some new (used) books at a really groovy bookstore. And of course a stop for ice cream on the way home was in order. I think a grand time was had by all.
Anyway, the fun has not stopped yet. We are on the way down south this weekend for a family reunion, so i am busy preparing for that.
Which means there is not a lot of time to tell stories.
So lets see if this will tide ya over.
This recipe came from a friend who got it from a friend who got it from the lady at her second cousin twice removed's sister's church. Apparently it was used to make massive quantities for church pot lucks or funerals or something. Who knows. At any rate, the quantity of the recipe is scary looking. But here is the thing: It freezes well. Very well. Go to the dollar store and get those aluminum (i know, just don't use them too often) pans that have the lids on them, then, instead of assembling it in one or two big pans, use several smaller ones, serve one that night, and put the rest in the freezer. I have used this as both side and main dishes. Ummm...not at the same time. It is SOOOoooo lovely to be able to pull a pan out of the freezer, put it in the oven, then serve it up. Especially when it is something everyone likes.
Heavenly Ham and Potatoes Swimming in Gravy and Cheese*
1 lb Ham (or Turkey Ham)
5 lbs Potatoes
1 lb cheese (or more)
2 large onions (or more)
1 stick butter
1/2 c flour
4 c milk
S&P (i omit S, but use lots of P)
Ham--shred in food processor or slice thin and chop a bit
Potatoes--peel, slice thinish, steam until slightly translucent
Onions--recipe calls for dicing but we like it chunky
Butter--melt it and saute the onions to transparent stage
Flour--add to onions and butter to make roux, let simmer 3 - 4 minutes
Milk--add to onion roux slowly, stir continuously, will be a very thick gravy
S&P--add to gravy
Cheese--hang on, i'm coming to that part
Spray your pans and start making layers, thin layers are best.
Potatoes
Cheese
Ham
Gravy
Potatoes
Cheese
Ham
Gravy
and so on, end with gravy. Freeze or pop it in a 350 oven until bubbly.
*a recipe that makes this much deserves a long title
Well, it has been one crazy week around these parts. Our Sweet City Cousin came and spent a week with us, during which time the hay was cut and baled. SCC, along with our favorite family (to be addressed at length very shortly, now that i have decided on appropriate psuedonyms for all of them...Makerel, Breezy, LaWren, CheshireCat, Petite Delicate Flower or PDF, Cbear and The Baas...does this meet with everyone's approval before i put them in ink?) helped us bring in the hay from the field and stow it in it's various spots. It was a hard days work, but lots of fun. Don't know if SCC is ever gonna wanna come back to visit again, though.
The next day we rewarded ourselves with a letterboxing excursion. Found a couple at a really pretty cemetery, then went to a basket making factory, and then had a picnic in a park. On the way home we stopped and treated ourselves to some new (used) books at a really groovy bookstore. And of course a stop for ice cream on the way home was in order. I think a grand time was had by all.
Anyway, the fun has not stopped yet. We are on the way down south this weekend for a family reunion, so i am busy preparing for that.
Which means there is not a lot of time to tell stories.
So lets see if this will tide ya over.
This recipe came from a friend who got it from a friend who got it from the lady at her second cousin twice removed's sister's church. Apparently it was used to make massive quantities for church pot lucks or funerals or something. Who knows. At any rate, the quantity of the recipe is scary looking. But here is the thing: It freezes well. Very well. Go to the dollar store and get those aluminum (i know, just don't use them too often) pans that have the lids on them, then, instead of assembling it in one or two big pans, use several smaller ones, serve one that night, and put the rest in the freezer. I have used this as both side and main dishes. Ummm...not at the same time. It is SOOOoooo lovely to be able to pull a pan out of the freezer, put it in the oven, then serve it up. Especially when it is something everyone likes.
Heavenly Ham and Potatoes Swimming in Gravy and Cheese*
1 lb Ham (or Turkey Ham)
5 lbs Potatoes
1 lb cheese (or more)
2 large onions (or more)
1 stick butter
1/2 c flour
4 c milk
S&P (i omit S, but use lots of P)
Ham--shred in food processor or slice thin and chop a bit
Potatoes--peel, slice thinish, steam until slightly translucent
Onions--recipe calls for dicing but we like it chunky
Butter--melt it and saute the onions to transparent stage
Flour--add to onions and butter to make roux, let simmer 3 - 4 minutes
Milk--add to onion roux slowly, stir continuously, will be a very thick gravy
S&P--add to gravy
Cheese--hang on, i'm coming to that part
Spray your pans and start making layers, thin layers are best.
Potatoes
Cheese
Ham
Gravy
Potatoes
Cheese
Ham
Gravy
and so on, end with gravy. Freeze or pop it in a 350 oven until bubbly.
*a recipe that makes this much deserves a long title
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