Matilda the broody chicken

I made this movie for my daughters preschool class. They decided that it would be fun to learn about chickens as a class project. More exciting that mealworms which was their other choice.

oh the memories

I have fond memories of Marty Robbins. This song in particular.

We always joked that the iron must have been awfully big and heavy to lug around. Someone suggested that maybe it was a travel iron.

Reading

I'm so happy with our local library. Its very LDS reader friendly - even though its located in Idaho. I enjoy competing with other patrons to get on the waiting list of new books.

Don't get me wrong, I also love some YA fantasy like the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce, as well as the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale.


But I love me some LDS fiction. Although, with some authors it tends to get repetitive. Girl is older, considered an old maid in the LDS world. She gets into trouble somehow (the law, on the run, someone wants to kill her, has to find a killer, etc) and a guy saves her, they fall in love. Most of the time, one or the other of them is inactive for some reason or another. But despite this inactivity they are able to get married in the temple a short while later. Uh huh.

That is why I really have been enjoying the new series by Josi Kilpack. Its a great mystery without feeling like it has to have LDS characters or theme. And its clean.

The series is about Sadie Hoffmiller, a lady who likes to cook and also likes to solve a mystery. Although she didn't really know this until a neighbor was killed in "Lemon Tart". I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the recipes at the end of most chapters quite a bit. My family loves the recipe for Alfredo sauce.

Just a few weeks ago I finally read "English Trifle", the second book in this series. Life got the better of me and I got on the list rather late. It was quite a good read, and I would highly recommend it.

Now after the "English Trifle" debacle, I decided to get on the list for the next book in the series " Devils Food Cake" earlier. I filled out a request card at the same time I picked up "English Trifle" . I was surprised to find that I am going to be the first person!

If you are interested in reading some of the book, the first chapter can be found at Josi's website www.josiskilpack.com . If you want to buy it go here http://deseretbook.com/item/5033744/Devil_s_Food_Cake .

If you are interested in a good blog to read, go here http://josikilpack.blogspot.com/ .

And if you want a list of my favorite books, go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOU8GIRUd_g

Is it already December?

I can't believe that Christmas is in a few short days.

I've finished up all my projects and am now in the process of enjoying the season.

Hubby is home all week except for Wednesday when he has to work. He didn't have to take any time off, we just lucked out on how his schedule worked this week.

I'm no longer working in scouts. I was released last week. I haven't heard about a new calling yet. that always makes me nervous. But I've pledged to enjoy the time off. No scouts no scouts NO SCOUTS!

Hubby is now teaching the 17 year old sunday school class and enjoys it very much. He's had a light few months since all of his class has gone to college, left on missions or is preparing for a mission. He has been the permanent substitute. At least for 1 more week!

C loves first grade. Her teacher is Mrs. Hanson. She really is a great teacher and she has the kids reading really well.

A is still loving preschool. Its a good thing she didn't start school this year because her attention span is still short and she is just starting to form letters for writing.

She is working on saying her L's. She says w instead of l. But not at the beginnings of words. Its cute to hear, but isnt' good when thinking about school next year.

Speaking of A, she's really on one right now. It all started with her finding the gingerbread house kit that we do each christmas. She opened it up and ate all the candy from it. It kept going from there and yesterday at church she attacked a hymn book with a crayon. I'm not sure if its a phase or what but it has got to STOP! I'm hoping an entire week home with me and hubby will help. I've also got some good ideas up my sleeve. (I think its an attention thing, and needing more limits. we're working on it)

We got 2 cats. Yes. We have 2 more animals. But we did sell all the baby turkeys for thanksgiving. So we don't have as many animals as we did have.

We got a momma cat and her baby. The mom is a mouser which we need since we have mice in the woodshed, chicken coops and garden. Yesterday I was filling up the water for the chicks and found 2 dead mice. Yep. Isn't it fun!

The only problem is the dang cat has been pooping in the yard! I've never had a cat poop in a yard. The outside cat I had growing up always pooped elsewhere. So now we have had to buy a litter box for the outside cat! I'm not sure what to do about this. The cat saw it, pottied in it, and then went out and pooped in the yard. I don't know if the cat knows how close it is to finding a new home. Its kitten on the other hand has been pooping in a flowerpot full of rosemary. So I have high hopes that it will transfer that to the litter box and do great with it.

This is why I don't think we'll have a dog. Dogs poop in the yard. I hate stinky dog poop on my shoes.

Anyway, enough about animals.

How about sleeping wierd? I woke up this morning with a kink in my neck. must have slept on it wrong last night.

There were doublers from Albertsons in the paper last night. With some help from www.discountqueens.blogspot.com who I ran into at the store, I was able to get some great deals!

Hubbies birthday is today. We've had pizza for lunch, by request. I also picked up some redbox movies for free using the "dvdonme" code . you can use it as many times as you have credit cards. (once for each card).

I've also got a few more free codes so I'm sure we'll enjoy other movies this week.

Is it wrong that now I've finished my christmas projects, I'm thinking about what project I want to take on next? yeah, I guess I'm wierd.

Ho Hum

So I've not updated this blog for a while. I think its mostly because I've been hanging out on Facebook.

I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm leaning towards bad.

We've been super busy canning and harvesting fruits and veggies from the garden. I'm also in the process of gathering eggs for the incubator again.

I've got 11 turkeys from the group the turkey hen hatched in early July. I may or may not have already said that. If I repeat, I'm sorry!

I'm trying to figure out how to fix a pear mistake.

I read that pears have to be cooled down before they can ripen. I heard you can put them in the freezer.

What I got was a defrosted soggy feeling pear.

I thought I would try to salvage them anyway. so I peeled some, got the middle out, chopped them and put them in the food mill. I want to have some texture besides mush in my pear butter.

Well the durn things are still to firm to go through the food mill! So I've put them in the microwave with a lid on the container to steam them.

Now, this may seem idiotic to most of you. But I'm just playing around with them. Trying to find what will work best.

I don't want to make them mush, just soften them. I just really don't want mush. They will cook further when I do the water bath. so I'm trying not to cook them to much.

Luckily I only peeled and chopped about 12-15 pears. so at this point, I'm not at risk for ruining the whole harvest.

Well on to other stuff.

A started preschool this week. She was soooooo happy. She is there right now! I am at home alone !

I never thought I would have this opportunity until I was at least 39 or so.

We had a movie under the stars thanks to my sister L and her projection thingey. Thanks to her and also to sister AR for hosting us.

It was a lot of fun!!

I heard a rumor we might do it again this Friday. I sure hope so!

Well, I probably should get back to the pears. I can only avoid the situation for so long :)

Long time no post

So I've been thinking lately about how I haven't posted in a while.

Life has been a little crazy lately.

the kids have been in swimming lessons for the entire month of July. Their last day is Friday. They've enjoyed it very much and are doing well. they are having fun. I won't know if they pass for a few days though.

Our turkey hatched out 11 turkeys. They now free range all over the place. I keep finding them in the front yard which isn't good. We don't have a problem (so far) with varmits down our little lane, but they do have a problem down the street. I just worry about them. Once they get a little bigger I will be putting them in a coop.

The silkie who hatched out some eggs a few months back is now chick-less. 3 of them turned out to be roosters (given away now) and the 4th mysteriously died a week ago. Don't know how or why.

The splash cochin is still going strong with what looks like 4 hens (crossing fingers)

C starts 1st grade in less than a month. I can't believe that she will be starting to go to school ALL day. I'm not ready for this!

A will be attending preschool again due to missing the deadline for kindergarten. I'm glad because she isn't ready for it yet. she still is working on her coordination with writing.

I'm working on a new church bag. This one is green, blue and orange. I think its pretty cute. But we'll see.

I've just got the handles left. But I've knit the whole thing. Which is to say I used the knit stitch on the whole thing, and I've knit the whole thing. Myself. I'm rather proud about that.

I also attempted Nie Nie's chocolate cake from Conversations with a cupcake. http://conversationswithacupcake.blogspot.com/search/label/Beloved%20Nie

Its pretty intense. I let the kids watch 4 episodes of the transformers while I slaved away for 2 hours. That's only the making time. It probably took another 2 hours for me to put all the parts together and finish the frosting and then do a little decorating on it (Its for my sister's baby shower). All I can say is that it better be worth it. We eat it tonight.

Anyway, the garden and fruit trees are working overtime. So far this year we have had golden raspberries, black berries, marion berries, blue berries, pie cherries, apricots, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, potatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, and broccoli. Quite the harvest!

ala Pioneer Woman

So I was looking outside and realized once again how much I love our home, trees, animals, and just so much about our property.

So I decided to take some pictures of it!

I wandered out to the backyard and saw this.



Our 3 scaredy sheep. Doing what they do all day. Eat grass. Except when they take a break and eat weeds instead.

Here is Charlie.



He led the escape yesterday that led to one of my baby apple trees (planted last year) being stripped of its leaves almost all the way to the top.

You see, Charlie has realized 2 things. Once he was sheared he can fit through a gap in the fence. Of course we fixed it, but sometimes I don't latch the gate right. which leads to the 2nd realization. The grass outside the pasture is much better than the grass inside the pasture. Well, that and my apple tree and garden.

Luckily this time we got them back in before they made it over to Aunt Alyson's garden.

speaking of the garden.



Doesn't it look beautiful? Just don't go to close or you'll see some weeds and the rotting grass clippings we put between the grow boxes. They don't smell that nice.

Here is Turkey Lurkey.


I haven't decided if that will be his official name or if I'll go for something more creative like Tom.

Anyway, when a turkey isn't all puffed out like this



He doesn't look so regal. And frankly, he's kind of ugly. All those wart looking thingeys on his neck.

Everytime I go into the pasture he runs over because he thinks its dinner time. Well, most of the time its not. But he still comes over because it might be. And then he follows me around the pasture like a lost puppy chirping and making all sorts of noises I never knew turkeys made, in the hopes that I'll drop some food.

Oh what a handsome fellow that Charlie is!



I'll have to remind him that handsome is as handsome does and handsome doesn't let other sheep out and then eat my apple tree!!!

Here is a picture of some of our motley crew of chickens.


Here's a picture of the turkeys mate

She is busy trying to get some eggs to hatch in a quiet corner of the pasture. I'm really excited and hope they do hatch. We'll see!! It should take her until early to mid July.



Can you spot the rooster giving me the evil eye?

Actually its all show. He's isn't evil. He's only bothered me a few times and that was nipped in the bud by chasing him around the coop for a few minutes. But I can't let the kids in there with him. He bit my 4 year old on the leg (through pants) a few months ago. Once she gets older, I'll let her chase him around the coop. I took care of it for her that time.

Here is a picture of our splash cochin


She is busy sitting on 7 eggs. She can barely cover them all but is valiantly trying. She is so cute when she pushes an egg under her. She stands as tall as she can and uses her beak to push each egg aaaallllllll the way back under her.

She should have babies by Sunday. Monday at the latest.

Here is a picture of the beautiful rose type bushes that cover the back of our property.


The are beautiful, but it was easier when we had goats and they could eat them back a ways. But I have to admit, they were never this beautiful when the goats were eating on them.

Here's the other proud mama around here.


She's the one who lost a chick to the water bucket. I hope never to have that problem again.

Here's that Tom Turkey again.


Yes, I'm sure I don't have any food! :)