Animals
- Cold Enthusiasts
Yesterday's sun rose over frost-covered fields.The farm had cooled to a brisk 27 degrees over night...the coldest morning so far this season. With winter work clothes on, I headed out to do morning chores.The only part of me that felt alien to the...
- When The World Is Covered In Ice....
An ice storm kept us at home and inside for most of the weekend. Freezing rain and sleet turned the dry lot into a skating rink.... making it difficult for equines and humans to move about.Equines have a distinct advantage, having 4 feet to steady themselves....
- Happy Chickens...abundant Eggs
In caring for my animals, I am always trying to find the "best way" of doing things. Each morning, I open up the chicken houses and allow the girls out for free ranging. After they have all hastily exited their houses, I clean their waterer, refill...
- No Shortage Of Winter Coats Around Here
After several days of what felt like a heatwave(high temperatures actually reached the 20's)... we have plummeted back down to almost zero again. Thank you, very much. I truly have just not had enough cold yet this winter.(kidding) Our snow seems...
- Frosty Morning
I awoke to a clear, frosty morning today....perhaps the coldest yet this year. As I was doing the morning chores, the only sound was the distant "who-who-whowho-who-who-whowho" of a great horned owl. The snow remains on the ground, continuing to make...
Animals
How To Endure The Cold...And Make A Piecrust
Strong gusty winds ushered in a warm front...melting most of the ice,
and then evaporating the moisture.
The tail end of the winds brought bitter cold once again.
Today's forecast is snow.
Such is winter in this part of the country...
changeable, at times cruel, at times perfectly lovely!
The key to surviving and even enjoying the winter rests in the ability to stay warm.
For some...eating provides warmth...
For others...
the warm glow of a heat lamp over a bed of hay.
For me, it all depends upon the winter gear.
I have learned much about staying warm, over the years here on the farm.
I was asked yesterday what gloves I rely upon for chores.
I wear these...
but have learned that what is most important is that your gloves are about 2 sizes too big.
Having room inside your gloves (and your boots) for air circulation...
trapping warm air in the space around your hands or feet...
is crucial for warmth.
**********************************
This weekend's ice storm helped me accomplish some of my indoor goals.
and then evaporating the moisture.
The tail end of the winds brought bitter cold once again.
Today's forecast is snow.
Such is winter in this part of the country...
changeable, at times cruel, at times perfectly lovely!
The key to surviving and even enjoying the winter rests in the ability to stay warm.
For some...eating provides warmth...
For others...
the warm glow of a heat lamp over a bed of hay.
For me, it all depends upon the winter gear.
I have learned much about staying warm, over the years here on the farm.
I was asked yesterday what gloves I rely upon for chores.
I wear these...
but have learned that what is most important is that your gloves are about 2 sizes too big.
Having room inside your gloves (and your boots) for air circulation...
trapping warm air in the space around your hands or feet...
is crucial for warmth.
**********************************
This weekend's ice storm helped me accomplish some of my indoor goals.
One of them was to make a piecrust tutorial.
Sunday I made a chicken pie, while Amanda made a gooseberry pie from gooseberries
we had grown, harvested and frozen this summer.
Many thanks to Hubbs for being our camera man!!
The chicken pie was scrumptious and very easy.
I adapted it from this recipe.
I adapted it from this recipe.
I roasted one of our local free range whole chickens in the oven,
and used the drippings to make a sauce.
(enough juice cooked out of the chicken so that I could omit the chicken broth in the recipe.)
(enough juice cooked out of the chicken so that I could omit the chicken broth in the recipe.)
(the dark meat, alone, was enough to make this pie....
while the large breast will be used in another meal)
I added onions and frozen organic mixed veggies and herbs to the chicken and sauce.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!
Dessert?
Amanda's beautiful gooseberry pie (with fresh whipped cream).
No, we don't eat this rich food often,
but on a rainy, icy weekend... it was a wonderful treat!
- Cold Enthusiasts
Yesterday's sun rose over frost-covered fields.The farm had cooled to a brisk 27 degrees over night...the coldest morning so far this season. With winter work clothes on, I headed out to do morning chores.The only part of me that felt alien to the...
- When The World Is Covered In Ice....
An ice storm kept us at home and inside for most of the weekend. Freezing rain and sleet turned the dry lot into a skating rink.... making it difficult for equines and humans to move about.Equines have a distinct advantage, having 4 feet to steady themselves....
- Happy Chickens...abundant Eggs
In caring for my animals, I am always trying to find the "best way" of doing things. Each morning, I open up the chicken houses and allow the girls out for free ranging. After they have all hastily exited their houses, I clean their waterer, refill...
- No Shortage Of Winter Coats Around Here
After several days of what felt like a heatwave(high temperatures actually reached the 20's)... we have plummeted back down to almost zero again. Thank you, very much. I truly have just not had enough cold yet this winter.(kidding) Our snow seems...
- Frosty Morning
I awoke to a clear, frosty morning today....perhaps the coldest yet this year. As I was doing the morning chores, the only sound was the distant "who-who-whowho-who-who-whowho" of a great horned owl. The snow remains on the ground, continuing to make...