Spring Surprises

We're having the most amazing weather for March. Record highs and light spring rain - even if there's rumbling and grumbling. I love how afternoon rain followed by blue skies makes everything sparkle like Mother Natures bling. Priceless.

 Here are a few shots of the view from our soon to be backyard. 

Our road used to be called the Potlake or Potleg Road - we can't be sure which; it depends on who you talk to. We like Potlake best and imagine that this natural spring pond is how it got it's name, so are referring to our new place as the Potlake farm. 

At just under 2 acres, it's not really a farm anymore but that's just another little liberty we're taking. 

On our drive out today, we passed a couple walking their dogs. Mike waved, and I asked " who was that?" Mike replied " I don't know, but they're walking down our road."

 Priceless.  

There are ducks in the pond. I can't wait to see little ducklings.

And there are grapevines!

Lots of them, so we imagine that the couple made their own wine back in the day. 

I love that they used Y branches as stakes.

And who doesn't appreciate a good curlicue?

Made even sweeter with shiny diamond drops of rain.

Priceless.

Hope you're enjoying spring surprises.

<3 Karen  

An Update and a Recipe

Did Anybody have visions of me heading to the drug store this week? 

"No, warming KY is not what I need. Just the regular stuff. Oh, it's not for me - it's for Gladys - er - my chicken...no really... she's egg bound... her egg is stuck...really...

That's almost as scary as having to perform the first aid. Oiy! 

Happy to report no issues this week. No trips to Shoppers required. Yay! 

I thought I'd let you all in on a little secret. Making yogurt is easy. And you can save money. And there's no preservative or gelatine or fancy equipment required. 

I like it with a little vanilla and honey.

Sometimes I eat it with some homemade granola sprinkled on top. Sometimes with fruit. Blueberries and freshly grated nutmeg with a drizzle of honey is a yummy combination. 

Greek style is my favourite. Its low in fat and high in protein. It's so thick and rich and creamy.

I usually do this on the weekend because although it's easy and doesn't require any attention at all, it does take a while. I start about an hour before I before I go to bed. 

Don't be scared - try it, you'll like it.

Greek Yogurt 

Makes at least 2 cups at about 1/3 the cost. 

Use a candy thermometer to gently heat 1 bag of milk ( just less that 4 1/4 cups ) in a heavy bottom pan to 180 degrees F. 

It will be steaming and foamy but don't let it boil. 

Let it cool, off the heat but in the pan, to 110 degrees F.

Stir in 1/4 cup all natural greek yogurt. I save some from my last batch each week. 

I wrap it in a tea towel and leave it in the oven with the light on overnight - between 6 and 8 hours.

It will look like slightly separated, watery jello.

Line a sieve or colander with a couple of layers of cheesecloth, set it over a bowl and pour in the yogurt.  

Put it back in the oven with the light on to drain the whey off. 

I like it thick so I leave it there for about 2 hours. If you don't like it thick don't drain off as much liquid.

If you're not making greek style, you don't have to drain it, just stir, add fruit and sweetener and enjoy.

This is what the whey looks like- I get about 3 1/2 cups!

I don't know what else its good for but the chickens like it...

OK - so in a nutshell -

heat the milk

cool the milk

add a little leftover yogurt

wait

strain

wait again

enjoy!

<3 Karen

Avian Adventures

We rescued Gladys early last fall from the chicken auction. 

She was destined to become soup, I'm sure. She's "mature". 

Mike to the farmer: " Does she lay?" 

Farmer: "Well... she laid this morning" 

We left $5 lighter and with one little red hen.

Worth every penny - she lays about 5 extra large eggs a week. 

This week she laid  a whopper!  

The egg on the right is considered an extra large egg - about 73 grams. 

The egg on the left is 112 grams!!!

3 inches and wrinkly! 

Poor old girl! 

We think maybe she was egg bound  ( like egg-stipated? )  but being novices are not sure.

I didn't notice her being sluggish or looking uncomfortable. It's so cold and windy that I only go out long enough to bring thawed water, top up the feed and collect eggs.  

According to Back Yard Poultry , it can be deadly so avian first aid  is imperative. "Using KY Petroleum jelly or Vaseline insert your finger in the vent. With your other hand you can press gently on her abdomen moving the egg down the oviduct towards the cloaca."

Oh my!

I'm hoping it doesn't happen again.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me. 

and have a good week!

<3 Karen 

Saying Goodbye to February

I don't mind the winter. I like cuddling up in the house under quilts, reading, sipping hot tea. Wearing wool socks, and sweaters (or wearing p.j.'s all day ). Baking cakes and pies and cookies.  

Winter is the season for the comfort food I love - hearty soups, stews and pot pies. 

Winter is the season for recharging; for resting up for a busy spring.  

As February comes to an end and March roars in, I'm having a hard time being in the present.  I find myself looking forward to being outside working in the garden.

 Looking forward to soaking up the pink and the green freshness.

I'm hoping that we can make our new home as special as this home has been.

And anticipating having fun trying.

<3 Karen

Blustery Winter Days

Blustery days and and a bowl of hot, hearty soup go together. 

Busy days and soup go together. 

I've been packing. And packing. And packing.

So far, seventeen boxes of china. 

Yep - that's right - I said seventeen. Boxes of china. 

And then cleaned out the basement. There I found three truckloads of miscellany fit to go to St. Vincent's.  And three giant bags of garbage  fit to go to the road.  

At the end of the day I was so relieved to have put a pot of bean soup on to simmer.  

Try it on your next busy day. It would probably work in a crock pot too, if you're not going to be home. 

Bean Soup

In a large stock pot or dutch oven place:

1 smoked pork hock or meaty ham bone.

3 cups dried white beans or black eyed peas

2 large potatoes, halved

2 medium carrots, in large chunks 

2 yellow onions, chopped

2 bay leaves

rosemary or thyme ( whichever or neither ) 

freshly ground pepper 

Cover generously with water  ( start with 8 cups and add more if necessary ) 

Simmer until beans are tender and vegetables are soft. 

Remove pork hock or ham bone and pick off and chop the meat,

Use a potato masher to chop up the potatoes and carrot in the pot.

OK - now the secret ingredient - pour in about 1/4 cup or so of molasses. 

It improves the colour and makes it super yummy.

Enjoy!

( it's even better the next day )

<3 Karen 

Diamond in the Rough

Our dream home. Well not yet, exactly.  

We put an offer on this little house set on about 2 acres of lovely peace and quiet.

Theres a chicken coop and garden shed...

a greenhouse ( be still my heart ) 

and a three car garage ( be still Mike's heart )

What we love about it? The yard is like a park and we're close to town, but not on main street. 

Most of all, it's a  fresh start that we can call ours. 

Not Mike's house or my house. Our home.

I'm optimistic.

<3 Karen 

In the Mail

I grew up in a town that had no door to door mail delivery. Each day ( before any of us had begun kindergarten ) my mother walked us 3 kids up to the post office to pick up our mail. It was a big adventure. We ran along pretending to use the key to open imaginary doors in hydro poles, trash cans, and flower pots all along the way. Inside the post office, rows and rows of shiny silver doors with hundreds of little locks filled up 3 whole walls. Imagine three little kids bouncing around, arms waving,  shrieking " It's my turn to open it! I want to use the key!"  I was filled with anticipation that today would be the day just one piece of mail would be addressed to me!  Although it rarely happened, my enthusiasm never dampened. 

Now, I've gotten used to finding mostly bills, bank statements, and flyers.  

But this week! I picked up lots of special deliveries...  

Air mail from the U.K.!

Christmas wishes from Haley ( she started her own big adventure in September ). 

I miss her...

And then the fabric I ordered arrived. 

Pretty cotton voile, crisp linen and cozy wool.

And again! 

All the way from Japan...

Just look at the special attention to packaging! 

Pattern books. Even though I'm not surprised I'm no less thrilled. 

 Woo Hoo! It's Christmas early!

 

I read pattern books and cook books like fiction...

I'll be sewing dresses,

and blouses,

 and dresses,

and tops, 

and more dresses.

I love the vintage styling of this one, 

and this one

How pretty! 

Not your ordinary, everyday, old mail...

bye for now - I've got work to do!

<3 K