Sunday, November 30, 2008

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

"everywhere you go."

At the gate:
On the deck:
In the corner by the door (not really, but it almost rhymed):
Rick has been a busy little elf this season. Before his mother arrived for an early Thanksgiving visit, he put lights on our gate and deck. While she was here we went shopping, and I picked up a new tree skirt. I've always used a white sheet, because the tree skirt my mother-in-law made for us is too small for the trees we cut, and none of the ones I've seen in stores were a good match for our house's colors and decor - until I saw the one above. It's not a "match," but it's not a "clash," either. I think it will work nicely.

On Friday Rick put lights along the eaves on the front of the house. The blue lights are on the dormer window of my office, which is the nook where I keep my neglected spinning wheel. At night they cast a blue glow inside as well as out.

I think Rick and Brian are going down the hill to cut a Christmas tree before dark. Rick says he's tired of the noble firs I love, so I told him to just go choose what he wants this time. He doesn't need me along, because it's not my choice this year. I might just let him and Brian decorate it by themselves, too; much less stressful that way.

If you are wondering where the zoo pictures are, none of them turned out well. The animals cooperated delightfully, but the light was low (read cloudy and misting) and flash was either not allowed or ineffective. I wish I could show you Samudra, the precious three-month old elephant calf, or the polar bear bouncing on his plastic barrel, or the bald eagle that flew to a perch very close to us, or the fat and ponderous black bears, but alas, I can't. We had a good time, though - along with a LOT of other people! Who knew so many would head out in wet weather on Turkey Day? The free admission was probably the big draw. I gathered that the zoo did that to thank its public for passing a bond measure to renovate several key exhibits.

That's it for now from . . .

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

While there is lots to love about this holiday (good food, no gifts, family gatherings and a needed reminder to be thankful), it has been a mostly untraditional one for us. And I'm not referring to the fact that we're vegetarians! With no in-state family, holiday airfare at a premium, and emergency duty interfering some years, we rarely get to celebrate Thanksgiving with relatives. Instead, we have often celebrated with members of our church family. The last few years, though, the families we used to gather with have moved away or are no longer involved in our church, so we have been pretty much on our own. A quiet day at home is fine with me, but my husband feels deprived without the big gathering and loaded table. This week I suggested we volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen and think more about others for a change. But when I called around, places had all the volunteers they needed. So it was back to spending a quiet day at home. Figured I'd at least better work on the "loaded table" part of it, so started preparations last night. I made our favorite cranberry dish (strawberry gelatin, whole-berry cranberry sauce, non-fat sour cream or yogurt, walnuts), and mixed up a batch of delicious refrigerator bran crescent rolls, with plans to roll out and bake them just in time to serve warm from the oven - mmm! Then, on last night's news after showing the special treats zookeepers serve up to the animals, the anchor mentioned that the Oregon Zoo is open and FREE today! So, it is off to the zoo for us (you KNOW photos will follow!), and I'll whip of the rest of our Thanksgiving dinner when we get home.

Hope your Thanksgiving is warm and sincere, however and with whomever you spend it!

That's it for now from . . .

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Calendar and NaKniSweMo updates

I have designed and ordered a chicken calendar for myself, and will let you know if it is "purchase-worthy." The program says that most of my digital images are too low-res for good print quality, but Nancy K of "Real Sheep Wear Shetland Wool" calendar fame told me that her program said the same thing and her calendars turned out fine. I am using a site that "prints on demand," so you order directly from the publisher, and I don't pay for unwanted inventory. I think that's pretty cool! If the photos turn out satisfactorily I will let you know, and also put together a Boulderneigh Shetland Sheep calendar. Hopefully it is not too late in the year! Oh well, at any rate I will have my chicken calendar....

My NaKniSweMo project hit a big road bump. Halfway through the second sleeve, it became obvious that I did not have enough of the red to finish. The yarn, BIG Berella Bulky, is discontinued, so I contacted a friend who is on Ravelry and asked her to check there. No luck. Then A:-) pointed out the obvious solution - rip the sleeves and swap the colors, using grey for the main color and red for the stripes. Oh, how I hated to visit the frog pond, but could think up no other solution. So here is the first sleeve I am reworking next to the finished sleeve in the original pattern.I'll still get this done for Brian's birthday, but NOT by the end of November.

I'll close with a gratuitous sheep shot of Dinah and her son Browning (standing oddly; he is not humpbacked), taken today. Can't wait to spin his fleece, and see what she gives me from Franjean next spring!

That's it for now at . . .

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Chick pix - and an idea

The other morning I was thinking I should look for a 2009 chicken calendar, so I can keep track of number of eggs laid and sold, how much feed the girls are eating, etc. I use calendars to keep track of info like that; I have one for the sheep (this year it happens to be an Aussie calendar; last year it was one of Nancy K's) and one for my horse. Then I got to thinking, "Why not make my own?" So I've done a little investigating, and I just might do it! I may also create my own sheep calendar for the coming year. Would anyone else be interested? Since I haven't nailed down which site to use yet, I'm not sure of cost, but it would be less than $20. Let me know, as the end of the year approacheth post haste!

That's it for now from . . .

Monday, November 24, 2008

Interesting pastimes

When I brought Braveheart in for the night recently, I noticed some loose tufts of wool on his neck. He has snagged his coat on the fence running up and down pining for girls, so I figured he caught his fleece in the same way. Isn't it lovely stuff? I'm saving it to send in next spring along with everyone's midside samples. It will be interesting to compare samples from Braveheart's neck and side, because he looks and feels so absolutely consistent from stem to stern.

Then a day or so later when I was cleaning horse apples out of the arena, I noticed this:What are tufts of Braveheart's fleece doing INSIDE the arena?

Remember this? I think Russell has been engaging in "reciprocal grooming," only Braveheart isn't big enough to return the favor! From the number of tufts I've found since, Braveheart is obviously sticking around for this strange interaction!
That's it for now from . . .

Friday, November 21, 2008

Ram-weary

I am ram-weary, or at least breeding-season-weary. Breeding season means no snuggle-time with my girls, finding the spot that makes each one go into that trance-like state of delight. Breeding season means pervasive smell of ram - something never before experienced here, as ram lambs apparently don't stink (much like boy-children vs. men). And this breeding season means one ram is getting no action, and is, therefore, VERY frustrated.
I've started turning Russell out into the arena when he's done with his hay and it's not pouring, hoping the sand and additional exercise will help combat his white-line disease. I don't know if Braveheart is just glad for the company, or hopes to romance that long-legged beauty!

I have to say, the camera I had waiting in the wings is a doozy! I'm beginning to feel blessed by the disappearance of my old camera, because it forced me to get this one out and try it. It takes such great stills that I'm actually getting a bit excited about taking some video!

That's it for now at . . .

NaKniSweMo progress

(Hurray, the "new" camera WORKS! Just needed fresh batteries. I am not by any means up to speed on all its functions, though, so don't be expecting videos on the blog anything soon!)

As of last night, four of the five pieces of Brian's cardigan are knit; all that's left is one sleeve - and of course the dreaded knitting in of ends and seaming. Still, I plan to finish this by the end of the month for NaKniSweMo, with a week to spare for Brian's birthday. He hasn't seen this project, so it should be a nice surprise.

That's it for now at . . .

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I could be a collector

I've said it before: I adore Japanese maples. I have the "bible" - J.D. Vertrees' Japanese Maples, and have spent hours drooling over its colored photos and making wish lists from the hundreds of cultivars available. It doesn't help my passion that there is a nearby nursery that carries the biggest variety of Japanese maples I've seen in one location - although they no longer allow walk-in traffic. Of course, the "meadow rats" love Japanese maples, too; that's certainly a disincentive for spending money on edible treasures. So for now I enjoy the ones I have.

The current star of Boulderneigh continues to be the grafted tree near our front door. I took these photos during our recent dry (and sometimes foggy) stretch - which had decidedly ended when we woke up this morning. It's a good day to be cameraless!

That's it for now at . . .

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Pigging and picking

Hello again. My computer went to visit a tech overnight; it got defragged, a BIG memory boost, and a software upgrade. In the meantime, my digital camera has disappeared. I had it with me when I went to town yesterday, and I don't have it now. I don't know if someone snatched it out of the side pocket of my purse, it fell out somewhere, or I've misplaced it around here. I am suspecting the first ugly option, since I've looked everywhere, including where it could have fallen out, with no luck. The post below was conceived before computer and camera went on hiatus, and may be the last for awhile....

When I turn the breeding group+wether out in the mornings, this is a common sight: Dinah, bellied up to the hay bar, while everyone else walks around checking out the freshest fallen leaves. Dinah has always been my "Miss Piggy," but produces nice lambs and a BIG, lustrous white fleece that is a joy to spin, so I guess she makes good use of the groceries!

One morning Rick stayed home to clean out gutters before the rains return (tomorrow). When he came in to change and head to the clinic, Brian was getting ready for violin practice. Brian jumped at the chance to show Daddy how well he's playing his bluegrass tunes. Rick couldn't resist; he grabbed his guitar to play along. (Don't worry; they're both clothed this time. In fact, Brian looks quite the part in his overalls and straw hat!)They are going to play Cripple Creek together at a youth group fundraiser this Sunday; I think the crowd is in for a treat!

That's it for now at from . . .

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Thanksgiving

As in the act of giving thanks, not the holiday. :-)

Sue, all the way down in Australia, gave me an award! It is a beautiful award and doesn't even have any rules attached; I am truly honored. Thank-you, Sue!

Back in September I entered a contest on one of Loren's blogs for an MP3 player - and I won! The player didn't arrive until today, and as a peace offering for the time it took and for having to change the model awarded to something different, the company sent along a $15 iTunes gift card. My sister sent me an iTunes gift card for my birthday, so I get to have lots of fun shopping for songs!

Franjean did come in sound last night, so this morning I turned everyone (but Braveheart) out together again. For reasons known only to rutting rams, all was calm today - no frantic chasing with panicked fleeing. No "activity" was observed, so we'll have to wait for spring to see what Franjean produces with whom. More of THIS -along with her fabulous fleece, is what I hope for from Butter. She is just so wide and square in back! Franjean has been ordered to pass on nice, long toplines, polled genetics, and that captivating gulmoget pattern. What lambs are dancing in your dreams?

That's it for now from . . .

Friday, November 14, 2008

Our Friday "manna"

I just got back from shutting in the sheep for the night and checking for eggs one last time. I didn't really expect any more, since Brian collected six earlier in the day, so I was delighted to see an intact #7 - the first time we've collected that many - sitting in a nest box. But it was not JUST an egg - it was another giant, double-yoked Welsie egg! Does that make today an eight-egg day? :-) Funny how none of the other hens, though all the same age (this spring's hatch), have given us any double-yokers. Anyway, it felt a bit like getting the special Friday blessing the Israelites got when collecting manna in the wilderness (see Exodus chapter 16).

Here is Welsie's special gift to us, along with the egg Tawnie was laying in the earlier post. (Note: I have LARGE hands; I wear a men's medium glove!)

That's it for now at . . .

Sun, sheep, socks

I have learned that yesterday's rays were not a fluke; since the last time I watched the weather forecast (days can go by without TV around here) it changed from rain all this week to a nice stretch of sunny days through at least half of next week. Of course, that could change again, so I try to make hay - or rather, take photos - while the sun shines. Below are some of the shots I took while out and about yesterday.
This morning I turned everyone but Braveheart out together. Franjean was so excited by the access to Butter that he barely stopped for a bite of grain and some posturing - the rest of the time he was chasing her at a gallop.Butter was obviously not interested in being romanced (frankly, he is NOT a smooth operator) and I was afraid that he would re-injure himself and maybe her with his blind passion, so I took Butter back to the fold. If Franjean comes in sound this evening, I will turn them all out together again tomorrow and hope for the best.

After Butter left, Franjean took his frustrated ramhood out on the rope swing and small twigs in the sheep lot. Actually, he does this on a regular basis, so it wasn't really out of "frustration of the moment." Still photos don't capture the humor of a he-ram sparring with a dangling rope and head-wrestling spindly shoots!

Lest anyone getting overly excited at the prospect of seeing handknit socks, I must tell you that is not a pond into which I've dipped my toe. Don't know that I ever will, either, as long as there are wonderful socks available like these I got for my birthday. First, my mom put two pair of SmartWool running socks in my birthday package. (My sister introduced me to SmartWool socks, and they have TOTALLY spoiled me - LOVE 'em!) My mother-in-law sent me the pair decorated with little Jacksons; aren't they great?

Finally, a shot of Tawnie in the nest box this morning. She is such a beautifully marked hen, and I haven't gotten very many good photos of her.
That's it for now at . . .

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Sun!

There is nothing like bright morning sunshine after several soggy days to kick your rear in gear. Let the dog out! Shake the rugs! Vacuum the house! Fill the birdfeeder! Scoop poop off the lawn! Let the sheep out . . . well, all except for Franjean and his breeding group. Okay, that's more than half the sheep; but after keeping everyone in one very wet day, we noticed that Franjean showed marked improvement. Kept everyone in the next day, and this morning I could discern no limp at all! On the vet's recommendation, though, Franjean is staying in at least one more day to give whatever he strained a chance to recover even more.

Today is 15 days after Inky was covered, so I really would like to put her back in with Franjean just to make sure she settles (her history gives me no reason to doubt, but still).I am thinking of putting Butter in as well, both to protect her from the little bully-wether, and, well, because . . . I really do think she and Franjean could produce magic. I know, I know, that means I would have to eat my words and be a hypocrite, as I have argued against breeding ewe lambs. I hate to shock you like this, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been a hypocrite, and as much as I pray to be constantly growing as a person, it probably won't be the last. Sigh. Guess I still have a lot to work on during the second half of my life.

That's it for now at . . .

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I see a resemblance....




Your Autumn Test Results



You are a dynamic, vibrant person. You aren't afraid to pursue your passions.

When you are happiest, you are calm. You appreciate tradition and family. You enjoy feeling cozy.

You prefer change to come slowly. You need a long transition period when your life changes.

You find hard work to be the most comforting thing in the world. You like the feeling of accomplishing something.

Your ideal day is active and full. You like to keep busy with your favorite things, and you appreciate a routine.

You tend to live in the moment. You enjoy whatever is going on, and you don't obsess over the past or future.



How's that for a frothy bit of birthday introspection? :-)

That's it for now from . . .

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The boss is home...

...our first fire of the season is making the house cozy, and we are all sated with a fresh batch of Farmgirl Fare's spicy pumpkin muffins (made with pumpkin from our garden and dried cherries from our trees), accompanied by bowls of partially thawed frozen peaches and strawberries mixed together. Yum!

It has been raining since the middle of last night, and we are supposed to be getting our first "winter" storm of the season. Around here that means harder than usual rain and wind - 60 mph on the coast and 40 mph inland is predicted. That could result in power outages if trees or branches come down on power lines, but the power company responds quickly.

Most of our foliage is past its prime, except for this lovely Japanese maple beside our front walk. The ends of the branches have just been set ablaze, and it will take a few days at least for the fire to burn to the center. This not an unusual cultivar; I bought it for the pretty shape created by the bending and grafting of two young tree trunks. One of the trees has long since died, but the trunk of the other still serpentines just above the ground, and the rest of it still pleases.
I hope you are as comfortable and cozy as we are at . . .

Monday, November 10, 2008

Get off the chair, Jackson...

...the boss is coming home!

That's Rick's chair, and he doesn't think our big (60+ lb.), hairy Aussie belongs on the furniture. Since I am the "housekeeper," I tend to agree. But in the absence of someone else to snuggle with, I did invite Jackson to sit with me one night. Although he squirmed alot like he wasn't comfortable, as you can see, he wasn't eager to leave when I got up!

It will be nice to have the boss home; I rattle around and stay up much too late when he's not here. And I need a vet to check out Franjean!

That's it for now at . . .

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Applesauce, finally

Today I finally tackled making applesauce from the apples that were picked, oh, awhile ago. Jackson has snitched a few, but I have still plenty to work with. I only had enough canning lids for two full canners (14 quarts) which used less than half the apples, so I also pureed enough apples to start a crockpot full of apple butter. Mmm, the house is going to smell yummy for days!

Everyone (who cans) has a preferred method. I've tried several of them, and always come back to this: I wash, core and remove bad spots from the apples, throw them in my blender with just enough water to get things moving, then pour into clean jars and process in a hot water bath. Once in awhile I'll do some jars with cinnamon, but nothing else. I don't know if I end up with a more nutritious product or not, but leaving the skins on and not cooking the apples before canning makes me think I do. :-)

The raw pulp is rather pretty in the jars, but as you can see from the top photo, the bits of peel basically disappear during processing. They do add a rosy hue to the sauce, though.

The applesauce joins tomatoes, condensed tomato soup, and three varieties of grape juice canned this year, as well as cherries, prunes, preserves and some other miscellaneous foodstuffs canned previously. (Some things that we don't eat as often I tend to put up in cycles.) In the freezer are peaches, berries, and pear cider, as well as dried cherries, prunes, Asian pears, and peach leather - along with various things I buy in bulk or on sale and store there until needed. I had someone ask me once, when he saw our chest freezer, "What do vegetarians need a freezer for?" I assured him it was quite full!

That's it for now from . . .

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Enjoying fall, but not "Musical Sheep"

(As always, click on any image to biggify.)
This morning the sun broke through the clouds and cast bright beams across the fallen maple leaves. They are a golden carpet along the south side of our property - that will have to be blown off the gravel before they turn brown and slimy.

Fungi push up through the leaf litter (they probably don't mind "brown and slimy").

Colorful debris contrasts nicely with grey-green thyme.

The cherry leaves still on the trees in the orchards on our hill are reflected in "puddles" of leaves on the ground.

White clouds "pop" against their grey companions to the east.

As for "Musical Sheep," it is a not a fun party icebreaker. It is an effort to prevent Franjean from further straining whatever is hurting in his right hind leg. My vet-with-benefits thought that doing so was essential, so this evening I made an enclosure for him to reside in where he would not be tempted to mount anyone or stand on his hind legs to nuzzle anyone.Can you tell it did a lot of good?

In the meantime, Braveheart was back in his corner "fold within the fold" and all the other sheep were together, simplifying the set-up - right? NO. For reasons beyond this simple shepherd, Brava was in challenge-mode, and Braveheart was doing his best to meet that challenge. Between the two of them, I am afraid there will be no barrier left standing between Braveheart and the ewes by morning. Depending on whether next spring's lambs are gulmogets and when they pop out, I could have a paternity nightmare on my hands. Since you must test the dam, potential sire AND lamb (at $40/sample) to determine paternity, that's a prohibitive $120/lamb to be able to register any questionable ones. Hmmm, I think I'd better head back down to the fold to rearrange things yet again, just to make sure....

But before I do that, I have to share the latest news from the henhouse. While Franjean hobbled about, Welsie was enduring some suffering of her own; look at the SIZE of the egg she laid today! Below is a photo of the normal-sized egg she laid yesterday with the behemoth she laid today; wanna bet it's a double-yoker?
Off to play "Musical Sheep" again at . . .

Friday, November 07, 2008

"Sheep shots" turns into "sheep shock"

I've been snapping a few candids of the sheep and planned to share them today, but as so often happens around here, the sheep provide preemptive blog fodder. When I opened the gate to let the breeding group go out to their lot this morning, the one sheep I don't own was packing his right hind leg! That's right, Franjean - who was right as rain last night - was clearly hurting. I caught and haltered him after finishing chores (he was laying down by then and didn't even try to get up, so it wasn't hard), and could find nothing abnormal. Figures; my vet-with-benefits flew to Kentucky yesterday for more advanced training (see here for what he's into), and won't be back until Monday night. After a phone consultation, I gave Franjean a "sheep shot" (Banamine), and if he's still lame when Rick gets back, we'll shoot x-rays. I'm praying it's just a strain, because he's got a date with another breeding group next month when he leaves here.

You still get "sheep shots," even though I took a bunch of really good photos of Inky and others today - probably the best photos I've ever take in my life - and then accidently deleted them from the camera card before moving them to my hard drive - arggg!Franjean getting a scratch from Brian yesterday.

Dinah, my "Grace Kelly" sheep.

The leaves are "golder" on the other side of the fence.

Every night when I bring the sheep in, the rams have to stand on their hind legs and nuzzle each other over the double-pallet barracade between them; it's very odd to watch. Perhaps Franjean did this one too many times last night and strained his hind leg?

Franjean's fleece at midside (top) and hip (bottom); I love this color! It will be interesting to see if I get any modified lambs from him.

That's it for now from . . .

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Eggcitement

Yesterday was our first seven-egg day! I figured it could happen sometime; we do, after all, have seven hens (which only gave us three eggs on Tuesday). The first egg was laid while I was doing morning chores. Brian picked up four more eggs yesterday evening while I brought the sheep in, but he didn't shut the henhouse door. I did a follow-up check before shutting the girls up for the night, found one intact egg hiding in the sawdust, and the messy remains of another at the bottom of a nesting box. Okay, that part was sad, but more eggcitement was waiting for me at the house. When I assembled the day's haul, Welsie's darker egg was VERY obvious (as was the identity of the broken egg - there was no green Ebony-egg).Here they are all cleaned up and in a carton; three Rhodie eggs (left and bottom center), Tawny's narrower "torpedo" (top center), Morgan's "pink" egg (top right) and Welsie's almost-chocolate egg. If, as I think I remember reading, Welsummer eggs get darker as the hens mature, the fun has only just begun!

That's all for now at . . .

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Colorful blessings

Yesterday I drove to Woodland Woolworks in nearby Carlton to return some yarn. From the outside it looks like any other warehouse, but the inside is filled with all the fiber, yarn, spinning wheels, looms, books, knitting tools and toys you would expect from their colorful catalogs. The last time I was there I saw a couple knitted garments in The Stash Room, where they sell their odd lots, discontinued yarns and such. Diane told me they were sample garments made from yarn that is no longer available, so they were being offered for sale. GREAT deals, if the items fit your tastes and body!

When I checked out The Stash Room on this visit, I immediately noticed a colorful cardigan on display. It was pretty and playful, and looked like a probable fit. I checked the price - $25 - for a handknit sweater!?! The yarn HAD to have cost more than that! I tried it on as best I could over the baggy cotton sweater I was wearing, and immediately claimed it as mine. I didn't even need to cough up any cash, as the yarn I returned totaled more than it did. The transaction practically made me giddy!
As I was preparing to walk out the door, one employee called to another, "You HAVE to see this rainbow!" We looked, and there was a brilliant, complete arc of color, topped by a second, much fainter one - a true double rainbow. It was too big to fit in one picture, so I snapped shots of its left and right sides. Its colors reminded me of the sweater I was holding in my hands, and I felt doubly blessed.
As for the election, the Bible tells me God is in control, specifically of who is in power. I did my part, voted my conscious, and know we are in good hands (God's). Hope you have a similar peace!

That's it for now at . . .

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

"Ain't no valley low enough"

Leave it to the sheep to give me plenty of blog fodder - and song lyrics to help me tell the stories! If you read my comment to my post yesterday, you know that Lois helped me come up with a solution to my problem, which I think was Browning more than Maria/Butter. I was feeling so much better about things as I headed to the barn to do chores this morning - until I got to the sheep fold just in time to see stiff, old Inky squeezing herself UNDER the chain-link at the bottom of the gate INTO where she and Butter are supposed to spend the night FROM Braveheart's pen! I had noticed yesterday that that area was a bit loose and damaged, but didn't give it the thought and attention that I obviously should have, especially since Inky HAS shown herself to be a bit pushy in testing fences and gates. So now I could be facing paternity testing on INKY'S offspring next spring, depending on when she lambs and what pattern(s) she produces! Again, since Franjean is only here for THIS breeding season, I would just as soon have all lambs born here next spring sired by his handsome gulmoget self, but does my vote really count? (Sorry, couldn't help myself there. :-)

Does this mean that Butter is a crawler, too, not a jumper? Perhaps, but I still think she must have jumped out the first time I found her in the main sheep fold. Interestingly enough, the lot she shared with Browning (and now Inky) has a 3' gate, and she's never jumped that. I'm guessing that in the bigger space she had enough room to evade Browning's bullying and felt no need to jump for safety - nor to get closer to either of the two rams within sight (and probaby smell; those boys are RIPE this time of year!).

Thankfully the chickens are easier to manage. They are enjoying autumn; when I let them out in the morning they immediately start eating the fallen leaves!
I'm convinced now that Welsie is laying. After checking the physical characteristics that Kathy told me to look for, I was pretty sure, but Sunday evening I found an egg in the middle of the muddy chicken yard - sure sign of a rookie. No, it wasn't a "chocolate" egg - more of a "chocolate chip" egg. Below are all five of the eggs colors produced by our hens (the flash affected the colors some). Clockwise after Ebony's green egg are Welsie's, a Rhode Island Red's, Tawny's, and Morgan's.
Here is a close-up (and more accurate, colorwise) look at Welsie's chocolate-chip egg.Welsie has developed quite the personality since arriving here. She has a distinctive voice, and talks to me a lot. Chickens - they provide art, sustenance, companionship and entertainment!

That's it for now . . .

Monday, November 03, 2008

"How do you solve a problem like Maria?"

"Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like . . .BUTTER?!?

Yesterday morning during chores, I put the breeding group in their lot, Braveheart in his, and went back to lead Butter and Browning to theirs. There Butter was, standing in the main fold, with Browning still in their shared pen! Since there is no gate between the lamb pen and the main fold (I have to lead them through Braveheart's area and down the feeding aisle), the only way she could have gotten there was to jump the 4' chain link kennel panel that separates their pen from the main fold. It immediately occurred to me that if she could do it once, she could do it again when the breeding group - including Franjean - was IN the fold. She is not in the breeding group now by intent (even though I think the cross with Franjean could produce magic); I don't need that many lambs next spring and I don't think babies should have babies! I don't think she did it because she's in heat; I figured she just wanted to follow the other girls out to pasture and get away from Browning, who is still beating up on her. But IF she should take matters into her pretty little hooves and end up getting bred by Franjean, well, I'd still love her and accept any resulting lambs. :-)

This morning as I headed to the barn, I heard banging in the usually quiet sheep quarters. Hurrying there first, I saw Butter in with BRAVEHEART, both of them racing in circles, one the pursuer, one the pursued! Worried more about an unplanned breeding than the behavior of a frustrated ram, I dashed in, opened the gate, and shoved Butter back in with Browning. If there is going to be an unplanned pregnancy, I would prefer the father to be Franjean; Braveheart will get many opportunities in coming years!

By the time I got back from putting the breeding group in their lot, Butter was in with Braveheart AGAIN. As frightened as she seemed to be by his amorous pursuit both times, I can't imagine why she did it TWICE, but I'm going to have to figure out some way to keep it from happening again. If I don't, I might as well put her in Franjean's breeding group. She will, after all, be a year old in February. The idea IS tempting. But if she lambs in five months, I would have to have any offspring DNA-tested to see who the sire is - unless a gulmoget pops out. Oh dear, what to do with this little beauty?
That's it for now from . . .

Sunday, November 02, 2008

A most eggcellent dish!

The apple kugen turned out superb. (I had more than one serving just to make sure. The sacrifices I make for you people.) I found this recipe for apricot kugen online, and modified it a bit. I can see making this with various seasonal fruits, and serving it for breakfast OR dessert! A little heavy cream, whipped cream or ice cream would go well with it, for those so inclined. (Me, I'm more of a purist.)

Apple Kugen:
2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 butter, softened
10 medium eggs, divided
1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
10 small apples, peeled, cored and cut into thick slices
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups non-fat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream butter with 1/2 cup sugar. Add four eggs, beating well after adding each one. Stir in flour until mixed well; spread batter into a 9"x13" baking pan.

Mix apple slices with 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Arrange on batter.

Mix 1 cup sugar with cornstarch. Beat in yogurt, vanilla and four eggs; pour over fruit. Bake at 350 degrees until cake around fruit in center of pan is firm to touch; about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Cool at least 30 minutes before serving; serve warm or cool.

I have yet to start applesauce, although Rick and Brian did get the rest of the apples picked. At least the deer won't be eating them! I'll have to keep an eye on Jackson, though; he's quite the produce pilferer."Who, me?"

My favorite Japanese maple's inner flame glows hotter by the day. I keep snapping photos, knowing time, wind and rain will snuff it out soon enough. This was taken this afternoon.
That's it for now at . . .

NaKniSweWe?

Observation: When you knit for children with bulky yarn, you can feel like a real speed demon even when you're not! (I'm not.)

Last night I stayed up late (early) and finished the back of Brian's cardigan. Woot! Of course, my guys come back this morning so that ends my "full steam ahead and don't spare the horses" (to mix my metaphors) pace. But Rick is flying out Thursday for a conference so it IS conceivable that I could finish this project before he returns the following Monday. Then I could get started on the other gift sweater on my list....

Today, however, must be dedicated to a different domestic pursuit - canning applesauce. We go through a fair amount of the stuff, especially on peanut butter toast, pancakes and waffles. We don't spray our trees, so some years making applesauce is more laborious than others, but the bugs aren't bad at all this year. This morning I picked all I could reach; when Rick gets home, he and Brian can get the rest with a ladder.

I should also make an apple kugen, or else by the end of today I'll have at least four dozen eggs in the frig. I was keeping up with them there for awhile; I don't know what happened. Anyway, I'll have to look for a recipe that resembles what we used to make when I worked for a bakery in college.

That's it for now from . . .

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Respite

My guys are gone to our church's men's retreat, and I am thoroughly enjoying my rare time alone. I've basked in the silence and listened to music of my own choosing (Sara Graves; thanks, Sis!). I've eaten entirely too much homemade bread with chevre basil spread and drunk entirely too much home-canned grape juice. I've ridden Russell through autumn woods and past changing orchards and vineyards, my soul feasting on beauty. I've schmoozed with my sheep. I've taken a happy hound on a brisk, two-mile walk at dusk. And yes, I've cast on Brian's grey-striped red cardigan for NaKniSweMo!


That's it for now from . . .