(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday

This week is Dr. Seuss week (his birthday is March 4!) and today is dress as wacky as you can day!

Yes, we got more snow last night. Jeremiah had the driveway and walkway all cleared off yesterday. This week will be above freezing so it should all melt away...slowly. Next week we're expecting 50's and I hope this weekend is nice enough to finish the greenhouse.

Snow photos

It's good for reaching the sledding hill!

 
 

 

 

 

 

Old Man Winter = Fashionably Late

Ahhh yes, so Old Man Winter did decide to wake up! I won't complain, I will only utter negative comments about white crap under my breath so that only the few who are actually listening can hear.

I have come to have a little less disdain for it. Proper clothing does help immensely. There are still the children who think it's fun and every single time it comes they act like it's the first time. I hate to be the 'love of snow' wrecker so I try to keep my mouth shut. The rule is, one time out, no more. You stay until you are too cold to take it or cannot move to come in, the rest of your day is spent inside where it's warm.

That said, they predicted 1-3 inches between 7 AM and 3 or so. Eight thirty rolled around and BAM, it started coming and it did not stop until there was a good 6-8 inches! It's lovely and all to watch out the window especially folding "white" laundry, sipping on a warm cup of joe while sitting next to the woodstove.

 I spent Tuesday "preparring for the ice age", as Jeremiah and I joked. I plugged all the animal's de-icers back in, bedded them all down well, had to do a little rearranging too. Washed a bunch of laundry and hung most of it out to dry since it was at least sunny Tuesday. I brought up oodles and bunches of wood and kindling and covered the rest of the pile.

Overnight there was another, I don't know, but it looks like there's at least a foot out there now, maybe a foot and a half and it's still snowing. 15 feet, or so it feels after trudging through it out to the barn. The tractor could only go so far, the gates are all snowed in and chores needed to be done.

I picked up the kids yesterday at 1:20 and since Jeremiah was not here to pawn the chore off on to take them out, I dressed up and went out to take them sledding. One of us came back in sobbing and "so cold" and didn't want to pull the sled back. I won't mention who but will say it was the same person seen below pulling it out. Why do parents take their kids to the snow? It's only fun for about 3 minutes.

 
   
 


 




 





Here's to an inside day where it's warm baking yummy treats to sustain us through trudging around in it!

Lentil Vegetable Soup

 
 
13-16 cups of chicken/veggie/beef stock (I took the bones from 3 chicken breasts I stripped the meat off of the night before and pressure cooked the bones with half an onion in the pressure cooker for 45 minutes once it came to pressure. Seriously lovely stock is the end result!)

5-7 carrots (peeled and sliced)
1/2 head cabbage
1/2 medium onion
3 ribs celery
1.5 cups frozen peas
1.5 cups dry lentils
salt to taste
1 tablespoon dry Italian herbs
olive oil

Chop onions and celery. Saute in olive oil in large pot.Once soft, add chicken stock, bring to a boil. Add lentils & carrots, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes stiring occasionally. Half way through cooking, add salt and herbs. After half an hour of simmering, add frozen peas and cabbage (chopped). Simmer 10 minutes or until all veggies & lentils are tender.

Serves: a lot

Served with garlic cheddar biscuits

Biscuits
7 tablespoons lard and/or butter and/or shortenting (total 7 tablespoons)
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp salt
2.5 tsps baking powder
3/4-1 1/4 cup of milk (amount depends on what type of biscuit you are making)
1 tsp garlic powder
Modest handful of favorite shredded cheese. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium size bowl place fat (lard, shortening, butter, etc.). Add flour, baking powered and salt. With the back of a fork, "cut" fat into flour until it resembles pebble size balls. Add garlic powder. Add milk starting with 1/2 cup, mix briefly, add more if necessary. For drop biscuits you may need all of the allotted milk, for rolled and cut biscuits, less milk. For drop biscuits dough should be damp. Add cheese, mix briefly. Do not overwork the dough. Mix enough to incorporate most of the flour. Drop by 1/4 cup measure (heaping heaping soup spoon portion) onto Silpat lined or greased cookie sheet. Pop into the oven and bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Puppies are growing so quickly. I've not advertised them per say, they are kind of adverting themselves. The single female has been reserved and another 1-2 are spoken for We've been so happy with Snow and King as guards and protectors and all around companions, these pups should be every bit as wonderful as they are! They have been an invaluable asset to our farm.

They eyes are fully open now at nearly 2 weeks old. 




Photos from around

Greenhouse is partially up...


 

Moved the chicks to the barn...

 

In other news, Jeremiah's blood sugar seems to be better under control. Our cardio work out for Sunday was cutting all of the wood for the greenhouse by hand. It was kind of a joke, but turned out to not be too bad.

We're awaiting winter storm "Q". They're calling for 10-18 inches of snow, we'll see. I'll be happy with anything. I spent much of yesterday getting the animals bedded down and bringing up wood. Nothing is worse than having to trudge out through snow to get wood! I probably should put more in the garage and I may this morning as the heavies snowfall is supposed to be overnight.

We filled the fuel tanks with gasoline in case we need the generator. Heavy ice is expected south of here but it's not so far away to not be prepared for an ice storm too. I'll fill up the bathtub today just in case and the de-icers will be plugged in at evening chores for the animals. Tonight's low is not supposed to be too bad, tomorrow and Friday however will be in the single digits, it's no fun breaking ice after temps that low. Lots of extra food for the goats and dogs but everyone should fair just fine. I may bring the chicks up though , I do worry about them in temps that low. The pups seem to be doing just fine. We'll see what the weather brings. We're desperate & anything that this point, no matter the inconvenience, will be welcomed.

Frankly Friday

And here is why I love my animals...out of the blue the previous owners of our home called to say they were in town. Short notice albeit but I was happy to have them nonetheless. Aside from the place looking like a cyclone struck it, I'm sure, as they kept everything so neat at tidy (barn maid I am not!)...I could not have drugged my animals to have acted any better! Right on cue, running baby goats to greet them and nibbling on pant hems, dogs rolling on their backs for scratches (never a bark) and Snow not paying a whim of attention that strangers wanted a peek at her new babies but instead was the attention hog! The rooster strutted his stuff and showed off his hens and didn't flog anyone, even the darn hogs were frolicking around gayly! I should sell tickets!

Wordless Wednesday: Happy. Spot.