Phase 5.2 Tearing down the wall

Phase 5.2 of the ceiling is taping and texture.

I have a new found respect for drywall folks. It takes time time time! If you are doing a hand-done (not a hopper blower texture) it takes a level of an artistic eye and handiwork to get the stuff to to what you want it to do.
I did what is referred to as a "knock-down". I used a homemade hawk (a flat board with a handle under) covered with a scrunchy plastic bag and tapped the mud onto the ceiling. Then, knocked it down at the appropriate dryness level with a scraper. It mimics a stone/slate like texture.



One day on the taping.

The next day for laying on another layer on the tape.

Day 4 was cleaning up the taping
Day 5 was floating.

The 6th, 7th and 8th days were all about texture.

Day 9, 10 and 11 I worked on the wall texture and patching some holes where the thermostat and 3rd front door switch were.

Glad that's over with!

Run Expansion

Growing families need more room.

I was planning on expanding by the end of the summer but, the recent expectant arrivals lit the fire to get it done in 2o days.

After Red's hawk attack, I was encouraged to make a predator proof run for the girls.

Building around the tree was going to be complicated. I decided on a mini section between the coop and run and a future larger section in the back.

This will accommodate up to 7 standard chickens.

I used all scrap wood from the deck and wood cover and the old nails recovered from the demolition.\
The only things I had to purchase was the hardware cloth and screws and washers for it, the roofing and components and the hardware to hang and secure the doors.

Here it is so far... Have a way to go.

Got 12 inches of base wood to bake a strong base and help keep the dust bath and scratching in the run.
Hardware cloth screwed on with washers for protection.
Clear corrugated roof for sun bathing and rain protection.
Doors for easy access to clean etc...

I still need to finish roof, some wire cutting and installing latches on the doors.
Then, I will add a predator proof foundation garden with hardware cloth and large rocks and paint when the weather is better.
Also, make movable roosts for vertical movement.

Spring and Asparagus with bacon and cream cheese

Spring has sprung and Easter Weekend was a BEAUTIFUL start to spring break week.

Bat came out for dinner. :-) Yay!

Eater Egg hunt was fun for the kids.

At the Egg hunt

Took care of the neighbors' animals.

Billy, the neighbors' billy

They brought back some fresh asparagus from the farmers' stand for me. The neighbors, not the animals.

This fresh beautiful veggie was a perfect match for the potato crusted cod and harvest grain rolls.



A common side dish but easy and delish  What made it easier was that I could put the fillets on the same pan and cook at the same time.

It is really easy to make...

Get a bundle of fresh asparagus.

Rinse the asparagus. 

Cut off the fibrous ends and compost those tough bits. 

Cut the tops in half.


Blanch the  asparagus for about 3 minutes in boiling water/

Drain and pat excess water off with a paper towel.

Get some cream cheese and bacon.

Get 4 pieces of spear and smear about a tablespoon of cream cheese onto the asparagus.

Wrap with a slice of bacon.

Place the bundles on a lines cookie sheet and bake for about 12 minutes at 425 degrees F until bacon is cooked and lightly browned.








Thanks for the Asparagus Kellie!

Vases for Eggshells

I save my eggshells for my hens as a calcium supplement as well as use them in the garden as a well-needed supplement to prevent blossom end rot in a variety of produce.
 I also save used coffee grounds for the garden.

The trouble is a way of storing them temporarily after drying without having to trek out to the garden every day. Especially in the winter cold rain. Blah! The old ways have evolved.
I got tired of seeing the plastic canisters on the windowsill.

I had a few vases hanging around and don't have any fresh flowers to use them for right now and it hit me to use them for the eggshells and coffee. I have also seen these at every Goodwill store ever in case you want to buy one. Or you can order yourself some flowers :-).

The tag is made from cheap plastic mini-blind extras (when you have to cut the extra length to fit) and some scrapbook letters.

Like this better - kinda a country cottage look for eggshells and used coffee storage on the cheap and green.
Make sure your used grinds are completely dry or they will get moldy.
The crushed eggshells look like colorful confetti until I put them through the processor and out in the garden or coop.


Tags tied on with raffia.

Would love to see how you store your eggshells and coffee.

Hummus with Naan and Spiced Meat

Spiced meat is awesome with hummus and the Naan provides a delightful utensil for scooping it up.
MMMMM Delish.

There are sooooo many recipe variations but here is the one my family likes best.

This dish is highly adjustable to taste preference and availability of ingredients.
You can substitute beef for lamb or any flat-bread for the Naan.

Spiced Meat

 Ingredients:

2 lbs of finely diced lamb, beef, or other meat although lamb or beef are the best for flavor.
1 large onion finely diced
1 bulb garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp flour

2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1-2 tbsp Baharat Spice mix (recipe below)

My Baharat Mix
2 part each: Allspice, paprika
1 part each: tumeric, clove, nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Star anise to taste (optional but nice)
Cardamon (I used whole cardamon, 2 pods)


Method:

Preheat skillet or pot to medium high heat with oil.
In separate large bowl mix together the meat, spices and onion, garlic and flour.
Brown meat mixture in pan. When cooked through, add lemon juice and cover and simmer on low for about an hour. Mixing occasionally. You can serve it if the meat has cooked all the way but the extra cover and simmer time gets the meat nice and soft and lets all the awesome flavors blend and soak in.

Naan

Ingredients:

3 cups flour (plus some extra for rolling)
2 1/2 tsp or 1 package of instant yeast
1 tbsp sugar or honey
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 egg
1/2 cup warm water

Method

In large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar (or honey), and salt
In separate bowl combine egg, oil, yogurt and water.
Slowly add the wet to the dry ingredients, blend well.
Divide dough into about 24 equal pieces and let each piece rise till double.
Roll each piece into a thin disk about 1/8 inch thick.

Cook on a greased skillet over medium high heat till done on each side (about 60 seconds total).

Hummus

Ingredients

3 cans chickpeas (about 5-6 cups)
2-3 tbsp roasted sesame seeds (or about 1 tsp sesame oil)
6 large cloves garlic (about 2 tbsp crushed)
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice

Optional ingredients:
roasted red pepper, cayenne pepper, cilantro, pepper, yogurt


Method

In food processor, add chickpeas, sesame, garlic, salt, and process on pulse to chop the peas.
Add the lemon juice and process continually, adding oil slowly until smooth.

toasting seeds

Tips

Add or subtract the following according to your taste.

Garlic - more makes it spicy

Lemon juice - gives it tang and acidity

Sesame - a toasty aromatic flavor

Greek plain yogurt will give it more moisture, tang and smoothness




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Cuisinart FP-12 12 cup Food Processor Review

So. My old Hamilton beach had a heart attack and died after 5 years of occasional processing.

I need a new one that can handle more but cant' afford a thousand dollar pro model.


And if you know me, you know that I don't' just go out and buy a replacement without hours of research.


I started out with a budget and what I wanted or did not want in my next processor.

Here is what I experienced in my old HB.
Good for occasional use. As I have a much larger garden and process my own foods a great deal more than I used to, I need an upgrade. Here is my evaluation of a good little home budget unit that is higher end than what you will find at the local Walmart.

Wants and not wants:
bigger bowl
deeper liquid capacity
much much bigger feed tube
better quality / motor

Budget #1 - under $100
Research - nothing under $100 had the features or good product reviews

Budget #2 - under $200
Research - much wider options here. It was a toss-up between a kitchen aid and this one. My reviews that follow will explain why I chose this unit.


REVIEWS

Purchase

I found this unit for the best deal on 3 sites. Color finishes vary in price greatly among all retail sources.
I went with the black as it was cheapest and I prefer it over white.
Amazon, Cuisinart and Bed Bath and Beyond all had it within pennies of each-other.
Now was to see if I could get the best shipping and coupon options.
Amazon had no coupons or deals and charges tax and free SH.
Cuisinart did not charge tax or shipping (for my state) but as I needed the unit within 5 days and there were severe storms on the eastern coast (Connecticut location) they informed that SH may not be quick or reliable.
BB&B had reliable, fast shipping and a coupon for 20% off any item at the time so, I used the savings from the coupon to pay for the faster shipping. It came on-time via Fed ex and in great condition.

Just in time for Hummus B' Laham nite!

In the Box

USES 1-3

Loves:

buttons

Unit - this thing is HEAVY! With it's rubber feet it stays put! No need for suction cups as this thing does not know how to walk across the counter under any load. Although it does need a hand on while doing bread dough.

The Buttons are encased - no getting the junk out with a toothpick here. Big buttons and are easy to engage with minimal pressure.

easy to clean & solid blade tops

Cord storage area is nice but nothing special.

Dishwasher-ability is nice but, I prefer to hand-wash and I can be sure no gunk gets down in the crevices.

Blade lock is GREAT!

The blades themselves come nice and close to the bottom and edges and incorporate very well.
I LOVE that the blade top is solid. this allows you to be able to pour stuff right on top without worrying about it getting down the shaft.

NO LOVE:
gave yeast bread 2 chances - kept getting up the center of the blade and down into the base

ON HUMMUS

It went through the hummus nicely - even pureed the sesame seeds to make a super smooth yummy hummus. The engine did not skip a beat or slow down. I was able to make a 3-can batch no problem.

ON YEAST DOUGH

The powerful motor gave it a beating for sure. It did slow and stop at a point in both batches.
It DID get dough up the middle shaft and down into the base. Both times and even after following the directions by Cuisinart both times.
The cleaning tool that came with my unit made it nice to be able to clean the base post but, I prefer not to have to do this again.
Summary - Leave the yeast dough's to your mixer or bread machine.



More reviews coming later as I use this unit more.


ADJUSTABLE SLICING DISK & shredder

Pretty awesome. there are 15 sizes available between 1mm and 6mm.

Overall the slicing and shredding disks are great.
The beef:
- seems to leave more odd pieces than the old processor and
- can't use with the small bowl.


ON SOUPS = A+

OK. Lemme say... how did we ever get along without locking blades and blades that cover the center hole psot.

WOW - making soup is actually FUN with this -
 - just pour the saute (or whatever) from the pan right into the bowl - no fuss with getting it along the edges - just pour it right on in!
 - then, let the machine quietly do its work
best part - pour it back into the cooking pot - no getting your fingers all up in the soup or blades plopping into the pan.


UPDATE - the lid has the worst design and harbors mold and food particles that cannot be cleaned out. You can order a new lid unit but at the price, I just ordered a whole new unit of a different brand. I also chose a new one because it was way cheaper than a replacement lid. The cuisinart is too heavy for me as my disability worsens. The cuisinart takes up way too much space int he cabinet.

Infused Vinegars

I received these beautiful bottles from a friend as a gift and knew exactly what to use them for.

 
Storing Infused vinegar. 

Vinegar is used for TONS of household and farm work from laundry softener,dishwasher rinse aid, surface cleaner and more. Why not infuse the vinegar with a wonderful scent or flavor.

I suggest using fresh, rather than dried plant products. I have used dried lavender but it needed a month of soaking and did not release a strong enough fragrance for my preference. 









For Orange, I used peels from a bag of delicious blood oranges that I devoured over the course of 3 days.

I used large mason jars for soaking and transferred the vinegar to the bottles. 

Be sure not to let vinegar contact metal during soaking or storing as vinegar is acidic and can ruin the metal.

The rosemary is taking a few weeks longer than the orange which only took about a week.

Try infusing you own vinegar.


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http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/02/clever-chicks-blog-hop-22.html

Natural Homemade Doggie Treats

This post was originally a guest post for Moody Sisters Organic Skincare Blog.
http://moodysisters.blogspot.com/2012/05/guest-post-natural-doggie-treats.html

Natural Doggie Treats

We try to do a lot of things for ourselves to be wholesome and organic. What about our pets? Sure, we animal lovers want to do what is best for our non-sapiens friends. The downside is the cost. I don't know about you but, I would rather spend the dough on having clean running water, my child's health or my family's dinner. Fido does not have to have treats. But, if you make your own, it is very affordable and you know what is in them!. There are so many recipes on the web. I encourage you to do a search and try some out.

No, I do not have a dog but, I am a "doggie auntie". We have "adopted" the neighbor's dogs. "Buddy" is our friend's dog & "Oscar" is from next door. (You may find him pictured in some of my blog posts.)
I do love our doggie friends and wanted to make some simple dog treats to spoil "our pets".

Here is our simple recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 tablespoon bran
1 tsp concentrated chicken stock
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl till all mixed well.
Shape mix into teaspoon sized balls, or disks.
Place the shapes evenly onto a cookie sheet with about 1/2 inch space between them.
Bake for about 15 minutes till firm.
let cool completely before storing in airtight container.
If they show condensation in the container - bake them on lowest heat for 15 more minutes or spread them out on a dry surface to dry out some more.


They love them!
Disclaimer - always check with your vet to make sure the ingredients you use are OK for your pet.

Chicken Ceasar Wraps

This quick, healthy meal in a wrap is a standby at our house. 

You can make it a little easier and quicker than the recipe here.
I will note the options in the recipe for you.

This will make about 4-6 wraps. Takes about 30 minutes.

You can jazz it up by using mixed greens or marinate your chicken over-nite in Italian dressing. The options are up to you.

Ingredients:

1 boneless skinless chicken breast (or breaded frozen strips, breasts or patties)
1 cup fine crouton crumbs (I used a food processor) (not needed if using already breaded chicken) But you might want some whole for the inside fixuns's
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup fresh diced tomato
1 cup slice onion
1 egg (scrambled for breading the chicken)
6 large flour tortilla wraps
Parmesan Romano cheese
Caesar Salad dressing

 

Method:

Pound chicken to 1/2 thick even thickness. Dip in scrambled egg and coat with crumbs. 
(This can be skipped if you have pre-breaded and cooked meat - just follow the cooking directions on the package).
Heat oil in skillet if you do not have a non-stick skillet.
Cook over medium heat till done (165 degrees in center) about 6 minutes on each side.
Set aside to rest about 5-10 minutes.

Cook the onions in the skillet till soft.
Cut the chicken into strips or cubes.
Assemble the wrap according to your taste.
Lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion and chicken with a drizzle of dressing on top.

Super Simple Apple Pie!

"Easy as pie!" I think this expression comes from apple pie. No pie is more easy and fool-proof to make!

Ingredients:

4 -6 medium sized Apples - any kind will work.
        But, if you want to know... I used 2 Fuji and 2 honey-crisp because it's what I had!
        How much?  - Enough to mound the slices up in your pie pan. Mine were 2-4 inches diameter.
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1-2 tbsp ground cinnamon
        Optional - nutmeg and other spices to taste - I did not use them because I wanted  SIMPLE pie.
1 stick butter (1/2 cup) cold and cut into slices. OR you can melt it. Whatever.

2 - Pie crust - you can make your own or purchase
1 egg scrambled - optional for a pretty glaze top
1 tbsp sugar optional for sparkly glazed top.

Crust - I wing it and make by feel. For this one I used about 2-3 cups flour cut into about 1/2 cup soft butter and 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt. Added enough water to make it into dough and rolled it out.

Method:

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Peel and slice them apples and remove cores. (save the peel and cores for your chickens or making apple cider vinegar :-) Or at least compost them.

Put them in a BIG mixing bowl with the sugar, flour, spices and coat them all nice and even.

Prepare your crust and place one in the pie pan.
Pour all them apples in the crust - they will be nice and high!
Butter goes on top of that nice and even.
Cover the mound with the other crust in your style of choice.

Optional - "paint" with the scrambled egg and sprinkle the sugar on top.

Bake till crust is nice and golden - about 20-30 minutes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice-cream!

Coop Remodel 2012

Sometime ago, I was going to do an update on the girls and give you a video coop tour and take pics but I didn't. If you are a follower, you know I was interrupted by a case of bumble-foot in my best laying hen and my EE.

Here we are almost a month later and I can give you a coop update.

The big remodel was inspired by the changes I had to make to be more resistant to infections.

My girls get got to run around the property and play in the forest. I am such an overprotective "mama" now. We cleaned up our property quite a bit! Over the course of a year, about a dumpster full with the dumpster we "rented" from the waste company and the truck-loads and loads of trash we have hauled since then. But, we have not scoured every last inch of the 6 acres. Especially the wooded areas where we have stumbled across lumber, glass, metal and other rubbish.

I cannot have control over the forest but I can do something about the coop and run.

I decided to convert the coop to a sand litter system after reading The Chicken Chick's Blog post on 5 tips for a cleaner coop with less effort . Sold.

The process:
Stripped the coop of litter and disinfected the walls and floors.
Found rough spots and hammered them down or sanded and prepped for installing vinyl/linoleum flooring.
Figured the self Stick tiles were best because 1 - no dealing with awkward bulk, 2- no adhesive to mess with, 3- tiles were cheaper.
Wrong - at least I think I am because the tiles were easy to install but don't stick very well and I ended up having to use silicone caulk like grout. And - they do not stick to walls. Had to caulk and staple. Maybe I will replace wall tiles later with high gloss paint.

new removable roost

construction site tiles in progress

low, deep, big box

Got tiles installed and grout almost dry then lowered and moved the roost and the nest-boxes.  I'm trying the idea of a big deep box. So far the girls seem to like it I think. If it seems to be a problem, I can add a divider of cloth or wood later.

door re-hung and raised

Added boards to keep the sand from flowing out the door.



Re-hung the door so it swings both ways for easier access.




Hung curtains on the nest-box for privacy.

curtain detail

Notice how I hung them under the roof as to not get bruises when in the coop and they wont be tempted to use as a ledge. Just a cheap $2 cafe rod and scrap fabric and yarn.

new, more robust vent cover

 Replaced the flimsy worn vent cover with a more sturdy one and added heavy duty metal mesh to keep out viscous varmints.

Was tempted on getting one of the heavy duty fancy registers but needed slats to face down to keep the rain out of the coop.











 Had to re-do the pop door lock on the fly. When I added the threshold, the door wouldn't bolt anymore. Installed a hook and eye to the inside. I have vigorously tested and no, a raccoon could not lift it from the outside - unless a chicken let it in.

curtains and front end view

My daughter's artwork says "Loving chickens gets you more eggs".  :-)

girls love it

The run is sprouting. Enjoy life while you can you sad little plants.

baby grass in run

The only one that has had the opportunity to lay in the new box is Nutmeg.
I have had to give them a carrier out in the tractor that the others have been using during the remodel.
Well today (thursday Oct 11th) I put red in the coop after her foot bandaging.
She tried to peek into the box to see between the strips of curtian and finally got the nerve and stuck her head in for a better look (after side-eying and bucking at it for 5 minutes).
She craned her neck in and got a good look inside.made a squeaking sound and jumped in!
She proceeded to make squeeky strange vocalizations almost like purring and arranged the fake eggs and nestled down on them and sat. The whole while purring and squeeking.
I put the other girls in space out my about 5 minutes or so and Red began to growl at them and got super broody acting. Well, she gave it up after about 1/2 hour and went on about her business. Wish I caught that on tape! I guess she approves of the new box.