Eagle Creek Falls

 We went hiking to Eagle Creek Falls yesterday (Memorial Day)  with the Hinson's.  We had a great time even if it was a bit hot and humid.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

 I am so thankful to have been blessed with this beautiful place I have to live and share with my kids and husband.  I love going on walks around the place.  You never know what your going to see.  On Monday Isaac and I were over working in the garden.  As we were walking back to the house the dog started barking.  I couldn't see anything and wondered what she was barking at.  As we got closer I could see this big snapping turtle.  It's shell was a little over a foot long--no wonder the dog was barking.  Thankfully she knew to stay back a little ways.  The turtle was right next to the driveway by the front walk.  It was so cool!

Then this morning, as Brett was leaving for work, this wild turkey was out on the fence in front of the house.  He has been hanging around for a couple weeks.  It is such a blessing to see so many of God's creations on a regular basis.
I truly have been so very blessed.

The Day Moriah was Born

I wanted to record some thoughts about the day Moriah--the calf of Buttercup, our milk cow--was born.
It was Febraury 17th.  Brett was out of town for work that week.  We had just purchased Buttercup and new she would be "freshening" (that is what they call it when a milk cow has her calf) very soon.  Buttercup was delivered on Monday and I was so hoping she would wait at least until Friday--if not Saturday to have her calf--me being the ignorant milk maid and all.
However, when I went out Thursday morning to check on her low and behold there was a little calf.  I was so thankful that she had her without needing any assistance.   I sat and watched her for a little bit.  Cedar and Rose were both home sick from school and they came out to see her.  We sat and watched for about an hour and the calf was just sitting on the ground.  I began to worry.  I had read that sometimes calves have to have help to get their first nourishment and since I had not seen her drink in all the time I had watched I figured she was going to need help.  I gave Brett's mom a call and she came out.  We tried to get the calf on her feet and put her under the udder.  We tried squirting milk at her.  We milked Buttercup and tried to bottle feed the calf--still nothing.  Through all of this the calf was getting more and more tired and harder and harder to coerce into doing anything.  
Now I was really worried.  At this point I had been outside for about three hours and still hadn't seen the calf drink, except what little we were able to force into her with a turkey baster.  Cedar and Rose and I said a little prayer--I did not know what else to do.   Within ten minutes a truck pulled up.  It was some men from the local electric company coming to deliver some mulch.  They had been trying to call but I never answered the phone.  I apologized and explained that we had been out in the barn all morning with a newborn calf that wouldn't nurse.  One of them men offered to help, he had had lots of cattle in his life.  Of course I said yes.  He came in slapped the calf on her rump.  She jumped up and stretched.  Then he said she looked awfully healthy and had most likely just finished feeding before I had gotten out there that morning.  He said there was no need to worry.   Sure enough, within fifteen minutes of him leaving,  the calf was up and drinking on her own.  I was so grateful.  I know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer and sent him as an answer.  The girls new he had been an answer to our prayer.  It was nice to have a testimony building experience with my girls.

Reflections and Spinach Pesto Recipe

So--when I started this blog the idea was that it would be a farm/personal journal.  I was hoping that it would help me be more diligent in keeping a history.  I guess it will always take time and effort.  I had a few good weeks but then life got busy without being too extremely fun or exciting so I thought I had nothing to post.  But then I remembered that I did not want this to be only the fun and exciting things but the boring, every day or not so fun things too.  So I will try to be more diligent.
We bought four little pigs a few weeks ago--but they all died within a week--We think that they were probably weaned too early--kind of stinks--but lesson learned!!  It was no fun though.
Then Brett's dad had some health problems and we have been visiting him and just life has gotten busy.  School is wrapping up and the kids have all sorts of awards assemblies and other activities--and then there is the poor garden.  It looks good from far away--but then you get closer and realize half of the green stuff that is growing so well is weeds. We have been enjoying lettuce, radishes and spinach, and I think peas are a week or so away.
Here's something I do with my over abundance of spinach from the garden.  Obviously from the recipe I am not a precise measurer--so hope it comes out right--experiment with it a little.

Spinach Pesto

4-6 cups fresh spinach
1/4-1/3 cup salad oil
1/4-1/3 cup nuts of your choice  (usually almonds, pinenuts, walnuts or peacans)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4-1/3 cup shredded cheese (usually parmesan or mozzarella)
1-2 cloves of garlic crushed.
 Blend everything well in a food processor.  I usually freeze it in a muffin pan, then when it is solid I take it out of the pan and wrap it and freeze it.  That way I have enough pesto for a meal. Antother way is to freeze it in snack bags and put all the snack bags and put all the snack bags into a larger freezer bag or freezer container.   My kids really like this tossed with spaghetti and chicken--and I have some pretty picky eaters.
Anyway--give it a try.

CHAD

Sorry I haven't posted for a week or so--it has been crazy around here.  Here is another country. For maps, flags and more facts see The CIA worldfactbook  www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cd.html

CHAD

Fast Facts

Capital:  N’Djamena

Language:  French, Arabic, Sara, and at least 120 other languages and dialects

Population: 10,111,337 (2008)

Area:  1.284 million sq km 

Climate:  Desert in north and tropical in south.

Government:  Republic

Interesting Tidbits

Chad is a place of political unrest.  This is because it is a very poor country with vastly different peoples and cultures.

Chad Lake on the southern border is the largest body of water in Chad. 

Chad is a land-locked country in the middle of Africa with limited resources.  This contributes to the civil unrest.

Food Facts

Millet and sorghum are basic food staples.  They also eat a lot of okra and cassava leaves.

Most Chadians sit on the floor to eat.

Jus de Fruit

1 1/2 cups orange, pineapple, guava, or papaya

 2 cups milk 

3 tablespoons sugar

6 pieces of ice

1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder (optional)

1.  Blend all ingredients in blender.  Serve in individual   glasses, immediately.

 Daraba

12 oz. bag frozen, cut okra
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 sweet potato, cubed
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 beef boullion cube
salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste

1.Add the vegetables to a pot, cover with water and                 season. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for half an hour, or until the vegetables are almost done.

 2.Remove 1/3 cup of the liquid and mix with the peanut butter to form a smooth sauce.

3. Add the peanut butter and the boullion cube to the vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

Chadian Fried Fish

12 oz. bag frozen Tilapia filets, thawed

2 garlic cloves, slivered

2 tbsp flour
5 tbsp oil
salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper

 Pierce the flesh of the fish with a knife and place the garlic slivers inside. 

Mix salt, and peppers with flour.  Roll filets in flour.

Heat oil over medium heat.  Fry fish for about 10 minutes on each side. 

Serve with rice and Daraba

Beignets Soufflés

 (2/3 cup) of water

1 pinch of salt

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 butter

2/3 cup flour

2 eggs

A frying pan or frying appliance with vegetable oil. 

2 tablespoons confectioners sugar

In medium saucepan combine water with the salt, the sugar and the butter. Heat over medium high heat.

 When the water begins to boil, add flour all at once. Stirring constantly, cook two minutes, until the dough detaches itself from the bottom of the pot.

Remove from heat, and let cool 10 minutes, then add the eggs one by one, mixing completely between each egg. 

Heat oil to 300’ F.

 Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into hot oil.  Cook 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Remove to cooling rack. Place confectioners sugar on plate or bowl and roll beignets into sugar.

Help Us Name a Kid

We had our first kid today at Longwood Hollow.  Here are some pictures.  We are not sure if it is a boy or girl--I forgot to check when I was doctoring it's navel.  Queen is the proud mama--she is the  one that looks a little like a Toggenberg.    Isaac really thought it was pretty cute.
Any ideas for a name.  She looks a lot like Oreo--I am wondering if they might be sisters.

Canyons day off

Last Thursday Canyon was home sick--well he had been throwing up all Wed. evening so I kept him home--but obviously from the following you can tell he wasn't very sick.

The first thing we did was make pop-up poppets--got the idea from Family Fun Magazine.

Then we went on a walk around the property to make sure the storms we've had hadn't knocked down any trees or limbs onto the fences.  We found a few minor problems--easy to just remove the branches from off the fence--but we also saw wild turkeys, a turtle and this cool lunar moth.

It was kind of a fun day.:)

Pictures of Chickens and Kittens

Here are some pictures of our chickens and our five little kittens