How long will this go on??

We finally decided it was time to wean Moriah--she is almost 5 months old and growing well and strong.  Yesterday evening we separated her from Buttercup.  Then it began.  Constant mooing or bawling.  Almost all night long.  It just so happens that Moriah is in the corral, which is just out in front of the house--not too far from my bedroom windows.  Brett got up around 2 am and went downstairs so he could sleep.  I thought maybe it would lessen in the morning light.  But then she could see Buttercup!

This morning Ethan and I took Buttercup over to the far pasture-hoping that would help, but still Moriah bawls.  I went to
try to calm her, gave her a little extra feed.  She is so stressed out she is foaming at the mouth.   Hopefully a day or so longer and she will become a little more resigned to her fate.  I hope so, her bawling is taking it's toll on my nerves.






A few days ago, we decided to try letting the chickens out of their little enclosure.  The neighbors dog, who had a taste for chickens died a few months back and Jasmine is aware that the chickens are off limits so we thought we would give them a try being "free range".  So far so good.  They are not hard to round up when it is time to put them up for the night or if we are leaving we put them back in their pen.  Their favorite place is under the hickory trees near the corral.  
Here are a few of them basking in the dust and shade.

Another country to explore--Scotland

Fast Facts

Capital:  Edinburgh

Language:  English, Gaelic and Scots  

Population: 5,144,772(2007)

Area:  78,772 sq km 

Climate:  Cooler temperate and oceanic.

Government:  limited self-government within the United Kingdom.  Head of state is monarch of United Kingdom, but they have their own executive and legislative branches.

Interesting Tidbits

Scottish music is a significant aspect of the nation's culture . An example of a traditional Scottish instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipe.  The clàrsach, fiddle and accordion are also traditional Scottish instruments. 

Sir Walter Scoot, Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson are famous authors form Scotland.  Scots often have traditions that celebrate these writers, especially “Bobby Burns”.

Kilts and tartans are traditional clothing worn in Scotland.   If you have Scottish ancestors, try to find your families tartan.

Food Facts

Haggis is perhaps the best known Scottish delicacy.

Robert Burns said in his Address to the Haggis:

Fair fa' yer honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o' the pudden race!

Haggis is made from sheep's offal (or pluck). The windpipe, lungs, heart and liver of the sheep are boiled and then minced. This is mixed with beef suet and lightly toasted oatmeal. This mixture is placed inside the sheep's stomach, which is sewn closed. The resulting haggis is traditionally cooked by further boiling.

Every January 25th Scots celebrate Robert Burns birthday, and Haggis is traditionally served, often with Tatties and Neeps (potatoes and turnips).  Here is a poem or prayer written by Robert Burns.

A Grace Before Dinner, Extempore, 1791

O thou who kindly dost provide 

For every creature's want! 

We bless Thee, God of Nature wide, 

For all Thy goodness lent: 

And if it please Thee, Heavenly Guide, 

May never worse be sent; 

But, whether granted  or denied, 

Lord, bless us with content. Amen!

Scottish Eggs

6 hard-boiled eggs, well-chilled

1 lb sausage meat

1/4 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten

1/2-3/4 cup breadcrumbs

vegetable oil (for frying)

 Peel hard-cooked eggs.  Chill 30 minutes. 

 Press sausage evenly around eggs, keeping the oval shape.

3.  Roll eggs in flour, coating lightly all over.

4.  Dip into beaten egg; then roll in bread crumbs to coat. Pour oil into deep-fryer, or large heavy saucepan, 1-2 inches deep. Heat to 350 on deep-fat frying thermometer.

Cook 3 eggs at a time, for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until meat is  well-browned.

Drain on paper towels; cool.

Refrigerate.

Slice to serve.

Cock-a-Leekie Soup

1 lb. leeks, trimmed and sliced

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped

6 cups water

3 chicken stock cubes

1/2 lb beef stew meat

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup pearl barley

salt and freshly ground black pepper

chopped parsley to garnish

 Dissolve the stock cubes in the water and add to a large pan with the bay leaf, chicken, beef, and barley.  Bring to boil.

Simmer for 30 minutes, until chicken and beef are cooked.  Add leeks and cook for 15-20 minutes longer.  

Garnish with fresh parsley and serve

Scottish Bread

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream

 Heat oven to 350 degrees

In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Add buttermilk and sour cream.

Form dough into balls and transfer to floured surface, roll dough into 12”x7”x1” oval. 

Carefully transfer to ungreased baking sheet and score top with fork.

Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden.

Cut in generous slices and serve warm.

Scottish Shortbread

1 cup butter

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

 In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar.

 Slowly add the flour and salt, mixing well. 

 Place on cookie sheet and press into round circle about 1/4” thick.

Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until light brown at the edges.

 Cool and break into serving size pieces.

It's two a.m.--why am I awake

Well--it is 2:25 to be exact and I have hardly slept a wink.  It could be that Brett is in Nashville tonight so every sound in the house makes me wonder.  Not mention to the fact that the dog (good ol' Jasmine) was just barking at a truck turning around in my driveway.  Perhaps it's the fact that I had a fairly easy day today--hardly any physical labor and really very little stress.  I think the biggest reason is probably the dose of prednisone I took today at 2 p.m. trying to fight off a sinus infection.  Truthfully it is probably a combination of them all.  Oh the joys of having what they call the "aspirin triad" or an intolerance to salicylates.  Really though it has taught me a lot.   When I first struggled with it it taught me to be humble-- do not laugh.  I am usually a do it myself person.  I do not really ask for help well--and I still don't about most things.  But this has become too hard for me to handle on my own, so when necessary I ask doctors for help.
This is one I do not do very well.  Even though I am grateful for modern medicine--I have to admit I am somewhat skeptical on doctors abilities to heal things.  Maybe it is the frugal one in me.  If I went to store and payed money for a digital camera--and brought it home to find it took pictures only some of the time--or that it had a minor glitch of say--blurring all the faces.  Well, that camera would go straight back to the store--so why isn't it that way with healthcare.  If it doesn't work or do what it is supposed to without major side effects why should I have to pay full price.  I've known people who have payed medical bills for treatments that did not work for years after the loved one has died.  I mean I understand that someone has to pay for it and medicine isn't cheap-yet sometimes I wonder if doctors were held a little more accountable if they might be a little more honest and a little less likely to prescribe something they know will likely not help much.   But it is a tough call when it is peoples lives.  So I have learned that medical help really is a blessing.
I have also learned to rely on my Savior more for help.  At least when my head and heart are in the right place and I am not complaining:)  The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians
 " 7And lest I should be ^aexalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a ^bthorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

 9And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may^drest upon me.

 10Therefore I take pleasure in ^ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in ^bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am ^cweak, then am I ^dstrong."

I do not know that I have quite the faith of Paul but I think that this allergy is to help me remember my Savior and my complete reliance on him--and when I do I am not so bad off.

The last thing I've learned has been a hard one.  I love food.  I love to cook and try new things.  But with the allergy my diet is severely restricted.  I have learned that food's real purpose is to sustain life and that is it.  That doesn't mean is shouldn't taste good--but when I see all the resources that are spent on the "art" of food---time, money, networks, billions of books--  I just want to say --enough already!  If half the money spent on glamorizing food was spent on getting food to those who do not have enough of it-I do not believe anyone in the world would go hungry.  The same goes for clothes--yes I know it is good to look nice, but really --enough!  And yet those are things that provide livelihoods  for people so what can I say?

Another little kid joined the farm on Father's day

We had another little goat added to the herd on Sunday.  It is a little billy--we named him Little Papa in honor of Father's Day.  Here he is with his mom--her name is Mama.  He is doing well.  He has very long legs and is still a little wobbly on them.  He is fun to watch.  You can not see it in this photo, but his left front leg is mostly brown so he has some distinct markings.

A Weekend in Louisville

Brett and I took a trip a few weeks ago to Louisville for the weekend.  We were able to catch a Bats game (a minor league baseball team) and go to the temple, walk around Louisville in the sweltering heat and humidity taking in the sites and smells.  And to top it all off we went to an Allison Krauss and Union Station concert.  It was so good.  She ended with a song called There is a Reason--it's a great song.  I love blue grass--I think I was meant to be a Kentucky Girl--I really like living here.

What is to come

I am all alone at home and have been for about 20 minutes.  It has made me start thinking that it is not very far away when I may be home alone a lot.  Wow! What to do.  There are so many things I have always said someday to--and now that someday may not be so very far.  I could actually practice playing the piano and guitar--so maybe I could actually play decent.  I could finish up all my unfinished projects and maybe even start some new ones.  I could visit people and not be hindered by a little boy who wants to "get out of this place"--since that is how he puts it when he has had enough of somewhere or something.
Maybe I could even start a regular exercise program--Yeah, right!
Maybe I could actually weed my garden and the flower beds in the yard.  That would be a nice improvement-of course I can't take all the fun from the kids.
I am beginning to see the possibilities are endless.  It is like a new chapter in my life is just about to open--I think I am ready for it.