January and February are pretty much a time of rest and preparation for us gardeners. The weather is much to cold to plant anything except onions and asparagus (I don't fool with rhubarb and that is the other garden plant ready to go in at this time). A point of trivia - asparagus and rhubarb are the only perennial garden plants.The ground is still frozen or will be in the near future. My "Blum's" almanac advises to get the garden spots ready for the planting season. Having already done that, I think I will just continue to enhance the mulch and add a few more buckets of ash - spread evenly of course over the whole of the garden area. I have already trimmed the slender stalks of the asparagus and probably should add a few crowns this year, but I think I am going to stick with the dozen planted last year.
I have some transplanting of the Chandelier Cactus. The small little flowers took root and I have 3 fish bowls to divide and share. I have found that the small glass containers from candles make wonderful little terrariums and the tender little plants thrive in the glass jars. I can easily monitor the moisture in the soil through the glass so I don't over water so easily and as many know it is easy to do with starter plants. Nothing is more discouraging than to have beautiful healthy plants one day and droopy soggy ones the next. Thanks to sis I have a good supply of jars and will get on this project soon.
The chickens are set for the cold days of January and February except for their daily feed and water. I will continue gathering eggs until mid to late February when I will attempt to get one or two of my hens to brood. Essie usually is the first to sit and hopefully she won't let me down this year.
The wandering turkey has taken roost and calls this home. He has been here for about 4 weeks and is not contained, so he can come and go as he pleases, but has made no effort to leave. Still beautiful, Mr. Tom would love to get in the pen with the chickens. He is a big eater and if not fed by 3:30 every day, he comes to the house to find me so his gullet can be filled. Very demanding he will gobble until I come out to feed him and practically pushes me to the barn. I heard him drum for the first time this week. I think that was a sign of aggressiveness and impatience with my slovenness.
As always with this time of year the mood to sew has hit. I don't have a clue what I will end up with, but my girls seem to like the Mu Mus I wear around the house, so that will definitely be one project. I also love jumpers and aprons for little girls. nothing dresses up a tee shirt and pair of jeans like a dressy jumper. They are also warm and serviceable over turtlenecks paired with tights and as mothers know kids don't enjoy wearing fussy clothes even though they love to feel dressed up. I have a tendency to sew for comfort, so in the winter it is warm and cuddly clothes and the summer calls for cool and light. My grandson loses out on the sewing, as I have tried but fail to be able to get interested in making shirts and trousers for guys. It is pure laziness on my part due to all the extra facings and other parts needed for the nice tailored look I so like on the male. I guess I could make him a set of scrubs and hope he will take an interest in medicine, but for now he will have to do without.
I have noticed a trend for children to wear tights rather than knee socks. I loved my knee socks when I was young, but I think it was because it covered my scarred and bruised legs - tomboy that I was, I kept cuts, scratches and bruises all the time. To me the thick socks seemed warmer and were perfect with my penny loafers or oxfords, but I have to agree that tights are a bit dressier and do better under those cute little dresses and jumpers.
What happened to cords? It is hard to find corduroy for women and children. They are a few trousers for men, but the trend to corduroy has gone with the wind and it is one of the warmer and more stylish of the winter fabrics. Hopefully it will make a comeback, but I have noticed that more and more manufacturers and designers are going for the denim or knit for trousers and slacks.
I still have a stack of books to read. Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger has kept me occupied this week. Finished it last night and it was a really good read. Clancy paints a picture with every chapter and takes the time to develop each and every character so the reader is not left to wonder as to the purpose of the character as the story line comes together. Educational in many ways due to the detailed descriptions of actions and scenes throughout the book and his stories always make me think. I enjoy his stories.
Must get to work so until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Year 2010
A beautiful year, filled with meeting new friends, reuniting with old friends, fun visits with family, and yes, I must include the loss of so many friends. The year started cold and drab as each new year does and progressed to the joyous spring with the warm breezes teasing the blossoms on the trees and shrubs. Each season brought change not only to the landscapes but to my heart. Never one to shun a heated discussion, I have found I loath the negativity, anger, and hate found in so many. I wonder what life has served them to cause such feelings to linger and fester. There is so much in life to bring joy and peace if we only search for it and brush the harsher feeling aside.
Spring brought the loss of hubby's father. Sick for over a year with strange rash on his arms but no diagnosis of the cause, he succumbed to lung cancer in a matter of days after finally being diagnosed.
Spring also bought with it the reuniting of friends in preparation of a class reunion. It was a happy time for me to see the many friends and acquaintances of my youth. One weekend was not enough time, but we made the best of the time provided and many have continued to keep in touch. So many have died through the years and they were memorialized through the artistry of a fellow classmate.
Fun in the sun was the theme of our Summer and it was a time of relaxing and visiting with family and friends and enjoying the pool through the hot summer days. Wonderful food on the grill and homemade ice cream seem to top the charts on the weekends. The grandchildren are growing by leaps and bounds and changing from one visit to the next. It is a wonder to listen to their conversation and know their minds are growing as quickly as their bodies.
My garden flourished in the early days of summer, but succumbed to the heat and lack of rain quickly. Mulching more this winter for a better chance of survival during the hot dry days for the upcoming year. The asparagus is beautiful and since this is my first try I was very pleased with the results. None to gather this season, but come spring I should have a bumper crop. Now is the time to get my onions in, so I have to get busy with those.
Fall brought on a most memorable reunion with my best friend from school. One short visit of a couple of hours was not enough, but we are staying in touch and plan to revisit soon. It is such a comfort to reunite with someone that meant so much to me for so many years. It is strange to think that we were ever separated to begin with, but that is another story. Leave it to say that we are reunited and looking forward to catching up.
Mid afternoon the yard chickens come in for a bit of scratch feed. Week before last I rounded the corner of the barn and there was a beautiful tom turkey. Light gray and cream with a rose colored waddle, he gobbled at me and headed for the scratch I had put out for the hens. I watched for a minute and decided there was not enough to go around - he was eating like crazy. I spread another batch and he proceeded to follow me in my rounds to gather eggs and water the barn hens. I called hubby to the barn and it was decided he was a tame bird and hubby proceeded to visit the neighbors to locate the owner. No one claimed the bird and he seems to have made a home here. Free to come and go as he pleases, he prefers to stay close to the pen and visit with the pen birds. He makes a nice addition to the landscape and gobbles as I talk, doesn't appear to be aggressive, but not taking chances around the babies. Those talons look fierce and that beak could do some damage if provoked. He is a beautiful bird and fun to watch.
Thanksgiving and Christmas is always filled with lots of good food, long visits and a time of fun. I so enjoyed the visits with family and friends.
As I read back over this years happenings I know I have been greatly blessed. I look forward to the coming year with anticipation. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me next. Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Spring brought the loss of hubby's father. Sick for over a year with strange rash on his arms but no diagnosis of the cause, he succumbed to lung cancer in a matter of days after finally being diagnosed.
Spring also bought with it the reuniting of friends in preparation of a class reunion. It was a happy time for me to see the many friends and acquaintances of my youth. One weekend was not enough time, but we made the best of the time provided and many have continued to keep in touch. So many have died through the years and they were memorialized through the artistry of a fellow classmate.
Fun in the sun was the theme of our Summer and it was a time of relaxing and visiting with family and friends and enjoying the pool through the hot summer days. Wonderful food on the grill and homemade ice cream seem to top the charts on the weekends. The grandchildren are growing by leaps and bounds and changing from one visit to the next. It is a wonder to listen to their conversation and know their minds are growing as quickly as their bodies.
My garden flourished in the early days of summer, but succumbed to the heat and lack of rain quickly. Mulching more this winter for a better chance of survival during the hot dry days for the upcoming year. The asparagus is beautiful and since this is my first try I was very pleased with the results. None to gather this season, but come spring I should have a bumper crop. Now is the time to get my onions in, so I have to get busy with those.
Fall brought on a most memorable reunion with my best friend from school. One short visit of a couple of hours was not enough, but we are staying in touch and plan to revisit soon. It is such a comfort to reunite with someone that meant so much to me for so many years. It is strange to think that we were ever separated to begin with, but that is another story. Leave it to say that we are reunited and looking forward to catching up.
Mid afternoon the yard chickens come in for a bit of scratch feed. Week before last I rounded the corner of the barn and there was a beautiful tom turkey. Light gray and cream with a rose colored waddle, he gobbled at me and headed for the scratch I had put out for the hens. I watched for a minute and decided there was not enough to go around - he was eating like crazy. I spread another batch and he proceeded to follow me in my rounds to gather eggs and water the barn hens. I called hubby to the barn and it was decided he was a tame bird and hubby proceeded to visit the neighbors to locate the owner. No one claimed the bird and he seems to have made a home here. Free to come and go as he pleases, he prefers to stay close to the pen and visit with the pen birds. He makes a nice addition to the landscape and gobbles as I talk, doesn't appear to be aggressive, but not taking chances around the babies. Those talons look fierce and that beak could do some damage if provoked. He is a beautiful bird and fun to watch.
Thanksgiving and Christmas is always filled with lots of good food, long visits and a time of fun. I so enjoyed the visits with family and friends.
As I read back over this years happenings I know I have been greatly blessed. I look forward to the coming year with anticipation. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me next. Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday Night Date
My Friday night date was very special. My husband took me to the local livestock auction featuring 350+ cages of rabbits, chickens, guineas, turkeys, pheasants, ducks, and geese and then throw in the goats, calves, emus, and sheep. It was quite a night at Buggytown Auction Barn!
We arrived a little late for the miscellaneous sale which usually starts at 6:00, but must have started around 5:30 on Friday night. Anything goes during the miscellaneous sale and we have seen some really good buys during this sale. Advertising signs, truck parts, tractor accessories and parts, cookware, handtools, work gloves and so much more are included. Some people come for this sale only and then others stay for the livestock.
On Friday night, there were not as many goats as from previous weeks and prices on the goats were higher. The price of calves on the otherhand were down - small (two week old) were selling between $16 and $22 per head compared to $65 a head a couple of weeks ago. There were also several nannies with babies that I would have bought in a minute if I had a good spot to put them. One little family of black goats stole my heart for a little while, but I got over it and waited patiently for the chickens.
Some of the auctioneers tend to dawdle over the livestock and attempt to draw a higher bid out of the audience. The owner of the auction will move right along and if you want to bid you better be on your toes and make sure you are seen.
Usually, hatching eggs are sold between the miscellaneous merchandise and the small livestock. Friday night however, all the eggs did not get sold during this time so were presented before the poultry and rabbits. As I walked back into the bidding area from reviewing the poultry in the back of the building, my dear hubby was saying $.50 a dozen, that's a deal and ask me what I thought. Well, this is what I heard out of all the commotion - from the auctioneer "50 cents a dozen but there is only 10" from my hubby "that's a deal, what do you think?" My response, "whatever you want dear" - big,big mistake. Well, 10 dozen hatching eggs are now on my kitchen table waiting to go in the incubator my hubby has rigged up. Okay, I now know to keep my eyes and ears open and to never, ever leave my hubby alone at an auction. Well, it doesn't matter whether he is alone or not, because not more than thirty minutes later with me safely at his side, he was calling out his number again and had bought 5 baby black giants for $1.50 each.
At this point I gave him my sternest look and said "No more!" He has the most innocent smile - he never committed to the "no more", but I did get a "we'll see." We have increased our flock by 120 eggs (which if estimates are correct we should get 60 chicks, but it will take 21 days once the hatching process is started) and 5 chicks. Oh my, we are now chicken farmers. I will admit our chickens have made wonderful pets, are no trouble to care for, and bring many hours of joy. They enjoy a good game of race when we give them scaps of lettuce or celery and compete for our attention in a friendly manner. Some of them are real show offs.
Whether it was the seller or just the turnover of the buyers, the price of chickens were up and down. Some beautiful roosters went for $3.50 a piece early on then the price quickly jumped to as high as $15. The same with the chickens, but the highest price I remember was $18 a head for a pair of black copper morans. (I know that is probably not what the auctioneer meant to say, but that is what these ears heard. Beautiful long tail pheasants brought $26 a head while one big tom turkey sold for over a hundred. I can't figure out the logic, but it is always interesting to see what draws a persons interest. I learned there is a chicken/turkey mix called a turken. They described them as turkey neck chickens.
We left at 11:45 with the sale still going strong, but it was a little late for me (it was past my bedtime). There were still cages and more cages of poultry and we were told later it was around 1:30 before all was over.
That is the best $12.50 date I have had in a long while! Every time we go I learn something new and see something unusual. And everytime I make the trip the kid in me comes out and I get that "daddy please?" syndrome. I love animals! And yes in a couple of weeks, I will have another Friday Night Date, but this time I am taping hubby's hands to his side.
Next week maybe you can have an exciting, educational Friday Night Date. Try a visit to the Buggytown Auction on Highway 341 south of Barnesville. In the meantime, thanks for dropping by.
Happy Reading!
Belle
We arrived a little late for the miscellaneous sale which usually starts at 6:00, but must have started around 5:30 on Friday night. Anything goes during the miscellaneous sale and we have seen some really good buys during this sale. Advertising signs, truck parts, tractor accessories and parts, cookware, handtools, work gloves and so much more are included. Some people come for this sale only and then others stay for the livestock.
On Friday night, there were not as many goats as from previous weeks and prices on the goats were higher. The price of calves on the otherhand were down - small (two week old) were selling between $16 and $22 per head compared to $65 a head a couple of weeks ago. There were also several nannies with babies that I would have bought in a minute if I had a good spot to put them. One little family of black goats stole my heart for a little while, but I got over it and waited patiently for the chickens.
Some of the auctioneers tend to dawdle over the livestock and attempt to draw a higher bid out of the audience. The owner of the auction will move right along and if you want to bid you better be on your toes and make sure you are seen.
Usually, hatching eggs are sold between the miscellaneous merchandise and the small livestock. Friday night however, all the eggs did not get sold during this time so were presented before the poultry and rabbits. As I walked back into the bidding area from reviewing the poultry in the back of the building, my dear hubby was saying $.50 a dozen, that's a deal and ask me what I thought. Well, this is what I heard out of all the commotion - from the auctioneer "50 cents a dozen but there is only 10" from my hubby "that's a deal, what do you think?" My response, "whatever you want dear" - big,big mistake. Well, 10 dozen hatching eggs are now on my kitchen table waiting to go in the incubator my hubby has rigged up. Okay, I now know to keep my eyes and ears open and to never, ever leave my hubby alone at an auction. Well, it doesn't matter whether he is alone or not, because not more than thirty minutes later with me safely at his side, he was calling out his number again and had bought 5 baby black giants for $1.50 each.
At this point I gave him my sternest look and said "No more!" He has the most innocent smile - he never committed to the "no more", but I did get a "we'll see." We have increased our flock by 120 eggs (which if estimates are correct we should get 60 chicks, but it will take 21 days once the hatching process is started) and 5 chicks. Oh my, we are now chicken farmers. I will admit our chickens have made wonderful pets, are no trouble to care for, and bring many hours of joy. They enjoy a good game of race when we give them scaps of lettuce or celery and compete for our attention in a friendly manner. Some of them are real show offs.
Whether it was the seller or just the turnover of the buyers, the price of chickens were up and down. Some beautiful roosters went for $3.50 a piece early on then the price quickly jumped to as high as $15. The same with the chickens, but the highest price I remember was $18 a head for a pair of black copper morans. (I know that is probably not what the auctioneer meant to say, but that is what these ears heard. Beautiful long tail pheasants brought $26 a head while one big tom turkey sold for over a hundred. I can't figure out the logic, but it is always interesting to see what draws a persons interest. I learned there is a chicken/turkey mix called a turken. They described them as turkey neck chickens.
We left at 11:45 with the sale still going strong, but it was a little late for me (it was past my bedtime). There were still cages and more cages of poultry and we were told later it was around 1:30 before all was over.
That is the best $12.50 date I have had in a long while! Every time we go I learn something new and see something unusual. And everytime I make the trip the kid in me comes out and I get that "daddy please?" syndrome. I love animals! And yes in a couple of weeks, I will have another Friday Night Date, but this time I am taping hubby's hands to his side.
Next week maybe you can have an exciting, educational Friday Night Date. Try a visit to the Buggytown Auction on Highway 341 south of Barnesville. In the meantime, thanks for dropping by.
Happy Reading!
Belle
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Ground Beef or Venison
There is so much you can do with ground meat - beef, turkey, deer, etc. - hamburgers, meatloaf, mac cheese and ground beef, scrambled burgers, meatballs, and the list goes on and on. It can be dressed up, left plain or an entire meal in a skillet can be concocted with ground meat. Remember there is a vast difference in the fat content of ground beef so go for the lean if at all possible.
The most popular additions to ground meat is onions and bell pepper. Oh! That can be so good without adding anything. Adding your favorite vegetables, a can of cream of mushroom soup and a bag of noodles creates a meal in a skillet. Browned ground meat, a can of cheddar cheese soup, and a box of elbow macaroni is a real hit with the small ones. Adding sour cream or cream cheese to the blend gives an easy change up in the flavor without changing a complete recipe or a lot of dollars out of the pocket. The Hamburger Helper people learned real fast and created their meals in a box. It is easy to do and a pound of ground meat yields a variety of yummy dinners straight from your cupboard.
With ground turkey or deer I always add celery. It brings out the flavor of the turkey and kills any wild game taste in the deer. Garlic is also a favorite of mine. Adding ground basil to a ground meat dish is especially good when tomatoes are used. I also use a little olive oil when cooking ground deer as venison does not contain a great deal of fat and some fat is needed to cook properly.
Below is two old favorites and these were before Hamburger Helper hit the shelves. The recipes seem identical at first, but changing a couple of ingredients can render a new and tasty dish with ease.
Picadillo
1- 1/2 lb ground chuck
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green pepper (bell)
Garlic, Salt, and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup green salad olives
2 tbsp olive oil
cooking wine to taste (optional)
In a large skillet or large saucepan, brown meat, onions, and pepper in the olive oil with garlic and wine. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low until meat breaks up completely or about 2 hours. Serve over white rice.
Quick Beef Put-together
1 lb ground beef
1 pod bell pepper
1 med onion
1 sm box of Instant Rice
1-2 1/2 tomatoes
Chili Powder
Garlic Salt
In a large skillet or saucepan, brown beef, pepper, and onion. When browned, add tomatoes, rice, chili powder and garlic salt. Add water as needed to keep mixture loose. Simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.
The most popular additions to ground meat is onions and bell pepper. Oh! That can be so good without adding anything. Adding your favorite vegetables, a can of cream of mushroom soup and a bag of noodles creates a meal in a skillet. Browned ground meat, a can of cheddar cheese soup, and a box of elbow macaroni is a real hit with the small ones. Adding sour cream or cream cheese to the blend gives an easy change up in the flavor without changing a complete recipe or a lot of dollars out of the pocket. The Hamburger Helper people learned real fast and created their meals in a box. It is easy to do and a pound of ground meat yields a variety of yummy dinners straight from your cupboard.
With ground turkey or deer I always add celery. It brings out the flavor of the turkey and kills any wild game taste in the deer. Garlic is also a favorite of mine. Adding ground basil to a ground meat dish is especially good when tomatoes are used. I also use a little olive oil when cooking ground deer as venison does not contain a great deal of fat and some fat is needed to cook properly.
Below is two old favorites and these were before Hamburger Helper hit the shelves. The recipes seem identical at first, but changing a couple of ingredients can render a new and tasty dish with ease.
Picadillo
1- 1/2 lb ground chuck
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green pepper (bell)
Garlic, Salt, and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup green salad olives
2 tbsp olive oil
cooking wine to taste (optional)
In a large skillet or large saucepan, brown meat, onions, and pepper in the olive oil with garlic and wine. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low until meat breaks up completely or about 2 hours. Serve over white rice.
Quick Beef Put-together
1 lb ground beef
1 pod bell pepper
1 med onion
1 sm box of Instant Rice
1-2 1/2 tomatoes
Chili Powder
Garlic Salt
In a large skillet or saucepan, brown beef, pepper, and onion. When browned, add tomatoes, rice, chili powder and garlic salt. Add water as needed to keep mixture loose. Simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Beer Butt Turkeys
I know! I know! It is suppose to be Beer Butt Chicken, but my husband along with all his friends and some information from his cooking show has set him on fire.
We regularly cook Beer Butt Chickens - you have to try these if you haven't before. Wash chickens, fill cavity with seasoning of your choice (we love Montreal Chicken by McCormick - they have several combinations to suit your taste), season the outside of the chicken, open beer and stick can into cavity of chicken. I set mine in a small roasting pan for stability and put on grill (on low). It takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to cook. It is so moist and flavorful - no! it does not take up the taste of the beer!
So, Hubby is going to buy the tall boy beer, pour out the beer and replace the beer with Apple Cider. Season his turkey, ram the can up the rear and let her roll. It will probably take 5- 6 hours to cook. Now, I don't really know if I want him to mess up Thanksgiving dinner and me to end up with no turkey, so I bought a couple of extra turkeys to be on the safe side. I really would have preferred him to experiment before the big event. It probably wouldn't matter, as he keeps getting new tips and ideas as he goes along, so his method changes constantly as does his madness.
Before he gets in today, we may have a whole new menu. But, please, I beg you, those bringing covered dishes please don't change a thing. We must have something to eat! Wish us luck!
Blessing and happiness to all and
Happy Reading
Belle
We regularly cook Beer Butt Chickens - you have to try these if you haven't before. Wash chickens, fill cavity with seasoning of your choice (we love Montreal Chicken by McCormick - they have several combinations to suit your taste), season the outside of the chicken, open beer and stick can into cavity of chicken. I set mine in a small roasting pan for stability and put on grill (on low). It takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to cook. It is so moist and flavorful - no! it does not take up the taste of the beer!
So, Hubby is going to buy the tall boy beer, pour out the beer and replace the beer with Apple Cider. Season his turkey, ram the can up the rear and let her roll. It will probably take 5- 6 hours to cook. Now, I don't really know if I want him to mess up Thanksgiving dinner and me to end up with no turkey, so I bought a couple of extra turkeys to be on the safe side. I really would have preferred him to experiment before the big event. It probably wouldn't matter, as he keeps getting new tips and ideas as he goes along, so his method changes constantly as does his madness.
Before he gets in today, we may have a whole new menu. But, please, I beg you, those bringing covered dishes please don't change a thing. We must have something to eat! Wish us luck!
Blessing and happiness to all and
Happy Reading
Belle
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