The New Girls

We added three old gals to our flock this weekend. After checking our chicken reference books, I think we have a Buff Orpington, Maran, and Sussex. We needed the eggs! Word has gotten around the neighborhood about our eggs and we were pulling in one a day with the birds we had. These three should help to boost those numbers and help appease our fans. 

Welcome girls! 

It's been slow...

I totally get the reference of a slow news day!  It's been a slow month or so on the farm. Well, until the last two weeks. First, Emilio the duck, went missing. No sign of home ANYWHERE. We hope he learned to fly and flew off with his duck friends, but we all know that didn't happen. We joke that he's on vacation somewhere.  The kids like that thought better than another predator breeching the perimeter. 

Second, evidence of an attack on our Donnas. Our Russian Orloff was hit this week. Feathers and a foot/leg/thigh still left in the yard. It's hard knowing what happens and hard not knowing. 

We'll miss them both....

Long day, full freezer

We have had a long weekend!  After the Harvest Fair yesterday, we processed both of the broilers we showed. We thought we'd break up the job between the two days. Aside from the meat you see in the photo (2 chickens), we harvested THREE more birds and NINE rabbits!!  I also picked a ton of ripe tomatoes and canned 5 pints worth. I lost a pint and a quart in the water bath in the process. One jar busted the bottom clear off and the other blew a seal and a ring!! Of course, I can't have a nice, easy experience canning there always has to be some lesson learned while I do it!  Today's lessons were that some jars are flawed and will break for no reason, never mix pints and quarts- do one or the other, and place my jars into the hot water bath at an angle. 

All in all, we are all exhausted and my poor lover boy still had to go to work. He's amazing and extremely tired every Monday morning! 

Also-- We are searching for a small square freezer and a vacuum sealer for keeping our food. If you know of anyone selling, we are actively looking to buy. Please pass us the info if you have it! Thank you, friends!

Rude Awakening

This morning we were jolted awake by the crowing of a rooster, "¡QUI QUI RI QUI!"  

As a reminder, as of yesterday, we did not own any roosters. Since roosters are illegal in city limits, Andy had to dispatch this animal ASAP. It was a small bird, but it will still provide nourishment. Our poor turkey, Mr. Bowling, is in mourning. He hasn't stopped gobbling in grief since this afternoon. He's lonely. :( 

Happy Father's Day! 

Here's what's left...

A predator, most likely a coyote, found our free-ranging Power Ranger-Ghostbuster pullets. This is all that was left of one. :( Matilde noticed she was gone and bet that it was a coyote that got to her. She did some exploring and peered under the barn which is where she found this wing. She told her class in their announcements what happened so they wouldn't have to wonder where the missing bird went. 

A name change.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. 

These girls are eating and eating and not laying a single egg!  Strike that. One girl is earning her keep, but the others are just mooching. I don't know how much longer I can handle purchasing eggs. I bought my first carton day before yesterday and it was over $3!  Couldn't believe it. It's been about a year since I've had to peruse the egg case at the grocery store, and I did not like what I saw. These Donnas better get it together or we will be nibbling on some legs soon. 

Evan already has new birds picked out! 

On a side note, we are patiently awaiting Martha Washington's (Miss Piggy) and Lady Bird Johnson's kindles. It should be soon, very soon!  

This week in photos

Thank you to those who contacted me about not receiving pictures this week.  I love you too!  My excuse...I am lazy. My phone was full and I needed to upload the photos. The computer was dead, so it needed to be plugged in. I was lazy, and didn't do either until about Saturday night. I've also been really busy. We had a great volleyball tourney on Saturday (2nd place finish, go Dolphins!), taught at church Sunday, Seahawks game Sunday, and youth symphony Sunday (thank you Danielle!).  It's been crazy!  I'm ready for some turkey and a nap! 🍗😴

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well, and enjoy the photos from last week!

Bri'Anna 

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Here are three nice sized salmon from fishing with Steve. We baked one whole fish. I used a brown sugar rub on one half and a jerk rub on the other. The girls passed on the sweet and gobbled down the savory. They also drank about a gallon of milk to offset the spicy flavor too! Hahaha 

The rabbit hides hanging to dry in the shed. I think he set up a gear lamp to speed it up since the stench was awful and would probably attract unwanted critters. 

Here is what was left of the apples. I meant to make apple sauce, but decided on cider instead. This made about 1.5 quarts. No much, but I can't complain about free apples! 

They are back in the house tonight to finish drying (not sure why they are still hanging since I thought they were already dried. I do know Andy stretched them. He 'hulked' a few in half as he stretched them out, and I was asked to mend them back in one piece once they were all done. 

I'm still mourning the loss of my Donna. :( 

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Yesterday & Today

Mountain mama

Tina's on the prowl tonight!  My poor, poor Donnas. 

Last one. I promise.

Check out these feet! That's Chacha's hand not Tilly's.  

They're in the freezer waiting to be made into delicious broth.  

More chicken!

I know these raw chicken pictures are getting old, but it's such an exciting feeling to see all of the meat from these birds ready to cook!  Ten pounds of meat from two crowing roosters!  Amazing, and extremely quiet now. 

Oscar's DD's

Giant chicken breasts! 

We feast....

....on the BETSIES!!

And boy were they yummy!