One of my Favorite Things

My dehydrator is full of apple slices and my house smells delightful.  Sort of a cross between an apple pie and a cider mill. Not only does it smell nice, but the kitchen is nice and warm from the warm, aromatic air. And best of all?  I can open the door (which I do often) and [...]

I’m a Chicken Wrangler

There was a chicken rodeo next door at dusk today, and I ended up catching the biggest and most anti-social chicken in the flock. Everyone made fun of me while Katie was evicting all her chickens from their coop into their nice new wire pen and I was worrying that they wouldn’t be able to find their way [...]

R. I. P. Chicken Little

My days as a chicken farmer are over, four days after its accidental start. The one very small, very cute chick I bought Monday was DOA in its enclosure this afternoon.  (Or as the sheriff’s dispatch center calls it, “a non-breather.”)  (Or as our paramedics sometimes call it DRT – Dead Right There.) Noah and I dug [...]

No Chickening Out Now

Katie put her kids in the van this morning, picked me up, and we went for a three hour drive.  We stopped for lunch at a Burger King (with a playground to let the kids blow off some steam!), then continued on to our destination.  And what was that, you ask? Why, the hatchery where Katie had [...]

Wheat Chili Recipe (UPDATED)

The Preparedness Fair was a lot of fun, but I missed getting a few of the recipes onto the CD.  My apologies to everyone. Here is the recipe for the yummy Wheat Chili Linda made for the event. WHEAT CHILI Brown:   1 lb. ground beef Saute:     1 large onion – chopped Stir in:     4 Tbs. flour                [...]

Normal Will Never Be The Same

I have been so busy I haven’t even blogged in weeks.  So, here’s a few minutes of catching up on what’s happening. Other than spending three days at a state township convention having my brain filled with even more facts one would never have suspected I’d need to know, I’ve spent this month preparing for a self [...]

Learning New Tricks

I’m in the midst of some pretty intense researching, experimenting with various types of food storage and making preparations for the Self-Sufficiency Fair next month.  I thought I was pretty competent on the topic, but am being reminded there is always more to learn. Two days ago my house smelled like pineapple, as that’s my favorite food to dehydrate.  [...]

It’s Warm In My Kitchen

With the oven on, the dehydrator running for the past two days, and pressure canning 25 pounds of chicken, it didn’t matter how cold it was outside.  My kitchen was toasty today. Linda came over today to help with the chicken, which is for the Emergency Preparedness Fair next month.  We will be serving three [...]

Old Things Are Passed Away, All Things Are Become New

History will not regard the year 2009 kindly.  High unemployment, economic uncertainty, political scandals, corrupt politicians – almost makes one glad to see it relegated to the history books. Let’s not dwell on the bad, though.  It has been a good year for our family, and here are a few Pearls of Great Price I [...]

6 + 4 + 3 + 1 1/2 = I’m Getting Old

When your age begins with a 6, you know you aren’t young anymore.  However, you don’t necessarily feel old.  Not until you take care of four boys six and under for a full day.  Really, the three oldest aren’t much trouble.  It’s that 17 month old who has to touch everything and pick it up [...]