Sunday, October 31, 2010

Contentment

Look at Mr. "Nobody Needs a horse"

That is what he said (before he met Nick)

This is my saddle, thought I would share:)

Deer season , not Turkey

Jake , at peace with Nick

my favorite thing, my team together

These are pictures of contentment. Today was about contentment. Bob is just recovering from a cold, Jake has rejoined Nickel after his lameness and everyone on the farm is content. We did a little yard and barn work, played with Lager, groomed the Minni's and Nickel and Bob got out for a trail ride. Next year I plan to take Jake out of the yard (keep your fingers crossed).

Happy Halloween

Lager in his "Great Pumpkin Costume"


Happy Halloween from the farm !

Friday, October 29, 2010

Crockpot Chicken Soup

OK I hope by this time I have convinced you to make chicken stock. If you have stock and a supply of root veggies , this is a dinner you can make for next to nothing. This is a perfect work night meal. Prep night before, put everything except the stock into a baggie or container in fridge. In the morning dump broth and ingredient into crock pot. Cook all day
onion, chopped med

potatoes, chopped 1 per person
carrots, chopped
1 can corn or cream style corn
4 C Chicken Stock
As much or as little chicken you have on hand.
thyme and rosemary 
ground red pepper, to taste a little shake adds nice taste
salt and pepper
When I make stock I put it in canning jars in the fridge.(you can freeze)




Thursday, October 28, 2010

Budget Friendly Meals

Well it has been a long day. We had 3 hrs of heavy rain last night, so extra chores.
I did have lots of time to think about my desire to refocus on simplifying.I even did some bird watching, against kittys wishes.
Here are some budget friendly menu's that will give you more time.The shopping list is simple.
 Day 1: Roast Chicken with Stuffing  Fresh Baked Bread / can use the frozen loaf in freezer section
Pick the chicken and reserve both the meat and bones. Separate out the small pieces, from the large.
I like to do this on Sunday and I make the stock the same day.
Next Day/ Work: Have leftover roast chicken sandwiches(use the large slices) / with fresh bread- include a bit of the stuffing and cranberry sauce as part of the sandwich.
Night 2:Frittata
http:allrecipes.com//Recipe/spinach-and-potato-frittata/Detail.aspx





A frittata is an egg dish made mainly on the stove, easier than omelets, and can be made of almost any veggies, cheeses, or meats you happen to have around. They are served in wedges and are easily transportable
 Using what should now be the carcass of the roast chicken, make chicken stock.
 Night 3:  Sausage and Roasted Vegitables
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/sausage-and-roasted-vegetable-penne-recipe/index.html
Using the chicken stock, make rice/ reserve/ chill for fried rice
So the leftovers from the roast chicken meal ended up becoming 1 lunch and 1 extra dinner - that's 3 meals.
This time of year I heat a bit of stock and add it to Lagers breakfast. he can tolerate because for 14 months I have supplemented his kibble. I NEVER feed chicken to the hounds.
Day 4:Fried rice with chicken

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Do you see him?

I get the photos the worst, but do you see him? This morning  in the fog, before the sunrise, I spotted an owl. I am very excited. I have seen owls at shows and festivals but this is the first wild owl I have ever seen. I will be on the look out for more ( and a better photo).

Seeing in the dark

October 27, 2010


The 300th day of 2010
55 Days until Winter

I see living on a farm and trying to do so sustainably as a  series of adjustments.  Much of what I'm doing now, I did before, or grew up seeing done, now I do it with more thought and  with a different attitude.  Menu planning and going to the  grocerie , keeping house, feeding my family, were all in my life before I started living on my farm.The farm is teaching me to do things more deliberately and with a more generous and with more passion. No one asked for change, that probebly would not have worked.
Living on a farm and "Living the simple Life" takes work and planning.


I have found I need to be much more organised keeping the farm.  If we haven't thought to buy all the supplies we need, we have to rush out to get them at inconvenient times and those extra trips use more time and fuel, and often more money. I have often spoke of Menu plans, planning and making less trips prevents adding to the cart.
As the seasons change, so do the needs and the ruitines. I have been in a funk, I am not pleased in the lack of action and progress I have made recently in regaurds to living simply. I was quite pleased with my ruitine and the progress or growth I had seen, but not so much latley.I ran the dryer a number of times over the week end and have gone to the coffee shop every day, for weeks.  I am not sure what caused this lull, I am going to blame day light savings, for a lack of something better.We are approaching day light savings , I am commiting to my self to  re focus on my goals. In the next few days you will see a focus on rebuilding my commitment, the changes I make or the things I return to and new idea's. You will see more cooking, budgeting / menu planning with purpose and I need to get organized (I plan to tacle the pantry).
I like saving money, but there's no question of us going without , healthy, and tasty meals. We like to eat ALOT, and I take too much pleasure in cooking something I have been doing mostly on the week ends.I need to plan better for all meals including Monday -Friday .
On Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time ends in the United States

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Together again

Our team has been back together again for twenty four hours. Good progress for Jake and mild temperatures made it possible for the Big Boys to spend the past twenty four hours together, as they should be.
the birds are still very active

the brooms are still very popular

When the Team is happy, I am happy!

 Also I noticed I  had planned seafood for both Friday and Saturday on this weeks menu , think I will change Friday for Anti-pasta.Guess I was craving sea food.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Menu Plan Monday ,and bad news

I have lost my card reader,so no new pictures till I get a new one. Instead I will share two oldie but goodies of Huck .Today Nickel and Jake spent the day together, out in the pasture. Jake is looking better, and the temps are mild.The yard is full of birds, mostly wood peckers , but lots of others as well.In the morning you can hear the coyote and at night the owls.The neighbors claim to have seen the owls, I have not.
Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Left over Beef Chili with Corn Bread and chips

Tuesday:Portuguese Tortellini with homemade chicken broth

Wednesday: Broccoli with cheddar quiche

Thursday: Breaded Pork Chops with Homemade  Apple Sauce and Rice

Friday: Mussels in wine toasted garlic bread



Saturday: Fish and chips and Seafood Chowder

Sunday: Beef and Bacon Pinwheels



Beef and Bacon Pinwheels From Full Bellies,Happy Kids this Blog has great photo's and tutorials
1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 packet onion gravy mix

1 egg

2 TBSP white wine

salt and pepper

garlic powder

pepper

Bacon slices

Mix all the ingredients well.....then I use a 1/2 cup measuring spoon and scoop up some of the meat mixture. She used big heaping scoops to make big meatballs. Wrap a bacon slice around the meatball and then flatten it a bit until it resembles a disc.Place in a greased oven proof dish and bake in a 450º F oven for about 45 to 50 minutes or until meat and bacon are cooked.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

It's a Daddy thing






After noticing that Nickel would scratch himself on the sides of the buildings ,Bob attached brooms to both of the run ins. It did not take Jake long to catch on to this little pleasure. The boys have made such a habit of rubbing the brooms we have replaced them a number of times.

Friday, October 22, 2010

How it's done

This is how Mr. Nickel Bobs for applesthe look

the grab

the bite

repeat... He makes it look easy!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

A Rainbow

Learning

A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.


- Pat Parelli

Jake is showing signs of feeling better. Last week I was sure his lameness was a result of the gravel blow out he had last spring. After a number of foot soaks, hours of observation and speaking with  a number of experts, I do not think it was his hoof. I think Jake's pain and lameness , this time was the result of either a slip and fall or the beginnings of arthritis. If you have  followed this Blog for  any time you know Jake was not always treated well before he came to our farm. I never personally met Jake's previous owner but his condition when he arrived was deplorable. Jake came to us under weight , dehydrated, with poor hooves and a halter that was so tight it was cutting his skin.Jake's eyes, on arrival told his story. This leads me to believe his soreness is the result of his earlier care.With Jake's age and history he is less tolerant of slips and falls, and changes in temperature. I am happy to report he is doing better.
Jake seems to be adjusting to his additional stall / rest time, eating his hay and grain uninterrupted by Nickel and I have added SmartFlex Repair to his feeding. I really like the Smart Pak products( and no one told me, or paid me to say that) and the people at Smart Pak are very knowledgeable, they spent tons of time on the phone with me this week. Over the week end I plan to let Jake and Nickel spend supervised time together.
From the cataloge / description
SmartFlex Repair provides everything your horse needs for joint, tendon and ligament health, in one supplement! This cutting-edge formula combines the high-level joint support of SmartFlex III Ultra with the connective tissue support of SmartTendon.




For joint support, SmartFlex Repair provides 10,000 mg of Glucosamine, 1,000 mg of Chondroitin Sulfate, 100 mg of Hyaluronic Acid, 10,000 mg of MSM and 5,000 mg of Vitamin C. For helping maintain healthy, resilient tendons and ligaments, this formula also provides 500 mg of bioavailable Silica, 1,000 mg of Hydrolyzed Collagen and 400 mg of Grape Seed Extract.



SmartFlex Repair is intended for hard-working performance horses and to support normal recovery in injured horses.


A work in progress. Matt has done a great job!


Jake seem's to like his new (forever) home , about 1 year in

Arrival day, with sad eyes

and sad coat (also day1)

Progress

and Love I'm going to keep him we will figure his needs out together.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

And They Call It Puppy Love

Some photo's of Lager, in the past 14 monthes

I am Just LOVING this Dog!



This was just last Fall , watching football.



Thanks for looking!