Oh No Not Snow!! Chickens Venture Out Into the Artic...

Chickens are funny creatures. They are bright, inquisitive, and just fun to have around....but there is one thing a lot of chickens aren't real fond of and that's SNOW!!!! There are several "cold weather" chicken breeds and of course, being from Southwestern Ohio, we made sure we only purchased breeds that do good in cold weather. Chickens are like ducks, they fluff out to keep themselves nice and toasty... you'd be surprised how warm their bodies are even when it's blistering cold out. Sure, it takes a bit more chow to keep them happy but overall, the key is to have good ventilation and a dry area.
Soo, while chickens can do marvelously in the cold... that does not guarantee that they won't look at that first fall of white stuff and think the Apocalypse has hit!
Our girls (and one fella) have been keeping in the enclosed run since it first snowed a few days ago.


I've had a couple venture out, even some 7 month old newbies.

CHECK US OUT!!! WAIT FOR IT......
Here we come!!!!!!! 

Most impressively are my 3 Buckeyes... They are a bit of a rare breed, coming about in the early 1900's by a happenstance woman, from where? Ohio!
I went out today to bring a bale of hay to put in the run for them to munch on and stratch around with. No sooner had I set it down for a second outside the run then I had nearly 9 birds on one bale... It got me thinking that they wanted out but that snow was just tooo scarrryyy!! So I began to turn some of the compost area over which brought up tons of seed sprouts! The girls get several handfuls of soaked seeds every morning and while they don't eat them all, none seem to go to waste, even in the winter as they sprout!

Beautiful Buckeye

Through trial and error, they selectively bred an all purpose bird...dark as not to attract hawks, fantastic layers, good mothers, nice temperament, heavy enough to be a good meat bird, and of course, COLD HARDY! So, when the three of them ventured out I could hear them singing "we love Ohio!" Ha...

Peas, millet, sunflowers, flax, wheat, and barley...

Boy we are having fun!!!!

The Saga continues, Orange Tag

Someone keeps using the government for his selfish personal reasons, illegally, unjustly and not to protect the rights of everyone. We have obeyed every law, while someone is breaking every law. Trampling on all our rights to live in "Peace".  They are in a "State of War" with us.

A Little while ago we received a little red tag on our mail box from Clermont County. We also received one in August.

  

So we put out a sign stating all of our rights and that Ohio Law is above Township and County Law.

This time they rearranged the same words and instead of a red tag we received and an orange tag which we put in the same box stating Ohio Law is above County Law.

Then through the gossip mill we hear our neighbor has "it out to get us."

This neighbor has put himself in a "State of War" against us trying to take our God given rights and freedoms from us.  Below are some quotes of John Lock. Anyone who tries to steal your rights is trying to enslave you as a tyrant.  The only thing missing are the chains.

Your rights come from "Nature". What would you do if no one else lived around you? Those are your rights!

We join a government to make law to protect us from those who would steal are freedoms, personal possession, or property from us.  The government is to punish those who do not respect those around them as if they had no neighbors.

In nature you have no neighbors, just you and God. We join together and form a union to protect the rights we have when alone. No one can even talk to me on my property unless I give them permission.  

People can not interfere in the lives of others, doing as the freely choose, on their property to secure and provide for their families, health, life, and freedoms. Everyone has the right to use their land to provide for his family.

“In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity" Ch.2, 8”
― John Locke, Second Treatise of Government

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“This makes it Lawful for a Man to Kill a Thief, who has not in the least hurt him, nor declared any design upon his life, any farther then by the use of Force, so to get him in his Power, as to take away his Money, or what he pleases from him.: because using force, where he has no Right, to get me into his Power, let his pretense be what it will, I have no reason to purpose that he, who would take away my Liberty, would not when he had me in his Power, take away every thing else. And therefore it is Lawful for me to treat him, as one who has put himself into a State of War with me, I.e. kill him if I can; for to that hazard does he justly expose himself, whoever introduces a State of War, and is Aggressor in it.” 

As far as the tag goes: The first two were red and  said "possibly building without permit... yes, "possible..." this one is funny because it's an orange tag used to issue permits, only it's crossed out and now says "working without permit..." I don't really know what it means to be quite honest and right now don't want to contact them because it doesn't actually tell us to do anything but call... it's very very vague, like the other two... not very professional... almost like they wanted to say something but didn't have the right tag so they just picked a tag, crossed some stuff out and made something up...

6 Great Holiday Recipes In One Night! God's Little Acre Give Away Contest Goodness!

Hey Ya'll!!! Whew!! Ya'll hit us with your favorite holiday recipes and they are all FANTASTIC!! Thanks to all of you who entered! So here's the thing, Michelle and I get pretty busy around the holidays. So busy that we were way behind in any holiday baking and cooking... We usually have a fun little party on Christmas Eve, and this year was no different, only our Christmas Eve Party was spent trying  out YOUR recipes!! Boy we had fun and I'd like to share our attempts with you! Now, granted... you guys shared your favorites, your BEST, and I can tell we've got some practice to do to make ours as pretty and perfect as yours!!   

First up!! 

1. Heather's Honey Caramels...

Now, let me start out by saying that candy making takes a special touch....and good dry weather sure helps. Candy has a hard time setting up when it's rainy and moist. This year just so happened to be one of the rainiest and warmest ever. Soo, our honey caramels didn't turn out as planned. However, when God gives you runny carmel...ADD IT TO THE BOTTOM OF A CHOCOLATE PIE!! At least that's what we did! Thanks so much Heather!! I used our raw milk cream and honey and felt incredibly healthy making this delectable candy treat!!! 

Can you see that yummy dripping caramel on the bottom there?? I added walnuts too! 

Now, I didn't get pictures of the process for this one...to busy actually making it! ha!! But I do have a picture of our final result!! Soooo good!! 


1 cup Honey
3/4 cup Heavy Cream
1 1/2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Tablespoons Butter
Sea salt for sprinkling on top.

Combine honey and cream in a sauce pan and bring to a boil on high heat. Stir occasionally while it cooks. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches soft ball stage. I like to use a candy thermometer.Remove pan from the heat and immediately stir in vanilla and butter. Stir until butter is completely melted and combined. Pour into a generously buttered 8 X 8 inch dish sprinkle with sea salt and let cool. Then cut into 1 inch squares and wrap in small pieces of wax paper. Store in an airtight container.


2. Jan's Famous Monkey Bread

biscuits (it took 2 cans and I'm thinking to make my own next time... sugar/cinnamon/bunt pan

So, Jan's had a lot of practice with this one. She actually dropped off one of these puppies for us the day before and man alive, it's addicting!! I'm told she makes this over 100x a year!!  We actually made hers on Christmas day. It was still good but not nearly as good as Jan's... It goes to prove that the person behind the recipe is just as integral as the recipe itself! 

sugar/cinnamon/butter simple syrup

 Ours is simple old monkey bread. Biscuits quartered and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Syrup made with stick of butter cup of sugar and two tablespoons of cinnamon all brought to a boil. Pour syrup over biscuits in a bunt pan. Bake 350 for 50 minutes
I wish I had a picture of Jan's monkey bread she dropped off.. but it didn't stick around long enough!!!!


3. Jason's Awesome Rolls

Finished Product!!!! 

Letting dough rise in a warm place

getting ready to punch down dough

here we go... my favorite part!

woosh!!

Now, these turned out to be the best rolls I've ever made... definitely not as pretty as Jason's but I'm guessing just as tasty because I can't imagine them tasting any better!! I used freshly ground wheat
or rolls / buns / or whatever you want to make with it 

1 tablespoon active-dry yeast
1/2 cup (4 oz) warm water
1/2 cup (4 oz) milk (whole, 2%, or skim)
1 large egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups (15 oz) all-purpose flour

use to brush on top before cooking
1 tablespoon butter

1. Combine the ingredients for the dough: In the bowl of a standing mixer (or a large bowl, if mixing by hand), stir the yeast into the warm water and let it sit until dissolved. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, oil, sugar, and salt. Add this to the yeast mixture and stir until combined. Add all the flour and stir until it forms a shaggy dough.

2. Knead the dough: Knead at low speed, or by hand against the counter, for 8-10 minutes, until smooth but slightly tacky. It should spring back when poked.

3. Let the dough rise: Cover the mixing bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about an hour.

4. Shape the rolls: Dust your work surface with a little flour and turn the risen dough out on top. Divide the dough into 12 pieces with a bench scraper. To shape into rolls, tuck the edges underneath to form a plump little package, then roll the dough against the counter or between your palms until round.

5. Heat the oven and let the rolls rise: Line a 9x13 pan with parchment and spray with nonstick coating. Arrange the rolls inside the pan spaced a little apart. Let the rolls rise until they look pillowy and fill the pan roughly 30-40 minutes.

While the rolls are rising, pre-heat the oven to 375°F.

6. Brush the rolls with butter. Melt the butter and brush it over the risen dinner rolls. This helps the tops to brown and keeps the crust soft.

7. Bake the rolls: Bake the rolls until golden, 15-18 minutes.
Lift the rolls from the pan using the parchment and let the rolls cool on a wire rack until cool enough to handle. They are best if eaten within a day or two, but will keep in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week. Rolls can also be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated in a warm oven.

rising rolls... not perfect, but hey! 

4 Matt Irvine Family's Old Fashioned Potato Candy
Okay, so I have to say, this one was the most intriguing to try. I had never heard of this candy. Why have I never heard of this candy!!  This was fun and easy to make and makes a beautiful presentation! 

 Here's the link for the website for the following recipe
http://www.southernplate.com/2010/12/old-fashioned-potato-candy.html

simmering our potato to add to the powered sugar

rolling out dough

rolled and ready for the fridge!

Not bad for the first time!!

Thanks Matt for introducing us to this new favorite!!!! Matt said the taste was close to Divinity... I'm not sure how to describe it. Kind of like a Buckeye without the chocolate... but it's so good!!! 

5. Harold's Creamed Cauliflower"Actually my favorite thing at this meal is creamed cauliflower. Very simple make a medium white cream sauce and add steamed cauliflower" 
Now, this turned out to be very addicting in a good way!! Harold said he grew up with his Irish grandmother always making something out of cauliflower and I was really surprised at just how good this turned out to be!!!!  

Steamed Cauliflower

salt, pepper, butter, flour for white sauce

mixing butter and flour

Also known as Béchamel sauce, it is versatile and has many uses. Pair it with vegetables, turn it into a creamy casserole or ladle it over seafood or sliced chicken. Serve "as is," make it into a cheese sauce or spice it up with mustard, dill or curry.

Ingredients

2

tablespoons butter or margarine

2

tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4

teaspoon salt

1/8

teaspoon pepper

1

cups milk

Directions

In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heatGradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute.

I didn't get a final picture of the creamed cauliflower but boy o boy everyone loved it!! 

6.  Shannon's Jiffy Spoon Bread Casserole

I loved this recipe!!! I didn't have any Jiffy mix, so I found a recipe for homemade Jiffy mix

• Whisk together the following:
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal (preferably non-GMO cornmeal)
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 tablespoon sugar or sucanat
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    

This was another new recipe for us!!! I've tried some like this but this one turned out FANTASTIC!! Of course we didn't have any creamed corn on hand, but no worries... I opened up a quart jar of home canned corn and took half and put it in the food processor  with some cream and sugar... I don't know what made this dish so special but it was amazing!! Thanks Shannon!

In fact... THANK YOU ALL for participating in our fun little giveaway! We hope to have more in the future. Your recipes made our day and everyone loved them all! God Bless and I pray everyone has a healthy and Happy New Year! I also hope you love these recipes as much as we did!!!