ABOUT

ABOUT

Hello Again! I live on a 15 acre land. We have an apple orchard and grow lots of food. We have about 8 raspberry plants, 6 blueberry bushes...

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Days 5-10

During days 5-10, I take away the small feeder, and from day five, I'm expanding the area every 5 days. On day 8 I lowered the temp 5 degrees to 90 degrees. They are growing so fast! I actually can tell they are growing!
These were all taken day 8.



Sometimes I have to turn off the heat lamp because it gets to hot for it to be on.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Chicks Day 3

I expanded the chicks living area and also added their larger feeder.
They are all healthy and happy! Two of them pecked at a spot on their draft guard! 
It hasn't rained yet, thankfully. 
Day 3

Day 2
They like the paper strips


Usually you put pine chips on the floor the second or even first day, but I don't have any, so newspaper suits me and them.
I'll expand it even more on day 5.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

BABY CHICKS!!!!!

Today the chicks came!
When you order your chicks, be sure to let your post office know that the are coming and when. When they call you, you want to have everything set up, food in there, water too, and you should turn your heat lamp on before you leave.
There is a cardboard draft guard.


Make sure the temp is around 95 degrees F at chick height.

I used a 5 gallon bucket lid for the first day feeder.

When you get to the post office, open the box and count the chicks or see if there are any dead ones. If it is cold in the car, turn the heater on.
My chicks! Murray McMurray offers you a free mystery chick, so I got it. Altogether 16 chicks.



When you get home, dip each chick beak in the water and let them throw their head back to swallow, then set them down.

I hope you can see!

 Then watch them, check on them, and also do one check at night before you go to bed.
Here are my chicks! I got Speckled Sussex, and a mystery chick. They are SO cute!


Mystery chick






Sunday, September 18, 2016

Homemade Icecream!

We made some homemade ice cream out of goat milk, it was DELICIOUS!!!!!
Here is the recipe, you can use it with an ice cream maker and any kind of milk.
Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk, well chilled
3/4 granulated sugar
2 cups heavy cream, well chilled
1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, to taste

Shake all ingredients well together then pour into ice cream maker and turn on for about 30 minutes.



Saturday, September 17, 2016

Our New Ducklings

We went to a twice-a-year fair where people sell birds, such as turkeys, pigeons, peacocks, and chickens. Rabbits, goats and ducks. We went just to look around, but ended up buying 3, 4 week old ducklings! They are so cute! We ended up moving all the chickens into the goat pen and putting them in it with a little pool that they love!
Dad's going to name them

We got 2 females and a male.


They love grass, worms and slugs.






Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Frosted Peanut Butter Cupcakes

They were so good!






1. Put 16 muffin paper cases in a muffin pan.

Ingredients:
4 tbsp butter, softened, or soft margarine
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder 
1/3 cup milk
2. Put the butter, sugar, and peanut butter in a bowl an beat together for 1-2 min or until well mixed. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition, then the add the vanilla extract. Sift the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl and then, mix them into the mixture, alternating with the milk. Spoon the batter into the paper cases.

3. Bake the cupcakes in a preheated oven, 350 degrees F/180 degrees C, for 25 min, or until well risen and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

4. To make the frosting, put the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl and, using an electric hand whisk, beat together until smooth. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the mixture, then beat together until well mixed.  

5. When the cupcakes are cold, spread the frosting on top of each cupcake, swirling it with a round-bladed knife. Store the cupcakes in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Yummy Coffee Cake!

I just tried this recipe, it's really good!



Ingredients:
6 oz butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
1 cup golden superfine sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour, sifted
1/2 cup strong black coffee
Chocolate-covered coffee beans, to decorate

frosting:
1/2 cup milk
4 1/2 oz butter
3 tbsp golden superfine sugar
5 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1. Grease and base-line 2x8-inch/20-cm sponge cake pans. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then fold in the flour and coffee. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake in a preheated oven, 350 degrees F/180 degrees C, for 30 min, or until well risen and springy when pressed in the center. Let cool in the pan for 5 min, then turn out and peel off the lining paper. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

2. To make the frosting, place the milk and the butter in a pan, set over low heat, and stir until the butter has melted. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.Place the superfine sugar in a separate, heavy-bottom pan and set over low heat, stir constantly, until the sugar dissolves and turns golden caramel. Remove from the heat and stir in the warm milk mixture. Return to the heat and stir until the caramel dissolves.

3. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar, beating until the frosting is a smooth spreading consistency. Join the cakes together with some of the frosting and spread the rest over the top and sides. Decorate with chocolate-covered coffee beans

Friday, September 9, 2016

Raising Chickens

I am going to raise chickens!
I'm going to raise day-old chicks from the mail and then have them go broody, and sell their chicks. 
So we are transforming our fort into a chicken coop and a place to raise little chicks. 
We are putting the place to raise the chicks in the fort, and the coop under it.
This is the back.

One side

Where the chicken coop will go.

Where the door will go, we will make it out of 1x1's and chicken wire.

Where the light, and heat lamp will go.

A side.


Chicken wire will go here.


Hopefully it will be a good place for them to stay until 8 weeks.