All ready for Winter

I haven't been really good about getting home from work with there being enough daylight left to get any good pictures of what's been going on. I took a few crappy pics with the phone this afternoon after I got everyone fed and watered.

Scott got the frost free hydrant that was freezing up on us all last winter, dug out and fixed. Teh Boy gave him a hand while he was down for Turkey Day. It's so nice not having to have to have yet another extension cord stretched across the yard to run the hot tape to keep the water faucet from freezing. I still have to drain hoses after every time I run water through it. Scott has taken over most of the morning chores for me and he gets the waters filled for me.

Speaking of water, it was becoming a huge hassle to keep the steers watered. It got cold enough that going out and busting the ice off the water troughs wasn't working. They were froze solid all the way through. Dragging hose across Andrea's property, across the road, and out to the pasture, twice a day, then dragging all that hose back, and making sure it was drained so it didn't freeze wasn't worth keeping the boys out on the pasture any more. Now they are in the round pen. We got em moved Mon after I got home. One cord to the front of the house and they have a tank heater. We threw some straw out to keep them off the snow and mud. Norman has some serious fuzz going on.

While the boys were down for Turkey day, Mike helped me bring the brooder pen Scotty made for me, back into the garage. It was still out next to the chicken condo from when we moved the second batch of meat birds outside. Speckles and her little chick are in it now, all cozy in the garage. When I bring the water bowls in for the rabbits, they unfreeze, so I know she can keep the little chicky warm. They are out of any draft, and the other chickens, or predators can't get to it. I still don't know yet if it's a pullet, or a cockerel chick, but I'm leaning towards pullet. It's going to have Barred Rock coloring. 

The big chickens outside have their heated water dug out of the garage, cleaned out, and plugged in.

The ground looks ugly. We had weird weather this year. No rain really or snow to speak of. It was getting into the high 40's during the day, maybe the low 50's. Then BAM, Cold. Down into the negative numbers in the morning, teens during the day. The ground didn't have any moisture to make it freeze. When we finally got snow it was that really dry powdery stuff and it mixed with the dry powdery, sandy soil underneath it. My front yard looks like someone took dirt, and sprinkled white playground sand in it.

The ponies have their blankets on and they're off the pasture too. They're in the dry lot right next to the haystack so I can feed easier. Then hop the electric fence and feed Dave's horses.

Scott got a good chunk of the firewood bucked up into rounds and the biggest rounds split to fit in the stove.

The wood rack he built for me last year is working perfectly. It takes me two wheel barrow loads to fill it, and filled it will last me about three or four days. 

Connie has been working over at Valley Country Store. Scott is still working nights (which I hate) at IMP. I'm still grooming dogs at WindSwept Kennels. 

Home Made ButterMilk Waffles, Survivial Bracelet, Wood Box

Scott made a place for me to keep firewood in the house for Christmas. It took a little bit longer than Xmas to get it to the house. He still wants to sand blast it, fix the weld joints, and make it Plum Brown to match the bed he made for me. It holds quite a bit of wood. More than I thought by looking at it. It easily holds enough for a few days. I snapped a photo of it in place in the kitchen next to the wood stove. He has plans eventually for a whole set of tables for the living room. Coffee table, end tables, plant stands, all in the same reed and cat tail pattern. I've very excited. I'm also very lucky to have a husband who is crafty and can build stuffs for me.

 

I have a better picture this morning of Scott's Survival Bracelet.  

 

I made Waffles this morning. I love this recipe.  It's easy to put together. Everything is already in my pantry or my fridge except the buttermilk. I have to remember to pick that up every time I make these. This time I bought enough for two batches, and froze the second batches worth in ice cube trays in my freezer. I'm pretty sure I found the recipe on Alton Brown's site, but I have changed it a little. The waffles are yummy when done. Crispy on the outside, chewy and soft inside. Just the right amount of salty. In fact I eat these plain for breakfast in the morning at work. Just heat in the micro, no butter, no syrup.

Butter Milk Waffles

• 2 cups flour (I used bread flour, that's what was in my pantry)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
•  1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3 whole eggs beaten
• 2 oz melted butter
• 10 oz butter milk at room temp

Wisk together the dry ingredients. Add in the wet ingredients. Wisk together well till almost smooth. This will be a very thick batter. Almost like cake batter.  Let sit for 5 mins while the Waffle iron heats up. Follow direction for you waffle maker. My batter and waffles came out very yellow because I'm using eggs fresh from my chickens. The yolks are a very rich orange color and oh so yummy.

I picked my waffler up at a thrift store for $2.50. It is forever old. I looked it up online, but couldn't find when it was made. All I care is that it still works, and makes the perfect size to stuff into a small sandwich ziplock baggie. They break into four pieces.