Chicken Update

These are our chicken coops.  We actually have two right now. The green one houses our 9 laying hens and Goliath.  The white one has the 30 Isa Brown Chicks that will start laying sometime in the early fall.

 

This is a view from the back of the coops.  There are two separate chicken runs.  Once the young layers are a little older we will put both batches together, but to eliminate excess fighting it's best to wait until they are almost full grown.

Here is my current laying flock with Goliath watching over them.

These are our meat chickens.  If they appear fat and somewhat clumsy its because they are.  We have 34 of these this year.  This will supply all the chicken we need as a family for the year.  There is something very satisfying about raising some of your own meat.

This is our chicken tractor.  My husband designed it from a truck topper.  Normally we raise the meat chickens in this and move it around the yard.  However this year we attached it to an existing chicken run, which made the chores much easier because we don't have to haul water and feed quite as far.

Summer Supper

We've been having unseasonably warm weather lately, which makes cooking a challenge.  Although we have central air conditioning I still try to not use my oven more than I have to.  This was what I made last night.
Tortillas (usually I use flour, but last night I only had corn) spread with homemade pizza sauce and topped with mushrooms, black olives, green pepper.....

.....crushed pineapple, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.  I baked them at 350 degrees for ten minutes.

While they baked I talked to the dog.  Doesn't she look like she understands perfectly?  She didn't have much to say in response, but she is an excellent listener.

I popped them out of the oven and we enjoyed them.  A simple supper that doesn't use the oven very much, but is very tasty nonetheless.

What does your family eat when it's hot?

No Answers

I've been a mother for a little over seven years, and in that time I've learned there are some questions that have no answers. Thought that I would share a few with you.

How can a child be in a bathtub or shower for twenty minutes and still have dirty ears?

Why is it that when mom is in the shower there are suddenly all kinds of questions that need answers now?

Why is there currently a Lego man in my aloe plant? ( He has been there for a week--I'm waiting to see how long it takes them to notice he is gone. )

How can my six year old eat a full meal and be hungry half an hour later?

What is it about grocery shopping that brings out the worst behaviour in my children?

Why can my children try my patience to the breaking point all day, but at bedtime they suddenly become irresistibly sweet?

When I am having a rough day as a parent why do I confide in the dog? (Ok, that question probably has more to do with my own weirdness rather than my children.)

Do you have any questions that don't have answers?

 

Grace

                                     

There's a dark place within me that can think the most hateful thoughts.

When someone crosses me it rises up in anger and spits out a response that makes it past my lips more often than I would like.

  One of my favorite verses is Romans 7:19.  "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not that I do."  It reminds me that the battle against a sin nature is an age old problem.

The good news is we don't have to fight this battle alone.  Christ has gone ahead of us and paid the price for the sins we haven't even committed yet.

So, today I'm thankful for God's grace.  A grace that has given me a second chance many times over.  A grace that is greater than anything that I have done, or am capable of doing.  A grace that is greater than all my sin!!

I'm Seeing Red

I love yard sales.  There is something so invigorating about buying something that you need for so much less than what it retails for in the store.  I have bought clothes, furniture, dishes, linens, and even Christmas and birthday gifts at yard sales. 

If you think it's weird or disgusting to buy gifts at a yard sale let me ask you one question.  What is the difference between new Lego's and yard sale Lego's?  This was what got me thinking about whether it really mattered if some of my children's gifts were second hand.  Besides, I don't want my children to only value things that come in shiny new wrappers. 

I've also noticed that I can often find higher quality items that I could never afford new at garage and yard sales.  Many of my yard sale bargains have outlasted things that I bought new.

This is my latest yard sale purchase.  (No, I'm not talking about the dog.)  I bought eight red cloth napkins for 50 cents a piece.  My kitchen is red and these napkins look perfect there.  They don't look too bad on my clothesline either with all the green grass in the background.

  I also purchased a couple of pillow slips that are striped and match my boys sheets.  For some reason they are extra hard on pillow slips and they wear out before the sheets.  Possibly because they get used for impromptu sack races across the family room.

Last, but not least I bought a Jenga game.  This game retails for around $15.00 new, and I paid $1.50.

The best part about it is I didn't make a special trip to save all this money.  I was on my way home from running some errands, saw the yard sale and stopped.  So, I didn't spend any extra money in gas. 

 That's why I'm seeing red or maybe I should say green. :)

What Sunday Looks Like

                               

Here's a little glimpse of what Sunday looks like at our house.


The day starts with coffee--of course.


Hubby usually makes breakfast--scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes.


I throw together something for lunch.


While making sure the children know their memory verses for Sunday School.


We scurry off to church while dinner bakes in the oven--often a roast or whole chicken.


Come home and after devouring our yummy lunch we collapse in our beds or on the couch for a nap.


When we wake up we usually have popcorn as an afternoon snack.


Then it's back to church for the evening service.


Home again for an after-church-snack.......leftovers, tacos, or burgers on the grill.


While we listen to Sunday night stories on the radio.


All-in-all it's one of the most relaxing days of the week.


What does Sunday look like at your house?

Cheesy Asparagus Soup

I've been thinking about asparagus a lot lately--maybe because I've spent the last two days freezing it and pickling it.

Mostly I've been marveling over how much I love it, considering that as a child I despised its flavor.  I can still remember gagging down the required mouthfuls, and trying to think if there was anything I hated more.

Somewhere along the years I decided it was actually tolerable, and then good, and then I started craving it's green springy flavor.  As soon as the first signs of spring appear I start dreaming about asparagus dishes.  A good incentive to clean out the last of it from the freezer.

This recipe is excellent for those cold winter days when you are hungry for soup.  Usually I make it with frozen asparagus.  The creamy base makes it a dish that will sometimes appeal to those who aren't as fond of asparagus. 

10 ounces fresh or frozen asparagus

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup flour

2 cups milk

8 ounces cheddar cheese

2 teaspoons chicken bouillon

Cook asparagus, and onion in 3 cups of water with bouillon until tender-approximately 5-10 minutes. ( you don't want it mushy--just tender ) Do not drain.  Meanwhile make a white sauce with butter, flour, and milk.  After it is thickened add salt, pepper, and cheese stirring until melted.  Combine white sauce with cooked asparagus and onion and serve.  Yield 4-6 servings.