Welcome Spring!

Another exciting week here in Ohio.  Nothing like welcoming Spring than with a nice Snow fall????!!!!

We did manage to get one nice day this week so we could introduce the ladies to their new nest boxes.  As soon as we installed them they were hopping in and out trying to figure out what was going on.  The roosters were just as curious. Overall we love these front roll out nest boxes.  As soon as the Hen lays an egg it rolls forward into a small basket under the perch.  No more broken, pecked at, stepped on eggs!! Yeah!!

Even though we had snow this week, Nicky had started the garden seeds inside last week so we could get a jump start on the garden.  He started onion seed, two types of tomato seed, herbs, peppers and a few others. As it warms up we will slowly introduce them to the outdoors. Giving them a few hours of sun and getting them toughened up to be transplanted.  We have about six to eight trays of seeds started which means when it is time to take them out it is six to eight trips to get them outside.  SOLUTION- we found a little greenhouse called the Early Start Greenhouse at Home Depot. It isn't anything fancy but with two people it will be one trip to get the new plants outside. 

That just about sums up my wisdom and knowledge for this week... Have a BLESSED Easter weekend and enjoy the time with your friends and family. 

PS: Cool idea for coloring eggs (from Facebook)

SHAVING CREAM EGG DYE
1. Spread cheap white shaving cream in a cookie sheet
2. Apply drops of neon food coloring across surface
3. Use toothpicks to swirl colors around
4. Roll the dried, cooled hardboiled eggs in the colorful cream (use disposable kitchen gloves to reduce the tattoo effect)
5. Allow to set for 3-4 minutes on a paper plate
6. Wipe off shaving cream with paper towel and rinse! Done!!

SO much....so little time!

So much to talk about this week I almost don't know where to start.  Maybe I will just lay it all out there.
First, I got new nesting boxes (for the ladies) for my B-day and although they are not actually in the coop they are put together and look fantastic!!! Thanks Mom!

6 Hole Front Roll-Out Nest box

Second, Nicky and I sent a GIGANTIC mixer (5 gallon bowl) to get painted and after 9 months we finally got it back. He is like a kid in a candy store when he can play with big kitchen equipment!

Why would we paint a mixer you ask??? That was the marital deal... must be painted and cleaned before coming into the house.  This thing is huge. It used to be used at an Elementary School in town and Nicky had to have it.  He can now make more pasta, bread and pizza dough easier/faster so it was worth it.

Making Pasta

So needless to say we (Nicky) have been busy. We made a ton of different pasta and stored it in the freezer and we also have some amazing bread. 

And for any of you bread and butter lovers out there I have quite the treat for you!! Amish Roll Butter.  That's right a big huge chunk of DELISH fat/lard/cream whatever you want to call it. It is great on homemade bread. It comes in one huge log. We prefer to slice the roll and then put the extra in the freezer. We can then just remove one piece at a time. 

As you can tell between chickens/Coop, work, helping Chef Nicky, and everything in between it was a fun filled week.  

Last but not least I am sure you're all on the edge of your seats wondering how the cleanse is going... we are currently in week two and as you can see from our dinner we have adopted the philosophy that it is all about balance!!!!

You know what I mean.  Eat homemade pizza then FLUSH it out with cabbage!!!

Spring Cleanse...and I'm not talkin' about the house!

This may be T.M.I. but a couple times a year we break down and try to detox.  I'm not saying that we don't slip up here and there but I say we get an "E" for effort.  The last time I was at Trader Joe's I bought their Complete Body Cleanse.  It is a GENTLE two week cleanse that doesn't starve you.  It does recommend reducing the intake of processed foods, beef, pork, dairy, wheat, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, potatoes, saturated fats and artificial sweeteners.  Ok, that just about rules everything out BUT we try our best.  Needless to say we eat A LOT of vegetable soup.  It isn't on the NO-NO list and it is low in calorie.  So after the two weeks we are not only cleaner but we are usually a little leaner as well!!  It's like getting a two for one special.

We are currently on day three of the cleanse and YUP you guessed it, vegetable soup for dinner.  It is one of my favorites so I didn't mind.

PS: I will never be able to stay away from dairy!!! oh, and wheat!

YES... it was Delish!!

Well the warm weather day before yesterday was just a teaser. Yesterday back to the 30's and possibility of snow tonight.  On a brighter note I wanted to share some pictures from the canning we did the other night. Last night we went to my mother in laws house and had homemade spaghetti and meatballs with some of the sauce we canned and it was DELISH! I think we decided it was even better than what we canned in 2012.  It is so nice and convienent to be able to come home and pop open a jar of homemade sauce. Since we can so much at a time it last at least a year if not longer. Well WORTH it!!

Sauce ready for Jars

Packing the Jars

Double canners going!!

After 3 rounds in the canner...DONE!!

Oh so worth it!! Give it a try sometime. 

The house is a Poppin'

Wow what a BEAUTIFUL day we had here today.  After getting over five inches of snow last week it was almost 70 degrees today.  Must have been something in the air but this weather put us in the canning mood.  While our nephew Max kept the chickens on their toes this afternoon Nicky started the process of homemade tomato and pizza sauce.  I don't think any one would argue that nothing taste better than homemade....anything!!!  When I got home from work Nicky had the sauce almost ready for the jars.  It could be a one man process but we like the two man/woman method.  Ya know... BONDING time!! Dr. Phil says it's important (kidding, I don't watch Dr. Phil). After all was said and done we canned about 11 gallons between the tomato and pizza sauce combined. I have to say the most satisfying part of the day is when the house starts a "poppin".  Anyone who has canned before knows exactly what I am talking about.  After the cans are removed from the pressure cooker they slowly start to seal. Once they "POP" the process is complete. So tonight I just wanted to let ya know that the house is a "poppin".

Pictures to follow!!

One Rooster Down...

Over the past few weeks I have been trying to find a home for a few of my Roosters.  I posted on Craigslist and finally got a call this week.  As soon as I called the person back I started freaking out inside my head wondering what they were going to do with a Rooster if they bought one.  The one he would be buying was hatched from eggs that my Bantam hens had laid right here in my own coop!!  

First Eggs hatched, the chick in back sold today.

Roosters are typically hard to get rid of because you do not need as many roosters as you do hens.  So when the guy called I asked him if he already had chickens to feel him out on what his plans were for this Rooster.  I wanted to try my best to make sure he was not buying them to fight or torture???  After two days of worrying today was the final straw.  I gave the guy my address and hoped for the best.  In the end it worked out very well; he was a teenage boy with plenty of hens to keep my little Rooster happy.  

After he left the other Roosters were looking around as if they couldn't quite figure out what just went down... they are probably having nightmares tonight about whether they are getting carted off tomorrow!! Everyone better be on their best behavior or THEY could be next!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a wonderful start to your week.

FYI: in case you wondered what's for dinner....Turkey POT PIE!!