Blog design

#22 on my BUCKET LIST!! 

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I want my blog to stand out - to be different - to be noticed and to be something that "fits" me, my family and what I write about. I can't afford to pay someone to do it and I was getting frustrated trying to figure it out on my own. I stalked some of my friends pages and found out that people make pre-made or blog templates for a low fee - about $20! PERFECT!!!!!

But I can't find one that just screams....PICK ME - PICK ME!!!! I want something that is "country" looking and since I have chickens - I would LOVE to have something with a chicken or egg theme but something family looking too!!!!

I've seen a lot of owls!! Why owls? I've seen lots of victorian styles and modern styles but I haven't seen anything "country" looking!!!!

The search in on........

A broody hen is a crazy chicken

I had my first hen go broody on me. She hid a nest in the chicken coop and managed to lay 10 eggs before I found them. We don't have a Rooster so of course the eggs weren't fertilized. Therefore, I had to take them away. They were unusable because they had froze and the shells cracked leaving it easy for bacteria to become present. I felt horrible taking the eggs away from her and she certainly didn't make me feel any better about it. She ran around that coop squawking and searching for them for almost 2 days.

In case you don't know, a broody hen is one who feels in the need to have babies.She will continue to lay eggs until she has about ten and then she will stop laying. At this point, she feels she has a large enough clutch (or group of eggs), and begin incubating the eggs. Nature has designed it so that all of the eggs will hatch at the same time, even though they were layed over several days.

We are now averaging about 2 eggs a day but pretty soon we should be up to about 10 eggs a day! Be sure to keep up with the egg counter that I have started. It is on the left side of this blog!

Zesty Horseradish Carrots

Recipe is taken for: Dinner$ on a Dime = Gooseberry Patch  page 82

An easy make-ahead dish. Assemble it the night before and refrigerate, then pop it in the oven just before serving.

6-8 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 T. onion, grated
2 T. creamy horseradish sauce
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper

Cover carrots with water in a saucepan; cook for 6-8 minutes over medium heat. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Combine carrots, reserved cooking liquid and remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9"x9" baking pan; sprinkle with topping. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Make 6 servings

Topping:
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 T. butter, softened
1/8 t. paprika

Combine ingredients; mix until crumbly

This was excellent. The horseradish wasn't "too" much. Great side dish that I would make again!!

Our House - it's a very fine house!

#13 ON THE BUCKET LIST!!!!

A few months ago we decided to put our house on the market. It's a great house and we love our house! But it just doesn't seem to fit our needs anymore! We have neighbors here even though we are considered to be in the "town of Bainbridge" or the country as some might describe it. Most of you know that I have 3 smaller, very loud and energetic children. Not to mention a dog that like to bark....a lot! I always feel like I'm (we) are disturbing our neighbors. We have our eyes on a "new to us place". There are no neighbors, just a couple of cow pastures! Don't get me wrong - we aren't going to be completely secluded, there are people just across the road. But this new house seems to fit us better. There is a two car garage - a HEATED two car garage. The basement is finished and is just screaming for the attention of my husband and my kids! There is plenty of room for my chickens to be free-range, as well as our dog! And most importantly, all of the kids could have their own rooms if they so desired! It's in the same school district too!

I really do love our current house. Especially my kitchen which we designed ourselves!!

We've had one person come to look at it and they loved it! BUT they have a dining set that is a family heirloom that they just can't get rid of and it won't fit in our dining room :( We just had another call from a Realtor and someone is going to be coming tomorrow to look at it! YAY!!!! OUR SECOND SHOWING!!!! Here are some more pictures! And if by chance you are interested - let me know!!!!

My life - wouldn't have it any other way!

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of this! Please notice: the EMPTY toothpaste box, the EMPTY tube of the toothpaste and the trash can sitting about 1 foot away! Gotta love my family :) 

I guess these are the things that you deal with as a stay-at-home-mom! Or any mom......

Luscious Lemon Bars

Luscious Lemon Bars

2-1/4 cup all-purpose flour divided
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix 2 cups flour, powdered sugar and butter; press into a greased 13"x9" baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes; cool. Whisk eggs and lemon juice together. Sift sugar, remaining flour and baking powder; mix with egg mixture. Pour over baked crust and return to oven. Bake for an additional 25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Makes 16

I made these last night and broke of a piece to try. They taste so YUMMY!!!! I let them cool overnight and this morning I tried to cut them. I found that they aren't coming out of the baking pan as easily as I would have hoped. I've put them back into the oven and I'm going to cook a bit longer to see if that makes a difference. I'll be sure to update!!

Brooklinn's 18 month check-up and SNOW

Brooklinn had her 18 month check-up yesterday! I can't believe that my little baby is already 1 1/2 years old! It seems like just last week she was waking up several times a night - oh wait....she was!!!! She has learned so much in the past 18 months and amazes me more everyday. I cannot believe how much she loves her big sissy JJ. I wish you could see how excited she gets when she hears the bus pull up out from at 3:24!! She starts screaming and running through the house, yelling JJ!! JJ!! JJ!!

She is starting to get a little too independent for me though and it makes me a little nervous at her lack of fear! Last night I left her in the well and capable (but not so watchful) eyes of her father - I had to run out to the chicken coop to put them to bed. In the 5 minutes (maybe) that I was gone, Brooklinn managed to go upstairs in her room and grab a handful of clothing. When I looked she was WALKING back down the stairs!!!! I hate kids and stairs - it's an accident waiting to happen and I don't want it to happen!!

We got about 6 inches of snow the night before last. It wasn't enough to close school but it was enough to keep Eian and JJ busy last night for a few hours. It was my plan to take Brooklinn out too but the wind started to blow and I deemed it too cold for her! We don't have any mountains on our property but we do have 1 very small "hill" and the deck stairs. The 2 of them kept busy sliding down the deck stairs for most of the evening. I overheard a discussion between the two of them when they came in to get warm. They were considering "sleigh riding" down the stairs in the house! Thankfully, I overheard this conversion and put the 2 of them straight! THERE WILL BE NO SLEIGH RIDING INSIDE THIS HOUSE!!! I posted about this on the Facebook wall and I was surprised to read about how many of my friends have actually done this! I don't know why I never about it when I was younger!!