Apricot Jam and canned Apricots

Today, Lily and I canned 13 16oz jars of Apricot Jam.  We also canned 4 quarts of halved apricots.  The jam set up better than the strawberry Lauren and I made a few weeks ago.  I can't wait to try it.

Forgot the little chicks outside this evening.  It was about 10 PM when I remembered.  They were jsut sitting on the ground by the door to the shed.  I think they knew that was where they stay.

I have found a place for the quail.  We will be giving them to the lady that works at Del's.  She is taking all 7 of them.  then, we can put the chickens in their cage and expand it to fit them all.

Bloomin flowers

We now have a sunflower that is blooming.  It seems to be way ahead of all the rest of them.  I thought they would be about 4-5 feet tall but they are only like 2 feet tall, if that.

Think I shall go let the chicks out for a while.  Let them run around for an our or so..  And pray they don't get lost in the yard.

Neck still hurts.  Been hurting bad for about five days now.  August 3d can't get here soon enough.  

Garden is coming along GREAT!!

Just about ready to pick a bell pepper in the garden.  Its the biggest pepper I have ever gotten in the garden.  There are also some zucchinis growing and should be ready to pull in a few days.  Spinach is coming up good too.

Took the little chicks out today to run in the yard for a few minutes.  Still a bit cold for them, yet.  they aren't fully feathered yet, so will still have to wait a week or so...

With the quail, I am pretty sure there are 4 males and one female i this batch.  not even close to the #s I wanted.  I was hoping for 5 females.  Oh well.  Might try again next year.  then again, we might be done with quail.  We'll see, I guess.

Camping, chickens, and eggs

So, after camping for a week up on mount rainier, I am back.  Yesterday, Lauren and I canned 33 pounds of cherries.  Well, it was more like 30 pounds because I ate a LOT on the way home.

And today, I made a peach pie and an apple pie.  Tanya is taking them to the ocean with her for her sorority sisters.  i hope she has some left to bring back home.  But I am betting there won't be any.

I think in about a week or so, we will be able to let the 2 younger chickens out and let them live with the older ones.  Not sure if they are male of female yet.  I'm hoping they are female, of course.  Because its the eggs we are after.

The baby quail are not so baby now, either.  I think there are 4 males and a female.  that would suck.  Because I really don't want only 2 females and 5 males.  Again, its all about the eggs.  Garden is coming along great.  chickens will get locked up in their own little pen on or about the 1st of August.  Then, we will have no more chicken bombs on the back porch.

So, I've been a bit busy again for the last few.  Now, I hope, I can start posting here daily.  (That is, iffin I remember to)

We now have 5 new quail out in the brooder in the shed.  And we also now have 4 chicken eggs in the bator.  They've been in there for a week, so, it should be about 14 days till we have new chicken fun.  the egg colours are green/blue, white, and 2 browns.  I think I am gonna need to find someone with an olive-egger to add variety to our selection of yummy eggs. 

Lily didn't let the chickens out the other day and I didn't notice it until about 2PM.  Now, they are starting to lay more in the hen house.  I hope they stay doing that. 

Hatching quail and finding eggs.

So, for a few days now (7-8) we have only gotten one egg every other day or so.  Been wondering where they were laying them.  Found a small pile of 8 eggs today, though.  Not sure how old they are, so not gonna eat em. 

Also today, we are on day 24 with the quail.  So far, we have had 4 hatch and one egg is ready to open.  So, we are almost at 5 out of the 12.  Brooder is set up and all is well so far.  But, I need to find my red light.  I only know, right now, where the white light is because it was in the quail pen from the winter.  Once it is found, I'll put it on the chicks so they are not aggressive. 

     Well, here we are on the 24th of may.  Haven't been here in a while, so, obviously, much to say. 

     For starters, I am a grandfather.  Kylee had her baby.  6 lbs 14oz. 

     My back is still screwed up.  Hurts when I sleep.  And still doing PT for it. 

     2 days ago was the due date for the quail.  None have hatched yet.  However, after looking this morning, Lily has seen one that has a small hole in it.  So, we should have at least one quail later.  Guess its time to set up the brooder for them.

     Went camping last weekend.  Was a great time, but missed Tanya lots while away.  Will be going camping in 9 days with the scouts again.  Gonna be doing some fishing,  I guess I will meed to get my license renewed.  And I think it is gonna cost me an extra $10 because I didn't send in my crab endorsement.  Why, exactly, I have a crab endorsement, I don't know.

     Not sure what else I missed.  Iffin I think of anything else, I'll get back on here and write some more.

I;m BAAAaaaa....

After 2 weeks, I is back.

We spent a week down at Disneyland with Lily.  She loved it.  Then, after getting back, I found that my computer was dead.  So, been screwing around trying to get it going/get something going.  Now, I have the old laptop hooked in with the big screen. 

So.  This is what's been going on:  Lily now has 2 customers for eggs.  We just got back from Aunt DeDe's.  She loves em.  And, of course, our original customer at King's Row Antiques.   We have put some new eggs in the incubator.  There are 10 of them.  And they are from our own quail this time.  We haven't seen the quail getting busy, so, we are not sure if they are fertile or not.  fut, being there are 2 males and one female, our odds are good.  They are on day 3 right now. 

Lily's b-day was yesterday.  It was pretty laid back until she told her cousin that she didn't get anything from mom and dad yet.  We had to have a sit down with her about Disneyland....

That's about it for now.

Mickey-bound!!

Today, we got 4 eggs from the chickens and one quail egg.  On Friday, we will be trying to hatch some more quail.  Friday is the day we get back from Disneyland.  We are leaving to head there tomorrow morning.  In fact, in less than 9 hours now. 

We told Lily today because she kept asking about the suit cases and why we had them out.  I think she is excited to go.  There was much screaming, jumping, and hugging to be done.  I don't think we are going to have a computer down there, so thins will be the last day for blogging until we are back.

Wishing everyone a great week, because I know mine will be!!!!!

Quail egs

For the last 3 days, we have gotten 4 eggs.  Which works out great.  Getting a dozen eggs every 3 days, that is.  Tanya also got 3 quail eggs this morning.  When we get back from Disneyland (We leave on Monday) we will get all the quail eggs we have and try hatching them.  Think that would be great if we got a few more females to help with the egg production from the quail.

Eggs, of course

2 days ago, we got 5 eggs.  Yesterday, we also got 5 eggs, though only 4 made it into the house.  Lily go to the back door and dropped one.  The chickens ran over like velociraptors to wolf it down.  I had Lily shoo them away while I got the hose.  Cleaned it up and put the eggs in the fridge.  Today, we got 3 eggs.  So, in the last 3 days, over a dozen eggs.  I am very happy with that.  That doesn't mean I don't want to get some more chicks, though.  To help Lily make a few extra dollars every week.

That's it for today.

Pain and bees

Much pain as of late.  Woke up on Easter Sunday and my back hurt...BAD.  Didn't get to go to the doctor until Monday.  Went back on Tuesday because it hurt even worse. 

Yesterday, we did a little work in the back yard.  Well, Tanya and Lily did lots of work, and I only planted a few dozen starters in egg shells and also in little pots.  Planted a ton of Lemon Queen Sunflowers.  They are the plants that are used in this study:  http://www.greatsunflower.org/.  I planted 3 packages of them this year.  I hope they all come up and do great.

Also planted a bunch of Sun Gold cherry tomatoes.  We grew some last year and they are incredible...  Need another bag of seedling starter dirt and then I can plant the cukes and zucchinis.  We should have them in spades this year.  Then, on the first of May, I will be putting in my first raised bed.  I can't wait till we get that going.

Easter!

Woke up at about 3AM this morning.  Didn't really think about what a great day it was gonna be.  I woke up because of the pain in my neck/shoulder.  Finally got back to sleep at about 5:30.  Woke up again at about 8:30 and headed to the store to get some icy hot.  Its not really doing that great of a job.

However, its Easter and its sunny.  When I went out at 8:30, it wasn't quite sunny yet but I did go out in a t-shirt and was very comfortable.  So, today WILL be a great day of yummy food, super family, and everything else that is involved with Easter.  Then later, iffin my neck don't keep hurting, I might mow mom's lawn. 

Happy Easter and God bless, everyone!!

Rhubarb and quail

Its gonna be a great year for rhubarb pie this year.  This is one of 5 plants we have..and they are only on their 2nd year!

We released this little guy today.  He has been outcast by the other 2 and spends very little time with them.  Today, he was hiding and tried to fly through the chicken wire.  He bloodied his beak.  So, I took him out and put him under the blackberries.  This picture is the last I saw of him...  Also, I think when we end up losing the other 2 quail, we are done with them now. 

Quiche

Today, I made Quiche.  3 quiche, to be exact.  2 of them are mushroom, sausage, and garlic.  they are gonna be delicious.  The other one is eggplant, zucchini, and Swiss cheese.  Also gonna be yummy.  they are for tomorrow.  This upcoming week, I have to make some more quiche for Tanya's department chair meeting.  That will probably be 2-3 more, I guess. 

We finally got 5 eggs all in one day all in the same place today.  And all in the RIGHT place.  Namely, in the back basket.  Lily went and got em.  As she was walking towards me, she said:  I have a cracked egg. I picked it up and dropped it.  then, when I picked it up again, I dropped it again.  When I picked it up after that, it was broke.  So, I had some quiche makings left for Tuesday night's quiche cooking so I put it in there.

Dogs and chickens

So, my oldest daughter went with Josh to Dallas for a yellow ribbon ceremony.  Then they went to AZ to see his kin.  And we got stuck with the dog.  Koda has been chewing on Biscuit for a whole week now.  We can't let them out together because they wrestle in the mud.  and when Koda is out, we have to watch him the whole time because he likes to chase the chickens.

On Wednesday, Lily sold her first dozen eggs to a lady at King's Row Antiques.  The lady asked that Lily bring in eggs on every Wednesday.  And she will give her 2 dollars per dozen.  Lily is very excited to have this little job.  She said she only needs $5,000.  When we picked up the pool noodles in Gig Harbour, it was at a pool store.  She saw a beautiful hot tub there for 5k.  So, that is what she wants to use her money for...I can't wait!

Today, Tanya and I were going to be gone all day and as we left, we say 2 Bald Eagles flying over the wetlands.  So, we put the chicken feeder in the quail pen and left them there for a few hours.  Upon getting home, everything was just peachy.  No missing chickens.  No dead quail.  So we might start doing this more often.  We also might make the pen bigger and put them in there on a permanent basis, too...That would keep them off the back porch.

GREAT!!!

Today, shall be a great day!  I get to be the Watch D.O.G. S. dad today.  I also shall be doing my normal volunteering in the morning and afternoon.  On top of that, I get to volunteer at the school's book fair.  Should be a busy day.  Tanya won't be getting home until late because she has to bring the robot for the FIRST robotics competition to Seattle.

We got 5 eggs yesterday.  Lily grabs her basket every day and goes out to get them.  Its a huge celebration when she comes back in with 5 eggs.  The problem is:  We have 3 dozen eggs in the fridge now.

Lastly, and, I think, most importantly:  I HAVE A FOLLOWER!!!

And lastly...again...Yesterday, Lily said:  "Mommy told me that when you went to war, you got something in your brain.  That is why you yell at me sometimes."  All I can say is:  Ouch!  Anyhow, its not going to stop the great day today sooooo....  TTFN!!!!
 

Today, we only had 2 eggs.  Yesterday, we had 4.  I delivered the last of the girl scout cookies today.  Finally done now.  And, we have a few boxes left over...WOOT!!!

I need to soak the new plants we got tomorrow and then plant them.  Its a few different raspberry plants.  Some golden ones and some red too.  I can't wait for a couple years to pass so we are getting berries every year... I also need to finish the willow tree.  Its been windy and rainy so Josh and I haven;t been willing to take the rest of it out...  Hopefully, we can get it out of here this week and we can reclaim our back yard...

Steady Layers

Yesterday, we had 5 eggs.  Today, we also had 5 eggs.  We are getting 3 in the back crate and 2 in the front crate.  Kiwi has started laying in the front crate now.

I have put a piece of plywood over the back crate to give my ladies some more protection against the rain.   Now, they will only get rained on while they are moving to the crate. 

We haven't received any more visits from the ostrich lately.  I think it was just a bad day for one of them followed by a worse day trying to pass that huge thing.

In other news:  I filled out 4 brackets for March Madness.  Of the 4, three of them are now crap.  In the 4th one, I didn't pick any of the 15-2 upsets, but neither did anyone else.  So, it is fairly decent still.  Of the 10 million that are filled out on ESPN, it is in the top 200k....So, I am kinda proud of that.  Of course, that is the bracket that is picked all the favored teams in..so its not like I really picked anything.

Word for the day on Saturday:  PINCH!!!
And the word on the bad on Sunday:  Planting (As in:  Chris is planting raspberry plants in the rain and snow!)

TTFN

Pictures

This is the super sized egg we got from one our ladies.  Stress caused her to go a day without laying one.  When we cooked it, it had 2 yolks in it.  I am wondering if the egg would be even bigger if she went 2 days without laying.  And would it have 3 yolks?  

In other news...We got 4 eggs today.  I think that the new area they are laying in needs to be better protected.  Kiwi, out Americauna, laid her green egg next to the house today.  She has usually been laying them out behind the shed.  So, if it ever stops raining, I'll have to put a board over it. 

Ostrich eggs

     Today, I went out and looked in the back laying box and saw Kiwi, out Americauna, in there paying (I would presume)  About an hour later I went and looked and she was still in there.  However, she had been joined by Frodo, our huge Silkie.  I'm not sure how they both fit in there, but they did.  One facing each way.  A few hours later, I went and checked on the eggs and there were 3 in there.  (There were 2 in the front laying bow) 

      The thing about these 3 eggs is:  One of them was bigger than the other 2 combined.  And it wasn't because the other 2 were small.  They were normal egg sized like you would get in a carton of large AA eggs at the store.  The other one was jsut that big...Like...HUGE!!!  I will get a picture of it and post it tomorrow.  So, not really sure what would cause that...unless it was because whoever dropped that egg didn't lay yesterday.  So, its like a double-sized egg.  After I get a picture of it, I am going to cook it.  Because I really want to see if there are 2 yolks in it. 

     Thats it for tonight...even though its actually tomorrow already.  1:109 in the morning.  Too late to keep typing.  Nighty night, all.

Sad day.

Today was a sad chicken day.  Ginger, the only remaining original chicken we had was killed last night.  I forgot to lock them up in their house and something went in and attacked.  There were feathers in the hen house, and in a few other places throughout the yard.  I found her carcass in the compost pile.  I think the others had been pecking at her before I found it.

As a result of the scare the others got, we only had 2 eggs.  The others spent much of the day under the blackberries hiding.  Except when I fed them, of course.

Eggs, eggs, and more eggs

     Yesterday, I found 3 eggs total.  This was making me think that I still needed to find where the others were laying.  However, today, I found one under the back window (where we have been getting them) and later in the day, I found FIVE!!!! in the new area.  That means all the eggs are accounted for.  
     I put 2 milk crates out on Sunday where I found the new little stash.  Today, all 5 of the eggs were in the more protected of the 2 milk crates.  Before the crates, they were laying them in a little area that was protected by a board leaning against the shed.  I removed the eggs and the board.
     So, now we are in the eggs and Lily is ready to start selling them. 

Finally!!!

After a few days off, I am back:

Today, I decided to take out some black berry plants.  They have taken over a corner of the yard that 2 years ago had been cleaned out.  Now, there are plants that are thicker than one inch.  So, I got the thick gloves, the cutters, and the chain saw.  I had taken out an area of about4-5 square meters and what did I see?  EGGS!!!!    Finally, I have found where the others have been laying their eggs.  There must have been at least 50 of them.  (I plan on counting them as I break off the tops to use the shells for seed starts.) 

Now, our friends and family will really love us!!  We will start delivering eggs to them.  Having 6 chickens, i am guessing that we will be getting about 10-12 eggs every other day.  I am certain my cholesterol will not be able to hadnle that.  So, Lily will be selling any surplus and family will get some too.  I am SO happy to finally have found them.  Now, if someone wants to earn a few dozen eggs, I have some black berry plants that need to be taken out...Any takers?  Please?

Sickos in the house

Stayed home with Lily today.  Still fighting the big D.  She went out at about 10 this morning and grabbed the eggs, though.  There was a light brown and a dark brown.  They were already cold.  So, they must have been laid much earlier than that.

Josh picked Biscuit up to go to the dog park with him and Koda.  So, no dog chasing the chickens today.  Hopefully, it will be dry tomorrow so Josh and I can take out the rest of the tree. 

Missing eggs

Today, Josh, my son-in-law, came over to cut aa tree down and also to take a bunch of things to the yard waste yard.  We didn't get any eggs today because of this.  I think it was the sound of the chain saw withing about 15-20 feet of where my ladies lay their eggs.  Of course, it could have been from being chased by Koda, Josh's dog.  Koda hasn't learned that the chickens are taboo yet.  He'll figure out why he keeps getting yelled at while he stares at them.

Josh and I also took a a huge amount of blackberry bushes.  Unfortunately, we still have about 20 huges left to take out.  Eventually, we will find where the rest of the ladies are laying their eggs. 

I think we are going to have to build a pen for the ladies.  Tanya doesn't want them on the porch.  Neither do I, cause I am the one who will have to clean up the poo.  We have to clean out the 20 other huges of berry plants first, though.  Then, I'll have room for chicken pen, quail pen, and garden. 

Ordered seeds yesterday.  Not all the seeds I plan on getting, but most of em.

BBQ sauce

Today, I made BBQ Sauce.  I made 2 different types.  One, I call Double Smoked BBQ.  I use 2t of liquid smoke and 1t smoked Paprika.  2 1/2 cups ketchup, one small onion, 1 large Anaheim pepper, 1t ground mustard, 2t Worcestershire sauce, 2t EVOO, 2 cloves garlic, minced, and a little pepper. 

Put the peeled onion and the seeded pepper in a food processor and mince the crud out of it.  Then put all the ingredients in the Kitchen Aide and mix it.

Then put it on the stove on medium until it starts to bubble, then turn it down to low and simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Stir as needed to keep it from burning.

Variations would be: 
1:  Add a hot pepper in the for some heat.
2:  Add some corn starch to thicken it. 

On the chicken front, we got 2 eggs today.  1 light brown and one dark brown.  So, we now know that we have 3 chickens at least laying...

Tomorrow:  Maybe more cooking.  Salsa maybe

Missin' Chicken.

Went out to feed the feathered pigs and couldn't find one.  Thought we might have lost one in the night.  All day, we only had 5 and one of the Silkies was jsut not around...I checked over the fences...under the black berries, everywhere (I thought).  Round about 4 in the after noon, I let out Biscuit and who do I see, all 6 chickens. 

On the egg front, we got a green and a dark brown today...still only know where the 2 are laying...will look some more tomorrow.

Squawkin Chicken

Had Josh over today to help take out the storm-wracked willow tree.  As we are cutting, Lovie is loosing her mind.  Squawcking and moving between the back yard and the area they have laid their eggs.  I was wondering if that was why she was so vocal.  We stopped for a few minutes and sure enough, she decides to have a seat in the laying area...took her quite a while to finally lay the egg, but we got one. 

Now, if the others would follow her example, I would be a happy chicken camper.  Ddaisies tomorrow...then, finish off the tree...Maybe I will cut down the cherry in the front too...Just to get rid of the darm thing.

The eggs are where?

A little bit of an update before I get into the egg issue:

We now have 6 chickens, 0 ducks, and 4 quail.  We lost the duck to an unknown attacker a month ago.  We lost one chicken to an unknown attacker about 2 months ago, and we lost 2 quail about 2 weeks ago.  No idear what killed the quail..

So, the eggs:  A few days ago, I found where the chickens have been laying their eggs.  It is just on the edge of the brambles by the porch.  This is good because they are not getting on the porch as much.  Its bad, however, because its not in their house yet.  I found a little stash of about 30 eggs.  Its great because I now know they are laying...however, after picking them up, I don't know where they have moved their laying area to. 

So, tomorrow, I think I shall go on a chicken egg hunt...Maybe then we can get some yummy goodness that is fresh eggs.