Friday, February 15, 2013

Gilbert and Sam came by last night.  He has won a trip to the Daytona 500 next week.  He wanted to borrow a suitcase and a camera.  I loaned him Helen's suitcase and Junior's camera.  He is coming back Sunday because he needs to get Kelly's stock trailer.  If he had told me when he called he was needing the trailer, I could have saved him a trip to Kelly's.  By the time he went to Kelly's then came on over here he decided to come back Sunday for the trailer.  

A chicken hawk got the little rooster today.  I will have to leave them locked up for a while, or just let them out a short time in the evening when I can watch them.  I guess if I want to set eggs this spring, I will have to borrow them for Chicken woman.

Thursday, February 14

Along Chicken Road...

I did put Vaseline on the chickens legs in addition to the 7 dust.  She is still limping, but the legs and feet actually look a little better now.  The rooster had the same problem a few months ago, but he got all better.  I can see some of this on his legs also, but he does not limp.  I may treat both the hen and the him tonight.  

The chickens actually look very pretty and healthy.  Helen needs to quit worrying about them.

And, the bread I made was really good.  I will post the recipe later this weekend or sometime.  If I put recipes here, I can always find them.

I am looking forward to a weekend off, but I think it is supposed to get cold again tonight.  It was 60 degrees here today.

Wednesday, February 13

Patsy is making bread and so am I.  The cracked wheat I made last week was really good, but too salty and did not rise as much as I wanted.  Tomorrow is V day and we are having a food day at work.  I am taking turkey and cheese for sandwiches and cracked wheat bread if it turns out good.  If it is not good, I will buy bread and not tell anyone.  And, I will post the recipe here so I will know where to find it next time.

I am enjoying using the mixer making bread.  I do have to measure the liquid and flour a little more with the mixer because I have trouble knowing how much flour is enough.  I have always went by 'feel' when adding flour to yeast bread. I cannot feel how much flour is in the mixer.  I am getting a better idea of the right 'look' of the dough in the mixer.  I think today's bread will be good.  I am sure it will be better than Patsy's.

Here is a recipe for muffins I made Sunday.  I found a recipe on the web and then added cracked wheat and streusel topping.  They were really good.  You could add nuts, but I did not have nuts on hand.  They were really, really good.

Banana Streusel  Muffins, adapted from Stupid Web Recipe

Makes 12 muffins

Streusel Topping

Mix 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon margarine until curmbly

1/3 cup softened cracked wheat [bulgur]

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 or 4 bananas mashed

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract       

 

1.                  To soften cracked wheat [bulgur], heat 3 cups water to boiling, mix in 1 cup bulgur, heat on low for about 10 minutes until all moisture is absorbed by the wheat.  Measure out what your recipe calls for.  Freeze the excess in a freezer bag.  To use from freezer, bang bag of frozen wheat on the counter to loosen it up, and warm what you need to use in the microwave.  Return excess to freezer.  These instructions were inspired by a recipe I found on the web that called for 3 cups plus 1 teaspoon of water to a cup of wheat.  The teaspoon of water is just stupid.

2.                   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

3.                   Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add softened cracked wheat.  In a separate bowl, beat together banana, sugar, egg and vanilla. Stir in the sour cream [I used yogurt]. Stir banana mixture into flour until just combined. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.  

4.                   Spoon a little topping mix on each muffin.  

5.                    Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean. EAT.  The eat instructions were inspired by the original recipe that called for letting them cool completely and store in airtight container overnight before eating.  That is just stupid.

Monday, February 11, back to work

Sunday, when I checked the chickens, their feed and water containers were both overturned and empty.  I scolded all the kids and told them to leave the chickens alone. I was sure they were running and chasing the chickens and did this.

Today, George was cleaning out the chicken house and I was standing guard making sure he was safe when along came this character above sticking his nose in the chicken feed container that George had set outside the pen while he cleaned.  I guess I will need to apologize to the kids.

George has worked on the fence, so maybe big bully will stay in a little better.  George was going to take him home as he seems to have done what he came over here for, but I think we should keep him another month or so since George told Linda he would keep him until March.

This is the reason George was cleaning the chicken house.  See her feet and legs?  They look like have ugly growth all over them and she has been limping.  I asked Chicken woman about this last week.  She said she will either get better or die. Big help!  Google says it is scaly leg mites.  The chicken crazies said to bring her in the kitchen and give her a bath with dawn and vinegar in my sink then use my hair blow dryer to dry her.  Not! Then, coat her feet and legs in Vaseline every day for a week.  Oh, and treat all the others also, just in case.  Not happening.  

Finally, I found a sensible answer to use sevin dust and dog flea and tick treatment.  I got sevin  at Evans and we sprinkled everything after 'we' cleaned the pen.  Tomorrow, I will look at wallyworld for some kind of spray on flea treatment.

And, she will ether live over the treatment or not.

Sunday, February 10, Oh Happy Day...