Snow this morning!!!

Can't believe how fast time is going and how long it has been since I have posted on my blog.  Hope everyone had a great Christmas.  We really had a lot of fun with the grandchildren this year. 

I had to get my camera out this morning with all the beautiful snow on the ground.  I close my goats and Cora Bell up in the barn at night now that it is cold.  Cora Bell likes sleeping with the girls.  She comes right in the barn when it time for me to close the doors.  As soon as I get to the barn of the mornings, I let her out.

Do you see Cora Bell in the snow?  She is the dot almost in the center of the picture.  Every morning she goes all around the pasture checking things out before she eats her breakfast.  Usually barks a few times to let everyone know she is back to work.

                             

Of course the girls will not go out in the snow. All they want is a little attention from me and their breakfast.  They are such amazing animals.  Just look at those adorable faces.  From right to left is Lahaina, Rosie, Isley and Maisie.  I think that is the top of Tia's head.  Tia is investigating the camera. 

Columbus Ships

http://www.thenina.com/

Jeff and I went to Newport on the Levee this past week with our son and his family.  We went with other home-school families taking a tour of the Columbus ships, Nina and Pinta, docked there.  The Nina is suppose to be built the exact replica of the original Columbus ship.  We had a great tour guide with lots of information and of course, Christoper Columbus was there. If you get a chance go see them.

My granddaughter took the pictures below.  She has been interested in the camera and taking pictures since she was two years old.  Claudia is a wonderful little 6 year old now. 

Easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan

My daughter-in-law said this is a much easier recipe.

 

Easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1857

Ingredients: 

• 1 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick pieces (about eight)
• 2 eggs, beaten with a fork
• 1 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (sundried tomato or plain)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil*
• 1 jar pasta sauce (roasted vegetable or any variety)*
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese*
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Method: 

Preheat oven with a baking sheet inside to 375°F. Coat eggplant slices with beaten egg, then bread with panko crumbs. Spread oil on hot baking sheet and place eggplant slices on it in a single layer. Bake 15 minutes, flip and bake another 10 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 475°F. In an 8 x 10-inch ovenproof dish, layer pasta sauce, then eggplant, and top with cheeses. Repeat, finishing with cheese. Bake until the cheese melts and turns golden in spots, about 15 minutes

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Eggplant Parmesan http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/eggplant_parmesan/

Ingredients

• 2 lbs (about 2 large) eggplants
• Kosher salt
• 1 28-oz can whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• Olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 lbs of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
• 1 cup grated high quality Parmesan cheese
• 1 packed cup fresh basil leaves

Method

1 Cut eggplants lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange one layer in the bottom of a large colander and sprinkle evenly with salt. Repeat with remaining eggplant, salting, until all eggplant is in the colander. Weigh down the slices with a couple of plates and let drain for 2 hours. The purpose of this step is to have the eggplant release some of its moisture before cooking.
2 While the eggplant is draining, prepare tomato sauce. Combine tomatoes, garlic and 1/3 cup olive oil in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper to tasted and set aside.
3 When eggplant has drained, press down on it to remove excess water, wipe off the excess salt, and lay the slices out on paper towels to remove all the moisture. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine flour and breadcrumbs. Mix well. Pour beaten eggs into another wide shallow bowl. Place a large, deep skillet over medium heat, and pour in a a half inch of olive oil. When oil is shimmering, dredge the eggplant slices first in the flour mixture, then in the beaten egg. Working in batches, slide coated eggplant into hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Drain on paper towels.
4 Preheat the oven to 350°F. In the bottom of a 10x15 inch glass baking dish, spread 1 cup of tomato sauce. Top with one third of the eggplant slices. Top eggplant with half of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with one third of the Parmesan and half of the basil leaves.
5 Make a second layer of eggplant slices, topped by 1 cup of sauce, remaining mozzarella, half the remaining Parmesan, and all of the remaining basil. Add remaining eggplant, and top with the remaining tomato sauce and Parmesan.
6 Bake until cheese has melted and the top is slightly brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving.
Serves 8.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

  We helped our son and his family move in their first home yesterday.  So excited for Scott, Krystsina and boys.  But Jeff and I were exhausted today.  Had leftover Eggplant Parmesan for lunch, took a nap and then got my camera out.  We were not the only ones that were taking it easy today. Caught two of my many cats napping.
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The goats were out under their favorite tree again.  But of course when they see me that think it is feeding time. The bucks came running. It is starting to have that buck smell around here.  Not getting too close.

The bucklings came to see if I have feed for them.  

Girls came running too. 

                                                 Gave the girls some leaves.

Maz watching the girls.



Am I a cat lady?

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE A CAT LADY?  I have always had cats around the house.  Usually they are outside cats but I currently have one that lives in the house.  Susie is about 12 years old now.  She has never been a very friendly cat.  Tolerates me petting her once and awhile.  But it is amazing how she communicates what she wants and needs.

My son gave me two cats for the barn about four years ago.  I got busy and forgot to take them to the vet.  So they had kittens.  I really didn't mind having the little kittens.  My grandchildren just loved seeing and playing with them.  I gave away a couple of those kittens but just let the ones that I couldn't give away live in the barn. 

Recently the neighbors moved and left their cats.  I tried not to feed them or take care of them, I really did.  Needless to say we took on those 4 cats also.  The count now is 12 cats that live here. 

Goat Milk Stand

   People that come here to pick-up their kids (goats) often ask me about my milk stand.  Where did I get mine and why do I like this one more than a metal one?  Jeff built my milk stand for me about 10 years ago.  I love this one because it is low enough for the girls to easily jump up on even when they are very pregnant. I usually dry my girls off about two months before they kid, but they still need to have their hoofs trimmed or just to check on how things are going with them.  To do this you have to keep your goat stanchioned in a milk stand. 

    I hand milk all my girls. This milk stand is plenty wide enough for me to sit beside my goat while she is eating, I milk her out.  Also, I can use the milk stand as a stanchion for the goats to trim their hoofs. It is strong enough to hold both me and the goat. Plus the width of the stand is wide enough for me to walk all about the goat while trimming hoofs. Another very important thing I like about a heavy wooden milk stand is that it will not fall over if a goat gets scared and tries to get out.

   This milk stand is made out of all wood with no nails, we use carriage bolts and wood screws.  Please contact me if interested in purchasing one for your goats.

The dowels can be moved for different size goats.

The deck is 36 inches wide and 60 inches long.

Feeder bucket is also made in America.

Kidding Around

 

Kidding season is over for the year. Looks like we have a huge herd with all the kids in the mix.  They are so much fun to watch. 

This one is Topaz/Walker buckling. 

Our only blonde Leo kid born this spring, Rosie's little buckling.

Isley's little doe.

Topaz's other buckling. Yes, we had a few bucklings this year.

Amazingly Effective, Nontoxic Fly Repellant

by Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist on July 19, 2011

in Green living

Flies seem to be everywhere this time of year.  I was out at a local farm just yesterday and the flies were very noticeable and quite annoying as I went about my work.
Seeing all those flies reminded me of a simple, nontoxic and very effective fly repellant that I observed in action at one of my children’s field trips a couple of months ago.
The class was visiting a petting farm with a large open barn where donkeys, horses, goats and other livestock were available for the children to observe and interact with.
Despite so many animals in a small semi-enclosed area, there were no flies buzzing around!   Curious, I asked the owner about this and he pointed to plastic bags partially filled with water hanging over every stall.
He explained that a clear bag of water with a penny at the bottom would repel the flies very effectively.  He went on to explain that the “eye” of a fly is actually hundreds of eyes and the reflection of light on the bag of water keeps them away.
“Why the penny at the bottom of the bag?”, I asked.
Grandpa the farmer answered that he wasn’t exactly sure but the penny did seem to increase the effectiveness of the hanging bag of water alone.  He added that he didn’t know how many square feet of area each bag covered so he just put a bag over every animal stall to keep as many flies away as possible.
He also had put up a few bags over the picnic area and it was so nice to be able to eat lunch without flies swarming everywhere!
Try this fly repellant method for yourself!  If you do, please check back and let us know how it worked for you!   Please note that this only works for flies, not mosquitoes and other insects.

Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist.com

Garden Time

    The Iris's are blooming early this year because of the warm spring we are having here.  I really like these flowers and their sweet smell just wish they bloomed longer.  I plant several types of flowers in my vegetable garden and around the yard.  Jett, my grandson, was here on Monday. We walked all around looking at Momaw's flowers.  He is very gentle with the blooms and  for a almost two year old, he seems to appreciate all the beautiful colors.  Jett thought my snow peas, that are blooming, were Momaws flowers too. 

                                                    Jett saying cheese!!!

My snow peas are in full bloom right now. Purple Tip green beans and corn are

looking good so far. All depends on if we get rain when needed this summer.

Okay I can't stay completely away from goats.  Here is Leo looking at us.  The girls are out in the field enjoying all the green pasture.

                                       Popaw and Jett had to go visit LEEOO. 

Kids

Our kidding season is in full swing here.  Edie started us out with two very handsome bucklings. One looks like Walker and the other one looks like her.

Then Dominique had quads out in the field.  My first for a doe to have kids out in the field.  I just happened to look out my window and saw her standing with one kid by her feet.  I ran out to help her but she was doing fine on her own.  I put the first kid in my coat so it would stay warm, then here came the second.  Jeff came with towels as the third was being born.  The fourth came out right while we were drying number three.  Dominique did great with two spotted doelings and two handsome black bucklings.

Dominiques quads.

                                                  Bea's doeling and buckling.

Lahaina's triplets.

Jessie with one of her bucklings.

Jessie's doeling.

Jessies other buckling.

Isley's one huge beautiful doeling.

Farm Boots

I look all summer long at yard sales for any kind of boot that is waterproof for using to take care of my goats.  Love to get them for a reasonable or cheap is even better price.  I have been able to find some in the past but it seems that are getting harder to find. Finally broke down and bought not one but two pair of waterproof boots. 

One pair for the winter and one pair for the summer.  I usually purchase the Ladybug slip-on clogs from Jeffers for the summer.  Checked the price from Jeffers against some on line. Found out I could get them on line at a better price with free shipping and delivered right to my door.  It is hard for me to purchase things on line if I have never seen them in person. So the first thing I did was go to some shoe stores in Forence looking for waterproof boots.  Found the ones that fit everything I needed at Dicks Sporting Goods.  I wanted pull on boots for the winter that were insulated. These boots are made by Bogs. Here they are:

For my summer boots or shoes I ended up getting these.  I didn't really want this color, but the price was good.  And these are American Made Sloggers.

Nubian Goat Coffee Mug

Another one of my favorite things is pottery.  Pottery is part of our history and also it is art.  My neighbor at Flatcreek Wool and Pottery made this mug for me.  Notice the hoof print on the bottom and she did an excellent job with the shape of the ears.  Getting the nubian ears right is hard to do.

Dutch Discount

If you would like to take a nice country drive and visit a neat grocery store Dutch Discount is the place to go.  Dutch Discount is located in Vevay, Indiana.  It is a unique store and worth the visit. They sell bulk food and Amish made items.  You never know what you will find there.