Dust Up In The Coop!

Morgan and I both hurried over to the coop to see what the problem was because we heard lots of loud squawking and flapping and saw dust flying.


For a change I had my camera and could record the aftermath of a chicken dust up. It was getting dark and most of the hens had gone to roost. These bad girls were not dust bathing they were having a before bedtime  tantrum. 


The hens knocked over the oyster shell container during their squabble and by the time Morgan and I arrived they were still stomping around clucking loudly. The hens soon acted like their little set-to had never happened and went to bed.


We have been putting toys in this container as we unpack boxes and come across toys in good condition. Also I have been putting in clothing that can be used for dress up and odds and ends that I thought the grandkids might like to play with like the little teapot.


I did find a really neat set of jacks I ordered a long time back, but I can't remember if I ordered it for the girls or for a gift. No matter... it's mine now. I put the jacks in my box of stuff I'm keeping and as soon as I find it again I'll take some photos and post them.


In the '40's playing jacks was one of my favorite rainy day indoor games. I think I'll try playing again so I'll be ready to play against the kids. Or maybe I can get away with saying I'm playing jacks to improve my eye hand coordination?


I think I got a bit dehydrated yesterday because I was thirsty all day and very tired, so I didn't work outside. I actually managed to cook dinner. Well, if you can call dinner chicken soup. Lots of soup. I made enough for three days!


Every time I make soup it's different because I just use what I have on hand and this time I added something new... yams. The yams were supposed to be sweet potatoes, but there were none to be had so we got yams.


It has been too hot to bake them so they ended up in the soup. It was too hot to make soup too, but it was easier than anything else I could think of at the time. 
The yams are kind of hard to tell from the carrots, but they tasted fine in the soup. In fact I wouldn't have known they were there if I hadn't put them in the soup myself.


Tomorrow it is supposed to be down to 80 which will feel positively cool compared to the very hot temps we have had. So, back to unpacking boxes.


I'm still way behind reading and replying to comments and blogs. From the little reading I have done it seems that this is the time of year that a lot of bloggers get caught up in other things. I shouldn't feel guilty, but I do.

Peek at the Past

Quesadillas

Photos of how I make quesadillas.
(August 26, 2009)

[6 eggs today]

~:>

Smiles

Chicken And Dog Way

The chickens and Morgan decided that the driveway was the place to be! At this time of day things are cooling down a bit so I imagine the shade felt good and there was a bit of a breeze flowing past. It was hotter up on the porch. Keeping chickens cool... click here.

Kristine said she wanted some quesadillas again tonight. That didn't hurt my feelings. I like them too.

Since my oven is still non-functional I use my iron ware to make the quesadillas.


First I heat up both the flat pancake skillet and the regular skillet on low while I put the quesadillas together.


Then I use the hot pancake skillet for a lid to help melt the cheese.


It doesn't take very long. I slide the quesadilla out of the skillet on to a plate and then flip the tortilla in half.
Yum! I was going to take a photo, but I started eating.


No photos yet, but I have been summer clearing/cleaning. I figure I have at least the month of August to get rid of a whole bunch of stuff. I'll take some photos when it doesn't look so scary. It would be so nice to just bring in a dumpster and fill it up with stuff I don't want.


I love to get rid of stuff I'm not using, but I'm surrounded by people who don't like change. But, I'll just keep plugging away and little by little I'll get rid of stuff. Hopefully, I'll be able to get rid of stuff in bigger batches.


zzzzz... Note: I started drinking a cup of hot chocolate before bed and I am sleeping soundly through the night. Well, I really drink the cocoa while I'm in bed reading. Works for me.

Peek at the Past

click here

(July 31, 2009)

The jean quilt became a rug.

Don't know about what became of the lizard.

[4 eggs today]

~:>

Smiles

Greens For The Hens

I found a treat for the chickens in the frig! Tom picked up some bags of old lettuce at the grocery store when he stopped for groceries the other day. The produce people put the wilted lettuce and greens in the back work room and Tom checks and sometimes he lucks out and comes home with greens for the girls. Above are two Light Brahmas, Curly the Cochin in the middle with her feather feet, an Australorp on the left and an Orpington on the right. The chickens do like the greens. I'm sure they would love to forage among wild grasses, but all they have to kick around are piles of leaves. Poor hens.

Still not much happening around here, so I'm resorting to photos of food again. Kristine wanted quesadillas for dinner which makes for a good photo op. First I put a skillet on very low heat with the low sided skillet for a lid and let it heat up. That's my oven. Then I spread some salsa on the tortilla, grate some cheddar and some monterey jack cheese, and slice some onions. Sometimes I put sliced olives, refries, peppers, etc. You can add what you like. I usually use a lot more salsa, but this is Hot. Too hot for me. I didn't have any of the mild so had to use what I had in the pantry. I keep hot salsa around to kill off a sore throat and cold. I wish it came in smaller jars.

No oil or anything in the pan, just drop the tortilla in and put on the "lid" and as soon as the cheese melts take it out.

Fold the tortilla over and you have dinner. We are not very hungry so that's all we will have, besides it is too hot. But I do think I will have some leftover cold green beans with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to make up my green treat.

[5 eggs today]

Smiles

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