Eggs Galore

When you go to the grocery store to buy eggs, they look basically the same. Within a carton, there are eggs of the same color, size, shape, etc. Our eggs are not like that. 

We have several different types of hens. And we get several different types of eggs. Going to get eggs each day is such a treat. We never know exactly what we are going to get. 

We get big eggs, small eggs, round eggs, long eggs, white eggs, brown eggs, speckled eggs, and so forth. Starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss book? I think so.

There is not much of a difference with these eggs on the inside. But they each have a different look.

These tiny eggs are always fun to find. They are much smaller than any of the eggs that you get in the store. Their yolks are a bit smaller than regular eggs, but the real difference is with the whites of these eggs. They barely have whites! When we crack them, these eggs are almost all yolk.

At least once a day, we find one of these big eggs in the coop. We haven't figured out which hen is laying them yet, but we enjoy finding them. These eggs are almost twice the size of the other eggs. And they all have double yolks! 

We have ten of these giant eggs They are so big that it is difficult to close the carton. 

It is so much fun to be able to go out and gather eggs of all shapes and sizes. They are all a bit different, but one thing that they all have in common is that they taste great!

Chai Tea Truffles

What is better than a nice steaming hot cup of Chai Tea?  I will tell you what is better, a steaming hot cup of Chai Tea with a Chai Tea truffle!  Our school counselor from a few years back gave us these scrumptious little bites of pure joy along with a Chai Tea bag.  It was so sweet and thoughtful and delicious.  I had to have the recipe.  She found the recipe in the Kansas City Star.  My daughter and I set out to find the recipe with the help of Google.  We make these delights at least three times a year. The recipe is forgiving. If you do not like a particular spice, then just leave it out.  We do not use fennel because it is not our favorite spice.  They are still delicious.  Also, you can substitute Almond Bark for the white chocolate if you don't like white chocolate.  I love recipes that can be modified to our own particular taste buds!!  I hope this recipe will be one that you can make with your family as you make special memories together this holiday season!  

 

1/2 tsp. cardamon

1/8 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. fennel

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp. star anise

1 Chai tea bag

Pinch of Nutmeg

1 18oz. vanilla sandwich cookies

1 8 oz softened bar of cream cheese

1 lb. white baking chocolate

 

Mix all the spices together and set aside.  In large mixing bowl, add 1 tbsp. of the above spice mixture along with the cream cheese and crumbled cookies.  The cookies needed to be crushed.  I use my food processor.  Get the cookies as fine as you can.  Once you mix the cookies, cream cheese and spices, make 1" balls.  Place the balls on wax paper and refrigerate for about 15 min.  Right before you take the balls out of the fridge, melt your chocolate.  You want to do this right before you are ready to dip the balls or your chocolate will seize up on you.  Make sure not to overcook your chocolate, or again, it will seize up on you and it is really difficult to fix when that happens.  We have had it happen and have fixed it with a little butter.  Anyway, back to the recipe.  Take your truffles out of the fridge and dip them in the chocolate.  Return them to fridge for an hour.  These make excellent gifts.  Wrap them in clear bags along with some tea bags and tie with raffia, jute or ribbon.  Enjoy!

We've Got Fire!

Part of our journey in becoming self sufficient includes utilities.  I am still trying to talk my hubby into letting us dig a well.  I haven't won that battle just yet.  Even though our water bill is reasonable, I love well water.  It tastes better, it makes your hair silky, and it is free.  Well, it is free except for the initial costs!  We did decide to use wood to heat our house.  Step one was to put a wood-burning stove in the fireplace.  My husband sent me a picture from his phone right after it was installed.  The picture made it look so small I almost cried.  Then I thought it looked like a fireplace for a fairy house, so then I started laughing.  When I got home, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not as small as his picture.  However, it is a small stove.  If the stove was not small, we would be run out of the room every time we use it.  We are hoping that this little wood stove will help us keep our utilities down during the winter.  We still plan on installing an outside wood-burning furnace next year.  If our electricity goes out, we won't have to worry.  We will be nice and cozy in our family room.  We are not sure what to do with the ugly bricks and the large black surround.  We are still pondering those decorating decisions, but at least we have fire!

Asian Beetle Apocalypse

Many people today are obsessed with the zombie apocalypse. I think they are focused on the wrong thing.

What they should really be worried about is the Asian Beetle Apocalypse.

That's what our farmette is facing right now. 

The other day, I came home from school and saw forty or so bugs crawling on one of the doors. Another thirty bugs were lying on the mat. We also found them on the ceiling, on the window ledges, and flying around our house and building. They are thoroughly invading our farmette. Incredibly creepy, if you ask me. 

We thought at first that they were ladybugs. It turns out that they are actually a type of Asian Beetle. They look a lot like ladybugs, but the coloring is different. Either way, it would be awfully nice if they would leave.

I can handle a lot of things, but I do not do bugs. Especially when they land in my hair or crawl on my clothing. 

Our chickens don't like these bugs either. Apparently, they taste about as good as they smell. Which isn't good at all. 

It Is Official, Our Farm Name...

Drumroll please...our farm name is going to be Buttercup Farm!  Thanks to all our friends and family for voting on Facebook.  Red Rooster Farm is a fine name, but Buttercup Farm won out.  Below are pictures of our beautiful buttercup roosters and hens!  The pictures don't really do them justice.  Their coat shines in the sunlight and reflects a myriad of beautiful colors.  It was so much fun trying to get a picture of these beauties because we don't have the greatest camera yet, and they wouldn't stand still.  I don't think they understood that we were just trying to take their picture.  We are really excited about what the future holds.  Our goal is to have 1,000 chickens in the yext year.  We will raise free range, organic-fed chickens for butchering as well as egg layers.  We are currently getting 14 eggs a day!  It will be exciting to see the business grow.  The eggs are so delicious too!!  I will try out some recipes soon and post them.  It is all about the eggs, you know!! 

 Hello, handsome!  These pictures were taken in the wood shed which is attached to the chicken coop.  The chickens love hopping from log to log.  They also love the bugs that hide in the crevices of the wood. 

 "I am pretty, oh so pretty!"  That is what this rooster must be thinking. 

We have a farm truck that is a 1974 Ford F100.  It is a black beauty!  We bought it from a friend for a great price, and it only has around 40,000 original miles.  The bed is rusted out, so our plan is to have it repainted black and have Buttercup Farm painted on the side along with a painting of a buttercup rooster.  Then, we plan on putting on a new flat bed and rails.  We will use that truck for Farmers' Market and anything else.  We will be sure to take before and after pics. 

 This is a buttercup hen.  They are not nearly as beautiful as the roosters, but they still have interesting coloring.  She is on top of the wood pile. 

Another buttercup hen!