Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

HH, those pics are super

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by Hillbilly Hen Awww! Poor froggies! But he's so pretty it's hard to hold a grudge. I would be in love and might have to figure out a way to stock the thing for him, so he'd stick around! I saw one once in the ditch from my car, but never really got to see one up close and personal.

Quote:Originally Posted by chickflick tory spelling has a silkie that she sews matching dresses for to bring to her awards; so that lucky bird gets to go to the red carpet events with gowns! LOL

 

[fuzzybutt love]

OK, apparently there are quite a few including this guy Ewan McGregor and his plaid! Bwa ha ha ha! I don't remember who liked the scotts, but here's one for you
;D http://www.kulfoto.com/celebrity-pictures/39333/ewan-mcgregor-and-his-chicken

 

[tdhenson86]

Beautiful indeed. I want to know- how did you get him to pose like that?!

My pic is not nearly as nice, but I found the subject matter cool. While I was away, I saw this nest near Garden, MI (Upper Peninsula) I thought I saw 3 huge babies in that nest. I showed this pic to a US Forestry Ranger, and she identified it as an Osprey. ...Which I don't think I've ever seen before.

I love to see how nature has a way of overcoming and surprising us.

I had a new visitor today, "he" came and ate all the frogs but left the goldfish.


Hummmm, what's on the menu?

Here he is diving in to grab a frog...

Can you see the frog?

Now for a close up..

Gorgeous!

 

[Scifisarah]

Just keep Mr. Great Blue Heron away from any chicks, I'm sure he'd find them a nice snack after the frogs.

 

[NovaAman]

Well, I can't remember if it was on this thread, or not... BUT I posted that I had hit the free motherload with blueberries earlier this week. There is a blueberry field just on the corner, and the farmer was turning to come down my road and lost several crates off his truck. He picked up the crates and left the blueberries, because they hit the ground, so now no good. His loss... Expensive loss, poor guy. Anyway, the neighbor across the street, myself, the neighbor nest to me with the chickens, and several residents from the apartments across the street and down a bit made shrift work of those blueberries.

I picked up 5 meijer bags of the berries. Gave a bag to my sister, a bag to my friend from work, and made 5 16oz jars of blueberry jam, one 8 oz jar and froze 2 gallons. I still have one bag to clean and pick through that I am going to make pie and more jam out of. Now... about the jam. I have never made jam before, wow, was that easy. I have never canned either, though last year I did want too, but people were constantly stealing my produce and between that and what we consumed, never got to can anything. Well, I canned for the first time and YEAH! I am happy with myself. Sweet.

The jam, by the way, is really good. I did a spoon test before jarring it, and it set perfect!

 

[preciouskitty]

Well, I can't remember if it was on this thread, or not... BUT I posted that I had hit the free motherload with blueberries earlier this week. There is a blueberry field just on the corner, and the farmer was turning to come down my road and lost several crates off his truck. He picked up the crates and left the blueberries, because they hit the ground, so now no good. His loss... Expensive loss, poor guy. Anyway, the neighbor across the street, myself, the neighbor nest to me with the chickens, and several residents from the apartments across the street and down a bit made shrift work of those blueberries.

I picked up 5 meijer bags of the berries. Gave a bag to my sister, a bag to my friend from work, and made 5 16oz jars of blueberry jam, one 8 oz jar and froze 2 gallons. I still have one bag to clean and pick through that I am going to make pie and more jam out of. Now... about the jam. I have never made jam before, wow, was that easy. I have never canned either, though last year I did want too, but people were constantly stealing my produce and between that and what we consumed, never got to can anything. Well, I canned for the first time and YEAH! I am happy with myself. Sweet.

The jam, by the way, is really good. I did a spoon test before jarring it, and it set perfect!

I started making homemade preserves/jam 4 years ago. I, too, found it was so easy that I have never purchased store bought again..nor will I. I get berries when in season, freeze & make batches when needed. Just taught my sis, niece & nephew how to do it. They had a riot & also were amazed how simple it was.

Canning. It rules. It is how I "watch" football all Saturday & Sunday in the fall. I have not purchased whole or stewed tomatoes, green beans, corn, salsa, to name a few things, in 5 years. Just started canning venison, too (& OMG is it good, like opening a jar of pot roast). I make triple batches of stews, soup, chili, spaghetti sauce & can.

Basically have a minimum of a year's worth of chow in the pantry, which I have either grown or hunted myself. Very nice to know what I am ingesting! AND, for anyone that works fulltime; nothing like coming home & simply boiling some noodles/rice & opening a jar & having a meal that would normally take all day to simmer.

Finally went ahead and got the bad boy All American pressure cooker last season (well, I let mom get it for me for XMAS!!)

Certainly never anything this "city girl " would have imagined doing 6 years ago; of course, never would've thought I would have chickens, either.

Speaking of chickens. They have served as great entertainment for me today. I introduced them to grapes & corn on the cob. What a riot...they kept stealing the quartered ears of corn, grapes from each other. Had heard of chicken football, but never seen it til today!

 

[Lisa and girls]

I started making homemade preserves/jam 4 years ago. I, too, found it was so easy that I have never purchased store bought again..nor will I. I get berries when in season, freeze & make batches when needed. Just taught my sis, niece & nephew how to do it. They had a riot & also were amazed how simple it was.

Canning. It rules. It is how I "watch" football all Saturday & Sunday in the fall. I have not purchased whole or stewed tomatoes, green beans, corn, salsa, to name a few things, in 5 years. Just started canning venison, too (& OMG is it good, like opening a jar of pot roast). I make triple batches of stews, soup, chili, spaghetti sauce & can.

Basically have a minimum of a year's worth of chow in the pantry, which I have either grown or hunted myself. Very nice to know what I am ingesting! AND, for anyone that works fulltime; nothing like coming home & simply boiling some noodles/rice & opening a jar & having a meal that would normally take all day to simmer.

Finally went ahead and got the bad boy All American pressure cooker last season (well, I let mom get it for me for XMAS!!)

Certainly never anything this "city girl " would have imagined doing 6 years ago; of course, never would've thought I would have chickens, either.

Speaking of chickens. They have served as great entertainment for me today. I introduced them to grapes & corn on the cob. What a riot...they kept stealing the quartered ears of corn, grapes from each other. Had heard of chicken football, but never seen it til today!

I just started making jam this year. I don't know what I was so afraid of. It really is easy. We have wild growing blackberries and black raspberries everywhere on our property. I've really enjoyed it.
And yes, chicken football is the best!!!

 

[NovaAman]

I have wild blacks and reds too. I am thinking of taking a bucket out tomorrow and filling it, cleaning them, and making a mixed berry jam.

I want to be able to can soups and sauces too. I'd like to learn to can meat... like the cockerels and pork.

 

[preciouskitty]

I have wild blacks and reds too. I am thinking of taking a bucket out tomorrow and filling it, cleaning them, and making a mixed berry jam.

I want to be able to can soups and sauces too. I'd like to learn to can meat... like the cockerels and pork.

Triple berry is my fav jam. I make it with strawberries, raspberries & blackberries.

Canning meat is a piece of cake. BUT you must have a pressure cooker. In fact, for most "meal like" stuff you need one.

When I was learning, the Ball Bluebook & USDA canning guidelines were two of my major references.

Here's a link to the USDA info.

http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html

Personally I did a lot of research before I started ... Wasn't in the mood for any botulism.
The guides & Ball book (got that at Walmart) did a good job describing the how, whats, & whys (& had recipes!).