Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

My power keeps thinking about going out. Generator is "at the ready". My internet is out. THAT is driving me crazy. So, wrapping presents. Will frost cookies next. All activities that require no internet AND no power should it change its mind! At least I can still get web via my cell service for checking weather/news reports. Oh, and BYC, of course!!

PLEASE be safe out there everyone


LOL! Internet came back up as above message was SLOWLY posting via cell
Phew...I can take a wrapping break & do a crossword, now (ok, yeah, I DO, have paper ones & COULD do one the old fashioned way.....)

 

[Our Roost]

Fortunately in the Livonia, Redford area we didnt get any ice formation as yet and temp is holding at 33. Raining off and on and the tips of the trees bare branches are glimmering with signs of wanting to freeze. Good day to stay inside and bake christmas cookies!

 

[preciouskitty]

As much as I hate the damage an ice storm does, I can't help but take in the beauty. If the sun were to come out, everything would look like crystal here in Howell (it does anyway, but the sun just makes the beauty even more spectacular).

Whenever I go outside, I can hear large branches (& even a few trees) breaking off in the woods behind me According to the weather report we got 1/2" of ice here.

Took a few pic a minute ago, but BYC isn't cooperating for upload. Will try again later.

 

[uchytil]

snowflake, In response to freezing fresh corn. Quite simple yet time consuming. I generally take a scrap board and drive a spike nail up through the bottom to start with. I shuck and peel corn, then boil water in a big culdron pot. About 3 minutes once the ears are in the boiling water. And a touch of salt. Then I let cool and push a cob on nail to secure. Cut corn off cob from top to bottom and repeat until you have enough to fill a one quart freezer bag.
You can freeze whole ears with ends cut off and shucked. Same process as above but you dont cut the kernels off the cob. The only problem with this is they can get mushy and not be as tasty as fresh off the cob corn.

Only blanch whole cobs, drop in a sink of ice/water mix, remove when cooled ( very quickly), put them on cookie sheets and flash freeze (my deep freezer), next day I vacuum seal. They are never mushy. We drop the whole cobs in boiling water and eat corn on the cob year around. Did I say never mushy?

 

[uchytil]

Pretty nasty out there. Ice overnight again. Don't go driving around unless you have to. Stay safe. It finally happened, our ducks stay outside during the day and get locked in at night like the rest of the critters. Well, the other day, just after sunset, some roaming predators (probably possum) stopped by and got on my one hen KC and ripped her neck open on the nape. I hope she lives through the injury. Time will tell.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I'm very surprised we didn't lose power yet. We were told we would have no power last night, happy they were wrong.

I have a terrible cold. Throat hurts, stuffed up nose....

Salt is in a cage in our garage. We were going to take him inside, but with the fire going, it would be so hard to acclimate him back outside. I will be going outside soon to go check on everybody.

 

[RTFchickens]

Ice is everywhere here in Ottawa Co too.
We won't be going to church unfortunately. We will have to settle for devotions at home. I was hoping to take a road trip to IN today to visit family, but not with roads like this.
I hope those who lost power are able to stay warm. Please don't travel if possible, stay safe!

 

[Our Roost]

Ah yes! I forgot the ice water bath. Darn. On or oof the cob, its great all winter long.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I am going a little dance right now! I think the chicken we just got is laying a egg!!!!!

 

[Opa]

Not looking forward to get out on the roads as everything is covered with ice. Fortunately the church Granny attends is located on our road and only a quarter of a mile away. My biggest concern is getting her from my truck into the church. Moving large older people can be extremely difficult.

As much as I want to keep Granny with us, if she were to fall and break something, I would not be able to provide her with adequate care. Earlier this week while sitting in a chair with rollers, she leaned over to pick something up she had dropped. It was amazing how quickly the chair overturned. While unhurt, it was impossible for her to regain her feet on her own. While I'm sure I could still lift a 220 barbell, a person of that weight is entirely different. With her help, I did manage to get her back up, but I definitely paid for the effort. My back ached for hours emphasizing how difficult it will be should her current mobility lessen.

Hope is busy baking today getting all the desserts prepared for our family dinner on Christmas eve. Even though he will be with us Hope is baking some zucchini bread for me to take to my old farmer friend later today. He really enjoys it and she thought it would please him to know she made it specifically for him.