Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[BullChick]

On the chicken news, Brownie turned out being very easy to be broken from broodyness. I took her out of the coop Saturday and Sunday, and hubby took her out on Monday. Every time she free range a long time. And she came out herself in the mornings since then and no longer sleep in nesting box. We have the large dog crate sitting in their run and never need to use it.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I have tomatoes ripening. Just read a site about how to freeze them. Anyone here do that? Do you do them whole or sliced or diced? I did dehydrate some already for snacking on like chips. Also did a bunch of zucchini. hardly seems worth it when it isn't even 3 cups for a day's dehydrating. Grated the remainder for making zucchini bread in the winter.

A friend sent me this video. Why would you put pants on a chicken?
http://www.tastefullyoffensive.com/2016/08/chicken-wearing-tiny-blue-pants-goes.html

"No shirt-no shoes-no PANTS-no service"

Hey, been freezing my tomatoes for a couple years now. Saves me a lot of 'intimidate' work!! I used to can as they came in...never again, i have been freed

i pick them ripe ,of course, just brush them off & into a bag. Freeze.
Now, i make sauce & stewed Toms...so, if want them for anything that requires them to be 'intact'..not sure this is the best way to go, they get "bloby"..hahahaha, don't even know if that's a word, probably not...anyway...when I am ready to can, they get a cold rinse , this cleans them and the peels just slip right off, they go right into the big sauce pot to cook.

Yeah, isn't dehydrating something else?! I did all kinds of herbs today...picked a ton, i thought..hahaha, when all said and done..it really doesn't look like much..but now i have it and can continue to play 'herbalist'!

I also dehydrate Romas for "sundried" toms....I put some in herbed-olive oil, very good.

I also freeze berries, apples, zucchini, yellow squash..it all works. these ingredients are made into other foods.
We used to freeze veggies, all that blanching drying and fingers crossed that it will not be mush or whatever...only to try to eat it and it just didn't work for us.

oh-oh..i have some awesome news!!!....
***Getting a PRESSURE CANNER!!!

....now, which one is the best????
Anyone have any input on pressure canners??...which works for you & why?
I would greatly appreciate any feedback, thank you.

**@Auroradream26 **- LOVE the chicken pics. Your boy is beautiful!!...A real prince charming i am sure...Have to admit, those CCLs are very nice looking, they lay a green or blue egg?
Your Lavenders are lovely...really unique.
what are you going to make with your veggies?? Nice haul!!

We have lots of tomatoes every day. For some reason, my tomatoes are always growing like crazy when my other plants are struggling. We have gifted lots of people around with these tomatoes. And chickens love to have them as snacks too.

On the chicken news, Brownie turned out being very easy to be broken from broodyness. I took her out of the coop Saturday and Sunday, and hubby took her out on Monday. Every time she free range a long time. And she came out herself in the mornings since then and no longer sleep in nesting box. We have the large dog crate sitting in their run and never need to use it.

so glad to hear your broody issue is now over!!

 

[stake]

wow....so sorry. Hel*uva thing to come home to.
I cannot believe the losses you have endured!
we have every other critter and then some up here & there you are...wherever you are, sorry..just so flipping sorry.
We have bears come into the yard...though for SURE, something would happen..not wishing it or anything, good grief NO.....I really hope another canine smell, presence will help.Truly!
You don't know how he got to them?
I don't want to sound like a smart A**, but have you thought about electric fencing?...my gosh Stak

Thanks,,,,its a PIA...if the babies had run into the coop, that'd have been it...they didn't and the fox intimidated them til they made a mistake....think this suburban fox is a bit less afraid of people and that makes them more aggressive....

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I have three hurricane lamps from wally world....under $10.00....they also sell 1/2 gallons of lamp oil fairly cheap that can be used indoors...they rust over pretty quickly if left outside...

I have some older hurricane lamps...when I find them, try to pick them up, within reason.
Our walmrt didn't have the 1/2 gallons...just the 32oz. Not sure if they even get that.
Just wanted to have foe power outages & such. It is nice for evenings out also.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Thanks,,,,its a PIA...if the babies had run into the coop, that'd have been it...they didn't and the fox intimidated them til they made a mistake....think this suburban fox is a bit less afraid of people and that makes them more aggressive....

they were able to get out of their run?
I think it's Luzerne county right now is having a really bad issue with rabies. Be careful please out there..this stuff is everywhere.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

"No shirt-no shoes-no PANTS-no service"

Hey, been freezing my tomatoes for a couple years now. Saves me a lot of 'intimidate' work!! I used to can as they came in...never again, i have been freede
i pick them ripe ,of course, just brush them off & into a bag. Freeze.
Now, i make sauce & stewed Toms...so, if want them for anything that requires them to be 'intact'..not sure this is the best way to go, they get "bloby"..hahahaha, don't even know if that's a word, probably not...anyway...when I am ready to can, they get a cold rinse , this cleans them and the peels just slip right off, they go right into the big sauce pot to cook.

Yeah, isn't dehydrating something else?! I did all kinds of herbs today...picked a ton, i thought..hahaha, when all said and done..it really doesn't look like much..but now i have it and can continue to play 'herbalist'!
I also dehydrate Romas for "sundried" toms....I put some in herbed-olive oil, very good.

I also freeze berries, apples, zucchini, yellow squash..it all works. these ingredients are made into other foods.
We used to freeze veggies, all that blanching drying and fingers crossed that it will not be mush or whatever...only to try to eat it and it just didn't work for us.

oh-oh..i have some awesome news!!!....
***Getting a PRESSURE CANNER!!! ....now, which one is the best????
Anyone have any input on pressure canners??...which works for you & why?
I would greatly appreciate any feedback, thank you.

**@Auroradream26
**- LOVE the chicken pics. Your boy is beautiful!!...A real prince charming i am sure...Have to admit, those CCLs are very nice looking, they lay a green or blue egg?
Your Lavenders are lovely...really unique.
what are you going to make with your veggies?? Nice haul!!
so glad to hear your broody issue is now over!! 

Thank you my CCL girls lay blue eggs.

This is the pressure canner I use. We actualy picked up a second one this year for all the times that we have so much to can lol
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mirro-22-Quart-Aluminum-Pressure-Cooker-Canner/16817998

The veggies, I just froze the peas and beans and canned the banana peppers. The green peppers will probably get frozen tomorrow.

We make a ton of tomato sauce each year. We use this handy dandy thing then the only thing that takes time is cooking down the sauce.
https://www.amazon.com/Weston-82-0202-W-Electric-Tomato-Strainer/dp/B0058DPAK4
We don't add any spices or anything, we just keep it plain and simple and add what we want when we cook it. We're going to have to make a lot this year. We ran out last year lol. It works great for applesauce too

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Have a question about breeding..

The Marans I have, chickadee, she was a 'project' of a former PA fellow. I believe she has barred rock in her also...not too sure what else. If I remember right, haha, he was making a bird that laid dark-large maran like eggs , but more often..like a barred rock and also keeping body size

She lays 5-6 eggs a week easily and they are large, the largest in my group. Her temperament is mostly Maran (busy), gets along with the flock & has a ton of energy.
She has feather-less feet. She is a great bird, wish more had survived that hatch.

Do you think I could possibly "make" more of HER with a barred rock male?....Or, would I have to start with a 100% Marans female w/ barred rock male?
Was thinking I would end up with something 'more' barred rock than marans if i have a male over her..?


I LOVE my wyandottes(BLR), they are SOP & great. Was going to go in their direction but have decided a different path..more eggs...basically. Although, I would like, at some point, some 'extra' colors in the basket, just for fun.
When I started all this, i wanted wyandottes, barnevelders(sp?), orpingtons...you get it. Well, those girls like to "sit" on eggs & that isn't working for me right now. SO, things have changed...looking into "other" breeds to help in this endeavor.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Thank you

my CCL girls lay blue eggs.

This is the pressure canner I use. We actualy picked up a second one this year for all the times that we have so much to can lol
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mirro-22-Quart-Aluminum-Pressure-Cooker-Canner/16817998

The veggies, I just froze the peas and beans and canned the banana peppers. The green peppers will probably get frozen tomorrow.

We make a ton of tomato sauce each year. We use this handy dandy thing then the only thing that takes time is cooking down the sauce.
https://www.amazon.com/Weston-82-0202-W-Electric-Tomato-Strainer/dp/B0058DPAK4
We don't add any spices or anything, we just keep it plain and simple and add what we want when we cook it. We're going to have to make a lot this year. We ran out last year lol. It works great for applesauce too

cool, thank you for your input! Will have to think about #2 canner also....will be getting comfortable with the one first.
I do put seasonings into ours..we still doctor-it up a bit when we use it, but it is good for anything as is...pasta - pizza - a spoon..

I just use the blender to get it all smooth & back into the pot to finish.
I can not wait to can-up broth, peppers in oil, soups..omgosh,.. the soups i am going to make!!! hahaha

Our tomato crop didn't go as well this year...going to have to look into a different plant for next year maybe...
Still have enough to put up some sauce & stewed toms. Would have really liked to make some salsa again...always next year.

How do you do your banana peppers?

 

[BullChick]

"No shirt-no shoes-no PANTS-no service"

Hey, been freezing my tomatoes for a couple years now. Saves me a lot of 'intimidate' work!! I used to can as they came in...never again, i have been freede
i pick them ripe ,of course, just brush them off & into a bag. Freeze.
Now, i make sauce & stewed Toms...so, if want them for anything that requires them to be 'intact'..not sure this is the best way to go, they get "bloby"..hahahaha, don't even know if that's a word, probably not...anyway...when I am ready to can, they get a cold rinse , this cleans them and the peels just slip right off, they go right into the big sauce pot to cook.

Yeah, isn't dehydrating something else?! I did all kinds of herbs today...picked a ton, i thought..hahaha, when all said and done..it really doesn't look like much..but now i have it and can continue to play 'herbalist'!
I also dehydrate Romas for "sundried" toms....I put some in herbed-olive oil, very good.

I also freeze berries, apples, zucchini, yellow squash..it all works. these ingredients are made into other foods.
We used to freeze veggies, all that blanching drying and fingers crossed that it will not be mush or whatever...only to try to eat it and it just didn't work for us.

oh-oh..i have some awesome news!!!....
***Getting a PRESSURE CANNER!!! ....now, which one is the best????
Anyone have any input on pressure canners??...which works for you & why?
I would greatly appreciate any feedback, thank you.

**@Auroradream26
**- LOVE the chicken pics. Your boy is beautiful!!...A real prince charming i am sure...Have to admit, those CCLs are very nice looking, they lay a green or blue egg?
Your Lavenders are lovely...really unique.
what are you going to make with your veggies?? Nice haul!!
so glad to hear your broody issue is now over!! 

I think most of us have an All American. Good enough to pass down to Bug and Duckling. Lots of locks for extra extra extra (anyone thinking gum?) security.

I have some older hurricane lamps...when I find them, try to pick them up, within reason.
Our walmrt didn't have the 1/2 gallons...just the 32oz. Not sure if they even get that. 
Just wanted to have foe power outages & such. It is nice for evenings out also. 

I put my lamps away, thinking I didn't need them. Guess what? Need them and can't find them. Today alone I lost power probably 10 times. It was quite annoying!

My garden has not done well this year. I finally gave up on trying to get the grass out since it wasn't doing me any good. The flock members have gotten in there too. The three pumpkins I had are pretty much gone now. I got two tomatoes.
No salsa. No chili. No spaghetti or pizza sauce. No fresh tomatoes to just eat. No Serano or jalapeño peppers to put into different dishes. No jalapeños to stuff.
Even the cucumbers have turned yellow. I had two jars full in the fridge, getting ready to harvest some more cucumbers a day or two later. I never got back to it, so the cucumbers have been wasted. Even the birds will not eat them when they are that light colored.
Ha ha! I've been a bad farmer this year!

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I think most of us have an All American. Good enough to pass down to Bug and Duckling. Lots of locks for extra extra extra (anyone thinking gum?) security.
I put my lamps away, thinking I didn't need them. Guess what? Need them and can't find them. Today alone I lost power probably 10 times. It was quite annoying!

My garden has not done well this year. I finally gave up on trying to get the grass out since it wasn't doing me any good. The flock members have gotten in there too. The three pumpkins I had are pretty much gone now. I got two tomatoes.
No salsa. No chili. No spaghetti or pizza sauce. No fresh tomatoes to just eat. No Serano or jalapeño peppers to put into different dishes. No jalapeños to stuff.

Even the cucumbers have turned yellow. I had two jars full in the fridge, getting ready to harvest some more cucumbers a day or two later. I never got back to it, so the cucumbers have been wasted.

Even the birds will not eat them when they are that light colored.
Ha ha! I've been a bad farmer this year!

silly rabbit, tricks are for kids..

Thank you for your input also MC. I really do appreciate it. All American..how many quart do you use?..i mean the size, what size do you have?..geeshit's late..again

Sorry about the garden, not like you don't have other things going on or anything.
..hey, i have jalapeno's...even have some stuffed in the freezer...hummm, do you want some?

...didn't get any other hot-peppers...will be growing habanero next year...hee-hee

There isn't a Home depot near here..i know state college, but not going over there...wish there was one in Williamsport...that is the best price place for the "klean Heat" fuel.
You know better than to put those lamps away!! Now, do you have fuel?..your closer to home depot than me..poo

okay..i ams eeing double now..
Have a good night, need to try to sleep...