The Old Folks Home

[dsqard]

Wisher one way to keep the mice out of your horse feed is to get metal trash cans. I keep all my feed in the barn where mice could easily get to it but I keep all of it in the trash cans. The mice can't chew through the cans and can't get the lids off. I've been using the same cans for over 5 years now. Easy peasy

 

[Arielle]

Hi! I just found out today that I have food sensitivities to wheat and dairy products. So I am on a wheat and dairy free diet and I hope it helps my problems. I have a recipe for Microwave Bread pudding that I wanted to share with you. I will have to make some modifications to the recipe for my food allergies, but it is one of my favorite recipes and I thought you might enjoy a real treat. This is Comfort Food to die for!
Bon Appetit Y'all

4 to 5 slices of bread, cut into cubes (potato bread is my favorite) but any bread is good
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup of butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten

~ Prepare an 8 inch glass pie plate, by coating it evenly with some butter
~Evenly spread your bread cubes in the pie plate and sprinkle brown sugar and spices over the top
Then
~Add vanilla, salt and butter to milk and heat in Microwave on Medium power just until butter is melted ( don't get the milk too hot, or it will cook the eggs)
~Gradually whisk in the beaten egg mixture, small amounts at a time
~Pour milk and egg mixture over the bread cubes in the pie plate
Microwave on Medium High (7) for 9 to 12 minutes

When finished, the center may still be soft, but it will finish cooking and will set up as it cools.
You may check it by putting a knife in the center, the knife will come out clean when done.

I like to add different things to my Bread puddings~ Here are some of the things I've added and you can add whatever you like.
Options~ raisins, cranberries, fresh diced peaches(yumm!), lemon and blueberries, raspberries and white chocolate chips,(serve with whipped cream)
1/4 cup of Crown Royal, mixed with honey and warm butter(OMG!) Pecans, walnuts, granola as a topping with whipped cream.
cooked diced apples

Bunny---I too love bread puddings-- this one sounds like my kids would gobble it up!!! I made a more adult version using rum, and soaked dried cranberries in more rum. Yum.

Re wheat and dairy, wth some practice you will find many many many wheat free recipes and dairy free recipes that you will use. You are not alone.Give your self some time to hunt on the internet as they are out there. 100's of recipes. Try Pinterest as a source . On the wheat, you may need to concider a gluten free diet, depending on the issues. Many products easily available once you know what you are looking for and where to look.

I live wheat and grain free these days: meat/eggs and salad for breakfast lunch and dinner most days. I buy BOb's Red Mill products. Almond flour and cocoanut meal and soy meal to replace wheat flour. You need the recipes designed for those ingredients as they behave differently than wheat flour. Bob's also has other grains: millet,flax, amaranthe, sorghum, and more as flours or as whole grain. I use a coffee grinder for grinding to make pancakes and such for my kids.

Many alternatives to dairy and milk products.COconut oils, soy milk, tofu. Nothing ever tastes the same as butter or yogurt, perhaps approach it as adding to your food choices.

 

[Bunnylady]

Today's my really early day. I didn't get to bed on time last night and when the alarm went off at 3 am I was a bit... tired. I lurch downstairs, put on my muck boots, put on the head lamp, grab the goats grain and the duck food, and lurch my way outside to let everyone out.
I let out the duck that thinks she's a chicken that sleeps in her own little brooder.
I go into the chicken yard and open the pop door.
My next stop is the duck house.
I open the gate to the duck enclosure, walk in a few feet, and my tired eyes catch some movement in the back corner of the fence. I look up, and my head lamp illuminates something moving around. Thinking it's a giant rat, I take another step closer.
Not a rat. Oh, definitely not a rat.
It's black and white and stinky all over.
I skedaddle backwards as fast as humanly possible, totally awake now (thank you, adrenal glands). I leave the gate open.
I make it to high ground, the front porch and contemplate my options.
I now realize that I've left the gate door open and as such I have NO IDEA WHERE MR SKUNK IS.
I try to scan the dark yard with my head lamp. Head lamps were not meant for skunk spotting missions.
After a few terrified minutes, I realize I have a few options: suck it up and finish my morning chores or leave a nice note for BF when he gets up to finish the rest. Either way, I was going to have to get off the porch and back to the basement to get into the house.
So I went with option A, cautiously scanning the area that I'd be moving into with the head lamp prior to movement.
It went off without a hitch, and on my way back to the garage I saw the little guy in the driveway. At least I'm thinking it's probably the same one, as the duck yard was vacated. Who knows, maybe I have a skunk infestation to go with my rats.

My name is SCG and I fully endorse this way to wake up on days when you're really tired. It's highly effective. Who needs caffeine?

Oh, yeah, nothin' like a shot of adrenalin to get the ol' eyes open in the mornin'! (Certainly better than the other kind of shot those black and white critters are famous for!) The only problem with it is that it gets a little hard to keep on task when you're jumping out of your skin.

Hope the rest of the day goes smoothly.

 

[chickensnewtome]

I'll let you know!!! I ordered my canner today and all the pertinent supplies. Not the cans though, couldn't see them surviving shipping!

I do freeze foods-- have TWO chest freezers and they are always full. With the hurricane almost 2 years ago, I was glad to have the chest freezers as they held up really well supplemented with a generator for 2 hours a day.

Smoking and drying is on my to- learn list. Had an interesting book from the library on sausage making that showed basic smoker designs. VERY interesting.I have a far greater appreciation for the smoked goods readily available in the stores. WOuld like to preserve some of my own meats though. And my son keeps bugging me to let him try jerky-- just not sure it is a good food to eat with all the chemicals used.

We only eat our own Deer Jerky we make. I agree on the store bought processed Jerky. Just to many chemicals. You can use a stove to dry your jerky or you can use what I have and it is a drier. You can put all your ingredients on. We like stuff hot and spicy around here so we use more spices. Then you stick it in the oven at about 150 or 200 for A LONG TIME. It is not the best way but it does work.

 

[chickensnewtome]

Today's my really early day. I didn't get to bed on time last night and when the alarm went off at 3 am I was a bit... tired. I lurch downstairs, put on my muck boots, put on the head lamp, grab the goats grain and the duck food, and lurch my way outside to let everyone out.
I let out the duck that thinks she's a chicken that sleeps in her own little brooder.
I go into the chicken yard and open the pop door.
My next stop is the duck house.
I open the gate to the duck enclosure, walk in a few feet, and my tired eyes catch some movement in the back corner of the fence. I look up, and my head lamp illuminates something moving around. Thinking it's a giant rat, I take another step closer.
Not a rat. Oh, definitely not a rat.
It's black and white and stinky all over.
I skedaddle backwards as fast as humanly possible, totally awake now (thank you, adrenal glands). I leave the gate open.
I make it to high ground, the front porch and contemplate my options.
I now realize that I've left the gate door open and as such I have NO IDEA WHERE MR SKUNK IS.
I try to scan the dark yard with my head lamp. Head lamps were not meant for skunk spotting missions.
After a few terrified minutes, I realize I have a few options: suck it up and finish my morning chores or leave a nice note for BF when he gets up to finish the rest. Either way, I was going to have to get off the porch and back to the basement to get into the house.
So I went with option A, cautiously scanning the area that I'd be moving into with the head lamp prior to movement.
It went off without a hitch, and on my way back to the garage I saw the little guy in the driveway. At least I'm thinking it's probably the same one, as the duck yard was vacated. Who knows, maybe I have a skunk infestation to go with my rats.

My name is SCG and I fully endorse this way to wake up on days when you're really tired. It's highly effective. Who needs caffeine?

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Oh, yeah, nothin' like a shot of adrenalin to get the ol' eyes open in the mornin'! (Certainly better than the other kind of shot those black and white critters are famous for!) The only problem with it is that it gets a little hard to keep on task when you're jumping out of your skin.

Hope the rest of the day goes smoothly.

Yes at least you didn't need a tomato bath to finish off the day.

 

[chickensnewtome]

I am about ready this morning to quit this whole homesteading thing! My Tomatoes all have blossom end rot, I found another Quail dead and one ready to die, I woke up in hives and the Bantam hen I love so much plucked my toe and made it bleed. This is not my day. Mom is going in at 9 this morning for an MRI they think the cancer has moved to her eyes. Let's hope not

. I am out of sugar for my coffee. I think this is going to be a long day.

 

[chirpingcricket]

I am about ready this morning to quit this whole homesteading thing! My Tomatoes all have blossom end rot, I found another Quail dead and one ready to die, I woke up in hives and the Bantam hen I love so much plucked my toe and made it bleed. This is not my day. Mom is going in at 9 this morning for an MRI they think the cancer has moved to her eyes. Let's hope not

. I am out of sugar for my coffee. I think this is going to be a long day.

 

[Cynthia12]

SCG...what can I say? What can I say? Oh...........................................> no big statement here...........glad you didn't get sprayed! Great story! Not a rat in sight.

chickens! You need to have a better day too..here's hoping they don't find anything new on that MRI! Keep us updated.

Going to candle some of chirp's eggs I got to see if I can see any bullseyes!

 

[chickensnewtome]

Thanks Chirping and cynthia.

 

[chickadoodles]

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