Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Dr HaHa]

Good Morning to all! And fordmommy; it's snowing! I got to sleep in this AM my internal clock usually has me up 5-5:30 but slept till 7 IT WAS GREAT! Having veni jeky for B'fast, can't stop eating it. Started out as a taste test. What next beer and football? OK! Made 2 pans yesterday and 2 more in the oven today. Tearing apart my shop vac today amongst other things. It has a bearing going out hope it can be replaced. Thinking it has one of those sealed nonfixable type motors in it. Too many disposable things made these days!The girls have been giving us 10 eggs a day for awhile now had a dip in production during the colder weather. I'm a little bit worried about the temp in the coop. It's the same as the outside temp. Maybe not cold enough to see a difference. I'm using the deep litter method on the concrete floor and built a communal nest box on the north wall [southern windows] the nest boxes are insulated along the outside walls. The coop is tight as far as air flow, a little too tight for summer. But have plans on rectifying that next year. My farmer neighbor says they'll be fine but being in charge of their well being I worry. Darn kids! I was also wondering if bag balm would have the same effect as the recomended petroleum jelly on their combs if needed? Or is it the same thing? Best thing ever made for my old winter cracked hide. Not nearly enough snow for the girls to make snow chicken angels. Probably will have to show them how when we get enough. I'll take pics. Xmas shopping is almost done Laura informed me that I got her a new robe and I told her she got me new oven mitts. I did surprise her yesterday that I had saved enough money up to either get new pots and pans or a new vacuum cleaner and that she gets to choose. I told her that with the shop vac going down that a vacuum with a hose was my choice but we need new pots and pans too. Just had a thought I have an assortment of cast iron pans up at the camper, those never wear out. Just need new pots then. I love it when things come together. Enjoy your day!

 

[Dr HaHa]

Bad news on the vacuum front. The housing around the motor is melted together plastic, no disassembly unless I reinvent it. Sears has the absolute worst site for replacement parts. Or online ordering. I always end up on the phone or at the store. Maybe it's just me. NAW! Can't be. But they treat their active service employee's and their familys well so I'll continue to buy there. Looks like new pots and pans YIPPIEE!! L doesn't like the cast iron idea she says things stick and I do remember problems in that area even on well seasoned pans. She wants to wait till after xmas and things go on sale a Kohls for the vac. I was digging throught the freezer and found the last package of real bacon.

We'll get a replentishment of beef around the middle of Feb. with a qtr. cow coming. Don't know when the 1/2 pig will come yet. Sure have gotten spoiled from eating well raised meat and eggs as opposed to store bought. Going to be a lot more wild game on the menu after retirement. But that's a good thing, more time in the woods. Guess I'll have to hunt and fish more to provide. It'll be terrible. I can see it now me with my Bob skinned hat on sneaking through the woods or low profiling on a clear water lake to put food on the table. It'll be tough but someone has to do it. I think I'm just the man for the job. I'll volunteer to make the sacrifice because it's just the kind of guy I am. Excelsior!

 

[fordmommy]

DrHaHa, I saved a ton of money when I bought my vac. I bought a used Kurby Legend II from the company store here in town. Those vacs last FOREVER and replacement parts are easy to find and are cheap! I just had to replace one wheel because my boys broke it. (I don't know how. They're boys.) I paid $7.00 for the whole wheel assembly, bar, and front panal with hight adjustment. And DH replaced it within 5 minutes.

I paid $150.00 for it about 9 years ago. Brand new they're over $1500.00. I absolutely love my vac and know it will last a very long time. It might be something worth looking into.

We had a nice holiday. I still feel stuffed. Gonna have venison steak tonight myself. Renter got 2 deer and shared a few steaks. Yum! Yum!

I only got one stinkin' egg today. I think those girls are mad 'cuz we were'nt home to let them run around the yard much this weekend. 2 whole days they had to stay in the coop/run. Poor babies. Like 6x12 AND 10x20 ain't big enough. Guess I'll have to pull out that cookbook and start reading them bedtime stories again.

That oughta' get them movin'.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

that home grown, pork and beef is great, haven't had to buy meat from the store in more than 2 years, do you render your own lard ?what about the cast iron with the porcelain layer, its no stick and works as good as old fashioned iron,

 

[bigzio]

Good Evening.....

DR.H The bag balm should work just fine. It's not the same as petroleum jelly because it is a antiseptic....that should be a good thing, eh? I also keep a can handy, and use it quite often.

Way to go with buying local pork. It's the only way to go.... fresh meat grown locally is way superior to any pork raised in commercial feed lots. Me & Suzie have been buying local pork for a lifetime now. It's fun to try different stuff with the trimmings each time....pork sausage, pork links, brats, Italians, or a world of different sausages.

The cast Iron cookware is our favorite. Some pieces never leave the stove top. Keeping them seasoned, is simply part of using them. Heat them up, turn them down and cook.....LOL!

~ bigzio

 

[babylady4]

Totally agree with the cast iron. You can't get the added iron in your diet if you use the enameled stuff. I coat mine with beeswax after each use to help the seasoning.... I bought a set of seasoned pots with removable wooden handles at a yard sale for my sis; she never uses them so I am tempted to take them back!



To compensate for the lack of snowfall, my oldest DD is cutting our paper snowflakes. She has a book from my SIL that has the most exquisite cutouts! I'll get some photos of them when I can and post them for you to see. They are stunning!

Need to get going on the Christmas shopping...... too many people to purchase gifts for!

 

[Dr HaHa]

Thanks for all the input from everyone! I've got a basketball size ball of lard in the freezer and am going to make suet balls for the girls soon. I'm going to use birdseed and cracked corn tie it up in onion bags and hang it from the ceiling so they can play with their food and get some exercise. Not looking forward to that greasy job. But I'll get over it. I have boughten beef from him for many years and then about 5 years ago I talked him into raising pigs too. He is very good with his animals and gives them the best of care. We've been friends for 10 years and all we have to do is call if one of us needs a hand with anything. Looking forward to being retired like he is now and going downtown in the morning with him for a cup of coffee and to BS with everyone. Heard it's a hoot.

 

[purelypoultry]

My parents have 60 head of beef cattle so they give us all the home raised beef we want. It is SOO MUCH BETTER. I have my wifes entire family convinced as well. I have been down with the flu, had all the files of my website deleted recently without any substatial backup saved. I have rebuilt the site, am feeling better and ready to advance today finally. I keep going back and forth on how to organize the site. I had put all the gamebirds into a gamebird category, then I lost all my search rankings for the different types of gamebirds. I now have it
Bantams
Books
Chickens
Ducklings
Goslings
Guinea Keets
Peafowl
Pheasants
Quail
Turkey Poults

Do you think that is too many? Any suggested improvements?

 

[babylady4]

Tyler, glad to hear you are feeling better.

Checked out your site; would you like a color picture of a peacock? I have several taken at the local zoo that I could let you use if you like. They have a pure white one at our zoo that is beautiful when he spreads his feathers... I was fortunate enough to get a shot of him like that too!

 

[purelypoultry]

A color photo would be wonderful Babylady. I would greatly appreciate that! ch