Warm, Cozy Bed and Raccoon

Enough leaves?

Today, for the first time in three weeks, exbf came up and helped me do things. He does not refill the hens' boxes each week. Sometimes, he just puts more leaves and pine straw on top of the old.

 

The bottom Rubbermaid box is where they lay. Sleeping happens upstairs. When the laying box is this full of straw and leaves, I have to feel around for eggs. I really think Thelma and Patsy Cline hide the eggs. If they laid eggs and left, they still would roll around and down to the side of the box. However, the eggs are so deep that I actually cannot see an egg, maybe just 1/2 inch of egg.

 

At any rate they will snuggle down into the leaves and pine straw and make themselves comfortable on a cold night. They have never had a roost.

 

Last Wednesday about 4:45, I could see the day was losing light. It was beyond the time that the hens would be out. Usually, they come near the back door, then move to the area in front of their pen, then into the pen. Finally, they jump on the table and sit and look at the dying day. Then, they jump up to the top box.

 

This night, they were at the back door just standing there, like they needed me. I talked to them and went toward their pen. As I rounded the corner of the house, I say a very large cat...was that a cat? No, it was a raccoon running out of their pen. I kept walking and then hens followed, making frightened noises, like they were questioning me. They stopped about ten feet from their pen and looked around. I moved between their door and the raccoon sitting on the fence watching us. As I moved between the raccoon and door, the hens ran quickly into their pen. I slammed the door and left. sigh....

 

I need to set the trap.

 

Tonight for the hens it's "clean sheet night."

 

Your turn

Do your hens roost or sit the sleep? Do you use what you have for their pens or do you buy "bedding" for them. 

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake

Ingredients + 2 eggs



This recipe is delicious. It came from The Cake Doctor, given to me way back last July by Janet. I don't know why I have not used the book before, especially since I found this recipe.

baked in a pie pan

 

 

leftover in 6 inch Corelle casserole



The recipe is simple: 

Take one chocolate cake mix, add 21 ounce can of Cherry Pie Filling, and two eggs. Beat, put in oiled 9x13 inch cake pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Here is where I changed it. The author of the book admits she changed it by putting icing on it, so I did, too. Instead of putting an icing on the cake, I used cherry jello as in a strawberry poke cake. Okay, I cannot find a Strawberry Jello Poke Cake like I make. 


Strawberry Jello Poke Cake Recipe

Take the white or yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1 pint of frozen strawberries,t hawed, or  filling
two eggs
Beat
Pour in an oiled 9"x13" pan
Bake for about 35 minutes
follow below: Jello addition
top with Cool Whip

Jello Addition

Take the 3 oz box of strawberry or cherry jello and dissolve in 1 cup boiling water. The cake needs to be sort of cool, but not completely. Poke holes 1/2 inch apart on the top of the cake. Pour the slightly cooled on the counter Jello over the cake. Refrigerate.

POKE

I use a fork. Some recipes say to use the handle of a wooden spoon.  Pour all the Jello over the cake even if it seems like too much.

When I looked for the 9x13 inch pan, I could not find it. Since it was 1 am or past, I grabbed the glass pie plate and the Corelle casserole. I had two glass pie pans out to use. I should have.

It is delicious.

Now, you have two recipes in this one post. I imagine any kind of fruit and Jello would be great.

Flash of inspiration!

I should have put this in my heart-shaped pan. This is the season.

Your turn
Have you ever made the cherry cake? Do you like the Strawberry Jello Poke Cade?

Book Giveaway: How about a little romance?

How about two free books? I received both these free when I visited a writer's group--Heart of Dixie Romance Writers of America Chapter 51. The chapter meets in our museum that is four blocks from my home.

The books have never been opened.  I don't read Harlequin books except for the time I accidentally read one. I didn't know it was a Harlequin and still hated it. Andrea Laurence's book has been signed. These are of good enough condition that they make almost pristine gifts.

These seem to be the perfect giveaway right before Valentine's Day. You can check off one or two more gifts for your stash that sits and waits for birthdays or Christmas. Of course, it will make a nice gift for Valentine's Day. Maybe you would rather read it yourself.

This will be simple~~leave a comment every day right here on this post. The contest will end on January 11, 2014, at 11:59 pm. You must join my blog!

For another entry, mention this on your blog and leave a link in the comments on this post.

Tomorrow, I will be mailing pizza coupons.

Your turn
For your comment to enter, make the comment something about Valentine' Day. Do you like to get a heart-shaped box of candy? I do. How do you like to celebrate with your Valentine? Or, just tell me anything about Valentine's Day that you would like to tell. Oh, did you like the Valentine exchange when you were young? I loved it.

Free DIGIORNO Pizza Coupon

I have about 50 Digiorno Pizza coupons from Red Plum inserts from last week. They expire on Feb 9th. If you want several, email me for my address. Send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope for several coupons, sent to you the day I get your SASE.

pparsimony@yahoo.com

The Deal
Buy two Digiorno pizzas, 26 - 33 oz. Get one free. So, a BOGO. I bought a 33 oz pizza and got one free. So, less than $5 for two big pizzas.

My plan
The Digorno is a 33 oz pizza costing $4.50 = $0.14/oz
I will eat 1/4 of the pizza each time= $1.12 for my meal.
When exbf eats here, we will eat half, 1/4 for each of us=$2.50 for our meal.

The Totino's (or something I buy) is a 9 oz pizza, costing $1.36 = $.15/oz
I eat the whole pizza by myself and exbf and I half it. So either way, this is a $1.36 meal.

You don't have long, so decide if the mail will get back to you in time. You decide how many coupons you want.

Hmmm, if you want to put $1 in my Paypal, and leave your address, I will just send as soon as a  total of $1 is in my account, I have your address and know how many you want up to five (5) coupons. I hope this does not get too complicated.

Each BOGO coupon is worth a pizza!

Okay, I am having 1/4 Digiorno pizza and salad for dinner. I have never had this brand before.

Or, if you don't want to do that, go find some coupons to take advantage of this deal.

Slugmama used this coupon at Rite Aid and got both free with UPs+. She wrote about it HERE.

Your turn
Did anyone take advantage of this and get a free pizza? Or more?

Today's Bit of Irony

The first fact is correct according to this article.

UPDATE:

About Owsley, KY

I did realize the sampling in Owsley was too small to count as a legitimate comparison. Yes, I do realize that it was a Democrat attempt to prove a point. I realize it did not. But, I was shocked no one except Dana responded.

While I did not want to be trounced, I did expect some righteous indignation.

 

However, to lay the blame squarely at the feet of the black population is just so wrong.



"Compost" I won it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogger thinks the post would look better with the picture off to the left. ???

I won this from Two Men and a Little Farm. I don't know what
I expected, but this little book is very pretty and green to be all about
brown compost.

Thank you for the chance to win, 1st Man and 2nd Man.

 

 Your turn
Who composts? Who is going to learn to compost?
Have you ever thought you had a compost failure?



Okay, give me time to figure it out

Every month, Sluggy asks on her blog, "How much did you spend on groceries this month?" or some such question that I can never answer. This month, I will know, dadgummit. I saved every receipt for everything and now only need to add it up. Since I cannot change focus and adjust to the light well, because of cataracts, I will have to go through and write all the figures down on paper first. This will be an ordeal! I will make several categories--groceries, eating out, other stuff like shampoo/cleaning supplies. What other categories?


I have to say her questions nag at me. I have "known" her since 2007, but I have no idea how long she has asked this same question. So, I will settle this once and for all. Oh, one category has to be stocking up. I bought 8 8-ounce -packages of Kraft cheese, so it should go in the total, but a notation made as to the fact it is not for eating now. Or, should I not do that? Nope, then I will be eating it but not including it in the next month's budgets. I don't know.


The other annoying thing she does is make a menu each week and ask what our week's menu will be. For me, I have cooked chicken or turkey, my sweet potatoes, fresh vegetables and fruits. Plus, I will cook up a big pot of beans, two dozen sweet potatoes so I will not have too cook often. I doubt I will ever have a menu for a week. The way I cook and plan works for me. Exbf is only here one day each week and he does not mind taking huge portions home and eating those same food for another three days during the week. He is the only person that is in this leftover eating.


Go on over and read her methods for saving money and eating well. As for you, Dana, that is if you really want to. I think she thinks I am bossy, telling her where to go.


Your turn
Do you know exactly how much you spent on groceries each week and month?