Gotcha! Now, you die!



about 30+ pounds

 Okay, animal control officer just came and transferred Mr. Coon to his truck and said about 25 lbs, if he had to guess.

The rock foundation is NOT that green!


It is hard to see the real size of this raccoon. Now, I have one less raccoon tormenting me and trying to kill the hens.


fur evidence of the exit

This is where they broke the screen going under my house.

Is Thelma broody or actually laying an egg?

As I went inside after taking the pictures, I found this blissful sight. Thelma is inside the Rubbermaid box, either laying an egg or just being broody. Update: Thelma laid an egg. Someone did.

Just in case you are feeling sad for the raccoon and think I am hard-hearted, it is against the law in the State of Alabama to relocate a raccoon. It is also the law that a captured raccoon must be put to death. "Euthanize" makes you feel better? Okay, whatever.

Your turn

Are your hens being picked off one by one by a predator? Is any of your livestock being murdered? Have you seen or captured a predator at your little urban or rural homestead? See why I need a predator-proof chicken pen/cage?





Size DOES matter!

All funnels are not equal
I have had the aluminum funnel on the left for over 35 years. It has served me well. Someone gave me an identical one, so that I have two of these now. As you can see, I have shut the drawer on it dozens too many times. Even bent, it works.

New acquisition
I have seen the larger funnel on the Internet. Yesterday, I saw one in a locally owned store. It had the exorbitant price of $7.98. I swallowed hard and bought two, the last two. This will be my one purchase outside of gas and food for March...my mad money...lol.

Overbuying?
Not really. Before I had two small funnels, I was having to stop and wash a funnel when I accidentally poured jelly so it ran down the outside of the funnel as well as inside. Sometimes that mistake resulted in jelly on the counter fronts and the floor. So, having a wider tool that makes my job less arduous in terms of less work and time means a lot to me.

More pressing use
As I pour beans, rice, pecans, and oats into half-gallon canning jars, I find that the stream is often too wide for the smaller funnels, resulting in slower work or oats on the floor and counters. Of course, I give all that to the hens. But, I would rather not have to sweep the floor after and overflow.

Measurements
Old aluminum--4 inches vs new stainless steel--5.5 inches. Plus, the flare of the larger bowl helps contain the rapid stream of things like beans and oats. Unfortunately, the wider and more flared bowl of the funnel helped me to overfill! But, I would rather learn that on dry items than sticky liquids.

By the way, the diameter of both the smaller ends, the mouth, is the same. So, the larger funnel fits in all my canning jars just like the smaller funnel does. It may be difficult to determine this in the picture.


Age and experience
Of course, my experience with canning and homemaking makes things easier for me. But, as I age and injured hands are harder to compensate for, it helps to have the handiest tool I can find.

Your turn
Have you acquired a new tool that makes your canning or other work easier?

How can I spend less if you keep trying to sell me more than I need or ask for?

Midnight Truffle
After you hear my tale of woe, you will know why I needed a Mini Blizzard. It was only $0.99. The cup was only four inches high.

DQ
I am way too cheap to buy full-price Blizzards from Dairy Queen. If I do buy anything at all from DQ, it is some sort of ice cream goody. I tried one Blizzard when they first were introduced. The sign tempts me every time I drive by on the way to anywhere in town.

Stress
But, this was a special occasion brought on by stress. I won't go into the details, but I was being pressured. How many ways can a person say "NO" before someone stops trying to force a person to buy more by repeatedly saying how you need something or how good the deal is for you? And, I don't need to hear, "Is that ALL you are going to buy?" "Ummm, yes. Haven't you understood that the last ten times I said it?"

Destressing
I took to my swing and ate this Mini Blizzard, Midnight Truffle. I have only had too much chocolate two times in my life. This dessert had a golf-ball-sized hunk of dark chocolate, all gooey and chewy in the ice cream. I struggled with the last three bites.

Relenting
I will go into the details. It's the commode. The flapper works. The handle works. The piece to connect the chain to  flapper broke. A friend made it work with a pair of my needle nose pliers. Then, whatever hooks the handle part inside the commode onto the chain broke. So, I have to plunge my hand into the commode to pull up the chain and flapper.

Fixes
I am not going to spend money, so I used household items for quick fixes. Dental floss held the ball chain to the handle part inside the commode. That broke eventually. A small, cheap, flimsy key ring worked for a long time and rusted, I suppose.

The problem
I need something to hook the handle part and the ball chain together. But, the hole in the end of the ball chain fastener is tiny. So, really large wire won't work. The wire must be about pin or needle size. I explained in very small words to employees in two stores that I did not want to purchase anything EXCEPT something to hook the two parts together, something that would not rust right out.

Both guys heard the word "commode" and immediately blurted out "kit." I asked both to allow me to finish the first sentence. Their eyes glazed over. They looked determined when they heard I needed one thing, one tiny part. They battered me with words, explained how what I wanted did not exist anywhere, any time.

Start over
The guys had one-tracked minds. "I want something to hook together the inside of the commode handle to the ball chain,  and it does not have to be commode parts, just small enough to hook through the ball chain clasp." "Or, give me some way of fastening it."

Three hours of my life
I think part of the problem was I was in the store's electric cart, looking helpless, and obviously addle-pated. (not quite there, mentally). The men were relentless...."What you need is...a complete kit." "No."

Need?
How do you make a guy understand that, no, you don't need a new commode handle. No, I probably cannot get it off. No, the flapper is new. No, I am not sure how to get it all apart and back together. No, I cannot see through the top of my bifocals to do this. No, my hands will not allow me to get into the right position. No, I don't want to do without a commode overnight and then have to pay a plumber. NO!

My suggestion
"I was thinking of a piece of any kind of hardware or wire that would not rust and have proper tensile strength and be small diameter."

"That won't work."

"Why?"

"Because you need a kit."

Do you see why I needed the Blizzard?
Okay, I could have gotten a cheaper chocolate fix. But, I did not.

Solution
I bought a piece of stainless steel cable. I can untwist it and use two of the wires. Yes, indeed I did. It is my money and my storage problem. Oh, I have a basement that I can fill with parts, but I try not to.

Buying more than you need
Maybe I should say "being sold more than you need." Have you had people try to oversell? It is my money and my commode. It is something that will lie around after I take off the part I need. I finally told the last guy I would concede that I "needed" the whole kit if he was going to purchase it and come home with me and install it. Of course, I was not serious. He was just disgusted.

Your turn
Do you have a clerk or anyone try to sell you more than you need? Does the person do this, saying it is "what you need?"

Is this mean of me?



incredibly blue sky today

I am not actually criticizing, am I? Okay, I suppose help is help, but....
One day when I was having a particularly bad day with my knee and exbf was here, I asked him to hang five hand towels on the line. It seemed he was gone way too long. Maybe he was talking to hens or picking up a limb while outdoors. I did not ask or even worry about why he took so long.

Later, after he left I went out to take down the towels. I was greeted with the strangest style of clothes hanging I had ever seen. Each small bar towel was suspended by two clothes pins. Notice how the pin straddles the line and only the tip of the pin holds the corner of the towel. A strong wind would have taken them all off the line. Even a heavier item would eventually fall. Obviously, this was a new experience to him.

I usually lap clothes over the line and put two corners of different articles of wash in the same pin. 

The only circumstance in which I would correct his form would be if he were a regular at my clothes line or if he were hanging heavy towels. He has never been married at 57 and doesn't understand personal dynamics of two people. So, he would not take any suggestions well. Ask me how I know? 

So, I thought this was bizarre and hilarious. Five lone towels hanging so precariously amused me.

Hmmmm, having a rethink here. This is actually a big deal. This is not just how we do things differently and achieve the same goal. Any clothing on the ground would require a rewash because chickens wander here everyday.  Big deal or not, I will still never mention it.

Your turn
Please, please pleeease, tell me this is not mean of me...lol. I just had to share even though I did have to recreate the scene. Have you found any equally inadequate or bizarre means of accomplishing a chore and had to remain silent?

Working it--less time in the kitchen

Kitchen time
Since there is only me, I prefer not to be cooking a meal each night and washing many pots. Of course, when I actually get out the pots and pans each night, there are leftovers from days before. One-dish meals work for me, but that is not on the agenda for this week. Even if I decided to cook each night, there are leftovers to work into the meal. To others, my meals may seem redundant. Of course, I really like each and every meal I prepare, so boring is not part of my experience.

Chicken again for the week
As usual, I am cooking chicken again. Today, I boiled four leg/thigh quarters and one breast. Right now, I am salivating for chicken and dumplings. On Monday, only the dumplings will need to be made and the dish assembled. Three of the legs will go tomorrow to the donater of two of the quarters. She does not like the thigh. Four thighs and one leg have been stripped of meat. The broth is in the refrigerator waiting for the fat to congeal in the quart. That is the hard part of chicken and dumplings--preparing the chicken and broth.

Four more breasts are boiling in water placed in the same pot. I should have just put the breasts in the first broth. But, I did not. Actually, I should have used a larger pot the first time. But, I did not...lol. This breast broth will be refrigerated until that fat congeals, and both broths will make chicken and dumplings.

Heavy on the dumplings?
I know. I know. But, since I replicated exactly my mother's recipe for chicken and dumplings, I am just totally hooked on it. Besides, it will soon be too hot to cook the dish.

Pasta for two meals is just about done. I will cook the cabbage and carrots later today.

I have many meals in my repertoire for which I can use all this chicken meat. I don't really assign a meal to a day. But, I will have many meals--lunch and dinner to choose to put together and eat from Sunday to Friday. It is chicken all the way this week!

1--chicken and dumplings for four meals with green beans
      (This dish will have four small thighs, one small leg, and one half breast)
2--rest of alfredo sauce (needs to be consumed today) with chicken and pasta for one meal, salad
3--chicken, pasta, and basil pesto for one meal
4--chicken sandwiches with Romaine and cheese for four meals, lunches, probably
5--salad--romaine, tomatoes, chicken for two meals
     (#2-#5 will use the other four breasts)

That's twelve planned  meals from 4 thighs, one leg, and four breasts. Maybe I should freeze some of the cooked chicken since there is more than enough. Hmmmm.... No, all the pieces are really small.

Along with the chicken portion of meals, I will have the Romaine, tomatoes, cabbage/carrots steamed, green beans, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Maybe I will use the Classico Traditional Basil Pesto with the pasta. Whatever leftover I find in the refrigerator will be eaten, incorporated into a meal or snack.

Snacks
I snack on fruit and pecans. There is a bag of oranges that I must eat. Sometimes, if I am becoming hypoglycemic, sliced cheese and a dozen Wheat Thins may be another snack.

Breakfasts will be:

1--2 scrambled eggs with cheese, glass of milk
2--2 scrambled eggs with sausage, glass of orange juice and glass of milk
3--cold cereal with banana and milk
4--cooked oatmeal with raisins, glass of milk
5--chicken and dumplings if I want them

I love beans
A pot of navy beans sound delicious. I can make a meal of those. They will be cooked in water with no seasonings. Nope, no salt, no pepper, no ham. Okay, beans are on the stove!

Leftovers for hens
I purposefully don't strip every smidgen of meat from the chicken bones. The hens now have five meals  that will give them fat, protein, and productive busy-work. The busy work will keep them from pecking each other and being pecked when I decide to confine them to their 10'x10' pen. I am in awe of how clean they can pick a bone...nothing, no gristle, just slick. They also get the outer cabbage leaves and any trimmings.

Hens get apple cores and bruises, banana peels and bruises, potato skins that are cooked, eggs shells, bits of cooked chicken gristle from my plate, and a special bowl of oatmeal. Of course, they get the produce donated to them. Did you know that banana peels are people edible? They are.

Your turn
Does anyone have an approach to cooking like I do--planned leftovers? Or, maybe you think my approach is lacking variety? Can you actually make a weekly menu and stick to it?

The Honey Hut

No, this is not the same as the Sugar Shack. However, the honey is a pleasure.

Visit one of my favorite blogs, Root Simple, and learn about the healing power of honey. BBC and Root Simple do not need my help to tell you the merits of honey. Click and visit them. Did you know that honey is valuable as an anti-microbial?

Do not give honey to any child under one-year-old.

Today, I went to a local beekeeper who sells honey from their charming Honey Hut, located in front of their home. Customers purchase on the honor system. The windows above raise for access to the honey and to keep the honey from the elements. Of course, I had to look at all the jars and choose one. Nope, I did not get the quart; I pondered which to get. I wrote my check and hurried home.

First, I had to get a big spoonful and put it in a small bowl and just taste my honey, savoring it in tiny bites. I was so surprised at the taste. Maybe it is just my imagination, but I thought I tasted flowers. Now, I have never tasted flowers, but this had a  taste that correlates with the aroma of flowers. Hmmmm..... Then, I mixed peanut butter and honey and had a sandwich. Really, I do believe I ate too much honey.

Later tonight, I will decant the honey from the quart jar to 4 half pints. I think it will last longer without becoming grainy if I put it in several small jars, having only one that is continually opened. Maybe I am wrong.

Best of all, most of the honey is sold in glass jars.

I can see how beekeepers like My Roman Apartment would have plenty of gifts for Christmas for close friends. She even runs a bee rescue from her backyard.

Now, I want a hive. The city approved of my hens but was adamant about no bees. Since I am allergic to bee stings, I suppose it is for the best.

Your turn
Do you have bee hives? Okay, I am envious. At least, tell me you buy local honey as directly from the beekeepers as possible.

A host of golden daffodils



First daffodil--February 23, 2011

How many is in a host? Really, let's have a little suspension of disbelief.

So, there was only this one daffodil on Wednesday when I took this picture two days ago. But, the next day there were dozens. Today, there are more. You are getting a two-day old news flash. Isn't it marvelous how Nature shakes off winter and presents herself? First, it seems she comes and peeks shyly. Then, emboldened, everything else shows itself.

Remember when the daffodils first came up on January 1, 2011? They were no more than two inches high. I am continually amazed at the economy of nature. 

If only vegetables spread and persisited like daffodils, I would have quite a large garden with little effort, no buying seeds, and no wondering if seeds were going to germinate. Not spending certainly suits my parsimonious bent.

Wordsworth was born in the Lake District in Northern England. He and his sister, Dorothy, took a walk and saw the field of daffodils. She noted it in her journal in an entry. Wordsworth waited something like two years to write the beautiful poem:       
(your turn is at the bottom of the page, beyond the poem.)

The Daffodils

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils,

Beside the lake, beneath the trees, 
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.



Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay: 

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.



The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:—

A poet could not but be gay 

In such a jocund company!

I gazed, and gazed, but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

 For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.
                                                       William Wordsworth



Your turn

Is your heart dancing with the golden daffodils? Mine surely is. What is blooming in your yard? I suppose no one loves Wordsworth, one of the major Romantic poets, as well as I do? Raise your hand if you do.