This and That happenings in our weekend

           This picture is of Cortney's first driving lesson in the "big city" on Friday. I was amazed that the instructor took her onto some fairly busy streets and into the downtown area. She was so nervous, she was white, but the instructor said she did well. A few mistakes but nothing he didn't expect.  This picture is of her pulling back into the parking lot.    I'm a big ole' chicken and don't drive with our children. Mike does all the driving, he did it with Jon as well. I get to excited and my voice gets loud and high pitched*wink*, making the new driver very nervous.

      We butchered the remainder of the roosters, after trying to sell them and then even offering them for free.  We did end up selling 20 hens on Craigslist and one lady drove 200+ miles to buy 5 hens.  We still have a dozen hens that are 2+ yrs old to butcher for stewing hens and then our flock will be down to 15 hens and one rooster.  Our meat chicks are due in sometime this week, usually we order White Plymouth Rocks, but a friend raised a newer breed last Spring, called; "Freedom Rangers" and she was very impressed with them. They don't grow as fast as the hybrid meat birds( I call them mutants) but a bit quicker than White Rocks did last Spring.  I've gathered all the needed items in the garage and only have to set it all up once we get the call.  I still need to grind their feed, hopefully enough to last for a week or so, that way I can work on it when I find the free time. Last Spring I was always grinding for that days feed and I didn't like that, I like to be ahead some*wink*  When they come I'll post pictures of them ASAP.

 Okay remember back in the end of February, when our temps were warming and I planted our salad crops in the hoop house, well.........  it took until last week for these seeds to germinate without heating the hoop house. In fact I was worried all the seed had rotted, but they were just dormant until the soil temp. stayed at a steady warmer temperature.  I'm still learning the ins and outs of this hoop house gardening. I made a *note* in my gardening journal not to jump the gun, instead wait to plant in mid March, that is if the weather cooperates.  Anyway, the above photo is a mixed salad and it's now approx. 2-3" tall.  I can almost taste that salad. :o)

 Our Early Wonder beets, planted mostly for greens, but will harvest roots as well.

 The Valerian overwintered well and I'm hoping the Stevia too, although I have seedlings started just in case.

 These are some Egyptian Walking Onions, that I transplanted into the hoop house last Fall. You can see they were frosted when we got the frigid temps beginnig of March.

 The creeping thyme wintered over as well, but it looks as if the rosemary froze, even mulched and inside the hoop house. Thankfully I have the potted one in the house :o)

 Okay this is a total experiment, these are TRUE Potato seedlings( click the photo to see larger version).  If we get them transplanted into the garden, the spuds they'll produce will be our first year "seed potatoes"  In the research I did online, you can use up to the 3rd year seed potato, then after that your seed viability diminishes as does the harvest size and size of your potatoes.  As I said this is an experiment, and we'll keep you posted as to our results.

 Love to see this, lots of empty canning jars! These are all from one weeks worth of meals.  It means many things; that we've eaten well, we've saved $$, we're using our pantry foods, making use of what we have on hand, and of course more empty jars to be refilled with beautiful produce this coming Summer and Fall. :o)

 Since a few of the pint jars were empty and begging sounds from my family were heard, in reference to being out of Concord Grape Jelly, I made a batch. It made 4- pint jars and one is almost 3/4 gone *giggle* already! PTL! we have plenty of quarts of juice canned down in the pantry. Praying the vines produce heavy this Summer, last Summer was the off year!

  Last but not least it's been so beautiful and windy enough to dry clothes, as well as naturally soften them*wink* we've once again been hanging our laundry on the solar dryer.  Everything works out just at the right time, because we aren't burning the wood stove during the day now and I hate using the clothes dryer unless it's an emergency because it increases our power bill $12 or more a month. I know I'm a cheapskate and proud of it!, LOL!!!!

Mike also worked on three hydraulic cylinders, cut up some small branch firewood for our,"Take the Chill Off" fires at night and if needed in the mornings. 

Cortney's been working so much I can't keep track of her :o) She worked M, T, W, Th, and Sat. last week and tonight she starts her first round of night lambing with Annabele, with hopes that she'll feel comfortable enough to fill in and give Annabele a few nights off during lambing season.  She also will be bringing home two bum lambs on Wens.

We have our feelers out for a Dairy goat, but it seems we came onto this idea a bit to late and nobody has a fresh nanny or one ready to freshen, only kids and we don't want to wait for milk. I mean we've been dry for almost two and a half years and We WANT Milk!!!!! LOL!!!!  All kidding aside, if it's supposed to happen it will. :o)  We still have another dairy goat farm to contact and ask to take a tour, it's just finding the time right now.

Not much else worth sharing, so I'll sign off and wish each of you a very blessed week. :o)