Chicken Fodder & Frugal Accomplishments

squirrels hang around the bird feeders, which vexes the pups

I'm thankful to be joining in with the Frugal Accomplishments community.  Last week, I baked sweet potatoes.  I used the first of the summer squash I canned last year in a casserole, with our garlic, herbs, eggs and homemade bread crumbs, in addition to store bought items..  It was very good.  I chopped parsley stems and imperfect leaves for the pups dinner.  Cooked some beans that I had frozen.  Boiled eggs for the pups.  Trimmed my hair.  Made yogurt and kefir.  Cleaned, photographed, researched and listed some antique items on ebay.  I've mentioned before I am helping to sell these for friends.  Whew, it always surprises me how many hours it takes to get them listed, as much of it is antique glassware that I have to research to list properly.  Hopefully, these will sell quickly, unlike most of what I have listed in recent months.

hellebore buds

The weather warmed a bit, and I wandered a little outdoors.  I found the rhubarb and horseradish had a small amount of growth above ground.  It looked like the various lavenders have survived, and I saw lots of little parsley volunteers, which made me happy.  Our women's homestead group had a fiber class, with a demonstration of all the steps from sheared fiber to the final fiber product, as well as a bit on plant fibers.  I thought it was very interesting, & was surprised how much work it takes from start to finish.  Stopped at the discount grocery store for sunflower seeds for the birds, which I found, and also got organic coconut oil, a tin of olive oil and a handful of other items.  Picked up a few things at the grocery store, and got a .15 discount for using my own bags.

Last week, I mentioned the Valentines Day dinner/ dance we were attending.  We did have a lovely time at the dinner/dance, but ended up having a bit more adventure than we bargained for. On the way home, a young woman merged as the right line ended, then proceeded to run off the road, over correct, and cross just in front of us to hit the concrete median.  Her car was totaled, and because of all the smoke coming from her car & the very cold temperatures, J helped her into our heated car until help arrived, which thankfully did not take very long.  Thanks to her airbag, they believe she "only" broke her ankle and dislocated her shoulder.   It does make one count their blessings.  I planted 3 types of lettuce.

hoping for lettuce here soon

I tried making an au gratin dish with a quart of the potatoes I canned last year.  I was rather disappointed.  J said he used to make them that way, but used more cheese.  Perhaps I'll try it again.  If you have any favorite canned potato recipes, I hope you'll share.  I made broccoli, and used the juice from one of the lemons I had zested for the zucchini bread last week.  It's a favorite American Heart Association recipe I've made since I worked in cardiac rehab in the 80's.  With lots of eggs, and plenty of milk on hand, I decided to make egg custard, aka comfort food in a bowl.  Also made colcannon with our potatoes.  Over the weekend, I made a baked pumpkin pancake with pumpkin syrup dish, which used our canned pumpkin, eggs, & homemade vanilla.  Pulled carrots for the pups.

soaked oats for chicken fodder

I've been wanting to experiment with chicken fodder, and have begun with whole oats, which a farmer neighbor grows.  If you're interested in this subject, here's a post and a discussion I found.  I also found my sprouting screen, and have started some broccoli sprouts in a canning jar for us.  I sprouted a lot years ago, but gave up after I moved here, because they always seemed to rot, a problem I hadn't had before.  I always figured it was our crazy well water, and I'm hoping they'll thrive with filtered rainwater.  Made salad with homemade dressing, and a pasta dish using our homemade bread crumbs and parsley.  Watched Home Fires via Netflix.  J painted the trim in the new room.  I did little things like putting down and pulling up painters tape and such.  I'm really happy with the way it's turning out.  I worked on my quilt.  So, now what's left to do is hand sewing the binding on (1/8" apart stitches... eek!), and taking care of the hundreds (thousands?) of loose threads.  I looked back, and saw that I started on the quilt last May.  I expect it will be close to that before it's finished.  I'd love to hear what you've been up to!

Kombucha, Kimchi and Frugal Accomplishments

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Valentines Day.  My man got me organic red roses, so I could use the petals in my soaps.  He is so thoughtful, and I'm sure they weren't very frugal.  Once again, I'm joining in with The Prudent Homemaker's Frugal Accomplishments.  Last week, I made yogurt & kefir.  At our Ladies Homestead Gathering, we made kimchi & were given kombucha starter.  I'm a little dubious about the kimchi, and have not yet mustered the courage to try it.  I find the aroma a bit challenging, and welcome any suggestions to get over that hurdle, and how to best use it.  Years ago, I made kombucha for a time, but it seems there are lots of additions people use now... herbs, fruit juices, spices, and I look forward to trying some of these.

I made suet for the birds, and kept a pot of water on the woodstove to add to the chicken waterer and the birdbath.  It's turned quite cold for North Carolina, with some single digit lows, and a forecast of wintry precipitation expected on Monday through Tuesday morning.  We'll be fine, whatever comes our way.  We both feel blessed being self-employed, which means we can stay right here, unlike the years we were expected to travel in less than safe conditions for our employers.  Besides not having to venture out onto the roads, we are happy to be able to keep an eye on all the animals and keep the woodstove fed.  The upcoming forecast calls for snow, sleet and freezing rain at the moment.  Our most common winter precipitation is some sort of ice, rather than snow, which is difficult to drive on, and our rural roads are rarely salted.  Warm up water was used in the teapot (for humidity) on the woodstove, and to water plants.

Several batches of soap were wrapped.  My soap shelf is full again, and I delivered some to one of the local shopkeepers.  I've been mulling over a new soap to create.  I shopped at the discount grocery & purchased 8 Annie's organic mac & cheese @ .40 ea., organic black beans .40/can, and organic Pomegranate juice $2.  I made Brandy's black bean burgers, and used homegrown sweet potatoes and collards, as well as homemade vegetable broth.

garlic patch, next to greens

The leeks and garlic are coming along nicely, and one of the rhubarb plants has poked up.  I hope I have enough to experiment on some recipes this year.  This week, I need to decide which plants I'll be starting first, and make that happen soon.