City Chicks

Do you see a problem with this picture?

NO?
Well then you don't have much experience with chickens because the problem with this picture is one of our "hens" grew up to be a rooster. We suspected it for a while but then on morning as we walked outside to a cock a doodle doo we knew we had a rooster! Knowing that a rooster crowing every morning would not go over too well with the neighbors we knew we would have to do something...so we named him pot pie. From that day on every time he crowed Ella would yell "you stop that pot pie" just hilarious!
So on Saturday we had our first chicken killing. This was a project for Dan and Caleb, Ella watched for a while then came running in "that's a boy job, I'm never going out there again" my thoughts exactly!
Now pot pie is in the freezer and you are invited to dinner... guess what we are having?

That's right Pot Pie!

Back to School

So yesterday was the first day of school for my kids, I think they were officially the last kids in the state of Alabama to start school. I'm glad they started a little later we were able to eek a few last days out of summer and get in one more trip to the grandparents. This year begins a new chapter in my life...both kids in school...how did that happen? The night before when I was putting Ella to bed is when I got all sentimental and as I looked at her and we talked about school I did actually have the thought I need another baby! don't worry that has passed;)

Our traditional silly faces and poses picture

Who couldn't love that face...sweet girl!

Aren't' they cute and so sweet

I'm ready to go mom

headed in with supplies in hand

Yes we brought some cookie bribes for the teachers...yes I'm a nerd but the teachers always love me.

I am pleased to say nobody cried on the first day, Ella thought she needed to a little but we got past that and I thought I was going to but held it together. It was a good day.

On the Table

OK so this is late I promise I am trying to get better

Monday - Pork Tournedos with Mango Salsa and Backberry Sauce, garlic whipped potatoes and green beans
Tuesday - Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry with Texmati Brown and Red Rice
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Angel Hair with Shirmp, Scallops and Pesto Sauce
Friday - Pizza Night

Inspiration for Monday

On the Table

I am back to doing weekly menus with school starting soon we have to get back on a schedule and this really helps

Monday- Flounder with Bread Crumbs and Vegetable Tian
Tuesday- Grilled Jerk Chicken with Mango Salsa *dinner at family Group home
Wednesday-Dinner at Church
Thursday-Bourbon Glazed Baby-back ribs with Fresh Corn and Sweet Potato Fries
Friday - Pizza Night

A Honey of a Day

Last week we harvested the first of our honey from our bee hives. Herman, Dan's bee mentor, helped us with the first batch. We have now cared for hives from establishment of a hive to harvesting honey. Now if we can keep our hives healthy and happy to harvest again we will be doing good.

Removing of the first frame most bees should be gone but you still have to be careful of the hangers on. Jack oversees the whole process
The honey is sealed off with a wax seal that must be removed to get the honey

Cutting away the wax seal. Wax, comb and honey all go into a bucket together

Look at that beautiful honey

You would not believe how heavy these frames are they are full of honey at least 5 pounds



Everything goes into the first straining this removes all the big stuff

Next it is run through a fine mesh then it is ready to bottle. This year we got 48 pints from our 2 hives next spring it is possible to double that number...honey anyone?

When we were done we invited a few neighbors over for an evening of biscuits and honey

Now if we could some how fit a cow in the back yard we would be the land of milk and honey.

Back Yard Splash Bash

This weekend not only did we celebrate the 4th but we celebrated Caleb's 7th birthday. Wow 7 where have the years gone? This year we decided to have smaller simple birthdays so for Caleb we had a backyard splash bash. Everyone came with water gun, or should I say cannon have you seen the size of some of these, in hand for a free for all.

We also got the new slip n slide surfer for the kids to play on, surfing on it proved to be harder than advertised espically since our back yard is not level. Mostly the younger kids used it as a splash pool so it was not a total waste.

Of course Jimmy did give it a go with the raft instead of the skim board

Dan and I made about 300 water balloons that were used in a game of capture the fort adults vs kids, the kids won but I think the adults had a lot of fun.


Even Jack joined in on the fun, when your birthday is in July it just screams BACKYARD SPALASH BASH!
Top it all off with a little ice cream cake and you have a good start to year 7.
Happy Birthday Caleb!

Then the next day we celebrated the 4th with some Red White and Blueberry Cupcakes,what a weekend!