Somewhat Silent Sunday 6/21/15

Daisy Mae's first egg!

Lunch from the garden

Won't make much wheat flour-better save seed for planting

Cucumbers still blooming

No bees on the bee balm

Waiting by the "doggy door" for free range

Freedom!

Picking blackberries

Time to study peach trees-not ripening :(

Some weeds are beautiful

 

P. S.  Happy Father's Day!

Butcher Day *VERY GRAPHIC* View at own risk

The four roosters were getting a good size and the hens were trying to fly the coop, literally.  We decided, despite the brutally hot temperatures, it was time to get these birds in the freezer.

Off to the cone

Let the skinning begin

Eviscerating



Notice the ceremonial bandana



Oopsie, dropped a kidney

Farm fresh leg quarter vs. grocery store

Ready for the freezer!
 



 

 Because the roosters went so smoothly, we decided to go ahead and do a rabbit too. We have about 8 more to do, but it will have to wait until tomorrow, or even next weekend if the weather might cool a little. 

Grass fed rabbit was full!

Risqué rabbit

Digestive system was working well

I will be attempting to tan some hides next time.

The rooster breast bones are in the stock pot for some...stock.  And the backs of chickens and rabbit are going to be cooked down, pressure cooked and made into dog and cat food-hopefully. I will let you know how that goes.

I also froze the livers, gizzards and one heart.  I am not a big fan of the organ meats-in anything-but I am sure that there is big nutritional value in them, whether it is directly as in fried (which probably negates it) or indirectly as in simmered in the broth.  Worse comes to worst-fishing bait! 

We now have at least four meals in the freezer-but for lunch...fish sticks...baby steps. 

Honey Extraction Hive #1

This hive is old.  This hive experienced TWO swarms this spring.  We are a little concerned it won't pull through.  They left the old queen and her spotty brood.  We may try to pull a frame with eggs and larvae from the pond hive to help.  The pond hive will be split soon and it may be that we have to combine this hive so as not to lose them completely.  We also need to replace all the old deep foundation that has turned dark and unappealing, to me at least.

Regardless, we did pull some honey from it and left one full super for them as the nectar flow comes to an end soon.   I am very disappointed in our harvest, however.

A special thanks to daughter who used her new camera to take some great pictures!



Honey line shows between 2.5 - 3 gallon