Goat Trough Turned Planter

I have it my head that I must build a goat trough.  They fight too much over the purple hanging bucket. 

In the unutilized greenhouse, I unloaded some wood that hubby got from work a while back when they tore apart a large crate.  It has been stored in there just waiting for me to get the gumption to do something with it.  Today is the day.

Let's face it, I have no carpentry skills at all!  My nails always go in crooked and I spend most of my "working" time trying to straighten the nails.  That is why I have not attempted to build anything. 
But you know what, I never will if I don't even start.  So, I did.

I carried the circular saw, the handsaw (just in case), a crappy hammer, too-big nails and a tape measure to the greenhouse.  Daughter came down to hang out with me (of course, she helped too).

We began by prying out the dozens of staples.  Really, is it necessary to have 30 staples per board?  Were they shipping elephants in the crates?  We got the staples out of the middle and one end.  The other end we just cut off to make the boards close to the same length.  I did bring a tape measure, but didn't really use it. 

I ran back into the house to get a red pencil to mark where I wanted to pre-drill for the too-big nails.  Yes, even though I didn't have what I really needed to make a goat trough good, I just wanted to get it going, taking mental notes along the way.  (I have many pages of mental notes...)

After getting all the holes pre-drilled, we began construction.  Too-big nails + too-small boards = way too small for a goat trough, not to mention that some of my handy-dandy hammering left a few nails sticking out of the back side and one on the front!  Errr! That's okay.  I know now that I need a wider board for the bottom and I need smaller nails for the sides, and I could use the "measure twice, cut once" banner above my work table.  I used the ends that I cut off for the ends of trough, and this is where a little better planning and measuring would have come in handy.   But all in all, it was okay...for a planter.  I don't believe the chickens, let alone the goats could get their big old gourds in there.  I could, however, grow some decent size carrots or beets in there, along with cool weather crops like lettuce, radishes and chard. 

 

 

 

So, I will take my goat trough planter and spruce it up a bit with some fun colors on the outside and put some veggies on the inside for now.  If it lasts through the winter, I will plant colorful flowers or something a little more fun in it.  Worse comes to worst, I could plant wheatgrass and other fodder for the goats, making it sort of a goat trough...

So back to the drawing board.  I think my second attempt will be better; goodness, I hope so!

Good-Bye Old Friend

Over the summer, my favorite pair of knit capri yoga pant cut-offs were washed and dried scores of times.   They became thin, long and full of holes.  The seams were wearing away.  I cut them off with every inch they stretched.  But alas, as with everyone's favorites T-shirts, sweats or even  underwear, the time comes when we must part ways, when nothing can be salvaged, not even for a rag, but who would dare!  Those pants were above wiping dust off the mantle! Someone needs to take the trash out now.  I can't...I just can't.

RIP gray ones...RIP

 

Two Week Menu 11/7-11/21

This is going to be a couple of those "special" weeks.  With buying the chicken in bulk, our auto insurance increases, some unexpected medical bills, some higher priced healthier groceries last payday, and the timing of bills versus payday,  this week's menu and grocery list is some slim pickin's.  Personally, I love these challenge weeks.  It forces me to be creative and resourceful, and brings that personal satisfaction that one can achieve only through surviving a hardship. (Okay, that sounds a bit exaggerated, doesn't it.)  The family curls their nose at these menus, but I seem to do the same amount of dishes, actually more, so they must partake.

Breakfast (only on the weekends): Cream of wheat x 2, oatmeal x 2 and I have a can of o.j in the freezer left that we can stretch through one weekend.  I think we still have apple cider too.

 

Lunch:  Leftover suppers, frozen PB&J sandwiches, peaches, and rice crispy candy

 

Dinner: Leftover macaroni marinara with meatballs

Eggs, sausage, homemade toast with honey

"Fried" chicken breasts (1/2 per person), mashed potatoes, corn, homemade biscuits

Vegetable soup (clean out fridge day)

Chicken, rice, mixed vegetables

Pancakes

Chicken 'n dumplings, green beans

Chili soup

Homemade beef/cheese ravioli, broccoli or leftover green beans

"Fried" pork chops, rice with gravy, mixed vegetables

Pork stir-fry with rice

Pizza

Baked oatmeal, canned peaches, sausage

Tuna noodle casserole, peas, applesauce

 



 



My To-Do list:  Make 2 batches of biscuits (freeze extra)  make bread for sandwiches, dinner bread, pizza dough (freeze extra), rice cereal candy, make milk (include remaining whole milk, evap milk), make ravioli and noodles, cook kidney beans for chili.  I have a variety of dried beans that I might go ahead and cook up to freeze or can.  (Probably freeze with the extra baking that has to be done.) Pinto, black, red, cranberry, garbanzo, navy...I think I have a hoarding problem!

 

The grocery list includes, potatoes, flour and buttermilk.  I think we can swing that.  Maybe if things go well I can find some fresh salad vegetables too.  Fingers crossed.  I tried to start some lettuce seeds last month, but they did not survive: the caveat of having one commercial-sized greenhouse too expensive to heat/cool, and one too small to remember!

 

Our weather seems to be cloudy and more rain chances this coming week, so it will be an excellent baking week less the humidity, but at least I know I won't be missing out on the sunshine and fall breezes. 

 

What's on your upcoming menu? 

Bulk Chicken Breast Order

As of yet, we are still not able to eat only our chickens. (We only had three roosters to butcher this spring and they are long gone.) I have asked Santa for a nice incubator to help us until we can get some Silkies ordered next spring.  My hens are not broody at all and I really want to be able to hatch out our chicks and ducklings.

Until we can get a routine to keep our freezer full with our own chickens, I still have to buy some.  That's where Zaycon Fresh comes in.  We had tried their lean beef a couple of months ago and it was excellent (and promised no pink slime in it).  I have heard lots of great things about their chicken too, so we purchased a box.  Yes, that equals 40-pounds of chicken breasts we brought home.

Other than the passive two and a half hours of canning time, it only took a couple of hours to get it all squared away. 

We brought home the nice box of chicken breasts that were bagged in 10-pound  bags and those four bags were double bagged in sealed blue plastic.  No worry about a mess in the car or even the box. 
The counters...a different story.

Cutting the trimmed breasts for the pint jars

Raw packed and ready for the canner

On your mark, get set, go!

 

Meanwhile, making freezer-ready

 

Plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, then...

Finally, gallon freezer bags

 

Had to put honey on my steam burn (one should
 pay attention to what they are doing)

Waiting for the "pings"

 

Ta-da!  Everything is put away nicely and ready for use.  I did keep a couple of whole breasts in the refrigerator to cook a few meals from soon.  Tonight, however, as requested from Hubby of course, is buffalo chicken and celery sticks.  I guess I had better make some homemade ranch dressing too!  (A great big thanks to Amy/Aunt Addie for the bottle of hot sauce that made it here from Indiana!)

Don't forget, if you want to give Zaycon a try, please use this link so I can get some credit on my next order.  Does that sound needy?  It should, I am.  zayconfresh.com/refer/zf471524

As a suggestion, get your orders in early.  I wanted to try their kielbasa last month (Octoberfest kielbasa and sauerkraut-Mmm) and it was sold out before I could barely think about it!



Dish Soap Update

I made a quadruple batch of my beloved dish soap.  I scented it with lemon and orange essential oils, heavier on the lemon, of course.  And I added one softgel of vitamin E for winter dish hands. 

I am not as happy.  The vitamin E makes it a bit more greasy that I like.  My glasses are a bit smeary.  Ewww! 

I added about a cup and a half more water to the entire batch and made sure the water is super hot, using gloves to wash the dishes and this has helped. 

Sooo,  no more vitamin E oil in the soap.  I will save it for the lotion bars that I can use after getting the dishes done.  Lesson learned. 

I still will only use this dish soap.  Making the large batch was just as easy to make and is being stored in a 1/2 gallon mason jar.  I won't have to make a new bottle every week now.  I can make it stretch 3-4 weeks!  Yay! 

Online DocuSeries

I am sure I am months to years behind on these online Documentary Series.  Luckily, I have been notified of two recent ones that were sent to my inbox or can be found on YouTube.  Thank you to those of you who send me links to register for these! 

The first one I watched, every night, way past my bedtime, The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest. You can find the website here: http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/ or you can search on YouTube.  It confirmed what I feel in my gut.  Basically, that cancer is a big moneymaker at the expense of individuals' health and wellbeing. I don't mean to belittle anyone who has had cancer or who has undergone "conventional treatment."  I have an aunt who is a survivor and a grandmother who is not.  It just doesn't sit right with me how we dedicate a whole month to "the cause."  I can't fathom that these billions of dollars spent on pink is really making a difference.  And, booyah! This series has so eloquently put my feelings onto the screen for everyone to see and hear.  (No, I don't believe any of these professionals interviewed used the word "booyah.")  It was filled with so much common sense and science proving that God has provided what our bodies need to be optimal if we just do a little looking around, a little elbow grease, and a little restraint of our flesh.  This is not the first series either, so I am going to have to watch previous episodes when time allows this winter to see what else I can learn. 

Playing now is a new one called The Search for Sustainability, by Nathan Crane.  It can be found here: http://theselfreliancesummit.com/the-search-for-sustainability.  Admittedly, I have not been as excited to watch this one as the last one.  Maybe because a lot more action needs to be taken with this one.  That being said, I have already plotted out a permaculture design for the front portion of the yard that has been a thorn in my side, as well as given me hope for the isolated land that has not had a specific use yet: This could be the answer.  So, even though not as exciting yet, it is motivational nonetheless. 

There will always be disease and suffering.  There will never be a cure for everyone for everything, and it certainly won't be in pill form sold by Big Pharma.  But there is knowledge of old that is still around if one wishes to look for it; knowledge that can make our lives more enjoyable by giving us more physical energy and mental clarity and spiritual fortitude.  Who doesn't want that? 

AWESOME Dish Soap

As you know, I am trying to clear out as much of the chemical-laden items that we use in our home.  I have changed over to homemade deodorant (really, I only use it when I leave the farm), homemade shampoo (this one is still a work in progress, even though it is satisfactory right now), laundry detergent for years now, toothpaste (it too is good but I would like to do a bit more tweaking on the flavor -more mint, less stevia), and now dish soap. 

Cooking from scratch and having no modern day dishwasher, I use quite a bit of dish soap.  I used to get the big ol' pink gallon at Sam's Club for less than $5.  It lasted a month or two.  I didn't really keep track.  Then I read the bottle.  What!?  Wash thoroughly after handling? So I am supposed to wash my hands after washing my dishes with this stuff.  Yes, it has a MSDS to read (as all dish soaps do).  Contains material which may cause damage to organs:  stomach and eyes.  Don't we put food on the dishes we wash and eat it? If you dilute 2 oz into 8 gallons of water you greatly reduce the health risk.  I can't say for sure how much I squirted in. Probably way more in my little sink.  So, homemade dish soap it is.

I think I lucked out in finding an awesome recipe the first time.  I absolutely love it.  I have made it twice and still love it.  Don't get me wrong, I still hate doing dishes, but this makes it a little more tolerable. 

Here's what you need for about 14 oz:
1/4 c. shredded castile bar soap (I use Dr. Bronner's, both bar and liquid)
1 1/2 c. boiling water
I put the shredded soap in a quart jar and carefully add the boiling water.  I stir for just a minute until it is dissolved.  Then I add:
1/4 c. liquid castile
2 1/4 tsp washing soda
1/2 tsp glycerine
I stir that trying to dissolve as much as the washing soda as I can.  I let it cool a bit.  I stir and shake again and add my essential oil.  The recipe of course calls for 15-40 drops.  I use about 10.  I have used lemongrass only so far because I love the scent for the dishwater.  Grapefruit or orange blossom will probably be next.  I guess I am a citrus girl.
I pour it into my plastic bottle I use and let it set overnight.  I probably need to invest in a glass dispenser.  Baby steps.  It will thicken a bit.  The directions say if it firms up too much, add more water and swish and swirl.  I haven't had to do this yet. It stays fairly thin for me. 
There is also an option to add vitamin E oil for your hands' sake.  And I might try this next time as the weather is getting cooler and less humid.  If you try this before I do, let me know. 

The first time you use it, just like homemade laundry soap, no suds.  It only fogs the water a bit.  You start washing you glasses and it almost feels oily.  The glasses become very slippery!  After rinsing, your dishes have a squeaky shine, almost like Rain-X on your car windshield.  Water beads up and rolls off with no trace it was ever there.  AND, it also really loosens hardened or stuck foods like magic.  Don't throw away your greenies or anything, but it amazed me what just a little time soaking did.  AND, if your son brings in his milk glass after you have washed all the pots and pans and the water looks brown and greasy and gross, go ahead and try to wash it just to see.  It is an amazing surfactant...is that the right chemical term?  The milk glass will look as shiny and beautiful as the first glass I washed.  The glycerine maybe?  I don't care what it is, but the combination, to me, is awesome and I will never buy Ajax again!

Give it a shot, unless you have one of those new fandangled automatic dishwasher things, and let me know what you think?  And what essential oil combination is your favorite?