Chickens ~ Garden

Yesterday I decided to let the chickens have free run of the entire property.  They were so excited.   I needed them to chow down on some grasshoppers, and other over loaded bugs in the garden.  One went missing so I hope she found her way back to the barn last night.

Random Tidbits ~ German Potato Salad

My ladies have been slacking in the egg production department lately.  Considering the amount of feathers out in the run, I'm guessing they are molting.

The weather is now cooling down at night, but the forecast for the end of the week is in the upper 80's again.  

 I'm so glad I got my garlic planted this past weekend.  One more thing off my list.

Wood splitting has resumed.  Thank goodness.  

I was getting worried.  Although the dead trees are still standing (patience is a difficult thing). We need about six more good Saturdays to finish it up.

My Herbal Journey ~ Calendula Oil ~ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm

My pot of calendula has been growing wonderfully.  It was recently time to cut and dry them, and make a jar of calendula herbal oil.

From "Stash to Trash" ~ Corn Chili Bake

I'm progressing at working on that pile of recipes to try.  It's hard to keep up it with it.  I still like my usual from "garden to table" recipes, like the one we recently enjoyed - boiled cabbage with potatoes and added cooked sausage.  It was so nice to enjoy something straight out of the garden.

The next recipe to try ~ Corn Chili Bake.  It came from Nourish and Heal magazine (2014).  I of course looked online to see if it was posted on their site, but I could not locate it.  So, I am posting it here with by adapting organic ingredients (and beef vs. ground turkey).  You can get all of the vegetables and black beans from a garden.  And you can also make your own fire-roasted tomatoes.  I had dehydrated cayenne peppers and had my own homemade powder on hand.

Jewelweed ~ Milk Weed ~ Poison Ivy Remedies

This is the jewelweed solution prepared by an acquaintance.  She simply boiled it in water, strained it and cooled it.  She gifted it to us in an old soda bottle.

Sandwich Bread ~ Tidbits

Now that I am back to baking bread, I made a new sandwich bread recipe, that my Uncle told me about just a few days ago.

. . .from the Handiwork Journal

. . . making progress on the scrap crochet blanket.  I have not repeated a color yet.