Oregon | Build Me a Dream

Time to Redefine our Lives in Oregon

Posts tagged ‘Oregon’

We’ve Left the Farm…

…it wasn’t easy to do. The decision was the result of a few months of thinking, planning, and visiting options for the furry four legged, and feathery two legged residents of our little community. The circumstances driving us away were/are important, equipped with their own unique pulls. So, during this past week, we made the final arrangements for the animals, packed up, and left the farm. To say it was a little emotional for me would be like saying, “The sky is blue” … a bit obvious. I haven’t left, left my new home for 3.5 years….except for a short trip to Disneyland a few months after we had moved here. Our beautiful piece of God’s great creation has become my most favorite place to be in this world….sorry Walt. Really, why would I want to leave it?

For my Bay Area peeps… Can you tell what area we were flying over?

So, is this the end of our Oregon story? No!!, because you see, although we did leave the farm, it was only for the weekend!!! Hahaha….gotcha!!! Since this blog is about the journey of moving from our life-long lives in the San Francisco Bay Area to a small town in Oregon, and how our lives change, grow, and expand, I thought it was only natural to write about the experience of my first time visiting home. It was all so familiar, yet all so different.

Leaving is a struggle, it turns out, I don’t really like the “leaving” part. My mind is filled with, “What if’s” and “look at those big brown eyes,

she’s not going to understand why I’ve been gone so long.” The longer the delay, the bigger the, “What if’s” become. In contrast, the logical part of my mind works on the premise of the “to-do” list….the preparations so that leaving is actually possible. It’s a little different now….it’s not just about packing….and it is helpful in keeping the “What if” bugs out of my head….they are definite energy zappers. Studies show that, approximately, only 8% of the things we worry about are likely to occur, or actually impact our lives in some way…..Who studies these things??!! Good to remember…..did it help…..well, I didn’t worry about the flock much at all while I was gone…LOL….they are pretty self-sufficient….with a little help…..

……like a quick, temporary fix to the new chicken house. Wait….What??!! I didn’t mention the new chicken house…….well, it’s not quite finished, but it has an automatic door that open and closes with light and darkness., hence nobody needs to do that for them. I just looked around and grabbed what I could to make their lives comfortable. I hope they were!

Thank you for stopping by and visiting today!! I hope your day is amazing!!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

building a new home, California, Homesteading, Oregon, San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley

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Breaking Bad – Black Walnuts

I’ve been meaning to update, Harvesting Walunts, for a while now. To say that removing the nut from the shell has been a lesson in frustration would be an understatement. OMGoodness!! Breaking into that black walnut shell is like trying to break into Fort Knox. For whatever reason….the nutty gem within is highly, highly protected…I mean beyond what seems reasonable….seriously!!

If you think I’m joking, take a look at this……..

Jimminy Crickets….unless you have teeth like a squirrel, or jaw strength like a Great Dane (more about that below)…I’m not entirely sure we were meant to actually eat these nuts. I mean think about it…if you were reliant on the calories and nutrition that black walnuts can provide, by the time you broke open enough for a handful size serving, you would have expended more calories than the walnut provides. There’s got to be a better way than my finite mind can fathom.

The results of about 45 minutes of effort resulted in this…..

The 2nd clue that this was not going to be an easy process. See all those dents in the wood…those are walnut shell impressions from banging it with a hammer!!

The black walnut’s chamber of secrets!! It’s a matter of digging out small pieces of nut.

My question is, “Why is the meat of these walnuts so protected?” Look at the damage to the wooden board that trying to break into this shell has caused. Is it worth the effort to gather those small pieces of nut?

The comparison of nut to shell. This is the result of shelling four black walnuts. The nut is sweet, and very…nutty. Quite good, actually, but I think next year…I’ll probably just leave all of them for the squirrels. Obviously, they are more equipped to eat these nuts than I am!!

Now, if I can just invent a tool that breaks the shell as efficiently as this girl…maybe I’ll harvest more this coming fall….

In all likelihood, I think I’m sticking with the good old English Walnut…look at the difference three nuts yield, besides that, there’s no danger of being impaled by flying walnut shells!!

Quite the difference!! I don’t think I’ll be harvesting many black walnuts in the near future.

Thanks for visiting the farm today. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Black Walnut Tree, Black Walnuts, building a new home, Cracking Black Walnuts, Harvesting walnuts

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A Purple Sunrise

Our morning sky has literally been on fire…completely stunning. I wish I had a passenger with me during a recent morning drive, just to take pictures of the horizon to the east. I’ll do my best to try to explain it to you.

Okay, let me walk you through this. In lieu of a picture, let your mind meld into my description, but first, clear your mind…..now close your eyes….do you have them closed??

HA!! Show of hands!!!! How many of you actually closed your eyes? But seriously, I wish you could close your eyes and still read this post. It does help with imagery. Come with me, and experience my morning.

So, you’re walking out your door, and there is darkness all around you.

Glancing upwardly, you see a vague bluing on the horizon, indicating that the sun is awakening, and starting to rise. Turning your head slightly east, the warmth of pink, orange and yellow have begun to sneak through the spaces in the sky that the tall trees have agreed to share (oh, and our power pole….but I don’t really see that 🙂 .)

As you leave for that day’s work, excitement fills your mind. You ponder the masterpiece that awaits you, as you approach the open horizon of your flatter scaped neighboring farms. The beauty of the sunrise is never disappointing. The Master Painter, creates an astonishing symphony of colors, shades, and textures…new every morning. You realize that, oddly enough, you are thankful for your morning drive out of town….that this time on the road is much more than mundane travel. It is a visit to the largest canvas ever painted.

I cannot capture the brilliance of the scene.

Moment by moment, color is encroaching, and the sky is a smoldering fire anticipating the fullness of it’s flame. All of a sudden, the horizon has opened revealing ….. a fleeting creation that speaks to one’s soul. The eastern mountain range presents itself in the opaqueness of a deep blackish-bluish-grey. A lighter grey, fluffy, ribbon sprawls horizontally across the base of the mountains, yet an intermittent, lighter ribbon dots across that same range in a slightly higher position. As your eyes move up through the darkness, complete awe fills your mind….your eyes have landed upon the majestic silhouette of one of the many volcanoes that watch over the entirety of the Willamette Valley and beyond.

A bright light appears, outlining the volcanic mountain range, and just above it, the brilliance of the sunrise reaches forth presenting in yellow, into orange, into deep reddish orange, into the darkest hue of pink, melding into a deep, dark red which very quickly turns to a sonnet of purple hues that reaches, literally, into every orafis of one’s heart, mind, body, and soul. In the silence of the sunrise, the Creator, Jehova, loudly pronounces His majesty. I am in complete awe, and gladly paying close attention to His dramatic proclamation. My day is now in motion.

Little by little, the sun has arisen. The beauty of the early morning has waned, yet there is great anticipation….tomorrow, there is another sunrise!!

A sunrise from the past…..since I can’t take one of the future..LOL!

Thank you for visiting my beautiful Oregon today. Although we left the forest to experience a larger piece of the Pacific Northwest, I hope you found something beautiful to take with you.

Please have a wonderful Sunday!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

building a new home, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Sunrise

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Egg-zample of Diversity

Penni and Lilly

Chicken eggs…keep me thoroughly entertained. Really! There is a kind of, “Treasure Hunt,” satisfaction that happens every time I go out to collect them. I never really know what I’m going to find….well…I don’t usually expect to find dinosaur eggs or anything like that, but I’m always hoping to come upon that golden egg…..wait….that was Aesop’s goose. However, in Laos, there is a similar fable with a hen being the giver of the golden egg….it could happen!!!

Our very first hens, remember them…the Untouchables (meaning, these hens and our rooster, Benedict, will never visit the stew pot…they are the Untoucables)…started laying eggs about a year and a half ago. This was my very first experience with eggs not bought in a grocery store. At first I thought, “Uuuhhmmm…..EEEWWWW!” They looked different than store bought eggs….they weren’t…..perfectly sized and formed. The shells had blemishes….this couldn’t be okay….could it? Well, I quickly learned that they are very much OKAY….and delicious!!!

Here is a sampling of how free range chicken eggs can differ one from another…..

A Symphony in Eggs

….pay no attention to the ketchup packets….hahaha…they provided structural support 🙂 As you can tell, I have all brown egg layers. The difference in shading is quite remarkable. I wonder what determines the shading from hen to hen or egg to egg….hhmmmm…..lots of things I suppose.

Home-grown, free range eggs come out spotty with deposits of pigment dotting the beautifully browned shell. Notice the little warty thing on the egg to the left….those happen too. I imagine those are little extra deposits of calcium. It’s all good!!

Eggs 2014

Sometimes, the spots look like someone spattered white paint all over them.

Is this splotching pigmentation deposits, as well?? I don’t know…but it is common, and does not affect the integrity of the egg. I will admit, the first eggs that I discovered with this kind of….decorative coloring…were discarded. I just didn’t like them….I soon learned that the goodness inside was beautiful, perfectly formed, and perfectly healthy.

Torpedo Egg

Some of my hens have a great sense of humor…..they lay torpedo eggs!! Seriously, I think I have one hen in particular…not sure which one….that lays these extra extra large, elongated eggs. I feel bad for this hen as laying these eggs must be quite the feat!! Many times these eggs are more fragile…..

…and their smaller ends come out a bit wrinkled…sometimes cracked. The torpedo egg below….

Extreme Torpedoing

Torpedo Egg cracking

….is an example of the cracking that can occur. Only the outer shell is cracked, but the integrity of the egg has been compromised. This egg either goes into the compost pile, or directly to our Great Dane, Penni.

Of course, my hens lay perfect eggs…why not…they, themselves, are incredibly perfect!! Doesn’t that egg look entirely delicious!! The goodness inside is like no other egg you’ve ever tasted, unless of course, you have the privilege of raising, or buying true, free range eggs yourself. I can’t even order egg dishes in restaurants any more (with the exception of eggs benedict.) My hens have completely spoiled me!

Just look at the depth of color that yoke has!! It is fully of an amazing amount of omega-3s…truly, very healthy!! One thing you may notice is how the yolk kind of separated from the white in this picture. Many times, this is what happens when you cook eggs that are same-day fresh. It does make it easier for the yolk to break if you are trying to fry it.

BREAKFAST!!

Making a tiny omelette with two tiny eggs.

I usually have a supply in the fridge, and am generally cooking up week old eggs rather than same day. It does make a difference in the integrity, especially if you’re going for that “flip” when creating over-easy yumminess. I keep a carton of about 2 week old eggs for hard boiling, as the shell won’t stick as much to the white when pealed. HHHmmmm….makes you think, doesn’t it….how old are the eggs we buy at the grocer….I never had a problem with shell to egg-white sticking in hard boiled eggs when I was buying them…..HHHmmmmm!!

How about that lovely beauty….my first quiche!!

I think it’s easy to say that my hens’ free ranging, farm fresh eggs are the star of the show around here. If you’ve never indulged in a golden delight raised by one of your local small chicken farms…do yourself a favor and get a dozen….

Beautiful golden gems.

….I think you’ll be hooked….so be prepared, there’s no going back!!

Thanks for visiting the farm today! I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Chicken Eggs, Free Ranging Chickens, Homesteading

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Dotting the Landscape

Miss Fozzy Bear

The moisture in the land this time of year brings about a true richness and depth in the natural colors that dot the scenery. I love how the redness in the wood that ladens the land pops through the bright green of the winter moss, and grasses.

A stray piece of Douglas Fir bark becomes a topographical mapping of the roadways various insects have taken to navigate their way, to and fro.

Stumps that are being slowly broken down and decayed dramatically showcase tunnels and caverns.

Stray branches damaged by weather, and time create an amazing centerpiece fit for a king’s table.

Even the flock want to get their feet onto a wooden surface………nope, not that one ladies…..no way….

….that’s more like it!!

Those are some beautiful girls!!

Thanks for visiting our forested farm today. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, Chickens, Douglas Fir wood, Rhode Island Reds

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To Breed or Not to Breed

I realized the other day that it has been quite awhile since I mentioned our Great Dane, Penni, in a post. That is really unacceptable, as she is the pearl…the gem…she brings a, well,….regal quality to the landscape.

If you have been visiting our farm for awhile, you know that Penni is mother of all things chicken….hatchlings, to be more specific. Every new chick hatched on the farm (or not) is required, by the overseer, to pass the sniff-lick-slobber resiliency test by the queen herself. Once completed, Penni is bonded to the chicks, and keeps a very close eye on them….

I promise to watch over you… I may chase you, but I will protect you!

…the downside of this is like any mommy, she becomes very protective of her chicks, and will let the other dog(s) know in no uncertain terms. This is a very natural response, however harsh it may seem.

We’ve come to a point of “decision” with Penni. She is not spayed, and is a wonderful example of a classic, old school Great Dane.

Yeah, she thinks she’s a mountain goat!

By this I mean, she envelopes all the qualities of Danes before there was the trend to breed taller and taller dogs. This trend, and acceptance by the AKC, bothers me so much. I don’t believe that this adds to the health of the breed, I think it weakens it. I have seen danes with such long legs that they look spindly, the rear end is often higher than the shoulders, and the dog’s gait / strength appears off, weakened. I don’t like it at all; our Great Dane babies are not Irish Wolfhounds or Deerhounds…they were not originally bred to be as tall as those.

I think this breeding taller trend is what has also sparked the other current trend of breeding European Danes into the American Dane’s bloodlines. This, in my opinion, is a good, healthy trend, as it is bringing sturdiness back to the breed. Okay…I’m off of my soapbox now!!

My beauty!

Our pending decision…to breed or not to breed. I know…this is a dirty word to many….I usually think that way too, and am a huge advocate of spaying and neutering. In fact, this is the first animal I have ever had (besides chickens haha) that has not been “fixed” … she is the only four legged beauty that I have ever considered breeding. Physically, she is amazing, strong, and adheres to the standards of the American Kennel Club ( http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_dane/breed_standard.cfm ) ….mentally, she has a great, loving temperment….not at all aloof (although a common quality of the breed) and is very intelligent. Yes, I said it….I do believe that dogs think, and are not solely reactive…especially Danes.

Seriously…can’t you see the problems of the world being solved right there in that chair!!

FAQ’s:

Why would you breed her while there are so many in shelters and rescue? Beyond Penni’s safety and the safety of the pups throughout their lives, this is my biggest hindrance. I have worked in shelters or with shelters most of my life…this is an issue that I have not been able to justify yet, hence, Penni has never been bred. However, we have the acreage to take back any of our babies that may need to be rehomed.

Penni at 8 weeks old

Is Penni OFA certified? This is an expense that we will put out if / when we decide breeding is what we intend. She will be certified in heart, hips, knees, elbows, and thyroid… if and when.

Those are some great hips on that girl!!

Do you show Penni? No, Penni is an amazing family member. Although I thought, at one point, to show, I have not gone that route with her.

What’s the real reason you are considering breeding, Penni? If her OFA certifications are favorable, her classic dane stature, strength, beauty, and demeanor would be great characteristics to pass onto the next generation. If I could provide a few other families with a forever sweetheart like our girl, it would be a great gift….I know I’m romanticizing this very important decision…believe me, I’m looking at the issue with eyes wide open!

Reason for discussion? Penni will be three years old in April…at this point, she has been through five heat cycles. I will not breed her as long as we still have our 15 year old little Karli with us, as I will not subject Karli to that level of stress. For Penni’s safety, I don’t want her to go through too many more heat cycles if we’re not going to breed her…..hence, before her next cycle, I want to decide what to do. There are risks associated with the fluctuation of hormones in our furry kids that are unaltered.

Karli & Penni

Bottom line, there is much to consider…financial, emotional, intellectual, and social issues surround this decision, let alone the health and safety of our girl and her pups. Penni is depending on us to make the right choice. Beyond that, a suitable male would need to be found….not an easy task. I know this is a very controversial discussion for many…I highly respect your opinions, as I hope you will mine.

Thanks for talking with me today. Animal management (livestock or pet) on the farm always requires thoughtful consideration. It is never a light-hearted choice.

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

American Kennel Club, Breeding Great Danes, building a new home, Great Dane, Penni the Great Dane, Spay and Neuter

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Back to Business

Seems as though the holidays are over…the tree is down, decorations put away, lights on the house coming down today…..however….we are still munching on these….I couldn’t let my son down….I had promised to make these for him since Christmas…..besides….it truly isn’t Christmas until my Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies are made (a tradition from my childhood…thanks Mom!!! 🙂 )

I can’t really call these Christmas Cookies…I made them on New Year’s Day. Haha…better late than never.

….and these….

Beautiful chestnuts!

…well, we’re not really still munching on the chestnuts. Sadly, this was a bad batch, and had molded on the inside. We were really disappointed, especially, Tony, as he bit into a mold pocket…YUCK!!! Chestnuts became a tradition during the very beginnings of our life together, as Tony’s family usually had them as part of their Christmas tradition. I love this tradition. The last two Christmas’, however, we have gotten bad nuts, unfortunate as their season is very short. If you remember, we planted our own chestnut trees last fall…

…but with the deep freeze and copious amounts of snow last winter, followed by a really dry, dry summer…the jury is still out as to whether or not the nut bearing grafts have survived. We did not expect nuts this year, and we did not get any…spring will tell us the true story of the damage they received. I would so love to harvest our own chestnuts in the fall. Keep your fingers crossed…we certainly are!!!

Chickens and chow mein!!

The flock celebrated their first day of 2015 with leftover chow mein and fried rice. They were in heaven!! Grabbing a noodle, I’m sure their chicken minds went to the free range find of the coveted earthworm!! To say they were entertaining would be an understatement. One would grab a noodle, and with a quick look around, would take off running in a guarded attempt to get the noodle-worm down without having it stolen by another hen. Once gobbled, it was an all out sprint to get back to the noodle pile for another prize. So funny!! As always, our rooster, Benedict, was the ultimate gentleman and held back while the girls consumed. Once in awhile he would poke his head in, and using a very mannerly approach, would take a noodle from the edge of the pile. The hens were much more demanding. They could take a few lessons from their mature patriarch.

As we get back to the business of the farm for the year 2015, we welcome the newness, and the potential. We’ve identified lots of goals, and in turn created lists of tasks that promise to keep us quite busy. I look forward to sharing these times with you!

Thanks for visiting the farm today!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, building a new home, Chestnut Trees, Chickens, Rhode Island Reds

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Storms a brewin’

As much of the country falls under the influence of the most recent polar vortex, Oregon sits on the western edge…still within its boundaries, but on the edge.

It wasn’t until about 1:00 p.m. this afternoon that outdoor water dishes began to thaw. I didn’t even think about freezing water dishes last night…but it makes sense seeing that temps were down to 27 degrees at 5:00 this morning. More than a little distressed, the chickens looked for their morning drink…and I had somewhere to be. Thankfully, there was one little indoor water dish that had not frozen inside their house. The rest of the frozen bowls would have to wait until I got home.

Alerts of a harsh, winter storm have been flooding the news reports the past couple of days. As I looked into the sky, the approaching storm was becoming apparent.

Within an hour, the clouds moving through had a bluer, darker gray hue…the kind of cloud that carries ice, or snow. They are distinctive. A myriad of things can come from those clouds from ice, to icy rain, to snow….no one is really sure what to expect from the impending dropping of this polar vortex. Tomorrow morning’s commute should be exciting!!

Right now, it’s 8:15 p.m. on the west coast of Oregon…it is 33.4 degrees (according to our little thermometer) not a real common event in mid-November. So to keep warm…crock pot vegetarian chili,

and Spinach and Cheddar Bread (homemade) http://myfavouritepastime.com/2014/11/04/spinach-and-cheddar-bread/

…and a nice warm fire!!

Everyone seems to be enjoying it!

Thank you for buttoning up your jackets, putting on your mittens, and braving the cold to visit the farm today!! Prayers and hopes that you all stay safe out there, please be careful on the ice!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Autumn, Cold weather, Freezing Rain, Great Dane, Polar Vortex

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Harvesting Walnuts

I cannot believe how many walnuts have fallen this year. In one certain area you cant’ walk without a squish….and an uncertain wiggle due to the hard nut that follows the squish. As I stated in my last post, we decided to try and harvest some actual nuts this year. The process is messy, and takes a bit of time to get the nut out of its casing…I hope the results are worth it…either way, it has been a fun project so far.

My friend, Jill, told me how she used to harvest walnuts as a kid…I decided to try it…

…with just a couple twists of the foot, the husks came right off! Collecting the husks in one container, and the nuts in the other….

…I wished the contents could have been reversed in quantity. But, we had a good amount for the first time harvesting. If this turns out well, harvesting next year will definitely start as soon as the walnuts start falling. There are just so many this year, it would probably take a year to finish the job…at that point, I don’t think we’d want to eat them.

This is what walnut husks will do to your hands. BTW, this was the second layer of gloves I was wearing.

Next step was to add water….

…at this point they had soaked for about 30 seconds…

…I agitated them around a bit…

…then poured out the wat….I don’t think you can really call that water anymore!!

That’s a pretty good amount for one afternoon!! Like most things, room to breathe, and in this case, dry out, is necessary to prevent mold. The hubby built the drying screen table, which I think is pretty awesome! With a little patience, like 2 or 3 weeks, it will be time to crack open the shells…kind of like an early Christmas!

Not to worry…there are plenty of walnuts left on the ground for our resident squirrels. They should be plenty well-rounded this year.

Also, to my surprise, as we winterized the garden we found a few gems….

…this was one big, beautiful carrot!! I roasted it last night with brussel sprouts, and butternut squash…paired with some toasty garlic bread, it was a so good!

Thank you for visiting the farm today, and thank you even more to those who have served our country. You are all so awesome!!

Your friend in Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Black Walnut Tree, Black Walnuts, Harvesting, Harvesting walnuts

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Walnuts, Walnuts, Everywhere…

My life has been shrouded in the realm of walnuts. My earliest memories include my grandpa sitting after dinner cracking walnuts. Once I had the hand strength to squeeze the metal nut cracker hard enough to break the shell, I would sit next to Gramps, cracking walnuts along with him. After that, I lived most of my adult life in a home with a giant black walnut tree which stood 50 ft. tall, and had a span of branch width of at least that many feet if not 60. It was huge, and provided shelter for squirrels, raccoons, and opossum. I loved that big old tree. I still have walnuts in my life.

These trees are dropping round, squishy things with a hard pit that threaten to twist your ankle upon a misstep.

There are five of them, all abundantly dropping as quickly as the leaves are falling.

They do resemble ornaments hanging in the breeze. I wonder how white twinkling lights would look strewn about the branches?

After the last big rain, the trees are more devoid…..

…but now, the ground is covered. They do make quite the mess.

After talking with a friend about collecting and drying walnuts, my curiosity was ignited. I Googled the process and found some good information. This year, we are going to try our hand at collecting, de-husking, drying, and harvesting the nut from the very hard, thick shell. Black walnuts differ greatly in shell construction than the English variety that are usually sold in grocery stores.

The shells are harder to crack, and instead of a two chamber contraption, it has four.

One older shell, and a new one that I cracked today showing the wet nut.

I have read that the meat of the black walnut, once dried, has a wonderfully nutty flavor. It is apparently, well worth the effort, and will keep well in the freezer for two years. I hope this works out, and will help cut the costs of enjoying these healthy, meaty nuts.

Thanks for enjoying the farm with me today!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Black Walnut Tree, Black Walnuts, Harvesting, Homesteading, Oregon

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The Green of Spr, Uhhmm, Autumn

Click “PLAY” if you’d like an added ambiance to this post.

Spring is not the exclusive season for new growth. Turns out, Autumn’s early rains are amazing for springing life back into the lifeless, dry, landscape of late summer. This year, the long, hot, dry summer caused more dryness to the land than we have experienced in our three short years of living upon it, and an additional six of visiting it. Seriously, it’s true … but my heart goes out to California where the long, dryness of summer has lasted through too many seasons. Hopefully, this will be the year that the mountains get a great snow pack, and the reservoirs fill back up. Praying for that!!

Take a look at the magical qualities that just a few days of rain can have on a landscape pleading for a drink of water….a 6.68″ glass of water….

Can you see the rain??

I hope you have a fantastic Monday!! Thanks for walking in the rain with me today!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Autumn, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Have you ever seen the rain, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Oregon, Rain

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The Littlest Hen

The morning was filled with the warmth of summer in late July. Anticipating the freshness of the day, the flock was noisy, calling for their freedom. I pulled opened their door, and quickly, hens rambled outside. Opening the “people” door, I heard that familiar little sound. Although, somewhat muffled, it was undeniable. Peering into the brooder, my eyes landed on the source of the high pitched “peep peep peeep”……

…she would have been easy to miss, as she quickly hid in the warmth of Mama Chardonnay’s wings. Out of seven eggs, she was the only one to hatch.

The baby chick quickly grew, and became her mama hen’s little shadow. Chardonnay shared all of her food with the chick, always allowing her to eat first. She has always been such a good Mama Hen.

Mama and Chick catching some rays.

She grew, and grew.

Corn has always been one of her most favorite things.

Free ranging everyday, she diligently followed Chardonnay, listening, watching, imitating, and learning. She became well integrated into the flock, and was rarely chased or pecked at by the older hens.

As is the danger of growing up in the middle of a farm – forest, predators are a real threat when feathers cover your body. The flock works hard to safeguard themselves against these threats, and they do very well. Sometimes their efforts, and our efforts are not enough. Something attacked our littlest hen.

The undeniable evidence.

I found the evidence yesterday morning…I’m not sure if it happened Saturday evening, or Sunday morning. Usually, I count the flock to make sure everyone made it into their house for the night…I didn’t do that Saturday night. I don’t remember specifically seeing her come out of their house on Sunday morning, but nothing alerted my conscious thoughts to her absence. In any case, she is gone…I wish I knew what got her!

It’s that circle of life thing. The flock knew it and were on high alert all day, hiding underneath things..running from cover to cover to change locations. They felt the loss, and the danger. This is the life of a free ranging chicken. There are real dangers, and in spite of that, there is real freedom….and sometimes, if I catch it just right, I think I can see them smiling!

Sorry little girl!!

There are definite life lessons that occur in nature, look for them, they’re there.

Thanks for walking through nature with me today.

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, building a new home, Chicken House, Chickens, Free Ranging Chickens, Hatching Chicks, Hawk attack, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Oregon, Rhode Island Reds

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29 Hours on the Farm

I’ve come to realize that my life is all about the chickens…and of course Sir Benedict.

They tell me, under no uncertain terms, when to wake up. On those rare mornings that I have not gotten out of bed before sunrise, Benedict loudly calls from his high roost, and the hens squawk and complain….and poop…everywhere. Since I clean their roosts, nesting boxes, and platforms in front of their nesting boxes every morning…it’s a good idea to get them out just as the sunlight crests the darkness. I fudge this timing, just a little on the weekends, but still need to get out there before the hens have need for their time of privacy.

This flock dictates how late I can stay out at night…somebody has to close the door to the hen house after dark!! Predators in the forest = a definite need for security.

The flock and I have a symbiotic relationship…..they poop…I pick it up. They eat…I buy more food. They get blown by the wind….I cover up the drafts…. (this will be the last time I do this….more on that in my next post.)

The UPS guy told me that that was the most “Red Neck” chicken coop he’s ever seen…hahahaha!

…..they poop…I pick it up (yes, I said that twice…I spend a lot of time picking up chicken poop!) My flock free range. They follow their natural food sources, and always end up back in their house at night. Sometimes that means this……

Hey, get off the porch…that water is for the dogs!!

….and this…..

Seriously…that is chicken poop…That’s ridiculous!!!

….so, I follow them around picking up their…not so golden surprises. In the end, I believe the flock is healthier (I know we are!) and happier.

If you have 41 seconds….take a look at our little video, 29 Hours on the Farm , …. this is the reason I let this flock run my life ….

….next stop….well, we’re looking at goats (any ideas?), but I think I need a trip to Disneyland first!!! I’ve definitely got the bug!!

Thank you, for visiting the farm this morning!! Have a wonderful Sunday!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, Chicken House, Chickens, Dogs and Chickens, Free Ranging Chickens, Goats, Great Dane, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Oregon, Penni the Great Dane, Rat Terrier mix, Red Neck Chicken Coop, Rhode Island Reds

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That Certain Age

Within these past several weeks, I turned that certain age. I’m not giving that age up, but most people who grew up with me, or have known me in these adult years have a good idea what age I am. This is that year in which I am forced to reflect on my life a bit. It is that age I have kind of dreaded…that I have watched my brothers reach and surpass, and when brought to mind, prayed for, earnestly, keeping in mind that lightning rarely strikes twice the same way…but knowing that sometimes it does.

There is just enough irony in life that the nagging of the unknown around that certain age sometimes settles in the way the fog lingers over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sometimes the fog looms, and my fears grow. I pray, I hug my dog, I take a walk, or busy myself with simple chores that take me outside and into the grandeur of the land around me. Other times I write…I write to you whom have become part of this journey…I write those stories that are the “maybe someday, somehow” unpublished pieces…and I read…I read the words of many others who have stories to tell, who ask nothing but to be read. They are out there…stories…wonderful stories baked in the lives of so many…when the fog settles in, these things help me to remember that the truth of this certain age is not necessarily the truth of that same certain age of another.

I am that age…the age when my father died.

My dad was a young man…he seemed older to me, at the time, than I feel now, but since I am that same age I realize how young he was, really. He died suddenly, his body failed him. That’s what bodies do…some earlier, some later, but they all fail. That Sunday morning left ripples, waves in my life lasting the entirety of these past 23 years.

So this year, the year of that certain age, I’m focusing on health…this little homestead helps with that, along with you, as I read your words and learn from your wisdom and recipes…and from new friends who have recently introduced me into the delicious world of squash, beyond zucchini…. 🙂 I’ve never been to this world before. Then there’s this TVP, Textured Vegetable Protein…..hmmmm, that’s a maybe.

Mostly, I know that this body will fail at some point. Greater yet, I am assured of this….

John 10:27-29 (Jesus is speaking at the temple during a dispute at the feast of dedication)
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

….my salvation through Christ is rock solid, nothing can snatch me from His hand!! When I actually do reach the age in which my time is done, I know where I’m going. That assurance makes being this certain age a much happier place to reside. In the meantime, life is good……

GREAT DANE PUPPIES TO HUG!!

That’s my Penni in the orange collar.

BUBBLES TO POP!!

HANK!

GARDENS TO GROW!!

CHICKS TO HATCH!!

CRAZY CAT PICTURES TO TAKE!!

AND THEN THERE’S SOURDOUGH….SAN FRANCISCO SOURDOUGH!!

AND DISNEYLAND!!

AND THESE GIRLS!!

My sweet girls, Penni and Karli !

AND THIS FAMILY!!

AND THIS LAND!!

AND YOU…all of you..who walk through this forest, and visit this farm. Who’s words inspire, teach, encourage, and fill my kitchen with wonderful fragrances from delicious new recipes. As my thoughts turn inwards…you help me to look out from the window of this certain age, and I, once again, move away from my apprehension. And since the SF Giants are one step closer to getting into the World Series….October is looking pretty darn good!!!

Thanks for sharing this certain year with me!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Bay Area Fog, building a new home, California, Giants, Great Dane, Harvesting, Hatching Chicks, Hiking in Oregon, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Penni the Great Dane, Rat Terrier mix, SF Giants

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Nope, Not Moulting

You may remember this guy…..

Benedict….our Big Daddy Rooster!! Patriarch to the Middles, and the Littles (aka the Muppets.)

….big daddy, Benedict….our gentleman rooster. Always polite, never asking of his hens without the traditional dance. He doesn’t eat of the discarded kitchen goodies until his family has had the chance to partake. This boy keeps his eye on the sky and warns the flock of any impending dangers…Yes, he is the stud of the farm.

The past couple of months, Benedict has become somewhat of a bully to a few select hens. Oddly enough, these are hens of his roo-hood…the full Rhode Island Reds, all of them…except mama hen, Chardonnay. He will literally chase them down, not necessarily to mate, but often times just to, well…stand on them. Really, at this point, I know the difference..hahaha! Their backs are bare, or in various stages of feather regrowth.

Poor little Reisling’s bare back…FYI she had just gotten up from a dust bath, her back looks dirty.

I’ve read about this. Their feather loss is not due to molting, there are even thick wing feathers that have been broken off, not pulled out. And I’ve witnessed it…I’ve seen the intentional chase..mount..stand, just standing, no rooster duties going on. Sometimes, Claudio, our Buff Orphington hen, gets in the act with Benedict, and will run over and start some weird kind of hen attack…plucking at the other hen’s feathers while Benedict stands on them. Is this common behavior??

Benedict and his harem…including the 4 bare backs.

As the colder weather approaches, I’m a bit worried about these girls. At the advice of our local feed store, the flock is now getting supplemented with Purina Flock Raiser which is higher in protein and fat than regular chicken feed (Purina Layena.) It seems to be helping with feather regrowth, and since the cold weather is currently knocking on the door, I’ve made this their primary food. As the feathers attempt to grow back, those thick shafts stick out, and it seems much more painful for them when Benedict does…whatever it is he is doing. I’ve become, Alpha Rooster, and chase him away from these girls when he pursues them…he does seem to be listening. I’ve read about hen jackets that are made for this reason, however, you run a greater risk of a mite infestation with the jackets….I don’t think I want that…but I also don’t want my girls to be cold. The only thing I know is….there’s a lot I don’t know!!!

HEY!!! Get off the porch!!!

Thanks for checking in on the farm today. When I tell the flock that you’ve been here…they get very excited!!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Bare Backs on Chickens, Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, building a new home, Chicken House, Chickens, Free Ranging Chickens, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Muppets, Oregon, Penni the Great Dane, Rhode Island Reds

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An Incredible Find

Have you ever seen the artistry in the routine? Birds nest….an incredible, yet routine event in their lives…

The Muppets hatching.

Chickens do not really build a nest, they find a cozy, quiet spot. Many of the flock will then lay their eggs in that same location, resulting in this…

Six nesting boxes….this one was the hot spot today!!

….that was all from one morning. Where is the artistry in a nesting box full of eggs? If you look closely, each egg is very different…size, shape, color, decorative “freckles”…they are each very unique….

That’s one big egg!!!

That being said, I think the true artists reveal themselves every spring with the creation of an incredible piece of workmanship. The structure is amazing, and the question that usually arises in me every time I, happily, encounter one of these delicate yet strong, masterpieces of construction is …. “How did the bird build this without the use of hands?” You will not believe the incredibly gorgeous piece of true art that I am so blessed to have come upon while hiking with my Great Dane, Penni.

It must have blown out from the trees this past week…. are you ready…..

Look at this closely…

So completely incredible…

Look at this closely…imagine the time it took to build. The supplies used were ingenious…feathers from the chickens supply softness, hair from the mane or tail of our neighbor’s horses provide structure, and a little peacock feather for a splash of color….completely, insanely gorgeous!!!

By the size of it, my guess is a hummingbird nest. Truly amazing…

I feel like it is truly a privilege to have found this little beauty, and I’m so happy to be able to share it with you!!

Thank you for taking a walk with me this morning, I hope this little gem of the forest will help to make your day just a bit more special.

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Autumn, Birds of Oregon, Birds of the Pacific Northwest, Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, building a new home, Chicken Eggs, Chicken House, Chickens, Great Dane, Hiking in Oregon, Homesteading, Humming Bird Nest, moving to Oregon, Nesting Boxes, Penni the Great Dane

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Tule (Tooley) Fog

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” ― Henry David Thoreau

Okay, that’s pretty much true…unless I have a chance to sit on the couch and cuddle with this sweetheart…

…..uuuhhhmmmmm, I mean this sweetie…

As if scripted by a professional screenwriter, Autumn rolled in, in the form of the very familiar covering of ground level fog…in the SF Bay Area, it’s called Tule (Tooley) Fog.

I called the valley fog here in Oregon, Tule Fog once…..I got blank stares accompanied by a smile or two…hahaha…nobody seemed to know what I was talking about..hahaha! So, I don’t really know what to call it…I guess just fog..haha. I had no idea that that particular weather terminology was specific to California.

Rain is in the forecast, in fact, it drizzled much of the day, and has now rained throughout the night. So at the great advice of two of my friends from work (thank you Sabrina and Angie) I picked the rest of my tomatoes. Many were immensely green, but off the vine they came.

These will, hopefully, ripen in a paper bag, and be no less than the quality of a tomato bought in a grocery store. At least I will know that these were grown without pesticides, and unnatural fertilizers.

The corn stalks came down today, as well, to keep them from molding. I like to use them for outdoor decorating…they don’t usually last very long…the chickens like them too!

While we wait for the rain, Penni promises to keep watch over the tomatoes.

Thankfully, they don’t taste like blackberries…that bucket would be emptied by now!!

Looking forward to sharing this wonderful season with you….thanks for visiting the farm today! 🙂

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Autumn, Bay Area Fog, Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, California, Fall Decorations, Great Dane, Harvesting, Home Grown Tomato, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Oregon, Penni the Great Dane, Roma Tomatos, San Francisco Bay Area, Tule Fog

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Autumn is Fall-ing

I had help writing this morning…

We’ve been seeing the tell-tale signs of the wilting and turning of leaves…some are starting to drop. The season is beginning, yet summer is giving its best effort to hang on. Yesterday, the last day of summer, Se˜or Verano, decided to flex his muscles for one more day here in the Pacific Northwest. Take a quick look at this comparison to areas that are typically on the hotter side this time of year……

1:40 p.m. PST (time that I looked at it )… 3:40 p.m. EST (actual time of temp.)

……What….doesn’t everyone have Disney World and Disneyland programmed into their phones?? Typically, the Bay Area gets hit with a late Indian Summer in Sept…uhhmmm, hmmmmm. In contrast….

Take a look….this was at 6:00 P.M.

it seems since we moved up to Oregon the sustaining heat followed us….don’t laugh too loudly!!! It’s been a hot, very dry summer. We, on this little farm including our fine feathered friends…

…have had a collective, sigh, as the forecast shows dropping temperatures and RAIN in the forecast. For the flock this means the emergence of bugs, worms, and a bit of fresh, greens growing up out of the dry soil….for the humans it means sweaters, warm coffee, an eventual lift in the burn restrictions equaling in the ability to mow down those darn weeds, and the chance to build outdoor / indoor fires…yes, we are ready!!

While we wait, there are tomatoes to harvest, watermelon and pumpkin yet to ripen, a new hen house to build (that’s a different story), and hopefully one more blackberry harvest. I do hope the watermelon ripens!!

Thank you for visiting the farm today!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Autumn, Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Chickens, Dogs and Chickens, Free Ranging Chickens, Grape Tomatoes, Great Dane, Home Grown Tomato, Homesteading, moving to Oregon, Penni the Great Dane, San Francisco Bay Area, Summer, Watermelon, Wild Blackberries

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It’s Salsa Time!!!

So what do you do when you have a bunch of tomatoes and jalapeno peppers? SALSA!!

This is my all-time favorite salsa…..literally, every once in awhile we will drive over an hour just to get to the restaurant that creates this outrageous bowl of goodness …… CHEVY’S SALSA!!

A pound and a pint (sometimes two) take-out always accompanies me home…that’s non-negotiable!!

With this salsa addiction, I am on a quest to reproduce this outrageously yummy concoction. I just can’t get it right…there is always “something” missing and I can’t put my finger on it. There are knock-off recipes out there that get me pretty close…just nottttt quite at the point where I can exclaim, “That’s it!” So, once a year when the tomato harvest is at full speed, I tinker with salsa…one of these tomato seasons, maybe I’ll get it right!

This is my latest attempt…..

Roasting the Veggies

An innocent looking bowl of fire!

A new ingredient…trying to get a bit of a smokey flavor.

The roasted garlic on top is so delicious and creamy.

Where are the chips???

The chipotle peppers in adobo sauce did make a big difference. I still have to figure out how to manage more liquid in the finished product. My salsa usually comes out quite “meaty”…not necessarily a bad thing, but I think a little more moisture would be good. This definitely is one of the better blends…not sure that I’m satisfied as it is not as close to Chevy’s salsa as I’m looking for, but…yummy in it’s own way.

Darn…I guess I’ll have to keep trying.. hahaha!

Thanks for visiting my kitchen this morning. I hope you have an excellent day!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

building a new home, Chevy's Fresh Mex, Chevy's Restaurant, Chevy's Salsa, Harvesting, Home Grown Tomato, Homesteading, How to make Salsa, Jalapeno Peppers, moving to Oregon, Oregon, Serrano Peppers

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Morning Sunrise

I’ve taken a bit of an absence from writing lately, a time to clear my head of old thoughts and to see if there is still room for new ideas. That step away brought a type of solitude, an inward look into the entire last three years raising questions in my mind.

I have been missing my home of 22 years,

So many beautiful memories made in that house.

and the San Francisco Bay Area…the place of my entire existence up until our big move three years ago. To say that I never look back would be completely untrue. Something usually strikes a chord in me, however, bringing me back to this place.

As I sit here drinking my coffee and watching the morning sunrise,

I am taken by the unique beauty that is all around me. The sun’s light rises in the east, yet casts its first warmth on the western hills behind us slowly erasing the shadows of the night.

The diurnal wilds of the forest are awakening, yet the nocturnal are taking their last look around within the shadowy places. I know this because I hear the “hoot-hooting” of an invisible owl to whom I am probably well in focus, yet to me remains stealthily hidden.

A cacophony of birds, all different in their song, resounds in the background, the foreground, all around me. The neighboring farms are awakening with sounds of crowing, braying, gobbling, quacking, and the ever present, “Hey, I’m laying an egg here” repeated clucking of hens giving of their provisions.

I may have left my heart in the San Francisco Bay Area (seriously, this is true),

but my soul finds peace in this little slice of Oregon. Well, actually, my soul finds peace in Christ, but as I look around me, the brilliance of the Creator envelops my very being. That is what has drawn me to this place from the beginning…I see God’s handiwork all around me, and in that there is great peace, contentment, and a huge desire to be here…to be right here!