Friday Fotos

 

Carolina blue sky

 

Hey there!

It's Friday Fotos

and we're here to share a little piece of our world.

I'm asking anyone who is so inclined

to continue to pray or light a candle for peace for our country.

Let's keep seeing the light!

 

 

Yes, folks, we had snow!

Last Friday it snowed nearly all day long,

and although it didn't accumulate into a silvery blanket,

we got enough to make this gal very happy!

It's still early in the year,

so maybe we will be blessed with another frigid blast!

 

No need to worry about the wildlife around here.

There are always rations-a-plenty for wayward souls.

The seed and suet feeders have needed refilling

on almost a daily basis.

We're content to provide for those who

give us so much entertainment and delight.

Henrietta

 

The chooks are faring well through the chillier nights.

Although my heart goes out to two of our hens,

for they have decided that this is the perfect time to molt.

I'm hoping that their feathers quickly return to keep them toasty.

Until then, they have ample sunshine

and the warm bodies of their companions at night to stave off the cold.

A friend pulled up her Brussels Sprouts the other day

and the chooks enjoyed the sweet leaves for some time!

We are getting zero eggs now.

In fact, I had to buy eggs from a neighbor

lest we be without for the foreseeable future.

For the life of me,

I can't recall where I got this recipe,

but the chooks enjoyed it.

It can be altered to fit what you have on hand,

and I'll bet it will be scarfed up in no time!

Well, actually, it takes them some time to finish it,

as there are many layers of goodies.

Sometimes chickens are known to pick out

just the things they like in their feed.

They didn't seem to mind any of these ingredients!

A sticky treat

 

 

And, speaking of treats...

This has become my favorite weekend breakfast.

I'm not sure where I was when avocado toast became all the rage,

but I'm usually late to the party.

Anyway, I absolutely adore this mouthful of bliss.

Avocado spread on oatmeal (or millet) bread

(which has been sprinkled with olive oil),

and then topped with a fried egg seasoned simply with salt.

Oh.  My.  Stars.

So flippin' good.

What's your favorite weekend breakfast pleasure?

 

Change Is Good!

 

 

Let's face it.

Change can be hard.

Even though we know that 

it's best to shake things up a bit from time to time,

straying from the customary can be a struggle.

Our family thrives on routine and the familiar.

Last year, we made three big changes

that really paid off.

 

 

The Top Three Changes in 2020

 

 

Berkey Water Filter

We have permanently ditched the plastic water jugs

in lieu of this fantastic system.

For years, we wrestled with the dilemma of

needing clean water to drink and with which to cook,

while despising the idea of a steady stream of plastic 

coming into the house.

The Berkey turned out to be the best solution.

It gives us a safe and reliable source of water,

is renewable and long-lasting,

and it saves us money.

We would recommend it highly to anyone

who is looking for a way to reduce or eliminate

their plastic bottle dependence.

 

 

Getting Chickens

It was almost by accident that we acquired poultry.

My good friend was relocating out of state

and needed to find a home for her 60+ birds.

With only a little more than half an acre,

I knew we could only take a handful,

but we are so glad we did.

I had been thinking about becoming a chicken keeper

for the last few years.

In fact, one of the reasons we chose this neighborhood,

was because there were no restrictions on having chickens.

So, we took the plunge.

It surprised me how much I grew to love it.

They are so rewarding to care for and it's been wonderful

learning more about them and their habits.

Even Big K and C, who are not big animal lovers,

have become somewhat enamored with them.

Who knew?

Along with providing eggs for our family,

the chooks are a source of non-stop entertainment

and will no doubt be helpful in the garden

with their poop-laden bedding and bug patrol.

It's been a win all around,

and rumor has it that the flock may be expanded come springtime.

 

 

Misfits Produce

This organic produce delivery service is something 

that I never would have thought I would use.

I've been shopping once a week for decades,

but wanted to find a way to support organic farmers

and help stop the waste that happens with food in our country.

Misfits produce is all organic, minimally packaged

and mostly incredibly delicious.

A few times we have gotten something 

that was past its prime, but

our overall satisfaction with the service is quite high.

It feels good knowing that we are helping to use food

that might otherwise be tossed out and in keeping with our more ecological ideals,

there is no plastic wrap involved in the packaging of the ordered items.

For the last few months, we've even been able to customize our order,

making the service even more appealing.

We will continue to support and promote this valuable business. 

So, maybe these three great experiences 

will help me become less resistant to change.

It's a new year and a brand new chance

to try something different.

 

What changes do you plan for the new year?

Friday Fotos

 

 

Welcome to Friday Fotos!

During the lull in the gardening season,

we'll be sharing random photographs from around the homestead.

This seasonal flag is one of a few recently purchased for our mailbox  bed.

I'm not one to buy new for the most part,

but I found a terrific company that makes quality flags

and I will share that with you soon.

 

We've been enjoying cooler temperatures for the last few weeks,

and when possible, I've been getting a few outside chores done.

My self-imposed cutoff for working outdoors is 45 degrees,

but anything above that is fair game.

Last week, the skies looked gloomy,

but it was the perfect time to embrace winter's offerings.

 

There is an area in the back of our house that is moderately wooded.

Our sweet neighbor behind us allows me to pretty much

do whatever I want back there.

We have plans to someday create a secret garden in this spot

for her grandchild to enjoy.

On this day, though, 

the task was simply to gather branches for chipping.

This gardener can never have enough wood chips!

There are still plenty more to collect,

but I am pacing myself.

 

Some of the recipients of the chipping work are the chooks.

Their coop run gets quite mucky when the weather is damp,

so I decided to add some wood chips to see if it helps with drainage.

Our rooster, Gandalf, has been acting peculiar of late.

He has been making himself at home in the nesting boxes

sometimes during the day.

This is new behavior, as they've been in this coop for 6 months.

So far, I can't figure out what his motivation is.

Any ideas out there?

 

One of the hens, Houdini,

has figured out how to fly to the top of the coop,

so that frisky Gandalf can't get to her.

More power to ya, girl!

I'm not sure if it's the lack of light or the cold,

but we're only getting one egg about every other day.

They all seem healthy and bright-eyed,

so I'm hoping it's just a seasonal thing.

Look at this handy trick I learned this week from a friend!

It's a way to wind up an extension cord

which makes it easier to carry,

as well as easier to unwind.

Some of our drop cords are somewhat heavy,

and this gets the job done quite handily.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

I don't stray far from home too often, but

I was able to find a new harvest basket at one of the shops

in town.

This should come in handy, as it is quite a bit larger

than the previous container I used.

Before you know it,

we'll be harvesting all sorts of fresh goodies!

 

The easiest renovation project we've done

was to replace these old registers in the whole house.

We have been wanting to do it for the last couple of years,

but couldn't find a style we both liked.

While at Lowe's this week, we decided to look again 

to see if there was anything new.

Voila!

These little changes make a big difference.

2018

 

As I write this, 

snow is forecasted overnight.

Here's hoping our mailbox looks like this tomorrow 

upon waking.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever the weather!

 

It's a Fresh, New Year!

 

 

The mantra for 2020 was:

 

Go Forth.

Do Good.

 

It worked so well to keep me focused on the big picture,

that it will continue to be the song in my head this year.

 

There are always new goals,

as I am task oriented

and feel good when things are crossed off the weekly to-do list.

With so much extra time at home last year,

several garden projects were completed.

There weren't as many opportunities to volunteer

or get out into the community,

but that was a necessary element of the madness that was our reality.

 

The biggest goal for this year is my desire to do more for others.

I'm calling it The Kindness Project.

I've made myself a goal to do at least

one random act of kindness a month.

I've already started, 

but haven't yet figured out how best to share it

to keep myself accountable,

without seeming like I am seeking out praise for the endeavor.

Here's a helpful link if you are interested in joining me.

 

For the foreseeable future,

Garden Friday posts will be suspended,

as there is not much to report.

Colder temperatures have slowed growing,

although you won't hear any complaints from me.

This is the first year since we've been here,

that winter has decided to stick around for a while,

and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Chores consist mostly of leaf shredding,

wood chipping 

and peeking underneath the row covers for signs of life.

 

So, without the garden updates to share,

Friday Fotos will give a snippet of what's happening around our homestead.

 

Hoping that 2021 treats you well

and that you are able to move forward

toward your own goals.

Be Blissed!

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

 Here's hoping that the trail ahead

leads you to your destiny!

Blessings to you and yours in the New Year.

God bless us, everyone.

~daisy