Homemade Chicken Stock

As we are enjoying Lil' Guy's 11th birthday,

I thought I'd share one of the best things since chicken soup.

Homemade chicken stock.

Not only is it tasty, but for kids on the autism spectrum

who often (almost ALWAYS) have gut issues,

it is a healer.

With the crockpot, it's oh-so-easy!

Whenever I roast a chicken,

I put the drippings and carcass in the crockpot

with a bay leaf, four cups of water, 

and sometimes I add veggies like carrots and onions.

I leave it on low overnight.

Fish out the solids with a sieve or spider like this one.

Strain with cheesecloth or a fine sieve.

Pour into ice cube trays and freeze for a few hours.

Place in a plastic bag or freezer-proof bin.

It can be added it to noodles, rice, veggies,

almost anything and will aid digestion.

Label and date the container.

Enjoy!

Shared on:

Sunday soup night

Tuesday Tidings-It Starts with a Seed

It starts with a seed.

When the oak is felled the whole forest echoes with its fall, but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by an unnoticed breeze.

-Thomas Carlyle

He that plants trees loves others besides himself.

-English Proverb 

Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.

-Sir Winston Churchill

Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees.

-Karl Baker

If you would know strength and patience,

welcome the company of trees.

-Hal Borland

It is not much for its beauty that makes a claim

upon men's hearts, as for that subtle, something,

that quality of air that emanates from old trees,

that so wonderfully changes

and renews a weary spirit.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams.

The oak sleeps in the acorn.

-James Allen

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you... while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
-John Muir

 

Here are some natives you might want to add
 to your Florida yard:

http://www.floridasnature.com/florida%20trees1.htm

Flywheeler's Visit

We were able to spend some time this weekend 

at one of our favorite local places.

The Florida Flywheelers is an antique tractor club

which hosts events for the general public

several times per year.

The only disappointing thing was that

our favorite barn belonging to Mr. Batcher,

toy builder extrordinaire, was closed.

His barn alone is worth the trip.

His creations are incredible

and a post about that will be made

when we return in January.

The fire house barn displays so many

wonderful treasures from the past.

Vintage artifacts abound, just waiting to be appreciated!

Here's Lil Guy's favorite part-fire alarms!

One of the members was kind enough to let him

actually pull the alarms (no noise as they're not hooked up)

and examine each one's mechanisms.

He was in his glory!

I just wonder what life was like in the days

when this was the best way folks had of putting out fires.

There's a village of various buildings

and all their accoutrements.

Antique cars can be found in great numbers...

as well as collections of all kinds.

A large flea market area is the perfect place

to do some browsing. 

You can find just about anything you're looking for here,

from produce to tools to clothing to vintage cookware.

All in all, it's a wonderful place to visit.

A step back in time when things were simpler

and life didn't seem so complicated.

Hope you have a chance to experience something similar

in your neck of the woods.

Rack It Up!

My morning walk pays off in so many ways.

I found this rack on a neighbor's driveway,

ready for the garbage pick up.

Not a thing wrong with it,

other than a couple of rust stains and some dirt.

Easily solved with a bit of scrubbing.

A little elbow grease and it's ready for service.

We appreciate all that is provided to us,

no matter how it arrives.

The Unveiling

We've been watching this chrysalis for a couple of weeks now.

Today was the day we'd been waiting for...

These days I am witnessing small miracles

and seeing them for the continued blessings

that fill my life.  Another example of abundance.

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.

Have a beautiful day, y'all!