Sounds like you are coming along nicely with that arm Sheri.
Thats great!
I hope you have a comfy chair.
I just bought the most cozy recliner.
When I recline in it I tend to fall asleep more than I'd like to.
Nobody to house sit.
Having a local kid come in to feed and water the critters...house plants going to my Mom and boarding the dogs and cats.
What an ordeal. I'm going to worry about my chickens and geese while I'm gone.
We do have a little pump on our water pipes to circulate warm water through our pipes because the %#$&* builder we had made the mistake of running our water pipes on the outside wall of our new kitchen addition and they would freeze up... but I'm wondering about what if the power went out when we were gone. We may just have to drain all the pipes.
I don't know what else we could do.
This message was edited Nov 16, 2007 9:35 PM
Are ya'll ready for S-N-O-W?
Had to water the plants today. its been dryer than a cracker here.
watered my thuja green giants in pots and some small roses I got
from dg member, small conifers. tomorrow i will water new evergreens
in front of house.
newscaster george lessens says its a la nina year, cool running through
the equator midline, so we can expect more than average precipitation
but with higher than average temps. thats good for me! I will post it
and keep records as usual and see what happens. so far, we have higher
temps but lower precip.
got my garlics covered with straw, meshed over one bed today, will do
another tomorrow (keep straw and chicken problem manageable)
does anyone here know if anyone on dg orders from chiltern in uk?
i thought petit potager did. I will have to check. it would save shipping
charges to make one order of seeds. its too bad the u.s. dollar is so low
now, the british pound it twice the dollar now. so, a L3 bag of seeds costs
me $6USD. but, they have tree seeds that I cannot really get here for less
than big bucks. ah me, i will keep trying.
has everyone seen the messenger coop? we are getting good break on
hormonal stimulants for plants at chemical plant prices. I orderd about
$20 worth of the stuff.
This year I will devote inordinate time to destroying Japanese beetles.
so, if i seem distracted, please forgive me my michigan fellow gardeners.
I am also returning to college and will be studying two classes per semester
strictly online from January on. figure winter is a good time to do these
things.
planning on 10 for thanksgiving we are having it on wed because no. 1
daughter is working back in NY at Bloomingdales on Black Friday and
she cannot take off they said. so they are driving out here from long island,
picking up my gd Mellie in pennsylvania and bringing two more friends and
their baby, other kids are in michigan, will come here...our house will
be packed. boo hoo she can't stay. i wanted to have horse team hitched
up for rides but there will not be time.....
we are getting turkey from Ottos! yum yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am making a chiffon pumpkin pie. if anyone would like recipe for this
killer pie, let me know. maybe i will post it on recipes in dg?
dh is babysitting the bird from 4 am and cooking everything else. god bless
him. i am good for nothing. : )
I love holidays with family. thank god i have some coming this year. all the
years without anyone nearly killed me from depression.
mmmmm can taste that turkey already!LOL
sheri
vick
if you drain pipes wont the fowl be affected? will they get water?
some of our chickens getting huger. we will butcher a few.
no 4-h'ers around you?
sher
YAH... post the recipe for your chiffon pumpkin pie!
My fav TG dish I created a few years ago is a sugarless sweet potato/squash dish...ya know minus all the marshmallows.
I chunk up equal amounts a peeled sweet potato, winter squash and apples...put in a buttered casserole dish. Throw on a hand full of dried cherries, cranberries or raisins. Pour on about a cup of cider, dot with butter and bake @ 350 uncovered until tender (but not mushy) and bubbly (about 45 minutes). Stir about half way through baking time and spoon cider over taters & apples.
Serve chunky, not mashed up.
Optional...1/2 cup of chopped pecans added to other ingredients.
This message was edited Nov 16, 2007 9:59 PM
Ya re-read my post...local kid coming in to feed livestock...but I will still worry.
My DH loves to cut wood. We cannot keep up with the trees that break off in the wind and the dead ones so we are lucky. We burn about 8 to 10 face cord a year. It is messy, but it is free and in the basement. Really helps when I am out of work right now. Saves big bucks and keeps the house toasty. Don't even have the flannel sheets on yet. LOL
Maybe I like the cooler weather because I can open the door and cool off when I have a hot flash. I think that could be the reason for global warming, baby boomers in menopause.
I laugh at guys waiting for the big buck. You can't eat those antlers. We go for the meat here.
Our deer do not stink. I think if they are gut shot, they stink like crazy. Then, if they are not cleaned out good, that stink will taint the meat.
If you get a good clean shot, they do not stink.
And so many people feed around here, that these corn feed deer (and lily fed) are really good eating.
We had a swamp deer once. UGH. They are not that good.
I was going to say something about the way they are shot and field dressed too. Good point and so true. It makes a big diff.
My DH is very fussy about this field dressing and no butt or gut shots.
When he gets them home they are hung up to bleed out more and body cavity sprayed out with the hose. The guy that processes our deer always raves about DH deer and says you can't believe the filthy carcasses they have to deal with all the time.
I know all about that!! I just got a call from the store and they have a costomer that is a little upset cus they wont take his deer BAD clean job so he called me I had to tell him we wont take it till HE cleans it the girls are gagging SOOOOOOO I'm a stupid women all ready this morning and its my day off GEEEEEEZ
Gloria
Oh geez!
Who'd even want to eat a deer that is so contaminated?
Whats wrong with people?!?
you would be shocked at what people bring in and I refuse!!!!!!! I know that I am every year and I won't take the chance on there Idea of AGED or WHERE THE FLAVOR is I'v been told we'r to picky LOL
Gloria
Well nothing wrong about being picky when it comes to meat processing.
I guess I missed it...what kind of store do you have Gloria?
This message was edited Nov 17, 2007 12:36 PM
I work at a market and I cut meat this is a very stress full time of year Oct. 1-the first of the year.LOL
Gloria
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
To die for endlessly
4 divided eggs
1/4 + 1 C brown sugar
1 1/2 C canned pumpkin
1/2 C + 2 T milk (I like evap milk, much richer)
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t ginger
2 envelopes knox unflavoured gelatin
7 T cold water
1/4 C plain white sugar
9" pie shell. any type is great. pre bake if using a fresh pie shell
I love it with buttered graham cracker crust. mmm-mmmm
1. combine yolks, brown sugar, pumpkin, milk, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and
ginger in top pot of a double boiler. stir constantly over boiling water till
the mixture gets really thick. this might take quite a bit of time don't give up.
remove the pot from the heat when its nice and thick. set aside.
2.put the cold water in a small cup and sprinkle the gelatin over the top and
let it dissolve and melt. you don't have to stir it for about 5 minutes, and then
go ahead and plop it into the still hot pumpkin mixture, stir it all up nicely.
Put this in fridgie or outside to chill semi chilled.
3. stiffly beat the egg whites and then add 1/4 C of white sugar and beat till stiff.
Fold into the partially chilled pumpkin mixture, and gently plop plops into the
pie shell. You might have more than enough, you can mound this high to make
it amazing. Chill till set or until dessert time.
Serve with home made whipped sweetened whip cream.
someone suggested crushed pecans for the crust, so i am going to do that.
whats another 5lbs around my tummy anyhow?
That looks like a great recipe!!
Well, we got our snow here in AuGres today. It's so pretty. I'll post a pic in case ya'll forgot what it looks like. My granddaughter sure enjoyed it. She didn't know what it was. She screamed when she had to come in. She loves being outside.
Brenda
Just catching up on my DG reading. Thought I'd fall off my chair laughing when I read cpartchicks opinion on Global Warming. Have you talked to Mr Gore about this? If you're correct, the whole problem could resolve itself in about 20 years. Too funny.
Kris
Maybe I should, talk to him. I think the theroy is pretty sound.
I am one of those that feel weather goes in cycles, and am not a believer.
I saw an ad wanting hunters to talk about changes in the woods over the past years. I keep a journal about weather etc, and wanted to be part of this. After emailing the lady in charge about not finding changes in weather, but finding changes I feel, from having less habitat due to new housing, pesticides, fertilizers, among other things, such as baiting, food supplies,etc She wrote me back and said if I didn't see any weather changes, I was not a suitable candidate for their program.
Does this sound a little bias?
DH put the flannel sheets on Sunday morning. Am I a lucky woman or what?
CPC:
Not sure what to think about Global Warming. But when I was a sprout I lived in Pellston, Mi. There are pictures of me on a snowbank touching the telephone wires. AND it was cccccccold.
Sounds like your survey lady doesn't like to be confused with the facts.
We live on the edge of town and have a large herd(s) of deer. Seems like there are more each year. Maybe that doesn't speak well for the skill of the hunters today. :-}
There was a time when I bought into my hubbys "skilled and crafty hunter" routine. That was until I found out I could run screaming and waving my arms at the deer in my garden and they would just stand there until I got within 10 feet of them. Then just a discusted look and saunter off into the woods. Crafty Hunter my foot!
Kris
Ha, deer are like that until you hunt them. Then they turn invisible or they can see or hear you a mile away. I have had deer nearly walk up to me before season. They really know when they are in actual danger.
I agree, there are many deer. I feel more does need to be taken. But that is my personal opinion.
I remember big snows too. But, I don't think it was every year. We had that doosey in the 60's and then a pretty grand snow year in the 80's. I believe we will be hit again with a heavy year or two soon. Myself I think the winters have been colder. I do not remember severe below zero weather when I was a kid. And I have seen 20 below quite a few times in the last 15 years.
The last couple years here, we have had a hard time figuring out where to put the snow in the spring, as we have had some good snow falls in March. In the winter we have been keeping about a foot on the level in the woods. That is not as much as I remember as a kid either. But I don't remember how much stuck all year.
Feels freezing here today...dark skies and a bitter, damp feeling to the air...even though the temps say in the low 40's. I'm hunkered down in my chair with my heating pad on...but my hands are ice cubes. Think I need to go make myself a big mug of something warm. Chili is on the docket for dinner tonight!!
It's been raining here all day!!
I am snuggled up by the woodstove. I think I am coming down with that crappy cold DH has been dealing with for a week. He has been miserable...and grumpy too. Now I can be grumpy and get away with it.
Rainy and horribly bone chilling!
I have been upstairs cleaning the boyz rooms and doing laundry and even ran to my GF house for a second to get a pumpkin cheesecake recipe for turkey day!
This yr the house will be empty-the oldest 3 cant make it, so no Indians this yr! LOL
Just DH and the youngest 2!
My oldest will stop over Sunday when he has a day off, for some leftovers
He got a new position at the new casino in standish! now hoping for day shift!
well off to make spaghetti for dinner, had chili last week
stay warm!
Congratulations to your son on getting into the casino in Standish. I know there were many many applicants. When does the casino open do you know? I hope to get over there to check it out and play once in a while. Do any of you plan to play at the casino?
Brenda
He was working for the soaring eagle for like 6yrs now!
But he took a better position over here in standish
They are talking about opening in FEB. now!
I dont play cept in the game room wit the boyz
well everyone i just let the dog out and it is sleeting!!!! i didnt know it was suppose to do that tonight.... im really worried now. my son is leaving for georgia tomorrow afternoon. i really hope he can get a good start. hes a good driver. ohohohoh how i dont not like winter anymore... i know everyone elso does:):):):). well i have to stir the homemade split pea soup cooking on the stove. smells really good. im glad im sleeping alone tonight!!!! (if you get my hint. ). haha. i really love the stuff but it doent love me. Ronna
Oh I LOVE split pea soup. It's my all time favorite soup.
I hope it doesn't start sleeting here. I hate ice. My gate froze up the other day and I had to wait for it to thaw out and then spray with WD-40 and I even put some Vasoline on it. I hope that works to keep it from freezing again.
I went out today to put a big plastic Santa in my old antique buggy and I wanted to change out the artifical flowers in my garden cart to something more wintery. Well, the stupid fall flowers were stuck in there..........frozen so now it looks dumb for fall flowers and it's winter. Oh well. ha ha ha I'll have to wait for a warmer day and hope I can get them to come out.
Ronna, I hope your son gets along OK on his trip back to Georgia. I don't mind winter so much unless I have to drive in it ....... plus it seems soooooooooooo long!! ha ha ha
Went to Home Depot in West Branch today and boy was it DEAD. We were the only customers in the whole store. Nobody at checkout or anything. I wanted to buy a huge 96 gallon garbage can on wheels with attached lid. I have one a little smaller than that but it never seems big enough so I wanted a second one. I sure hope the economy picks up. I don't think I've ever been in a big box store like that and been the only customer. Not good. :(
Dori, I hope the casino in Standish brings in some more stores or restaurants and shopping. It would be nice to see the area stay in business and do well. I know the locals will appreciate the jobs. I hope your son likes it as well. Will he be living in Standish or commuting from Bay CIty?
well Matt got off today probably around 2:30 or so. i wanted him to leave today so he would beat the wintry mix on the way to our fair state. he really was aguing with me he wanted to drive it all in one day by himself!!!! and mom said no. so after a while he agreed. he can have a car on base now. so he bought a old truck from my machanic brother. pretty nice engine and such. he was pretty excited. now he can go exploring.... which he loves to do. so i only wish him the very best. of course. Ronna
wishing your Matt the best of luck
Gloria
I went out today to put a big plastic Santa in my old antique buggy and I wanted to change out the artifical flowers in my garden cart to something more wintery. Well, the stupid fall flowers were stuck in there...frozen so now it looks dumb for fall flowers and it's winter. Oh well. ha ha ha I'll have to wait for a warmer day and hope I can get them to come out.
Heres a thought:
Put a white trash bag over the flowers so it looks like a mound of snow.
Re: Home Depot: Scarey
dh told me its bad when the second hand stores start going out of business,
and now in battle creek, second hand city is going gone out of business.
every day i hear another business in michigan closing or cutting down.
now its hermann miller cutting their white shirts out. 150 souls i think today.
does anyone know of a real site where the statistics are kept for michigan
jobs closing/number of jobs lost and what happens to these families? do they
move? foreclose? vacate homes? get new job? how long on welfare or
social security or that other stuff.
did anyone see the amount of foreclosures in detroit area? like 47,000,
and next was kent county with some number in the thousands.
thank god we have a farm, people will always need to eat?
but, here we have competition from the factory farms. million chicken
farm is now opening a half million organic chicken farm/eggs. will put
me out of business.
the dairy in freeport has 6k cows on half an acre. they used to pump the
manure into our stream, but the conservation has made them ship it to the
moon.
now, maybe something will grow on the moon?
LOL
well, its cold here, but after this week, it looks like its going to get a
lot colder brrrr 18 at night. we bring the hoses in at that temp.
so windy yesterday, I couldnt open the darn screen door. took my
breath away! today, not as bad, but still "breezy". 49 1/2 mph not 50mph.
sheri
Michigan is the highest in the nation for unemployment. But, I don't count, because my unemployment benefits ran out. How many people are like me? bunches I bet.
Without us paying state income tax, no wonder the state is in trouble.
If all of us were working, the state would be in good shape.
Our local paper has had only one job listed each week. Most jobs I apply for have 500 or more apply, and these are skilled positions. Sad.
It is sad as soon as my dgs's get there degrees they plan on moving ANY WHERE BUT HERE we don't want them to go but theres not many good paying jobs here any more so I guess they have to do what they have to do
Gloria
Maybe there will be some job openings at the new casino and there should be some at the old casino when the workers transfer!! :)
my sil works at the old casino has for years he likes his new job so I'm sure he'll be there for a long time he likes the money all so
Gloria
my son has worked there for over 6yrs and is transferring to the new one!
My other son worked there till may of 06 and moved to Vegas where he is really in the $$$ now dealing poker(only) at the bellagio-he luvs it out there
Is your Sil a dealer there
My nephews(dealers)and their gf work there along with my oldest son who is in the finance department, he will be a supervisor at the new casino! pay raise and less travel!
small world
He is in security now he was a guard then matainence (SP) now he watches the tables on camera there sending him to Vegas for more training I think in Feb.
Gloria
Yes, the economy is really in trouble and I don't see it turning around. My husband is retiring in 4 weeks and we'll be living on his pension and social security. Our son has his own plumbing business here and is doing OK. No matter how bad things get people still need a plumber when things go wrong or they're remodeling or building new homes. It gets slow in the winter unless there is a big freeze then he gets a lot of emergency calls.
I'm glad your sons are doing well at the casinos. Do you ever go out to Vegas to visit him? I've never been out there. I don't know how to gamble. My husband likes to play poker. He watches that gambling channel on TV all the time. :)
I can't believe they can fit that many cows on such a small area. It must not be very comfortable for the cows. Seems like they'd have another business if they dried the cow manuer and sold it. I'd love to put some dehydrated manuer on my veggie garden. Why pollute the waterways with it and throw it away? They should recycle it.
I sure hope you're able to keep your farm and chicken business going. I know a lot of people would rather buy from local farmers to help support their own little communities. I've thought about getting a few chickens but haven't made up my mind yet. I have room for them. I just don't know a thing about them. :)
It was cold here today too but the wind wasn't so bad. That's a good idea about putting white bags over the flowers. I would be afraid they'd blow away though. I'll work on it. I'll have to remember to pull the fall flowers next year before a freeze. :)
Brenda
Small world. DS works for the tribe. He started at the casino as a dealer and got into the computer end of the works. When he started, he hated their web page and showed the elders what he could do. They offered him a new job and he has been working there for almost 10 years now. He writes programs, works on comunications, internet, all that stuff he loves to do. (he tells me that getting him that first computer when he was a kid, has really paid off)
I am glad these jobs are out there for the kids. Myself, unless I want to relocate, I can't drive that far and still have any paycheck left.
I don't think it is getting any warmer. The white bags over the flowers is sounding better all the time. The wind is back, with a vengance.
My sons are 1/8 Chippewa Indian so they are tribal or decedents! They dont get the paycheck that the Indians get! :(
Very cool about your son, wonder if he knows Gary or Teig McLellan
or my nephews Brad n Matt Trombley!
small world!
Cold n windy here today and they say snow cometh!
Not sure. It is a big place. He doesn't work at the casino now, in some kind of big office building instead.
He is not indian, but some people think he looks it. He has a ponytail to his waist of med color hair. I guess he just fits in. HA.
Whats it like in yer neck of the woods folks....very cold here...in the low 20's, very windy and snow flurries.
I love early winter but I hate doing outside chores when its so bitter out. UGH :o(