Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Cookies for Breakfast

I have a confession to make. My kids do not like everything I cook or bake.

Girl child especially has particular tastes, most notable in the realm of foods that are mixed together or cooked. Spaghetti should be in 3 separate piles, one for meat, one for sauce, and one for pasta. Oatmeal should be raw. Vegetables should be raw. And she does not always like milk.

Boy child is currently retesting his theory that he does not like peanut butter. He has had it three times this week and has not told me he does not like it. Perhaps we are past that phase. He does not always like all the meats I cook.

I like the kids to have a hot breakfast in the morning. Usually I try to make something the night before, or right away in the morning before work (hubby gets the kids up and off to school in the morning). The hubby's current standby for the kids is oatmeal since I stopped buying cold cereal.

Girl child turned to me today and told me she did not like anything but pancakes or waffles for breakfast. My mama heart wants to scoop her up and feed her pancakes and waffles every morning.

But I am out of flour again. What can I make that both children will enjoy for breakfast with oatmeal as the main ingredient. I have tried a oatmeal pancake which child neither was fond of (I loved it).

To the internet I went with this list:
Oatmeal
Honey
Peanut Butter
Eggs

Sounds like a cookie right? I went to supercook first. Because it usually pops up with just what I want. Only this time it failed me. No cookies to be found anywhere in the first page of desserts.

So I typed in a goodsearch for the ingredients above + cookie recipe.

After much browsing, here is what I found: Click here for Source

Of course I did not follow it exactly.


  • 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter    I used a natural creamy just peanuts variety
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar    I used honey
  • 1 egg    I used 2 eggs
  • 1-1/4 cups quick-cooking oats    Because of the extra egg and honey, I needed 2 1/4 cups
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • I added chocolate chips
  • I added 1/4t salt (2nd batch)
  • I added another 1-2T honey (2nd batch)
The first batch was not quite right. After having the hubby taste test, we decided it needed salt and a little more honey.

Directions

  • In a small bowl, cream peanut butter and brown sugar honey until fluffy. Beat in eggs. Add oats and baking soda to creamed mixture; mix well. Add salt and more honey; mix well.
  • Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets; flatten slightly. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes (8 minutes for me). Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 2 dozen. I got closer to 3 dozen with my modifications.
Cookies for breakfast.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Grandpa

I do not remember much about my maternal grandfather, Tom Norton.

We did not see him or grandma Alice, much while I was growing up.

The thing I remember most was his music. He would pull out his concertina, or fiddle, or harmonica and we would all sit and listen.

I also remember dancing. Grandpa & grandma dancing. I would dance with grandma too while grandpa played. This is what I remember most about him.

That and his smile, "And how's April today?"

My aunts tell me that he was always telling stories. I do not remember the stories. Perhaps I was not there to hear them. I wish I had.

On Monday he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. They said he didn't have much time left.

My grandpa is preparing for his final journey. He has lived a full and wonderful life. In photos you can see the long and caring relationship he had with my grandma. Their life long love and service is admirable.

This Sunday morning I got a text from my cousin telling me that Grandpa is now in heaven. He passed peacefully held by his loving bride and surrounded by his children.

Once I finally got out of bed this morning, I looked out the window and shouted with glee, "Bella has two" ran down the stairs. Our last babies of the season, now are named Tom & Alice. Although Tommie might be a girl.


Friday, April 5, 2013

Emotion

There seems to be a shelf-life to my resolutions. I start to feel stressed or hurried and they go right out the door with the compost.

I spent much of the last several months keeping my eating of grains and sugars to a minimum. I was feeling good, losing weight, and generally keeping higher energy.

Then the stress started piling up, stacking up in impossible piles, tipping over and spilling all over the floor, spreading to every flat surface in my home and life.

Today marked the passing of another mama sheep. She labored hard to deliver her babies but they refused to be born. I have participated in two unsuccessful animal labor interventions. I did not want to have another one staining my hands, so I let her try. Once she had passed I thought there might still be life in the three who were inside. There was no life.

Add to today, the load of those who have not survived on my farm this year. The mistakes and unexpected expenses. The trials and failures. The money gushing away from us like water breaking before birth. The failing health of my grandpa. The emotion of knowing he is not long for this world. The stress of work overload and training someone new during our busiest time of year.

I cried a little today. Here and there. In chorus with my sister. During a stolen moment in the car. When my son inquired, "Are you OK mama?"

A really good cry is in order, but so far there is not time for it. Perhaps tomorrow.

Does any-bunny hear me?



Thursday, April 4, 2013

Big Black the Chicken


It was one of those days.

A crazy, you could never imagine it kind of days.

A frantic phone call, a goat baby is unwell, buy medication on the way home.

Arrive home before the goat arrives. Poor baby. Tetnus - we do all we can.

Struggling for life on the kitchen floor with my husband as doctor. 

I take the kids, mine and theirs, outside to see the animals, lead the horse around, ride bareback. Kid fun on the farm.

My son comes to tell me a chicken is stuck in a watering bowl.

I check a few bowls, I do not see her, then I enter the chicken coop.

There she is, frozen into the water bowl.

She was still alive. Amazing.

I bring her into the house, "As if this day could not be any odder".

I take her upstairs to the shower, while my husband continues to struggle in the kitchen.

Not only were her feathers stuck to the ice - something that had happened to one of our ducks earlier this winter - her feet and legs up to the knees were buried in the ice.

Because my bathtub is out of commission, she had the joy of an extended shower. I tried to aim the water at the bowl only, but she did get quite soggy.

I had to completely melt all the ice to finally get her free.

As those last few bits are melting, I get the news that baby goat has not made it.

I care
fully wrapped Big Black up in a towel, even ran the blow drier on her a bit,  and finally planted her is a box near the space heater.

She survived. She seems to keep up just fine with the rest of my basement chickens. We are hoping to release her and the other adults to the back yard in the next few weeks.


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Birds

Birds

Today I saw a pair of Robins - Spring is getting closer.
Earlier today I saw a Heron.
Earlier this week I saw a pair of geese setting up housekeeping on the edge of our pond.
Last month the doves returned to our yard.

It may seem like winter will never end, but the birds know for certain in their bones, and so we have hope.

The birds have returned
as winter slowly lets go

Soon shoots will appear
and green will grow

Warmth will be common
with spring no snow


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Hay


Hay

We had hay delivered today. Good hay. 

After reading about pregnancy toxemia today I know that I have to improve the nutrition of my animals. Hay is really expensive this year. $4.25 per bale, plus $50 for delivery - brings the bale price up to $5.32 each.

Someday I will grow my own. Somehow, someway!

The farmer who delivered it was saying he has lost several animals this year too. It is reassuring to know that it is not just us newbies!

This better hay should increase the milk production in our goats, and sheep. More milk means we can care for our bottle babies, make sure the mama's are caring for their babies, and we will have enough for ourselves too.


Monday, April 1, 2013

Death

We have lost so many goat, sheep, and chicken babies this year. Babies are so much harder to lose than adults.

I found out today that my grandfather has terminal lung cancer. He's 90+. While I will miss him once he is gone, it does not tear my heart the way the death, or even pain of a child does.

I have people ask me how I do it, how do I keep going even though I face the death. I turn myself off, shut down the thoughts and keep moving. I do what has to be done knowing I can save the tears for later. Hold my children while they cry, comfort them, reassure them. "I will think about that tomorrow."

I do not recall how many we have lost, or what all their names were. I could come up with a list if I tried, but I really don't want to know how many. It won't make it easier. Instead I keep moving, no time to get attached. Take care of what I can, rejoice in the eggs I collect, or the bread successes.

I do pray, that tomorrow there will be no more death.

And in case I have now depressed you all and made you not want to ever raise animals: Let me introduce Licorice. Born Today. He is a little fighter.