Walnuts: Black or English?

Did you know that walnuts have the highest plant source of omega-3 oils?

We all try to get our required amount of omega-3 from salmon or fish.

A serving of salmon has 1.7 gm of omega -3, but a smaller amount of walnuts has more omega-3's.

One ounce of walnuts packs 2.6 gm of omega-3.

So, there you have it: walnuts are a must to include with our meals.




A grove of the American Black Walnut tree.

The common, more popular walnuts are called English walnuts.  Another kind of walnut is the
Black walnut, which is harder to find in stores. The blacks are harvested from wild trees across 15 states.
The black walnut tree is an American native tree, while the English walnut tree was imported.



Here is a recipe that has lots of nuts for your health.

                                                                Honey Walnut Bread

It is just a basic bread recipe, so I'll just list the ingredients. Makes 2 small loaves or 1 large loaf.

2 cups English or 1 cup Black walnuts. Toast the walnuts in oven until fragrant, ~8 minutes at 350 degrees
and then chop up. The flavor of Black walnuts is much more bolder than English walnuts, so use less of them.

2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 T. salt
1 T. yeast
2 cups warm water
1/2 locally produced honey
1/4 cup olive oil

Then & Now

The little black goat and the little black pig were both born about the same time last July.




20# in October




40# in March





A 20# gain in 5 months.



150# in March





50# in October

 

A 100# gain in 5 months.

The little black goat is still out in the pasture eating grass

and the big black pig is now in the freezer.

So, don't eat too much and don't get too big,

if you want to be around longer. LOL

Baby #1 arrived

The first born animal on the farm this year is: 

hint:  maa  maa



Have you'll heard about the new babies?




It was a beautiful warm sunny February afternoon.
I saw the birth. Only 30 minutes, with no coaching, drugs or yelling. I was expecting only one baby
as it is the first pregnancy for this nanny. Well, she had not one healthy baby,
but two!  After the birth and another 30 minutes, both babies were standing up
and nursing. Amazing.

2 days old

Three nanny goats.

All three are off to a goat auction is a few days.

Three BIG Dogs

What does one do with three BIG dogs?

Buy lots of dog food, 50# a week.

Katie, Brenda Lee, Baby Ruth, Mister Bear
and Oscar de la Renta
at the feed room.

Great Pyrenees are wonderful dogs. Friendly to all people and other dogs. They will just sit still and want to be petted. They do not run like most dogs, just walk around and patrol the property boundary.  Their size, color and low bark keeps all the critters away from the goats, chickens and deer.



A Pyrenees walking and patrolling the boundary.

Mister Bear is in the goat pen. Baby Ruth is in the deer pens and Katie gets to run free.

Solar powered lawn mower

Solar powered fence + a few goats + eat grass = solar powered lawn mower.

Solar panel powers a nylon fence.

The nylon fence is easily moved around the yard.





Goat Play Pen



Winter Passing

Hello Folks!

It is slowly warming up, the days are becoming longer and brighter.
The light and chores are calling me to get outside and move.
Goats are whining and hollering wanting more alfalfa and grain instead of the nasty old hay.
Roosters are chasing the hens non-stop.


I've been canning soup beans and stews for those busy chore days spent outside
with no time left for cooking. Just open jar and heat and you'll be warm.

Jars of pinto beans and vegetable bean soup.

Five pound of dried beans makes about 15 quart jars for $5.00. That is 33 cents per jar.
What does a quart of beans cost at the store?   Remember: beans are good for your heart
and yes, beans can make you fart, but only if you do not eat them often!!

So, eat your beans and lets all see Spring!  soon :)

The Best Gifts are Handmade

Well here we are, December already. Christmas is near and 2013 is just around the corner.
Lets all Celebrate the ending of a great year, the Birthday of our Lord and the beginning of
hopefully another blessed year. 

So, instead of "misplacing" your Christmas Spirit out in some store or in a long line, grab a glass of wine, light a candle, add some music and get creative.

Since I am on a crazy diet, per doctors order, I had to forgo making Christmas cookies this year, for probably the first time in my life. Well I made up for this glitch by creating confections early.
We all have enough "stuff" and even if the home-made gift looks like it came from a pre-schooler, it will bring Joy.

Handmade antler cross

Anyone interested in homemade compost?  LOL

Happy Holidays             Merry Christmas             Happy New Year