We have a quick order of business today. Mostly because I have a ton of apples to preserve today, but instead of just diving in I’m listening to an hour long repeat of Renegades by X Ambassadors on Youtube, sipping a London fog (made with raw goats milk and raw honey, can’t beat it!), and writing to you. Thank you for giving me a reason to procrastinate. Also you should look up the song. It’s pretty good.
I have written this in list form so it looks like we’re doing something productive. I knew you’d understand.
Number 1: I have far too many roosters. And I am undecided about what to do with them. Separate into different pens with their own set of hens? Or just butcher 2. Hubby and I both agree on the favourite rooster (the inspiration for my logo image), so butchering the other 2 wouldn’t cause a fight. Winter is coming and having 2 less mouths to feed would be handy. Or do I sell them? Roosters don’t go for much around here. Everyone has them, and the main buyers buy for meat anyways. Is it worth giving someone my roosters for meat when I can eat them myself? Can I eat them myself? Right when I think I can they do something nice like sit with me, or act really sweet with a hen and I melt. Plus the 2 on deaths row are gorgeous. Ah decisions! (Remember when I wrote this post and I was all like roosters happen and you have to make sure you have a plan? Welp, don’t listen to me. Clearly I don’t know what I’m talking about.)
Number 2: I have a sick hen. At first I thought she was egg bound, but her symptons aren’t quite right. For example she’s pooping. You can’t poop big chicken turds when you’ve got an egg stuck in your….well you get the idea. So for now I’m giving her a garlic paste with her crumble and probiotics and praying for the best. This garlic paste is healing ya’ll. I use it on my goats often and it can even be used on yourself.
The recipe is simple: Put equal parts fresh garlic and fresh ginger (by weight) in a blender (or food processor) and blend with enough extra virgin olive oil to make a paste. Add in a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. I always go big when I make a batch as it keeps just fine in the refrigerator. If you’re making a small batch then reduce the cayenne. I also blend in a bit of molasses to help mask the flavour a bit. The goats will lick it right up, and even the chickens eat it. I tend to put some out free choice in the rainy season so they can self medicate. For my sick hen I added raw honey for energy and a touch of raw goats milk. She’s also getting plain yogurt. Please send prayers her way. She’s one of our adopted hens (hence the trimmed beak) and she’s had a pretty rough life up until this point. I also need all the hens I can get right now!
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Number 3: I believe I have exceeded my use of the word poop for a year on this blog with my last point.
Number 4: Fresh apples are abounding here! We don’t have an apple tree on this here little plot of earth yet. Before we moved here, we had a huge apple tree with giant sized apples. The tree would hang it was so heavy with apples. I loved that farm, and I never would have moved, I have said it many times. But as time goes on I have come to the conclusion that fine I can live without the beautiful red brick built in the 1800’s has lots of history farm house. And fine I guess I can live without the big old barn standing in all its worn out aging glory. And maybe I’m starting to not miss the train whistles and watching them as they go by. Maybe I don’t miss sitting on my front porch in the evening listening to the crickets and sipping a peppermint tea. I suppose I’m getting used to not watching the sunset over the fields. And I’m sure I’ve seen enough deer in my lifetime. And who needs fresh water that you can actually use? I guess I’m getting used to living on a highway and having neighbours close by. But dang man, I miss that apple tree! It pains me I miss it so bad! After wandering down to the farmers market it became very clear to me that I would not be able to buy apples this year. Why are apples so expensive?!
In a moment of desperation I prayed for apples. I don’t really know why I did it, but maybe the thought that God wants to be involved in every aspect of our life was what prompted it. Our pastor has been preaching on celebrating the greatness of God and how he cares even about the little stuff. This got me thinking about when I actually pray. It’s always about big things, or thanking him for the food before diving into dinner. Otherwise, I’m sad to admit that we could almost be strangers. It’s time for me to change that. So I said, Lord this sounds really silly, but I would really like some apples and I can’t afford to buy any. A few days later one of Hubby’s clients gave him some apples from her tree, and that was enough to make a pie with, which we were very thankful for. But the big one was on Sunday. As I was chatting and saying my hellos in the foyer of our church, a older man that I’ve been getting to know the last few weeks, pulled me aside and said “You wouldn’t happen to want any apples would you? I’ve got several trees and I don’t know what to do with all the apples.” I was actually stunned. I told him I’d take as many as he’d give me. To make it even sweeter he even drove them out to my house. A huge bushel basket full, and a 4 quart basket full. God answers prayer ya’ll, even when it seems small.
Number 5: Farm life is awesome but rarely glamorous. Sick animals happen, tough decisions happen, and poop happens. Darn there’s that word again. But on the upside there are moments with fresh garden produce, fresh food, baby animals, and peaceful nights that make it all worthwhile somehow.
Number 6: There is no number 6. I believe that is all I have to share with you today. Now I better get cracking on those apples. Be prepared, if all turns out well there will be an abundance of apple recipes to follow.
The End.
