Winter wonderland

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This morning, the world was a crystal world of ice sparkling everywhere you looked. When you walked outside, it was like you were in another world completely. It was amazing. This is one reason why I do love winter, sometimes.

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These pictures below are from yesterday evening....

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We had to run to the feed store this afternoon to get a new wheelbarrow. My old one died. It did a good job here helping build the house by having many, many, bags of cement mixed in it. It hauled lots of rocks, and lots of dirt. And lots of manure, which caused it's ultimate demise.

We got a plastic one this time, but a super heavy duty (and expensive I may add) one. Hopefully it will serve us well. It's heavier than my other one, but not so heavy it's hard to move and it's very sturdy so unlikely to tip on me. I'll know better tomorrow when I clean in the barn with it.

We also ordered the rest of our birds. We get them from two different sources. So the rest of the chickens, and also for fun I ordered a few Pekin ducks, and Kevin ordered four Ringneck Pheasants. Never raised a Pheasant before so that should be interesting. The ducks, we've had lots of. I sold the last of our Runner ducks and Rouens two years ago because I can't stand the mess ducks and geese make. We had African geese as well. However our first ducks were Pekins and they are just the funniest ducks I've seen yet, even funnier than the Runner ducks to me. So we'll keep just a few so I'll be able to laugh at them swimming in their kiddie pool again.

Dinner last night was a recipe I must share, it's a good one. This is an easy, comforting, yummy soup.

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Chicken and Gnocchi soup from passthesushi.com.

1 cup chicken breasts, diced and cooked
4 tbs butter
2 cups milk (the original recipe calls for half and half or evaporated milk)
2 cups vegetable broth (or chicken)
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup flour
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 medium onion, dice
1 cup fresh spinach coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp dried thyme
16 ounce package gnocchi (or you could make your own)
salt and pepper to taste

In a large stockpot, saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter. When the onion is clear, add the flour and form a roux. Stir and cook a minute. Add the milk. Meanwhile in another pot, cook the gnocchi. Add the carrots and chicken to the stockpot. Stir often and when it gets thicker, add the broth, gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings. Cover and heat through. That's it. Voila!

It's March 1st. Last year Levi, our first lamb of the season was born on March 1st. Lila's first lamb ever, Horace, was born on March 1st (four years ago today!)

But so far, no lambs. Although Lila is close. Lily and Lavender are huge, but don't look ready. Then again, Horace, who is a wether, is fatter than most of the ewes and I don't think it's cause he's got a lamb in there. Looks like he swallowed a couple though.

I watched Lila tonight in the sheep pen and everything was calm for a couple minutes and them boom! Her belly started moving like crazy, you could just see the poking, squirming, and rearranging going on in there. When I saw Buckets kids move last year, she was 24 hours away from kidding. But goats and sheep are different. I put a bunch of fresh bedding in the pen, and will go up to the barn before bed tonight to check on the situation.

The anticipation builds!

Please don't forget to visit Verde Farms farm friends Friday and all the great posts and blogs!

Comments

Alla said…
Love the dogs! I've been so lucky this year with my goats kidding during the day. I remember when we had about 75 sheep and lambing time we took turns going out every two hours thru the night. Very tiring but we did save some lambs. Hoping all goes well with your lambing and kidding.
The JR said…
I got a new WB for V'day!
Teresa said…
Your pictures are just beautiful! Hope all goes well with the babies getting here.
Jen said…
Beautiful winter pics.

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