What's On Your Refrigerator?

Besides dust, that is, because if you're like me you don't dust the top of your refrigerator very often. This question doesn't really involve the top of your refrigerator, though. It is focused on the front and sides, if they are visible. Are you one of those people that keeps your refrigerator just as it is, all nice and shiny? Or, are you one of those people that 'decorates' your refrigerator with 'stuff'? Most parents have all kinds of neat kid created decorations all over their refrigerators. Some folks keep chore lists or calendars on their refrigerators. Us? We keep a variety of magnets, pictures, quotes and 'stuff' that we have accumulated over many, many years. About 20 years ago we were using a small, plain refrigerator that Frank started decorating with stickers, magnets, bumper stickers and what not from a variety of places and organizations. It's too bad I don't have a picture of that one to show you. As it is, I will share our current refrigerator decorations with you, just for fun.

We obviously don't have much going on right now. I've started rolling up paper pots for garden seedlings, we're waiting on baby goats, we haven't started making the soap yet, and it's still winter. The solar panel project will have to be worked on around all of the other early spring projects that all seem to happen at the same time every year. So, the question remains. Just for fun. What's on your refrigerator?

Until next time - Fern
 

How the Does Do Grow

I thought I would give you another update before the kids are born. One Stripe and Copper both look great, the babies are active and the udders are filling nicely. In approximately six days, we should have kids on the ground. 

One Stripe is very consistent in kidding at 150 days after breeding. Since I have had her for six years now, my estimates of when she will give birth are usually fairly accurate. 

January 14th

All remaining pictures are February 3rd

Her udder will continue to fill until next week. It is still fairly soft.

Their hips are starting to hollow out as the kids move down and to the rear.

You can feel the progress of the hips beginning to spread over the last few weeks.

This will be Copper's second set of kids. Last year she gave birth at 150 days just like her mother, One Stripe. If they both hold to this tradition, One Stripe will birth next Tuesday and Copper will birth on Wednesday. Here is how Copper looks now.
 

January 14th

The rest of the pictures are February 3rd

You can usually feel the kids kicking on the right side during the last two months of gestation.

In the last few weeks, the kids have moved back toward the rear and farther down on the side.

Between now and then we will give the barn a good cleaning, and go through our birthing tote to make sure we have everything in order. 

It's a great time of year. Time for baby goats to start coming, time to plant seedlings for the cool weather crops, time to really start having spring fever. It's interesting how the fall tends to slow us down a little. Then winter seems to be a less active time of year for a while. But with the coming of spring the blood tends to quicken a little in preparation for the more active time of year. Are you ready? I sure am.

Until next time - Fern
 

Making Biscuits - A Saturday Tradition

We all have family traditions, right? One of ours is having fresh biscuits on Saturday morning. I don't remember when this first started, but we have been doing it for years and years. This week was no exception.

Our recipe has evolved over time. We started with one, then changed, then kind of combined the two and that was it for years. 

But recently, I was thinking about having to do with less, and not being able to replenish what I have on hand and wondered how I could simplify my recipe. As things get more expensive and supplies are harder to come by, some comfort foods may have to be eliminated from our diets. But there will be times when a little bit of comfort will go a long way. 

So I simplified my recipe by leaving out a few ingredients. We still think it is great! I don't have it written down anywhere. I have been making them for so long, I barely have to think about it anymore.

2 cups flour
3 heaping tsp. baking   powder
1 heaping tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
between 2/3 & 1/2 cup butter milk (I use milk with a splash of apple cider vinegar)

I mix all of the dry ingredients together first. Then work the shortening in with a pastry blender until it is nice and crumbly.

The recipe I have always used includes buttermilk. My mom taught me in high school that you can add a little vinegar to milk for buttermilk in a recipe and this is what I have always done. By the way, this is some of our fresh goat milk.

Stir the dough until it is well moistened and turn it out on the counter.

Knead the dough until it is mixed well. It is best if it is almost sticky and will barely come off the counter when you roll it out and cut it.

As you can see, I use a wide mouth canning jar to cut my biscuits. We also use them for drinking glasses. Things have to be pretty tough and durable around me. We had some regular glasses, but I always kept breaking them.

 We all have our favorite cookie sheet. You know, the one that looks kind of crummy that you have been using for years and years? Well, this is mine. I have probably had this for at least 25 years or more.

This morning when I asked Frank what he wanted for breakfast he said cereal or biscuits would be fine. When I told him cereal would be easier he said, "Yes. But biscuits taste better!" 

So, here are our traditional Saturday morning biscuits with fresh butter and the pear butter we made last summer. 

What are some of your family traditions? 

It is the little things in life that mean the most and create the fondest memories.

Until next time - Fern