Sometimes Winter Sucks

 

It's cold,

it's windy

and I'm ready for Spring.

Sunday Chickens

This past Sunday I left the girls out for a bit while I cleaned out the coop.

They headed straight over to the angel in the garden.

Guess they knew what day it was.

Chicken Corn Soup

That's what's for dinner. 

I didn't have any egg noodles on hand, 

so I threw together some dumplings out of flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, 

1 egg, melted butter and some milk.  

It turned out great and was perfect for a cold windy night. 

Annual Hayride

Friends of the family have an annual hayride and bonfire in the fall. 

Here are a few photos of this past year's event.

 The host driving the tractor on the first hayride of the night

 The fire, welcome on a cold night.

 

Decisions

Lately it's occurred to me that I haven't done much blogging

about "farm" related topics.

Not that I really set this blog up to talk exclusively about "farming"

(and I put farming in quotes because really, 

4 chickens and a veggie garden do not a farm make)

but still, my focus here was going to be about

gardening, chickens, canning, food, etc.

You know.

Farm stuff.

But with the onset of winter

and crappy weather,

there hasn't been much to talk about.

Plus, 

after my wedding, 

I moved from the "farm" to a small apartment.

While I still go out and take care of the garden and the chickens,

it's not an all the time thing, 

especially with winter here.

And lately, my interests have been running to

hiking and backpacking

and the big trip planned for later in the year.

I had intended on blogging here about the trip's progress,

but then I wondered if that was a good idea.

How would someone know to look on a blog about "farming"

to read about preparing for an Appalachian Trail Section Hike?

Because I'd really like other people thinking of this sort of trip

or people who already do this sort of thing,

to read what I'm posting.

So I thought about another blog.

And that seemed silly too since I already have 4 blogs

and I struggle to post on any one of them

on a regular basis.

In the end, 

I opted to start a fifth blog

(really it was the husband who said do it like a 5th blog is not something to fret over which it really isn't since there aren't any blog police that I know of)

So, my Appalachian Trail Section Hike progress will be posted over on the new blog:

Hiking 40 For My 40th

If you have an interest about the hiking thing

and all that entails

(like training and practice hikes and food and equipment and the actual hike)

please check it out and follow me there.

And if it doesn't interest you at all,

I'm still maintaining this blog

(and all the others)

when I have something to blog about.

Not Keen on Quinoa

 This is Quinoa

(pronounced keen-wa or keen-oh-a).

It's considered a super food

higher in protein than rice

and a good source of fiber, phosphorous,

magnesium, iron and calcium.

And it cooks in under 15 minutes.

So when I saw some recipes for backpacking meals 

that use quinoa, 

I thought I definitely needed to try it-

certain I would be bagging it up for the big trip.

But I tried it

and hated it.

I'm not sure if it was because of the flavoring and seasoning it came with

or if I really hate it.

Maybe I'll give it a try again cooked a different way,

but as for now, I think I'll be sticking with Ramen noodles and rice.

Doing It Different

It's that time of year again.  That time when people make a list of things they resolve to do, many of which tend to be ways  to change to be better.  After reviewing my list from 2014 and realizing I didn't get too much accomplished, I opted for a different strategy. 

This year, I have one goal- Hike the Maryland section of the Appalachian Trail. 

January 1st I managed a small hike (after being sick the night before with a stomach virus and a fever) so I've already started the ball rolling.  And in preparing for completion of this goal, I need to be healthier and in backpacking shape, things that were typically resolutions on their own.  Now they're just part of the larger picture, not the focus. I'll be blogging updates on my progress over the next 10 months, and eventually blogging about the trip itself. 

This is going to be MY year!

(You can read about the trip plan here)