Chicken Dip

Camilla takes a dip to cool off in the 90+ degree heat.

When it's hot outside,
don't forget about your feathered friends.
Make sure you offer fresh water,
frozen treats
and if they're showing sizes of being over heated,
dip them in a bucket of cool water.
Most of my girls enjoy the dip!

What's Goin On

We've given up the squash bug fight this year

and just started picking what we had.

Luckily we managed to harvest several small pumpkins

that I hope to cook down and preserve tonight.

I also discovered a cherry tomato volunteer

and possibly a cantaloupe.

A cantaloupe vine would be great

since all of our cantaloupes were over ripe.

While I was extremely disappointed, 

the hens were thrilled at the delicious treat.

Speaking of chickens, we have 3 hens currently laying now.

So they're starting to pay for their keep.

All in all it's been pretty crazy around here and I'm waiting for things to slow down.

Keeping Cool

The temperatures here have been hitting the 90 degree mark for several days now.

Not only is it uncomfortable for me,

but it's also uncomfortable for the chickens.

I came across this idea on Pinterest

(a dangerous place that provides endless projects for my husband me)

The idea is simple and inexpensive.

Take a muffin tin and fill each opening with corn.

Add water then put it in the freezer.

When they're frozen, run some warm water on the back of the tin

and the frozen cornsicles pop right out.

I made a bunch and store them in a freezer bag and grab a couple to toss to the girls.

You can also do something similar with other veggies

or fruit.

And you don't have to just use a muffin tin,

you could choose something much larger

(but I like the ease of storage in the muffin size treats).

The girls love them!

Dehydrated

I've been pretty busy the last few days.

Some referred to it as "Martha Stewart on crack",

but it doesn't matter, because I'm getting crap done.

I picked up some apricots at the local Farmer's Market last weekend

and thought I could dehydrate them in the dehydrator 

I picked up at a yard sale

(brand new still in the box).

I have a big hike coming up in a couple of months and 

I'm hoping to make all my own meals with the new toy.

So I cut up the apricots.

Tossed them with some fruit saver to prevent them from discoloring

and popped them in the dehydrator.

One quart did 2 trays.

They turned out okay.

I've also tried zucchini chips (not a fan)

and banana chips (the husband says they're okay too).

Beef jerky is on the list to try!

In the meantime, 

I'm canning beets, pickles, beans and baking bread while battling squash bugs

and rearranging and organizing the apartment. 

I need a vacation!