What's been happening? Dunno know, but I just can't get it sorted!
Ah, never mind, just realized: WORK! I am very lucky to say that I actually have been having paid work for the past couple of months. Which makes a serious dent in my free-time.
All good though, the animals are profiting from this: long over due cullings have been delayed and breeding just keeps going.
My ducks have been producing eggs reliably and I have now 8 home grown home bred ducklings. One is 3 1/2 weeks, or thereabouts, and for the past two days has been out of the hutch and mingling with the rest of the flock of .... chickens! After all, mum is a hen. That hatching didn't go too well though: only one out of five eggs managed to make it alive. The next batch, with two hens sharing one hutch, produced 7 out of 13 eggs. And, as my hens keep turning broody and I've got no cages to de-brood them, I've got another two sitting on 7 eggs. We're going to have plenty of duck breast and legs a-la-confit next year!
The veges in the plastic containers are doing well, the tomatoes have started to set, the herbs are coming back and the cats are still NOT getting in!
Talking about the cats: have the live trap set again, we've seen a couple of times another unknown cat around here. A tabby like Purdie, but slinkier and younger looking. Please let it be a 'kitten' so that it can be re-homed by the SPCA!
And as for the bunnies, no breeding as I haven't got any space. But I will have to get onto that soon or I will be too late for a decent autumn harvest.
TTFN,
hope to see you all again in the new year
Petra
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Finally done it
This is always the hardest part: locking up the goat babies over night and milking mum first thing in the morning, but I've finally done it, and the babies look alright, not happy, but alright and the bottle of milk looks good too!
I have sent a warning email to all the neighbours that I will be shifting the girls twice a day now. In a fortnight I'll be able to milk Poppy as well and then I should be back into cheese making mode!
Already know what my first one will be, a Romano. My first Romano was made with cow's milk and tastes great, but could do with a bit more zing. Hoping this zing will come from the goat's milk!
The duck is on a roll, another egg this morning, and all inside the house. Our 'relationship' has chilled out so much in the last days, since I don't have to chase her back into the paddock and chase to lock them up at night!! Big improvement all round.
Just short one for today,
TTFN.
I have sent a warning email to all the neighbours that I will be shifting the girls twice a day now. In a fortnight I'll be able to milk Poppy as well and then I should be back into cheese making mode!
Already know what my first one will be, a Romano. My first Romano was made with cow's milk and tastes great, but could do with a bit more zing. Hoping this zing will come from the goat's milk!
The duck is on a roll, another egg this morning, and all inside the house. Our 'relationship' has chilled out so much in the last days, since I don't have to chase her back into the paddock and chase to lock them up at night!! Big improvement all round.
Just short one for today,
TTFN.
Monday, October 8, 2012
My little herd
This morning I'm a bit anxious: moved my little herd back into the big paddock.
The overnight paddock is just getting too pooped in by the 7 little and big monsters. So I decided this morning it's time to take the plunge and try it. The two girls and Moritz were happily following me (rattling a feed container) and Poppy's boys were running to keep up with mum. But Tui's two are just a bit thick I'm afraid and didn't want to get onto the road with mum. So I had to leave them behind, supervised by Kara and carry them to the paddock! Individually. Even though they are only just over a week old, they are too heavy to carry both at the same time!
Nothing happened on the way there, one worry down. Now I just hope the mums will look after their babies properly and take them to the shelter if the weather packs in. The paddock has greened up so much in the 3 weeks since I've taken the girls out to give birth. The girls are all head down at the moment!! Nothing like a new clean feed.
As the first set of boys is about to turn four weeks old I have to organize them getting ringed! Yay, all the fun on the farm.
Yesterday I had a very good conversation with one of our neighbours about tanning a rabbit hide, so once I have a bit of spare time I will send one of the older ones over the Rainbow bridge and give it a try. Our friend has offered to give me hands-on help if it doesn't work, which is good to have as a back-up.
Not sure yet when, as I still have to get started on reducing our chicken flock. Just isolated a couple of girls again, and whoever doesn't lay from now is for the freezer.
I had contemplated the same fate for my ducks, as it was turning into a major hassle getting the eggs. But I had a flash of genius and found a way of plugging the escape holes in the fence and the duck now stays in the run, all day and night, and like a well-behaved girl lays her eggs in the hutch!!! In the middle, like a proper nest. The question is now, once she's laid a clutch, will she go broody and sit on them?? Anyway, I won't worry about that til she's finished laying, and if she doesn't I hopefully have a broody hen to take over that duty.
Yesterday I finally managed to build a night house for the goat kids, so that they can get locked up over night and I can finally start milking one of the girls, Tui. I still have to wait with milking Poppy as her 5 weeks withholding time after her antibiotic treatment is not up yet.
TTFN
The overnight paddock is just getting too pooped in by the 7 little and big monsters. So I decided this morning it's time to take the plunge and try it. The two girls and Moritz were happily following me (rattling a feed container) and Poppy's boys were running to keep up with mum. But Tui's two are just a bit thick I'm afraid and didn't want to get onto the road with mum. So I had to leave them behind, supervised by Kara and carry them to the paddock! Individually. Even though they are only just over a week old, they are too heavy to carry both at the same time!
Nothing happened on the way there, one worry down. Now I just hope the mums will look after their babies properly and take them to the shelter if the weather packs in. The paddock has greened up so much in the 3 weeks since I've taken the girls out to give birth. The girls are all head down at the moment!! Nothing like a new clean feed.
As the first set of boys is about to turn four weeks old I have to organize them getting ringed! Yay, all the fun on the farm.
Yesterday I had a very good conversation with one of our neighbours about tanning a rabbit hide, so once I have a bit of spare time I will send one of the older ones over the Rainbow bridge and give it a try. Our friend has offered to give me hands-on help if it doesn't work, which is good to have as a back-up.
Not sure yet when, as I still have to get started on reducing our chicken flock. Just isolated a couple of girls again, and whoever doesn't lay from now is for the freezer.
I had contemplated the same fate for my ducks, as it was turning into a major hassle getting the eggs. But I had a flash of genius and found a way of plugging the escape holes in the fence and the duck now stays in the run, all day and night, and like a well-behaved girl lays her eggs in the hutch!!! In the middle, like a proper nest. The question is now, once she's laid a clutch, will she go broody and sit on them?? Anyway, I won't worry about that til she's finished laying, and if she doesn't I hopefully have a broody hen to take over that duty.
Yesterday I finally managed to build a night house for the goat kids, so that they can get locked up over night and I can finally start milking one of the girls, Tui. I still have to wait with milking Poppy as her 5 weeks withholding time after her antibiotic treatment is not up yet.
TTFN
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Waste not, want not!
This was the weekend my darling daughter and I decided to do something with the liver, kidneys and heart of our pig Thumbelina.
As a child in Germany I grew up with a reasonably revolting bland version of Kalbsleberwurst, liverwurst made with veal and as an adult had tasted the most divine foie-gras. So I was intrigued to find out what it takes to make Liverwurst, a "peasant" style pate, and whether my family would eat it.
But first, I had to mince the meat! Since my last endeavours, involving a mains powered GRUNTY drill of my husband attached to a manual mincer, we had bought a proper electric meat mincer. And did it work a treat! I won't go into the details here, that'll be on the food blog!
Just trying to generate a bit more traffic over there. ;-)
Interestingly, for the first time ever I did feel a bit squeamish handling these amounts of raw meat. I suppose because liver does have quiet a distinct strong smell.
Anyway, nearly 4 kg's of processed and seasoned meat later, I can say the family is not against eating pig liver! And they did not eat that all in one go, I've made some into pate and the rest into meat patties, which will be frozen and served as my homemade fast food! But, we had the patties for dinner and my carniverous bunch devoured a huge load of them.
And as for me, I think I'm actually all meated out! But I've still got to finish frying the rest of the patties. I'm really looking forward to my shower tonight!!!
Our way of paying respect to a lovely animal is making every bit count beautifully.
Not quite sure if I will ever get to do something with the head though: the kids and I were perusing an old cook book and it had a recipe for a pig's head! They were not impressed, no cries" We've got to try this one" either. Let's wait and see.
TTFN
and the food stuff should go up, with a few pics too, in a couple of days.
As a child in Germany I grew up with a reasonably revolting bland version of Kalbsleberwurst, liverwurst made with veal and as an adult had tasted the most divine foie-gras. So I was intrigued to find out what it takes to make Liverwurst, a "peasant" style pate, and whether my family would eat it.
But first, I had to mince the meat! Since my last endeavours, involving a mains powered GRUNTY drill of my husband attached to a manual mincer, we had bought a proper electric meat mincer. And did it work a treat! I won't go into the details here, that'll be on the food blog!
Just trying to generate a bit more traffic over there. ;-)
Interestingly, for the first time ever I did feel a bit squeamish handling these amounts of raw meat. I suppose because liver does have quiet a distinct strong smell.
Anyway, nearly 4 kg's of processed and seasoned meat later, I can say the family is not against eating pig liver! And they did not eat that all in one go, I've made some into pate and the rest into meat patties, which will be frozen and served as my homemade fast food! But, we had the patties for dinner and my carniverous bunch devoured a huge load of them.
And as for me, I think I'm actually all meated out! But I've still got to finish frying the rest of the patties. I'm really looking forward to my shower tonight!!!
Our way of paying respect to a lovely animal is making every bit count beautifully.
Not quite sure if I will ever get to do something with the head though: the kids and I were perusing an old cook book and it had a recipe for a pig's head! They were not impressed, no cries" We've got to try this one" either. Let's wait and see.
TTFN
and the food stuff should go up, with a few pics too, in a couple of days.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Zippity doo dah yay wayho
Spring caught up with me and as per usual I'm having a hard time keeping up!
Just a quick update, with some pics:
First up in the spring bonanza we had four white baby bunnies on the 2nd of September. There had been two more, but they had been too big and were born dead. Not too sure if my "breeding scheme" is working.
Next, four chickies: I had gotten Light Sussex eggs to add a different colour to my flock. Of 11 eggs four hatched live on the 14th of September.
And a fortnight ago (16.9) Poppy gave birth to two boys ( two days early), with serious help for the first one. I assume due to the stressful birth she developed mastitis and I ultimately had to give her a dose of Penicillin. It was all touch and go with her last Friday, but she's come right since then and is feeding her two boys well. And Tui, not to be outdone, gave birth on Saturday (29.9) to two boys. Three days early. And she did it all by herself, but was still grateful for the fortified cuppa tea I gave her afterwards.
Here are Poppy, Kara and Thing 1 and 2
And here Thing 3 and 4.
And our duck has been laying again, I've got now 9 eggs and I need to find a broody hen to hatch them now.
In the beginning of September we were dog sitting a friend's puppy and that added a whole new layer of organizing. She's a lovely Lab cross and at seven months was a lot more lively than our seven year old dog and 18 year old cat.
And last, but not least our fourth attempt at setting up a vege and herb garden that doesn't get used as a cat's litter box. We've had fences that were too high for the cats or chickens AND me! We absolutely adore the flexi tubs and decided to try these instead of planters. So, here is this year's colour scheme: red for tomatoes and green for salads, herbs and other veges. Surrounded by a mesh fence, the bottom 2 1/3 squares folded over to create a smaller sized gap along the bottom part of it, as the 10cm hole seemed big enough for our old puddy cat to get her head through! Now it's wait and see. And lightly water: I'm always very disheartened at the sight of freshly planted seedlings. Despite being watered, they always look soo bedraggled in the first weeks.
TTFN
Just a quick update, with some pics:
First up in the spring bonanza we had four white baby bunnies on the 2nd of September. There had been two more, but they had been too big and were born dead. Not too sure if my "breeding scheme" is working.
Next, four chickies: I had gotten Light Sussex eggs to add a different colour to my flock. Of 11 eggs four hatched live on the 14th of September.
And a fortnight ago (16.9) Poppy gave birth to two boys ( two days early), with serious help for the first one. I assume due to the stressful birth she developed mastitis and I ultimately had to give her a dose of Penicillin. It was all touch and go with her last Friday, but she's come right since then and is feeding her two boys well. And Tui, not to be outdone, gave birth on Saturday (29.9) to two boys. Three days early. And she did it all by herself, but was still grateful for the fortified cuppa tea I gave her afterwards.
Here are Poppy, Kara and Thing 1 and 2
And here Thing 3 and 4.
And our duck has been laying again, I've got now 9 eggs and I need to find a broody hen to hatch them now.
In the beginning of September we were dog sitting a friend's puppy and that added a whole new layer of organizing. She's a lovely Lab cross and at seven months was a lot more lively than our seven year old dog and 18 year old cat.
And last, but not least our fourth attempt at setting up a vege and herb garden that doesn't get used as a cat's litter box. We've had fences that were too high for the cats or chickens AND me! We absolutely adore the flexi tubs and decided to try these instead of planters. So, here is this year's colour scheme: red for tomatoes and green for salads, herbs and other veges. Surrounded by a mesh fence, the bottom 2 1/3 squares folded over to create a smaller sized gap along the bottom part of it, as the 10cm hole seemed big enough for our old puddy cat to get her head through! Now it's wait and see. And lightly water: I'm always very disheartened at the sight of freshly planted seedlings. Despite being watered, they always look soo bedraggled in the first weeks.
TTFN
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Another month gone by...
...and I haven't got a clue where it went!
Not sure when I did what, but by now I've got a few less bunnies and a few more containers of Rillettes de Lapin, or potted rabbit for us native speakers, jars and jars of apple sauce in the pantry (which by the way needs serious extending) and zillions of containers of Leek&Potato and Cauliflower soup in the freezer!
And finally the hens have decided that spring has sprung and have started laying: at the moment we're getting between 6-9 eggs a day and I am finally getting to do some back log baking done! Much to my family's delight and my hips' despair.
We've been having the pork and it's just stunning! We've had a shoulder roast, chops and spare ribs so far and everyone's loving it. The fat has been rendered and used sparingly for the potted rabbit.
Once new season's piglets are available we will get another one.
Ah, just realized why a whole month had gone and I didn't have much to show for it: two weeks of school holidays.
I finally started on building up the concrete and tile wall for my raised beds. I had been dreading it and it proofed to be as hard as feared: not physically but mentally. Anyway, I used up all our available concrete mix and we have to go and get some before I can continue. I only managed to get three of the four sides started, so it will be interesting to see if they join up properly!!! So far it looks alright, and once I know all the ins and outs, do's and don'ts the next lot should be a bit easier and faster. Famous last words, I know, but you got to hope for the best, as the worst will come anyway, one way or another.
The goats are putting on weight now, Poppy's first possible due date is the 18th of September, so I'm getting myself organized and getting the vet down to give them a general check-up.
The ducks, or rather the girl is still not laying, and escaping every day. But obviously not finding enough food, as she stays close to the pen for feeding time in the morning. Her partner, I assume/hope he's her partner, is very distraught but hasn't managed to follow her. Fortunately!
And since we've got space in the rabbit runs again, I have mated Wanda and Werner. As the boy is getting bigger and bigger he has to prove himself as a stud muffin or else. I'm keeping him in a smallish run at the moment, which is not ideal, but will have to do. And once I know what his virility is like, I'll start expanding and modifying the rabbit enclosures down in the garden. As much as the kids and I enjoy having them near the house, the smell and effluent is not something I want to have there on a permanent basis.
And speaking of effluent, I'm so happy that we are now part of a rubbish and recycling collective!! Instead of collecting it in our courtyard, in all manner of bins and boxes, and to take it into town every fortnight, once a car load is full, we can now deposit it properly, whenever needs be. Bliss.Big thumbs up and Thanks!
And we're now the proud owner of an electric mincer and sausage maker! //insert cheeky grin emoticon //
The last mincing session was a two person act involving a mains powered drill attached to the manual mincer! And hubby was adamant this kind of use is not covered under the warranty, so we got one. But we haven't got any meat to grind yet, the cockerels are taking their sweet time fattening up. Do they know??!!
And since the hens have started laying, I don't want to go and willy nilly despatch some.
Yesterday I went through the freezer to check for space and found 8 liters of milk and decided to use it for my first try of making a Romano cheese. A cheese for grating, like Parmesan, but lightly different flavour. And I finally got to use my dumbbell weights to press the cheese over night. Salting it today, then drying for 2 days and then maturing for at least two months. It's going to be a while before I know what this one will taste like.
And last Friday we went out for a special dinner at The White Swan.
Finn had had a whole day's singing and entertainment organized by school and we thought we'd do something different with Kara. As this was her first time at a fancy restaurant, she didn't quite get it, but certainly approved of the Fish and Chips.
For my dinner I had ordered a goats cheese entree and scallop starter. The goats cheese entree was beautiful! For quite some time I haven't bothered going out to eat, as I find most foods not up to my standards, taste or preparation wise. But this was just stunning. Only two starters, but I felt beautifully sated and content. Not cheap, mind you, but this time I thought well worth the expense.
Ross had a wild platter, which was very interesting and tasty too, the only downside the mini drink served with the meal. As part of the package they served a certain drink with it, but only half a serving! And has he had asked for it to be brought out before the meal, he had finished it of course by the time the food arrived. And that was that. Fortunately I wasn't drinking mine as fast and we shared my drink.
And then we went to Masterton to hear a children's songs concert. Organized by REAP, senior students from several local schools had been tutored by Julian Raphael, a music educator, and presented the songs they had rehearsed all day! Lovely.
Not exactly farming, but a very memorable experience after all.
Right, so quite a bit has happened after all, and that's me again for today,
TTFN
Not sure when I did what, but by now I've got a few less bunnies and a few more containers of Rillettes de Lapin, or potted rabbit for us native speakers, jars and jars of apple sauce in the pantry (which by the way needs serious extending) and zillions of containers of Leek&Potato and Cauliflower soup in the freezer!
And finally the hens have decided that spring has sprung and have started laying: at the moment we're getting between 6-9 eggs a day and I am finally getting to do some back log baking done! Much to my family's delight and my hips' despair.
We've been having the pork and it's just stunning! We've had a shoulder roast, chops and spare ribs so far and everyone's loving it. The fat has been rendered and used sparingly for the potted rabbit.
Once new season's piglets are available we will get another one.
Ah, just realized why a whole month had gone and I didn't have much to show for it: two weeks of school holidays.
I finally started on building up the concrete and tile wall for my raised beds. I had been dreading it and it proofed to be as hard as feared: not physically but mentally. Anyway, I used up all our available concrete mix and we have to go and get some before I can continue. I only managed to get three of the four sides started, so it will be interesting to see if they join up properly!!! So far it looks alright, and once I know all the ins and outs, do's and don'ts the next lot should be a bit easier and faster. Famous last words, I know, but you got to hope for the best, as the worst will come anyway, one way or another.
The goats are putting on weight now, Poppy's first possible due date is the 18th of September, so I'm getting myself organized and getting the vet down to give them a general check-up.
The ducks, or rather the girl is still not laying, and escaping every day. But obviously not finding enough food, as she stays close to the pen for feeding time in the morning. Her partner, I assume/hope he's her partner, is very distraught but hasn't managed to follow her. Fortunately!
And since we've got space in the rabbit runs again, I have mated Wanda and Werner. As the boy is getting bigger and bigger he has to prove himself as a stud muffin or else. I'm keeping him in a smallish run at the moment, which is not ideal, but will have to do. And once I know what his virility is like, I'll start expanding and modifying the rabbit enclosures down in the garden. As much as the kids and I enjoy having them near the house, the smell and effluent is not something I want to have there on a permanent basis.
And speaking of effluent, I'm so happy that we are now part of a rubbish and recycling collective!! Instead of collecting it in our courtyard, in all manner of bins and boxes, and to take it into town every fortnight, once a car load is full, we can now deposit it properly, whenever needs be. Bliss.Big thumbs up and Thanks!
And we're now the proud owner of an electric mincer and sausage maker! //insert cheeky grin emoticon //
The last mincing session was a two person act involving a mains powered drill attached to the manual mincer! And hubby was adamant this kind of use is not covered under the warranty, so we got one. But we haven't got any meat to grind yet, the cockerels are taking their sweet time fattening up. Do they know??!!
And since the hens have started laying, I don't want to go and willy nilly despatch some.
Yesterday I went through the freezer to check for space and found 8 liters of milk and decided to use it for my first try of making a Romano cheese. A cheese for grating, like Parmesan, but lightly different flavour. And I finally got to use my dumbbell weights to press the cheese over night. Salting it today, then drying for 2 days and then maturing for at least two months. It's going to be a while before I know what this one will taste like.
And last Friday we went out for a special dinner at The White Swan.
Finn had had a whole day's singing and entertainment organized by school and we thought we'd do something different with Kara. As this was her first time at a fancy restaurant, she didn't quite get it, but certainly approved of the Fish and Chips.
For my dinner I had ordered a goats cheese entree and scallop starter. The goats cheese entree was beautiful! For quite some time I haven't bothered going out to eat, as I find most foods not up to my standards, taste or preparation wise. But this was just stunning. Only two starters, but I felt beautifully sated and content. Not cheap, mind you, but this time I thought well worth the expense.
Ross had a wild platter, which was very interesting and tasty too, the only downside the mini drink served with the meal. As part of the package they served a certain drink with it, but only half a serving! And has he had asked for it to be brought out before the meal, he had finished it of course by the time the food arrived. And that was that. Fortunately I wasn't drinking mine as fast and we shared my drink.
And then we went to Masterton to hear a children's songs concert. Organized by REAP, senior students from several local schools had been tutored by Julian Raphael, a music educator, and presented the songs they had rehearsed all day! Lovely.
Not exactly farming, but a very memorable experience after all.
Right, so quite a bit has happened after all, and that's me again for today,
TTFN
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
What a week!
After a lot of tearful deliberations we had decided our pig Thumbelina had to go. I had organized the home kill man to come on Monday and spent the weekend before mentally preparing myself for it. I had also decided that I was going to butcher her myself and spent a lot of time researching and printing out diagrams.
A Sunday night call about the time confirmed Tuesday then.
Tuesday morning was spent in a daze, cleaning everything and getting the other animals sorted, so I wouldn't have to do anything major for the next couple of days.
At 2pm he arrived and by 3pm she was hanging under cover behind the rabbits.
I was very pleased having stuck with the original plan, as Vic is a very gentle and kind person and he undertook the job with the utmost professionality and kindness. Considering his job, I found this the most pleasing aspect.
On Wednesday morning I had Kara home sick, which made me feel a bit worried, but I just went ahead as professional and calm as I could be. She was keen on observing me, so any qualms or squeamishness I might have felt, I had to subdue.
Fortunately my husband had supplied me with an ample supply of sharp and appropriate tools and the job got done a lot faster than I had anticipated: by the afternoon I had made her up into all the parcels I wanted and packed her away into the fridge.
Kara, who had been the most adamant about not killing her, was ready for pork chops for dinner at the end of it! But I decided we were going to have our first home grown meal on the weekend for Sunday lunch. With mashed potatoes, apple sauce and homemade Sauerkraut.
And it was beautiful! Moist, and what struck me as most interesting: no pig sty smell. Store bought pork always smells like a dirty pig sty. Not this one. The children hooved into it, and even cleaned up the bones. Winner all round I'd say.
With the freezer being full of meat, we got 33kgs of ready to eat meat, and then some bits and bobs that I have to do something with, we are feeling rather rich. Quantity and Quality wise.
The first pics were taken by me, than Kara decided to document the process too.
On top of that we had a mother-of-gale on the weekend, with a major power cut on Saturday. We had been invited to our friends for dinner, and were wondering how they would manage without power. The other neighbour's had rushed to their aid with a big diesel generator and a gas barbecue and all was on track!
We had a lovely turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, and even got to see a slide show: another neighbour had been for a month in Afghanistan to teach tractor driving!
By the time we got back home still no power, so straight to bed! And in the morning? Still nothing. After realizing that and drawing a film picture for the tv, the kids got on with life playing a board game!!
Ross started our little generator to boost the freezers and I had cooked Breakfast on our trusty fire place and by the time I had brewed a coffee for Ross it was back on again.
Interesting exercise in survival and we did pretty well actually.
Glad to have electricity back though, the generator was deafeningly loud due to a corroded exhaust.
That's it for now, having quiet times for a while now.
TTFN
A Sunday night call about the time confirmed Tuesday then.
Tuesday morning was spent in a daze, cleaning everything and getting the other animals sorted, so I wouldn't have to do anything major for the next couple of days.
At 2pm he arrived and by 3pm she was hanging under cover behind the rabbits.
I was very pleased having stuck with the original plan, as Vic is a very gentle and kind person and he undertook the job with the utmost professionality and kindness. Considering his job, I found this the most pleasing aspect.
On Wednesday morning I had Kara home sick, which made me feel a bit worried, but I just went ahead as professional and calm as I could be. She was keen on observing me, so any qualms or squeamishness I might have felt, I had to subdue.
Fortunately my husband had supplied me with an ample supply of sharp and appropriate tools and the job got done a lot faster than I had anticipated: by the afternoon I had made her up into all the parcels I wanted and packed her away into the fridge.
Kara, who had been the most adamant about not killing her, was ready for pork chops for dinner at the end of it! But I decided we were going to have our first home grown meal on the weekend for Sunday lunch. With mashed potatoes, apple sauce and homemade Sauerkraut.
And it was beautiful! Moist, and what struck me as most interesting: no pig sty smell. Store bought pork always smells like a dirty pig sty. Not this one. The children hooved into it, and even cleaned up the bones. Winner all round I'd say.
With the freezer being full of meat, we got 33kgs of ready to eat meat, and then some bits and bobs that I have to do something with, we are feeling rather rich. Quantity and Quality wise.
The first pics were taken by me, than Kara decided to document the process too.
On top of that we had a mother-of-gale on the weekend, with a major power cut on Saturday. We had been invited to our friends for dinner, and were wondering how they would manage without power. The other neighbour's had rushed to their aid with a big diesel generator and a gas barbecue and all was on track!
We had a lovely turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, and even got to see a slide show: another neighbour had been for a month in Afghanistan to teach tractor driving!
By the time we got back home still no power, so straight to bed! And in the morning? Still nothing. After realizing that and drawing a film picture for the tv, the kids got on with life playing a board game!!
Ross started our little generator to boost the freezers and I had cooked Breakfast on our trusty fire place and by the time I had brewed a coffee for Ross it was back on again.
Interesting exercise in survival and we did pretty well actually.
Glad to have electricity back though, the generator was deafeningly loud due to a corroded exhaust.
That's it for now, having quiet times for a while now.
TTFN
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