The Pond life Chose Us

 The pond sprang to life this week. Probably before, but we got around to noticing it this week and wanted to share our joy. The first thing we noticed was a glob of eggs. We're pretty sure it salamander eggs, it's too early for frogs. 

Then we noticed the spotted bass were up feeding on the surface.

We had a warm patch this week. You may have too? We don't know.

Anyway, we got a jump on this years fruit tree planting while it was nice out. Two nectarine and one more plum tree are in the ground and the ten year clock starts again.

While we were digging holes and doing our planting, the DT's came along with us to 'help.' They ran and jumped and played while we worked. Eventually, they got smart and decided to find a spot in the shade and watch.

The newest fruit orchard have a great view of the ponds. Before the leaves come back this spring, anyway.

Last fall we added a rooster and four hens to our flock. The birds were being downsized so we gave them a good home. Six months later, the hens started laying. We got our first blue egg this week. Cupcake loves her blue eggers.

Early in the week, because it was warm, we had the windows open. The DT's keep a nose to the wind while we sleep, and around 0300 we had drama. A bobcat wandered through the front yard and let go a yell, which woke up the dogs, who lost their minds, that woke us up. We got them settled down, and the next night foxxy fox made an appearance in the front yard. It yipped, which woke up the dogs, who lost their minds, who woke us up. 

Bobcat's usually have a wide range so Lawman wasn't real concerned, but the fox is another story. Lawman went all mountain man and put out new trap sets and used his new high speed fox lure. The next morning he went to check his traps and found this.

Foxxy is a "digger" fox. He smelled a rat, so he dug around until he found the edge of the trap. Then, he uncovered the trap, exposing it (as an insult) then to add more insult and to make it crazy personal, he took a dump on the trap.

So its personal now. Lawman took his traps up, boiled them and waxed them again, and put them back. That night, Lawman was on stand by, if Foxxy came around the yard he was going to go old school sniper, but Lawman heard him yip one time, a long way from the house. Since then, there has been no activity on the cameras or around the traps. It's a battle of wills now, and foxxy will lose.

We ended the week with a couple naps and Reuben sammiches.

K&K

Signs of Spring

Most people look out their windows this time of year, and rejoice to see a robin. Or Nightwing, or Red Hood. We don't know. 

Anyway, we look out our window and see the guineas. They like to see whats for dinner in the evenings.

Because spring is bearing down on us, Lawman figured he had better start doing some of his "to do" list. One was clearing a spot for two pear trees he started from seeds. They are two years old in pots, and it's time to make the big dig. He picked a spot near the bitch barn so he can sit on the porch of the barn and shoot deer with his bow. 

So he took the DT's down with him and crawled up in the wild rose bushes with his chain saw. The first scrub he came across, the chain came off the bar. Which is about right.

While he did field repairs on the saw, Willow went for a swim.

Augustus sat and watched

After the saw got back in action, Lawman cleared his spot and used the scrub to add cover for the small pond.

The day after, it started raining. Lawman was stuck inside the rest of the week, so he did some shackbitch stuff. 

A fresh batch of laundry detergent.

We found a pack of sliced pork belly at the local store, so he rendered it down for the grease one day. The only down side we've found to the Blackstone so far is the grease runs into a trap, so our bacon grease is mingled in with steak grease and chicken grease. Pretty much everything we cook. So we reloaded the bacon grease cans this week.

One day was new cookie recipe day. This week, home made Oreo's. No filling, he used white choco chips for contrast.

Then he baked a pound cake for one of the neighbors

Then to end the week, we found a local distillery that makes whisky (they use the "e", we don't) and vodka. Or as they say, it's all made in Virginia, so it's VAdka. So we stopped by and picked up some local flavor.

One the way home from the distillery, Cupcake found a bag of jelly beans. Lawman asked her to save the black ones for him, and was sad to learn there were no black beans in the bag she bought.

So in true 'Bender' style, he bought his own bag of jelly beans. 

We ended the week with "steak and tater" night. And naps.

K&K

 

Crazy Cookie

We bet you thought this was about crazy granny? You see the title, you see bananas. Easy leap. But nope.

This week we broke in the new baking sheets with a couple of batches of cookies. Starting out the week, Lawman had a banana left over and it started getting soft, which is perfect for banana bread, and we hate to waste food. Nobody but Lawman eats banana bread, so he hit on the idea that maybe cookies would be a better seller. A quick search of the interwebs, and he was in the kitchen with flour.

Later in the week, Lawman made a batch of his favorite, oatmeal raisin. 

Other than that, the week seemed to get away from us update wise. We had our usual 'steak and tater' night Saturday night, then used the leftover steak for Rubens Sunday. Because we don't like to waste food.

Food processor is a must have

Dippin sauce and kraut heating up

We got our seeds for this years farm in the mail this week, so we ended the week planning our gardens (five of them) and a nap.

K&K

Holy Shiitake

 We had several meals with shiitake mushrooms this week. Cause we're fancy like that. The big one was a steak and mushroom pizza on "National Pizza Day"

As always, home made pizza dough. None of that 'pop n fresh' can stuff that Crazy Granny uses

Early in the week, we had leftover steak and mushrooms so Lawman whipped up a batch of beef veggie soup.

We also used some of our fresh made bone broth. It rocked.

While we were on the topic of veggies, we wanted to recommend spinach to anyone who wants a fresh green something all year long. Ours survived being buried under at least a foot of snow and sub zero temps. We added some to the soup, just because we could.

Sunday, there was some kind of sporting event that a lot of people seemed excited about. We always have a big spread and "graze" all day, instead of doing a proper meal. This is where Cupcake really shines. First, she made a cherry cheese ball that was to die for.

Then she made BBQ chicken pizza tacos.

Weenie tots

The DT's didn't know what was going on, but they stood vigil, just in case some stray food was to hit the floor.

We also celebrated Valentimes day. Maybe you did too? We don't know.

This represents us, because Lawman is 'warm and soothing, like a bowl of tomato soup' and Cupcake goes with him like a grilled cheese sammich.

And what's a new stove without new cookie sheets? We found these on the interwebs. Made in America, so no waiting on a boat in the Pacific Ocean for delivery. And they are without a doubt, the heaviest and sturdy baking sheets we've ever seen.

We ended the week with a full belly and a nap.

K&K