Well, It Is Winter

We had quite the cold snap around The Acre this week. Temps were around zero with below zero wind chills, and we always get a nice breeze in the winter time. The chickens weathered it well, they kept laying, we lost several eggs to freezing. We have one bird that is going through the molt, so we scooped her up and put her in the "Chicken Hospital" as Cupcake calls it. We have a heat lamp on her and she seems to be doing well. Pretty sure she would have frozen to death without feathers.
The chill in the air motivated Lawman to get working on our solar heater. But before we get to that part, we have photographic proof that "The Girl" will eat peanut butter on a sandwich with fluff.

We got all bundled up and took Mutt for a walk. The cold don't slow her down a bit when it comes time to smelling the neighborhood smells. So while we were all wrapped up like the little brother in "A Christmas Story" Lawman took to his saws to make the box for our solar heater.

The nailgun got use, with strict Cupcake supervision. The new longer nails held until he could get wood screws into it.
After we got the tubing in, he spray painted the inside of the box black to absorb the sun's heat.

We still have a plexiglass cover for the front to add, but we put it up in front of the southern facing slider.

The room temp was 72, but after a few minutes we were getting a ten degree warm up.

We look forward to the finished results. We will be sure to share.
We started the new year off with a good luck meal as we do every new year. Except for collards. The rotten deer mowed the collards down a few days before the big day.
So Cupcake took charge of the kitchen.

Blackeye peas with country ham

Cook down some onions

Salisbury steak

And a new revelation this week, Cupcake asked for fried oysters. Lawman fixed up a batch on steak night. A "surf and turf" twist on Thor's red meat offering day.

We should have probably took the picture before we dug in to them. Maybe we will next week, because she picked up another pint this past weekend.
Our pal "The Beamer" came in to town to visit with his mother, and requested a soon to be world famous Lawman buttermilk pie. We were happy to oblige, and even got to use Lawman's favorite Christmas present, a chicken timer from Denises and Denephew.

"The Beamer" polished it off in under 24 hours so we think it was a hit.
We ended the week with wings.
K&K

Just Christmas

All we have to report this week is Christmas. We had the family over and cooked up a big meal.
To start things off, The Girl woke everyone up early and kicked our day off.

The Boy was less excited to be awake so early, but he soldiered up.

Even Fraidy Mutt got a little something.

We got all the food prepped and the family started rolling in.

And it's not officially Christmas until Lawman fries the oysters. Even Cupcake looks forward to fried oysters on Christmas.

There was gymnastics in the kitchen too

We tried a throwback to a Miller family tradition of frozen sherbet punch.

Oreo balls were a big hit as well

And after it was all over, everyone grabbed a nap. Even the mutt.

The rest of the week Cupcake had to work all day and into the night because it was the end of the year. By the weekend she was working to nearly midnight every night. Lawman played shackbitch and we muddled through until Sunday.
We ended the year with wings.
K&K

Chicken Klaus

We're not sure if the girls were playing Santa or the reindeer, but they seemed to be in the spirit of things early this week.

Before we started cooking for the big day, we had a comfort food meal.

October beans in a cast iron pot

Meatloaf in a cast iron skillet

Cupcake got a gift from her girls at work. We plan on putting these to good use very soon.

Then we got started. We opened up the country ham and gave it a good scrub down and soak.

The third day/night we soaked it in iced apple juice.

Sunday we put it on the smoke.

It looks burnt, but brother, it ain't burnt.

We did some baking.

Molasses cookies

Fruitcake

Choco cake

Peanut butter blossoms

Buttermilk pie

"The Girl" wanted to do some baking, so we helped her make a bread dough, then she made a Nutella wreath.

And Cupcake made her soon to be world famous steak pinwheel.

While we were preparing for Christmas, the chirruns wanted a homemade pizza.

And homemade cocoa.

We ended the week by eating everything but wings.
We hope every one of our followers have a merry Christmas.
K&K