On your mark.....get set....GO!

On Your Mark...

 

Get Set.....

 

GO!!!!

As you can see, we are incubating eggs. These are from our Light Sussex chickens that we raised from eggs last year. We are curious to see how it turns out, what the hatching rate will be, and whether we will have chicks with neck issues like last year.  Last year's eggs were mail-ordered and we aren't sure how much of last year's results were due to the eggs going through the mail.

We'll see in 21 days or so (about June 4)! :)

Ready....?

A Short Chicken Video

For your enjoyment...

They didn't want to go in when I was ready, so I eventually had to herd them in.  They are loving the green grass!  We're getting 5-7 eggs a day, which isn't bad for having 7 hens!

I found a cookbook! Wow! This is Allergy Free and Sugarfree

First off---we've had a day or two of really warm weather and our lilac bushes have budding leaves!

 

My husband and I went to Lehman's General Store last weekend, as we are accustomed to doing about this time most years.

While I was there, I picked up a book that I had regretted not picking up last year: a spiral bound cookbook with the title Wow! This is Allergy Free and Sugarfree by Mary Yoder and Deborah Steiner.  From the looks of the family picture on the back of the book, I'd guess the authors are Mennonite or Amish. 

When I first picked this book up, I was skeptical. I've been eating Gluten-free (with a cheat here and there) for a couple years now, and truly did not expect to find anything non-wheaty as far as cookbooks go in an Amish store.  The fact that it was about allergies surprised me as well.  I may go into my lunch-and-dinner ventures in Amish country in a different post...

This book is based on the use of a "Four Day Rotation Diet", something that I have read about a lot in my allergy journey, but  have not embraced.  Part of the reason I have not taken to the four day rotation of foods was that, in the past, I did not have a wide enough variety of foods I could eat to break them up into eating once every four days.  Another reason was that I couldn't figure out how to do it; how to sub properly. I didn't have reliable recipes to use--it would have meant more hours scouring the internet for usable recipes.

I feel like I've been regressing a bit with my health/allergies lately.  I am sure part of it is stress with adding a paying job to my schedule and trying(and failing) to balance everything, part of it is that spring allergy season is gearing up, and part of it is because I have been eating more junk (read: Easter candy, chips, etc) and not so healthy meals due to a real lack of time to cook said meals when I am at work during the dinner-prep hour.  The family only wants so much roast and veggies or stew...

So....I am thinking about incorporating some of these recipes into my repertoire.  I'm not sure I want to do it completely, one reason being that I would have to give up my ritual of tea drinking in the morning.... I love my tea...I did pick up some different flours from the health food store and hopefully that will give me a good start.

I like the fact that the authors are at least aware of the corn allergy issue and the gluten issue, and I can adapt the days they have gluten-containing ingredients with the other alternative non-gluten ingredients.  I like that, when they use a "gum" in breads, it is guar gum and not (corn-derived) xanthan gum.  That, to me, is promising.  And I didn't see a whole lot of "gums", which I prefer as well.

So, we'll see how it goes, once I get a handle on it and try some of the recipes out!

A Much Needed Update

I know I have been absent for a few months. Life has gotten busier and I've not had the time to write here. Sorry!

I've been writing for an online prepping site and have taken a part-time job at the local library. These things, on top of the otherwise normal things that need doing around here, have swallowed up most of my time.  We are still adjusting to the changes from my being a SAHM since our first child was born, to my working outside the home these days.

Being a librarian's assistant, I have found many books to read.  Unfortunately, I now have far less time to read them!  Here's my current stack:

 

My husband, Randy, has also been busy working his usual printing job, writing, and last weekend decided to take on the task of cutting down the eyesore of our broken pine tree from the big storm we had last summer. Bonus: a bit of firewood. :)

Here is my hubby and our daughter, trying to cut it using the old saw (our oldest boy ran off when the camera came out, lol):

 

 

He left the stump at that height, and I think this spring/summer I will use it as a platform to feed the birds and maybe later put a heavy pot of trailing plants on it.  I'm going to have to make sure it's good and heavy, because I don't want any coons climbing up and knocking it off!

As far as gardening, I haven't gotten very far. We are still in freezing temps here and I feel it's too early to plant even peas.  Maybe in a week or two...  I have purchased some seeds but have yet to write out my gardening plan for this year. It's on the list...

Allergy-wise, I feel I've been struggling again.  Not horribly, itchy skin mostly.  We've been dealing with strep in the household, so it could be I am fighting something and my immune system is just taxed... Trying to eat simply and get through it.

That's all for now! If you're still reading, I thank you for that!