mmmMMMMmmmm

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The house is sure smelling very Christmasy right now!
Cameron and I made Cinnamon Bears last night-- these are fast and easy, make great gifts and smell fantastic!





***1 cup cinnamon plus one cup water--mix well, roll out and cut with desired shapes. If dough is too wet, add more cinnamon, if too dry, add more water. I also dust the area with a little more cinnamon to help keep the dough from sticking to counter. using a toothpick, poke a hole in each shape to allow for hanging the ornament***


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In the oven I have drying apple and orange slices.. the apples are spiced with cinnamon, cloves and allspice-- YUM. and with the oranges adding a nice citrus-ey tang to the air. I hope to make little garlands with these....




***Slice apples, toss in lemon juice, pat dry. In a ziplock (I used a gallon size) toss in 6 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons cloves, 1 teaspoon allspice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon arrowroot. Coat apple slices with mixture, dry in a low oven (150-200) for 6 hours. Remove from oven and allow to dry. For the oranges, slice in about 1/4" rings..they need to dry in the oven for 3-4 hours. I also used a straw to poke a hole in each ring for hanging later.***

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We also made these ornaments.. We haven't perfected them at all yet, but it was still fun!

Holiday Brisk 2009

Cameron attended his 2nd "real" show over the weekend of December 12th and 13th. We drove to Centralia early Saturday morning to show our peeps at the Holiday Brisk. But FIRST you must make your chickens beautiful (well, okay, they are already beautiful, but they most for sure need to be cleaned up! lol). As you can see they don't mind much-- Potter actually fell asleep while Cameron was blow drying him.




Hedwig having a Peep Pedicure--she is soaking her cochin feathers in bluing--to make them whiter, and not dirt colored...

Juliette is Camerons Fit and Show hen--she is a Serama, and is always very relaxed.



Cameron thinking hard about something the judge has just asked him...

Susan got Best in Variety--she is a Silver Duckwing Aracauna-- she also lays blue eggs for us.


Here is CocoPuff--a Partridge Silkie

A row of beautiful white Cochin Hens


and here is Potter--all white and fluffy and awake!


So, all in all, Cameron didn't bring home any big rewards or ribbons this go around, but every time he comes away with knowing "just a little more..." and gains more confidence each show...
(plus it's relaxing for mom!)

Silly me!

I thought 25 degrees was cold! It's been much colder the past few days--10 and 12 degrees..

Hauling water out to everyone a couple times a day, heat lamp in the henhouse.... Their water has STILL been freezing overnight in there. Next project: insulate that baby! So far everyone seems to be staying pretty healthy. Got LOTS of shavings and straw in there so they can nestle down in it... Although, I noticed Sir and Potter might have small frost-bite injuries on their combs, which (I think) has actually occurred during the day! I have been putting bag balm on them, hope that helps. The only ones who don't seem to really mind the cold are the ducks--they don't really seem to mind about much. Just want water to dunk their heads in and food. They huddle down onto their feet to keep them warm--looks cute. Will head to the Feed Store later this morning to get some nice alfalfa for the goaties too-- must maintain that fluffy physique!

Brrr!

It is a chilly 25 degrees out--cold cold cold for here! Having to put lots of extra bedding in the henhouse and extra feed for everyone to help keep them all warm. The goats are looking very Fluffy, with their thick winter coats on.. very soft and nice to put your fingers into! :)

Well, I was doing a head count last night as I was closing up the henhouse, and couldn't find one of the hens. Started lookin' around the yard, in the branches (a couple of them try to roost in the lower branches of a tree in the yard), and no luck.. Decided to check UNDER the henhouse, and lo and behold, there sat the missing hen.. on a Very Large Clutch. I reached in to take her out of there--kinda made me laugh, she sounded so much like a small dinosaur as she protested the affront..

And here is a Christmas Tiger:

gah! Molting chickens everywhere!

And a show in a week--what to do what to do.. pin some tail feathers on those hens! They sure look funny -- little manx chickens.