spring is...

robins robins everywhere.

looking for wild daffodils.

grape hyacinths in the pasture.

damp soil.

planting the vegetable garden.

fresh air and sunshine...finally!

What can I add?

Links: some shameless advertising

click to enlarge--source

If anyone lives in Lancaster, do come see my choir's production of Anne of Green Gables. It will be held at Leola Elementary School on March 20th and 21th. Tickets at the door are $15, but if you pre-order on the website they are $12. Hurry up, sales close on March 12th! 

This is a very interesting one man show about C. S. Lewis that my family and I watched last night. 

I think we can all agree that these are a really good idea.

Squeeeee.

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It is now official: Anne has departed. Two or three Saturdays ago, Dad saw her being eaten by a hawk across the road. Since the chickens are brown her body was camouflaged among the leaves, so we hadn't seen her before. 

It's good that we know where and how it happened. We've had a near miss since than, but no losses. The hawk hasn't shown its face in the past couple days. I'm hoping the warmer weather has given it some other prey to hunt.

A side for dinner and some news

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Dressed-up Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower
1-2 T. oil, butter, or bacon fat
2 T. dried chives
1/2 t. turmeric
1 t. salt
a pinch mace OR nutmeg*
4 cloves garlic, minced

Wash cauliflower and cut into florets. Place in food processor and process until it is the size of rice or a little smaller. Melt oil in frying pan and add processed cauliflower. Stir occasionally and add the rest of the ingredients. Continue to saute until soft and serve hot.

*Mace has a stronger flavor than nutmeg, so if using nutmeg adjust accordingly.

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Some sad news. :( One of the chickens (Anne) is missing. She was one of the four that jumps the fence every evening before I let the others out, so I'm guessing an animal got her. It is sad, but--unfortunately--it's part of "homestead" life. 

Update #10: In which we have a photo shoot

Another very late update.

My brother and his wife were visiting for Christmas and since he had his camera with him (surprise!), the chickens had a paparazzi tailing them as the free-ranged. :)

chicken butt!

They've been doing very well since then, though a few had a touch of frostbite. However, coconut oil came to the rescue. I rubbed it on their combs and they healed up amazingly quickly. Also, I accidentally discovered that they love eating coconut oil as well as wearing it! Since it was cold out the coconut oil froze, so I scraped it out of the bowl. Quite a frenzy ensued as the girls ran about trying to snatch up each piece. They also enjoy mealworms and oats while they're out in the yard. Yup, they're spoiled.

I believe

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I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

--The Nicene Creed

Winter is...

Christmas (obviously).

a season that seems to start at least two weeks be for it actually does.

watching snow fall and hoping it'll stick.

sledding down the hill into the pasture and getting sopping wet.

hot chocolate.

mornings when you just want to stay in your warm pajamas.

longing for spring (unfortunately this has already started for me).

What else can I add?

Coming up for air

Christmas Break...is...here!

After weeks and weeks of school, due dates, projects, stress, and fun, I have a breather (sorta. Exam studying will happen somehow). I think I shall be ensconced in the kitchen most of the time, testing out two recipes. I'll tell you how that goes. ;) I also want to read something, but need some suggestions. Anyone? 

This school year's been super busy, but super great too. I (thankfully) enjoy all my classes and am learning things that don't even involve school directly. Number one is that I can easily be sucked into the vortex of blogs or Pinterest or instagram and then I remember I should probably be working on a paper or something. It is very easy to just keep going from blog to blog to blog, and then twenty minutes have past and I've got nothing productive done. Number two is connected to number one, and it's that school comes first. It's okay if I don't get around to working out or replying to those letters. As long as I get my school done and get it done well, it's all fine. It gets rid of a lot of stress and makes school more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, with all the busyness, I haven't had time to get into the "Christmas spirit", let alone think about it's true meaning. We have Advent devotions on Sundays, but sometimes my mind wonders, so I don't really have an excuse besides being busy. :) I want to squish a lot of things into the next two weeks, but I need to make some time to sit and remember. 

Anyways, on to yummy stuff. Today I made these, but replaced the sunflower butter with tahini (weird, I know, but delicious!) and used coconut sugar instead of maple syrup. They don't have really strange or unusual ingredients, so anyone could make them. I also made this chocolate a few days ago. I want to make all sorts of other sweet stuff, but I'll probably stick with these and just eat a bunch to make up for variety. ;)

Merry Christmas one and all! Enjoy your time with loved ones and celebrating the birth of our Savior!

 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." --John 1:14

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.'" --Luke 2:13-14