WINTER DAYS

Winter scenes to warm one's heart. Little did I realize how much pleasure, happiness and entertainment chickens would offer us here at Dog Trot Farm.

An angel keeps watch over my snow covered herb garden. Plants are still asleep, however with Springs impending arrival new life will once again surge forth.

A lovely old covered bridge located not far from our home. In my mind's eye I am drawn back in time to the sights and sounds of images of long ago. I wonder about the people who lived in the area and those who crossed this bridge daily. With the quiet of winter my mind day dreams. While standing in this quiet surrounding you can almost hear the clip- clopping of horses travelling by.

Winter days, they are perfect for daydreaming.

CRANBERRY BANANA BREAD

This morning (or to be truthful early this afternoon) I collected eggs. My "girl's" are not morning layers, but have usually finished up by one o'clock in the afternoon.Yesterday I had been looking through my cookbooks for a CRANBERRY BANANA BREAD recipe with little luck. I sat at my computer and began to google when "low and behold" "OLDE CROW PRIMITIVES" had just offered a recipe on her blog. Exactly what I had been searching for. I gathered the ingredients, however, I did not have cardamon which this recipe called for, but substituted fresh orange zest instead. I have to state I love anything with cranberries- granola, stuffing, muffins, homemade cranberry relish, cranberry raisin pie, so I just had to add a few more cranberries than this recipe called for. Just a few mind you.

An hour later the breads were out of the oven and on the cooling rack. My kitchen smelled amazing and believe me when I say this is a delicious recipe. I definitely will make this again. Now, go check out "OLDE CROW PRIMITIVES" and make some of these breads for yourself. Don't forget to add cardamon to your grocery list, I have.

DAY DREAMING

These cold winter days find me sitting close to the wood stove daydreaming. Not dreams of future flower gardens or new vegetable seedlings, or even new rug hooking patterns, but of new feathered friends. Saturday I received my Hobby Farm and Hobby Home magazines, but look what else arrived in my mailbox, Murry McMurray Hatchery Catalog. Perusing this catalog can't help but put a smile on one's face.

And lookie here: Frizzles. I fell for the frizzle the first time I laid eyes on one at our local county fair. Their appearance looks as if it had been caught in a windstorm and their feathers blown backwards. Or as if one had stuck it's feather in an electrical outlet and the end result was the curly effect.

And then there is the fancy Top Hatter Polish. This bird appeared a little high strung, but then again most birds appear high strung at the county fair. I'm not sure if the Polish have an attitude or not, but with that mop on their head they certainly deserve one.

I still have a few months to daydream and of course there is a certain someone I need to talk this over with. And no it's not Winslow Homer. But really when you think about it chickens are like shoes, you just can never have to many!

BURRRRRRRRRRRR

On cold days such as these it's kinda nice to lounge on the couch and peruse new books, especially cookbooks. The Pioneer Women Cooks by Ree Drummond is a spectacular cookbook. Not only is it filled with wonderful cowboy tested recipes, but included are glossy photos, step by step instructions, and an insight into her humorous world as a ranch wife and home schooling mother of four. This book is just plain fun, you gotta get yourself a copy! Make It Fast Cook It Slow is the big book of everyday slow cooking by Stephanie O'Dea. In 2008, Stephanie used her slow cooker every single day for one year. This cookbook offers recipes from beverages, breakfast, meatless mains, to desserts and more. Each recipe has been taste tested by her family and in return they offer a "verdict"- some flops and others mainstays. All recipes in this book are gluten free.
Well, If cookbooks don't make you want to head straight to the kitchen pop in the movie Julie and Julia, a wonderfully delightful movie! Meryl Streep is (what else?) "amazing" and Amy Adams just plain "lovable". Now, go tie your apron strings and get the butter out.....

and don't forget to wear your pearls! Bon Appe'tit!

I love this movie!

MAINE WINTER WEATHER

Maine the Pine Tree State... This morning we woke to a temperature of 28 degrees. A normal temperature for the State of Maine this time of year. In Northern Alabama where Eve (my cousin) proprietor of the blog Sunny Side Up now resides it was 18 degrees. I can almost bet she was not SUNNY this morning. I think she believed that relocating to Alabama would put the cold, snowy, tundra of upstate New York behind her. Wrong. I checked out another blogging friend in Florida and you guessed it- a degree colder there than here. Flurries in Miami, what in the world is happening with our climate change. Is it caused by global warming? I'm still on the fence on that subject however, my DH says I blame it all on George, George W. Bush that is. He's right, I do.

WINTER

SQUIRRELS, we have a love hate relationship. Now I don't mind sharing birdseed with them, but it would be nice if they actually did leave some for the birds. Yes, I am talking to you Mr. Squirrel. As you can see we've had to bungee the feeder down. Mr. SQUIRREL has attempted to relocate the feeder to his liking. These rodents can be very crafty. Now enter Winslow Homer, if you mention the word SQUIRREL or spell the word, he becomes a wound up- spring hopping phenom. Out the door he flies and off to the woods the squirrels head with Winslow hot on their heels.

But this morning Winslow just sat there contemplating. I couldn't figure it out. Mr. SQUIRREL however, to his delight enjoyed a very lengthy breakfast.

The day dawned bright Everything was quiet at the coop, no late night shenanigans as far as I could tell.

As I sat looking out my window I decided I am going to enjoy this winter season. I am not going to hurry and take down decorations , I am not going to peruse seed catalogs, I am just going to enjoy winter. I will keep my snowflakes up ...

and sprigs of fir in my Christmas bottles...

I will enjoy looking at my snowman...

who now resides in front of my new little log cabin, a gift from my sweet husband.

My jolly snowmen will fill me with warmth...

and my snowman angel will continue to guard our home

This snowman will put a smile on my face...

and this one will make me feel happy inside... No, I am not going to rush winter. I will enjoy sitting by the wood stove whether it be rug hooking, stitching or reading. I will not be in a hurry to see winter leave. I will take the time to enjoy each and every winter day......

A DAY ON THE FARM

Good Monday afternoon... Oh, what a difference a day makes. The sun was shining, the snow melting. Speaking of melting one advantage to owning a home with a bowed roof, the snow (when melting) slides right off. Note to self: one disadvantage of owning a home with a bowed roof, snow slides right off unbeknown to person who was snow blowing close to the above mentioned house. I almost ended up looking like Clark Griswold, the character played by Chevy Chase in those annoying National Lampoon movies (okay I confess I do watch Christmas Vacation every year). After that was all said and done the "girls" did come out for a bit- well long enough to stretch their legs and breath in some good Maine air. As Mainers know the weather can change in an instant and with that said it was back to the coop we go.
Later in that morning I brought a treat of corn bread, Sweet Willa was on the nest and the remainder of the girls on the floor. Now I have to say I have no idea what they had been up to in there, but the feeder was off its line, the wing nut lost, and their water jug tipped over. I gather even chickens can experience "cabin fever."

Willa aren't you finished yet? Willa has a great evil eye, scram Georgia- find another box!

No frozen combs or wattles, bright clear eyes,

clean feathers and vents, okay too much info. everyone appears quite healthy.

However, there could possibly be a mental health issue.

I swore as I was heading out the door for the night I heard Henny say, "if you only knew what goes on in here..." What happens in the hen house stays in the hen house. With that, good night.

SNOWED IN SUNDAY

Still snowing...Snowflakes are dancing outside my window and the last bit of balsam fragrance lingers in the air. Our Christmas tree has been placed out doors by the bird feeder where I will hang peanut butter covered pine cones for the birds. The wood stove is cranking away keeping our nest snug and warm. I should also mention the sound of the Patriots football game is in the background where I can hear grumbling coming from my DH, game tied up, oh no... The girls are literally feeling "cooped up" however, a warm treat usually gives them a temporary reprieve. Only Pip and Georgia took me up on the offer of an outing this morning. They had no more gone out the door, when they promptly turned around and went right back in. I guess conditions in the coop were far more superior than the conditions outside.
Speaking of my girls, chicken fever has really caught on at my house. First it began with my new chicken calender. I heard a few "oh my Gods"

Then for my December birthday my brother sent me a musical chicken card, doing what else- the "chicken dance". My brother scored big points finding that card. He better watch out because he has a "big" birthday happening in April. I love having a big brother!

Along with my birthday card was the most creative birthday gift I have ever received, an egg carrier. Not any old egg carrier, but one hand made.
My brother Kris saw the idea in a magazine and put his creative spin on it. Ten egg holes, one for each of my ten hens. He left the finishing to me, he knew I would need to give it that "prim look" that we primitive lovers all strive for. It has two coats of milk paint, now all I need to do is scruff it up and put a coat of wax on it, good to go. Oh, I forgot to mention he made me two of these for me. Always good to have an extra, don't ya know.

This very fragrant smelling wax hen I received in my Christmas stocking.

And these wonderful faux eggs were sent to me by my cousin Eve in Alabama. I made a little nest and added the eggs and now my little hen has a home of her own, eggs and all.

Eve also sent me this sweet little kitchen towel, it reminded her of Gladys and I just love it.

Have I mentioned that Tractor Supply has become my new favorite store? Not only did they provide me with a free fifty pound bag of natural feed for the girls, but I found this Lip Junk. I thought it was a proper gift for our family themed "Funny Thrifty Yankee Swap" that was held out on the Island this year. Wrong- no one appreciated it but me. Hey the stuff works great and to top it off it's not made in China!

Honey you want to try some? " No thanks" was his reply and with that he gave me a little kiss, "gee, that stuff tastes pretty good". Never underestimate the power of a chicken. Oh, and FYI the Patriots lost.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

~GOOD TIDINGS TO ALL~ Greetings from snowy Southern Maine. DH and I ventured out this morning to take a few photos, this is the majestic Portland Headlight located in Cape Elizabeth Maine. Here on the East Coast we have been receiving snow with the heaviest predictions for Saturday night into Monday morning. The local weather stations are reporting snow accumulations that will be measured in feet, not inches. Alas, the frig is full, vehicles gassed, water on supply, generator prepped and something new to Dog Trot Farm: a snow blower! I now need not worry about "reaching" my "girls" if indeed all that snow should show up. The "girls" egg production has not diminished and each hen is producing a daily egg. They however, are not thrilled with all this cold wet white stuff, but coming from proud Yankee stock venture out regardless of weather conditions! From our home to yours, Best Wishes And A Happy New Year.