The Quail Experiment Continues......

Yum!  Quail on the grill, cucumbers and roasted squash from the garden.

The first batch of quail didn't hatch very well:(

 But we had enough to learn a few things.  They start out very small.

They can "fly" pretty young.

This is where we learned to "process" them for the grill.

Quail Processing

Right now we have 65 Cortunix chicks in the new Brooder Box. 

We have 140 Texas A and M eggs ready to go into the incubator. 

Our first Cortunix should start to lay eggs soon, and we can hatch our own as soon as the males learn what they are supposed to do once they get ahold of the females.

All in all, a success.

Homemade Play Dough

Playdough Recipe

2 cups flour

1 cup cornstarch
1-1/2 cups salt
2 Tablespoons cream of tarter
3 Tbsp oil

Food Coloring
3 cups water 

(colored ahead of time with the food coloring)

1.  Mix all ingredients into a large pot.  Be sure to add the food coloring to the cold water before adding to the other ingredients.  This will give you a better color. (We used approximately 20 drops - the water should be quite dark.)

2.  Cook on medium/low heat stirring constantly until it begins to form into a dough.

 

3.  Turn out onto a cutting board or other surface and knead for 1-2 minutes until it is the right consistency.

4.  After it has cooled, store in an airtight container.  It should stay good for 3 months in an airtight container (does anyone believe this?)


5.  Have a lot of inexpensive fun!  Even though these are somewhat edible ingredients..... don't let anyone eat it.  There are edible playdough recipes available....... if you want to teach your children and grandchildren how to eat playdough... I wouldn't think it is a good idea, but that is your call!

Cindy

Meanwhile....back at the ranch....

we have been busy, happy, working, loving where the Lord has placed our footsteps.  Obadiah is next to our mongo amaranth plant.  They are usually about 4' tall.  Good compost makes all the difference.

Note to self:  If you plan to use Diestel's compost, make wider rows.  This is our melon patch.  We are a little unsure how we are going to harvest it..... Joey is trying to come up with some strategies.  It is as thick as it looks and there are hundreds of melons set.

The tomato and cucumber patches need tied almost every day.  The cucumbers are coming in strong and the tomatoes are just beginning to come in.  Again... next year wider rows.

The guys made us a mama hen house that can hold four chicken families in separate areas.  We have 18 healthy, strong chicks from the ever turning incubator - 9 copper morans and 9 leghorns.  They should begin laying around Christmas time - Chocolate brown eggs for the copper morans and white for the leghorns.  The two mama hens are doing really well.  We have room and mamas for the next batch getting ready to come out of the incubator.

Everyone eats squash..... EVERY DAY.  Enough said.

The corn and pumpkins are thriving......

The Lord has blessed the work of our hands.

Be healthy and well
Cindy

Life in the Summer

Hello my long lost blogging friends.  Since we last talked it has been insane busy around here with gardening, chickens and chickens and chickens and some ducks and

SWIMMING!!!!!  Yeah for swimming.  Otherwise, all I would be doing is weeding, watering and tying the endless rows of tomatoes :)

........ except that maybe it got a little too busy - I seem to have lost my voice.  This is an old, old, OLD injury from my babyhood through my whole life - but I have been free from this problem for quite a while.  I have actually had to take a week off - not for something fun, but just to sleep and NOT TALK!  Anyone that knows me understands my dilemma.  I am also trying every remedy I have ever tried, heard of, or persuaded anyone else to do.  I appear to have maxed out on a few remedies - today I am trying something else.

DETOX might be hitting next :)  but my voice is coming back.  It is not gone for months, but weeks.  This is good.

While I was doing nothing but sleep, our oldest son was teaching his son to wakesurf.  I totally missed it, but thanks to friend Melissa, I saw some pictures.  His folks said I could share them.

Enjoy
Cindy

First, you have to gear up.....
Wait a minute, just what are you geared up for???

Next you need to learn how to fall off the board.... 1-2-3-Jump

Dad is there waiting.

.....and he's UP!

Yep.... I'm totally cool  :)