Five Eggs

I got five eggs on Sunday!  From three morning layers and two afternoon layers!

So. Very. Happy!

They say, "When the cat's away....."

Well the hubby is away and although, I haven't been playing, I have been doing things this weekend that I put off for way too long.....

• Two banana breads from the six over ripe bananas I had been saving in the freezer
• Raspberry-jalapeno jam from the second to last bag of raspberries and the last bag of the jalapenos from the CSA last year (both were frozen) - 5 half pints
• More stock from the bag of chicken necks and gizards and bones that were in the freezer from my last order of chickens from the farm.
• Lard - I have had fat in the freezer for a while and I have been dying to try to render the lard.  It is still in the crock pot as I type, so I'm not sure how it will come out.  
• Going for walks with the dog!  I have the most beautiful park at the top of my street and I never have the time to get there and enjoy the beauty!  This weekend, I did!
• I got a new phone!  My old one was slowly dying and on my last dog walk, it fell out of pocket and the inside screen no longer worked!  The old lasted for four years and I'm hoping this new one will last the same!

Spring Foraging

With the beautiful weather we had in March and April, I was able to pick cardillions about three weeks ago and today, I was able to pick more.  They grow wild in my back yard on the side of the shed and I'm lucky that my dad noticed them about three years ago and told me what a find I had!   I have tried to look up the word "cardillion" and it is no where to be found.  I am thinking that it is a word in an Italian dialect that he (my dad) Americanized.

Cardillions are in the dandelion family.  They grow wild, but without the yellow flower.  The leave stems are a little different then regular dandelions.  You can eat them fresh in a salad with oil and vinegar, or you can cook them with oil and garlic and have it as a side dish with any meat.  This batch was boiled and will be used in my stir fry on Monday night.

A new (old) dog

Our long haired German/Australian Shepherd has been the bane of my existence for some time now.  He sheds like no other!  I am NOT a dog person and I couldn't handle it any longer, so I put out the ultimatum....The dog goes (literally) or he gets totally shaved!  Take your pick! 

Hubby brought him to the groomers on Wednesday and by lunch, he was a new pup!  This is the BEFORE picture:

And these are the AFTER Pictures...

No more fur/hair in the house - I'm so thankful!

And he probably lost 5 lbs!

The Egg Update

They are tiny, but I'm getting a solid three a day now!  Within a few more weeks, I should be at a consistent five eggs per day!

The quarter shows some perspective.

Nonni update

My favorite 100 year old lady is doing very well.  We still nonni-sit for her on Tuesdays and Thursdays and now that the Yankees are back on TV almost every night, she is very happy!   She also likes to watch the "dancing" show and the "singing" show - (Dancing with the Stars and American Idol)!

Last night, I brought her a cupcake.  She tasted it and then said that it was too sweet for her and she wouldn't eat it!  Gotta love her for speaking her mind!

She can't go to church any longer as it is too difficult for her to come back up the stairs to the house.  My sister comes and gives her Communion once a month and she is happy with that.

She's just so cute!!

My 3rd 1/6th

I got my third 1/6th of a cow this weekend!

This was my smallest share.  It was 85 lbs. of meat.

There is also a 30 lb turkey in the yellow bag - that wasn't part of the share!

Prom 2012

My daughter's prom was this weekend!  She had the most spectacular weather.  The temperature was perfect, the trees were all blooming, the bushes were full of color and after all was said and done, she had a great time!

Here are some pictures:

Happy Sunday, all.

We are FINALLY getting rain here in CT and it is needed so badly.  I really wanted to turn over the garden today, but I think we need the rain more, so I'll do the garden tomorrow night.

I have a few posts to put up but I wanted to let you know that I'm back, feeling better and ready to post again.

I have soup a huge stock pot on the stove filled with the makings of chicken soup, the rain is coming down, everyone is here at home relaxing, so it is a good day.

Posting (or lack thereof!)

I know I have been lax in my posting!  I had good intentions of posting pictures of my sister's big 40th and of a couple of other events, but then I got sick!  And that seems to change everything, doesn't it.  And in the middle of being sick, a new Zumba session started - and that always throws me off!

Anyway, I'll be back with lots pictures this weekend.....Tag Sale, Prom, More Chicken eggs, Church Wine and Cheese Party, labels for our wine, etc.

Lots of good stuff coming up!!

Thanks for hanging in there!

Look what I got!

My first one arrived this morning!

I'm very excited!

ETA:  I came home for lunch today and looked in on my pretty ladies in the coop area.  One of the hens was chauching(sp) (not a clue how to spell it - it is Italian dialect from the early 1900's) - Anyhoo, one was sitting on the nest and she let me pet her and coo at her.  Tonight when hubby got home, I had him check the coop and there was my second egg!!!  What a great day!!

Easter

We had a beautiful Easter here in CT.  The weather was gorgeous, the food was delicious and the company was wonderful!

Here is a shot of all the kids who took part in the Easter Egg hunt, both hiding and finding! 

The age range was from 1 to 24!  Some are friends and some are family, but on Easter, EVERYONE is family!

I hope your Easter was beautiful also!

Freebies This Month

Two cans of Halo Spot's Stew Dog Food
Better Homes and Gardens Magazine - April
Firm makeup (Thank you, Carla)
Simple Face Wash
Simple Eye Cream and Simple face cream (from my mom)
Another Free Easter Card!
Metamucil (two samples!)
Shout Color Catcher

Jellies

My good friend (and sister-in-law) Kathy came over this afternoon and we made 10 pints and 6 half pints of corn cob jelly and violet jelly!

Thank you, Kathy, for all your help!  It was fun!

We had a beautiful Palm Sunday brunch at my friend Maryanne's this morning!  Thank you, Maryanne, Catie and Andrew!

And now.........Let's go UCONN!!!!