Backyard Farmgals

We got new chicks about two and half weeks ago, 25 peeping baby Speckled Sussex, and one unknown rare breed.  Murray McMurray adds a rare breed mystery chick to your order.  I think this is so fun, and a great way to get people interested in breeds other than the standard Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds.  There are many endangered and breeds that could use a little "advertising", most are great layers and can be used for meat.  Ours is likely a Blue Andalusian, the boys have named her "Miss Blue", and of course she is the favorite chick because she is different and easy to recognize.  We went with Speckled Sussex this year because my oldest farm hand is smitten with the breed.  He draws them non-stop.  You should have seen his face when he came home from school to hear his Sussex chicks peeping as he walked through the door.  He was elated and is still smitten.  He loves their "spots" on their wings.  The breed is out of Britain a...

Because tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I thought I should share this totally un-farmy project.  It's so cute, I can't resist.  My oldest farmhand and I worked on it all weekend while the rest of our house was sick (then I got deathly ill Sunday night - joys of being the mom - you always end up with what they bring home...).  Feeling much better today, and I am excited about tomorrow.  I always make a big deal of Valentine's with my kids.  We decorate the house, make Valentine's, and they always wake up to something really special on Valentine's morning... because their mama LOVES them!!! This is what is so stinking cute... The Valentine's box my oldest and I made.  There is a contest, and he really hopes to win.  He has been studying Ancient Egypt in school, and he is really into pyramids and mummified pharaohs, so we decided to kick it up a notch and make a pyramid Valentine's box, complete with lovable mummy, hieroglyphs, and hearts. ...

It bothers me that my children don't love mushrooms the way that I love them.  They have this kind of earthy intensity about them that I love.  I adore them, give me mushrooms, and I am one happy farmgal.  So what's the deal with my kids?  I think that everything about mushrooms is wrong for them, the texture, the earthy flavor, the color, so I set out to rock their mushroom-free world with a little sneak attack of fungi awesomeness. I decided to make a mushroom cream sauce that I could put over pasta, but I had to disguise the mushrooms, there could be no resemblance of the shape or smell, I had to use a mild mushroom, but with enough flavor to make me and the hubby happy too.  We are talking big time ninja skills were needed.  What resulted was fabulous, and I am pleased to say that my farmhands are now mushroom eaters! This is seriously the simplest recipe.  It is great for a busy weeknight meal.  Although not a light meal, it is d...