What I'm Growing This Year

Come On Sun...The sun is so trying to shine here, but the darn clouds keep moving in and raining. So as I'm sitting here dreaming about getting out and planting. Here is the list of stuff we will be growing this year.

Carrots

Green Beans

Pumpkins

Beets (New) (Well on purpose this year)

Jerusalem Artichokes (New)

Tomatoes

Herbs

Ground Cherries (New)

Cabbage

Garden Huckleberry (New)

Eggplant

Leeks (New)

Zucchini

Sunflowers

Ginger (maybe)

Onions

Potatoes

Parsnips

Celery

Garlic (maybe)

Lettuce

Green Onions

Lavender (New)

Chard (New)
Strawberries
Raspberries
Apples

There are things in the past we have tried to grow, but we were not successful. Things like broccoli, cauliflower, peppers. 

We are also getting a new apple tree, which I'm so excited about, and if all works well, we will be putting in a raspberry patch. But that requires me clearing and moving and cleaning a-area in the backyard where we once had bunnies. As the bunnies are getting older and leaving us we are finding we have more and more room out back. I mean really they are about 7 years old, how much longer must they live? I can not believe we have had those bunnies for about 7 years. Crazy. But we have 3 outside, and one inside. The one inside went blind almost a year ago, and poor thing was on deaths door when we found him. But anywho he is inside and loving it. He gets the run of the house, and he loves it. I'll have more on him one day.

Well anywho not a post about bunnies, but about what we are growing this year.

The boys are super excited, Ethan and Tucker get their own bed this year. Tucker is growing flowers, and Ethan wants nothing but Watermelon. I will have photos, but that depends on if we get a spring or not this  year? I'm sure we will add a few other things to our growing list. Hoping for a really good spring and summer. We could sure use one.

COTM: Strawberry Freckled Lemonade Cupcake

Who ever thought Gluten Free could be this good?

This Cupcake has all ready had raving reviews. I baked up three batches for a bake sale this past week. I asked people to be totally honest about the baking. I mean really, be honest, I need the feedback. I was told the icing was awesome. I was told the flavors play very nicely off each other. For a cupcake it was really good. And these are from people that don't normally eat gluten free.

Well there you go and to boot, it's allergy free, well unless you are allergic to Strawberries, and then I can't help ya. Unless you use Cherries or Raspberries?

I have to tell ya, how much I have been loving cupcake of the month. It really challenges me in the kitchen. I want to make these cupcakes good, and easy to make. And I want to show people that hey allergy free, can be really good. My idea came from Red Robin who have been selling Strawberry Freckled Cupcakes, which of course the boys can not have. I have hunted for months for a recipe that would work. I can across a site and fell in love. http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/ I loved how this one was egg free from the start.

So enjoy the recipe. I know we are.

Gluten Free Strawberry Freckled Lemonade Cupcakes
by http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/
Converted by Marcie Dingerson

1/2 cup organic sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup applesauce
1 cup canned coconut milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon finely ground lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix together and then add

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour mix, I used Bob's
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix all together and then bake at 350 for about 21 minutes. This recipe make 12 cupcakes for me.

Frosting
2 ounces of fresh strawberries, gone through the food processor
1/2 cup sugar
egg replacer mixed with 1/4 cup sparkling water
3 ounces of coconut oil melted
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Appx 3 cups powdered sugar.

Mix all together, mine was a bit runny, but the icing did set up nicely. Now the original recipe did not call for powered sugar. So play with it a bit. I get powdered sugar at Trader Joe's during the holidays. I stock up. I also run it through a sifter before using it. This recipe covered the three dozen cupcakes with icing to spare.

Enjoy!

Goat Photos!

OMG we got some Sun today. The goats were thrilled and were out and about, asking what is this bright thing in the sky? Oh we like it! Give us more! So I went out to take some updated photos.

Hi, I'm Leo...Welcome!

Hey look MOM is here.

My birthday is next month, What are you getting me? Will there be a party?

My name is Big Daddy, or Buddy.

Hi Mom!

Mom, do I need to get closer? Did you get the shot?

Mom, see I'm doing good. Stop checking on me!

Hi, I'm Trooper. I think I look like my Daddy? What do you think? I can't wait to turn one next month. Did someone say Party?

Hi, I'm Jasper. Hope you enjoyed the photos.

St. Patty's Day Vests

Somehow in the midst of my crazy week, I did get three vests, and three ties done. In time for St. Patty's Day today. The midnight the night before. And only burnt my hand once. Tell me who grabs an iron like that? Lordy.

Don't they look Great?

Awesome buttons right?

Well after getting this boy home from preschool, mommy wanted a few more photos. Cole didn't! He throw a fit. This is Cole in the art of fit throwing. He was way too cute.

FINE MOM! One shot!

Day To Day

Well Good News here, Bella is doing great. She made it through the night with flying colors.

I got up this morning and decided to do another round of baking soda mix. She really fought me and screamed. That is a good thing. She had fight. So left her and went through my day.

After a very long day out, I came home, and after she had fought with hubby, it was time for her to go outside. I found a leash and walked (was pulled) outside (I was pulled). All the goats came running to greet her, and she was screaming that she missed them.

And then she ate, not much hay left, but we let her eat, and then I did a round of pepto, she then let her be. I was able to watch her from the house. She was in the goat house, and in the feeding area and back and fourth.

I went out after my dinner and did another round of pepto. And called it a day. I will check on her about midnight through. I am weaning the pepto. So four doses yesterday, three today, two tomorrow. The last thing I need is bloat after her not eating. Slow and steady.

But she is outside and doing great. But keeping my eyes on her.

Goat Hospital-Bella

Well went out this morning to check on the goats and feed them. I had 14 goats screaming for food, but realized we were missing someone. Who was missing? I went hunting but didn't have to go far to find Bella down in the goat house. Now this goat you can not get close to her, you look at her and she runs the other way. I have given up long ago that I would be her friend.

Well there she was down. And so there is was, she needed me, SHE NEEDED ME! I call for hubby before making my move, just in case. I cover one door he stands guard at the other and I go in. She could not move. So I was able to scoop her up and bring her into the house. I quickly got the Goat Hospital (Laundry Room) ready and put her in it. Gave her some time to calm down and then I attacked, WHAT IS WRONG!

First her feet, she would not stand so did she hurt her foot? Was a hoof bugging her? We got out the hoof clippers and went to town on her hoofs. They were bad, so it could easily be the reason she was not standing. But wait she has a fever now of 105 and not eating. No signs of being sick at all. So what is a goat mom to do? Sit and wait! And Worry!

So thinking and watching her, um. Gave her time to just sit and have quiet, took the temp again and it's down to 103. I had gone to the feed store on the way to get the the boys from school, today. I got a new collar for Bella, she really needed a new one, and since she was cornered, it was a perfect time. I found some proboctic cream type stuff, you are able to put it down her, verses powder in the grain she is not eating. Then realized she is burping. Hum, maybe yesterday well she was out getting into trouble, she may have ate something, that didn't agree with her? So enters Pepto. After the second dose, someone was perky. Although still not eating. So she will stay in the goat hospital over night and see how she is in the morning.

Although the hoof trimming did wonders as she is standing straight up and walking around. If I can't get her to eat soon, I will have to do a baking soda mix and get it down her. Although if I can get her to eat something, she can go back outside, if her temp stays down.

This is Bella doing better. Hope she keeps it up. I want to kick her outside soon! And, yes, only one horn, one is down, someone loves to head butt.

Bella is Trooper's Birth Mom.

I Made A Tie!

Yep, it's true, only took two hours, but dang it I made a tie. It was sooooo easy, it only took two hours, because I have three kids, and I read the instructions word for word, and I had the help of a seven year old.

But it was so easy and I could easily sit here and make many more. Check out the fabric, safety pens. Picked it up at the sewing expo. I also picked up the pattern at the sewing expo so I won't be sharing it.

Cool Huh?

So Ethan can't wait to wear it to school tomorrow.