Puppies and Farm Update~

So, we had previously decided on a boy and a girl pup. Here's why. The way I see it, someone around here would LOVE to have a local dude to breed their dudette with and also I would love for someone local to have a dude that I can breed my dudette with. Like a barter, possibly. (I love bartering!) At any rate, we want a female so we can sell any future pups (If we're able to part with them!) and a male so we can let people pay to breed their dog with ours. Make sense? Good.

Now, I have PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!

Out of 9 pups born, only 2 were boys. One had badger markings and the other was white. After questioning The Dude and the gang, we decided on the badger, and here he is!

The 7 females are both badger and all white and since we got a badger male we decided to get a female with white coloring. A good way to tell them apart later, depending on how much of the badger-coloring fades as he grows. I don't have a picture of the specific female we're getting but here is a group shot of the puppies with their mama. <3

So, now we just get to sit back and wait on them for about 5 more weeks or more. Wait. WHAT? Sit back and wait? Hardly! We have a double dog house to build, collars to find and purchase, along with leashes, fencing to put up, food and treats to buy...grooming equipment, studying to do, etc....

This is going to be so fun! And the best part? They will come home around Christmas-time. Couldn't get more perfect than that, could it?


In other news: We did our first REAL thing to the farm on Saturday. The Dude and I stopped and purchased 3 fruit trees and then went and planted them on the homestead. We want more (2 of each or more) but a little at a time and all that rot! I wish I had taken my phone out there with me because it would have been REALLY neat to have pictures of that but I didn't have any pockets to put it in so I left it in my truck. Booo. :o( It was chilly out that day too so we didn't spend a lot of time just walking around like we normally do. Muffin and Punkin' were with us and both had on short-sleeved shirts so they got cold quick! (so did Mama!) At one point Muffin had my skirt on like a poncho. (I had leggings on underneath LOL!) Another reason I should have brought my phone so I could take pictures. Ah well... live and learn. Next time I will make sure to wear something with pockets!

The goal of our homestead, as with most, is to grow as much STUFF as we can on our own to provide FOR our own. So the fruit trees are just the first step. There are LOTS of fruit trees, bushes, vines, gardens, etc planned, but it's kind of hard to plant things when you aren't positive where your house is going to be OR where all the trucks hauling stuff to BUILD that house are going to be driving and where all the people are going to be tromping around, but I think these trees are safe. :o) Hopefully.

The Dude and I (well, mostly The Dude) have been working on the chicken coop. We're starting small because well, it's our first go at building one and though we might increase the number of hens where we are- for right now we will just get a few to start.

Here are a couple of pictures of the progress.

I love to watch him work. <3

Looking good, huh? We like it! It's actually progressed further than this picture but all those pictures have kids in them. As in, they are IN the coop. They apparently think they're getting a playhouse. Maybe I should let those 2 be the egg-gatherers! Ha!

I might post some recipes soon because this weather is perfect for yummy soups and breads. It's been nice chili weather and we've had it twice in the last 2 weeks!

Happy Birthday, Puppies!!!!!!!! *yesterday*

I got an email yesterday afternoon saying the puppies were being born! I am so excited and will post pictures as soon as I get some!

Keep the name ideas coming!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY for Puppies !!!

It's been a bit since I've posted simply because there hasn't been too much going on. The Dude and I have started construction on our first chicken coop. No pictures yet because after learning a bit more we determined we needed to alter a few of the plans. So, pics of that coming soon!

Also... I finally found someone fairly local that had the puppies we needed. Well, I say puppies because we're getting two now. A brother and a sister. Below is a pic of a littler of Great Pyrenees but not THE litter as they won't be born until around the end of this month. This is just one I found online to share. :o)

Now, the next two are of some more mature (obviously) pups. I have no idea how old these pups are but this is just to show how large they get sometimes. :o) LOVE IT! Can't wait!

Are those some doggies or WHAT?

So, I am awaiting the news that they have been born and then I can go pick out my girl and boy.

Any name suggestions? It has to be very different, ya know because that's how I roll. :o)

One last pic... Just because it makes me smile. :o)

Until next time....

Gluten-Free Greek Chicken

Well, after talking with an herbalist about our oldest child, Bricker-who has high-functioning Autism- we have started on a gluten-free diet. In the last few days he has only had gluten twice that I know of. Once because he was visiting someone else and they didn't know (our fault) and another time because we forgot and gave him a slice of bread. (oops)After discussing how he has Autism, I have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis), Punkin' has chronic respiratory issues as well as Eczema, Jerome Bettis (JB) has some of the same respiratory stuff as does Shamu. In fact, the only one who doesn't seem to have any issues at ALL is Muffin. Wow. 5th one's the charm? So, the herbalist said we would ALL benefit from the gluten-free diet. No harm in trying, right? So, from time to time I will post some recipes... most of which probably will be gluten-free, and will label them so they're easy to find on the bloggy.

Here is one we tried last night.. I modified it just a little to make it more to our taste.

Greek Chicken

(Cooking spray)
½ c chopped onion (I always use more... onion is good for you!)
2 zucchini, halved lengthwise & sliced thin (I don't like zucchini but I sucked it up and ate some anyway. Not bad.)
1 lb or so of boneless, skinless chicken breasts sliced thin
(½ c white cooking wine)
(2 t oregano, ¼ t pepper)
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
¼ c crumbled feta cheese
½ c (or one of those small cans would be better!) sliced black olives *olives make the world go-round people!*

Preheat oven to 475°.
Coat 9x13” baking dish
with cooking spray.

Heat large skillet, coated with
cooking spray, over med-high heat. Add onion &
zucchini; sauté 3-4 min or until tender. In large
bowl combine sautéed vegetables, chicken, wine,
oregano, pepper & tomatoes. Spoon mixture into
baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake 12-13 min or
until chicken is cooked & mixture is bubbly.

*Side Ideas*
Make some "5-min a day" crusty bread and home-made butter because there will be lots of yummy juiciness left in your bowl/plate and you won't want to waste that!