After 14 years...we have a housepuppy!

So my husband has come around after 14 years of saying "NO!NO!NO!" to a house dog, or any house pet for that matter. He has welcomed an outside working farm dog, Hagar the English Shepherd, numerous goats, some that fainted dead away when we startled them, some that give us milk and cheese. Rabbits, (for meat and resale), ducks, chickens, mini donkeys, a pony...and a few rodent killing barn kitties. But when approached (pestered) over the years about a little buddy for the kids (me) in the house, he would not have it...period. (I forgot to get the pre pup-uial agreement) I went out on a flimsy limb and I brought little Roxie home...now he's smitten.  She can do no wrong...well she can, but he doesn't seem to get bent outta shape like if one of the kids would poop on the floor beside his bed....go figure.   I just am so tickled to have her here, and wanted to post some of my favorite shots. She is 14 weeks, and weighed in at 2.5 lbs yesterday at the vet. I suppose she will double her size...but she is still  a wee thing.

Healthier &" Not Gross" Chicken Bites or Nuggets

My 2 kids are nutty about chicken nuggets, bite, strips, fingers(where do these even come from?), anything resembling the dreaded fast food and frozen mystery nuggets. I can't bring myself to feed them those gross things...they are the hotdog of the chicken industry.  Anyhooo...if you want to taste a REAL chicken nugget, I have come up with my own version of what I think tastes alot like my FAVORITE chicken restaurant, Chic-Fil-A's nuggets.  I grow my own chicken so I know what it eats and whatnot, but you can find some organic, free range or pastured chicken if you look hard enough.

First cut up 2 nice big ol breasts into the size pieces you want (we do the bites so they cook fast and are great to dip in sauces) Sprinkle with some salt and let sit a few minutes whilst you mix up the following:
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl or pan:
2 cups flour,
1/4 cup corn starch
1 T. Rosemary
1 T Rubbed Sage
1 T. chili powder
2 T. Salt
1 T. Pepper
1 T Onion Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Powder

In a separate bowl, mix 2 eggs with a cup of milk and 2 T. Vinegar. Soak 1/2 the pieces in this mix for a few mins and coat well, then transfer the pieces to the dry mix, coat well and fry in preheated cast iron pan in shallow oil (just enough to fry but not cover the pieces over) turn when golden and don't overcook! Repeat with the other 1/2 of the pieces. Fry until crispy and golden brown, drain on paper towel and serve hot with various dips.

You can also do patties for sandwiches using this same coating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2a_zNyFmaw&feature=youtu.be

Our little 14 week old Papipoo puppy playing ball and keep away or the first time in our kitchen. She caught on really fast to the concept.

So far we have had 5 new babies born since Thursday...and it's only Sunday! The mamas are taking great care of them, and the babies are already playing games and napping together. The first little guy is my favorite so far...he is sweet, ornery, and has that classic nubian look with the long floppy ears and roman nose. The others have the airplane ears and dished noses, which are so cute. Baby goat lips are the cutest things!

Some Busy Mama goats...

The weather here is amazing...more like the Carolinas than Ohio! We are really loving not being buried up to our armpits in snow this time of year. BUT when baby goats start showing up...it really messes with our minds! It's February 23...and one of our mini nubians had her first baby today...all on her own with no assistance. He is a cutie and very sweet!  We are expecting 8 or so more in the 4 to 6 weeks.  It won't be long...the milk pails will be overflowing again...and cheese will be dripping from bags hanging from my cabinet knobs in my kitchen.  Can't wait!

http://www.wegivebooks.org/books

For anyone with a bookworm in the family...you will want to take advantage of this awesome FREE online book site for kids! You can't download them, but you can read them with an IPad, Kindle Fire, or PC...smart phones would be too small of a screen.

I'm getting with the program...I'm blogging!

I have been thinking of blogging for a while now...but never thought I'd do it. Mostly because, honestly, who is that bored that they want to read what I have to say!? But...maybe I can be of some help to some other frustrated farm gal/homesteader who wants to learn to make some goat cheese, or figure out how to can something from their garden, or want some unbiased advise when their kids are driving them nuts. I'll do what I can to be helpful...and not too terribly boring!  Thanks for thinking of me!