Good News, Bad News x2

 Good:  My cheese press arrived two days ago.  That was amazingly fast shipping!

Bad:  Yesterday Steve found two of our steers had passed.  Been extremely bummed and now we have to figure a way of getting them out of the field and to the dump.

Good: Made a really yummy soup tonite: Best Thai Coconut Soup.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/146035/the-best-thai-coconut-soup/?utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR1LHjijMXCRnyjxQOmUbX03A9JnfV7gWKtgQcxLFPpSz62fvMLJzquLjiM

Bad: Couldn't find my liquid rennet to make mozzarella cheese.  I searched the fridge high and low and couldn't come up with it.  Very bummed since I had the day off and was hoping to make soft cheese.

Cheese and eggs

 So excited to be getting our cheese-making supplies!  I ordered a Dutch press today and the different cultures, mold powders, cheese molds, etc.

Back in 2013 I took a class at a university extension in Kaysville, UT?.  I learned how to make mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.  I came home and taught Steve how to make it and we had a blast.  I wanted to learn how to make hard cheeses and studied up on it. I got pretty far on my studying and then Steve's accident happened.  That put a stop to just about everything fun.  Was quite the fun-zapper, but we're back to wanting to learn things and with more expendable income I was able to get supplies!

Pic of Steve proudly displaying the mozzarella we made on March 12, 2013. Almost 10 years ago. (notice the usage of both hands?  :'( )

Books that I purchased over the years...the Artisan Cheese Making at Home book still has the Amazon receipt in it back when Amazon was primarily a book-selling platform. HA.

The Dutch press I purchased from thecheesemaker.com

I purchased the rest of the supplies from cheesemaking.com.  I also ordered a mozzarella/ricotta kit to send to my granddaughter in Oregon, hoping that she'll have a lot of fun making cheese. Another resource for cheese-making supplies is culturesforhealth.com.

Oh, and I completely forgot to mention in yesterday's post that we're hatching out eggs in our 41-egg incubator.  Steve candled the eggs and a few weren't growing so he removed those eggs.  I believe we have about 2 weeks left before hatch day.

Our incubator...I'll get a pic of the pretty colored eggs.

Eggs!

 One of the things in life that brings me great joy...

In June of 2022 I ordered chicks from Dunlap Hatchery in Idaho.  They're sort of local so less stress on them being shipped.  I ordered 25.  12 were for my brother and 13 for me.  The hatchery sent soooo many more as it was their last hatching for the season.  I gave away some to Steve's niece, Cassandra, and my brother took a few extra. I ended up with 23 birds.  So far, 3 are roos.

The ex came over to see the chicks.

In November of 2021 I purchased two PP 8x8 Universal Poultry Pens from Tractor Supply.  They look nice and sturdy. I got the chicken coops from Amazon. The waterer came from OverEZ, feeder from Grandpas Feeders, and electronic doors.  We have yet to install the doors.

OverEZ waterer.  Holds 12 gallons of water with no-waste, drip-free nipples.  Enough for three to drink at one time. We put a heating element in there during the winter.

Grandpas Feeders, the large, holds up to 40 lbs of poultry feed. Hinged lid prevents sparrows, rats, mice, and other pests from access.  Less waste too.

My granddaughter, Charlie, loves looking at the chickens.

Snow and the barnyard.

Even the dog got used to the chicks.  LOL.

Park Valley Property updates

 We applied for a water right today!  It's been a long time coming, but I haven't had time to run to Logan to put in the application.  I had the day off so we done did it!  Application was $150 for 1.48 cu ft?.  It will take 4-6 months to get approval and then we'll have 5 years to install a well.

Here's the succession of our Park Valley story:

Purchase property on 04/28/22

Installed power pole in June of 2022.  I set aside $6,200 for the installation of the power pole and went over budget.  Told Steve we couldn't do it.  Total came to $6,209.  Pretty good budgeting considering I had no idea how much was needed.

Shipping container arrived in September of 2022.  We purchased a 40HCWWT from Container One.  We paid $6,754.16 and took a few months for delivery.

Then on October 2, 2022 we had our 2018 Grand Coach Grand Design/Imagine camp trailer hauled to the property by my daughter, Cheyenne's, husband.  We paid $23,000.  Most of it on a loan.  Interest rates are crazy!  We'll be paying this down asap!  We need to get an overhang structure to park this beauty under.

This is how the ad read: "Brand new trailer with all the luxury features you would love to have on travel trailer,42”Tv with surround system, LED lighting, fireplace, recliner seat with heat and massage, Queen sofa bed, ultimate sound and thermal insulation backup camera with wireless monitor and much more, rebuild title due to broken fender flare cause by flat tire while transportation from manufacture, it’s been already fixed, comes with stabilizer towing hitch included."

Last Sunday we drove up to the property hoping to hang out and watch a movie,  check out if there were any leaks in the roof and to eat at our favorite eatery, Mollie's in Snowville.  We also wanted to look around the area as we have a business idea and needed to do our homework on the feasibility. When we drove up Mollie's was open, but after getting to the property and it being a bust with the snow levels and then we struck out with Mollie's because they had closed early so their staff could go home and watch the superbowl.  It sucked all around.  But here's what we were seeing...the main roads are cleared and if you live out there somebody clears the road to your place.  But, if you don't live out there you might as well stay away for the winter.  Lesson learned.  I got to stop at our po box in Rosette and pick up all the magazines I ordered.  It was stuffed so full.  LOL.

First Grow Box Planted

 Last Sunday I went with my brother to Lowe's.  It's there that I found my apricot trees!  Two different kinds, not Blemheim, but they are freestones.  Got those planted.  I ordered more grow boxes and Chicago hardy fig trees from Costco.  We do need to order more compost.  Like LOTS more!  Got the peppers planted in the first grow box.

I purchased Steve a fun thing for the property.  

Water, kittens, and herbs

 For Mother's Day we drove to Coalville, a good distance away to pick up some water totes for the Park Valley property.  We don't have water out there so we need to bring it in and store some.  I had been trying to get these for months now and every time I saw them up for sale on FB Marketplace they were sold out.  I saw them when they were initially $50.  We paid $100 each.  I saw an ad for them today and they are now at $150 each.  Yikes.  While we were doing this errand my son-in-law loaded the dead calf into our SUV to be taken to the animal pit in the morning.  Kinda gross, but it is what it is.  We were desperate. 

We did a quick drop of the trailer at the house and went to my Mom's for Mother's Day.  We picked up Applebee's on the way to her place.  Had a nice visit.  Just my brother and my household.  When we arrived home the one cat that would not let us catch had had her kittens.  Ugh.  We fixed 3 cats hoping to keep the cat population down, but here we were, more kittens.  We heard one mewing and looked all over for it and found it in the cat condo I had put together.  One live kitten and 5 dead ones.  We had no idea what happened.  I brought Mama and baby in the house and set up a box for it.  When we woke up in the morning the kitten wasn't do well.  That's when I discovered that Mama didn't have any milk.  She was rock solid.  So sad.  I rushed to WalMart to get a bottle and formula.  I coddled the baby and fed it, kept it warm, and about 5 hours later she too passed.  Such a bummer, I was really getting attached and had great interest in her surviving.  Kinda morbid, but here's a pic of her.

Later that evening I made Amish White Bread.  One of the best sandwich breads ever. Very pillowy.

• 
  Ingredients:
• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• ⅔ cup white sugar 
• 1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups bread flour ( My dough scrapes the sides at 5 cups)

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1

  In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.

• Step 2

  Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

• Step 3

  Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

• Step 4

  Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

• https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/6788/amish-white-bread/

• Today I went to Alpine Nursery hoping to find my apricot trees and other fruit trees to complete my Orchard.  I struck out in the tree department, but did pick up Boysenberry and Black Current plants.  Later I went back to Call's Nursery to see what I could find since they had somewhat of a good selection on Saturday.  I picked up a second Peach tree and a Plum tree.  I still need a pear and two apricot trees.  I'm going to special order a Chicago Fig tree that says it's hardy in our zone 6.  I think that leaves us with room for one more fruit tree.  I'm gunning for a second cherry tree.  My daughter, Cheyenne, who went with me to Call's, wants me to go for a nectarine tree.  Not too big of a fan of nectarines.  We'll see.  I did pick up more herbs: tarragon, chocolate mint, and dill.

• 

  
  

• After dinner, Steve and I put together one of the grow boxes.  I think he severely underestimated the compost.  We'll be lucky if we have enough for one 4' x 8' box. Forgot to get a pic of it.  Later this evening we were to have our first water share for the season, but it looks like the easement has been blocked and a horse and corral are now in the way.  This will need to be taken care of.  Very disappointed we didn't get to experience our first water share.  We had been looking forward to it ever since we got the schedule.

Time to start planting - 2022

 One of our calves didn't make it overnight.  We had called him Mr. Friendly because he was so sociable to us.  Sad day.

Yesterday we had 3 cubic yards of compost delivered.  I think we need more, but I'm leaving the math up to Steve.  We'll see.

I've been accumulating plants over the past couple of months and today we started some planting.  We planted the 4 trees that were purchased from Costco.  Jonathan Apple, Granny Smith, Lapins Cherry, and Bartlett Pears.  We need a second Pear tree to cross-pollinate.

We have blueberry plants, raspberry, blackberry, and strawberries.  Today at Call's Nursery in Elwood, we picked up an Elberta Peach tree, tomatoes (big beef, purple, Hawaiian yellow), cherry tomatoes (cherry, yellow pear, grape), tomatillos, onions (red and white), garlic, peppers: sweet banana, jalapeno, bell peppers (green, red, yellow), artichokes, cucumbers (pickling, slicing, and lemon), yellow crookneck.  They were out of zucchini. And a sweet potato plant.  We need to go back for other potato starts.  I'm on the hunt for Blumheim Apricots and other fruit trees.  Especially since the orchard has room for 12 trees.  We'll end up with a porch full of all kinds of herbs.