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.