Meep! Meep! Are you mom?

Click me!

Took the camera for a walk this morning to see what is blooming and the change the SD cards in the trail cams. I just love seeing what's move out there when I'm not. After changing the first camera's card, I moved down the trail as quietly as I can. The trail breaks out of the wood lot into an old field full on Goldenrod yet to bloom. Then, after a bit the trail bends west through a Willow swamp and into an open small open space in the Popples. As I rounded a small bend in the Willow swamp, I froze in my tracks as a doe was but 40 yards away standing on the trail at the far end of the Popple opening just where the trail dead end into the brush. We stood there for the longest time. I don't think she spotted me. As I watched she continued eating and milling around the spot. Every once in awhile she would to the north which was to my right. I knew what that meant! After a few more minutes she bleated, stamped her right foot, turned and walked off into the brush, which Im now noticing is blooming.

As I stood there, a fawn came out onto the trail about half way from me and where the doe stood.

Click me!

Now, here a child is not listening to her mother, I thought to myself. It quickly ushered itself down the trail towards the doe and out of sight.

Not wanting to disturb the doe and fawn, I wander about in the open area looking for Monarch eggs or caterpillars on the Milkweed. After search for some 15 minutes or so, it was time to check out what was blooming where the doe stood earlier.

I quietly walk over and found the Pagoda Dogwoods were blooming and the bees are all over it. As I was trying to capture flower and bee in the same shot, I heard this soft meep sound to my right. At first it kinda sound like a Catbird, but I knew better. The call at first was getting closer, then it veered to the west of me, but not far. Then, right in front of me another meep meep sound and a suddle (I know its spelt wrong, but I like it) movement of the brush. Yes, I knew what was making the sound, but didn't want to frighten it. I continued my efforts of getting a shot of the bees on the flower. Then, a bump on my left knee cap brought my attention back to the little critter walking about in the brush.

Click me!

Yes, it was the fawn! It was now bumping my knee with its nose and calling. I said hello in the quietest and softest voice I could muster. It just stood there looking about. I bent down to get under the tops of the brush to get a better look. That proved to be too much movement as the fawn moved away a few feet in distance.

I continued talking to the little fellow not wanting to frighten it into getting lost from mom. I was able to take some quick shots

Click me!

before it moved off into the brush. I slowly and quietly backed out to the trail and out of the area of the Popple opening. I'm sure mom was worried and wanted to get back to her fawn.

I just love it when Mother Nature says hello!

HomeMade Ice Cream

Got bored waiting out the rain this morning, so I broke out the 2 quart Cuisinart Ice cream Maker for its first batch.

Following the simple ice cream recipe in the booklet, it made some outstanding ice cream!  Well, I think so and that's what counts

1.5 cups Whole Milk*
1 cup granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream**
1.5 tablespoons pure vanilla extract


* I used store bought Organic milk for this batch, since I was out of Raw Milk
** I used store bought heavy cream, again I was out of Raw Milk

Next batch will bee using Raw Milk (local dairy farmer) Honey (Our bees) and Eggs (Our chickens)

4 c Raw Milk (with cream still in it)
.5 c honey
3 whole eggs

Allow raw milk to settle so that the cream comes to the top (in a half gallon container). Poor the top 4 cups off into a bowl or your ice cream maker (this will make sure you get as much cream in there as possible).

Add 1/2 cup honey and mix. We use a plunge hand mixer to make sure the honey is incorporated well before we add the eggs. Next add the three eggs and mix the same as with the honey. The honey has a nice flavor but you can also add any flavoring you would like at this point.

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE!  Following the second recipe, using nothing but raw milk, eggs and honey I whipped up this batch of ice cream!

This will be my base vanilla recipe from now on!  Can't wait for the strawberries to coming!

The above recipe was found at SparkRecipes

At some point!

At some point last night the weather came in and left behind several inches of new snow. 

It was well after dark when I told Trish that we might have had dodge the second storms too.  The weather forecast was for two storms to hit this region, one after the other. What a way to end and then start a new year.  However, the first storm dipped south of us living on the northern prairie, but it did the wind, she did blow and rearrange the snow we already had.

Trish and I settled in to watch a movie called The Cove, which was about the plight of dolphins in Japanese water. My, what a story!  After a bit, I got up to get something to drink or head for the turlet. I don't remember for sure which it was.  However, upon reaching the kitchen, I looked out into the darkness lit by a yard light high on a pole.  The wind was wiping the snow all about and a fair amount was falling from the sky.  Nope, we didn't get missed.  Old Man Winter decided to come a callin and left behind several  inches of new snow and drifts that are now clogging my driveway. 

Its early morn now, the first day of the new year.  The wind she still blows, but the snow has stopped for now.  I will have to wait until morning break to see how much snow we actually got.   However, I can see that the coop will need shoveling before I can open the door.  The path leading from the house to the cars is no more.  The small watering hole that the geese created, is now flat covered in snow.  The geese will now have to wait til spring the bathe again.

The morning light is coming up and the Chickadees are digging for seed in the feeder.  I will have clean out some snow for them to feed. There are few woodpeckers out there braving the wind and snow too.  They feed on the fat I harvested off the deer this fall.  There are drifts all about and the drive is clogged like I thought it would be.  The snow is again falling, but the flakes are small.

Its time to go check on the critters and shovel snow.  After which, I will make breakfast of fresh eggs, onions and venison burger for Trish and I......