Newest Projects

We're still trying to get our home the way we want it; all the little things that make it unique to our lifestyle. My husband has recently started a new project. He has decided to put in a duck pond for our two Muscovy ducks. He obtained the liner from the local nursery and has begun digging out a large hole. He is using an old stump in the ground for a center piece for the ducks to stand on and made sure the hole was under trees for shade for the ducks too. I guess I will be wading into the pond next year to pick my fruit.

He hasn't finished our pole barn yet, but he has added a nice touch to it. He has made shelves to place all his wood for our unfinished projects. I'm impressed with all his ingenuity.

Center Piece Stump

Future duck pond surrounded by fruit trees. 

Unfinished pole barn with building materials.

I almost forgot another project my husband did. He made me a separate pen for injured or sick animals. This has come in handy recently because my dogs injured my female duck. It gave her a place to heal and be separated from the other animals that could have taken advantage of her physical state.

Injured animal pen. 

My Little Garden

This year I went easy on planting my vegetable garden. Last year I planted more than I could deal with and a large portion of tomatoes rotted. I just couldn't get to all of it. I skimmed down quite a bit this year. I only planted two tomato plants, a few cabbage plants, several potato plants, two black beauty squash, lettuce, green onions, two pepper plants and four cantaloupe plants.

I've tried several times in the past to grow cantaloupe without success. This was the first time I've tried the green onions and was successful. I've already eaten a few and provided friends and family with some. The potatoes are the first I've grown. I'm anxiously waiting to see how they will turn out.

Cabbage Plants

Pepper Plant

Cantaloupe Plant

Potato Plants

Tomato Plants

Blackberry Bushes starting to flower. 

Flowers

I enjoy the warm weather summer brings. Not only do I get to work outside on projects for my animals, but I get to enjoy all the flowers; part of which I've planted and some planted by birds who bring seeds in their droppings.

Flower basket I planted. 

Pansies I planted and California Poppies the birds planted.  

Pansies

In Tennessee where I use to live, if you wanted Hollyhocks, you had to purchase them from the local nursery. In Northern California where I live now, the birds just drop seeds for you and Hollyhocks grow.

One of several Hollyhocks in my backyard.

Apology

I haven't posted in a while and I want to apologize for not posting. A few weeks ago we had a family emergency which has kept me very busy. I will write again soon and share about our trips, what God has did in my life and all our new chicks and turkeys. (We now have 42 baby chicks and 3 turkeys.)

In the mean time any readers who are Christians if you would pray for God's will to be done in our family. Thanks so much. Julia

Bits of Spring

The weather in Northern California varies greatly. Lately our weather has been sunny, with temperatures in the 60's and 70's. Spring is in the air.

Apricot Tree blossoms

Pear Tree buds

Plum Tree blossoms

Apple Tree buds

Nectarine Tree blossoms.  

New spring chicks. 

Crazy Busy

I've had a lot going on lately. I finally realized it's been a while since I did a post. I thought it would be best if I caught everyone up on all the happenings. 

I've spent a lot of time with my new friend Kat. We've been visiting and going places together. It has really been enjoyable to have a new friend to share things with. 

I went to the orthopedic doctor on March 21st. He thought my knee fracture was healed because it had been six months since the injury. He had me start walking without the crutches and gave me a prescription for physical therapy. I tried walking for one week and the pain and swelling increased. I ended up having another x-ray on March 28th. It showed the fracture was healing but wasn't fully healed. I went back to using the crutches until this past Saturday. Now I am finally able to walk and tolerate some discomfort. 

I began physical therapy today. The therapist was very pleased with the mobility I have in my knee. He stated my knee should make a complete recovery. My back and spine are a whole different story. Having not been able to walk normally for so long, has put my spine and hips out of alignment. I have lots of work ahead of me. I will be relearning to walk normal.

This past Saturday, my husband began work on a new project in our bedroom. We knocked out the wall between our bedroom and our son's bedroom. Now we are in the process of building new closets, bookshelves and storage shelves inside the closets. I'm so excited! I can't wait until my husband finishes. 

Our room before construction (Original Closet Side)

Our room before construction (Original Wall Side)

Our Son's room before construction (Original Wall Side)

Our Son's room before construction (Original Closet Side)

Partial construction of closet in our room

Partial construction of bookshelves in our room

Also, this past Saturday on our way to get more building supplies for our remodeling project, we stopped at the local feed store "just to look at" baby chicks. Needless to say, we came home with eight new chicks: two Brahmas, two Barred Rock and four Crested Polish (Mixed varieties). They are so cute! The Brahmas and Barred Rocks are pullets. The Crested Polish are straight run; mix of male and female. We are hoping for females. We aren't allowed to have roosters in the city. 

Bringing home our new baby chicks. 

Our new baby chicks learning to roost. 

Princess saying "Hi" to the chicks.  (Her head's in the way)

Life has been really good. I enjoy hobbling around without crutches; love having good friends and a husband who is an incredible carpenter. 

Banana-Honey Cake

I purchased a cook book several years ago and have only used it a couple times. I decided the book was under used and I needed to try one of the recipes. I looked through it and tried to decide. I kept in mind the ingredients I already had so I wouldn't need to go shopping. I was in the mood to bake or cook.

I finally found a recipe I wanted to try. It was a Banana-Honey Cake with Cream Cheese frosting. It looked yummy. The recipe can be found in "The illustrated Encyclopedia of American Cooking."

Banana-Honey Cake Recipe

1 C. honey
1 tsp. soda
1 C. rolled oats
3/4 C. butter, softened
1/2 C. Sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 C. mashed bananas
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C. sifted all purpose flour
3/4/ tsp. baking powder
2   3oz. packages of cream cheese
2 1/2 C. sifted confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 ˚. Bring honey to a boil in medium saucepan; add 1/2 tsp.  soda. Pour hot honey mixture over oats; stir and cover. Let stand for 10 minutes. Beat butter until creamy; add sugar gradually, beating until fluffy. Blend in eggs. Add oats mixture and bananas; beat until blended. Sift salt, flour baking powder and remaining soda together. Add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Pour batter into 2 greased and waxed paper-lined 8" round cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool on wire rack for about 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool. Soften cream cheese; beat until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar gradually, beating until frosting is of spreading consistency. Spread between layers and over top of cake and refrigerate. Garnish with banana slices just before serving.

Required ingredients.

Sifted dry ingredients.

Creamed butter, sugar and eggs.

Honey and baking soda.

Boiled honey and baking soda.

Butter mix, bananas, honey and oat mix. 

Batter ready for oven.

Offered Lil' Red a banana while I waited for the cake to bake. She refused. 

Goldie liked the banana. 

Finished cake. 

Cream cheese frosting. 

Ready to serve with no garnishing. I gave the garnishing to the chickens. 

Review:

The cake has a strong flavor. One can definitely taste the bananas and especially the honey. It is a very sweet cake. Next time I will probably leave the frosting off.

I didn't have two round cake pans and used a 9"x13" pan instead. The cake ended up thinner in appearance. Next time I need to either borrow the pans from a friend or purchase them. I believe the cake will look better.

 Comments from three other tasters; "good", "strong and sweet", "I liked the cake."

Hope you enjoy trying it.