THE BEST CAGE EVER

So we have taken a lot of paths with animals and our most recent endeavor is meat rabbits.  We are not afraid to eat anything, especially if we can grow it ourselves.  I got a doe (female rabbit) last spring to use in my classroom (update, 17 days until my summer break is over), my sister got a little buck early in the summer and then I happened upon another more grown buck a few weeks later.  We always wait to make sure we are going to stick with an adventure before we invest to much into it so the rabbits are living in "THE BEST CAGE EVER" until we process (read slaughter) our first litter.  This cage was built as step 2 for my first batch of chicks I got.  I ordered my chicks to come spring that year and would not be moving to our current house until July where my chickarium would reside (please note that "chickarium" is the very cool term dubbed by Myles that we use for the hen house).  Anyhow, the chicks grew at an alarming rate (I had never had or worked with chickens---poultry science was a separate department from animal science when I was in collgege).  So the chicks started in big sterilite containers and when they got too big we had to come up with something temparary until I and they moved.  My lovely father built this cage for me.  It cost $40 for all the materials.  This cage has since housed more chicks, a baby turkey, puppies, my nephews for short hilarious moments and now rabbits.  The bottom comes out of it so it too, which is great if I want to set it on the garden for chickens to hang out in.  The cage has three doors on top so you do not have to open one big heavy one.  The rabbits have been living in "THE BEST CAGE EVER" in an empty stall since we got the male a little less than a month ago and they love it, but alas it was time to separate the rabbits with the hope that the female is bred and will be kindling (term used when a rabbit gives birth---I wonder if amazon knows of this meaning of the word kindle) soon. 

The buck is hanging out in a borrowed Guinea Pig cage for the time being. Hopefully all goes well and Myles can build us a few rabbit hutches to house them in in a few months.

My ring

My engagement ring...I love it!

peanut butter oat chocolate chip cookies

I received a request for cookies yesterday evening, so this morning after my pre weekend house cleaning I made these babies.

Yummmm!!!!

These cookies have a great texture with the oats and the raw sugar.

Here's the recipe:

• 1 stick of butter (room temperature)

• 1/2 cup (or more) peanut butter--I use natural peanut butter
• 1 cup raw sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 cup flour (a soft flour, all purpose or a white wheat)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocoloate chips (I used semi sweet)
• 1 cup rolled oats

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
2. In your mixer combine the butter, peanut butter, and sugar
3. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix
4. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, salt and baking soda
5. Combine the flour mixture with the mixture in the mixer




dough balls waiting their turn


6.  Finally add the chocolate chips and oats and mix one more time
7. Using a cookie scoop or a spoon make ping pong size balls of dough
8. Mash the balls of dough to flatten out a bit (looks like a cookie now)
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes (this is on a baking stone, lean towards the shorter time if youare using a metal cookie sheet)
10. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the pan then remove to a cooling rack
11. Enjoy (I had to go get more milk because its just not the same without a glass of fresh milk)

Busy day

Today was a big day of wedding planning.  We went into Winston-Salem and ordered some bridesmaids dresses and accessories and made decisions on what the groomsmen will wear.  Check that off the list.  Tomorrow is our last meeting with a caterer (I wanted to do our own food, but I keep reminding myself not to bite off more than I can chew, so we are getting a caterer to do the meat dishes and potato side and then we are doing a big salad bar ourselves).  Hopefully by the end of this weekend everything will be taken care of for the wedding besides some fine details and I can start focusing on my other summer tasks (I have a sweater to finish) and it is about time to start thinking about the school year and what the first month or so will have in store for my students (3 weeks until I go back, 4 until the kids come back).

On another note...my pathetic dog loves pillows and he knows how to use them


note his john deere toy, which is actually a cat toy that he insists on carrying around every where lately



Getting married

It's been a couple weeks, but I am making an appearance and hopefully going to be around here more now.  The last few weeks have a been a worldwind.  Myles and I got engaged and decided to get married this fall instead of waiting (I have always wanted a fall wedding, but next fall seems pretty far away).  So we have about 3 and a half months left before the wedding and have been quickly taking care of arranging everything for the big day.

Venue...check
Pastor...check
Caterer...pending
Florist...check
Photographer...check
Videographer...check
Cake...check
Dress...a big happy check
Bridesmaid dresses...check
Guys clothes....no check here, this week hopefully

I'm sure this list is missing a lot too, but I am pleased with the progress and it has been fun planning together since Myles is home still with his broken leg (just a few more weeks until he can start learning to walk again).

Hopefully the wedding will be planned and settled before school starts back in a few weeks.