Saturday, January 15, 2011

Pork, Chickens, nephews, hopefully thawing out

Today, Mike and I are working on this Pulled Pork Recipe

at the moment, the pork is lathered with mustard, and the dry rub is on

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Due to such harsh winter weather, 2 roosters and 2 hens have died. Both, our Wheaten Marans roo and our Cuckoo Marans roo - Duffy and Early. Hoping to thaw out some today and the surviving animals get a respite.


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We went to see nephew Jeremy in jail this morning. He said whenever he receives a letter now, the other guys ask if it's from the "farmers." Apparently, everyone at the jailhouse is appreciating me sending goat, turkey, and chicken photo's.
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Christopher Meade is also in the same jail as Jeremy. On Saturday mornings, our visit to the jailhouse is an "interesting" place.
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Jeremy told me not to read anymore prison books, said he was still hoping not to go.
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This afternoon (while the pork slowly bakes), we're going to see another nephew, Demetre, wrestle at the high school. Not all of Mike's family are convicts. :-)
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We used to always see Jeremy around cutting wood, that bulldozer is a constant reminder.

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Purkey says she's waiting for the Easter Bunny.

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The sun is out today, but doesn't get here until about 11:00AM, when it tops the hill. I've had to hike the road all week, my truck is still parked at inlaws.

12 comments:

Alison said...

Oh no, Early! He was my favorite rooster! How old was he?

I keep hearing people say it's gonna be a long, rough winter. Here's hoping we've had the worst of it already...careful on that hike!

Louise said...

Oh, I'm so sorry about your chickens. Hard weather for everyone in the country these days, it seems.

You're having pulled pork today, I'm having crockpot pork and 'kraut. There's just something about cold weather that makes pork a real comfort food.

Judy's Corner said...

Enjoyed your post... will be reading back to see more. Hope you thaw soon and that the rest of the brood survives!

Foothills Poultry said...

Sorry you lost the boys and the hens. The winter cold is just bitter this year.

~~Matt~~

Nekkid Chicken said...

Oh Honey, I am sorry. We lost two hens so far; so sad. HUGS

I am thinking we will have deer in the crock pot tomorrow. Someone gave hubby some meat. Though pulled pork sounds really tasty. It must be tough having a family member in jail.

Take care,
Mal

Tammy said...

Sorry to hear about the hens and roos. This bitterly cold weather is just horrible. We are getting a breather today, but temps are suppose to drop again next week. We haven't (so far) got anything like the snow accumulation that you have. I only have six chickens and one rooster, and they are all older. To keep one old hen alive (she is the weakest) I would make a nest in the straw at night, place one of those air activated hand warmers in the 'nest', cover it with a good layer of straw then put her (protesting of course) on it, and cover her with straw with just her beak peeking out. It worked, but of course isn't feasible for a larger flock. I don't have access to safe electricity in the sheep shed and hen house, so heat lamps and such are out.
Take care, I know it's been a rough winter for you.
Tammy

AJ-OAKS said...

Oh, sorry to hear about your roo's and hens. :(
I'm sure the pulled pork is yummy because the pic looks like it is!
You sure have had a rough time lately with the winter and Jeremy and everything else going on.
Had to giggle over the letters from the 'farmers'. Sounds like you are a favorite!
Every family is not picture perfect.
Here. Here is a big hug for you and Mike.

Paula said...

I always worry about all the critters when the temperature goes way down. Fortunately, when we get cold, it warms up pretty quick. Your goats look just like ours! Little, furry beach balls with legs! Yum! on the pulled pork! We lived in Hawaii for many years, where chicken is the other white meat! I've been freezing ALOT of chicken broth the past two weeks. Between baking bread and soup, the house always smells like a Ukranian hovel!

Yellow Wolf Farm said...

I make pulled pork BBQ in the crock pot with shoulder roasts from my pasture raised hogs. Add some homemade slaw and a good bakery bun-heaven!

Did you see Honky's photos? I am so sorry about your chickens. I do not miss the mountain winters. Too hard on the livestock AND their caretakers. Stay warm and safe!

John Going Gently said...

I willnever complain about the megre smattering of snow we have in this country again!!!

Kelly said...

Sorry to hear about the losses. Our coop stays in the 30's during the day and we use a heat lamp at night when we get below 0. The pork looks lovely. What do you put in your dry rub? Mmmmm. Stay warm and thaw out soon.

The Agrarian said...

So sorry about the loss...

It sure does look cold, cold, cold! Hang in there! Spring will be here before we know it!

Are the goats holding up well?

Farmer