Eggs, buckboard wagon, more books, BBQ sauce

This is the take for the day. We got a turkey egg today, first one we've had in 'bout 3 months. Bourbon Red Turkey egg in the middle, some Wheaten an Cuckoo Marans eggs, and a couple of Faverolle eggs.


Look at this adorable buckboard wagon that Dianne, at Double Durango, just constructed. Petite Dianne can see something and go home and make it. I bought my three does from Dianne. Can't you just picture some goats playing on the wagon?
I have been working lately on the buckboard wagon and just finished it the other day. I could make one a lot faster now that I know what I am doing. The angle cuts on the wheels were tricky! Not sure if I should try and make a few to sell? What do you think? I could make a smaller one that is not as heavy and could fit in the back of a truck. The one in the photo is 8 foot long by 4 wide and really heavy!!! I had to assemble it outside where it sits! : ) Dianne


I was window shopping on ETSY last night, isn't this just darling?


More of my favorite books. I think most of you have Kingsolvers book, if not, I think it is a must read. She actually lives about an hour from here over in Virginia.

I just love Jackie Clay. She knows a lot about a lot, has many interesting life experiences.

I'm not a meat eater really, just don't have the palate for it I guess. Mike is a big meat eater so I cook it for him. I've never eaten any food that was any better than what came out of Grandma's garden. When I was a little girl growing up, we couldn't afford much. I was an only child in a household of 4 adults - my parents and grandparents. My parents worked outside the home and my elderly grandparents tended the garden. If we had some meat, it was for Sunday supper, usually chicken. Grandma made a lot of soup and she'd add a little meat to the pot. If I had a dollar for every bowl a soup I've eaten... below is a recipe for my BBQ sauce.

I stewed this pork butt in seasonings today and then dripped my BBQ sauce on top. Mike LOVES this kind of meal. I stew quite often because it comes out moist and tender. I'll use some of this for soup.

BBQ Sauce

2 cups ketchup (sometimes I make my own ketchup but not today)
1 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons light brown sugar (I use the Splenda brown sugar blend)
5 tablespoons sugar (I use Splenda)
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon ground mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

throw in some chopped onion and garlic
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for a few minutes.

Marans Chickens and Eggs

This breed, which originated in western France in the town of Marans, is best known for its dark chocolate-colored eggs. It is a fast grower and does well in damp areas, having been developed in a marshy portion of France. The original French birds have feathered legs, but this characteristic has been bred out of the British and many American lines. Mike and I raise the French feather-legged Marans.

When our local Farmers Market is open we sell eating eggs. (We also sell hatching eggs to folks but those eggs cost more). We like for a carton of our eggs to have color contrast with mostly the Marans, Cuckoo and Wheaten, eggs but also some Ameraucana and Faverolle eggs and we presently need a few hens that will lay white eggs. We always stick a Bourbon Red Turkey egg in each carton too. We get $3.50 per dozen and sell out in a matter of a few minutes. We don't make money at our hobby but selling eggs helps pay for some feed and we really enjoy being a part of the Farmers Market environement

For those you interested in Marans eggs, here's some info.
Click here and go to Bev Davis site, she the Marans guru.
According to Bev - To even qualify as a Marans specimen, a layer must be able to produce a #4 or darker egg reliably for a period of her laying season. If the flock cannot produce #4 eggs at some time, they simply are not Marans, regardless of the breeding. This is how the French begin by defining the breed.

Wheaten Marans

Wheaten Hen

My girls aren't producing many eggs now, I keep giving them pep talks but...

My Marans mentor is Ron Presley in Athens, Tenn