Apple Pie Pockets

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Cooking for One or Two?

Here is the perfect solution for getting your apple pie fix!

I get such a taste for apple pie sometimes.  Yes, I could just buy one but at this time of year, my apple tree puts out a lot of beautiful Jonathan apples.

All organic too since I don't spray my trees.  This was the best year ever!

Here's how I made these:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

I used a box of 2 Pillsbury ready made pie crusts to make things really simple!

(Take these out of the refrigerator while you are peeling your apples.)

2 Cups of fresh peeled and diced apples

1/3 cup sugar

1 TBSP flour

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Combine the dry ingredients then add diced apples and coat.

Lay out first crust and cut in fourths

Put 1/3 cup apple mixture onto crust and fold over.  

Pinch edges to seal and poke top with a fork to let steam escape.

Continue this until 8 crust sections and all the apple mixture is used up.

Place on a cookie sheet.

Bake 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees.

(Mine were perfectly done at 18 minutes)

There you have it!

Easy and came out PERFECT!!

(The only thing I'll do different next time is to paint the tops with some melted butter to make them prettier!)

Shirley

Sprouting Beans and Seeds for You and Your Chickens

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I know I did this before but made lots of mistakes at the time.

So here is my second try (in a smaller scale!)

Last time, (which I think there is a post about it awhile back), I tried to make a large flat container of wheat grass.  Well, it stayed to wet,(too hard to drain) and it got moldy and had to be tossed.

This time I am doing some organic lentils in little mason jars.

Just big enough for me or treats for my chickens.

These are organic mung beans.

1. First step, rinse the beans, lentils or seeds well.

Then soak for 8 hours.

2. drain well and rinse again, then drain well again.

3. Set in a darkened area till beans start to sprout.  (rinsing and draining twice a day.)

3. When beans start to sprout well, put into a light area.

They should be ready for your salad etc. or for treats for your chickens in about 5 days.

Mine started to sprout by the 2nd day.

These will be ready in another day.

When seeds, beans or lentils are sprouted they contain more nutrients than just the beans or seeds.

Beans and lentils have always been known as the best source of protein.

When sprouted they also contain more Vitamin C and B vitamins, more thiamine, niacin and riboflavin compared to the seeds.

Beans and legumes are also easier to digest when sprouted.  They don't produce as much intestinal gas because the complex sugars are broken down when sprouted.

So there are many, many advantaged of sprouting!!

Give it a try.

I have done scopes about this subject the past couple days on Periscope.

You can get to them on my Twitter page here:

https://twitter.com/hoofprints

also here where all my scopes are stored:

https://katch.me/hoofprints

Shirley

The Past Week in Pictures

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I've been sort of lax with my blog!

Mostly because I am scoping a lot on Periscope!

However, I have to get back to this!!

Today I will just show a few things in photos from the past couple weeks.

This is the beautiful scene I see out my front windows of the woods across the street.

Of course this morning there's not as much color since we had two days of rain and high winds!

Photo taken by my daughter where I was helping her with a photo shoot.

And she bought me this beautiful handcrafted bracelet for helping her!!

Thanks Michele.

(Her photography website link is at the bottom of this post.  Take a look at her beautiful work)

Yes, I've learned to crochet and don't seem to be able to stop!

3 hats so far

And starting on slippers!  Just call me grandma!

Little Spirit resting after her 2nd chemo this week.

I think this is a great saying and I'm trying to do my best to live by it.

Anxiety is my big hurdle!!

Shirley

http://www.mzezulakphotography.com/

Fall 2015

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A few photos so far this fall.

Shirley

Don't Cut Your Bangs When You're Upset!!

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Yes, I know this from experience!!

I have had bangs for as long as I can remember.

My child pictures show me always with bangs, (except of course when Mom gave me that horrible permanent in grade school.  Yikes,  I looked like a little sheep!

The past couple weeks I have had a lot of GI issues and was really getting sick of it.  Then I went out in the wind and my hair was blowing all over the place so I went in to chop off my bangs and cut them way too short AND crooked.

I'm hoping they grow out before my hair appt. because my hairdresser is going to yell at me!!

My bangs are usually down by my eyebrows!

This is not good.

So, that's my little bit of advice for the day.

Don't cut your bangs when you're upset!

Shirley

Monday Daybook, Sept. 28, 2015

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For Today:  Monday Sept. 28th 

Outside my window:  70 and sunny.  Beautiful fall day! 

I Am Thinking:  I haven't done one constructive thing all day!!

 

I Am Thankful:   That I can have these lazy days to just putter around!

 

In The Kitchen:  My island needs cleaned off as usual.

 

I Am Wearing:  Running pants, turtle neck and a light hoodie.

 

I Am Creating:  Only this post!  Oh yes, and another crocheted little dish cloth.  I really do need to learn to make a hat!

  

I Am Going:  No where today.  But trying to spend a lot of time outside on this beautiful day.

 

I Am Reading:  "H" is for Homicide by Sue Grafton.  No, I haven't finished it yet!

  

I Am Hoping:  That Eggo's bumblefoot is cleared up.

  

I Am Looking Forward To:  Tomorrow's riding lesson.

I Am Hearing:  Peace and quiet.

Around The House:  The regular clutter.  I am such a procrastinator!! 

In My Garden:  I have a couple little eggplants ready to pick.  Emphasis on the "little"!

 

Weekly Menu:

     Monday (tonight): leftover roast chicken with potatoes and some carrots from the garden

     Tuesday:  Turkey burgers with a tomato slice on thin buns, and oven roasted cauliflower.

     Wed.:  Tomato Pie

     Thurs.:  Fish with spaghetti with sauce.  (Meatless)

     Friday:  Fried (baked) Chicken, corn bread and vegetable.

     Sat. and Sun.:  Leftovers.  Clean out the fridge meals!           

One of My Favorite Things:  Cake!!!!!!

 

Quote of the Day:  

                       

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Follow up Dr. Appt. tomorrow then riding lesson, Thursdays are reflexology days, Friday, grocery shopping at Aldi, Barn day on Sunday.

Photos From The Past Week:  

 

I am linking this post with Simple Woman's Daybook.

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

Go have a visit and read about other woman's days.

Shirley

Thoughts Change With the Seasons

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Saying goodbye to Summer and hello to Autumn.

Looking forward to a nice long fall!

My favorite season; how about you?
Have you ever noticed how the change of seasons has a definite affect on your thoughts and feelings.
I don't know if it is the cooling temperatures or the change in the color of the leaves on the trees.
There is a different smell in the air as the leaves change and the apples ripen.
Do you notice it?
I just know for me, all of a sudden I want to decorate in those fall colors, eat things made of pumpkin flavor and make applesauce in the crockpot!
I get all cozy feeling and want to get out the sweat shirts, make soup and chili and bake something!!
The fact that daylight hours decrease affects other species so why not us.
In other animals and in birds it's a hormonal thing so maybe in humans too.  Maybe that's why we feel like "nesting" in the winter.
(totally my idea)
I guess I'll call the chimney sweep and get my fireplace ready.
Sweaters, hot chocolate and blue October skies.
 
Here's a little known fact about autumn!!!!

Standing eggs?There are only two days of the year when you can stand an egg on its end, the autumn and spring equinox. To do this you will need an egg. (It does not have to be hard-boiled.) Place the egg on a hard, flat surface on its largest end. Carefully pull your hands away and it should remain upright.

I just read this and went right out to the kitchen and tried it on the egg I collected from Molly today!! And LOOK!!!! Have a nice start to Autumn. Shirley

Bumblefoot!

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Little Miss Eggo has bumblefoot again.

What is bumblefoot you ask??

It's like an abscess, a boil, from a break in the skin of the chicken's foot pad that allowed bacteria to get in and form an infection.

It can be minor or serious.  Big or little but it has to be taken care of before the infection spreads up the leg that can make the chicken septic and can actually be fatal!!

Here's what it looks like.

Swollen pad of the foot with that black crusty scab.

You may notice it first by the chicken limping a little or just not wanting to move around.

It must be lanced and the core of the infection gotten out.

I wasn't able to take pictures of the procedure as both hands were very busy, holding the chicken and performing the procedure!

First you clean off the foot really well and soak in warm epsom salt water for about 10 minutes.  This softens the scab and makes it easier to remove.

After trying to get all the infection core out, (a lot of the time it will come out in one piece), I wasn't that lucky, you soak again, medicate the area and put a dressing on her foot.

It has to be soaked and redressed everyday until it looks like it is resolved and is healing.

Here are some pictures of Eggo on the second day of soaking and re-dressing.

You put a dark towel or cloth over their head and that calms them and they almost go to sleep!

Her pretty lime colored vet wrap dressing.

She is not a happy girl!

What is this thing on my foot???

And that's bumblefoot.

It's not uncommon but it's hard to get rid of.

Shirley

Monday Daybook, Sept. 21, 2015

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For Today:  Sept. 21, 2015

Outside my window:  Sunny, 70, blue skies.  Flower garden and weeds doing well!

I Am Thinking:  I seem to have so much to do everyday and nothing seems to get accomplished!

 

I Am Thankful:  That my cleaning help is here.  She is going to also help me to organize some messy areas of my house.  Starting with my craft/dish room!!

 

In The Kitchen:  I hear her running the sweeper.

 

I Am Wearing:  Running pants, long sleeve shirt and sweat shirt.  Just I'm a freeze-baby!

 

I Am Creating:  Or going to create, a more usable space in my craft room.  (with help!)  Then I can use it for my wrapping and shipping space for eBay. 

I Am Going:  To really, really, really try to get more organized!

 

I Am Reading:  Still reading "H" is For Homicide" by Susan Grayson.

  

I Am Hoping:  That the Celebrex I just started to retake, starts to make me more comfortable and doesn't give me gastritis.

   

I Am Looking Forward To:  A nice, LONG ,warm fall! 

I Am Hearing:  Water running in the kitchen.

 

Around The House:  Still clutter. 

In My Garden:  I need to replace pots of geraniums with some fall mums.

 

I Am Pondering:  What will sell well on eBay that is easy to find and cheap to ship!

One of My Favorite Things:  Reflexology that I get on my feet every Thursday!

Quote of the Day:

                       

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Barn and riding lesson on Tues., Thurs. reflexology, Friday: grocery shopping and haircut.  No plans on the weekend yet.

Photos From The Past Week:

  

    

I am linking this post with Simple Woman's Daybook.

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

Go have a visit and read about other woman's days.

Shirley

Periscope!!

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Find me on my landing page.  periscope.tv/@hoofprints
       Scope only lasts 24 hours.  But you can "katch" older ones on my twitter page @hoofprints


Shirley

The Abandoned Little Nest

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A bird built a twig nest inside my bluebird house.

I found it around the beginning of August.

There were already 4 eggs laid in it so I let it alone.

I never saw any bird going in or out of the nest.

So yesterday I examined it again.  The same 4 tiny eggs were in there, apparently abandoned.  

I took the nest out and brought it in the house.

I wasn't sure what breed of bird laid these tiny rust colored eggs so I looked it up.

It was a house wren.

Below is a link to information about the house wren and their nests.

Very interesting.

Such great care is taken in building the nest. 

I wonder what happened with the parent birds???

I love little wrens but didn't even get a chance to see these!

Here's the link for more information.

http://www.sialis.org/nestshowr.htm

Shirley

A Visit To the Barn

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I had a riding lesson yesterday on Echo.  I missed the past couple weeks because of heat etc.  I felt like I was right back to the beginning again.  I was extra exhausted for some reason so that didn't help.  It wasn't till the last couple laps that I felt a little more in synch.

So frustrating.

I know if I rode more it would get better but I don't seem to have the right mindset to do that for some reason.

I visited with both my horses, Preacher and Echo in their stalls afterwards.

Shirley

Monday Daybook, Sept. 14, 2015

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For Today:  Sept. 14, 2015

Outside my window:  Sunny, blue skies and warming temperatures.

I Am Thinking:  That I've been so busy with Periscope and eBay, I've hardly done anything else!!

  

I Am Thankful:  For health, home, family and my animals.

  

In The Kitchen:  I've got to clean off the clutter on top of the island.  Again!  Flat surfaces attract!  

I Am Wearing:  Running pants, long sleeve shirt and a hoodie!  Well, it was chilly again this morning! 

I Am Creating:  Some fall decor on my mantle.  And a weekly menu!  

I Am Going: Nowhere today.  Still have computer work and sweeping to do!

   

I Am Reading:  "H" Is for Homicide" by Sue Grafton 

I Am Hoping:  That I can sell these baby and children's clothes on eBay! 

I Am Looking Forward To:  My riding lesson tomorrow and spending a little barn time. 

I Am Hearing:  My dogs breathing as they sleep behind me and the high pitched chirp of a cardinal. 

Around The House:  The usual clutter and a nice coating of dog hair!  I really have to vacuum!

In My Garden:  Things are getting overgrown.  I usually lose my interest in gardening around this time of year.  I think that's why I never plant bulbs! 

I Am Pondering:  Whether to go let the chickens out into the yard. 

One of My Favorite Things:  This:  Antique milking stool and an antique berry bucket.  That's two.   

 

Quote of the Day: 

                                       

  

 Menu for the week:  (Dinners)  

Monday: Corned beef hash and eggs, salad.  

Tues: Leftover Hash and acorn squash.  

Wed: Turkey meatloaf, potatoes and broccoli.  

Thurs: No meat meal, pasta with tomatoes, leftover broccoli. 

Friday: (Grocery shopping day)  Leftover meatloaf, baked potato and creamed corn. 

Saturday:  Salmon, rice, green beans.  

Sunday:  Chicken in the crockpot, salad. 

*Note:  Since this is my first attempt at meal planning I should probably start my plan from Saturday thru Friday.  (Since I shop on Friday) I''m doing a week at a time.  Doing a whole month is just beyond me at this point!! Anyone that does menu planning, I'd like to hear your thoughts!                           

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Monday: computer stuff and cleaning.  Tues. Barn day and riding lesson.  Wednesday:  Open.  Something outside as it's supposed to be nice with warm temps.  Have to enjoy it while we can!  Thursday:  Reflexology at 4pm.  Friday:  Visit Goodwill or thrift store, Aldi grocery shopping.  Pick up some wild salmon at Buehlers.  Saturday:  Hopefully get to the barn.  Sunday:  List on eBay. 

Photos From The Past Week:

I am linking this post with Simple Woman's Daybook.

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

Go have a visit and read about other woman's days.

Shirley