Creamy Cilantro Salad Dressing

Last fall Golden Delicious and I went to San Francisco to visit my brother and sister in law. 

We had a fabulous vacation - and the food they fed us was divine.

So last week when we had company I just copied their meal - no use reinventing perfection, right? 

 

This salad dressing is like Cafe Rio's Tomatillo Salad Dressing.  Very Fabulous.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing:

Place the following in a blender:

3 fresh tomatillos, cut into quarters

juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream

1 package dry ranch buttermilk dressing mix

1 cup cilantro

5 stalks of green onions

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

3tsp. sugar

Combine well in blender and chill.

Enjoy.  Yum. Yum. 

Goat Kidding 2008 - Part 4

 I am happy to report that our final doe kidded and the 2008 goat kidding season is now over.  And no, she did not have a doe.  She had one buck. 

 That makes a total this year of six bucks and three does.  I think this is a blessing in disguise since we need to trim down our herd, and we all know we can't keep the bucks, so it will be easier to decrease herd numbers.  Now we just have to decide who to keep and who to sell.  We all have different opinions on this so it could be an interesting discussion.

My biggest lessons learned this year:

First time mothers are flighty and need extra coaching.

Once goats start milking, I change my mind about who my favorites are based on who is easier to milk!  

Also, I have learned a lot about milking.  We've never had this many milking does and some of them are easier to milk than others.  I used to think they were all pretty much the same.  Not at all.  Yes, I am a goat raiser green horn.  I admit it.  But I still like it.  

England Bluebells

I know, I wonder if this picture could possibly be real too.  Imagine beauty like this within walking distance of your house.  Incredible.  Mom and Dad say the bluebells cover the whole forest floor for 2 weeks every spring.  I'm going over to investigate!  8 more days

Rodents of Unusual Size - and Temperament

We have been invaded!  There are millions of mice and voles on our property.  I believe we could supply at least a dozen hawks with dinner daily.  Our ditch bank has so many holes that it appears riddled with machine gun fire.

Enter Granny Smith:  He is in LOVE with these beasts.  I think it comes from watching too many Tom and Jerry cartoons.  We have to empty all traps and hide the D-Con while he is occupied elsewhere.  For his birthday he asked for a pet mouse.  This I could not do.  I told him mice belonged outside.  (mean, huh?) And that he could be friends with all the rodents outside.

Next thing I know, he has discovered a tame vole in the Orchard.  Very strange.  I wouldn't let him touch it, so he just "petted it" with a piece of dried grass.  Ugggh.  But Granny Smith was very happy with this arrangement.  The vole has since disappeared - without my help - and I am feeding the cats less in the barn.  Hunting Encouragement.

Merry Olde England

Ten days and counting. England here I come!

Down Home Wisdom

If anyone is searching for the answers to life's questions, I highly recommend a visit to your local feed store/grain mill. 

 Not only can they tell you why your chickens aren't laying and what you can do about it,

they can also fill you in on lots of other nuggets of truth that you may or may not want to know about.
 I went to the mill to get chicken feed, and while there told the owner about my non-laying hens.  I described how I had started feeding them whole dried corn as a scratch mix and wondered if that could possibly be the cause of them not laying.  

"Oh Yes.  You bet.  The corn is only 8% protein, where their real feed is 16%.:

"But I'm only feeding it to them as scratch mix."

"Don't matter.  They ate enough and it threw them off their real feed, and now they're not laying for you."

I thanked him and got ready to go, but he had some more instructions for me.

"There's three things in life that are temperamental:

 laying hens, milking cows, and women. 

 You've got to treat them all just right or else your hens won't give you any eggs, your milk cow won't milk and you won't get any loving.  Know what I mean?"

Hmmm.

So, now my hens are laying and I am much wiser. 

 As my Grandpa used to say, "Now don't that beat all."

Happy May Day