All the Single Ladies....... meet... Joel.

He's from strong pure bloodlines... he's a Silver Bantam Pheonix... which means he's not super huge, and his cockadoodledo isn't quite as loud.... his tail will likely get to be about 4 feet and drag on the ground (hence the Pheonix part of his name)... he'll work it for the ladies like a peacock.  His love life has recently been arranged for him.  My 9 mixed flock chickens.  Maybe this time next year we'll be hatching chicks?!!!  He traveled here from Grand Forks.... riding in a mini-van the whole way in a simple box... every once in a while getting out and freaking out the 4 children in the van riding with him. What a trip!

This morning, for about 2 hours all he did was bok bok BOK as loud as he could... perhaps missing the attention of the ladies he used to bunk with... (they were a little older and well... were quite attentive to his needs...)

 

 Right now, these ladies don't pay much attention to him... and he doesn't pay them much back.

He's been getting out of the pen.... I've corralled him back in there a few times, but the last few days I've just left him.  Good grief.  I do NOT have time to chase a rooster all day.

He just marches and struts back in forth in front of the pen... like he's on guard.... taking his job very seriously.... I think. Either that or he's trying to figure out how to get back in.

Look at that swagger! 

Then at night... he puts himself to bed.... he's supposed to chase the ladies in and put them to bed too, but perhaps since they aren't putting out for him, he won't be put out for them just yet...

Thanks for him Marie... he's beautiful, tame & keeps us entertained!

Tribute to my Boy

This is first class stuff.... I mean seriously... look at this kid.  Say it with me: La-dy Kill-er.  The kid is a full bore RIOT. And. I'm in love with him.

Joanne Abraham.  You have captured the essence and spirit of Wesley completely.  100% folks.  Welcome to my everyday.

This kid is stunning.

This is my Wesley.
Funny, sensitive, tender, tenacious, sensational, determined, dreamy, athletic, forgiving, fun-loving.

Friday Pizza and a Movie Night

One of the easiest and most made meals in this house...

1.5 cups warm water
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp yeast
1 tbsp Italiano Seasoning (make sure it has salt in it... if not add 1 tps coarse salt)
4 cups flour

 You know it's got enough flour when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl after a few minutes...

The dough is quite soft... let rise in a warm spot.

After it's risen, dump on your pan... be sure to use cornmeal on your pan for a crispier  crust. yum.

Spread out to the sides.

Use 1 can crushed tomatoes for the sauce... add 1/4 cup Italiano or Spicy Spaghetti Seasoning

1tbsp sugar

On my list of FAVORITE THINGS EVER is COARSE SALT.... oooooo baby.  use 1 tsp in the sauce

3 cloves garlic - minced

I add dried onions... fresh/fried is better

Mix & let the spices/onion rehydrate.  There is enough in this jar for a few pizzas.

Spread on pizza & add favorite toppings.... our kid friendly ones are zuchinni, pepperoni & mushrooms & mozza... I buy mozza in bulk and shred it with my handy dandy shredding attachment for my Kitchen Aid (thank-you tree planting) and then keep it in my freezer allllllll ready to go.

AAAAAND Bake until the cheese is golden!!!!!!!!

Every. Friday. Nite.  Everyone welcome. Just let me know before you show up.

I should be charging rent.

So, one of my hanging baskets has been invaded.... I wish I had the forethought to take some pictures when it was in process... but I was trying to chase away the Robin that was completely relentless in making her home in my hanging basket.

First she dug out the middle of the basket, killing the red-leafed accent plant in the centre.  Next she started bringing in twiggs and things to make her nest.  This process took about a week.  I'd chase her away every chance I got.  Apparently I didn't do such a good job.  We found a fully made nest in it the next time we looked.... then one day there was one egg, the next day there were two, then the next day there were three, then the next day there were four eggs!!!!    I think there were a few of you over when there were only 2 eggs in there... check it out now!!!

Cute huh?

Right in the VERY centre of the basket!

Here's the basket on my deck.

Here is that relentless bird, chirping at me from the old japanese maple tree just meters away.

And giving me the evil eye.  She doesn't like me so much.  But. I'll let her babies stay. I'm nice like that.  She owes me for the plant though.

Shake and Bake (FYI: I'm not talking about meth)

What's in a box of Shake and Bake?

Who knew that when I looked it up, I would find the ingredients list for methamphetamine. Clearly not me.

Wikipedia's page on Shake n'Bake lists the ingredients as the following.

Original flavor Shake and Bake includes: enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate Vitamin B1, riboflavin , folic acid), salt, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, sugar, contains less than 2% of paprika, dextrose, dried onions, spice, caramel color, yeast, annatto (color), and natural flavor.
Barbecue flavor Shake 'n Bake includes sugar, maltodextrin, salt, modified food starch, spice, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, brown sugar, mustard seed flour, dried onions, dried tomatoes, dried garlic, beet powder (color), citric acid, natural flavor, caramel color, vinegar, and sodium silicoaluminate as an anticaking agent.

Because I can't identify or pronounce the things in that list... because I'm trying to avoid soy (as a filler) and things like maltodextrin (click on the links to learn more about the products), and because Dave LOVES Shake and Bake.... Here's a quick easy alternative that is soooo yummy, none of the additives, easy to keep in your freezer and costs less...

2 cups dried bread crumbs, crushed crackers
1/2 c corn meal (to make it a little crunchy)
2Tbs Fry's Seasoning Salt
2Tbs parsley
2Tbs dried onion
1Tbs garlic powder
1tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
1tsp rosemary
1tsp cumin

 (feel free to add other spices as your taste dictates... but this was a good mix)

 I used crackers, added the spices, then used my rolling pin to crush and mix it all together.

 Crush it to a fine powder.

 Beat an egg. I added 1/8 cup of milk and 1/8 cup of olive oil as well.

 Beat with a fork.  Dip your chicken or pork in the mixture. I used pork.

 Cover in the Shake mixture.

 Place on a pan (I put it on tinfoil so that I would not have to clean the pan later)

Bake at 350º for about 45 minutes.

Served here with Green Beans & Roasted Potatoes (I poured the extra egg mixture on them with a shake of seasoning salt and re-baked them. They were left-overs from another meal in which they were steamed with beets which explains the pink tinge to them)  Yummy yum. You want this. Go!

Hair and Hockey Go Together like Henrik and Daniel, Coffee and Bailey's, Babies and Diapers.

I have fine memories of hockey... and hair... together.  Saturday Nights were hockey nights in our house, and it was also the nights us kids took regular baths.  My hair was past my bottom and in an Ontario winter, I could not go to bed with it wet.  My dad would blow-dry my hair and watch the hockey game that was on.  The other thing that made it pretty special was that it was the one night of the week that we were allowed to eat chips and have half a pop.  I found myself re-creating old memories the other night during Vancouver's Game 4 against the Sharks.

Twirling Kaelyn's hair while the Vancouver Canucks played Game 4 of their series with the San Jose Sharks.

Dave and Wes were out running errands.

Kaelyn and I watched the game... and did our hair.

Luongo under seige.

Our attempt at trying to create curly hair. I did not blow-dry it though... I can't even imagine the noise intrusion during a game... I'm sure my brothers resented my hair and were pretty happy when I cut it just before hockey season when I was in grade 3.

Bringing my girls up right!!!  The curly hair was a disaster, but the Canucks won 4-2!!!