by Susan | Jan 7, 2012 | Granny Gadget
Last month Granny Gadget sent us (via QVC) this new six-plate George Foreman Grill. Years ago Mom sent us one of the the original George Forman Grills. It was handy, but came out of the cupboard only three or four times a year. This new version has yet to see the...
by Susan | Jan 6, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Everything! Chickens are very curious little creatures. They love to explore every little change or sound. When I stopped to visit with them today, The Girls all gathered around until they figured out that I was empty-handed. Except for my camera. This little girl...
by Susan | Jan 3, 2012 | Critter Care and Housing, On the Farm
At Downeast Thunder Farm, my engineer husband designs and fabricates our structures, farm implements, and equipment as we need them. He’s a handy guy to have around! In planning for another chicken coop this coming Spring, Paul drew up this nesting box design...
by Susan | Jan 2, 2012 | In the Kitchen, Recipes
New Years Eve I made this very yummy Spinach Artichoke Dip. I love the warm creamy texture with just a little bite of jalapeno. Downeast Thunder Spinach Artichoke Dip 1 – 8 ounce block of cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup mayonnaise (the real deal – not light...
by Susan | Jan 1, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Nesting box number 6 is the place to be if you’re a chicken. We have six nesting boxes in our large coop, but box number 6 is the most popular. Some days we find all of our eggs in this one box. (Seven eggs today – a record!) This is what I found when I...
by Susan | Dec 31, 2011 | Odds and Ends, Projects
The last day of 2011 found my family gathered around the table playing Harry Potter Monopoly. New Year’s Eve afternoon is typically game day, served up with popcorn and appetizers. We are clearly fans of the Harry Potter book series. Hannah and I had great fun...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2011 | On My Mind
I bought snowshoes for the family for Christmas this year. We are not the most athletically-minded family, but we do live in Maine so it seems that we ought to have snowshoes. These are the entry-level, all terrain type of snowshoes that I’m sure will work just...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2011 | Family, On My Mind
Santa didn’t come to our house this year. I knew the cat was out of the bag when Hannah asked me with a knowing smile, “Why do you have Santa’s wrapping paper stashed in the storage room?” You see, Santa wraps presents in this special Santa...
by Susan | Dec 24, 2011 | Family, On My Mind
My great, great aunt, Elizabeth Stroble, created beautiful linoleum block print posters. She sent these to family and friends as her Christmas card. Recently, ten of these prints came to me via my mother from another relative. At Christmastime, when I choose one to...
by Susan | Dec 21, 2011 | On My Mind
It’s the first day of winter – the shortest day of the year and I weeded my garden today. Temps in the 40’s makes me feel a bit silly for moving the portable banty coop onto the deck to keep these miniature chickens out of the snow. Is it a redneck...
by Susan | Dec 20, 2011 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
Hannah and I have had great fun making these little owl ornaments to decorate our Christmas gift bags this year. For those of you looking for a fun felt project, I’ve put these in a pattern for you to download. Happy sewing! Click here to Download the Downeast...
by Susan | Dec 18, 2011 | Hannah's Cutting Board, In the Kitchen
Hannah stumbled across a recipe I’d pulled out of a magazine for Pepperidge Farm’s Spinach-Cheese Swirls. Hannah being Hannah read the recipe through once and then did her own thing. Having recently discovered that Hannah loves spinach I’ve been...
by Susan | Dec 18, 2011 | On My Mind
On Saturday, Hannah was gearing up for her Outdoor Club get-together. When she put her cap on it hid all her curls drawing attention to her pretty face. I had to pull out my camera just to torment her.
by Susan | Dec 17, 2011 | Chickens, On the Farm
That Bloody Rooster. Really. Hannah was the first to discover some red streaks on The Colonel’s neck. Upon closer inspection I saw that he had injured his comb. Curiously a couple of the Barred Rock hens are in a similar state. It seems that The Colonel may...
by Susan | Dec 11, 2011 | On My Mind
The weather has been decidedly un-December like for Maine. We’ve bounced between frigid and balmy temperatures so often that our 10″ of Thanksgiving snow has disappeared. Despite the lack of Christmasy weather we’ve carved out some time for a little...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2011 | Granny Gadget
I spent the week after Thanksgiving with my folks in Pennsylvania. As I was packing up the night before returning to Maine, Mom presented me with the 60 Second Pomegranate De-Seeder and said, “You can’t leave without something from Granny Gadget.” I do love...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2011 | Granny Gadget
Blessed am I to have a wonderful mother. Although I am 40-something and live 13 hours away, Mom still does her best to take care of me. Daily phone calls, care packages, emergency cash, surprise gifts just because; the list goes on. I have always been a very practical...
by Susan | Dec 4, 2011 | On the Farm
It’s amazing how much fun a few ducks can have with a 2’x3′ mortar box on a frosty day. Once I was finally able to defrost the garden hose! ...
by Susan | Dec 2, 2011 | On My Mind
Hannah, age 12, is playing junior high basketball. She has a new coach this year, one who has been running their behinds off! She’s learned a lot and has had to work hard. Tonight, the Milbridge Tigers won their district championship. Go Tigers! In one of the...
by Susan | Nov 26, 2011 | Chickens, On the Farm
Today we found two eggs in the coop. The last few days we found one egg a day in nesting box #6. Today’s second egg was in nesting box #5 and was of a narrower shape. A little research leads me to believe that a Buff Orpington laid our first four eggs while a...
