More Basket Fun!

So, watching and helping everyone make their baskets on Sunday put me in a weaving mood and I wanted to share some creations that I came up with after the meeting.

Both these baskets hang on the wall.

Still trying to decide if I want to stain them or not.

I'm going to put the dried roses in the pink and green one after it dries completely.

March Chicken Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Anne Snudden from Michigan! Anne is the March "Name that Chicken Contest" winner! Anne will receive one of Zach's hand forged bottle openers for her correct answer of French Black Copper Maran.

Check back soon for the April contest!

Farm Girl Meeting, Cross Hatch Basket

photo by Angela

We had a another great Farm Girl Meeting last Sunday. Personally, I had a blast. It was so fun watching all the different baskets take shape.

left to right: Stacey, Eileen, Marla, Kathy

photo by Angela

Jennifer (Me) and Shannon

Even with this basic design there was so much creativity and variety. We made a simple square bottom cross hatch basket with your choice of colors and handles.

photo by Angela

The ladies learned the beginning techniques of basket weaving, like how to soak reed, the maneuvering of clothespins, upsetting the sides, manipulating the shape and incorporating colors, handles and rims.

This meeting was such a success that some people shared an interest in making other types and shapes of baskets. I'm thinking of putting together another meeting where we would make a round bottom basket.

photo by Angela

If any of you are in the local area and are interested in joining our group, I'm putting together a list of people. As we found on Sunday, eight is really the limit that our room can hold. If there's more than that who want to sign up, I'd be glad to hold two meetings. Let me know.

photo by Angela

I'd like to give a shout out to The Basket Sampler, located at 1449 S Milford Road, Suite C Highland, MI 48357, where most of the basket supplies were purchased. They have a great selection of reed, handles, colored reed, sea grass, classes and anything else you would need for basket weaving. Call for hours 248-889-8600 or e-mail Kathy the owner at kathy@thebasketsampler.com

this is Angela

I'd also like to thank my friend Angela Madden who takes most of the Farm Girl photos as I am usually too busy running around. Angela is a talented photographer who specializes in weddings, senior portraits, sporting events, family settings and even band album covers. Visit her site by clicking here http://www.facebook.com/pages/AM-Photography/116037307770   

As a side note, I am two Farm Girl Meeting posts behind. We had great meetings in January and February too that I'd like to share with everyone. I promise to get those posted soon.

CC Post: Eight Egg Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Check out my latest Community Chickens post Eight Egg Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. It's a great recipe for using up extra eggs from your hens this spring.

Amazing Bald Eagle, Live Stream

My friend Stacy just forwarded me this amazing link with a live stream video of a Bald Eagle sitting on her nest. Check it out. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/decorah-eagles

Just Bragging!

So I'm probably just bragging at this point, but I don't care. There the cutest stinking chicks I've ever seen. I think they take after their mamma. He he!!! (Me, I mean, ahem...)

For those of you who missed the webcam of the chicks being born here are some recap photos, cause who doesn't want to look at cute pictures of chicks? (Ok boys, I mean chickens, ahem...) 

Ok, this one's not so cute.

Getting better.

Awe!!!! Being born is tough work!

It never gets old. Every spring we go through this, and I still can't stop myself from staring at them.

They're getting so big. It's like they were born last week. Wait...?

And every once in a while I get to see things like this. And then I just want to brag!!!

Wild Wednesday Weekly Poll

Day before yesterday I was out in the garden snipping bits of garlic greens from the newly emerging shoots from last Autumn's planting, and today we have 2 inches of snow on the ground! Ah, Michigan!

Spring has to be coming though right? I mean, we're not skipping it this year are we? One thing is for sure, the migratory birds are making their way back. We've already seen Robins, Blue Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Woodducks and Mallards. The raccoons are out of hibernation, there are rabbits everywhere and it will only be a matter of time before we start to see babies.

All around the country the seasons change in different glorious ways. When we were in Maine in the Fall, we had just missed the Puffins, and if I remember right, the Humpback Whales were moving out of the bay. Nature provides us with so many signs as the seasons continuously move from one into another. I thought it might be interesting to generate some conversation as to what signifies spring in your neck of the woods. To help, I have a weekly poll that you can participate in. Feel free to elaborate, tell your favorite Spring stories, leave comments, and as always pictures are welcome!!

Maple Syrup Success!

We did it! This weekend we boiled down some of our sap.

So far, we have around 15 gallons between our two large maples.

We boiled down about a gallon or two and got around a pint. Our syrup has a definite maple flavor, but it has slight notes of honey. We're thinking is due to the fact that we tapped a Red Maple as opposed to a Sugar Maple. But it's delicious!

My brother, niece and nephew came over to watch the fun. They stayed the night and we had pancakes and homemade breakfast sausage the next morning with our syrup.

Egg SIgn

Day before yesterday we brought up 32 eggs. And while I have a few regulars, the need to spread the word that we are selling eggs is growing. Each week the containers of eggs reaches a new height in the refrigerator. So I'm going old school. We made a sign to hang on the mail box at the intersection down the road. Our part of the street doesn't exactly get a lot of traffic.

The small red signs will dangle from eye hooks.

Indian Springs Maple Syrup Demonstration

I'm settling down after the chicks being born, and thought I would post about something other than chickens for a change. (I forget sometimes that not everyone in the world is as obsessed with them as I am, ha!)

Our mission to get maple syrup continues. After our last flop attempt at tapping maple trees (see Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber Tap Maple Trees) we decided that we needed some professional assistance. So we attended the Indian Springs Maple Syrup Demonstration. 

We started the day at the nature center in a classroom setting where we learned the history of the maple syruping process and how it has changed over the years. Starting with the Chippewa Indians (which I'm part) and how they constructed buckets and boiling systems by heating rocks and adding them to the syrup containers.

Then we learned how the settlers changed this system with the introduction of metal buckets and spigots. And finally how the large production companies make maple syrup today.

One of the most interesting things we learned is that there is a very small area in the world where maple syrup can be tapped. It is a state wide range including Michigan, Wisconsin, some of southern Canada and a few of the New England states. This is the only place in the world where the change in temperatures throughout the day produces the unique phenomenon which forces the sap to flow.

We also learned about the different grades of syrup starting with fancy, then the different A and B varieties. We also learned that Mrs. Buttersworth, and syrups of a similar variety, are made of corn syrup with artificial maple flavoring.

The most helpful lesson we learned (ahem) was how to identify a maple tree in the spring where there are no leaves present. There is an acronym that can help in this identification process. MADHorse stands for Maples, Ash, Dogwood and Horse Chestnut. These are a select group of trees where the branches grow parallel to each other. Most other trees, the branches are staggered. Another way to identify a maple is by looking at it's bark. The bark on a maple has flat vertical panels and it usually is splitting open on one side.

Turns out we were right to begin with. The tree we originally tapped was in fact a maple. We were just a little too early. It's flowing now!

After we left the classroom, we headed out on the trail to find a maple. Indian Springs provided a great display of historic mock ups along the way, demonstrating how the maple syrup collection has changed over the years.

It was a great spring walk through the woods with the sounds of tricking melted snow, Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes returning on their migration from the south.

The group of us had to identify and agree on a maple tree. Then one member of the group was allowed to tap the tree. We all got to taste the sap. It was slightly sweet and mildly woodsy-maple flavored.

After we tapped, we walked further down the path to the boiling system. It smelled WONDERFUL!! A hearty combination of  campfire and maple scented steam. We watched as the syrup boiled down and then we were able to taste the delicious syrup!

For more information visit: http://www.michigan.org/Property/Detail.aspx?p=g7993
Fee: $3 per person. 1-800-477-3192 or 248-625-7280.

7 out of 7

We had a very successful hatch!! 7 out of 7 eggs came into this world yesterday. The last one needed some assistance. The other chicks in the incubator had jostled her around so much that her legs were through but the rest of her was stuck inside the shell. Because her legs were out, there was nothing for her to press against to force the shell open. For some reason, the chicks were obsessed with laying on her egg so she not only had to break through her own egg shell, but move the weight of the chicks on top of her. Zach reached and cracked her shell a little for her and she popped out within seconds.

Due to popular request, I have the webcam up and running again on the chicks. I apologize for not having blogs with pictures lately, but as long as the web cam is running, I can't download the camera. 

Chick # 2 is Out!

Just happened, not more than 2 minutes ago. I think it looks like me. He!

We Have Life!

This brave little soul made his way into the world between 5:00 and 6:00 this morning. Hopefully her peeping and bouncing about will encourage her sisters to do the same. They will stay in the incubator until their feathers dry.

Breaking Through

I really thought that front egg would break through first. But I turned the incubator because there's a small chip on the second one to the right that it's been working on since 8:30 AM. I can also hear a faint peeping.

We Have Movement!

We have the video stream up a little earlier than we expected because there has been some definite wiggling. The largest egg, in the front, has been moving quite a bit. We will see? Literally, we ALL will see, thanks to the web cam. Enjoy!! If you're on, and you see something interesting, feel free to leave a comment.

Hatching Day Reminder

Be sure to tune in this Sunday March 13th through the 14th to view the live stream video of the chicks hatching. It will be in the upper right hand column of the blog. The chicks should start stirring Sunday afternoon. Can't wait! I've never been so excited for a Sunday night to come??

Reader's Favorite Moments

Ken from the Upper Peninsula, Mi. sent this great collection of photos from his homestead way up north.

These are his 5 Red X,

and the Wyandotte rooster "Buster"

The beautiful flower images are from his wife Jo's lovely flower garden.

Ken has a great site with a beautiful collection of photography. Check it out at http://kenpekareksr.zenfolio.com/

Thanks Ken for sending in your images!

Have a favorite farm, crafting, nature, cooking or just plain fun photo that you'd like to share and see on Iron Oak Farm page? Please send your favorite Readers Moments to jenniferannmurphy@yahoo.com
Be sure to include your name and where you're from, a small caption is always good too.
If you have a website I'll link you up, if you link me too.