BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Believing in yourself is the first step to making your dreams come true. Other forces would have us believe that we are who we are and there is nothing we can do about it. Certain people in our lives need to CHANGE before our dreams come true or before we are HAPPY. It's too hard or what's the point? No matter who we are or what circumstances we are in, I believe that we have the capacity to become GREAT individuals.

COCKADOODLEDO

ROOSTERS come in all varieties, colors, an attitude. I thought a rooster was a rooster was a rooster. Oh no, this particular rooster is called a Brahma. This one is my favorite that I've seen so far. My daughter Kimberly and her husband Kent have around 40 chickens and several hens. Lance went up a few weeks ago and helped her put sideing on the chicken coop and designed an awesome star burst above the door...photos later. Anyway, this rooster literally struts his stuff. He is bigger than all the other roosters and he knows it.


Chickens have a pecking order also which I did not know. I'd heard of the pecking order and didn't realize that it is a real thing in the chicken world. I was swinging with Mya watching Kimberly and Lance work on the chicken coop. Watching these birds was so intrigueing especially when it came time to eat and then the pecking order began. The big birds went first eating out of their large round bird feeder that sits on the ground. After a few minutes some of the other smaller chickens wondered over and lined up like they were waiting to buy tickets, one after the other. I noticed one chicken struttin over towards the feeding dish and tried slidding in along side of the fence thinking he was going to pull one over on the rest. As soon as he got to the fence and stretched his long neck to try and snatch some food the other roosters all at once freaked out and pecked at that chicken, sqaulking the entire time and ran him right out of there.
I yelled out "On my gosh, did you see that?" Like it was big news. Lance said, "Yes Debbie that is called the pecking order." I yelled back, "That is just mean." They both laughed at me. I could tell right then and there I would not do well on a farm . Every animal and bird would have to be nice to each other and wait their turn. Not gunna happen obviously. So I just sat on the swing taking pictures of these interesting birds.
I noticed that some would move out of the way when other birds were strutting towards them, and others would squawk and lunge towards them and peck. Yeh, totally an attitude with some of these chickens. I decided to walk over to the the food barrell and get a scoop of their feed and scatter it around on the ground to see what would happen. Well the minute I pulled the scoop out of the barrell (red in color) all chicken and hens started strutting towards me. Interesting how they were so familiar with the red scoop. I mean these are just chickens, how smart can they be? I scattered the feed over the ground and all started eating.
The big Brahma Rooster that I love cocked his head up from clear across the yard and hi-tailed it over to get his share I'm sure. Several of the other chickens immediatly scattered out of his way to give him room to pig out, the big brute!

Off to the side of me I took note of three speckeled Brahma Birds all digging a big hole, dust going everywhere. Then they all in unison wiggeled their plump bodies down into the soft cool earth, totally ignoring all the other chickens and roosters who were scarfing on the feed. They were doing their own thing and keeping to themselves. I asked Kim what was up with these three chickens. She said that they bought them when they were little chicks. They all came from the same litter and have stayed together ever since. How adorable I thought. I watched them for awhile as they keep getting up trying to get comfortable, when the big Brahma Rooster strutted over to the three other Brahma chickens who were working so hard to get their hole big enough so all three could snuggle down together. He thought he was going to get into the action. He started pushing dirt away from their hole with his feet and the three of them stood up and ran him off. I laughed so hard. "I am totally being intertained by a bunch of chickens and roosters!

Most of the laying hens go into the coop to lay their eggs. However there are some who much prefer to lay their eggs in grassy areas around the chicken coop, like under the black berry bushes, or under the apple tree where the grass grows high, or just under a bunch of tall weeds. When I help gather the eggs I always need to check all the other laying areas It is so fun to see the different colors of eggs they lay. The Brahma Hens lay blue and green eggs. The hens that Kim calls her Mrs. Dash hens because they are speckeled with all different colors, lay dark brown and tan eggs. They also gather orange color eggs.

So far I have learned that they have, Brahma, Wyanndotts, Rhoad Island Reds, Red Star, Americana, and Mrs. Dash hens and roosters.

Here are few of the pictures I have taken, most of the Big Brahma Rooster, because he is so cool looking....

Lots of chickens

I lay my eggs away from the other Hens. The coop is so messy!

"You ask, How can I stay so clean and fit in this coop of nincompoops!"

" My fluffiness is genetic but I still have to work at it."

"Humans, can't leave well enough alone, now I need to find a new spot!"

The triplets making their bed in the soft earth.

"Move on outta here Daddy'o, your not welcome"

"Fine! Who needs ya?"

"Move on over and give me some space!"

"That's more like it"

"Anyone want to hen peck the chickens?"

"Wait! What did I say?"


The chicken coop getting a face lift

Star burst looks great Lance

Nice work!

Kimberly loving the nail gun

Oooop's out of nails

DEEP DISH MEXICAN MEATZZA

I love to make soups and casseroles in the Fall and Winter. This one is Great.

Ingredients
2 boxes corn muffin mix, 8 1/2 ounces each (recommended: Jiffy)
2 eggs
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup frozen corn kernels
Extra-virgin olive oil or, vegetable oil, for drizzling
Topping:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin or vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons cayenne sauce( on the mexican food isle of store )
Salt
2 1/2 cups (10-ounce sack from dairy aisle) shredded Cheddar or jack cheese
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 small can, 2 1/4 ounces sliced chillies or jalapenos, drained
2 scallions, chopped
2 small vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons drained sliced green olives (salad olives)
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves, optional garnish (I did not use this because they make you buy a large bunch and you only need a few sprigs)
taco sauce or favorite salsa to put on top (Set on table)
Sour cream ( set on table)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix together 2 packages muffin mix with 2 eggs, 4 tablespoons melted butter (melt in microwave 30 seconds), 1 1/2 cups milk and frozen corn kernels. Wipe a nonstick skillet with a little extra virgin or vegetable oil and pour in the muffin mix. Use a large skillet, 10 to 12 inch. Choose a pan with oven safe handle or, double-wrap handle with foil to protect it in the oven. Place pan in oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes in center of the oven until light golden in color.

Brown the meat over medium high heat in a second skillet in extra virgin or vegetable oil. Add onions and spices and cook meat 5 minutes more.

Remove cornbread from oven and top with meat, cheese, and veggies. Add pan back to oven and cook 5 minutes more to melt cheese. Garnish with cilantro, optional. Cut into 8 wedges and serve the deep dish pan pizza from the skillet. Pass taco sauce at the table to sprinkle on top.
Sorry I didn't take a picture.

GOD LOVES US ALL

Joseph Smith, The Prophet “[God] never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of His law and ordinances."

I Hate Death!

Today my heart was heavy as I thought of a family sitting in a hospital room watching their father, husband , grandfather, great grandfather and brother fighting for his life. He just recently under went two brain surgeries to remove two clots that had formed after he fell in his home hitting his head. This has left him so fragile and weak. He has survived many surgeries over his life time, and had many medical problems which never took away his whit, smile and twinkle in his eyes.
This is a man whom I have grown to love and admire over the 10 years that I have worked with his wife and his daughter. He was a beautiful craftsman building kitchen cabinets and anything else that was needed. Always helping around the office fixing this and that to keep all us women happy.
Now he lay in a hospital bed, his lungs have filled up with fluid, is on oxygen and is unable to speak or move. Weak and tired yet anxious when he hears the voices of his family. They are cautioned not to talk and let him rest. How frustrating for them!
During the day today as I was working he was declining rapidly.
I'm thinking of his loving family tonight as they await his final breath, burning his memory in their minds as they say goodbye.

What is this thing called DEATH?

By President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008)
What is this thing that men call death, This quiet passing in the night? ’Tis not the end, but genesis Of better worlds and greater light.
O God, touch Thou my aching heart, And calm my troubled, haunting fears. Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure, Give strength and peace beyond my tears.
There is no death, but only change With recompense for victory won; The gift of Him who loved all men, The Son of God, the Holy One.

I am grateful for the knowledge that there is a life after death that goes on for the eternities. A life that allows families to be together again. A life that allows us to continue to work on our imperfections. A life where imperfect bodies are made perfect in Him. And with this knowledge comes a drive and ambition to keep my covenants I made at baptism and also in the Temple. To be a good example to all mankind and serve Him all the days of my life.

I will miss this wonderful man.