The puppies are little dogs already, the follow me outside, and then go exploring. Seen 2 have an interest in the chickens, and the chickens are not sure about these little black and white things that block the doorway into the garage so that they can't get in to eat their dry dogfood ! Tank, the largest pup is a boy with the widest white stripe down his face, heads straight for the tap area against the back of the house, and you can hardly see him for the chickens.
Anni will happily play catch with me all day, she tirelessly brings me her frizzbee again and again, or a stick, any stick. She often catches the frizzbee in mid-air which I think is rather cool.
I dropped 1/2 gallon of cream in the feed room in the lower barn today, damn. I scooped cream out of the large milk container, and set the full jar on the straw bale, and then it tipped over. Had to re-scoop a 1/2 gallon for Jim, let Anni have 3 licks, and then opened the door to the lower barn so that the cats could come and clean it up.
Bandit sneaked into the house this morning. Thought he had, but can never find him as he hides in the basement, but when I went through the tunnel to get the cream, he followed me. Caught him, put him in the barn, Mischka is lying in a flower pot under the lounge windowsill, and everytime I open the sliding door, her head pops up as she assesses whether she will be allowed in or not. Major came inside this morning when I left the door open, but shoots out when I shout.
Picked up bones from Jones yesterday, the first time since before we had Midnight processed there, and gave the dogs one each, including one for each puppy. They took their treasures and disappeared to different corners of the garage to gnaw away. Cut some rib bones to puppy size for them and popped them into the freezer. But forgot to give them one each tonight ! Oh well, there is always tomorrow. Their new owners are going think everything I do for them is crazy, but it takes about an hour for a dog to chew a frozen raw bone, and it's good for them. Made another batch of food for them today, they could probably eat the whole bowl in one sitting. Miss Spencer, I'll send you my recipe by e-mail, although the quantities I make are huge - 8 lbs hamburger etc etc, and it depends on what I have on hand, and on what's going cheap.
It's raining, but expected to warm up to the mid 50s for 2 days, then drop back down to the 20s. That's Michigan. Herbie has just arrived home. I made him a new yoghurt flavour as a surprise : Coffee / Anise. Fortunately, he likes it.
Going to process chickens at the end of January. Have a few pre-orders, so that's good. Herbie wants me to mush up some chicken and make chicken nuggets. I suppose the meat grinder could handle that. I make grilled chicken which I freeze as it's easy for pizza etc.
Discovered Ammonia some time back for cleaning the grates on the gas stove. Works like a charm. Put the grates into a zippy plastic bag with a piece of folded paper towel with some ammonia on it. Close the bag and leave overnight, and then wash in the morning. Easy, virtually no scrubbing required. Pity I can't fit the bottom plates into baggies ! So the stove is sparkling clean, at least for a day or two.