The Eagle Tree

Making whole wheat bread
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I was making some Honey Wheat Bread ( recipe in Whole Wheat Honey Bread post ) one afternoon when Paul, my husband, came home early from work and whisked us off to see something special. He wouldn't tell us what it was. Last time he showed us a whole herd of llama and another large herd of deer grazing just around the country corners of our neighborhood. I was excited to see what he had in mind.  My hands were caked with flour. But there wasn't time to clean up. I knew by experience everything  changes quick around here and I best get going.

The camera and coats were pulled of the hooks by the kitchen door. We hopped in the white F250 Ford Truck and headed on down the road. The truck turned into the driveway of the farm on 3000 North.  Paul pointed off into the distance. "Eagles!"  The Eagle Tree boasted 4 or more Bald Eagles looking out over the snowy alfalfa fields for food. I tried to get a picture but they looked like tiny dots in the lens. Paul took the camera and took off to get a closer view. As Ricky and I waited in the truck, Paul climbed over the green gate and made his way down the lane. It was a long walk down the lane. There was a wind break of tall red winter willows to his left. The dirt was wet and soft from the melting snow. He approached the end of the lane and turned right towards The Eagle Tree till he got to a fence. We saw him snap some pictures.

Three Bald Eagles in the old elm tree.
Iron County, Utah
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We saw him turn south past the fencing and kneel down amongst some rabbit bush. "What is he doing, Grandma?" asked Ricky. Just then we could see the beautiful chestnut red horse approaching him. "Grandpa has a way with horses" I said. And we watched him do his magic.

After some loving pats on the horses nose and neck and some kind affectionate questions, he snapped a picture of the horse. The eagles wings spread open and off they flew in to the sky. He and his new horse friend, wandered back down the lane together. The horse knew his boundaries and stopped halfway down the lane and returned to his pasture.

When we got home I cut the bread dough in half and let it rise on a tray near the floor heater in the living room. In an hour I slipped the loaves into the hot oven. Everyone knows the smell of home baked bread. The house was filled with the scent of it. For dinner we had hot soup, homemade bread and a high spirited conversation as we recalled how grandpa came home and whisked us off to The Eagle Tree.

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Deborah Moen
www.littleutahfarm.blogspot.com

Until next time,

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Three Bald Eagles In Tree Cozy Throw Blanket
by LittleUtahFarm

Three Bald Eagles In Tree Cozy Throw Blanket
by LittleUtahFarm

Cold Weather Arrives at Little Utah Farm

So far we have gotten some heavy and fast hail
which turned most places white in 8 minutes.

The cold has come to Little Utah Farm.   The temps range from 30s to 12 degrees. Taking care of the animals is much different in cold temperatures.



The girls (hens and ducks) are hungry in the morning and I find having it all ready to put down in the morning works best for all of us.  In the evening after I put the ducks and hens to bed, I prepare their morning feast of scratch, feed, and sunflower seeds and a few dried mealworms and put in the feed bin with a tight lid. I fill the  water buckets and put them inside by the back door for next morning, so they do not freeze. I feed again in the afternoon around 2:30pm well before the sun goes down and the colder temps set in.


Those dried meal worms are eaten up fast. They miss their moths, and other bugs that they hunt  in warmer weather.

The chickens  and ducks are snug
in their coop during the winter.

The infrared lamps in the coop were dusted off tightened into position and connected. That gets turned on at 15 degrees. Some chicken owners say wait till below zero but I draw the line at 15 F. Some of you might even gasp at that temperature but the  girls run really hot. If you bury your finger into their feathers you can feel the heat they give off. Those feathers are like a super down coat. They fluff their feathers out to insulate the cold from coming in. The hens and ducks have a big coop. They roost in a small compartment which blocks the icy winds and rain and snow. Chickens do adapt to cold weather just like the swallows, robins, and doves who winter here.



Just a note: I raised my first hens in Southern California. I did not know much about them. When it got 60 degrees I turned the lamps on for them. Which is crazy wrong. But we learn as we go along. When I got to Utah I turned the lamps on at 40. then the following year, 30, then later, 20. Now it is 15. I see that the more adapt I am to the cold the more I realize the hens are too. I also came to this by reading many articles on the subject.



 The heating element was placed inside the water trough for the llamas. Llamas have a common dung pile and 90% of the corral stays very clean. In the cold, rain and snow those lines  get out of the normal parameters and the llamas manure pile extends out to the north east of the corral. Come summer the manure pile shrinks back to the southeast.

The whole herd of llamas fits ncely
inside a 3 sided shelter during a snow storm

 Llamas have a 3 sided shelter to keep out of the elements when they need to. the shelter is big enough to house 6 llamas comfortably.



The way we deal with the water and hoses is much different in the below freezing temperatures. After using the water, I have to drain the hose, disconnect it from the spigot, and put a special cover to keep the water from freezing.




As for me I have outfitted myself with nice thermal under layers. 3-4 layers of clothing keeps me warm in single digits and below freezing. These are not heavy layers at all. I can move about quite freely. It is the gloves I feel clumsy with. So hard to manipulate tiny jobs with those heavy gloves. An ungloved hand can get real cold, numb and painful so I keep those gloves on.

A nice big red barn.

I would love a nice big red barn that is connected to the house by an underground pass. I have that picture in my mind always and it makes me happy. I love to dream.
After all, dreaming got me here to Little Utah Farm.

Frost gathered on the alfalfa
and the drying corn stalks.

I take advantage of the mild waves of remaining warmth during the day to finish cutting the cornstalks and making a corn shock from my field of dried cornstalks. I am also layering cardboard, manure, kitchen scraps and leaves for good garden soil and no weeds. It did wonders for the clay soil.

Layers of cardboard, manure,
kitchen scraps, straw, and leaves.

Here is my blog post Winter Layers For My Garden which shows how to layer cardboard, manure, leaves and straw to keep the weeds down and also make rich soil.

That is it for now...

Deborah Moen
Little Utah Farm

Thank you for visiting us at Little Utah Farm


Until next time,

Enjoy your life, gather your blessings, and cherish each day.

First Storm Of Autumn

First Storm of Autumn

It was only 7:30 pm. The clouds were so dark it looks like night time. You can still see daylight as the sun sets in the distance. 


A very frightened large bird (unidentified) squawks and I have captured the bird with my camera as it made it's way across the sky. You can see the bird above the house in the medium dark clouds at the top of the photo. You may need a magnifying glass.

The lightening was flashing one after the other even lit up the front of the house.
Here is a short video which I took.




This storm lasted all night and into the early morning. There was lightening, thunder, wind and rain with some snow up in the higher elevations. 

Deborah Moen
 of Little Utah Farm

Thank you for visiting us at Little Utah Farm  

Until next time,

Enjoy your life, gather your blessings, and cherish each day. 

Pioneer Boulangerie Lemon Cake

Pioneer Boulangerie Lemon Cake

My Mother loved lemon desserts so I found this recipe to make for her birthday. I quickly chose this recipe because it sounded so good and this lemon cake is not only good it is scrumptious ! And 30 years later we are still making it and giving away the recipe. The picture above was taken by my daughter after she herself made this Pioneer Boulangerie Lemon Cake.

 I found that the Pioneer Boulangerie is a world-renowned French cafe.  So here you go lemon lovers. This is easy and fun to make.  Bon Appetit !



PIONEER BOULANGERIE LEMON CAKE 

1 (1 lb. 2.5 oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix
1 (3 3/4 oz.) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix
4 eggs
3/4 c. oil
3/4 c. water

Lemon Icing

Combine yellow cake and lemon pudding mixes with eggs, oil and water and mix well 2 to 3 minutes with mixer. Turn into ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove from oven. While warm, pierce surface of cake with tines of fork or poke with a straw and pour lemon icing ( recipe below) evenly over cake. Makes 12 to 15 servings.

LEMON ICING

1 (1 lb.) box powdered sugar
2/3 c. lemon juice
2 tbsp. melted butter
2 tbsp. water

Combine powdered sugar, lemon juice, butter and water and beat with mixer until smooth. After poking holes, pour over cake while still warm.

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Enjoy the turning of the season,

Deborah Moon Moen
of Little Utah Farm

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Come and visit Beau, a Black Baldface
pet calf on pillows. He is a cutie. His mom is a Hereford and his daddy a Black Angus. Here is in front of the full moon and starry skies.

Calf Moon and Stars Square Pillows
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It's Time to Buy Hay

Big bales of grass hay for the llamas. 

Yes it is that time of year when we go get hay. We get it as soon as our hay supplier bales it. These big bales of hay each weigh 1,200 lbs each. We bought 6 of them in October 2017 to last until June 2018. We are buying 6 bales again today.


 The llamas eat more in the winter yet the hay lasted 2 months longer than expected. What a blessing !


When the last morsel of this hay was fed to the llamas, August 12, I couldn't help but sing a ceremonious song of gratitude for the hay, the earth, the man who planted it, cut it, and baled it and also for my husband that went to pick it up in the trailer and stacked these giant hay bales behind the llama shelter. 


The last bit of the hay was as green and fresh as when we bought it last October. 

Deborah Moon Moen
of Little Utah Farm

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Garden Pizza-Like Zucchini

Grey Zucchini

Here is a great idea for those big zucchini you get from your garden. Use the ones that are still fleshy inside and the seeds are still tender. We are going to make Pizza ! This is the kind of pizza you will eat with a fork. 

This zucchini was 4" in diameter.

1. Cut 1/4 " slices. ( For me 6 slices fit my baking sheet) My slices were 4" in diameter.

2. Oil the slices and lay on a foil lined baking sheet.

3. Set foil lined baking sheet with oiled zucchini slices in oven 6" under broiler and broil for 2-4 minutes on each side (I am at 6,000 ft elev. so it took 4 minutes) begin watching at 2 minutes.

Take out and cool. You can eat them like this. Add some salt and pepper yum* or...

4. Next put a spoonful of spaghetti sauce on each one ( I cut up some canned Italian stewed tomatoes .)

5. Put a slice of mozzarella cheese to fit on top of each slice. ( I only had Colby) 

6. Broil 2-4 minutes. start watching those at 2 minutes and remove when just beginning to brown. 

Take out of the oven and cool on a rack for 5 minutes. They are very good. 

Garden Pizza-Like Zucchini

Use a spatula to carefully remove from the baking sheet and place on a plate and enjoy. 

Just think of the toppings you can put on this. What comes to mind is a thin slice of homegrown tomato, genoa salami, and a slice of cheese. What about bacon and bleu cheese ? Many possibilities. 

Deborah Moon Moen
of Little Utah Farm

Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm
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Until next time, celebrate the autumn equinox, count your blessings, and enjoy your days. 






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A Milestone For Me On Little Utah Farm

A Milestone For Me On Little Utah Farm.

Living on this Little Utah Farm, has been a great teacher. I have learned a lot about myself and life in these past 9 1/2 years.  Here is one such lesson.

I was born and raised in Southern California. I lived where the scent of roses filled the air and the green foliage, grasses, plants, trees, and mild weather thrived and continued all year long. I remember putting seeds or a new plant in the ground and it would thrive. We could plant most all year through.

When we moved to Utah we entered into a whole different world of  landscapes and we met with the 4 seasons. My garden and the surrounding land were barren and brown to this California Girl. A Green Deficit sent me into a flurry of collecting artificial trees and flowers. It was the best idea I could come up with besides patience.

It took quite a few years, but I came to see the spiritual beauty in the 4 seasons, I began to feel the changes deep in my soul.  There was meaning to the Colors and waning of Autumn, the white stillness of winter, the awakening of spring, and the flourishing of summer.

The garden on Little Utah Farm is flourishing. 

Yesterday, I went into the shed to get a weeding tool and my eye caught a dusty old artificial pine tree in the corner. I laughed out loud at my old feeling of panic and the Green Deficit as my garden and the surrounding land is now bursting with all the goodness summer can hold. What was once a life savor for my sorrow was now ready for the trash.

I lifted the top section of the tree and then the base and carried it out to the trash. I thought and wondered how could I ever think this would substitute for the beauty and splendor my garden has shown me.  I put the lid down on the trash can and a big smile sprouted on my face as I brushed the dirt and dust from my hands. This is indeed a milestone, real growth for me as I continue to learn on Little Utah Farm.



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Deborah Moon Moen
from Little Utah Farm

Corn: Thin and Toss or Transplant?

The corn grows higher each day. 

Nope couldn't do it. I couldn't pluck out those beautiful corn plants and let them wither and die. Each seed I planted had sprouted. I owe that not only to the rich soil, but also to waiting until the weather warmed. Today was the day I had to decide what to do. My decision was to transplanted the crowded plants make my rows longer ! 

I followed these easy steps to transplant them: 

1. I watered the plants and soil for easy removal. 
2. I dug a new hole 8-12" from the last corn plant
3. carefully cut down into the soil about 5" around the corn plant for transfer
4. gently lifted the corn plant out of the ground supporting it with my hand trowel/shovel
5. carefully placed the corn plant in the hole
6. put soil around the plant
7. tamped down the soil a bit
8. watered the soil around the transplanted corn and blessed it.

I did these 8 steps with each plant I transferred. 



Every scoop of soil I dug had families of earthworms, little babies to adult size. And thankfully they all came out whole. I laid them to the side and they quickly returned to the earth. That lasagna or layering method of composting I tried last autumn/early winter, has turned that clay into moist rich nutrient laden soil that the earthworms love. You ought to try this. It is a game changer. Gardening is a breeze with good soil. Here is the link for that post, Winter Layers For My Garden

 

DeborahMoonMoen
of Little Utah Farm

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Smiling Pumpkin Vintage Halloween Greeting Card
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Dust Bath !

Hens taking a dust bath. 

The coop door opened and 8 hens ran for the corner where the soil was warm and sandy. Must have felt so good. It was one of our first warm days since winter. They stayed in that dirt for some time soaking up the rays and dusting their bodies and feathers.


Dust baths are a way for chickens to keep clean.   It also keeps those pests at bay.  The dust will clog the pores and suffocate any pests hitching a ride. It is a natural pesticide.


Watch video: Here is our hens inside the coop taking dust baths. 

Dust baths are a kind of self-care for chickens.

If your chickens do not have a place to take dust baths you can create one for them. 

You can use, for example, an old apple crate, 14" plastic tub, galvanized tub or just dig out an area and fill it with the following base.

A good base is:
Equal amounts of

• dry clean dirt ( fertilizer, pesticide free)
• clean builders sand

That is enough but 
You can also add:

• ash/charcoal ( NO Lighter fluid !) -Charcoal has vitamin K for blood clotting and also calcium and magnesium. charcoal is a laxative and helps remove toxins and the ash and charcoal also absorbs toxins.
• dried ground lavender, mint, and rosemary are good insect repellents
• dried yarrow is an anti-inflammatory and clears up respiratory issues as do thyme and rosemary. 

If your dust bath area is outdoors think of adding an umbrella or canopy to keep it dry.

Chickens taking a dust bath are fun to watch. They peck at the ground to loosen the dirt and maneuver their wings to fluff the dirt up over them.  When the are done with their bath they will stand walk away and give a big shake shake, like a dog shakes off water, and a big cloud of dust will come off of them.

You do not have to have a formal dust bath for free range chickens. They will find a place and make it suitable for their dust bath. Here is our hen, Angel, settling down on some bare ground to have a dust bath. I had music playing on my phone and wind chimes in the background. Made it kind of like a spa atmosphere.

Watch video of Angel take her dust bath

DeborahMoonMoen
Little Utah Farm

Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm
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Until next time...

image by Paul de Bruin
 Freeimages.com

Two little girls are talking
1st girl: Does your family pray before you eat dinner?
2nd girl: Nope my mom knows how to cook.