Landen's Concert last night was a Hugh participation  of 650 children with several counties represented. Sponsored by Western Ky. University.  Landen plays the violin. Doesn't he look smart in his black pants and tie?

Landen has been looking forward to this moment for a year. Grandpa bought him a pipe over a year ago. This is the moment he has been waiting for. Not to worry mommy; he is just puffing.  Aren't they a pair!

FROZEN SNICKERS PIE

1 GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
8 FULL SIZE SNICKER BARS
1/2 CUP PEANUT BUTTER
1/4 CUP HEAVY CREAM
12OZ. COOL WHIP

IN A SAUCEPAN MELT 6 SNICKERS WITH PEANUT BUTTER AND HEAVY CREAM ON LOW HEAT. FOLD IN 8OZ. COOL WHIP. POUR INTO GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST. PUT REMAINING COOL WHIP ON TOP OF PIE AND THE 2 LEFT OVER CANDY BARS.

Swarm Behavior

A swarm of bees sometimes frightens people, though the bees are usually not aggressive at this stage of their life cycle. This does not mean that bees from a swarm will not attack if they perceive a threat; however, most bees only attack in response to intrusion against their colony. Swarming creates a vulnerable time in the life of honey bees. A swarm will starve if it does not quickly find a home and more nectar stores. Swarming is to the beekeeper what losing all of his calves is to a cattleman. I know my hive will continue to flourish and supply us with honey. Just a small interruption at the time.

SWARMING

It happens every spring. Swarming is a natural thing. A new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees, a process called SWARMING! This swarm can contain thousands to tens of thousands of bees. As you can see from the first picture displayed above, the swarm does not fly far at first. David and I were scurrying around to assemble the third hive thinking they might settle in there. The cluster sends 20 to 50 scout bees out to find a suitable new nest location. A swarm  may fly a mile or more to the scouted location. A few hours later my bees went west into the woods never more to be seen. Part 2 continued Monday!

 

A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July isn't worth a fly.

All We Get For Lunch Today

Thank you Michelle Obama! Outraged over mandatory new school lunch guidelines that restrict calorie intake to a mere 850 calories per meal, as well as cutting out all sorts of common foods in the process. What these kids need is activity. They need to be out playing instead of texting, computer punching and watching the old tube. Its a good thing my children are grown. I would have a fit of sorts for these school lunches consisting of a bleached flour tortilla with a small piece of processed meat and a carton of pasteurized, homogenized and likely hormone and antibiotic ridden milk. You call this lunch? Not by my standards! 

 

Eggs Are The Perfect Brain Food

Mother Nature put the egg together the way she did for a reason. Egg yolks and the white contain more than fifteen different vitamins and minerals , not to mention some of the highest quality protein on the planet. Free range eggs from chickens who are allowed to scratch, roam freely and eat green grasses, weeds and seeds give you the perfect balance of Omega 3's and will keep the cholesterol circulating in the blood and prevent it from depositing in the arteries. Eggs are a valuable food providing excellent protein, vitamins and minerals. You have permission to eat and enjoy free range eggs daily.

 

Family Easter Picture

What a beautiful day! Sunday was sunny with temps in the low 80's. Perfect weather for an Easter egg hunt filled with sweets and money..  Easter lunch consisted of chicken, pork, ham and all the dressings. Desserts to die for. Banana pudding, apple pie, cobblers, cupcakes, etc. etc. As you see, we are all smiles.

Happy Easter

Should my new baby chicks stay in the coop with their mother and the other chickens, or should they go in a brooder with a heat lamp? It is your choice. But Sunshine has tried 4 times to hatch eggs, so there was no way I was going to take these 5 chicks from her. One born on Easter Saturday and four on Easter Sunday.To me, one advantage to the hen raising the chicks is that Mama takes care of basic integration. When she weans those chicks, the rest of the flock accepts them as flock members. She teaches them to be chickens, she provides heat and takes care of their basic needs. I love to watch her. To see a Mama hen take care of her babies is heart warming. Don't you just wish life could be this simple?

Flower Bed Edging

 

I love this time of year, when its warm enough to tinker outside and spruce up the yard. I think adding these bricks to the front of the flower bed adds curb appeal. There seems to be an abundant amount of chores to get done. Weeding the flower beds is a big job here. I have 5 Hugh flower beds that have to be weeded every season. Along with weeding, comes allergy's. Goodness! Mine are full blown this time of year. I have been taking Claritin, and find it is very helpful with the watery eyes and sneezes, along with the runny nose.  Today is a good day to work outside. So everyone have a Happy Easter and Blessings to all!

 

Happy Easter

With Easter only being 5 days away, I have been trying to figure out what to do for the boys this Easter. I was looking on marthastewart.com and she gave me the perfect idea. Take a pint or quart canning jar, and put a little grass in the bottom of the jar. Next, fill it up with treats. Like jelly beans, marshmallow eggs, chocolate bunnies and so on. The jar is chocked full of goodies, and with the boys being 9,10 and 12, these jars are a perfect fit.

U.S. Food Prices Up 19%

  Despite proclamations that the economy is improving, and that unemployment is down. One thing is evident, and that is food costs are soaring. Those most vulnerable, like the poor, the elderly and those earning the lowest wages, are being hurt the most. Sure prices are up because California's drought is limiting supply. Food prices rise in response to high gas prices. That's because transportation is a large cost of food you buy in the store. So, you see why I am always stressing to grow your own food. In a container on the patio, or in a garden spot you will help yourself, and your body to eat natural foods without chemicals, or pesticides.  



These 11 States Now Have More People On Welfare Than They Do Employed

 Alex is watching a Fantasy Figure Illustrator on the tube and following his instructions.

 David is painting his next masterpiece to take to the Gallery for all to see!

Dylan is playing the French horn at Van Meter for competition. 

This is quite a talented family. Wouldn't you agree!

The Golden Truth

For more than 50 years, Americans have never really thought twice about the value of our currency. But times are rapidly changing. And most Americans don't realize that the greatest weapon in our nation's arsenal is not our military. Obama has seen to that! Not our education system, but the simple fact that the U.S. dollar is the world's currency. As such, our money forms the basis of the global financial system. And banks around the world hold our dollars in reserve against their loans. That  is why for the past few decades, we have been able to print and borrow trillions of dollars, with no real negative impact. We are the only country in the world that does not have to pay for imports in a foreign currency. We can rack up enormous debts and then print more money. Actually play money, because when the game is over the money will be worth nothing. But this privilege could soon expire, because many of the most powerful countries around the world are looking for a new world reserve currency. And when the U.S. dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency, when we can no longer print money and borrow absurd sums without consequence, we are in TROUBLE!

Keeping Roosters Together

Rehoming a rooster can be difficult. This morning  I decided to let Steady Eddy out to sort things  with Chumly. As you can see, the roles have reversed. Chumly and Steady Eddy were flaring neck feathers, having jumping attacks with their legs, and spurs and feathers flailing. Chumly our Dominique was getting the worst end of it. Blood was spuming from his comb. I ended it, and put Chumly in time out. They are head to head through the cage. I am making sure I have a safe place for Chumly until the two of them decide to tolerate each other. Life in the chicken yard can be rough!

Look Around You At The Evidence Right In Front Of Your Eyes

I am on my philosophical side today. I had cataract surgery yesterday at Greenview Hospital. I had not been seeing very well out of my right eye, but ignored it for far too long, expecting my left eye to pick up all the duties. I finally went to the Ophthamogist  two weeks ago and he prescribed the surgery on my right eye. It was a success, but resting is a key to complete recovery. Now to get on the important subject. A modern young man growing up today in America, and living on processed foods is little more than a shadow of the strong vibrant young men who worked the farms just three generations ago. Today's generation of youth is pathetic, weak, academically inept, and heavily pampered with their video games, consoles, Ritalin drugs and air conditioned schools with watered down curriculum. In fact, the people all around you are over medicated, over fed and at the same time malnourished. What to do? Examine the truth! This is about how human civilization is being brought to its knees.    

Self-Sufficiency Has Gone Mainstream 

Which means that more and more people, including many urban dwellers, are looking for easy and effective ways to produce food and care for their families without having to rely on the system for sustenance. Since knowing where to start with all this is half the battle, here are some ideas to keep your family afloat in an unceasingly centralized and unstable world. Construct a backyard chicken coop for fresh eggs. If you have a handy guy like I do, he can slap up a chicken house in no time. Eggs can be used for bartering and chickens can be used for their meat. I don't know what I would be without my garden. It has brought us through many a winter. If you are noticing a trend here with food recommendations it's because proper nutrition is an absolutely essential component of long term survival, especially in an economy such as ours now. It never hurts to be safe than sorry. Plus fresh veggies are so good. So, lets get started and be more self sufficient. It is rewarding and good for the body and the mind!     

I Did It!

Actually, we did it. You need two people to accomplish this feat. One to hold the fencing and one to unroll it. Since I started raising chickens I have seen several chicken runs built using chain link and I wouldn't suggest it. Chickens can squeeze through the links and predators can pull chickens through the wire. Ouch! I bought my fencing online, and find a variety of product that you can have shipped directly to your door, with free shipping. I have been raising chickens for quite a few years now and I love them. They are great little pets and they lay such fresh tasting eggs. I have had a few disasters, but wouldn't change my beautiful birds for any amount of money! 

Mammoth Cave

Every year we all get together and enjoy a day at Mammoth Cave. Yesterday was that day. The weather was beautiful, and the temperature just right at 77 degrees. Central Kentucky's Cave Lands are home to underground beauty in Mammoth Cave National Park. The whole family can enjoy canoeing, trails, cave tours. lodging and eating at the lodge. The relaxed country atmosphere, and the abundant natural beauty will bring you back home to Kentucky's Cave Country over and over again!