Tuesday, October 25, 2011

New baby Kittens...

I have something new at my house! 2 baby kittens...2 weeks ago I found them in my chicken coop, it was a gift, well sorta....it was 7 o'clock at night and I went out to count my chickens and make sure they were in bed and kept hearing this mewing...I had a flashlight and flashed it all around and found one kitten and then the other....they were both black, same color as the dirt in the coop...I brought them in the house and then realized their  mother would surely be looking for them so I put them in a box and set them back outside by the chicken house...I waited as long as I possibly could (20 minutes) and then went back outside to check and see if their mother came back to find them...but they were still there....I brought them back onto the house and washed the little guys, they were the tiniest ..little.. cold sweetness's... I fed them milk through a straw, and kept them very warm the first night....the next day they got a trip to the vets and she told me I had a girl and a boy and that they were nearly starved to death...they weighed 8 ounces each...she fixed me up with baby bottles, baby milk and antibiotics...

This is the girl on her first day...about 4 weeks old...

the boy on his first day.....

this is them together....I called them Frick and Frack...I could not tell their gender or tell them apart...they are called feral cats, because they are wild...I feel bad for feral cats.. they don't belong anywhere...they are not wild animals and are not tame...they are domesticated cats that fend for themselves...they are afraid of humans...research says that you can tame a feral cat if they are under 10 weeks of age, after that you will never tame them...I see many of them around my house and yard....they live in the woods and blackberry bushes...

they have the sweetest little faces...they look identical...but...one has a blacker top of the head...I named him Jack...laid back Jack...The other one I named Elsa...after the lion in the movie Born Free...Elsa likes to look you right in the face and meow really loud, like a roar....

here is some of the gear you need to set up feeding baby kittens...kitten food, lots of rags...and a scale..they have to be weighed every day to make sure they are gaining weight....

and a fuzzy blanket to remind them of their mother....I don't have a picture of the litter box...but they started using it immediately after I got them...so glad they had that instinct!

bottles and kitten baby formula....

and hand soap...very important to wash your hands before and after handling them...

they sleep like this entwined in each others arms....

this is Elsa...they hold their bottle just like a baby does and they also burp....

they get a milk chin and have to have a washrag bath after they eat....

Jack likes to sleep in this heated cat bed and he....

presses his face into the bed as he sleeps....

this is Elsa's favorite...the cuddle blanket and she too presses her face in the blanket....

Today they are 6 weeks old and Jack is starting to drink his milk from a dish...he also eats baby food meat...but not Elsa...(.I know I have the ugliest floors in all the town..someday when my ship comes in I will have new)...

she likes to nibble on dry kibble....but both still drink a bottle of milk 4 times a day, today they weigh 20 ounces....They get to return to the vet today for some more antibiotics...they still have a little upper respiratory infection....they play and run, and are now exploring the house...however, if they are in a room by themselves they are lost and you have to go find them and bring them back to the bathroom and laundry room...aka..their bedroom and playroom...

I have a confession to make...I hated cats...I have not had one for 40 years...I thought they all should be eliminated from the world...I even claimed to be allergic to them, just so I wouldn't have to pet the little darlings when I visited someones house....

then these two little helpless creatures came along and I feel like I have been bitten by the 'cat lovebug'...I can't get enough of them...I think about them and worry about them and can hardly wait to get home to feed these two skeeziks...I am hopelessly devoted...

Cheers to Happy  !!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pulled Pork Chili...

pulled pork chili

This is such an easy and flavorful Chili...we make this at work, and although I should not give this recipe out (it just wouldn't be right) we have given samples of this Chili out at Chamber events and functions...I only know of one customer who reads my blog..and he would not tell a soul this secret recipe, would you Grant?...I didn't think so. ...It takes us about 5 hours in our convection ovens to cook...we make 2 1/2 gallons of it at a time....this folowwing recipe makes less than a gallon...it is so flavorful..the pork juice with the chili seasonings...perfect for fall...

Pulled Pork Chili
1 15 ounce can black beans
1 15 ounce can red kidney beans
1 15 ounce can pinto beans
1 15 ounce  can chopped tomato
1 15 ounce can of chicken stock
1 cup of chopped onion
1 pound lean pork
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin 
Put all ingredients in a crock pot, turn on high for 7 hours and low for 5 hours...or in the oven at 300 degree's for 5 hours....pull the pork apart into chunks...season with additional chili powder and salt and pepper....serve with shredded cheddar, sourcream and chopped tomato....


here is the ingredients...except the chicken stock...

everything in the crock pot including one big ice cube of homemade chicken stock....

12 hours later! Viola. it is finished!

place in bowls and serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped tomato...

Cheers to Happy  !!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The French Hen...

The French Hen

Today I went to lunch at a darling restaurant called the French Hen! It is located in Lakewood in Washington State....it is owned and operated by my cousin Edie...

This is Edie along with my Aunt Mary and my Mother....Edie came out to greet us, I had the feeling she greets many of her guests much the same way...she has a farm girl hospitality, coming from a large family in Montana and being raised on a farm...we came inside and I couldn't believe my eyes..this restaurant is so enchanting....

Everywhere you look, are little pockets of enchantment....

everything just kept kept getting cuter and cuter!

it is a good idea to call and make reservations...she fills up rather quickly...this is a very popular lunch spot..




she seated us, with a fresh glass of ice water with a mint leaf in it..I was in heaven! Our server was wonderful, she told us all the specials and let us pour over the menu trying to decide...she brought us samples of the soups of the day...she was so knowledgeable..

we ordered soup...this was Fire Roasted Vegetable...

and this was Asiago Bisque...





Yes I really took pictures of every ones food....everything was so wonderful...the coleslaw had a citrus cranberry dressing on it....

then the grand finale....a platter of samplings that is Edie's specialty...one of her many passions is making chocolates...she brought us Bavarian Cream, with strawberry sauce, in the crystal glasses and Pot de Creme served in little child's tea set cups...topped with fresh whipped cream...the chocolates were peppermint, grand mariner and salted Chocolate...the spoons were miniature also..and oh yes raspberries, fresh raspberries.....

I added this picture, because I loved it so and I wanted you to see the beautiful old china dishes we ate our desserts off of, in the picture also are my sister Candy and cousin Susan....after our dessert Edie took us on a tour of the restaurant...

these are some of her wonderful handmade chocolates...

she makes a cherry cordial ...it is one of her specialties...

I can't get enough of her sweet dishes....

wonderful handmade desserts...

there are many family pictures on the wall....this is her grandmother...

and her Aunt....Aunt Edith...


this is a picture of her father on their farm many years ago...

and of her mother and father...

and the back of their pick-up truck going to market...


and a picture of Edie taken several years ago...I think I forgot to tell you she is a singer..a real singer...

this is hanging from the ceiling...isn't it magical?



and back to the entry way....the French Hen...I now am a huge fan! oh and one more picture...

This was in the restroom....I loved it...it is Edie..She is the most marvelous creature in all the land!!!


The French Hen Bistro
                                                              3810 Steilacoom Blvd
                                                               Lakewood, WA 9849
                                                                   (253) 983-1313
                                                               frnchhn@hotmail.com


Cheers to Happy  !!