Sunday 17 January 2016

Calving & cold temperatures

Our first calf heifers started calving a couple weeks ago. We have had -20 temperatures for most of those two weeks. This cold snap is supposed to break this week, sure hope we see it. Because they heifers are having their first calf, they are newbies, they need to be looked at every 2-3 hours. Imagine yourself babysitting but the shift never ends! Or going to work (wherever that may be) and not being done your shift for weeks or months. Thank goodness we have a nice barn that we fill with heifers every night. So the worry of having frozen calves is not as great as having to assist the heifers when calving. Last night I did the midnight shift, there was a heifer who looked the part - tail cocked off to the side and then stuck straight out, head down, just standing there looking agitated. They was no water bag though so I went back to the house, told my hubby what I seen so he knew to specially look at her. At quarter to three when my farmer went out she had the feet sticking out and he spent an hour getting that calf out. A good example of why we need to check these animals. These girls depend on us to look after them and their babies. 

It was so flipping cold last night that as I walked back across the yard my face was soooo cold it hurt. Note to self: tonight, wear a scarf or neck warmer!!!


Ashley

Friday 15 January 2016

Fun in January












On January 2nd we went out to the hills to do some tobogganing. The kids had a blast! It brought back many fond childhood memories. We spent many a Sunday at Sprucewoods skating and tobogganing when we were growing up. The only difference between then and now is that our kids had a Grandpa on a ski-doo to bring them back to the top of the hill!! We didn't! Ha ha.

Ashley

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins


 I come across this recipe on Facebook this morning. I should have never made them because I want to eat the whole pan!!!!!!!!! They are so moist but not too moist, very chocolatey and they are hiding applesauce and zucchini in them! Definitely wishing I had put zucchini in the freezer this past summer. Here is the recipe, I had to share. I will share the link at the bottom of the page because there were more recipes that looked great as well.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp wheat germ
  • 2 tbsp hemp hearts
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • ½ cup applesauce or other fruit purée
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups shredded zucchini (approx. 2 medium)
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix flours, cocoa powder, wheat germ, hemp hearts, baking soda and baking powder.
3. In another bowl, mix canola oil, applesauce, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add shredded zucchini and chocolate chips.
4. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins (or use muffin liners) filling about 2/3rds full.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean. Remove from tin and cool on rack.

I used all white flour and no chocolate chips because I did not have whole wheat flour or chocolate chips on hand.

Stealthy, healthy ingredients for your baking.

Ashley

Monday 11 January 2016

A Summary of Christmas 2015 in (mostly) pictures

We had a great Christmas!! We took the kids into the hills to chop down a tree, did little to no Christmas baking, we did NOT build a gingerbread house (ran out of time lol), went to seven Christmas gatherings (missed one), made Christmas tree ornaments, attended the Christmas parade and our son's first school concert and had several sleigh rides. We did a lot more than that but that sums it up quite nicely.

The kids and I made one batch of sugar cookies and never took/found the time to make anything else! I bought the stuff to make a gingerbread house but we never ever did it! Mother of the year right there! We had very mild weather the beginning of December, so when we went tree hunting, it was in hoodies! I think we went December 7th. Anyways, here are some pictures of our Christmas season.

 Christmas morning!
 The calm before the storm Christmas morning.

 Our beautiful children all dressed up at Grandma & Grandpa Nelson's for our family Christmas.
 Whit's first Christmas - opening presents at home Christmas morning.
 Whitley and Auntie Barb at Uncle Bob's on Boxing Day.
 All the Friesen Grandchildren.
 My sister and I.
 Tanner at his first Christmas concert at school - he is in the brown costume.
 Roy pulling Santa at the parade.
 A few of the floats that were in the parade, they had a great turnout this year!
 Uncle Cornie's team.
 Daryl Jones Repair.
 Squirrel Creek Skidsteer Service.

 She was very enthralled with the Christmas tree! But the novelty did wear off and she ended up leaving it alone for the most part.

 First fresh snow was very exciting!

 Helping Grandma decorate her tree.

 Fun with Daddy on ski-doo.
 She loves the dishwasher whether it's clean or dirty.
 Decorating our tree.


 Tree hunting in hoodies! Mild December.
 Copper and Blaze with Grandpa pulling the 4-H beef club through the parade.
 We did a family sleigh ride on a Sunday and it was beautiful with all the fresh snow sitting on the trees.
 Daddy was away at a heifer sale and Grandpa took the picture.
 On the way to the cabin.



 Our little slice of heaven.

So that it our Christmas in a nutshell. Hope yours was as wonderful as ours was, surrounded by family and friends.

Ashley