Eckenrode Family

Chicken For Dinner

 A few nights ago we sat down to a dinner that came entirely from our yard. We had cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, potatoes and onions from the garden and a chicken that we’d raised from a chick. We raised these cornish hens with the purpose of getting them butchered after 8 weeks. While the idea of butchering them ourselves did cross my mind, we found a family processing company that would do it for $2 a bird and that was just too good to pass up. So, the boys and I rounded them up in the morning (Miles is the best chicken catcher) and took them to Plucky Poultry Processing.  I stood outside the building and talked to the boys about how much we appreciated the sacrifice these birds were making to put a good meal on our table. The dinner itself wasn’t what I’d hoped it would be. I cooked 2 birds in the oven just like I do most of our whole chickens – I rinse them, pat them very dry with paper towels, rub them in salt and roast them at a high temperature until their internal temperature is 165. Maybe it was this method or maybe it was the birds but either way the meat was a little chewier than what we are used to. So, this go around I’m considering getting rainbow rangers.

Here are some pictures around the chicken yard and garden this evening:

Chief, our salmon faverolle rooster. Isn't he a beauty?

This is Laverne or Shirley. I can't tell her apart from her barred rock sister unless they are next to each other.
I believe this white one is Pecky, named for obvious reasons.
This is my favorite, Tutu. I think she looks like she's wearing a white tutu.
Chief again.
I have never seen sunflowers this tall. They are almost too tall to really get to see the flowers well.

See how tall they are??

30 Days of Happiness: Day 30

Coming upon this stream, sunlight reflecting off of its surface, had a way of transforming our day. Suddenly I felt refreshed and renewed. I think this may be my favorite spot in the woods.

This post concludes 30 Days of Happiness. When I started this exercise in February beauty was a little hard to come by. We had been snowbound for most of the winter and I was sometimes challenged to see the beauty in our everyday. Now that spring is here, beauty in nature isn’t hard to find. But, once again, this challenge has reminded me that beauty is there in almost every moment, it’s just that sometimes you have to be looking for it in order to see it.

30 Days of Happiness: Day 29

There was a moment today where several factors converged making it a moment so sweet I grabbed my camera to preserve it. It was dark and rainy outside; a fire was roaring in the kitchen fireplace; a window was open letting in fresh spring air; this song was playing on the speakers (found by Bluebirdbaby); Miles was drawing fantastic scenes straight from his imagination onto paper; and Ben was just waking up from his nap.


It was pure, sweet perfection.

30 Days of Happiness: Day 28

He asked us to take the training wheels off of his bike today. His dad took them off and then prepared to run behind him for awhile. But, he got up on the bike and took off like he’d been doing it for years. He wasn’t scared and he just pedaled off fast through the grass.

30 Days of Happiness: Day 27

I've taken advantage of this warm and breezy weather we've had this week by hanging our clothes out to dry. Last winter I came across a blog post by Mommy Coddle in which she described a strategy for hanging clothes out to dry taught to her by her grandmother. Ever since I read that post I made a mental note to try it once nicer weather came around. Well, I've tried it and I can't tell you how much faster the clothes are drying. I know, you must be thinking that I'm crazy for spending time thinking and writing about drying clothes on the line, but if you dry most of your clothes on the line like we do, it will make a lot of difference in the time the clothes need to spend on the line.

On her site she remembers how her grandmother told her to find out which way the wind was blowing and then pin your clothes only on one side so that they catch the wind, the wind fills them up and flows through your clothing. 

30 Days of Happiness: Day 26

30 Days of Happiness: Day 25

Today I received my first handpicked bouquet from one of my boys, dried laundry on the line and went on a sun filled hike in the woods. Spring is upon us.

30 Days of Happiness: Day 24

We went to see her again today. Even though she may not be aware that we visit her, we try to make the trip as often as we can because we love her. While reading a website about Alzheimer’s I came across this thought in reference to a daughter toward her mother suffering with the disease, “The long-time experiential relationship between the two was now carried only by one — one who still remembered all the love that once was shared between them. One who still loved, because she had not forgotten the past.”

Images from our day:
My sis with Grandma.
Me and Grandma
Max, Grandma & Miles. Miles asked to pose in a picture with his Great Grandma.

Cousins Miles & River
Kids just have a way of lightening almost any scene.
Long day for Ben. Lots of trouble to get into.

30 Days of Happiness: Day 23

The spring-like weather persisted yesterday and we spent most of it outside. We did venture in to make grandpa a birthday cake, put it right into the oven and then went right back outside.
I love getting help from this child. The moment I start banging around in the kitchen he's at my feet wanting to help. It always amazes me that he knows right where to locate everything that I need. Baking is so much more fun with him.

Later in the day Miles organized a toy sale. He is gearing up for the lemonade stand we've been talking about all winter.

30 Days of Happiness: Day 22

Today was full of sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ve noticed the singing birds in the morning, more daylight and a general lightness that comes with the approaching of spring. Here are a few images from our day: