Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Introducing…

Les Girls!

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Rhoda, Ruby and Roxanne…our three Rhode Island Reds that we adopted last spring as adults…were boarded out for the winter because of me being away for six weeks while I was receiving chemo and radiation treatments.  We decided to leave them there rather than uproot them again and start anew with babies this spring.

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The three R’s were adult layers when we got them and had been cooped up with two roosters who would just not leave them alone…if you catch my drift.  Ideally, we wanted chickens to be able to free roam on our property but these gals were too old and set in their ways to allow them to do this when we got them.  They were also very skittish and although they got used to me going into their coop on a daily basis, they never really ‘warmed’ up to us.

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Yesterday Mr. Painted Quilt and I finished tidying up and readying the coop in the barn in anticipation of their arrival. 

This morning we got the call that our day old chicks were ready to be picked up and taken to their new homes. They are the cutest little things and were following us everywhere and love to be cuddled.

Next step is to create a temporary fenced in area and allow them to go in and out as they wish.  Hopefully we’ll get that done in the next week or so.  Once they reach adult size, we’ll take down the fencing and allow them to hunt, peck and roam the property to their heart’s content.

Welcome girls and I hope you like your new digs!

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Last night, I made this rhubarb pie with some freshly picked rhubarb from our garden.  Of course I picked too much and added more rhubarb than the recipe called for so that’s why the top crust is cracking. 

Better too much than too little I say!

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Here’s the recipe.  I promise you that it’s yum-a-licious!

Rhubarb Pie

2 eggs

1 1/2 C brown sugar

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3 tbsp flour

3 tbsp milk

Whisk the above ingredients together.  To this, add 3 C of chopped rhubarb and toss until all the rhubarb is coated with the mixture.  Turn the mixture into an unbaked 9” pie crust and cover with top pie crust.  Cut slits in the top to vent.

Bake at 375F for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve warm or cold.

Gotta go check on the girls!

knametag2

41 comments:

Annette said...

This brings back memories. My dad raised chickens and they sometimes ran free in the yard where I played. Then they were in charge of the territory and boy I knew it. I also gathered eggs every morning before school. Fun memories now...back then I thought it a lot of work...silly kid.

Sandra Henderson said...

Oh my gosh, how adorable! I had mine in the bathtub when I hatched them via an incubator. Had a towel and light and the bathroom was alive with them for a week or so at first. There they were in our garden tub. lol Then, I successfully had the hens hatch their own. What a fun experience and great memories you've brought back to me. I so miss my chickens. Nothing like fresh yard eggs. They will be very tame and follow you around now. You'll have a nice flock. That pie looks devine!~ What memories you've stirred up for me.. I so miss "home". So happy for your little corner of paradise you have. You sure do know how to make a nice home Kaaren. XO

WoolenSails said...

They are so sweet and I can't wait to see them as they grow. Rhubarb pie sounds good, haven't had that in ages.

Debbie

gracie said...

How adorable. Once when my sis and I were little girls, my dad got us 2 chicks for Easter. They were black and before we knew it, the grew and did not die as my dad thought they would. One Sunday, the chickens were gone but that was what was on the table for dinner. We did not eat, my sis and I!

kathyinozarks said...

love your new chicks, I haven't been able to grow rhubarb here in the ozarks-the soil is not so good, I have a couple raised beds now so I may just plant some next spring.
your recipe looks delicious-thanks for sharing

Carrie P. said...

sweet! I am hopeing that my hubby will build a coop this year so I can get some chickens next spring.

Sheila said...

What cute little chicks. Thanks for sharing the rhubarb pie recipe. I have rhubarb in the frig that needs to be used up. Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Your pie looks delicious.
Your new little chicks look right at home.
Glad to hear your gettng back to things you love to do.

Lindah said...

Gorgeous pie -- full of promise! (I never did like skinny pies.)

Cut chickies. Have you named them yet?

Lindah said...

Ooops! That should be "cutE" chickies.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Oh, my, that pie looks yummy! Rhubarb is not something that grows well here - too hot and humid.

Baby chicks are the way to go, I think. Their antics alone are well worth the price. And when you have them so early they get used to you. My chickens think I'm the best chicken in the world. I can scratch up so much with my garden fork! LOL

Verna G said...

I remember so well the day our new chicks would come. They were so cute. I also remember the rooster who wouldn't let us walk across the yard. He was a miserable old cuss.

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Welcome the Rhode Island Reds--they will love their new home! Happy the girls will have a wonderful home to hunt, pick, and peck! Is Frankie making a good adjustment with them?

Looking forward to seeing photos as they grow and settle into their life.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Can't wait to see more of your chickens and see how they grow and change :-) I would love to have chickens but as hubby and I are both allergic to eggs there isn't much point :-)

Donna~~ said...

The chicks look like great fun, but that pie looks delicious! Now I'm hungry for rhubarb!

Colleen G said...

I was intrigued by your story of the new baby chicks but you really got me with the picture of the pie! My rhubarb has come up this spring entangled with a terrible weed that we are plagued with, wild parsnip. Both my husband and I have had pretty severe allergic reactions to the weed and it is a difficult plant to get rid of. Not sure how we are going to get it out of here but I will have to plant a new rhubabrb root somewhere else because I miss my sweet and sour treat.

Lesley said...

Have fun with the little chicks! I just finished inhaling a piece of pie I made from your recipe...yes, it was wonderful and I have now ruined my supper. But it was well worth it...so yummy! Thank you!

Jantine said...

Lovely little chicks!
Just a question, I love rhubarb, but until now never made it myself. I want to try your recipe. Maybe it is a strange question, but do you put the rhubarb in raw or cooked?

Diane said...

I have rhubarb growing, just love the stuff. I'm going to try your recipe as soon as I harvest the next round. Thanks for sharing it.
cute little additions to the coop family ya got there!

Susan said...

I love all the chickens around blogland, it's the next best thing to having them myself.

Anonymous said...

They are so precious, I can remember back when I lived in the country and had stock, but loved all the little ones, especially the little chicks, they feel like fuzz balls, grin. Thanks for sharing the photos of them with us. Barb in western NC

Laura said...

What sweet little chicks! I'd love to have chicks roam my property, but there are just too many predators in my neighborhood. The big kind...coyotes and cougars just to name two. And thank you for the reminder...I've got to get out and harvest the rhubarb! Your pie looks fabulous! I'm salivating!

Pat said...

Your young ladies are so cute. That pie looks delish. I am going to make one. I can taste it already. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

B J Elder said...

What fun - I made a rhubarb pie yesterday too! Our rhubarb was from the Farmer's Market. It's DH's favorite pie, and not mine at all, so he is thrilled when I make it for him. He is loving this one. I use my Mom's recipe, similar to yours.

Allie said...

Your new girls are just darling, how fun!!!

Janet said...

How cute are the Chicks. Hope they adapt and lay you many eggs in places you can find them. I was looking at your blog at work and someone said,
"Look at that pie, it looks delicious". She said she loves Rhubarb especially jelly.
Janet

Sandy said...

Such cute chickies....it will be fun to watch them grow. Thanks for the pie recipe. I have always wanted to try rhubarb pie and this recipe looks so easy. Have you ever made strawberry-rhubarb pie?

Miriam said...

Very cute little chickies! Love their names!

I hope they produce lots of eggs for you.

The pie looks delicious!

Barb said...

Congrats on the new babies!
I so want to do this one day when I have more space. How fun! your pie looks amazing.

JLL24 said...

I will have to say your babies are so much cutier than our 3 broiler babies. But, man are they ever a handful. How my mother ever kept up with the 500 chicks she would get each spring, I will never know. Oh, and by the way do wish I could enjoy some of your stuffed rubbard pie.

Vickie said...

Oh, those little chickens are adorable! I love to see chickens roaming in the yard! That rhubarb pie looks yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Karen said...

Growing up in Rochester, NY we had rhubarb growing in the backyard. Rhubarb pie is my favorite - too bad it doesn't grow in Florida!! Enjoy it for me :).

SueB said...

Kaaren,

they are so adorable. How much fun they will be. The eggs will just be an extra reward.

Enjoy your bundles of joy.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Adorable fuzziness! Any names yet??? I thought of you when we stayed at the bed and breakfast in Washington. The owner had chickens roaming her property. I'll take a piece of pie, no ice cream.

Betsy said...

Love chicks and love rhubarb pie!! Your new girls are so cute. I am expecting the mailman to call next week with our arrival!!! Silver dorkings...can't wait!

Janet O. said...

My grandpa was a chicken rancher. I loved playing with the new chicks and gathering eggs.
Rhubarb crisp is the rhubarb dessert of choice on this farm--although strawberry/rhubarb pie is giving it a run for its money!
Definitely, pile the fruit high and let the crust crack where it will! ; )

KatieQ said...

The chicks are adorable. Many of the bloggers I follow are raising chickens. There is a covenant on our deed that prohibits raising chickens so I have to live vicariously. I'm looking forward to watching your chicks grow.

GerryART said...

Things are perking right along for you this Spring. Looks like you're getting lots accomplished.
Summer'll be here before we know it, Kaaren.
hugs

Candace said...

The girls are just adorable, Kaaren! I wonder if they will have pretty, "painted eggs" with your influence ;>) Beautiful pie - my rhubarb runneth over and could use the recipe - thanks!
Cheers!

susan-sweethomeanawhata.blogspot.com said...

hi Kaaren, your pie looks so yummy, wish i had ruhbarb growing! Your wee chicks are so cute too! how do you know they are girls? I hope they are. I need to get new chooks but will wait till next spring as we are into winter almost here in new zealand. I had 14 but a few have died over the last year...some just old .nice to see you are well again and love the last fff too, thankyou.

Dakota5345 said...

Kaaren, so glad to see you are doing so well. Working in the yard can be hard work.....your chicks are darling, and I love the rhubarb recipe, it is my son-in-laws favorite and hopefully he will have one today! Thanks for all the sharing you do. Have a wonderful weekend.