Last night we dispatched thirty chickens that we had been raising for our winter meat supply.  This morning while talking to my father on the phone he expressed an interest in the process on behalf of my youngest brother who has been raising some birds of his own.  I guess this little adventure looms in his future.  So, without further eloquence, Matt, this blog's for you.

Before we got started with the actual process a little bit of preparation was in store.  All of the work was done outside so Ian set us up with a roaring blaze under an old tractor bucket so that we could boil the water and have a surface to set the pans on safely.  He strung and rope to hang the birds from once they had been dispatched and set up a table for the process of cleaning and dressing the birds.  He had also borrowed a plucker from a friend.  Once a hose for water and a cord for electricity was run to the area that we were using all was in readiness for the process to begin.

The first thing that we do is tie a piece of baling twine around the neck and legs of the chicken.  Contrary to popular belief we do not let our birds run around with their heads off.  This causes us to have to work with dirty dusty chickens, a most unpleasant task.  Then one man holds one string and another holds the other while swinging the ax that cuts off the chicken's head. 

The ax must be sharp so that it only requires one blow so that this is most humane for the chickens.  Then Ian hangs the chickens up on the rope that he has strung so that they can bleed out for a bit.  Letting them bleed out helps you have a cleaner bird to work on.

The next step is to dunk the birds into the hot water.  Don't have the water boiling but about 147 degrees.  We used a candy thermometer to determine the temp of the water and kept adding water from the hose so that it never got too hot.  Don't have it in the water too long but have it in long enough to loosen the feathers.  I can't tell you how long since it is a matter of the age of the birds and experience.  If the bird is in too long it will cook the meat.

After the bird has been dipped in the hot water, and if you have access to a plucker, put it in the plucker to remove the feathers.  Again, the time in the plucker is a matter of experience, too long and it will remove the skin, not long enough and you will have to hand pick a lot of feathers.  If you don't have a plucker, I recommend plucking most of the feathers by hand so you have a relatively clean bird to work with then skin the bird. 

After the bird is clean is the time to gut it and cut it up for the freezer.  There I cannot tell you how it is done since I don't do that part (I lack the hand and arm strength to cut through the bones)  You should go to the library where you can consult any good book on home butchering.  After the bird is gutted and cut up the way that you want it rinse it in cold water with a little bleach in it and plunge it into a bucket of ice water.  If they sit in ice water for awhile before you pack them they won't warm your freezer up so much when you put them in.

Note:  Have plenty of water in pails for rinsing all along the way!  Don't feed the birds the night before you plan to butcher them.  Empty crops makes for a much more pleasant and cleaner butchering day.  Beware of breaking the gallbladder if you want to keep the livers.  If you break the gallbladder throw away the liver, even rinsing will not help!

I recently posted this picture of my garden, a bit overcome with weeds due to the rain that we have been enjoying.  I am not one to complain about rain after a long dry spell.  Especially when every car that comes into the driveway kicks up such a cloud of dust that it makes me cough and covers everything in its path in a light dusting of dirt. 

The dry spell also makes pulling weeds in the garden a bit difficult since the ground drys up and becomes hard as baked clay.  Even under the layer of mulch that I have spread between the beds in this garden was beginning to get a little bit dry.

After about 4 inches of rain the ground has become nice and soft and the weeds pull away as if the wish to be parted from the ground as quickly as I can pull them. 

I spent about four hours in the garden yesterday morning while it was still cool and the beds were still in the shade and Doug finished off in the evening when he came home from work.  The weeds were loaded into the garden cart and fed to the pigs who thought they had been given a rare treat.  A batch of broccoli and peppers were put into the freezer and fresh green beans were enjoyed by all for supper last night.  I'd say that was a good day's work and should last about a week or two depending on the amount of rain that we get between now and then.

This morning Melissa, MK and I were sitting chatting and planning out the day when we heard the rumble of a very large truck pulling into the driveway.  Melissa jumped up, plopped Layn into my lap and ran out the door saying, "I have to make sure they put the wood where Ian wants it!"

This is what we saw when we got outside.  Never a dull moment in this place!

The residents of this house are going to be nice and cozy this winter!

Edit:

They have been here with four loads so far.  The heat for this house is assurred!!!! Watch us have a very mild winter!

Outside my window....it is cool and dry out.  I would say, without looking at the thermometer that temps were in the 60's.  It is a pleasant start to the day after weeks of heat and humidity.

I am thinking...of possibilities.  Today is the first day of my "vacation" and I am overwhelmed by all the things that there is to do.

I am thankful for.....my very patient husband who went with me to take Matthew to New Hampshire yesterday.  Even though we got home at 7 last night he made no complaints when I fell right into bed after driving all day long.

From the schoolroom....it is officially closed until next Monday when MK and I start our new semester and Matthew starts his on the following Monday.

From the kitchen....I am thinking about cooking up something good today to celebrate vacation.  Perhaps steaks on the grill marinated in olive oil and garlic with salt potatoes and a green salad fresh from the garden.  I might even be able to find enough green beans and have the ambition to whip up a chocolate cake.

I am wearing....shorts and a tee shirt.

I am creating....a whirlwind, I think, as I go through this week.  I will undoubtedly end up biting off much more than I can chew.

I am going....nowhere today!!!!!!

I am reading.....The Seven Levels of Intimacy by Matthew Kelly

I am hoping.....that Matthew has a very fun and fulfilling two weeks in New Hampshire.  I miss him already.  Heck, I started to miss him when I pulled away from the college.

I am hearing....MK in the kitchen puttering around, Doug getting himself off to work, and the calves bellering in the pasture across the road.  MK better get over there and feed the animals.

Around the house...there is much to do and I had better get to it!

One of my favorite things....this quiet time that my family allows me first thing in the morning.  Everyone goes about doing their thing so that mom has some time to collect herself, have her coffee and get her mind in gear to start a new day.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....I want to get the garden in order today and get a little cleaning done in the house so that I have the rest of the week to spend in the sewing room.  Tuesday and Wednesday MK will be up north at the county fair so I will be relatively alone.  I think I will go to the free movie on Wednesday and do some shopping. 

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you....

With the rain that we have been blessed with, and I do mean blessed, my gardens now look like weed beds.  Here is where I shall start the week off.  A few hours and this one will be in tip top shape.

This was the view in front of me for over 11 hours yesterday as we drove Matthew to New Hampshire and then drove home. 

Went through a quaint little burg named Ft. Ann or Ft. Anne depending on which sign you looked at.  I think the town fathers couldn't make up their minds which way to spell it.  Just about everything had Ann in the name somehow.  It has officially been dubbed my town now.

My niece Amanda posted this pic of my dad holding her new baby, Anna Grace on FB.  Not only did it make me cry, (not an easy thing to do) but it made my day.  I love you dad!  I think that is my favorite way of seeing you.  That is the picture of you that I will hold in my heart forever.

Outside my window.....the sun is shining and it is a nice DRY 82 out there.  The humidity seems to be a thing of the past, at least for now. 

I am thinking....that I should be working on my final exam right now.  I will shortly but I wanted to get this done first.  I really have been productive this morning it just doesn't look like it from anyone else's perspective but mine.

I am thankful for....new friends and old.

From the schoolroom...mine is empty right now since I am working at the library today.  I needed to get myself away from distractions so that I could get these exams done.

From the kitchen.....I really don't know what Melissa and Mary-Kate have in store.  It was spotlessly clean when I left this morning.

I am wearing.....jeans and a green life is good tee shirt. 

I am creating....some brilliant prose so that I can get some great grades.

I am going....home when I get done or I get a good amount of work done for the day, whichever comes first.

I am reading......British History for Dummies.  Not a bad read.

I am hoping.....that my son Adam has a good birthday in spite of the fact that he won't be home to be spoiled and to celebrate it with his family.

I am hearing....little snippets of conversations from the other patrons of the library.

Around the house.....the usual Monday morning things are getting done, I am sure.

One of my favorite things....being here at the library to work and knowing that those at home are doing what they should be doing without my having to tell them.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....the usual chores and responsibilities along with preparations for getting Matthew off to New Hampshire on the weekend.  He will be gone for two weeks and I am not looking forward to that.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you.....

I don't exactly know what Doug is doing here but I like to watch him work.  Whether he knows what he is doing or not he always gives off that air of competence that says he knows or he will figure something out.

Ian's antique Allis Chalmers tractor waiting for him to have time to work on it and restore it to its former glory. 

Everytime that I have to drive into the city I pass by this line of old cars and wish I had my camera with me.  Today I made it a point to take it with me.  I love looking at these beauties.

These were built in a day when car manufacturers had some imagination.  People seeing one of these coming down the road could tell what make and model they were from quite a ways away because they were distinctive instead of cookie cutter versions of everybody else.

Periodically things get a bit overwhelming for me.  I don't think it's unusual.  My life is no more busy than that of the people around me, it's just that sometimes I feel a need to step back and get away from it all and put things into perspective.  Since I cannot afford to go away on vacation I get away by taking a walk on our farm. 

Today's walk consisted of investigating what wildflowers are still out there to be enjoyed.  I took this picture of a Queen Anne's Lace, or wild carrot if that is what you are used to calling it. 

The Milkweed are out in full force.  This one was buzzing with honey bees when I approached it.

Knappweed, the bane of a farmers existence.  The cows won't eat it when it gets this large and tough.

Not a good picture but one of the last buttercups of the season.  I remember rubbing these under my chin when I was just a little girl.

Jewelweed growing in the swampy area below the pond.  The kids call them poppers because the pop when they squeeze them.

White asters   How many bouquets of these have the children bestowed upon me over the years!

The last poor bedraggled daisy.

I don't know what this is called but the hedgerows are full of these bushes.  When my sister and I were young we used to use these berries for play "food"

Blackeyed Susans always make me think of my sister and remind me to say a little prayer for her. 

The hop vines are growing like weeds and are in flower already.

Mary-Kate's chicks are outside in their new house.   

The meat birds are getting almost big enough to meet the freezer. 

 Don't ever get between this boy and his all natural, no sugar added popsicles on a hot and muggy day.

Some may call these hot muggy days the dog days of summer.  There are children who have been known to complain that there is "nothing to do" and that they "are bored."  Around the farm those phrases aren't heard, at least not by this mother.  There is always something that needs doing and plenty that I can think of if no one else is inclined that way. 

Today we have been weeding in the gardens, yes even in the heat and humidity the battle of the weeds needs to be fought.  The sprinklers are going because it has been a bit dry and I am afraid of losing my tomatoes (they are my main crop of the season).  The broccoli is beginning to produce, I don't know how in all this heat but I want to encourage it to keep up so I have the sprinkler going in that as well.

All of the herbs are ready to be harvested all at once.  Melissa and MK cut the Marjoram, Chives, Oregano, Spearmint, and the Sage.  These have to be cleaned before they are dried which is a fragrant job at any time but in this heat it is especially so.  As I sit here my nose makes me think of pork dinners and mint tea and pots of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove on a cold winter day. 

As each herb is cleaned it is layered in the dryer and let to dry until it is just right.  Then it will be stored in jars and put away safely to be used in the coming months when we no longer have fresh at our disposal.

Anna Grace Pelicano

Born 10 July 2010