They Wiggled!

As I was researching how to candle eggs I came upon the old fashioned method (which is awesome) using water.  Well first thing this morning I had Hub watch the video.  Eyebrows up he looked at me and said, "let's do it".  Of course he meant float eggs, what else?  Off to the barn with a thermometer, jug of warm water and a deep bowl.  The temperature has to be 100 degrees.   Lucky for us Miss Silky was off her clutch eating breakfast.  Very carefully Dick put one egg at a time in the bowl filled with water, once the water was calm we just stood there and stared, barley breathing.  The egg has to be put in round side up, pointed down.  The very top of the egg will be out of the water, balanced perfect.  Then if there is a live chick inside the egg will wiggle or jiggle, rest and then wiggle again and again.  We let it wiggle once, dried it and back to the nest.  Six out of seven eggs wiggled which means within a week, give or take we should have some baby peeps!  Hopefully there will be no quitters and they will hatch strong and healthy.  Exciting time for sure,new life at the farm.

Actually we have been watching a Robin raise 3 little ones one the rafter of our front porch.  Remember the winter winds blew down the ceiling on the porch.  We have had the material for a month ready to put up.  Mrs. Robin has put the job on hold, I just couldn't destroy her family.  It will seem nice to get the porch back together.  I'm guessing the babes will be ready to take flight in the next few days.

On to the garden report.  We have had our first picking of green onions, nothing better with a hamburg or in a pasta salad.  As far as the spinach,  Swiss chard and kale it is suspended in time.  I can't recall the garden growing as slow as it is this year.  Even the corn is dragging.  I guess we can agree the winter and spring were quite different.  Good of an excuse as any why the garden is taking it's time.  The green beans, peas and lima beans are proving to be stronger and growing fast.

I don't like to complain about the weather, I will anyway.  It has gone from quite cool to hot and muggy with 24 hours frequently.  Cool days I cook and bake, warm days is cold cereal, sandwiches and salads.  We like salads with Romaine, baby greens or both.  A  big plate of salad is a meal for us.  Last night we had Romaine lettuce, green onions and avocado.  I made a vinaigrette dressing using Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup that our friends brought us from New Mexico.  A little orange juice, vinegar, the syrup, grape seed oil, salt and pepper.  It is a very light and refreshing dressing.  I also diced the avocado and squeezed fresh lime juice over it before putting on the salad.  A few slices of ham , olive and a hard roll on the side.  That is an easy clean-up!

This was our view eating supper, a storm moving over the hills. Until the cold air of fall is back very few of our meals will be inside.  To much to see and enjoy in the great outdoors.  Mother nature at her best, "Passing it On"