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Saturday, December 29, 2018

Back to work

Well, Christmas has come, and gone in a hurry, but wasn't it fun! Hope it was a merry one for you all. I've got pictures to show you and the chew bread recipe, in a minute.

But first, now that Christmas is over I could hardly wait to get outside and work! Thank goodness for steroid injections!! 

Wednesday I worked four hours putting up a retaining wall to stop our chicken lot from completely washing away. Why I've been expecting to see hens lose their footing in all this gushing rainfall and go with the current under the fence and down the hill!


Should have taken a before picture, but as usual, forgot...


Oh my gosh, you should have seen the "before". The bridge was totally hidden under black soil from the chicken lot.

I shoveled and hauled away six wheelbarrow loads of dirt off the little bridge!! The 4" x 4" post helped me keep the spot level. 

From old pieces of scrap tin, I cut sections and hammered them into the ground along the fence line. Then drove Rebar into the ground to support the tin and then wired the Rebar to the fence. There! That should hold it!



Hopefully, the bridge will dry out now. It has been treacherous walking back there for Eli and me...well, for me anyhow.

and next on the list of jobs...
get some of these leaves raked up so I can use this beautiful pine straw from our neighbor Fred. 

Wednesday, I did rake leaves for about three hours...before the rains came back. Do you know this is the wettest year on record for us? 

Okay, I've got Christmas pictures, except nothing about the pictures looks like Christmas...

except for our smiling faces. This is my daughter Andee, son-in-law Todd, and home on college break, granddaughter Madison, and her friend Paul. 


Having them here simply "made" Christmas for Poppy and me!!


Rosie said there would be no picture taking!!


 Rosie is a little rough-neck!




we must have spent an hour playing in the goat lot!


Madison tried out the swing.

Little Weetie  enjoyed all the attention. What a fun Christmas for her!!



See, nothing here looks like Christmas, and yet inside there was a fire going in the fireplace and the entire bar was covered with foods...we had three crock pots going, one with spicy meatball, one with seasoned new potatoes, and the other with little sausages...there was potato salad, ham, deviled eggs, a vegetable tray, yeast rolls, cheesecake, chocolate pecan pies, fudge, chew bread, Christmas cookies and more...and I forgot to take a picture!

and here's the recipe...

brown sugar chew bread

1 stick butter
1 box light brown sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla
3 eggs
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Mix in order given
grease 9 x 13 pan
bake at 350 degrees 40-45 min.
(until toothpick comes out clean)
do not over bake!

Seems to do better if you sift the flour before measuring 

Guess I need to get busy. Got to go to town for a few things before I can work outside. After today, we have four more days of rain coming! and yesterday we got another three quarters of an inch!

okay, the rare and unusual picture! One with Poppy, and me too! :)

Thank you for visiting.

Love,
Henny

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!



29 comments:

  1. I'm first to your blog, Henny. I loved all the outdoor photos today; especially those of your family. Eli, and Wheaty, too. You always get so much done in a day that I get amazed at your energy. I am so happy to know the steroids are giving you relief. :)))
    Loved the last photo with you and Poppy joining in. Now that's a real family photo worth framing. It would look so nice on your mantel. Our snow is slowly leaving us as we have had rain for awhile. We now have ice to contend with.
    That swing of yours brings back such precious memories for me as my gran had one right here on this land many moons ago. I would spend many lost hours on it.
    Happy New Year to you, Poppy and all at Henny Penny Lane. xo

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    1. Thank you Deb. I love a swing too, but have had the worst luck with this one. Three falls! :) Can't imagine having ice to deal with but i know it's beautiful around your place. Happy New Year to you and all your family Too!

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  2. Hi Henny. Lovely Postings- you have lots to talk about and show. HAPPY NEW YEAR to You and Poppy and Family. Regards.KEV.

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    1. Hey Kev! Thank you so much! Happy New Year to you and your family! I've got to get over and visit again.

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  3. Well..My Christmas is just starting, my daughter
    and hubby arrived yesterday, so l''ll cut straight
    to the chase, HeHe! We polished off one and half
    bottles of Bourbon..last night..Jeeeeeeese! :).
    "Nuff Said"...

    They've gone off to take their two Staffy's for a
    walk down by the river..so l've just prepared the
    goose for tomorrows Christmas dinner, the wild boar
    is all cooked and looking good..just the veg to do in
    the morning..and away we go..plenty of 'vino calapso'.
    Lots of savory things, cheeses, salamis etc..and a nice
    vintage port to finish off with...Hic!
    So..I'll be back in touch next June...! :).

    The photos look lovely Henny..with family and friends,
    what could be better..and you've been busy..busy..crossing
    bridges..Lovely! :).
    Oh! And is that Eli's new teddy bear, seem to remember you
    saying, he was getting a new one for Christmas..as the head
    was falling off his old one..! Bless!

    Oh! And..l've finally got my elephant..it's amazing..l love it
    to bits..were gonna take some photos later, see how they come
    out..I jokingly said to my daughter, l thought the elephant should
    have a peanut in his trunk..low and behold, she made him a peanut! :).

    Well..l must get on..things to do, a woman's work is never done, and
    neither is mine..HeHe! 😊
    God bless to one and all..And, may everyone have a wonderful 2019....
    In turn with a very Happy New Year...! 🐾🐾🐾
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•`

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    Replies
    1. Willie, you are so funny, and always make me laugh! I've never tasted goose, and do you really have a wild boar cooked? Really? All the savory things sound delicious!! Oh, and Eli didn't get a new teddy bear...but I did sew the head back on his old one. He loves that one so much! Can't wait to see the pictures of your elephant and especially with the peanut. Happy New year to you and your daughter and son-in-law! Enjoy all that food!

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    2. Wild boar...Oh! Yes! My neighbour who is 87, and now
      a semi retired gamekeeper, brought the haunch around
      couple months ago, needed skinning, cleaning etc..so,
      me with my trusty 6inch blade, gave it a seeing to...
      So my 'road kill freezer' is kept topped up with his
      contributions of shot wild life..!
      I would never shoot anything myself..well..perhaps one
      or two people in the past..but not wildlife, but, anything
      brought to me dead..then that's 'fair game'...!
      The goose is looking good to...πŸ˜‰

      Best get on..bit to do..just had breakfast with the two
      dogs, their off out shortly, l can get on with the veg..etc..

      Pleased to hear, Eli got his old teddy fixed, as l said,
      don't think he'd taken to a new one..Bless!x (=♡ α†Ί ♡=)

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  4. What wonderful photos! Sounds like you had an equally wonderful Christmas. Good job on the chicken yard retaining wall! What a huge project, but so important.

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    1. Thank you Leigh. That retaining wall is far from perfect but hopefully it will work. Eli and I walked across the bridge this morning and it was still clean and free of dirt, even after all the rain yesterday. Happy New Year!

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  5. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your projects and your people and your pets. I can only imagine that food laden buffet in your cozy cabin. Happy New Year!

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  6. Thank you so much for the recipe! I was going to go find one, but I'd rather have yours :) Will be made and taken to church soon. Love the family photos. Looks like a happy Christmas. You and your girl look so much alike! Your long hair is just lovely.

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  7. Love looking at your pics of family, animals,and grounds... especially the hen looking over the tin and probably watching you work. And Eli is such a beautiful animal.

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  8. You amaze me at all the work you get done around there! I've been seeing all the rain and flooding in North Carolina and was thinking of you. It is great to see the family pictures, especially that last one! I agree with Deb, that one should be framed.

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  9. diane in northern wisDecember 29, 2018 at 4:17 PM

    Looks like it was a wonderful Christmas at your house Henny. Love seeing the pictures....but you seem to be a little bit shy about looking at the camera! Fun to see the pictures!~ Glad you had a wonderful day with dear family. Wow...you're so good at fixing up things around your yard. You're a hard worker too. May the New Year be a great one for you and Poppy and your whole family!

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  10. I can imagine the joy of having your grandkids with you this year...that was probably the best gift of all. How far away do they live and how far away does Shelby live? Lorelei lives about 15 minutes away...they used to live a couple hours away. Now almost any time we go get her, or go pick her up after school, Roger and I look at each other and smile.

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  11. Hey Rose. My sister Shelby lives about 45 minutes away. Andee and Todd were three hours away but have recently moved back to NC. Now we are only one hour apart. I love having them back in NC. My older daughter Lynn and my other four grandchildren live about 45 minutes away. They had other plans for Christmas this year. I do love having them all come home. I'm so happy Lorelei is only 15 minutes from you. That is so nice!

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  12. Happy New Year to you and your family. It looks like you had fun at Christmas.

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  13. Just like be seeing pictures of you and your family — with or without Christmas decorations. Happy New Year to you, your family, and your pets. πŸ’•

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  14. Beautiful picture of you and your family! You worked way too hard (as usual) but the rain, whew! Your guineas are big and fat, beautiful. We got 4 inches of rain in less than 24 hours up here in the mountains, so I know you have had it too! Glad to see that recipe for the chew bread, hoping to make it soon, it sounds so good! Happy Holidays, Love Terry

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  15. So happy that you and Poppy had a good Christmas. I know it was so sweet to spend time with Andee' and her family. Hope you also have a wonderful New Year. Love you bunches

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  16. A happy and blessed New Year to you all! Great way to make your retaining wall!

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  17. Isn't it wonderful that both your girls now live closer to you.
    I love all the family pictures especially one where you are in.
    I think both your girls look a lot like you!!

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  18. Thank you for the chew bread recipe! You did a very neat, thorough job on the retaining wall. I'll bet the soil you removed was quite fertile.

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  20. Those hens are so darling! Picture perfect. Glad for the animals getting a fun visit from your family! Beautiful photo-- several times your followers have commented that Lynn looks like you do, but I think Andee looks much like you! Many wonderful wishes for your family and home in 2019! Happy New Year!

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  21. Wow girl...you amaze me! Those injections must have really helped your back...so glad you were able to get some relief. And hasn't this rain been something...and even more today. :( Your daughter looks very much like her mama and it looks like everyone was having a wonderful time even though it did not look like Christmas around here one bit! The food spread you described sounded amazing and thanks so much for posting the recipe for the chew bread...it sounds delicious! Happy New Year, Henny!

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  22. What a wonderful Christmas you had with your family! I hope 2019 is happy for you all in every way!

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  23. I'm so delighted that you had family visit for Christmas. I missed that this year, but with us being under the weather it was better that way. I am back to feeling my old self again but Steve is not well, I'm really worried about him, but doing my best to cast those worries in the Lord'd direction. You did a great job protecting your chickens from the mudslide, looked like a lot of work. Now I have a question. What do you do with the pile of pine-needles? I have a pile raked up and another trash can full. We just put them in the fire-ring and burn them, but now I'm thinking that I might be burning gold. I compost all of my kitchen scraps and I use our grass clipping in the garden, but no idea of what to do with the pine needles. Before I leave, I want to thank you for the Chew Bread recipe, it sounds wonderful :)
    Wishing you and your hubby and very healthy and happy new year.
    Connie :)

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  24. Sounds like a perfect Christmas, Henny!! Wow, woman, you work harder around your little house than anyone I know! You must wear yourself out!! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family....both furry and not!

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