Recently I've been looking at the pigs and visualizing pork chops. For the past few months, I think the pigs have been looking at me and visualizing pork chops as well! Anyway, they are atleast 300lbs a piece right now and due to be slaughtered in a few weeks. I bought a deep freezer for the basement and pulled out my Kitchen Aid to practice the delicious art of sausage making. Mom was in town and we bought a pork shoulder and chicken and made about 10 lbs of sausage. It turned out ok. I just bought some basic casing online and wasn't 100% satisfied.
James has been working hard on a firepit in the backyard. I have wanted one since we moved here and we finally got to it on the ENDLESS TO DO LIST. I can't wait to cook on it this Summer!
The weather is warming quickly, but there is still no grass. The llamas are still on hay and searching for that first blade of beautiful green. The chickens tend to lay less when the weather is cold, snowy, windy, etc. So they have been laying twice as many eggs this last week. Stella loves her scrambled eggs in the morning.
We are trying to get as much done as possible on the ENDLESS TO DO LIST before I get any bigger. I am pretty tough but things do get a little hard when you have an extra 15 lbs and are having to watch what you lift.
So as Spring approaches I will have more stories and pictures of gardening, building, buying animals, processing animals, and whatever else may go on at Black Opal Farm. By the way, Opals birthday is 21 February. Happy Birthday to the best dog and best friend, you're always in my thoughts, your box is in our bedroom, and your picture sits in the living room. Love you.
