Chicken Noodle Soup
Start with a kettle full of chicken carcasses (from butchering day) or old hens (that no longer lay eggs). Add celery and onion chunks and a splash of vinegar (I’ve heard it pulls the calcium out of the bones) and cook awhile – the longer the better (the richer the broth). Carcasses they only need a couple of hours, as the meat is very tender; old hens need at least 4-6 hours or the meat is really tough.
Remove pieces from broth,
remove meat from bones,
save broth in same kettle to make soup for supper,
and send bones, skin, gristle, and vegetables to the barn for the cats’ feast.
A couple of hours before supper, add 2-3 cups of diced carrots, a chunk of pre-diced and frozen celery (about 1-2 cups’ worth), one diced onion (pretty big), a dash of garlic, a bunch of seasonings to taste, and the meat.
Simmer awhile and enjoy the wonderful smell while you get salads, crackers, applesauce, and fresh homemade whole wheat bread ready. About 30 minutes before mealtime, add about 8 oz. of spaghetti noodles broken into 1-2 inch pieces.
Mmmm – probably our favorite winter meal!
Blue Skies were beautiful today. This was looking northeast as I walked.
Looking south. The sunshine was dazzlingly beautiful.
More beauty from yesterday’s wind.
Snow Fun
There was too much snow for the 4-wheeler – after watching them get stuck about three times, I made them put it away. They managed to find some new fun and were outside most of the afternoon, although Jewel came in after about an hour. The haybales proved to be quite useful for sledding -
Then construction continued on the tunnel/igloo. Those are Jacob’s feet peeking out the west entrance.
Looking into the west entrance.
Looking into the east entrance.
Too much fun!
(Those are squints, not winks.)
Sarah’s in the west entrance, and the east entrance isn’t visible. Kate is just starting on the north entrance.
The older five went straight across the road to the pasture hill which ends in the little creek.
Photographer Kate took this pic of the creek at the bottom of the hill.
Snowboard.
Sarah right on the edge -
Kate plunges over the brink!
That snow is just amazing. We have had quite a bit this year for TN. We hope to get more cause Dad bought the kids a sled. Your pictures are just beautiful!
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