This weeks preps check-in

Have a weird thing. I have two chickens that want to crowd in the same box to lay (even though there are 8 different boxes, all the same). Problem is, lately, at least one egg has a little pecked hole in it, each day, likely as a result of this. Really not sure how to keep them from doing this. Maybe get those ceramic eggs, and put some in other boxes to encourage?

Gazrok said:

Have a weird thing. I have two chickens that want to crowd in the same box to lay (even though there are 8 different boxes, all the same). Problem is, lately, at least one egg has a little pecked hole in it, each day, likely as a result of this. Really not sure how to keep them from doing this. Maybe get those ceramic eggs, and put some in other boxes to encourage?

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cover the box up or turn the nest upside down

Yeah, thought of that. May just try it. Good to have a second opinion.

I was looking through some jerky recipes,and suddenly remembered a electric smoker that my mom had bought.so i'll work on coming up with jerky recipe that i like.then go with it,and the smoker..

I ordered me 2 new 50 gallon water barrels today. Also decided to move the compost bin so got that dragged across the yard. One of the new barrels has planters on the top. Both have built in spigots. I can even hook a hose to it if needed. I can't wait to get those and set them where I need them. I need to move the small gas grill this week and put it where it wont be in the way, or under the trees. We don't use it where we have a big gas grill but it's always in my way around the bushes. I also ordered a new dog bed for the dog he hasn't got one in the living room. Got my fire pit for the yard today. Gave some friends a few tomatoes today, and cut up 10 of them and made 4 quarts of tomatoes. So I am getting there.

Back felt better today. I think the hot bath did wonders.

jimLE said:

I was looking through some jerky recipes,and suddenly remembered a electric smoker that my mom had bought.so i'll work on coming up with jerky recipe that i like.then go with it,and the smoker..

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I made deer meat jerky 2 years ago it was really good. Then last year I went to the mexican store and got some beef that was almost paper thin, I made jerky with that and that was good as well. I used Chinese marinade for it. It came out great.

If you want something good for the BOB, look for a Mexican supermarket. Look for Machacado. It is dried meat that is nearly pulverized. It is very salty but keeps forever if you vacuum seal it. You can add it to soup or scramble it with eggs.

CAUTION: If you try it by its self, YOU WILL GET ADDICTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(shamefully I know this from my own experiences. lol)

Wiredog8 said:

If you want something good for the BOB, look for a Mexican supermarket. Look for Machacado. It is dried meat that is nearly pulverized. It is very salty but keeps forever if you vacuum seal it. You can add it to soup or scramble it with eggs.

CAUTION: If you try it by its self, YOU WILL GET ADDICTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(shamefully I know this from my own experiences. lol)

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I will have to look for that. Hubby gets the sausage every now and then, at first I was leery then tried it and now I like it. I keep Maseca all the time. I figure I can make fried tacos, or most anything with it. The kids love it when I make the fried tacos. You would be surprised what I can make with a bag of maseca around, and some refried beans.

I also like the peanut marzipan they have. I try every time I go to get some and put it away, however the kids always find it.

hlrive said:

I made deer meat jerky 2 years ago it was really good. Then last year I went to the mexican store and got some beef that was almost paper thin, I made jerky with that and that was good as well. I used Chinese marinade for it. It came out great.

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The thin cut beef, breaded and deep fried is called milanesa. Good eating with a brown gravy and/or sautéed mushrooms and bell peppers.
Just my 2 cents.

I ordered me 2 new 50 gallon water barrels today

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Got any good recommendation on source? I've found a few wildly varying prices.
Eventually, I'll need to get about 6 of these. (2 in the ManCave, 2 in the Garage, and 2 out in the Stables).

Gazrok said:

Got any good recommendation on source? I've found a few wildly varying prices.
Eventually, I'll need to get about 6 of these. (2 in the ManCave, 2 in the Garage, and 2 out in the Stables).

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The 2 I got this time were through gettington. Normally I go to Garner and get the big blue food grade ones with covers, but I saw these and they are more decorative. I figured they would look nice on the corners of the house. Both are nice and decorative, they will fit in where I want to put them.

http://www.gettington.com/product/PG497.uts

http://www.gettington.com/product/F2660.uts

Wiredog8 said:

The thin cut beef, breaded and deep fried is called milanesa. Good eating with a brown gravy and/or sautéed mushrooms and bell peppers.
Just my 2 cents.

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Steak and mushrooms. My mom use to make it when I was a kid. her and my dad loved steak. Me I would sit and eat the mushrooms, my dad asked me once why I wasn't eating any meat and I looked at him as serious as could be and said I am, I am eating fried mushrooms. I swore when I was a kid they were meat tasted like it when fried with steak.

Both are nice and decorative, they will fit in where I want to put them.

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Thanks.
Eventually, I'll have 4 of the rain barrels, and 6 actual water barrels (just for storage, in 3 locations, one stacked on top of the other).

The first one I got, looks a lot like a barrel, and was about the same price point. I like it as it fits the whole ranch house motif. I propped it up on cinder blocks to easily access the spigot, but I still have to channel a gutter into it. The rain barrel water will just be used to water gardens, plants, and washing, in an emergency. The storage barrels are for drinking water (and just periodically filled with a hose).

Gazrok said:

Thanks.
Eventually, I'll have 4 of the rain barrels, and 6 actual water barrels (just for storage, in 3 locations, one stacked on top of the other).

The first one I got, looks a lot like a barrel, and was about the same price point. I like it as it fits the whole ranch house motif. I propped it up on cinder blocks to easily access the spigot, but I still have to channel a gutter into it. The rain barrel water will just be used to water gardens, plants, and washing, in an emergency. The storage barrels are for drinking water (and just periodically filled with a hose).

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I got two of the 30 gal blue barrels, with lids and bands, for 30.00 a piece. I have no idea how much the place I got them from paid, but the proceeds went to the CERN group that Ive been going to. I'm using them for making wine, but there #2 grade plastic, which is food grade. My plastic septic tank is 1050 gals, but isnt considered food grade. I'm going to use it for watering the garden and trees, but hopefully will never have to try and drink out of it.

Nice price. Best place I've seen is about $70 each, for a 50 gallon barrel (suitable for drinking water).

Gazrok said:

Nice price. Best place I've seen is about $70 each, for a 50 gallon barrel (suitable for drinking water).

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Yeah that is what we pay around here. I saw some on craigslist last year cheaper but the man said he had been storing poison in them for his crops no way would I buy those.

Check at your local bulk feed stores. We paid $25 for a 50 gal food grade drum. These are the blue one with lids and bands, but if you don't want the blue to stick out like a sore thumb, you can always lightly sand and apply paint to them. You can make them look like a faux wooden barrel pretty easily with some paint and at a cheap coast. We used old garage door panels to make a pump house over the well. Didn't like the looks of it and ended up painting it to look like an old wooden his & hers outhouse.

Danil54grl said:

Check at your local bulk feed stores. We paid $25 for a 50 gal food grade drum. These are the blue one with lids and bands, but if you don't want the blue to stick out like a sore thumb, you can always lightly sand and apply paint to them. You can make them look like a faux wooden barrel pretty easily with some paint and at a cheap coast. We used old garage door panels to make a pump house over the well. Didn't like the looks of it and ended up painting it to look like an old wooden his & hers outhouse.

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I call that creative camouflage.

hlrive said:

Yeah that is what we pay around here. I saw some on craigslist last year cheaper but the man said he had been storing poison in them for his crops no way would I buy those.

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My guy said they had baking soda in them, but I've learned to be suspicious from anyone selling you something! I scrubbed the heck out of them. Hopefully the plastic dosent absorbe things. I just emptied one that I started a batch of wine in. I'm hoping I didn't pick up any plastic taste from it. I racked it today (transferred) into 6 5gal containers to finish fermenting. I'll let you know about the taste in a few weeks.