Lazy J Bar C

Lazy J Bar C

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Arizona Wildfires and Wind

There is another new fire in southeastern Arizona now, the Monument fire down near Sierra Vista, about 50 miles south of us. As of yesterday afternoon, it had burned 9300 acres in the Huachuca Mountains and destroyed 50 structures including 40 homes. Some people literally had minutes to evacuate because the fire was moving so fast. Here is some information from Wildfire Today.

The Horseshoe Two fire continues to burn in the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal. It has burned 184,000 acres. Here is a satellite view of the Horeseshoe Two fire, I could actually see both smoke plumes yesterday afternoon. We can see the smoke from both of these fires from our house.

Last week, we had really thick smoke here from the Murphy fire down near Rio Rico. It has burned 68,000 acres. Thankfully, the firefighters now have that one fully contained. Here are some pictures of the smoke we had last week.


The weather service is predicting 25-30 mph sustained winds this afternoon with gusts to 40 mph and more wind tomorrow, it is 100 degrees, we are in the middle of a drought and there is no humidity. I was watering the garden at 7:30 this morning and the winds have already started, doesn't bode well for the firefighters or the people living in the area of these fires.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Country Herb Yeast Bread

This recipe makes great dinner rolls or can be made into a round "artisan" loaf. I used to make the rolls all the time to sell at the Farmers Market before the Health Dept. decided a commercial kitchen was needed to sell baked goods! I also have a beer bread version of this using my Baking Mix, watch for the recipe soon! I use a coarser grind cornmeal which gives it a little crunch.

Country Herb Yeast Bread
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoon bread machine yeast
1 cup lukewarm milk
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup butter, room temperature 

Mix and knead all ingredients until a soft dough forms; by hand, bread machine or stand mixer.

Let rise until doubled in size. I got distracted in the garden and this went a little too far but that is okay on the first rise. :)

  Punch down dough and divide into two equal pieces.



At this point, you can either make rolls or round loaves. If making rolls, divide each half into eight pieces and put into a greased 8 to 9-inch round cake pan. If making round loaves, form each half into a ball and place into a greased cake pan, cut an X in the top.

Let rise until nearly doubled in size.


Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven 12 to 15 minutes for rolls; 20 to 25 minutes for round loaves. Remove from pan immediately and cool on a wire rack.
These also make great little sandwich rolls!


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Baby Goat Boys

Madeline had triplets this year, all boys! She rejected one and I had to bottle feed him; I named him Oliver (the orphan). What a character he is, follows us everywhere, even into the henhouse! This is the first time I have ever had to bottle feed a baby and I don't want to ever do it again! It wasn't the schedule, it was the fact that I became nothing but a giant bottle to him! LOL!!
Oliver
The boys are 11 weeks old now and I have had the other two, Ziggy and Xander, separated from mom for about two weeks.
Ziggy











Xander
We like to let the goats out of their pens so that they can run around the back of the property and well, just be goats! Yesterday, I let the baby goat boys out to play and left the big girls in. When Jerry went down to clean up around the barn, the big girls got out and Ziggy and Xander immediately ran to their mom, Madeline, and started nursing! She was about two quarts low this morning! LOL!! 

The boys playing "King of the Hill!"

 

Oliver enjoying his favorite activity!


Monday, June 13, 2011

Flower Crochet Coasters

I found this pattern on the internet awhile back and thought I would share!


Flower Crochet Coasters
Start:  Chain 6, slip stitch in beginning chain to form a ring.
Row 1:  Chain 2, 23 double-crochets in ring; slip-stitch in the 2nd chain of the beginning of this row.
Row 2:  Chain 4, 1 double-crochet in the closing slip-stitch of the previous row; chain 1 *skip 2 stitches; in the next stitch: 1 double-crochet, chain 2, 1 double-crochet* Repeat 7 times from *to* Close with a slip-stitch in the 2nd chain of the beginning chain 4.
Row 3:  Chain 2; 1 double-crochet, chain 2, 2 double-crochets under the chain 2 of the previous row; 1 single-crochet under the chain 1 of the previous row *2 double-crochets, chain 2, 2 double-crochets under the chain 2 of the previous row; 1 single crochet under the chain 1 of the previous row* Repeat 7 times from *to* Close row with a slip-stitch in the 2nd chain of the beginning chain 2.
Row 4:  No build up with a chain as before; directly work 3 double-crochets, 1 chain, 3 double-crochets under the chain 2 of the previous row; 1 single-crochet to the left and right of the single-crochet of the previous row. Repeat 8 times and  close with a slip-stitch in the first stitch of the row.
Finish off with a slip-stitch. 


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Lemon Pepper

I have been making my own seasoning mixes for some time and I keep adding new ones as I come across different recipes. I got started when I really looked at some of the labels and thought, "I wonder why they put THAT in there!?!" (Sort of like artificial colors in ranch dressing but that's a whole other topic! LOL!!) I have been selling my seasoning mixes at the Farmers Market this year and they are really catching on!


 Lemon Pepper
4 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons dried lemon peel
2 tablespoons Kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper

Mix all together.

How easy is that AND we can recognize and pronounce all the ingredients! :) This is really good on chicken or in stir fry or added to sauteed Swiss chard or in tuna salad or... You get the idea! I also have this for sale on my Etsy site and on Country Cents but haven't sold any yet. :( This is my "promotional" picture!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Desert Blooms

We had virtually no winter rains this year. Despite this, the desert still managed to produce some flowers!
Mesquite

Autumn Sage

Cholla

Vitex

Yucca

Western Blue Flax

Elderberry

Desert Willow

Desert Zinnia

Silverleaf Nightshade

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear



Thursday, June 9, 2011

Buddy enjoys his morning cup of coffee!

"Jeez, am I tired! Guess I should quit getting up at 4 AM to bark at the coyotes!"
"Check it out! Jerry left me a cup of coffee! How did he know I needed a little pick-me-up this morning?!"

  "Aw, come on! Can you really blame a guy for seizing an opportunity!?"