Mind-reading Chickens

After several months of receiving one egg a day from our seven hens, Mr. Man and I had a serious discussion about the cost of organic layer feed and a stock pot, and lo’ and behold the girls are suddenly laying.  Last week I was greeted with 3-4 eggs per day, and this morning there were five!  Even Letty, my White Leghorn who hasn’t laid in over a year is producing—I know when she is laying as she is the only chicken I have that lays white eggs.  I’m so happy they read my mind and are once again earning their keep.

We have had a tremendous pecan harvest this year.  Our one tree has produced so many pecans that we’ve had difficulty keeping up with them.  In all honesty we haven’t been all that interested in harvesting them in the past. We’ve had friends come over to harvest, and our old lawn guy always took home a couple bags, but for us they’ve always been more of a pain in our asses—some years the squirrels will pick them while they’re still green, take a couple bites and throw them down, making a huge mess of the patio.

The first few pecans to fall along with the last of the Shitake mushrooms and peppers from the garden

This year I started thinking about what a welcome source of additional protein pecans would have been during a hard winter to people before the days of supermarkets.  So, I started collecting them; first just filling up a bowl or two.  Then we had a good storm and the next morning the ground was literally covered in pecans.  I collected two big baskets, and between my brother and I, shelled them all, resulting in nine quart-sized bags.

After sharing some with family, I pulled out the food saver and threw the rest in the freezer.  The next storm had the same result, with big gusts of wind sending pecans down on our heads while we harvested.  Over Christmas, my daughter collected a big bag for her girl-friend’s father and I collected a big bag (about 5 pounds) for freezing.

It took me several days to shell them all, not that I mind; it’s a good excuse to watch a couple of episodes of “Friday Night Lights.”  Marley has taken to hunting out any that have cracked open upon hitting the patio—I usually leave these for the squirrels.  And, just when I thought there couldn’t possibly be any pecans left on the tree, this morning I walk outside to yet another small crop.

Off to shell pecans…