Crazy Chook Names

Okay, so I have to do it. I have been thinking of names for my hens and for potential roosters as I come across them I add them to the list. My friends have been too willing to share their ideas too. I am going to log them all for future use. Feel free to comment and add your own. This could be a wealth of inspiration. NO OFFENCE INTENDED. Here they are;

Flyza Minelli

Doris Lay

Elizabeth Laylor

Barbra Streishen

Chictine Aguliera

Margaret Hatcher

Gw-HEN-ith Poultry

Victoria Peckham

Yoko Ono

Chick Flick

Henergex

Flygella Lawson

Margaret Hatcher

Steph-henny Rice

Feather Lockier

Buff Orphingtons: Goldie Horn, Jeanie Little, Joan Rivers, Ginger Vitis,

Silver Laced Wyandottes:  Silver, Lace, Wine, Dot

Drag Queen Chook Names:                                                                                            

Della Catessen

Tess Tosterone

Rita La Cock Eater

Rachel Tension

Sharon Husbands

Tequila Mockingbird

Ivana Cockatoo

Sofonda Cocks

Wilma Ballsdrop

Amanda Playwith

Devoida Taste

Iona Toyboy

Layona Back

Ivana Kutchakockoff

Winnie Baygo

Anita Big-Juan

Miss Diagnosed

Ivana B. Queen

Kaye Wye

Henny Penny Tration

Rosie Cheeks

Jean Pool

Hope Heelcum

Eileen Dover

Paige Turner

Shanda Lier

Anna Rexia

Bertha Venation

Patty O. Furniture

Crystal DeCanter

Kitten Kaboodle

Amanda Reckonwith

Miss Inglink

Miss Construe

Holly Mackerel

Hollee Luja

Orna Mint

Sharon Needles

Eva Destruction

Bea Reasonable

Dee Flaytable

Luce  Change

Rhea Listik

Miss Take

Miss De-Meaner

Miss Understood

Roosters:

Cock Hudson

Ernest Heningway

Cluck Kent

Russell Crower

Chirper Reed

Burgurk Newton

Janet's Chocolate Brownies

Without a word of a lie, these are the greatest I have ever had.

Chocolate Brownies

·       250g dark chocolate, chopped

·       250g unsalted butter

·       4 eggs

·       2 teaspoons of vanilla

·       50g (1/3 cup) plain flour

·       50g cocoa

·       2 cups caster sugar

·       95g white chocolate chips

·       95g milk chocolate chips

·       icing sugar to dust

1.    Preheat over to 180C. Grease rectangular 20cn x 30cm tin and line with baking paper.

2.    Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then remove form the heat and pour over the chocolate. Stand for ten minutes to allow the butter to melt the chocolate, then stir until smooth.

3.    Place eggs and vanilla in a small bowl and beat with a fork until combined. Set aside

4.    Sift flour and cocoa in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and chocolate chips. Male a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, then pour in melted chocolate mixture and egg mixture and stir until well combined.

5.    Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes or until slightly risen and the surface appears dry and cracked. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely – this will take about one hour.

6.    Once cooled, using the overhanging baking paper as handles, ease the brownie out of the pan and place on a chopping board. Dust with icing sugar and cut into squares.

7.    You can change the texture of the brownie by adjusting the cooking time. If you like a soft and fudgy brownie, bake for a few less minutes etc. 

10 Things Right Now

10 things in my life right now....

1. Listening

I value my ability to hear. Whether this be the wind around me, the children in my class giggling as they share a funny moment or discover something new or the rich harmonious tones of Il Divo or the equally talented,  Josh Groban, as I drive to work! I value my ability to hear my friends and work colleagues. I value my ONENESS with my garden and I value hearing the sounds it offers me on a daily basis. Is there a more grounding earthy sound than that of a day old chick sharing its voice with its mother who is proudly clucking in return -hearing the two dogs playing hard in the yard…….the tawny frog mouth owls who are parenting in our gum tree?

2. Eating

I have made the decision that it is time to develop some greater self respect and to put into place good eating habits. You know the ones we all read about, know about, and forget in an instant the minute a piece of hot buttered toast or cheesecake appears.  C’est la vie! Each morning I commence the day with, “Today is the day. A new beginning, the day for which only perfect food shall hit these lips.”  And then - I go and wreck it with my morning coffee. As I sit here now, I tell you, tomorrow is the day. It is the start of a new day and I shall have greater respect for what I eat and when I eat. Fingers Crossed. I love food and I value the friendship it builds and the conversations shared over great meals.

3. Drinking

My morning coffee consumption is slowly doing my head in. The first thing I do in my morning is to make myself a coffee and to head down to the chook run. It is the nicest 30 minutes in my day. Well, not really, but it is certainly a lovely way to greet the day.  This is followed by another coffee the minute I hit my classroom, another when I get to the staffroom and a few more throughout the course of the day. All in all, I am probably consuming six cups a day. I am aware that this needs to be reduced, but again…ARGH!  I am thrilled to share that alcohol consumption is nearly non existent. I hate the effect it has on me the next day. A night of insomnia and a crook, tired feeling are too much to ask for. The perils of getting older! Now all I have to do is limit my coffee intake and I shall be a happy man. I need to get back in touch with My Camp Eden ways. 

4. Wearing

I love the fact that Spring is here. “If only they could see me now.”  All those years ago where I prided myself in wearing labels only and spending WAY to much money on shoes, clothing and aftershave. Now I like nothing better than to get home and to slip into my footy shorts, singlet and hit the garden. Oh yeah…………..I LOVE MY GUMBOOTS! I do have to hit the wardrobe and to do some sorting.  Simply shutting the doors and running like hell is not sustainable. One day it will explode! There should be some goal setting here.

5. Reading

I have been manically reading about chook raising. Initially we commenced with the desire to house 6 chooks. Well Holy cow hasn’t that been the understatement of the year. We now have 27!!! We are only allowed to have 20. That said, we have some chicks that will not be staying. I have been frantically researching every thing about chicken raising. SO read this….

LAYING:

1 Light Sussex - Cream

1 Australorp - Oprah

1 Wyandottes-  Cee

1 RIR Rhonda Burchmore

1 Lohman Brown - Noelene

1 Ex batteries: Elizabeth

2 Buff Orphing/Wyandotte cross - Pippa and Kate

Total 8 layers

NOT LAYING:

1 baby Chicken Cluck Kent

4 Silved Laced Wyandotte Chickens: Flyza Minelli, Cluck Gable,  Elizabeth Laylor, Barbra Streishen

1 RIR: Julia Gizzard - pullet

1 Light Sussex - Brandy (raising chicks)

1 Ex batteries: Camlila

2 Pullet Light Sussex: Alex and Zander

1 Pullet RIR: Lucielle Ball

4 Speckled Sussex X infants

1 Light/Speckled Sussex X infant

1 Wyandotte – Effan (Broody)

2 Baby Buff Orphingtons - Goldie Hawna and Gwenyth Poultry

Total 19 not laying

27 in total

I have read about diseases, feeding techniques, healthy eating, omega 3 enhancements, correct terminology and exploring the deep litter method. I am also an administrator for a Sustainable Swapping web page……that makes me read every night. Sustainable Swapping - Poultry, Fertile Eggs, Plants, Trade or Barter

6. Weather

I am loving what Mother Nature is throwing at us. I love the feel of the cool air upon my face when I am sleeping. I love the crisp morning air as I venture outside at 430am to hit the chook run. The days are great, warm, sunny and inviting. Despite what everyone else thinks, here in Brisbane I love a true tropical storm. Hail, winds, swirling cloud masses one day, singlet and shorts the next.

7. Wanting

I am wanting some parents to take a greater interest in their children. Believe me, I am not having a dig at anyone in particular, but it haunts me that some children I encounter on my journey as a school teacher have very sad lives. No child actually asks to be born. It is therefore important that parents do everything they can to make a child’s life, fruitful, positively challenging and filled with healthy eating, great role modelling and eventful, valuable risk taking. What wonderful learning experiences positive parents can and do offer!

I also want to work out how I can thanks my wonderful teaching partner. I leave her behind as I head onto a new school next year. Some people make a difference in the eyes of their students and others also touch the hearts of those they work with. MY MEL is simply a person who I am grateful has entered my life. I am a better person and a better teacher because of out interactions.

8. Feeling

I am feeling slightly anxious as I prepare for the home run. The school year is preparing for the assessment and reporting regime. I prepare to leave and I commence to plan what I could offer my new students and school community. The next 8 weeks will be hectic work wise and at the same time hectic socially. I am assisting with the catering of a friend’s wedding while endeavouring to create work life balance.

I want to feel the cool morning breeze, the sun on my back and the hand mower vibrating in my hands.

9. Thinking

I am thinking that I shall endeavour to make a commitment to writing 10 things in my life right now. I can see the value in writing one’s thoughts down. I can see it is a positive means of identifying goals……being brave enough to throw them out there for all to see and then doing what everyone does in trying to embrace the hurdles thrown at us all from time to time.

  

10. Enjoying

I am really enjoying spending time at home.  I love the garden:

- the irises are in bloom

- the day lilies are about to burst

- the lavender hedge is a BUZZ with insects

- the daisies are blooming and I have taken 80 cuttings,

- the lily pilly hedge around Cluckingham Palace is taking shape

- the orchids are in bloom

- the CLUCKER TUCKER has sprouted and we are well on the way to growing out first chook food crop

Tomato and Lavender Jam.

I am still playing with this recipe as I have only made it this once. I have found no need to alter it at all. I have serve this beautiful jam on top of zucchini fritters. The lavender is not over powering at all and it very subtle.  It is also delicious served with brie and a dry biscuits as it makes a nice alternative to using quince paste.

Okay, so what do you need?

2 tablespoons of olive oil

3 tablespoons of finely copped/minced shallots  

2 tablespoons of finely copped/minced garlic  
3 tablespoons of finely copped/grated ginger  

2 teaspoons of dried lavender

1 cup of red wine vinegar

1 cup of sugar

2 cans of whole tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped

Salt to taste

Putting it all together:

1. Heat olive oil in a pot over low heat.
2. Add garlic, shallots and ginger. Stir until it becomes soft and the fragrance filled the kitchen.
3. Add vinegar, sugar and lavender. Simmer.
4. Add tomatoes and leave on the heat until the mixture begins to thicken. This will take anywhere between 40 minutes and 1 and ¼ hours. You need to keep an eye on it and stir regularly.
5. Season with salt.
6. Place into sterilised jars.

Cluck Kent, we think....Possibly Barbra Streishen

Well folks, it was lovely to find our little bundle of fluff under Mumma Brandy.

9th October 2011

Tonight, is the night! This afternoon I receive four week old Silver Laced Wyanotte chicks. With fingers crossed I shall sneak them under Miss Brandy this evening, stealing the obviously unfertile eggs she is currently still sitting on. I have done some research and apparently the adoption process can be very hit and miss. That said, she had proved, to date,  to be a diligent mother, has not pecked at us once, and trusts us with her baby. MAYBE.....things could go to plan.