Always such a Ham


An interesting thing happened yesterday (ok a few yesterdays ago). The pig managed to get out of the pen. He tore the field fencing away from the post near the gate.

Fortunately he went into the goat yard. The other animals were not happy about it. Laura and Joshua had been throwing up in the mean time. So Laura/Sam/Zech went out to catch the pig. After chasing it around they gave up and Sam took off his gloves. Just then the pig came by and Sam grab his rear legs. Before he could let go the pig promptly drug him under one of the goat platforms, through the manure/rocks/wood. When Sam was able to let go the pigs rear hoof cut open his index finger, this required some stitches. His clothes and body were both torn up.
Now Laura being sick takes him to the hospital. I have the car so she had to take the truck. Promptly getting it stuck backing out of the driveway. Now Jason from the trout farm had come up to look at Sam's hand and the pig. He had to get the truck unstuck and then Laura drove onto the hospital with her bowl in hand. In the meantime Jason and Joshua lasso the pig with one of my extension cords (no longer usable) and get it hauled back into the dog pen. The pig just about pulled Jason and Joshua over in the process.
By the time I get home and get the entire story, I'm thinking this is going to be a fun evening and I wish they could have recorded the event. After changing clothes I went outside to assess the situation.
Both older boys are encompaciteted leaving myself and Zech to deal with the devil pig. I decided that there was no safe way for me to get the pig back into the pen, so we got ready for an unplanned processing.
Joshua got my rifle and the pig knew what was up. He went to the corner and hid his head from me. I finally got him to turn around and dropped him. Now we had to get him from the goat yard to the gambrel. I could pull him only a short distance by myself. He had to be near 190 lbs based on the carcass. I had Zech bring the lawn tractor around and drag it over to the processing area. Then I proceeded to skin and gut the hog. This took about 2 hours from start to finish. And yes this pig's eye popped out as well. I split the carcass so it was manageable to get it in the cooler. The bullet had entered the skull blew through the teeth and jaw bone. Exited the head and re-eneterd lower on the neck and broke the shoulder. Maybe a little overkill but the pig never knew what hit him and didn't get back up.
And yes I am still going to get some more pigs, but I may shell out the money for an added electrical deterrence.

So how was your yesterday!

These pictures are from our first hog. Due to circumstances being what they were we didn't have time to chronicle the last one 8^)

Chickens and Turkeys + Geese

Wednesday, March 28, 2007
A Surprise Goat

I’m sorry that this edition has been a bit delayed. We had a new kid about two weeks ago. Our La Mancha (Snowflake) had one kid. We had gone to a Bible Study and when we returned there was snowflake with a kid. The kid we named surprise because we had expected it later. This was Snowflake’s first kid. The kid was a Nubian-La Mancha cross. As a result his ears are very interesting. The kid turned out to be a Billy so we banded him. Snowflake was very standoffish at first. Her stomach soon got the best of her however. She would go hide her kid in a crevice under a log and come eat. Now the kid follows his mom around the goat pen.
Last Saturday we built a milk stand. It is an interesting set up. Dad almost made it to big. We are going to milk her if all goes well.
We also had some issues with our chicks that had hatched a couple of weeks ago. We stuck them in the regular chicken yard and they got along fine with the other chickens. The problem was that they could fit through crevices that the regular chickens couldn’t. As a result they were for a couple of days roaming the goat yard and backyard at will. Today mom had me throw them in the chicken tractor.
Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. (NKJV)
SPW

Movin’ Day!
with the oinkers

Even during our days in the military, we always moved ourselves. So this day was no exception. Only the fact that we were not using a moving truck and we were not moving furniture!
One thing I have learned on the farm is: If you want something done---buy an animal!! And “wheather” rain, snow or blazin heat, everyone gets to work! Building fencing, pens, or “animal shacks”. Therefore, when we got our piglets, pepperoni and salami a few weeks ago we did not have their permanent “condo” finished yet. We still had some “interior designing” to do and last minutes “brush ups”. So as in the last blog we put them in a “temporary hotel” for a few weeks.

Only we forgot they would grow……………..

The day the piglets palace was finished and it was time to move them down, and I mean way down, the steep hill. We all looked at each other kinda like……..

How we’s gonna get ‘em down there?!

A bright idea coming to dad said we will just “wheel barrow” them down there!! Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Pick up the back legs and make them babies walk on their front two hooves.

Only we forgot how quickly they move………

My husband (yes I was the camera person, only I was laughing too hard!!) finnnnnnnnnnaly caught his piglet. Then he held it for a bit for the middle son to catch his piglet and after much chasing literally around in circles! He grabbed those back legs. SQUEALLY all the way!! Off he went with that little piglet, holding on very tightly lest it get away. Wheel barrowed him all the way

D

O
W
N
My husband at the last minute decides not to bend over so much so he arranges his piglet right around the middle of the belly. You would have thought we were killing them on the spot-----they squealed and cried all the way down there. He tried to switch to the piglet to our oldest son who quickly tired (remember they grew!! They were now about 90lbs) It was one of the funniest things we have done so far!!
As for the piglets, they are very happy in there new “condo” it is at least 4 times their old place and is much more shaded and decorated much more to there liking!

I do believe except for me, this moving day may have been harder than our move cross country!

New Porkers

We have ventured into a new area for us. The Bradshaw's were thinking of getting some pigs and wondered if we were interested. I think it is safe to say that we are always interested in trying something new around here. The price was good and the delivery was free. They borrowed our goat trailer and made a few modifications for the journey. This picture brings to mind a statement: You might be a Tennessean if.....

Well it was an interesting first hour or so. Notice the before and after pictures. these fellas make short work of plowing. I wonder how they would do in the garden? Hopefully these pigs will be ready for bacon and chops in a few months. Pork is our favorite breakfast meat by far. More later on the new arrivals.

A Few New Things and A Few Old Friend Around Our Place

This is just a quick update on the homefront here in Tennessee.

Our new goat kids, Salt and Pepper are getting big already. It seems that the one that was blind can now see. There is some type of eye infection that goats have been getting in this area that passes in a couple of weeks according to a goat raiser.

We have added to new animals to the small herd. One is Snowflake, a La Macha nanny goat that is pregnant by a Nubian. This should make an interesting combination, one almost no ears and the other one with long and floppy ears. We also picked up a 3 month old ewe lamb, called Sinnaman, we hope to add a ram in a few more months.






We had a visit from some of our brothers and sisters in Christ that live up near Washington DC. We had a really good visit. Rick helped me make a rabbit hutch I have been meaning to do for sometime. And we were able to help celebrate Joseph's birthday.

The boys loved having someone else to shoot with and play with over the short time they visited us. The Brown's are a very special family to us.

Well I think we will leave this posting for now and go relax like Zechariah has a habit of doing.

Seek to follow Christ and please Him in all things.

Did I hear a "PEEP"?

We got our children a chicken incubator for Christmas this year. A perfect gift for Trisonschickery don’t ya say! Well we collect 23 eggs and popped them things in there and waited the appointed 21 days and guess what………………….

Yep, the first one must a been a rooster, for he cracked open and was a peeping loud and clear 5:45 am on Monday morning!!

Then several more decided they wanted in on the show and out they popped too! Peep peep peep . Here a peep, there a peep, everywhere a peep peep!!

There ain’t nuthin’ like seein’ a chick crack open and come out into the bright new world. They are so cute and fluffy after about an hour. They just look up at ya and peep. We had 14 hatch right away.
Just wanted to give ya a peep into whats going on here at trisons chickery these days!

Blinded

We went out to the goat pen last Saturday to check on the two new kids, born on Christmas Eve. I took out the mamma’s favorite treat---Triscuit crackers, and some corn for the other goat Buckwheat. Taking food in hopes that we could get a good look at the little cuties! As I watched my husband come to the fence side with one to show me, I noticed right away it’s eyes. And as my husband approached, he said he is blind. We were devastated! Blind? Sure enough both eyes were completely white. I recalled many times looking out the kitchen window thinking that something was wrong with the one kid---he seemed to lag behind and be smaller than the other, but I just thought that was normal when having twins. Just after my husband put him down---he ran full steam into the metal side of the shelter they live in. Yes, he was indeed blind. So much of his behavior made sense now. Poor poor thing. My heart is just broken for him. It made me thing even more of how many children with handicaps and deformities are just shrugged off and left because of imperfectness!

A more sobering parallel is the children of Israel.
The ever looking – but never seeing--- blinded people!
He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Isaiah 6:9
A scary thought. As we watch this wee little kid bump into things, often frightened, how easily it would be to led it into danger and destruction. And this is just what happened to the hard hearted Israelites. They were blinded to the Truth, which led them down the road to their own “light” and to make up their own “truth”. A new religion that had no need for light at all. The sad thing is they were never “seeing” their need for a Redeemer!
We often think we would never be like that. Yet I challenge you. What have you turned a “deaf” ear to that has spoken to you in God’s Word. What Truths do you simply culturalize out so you do not have to obey. Or perhaps you just don’t read much of the Word so you don’t have much to obey? I think we do, it just looks different.
Just one last note on this thought of “blinded” to the Truth is in evangelizing others. Though we are commanded to do so in the “Great Commission” However, we are NOT to coheres, persuade, manipulate, give a man centered gospel, share an easy believism, or in any way do God’s work in “opening eyes”! We are not the “eye openers”! We are not the “converters”. We are not the heart changers. We are the gospel proclaimers as the Holy Spirit gives us opportunities! And nothing more. Anything else is saying that God can not save a person without our help. And that my friends is simply not true.

Walk in The Light!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

Just Kiddin’

Boy were we surprised this Christmas eve!! Nanny had twins!! I ain’t kiddin’ either! We woke up Sunday Morning Dec 24th to the cutest twin new born baby goats!! (new parents always say that) We were so excited. All are doing well.

I thought how very cold they must be in the simple lean too structure they called “home”. It is just a pallet with some scrap tin on top. IT is completely open in the front. Not much room for the two goats we have plus two new ones.

Not that we would dare compare this to the Birth oF Jesus. But with the day of the year it was, I could not help but immediately think of my Lord. And what meek and humble conditions it was for him on His birth of which we were on the eve to celebrate. (I know the exact date is not known)

We thought it a special Christmas gift, that came as a reminder of the humanity of His birth & His birth for humanity!

(Pictures will have to wait. Our digital camera finally quit working after 7 years.)

Don’t count You Chickens
Before they hatch!

We have all heard the saying don’t count your chickens before they hatch! There is truth to this saying. In our own lives we have done that financially and ended up with a “bunch of cracked eggs”!! There ended up not being any chickens!
With a society of “credit cards” we have disproved this old country saying. However, these “credit card” chickens taste like plastic!! Let me tell you about a recent story of how our family personally experienced this lesson in “real life”, then we can talk again of perhaps a deeper meaning of this.
Now remember we have only been doing chickens for about a year. We city folks have made it for over a year now in the country! We have processed chickens several times, all with a unique “science” lesson of there own. This time was really neat! We had been given some hens that were about 2 years old. They were layers and so we took them in to help up the egg supply. However, we did not count on the fact that they were also, egg eaters!! Soooooooo, they were eating more eggs than we were---so we decided to eat them!! Nice big juicy chicken dinner we were gonna make out of ‘em. Those chickens were not going to eat any more eggs!
Well we got everything set up, we had our friends over and we were going to process about 11 chickens this time, 4 of those 11 were the egg eaters! Guess what we found in the egg eaters?????? Betcha can’t guess………you’re right, eggs!! I’m not “yoking” either. We had always processed young/early chickens so we had never come across the “unhatched eggs” before. But of several different stages were big round orange yokes with a thin clear covering that we pulled out of the chickens while we were getting the other “stuff” out of them!
So there ya go…………….the real “chickens before they were hatched”!! We had never seen them before and were so surprised by what we saw………..any one for scrambled eggs?
Now for a more serious note. How many times do we count our chickens before they hatch? I thought about this a lot. And one very deceptive way we do this is through the use of credit cards. It still boils down to buying what you do not have money for. Just like in the old days where leans were put against a crop or a house etc for money. We just have a simpler (I say a deadlier), means of “counting your chickens before they hatch” and those credit cards add up quicker than dirty dishes in a sink!
So I hope you enjoyed the Chicken/Egg story (it is a true story) and the challenge to not “count your chickens before they hatch” in any form lest they hatch a snake and bite you!

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21

PASTURE to PLATE
Well it has been a really amazing adventure with "RIBEYE". From the pasture to the plate, this has provided us with an extraordinary experience. There is a deep sense of appreciation for where the meat on the table comes from, and just how much effort it takes to place it there.

This past Saturday we went over to the Bradshaw's for the final packaging of the cow quarters. After hanging the meat for four weeks I was a little unsure of what to expect.



The meat had a purple tinge to it along with some light mold growth. This required the removal of about the top 1/8 to 1/4 of inch on the carcass. With that removed the meat had an extraordinary good texture and smell.

We started by processing the rear quarters first. Keith had set up the HOW TO video in the basement, which turn out to be a real help getting started. We each processed our meat in a little different fashion.





The Bradshaw's went for a more conventional cut processing while we had chosen to try removing the meat as it was naturally grouped together. I can say in retrospect that Keith's turned out very nicely, but I was very satisfied with our results as well. Everything to me that wasn't clearly a steak cut (i.e. the tender loin) was either a roast, cube steak or hamburger. This method proved to be much quicker, but clearly either method produced good results.

Laura did such a wonderful job packaging up all of our meat. She used standard freezer paper and tape, while finishing off with labeling and placing it in a gallon freezer zip-lock bag. It was a lot of work but she really enjoyed the day, just being able to work together as a family.


The meat lost some weight during the aging process. It went from taking 3 men to carry and hang it to one man being able to carry it to the processing table. It would have been nice to have a before and after measurement. It will take another time or two before we can be sure whether 3 or 4 weeks is optimum for the hanging time.

Zechariah asked if he could cut up the meat for hamburger. I was a little hesitant at first, but then decided that it would be nice for him to be able to help. I kept a close eye on him because the knives were really sharp. He really did a wonderful job. When he was done he toes out some time to play with Luke. It really blessed my heart-to see some loving fruit in his life.

Joshua and Samuel took time grinding up the meat for hamburger. It took a lot of patience while dealing with the Kitchen Aid grinder. It tended to overheat frequently. We were very thankful to have it, but I believe it was too much strain upon this type of equipment (it was never intended for continuous operation like that). We would be well served in the future to purchase a commercial grinder

In the end we filled up a very large cooler, along with another smaller cooler and one larger water cooler. It filled up the bed of the truck nicely. We ended up with a freezer full of meat, but it looks like so much less when it is all packed up. I really cannot judge with any certainty how long a half of a cow will last our family. It will take a little more experience and planning to be able to provide for our meat usage for each year.


This is the best tasting meat I have ever had. I would like to thank the Bradshaws and Ribeye. The Bradshaws gave a lot, but Ribeye gave his all. :-)

The boys got in a few minutes of play before it was time to go home. Quite frankly I am not sure where they came up with the energy after all of the work they did.

This was by far one of the best times I have ever had with my family. There was no complaining, no fussing-just willing hearts working in peace and harmony together. Not perfection, but love in action. We were all tired-and I do mean totally exhausted, and yet there were no grumpy or self-centered comments. This is the way it should be, the LORD richly blessed this day in the life of our family.

I would just like to end this with a short thought. How are things in your household? Men I can tell you this much, the spiritual tone is set by you! What will you do with your God given leadership? Will you example out the love and peace that are only found in Christ or will you get frustrated, angry, and self focused? You will do one or the other. Do you make it a joy for your wife to be your help-meet? Do your actions tell your children they are a blessing from God? If you want peace and unity in your home it starts with your own spiritual condition and relationship with Christ. Examine your own heart and consider your own ways.


1 Peter 1:12-14 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look. 13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance

"BILLY BURGERS"

Our Billy Goat had become somewhat of a problem lately. He was butting our new buckling, our pregnant Nanny Goat and various fence parts; plus he smelled really bad. It was time for us to recoup our money out of him in meat.

It was a real interesting slaughter attempt. We used a 22 caliber rifle at first, but it bounced off of Bill's head. Not a good way to make friends with a goat. I had the boys go get me a bigger gun, my .308, it finished him off quickly.

Joshua offered to drag the goat up to the processing area. This wasn't an offer I was about to turn down. We made this a family project. The boys did most of the skinning, although as you can see below we had to read up on some of the finer points. We sometimes stopped and looked at each other wondering what we need to do next.

With a lot of patience and effort on the kids part we got the hide and guts off of the carcass.











Now with Billy out of the picture we can breed Nanny in a few months with our Nubian goat "Buckwheat".

We will keep you up-to-date with the progress of our growing goat milk efforts. Since we have never milked anything nor have we ever had goat kids, it should be really interesting.


Once all of the left over were gotten rid of we cut the goat into two halves. Samuel got rid of the goat guts in the back area of the property. Seems there has been a lot of interest by the local bird population in studying goat anatomy.
Even the dog seemed to get better acquainted with Billy after his demise. It is interesting to note that Nanny (in the background) seemed to be quite happy that Billy was gone so she enjoyed the grain he had been previously consuming.





We borrowed a cooler from some friends to age the meat. We placed about 4 cups of vinegar along with 10 cups of salt into the cooler and filled it with water and ice bottles. This was changed out twice. The end result yielded us meat free of Billy goat smell and taste.

The final product gave us around 25 lbs of Billy burger and four shoulder roasts. We are going to tan the hide with the hair on if we can get the Billy goat smell off of it, more on that in a future post.

This has been a real adventure for us. I am not particularly found of killing animals, but I have been very pleased with the end results. We have been very isolated from where our food comes from and the death and processing involved. The boys and Laura and I have a greater appreciation of the food the Lord provides to us now than ever before. We know that our livestock have been well treated, feed and processed in clean conditions.

Genesis 9:2 The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. 4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.