Farm raised food!

Roasted Chicken with Coconut Oil: I searched online for a tasty looking roasted chicken recipe and decided to go with a simple recipe with coconut oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. I stuffed the chicken with onion and celery and put some sweet potatoes in the bottom. It cooked for about 1 hour 15 minutes and it was the best chicken I've ever had. I cannot believe how moist and tender it was. I'm not sure if it was the Ranger bird or the recipe but it was delicious.

 Resting on the table for about 15 minutes

 Nate carving the chicken - it's awesome to think we raised our own dinner!!

 I cleaned the leftover meat off and used the bones for stock, something I've been dying to try so I can stop using those little bullion cubes for everything. They say one bird should make 1-2 quarts. I put in celery, carrots, onion and some spices. Hope it turns out!

Garden update: The garden is finally starting to grow! It seems like since sprouting they didn't do much, but now I can see the potential veggies for eating! I am also on day 2 of hardening off the tomato plants so they can go in the ground either right before or right after we get back from Cali. The sun in my front window is not shining in on them all day anymore so they are getting pretty leggy and some have a little brown of their leaves, I think having them outside part of the day will help. I am dreaming of the day we have a greenhouse and I can have awesome starts with all the sun they want!

 The peas continue to grow and I still haven't staked them...

 Kale - I'm so tempted to pick some of the baby kale and mix it in a salad, but I don't wanna kill it, so I think I'll just wait til they are a little more developed

 Spinach is looking really good this year! I ate a leaf today and it was yummy

 The carrots didn't have a very good germination rate but I'll take what I can get

 Beets in front and radishes behind

 I picked this tonight and gave it to Nate with some salt - I basically grew these for him because I'm not a huge fan or "they're not my favorite" as Chloe loves to tell me whenever we check on them :)

 Broccoli and Cauliflower getting bigger by the day!

 Lettuces are also finally starting to grow

16 chickens: I think the chickens were depressed for a couple days after we butchered the rangers, they stayed in the coop most of the day and our head rooster was on high alert. They seem to have calmed down a bit, especially after a watermelon rind peace offering and some leftover corn from dinner that I knew wouldn't get eaten. They are practically all roosting now, they spend the hot parts of the day in the storage shed, and are scared to death of Judd's horses. I can't wait for our first eggs!

I finally named our Buff Orpington pullet Sunset because she is usually the last one in at night

Nate's New Job: Nate interviewed for a new position at the district office dealing with Data in the schools and he got the job!! He has to work a couple extra days this summer but the job starts full time the beginning of August! Congrats to my brilliant husband, hope he enjoys it as much as he's liked teaching.