Happy critters...and Coriander

May 17, 2012

Hope all of you are having a good week....... from the stories im reading, everyone sounds so busy with springtime chores.  I too, have wore myself out with yard and garden work.  Every muscle in my body is sore this week from flipping dirt and pulling weeds, cutting grass and running the weed eater around everything.  We have been having some nice rain showers this spring, which is a blessing, but......that means more grass to mow here in the south. 

Yesterday it was nice to sit on the back patio and admire all the hard work I've done. If you have followed my blog from it's beginning, you will remember that i had three Barred Rock chickens in the chicken tractor my husband built for me. 

 I lost one over the winter, and only have two of these ladies left.  They are the sweetest things, they enjoy roaming the farm, but when we are out sitting on the patio they love to come up for a visit.  While relaxing on the patio yesterday i had to snap a few photos of them drinking from the dog's water bucket.

The stones were put there because when it rains, the water washes out that spot on the edge of the patio.  It's the perfect little perch for them to reach the bucket....I Love It!!!!
I have enjoyed having them around, and having fresh yard eggs is always a plus.  My plans were to have more of these, but we need to build a bigger coop.  The tractor was perfect size for three to four of these grown ladies, but i would like to raise more now.  Building a larger pen is on the list of things to get done around here.  Right now working on the tractor, making hay, the cows calving, and the sheep are taking up our time and attention right now, but we will get there...........patience is a virtue.

Our animals are happy critters, they all co-mingle together and get along well. Do you remember our cat Minnie?

She actually loves the chickens, she thinks she is one of them on occasions................

Maybe she's sitting on eggs??????????

Cilantro or Coriander????

I grew cilantro over the winter months, and it has finally gone to seed.

Prior to planting this citrus flavored herb, i did not know that Coriander and Cilantro were one in the same.  When i picked up the seed packet at the feed and seed store, it had both names printed on the packet.  I went home and googled it to find out more.  It has history in the Spanish, Asian, African and other European countries.  The Asians call the leaves, Chinese parsley, and Cilantro is the Spanish name, which we are familiar with in Mexican salsas. 

The fruit or the seeds can be dried and crushed and used in many dishes of different nationalities. 

I love the tiny white flowers it produces before going to seed.

Now i have lots of seeds to crush and use in dishes and to replant as well.

Don't overwork yourselves ladies................Take time out to relax and admire your hard work.



                                                              Live Simple...................Sheryl


I"m linking up to My Simple Counrty Living for the country homemakers hop, please join me.