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Monday, September 17, 2018

Precocious.

Three days ahead of schedule



As I stood in my kitchen Saturday afternoon, listening to the frantic peep of something outside (I thought), I happened to glance down at the incubator and - a quail had hatched!  Three days ahead of schedule!  Out of the 18 eggs I received from Alchemist Farm (I can't say enough good things about them), 9 eggs have hatched as of this morning.  Two more have pipped, so there may be more.


One seems to have a problem with splayed legs, but the rest are thriving.  I had forgotten how fast they move!  The only safe way I can move them from incubator to brooder is in a little bucket with a towel laid loosely on the top.


Hot, humid weather has revisited us (will it NEVER go away?) so not much has been done outside.  We are waiting for the arrival of the remnants of Florence tomorrow. 
Sweater #1
In my quest to get things finished, I blocked Sweater #1 - my green, lace weight cardigan that I love.  I will, however, never again knit a sweater in lace weight yarn.  Sweater #2 will be blocked tonight and then I can move onto socks - my comfort knitting.


My latest obsession
I scored some donut pans and now I am doing all thing donut.  I've made GF Vegan Pumpkin donuts (pictured above) and Apple Cider donuts (not pictured but almost identical looking to the GFVPs).  I give the GFVPs a solid "meh".  They are way too 'wet', if you know what I mean.  The Apple Cider donuts were given to the barn crew and disappeared in about a nanosecond.  I did not coat them with more sugar, as they had plenty of sugar in the mix.  Next week, it's chocolate donuts!  Whee!


Looking ahead at the weather forecast, our hot weather is finally going elsewhere and I have to start thinking about moving tender perennials inside.  My sister gave me a beautiful mandevilla that needs to be over-wintered inside


and I still have to decide whether or not I will be overwintering my geraniums for another winter.  Frugal me says, yes.  It's going to be a little crowded with everyone jammed in - there's the lemon tree and the fig tree, too.  We'll be nice and cozy...


Speaking of cozy, Slimmie has reached maximum relaxed mode...







32 comments:

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I have not yet tried making donuts - but I do love them so - hence twenty five pounds I have yet to lose.. *sigh...

Yours look yum!

Have you EVER remembered summer so humid? Bleh.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Baby quails -- how cute!

Ed said...

Never thought to make my own donuts. That is probably a good thing.

What are the future plans for the quail? After a couple decades of absence, they are starting to make a return in our parts.

Toni said...

Geez-Louise! Are you on speed?

You are one busy and productive lady!

Goatldi said...

I made donuts with one grandgirl about 2010 and have not repeated the performance. Basically because of the sentiment expressed by Ed and Karen. But wait here I sit reading your blog with coffee infused with a good helping of fresh goat milk and a homebaked chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. Whatever!

Love the small avian's perhaps I should have you send a few out for Flame to pal around with. Happy that you weather is shifting also. It is glorious to live in the land of autumn.


PS did you brace the little one with the splayed legs? Would one use toothpicks?

Theresa said...

I'm going to have to pull in my scented geraniums soon. How successful are you overwintering citrus fruit? If we kept trees inside there would be 5 entitled feeling male dogs, I'm sure. Cute little peepers!

ellen abbott said...

I won't be bringing stuff in until probably the end of November. and are those the newborns in the video? no way did those little peepers fit in those eggs. like mammals, I guess they expand when they take their first few breaths. was never interested in learning to knit. did crochet way back when.

Florida Farm Girl said...

Yeah, I get the frugals too. I usually just bring them all inside and basically ignore them. They won't look worth a hoot after a couple of weeks inside. Then when sprint comes again, I take them outside and cut them back and start fertilizing. I've got some that are several years old. Don't even remember.

Florida Farm Girl said...

Another question. My geraniums are good outside down to below 40 degrees. Are you guys hitting that already?

Mama Pea said...

I think I feel exactly like Slimmie after washing windows and doing the laundry today and making a double batch of Mexican Beer Soup. Except I'm not relaxed yet.

Congrats on your very successful beginning with the quail. You'll have to be sure to keep us updated.

How do you find room inside for all the plants you bring in? I just don't have room by a window. Heck, don't have room anywhere but I know they'd have to be by a window.

I used to make donuts (fried them -- oh, horrors!) all the time, but haven't for years. Maybe just as well.

Goatldi said...

Oh good grief! The sweater I meant to ask after the sweater. Pattern? Love the yarn. May I ask what the content is and who produces it? Just lovely!

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

A few years ago I had a pretty pink mandevilla that I overwintered in the house by a south facing window. It grew like crazy in that spot, had blooms all winter after the first two or three weeks after getting moved in and adjusting. The window is in an addition to our home and is not double pane, nor storm windowed, so it would get very cold there. That didn't even slow the mandevilla down. The only problem was that it twined in and around all of the slats on the blinds that I kept open to make sure it got enough light. It was a real job untwining and cutting the mandevilla vine out of the blinds without snipping the strings that attach each slat to the other.

After two and a half winters, I stopped bringing it in to overwinter because my little Pomeranian started seeking out the fallen leaves and spent blooms from it for a snack. He especially sought out the dried leaves and chomped them up like potato chips. They would then make him sick at his stomach. No matter how I tried to sweep up any of the leaves or spent blooms that fell, he would still occasionally find one and eat it. I ended up having to put it outside in the middle of January the final year I had it.

Your donuts look so delicious.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Too cute!!!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i am trying to decide what to do with my geraniums too. we are still tropical here as well. will it ever end? they are saying this weekend will be fall like. i'll believe it when i put a hoodie on!

Rain said...

Those quails are so cute Susan! Is your goal eggs or meat? Oh your sweater is great, I love that colour! OMG OMG...MUST GET DONUT PANS.....I believe I will too become obsessed!!! I have to keep an eye out for some! Did you get any lemons this year? I got ZERO...but the lady who sold me the tree said they may only produce fruit every other year, so hopefully next summer! Slimmie is adorable! :)

Susan said...

Blogger is driving me crazy, refusing to let me in. Today it likes me so taking the opportunity.to comment. Sorry to hear some heavy duty stuff is going on in your life. Sending protective vibes your way. Glad you are able to keep posting. I would be very worried if you disappeared for too long.

Susan said...

I bake non-gluten free donuts out of self-defense. I cannot say no to a donut!

Susan said...

They are pretty much amazing - pop out the size of a small pecan and two days later they are the size of a small egg - and FAST!

Susan said...

These quail lay blue eggs, so they are destined for egg-laying. Except for the extra males, who will be sold for meat.

Susan said...

Some days it feels like it! Then I crash and burn by 8P...

Susan said...

Yes, but oatmeal is good for you - fiber! My crew would love to "play" with the quail, which is why they are safely behind closed doors. The splay-legged chick seems to have grown out of it, thank goodness. Who knows what I would have used to brace those tiny pins - toothpicks? I love the sweater pattern and will knit another. With fingering weight or sport. NOT lace.

Susan said...

I've had success with my Meyer lemon tree but this year I transplanted it (in its LAST container, as I can barely lift the thing) so I figure it will need all winter to come to grips with the space.

Susan said...

They fluff up pretty quickly. I would say they are the size of a quarter when they come out and they grow fast. They are already the size of small chicken eggs and run around like crazy.

Susan said...

This past spring, I was sure it was the last year for them - they were all leggy and awful. Now they are fabulous. I will schlep them back and forth as long as they are happy!

Susan said...

Not quite yet, but I usually get them potted and used to the confines of their new homes before I bring them in. The Mandevilla doesn't do well under 50 and we have already had some high 40s at night!

Susan said...

It does feel like a jungle inside my small house over the winter. However, we all breathe easier :) There is nothing quite as good as a fried donut, but I don't dare!

Susan said...

Thanks for the warning on the blooms and leaves - so far, it's dropped a few blossoms and no one seems interested. This plant looks like one that will climb like crazy. I'll have to be careful about where I place it!

Susan said...

Cute and stinky!

Susan said...

I am hoping to carve out a niche market for blue quail eggs. We'll see. YES! you MUST get donut pans! I did get lemons in the spring - my tree is amazing and I get about 24-28 lemons every year. This year might be different, as I just transplanted it into a larger pot, so it may need a rest. I LOVE my tree!

Susan said...

What a pain! Yes, it's been quite a challenging year and the fun isn't over. I can use all the good vibes I can get. Ham that I am, I will not disappear - it's just a little harder to work myself up into writing mode! xo

Lynne said...

I use to have a whole group of wild quail come around every morning and afternoon to eat. I liked watching them. It looked like the Dad and mom then the young ones, and trailing behind were Grandpa and Grammie. Don't know if it was ,but thats what it look like. ha! Like the color of the sweater , very pretty. Nice job!! Those doughnuts look really good. My oldest daughter will only eat GF. I'm lucky to have a basement to put my plants in for the wnter. Trouble is sometimes forget to water them, Not good!!! take care!

World of Animals, Inc. said...

Thanks for the share. Glad to read that so many eggs are hatching. They are so adorable in the video. Those donuts look really delicious and are so big. Then Slimmie is having the most comfortable pose ever. Great photos. Hope we get to see more of the baby quails. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
World of Animals