Dove Season

First hunt of the fall season. I took my .20 gauge..... bucket for carrying shells, birds and for sittin'.

I didn't bring many in this trip, but it didn't really matter.
I enjoyed the evening... :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

More Flavored Game Hens (hoof to table) Picture Heavy

Recently raised another batch of flavored game hens for the freezer. Went with the same feed I used last time and flavored the birds with a mixture of garlic, ginger, scallions and corn. I really liked the way the last batch turned out.

Started with day old Cornish Cross birds...

Built a pvc and chicken wire pen to let the birds roam the farm, eating bugs...

I fed the birds the special feed consisting of corn ( to add fat), garlic, scallions, ginger and this time garden veggies.

I process the birds at 2 pounds or under. It takes around 6 weeks to reach this size.

Set up my home made chicken plucker....

Scald water...

Processing table...

Dispatch the game hens in one location, then dipped in the scald water to loosen the feathers...

Into the chicken plucker...
I have a hard time getting pics of the plucker in action. I spray the inside of the plucker with the water hose so the feathers wash out of the bottom of the barrel. It takes just a couple of minutes to clean one bird,

Onto the processing table where I clean the birds...

Then I chill them overnight before packaging for the freezer...

The birds weighed from 1.15 lbs to 2.1lbs.

I took a couple of them with me on a camp trip to the lake...

Made a blend of wild rice, scallions and water chestnuts...

added chicken stock and a few seasonings...

Topped with the game hens...

shoveled a few hot coals on top and let em go...

Served with the wild rice blend and some of my garden tomatoes...

These have to be my favorite birds of all time. They're so tender and moist..

 I get a hint of ginger and garlic in each bite. I'm convinced the feed makes a big difference. lol
Will be raising another batch as soon as these are gone.

It's been a crazy summer. Haven't been home a whole lot. Made a trip to the north east. First time I've been up that way. The countryside was pretty. Got to eat fresh seafood and wade in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Maine.
Just returned home from a week long bluegrass festival camp out. Had a great time. Thanks J and J if you see this! lol

It's been a good summer, I received rain, the garden did well, the animals are happy and healthy.

Hope everyone had a great summer. Thanks for stopping by!

More Camp Bacon Biscuits n Gravy

Made my favorite biscuit breakfast while camping recently. These are pretty easy to put together after a late night of lightening bug chasing, star gazing and world problem solving around the campfire. 

I get the fire going in the tractor rim...

Brown some spicy sausage...

Make my biscuits while the sausage browns...

I use regular baking powder biscuits but any recipe would work..

I slather the dough with bacon drippings, sprinkle with scallions and crisp, cooked bacon..

Roll, jelly roll style, then cut..

Finish my sausage gravy. I add flour, cook the flour flavor out, add milk and seasonings...

Plop the biscuits on top of the gravy....

Into the tractor rim... and I shovel a few hot coals on top and let er go...

I rotate the pot every few minutes for even cooking...

Breakfast is ready!

Add fruit to make the meal look healthy and dive in!

Really one of my favorite ways to spend the morning at the lake. A hot meal, nice view and peace and quiet. lol

It has rained a few times here. Things are greening up! Picked my first summer squash from the garden this morning. My new batch of flavored game hens are doing great... I need to take pics of them.
Life's pretty darned good!
Hope everyone is staying healthy and happy. Thanks for stopping by!