RichCat 山羊居

Chinese New Year Eve Dinner 龍年年夜飯

2012-01-28T13:27:00.013-08:00

Hand made Water Ram 自製水力幫浦
Videos of goats and chickens 羊寶和雞寶錄影
Back Yard Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
Property Development 買山容易養山難
Art Works 手工藝品

Dumplings (Silver Ingot) and Wantons

Egg Dumplings (Golden Ingot) and Shrimp eggs
(To make sure the ground meat is cooked, steam the egg dumplings after making them)

Chinese Custards

龍年除夕夜, 山中無歲月, 沒甚麼大年小節的, 連生日都不過,

除非朋友請吃飯, 才做幾道菜應景, 餃子餛飩最簡單, 蛋塔朋友們都愛吃, 這幾道菜就成了主食和甜點


有了銀元寶餃子, 當然少不了蛋餃這道金元寶


山裡可能比不上城裡物資豐富, 缺這少那的, 獨獨雞蛋很多, 燙顆大白菜, 加上肉丸蛋餃和青豆, 也很豐盛了


蝦仁炒蛋加上燙白菜, 給喜歡海鮮的朋友解一下饞


自己養的放山雞下的蛋, 顏色金燦, 祝福每個人龍年行大運, 平安快樂

68 years old Cutting Board 68 高齡的切菜版

2012-01-28T11:45:00.018-08:00

Hand Made Water Ram 自製水力幫浦
Videos of goats and chickens 羊寶和雞寶錄影
Back Yard Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
Property Development 買山容易養山難
Art Works 手工藝品



Videos 錄影:
Goats love fir leaves 羊兒吃杉樹葉
Goats eat squash 羊兒吃大南瓜


氣溫太暖 (華氏 50 度), 原該下雪的水量, 變成 10 天的豪雨, 加上融化的山雪, 讓河水暴漲, 幾個大城傳出水災, 山裡由於森林蓄水的功能, 反而一片平靜, 沒有甚麼變化

好不容易放晴三天, 趕緊到各牧區撿拾被狂風吹倒的樹枝, 拋過圍欄,

再用小卡車搬運到柴房前,

鋸成等長的枝條, 做為柴火


有一棵 68 高齡的老樹 (細數年輪), 亦被吹倒, 半夜倒下時的轟然巨響, 類似悶雷,

大樹幹比較麻煩, 由於倒在山裡, 必須先帶鋸子上山, 鋸成小段, 滾或搬到路旁, 放晴第二天開卡車停山邊,

一段一段搬上車, 載到柴房前面, 櫻桃小丸子等在路邊為我們打氣


木頭分別劈成一定長寬的柴火,

堆放到柴房裡, 新柴需等春夏曝曬三年, 才能成為少煙耐燒, 有用的好柴


今天則帶羊進山撿拾被狂風吹落的杉樹枝葉,

搬到半山腰堆成幾大堆, 當做羊兒的年夜飯


用 68 高齡老樹的一截樹幹, 做成了新砧板, 芳香美麗


切一顆比頭大的南瓜給羊兒當下午茶


只留下一小塊, 蒸熟後,

澆上楓糖漿或蜂蜜, 就是一道美味簡單的營養午餐了

Hand Made Water Ram 自製水力幫浦

2012-01-20T18:41:00.037-08:00

Videos of goats and chickens 羊寶和雞寶錄影
Back Yard Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
Property Development 買山容易養山難
Art Works 手工藝品



Videos 錄影:
Water Ram 自製水力幫浦
Water ram, collector and pipe 水力幫浦和水管



中英雙語
Water rams were invented over 200 years ago. They have been used all over the world, both commercially made rams and homemade rams.

The homemade rams are generally not quite as efficient as the highly engineered models but they are a lot cheaper and are a fun do it yourself project.

A water ram can be made from off the shelf parts available in hardware/plumbing stores. Recycle stores often have many of the pipe parts; used parts in good shape work fine and save a lot of money.

There are numerous YouTube videos and more technical websites explaining how they work and what parts can be used to make one. A serious long term application can justify the expense of a commercially made ram. Water rams come in sizes from ¾ “ to over 6”.

The water ram is an example of appropriate technology which does not require an electric or internal combustion motor to operate. They do require a downhill flow of water with sufficient fall to provide the kinetic energy needed.

The purpose of the water ram is to move water from a low location to a higher location. The energy to make this happen is supplied by the kinetic energy of water running downhill through a pipe (called the drive pipe).

The running water is stopped very abruptly at the low location by a special valve when the running water in the drive pipe reaches sufficient velocity to close the valve. This abrupt stop creates a water hammer.

The water hammer then opens a check valve leading into the delivery pipe, which is a pipe carrying the pumped water to wherever you want to use or store it—all within the pumping limitations of the ram.

The first valve (called the clack valve) now re-opens with the fall in pressure, the check valve is closed by back pressure from the delivery pipe, and the action starts all over again. This action happens repeatedly, about once or twice a second. No electricity is required.

This ram pumps about 1.5 gallons per minute.

Making a water ram is not technically demanding. You may have to purchase some basic tools but only basic tools are needed.

For details on necessary parts and more complete how to information do a google search: water ram pumps, follow the links, enjoy. To see our ram in operation:

click any colorful characters under "videos".

Please leave your comments and/or questions in YouTube. Thanks.

當初買山時, 就決定要把此地建設成自給自足之地, 因此許多設備都是電力與手動並行,

尤其是水源, 雖然有口一分鐘流量 60 加侖的好井, 仍設置了三個 1500 加侖的儲水塔,

冬雨季節收集屋檐雨水, 夏天用手動裝置控制給水, 讓羊兒的水桶不空, 自動補水, 我只在零下結凍時, 早晨灌熱水解凍,

菜圃/果園也有自動澆水/滴水裝置, 每週定時澆水三天,

10 年的河沙培土, 堆肥, 雞羊努力澆灌,

從當年寸草不生的貧瘠土壤,

到如今的滿園春色

毛蟲, 甲蟲, 都樂在其中

暖房內更是加裝一個自製的直立鐵桶, 內裝井水,

當白天氣溫高時吸收熱, 晚上氣溫低時, 桶內熱水徐徐釋放熱氣, 等於一個不費電的溫度調節器　

讓暖房內四季如春, 蔬菜翠綠肥美

這兩天, 趁著連續一週的冬雨, 利用物理原理, 將湍流山溪, 用手工做的幫浦, 將低處的水源, 抽向高處

此自動幫浦不用電力, 可將溪水抽送到設在山坡高處的水塔, 然後水塔的水自動流向山下的菜圃, 果園, 或牲口的水桶 (水往低處流的自然原理),

在天旱與沒電的情況下救急, 此幫浦一分鐘可抽水 1.5 加侖, 即一小時 90 加侖, 只要下一天的雨, 就能灌滿我們 1500 加侖的菜圃水塔

我們計算過, 就算沒水沒電, 只要三個水塔全滿, 就能供應大約六個月的山中用水 (包括牲口), 當然是在比目前已經很摳的生活用水習慣, 還要更節約的情況下

這個幫浦不難做, 成本也很低, 所有材料都在二手店收集而來 (雖然都是生鏽的, 花了些時間打磨), 網路上很多影片教你自製, google "water ram" 即可, 聽不懂英文也沒關係, 一步一步示範得很清楚, 若有任何疑問, 請在下方 "張貼意見" 欄提問, 或點錄影下方的彩色字體影片, 到 YouTube 留言亦可, 新年快樂

First snow of 2012 瑞雪兆豐年

2012-01-16T15:29:00.007-08:00

Videos of goats and chickens 羊寶和雞寶錄影
Back Yard Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
Property Development 買山容易養山難
Art Works 手工藝品



Videos 錄影:
Daisy eats Fir snow bar 黛西吃雪杉像吃冰棒
Daisy and Happy Jump for the Fir 黛西和樂樂跳高吃雪杉
Daisy eat snow Fir 黛西吃雪杉
Panda plays with snow 潘潘好奇的吃雪


前幾天山上陸續出現一些奇象, 先是在數月乾旱後, 下了一場大雨,

雨後罕見的掛了一條彩虹,

然後附近山下牧場降了霜, 但我們山中仍一片翠綠,

接著兩天燦爛的晚霞, 昨晚開始下雪


清晨雪白一片大地,

羊寶一聽我的腳步聲 (雖然踩在雪地上很輕微),

就衝出門道早安,

打掃羊屋和灌熱水到她們的水桶裡時,

媽媽們就在一旁吃覆滿冰雪的杉樹葉,

覆滿雪的樹枝被壓得垂低了頭,

正好讓羊兒搆著


雪杉是除黑莓和毒葛之外, 羊兒的最愛之一, 能把樹枝吃得乾乾淨淨


潘潘和依依第一次見到雪, 好奇的啃吃著玩


雞兒也出門覓食,

幸虧兩天前就把散落在牧區的枝幹撿回, 鋸成塊或條狀, 存放進柴屋, 顏色艷麗的新木, 色暗的是曬了三年的老柴火


這裡冬天最多只下三天雪,

而且每天一出太陽即溶, 中午就化得差不多了

Egg Soup 蛋花湯

2011-11-05T19:49:00.015-07:00

Back Yard Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
Goats and chickens 山羊和雞錄影
Property Development 買山容易養山難
Art Works 手工藝品


I like to have a bowl of hot soup in a wet and cold winter night. Egg Soup is easy to make. It can be very simple (water and egg) or rich (egg, ground meat, peas and carrots).

Steps:
1. Boil 2 cups of water (or chicken soup)
2. Scramble four eggs (add one TBSP water in "scrambled" eggs)
3. Add "scrambled" eggs into the boiling water, turn off heat, keep stirring the eggs to the clockwise direction for 30 seconds.
4. Add a little bit sea salt and serve it when it is hot

You need to turn on the heat again if you want to add carrots, peas, corns for sweetness as well as ground meat (turkey, pork, beef) for more flavor.

However, I don't use corn starch (bad for blood sugar) and/or so called "chicken powder" (similar with MSG. It makes you feel thirsty). I like to keep the cooking simple and healthy.

Videos of baby goats and duckling 羊寶和鴨寶錄影

2011-09-06T19:09:00.021-07:00

Back Yard Bio-charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
My Chickens 雞兒錄影
My Goats 山羊
Property Development 買山容易養山難
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
My Art Works 手工藝品


Videos 錄影:
The 3 weeks old twins challenge 2.5 months old Cherry (purebred boar) and 2 years old Ruby
三週大的小公羊挑戰兩歲大的露比阿姨

3 weeks old Joy can eat a big piece of grape leave
尚未滿月的依依可以吃一大片葡萄葉

Pumpkin drops her head 小南瓜睡到頭掉下來

Panda and Joy play on the sand mountain 潘潘和依依在沙山上玩耍


The best bed and playground in the world 媽媽的背, 是最棒的床
Every part of mom is useful 媽媽的頭角真好用

Help, Mom 蘋果小寶被母雞擋住房門岀不去, 急得喊媽媽
Am I too short? 我太矮了嗎?

The little girl plays with my jacket
Cherry plays my hat 櫻桃小丸子玩我的帽子

Angel (2 weeks old) enjoys the afternoon nap under the warm Spring sun
Baby duck loves to drink LOTS of water 鴨寶非常愛喝水

Goats eat carrots 羊兒吃胡蘿蔔


Robin sings in the foggy morning 知更鳥在晨霧中高唱

Videos of goat food 羊兒的最愛

2011-09-04T16:06:00.011-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜

Videos 錄影:
Goats eat banana 羊兒吃香蕉

 Goats love carrots 羊兒愛吃胡蘿蔔

 Goats eat fallen maple leaves 羊兒大嚼我們砍倒的楓樹
Baby goat loves Mapple 羊寶喜歡楓葉

Goats eat sword fern 羊兒吃劍羊齒葉
Marta and Daisy eat vine 蜜兒和女兒黛西吃藤蔓

Goats eat wild blackberry vine on the ground
羊兒吃攀爬在地上的野黑莓

Cerah is chewing deer's bone !!! 莎莎大嚼野鹿骨頭
I always thought goats are vegetarians. It seems not true to all of them

Shiko (Cerah's daughter) also is chewing the bone
小可 (莎莎女兒) 嚼野鹿骨頭

Marta's son and Buffy/Trek are in the barn
蜜兒的兒子, 飛飛和健兒在羊屋裡要花生吃

Buffy and her son are eating blackberry leaves
飛飛和兒子吃野黑莓

McKida's twins are eating blackberry leaves
瑪琪塔的雙胞胎兒子吃野黑莓

Marta's son is eating blackberry leaves
蜜兒兒子吃野黑莓葉

Delicious poison oak snack 好吃的毒橡木

Girls are eating green Asia Pears 小母羊吃青梨

Does eat prunes, yellow tomatoes and Asia Pears
母羊吃紫梅和水梨

Ruby eats Asia pear leaves 露比吃水梨葉

Goats eat prune 母羊吃紫梅
 Pindo is eating watermelon 貓熊吃西瓜
 5 little boys play with me 小公羊邊吃邊玩

Goats eat grape leaves 羊兒吃葡萄葉

Goats eat cabbage 羊兒吃包心菜

Little boys, chickens and 2nd cut hay
小公羊小母雞和二割草

 Raining morning 下雨天母羊在帳棚裡吃牧草

Goats are tasting a sample of 2nd cut hay 羊兒試吃二割牧草

 Paco is tasting new hay 巴可試吃二割牧草

Buffy and her son (Trek) are tasting new hay
飛飛和兒子健兒試吃二割牧草

Buffy, Trek and Paco
飛飛, 健兒與巴可試吃二割草

McKida and her twin boys are tasting new hay
瑪琪塔和雙胞胎兒子試吃二割牧草

Taffy is tasting the new 2nd cut hay 小太妃獨食
沒有媽媽的小太妃，常常被其他羊兒趕來趕去，没東西吃，所以有時候要單獨餵她。

Little boys, chickens and 2nd cut hay
小公羊小母雞和二割草

Feed goats (1)　餵羊　(2010)
Feed goats (2) 餵羊　(2010/4)

Vidoes of Pindo and his children 公羊貓熊錄影

2011-09-04T14:46:00.007-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜


Videos 錄影:
Pindo's daughters are playing
貓熊的女兒們練習打架
There are 5 baby girls and 5 baby boys from Pindo in 2009.

Pindo loves me to scratch him 撒嬌的貓熊
貓熊最愛跟我撒嬌，提醒我幫他抓癢。

Pindo loves poison oak 貓熊愛吃毒葛藤

Girls are chewing cuds and scratching 小羊反芻和抓癢
羊兒抓癢的方法有好幾種: 用蹄子或頭角，去角的過程殘忍且痛苦，這也是為什麼我們不像別的養羊人家，為了人類的方便，從小去掉羊的頭角，頭角除了調節體溫 (夏天散熱) 和抓癢之外，還可以禦敵防身

Pindo is walking towards me回應呼喚
貓熊一聽到我叫它，無論身在何處，一定飛奔前來。

Nap on the sand pile 沙堆午睡
乾燥溫暖的沙堆，是所有羊兒和雞兒的最愛，只是貓熊體積大，有他在，別羊是睡不到的。

Girls follow me to the woods 跟我到樹林
羊兒每天清晨喜歡跟我到樹林深處吃草, 我稱這段時間為 "親子時間"

Girls go hiking with me
母羊跟我進森林和吃 Lichen, 貓熊也吵著要跟隨

以下錄影是貓熊與不同母羊求愛實況
Pindo chases Marta and she says NO
蜜兒不答應貓熊的追求
注意看公羊的鼻子和舌頭當然還有他發出的怪聲

Pindo tries to chase Cerah and she says NO
莎莎不答應貓熊的求愛

Cerah tries to flirt with Pindo （6 minutes long)
莎莎挑逗貓熊（六分鐘錄影)

Pindo is smelling girls 貓熊聞到女孩子了

 Pindo is in rut 貓熊發情追求飛飛

Pindo is climbing the fence 貓熊爬柵欄

The distinct voices of individual goats 羊兒的叫聲
多數人以為羊兒都是咩咩叫，其實它們和人類一樣，每頭羊不旦平時叫聲不同，甚至可以從它們的叫聲裡，區分出了什麼情況，例如找媽媽，跟我道早安，脖子卡到柵欄裡求救，撒嬌，等等。

Pindo and 3 girls calling me 貓熊莎莎蜜兒和露比的叫聲

Buffy calls (white Kiko doe) 飛飛的叫聲

To woods (Autumn) 秋晨跟我進森林吃早餐
 Goats are following me 羊兒排排走
 Go home from the woods (part 1) 回家囉 (part 1)
Go home from the woods (part 2) 跟我回家 (part 2)
Chickens are enjoying the sunny day 雞兒們享受暖暖秋陽
Goats follow to have afternoon tea 羊兒跟我回家喝下午茶

Volunteer plants and goat feed 野生花果和羊食

2011-09-03T12:54:00.024-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜


成語裡的 "自生自滅", 在山裡隨處可見


由於不施肥, 完全靠家禽家畜, 野生動物 (野鹿, 野熊, 野火雞, 老鷹, 野鳥 .....) 的糞尿, 和雨雪, 風霜, 陽光滋養,

每天在樹林裡行走時, 隨處可見一株株小樹冒出頭,

以前還傻傻的用圍籬圈起來保護, 後來多到完全無力一一圈欄, 真的只有讓它們物競天擇, 看各自的造化了


除了花草樹木, 水果也一樣, 或許是鳥兒, 或許是清風, 也或許是雞羊吃或沾黏在羽毛上的種子, 被帶到了野地,

每年都有西瓜, 醜瓜 (Ugly Melon), 番茄,

蘑菇


甚至無花果苗冒出,

開漂亮紫花, 甜嫩多汁的野豆藤, 最被羊兒青睞


它們的生命力十分強韌, 滿山坡怒長, 像這樣不需人類照料, 還長得好吃好看的植物, 是最被歡迎的 "野草" 了


被用在蔬果園裡雞羊肥料裡的果種比較幸運, 會在豐裕且被周密保護的環境裡茁壯, 野果每年都結得很好, 反倒是花大錢買來一公兩母的 Hardy Kiwi 野獼猴桃,

費時五年, 今夏才好不容易看到了寶寶　


菜圃每年不但輪種各式菜蔬, 調整土壤的酸鹼度, 同時會實驗不同方式, 讓植物互助合作,

例如今年就不搭豆棚,

而是犁妥圃床, 周邊堆高雞羊肥料, 以利肥水流向中央的種床,

先播玉米,

兩週後再灑豆粒,

讓長高的玉蜀黍,

充當豆藤的支架, 互相成長


山裡無論吃的用的, 都儘量回收再生,

老葉果皮,

切剁給雞羊當大餐,

朽木和紙類當柴火燒掉, 幾乎沒有什麼需要扔垃圾桶的,

遇有香甜的蔬果種子, 就洗淨挑選,

留肥大健康的下來, 作為明年的家菓母種

Crater Lake 火山湖

2011-09-03T12:12:00.009-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜


Video 錄影:
Crater Lake 火山湖

這是個六千年前火山爆發形成的碧藍大湖,

湖深 1900 英呎, 圓湖直徑五英哩, 被眾山環繞


原本一萬兩千英呎的大山, 爆發後只剩下七千多英呎的海拔,

雖在盛夏, 仍見不少未融的厚厚積雪


一路順著國家森林公園駛入, 冬天會被關閉,

夏秋訪客最多, 就算不是週末, 來避暑的遊客仍然不少


如海灘細沙般的火山灰地面只有纖小的野花開放,

湖水碧藍的比任何寶石都奪目


湖中央的小島叫巫師島, 只有親臨現場, 才能感受大自然鬼斧神工, 如巫師般的妙筆

Fresh Salsa 新鮮莎莎醬

2011-08-30T17:23:00.012-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
Art Works 手工藝品


I like to cook with the materials that are in season.

Tomato is the main character. Choose any variety you like as long as it is not mushy.

One large tomato, one media onion, two cloves of garlic,

some cilantro or parsley, and one hot pepper (option)

Chop all of them to small pieces. Mix together and add a little bit sea salt.
Serve while it is fresh.

I also add salsa into fried eggs and eat with brown rice.

墨西哥莎莎醬跟韓國泡菜一樣, 各家有不同的做法, 這裡介紹的是最簡單, 經濟, 10 分鐘即可完成的食譜

莎莎醬的食材都很營養, 沒有熱量, 其中的洋蔥和大蒜又是生吃, 剛好保存了全部的養分讓身體吸收

一粒大番茄或一堆聖女小番茄 (任何品種皆可, 只要不太軟糯, 多汁),
一顆洋蔥 (不必太大), 兩粒大蒜, 一些芫荽
一小條辣椒 (青紅皆可, 要戴手套去籽, 以免手揉眼睛, 把眼睛辣壞), 不吃辣的可略

全部材料洗淨切碎 (切小丁或小塊亦可), 在大碗裡拌勻, 加點海鹽即可,

可以用來拌麵/糙米飯, 或加入蛋炒飯, 營養十足

Weeds and Goat Feed 春草與羊食

2011-08-27T11:56:00.018-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
 Art Works 手工藝品


今年冬雨季節很長, 一直下到八月中旬, 這兩週才開始乾熱,

也因為雨水多, 雜草長速驚人, 又高又密, 在其中覓食的雞羊都被草海淹沒了


被留下的六頭羊, 拼命吃都吃不完,

無論是車道旁, 或果園裡, 羊兒從早吃到晚, 仍然跟不上野草的長速, 又不願意養太多羊, 否則冬天野草不夠時, 要花大錢買二割三割的牧草餵食, 她們也可憐, 吃不到天然食物


既然羊兒已盡力, 我們只好開始人工手動鋤草, 否則雜草一枯黃, 不但羊兒不吃, 也容易引發野火,

不如把雜草除掉當果樹的肥料,

讓鮮嫩的二生草長出, 羊兒才不斷有食物吃


雜草也不是個個惹人厭, 開出的野花, 妝點了春夏大地, 紅黃藍紫, 讓野蜂和羊兒天天有不同口味的野餐


有些甚至長得像朵大蓮花


頭頂還開出蓮蓬呢


Scotch Broom 是一種被英國移民不小心帶進來的雜草, 由於生逢沃地, 幾十年來始終是本州的大患之一, 它不但繁殖迅速, 而且可以長的高壯, 成一片小樹叢, 尖端細葉若逢天乾物燥, 一點火星就能引發不可收拾的大火, 山羊愛它, 但一次也無法吃太多, 因此部分要靠我走在陡坡上, 一株株從根部砍斷, 捧到羊兒帳棚食槽裡, 等晚上無聊當點心嚼


另一種頭痛的雜草就是劍羊齒葉了, 有許多品種, 形狀不一, 但特色都是葉片本身如刀片, 莖枝有刺, 唯一可以下手的地方是靠近土地的母根,

這傢伙雖然容貌猙獰, 莖葉卻水嫩多汁, 羊兒非常喜歡, 嚼在嘴裡喀茲響, 片刻就能把一人高的刀葉刺身吃得乾乾淨淨

Thin Fruit and Goat feed 疏果羊食

2011-08-20T18:52:00.009-07:00

Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
My chickens 雞兒錄影
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶

90 F, 今天 90 度, 非常熱, 但該做的事情還是要做完, 與德州的大旱, 紐約人行道的 140 度高溫, 美東的颶風水災, 我們算很幸運, 用大量的森林儲存了水源, 貫穿全州的大河調節了氣溫, 夏天至今也不過今天最熱, 感謝老天的恩寵


趁清早涼爽, 照例帶羊兒爬山, 入樹林吃野黑莓兩小時, 回來後立刻進行二度疏果


每年果樹都會結太多果實, 成熟期間要不斷把多餘的果子摘除, 其他的果子才能長大甜熟, 樹枝也不會由於負重過大, 而像這樣折斷


所謂多餘的果子, 是指果實本身有瑕疵, 例如已被蟲叮, 畸型, 太小, 但多數時候. 每根枝枒上的果子一樣大, 同樣漂亮, 這時只好看各果的命運了, 不是誰不好, 而是每根枝上只能留兩粒果實, 因此部分果子其實是冤枉被摘除的, 還没機會長大, 就被淘汰, 甚至不如其他枝芽上不比它健康漂亮的果子, 不過大自然就是這樣, 沒有所謂公平


斷枝當然立刻成為羊兒食槽裡的大餐


羊兒沒有手, 咬不住滾圓的東西, 因此落果都是檢回廚房, 切成小塊 (太大塊會讓羊寶噎住), 再拿去餵他們, 而且一天不能吃太多同類食物, 會拉肚子, 三大桶蘋果梨子, 只切一桶, 其他的是週末大餐, 回頭把水桶填滿清水, 放在陰涼處, 無論冬夏, 我的羊兒每天一定有至少兩桶清水在宿舍附近, 飯可以不吃, 水一定要充分供應


大頭菜的皮, 羊兒也愛吃, 不浪費, 切給他們


我們吃水嫩的肉, 配上園中自種的蔬菜, 水果和五香馬鈴薯泥, 羊兒和我都能在完工酷暑的午後, 享用簡單, 清涼, 健康的一餐

Fried Tofu 煎豆腐

2011-08-20T18:27:00.006-07:00

Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
My chickens 雞兒錄影
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶

A simple vegetarian dish

Cut firm Tofu to small square pieces

Heat pot and add vegetable oil

On medium heat fry one side of Tofu to brown color
Turn the other side and keep frying
Put some cabbage leaves in a bowl

Put fried tofu in the bowl
Add a little bit water to the pot
Cook peas and carrots until soft
Add cooked peas and carrots to Tofu

老豆腐切小塊熱鍋後倒油入鍋
放入豆腐, 用中火慢煎
待豆腐底部煎到不黏鍋, 翻面續煎另一面
碗中放入幾片包心菜葉
盛入煎好的豆腐
鍋中加一點水煮青豆仁和胡蘿蔔粒
把煮好的豆仁等倒在豆腐上面增色

Cabbage Roll 包心菜捲

2011-08-20T17:15:00.008-07:00

Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
My chickens 雞兒錄影
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶

This dish can be vegetarian or meat. Simply substitute Tofu for ground meat.

1. Cut a cabbage in half.

2. Put the half cabbage in boiling water, cook it until soft, then peel the leaves

3. Season ground meat (turkey, chicken, beef, pork) or smashed tofu with rice wine, sea salt, ginger root, green onions and/or garlic

4. Put one leaf in the plate, add ground meat or mashed tofu.

5. Roll the cabbage leaves one after the other

6. Steam the rolls

7. Serve them when hot.

此菜可葷可素, 用豆腐泥取代绞肉即可

1. 調味絞肉或豆腐泥: 米酒, 海鹽, 生薑, 大蒜, 韭菜或青蔥
2. 包心菜切半, 丟入滾水煮軟, 撈起一葉葉剝下
3. 取一片菜葉放入盤中, 加一匙絞肉
4. 菜葉從邊緣捲起
5. 一卷卷放入盤碗中蒸熟即可

We are chickens 雞兒錄影

2011-07-23T14:57:00.017-07:00

Home Made Bio-Charcoal
Home made food recipes
My Goats
Third generation baby goats
Fourth generation baby goats
Art Works 手工藝品


Videos:
Baby duck loves to drink LOTS of water 鴨寶非常愛喝水
08/01/2011 Baby duck was born this morning.
She is one week younger than other baby chicks.
Baby duck can't walk as well as baby chicks yet. She falls upside down very often
鴨寶今早才出生, 走得没雞寶穩, 常摔得四腳朝天


Baby duck is sleeping. Baby chicks step on her
雞寶踩到正在睡覺的鴨寶身上
Baby duck falls asleep 鴨寶累得睡著了
Duckling enjoys sunshine and grassy ground in the yard 鴨寶喜歡在草地上玩耍
Baby duck eats what hen mom does 鴨寶跟著雞媽吃東西
Baby duck eats with her siblings 鴨寶和兄姊一起吃飯
Baby duck meets her chicken family 鴨寶第一天加入大家庭
Mom hen takes 9 baby chicks to look for food 雞媽帶九個寶寶找食物


Crest Top Hat and Silver Polish are kissing
Are we born?
Baby chicks dancing (fighting)?
Chicks clean Cherry's hair 雞兒幫櫻桃小丸子清毛
Leghorn and goats
Leghorn likes to fly high to the roof

Leghorn flies high
Leghorn flies to the roof
Flying black star
Crested Silver Polish
Crested Top Hat
Crested Top Hat and Silver Polish

Black Star and Golden Laced Wyandotte
Black Star is laying a brown egg
Black Star announces she just lay an egg
Black Star searches for food
Barred Rock
Americanas
Leghorn
Golden Sex Link
Can you tell who is who now?
Chicken go home before dark
one month old baby chicks are on their own feet now
(Mom peck kids if they don't go out to search food by themselves)
Dark Cornish rooster protects his hens from Black Star Hen
黑康康公雞保護他的兩個太太
Dark Cornish rooster chases girls 黑康康雞追女友

Shelter for goats 羊棚

2011-07-17T15:23:00.043-07:00

Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
Home made food recipes 中西食譜
My chickens 雞兒錄影
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶


科學界預測這兩年天氣會越來越冷, 天災頻仍, 此言似乎有幾分道理,

已經七月中旬了, 好不容易有三天像夏天 (華氏 80 度), 羊兒高興的吃著比人高的雜草


昨夜卻突然下起豪雨, 轉回涼秋


幸虧前週趁天氣好, 從早到晚 (7am - 9pm), 每天超過 12 小時, 不停工作, 買來四大卡車的碎石舖 900 英呎長的車道,

20 yard 的細沙在羊兒三個臥室裡,

墊出 6 英吋厚的床,

搬回 14 捆一割苜蓿草的冬糧 (因為不確定今年會有二割牧草), 收取一穫蔬菜的種子, 翻土播新種, 採藍莓櫻桃等等等等


整修羊兒的帳棚, 是重大工程之一, 耗時費力,

一個人需工作兩個整天 (24 小時), 才能完成一座帳棚的拆除和重建


媽媽和寶寶如常的跟前跟後,

一副很想幫忙的樣子,

其實不停打斷我的工作, 要我先跟它們玩玩, 才放我繼續幫它們蓋房子


羊兒的屋子 (goat barn) 是用來過冬和生寶寶用的,

夏秋多半讓他們住羊棚, 開放寬敞,

只是用來搭在鐵欄彎成帳棚屋頂上的塑膠厚布, 經過兩三年風吹雨淋日曬, 已有多處破綻,

需要拆掉, 或在上面再搭一層, 帳棚裡才不會漏雨


經過今年初冬雨的經驗, 第五, 六, 七牧區的地基過低, 棚內地面很難維持乾燥, 對羊兒腳蹄不利


因此全部拆除, 並在帳棚周圍挖出深溝, 以利雨水的排除


作為帳棚骨架的鐵欄豎立一旁


鹽盒,

食槽也拆掉搬出


重新用木樁圍出平台, 舖滿細沙


打穩鐵樁, 鎖緊各片鐵欄的連接處　


搭上背面,

屋頂和兩側的塑膠布


單人拆/舖/拉布棚其實也有學問


必須先在各洞裡穿妥繩索, 先推上頂部, 再靠繩索兩邊和中間慢慢拉齊, 不能從兩邊硬扯, 會被鐵欄邊緣割破塑膠布


外側拉上繩索, 否則像小乖一樣頑皮的羊寶, 會跳上棚頂當彈簧床跳著玩, 帳棚很快會破損


新布棚看起來堅實平整多了


鹽盒架回棚內, 食槽添滿牧草,

和我剛砍回來芳香新鮮的杉縱枝葉


遠望深深樹林掩映間, 又是一座嶄新, 堅固, 溫暖的新居

Panda and Joy: Twin Daughters of Happy 樂樂的雙生女: 潘潘和依依

2011-06-25T20:19:00.064-07:00

My Chickens 雞兒錄影
Bio-Charcoal 自製木炭
My Goats 山羊
Third generation baby goats 第三代羊寶
Fourth generation baby goats 第四代羊寶
Home made food recipes 中西食譜



Videos 錄影:
Happy's mom Daisy plays bag 黛西阿祖玩袋子
It's noisy. Be quiet 好吵, 那是什麼聲音啦?
Panda tries to reach the salt box while Joy plays in and out of the feeder
潘潘想挑戰鹽盒高度, 依依在食槽鑽進鑽出
Boat on the river and baby girls take a nap under the feeder
夏日午後河面的船隻和閒閒午睡的寶寶
Top Hat Chick loves to play on Happy's back
雞兒愛在懷孕的樂樂背上玩耍
Panda tries to tell us that Joy goes inside the feeder
依依最愛鑽進鑽出, 顯示軟骨功
3 weeks old Joy can eat a big piece of grape leave
尚未滿月的依依可以吃一大片葡萄葉
Panda, Joy, Mom Happy and Cherry's family are eating grape leaves
樂樂和櫻桃小丸子一家大嚼葡萄葉
3 weeks old Panda can eat a big piece of grape leave
尚未滿月的潘潘可以吃一大片葡萄葉
Panda tries to steal milk from Cherry
潘潘認錯媽媽囉, 想偷喝櫻桃小丸子的奶
Milk time 喝奶囉
Panda and Joy take a nap under the feeder 潘潘和依依躲在食槽下午睡
Chicken want to join the Happy family 雞兒想加入樂樂一家
Are you taking a film from us 你在錄我們可愛的樣子嗎
Sand mountain is fun 沙山好好玩
Joy eats old vegi leaves 依依吃蔬菜老葉
Panda, Joy, mom Happy, Pumpkin and Chicken play in the yard
大家陪潘潘和依依玩耍
Joy (just born) drinks milk 剛出生的依依喝奶
Panda and Joy play in the yard 潘潘和依依在小院中玩耍
Have an adventure on the first day born
出生未滿一天的兩小, 迫不及待出門探險
I have a cute voice 依依可愛的叫聲
Panda and Joy have cute baby voice
潘潘和依依奶聲奶氣的叫聲很可愛
Baby girls love to talk 依依和潘潘很喜歡跟我說話
Pumpkin knocks Joy and Panda calls 小南瓜把依依頂開, 潘潘幫妹妹抗議
Nap time 午睡時間
Rocky time 攀岩時間
Panda and Joy take a nap under the feeder in pasture 2
潘潘和依依在第二牧區的食槽底下乘涼午睡
It is too high for Panda to jump 喔喔, 太高囉, 小潘潘摔跤囉
Mom says: milk time 媽媽說喝奶時間
Does it taste good? 牛仔褲好吃嗎?
Panda goes out by herself 勇敢的潘潘獨自出門
Panda climbs on mom's back 潘潘練習爬媽媽山
Panda and mom 潘潘和親愛的媽媽
What a wonderful new world 好一個美麗的新世界
I Pee, I pee, I pee... 依依小便
Panda and joy play with Cherry 潘潘和依依想跟櫻桃小丸子阿姨玩耍
Babies love to sleep under the feeder
食槽底下永遠是寶寶最安全舒適的寢室
Panda loves to jump on the salt box so that she can be the tallest girl
潘潘愛跳上鹽盒, 居高臨下
Twin baby girls start to eat wild pea
才兩星期大的雙胞胎已經開始吃野豆藤了, 是媽媽的奶不夠嗎?
Joy chew cuds while Panda is taking a nap 依依反芻, 潘潘午睡
Happy feels pain every morning 樂樂懷孕晨痛
Happy loves wild peas 野豆籐好吃
Panda yawn while Joy jumping the feeder 潘潘打呵欠, 依依跳食槽
Pumpkin chases Joy and Panda 小南瓜追潘潘和依依
Happy and Cherry's family run to me 樂樂與小丸子兩家小羊向我跑來
6 months old twins love to walk on the fallen tree bridge 雙胞胎喜歡走獨木橋



出生體重: 6/25 中午 12 點, 潘潘 5.5 磅, 依依 6 磅, 媽媽產前體重: 107.5 磅
一個月體重: 潘潘 14 磅 (ADG 日均重 0.280, 依依 15.5 磅 (ADG 15.5), 媽媽 84 磅
兩個月體重: 潘潘 25 磅 (ADG 0.36), 依依 25.5 磅 (0.32)

樂樂的雙胞胎早產了大約 10 天, 它自懷孕第三個月起 (母羊孕期 150 - 155 天), 就早晚孕痛, 哼哼啊啊, 只在我幫它輕撫肚子時, 才安靜一會, 懷孕真辛苦


這兩個月來一直密切觀察, 天天跟它和肚裡的寶寶說話, 要她們長好了再出來,

人類的孩子早產有保溫箱幫忙渡過危險期, 羊兒早產只有死路一條


前天她陰部腫脹, 雖然沒有流黏黏透明液體, 但根據經驗, ４８小時內應該會生產,

產房天天打掃, 舖上乾淨稻草, 就準備寶寶隨時降生


雙胞胎在中午 12 點落地, 樂樂雖然第一次作媽媽, 卻很稱職, 等我在樹林裡找到它時, 胎盤都已落下,

兩個孩子身上乾乾淨淨, 象牙白的依依正躺在地上午睡, 看樣子喝過了最重要的初奶, 不過小肚子還是扁扁的


把這一家領回羊屋產房後, 檢查樂樂的奶水只有幾滴, 難怪孩子沒有活蹦亂跳, 原來是精神不足, 寶寶出生體重也只有五磅和六磅, 破了我家羊寶 7-11 磅的紀錄


每當雞羊病痛或有意外狀況發生, 我都當作它們是來教我學習的天使, 絞盡腦汁醫治它們


既然樂樂孩子太早出生, 奶水不足, 就讓祖母黛西進羊屋, 現擠現餵奶給孫女喝, 並每隔四小時餵寶寶一點糙米湯, 當然也給樂樂喝了溫黑糖水和橘子皮催奶,

小羊不能喝牛奶, 成分不同, 羊寶體弱, 有死病之虞,

我也不願意餵給小羊專喝的羊奶粉, 因為裡面沒有自己媽媽的免疫抗體,

而且我家羊寶除了買來的奶瓶羊馬琪塔之外, 養過的 58 頭羊, 沒有一頭肯喝奶粉,

當然啦, 母奶溫香甜美, 奶粉哪裡能取代媽媽的味道


樂樂的三餐是: 切成小塊的一個蘋果, 兩根香蕉, 一把帶殼花生, 1/4 顆包心菜葉, 三大捆野豆藤和黑莓, 媽媽吃飽喝足, 奶水才會夠, 我也才能輕鬆


趁媽媽吃喝之際, 幫羊寶用消過毒的剪刀和碘酒, 剪短臍帶,

樂樂生出黑白花色的孩子, 很出人意料, 蜜兒家族是深棕色和白色, 從來没出過黑色, 黑白花繼承了曾祖父貓熊的基因, 而且黑白分明, 與小乖的黑白灰不同,

它睡著時非常像貓熊, 就叫它 Panda　潘潘, 妹妹則沿用媽媽的 Happy, 叫 Joy 依依,

餵寶寶吃東西要很小心, 它的胃很小, 一次只能餵一點, 避免脹死或拉肚子脫水而死, 首先讓寶寶在腿上坐穩, 頭抬高 (與寶寶喝母奶姿勢相同, 不能太高, 會嗆到氣管), 用吸球吸滿乳汁, 輕擠一下小球, 確定沒有空氣在球裡再開始餵,

從寶寶嘴側邊, 一次擠一滴進喉頭, 等它嚥下去, 再餵第二滴,

一餐頂多餵一小球, 不要勉強, 寶寶若開始咳嗽, 就停止餵食


寶寶頭兩天都是吃了睡, 睡了吃, 而且偶而會拉金色的大便


爲了確定媽媽有奶水, 每天觀察寶寶大小便情形,

潘潘和依依雖然早產兩週, 但我只餵了兩天米湯和祖母的奶, 寶寶就跑跳的很好, 證明媽媽的奶水在逐日增加


孩子真是 "一暝一吋大", 每晚把羊屋門關上, 讓母女安心睡個好覺,

寶寶第二天一早就在屋裡跳上跳下, 開門立往小院鑽, 連岩石都敢跳, 媽媽緊張的在岩邊守護


體重, 個頭, 安全感與自信心, 都快速成長,

第二天就跟媽媽出門吃草, 曬太陽,

毫不畏懼與櫻桃阿姨同房,

依依還主動跟南瓜姊姊打招呼, 做朋友呢


7/4 美國國慶, 也是我的生日, 除了潘潘和依依兩個奶娃, 每頭羊都有一頓生日大餐: 兩根香蕉, 一個蘋果, 一個橘子的皮 (肉我吃了), 一個酪梨的皮, 1/4 顆包心菜


爲確認潘潘和依依有足夠奶水, 幫她們量了體重 (出生至今 10 天), 潘潘 7.5 磅, 依依 8 磅, 媽媽 98 磅, 有長就好, 雖然它們明顯比其他寶寶每天長半磅落後許多


滿三個月大的小飛俠和奇奇舅舅很喜歡她們喔


7/7 (出生約兩週) 這對姊妹花跟別的雙胞胎不同, 或許是經歷早產的生死關, 二羊如影隨形, 很少分開, 吃喝玩睡, 分秒不離, 若其中一頭走動落後, 在人高的草叢裡迷路, 兩頭羊寶會立刻互相高叫, 有趣的是, 別的羊寶在找不到媽媽的情況下, 會循著媽媽 (或我) 的呼喊方向來會, 這雙姊妹卻是互相跑向對方, 而不是她們的媽媽或我