.
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I had to push just to get some painkillers down, and then medicine. I sat, for hours, unable to really get anything working. I blogged a bit, read other blogs, looked at what passes for news, though more simply got a bit lost in the ether.
Finally hunger offered a bit of motivation. That didn't, at first, allow me to cook. It simply got me to finally take medicine and painkillers. A bit more freefloating and then I got to making a meal. Chuck roast, again. Once a week. I am getting better at making it. I have settled on a few spices and a simple technique. Thyme, sage, sometimes bay leaves if I am up to picking a few of the muscles apart in order to place the leaves inside the roast, garlic, and salt. I leave that, at room temp, for an hour. The salt, just as with steak, draws the moisture left in the beef out, then returns it, infusing the interior with the spices and herbs. Oh, and it tenderizes just a bit. After the hour is up, give or take (more, actually, never less time), I then sear the roast. No need to do the sides, that ends up getting the interior too done. I slowly heat my cast frying pan, with fat (usually tallow), until it is hot enough to truly sear the roast. Four minutes of that, then over and repeat, for the same time. While I am heating that pan, I get the oven set to 415F, so that by the time I am finished searing, the oven is ready. After both sides have been seared, the roast and pan go right into the oven. Today I added baby carrots. Well, they were just this side of bad and I can't find any peanut butter. Rather than waste, roast.
Now, if I have guests, I will cook the meat for about 30 minutes. That will see it to being done enough for women types and the men who are like them. For myself I only cook it for 25 minutes, maybe 20 if... my native hungers are more in play. When I played I played like I used to work and just as I eat... even to this day, bloody. Once a week, this has become a regular. I may begin trying to cook more often again. Even cooking twice a week, plus with the incoming, might be enough. Boiling eggs again would also help, though just a dozen... for three every other day, say. Grain type stuff would be nice, for an add. And, maybe, keeping onions on hand, and carrots, to add to meats. I do need to eat more, this I know. Well, that's the plan.
Something happened between, this, that, and the next thing. An awakening. I have business to attend, things to do, and maybe a way to it. It does look frightening, especially with an overweening government that seems hellbent on destroying this nation, on purpose... an electorate that reminds me of the crowd who release Barnabas... in more ways than one, all mainstream institutions brutalized to work against the very reasons they were created, and a bureaucracy that was supposed to be built for my health turning it's hand against me in such a way as to literally be seeming to attempt to murder me. Yeah. It does look tough. And? I've been against the odds since I was born. Even with genocide against babies not yet legalized, there were still ways women attempted to butcher their children. In a world that was fighting the sins of the parents, their children were more likely to be the targets. Having the wrong name in the wrong place meant having to fight as few can. Having neither life nor death in my court, being more a weapon each used against the other as some sort of futile proof of it's superiority while each denying that my very existence negated their ability to have a proof. Each made me stronger. Perhaps wiser. Certainly leading me to Wisdom. If, not initially, all that happy about it. Still, when seeking the truth and being lead to Wisdom inexorably end up being the same path, only two choices remain. And, no, I am not saying God is on my side. I am simply not that big. I am saying, for my part, I aim to be on His side. Nothing more.
So, after all this, something is moving in me. Will it lead to great works today? Maybe, maybe not. Soon? Perhaps. I don't know. I also, once again, do not worry. I will do as I must, can, and what will happen after and from that will happen. Hope? Faith. Charity too. Yes. I will begin as soon as I may.
Showing posts with label Goats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goats. Show all posts
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Thoughts as I prepare to sleep.
.
.
Yeah, I'll try. No promises. With such a long nap I can't be sure.
Thoughts? Chickens. For eggs, up front. Perhaps, in time, for meat. Though, just as likely, those would be two different operations, different breads, the works. In any case, I have been researching chicken feed, breeds for both meat and eggs, feeders and watering systems, heating, and whatever else people which to write or discuss.
People are passionate about their operations. Some, to my mind, such as those who feed their chickens "organic" food, are foolish. The rest remain to prove out or fail out. If I have to have chickens, I don't mind putting a little work in on them. Mixing my own feed? If it is economical in the longer run, provides better eggs and fowl health, and just works, sure. If it's a fool's errand, perhaps not. Though, quite often, there is only one way to know.
More? Sure. If I am going to get involved with chickens, and if that works and I don't kill the birds? Then why not goats. You know I've considered them. Sure, more work. Much more care, higher costs, worries about disease and feed especially if the drought continues, but... milk, meat, and just the idea of having livestock on the place. The freezer is fine. Canning is good. But without living breeding food, those other things are merely stop-gaps.
We'll see. I actually have three places for various critters. One is definitely set up as a hen house, the other two could be used for additional hens, goats or sheep, or even a cow. It does get a bit complicated though. Even just with hens. How many, feeding, how to care for the animals if you must travel, lots of difficulties. A small farmstead of livestock would be much more difficult. Though, too, there are ways having more than one type of creature can help. Chickens can clean out goat pens, goats might provide some protection from predators.
It's been an interesting few days of further research. I have no idea how, at least for themselves, how people can feed their animals organic feed. If it's for sale, I suppose they have figured out how to make it pay. But for themselves, unless they are independently wealthy, I don't think it works. You can throw good money after bad, but it really doesn't work. Talk to your grandparents, or great grandparents. I think a lot of people have lost a great deal along the way. Though, too, even that generation had lost something. When white bread became a thing, it became popular. It also caused such massive malnutrition that the school lunch program was started. White does taste better, and it is easier to digest, it just doesn't really feed people. And, yes, many people would rather have tasty food than good food. Organic, however, isn't it. It's an adverse reaction to a real problem.
Good night. Or later.
.
Yeah, I'll try. No promises. With such a long nap I can't be sure.
Thoughts? Chickens. For eggs, up front. Perhaps, in time, for meat. Though, just as likely, those would be two different operations, different breads, the works. In any case, I have been researching chicken feed, breeds for both meat and eggs, feeders and watering systems, heating, and whatever else people which to write or discuss.
People are passionate about their operations. Some, to my mind, such as those who feed their chickens "organic" food, are foolish. The rest remain to prove out or fail out. If I have to have chickens, I don't mind putting a little work in on them. Mixing my own feed? If it is economical in the longer run, provides better eggs and fowl health, and just works, sure. If it's a fool's errand, perhaps not. Though, quite often, there is only one way to know.
More? Sure. If I am going to get involved with chickens, and if that works and I don't kill the birds? Then why not goats. You know I've considered them. Sure, more work. Much more care, higher costs, worries about disease and feed especially if the drought continues, but... milk, meat, and just the idea of having livestock on the place. The freezer is fine. Canning is good. But without living breeding food, those other things are merely stop-gaps.
We'll see. I actually have three places for various critters. One is definitely set up as a hen house, the other two could be used for additional hens, goats or sheep, or even a cow. It does get a bit complicated though. Even just with hens. How many, feeding, how to care for the animals if you must travel, lots of difficulties. A small farmstead of livestock would be much more difficult. Though, too, there are ways having more than one type of creature can help. Chickens can clean out goat pens, goats might provide some protection from predators.
It's been an interesting few days of further research. I have no idea how, at least for themselves, how people can feed their animals organic feed. If it's for sale, I suppose they have figured out how to make it pay. But for themselves, unless they are independently wealthy, I don't think it works. You can throw good money after bad, but it really doesn't work. Talk to your grandparents, or great grandparents. I think a lot of people have lost a great deal along the way. Though, too, even that generation had lost something. When white bread became a thing, it became popular. It also caused such massive malnutrition that the school lunch program was started. White does taste better, and it is easier to digest, it just doesn't really feed people. And, yes, many people would rather have tasty food than good food. Organic, however, isn't it. It's an adverse reaction to a real problem.
Good night. Or later.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Interesting things, at least to me.
.
.
I've been looking over goats, again. It seems you probably can't have milk goats that are good for meat. What you can do is have a full blood meat buck and milk does. The offspring, needed to induce milk production anyway, will then be at least half of a good meat stock and so useful for that. Of course, the process of turning a kid into dinner is no small task. Many people who think about it don't realize you probably wouldn't be able to do it all in a day. The first part, killing, bleeding, skinning, and gutting would be one days work. You could get fast enough to do this in, say, a few minutes. But the meat then needs to cool slowly, over at least a day but preferably several days. Then you have to part the meat. I have done this with a deer. I did a poor job of it, but good enough to get the meat processed after I got it off the bones. It was about the same size as a large goat, and from what I have seen, the process is exactly the same. A lot of work, but it would definitely be worth it.
While considering goats in general, I looked through various articles regarding goat milk. If I had, say, two milking does, that would offer anywhere from a gallon to six gallons a day! A bit much for even my milk loving ways. But there are other things you can do with goat milk. Cheeses, butter, ice cream, yogurt, take your pick. All of it would have to be for home consumption, mind you. I don't know what the regulations are for milk sales, but for meat it has to be USDA inspected before it can be sold. And, really, they only do that at slaughterhouses. They actually inspect while the animal is being butchered, which means a small group of butchers at a time simply wouldn't draw them to inspect. For sales I would have to find a commercial butcher who would accept a contract. For milk? Cheese? Anything edible? No idea, so far. My guess is it would be a nightmare. But the soap I could sell, if I could find an outlet. Just thinking. I am not really interested in going commercial, I would merely be interested in breaking even beyond the meat and milk production cost versus expense. Yes, a free lunch would be nice. Or, as free as lunches get. It might not truly be possible though, due to regulations.
The more I think of this, the more likely I am, should I survive long, that I will eventually have goats. Nubian does for milk and a Boer buck for the meat side of it. Though I don't know if such a large male would cause problems for the does. Things to consider over time. Those bucks are large, in the 240-300 pound range. That's my size! The nubian does are large, but still 65 pounds lighter than Boer. Hmm, perhaps a mostly nubian mixed with boer doe? Just thinking.
I've been looking over other design programs. The only thing of any real use for my purposes is free, but only for a month. Then the price goes way up. AutoCAD is offered for a month of free use. After that it is, if I recall rightly, passed $3k and nearly into $4k, before taxes, title, fees, and whatever else Uncle Sam is calling the robbery these days. I keep looking for something useful and free. It seems most of them either don't actually allow writing or measurements to be put into the designs, or it just isn't working on my machine. I may simply have to do this old school. Yeah, I know, probably a silly project. But it is something somewhat like engineering. And, yes, I do like doing that stuff. I would love to put my home and outbuildings into design programs, and tinker with them there, too. I r a nerd, sort of. I guess I want to be a nerd. (I've literally been chastised by women for calling myself a nerd. Good looking women too. Sometimes I am clueless... or is it a trick?) No, I am clueless. It just doesn't seem to matter though.
Good night.
.
I've been looking over goats, again. It seems you probably can't have milk goats that are good for meat. What you can do is have a full blood meat buck and milk does. The offspring, needed to induce milk production anyway, will then be at least half of a good meat stock and so useful for that. Of course, the process of turning a kid into dinner is no small task. Many people who think about it don't realize you probably wouldn't be able to do it all in a day. The first part, killing, bleeding, skinning, and gutting would be one days work. You could get fast enough to do this in, say, a few minutes. But the meat then needs to cool slowly, over at least a day but preferably several days. Then you have to part the meat. I have done this with a deer. I did a poor job of it, but good enough to get the meat processed after I got it off the bones. It was about the same size as a large goat, and from what I have seen, the process is exactly the same. A lot of work, but it would definitely be worth it.
While considering goats in general, I looked through various articles regarding goat milk. If I had, say, two milking does, that would offer anywhere from a gallon to six gallons a day! A bit much for even my milk loving ways. But there are other things you can do with goat milk. Cheeses, butter, ice cream, yogurt, take your pick. All of it would have to be for home consumption, mind you. I don't know what the regulations are for milk sales, but for meat it has to be USDA inspected before it can be sold. And, really, they only do that at slaughterhouses. They actually inspect while the animal is being butchered, which means a small group of butchers at a time simply wouldn't draw them to inspect. For sales I would have to find a commercial butcher who would accept a contract. For milk? Cheese? Anything edible? No idea, so far. My guess is it would be a nightmare. But the soap I could sell, if I could find an outlet. Just thinking. I am not really interested in going commercial, I would merely be interested in breaking even beyond the meat and milk production cost versus expense. Yes, a free lunch would be nice. Or, as free as lunches get. It might not truly be possible though, due to regulations.
The more I think of this, the more likely I am, should I survive long, that I will eventually have goats. Nubian does for milk and a Boer buck for the meat side of it. Though I don't know if such a large male would cause problems for the does. Things to consider over time. Those bucks are large, in the 240-300 pound range. That's my size! The nubian does are large, but still 65 pounds lighter than Boer. Hmm, perhaps a mostly nubian mixed with boer doe? Just thinking.
I've been looking over other design programs. The only thing of any real use for my purposes is free, but only for a month. Then the price goes way up. AutoCAD is offered for a month of free use. After that it is, if I recall rightly, passed $3k and nearly into $4k, before taxes, title, fees, and whatever else Uncle Sam is calling the robbery these days. I keep looking for something useful and free. It seems most of them either don't actually allow writing or measurements to be put into the designs, or it just isn't working on my machine. I may simply have to do this old school. Yeah, I know, probably a silly project. But it is something somewhat like engineering. And, yes, I do like doing that stuff. I would love to put my home and outbuildings into design programs, and tinker with them there, too. I r a nerd, sort of. I guess I want to be a nerd. (I've literally been chastised by women for calling myself a nerd. Good looking women too. Sometimes I am clueless... or is it a trick?) No, I am clueless. It just doesn't seem to matter though.
Good night.
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