Chocolate Box Cottage Diary, Volume 3
Week 6: February 11, 2023

Each winter morning after my quiet time, I zip myself into my chore coat, the one with mud spatters and pockets full of pebbles and pretty acorns and slide into my Muck boots.

I catch up the wire basket I found at Goodwill for $2 and a container of kitchen scraps for the chickens.

Heading down the slope to the henhouse I try not to hurry. The view is changeable and spectacular; today the neighbor’s pasture is scarfed in silver mist, yesterday it sparkled with frost.

Gathering handfuls of lush wild greens for the bunnies on the way, I call out, “beep beep!” and the ducks do the same. The chickens and ducks are always happy to see me when I open their small door. They tumble out and down the ramp, scurrying to grab the small offering I brought. I fill their pan with the day’s rations and they are overjoyed! Today is all that matters.

I gather the eggs still warm from the nest boxes. “Just” a basket of eggs. A dozen fragile spheres of humble nutrition.

The two muscovy ducklings enjoying the morning sun.

Then I head for the garden, where the bunnies reside in their side-by-side hutch. I check on their water and refill their bowls with alfalfa pellets but they are more excited for the bunches of greens I hand-picked than dehydrated pellet-food.

A quick survey of the greenhouse to see that my overwintering citrus trees, scented and blooming geraniums, young lemon eucalyptus seedlings, and tender herbs are comfortable, and then back to the kitchen for breakfast. Usually an egg in some form.

I have heard people say that keeping chickens isn’t worth the trouble and that fresh eggs are a lot of expense. They are right, but they’re also wrong. Getting up in the morning and going outside to take care of animals is part of a healthy routine, one that includes exercise and thinking about something besides myself. I breathe in lungfuls of fresh air and my thinking expands. It connects me with nature and the God who made all. After all, I am thankful for winter morning chores on the homestead.

Anniversary trip

Traditionally Samuel and I go the Oregon coast to celebrate our anniversary. We were married right around Valentine’s Day, which is an expensive day to find lodging, but we can always find a bargain if we pray and search carefully. This year rooms at the coast were out of our budget and we almost stayed home. We decided on a day trip instead of overnight. We live about 2 1/2 hours away from Brookings, Oregon, a beautiful and rugged Oregon coastal community.

There is no better spa treatment for rough winter heels than walking barefoot in the sand! Sam and I love to walk barefoot, hand-in-hand, no matter what the weather.

We lunched at Kaya Sushi and Noodle House. Amazing food. Their Honey Walnut Prawns are absolutely perfect and the sushi is great.

We hit the local Goodwill thrift store after lunch and were impressed by the selection of gently used goods, including a grand selection of books and a unique Oreo cookie pan.

Sam did his research ahead of time and discovered this gem: the Pete Happ trail which offered incredible golden sunset views winding along a trail.

We drank in the waves and the golden sunset and returned home happy.

Favorite comfort meal

Everyone has their favorite when it comes to comfort food, what is yours?

Ours favorite comfort meal starts with a poached chicken accompanied by a lot of vegetables.

A poached chicken and vegetables will provide meals for days. We like to serve chicken pieces in bowls with the broth, topped with kimchi or Golden Sauerkraut and a big handful of fresh salad shoots from the indoor salad garden.

Often I will cook a big pot of soaked brown rice and roasted vegetables to accompany. This time I made daikon radish chips with my Swismar Börner mandolin slicer and seasoned them well with smoked paprika and cumin before broiling them in the oven. Meanwhile, diced sweet potatoes and beets roasted in a cast iron skillet on the stove.

I make homemade corn tortillas regularly and find it rewarding as well as delicious. This is one of the skills I chose to master this year in our ongoing effort to replace store-bought with homemade. Every batch of tortillas is a little better.

Carob Cocoa Mix

February is a great time to mix up a batch of Carob Cocoa Mix.

If you have a sensitivity to chocolate or caffeine, you are going to LOVE this! CAROB COCOA tastes so good, so rich and creamy and indulgent you won’t believe it. Stir up an easy homemade mix to keep on your pantry shelf and you will be ready to enjoy a warm mug whenever the mood strikes. No more feeling left out when everyone else is enjoying hot chocolate.

Have a great week!

Blessings,
Michele and Samuel

Note: This post contains links to products and vendors I use and appreciate for their quality and usefulness. Some are affiliate, some are not. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases when you use the links I provide; this does not change your price. Thank you!

Chocolate Box Cottage Diary, Volume 2

Week 8: February 26, 2022

One way to deal with uncertainty and keep anxious thoughts at bay is to keep our hands busy.

Another way to deal with uncertainty and anxious thoughts is to pray, and I hope many of us are doing a lot of that, too.

On the hands busy side, I spent a couple of enjoyable hours pressing tinctures this week using a simple press made by a craftsman who sells on Etsy. The apothecary cupboard is restocked with echinacea and St. John’s wort tinctures for personal use, for sharing with family, and for trade and barter.

Sam and I put in 2 full days on repairs to our vintage A-frame greenhouse, with Sam as contractor and me as assistant. I am thrilled with the results! There is just one small problem, as you will see in the photos.

We welcomed new babies to the farm – and we ate well. Follow along with our week in pictures and feel free to ask questions.

An unusual cold spell for southern Oregon brought morning temps in the teens: 13-17F (-11c to -8c). No swimming today!

“I would like to lodge a complaint,” said Jasper, the handsome polydactyl cat.

Poopy eggs means it’s time to add fresh straw to the nest boxes.

A new tea blend creation: Enchanted Forest Chai.

Pressing Tinctures

This whole plant echinacea tincture uses leaf, bud, flower, and root in season to make better use of the plant, without waste and without killing the plant. You can find the tincture press here.

Greenhouse Repairs

Sam tears off the old, 1980’s era greenhouse roof.

Reinforcing the framework of the greenhouse on a budget.

Tinted roof panels being installed in two overlapping layers.

Finished. for now. Somehow we ended up with one mismatched panel – it is clear, the others are tinted.

Side view of our vintage A-frame greenhouse. Or is it front view? Note custom-built door that Sam made with salvaged wood and the old hardware. Small space, endless possibilities.

Most of my Norwegian and scented geraniums died in the cold snap, even inside the greenhouse. The hanging baskets escaped and thankfully I have rooted cuttings of the ones that died. The lemon trees are unfazed.

Good Food

Shrimp Pho (soup) with veggies a coconut broth and oodles of spiralized daikon noodles. Daikon is a long, white radish that spiralizes easily and is a neutral-tasting substitute for traditional rice noodles in this recipe. My favorite spiralizer, the Inspiralizer, has been discontinued. It is worth watching for on ebay.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with roasted garlic and homemade knoephla (puffy German eggs noodles) is the ultimate comfort food.

Cauliflower rice is a pain to make, I will be the first to admit it. But oh, how delicious is this dish with cauli-rice, egg, scallions, and garlic, topped with toasted almond flour and fresh parsley.

Tea station, restocked with my favorite teas, tea cups, and utensils. Watch this video for ideas for creating a tea station or coffee bar in your home?

Toby, being magnificent.

Painted Desert Lambs

Babies! Triplet lambs for this third time mama, a Painted Desert ewe.

Day old Painted Desert lambs with coats reminiscent of marbles.

Mama with her parade of Painted Desert lambs.

This girl took over the nest when the mama who built it died unexpectedly. She is a Silver Muscovy.

Movie Night

Looking for a new series? The Mysterious Benedict Society follows four orphans on an unusual mission. Full of vivid color, plot twists, and a sense of urgency, this one is aimed at both kids and adults and is eminently bingeable.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another week at Chocolate Box Cottage. Thank you for visiting and if you have a few minutes, feel free to keep reading or investigate the links provided in the text. Blessings to you on your day today.