Chcken Coop

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Welcome back to our monthly challenge... preparing the homestead for the unexpected. Each month, readers are invited to link up a blog post about what they accomplished during the month to prepare in three areas:

• emergencies for times of power outages, natural disasters, and such
• food storage for lifes unexpected events whether related to long term effects from a disaster or a job loss and everything in between
• sustainable living in order to be more independent, both physically and financially, and to live as close to the land as possible given each individuals situation

Heres the update this month at my own homestead...

• I didnt really complete anything in the first category ("emergencies"), but since I did so much of that this the previous couple of months, Im not going to sweat it.
• I added several food storage emergency meals to our three day meal kits
• I added 3 kinder goats
• I spread the garden with chicken manure from the coop and compost pile

Soon Ill start letting the chickens begin working in the garden for the winter and I also plan to continue researching items that I have on my homestead in order to feed my animals directly from my own resources. It may require planting some items, but if its sustainable (and better yet, native to the area), then I want to consider it.

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So... continuing our Inspiration Friday along the lines of baking...

Lets talk rolling pins.

Without a doubt, I do most of my baking in the fall. Any wonder I regularly gain weight at this time of year? I know you get that... its a natural nesting instinct, right? Cool weather, more time indoors, a high need for coziness...

I dont have a rolling pin collection or anything, but I do have a few different pins... a french rolling pin, a standard pin (where did that one go?), a couple of smaller rolling pins, and a... hmmm... I dont know what to call it. A tortilla pin? Basically its a 1" dowel rod that I mostly use to beat bags of ice when Im having a get together. Its seen better days, for sure.

ethanollie

For a while, this smattering of pins has been stashed in a drawer under my baking center, but frankly, it isnt working that well for me. When I designed the house and kitchen 10 years ago, my intent was to have a "baking center" with everything easy to access and several regular baking items hanging, at the ready.

Yeah... that didnt happen. Life. Priorities.

Cozy Little House

Onward and forward...

Im reworking that space now and looking for the best way to "display" my pins on the side of the cabinet that surrounds the baking space. Whatever did we do before Pinterest?

Do You Love Him Loretta?

Sadie Olive

So, how can one display these humble wooden cylinders of flakey pie crust fame? Let me count the ways...

shesagoodgirl via Junk Market Style

Re-found Objects

Amy Azzarito via Design Sponge

thekitchen.com

Frog Goes To Market

Savvy City Farmer

Photo Credit Unknown

You know... rolling pins are really other objects in disguise...

Olive Blogs

seelamade

Harbour Breeze Home

Blue Bird Heaven

Sometimes, its just fun to see how everyday objects can be beautiful and delight!

Blue Cardinal

Just curious... how do you store your rolling pins?

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Eric and I are hot chocolate and root beer snobs, so we planned a Hot Cocoa bar with all the mix ins manned by friends who kept an eye on eager younguns running around.

Because we had such a large wedding, we used cupcakes so we wouldnt need to cut cake. These were made by a friend and her daughter. I am still blown away by the generosity and love shown by so many in their gifts of time and resources.









Because I am gluten intolerant no one wanted to risk making me sick on my wedding day, so I baked the cake in advance.  Another friend assembled it and added the finishing touches.