Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Lesley]

Thanks Clare - we'll soon have enough cars to stock a showroom then!

 

Nicola - it isn't just Ellie that eats eggs now, when we were on holiday, they all learnt how to do it

 

We've just got back from fetching more feed for them and found that they've also worked out how to peck at a cracked egg in the new trays and eat those as well I'll leave it in cardboard city version for now

[The Dogmother]

Oh goodness, what naughty chooks! You'd better go out there with your best stern face on and tell then off Lesley!

 

I can see it now!

[Lesley]

You just don't want to know what I said to them Clare!

[The Dogmother]

I can imagine - don't worry, it takes a lot to shock me!

[Chunkin]

With a large dose of help from those wonderful superpants 'I' have added an album in the gallery

 

It took me most of the day (ain't working from home grand ) and I have yet to master adding the link to my signature

 

They seem to be the opposite way round to how I meant to post them but never mind - latest ones are first.

 

Will try to add some more of my resident zoo (teenagers expected!) after a stiff drink and several chocolate biscuits

[Chunkin]

OK that was meant to be teenagers excepted - don't wanrt to scare anybody Think I need a little lie down now after all this technical stuff...

[Mrs Frugal]

The change in order is probably when I moved them - I'll adjust that for you so that the order is right - sorry about that!!

 

There - I hope that's the right way round. Which photo do you want on the front of the album?

[Chunkin]

No problem Kate - I definately owe you a large helping of your favourite chocolate treat!! Yum, I feel better already (it's 'really' 5.45 you see so not at all too early to be opening a nice bottle of wine...)

[Chunkin]

The first one with the girls inside the eglu run?? Thanks again, I am in awe of the superpants!!

[Lesley]

But did you know ............... Superpants can't cook rice?

[Chunkin]

Really?? I don't believe it!! Surely superpants can do anything???

[Mrs Frugal]

Lesley!! You're not supposed to give away details like that!!

 

True though. I cook the worst rice you've ever tasted. You'd be better off eating wallpaper paste !! I've got a trick to try though!

 

Sometimes my rice is edible...

 

Most of the time it isn't though !

 

I'll go and do something I can do and twiddle about in the gallery to make that photo your highlight .

[Binky]

My rice was appalling until I discovered just covering in it about half inch of water and whacking it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Perfect rice every time!

 

You couldn't help me with posting a photo could you please ???

 

Apart from the rice, you seem to be the expert around these parts. And of course, if you follow my rice advice, you will soon be wowin everyone with that too!

[Mrs Frugal]

I've not got a microwave !! Looks like wallpaper paste's on the menu for a bit longer!!

 

Posting photos - try this topic for a walkthrough instruction by yours truly! Hope it works for you - if not, shout and I'll wave my wand!!

[Chunkin]

I'm sure too much rice is not good for you anyway... stick to chocolate

 

I can vouch entirely for The Superpants Guide to Posting Photos. I only stuffed it up because I was too impatient (and had pop-ups blocked!).

 

Look forward to your pictures Binky!

[The Dogmother]

Hey Carol, look at your lovely chooks - they look great fun and very inquisitive

 

Looking forward to seeing you at the Herb Centre on the 12th

 

Clare

[motherhen]

Trick for perfect rice every time - put it in a metal sieve when cooked and rinse through with loads of really hot water until it is nice and fluffy - works every time

[Mrs Frugal]

Thanks folks! I hope to perfect my rice cooking and will let you know how it goes! Can't be a failure with rice, can I .

[red]

I use the absorption method - twice quanitity of water to rice + lid on - so if you use one cup of rice you will use two cups of water. I find it's a never fail method. YOu will need to rinse the rice well to start with unless you're using one that has been pre-washed like Uncle Bens which needs no washing at all. The rice absorbs all the water (some will evaporate as steam). You need to kep an eye on the pan to make sure that: -

 

(a) the steam doesn't cause too much pressure and cause it to boil over the sides of the pan (in fact I leave the lid slightly on/off), and

(b) to ensure that you don't burn the rice - once all the water has been absorbed the rice will be lovely and fluffy with no rinsing required but if you leave it on the stove after the water has absobed the rice will burn.

NOTE: Have a prod about by all means but DON'T STIR as this breaks down the starches and makes the rice sticky.

 

Now this all sounds very onerous but once you get the hang of the timings it's very easy indeed.

[Mrs Frugal]

I shall be trying all these methods ladies - I've got to get it right! I could cook lovely microwave rice in my rice cooker before the microwave died! Now I'm back to hob cooking, it just becomes a sticky mass! Thanks for your help everyone .

[red]

I don't have a microwave Kate so I have perfected the hob method as outlined above - even my OH still remarks from time to time how wonderful my absorption method is (it's actually Delia's I think but he doesn't know that )

[red]

FINALLY! ... At long last I have taken the time to work out how to upload pics onto the Gallery - it was actually very easy - except I don't seem to be able to name my albums - can anyone help with that one ... Kate?

 

Haven't worked out how to link into my album yet so you'll all just have to find them yourselves they've only just been posted so they should be on the first pages of the Chickens and First Eggs Galleries respectively

 

I've put some piccies of the cats on too for those who are interested - some of you may remember that way back in March Hebe was involved in an accident with a car - you can see how much she has improved! Just a bandage on the tail and a big bald patch on her back! Her re-structured pelvis seems to be doing very well indeed

 

The pics of the hens are a bit old - before their wattles turned red and juicy! I was going to take some up-to-date ones today but it's far too wet and windy!

[Mrs Frugal]

Let me know what you want to call it then consider it done Red .

[Lesley]

Lovely photos Red - especially like photo 11!

[red]

Yes - very tufty isn't it!