Author: Caryn

Chicken pumpkin carving

On By CarynIn chickens

I saw another chicken tender helping her hens carve Halloween pumpkins and loved it, so followed suit. This time, rather than poking holes, I just skimmed off the pumpkin skin in eye and mouth positions using a sharp knife.

Photo description: Small orange pie pumpkin with the skin removed in the shape of triangle eyes and a tear drop mouth.

To hang the pumpkin, I used a gimlet to drill a hole through the stem, then split the end of a bamboo stick to push cotton twine through the hole.

Photo description: In the foreground, the bit section of a gimlet on the right, and on the left the split point of a bamboo skewer. Pumpkin with cotton loop through the stem in the background

I then hung up the pumpkin in the chicken run. By the afternoon, the pumpkin had a decidedly gory countenance.

Photo description: Same pumpkin with the flesh pecked out of the eyes and the entire bottom gone, leaving a gaping hole.

The result is definitely creepy.

Restoration update

On By CarynIn Craft

I’m still regularly oiling the Singer 27 treadle machine and attempting to remove more parts for cleaning. My husband has been helping, and he was able to free several bolts! I did take a tool to a thumb screw for the back plate; I figured if it was going to break, better that I’m the one that breaks it. I wrapped the knob in leather, then used an adjustable wrench, and slowly turned the screw. Success!

Photo description: Large adjustable wrench on the bottom, next to a very rusty back plate, next to a small knurled knob that held the plate in place on the machine, and at the top, a 1/2” strip of tooling leather

I photograph all the removed parts and put them in a labeled ziplock bag with a spray of PB blaster. When I get all the parts free, I’ll clean everything before putting it back together (fingers crossed).

Heritage Wheat Monkey Bread

On By CarynIn Recipe

My youngest wanted to try Monkey Bread. We can’t do biscuits in a can, because they use modern wheat, so we made biscuit dough with all-purpose heritage wheat from Sunrise Flour Mill and combined that with a different Monkey bread recipe. I like that this Monkey Bread is not super sticky, and doesn’t taste super sweet (but it still uses lots of sugar!)

Photo description: Monkey Bread formed in a bundt pan showing a nice brown color and sugar deposits in the areas between the pieces of cooked dough.
  • 4 cups (480g) all-purpose Heritage Wheat flour
  • 2 Tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 12 Tbsp cold unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 12 Tbsp melted butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter, then use fingers rub and flatten the butter pieces. Mix in milk until incorporated (not too much) and turn out onto a floured surface. Sprinkle with flour to make it easy to handle, and the gently flatten and fold gently in half 4-5 times. Shape by hand into a rectangle about 1” thick. Cut into 1 inch squares. In a gallon plastic bag add white sugar and cinnamon, shake to mix. Add squares of dough to the bag and shake to coat in the sugar mixture. Place the coated squares in a bundt pan greased with cooking spray. In a sauce pan melt butter and add brown sugar. Cook on medium high until bubbly and you can’t feel sugar crystals with a wooden spoon, the color should be consistent. Pour the mixture evenly over the pieces of dough in the bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until internal temperature is about 204 degrees. Let cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a plate. Tear and share!

Broom storage

On By CarynIn Life Hack

We store our broom and swiffer in our laundry closet and they are constantly falling over or getting in the way. I had a spare curtain rod, so decided to try installing it on the wall at an angle to corral the long handles. Works great!

How close can I get?

On By CarynIn Cats

Thor the kitten (he is almost seven months old, but he’s huge) would really like to give Izzy the cat (who is 10) snuggles and wrestles. Izzy is having none of it. It is a game for Thor to see how close he can get to her without being attacked.

Photo description: Calico female and Gray Tabby male cats stretched out on a blue and gray carpet, facing each other. The Calico is eye-balling the Tabby. The Tabby is looking at the camera with his ears toward the Calico, looking surprised at his progress.

His latest trick is to climb up underneath the fuzzy blanket at nap time when Izzy is getting lap time. He can get quite close to her without repercussions, but then, as if he just can’t help himself, he has to push it too far and reach out and touch her. Here is a short.

Photo description: Same Calico cat, on a fuzzy blanket on my lap, the Tabby is under the blanket next to her.