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  1. ducks4you

    WHAT ARE YOU CANNING TODAY?

    DH has to eliminate most to all salt in his diet and I found some bread and butter pickles that he loves so much that I had to make a third batch last week! The first batch was a way to use up 16 pickles that I had harvested. Here is the recipe and you DON'T NEED salt to can them: Bread and...
  2. ducks4you

    Pie!!!

    WhatEVER recipe you use it will taste great, but be aware that these are ways to Stretch your meat. You may think that a little bit of duck meat won't be enough, but enough duck meat for a meal will probably be 4x as much as you need for a pie! I don't make my chickens into chicken pot pie for...
  3. ducks4you

    HELP!!! Cannot fix my two 3-way switches

    I am HAPPY to report that we fixed it! Don't have a CLUE why some previous owners put in a 2 way switch connected to one of these: http://ceiling.sarvasoap.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ceiling-Light-With-Pull-Chain-Switch.jpg the old timey ceramic overhead ceiling light, which has a pull...
  4. ducks4you

    WHAT ARE YOU CANNING TODAY?

    Gotta can MORE sweet pickles! DH is on a super low sodium diet and I can make these sodium free. Here is the excellent recipe that I found and using ice keeps the cucumbers crisp. Bread & Butter Pickles Recipe (chilled) 4 h 30 m 50 servings 105 cals Ingredients 25 cucumbers, thinly sliced...
  5. ducks4you

    Pie!!!

    I LOVE canning up apple pie filling!! I bought some 1/2 gallon Ball jars and canned up apple juice. You wash and cut up the apples, add sugar and cinnamon sticks, then pour into the jars and can. I'm hoping to use my wine maker this year and see about some cidar. TOTALLY yum!!!
  6. ducks4you

    HELP!!! Cannot fix my two 3-way switches

    This forum is best way for me to ask this question. I am having trouble fixing a light with two switches. The overhead light stopped working in my hallway. I thought that the 3-way switches might be bad so I prepared to change them. However, I could find power coming to either of the two...
  7. ducks4you

    SS challenge! - 100+ steps to self-sufficiency

    78. Stock up on natural blankets, wool and cotton and turn your heat on late, off early, and use open window and fans as often as possible during hot weather. If your house is old, like mine, you might not even need any fans.
  8. ducks4you

    Dog poo

    Please do not use your dog's poo as fertilizer for anything that you plan to grow and eat. :sick Instead, here is a great idea that's been around for a long time...
  9. ducks4you

    Top Bar Hive Build.....

    Congratulations on your swarms!! You are doing us all good, although I keep missing my window to put out my little mason bee house. :hugs
  10. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    JUST about ready to post pictures. The fire pit is assembled, and some 20 pavers are in their spots. I'm trying to unload all of the rest from my truck tonight. Nothing like a big, heavy project to get you back into shape...or to shape your back--can't tell which one applies to this project...
  11. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    Been having trouble leveling. :he The spot is right, but it has a dip...AND, I've been busy. (I'm an independent contractor and the jobs have been coming in.) I am determined to finish this by next Monday. I have rebar pieces from the rotten landscape timbers a previous owner put in along...
  12. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    No bowl. On the ground. I hadn't thought about the drainage. Guess it should be level, then, THANKS!! Just an update: After researching materials I bought some 16' x 16' pavers and I was going to use cinder blocks around it. Then, I did some reading, and discovered that they can soak up...
  13. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    I like that. I started buying materials. I got a 30% discount on broken pavers--this is, after all, rural backyard property, not a suburban project across my neighbor's fence--and have enough at writing for ~8' x 12' area, but, of course this won't be enough for my projecct. I put a bit more...
  14. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    That's why I don't think I want to cement anything. I've been looking at tree rings, like this one that is ~ 4' diameter, to use as my fire ring. Since it's in the back yard area of my 5 acres, where only WE will see it and use it, I have decided to buy my bricks and paving cement blocks as...
  15. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    That is really interesting. I hadn't considered using concrete. I live on a 5 acre farmette, so I don't have nosy suburban neighbors inspecting my work. Freeway standards could DEFINITELY work for me! :p
  16. ducks4you

    Building a fire pit

    I've already posted this on TEG, but I thought I might get some different ideas here. I am AG 2 and we already can burn, as long as it's not after dark. I've been burning around where there was a burn barrel when we moved in. 2015 I am putting a new chicken coop there and I want to move where we...
  17. ducks4you

    How can I rewire a torch lamp?

    Thanks. I didn't have any luck checking them before, but maybe it was asking new clerks.
  18. ducks4you

    How can I rewire a torch lamp?

    I have two inexpensive, metal torch lamps, and both have had the wiring go bad. DH told me he would fix them, but his "fix" didn't fix the wobbly light bulb connection and looks like crap. Is there any place that I can buy a kit with the wiring? I still have the glass globes for both of them...
  19. ducks4you

    New here trying to stay warm in northern illinois today!

    We've met on BYC!! **hugs** I live in Longview, 22 miles SSE of Urbana. I moved in 1999 to a 5 acre property (for my horses, acquired chickens, and started big time gardening). After last winter, we in Central IL are rethinking our zone is closer to 4b, than to 6a! I have fruit trees on the...
  20. ducks4you

    Questions and General Gardening Advice!!

    You already bought a great tool, a book specific to your state and part of the country. Even where I live, in IL, there are two distinct growing areas: Where the glaciers where and where the glaciers were not, and the soils are different. Locally, I have heard it said NOT to till deeply and...
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