Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday in the UK, is the day before Ash Wednesday. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Wikipedia says:- The reason that pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent is that the 40 days of Lent form a period of liturgical fasting, during which only the plainest foodstuffs may be eaten. Therefore, rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, and sugar are disposed of immediately prior to the commencement of the fast. Pancakes and doughnuts were therefore an efficient way of using up these perishable goods, besides providing a minor celebratory feast prior to the fast itself.

So the main ingredients for pancakes is

eggs!
Fortunately my hens are laying again and we got these three eggs yesterday! I thought I would take a pic as Aunty Noo was thinking about getting a Barnvelder Chicken as they lay considerably darker brown eggs. Can you tell which comes from my Barnvelder? If you said the one on the left you would be right! But I don't think its that much darker do you? I must admit though Barnvelders have the most amazing coloured feathers



Barnvelders have a most amazing sheen which changes colour as the light catches it, but sadly 'Bree' is totally and utterley a chicken head (stupid)if we approach with a handful of corn she is heading off, squarking, in the opposite direction a true chicken brain!!!
I am considering asking the man who owns the field at the bottom of the lane if I could rent a small corner of it for my chickens this summer to rest the land where they have been for the last 8 months. The reason I hesitate is foxes! Yes I have an eglu and if they are kept in the eglu with the run closed they should be perfectly safe, but I think they need a bit more room. Some thought is needed I think!

8 comments:

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Rob Windstrel Watson said...

Hi Libby

Wonderful pictures of chickens :-)

I love them. Often, when I have finished my morning's work (I work at home), I drive down to somewhere called Horner on the edge of Exmoor where there are some beautiful chickens, a goat, some ducks and some geese.

Just watching them lifts the tension from my morning's efforts and gives me the energy to go back and work on through the afternoon.

Mr Fox is always the problem with chickens and always having to get back to put them to bed at night.

One day, perhaps, I will have some of my own as I did in my childhood :-)

Naturegirl said...

Libby I so enjoy coming by and seeing the chickens and Tango so sweet..he is a sleeper just like my Paisley!
I did not know that about lent and pancakes!hugs NG

Auntie Noo said...

Thank you so much for the piccy's!! - I would have been right on the egg, but my two Welsummers probably lay pretty much as dark as that, (and in fact one of the hybrid lays quite dark) so perhaps I'll re-think! Maybe Marans would be better? - Perhaps I should just get one of each!!!! LOL - She is a pretty thing though isn't she!

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

I was right with the eggs but it's not all that much more dark than the others. Barnevelders are Dutch chickens and I see them quite a lot over here. They are very pretty, what a pity that Bree is such a chicken head!

Renting a small corner of that field sounds like a great idea!

OT we are planning on having Macavity neutered but it has taken me almost a year to gain his trust as he was such a frightened cat and very wary of people. Now I'm allowed to touch him, but he's still not all that relaxed. He needs a bit more work before I can take him to the vets as I don't want that to be a very traumatic experience for him. Well, not more than is absolutely necessary. I'll keep you posted about this rescue in progress!

Monique said...

Love the cats, love the chickens. Mine used to roam all over until I had just the one left and when she died I didn't invest in anymore but I have lovely memories of my chickens. Still have cats though.

Anonymous said...

Your hens are beautiful. Thanks for introducing them. Sara from farmingfriends

Shammickite said...

I made pancakes too tonight... nice thin ones, not those thick doughy North American ones. I ate mine with sugar and lemon, but the Space Cadet eats his with treacle!