Heidis Chicks - Watch them hatching - live

Dont ask, but hatching eggs is really something hard, if you dont want to spend lots of money for an incubator. I build my own in the utility room sink, however, some things went wrong, eggs went bad or got smashed.
Well, its one or two more days, than the remaining 2 ones should hatch. you can see them live at http://ustre.am/vNJ3 
I candled them 3 days ago and they looked good to me, but they might be as well just hard boiled, who knows, wouldn't be the first time I mess something up.
Well, in any case, since Heidi and her Gang right now only lay 2 eggs a day, which is not enough to supply enough eggs for my family (yes we love cakes) we will get 3 more hens at point of lay from the market.

I keep you posted how it goes, hey, and if you see some movement on the link, please make a comment on this post, so I can tell my daughter to watch them hatching. Thanks !

First Camping Incident - one lesson learned

Aua Aua my daughter would say, and its true, it really did hurt when I wanted to try the new camping gas cooker. I learned a very good lesson, when I wanted to force down this little closing mechanism. "Do not force things, either it goes smoothly or something must be wrong"

Yes, there was something wrong, I didn't had the regulator on 0, therefore that locking mechanism wouldn't allow me to engage the can of gas. When I saw it, and fixed it on 0 all went down as it should.
The little scratch there is already healing fine, so dont Worry, be happy !

Great Steak but cold soup, service at its best...

While on visit to Hamburg Germany I went into one of this famous steak houses there, called the Block House
They do steaks since 1968 and I have to admit, their steak was really good. However their asparagus soup was way out of line, since they served it cold to me ! What a disaster, that's why my review is overall not as good as it should be.

The waitress offered a free coffee after the meal, however, this still didnt compensate me for having to eat a cold soup.

Its a pity that such a nice place doesn't get the basics right, I would have gone back if that wouldn't have happened. Well, there is plenty more restaurants in Hamburg.

Da capo: One year ago on Clonlins Blog

Every Thursday we look back what happened on this blog a year ago.

Today's topics:

Recipe: Nettel's in Beer dough
Twins - Did you ever saw a Egg with two yolk's ?
Building a Garden Shed for less than 10 Euro

The Sacher Cake Disaster

To bake, or not to bake, that's the question ?

Looking at this picture I guess the second option would have made more sense. I had this incident recently when getting the cake out of the form it broke into pieces.

I guess that's why someone came up with the chocolate glaze to cover up that baking disaster.

Well, anyhow the taste wasn't impacted by the looks, and it wasn't for a birthday or so. However I got myself a better baking form for cakes which allows it to get it out much easier.

Ready for Camping - the new Family tent

 My daughter Sophie gets bigger, and we also have the need for a bigger tent.
 I made myself a early Bday present and bought a Vango Icarus 500. Watch a video here

I recommend to all not to buy a tent on-line, go to a shop, for example the one in Cork on MCCurtain street. (outdoor leisure) The service in store, and the option to walk into the tent and get expert advise is very important I believe when buying a tent.Other gimmicks of course you still can buy on-line.

So last Sunday I checked it out, it took me 10 Minutes to put it up alone. The tent is stored very compact, so I can fit all very easy in my car.


I cant wait to report to you my experience after the first camping trip with it ! Stay tuned, if the weather is good i might be able to go soon !

Heidis new chicks - the first disaster

 I ordered recently a few hatching eggs for Rhode island Red chickens. My neighbour was so kind and borrowed me a infra-red light and so I did setup all right, 37 C on the surface oof the egg, humility was guranteed since I did setup the eggs in the utility room.

However, I didn't fix the lamp right, so it slided down and it was way to close to the eggs. I only noticed 30 minutes later, touched a egg and it was pretty hot.

To check the status, I cracked one, and there you see, it was half way cooked already :-(

So I had 6 pretty expensive breakfast eggs...

I ordered again some eggs and hopefully this time I make all right and can report than the new additions to Heidi's Family.

Da capo: One year ago on Clonlins Blog

Every Thursday we look back what happened on this blog a year ago.

Today's topics:

Recipe: Coffee Cookies
Best bottles for beer brewing
How to make the perfect Sushi ? Help !

Do not waste your Money for Waste

Until now I used a Tag a bin service to get rid of my waste. I though I might save money this way and its pretty flexible, however lately our family produces way to much waste. So I looked around which service in West Cork has which scheme to offer, and you see above the result.
I used for years Wiser Bins, and was very happy with the Service, so I decided to give them a call to see if they can match the offer of the others. They kind of can, so I will give that a try and keep you posted if this resolves my Waste issues... (We also try to reduce our waste and do more recycling)

Update from the Garden

This year I didn't take enough care of the garden.
It started of in March, I had to do proper fencing first to ensure no horse, rabbit for chicken gets into it. The old fencing I had was damaged from the winter, and I needed to get stronger poles.

So I only had time to plant a few basics, such as salad, radish,carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.

The stuff grows like hell, but so does also the weed. Because of other activities my garden doesn't look pretty at all and I might just get some help with it soon I guess.

 In the herb garden and with the strawberries it looks really good however. We already had a few strawberries as a dessert, and I hope for more.

So, now I better get back to gardening, hope I can plant a few more things to be harvested later this year.

Da capo: One year ago on Clonlins Blog

Every Thursday we look back what happened on this blog a year ago.

Today's topics:

Heidi High performing 
Recipe: Noodle (Fussili) Salad 
Brotzeit

Who came up with that name ? Stinking Bishop Cheese

I wonder how comes up with this names, and on what is it based, hopefully not on real experiences.

However I tried recently that Stinking Bishops Cheese because I thought the name is funny, and its really stinky, but very tasty too.

I might just get a proper container next time which seals the smell off better !

Continental / Austrian Breakfast

Good Morning !

Are you having your breakfast right now, and did you ever wonder how people on a other side of the world have theirs ?

I do love the Full Irish Breakfast, with this sausages, beans and so on, but to be honest it took me some years to get used to it.
I recently could on my trip to the mainland enjoy the continental breakfast there, the Austrian Style with the special shaped bread (Semmel), breakfast Sausage and so on.

I stayed at the Pension Alte Schmiede and the host there was very friendly, also with our little one Sophie which made every morning a little mess at the table. But the owner was very nice and even gave us toys to play which she kept from her own children.

The coffee or Tea was fresh prepared, the Austrian butter and honey just tasted delicious on one of the bread rolls, and you even could opt in for a 5 Minute Breakfast egg.

We had a very good time there, and every Saturday night I dream now of a continental breakfast at the Alte Schmiede.

Da capo: One year ago on Clonlins Blog

Every Thursday we look back what happened on this blog a year ago.

Today's topics:



Kerry, or the silence of the lambs
Summer Refreshment / Clonlins Cocolate indulgence
Recipe: Irish Stew with an Austrian-German Approach

Summer flair in Austria

I was recently in Kufstein in Tyrol, its famous for its winter tourism but also in the summer this place has lots to offer. I checked in at the Andreas Hofer Hotel, just next to the Castle of Kufstein.

In the evening I strolled down the old city in which in a little street the outside of the restaurant “Auracher Loechl” catched my eyes.
The place is the birthplace of the famous Kufstein Song, and has a tradition of serving food for 365 days a year since 600 years !

It is a kind of traditional “Gasthaus” ( guest house ) and a wine serving pub with restaurant. To show my wife the diversity of Austrian dishes I ordered one of their specialities they call the “Austrian Tapas”.

The tapas are a collection of Austrians most famous dishes: Wiener Schnitzel, Beef Stroganof, Tiroler Knoedel, Erdaepfel Groestl and Kasnocken.

It would take to long to explain all this dishes, best is you go and try it yourself, there is for sure something you like !


Compared to Ireland it is much cheaper to go out and dine in Austria. Together with a glass of wine and a pint of beer we paid less than 60 Euro for all that delicious foods. Believe me, its not just because I am from there that I loved it so much, my French wife can confirm that she enjoyed It very much.

With this offer I have no doubt that the “Auracher Loechl” will be serving another 600 Years delicious food to their guests.

DIY: Movable BBQ

That looks yummi, 2 steaks on the BBQ.
My father constructed this BBQ and he recycled 2 old household machines while doing so. A drum of a washing machine and the lower part of a lawn mower.

Why you might ask someone has a lawn mower BBQ ?
Thats easy answered, if you grill with wood it smokes a lot when lightening it up, so in that case, depending on the wind you can have the BBQ far located from the place where people sit.

Once you have less smoke and more heat you can bring it closer, and after the BBQ if it gets dark and colder outside you might bring it close to the table as a heat source for your guests.

Its a funny Idea I think.