Monday, September 28, 2015
Blood moon
The oldest is so into photography and she picked the perfect spot in the neighbor's field behind our house to set up shop last night. She went out around 6:30, armed with bug spray and lenses. After I got baby to bed I went up and sat with her. A stayed in with Daddy and G and M played out in the semidark. It was so nice to have a few quiet moments with my oldest. Some quiet time to just reflect and some time to talk and reflect on the sermon. I held the flashlight, attracting every mosquito for miles, while she changed lenses for different shots. What a spectacularly clear night. Crickets calling and the wind barely moving dry stalks of corn...and no coyotes calling, just an owl!
Monday, September 21, 2015
Time with family
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| Z wants to play in the "wa-too". The goats won't appreciate it! |
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| We thought Mom would pass out, not B. |
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| Z wants to kiss the bunny up close and personal We are having fun with mom and dad here. We have played games and ate C's yummy cupcakes. We decided to butcher two rabbits for dinner today. Unfortunately, B wasn't careful enough. Don't know if he was just tired and wanted to see what I was made of, or if he just wanted a nap... In any case, the bloody butcher knife stuck deep in his thumb and he pulled it out and said, " um, I may have a problem. It's pretty deep. "I ran and got a rag and the cayenne pepper. With enough pepper we were able to curtail the bleeding. He got really lightheaded and had to lay down but Mom was a trooper!! While this was going on Z was playing in the goat water and climbing in the rabbit cage. Today we went to the Y and G passed the swim test. Only one mishap... M was trying to turn on the water toys and accidentally hit the fire alarm. Poor baby was so embarrassed when we all had to start to vacate the building!! Now to Taco Bell for lunch and then...we'll see what mischief we can get in to. It probably includes lots of dishes, Jinga, and Chinese checkers!! |
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Soap making on the farm
Yesterday was a great day. I will have pictures up on Facebook with more details, but it was a lot of fun.
I organized a homeschool mother-daughter soap making-tea party. It was intended to keep up with our goals of getting our name out there as a way to impact people. God has blessed us with this property and will knowledge. We'd like to nurture others in their love of nature and each other and to learn about him
The girls worked hard to help me set up and plan. We sewed and cooked and decorated.
When all was said and done we totalled $182. However, $14 paid the girls for help. $35 went back into next times soap-making fund.
Over all it was a great time.
I organized a homeschool mother-daughter soap making-tea party. It was intended to keep up with our goals of getting our name out there as a way to impact people. God has blessed us with this property and will knowledge. We'd like to nurture others in their love of nature and each other and to learn about him
The girls worked hard to help me set up and plan. We sewed and cooked and decorated.
When all was said and done we totalled $182. However, $14 paid the girls for help. $35 went back into next times soap-making fund.
Over all it was a great time.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Harvesting
Wouldnt you think that "harvesting" at this time of year would refer to my garden?!! Well...in order to glean a harvest I have decided you must be in the garden at least once a week...
True...I didnt have to water at all this year. But weeding and picking off bugs and pruning...well, I think that would help!!
I am embarrassed to say that off 25 sweet potato plants I have thus harvested 3 small potatoes. The beans are doing well...as is the stuff I didnt plant. ( squashes mostly)
I am proud to say that I have harvested in other areas though. We started the summer running out of hay just days before haying. Our own field costs us about $2 a bale. If we went out and bought hay it would cost us $6...even more for alfalfa hay. So it is nice to finally have a second cutting in off from the field. A full garage! Bill isnt so happy, since it encroaches on HIS side of the garage (which I call the barn!)
We have harvested a great "crop" of male crickets this summer. I love the sound of crickets, as it is the sound of summer. Because of humidity and allergies, our windows are rarely open. As long as I know the crickets are not under my bed...ready to wake me at 3 am... I enjoy them. We have a glass gallon crock full of them. The Chinese use them to alert them in change of routine...it works. When they are use to your habits they keep on singing. But if something unusual happens they get quiet.
Being a wet year there are lots of crickets. We have caught many and watched garden spiders devour them and our baby chicks fight over them like a two-year old does with candy!
We have harvested several very fat field mice in our basement. Wish the cats caught them a little sooner!
Another thing we have harvested well has nothing to do with me. Our rabbits poop day in and day out...and it is such good fertilizer. Not too hot and not weedy. You can buy it on line for about $2/#, which translates to $3-$4 per gallon freezer bag. Of course when I put it on my plants...way out away from the house...it doesnt matter if it is wet and smelly. I dont think town folks would appreciate that! So...today if you had happened by our place you would have seen a tarp in the front yard strewn with rabbit droppings (which Z calls balls and tries to play with or eat...depending on the day!) After sitting in the wind and sun all afternoon the manure is mostly dry and smell free.
I went to the neighbor's and harvested some of his butternut squash that he didnt want...and watched his German Shepherd roll and roll in an old, mushy, rotton squash. He was orange and happy! What is it about dogs and stink? The worse we find it, the more appealing they find it!
Speaking of the dog...this morning she was foaming at the mouth and smacking like she had gotten in to something yummy. But acting weird. I finally figured out that somehow she had broken a front tooth and it was imbedded in the roof of her mouth. Wish I got paid to be an after-hours weekend dentist!!
I have been getting ready for my mother daughter soap making demo-talk. I have 20 people coming to listen to a talk on the history of soap making and to watch me make soap. We are ending with a tea party. I have been making other items for sale (aprons, clothes pin bags, hot pads...) The girls are all doing their part to sell things they have made. And if someone will buy and enjoy my non-planned dozens of acorn squah...yeah!!
In the midst of all of this, B has been working a second job trying to pay bills. We are hoping to sell more eggs etc to offset expenses, thus the planned events at the farm. I am also starting school Monday. How do I have a full-time job of schooling, another one of taking care of this place and hauling girls to appointments, and then being mommy to all of these precious children?! I try to remind myself that fat souls are better than clean floors... That nothing is so important as spening time with them and leading them up to love and serve God and others.
As I have found...having a good harvest takes lots of time. You cant spend a few minutes a week and expect a bountiful harvest. Oh Lord, give me your vision...that I would truly make the kids my first priority in harvest!
Compost drying.
Finished compost in bags...ready for sale.
True...I didnt have to water at all this year. But weeding and picking off bugs and pruning...well, I think that would help!!
I am embarrassed to say that off 25 sweet potato plants I have thus harvested 3 small potatoes. The beans are doing well...as is the stuff I didnt plant. ( squashes mostly)
I am proud to say that I have harvested in other areas though. We started the summer running out of hay just days before haying. Our own field costs us about $2 a bale. If we went out and bought hay it would cost us $6...even more for alfalfa hay. So it is nice to finally have a second cutting in off from the field. A full garage! Bill isnt so happy, since it encroaches on HIS side of the garage (which I call the barn!)
We have harvested a great "crop" of male crickets this summer. I love the sound of crickets, as it is the sound of summer. Because of humidity and allergies, our windows are rarely open. As long as I know the crickets are not under my bed...ready to wake me at 3 am... I enjoy them. We have a glass gallon crock full of them. The Chinese use them to alert them in change of routine...it works. When they are use to your habits they keep on singing. But if something unusual happens they get quiet.
Being a wet year there are lots of crickets. We have caught many and watched garden spiders devour them and our baby chicks fight over them like a two-year old does with candy!
We have harvested several very fat field mice in our basement. Wish the cats caught them a little sooner!
Another thing we have harvested well has nothing to do with me. Our rabbits poop day in and day out...and it is such good fertilizer. Not too hot and not weedy. You can buy it on line for about $2/#, which translates to $3-$4 per gallon freezer bag. Of course when I put it on my plants...way out away from the house...it doesnt matter if it is wet and smelly. I dont think town folks would appreciate that! So...today if you had happened by our place you would have seen a tarp in the front yard strewn with rabbit droppings (which Z calls balls and tries to play with or eat...depending on the day!) After sitting in the wind and sun all afternoon the manure is mostly dry and smell free.
I went to the neighbor's and harvested some of his butternut squash that he didnt want...and watched his German Shepherd roll and roll in an old, mushy, rotton squash. He was orange and happy! What is it about dogs and stink? The worse we find it, the more appealing they find it!
Speaking of the dog...this morning she was foaming at the mouth and smacking like she had gotten in to something yummy. But acting weird. I finally figured out that somehow she had broken a front tooth and it was imbedded in the roof of her mouth. Wish I got paid to be an after-hours weekend dentist!!
I have been getting ready for my mother daughter soap making demo-talk. I have 20 people coming to listen to a talk on the history of soap making and to watch me make soap. We are ending with a tea party. I have been making other items for sale (aprons, clothes pin bags, hot pads...) The girls are all doing their part to sell things they have made. And if someone will buy and enjoy my non-planned dozens of acorn squah...yeah!!
In the midst of all of this, B has been working a second job trying to pay bills. We are hoping to sell more eggs etc to offset expenses, thus the planned events at the farm. I am also starting school Monday. How do I have a full-time job of schooling, another one of taking care of this place and hauling girls to appointments, and then being mommy to all of these precious children?! I try to remind myself that fat souls are better than clean floors... That nothing is so important as spening time with them and leading them up to love and serve God and others.
As I have found...having a good harvest takes lots of time. You cant spend a few minutes a week and expect a bountiful harvest. Oh Lord, give me your vision...that I would truly make the kids my first priority in harvest!
Finished compost in bags...ready for sale.
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