PrayingIGo

It is fall...

08:42, Monday, October 6, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

I haven't posted in such a long time...too busy here on the homestead to get to the computer long enough to post. But, I am catching a quick moment here. We have been waaay too busy canning, and preserving the harvest. But, I thank the Lord for the harvest...tired or not. Over the summer we acquired two Tunis ewes and in September we were able to buy a wonderful Tunis ram. Sarah actually has been acquiring the sheep and training them. They have become sufficiently tame to come to her when she comes through the gate and submit to being handled and petted all over. We have dried our goats off over the past two weeks so I am missing getting the fresh milk. But, one of our cows did not get the message that she was supposed to calve in the spring...so, any day now we are expecting a new calf.

This means we will get milk (I hope) over the months when we usually don't . We are hoping to take a bull to the butcher sometime soon so we can fill the freezer again. Our 14 year old is raising turkeys. He got them later on, so they won't be big enough to butcher for Thanksgiving, but later, and he is hoping to be able to raise some new ones from these. Our 18 year old son is raising broiler chickens and they will be ready in another week or two to butcher...yum, yum. Julia, our youngest bought a collie puppy this summer and she is growing well under Julia's care...and we hope will be better trained in the next few months, although she IS still a puppy. We had lots of hummingbirds this year, but all of them have left except for one that comes faithfully every morning to eat on our butterfly bush. Well, just wanted to say, I am still here...kind of...and hope it won't be this long between posts again.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Hello

06:39, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 .. 2 comments .. Link

I am not exactly sure why I am beginning a second blog, when I am hardly able to keep up my original one.

But, here goes. We live on about 300 acres in the TN valley. It is beautiful and picturesque. I have lived a lot of places in the U.S., but this is the most beautiful and peaceful place. I am constantly praising the LORD for this place and time. Every day watching the sun come up as I walk is a blessing. We have a textile manufacturing plant on our property that we run...to make our living. We also have been building a small homestead for learning and health purposes and yes, for the sheer enjoyment.

We began with 2 new horses when they were about 3 months old. We hadn't a clue what we were doing...but we figured if we could train children...how hard could horses be?!? Actually, we have learned MANY lessons over the past 10 years about the training and keeping of horses. Then we added chickens. I had studied the subject almost to death. So, when my husband finally said to order some chickens I had narrowed it down to 3 breeds

But we didn't let that discourage us. We ordered buff orphingtons and have been thrilled by getting eggs nearly every day of the year. We have also raised black austrolorps and dominques. They have all been great. The buffs have been calmer and better mothers. The next animals to be added were Saanan goats. Our oldest daughter had studied and decided on this breed for the taste of the milk and ease of care. We purchased two bred does (a mother and daughter) who had won prizes for conformity. They had 3 babies, the daughter had twins (a doe and buck) and the mother had a doe. After all of these years we still have the mother, and the two 'baby' does. They give wonderful milk every spring and summer without fail...or being bred. Thank you Heavenly Father for your provision! Somewhere in all of this we began slowly getting into beekeeping. Next came miniature jersey cows. That is a whole post all by itself so I will save that for next time.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

PrayingIGo

It is fall...

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