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Just a quick post to let you know that instead of writing in the mornings now I will have to work it on another time. I am forming a new habit in January. A better schedule and getting more done! Well wishes in all your endevors! "THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE, REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT." PS 118:24 "IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU!" 1ST THESSOLONIANS 5:18 Mama |
A great GOOD MORNING to you! Happy New Year! I pray that you your new year will be filled with goodness and we can keep our hearts and paths on track with God in everything we do!
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Hello All! As 2008 comes to an end I want to list all the blessings we have had and list my version of "resolutions". Blessings of 2008: Dh got a promotion and raise! We got our first goat herd, all as babies( glad we did that!) We got our flock of geese and our first batch of birds for meat! Ds and I went deer hunting for the first time and got 2 deer! I am learning to knit and loving it! I realized that a slower economy isn't so bad for us. We are already frugal and have the mindset to raise and grow alot of our food so it just means growing and raising even more! I don't like resolutions as it seems to make a resolution I sit down in December and make a list of things I think I should do. As I have gotten older I have realized that you see things need to be changed along the way. That' s when it is most effective to make the change , when you realize that it needs to be done and why. The calendar says our new year begins in January. I always feel that it really begins in the spring when new life is everywhere. When we feel awakened after a long winter's rest and feel ready to begin all the hard work on the farm that comes with spring. The new year shines forth then and radiates it's promises to come! I pray that you can look back at all the blessings of 2008 with a thankful heart and are ready for God's directions to follow God's chosen path for you in 2009. God Bless! Mama
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It is fifty degrees this morning! A spring thaw in December! This is unheard of in Pa! We got a very early snow in November. Then storm after storm now a thaw. Forecast is another storm coming after the heat wave! I t is a bad winter but if it is like this anymore we get little breaks from it! We are all feeling better finally. Dh seems to be reocovered from the Christmas rush at Wal-mart. Thank God that is over. It didn't seem like the economy was down too much at our rural stores! I feel better this morning than I have in a few weeks. Today's plan we are going to do some at home bible studies instead of church so dh can still gets lots of rest. The weather is warm enough we can get some out side things done that we couldn't with 8 " of snow on the ground. I will trim Indiana's hooves this morninging and try out the new halter system for that. Some baking, muck chicken coops maybe. Go get more hay while the weather is good. Well better put hte plan into action! Have a blessed Sunday! Mama |
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Good Morning all! Other things to consider for our home atmosphere and working with ur hands in order to provide for our family and not be idle ; The Joy of baking! I ha been making my own bread now for several years. I buy wheat berries or spelt berries and grind them with my grain mill. I originally bought a crank base for exercise and in case we have no power ( that was surely not idle! For those of you who have never had bread made with fresh ground flour, it is heavenly and you must try it! That is a good step for those of you who live in town and long for all things country and crafts of our ancestors. The atmosphere of your home is so inviting when you walk in the door and smell fresh baked bread! The word that the modern english "lady" came from meant "loaf -kneader" ! " To make good bread or to understand the process of making it is the duty of every women;indeed an art that should never be neglected in the education of a lady. The lady derives her title from dividing or distributing bread; the more perfect the bread the more perfect the lady," Mrs. Sara Hale in her 1857 cookbook Receipts for the Millions . Source: "Hearth and Home Recipes for Life" By Karey Swan " Bread-baking combines physical and mental activity in a task that connects one to living things and produces a useful product. Providing for one's needs with one's own creativity was necessary for our ancestors and is still true for many people around the world today. While we do not need to make our own bread for survival perhaps baking bread would enhance our mental and spiritual health." From: "Recipes from the Old Mill Baking with Whole Grains" By Sarah E. Meyers and Mary Beth Lind Both of these quotes say alot about the magic and the ancestoral connection when we bake. It is so rewarding to smell the aroma of the bread as it bakes after working diligently at grinding, mixing ,kneading, punching, kneading , shaping and finally sliding that beautiful loaf into the oven! Both of these books which I have quoted from are favorites of mine and I highly recommend them! I have never gotten the same response as I get when I give homemade bread as Christmas gifts! People oooh and ahh! They seem to enjoy my bread more than my cookies. It is such a pleasure to see their reponses! My dd and I will be making some bread today to give as gifts! I can smell the yeast mixing with the flour and other ingredients! It is a delicious aroma even at that stage! Ladies please teach yourselves if you don't make homemade bread and teach your daughters also and your sons! This a culinary art we can't afford to lose! Think of Ma Ingall's pulling that beautiful ,aromatic loaf from her iron cook stove and the mouth watering aroma drifting through the cabin as her and the girls prepare another meal, and Pa Ingall's coming in the door breathing in deeply and saying " Ahh Caroline , you've out done yourself agian!" We can give our husbands that same experience! My dh can come in the door and smell bread and it perks up his spirit no matter what is going on! That says alot during the holiday season when he is working at Wal-Mart everyday! This process really does connect you to your ancestors, preserves a art we must keep , gives you excerise in kneading , gives you another more healthful item to add to your menu that you can control and certainly wards away idleness and you are working with your own hands to provide for your family! If you have any questions about makng bread feel free to ask ! I would love to help! Here is my favorite CornBread recipe from " Recipes from the Old Mill" Made with fresh ground corn meal of course! CORNBREAD 1/2 cup butter melted 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups brown sugar ( I decrease to 1 cup for health) 2 tsp baking soda 2 cups cornmeal 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 2 1/2 cups flour ( I use whole wheat or 1/2 whole , 1/2 white) 2 eggs Melt butter . Then mix dry ingredients together. Add wet ingreds. stir just enough to mix. Pour into greased 9' x 13" pan ( glass works very well) Bake at 350 degrees for 25- 30 minutes. Check at 20 minutes if you use all whole wheat! Smear butter on a piping hot slice and serve with a soup, stew or as a snack ( this a favorite snack for my children) Enjoy! Let's try a few more things to work with our own hands , provide for families and ward away idleness. A peace, a contentment will fill our homes with the smell of fresh baked bread and our spirits will be lifted as we do more of God's will as Mamas and the ones who set the atmosphere for our homes! Enjoy the day that God hath made; rejoice and be glad in it! Ps 118:24 God's Blessings to you and your families as we remember the greatest gift ever, our savior! Mama
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)but found it very inefficent for me to get enough flour done for all the baking that I do. So we purchased the electric base and now I can get enough flour for all my needs done in short order. |
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Enjoy the day that God hath made , rejoice and be glad in it. Ps 118:24 Mama
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Good Morning to everyone! The storm has not got here yet but it is looming. the prediction is starting about 3pm we will get and inch an hour all night long. accumulation predictions range from 6-10 " to 7-15 " I will go let out the poultry after this post so they can be out before it hits then try to get them back in before it gets bad. The goats are always in unless we ahve a clear day so I just have to go feed and water them. My dd is feeling somewhat better , ds about the same but he wan't as sick as his sister. I am showing some symptoms, weariness, sore throat but as you fellow Mamas know we don't really get to stop. Especiaclly if your a farming Mama and there's no one else to do the chores! My costochondritus is acting up. That is the chronic inflamation of the tissue surrounding my ribs branching out from the sternum. I got it as a result of a sinus infection turned bronchitus. The moissture in oncoming storms is one of my triggers. Please pray my dh gets home safely from work today in the storm. Oh dear!!!!!! I just looked out the window! It has started and it is coming down hard, fast and at an angle already! I better throw on my clothes and get out there and take care of the animals, I amy just have to leave them in! Talk yo you later! Mama |
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Hi, Just a quick note. Children sick with the flu; fevers, aches, weakness. New Goat halter needs addtional holes put in it so I can get started on hoof trimming. The tractor died so I am not sure How I can get the barn stalls mucked out now. Laundry. Dinner: Chicken with cream sauce and pasta, yeast rolls , fruit. Knitting pot holder. Vacum floors. Weather: Another storm coming 7 inches predicted again! Blessings to you all! Mama |
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Well, We are finally getting our fingerprints done! We haven't been able to do it until now. It now cost $40 per person for fingerprints! I couldn't imagine why until I found out that they now scan a photo of each finger then transfer them electronically. No more ink pads and mailing them off! This is the last step we have to do. Our home study is only current until Feb. so time is ticking. I really want to get to finding children. Mil came for a quick visit form Ohio Sunday to Mon to see the kids Christmas play at church. The play went well I will add photos later. We had a nice visit . I was pondering my use of time. We all have the same number of hours in a day some of us get alot accomplished, others well; we don't. How is this? What makes the difference? It seems that I am not diligent enough in planning and doing. I want to have time to do so much and don't get a fraction of it done. My list: More bible study * priority* More school lessons with the children *priority* Cleaner house * priority* Schedule barn chores and animal care so it all gets done regularly * priority* More time to work on knitting, sewing etc I will begin .
I hopw you all have a great day! We have a storm coming so we just get our fingerprints done when dh leaves work at 1 or if it's holding off we may go on a hour drive to do some shopping with Christmas money! Enjoy the day that God hath made, rejoice and be glad in it!
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Good Snowy morning to you all! The storm started the night before last but didn't hit hard until afternoon yesterday. Always on dh payday when I HAVE to go to town for necessites like livestock feed and we are TOTALLY out! So there is no way around it. I had to drive 20mph every where I went and I had to go 2 towns overto my feed store. A normal 20 minute drive one way took 40! Also HAD to get our dog Pokey to the vet at 7 pm, he has developed flea dermatitus and was chewed raw from the itchiness and melancoly, so he had to be seen. He even ahd a fever and we had to put an elizabethan collar on him to stop himfrom chewing! I must post a picture later! Poor guy! He shoulb be feeling better in a few days! We had a big uh-oh yesterday with the goats. When I went out for morning chores one of our Nubian bucks had found a way into our pygmy does stall and ahd bred her. I was in a panic . It turns out after contacting my experienced goat friend whom I bought her from she may be just fine and another one of our goats friends would buy the babies! So everyone please pray for Macie the goat to have a safe pregnancy and delivery. My son loves her dearly as she was his early Christmas present from me and we don't want anything to happen to her! I bought supplies to start my homemaking book. I need to look up some more about other peoples and get started. It is a big cleaning 2 days today and tommorow as my mil is coming from Ohio for the kids Christmas play at church. Better get busy! Blessings to you all ! Mama
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STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING BY ROBERT FROST Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer To stop wwithout a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake Tthe darkest evening of the year.
He givs his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind aaand downy flake.
The woods arel ovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
I always think of this poem when I am very tired. I took nap and the dogs even woke me up towards the end of it at least! I don't like it when I am tired enough to need a nap. It messes up the day and adds to the list of things I didn't get done. I need help with scheduling my days, I want to do my house cleaning, barn chores, teach the kids lessons, this time of the year crafts and much more baking, it seems I only get 2 things done a day and that is it besides the absolute must dos. Anyone else feel this way? I think I am terriably unorganized or something! Thoughts anyone? Have a great evening! Mama
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Good Morning to you all! The wind is howling, the heater is running and it is about 12 degrees outside! I am learning to knit and enjoying it very much. The texture of the knit stitch is so rich and I am using a multi-colored yarn which makes the most beautiful effect! I wanted to share a bit of history with you about the incrediable art of knitting! "While the origin of knitting is not certain here is what we know; Knitting may have begun around A.D. 200 in Arabia. As tarde occured with neighboring countrys the Arabs art become known to alot of the ancinet world over tthe next 200 years of so . Middle eastern people taught Europeans to knit arounf the 600's. Knitting guilds ( worker's unions) were formed in Europe and for the rest of the middle ages knitting was considered as much of an industry as weaving. Knitters were required to serve as apprentices for 6 years before they could be admitted to a guild. They also had to prove their ability to knit stockings, berets, shirts and afteer 1602 elaborately designed carpets. Knitting was taken to South and Central America by the Spanish in hte 1500's however htis art may have already been known by some people there. Kniting became a popular and practical past time for the peasants. In cold climates knitting has always been essential for creating warm clothing. a good example is the knitted hats of the Peruvians in the Andes Mountains and the fisherman's sweaters of Ireland." Source : World Book Encyclopedia There is a thourough book of knitting history at my library . I want to check out. It is very intriguing to learn as much as you can about an art form of practical nature as you learn it. I have a Perivian hat, it really is very warm. You have probaly seen them . I will have to post a picture of one. If you live in a cold climate you should have one, they really keep your head and ears warm! Time to get on with scheduling fo the day! So much to be done , so little time! Happy knitting to you all learning and seasoned knitters. If any of you are just beginning to learn (as I am) here is a great place to start, www.angelyarns.com/instructions/slipknot.php These are the simplest instructions and drawings I have found to get you started in the actual process. Enjoy the day God hath made, rejoice and be glad in it! Mama |
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Morning to you y'all as I would say if I was still in Texas! I am a transplant you see. We moved to Pa when I was 9 so my accent is long gone. I love to hear my sister talk though who still lives there! It is 12 degrees this morning. I am drinking my morning tea ( Twinings Irish Breakfast tea with honey and cream) I just delivered dh his big mug on the porch hunting post. Brrrr------!!!! I must write and get out so the goats have their grain and morning hay to warm them . I am going to stir up and pop in the oven a Apple oat quick bread for breakfast. New recipe if it is good I will post it. I was reading a local paper last night The Mountain Home a great local story type paper not news. Mountain Man Roy Kain writes an article monthly on Outdoors and sports. He does the Mountian man recreation camps and such. Very interesting. Parts of his article I wanted to share with you. The order is reworded of how he had it in his article but I picked and chose what I wanted to share: " Greetings from my trapline camp. C'mon in , back up to the woodstove and enjoy my little shelter from the elements. A pot of venison stew bubbling on the woodstove while the dutch oven warms a batch of buttermilk biscuit makes contentment an understatement. Christmas for the Mountaineer meant having a palce to hole up and put one's feet to the fire. A snug and tight little cabin with walls sound enough to turn a screaming angry wind and a proper roof to hold up a foot of snow and keep the weather outdoors rather than in-this is a suitable Christmas gift for a woodsmen. Christmas becomes a time rather than a specific day on the calendar; nature simply announces winter and Christmas is the master of ceremonies. It's time to be comfortable and at peace; to be where you want to be, doing what you want to do. It's a time to acknowledge that there is a creator, a great spirit, a Maker of all things;the season titled Christmas heralds his birth." " The nights come early and stay long. Reading and writing eats up much of the dark-time,cleaning the firearms (whether they need it or not) honing skinning knives, and palying on the cabin floor with Moses(his dog) makes the time pass unnoticed. It bewilders me when visitors ask me "What's the attraction?" " What do you do all night?" "Don't you get bored?" Only that person, that individual that has spent extended periods of time on his own, on a long-hunt or nature study in the woods , can grasp the "attraction" and total lack of "boredom". The solitude and self-dependance of being on one's " Own hook " in the woods , must be tasted before any questions or judgements can be seriously entertained." How very much we can learn from this Mountain Man perspective. He is refering to the mountain man and longhunters of the eighteenth century. So many of us homesteaders long for that type of by gone era. But if we just utilize it's ideals and limit the influence of our modern sin filled society we can live very much like that. As much as I would like to to throw away the tv, I still enjoy watching favorte movies from time to time. If we would bring back more of the ways of our ancestors we would feel more connected to them ,to our creator, to the earth. So just like my Grandmother I raise and butcher chickens, I am raisng goats to milk. I want to make my own goat milk soap. I make everything from scratch, I am learning to sew , knit and crochet. I love a quiet evening with no modern sounds but the sounds of contented people working on projects and talking . I teach our children aathome so they learn these ideals not society's ( My Grand mother couldn't wait to sell the farm and move to town my Mom tells me; and stop doing all of those things. I coudn't wait to leave town after growng up in it with only memories of the short 7 years I spent on my Mom's little farm before it had to be sold. I am so thankful for all those things I WANT to do that Grandmother couldn't wait to stop doing! She longed for townlife, I longed for country life. Isnt' it ironic that in just 2 generations the circle has done a 360! My mother wanted to remain on her little farm. Circumstances prevented it. My little farm is named after her favorite beloved books as was her little farm . Welcome to Stillmeadow Farm, have a seat and take the long nights to get back to the way things used to be! God's blessings to you and your families and may you rediscover that lost feeling of contentment for simpicity and self sufficency. Remember the reason fo the season. God's son who saved us from certain doom due to our sins and choices. Have a blessed season! Mama
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A good cold winter morning to you all! I am tired this morning as the dogs asked 4 times to go out last night. They are restless due to the fact they haven't gotten their daily walks in order to keep from scaring the deer. Dh has not gotten one . I hope for a buck next week. I am ready to give up on selling Avon. I have only tried for a month but exhausted all of my contacts with no interest to speak of and my heart just isn't in it. I will be sending my manger an email telling her. Which God has directed my heart back to my original ideas. My ideas to provide something for our family and help supplement dh income. I want to be like the Proverbs 31 women who does things to bring in income yet doesn't scarifice her family. The running ideas God seems to have put in my head are still nudging me , more so now after my trying Avon. They are: 1st : Growing and selling produce off the farm ( which will take alot of effort on my part as I haven't even got the garden large enough yet to produce all I want to for our family) 2nd: Selling goat milk soap after kidding season this year ( my first herd, my first kiddings, my first everything with the goats) 3rd: Making homemade aprons and selling ( I may be wrong but in there seems to be more people who want to go back to doing things more old fashioned and I think that maybe I can sell some nice aprons) 4th: Learning to knit and selling hats, scarfs, potholders, mittens, wash rags 5th: A little late for this year but making personalized stockings for Christmas. None money earning things I have done already that save us money ( I think ) Raising chiskens for meat and eggs ( sell some eggs during peak egg season to offset feed cost) Next year will raise some turkeys for us and maybe a few to sell. Deer hunting for meat. Buying what I didn't grow at the Amish farm stand and canning or freezing it. Shopping at the thrift store for clothing. Asking relatives for winter items , snow suits, boots, etc, for Christmas for the children. Does anyone else have some inventive ideas to save or earn money? God always either has my ideas work right from the start or not all from the start. I have learned to go with it or back right off. So I must go with the fore mentioned ideas. Enjoy the day that God hath made , rejoice and be glad in it!
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"WOO -HOOOO-----!!!!!!! " The enthusiastic yell of my son as he got his first deer puts it best! First off White tail deer season in nothern Pa has a huge following. It is a culture in it's self. So much so that the schools give the students the first two days of the season off for it. Men take a weeks vacation ( my husband being one of them). It is very big deal here. My son and I hunted for the first year this year. Myself because I enjoyed learning to use a rifle and my poor husband is color blind and can't see the deer. He has hunted for twenty years and only gotten one deer. Between the deer topping my newly planted fruit trees in my new orchard and him not getting deer ( I love venison) I said " That's it I am hunting. Also I don't trust meat from factory farms any more so don't buy meat from the store hardly at all. My son is able to hunt under the Pa Hunter Mentor program since he is not 12 yet. So this is a really big deal for him to get his first deer the way he did! Now the story: I got up at 4 am so that I could make some muffins for everyone's breakfast before we began. The plan was for my son and husband to hunt off the back porch and myself to hunt with the neighbor in his "shooting shack" . My daughter does not like the sound of the shots so she was staying in the house. We all got up packed our hot tea in thermos and I packed some muffins for myself. We were off with "Good lucks and from my son "May the force be with you" You fellow Star Wars fans will see the humor in that! This being my first hunt I wanted to be with a experienced successful hunter. Our neighbors friend who comes up to hunt , Bob is both. Very patient and loaded with knowledge. ( He reminds me of a Hobbit in appearance, demanor and he even smokes a curved pipe!) We got in our shack and he instructed me on my scope and the deer pattern of travel usually and the safe back stop zone. He had adjusted my scope and helped me figure out why I wasn't seeing out of it correctly the day before. Another group of neighbors was putting on a drive to move the deer they said so be ready. What excitement! Everyone was getting in position and communicating with walkie talkies and we could see yet another neighbor just acroos the road in position for the drive. At about 7:45 as I was looking out, I said to Bob "Here come 4 or 5 doe ." They were across the road . He said to wait and see if they follow the travel pattern and be ready. They did . He blows a whistle to give them a moment of hesitaion so that the target is still for a second. I used my scope as he told me to find my target on a posted sign then followed it back to the deer. The whistle blew, they stopped and lined up and fired on my target the third doe back in the line. She went right down which was a relief to me . I didn't want to wound a deer then have it get away to suffer. He had me wait patiently as possiable to be sure she wouldn't get away then we had to go do a finishing shot. I got my first deer on my first hunt with in 2 hours! Then as we were field dressing about 10 minutes after that I heard a shot from our porch and " Woooo - Hoooo ! " Yelled by my son. He also got his that quick! We are very excited and all the experienced hunters praised us for our shots and earliness . Bob told me your first hunt your first shot at 230 - 240 yards , that's respectable! Gary told us he was proud of us and that was something! I have been concerned about our grocerie budget with one income and the rising cost and our venison is about gone that was given to us last year. I know God was with us and it all came together because he made it to. It says in the bible and I wish I could remember the scripture reference that we should be busy with our hands and not be idle so that we want for nothing and do not rely on others. I see that every day in all I try to do to help us with our own needs, the more you work for yourself to be able to provide your own family with, the more God blesses us. Yes Mr. Obama, I am relying on my guns and leaning on my religion and proudly bearing the fruit of those two things together. I know that no matter how hard he trys he will not be able to remove these basic things that our nation was founded on. God and the right to bear arms. If you don't have a gun get one now before he is enuagerated, and if you do stock up on ammo, I am sure he is going to make that difficult to get also. For those of us who want to feed our families with our hunts and have no other reason to own guns unless maybe if we have to protect our familes from intruders we have the right to bear arms and I plan on keeping that right. Well I better go we have one more deer to dress out and the possiablity of getting two bucks yet. Blessing to you all and for those of you hunting to feed your families " May the Force be with you"
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The snow is falling hard! We got all fowl houses mucked out and I finished the chicken coops and came in this afternoon just before the snow came down. Of course we were almost out of hay aand milk and when dh got home I had to drive to a firiends farm ( about 5 minutes away thank God) and get milk and hay. Also thank God for 4 wheel drive! I made it back home safely and unloaded the hay with the help of the lawn mower lights in the barn. Scared a rat too! I have to get some anti- rat artillary! Then came in and unloaded the milk. I will be glad when the does deliver this spring and I have my own milk , I am sure I will get tired of milking though. I wish we could grow our own hay . We just don't have the acereage for that. I am glad fo rmy friends farm so close by. We are suppose to get 2-4 inches of snow by midnight then lake effect snow starting tommmorow afternoon up to 6 inches. We don't usually get snow like that until December and then it is usaully only 1 or 2 snow falls like that. I think all the precdictions of a bad winter are a sure bet. It has started already. Tommorow I want to get alot done inside. I hope to get everyone going nad move right along! Cleaning the kitchen and lr and vacumming and laundry and school lessons for Thanksgiving! Start pies and plan out the meal the rest of the way. Good Night to all. Stay warm if you live in a cold snowy climate like we do! ( north central pa) May God's blesings flow to you all. Sleep tight, Mama |
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Hi Everyone, Long time no see huh? Well I just completed the last of those roosters on Saturday. I am so glad to be done with chicken butchering until spring. I am thinking of getting another shipment of frying pan specials from Mcmurray Hatchery in Jan so they will be ready for butcher in April . And the snow was flying and the wind howling when we were butchering! We now have 30 chickens canned or frozen! That should get us through the winter. This was the first time I did butchering in a big way , it went well but boy is it tiring! I did not get the garden area tilled ( the new areas I wanted to till and put the manure and used hay on to mellow for the winter but I wasn't successful at getting that done. I will have to start asap in hte early spring! I am going to work on scheduling this winter and get myslef in a better habit. Do any of you have a way of earning money off the farm without commuting during hte winter? I knw God is nudging me towards making money from the farm other seasons but I can't figure out for winter! I am trying Avon but we are so secluded, and I have exhausted my contacts in our homeschool group that I feel that isn't working. I would love to hear how any of you supplemetn your husband income from home! We will finally be getting our finger prints done for the adoption in December thansk to a Christmas bonus my dh is getting! I have started sending out inquires for children! We are excited! Well I better get moving, the goats need grained and hayed! Enjoy the day God hath made , rejoice and be glad in it! Mama :)
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Good Morning To all! Last week the nights got really cold and in the blink of an eye the leaves started to change. We have orange and one yellow dashes of color on the mountain side. This morning at 6am it was 38 degrees! I feel a frost might happen soon. I ahve to be sure to cover my tomatoes and peppers and squash up when it comes. The summer has gone fast. Living in Pa just a stones throw from the NY border we have a pretty long winter. Out first snow flurry is always the first week of November. My chicks for meat ddidn't arrive for one reason or another at the feed store until July. So that means I will be butchering in November. I hope the snow isn't flying when I need to get them done! Our goats are 5 months almost six and I ran out of money to build another pasture. So I have to do alot of juggling to keep my bucks away from my does as I dont' want them to breed until next breeding season when they are over 1 yr. I have so much to do ! Let's see here is my list of things that need immediate ( as soon as possiable)to be done: Can the watermelon rind into watermelon rind pickles ( first time we've doen and tried I will lete youknow how they turn out.) Make a simple cheese recipe for the first time. Weed the sweet potatoe patch so we can acually find the plants when it is time to harvest them. Renivate neighbors old building into goose house. Build green house and plant in it. I must sit down and plan eaxctly when to do all of these things. Autumn is my favortie season. I love the leaves changing, the cool crisp air, the harvest, putting by all the food we've grown! My favorite time of the year! God's Blessing to you and your families! Enjoy the day that hath made! Mama
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Good morning everyone! I have had a total of 10 hours of sleep in the last 2 days and I usually need 9 hrs a night to be rested. Yesterday was errand day. We took Dh to work so we could have the Bronco . Then took puppy to the vet to be neutered ( please pray for us they found a growth on the bottom of his tongue and took it off. The vet says that they he never saw anything like it before. The puppy is only 8 months old so we are gong to have hte biopsy done to see what they find . Poor pup.) Then we went ot the feed store , thrift store and walmart . My doeling Nellie wa soooo----------- mad at me ! She climbs the fence and crosses the road so I left the herd in the barn for the day. When I got home she ran out of the barn with her ears falttend back and did a little mad dance, then when I called her for petting she wouldn't come! This is my bottle baby who can't wait to be petted and love on me! She was rubbing on the fence and with her ears back ignoring me! She finally decied to come over and getosme pets but she still let me know that she wasn't very happy with me ! I gave her a bit of grain and that helped some but she was mad! Little stinker! She is so personable. That is the first ime I ahve seen a foat be mad! their emotions are so strong! This is my first herd and they are all still babies so I am learing! I wanted to be out working on the garden yesterday but had to do errands . Today I am so tired. But Ican do it becase he can do it! I better go get more breakfast and see if I can get busy! Enjoy the day that God hath mad and rejoice and be glad in it! Mama |
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Salutaions to you all! I read an article in An Encouraging Word magazine the other day that really got my attention. It was entitled " Don't Be scared to try" I know these things but in my humaness I forget them. " When you realize you stink at organization, cry out in humility to God and then, on the heels of that confession take one huge step forward into " I can" because "He can" . I have repeated that over and over agian all day long everytime I felt tired or behind . It really helps. " When we are weak, then we are strong" for God's "power is perfected in our weakness" when we look to him in faith." ( 2 Cor. 12:9-10) "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James4:6) " I can do all things through God who strenghtens me" ( Phil 4:13) In this same article she goes on to give you examples of not being afraid to try. I have a beautiful sewing machine my husband got me several years ago. It is hardly been used due to time constraint and lack of knowledege about sewing. In the article she descibes her first few attmpts at making things and it has encouraged me enough to try. The patterns seem daunting but she just cut out around her favorite skirt leaving enough overlap for seams and sewed it! I have some matterial I have been wanting to use to make my DD shorts or skirts with so I will try this! Familarity breeds confidence and that is a first step! As soon as the garden is in and the animals situated. I am struggling with the farm as usual. With the lack of my DH help I am still strying to get the garden all in and tilled for that matter. My new herd of goat kids is still in one of the chicken coops. My 30 odd chickens are now sharing one coop at night with 7 goslings, my ducks are now sharing half of their little house with 10 ducklings. And I put our 10 chicks in a dog crate on the back porch last night. The poor critters are all crowded in. I must build stalls in the barn and get them moved. I have half the new garden area tilled and am planting feverishly ,the other half still isn't tilled. I have an idea how a single women farmer must feel. I wish my Dh was the farmer type like me but he definetly is not. So most of this is on god's shoulders and my own! I really feel this is what GOd wants me to do among so many things for my family, I want to to them all but really need his strentgh to do it. I wish it was today like it usede to be where people would help each other on their farms when a major task was needed to be done. Lord , I pray that you help me to remember that because you can do it I can too! It is your strength that will get the garden in so we have food with the high price of groceries. Your strenght that will get the stalls built and the fencing up and all the animals in their proper homes asap. Your strength that will help me get all my chores done early so we can go tho church tonight and your strength that will get the kids homeschool portfolios done so we can get our evalutions done next week. Without you Heavenly Father I am unable to do all this , I know that it is your will that you put me here, my purpose in life is to raise my kids wholesomely on a farm and grow our food and raise our food and teach your word and homeschool their precious minds . With you Lord I am strong! In Jesus Name I pray , Amen Enjoy the day that he hath made! Mama
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Hello one and all! Long time agian! I am feeling stalled. Where to pick up with all the messes? The garden is behind, my goats are still in the chicken house, no work done on their barn stalls or pastures. I can't do much alone and Dh is not much inclined to help. He tries but his heart isn't in it. I can't afford to pay someone to do it so I am praying for God's direction and grace in getting all these things done. My goats have pretty much cleaned out the pasture in my chicken area and I have no easy way to move them either out money to but an easy set of portable fencing to use. We are going to pick up goat number 7 tonight and they need more room. I pray this one doesn't get scours from the stress of moving like some of the others did. The garden is a absolute necessity so I guess that I will start there and try to work on the barn too. The house is a total diaster and my very particular mil is coming memorial day weekend and maybe even her very much more particular mother will come with her. Yike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That always fries my nerves and I so much hate everything in this state! Lord give me strnght to carry on! We are doing well except for time mangement. Ia m trying to do more focused things with the kids school lessons too along with all this! Does anyone else feel this way? Enjoy the Day the Lord hath made! In his service, Mama |