Life and times of a new farmer/homesteader
A Brand New StartWell here I am again... back at Homestead Blogger. I had a blog here before but with things changing so much in my life I stopped blogging. I'm ready to give it a try again and look forward to connecting with some old friends again.There have been so many changes in my life this year, my husband and I seperated, my daughter is getting married, I'm having my first grandchild, I have a new job that I love, and a very special friend that I'd looked for for many years is now back in my life! Life is good, busy.. hectic.. but I wouldn't have it any other way. If I'm busy.. then I know I'm needed. And that's a good feeling. Some photos taken in last couple of daysI just took a couple of photos and I had some friends ask me what a gas hob was, we had one fitted this morning. We had wedding gift vouchers from a store called John Lewis over here which is an upmarket department store in the U.K. We had to get a new gas hob we were able to get a stainless steel one in the sale at the above store.
Below are photos of our cat Bizkit, canning/bottling I have done in the last few weeks. Last but not least socks that my DH bought home for me yesterday - aren't they just too cute :)
I have a beef casserole cooking in the crockpot which should be ready within an hour. I finish work at 6pm so will go and peel & cook potatoes - so we will have mashed potatoes with our stew. The weather today has been just delightful and so warm DH & I are going to have supper and watch Strictly Come Dancing, just basically have a nice relaxing evening.
Predators and chickensThe Chicken killing we had experienced stopped awhile back and I thought the killer had moved on... but yesterday it was back, it got the little pullet that was always getting out...and that met me at the feed bucket to let her back in:< But she was NOT out when it got her... and now I know what it is .......a CAT! A regular everday housecat kind... I never thought a cat would kill chickens... There was brush back around the back side of the run and I had let it grow up to give the chickens some shade... but its gone now... I found where the cat was getting in, well I know it got out there anyway.. so its all closed up.. It must have been hungry because the only thing we found was feathers and the breast bone... We also found broken egg shells, I think she must have been laying under that tree back there. DH shot at it and it ran out the back and around to the neighbors.. we will be watching for it... DH went deer hunting early this morning, so I will have most of the day to myself... I really need to work at getting the walls pushed back up.. It seems during the week when I get home the mess so overwhelms me I dont get anything done...and then on the weekend I just want to rest... We have been sick so the mess is even a bit more daunting then usual. I am also dealing with anxiety attacks again..which drains me of most energy I might have left... I guess I need to make an appointment with the doc and see if there is anything we can do... I can't seem to tolerate most anti depressant that they like to use for anxiety. well off to work... Todays list: Kitchen , and laundry. I need to make some kind of soup as well, for lunches during the week ***Vegetarian Soup Recipe ***
Melt the butter in a stock pot over medium head and add the onion. Saute for about 5 minutes and then add the herbs, salt, bay leaves and rice. Saute for 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 20 minutes add the cauliflower and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the beans and the garlic and continue cooking for about 5-8 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender and the garlic has lost its rawness.
A few pictures.....I'm even less inspired to blog today than before Homestead ate my first post. Grrrr! Here are a few pictures from Elijah's birthday:
Yes, it's a decent cake. Not spectacular, but fair for icing piped out of the end of a plasic baggie. I still can't find my cake decorating things!
I can't believe how BIG Samuel is. He's so . . . so grown up!
And, here is me. At 25 weeks.
And now, I hope this posts. Because I'm definatly not inspired enough to blog it again a third time! Hope everyone has a great weekend! ~Ashley~
Fab Friday
I say Fab because the weather is just that, fabulous! It is cool but not cold, the kind where you open up your windows and the breeze blows the curtains around, LOVE IT! Grinding was suppose to start today but they have pushed it back until Monday, which is OK with me. Hubby can take an extra weekend to relax before he starts working nonstop for the next three months. The money is great, but he gets tired of it after a month or so. I don't blame him either, I worked grinding several years in the scale house, and it does take a toll on you. Seven days a weeks for weeks and weeks. So for lunch hubby wants to go to his favorite eat out, Pizza Hut. I personally don't care for them but he loves it, so Pizza Hut it is. Then it's off to see mom for a bit at the home, a quick stop at the grocery store for a few items, and then home to wait for my dear friend Debbie who is coming for a weekend visit. With the holidays kicking up soon, we are getting a visit in before things get too hectic for visiting. So thats pretty much me weekend, chatting, swinging, porching, garage saleing, malling, eating out, and did I mention chatting. The guys will be doing some hunting. So I hope everyone else is going to have a great weekend ahead. Call you BFFs and chat some.
Root Cellar uh, I mean the Hobbit Hole, Re-visited Good Morning! I hope you are all having a lovely start to your Friday! I am excited for the day. On Tuesday, we worked in the root cellar... or what my children are insisting we call the Hobbit Hole for a long while. My Dad came and helped show Shannon how to build some sturdy shelves to store our stockpile. My boys wanted in on the action. And since you can 'work' in nothing less than overalls, that was the choice of attire for the day. :)  The littlest one lest be left out... He even came equipped with his own saw and hard hat. ;)  Shelves were built across the back and down both sides. It is SO wonderful!!! I am so happy to have this finished and ready for use.  Have a terrific weekend. Fill it with your family, laughter, smiles, hugs and kisses, snuggles, sips of hot cider, cozy quilts and love.With much love from me to you... TGIF!!!Whew, another week over and I'm off this weekend!!! I fear I have a sinus infection which with the drainage is making my tummy quite touchy. Uff da, not how I want to spend my weekend. Yesteday I spent in bed. Warmed up chili for supper along with the last slice of garlic sourdough bread. I also did a load of laundry but decided to save the rest for either today or tomorrow. I'm thinking of putting my clothsline up as it's suppose to be warm and breezy today and tomorrow. I can hang clothes out for what will probably be the last time this year. I've some line to put up in the basement for the lighter items. I've found that by turning on a small fan those items dry fairly quickly. The heavier items end up taking on a musty smell so I use the dryer for those. Anyone else have that problem and what do you do? I'm planning to also clean up and organize the garage so I can put my truck in it. Since the move I haven't taken the time to do that. It's quite a mess right now and with the snow right around the corner I'd better get a jump on that. I'll also do some yard work - lots of leaves laying around out there and bird feeders to put back up. The birds have been looking. I'll take the mower out for the last time and mulch the leaves then leave it all until spring. The mower will then go to the storage unit and snow blower will come out to prep. Sigh, I'll need to pull out the bread maker at some point too. I can't make a full size loaf in the toaster oven so may as well use the maker. The last loaf I made in it was heavy so will have to play with the gluten amt. I love the recipe from Jackie Clay at Backwoods Home Magazine ( http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/clay78.html ) but haven't been lucky at making it with the bread maker. I'm about out of granola so will probably make some of that as well. I've got to finish cleaning church this afternoon so I'm thinking I'll mix the batch up at home and bake it there (remember, I have no oven, just the toaster oven) since I have to be there anyway. I'm hungry for oatmeal cookies so will mix them up, bake up about a half dozen and freeze the rest. I've found it works out nicely. Just scoop the dough and place on lightly sprayed cookie sheet, place in freezer until frozen and put in freezer bag. This way it's easy to only bake up a few at a time. I like how soft and chewy they turn out too. I use Crystal Miller's recipe for these. Well, I'd better go do some chores. I wish you all a wonderful, blessed weekend. I hope you are blessed with good weather and good health to enjoy it. See you all Monday night! Michele Todays Great Quote......George MüllerGod delights to increase the faith of his children. We ought,
~Women Professing Godliness~~ This new blog is to share with you some feelings that perhaps we have all experienced and to show forth the truth of God's Word and make a light in this dark evil world.~But like my Dear Sweet Husband and Best Friend says " Lin , it is not about You, its about Christ in you. " So with his blessing I will post here on some issues I have faced over the years as a godly woman and Mamma. I look forward to sharing with ya'll soon. Blessings, the Lord Keep Thee Linda { Last Page } { Page 2 of 5 } { Next Page } |
