~ RLD Homestead~

Welcome to The RLD Homestead

About Me

Welcome, Friends, to our home on the net. We are a quiverful, homeschooling, homesteading family, blessed with 6 future warriors for The Lord, and 1 future Princess of The King. Where we will go in our life is totally in His Hands...what better place is there to be?

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The Cowpokes

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24 June 2008

General update

Haven't posted in a while, been busy doing who knows what.

We have a small garden in this year, really just tomatoes at this point, my father in law was kind enough to come over with his tiller and till up the garden. So that is why we have even that small space.
At this point we are going to probably just keep the ground tended to and weeded so that we can get an early fall garden in.

Those little piglets that we had are getting bigger and have become some what of escape artists, but I think that I have fixed that now.

We plan on building a real pig pen in the coming weeks and getting all of the pigs out the stalls in the barn. They are bored in there and really have nothing to do, so when we let them out the are so happy that they can lay in the sun. Yes, we can let out pigs out and they will come back to us. Pigs are pretty smart animals, and I am not sure that they really like to be all that dirty.

I had 11 Barred Rocks that were just about ready to be moved in with the older chickens, but then one of the little boys open the brooder box and now I have 2. So I will be ordering Barred rocks again in a few weeks. Just bummed me out totally. We are also going to build a new, real chicken coop and run too. Right now they are in what was probably a tack room at one time.

Still looking for that family milk cow. We found a guy that has calves and said that we could buy one from him and then he turned around and sold her. So we are taking it a day at a time, should he have some in a few weeks and we have the funds they we will make the trip and get us a Jersey calf. If not then I will just keep looking and praying.

I have been planing and planing some more on the best way to make the most use of our tiny home.

The first thing that I have found is that we are going to be building triple bunks, then there is no question that I can get all six boys in the one bedroom.

The other thing that we are going to do is closing in our front porch and making our living room larger. At that time we will put in the new windows and front door.

I am still at a loss as to what to do with the back of the house, which contains the third bedroom, kitchen, bath, laundry and entry. For now the third bedroom with probably become our dining room/school room.

We come and go using our back door, as the front door as really steep steps. Jadon took a dive down them last year and literally went head over heals down them.

We had to buy a new refrigerator and then a washer-I have finally come to the realization that I need a second washer. I am working with my fourth washer in just over a year. There are just to many clothes and to many little boys for me to keep up with just one washer. I also need to get the clothes line up, I dug the wholes like the directions said and well it isn't going to work. So I am going to set the polls in 5 gallon buckets, then when ever we get around to adding on I can just pull the buckets out of the ground and set it up some where else in the yard.

I am also planning on gutting our bedroom, then putting in insulation, new windows, drywall and painting. Then I want to put in a really nice closet system so that we can get rid of all the dressers that we have in the house. I would love to be able to add a master bath, but that will probably have to wait until we are able to do the big addition. But someday we will have more than one bathroom.

Then we will slowly work on doing all the exterior walls in the house so that they are insulation properly and have more efficient windows. Then we will see about getting the attic redone.

But first we need to work on getting our animals the proper housing that they need. We are also going to work on the well that we have, and getting the water set up so that we can use it at the barn. Some day I would love to restore our barn, and then add on to it.

But that is just some of what I've been up to.

Blessings,
Debi

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11 April 2008

Piglets, we have piglets

Here they are.

aren't they just the cutest things.

Blessings,
Debi

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30 January 2008

the hard part of homesteading-killing of animals

On Monday, I was inside nursing Rachel, while Thomas went outside to do barn chores. He yells that he needs me to come outside. Rachel is now asleep in my arms.

Next thing I know the boys are saying that there is a stray dog outside and they want me to come look at it.

Well disobedience runs a muck at this point as Aric, Noah and Matthew all proceed to go outside without me. Rachel is still sleeping but starting to stir so I take her and put her in the crib, get my shoes on and go outside to find a pit-bull chasing down my pigs.

Apparently the dog had been dumped at the edge of our property while Thomas was out doing chores. The dog came up to the barn looked at the goats but couldn't get in, but then found the stall with the pigs and was able to get in. Thomas opened the door to get the dog out, which of course let the pigs out too. So that's where I came into this.

Well, we finally manage to get the pigs in, the dog away from them, but then he realizes that there are rabbits. So while he's trying to get at them I go and get the shotgun.

So I shot the dog, well he didn't die, so I went back inside and got the .22 and had to shoot him several more times. Thomas and I left him for dead and came back inside.

Tuesday morning we head out for morning chores and HE'S STILL ALIVE!!! What the heck, how is this possible you can see where he's been hit.

I am sorry to say but I didn't do anything I have soft tissue damage in my back and right shoulder and just couldn't fire either gun again so we just left him, figured he be dead by morning.

This morning I go out to the barn to get chores done, grab the shovel so that I can get this dog and bury him, well he's NOT THERE!!!!! Thomas the dog's gone, WHAT!! We start looking for him, while we are feeding the animals. Suddenly I look out into our pasture and there he is, 3/4 of the way across it. So I take the shovel and start out there to bury him. BUT HE'S STILL BREATHING!! So back inside we go to get the gun again. Now I don't profess to be a great marksmen but I do generally hit what I am shooting at.

Now because I have this back issues, I really don't want to do this again because it hurts. So I finally pull the trigger and well I missed, twice. I finally hit the dog and to my utter amazement he's still breathing. So I hit him again and he continues to live. I just prayed that God would take this poor thing already and head back into the house as my back is killing me now.

FOUR HOURS LATER and he was still alive, barely. I called Deanna, my husband and my mom and told them all that Cujo was still alive and that I was done. My body is still very sore, even places that I didn't know hurt, partly because I was tensing up because I knew that it was going to hurt.

Now before anyone starts going on about how cruel it is that I've let this dog suffer, I have suffered too. I don't like the fact that he's still breathing, I don't like the fact that he moved from one place to another on our land.

I really don't like the fact that some IDIOT had to come out here and dump their dog, that had to start chasing and hurting my animals.

Around here there isn't a pound, at least not one close enough that would come get a dog. There is one over in Amory 25 miles away that charges $30.00 to take a dog.

But I would have to catch,crate and transport with my children in the van with the animal. I'd rather spend the money on ammo.

All part of homesteading, just don't really want to have to do this again anytime soon.

ETA: Every shot that I have taken on this animal has been with the intent to kill, he has been hit in the head several times and a clean lung shot.

Blessings,
Debi

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28 January 2008

Went over to Deanna's

Got to see where and what they are planning to do on their homestead. Looks like it will be really nice, can't wait to see what her new school house will look like.

The children all had a blast and only had one moment of concern of disobedience. They all played out side in the weather and mud. Deanna has a lot of mud around her place, which seems really strange for living on top of a hill. But no matter it didn't stop the children from playing outside.

We had a wonderful meal of pot roast, with potatoes and carrots, with peach cobbler for desert.

The children and I left around 6.30 and by the time we got home they were all asleep. It takes a good hour to get home. But when we get up at 5 everyday, bed time comes around quicker when you've played all day and had lots of fun.

Blessings,
Debi

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15 January 2008

Look at what I made today & our visit to Deanna's on Sat.

I made Rachel of course.

But she is wearing her new outfit.

I made her dress, bloomers, and pinafore.

I still have to put the elastic in at her wrists and figure out my button hole foot. Never mind that the dress is a little bit big. But hey she looks fabulous.

The children and I all went over to Deanna's on Saturday and she finally(she's only had them since we knew Rachel was a girl) gave me the bag of patterns that she had for me.

There are a few different patterns, plus I still need to put together the pajama pants that she cut out for me. I took 10 yards of fabric with me and she was able to cut out six pairs of pants and still send me home with some. I can probably make a nightie for me and Rachel.

We all had a wonderful visit, and are both trying to figure out the best things to do with our homesteads. Where to build, what to build, how big to build, the most pressing questions of late. I have found a guy locally that does steel buildings, I can get a slab poured, (rough plumbing-this will be a separate cost extra), and a 30x40x20 building for 18,300.00. Now I am still unsure if that includes the guts-second floor-as in the actual floor. I really like the this idea, but then again the more I think about it and draw it, the more I am leaning towards to buildings that would give me the same sq footage but all on one floor.

We all had a wonderful visit and will be going back over in two weeks. I am giving them some guard dog puppies, which will all be old enough by then.

More later.

Blessings,
Debi

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17 December 2007

Up way past my bedtime, sitting here surfing the net, not really going anywhere.

The boys were playing on my computer at Lego.com while I was falling asleep at my normal bed time. Well I napped and let them play until I realized that it was 11.30, off to bed I say, the attitudes that came out of two of them was so unkind and well mean. I called them both on it only to get no answers. Seems it's ok for them to do what they want, but when I want them to do something for me, well let's just ignore Mom and do our own thing. Then the I'm tired started, which of course was true, but I know that if I hadn't run them off to bed they might still be here playing.

The alarm clock will still go off in less then four hours, and I will still get up, as little miss will want to be nursed. She is truly a wonderful baby. Starting to smile at us, cooing when you talk to her. I had her in her crib and noticed that she was trying to roll over. I am going to have to put up the side rail soon. I can't believe that she is almost two months old already. We go in for her check up on Tues.

Pray for my friend Mary and three of her girls. They were on their way home to KY from FL yesterday and were involved in an accident somewhere in GA. I don't really know all of what happened, except that her Suburban is wrecked possibly totaled, that other vehicle flipped and rolled and the passenger was thrown from the car but walked away, the driver was hurt, I believe that both of them were taken to the hospital. She and the girls are shaken up, a little bruised, Mary I believe had some cuts, but they are thanking God that they are safe.
Heather and Bryce, the newlyweds, were going to head to GA to get them I guess. Mary did have some friends in GA that came and picked them up and they were going to stay with them tonight.
I will try to call her tomorrow to see how they are all doing. I feel so helpless, but I know that I can pray for them and God will take care of her like He always does.

I should try to get some sleep now, as I am really unable to nap during the day. I am going to add a new point to our daily schedule and that will be a quiet time, all of the boys must do something while the little ones nap, Caleb and Jadon both slept today & Matthew was in his bed a very quiet. We shall see how today goes.

The weather here is cold, but no snow. Seems unfair to have such cold weather and not get the beauty of white snow. It would be so cool to get some on Christmas morning, but I don't even know what the weather is supposed to be like next week.

Good night/Good morning.
Blessings,
Debi

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27 November 2007

Looking to possibly move to TN

DH and I are looking at a way to be able to have a lot more family time. One of those ways is to move to a larger area where he would be able to get a job that pays somewhat more of what we are used to, but mostly put him home at night with his family.

Him being gone and only home twice a month is really NOT working. Partly because his one weekend a month is taken up with Army Drill-it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't live an hour away from his unit.

Anyway would anyone like to share any and all info about living in TN?

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27 November 2007

missed the secret sister this time

Posted in Secret Sister

Looking at the blessings that are going around already from Secret Sisters is making me sad.

I missed the cut off this go around.

I really had fun last time and really wanted to do it again.

So I guess I will just have to pay attention when it is getting close to sign up again in the Spring.

I needed those little pick me ups that I was getting from my Sister.

Anyone wanna send cards and fun little things back and forth and pretend that we don't know who we we are to each other??? Might still be fun. Just not quite the same as not knowing who is blessing you.

Blessings,
Debi

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24 November 2007

we had a an accident on Wed

Everyone is mostly ok, the van is not and had to stay down in Tuscaloosa until all the repairs are done.

My Mom, Aric, and Noah all had to be seen in the ER .

Mom has a sore neck, shoulder and seatbelt abrasions on her neck.

Aric has an abrasion on his left eye lid.

Noah, well Noah got the worst of the whole thing, he hit the bench in front of him with his face and tore the inside of his mouth. If you put your tongue up between the top of your teeth and your upper lip, that is where he had to get 10 stitches. His face is really puffy and swollen, but he is getting better everyday and I think enjoying the soft foods that he's been eating since Wednesday night.

I am of course very sore in my arms, neck, back and my right leg(pushing on the brake). The rest of the children are also fine, I do think that I might have some issues with Caleb as he may have been dozing off at the time of impact. Because every time we put him down to nap or bed, he starts screaming. But riding in the van doesn't seem to bother him.

All I wanted to do was go to Hobby Lobby to look for some fabric and get some lunch, but no I had to go a wreck my van. Praising God that we are all okay, the van is fixable, we are all healing and very much alive.

They were all very impressed with the 15 passenger van that we are renting while ours gets fixed. I will say that I was just thinking the other day that it would be nice to be able to drive a Ford and a Chevy before we decide which one we want to buy. I would love to find a Dodge 15 but they don't make them anymore and I don't know that we would be able to find one with low mileage. But this was NOT the way that I had hoped to be able to drive them.

I know that the Lord protected us, because my airbags did not go off which is a very good thing, as I am sure that both my mom and myself would have been hurt a whole lot worse.

So how was everyone else's day before Thanksgiving??

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23 November 2007

new template...testing

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