Thursday, March 7, 2024
March! Winter is nearly over. Not much snow this year but plenty of mud. I think the mud will be with us for months yet. No time to waste tho and Muck boots are well, good for slogging through muck, so here I go!
While the house is getting a much needed facelift with new siding and a metal roof, I have plenty of smaller projects going too. Over the course of last week I built a new smaller chicken/turkey coop and I'm in the processes of building an additional pig shelter for read more...
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Friday, January 26, 2024
What is a heritage breed and why choose one? Heritage Breed is a term used to designate livestock and poultry breeds with a long history in the United States. They are breeds that were bred and developed over many years to have specific traits that made them suited to their regional environment. Typically, these breeds were developed prior to industrial agriculture and can trace their founding to the 18th and 19th centuries.
So why choose one? Good question. Typically, these breeds have read more...
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Have you ever heard the adage “it takes a village to raise a child”? Ever thought about what that means? To me it means teamwork. Being there to assist, teach, guide, etc. Relying on each other’s strengths at times. No one can or, should, be an island onto themselves. People, like dogs, are meant to work together.
I hate to ask for help. Hate it! I’m the person that will tackle a project and allow it to take twic read more...
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Monday, December 18, 2023
The year is almost over! How does time fly by so quickly? Do you ever ask yourself that? I certainly do.
I was listening to a podcast today and the question was posed "do you have enough?" That got me thinking as I'm inclined to do on a Sunday, What is Enough? I think we would all answer that question very differently. I know the me of 10yrs ago thought "enough" is very different than the definition I would give today.
Society basically teaches us that we never have enough. C read more...
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Saturday, November 11, 2023
It's been a lovely fall so far. Just enough cool nights to appreciate a nice fire in the wood stove and enough sunny days to get a few more projects complete. The chill is in the air tho and we've had our first snow fall, so winter is right around the corner.
Speaking of projects, there's always one in the works, is there not? Here I have 3 either started or ready to start. Project 1 is a new winter pig shelter. I have the frame built and most of the roofing on, hopefully I'll have read more...
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Friday, September 29, 2023
Been a while since last I wrote. It’s been a busy year. Time is flying past. The garden is wrapping up even though there are still a ton of tomatoes, the first frost is only weeks away per the standard, so the clock is ticking on getting them ripened.
As every good homesteader knows, you always put up as much as you can each year. There are no guarantees on getting a garden in next year or if said garden will even produce. So to that end there’s plenty of tomatoes and beans canned up with ca read more...
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Monday, July 3, 2023
New hatch of Bourbon Reds
Been a while since I last wrote. Summer is here and that means a busy time.
Garden is in and after the initial dry spell it’s finally come alive. Getting zucchini and some spinach. Having a horrible time with lettuce this year tho. Tomatoes are setting on and I’m looking forward to fresh tomato sandwiches.
Lots of young chickens running around. The hatch rate has been around 90% which is over course excellent. Lots of replacing pullets with young roosters filling the freezer and canner later read more...
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Monday, April 17, 2023
Dandelion Jelly
Spring is officially here! No, I’m not basing that statement on any calendar. Horse people know only 1 unmistakeable sign that spring is upon us. When horses start blowing those coats. There’s hair everywhere! No matter how much you brush, more appears.
Last week was beautiful and it started every thing growing. The grass is coming on in the pasture, the apple trees have finally leafed out and they and the pear trees are blooming.
In the garden peas are up and it’s time to get the corn and read more...
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Thursday, March 23, 2023
Today I was looking to make a simple bread that could be used in the case of having no yeast. There is always sour dough of course but that takes weeks to develop a starter and then of course 12hrs plus to get it ready to bake. What does one do when funds, supplies or time is limited and you still need bread? You turn to an old standby. Irish Soda Bread.
It’s actually a very simple recipe and from start to finish, the bread can be done in about an hour. You can add raisins or other dried fr read more...
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Sunday, March 19, 2023
Finally! The 2023 kids are here. This week has been a long one with lots of midnight trips to the barn and goat shed checking on expecting mothers, new mothers and new babies. Throw in some very unseasonably cold weather and well…. Stress.
I’m very happy to say tho that 5 of my girls kidded with relative ease. I walked out to find most of the does already cleaning their babies and only assisted in one birth. I’m praying the last 2 girls kid as easily.
I always do my best to take time of read more...
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