Wilbur

It has been extremely windy lately.  Scares PS#2 into thinking a torndo is coming.  Poor baby, he asks EVERY day if we are having a tornado. 

PH has half of the West wall of the house sided.  Only 1 1/2 more sides to go! yeah!  He was able to collect enough scrap metal the past few weeks, from various sources, to garner enough money to finish the roof and sides.  Today, he purchased additional electrical items, and stacked them in the corner.  That is his next project until he can get into town to purchase additional siding.  The roofing is on order, and will be paid for when it arrives.  Once these two items are done, I hope we will be concentrating on the interior, though PH is chomping at the bit to start adding the front porch.  Personally, I feel the inside walls and insulation are more important than a porch, but I don't get a vote ;-)

I think someone has bought the land two lots over.  This is the same lot a couple of years ago that I complained about being bought.  Since then it has changed hands twice.  People were over there building something tonight by headlight from their truck.  Using our nifty night vision scope, PH could see they were buildin some kind of A frame structure.  He thinks for a garden or something.  We were trying to make sure they weren't over there starting fires or doing drugs or they weren't stuck in the sand.  Everything was fine, so we stopped being nosy ;-)

Several weeks ago I gave 3 hens and our beloved banty rooster, Buff Jumper, to my MIL.  Well, this week a neighbor dog killed a hen and Buff Jumper.  I was contacted by PS#1 that lives with my inlaws about getting a replacement rooster and hen.  What a I? The poultry provider?  I will give them one more hen and a rooster, but after that they will have to wait until the chicks are grown.  I can't afford to keep giving away full grown hens.

Spent Friday showing a friend how to can chicken stock, and added those jars (minus one I gaver her) to my pantry.  Also, placed my order with the LDS Cannery and will pick those items up on Tuesday. 

I am thinking of replanting my green beans and cucumbers.  One bed of green beans is about ready to pick, the others haven't sprouted, and my cucmbers seem stuck.  Not growing, not dying.  My tomatoes have tomatoes on them (green), and it worries me that the plants are so small but producing fruit.  Not sure that is normal.  My watermelons and cantelope are not doing well.  Last year they did awesome.  That is what I get for complaining last year about too much cantelope. NONE this year.

I went through the van today (it is where I store lots of things).  I re packed a tub with my sewing things.  I am hoping to get rid of a bunch of books this week, and again at our upcoming homeschool book swap in two weeks.  That will free up space to get my treadle sewing machine out, and with prayer, in working condition. 

I've been copying recipes down for basic items like: shampoo, soap, cheese, lye, bread, making bacon and sausage, saltines, cheese crackers, and more. 

I was also given about six large glass pickle jars, and I purchased six more at the thrift store.  I washed about half this weekend and have set out to dry.  I want to start emptying my rice and such into them to store in the pantry.  My freezers are full of grains in the hope it will keep the bugs out of the food. 

Please pray for PD#1 she will be, prayerfully, attending our local community college in the fall to take a photography class. She is also interested in taking a farrier course in Dallas, so we are starting to save for that opportunity.  It is about $1500 for the two week course.  She has been interested for over a year so I guess it's for real.  I am trying to get her interested in an opportunity to use her artistic skills in photography and combine it with her love for horses.  Horse magazines must need pictures.  She could earn money towards her farrier course.  She isn't receptive, but we will see.



New Gate Sign PH made (the animal cut out on the left is a coyote, and on the right, a goat)

 Well, off to bed! It's hard to see by the light of a little battery operated lamp.

I don't often rant or strongly encourage people to be more prepared for emergencies, but I will today.  Since last year at this time food prices have increased 35%.  You might not have noticed.  It is kind of like the story about the frog being boiled, done so slowly, everyone accepts it. Get busy! Hard times are coming. 

Five years ago we purchased our first goats.  We paid $45 each.  Today those same goats go for $250 each and up.  Chickens, especially hens, are at a premium.  More and more people in our area are getting into raising their own food animals, gardening, doubling and even quadrupling up.  This last one is where one or more families share the same piece of land to cut down on expenses.

I have several people interested in learning how to can their own food.  I even had a friend come over yesterday and I showed her how to can chicken stock.  While making the stock, it reminded me of the saying from the t.v. show "Jericho" where one of the characters says "In this house we use all parts of the buffalo." 

The chicken I cooked for stock was raised here, butchered here, and packaged here.  I made fried chicken by piecing out the breasts, thighs, legs, and wings.  The back, which still contains a lot of meat on it was saved until I had time to make the stock.  I have several in the freezer, and I had originally planned to make a huge roaster full of stock, but opted for just the one, since my friend was coming over to learn.  As it, the process took three hours, and I already had the stock made.  Walking through the steps, sterilizing the jars, ladling the stock into the jars, and then processing them in the pressure canner actually took more time than I expected, plus it was HOT in the container, even with the AC going.  I almost opted for opening the door, but the flies are really bad this year.

After straining the broth, I was left with a small portion of chicken meat.  I sorted through the meat and removed the bones.  We then had chicken tacos for lunch, while the stock was processing.

Today laundry is the list, as I've been gone most of the week for a variety of reasons.  The wind is blowing strong and thankfully the clothes are drying ast.  With all the windows and doors open in the house, it is pretty nice in the house.. 

Many may not consider me a hard core "prepper", but that is okay.  I don't spend 15 hours a day "prepping", because my lifestyle is one of being self reliant.  I believe by being self reliant on a regular day-to-day basis I won't have to worry "much" if (when) something more severe takes place.

I can't afford all the bells and whistles, but you know, they aren't necessary.  My ancestors survived without them and I can to. It is made easier by a spouse that can do things I can't, and that I can learn from.  I may never have the physical strength, but I have the intellect and determination to get things done in a workable fashion, thought it may not be pretty.

We concentrate on food, water, shelter and defense.  Everything else is extra and a nice to have, and once the core areas are under control, we can re-direct focus to a new area.

Life on the farm has been super busy. Work in the garden has moved to a daily basis to combat weeds and pests. My tomato plants are producing tomatoes, but the plants themselves haven't grown very big. Very perplexing. I also have bottom rot on a few tomatoes. Have to figure that issue out and take care of it - now!
Our pig Charlotte, the one we were planning on butchering, was killed by two of our dogs. It was very sad and upsetting for us all, and the loss of the meat will definitely be felt. The other gilt (Fern) will be used for breeding, and I am praying all goes well with her and Wilbur (our young boar).

PH has been working on installing a second zip line. This one about 300 feet long, instead of 60 feet like the other. He is enjoying taking a break from the house, while we wait for our roofing order to arrive. We have the electrical wiring and circuit breaker box, and he will start on the small amount of wiring we are doing, while waiting for the metal roofing sheets to get here.

I ordered 10 Standard Bronze Turkeys (the heritage breed ones), and purchased 10 Plymoth Rock chicks. Next on the list are more chicks to raise for egg layers and quail. We are very intent on providing/raising the major portion of our food (meat and produce). Also, bought five Freedom Ranger roosters from a friend who had 40 and was trying to get rid of some of them. They are currently in the chicken tractor awaiting time to butcher.

Due to high thefts in the area, we are taking extra precautions to secure our property. Personally, I know many people who have been the victims of home invasions, theft of electronics, fuel, vehicles, livestock and more.

In preparation for additional severe weather and other emergencies I recently purchased candles that were 75% off at Dollar General, plus a case of water, a case of canning jars and a box of new lids. The kids and I have been organizing the pantry, and dividing like items into rubber maid totes and 5 gallon buckets with lids. For example: First Aid Supplies, Lightening related items (flash lights, mini lamps, matches, lighters, oil lamp wicks, etc.) and more.

We have been plugging away at school work and visiting with our homeschooling friends during the week. We have had several park days and we have field trips planned.  The girls have also been working around the farm, with PD#1 working with the horses to learn barrel racing.

Oh! I celebrated my 43rd birthday on the 23rd. I can hardly believe it, life sure goes by fast.

I've been collecting non electric versions of items, and setting up the flow of the house inside to maximize natural light, air flow and more.

PD#2 and PS#2

Cupcakes with Purple Peeps

The Haul from the Egg Hunt and Pinata

PS#2 and his candy - he didn't want his picture taken

April is flying by!

We've been busy around the farm, cleaning up trash that blows in, caring for the animals and generally just living life. 

PH and I have been finishing up the siding on the South wall of the house, it's finally done! Yeah!  I have been the forklift operator, and PH stands in the basket to reach the high places.

We had our Resurrection Day services (Easter) here at the land.  This is the fourth year we have had these services.  This year we were able to meet in the house, which everyone seemed to enjoy.  The kids hunted eggs and we had a pinata.  We had a huge lunch and lots of fun.  I really enjoyed the day, though PS#2 got a little sunburned.

I always love to hear Pastor preach, and our honoring Christ's resurrection made it very emotional for me, even more so than celebrating His birth.

The three stooges (the pigs) keep breaking out of their pen, so PH will be welding a new pipe fence this weekend.  I can't wait!  We do let them free range, but when we aren't home and at night I like to pen them up.  They are cute, but very destructive.

I bought five grown Freedom Ranger roosters from a friend.  I'd like to butcher them this weekend, but will wait and see what PH has on his schedule.  We are also putting 42 more eggs in the incubator, and pray that a few will hatch out.  This will give me (hopefully) a few more egg layers or roosters to butcher.

I've been able to continue work on my pantry and enjoy stocking up, and being able to actually SEE what I have.  Makes it so much simpler to see what I am out of or low on and need to replenish.  I am also excited about organizing the inside of the container, and have purchased a few rubber maid totes to separate items. 

Two items added to my Lehman order will be a well pipe bucket and oil lamp holders w/reflector and smoke bell for the walls.  I am ordering ten. 

We've also been given an estimate for a small tornado shelter.  Hoping to be able to install it once the outside of the house is complete (i.e., the metal roof).

The weather has been beautiful, though hot some days.  We have had a few sprinkles at night, and the wind at night is amazing!  Tonight I had to close the windows in the house because things were flying off the table, and I was actually cold! 

The whole house fan that PH installed helps to keep the place cool during the day, but at night I try to keep the windows open until early a.m. when it is just too cool still and I end up closing them.

The garden is flourishing and Praise God my tomato plants are flowering and the corn is thriving.  Watermelons are next to be planted, and on the agenda for the weekend.

Nothing too exciting, just normal everyday homestead living.  Gardening, cooking, baking, taking care of the animals, collecting the eggs, hanging out the laundry and scaring the hawks away from the chickens.

Heat Prostration in Pigs

Learned a lesson with the pigs yesterday.  They can't stand heat.  They had tore up their pen, and it needed to be fixed, so I put them in the dog kennel.  They had shade and water, but they knocked  both over and when I checked on them they looked bad.  All three were lying down, and panting HARD. I couldn't get them to budge and to go out of the pen into the barn for shade.

I spent an hour pouring buckets of water on them, until they recovered enough to move on their own.  I will still lock them up at night to keep the coyotes at bay, but they will be out "free ranging" during the day.  They spent today in the pond, tearing up trash I left out (bad mama), and knocking over a full bucket of laundry soap I had just made.  I "almost" regretted reviving them yesterday.  

The cute stage has passed.

It's A Beautiful Day...to dust a chicken

A pretty yellow flower

Daisy

The weather is beautiful lately.  It doesn't really make me want to do much around the farm, but sit and enjoy it, but there is work always to do to make sure we are ready for whatever emergency befalls us.

With the tornado a couple of weeks ago, it made me realize how woefully unprepared I was for even a tornado.  Because we were in the process of moving the pantry from one "house" to another stuff was everywhere.  I couldn't find flashlights, we didn't have any more kerosene on hand, and the generator had to be hauled from the barn to the house.  Thankfully, we had gasoline on hand, but only 10 gallons.

There are so many things to do, and not enough time or money it seems.  I am sure that is the way for most people.

It can be hard to focus and decide where to work first, but I try and concentrate on one area at a time:

1) Food - pantry move and organization, inventory and shopping list

2) Water - We have the 1100 gallon water tank full, primarily for use if the pump goes out, but I have purchasing the Berkey filter on the list, plus additional filters for my Brita pitcher

3) Clothing/Shoes -

4) Medical Supplies -

5) Safety Supplies

These are just a couple of categories you could use. 

This week we are concentrating on our personal living space.  Making sure it is organized and set up in a useable, workable manner.  We are also working in the garden, weeding, mulching and planting potatoes. 

This morning I did take time out to clean out the chicken coop.  The chickens are infested with fleas, as are the dogs.  I've been sprinkling the DE around the coop area, and dusting the dogs, but this morning we cleaned out all the manure, and I will be using it to make compost tea for the garden.  I then sprinkled DE all over the inside.  Placed new hay in the nesting boxes, and sprinkled more DE on top of that.  We also dusted each chicken.  I left them cooped up this a.m., removed one at a time, dusted it, and let it go.  They were unhappy chickens let me tell you.

Green Beans

Corn

Cucumbers

Tomatoes

More Roma Tomatoes

A Texas Sunset

The siding going on the South side

New Pantry

A work in progress

PS#2 picking flowers for Mama

Happy April!

The weather here on the farm has been HOT! 92 yesterday and the same today.  We've been sweating up a storm.  I wish I had a pool!

PH has been working hard on the house, and the siding is on two sides, plus the pantry is done, and the whole house fan has been installed.

My tomato plants are flowering, and the garden is doing great.  I'll post more later.  PD#1 wants to watch a movie, and the laptop is our form of entertainment ;-)