November Happenings!

It's been a busy month.  The weather has continued to be chilly at night, though this week it is projected to be in the high 50s, with the day times in the 80s.  Fall cleanup of the homestead is still going on.  I managed to get all the laundry done, blankets and all, but my normal weekly cleanup needs to be accomplished tomorrow (Saturday).  The chickens are in their coop.  I only missed clipping Rangers wings (rooster), and he escapes every morning to let me know it is time to feed him and his family.  The pigs have also been penned in the back pasture, thanks to PH and the electric fence.  We do let them out every now and then to graze in the other pastures, but it is nice to be able to keep them in one area, when they have their destructive days.

My canning class has been going great, only one more class to go, and we will be making something easy, like Pomegranate Jelly (using juice).  The girls in the class really seem enthused about canning, I pray it continues throughout their life, and they embrace it as a way of providing for their families (now and in the future).

We spent last weekend butchering a wild hog.  A friend had it in a hog trap, and was going out of town.  She stopped by the library to let me know to go get it.  PH went over and dispatched it, and then spent the evening gutting and skinning.  We let it hang all night, since the temps were in the 40s.  He spent Saturday morning cutting off all the meat, and packing into my tubs.  Then we spent Saturday afternoon using the meat grinder to grind it all up, and packaged it with the vacuum sealer.  We now have about 60 lbs of ground meat, 10 lbs of pork sausage balls, ribs, and two pork loins.  I am also making bacon.  It is the first time I have made bacon, so we will see how it goes. In total, we were blessed with about 80 lbs of meat.  This was much needed as our freezer was almost empty. Ground Beef around here is $7 a pound, so I have saved myself an estimated $560 (on the high end).  We don't have ground pork in the store here, so I didn't have anything to compare it to.

 (Below is a "montage" of photos that PD#1 put together.)

PH has been insulating in the house again.  He has finished the Master Bedroom, and is working his way around the living room walls.  Even just that little bit of insulation makes a big difference in keeping the place warmer.  He has also been working in the garden for me.  I need to plant a few more items in our Fall garden before Winter gets here!  I will be ordering canning lids, as I am out.  There is a great sale on Amazon for 360 lids for $59.95, though Lehman's has them also for a few dollars more.  They are on my list for payday.  The canning supplies are just are not going on sale here, like they normally do. I am very disappointed. I was looking forward to stocking up.

I am still anxious to get bees for the property.  Praying I will be able to do so in the Spring.  I will be working on PH all Winter.  I'll get them sooner or later (prayerfully SOONER!)

Our pond is full, and stocked with fish now.  We are routinely chasing away the cranes/herons, and shooting turtles to safeguard our food supply :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Cold Weather Fake Out!

Over the weekend we had quite the cold front come in...the low was 51!  That is cold for South TX.  I even had to wear a sweater, put a comforter on the bed AND turn on the kerosene heater for an entire day!  This can only mean the next ice age has started, and I am just not prepared.  It wasn't on my list of end world scenarios to prepare for, so I am at a loss. :)

We have some wood, but definitely not enough for such severe cold temperatures, and if a glacier makes down this far!? I have no idea what we would do....probably like my Scottish ancestors and move the animals inside the house to help keep the place warm. Or we could go out to the barn..No clue.

Fortunately, the weather has warmed up some.  It is still chilly at night (60s), and supposed to be in the low 90s the rest of this week, but Fall has definitely descended onto the prairie.

PH has decided to finally join us in the house (shell).  We moved the king bed into our bedroom (shell), and we are eating at the dining room table (most of the time).  The kids have had about 4 years of not being used to sitting at a table, so we will need to work on that aspect of their manners.  We still do our cooking and bathing in the container, and I am in the process (a slow one) of cleaning the container top to bottom, and preparing it to be a guest room/long term food storage.  Not together of course, the bedroom will be the guest room, and the former living roomish space will be the food storage location. PH is "supposed" to cut a door opening from the container bedroom into the kitchen area in the house.  This will make a bridge/walkway between the two without going outside.  Can't wait!

PH is finishing up the wiring, and still working on the insulation.  Depends on what he feels like doing.  Insulation is definitely on the agenda, and moving up quickly with cold weather approaching.  The house stays much warmer than the container EXCEPT if I have the wood stove going in the container, then the kids opt to play in the container bedroom. 

We moved the chicken coop, and cut an opening into the former chicken yard/dog pen/pig pen and now chicken yard again.  The plan is to get the chickens locked into the coop, clip their wings, and keep them housed in the chicken yard.  I do not like them always on the front porch.  It is nerve-wracking.  PH is talking about moving the electric fence from the South Pasture, and placing it around the barn fence to keep the pigs in the back pasture.  Right now, they push under the fence in one location, and are tearing everything up. 

I am still working on my mountain of laundry.  It is more a matter of washing a heap of blankets, comforters and sleeping bags.  The clothing is all done, and I try to keep up with what is worn weekly, but the blankets are another story.  I can only put one at a time in the washer.  Makes for slow going.  PH is not happy, but he'll have to get happy, no help for it since I am work the majority of the day.  It has not sunk in yet to PH or PD#1 that THEY could actually put the laundry in the washer themselves since they get home at 4:30 pm and I don't get home until 7 pm..hmmm, what a dilemma....

We are hosting a Scholastic Book Fair at the library this week.  I am very excited, and am praying we do well.  The library receives a portion of the proceeds from sales to purchase books for the library.  Come  by if you are in the area!

Winding down to election time.  I totally forgot until just this second that I wanted to go to the "meet the candidate night".  It was tonight at the local community center.  It was not for any presidential candidates, but the other local ones running for office.  (sigh)

Still working on getting my garden planted, a little at a time. 

I know all this mundane talking of laundry etc., has you bored, but it is part of homesteading, though not an exciting part.  We do continue to stock up on food, and are learning new skills, but the house building still consumes much of our lives and income.  Still looking for my camera so I can update a picture for everyone :)

Sitting in the dark

I am sitting here by candle light tonight.  Oh, I remembered to pay the bill, but I wanted to see how much light candles provided in the new house.  It is REALLY dark in here.  I have two large jar candles (think Yankee Candle style) and one square citronella candle.  All three here on the table where I am typing.  I definitely need to remember to get mirrored scones to help reflect the light, because there isn't enough light to not trip by, much less read or anything.

Why am I doing this you ask? Well, I have been watching the new t.v. series "Revolution", and really wonder if I am prepared to live without power for a short time or even longer term?  I do not think so..I need more candles, kerosene, lamps, wicks, candle making supplies, more canning jars/lids and rings to can the contents of my freezer, and most of I need more basic food supplies and seeds.  In addition, we desperately need a way to get the water out of the well.  That is the major thorn in my side at this point.

I made beef ribs tonight for dinner.  The ribs are from our side of beef purchase earlier in the summer.  I rubbed a meat seasoning into them, and cooked in olive oil in a cast iron skillet.  I also made corn on the cob (from our garden earlier in the summer), and PH asked for a dessert.  I tried to steer him towards a pear pie.  I had made pear pie filling (like apple pie) and would have preferred that instead, BUT he wanted peach pie (yuck).  So, I made a peach pie in a small, round, cast iron skillet I had on hand.  It is a little bigger than a Personal Pan Pizza at Pizza Hut.  It took four, large peaches to fill up the skillet.  The sauce to the pie was really good, though I do not like cooked (or raw) peaches. So Happy Anniversary to PH!  We will be going out to dinner to Olive Garden this weekend.  It was supposed to be tonight, but I had some other things planned that I wanted to do, and I need additional funds, so I am waiting until pay day.

We heard on the news tonight that there is a Global Bacon Shortage.  We laughed and laughed.  It sounds funny.  Haven't researched it any more, but we have two HUGE slabs of bacon walking around in our yard.  Really wish that Fern would have some babies, so we can raise those to butcher.  It sure is taking them a long time to "do their thing".

Lest, anyone think that I do not have my finger on the pulse of "world happenings", believe me, I do.  I just prefer to keep to the light side of things (mostly) here, in order to keep from sliding even more into a depression. 

Focus on the positive, and chip away at the negative.

Hamburger and Applesauce

Last Christmas time, PH bought a meat grinder.  The plan was to use it to grind our own meat.  With one of our pigs being killed earlier this year (the one we were planning to butcher), we weren't able to put it to the test.  We really want to get into the habit of providing our own meat, and the meat grinder will allow us to make our own hamburger, other ground meats, and sausage.  So excited!  Well, tonight I decided to grind up the steaks I had thawed (from the side of beef we purchased earlier this year) into hamburger.  It was so cool!  It was so fast!  The longest part was cleaning it afterwards. 

I made spaghetti for dinner, and even have enough left over to can in pint jars.  I used my home canned sauce, and it was different, but good.  I also made garlic/basil bread, and a loaf of regular bread.

PD#1 turned 15 on Saturday.  I cannot believe she is 15.  I still remember the sassy four year old little girl, with the tiny ponytail.  She didn't have much hair, and I had scrape it, and hairspray it in place to get enough hair for a ponytail.  She was so excited!  Now, I look at this little girl, who is taller than I am, but still is so young.  Wanting to be independent, but coming to give me a kiss every night on her way to bed.  I feel old.

Ps#2 is acting like a toot.  He is constantly being corrected, and is not a happy camper.  I sure hope he gets out of this phase he is in..he was such a sweet little guy, and now he is grumpy, and always saying "no" and is SO aggressive.  He loves to jump on his sisters and growl at us. 

PD#2 helped me to peel 10 lbs of apples tonight.  Boy! Is my hand tired!  I am teaching canning to a small group of girls at our home school co-op, and tomorrow we are making applesauce.  Really simple and easy. 

I planted lettuce in the garden last week, and it has already sprouted.  I really need to get in the garden to get the rest of it planted, hope to get to that tomorrow.  Speaking of tomorrow, it is mine and PH's 24th wedding anniversary.  Amazing! Sure went by fast.

 Dove season is in full swing, and PH has been able to shoot 12 dove.  I cooked 8 of the breast pieces, which still leaves enough for another meal, since each dove has two breast pieces.  First I dipped the breast in egg, then in flour, then egg again, followed by flour again.  Cooked in a cast iron pan in hot oil, and served with homemade potato chips.  Very yummy! 

I woke to the sounds of war on Saturday a.m., guns going off everywhere! PH jumped up, got dressed and went out to start looking for dove around 7 a.m. 

The girls also went to our community's annual fund-raising event.  They had a table to sell their wares.  PD#1 had her crocheted items, and PD#2 had a stack of pot holders she had made.  I did take a selection of my canned goods to sell, as well as, a few books.  We bought BBQ plates from the VFD, and had a good time meeting new people and making a little money.  PD#2 was so excited!  She promptly spent her windfall at the booth across from us.  She bought a pair of pink, heart, dangly earrings.  Easy come, easy go.

The weather here has been cooler than normal, primarily in the evening and early morning hours.  We have been making preparations for Winter, by working on the insulation, and making sure all the blankets are cleaned and aired out.

I was able to work on several lists: Things To Learn, Things To Do, and Things To Buy.  My pantry is severely low, and I seriously need to continue adding items.  I keep plugging away, but each step forward, can mean two steps back as well.  Very daunting trying to keep a full pantry for the future, when you need to eat today as well.  I only do what I can do.

Happy Autumn!

I try so hard....

I try so hard not to post too many political articles, but sometimes it bubbles over and I need to share it somewhere.  I am sure by now after reading my posts, my friends and family that read my blog, KNOW about my political leanings.

For YEARS I voted Republican because I thought that was THE way to go. I haven't been a Republican for 10 years (and no I am not a Democrat either). Now, I wish that ALL political parties were dissolved and candidates were Independents.  I want to know what each person really believes in, how they run their personal life, their business, what their religion (or lack of) means to them, etc.  I believe I have that right.  If I am going to entrust a person with the highest office in the land, that of President, I need to be able to make the right decision.

I want someone who is honest and trustworthy.  I'd prefer someone of faith, but if not, someone who does not disparage my faith and trample all over it. 

I want someone who realizes that people come first, not the environment.  I believe in being good stewards of what God has entrusted me with, but my drinking water is more important than the life of a salamander.

I want someone who does not abuse their office by having tantrums, and passing Executive Orders because THE PEOPLE did not want the laws he was proposing.  How immature, to basically say "since I can't have my way, I am going to ignore you, do what I want, and to heck with you all".

I really do not understand how the populace at large elects a leader (any leader) and then believes it is okay for him to make decisions that is not in the best interests of the entire country, but only the few he truly represents. 

You see I am in a dilemma.  I am passionate about what I believe, but so deeply angered and saddened over the state our country currently finds itself.  I cannot in all conscience vote for Mr. Obama.  I do not believe he was legally elected the first time, and barring that, his actions the past four years shows his distaste for America and for the Office with which he was "entrusted". The numerous Executive Orders he has signed, which have  virtually taken away the rights of Americans, are scary.  Anyone with a brain can see what he is setting us up for...martial law and a dictatorship.  He really does not have anyone's best interest at heart, except our enemies.  I am appalled at the lack of leadership and lack of strength he has exhibited in the wake of the recent attacks on our embassies and people.  I am embarrassed by him, and that he is the person representing us to the world. 

I REALLY do not want to vote for Mr. Romney.  I REALLY do not want to vote at all, as I firmly believe our vote does not matter. 

I REALLY want a media that does it's job, which is to report the UNBIASED truth.  Whether it be NBC or FOX News, the truth is what is important, not the censored, sensationalist, political jockeying crud they report.  ALL of the news outlets have fallen down on their calling.  As a reporter YOU CANNOT TAKE A SIDE.  Presenting the facts is all you need to do, and the populace will make their own decisions.  I understand that the mainstream, liberal media is in the pocket of the government, and that the government dictates to them what can be shown, and the way in which it is portrayed to the American public.  I am not easily fooled to swallow "hook, line and sinker" the filth they feed us on the evening news, and that filters across the Internet.  I am also not gullible enough to believe that FOX presents their "news" in an unbiased fashion either.

Basically, I want a TRUE American for President.  One who is open and honest, and really wants to make our country better.  Not someone who wants to further the political agenda of their particular party, or line their pockets with bribes. 
Does such a person exist?  I think not.  So for that, I think I'll stick with local and state politics, pray for secession, and raise my family the best I can, because for certain, the U.S. government does not believe in state rights or my right to raise my kids the way they need to be.

Homemade Harvest

I am just all about Autumn this weekend!  We have had several days of rain and cooler weather (60s and 70s).  Not just a drizzle, but the kind where it rains for a solid 10 hours.  We have received 6 inches of rain in the past three days!  I am so excited!  The pond is overflowing.  Praise God for this Blessing!  After so many years of drought, and having to keep the pond with water (just barely) to keep all these animals watered, to have the pond, plus side overflow FULL is mind blowing.  Here's a picture! 

Red Rock Pond is Full!

The county fair was also this weekend.  The PD#1 entered photography, art work, and her three crochet hats.  The pink ribbon below is for her crochet work.  She was very excited to received the large pink rosette in the home arts :) I am very proud of her.  PD#2 entered photography, art work and two loomed, pot holders.  She received a blue ribbon in her photography and art work and a red ribbon on her pot holders.  She did not take a picture of her awards yet, but I will post them once she is done.

I entered photography and received a blue ribbon for my one snap shot.  I also entered the Home Arts in canning, and received 3  blue ribbons, 2 red and 2 white.  Yeah for Mama!

PD#1's fair entries and ribbons

Due to the rain we didn't actually attend the fair, other than to drop off our entries.  We stayed home most of the weekend.  Today I worked on canning apple jelly, and baking.  I made cupcakes and gingerbread for tomorrow's co-op.
I actually lit a fire in the wood stove this morning.  The rain left a decided chill in the air, and the inside of the container was damp and cold.  We put the kerosene heater here in the house and it warmed it up nicely, and kept it warm.  Much better in the house, even without insulation!

We are very worried about the safety of our country and fellow Americans around the world.  Due to the increased threat PH and I worked on cleaning up the interior of the house, burning construction debris, taking an inventory of what we have and what we need.  PH is collecting the various pieces needed to install the larger wood stove in the house.  All the pieces are in the barn.  He wasn't able to reach the main piece, but did find a shop vac.  Our main one died, and I've been unable to vacuum, only sweep.  This one was my dad's, and it was in the barn since we moved out here four years ago.  So, we were able to vacuum the entire house, and it is now saw dust free!  PH will be bringing home another fuel tank which we will fill with kerosene.  We have another for gasoline. 

On the list this week is to:

clean up fallen trees and cut in manageable lengths to add to wood pile
place LDS cannery order for next month's pickup
purchase more matches
contact local man to purchase additional honey
wash all blankets
can beef stock
can honey/lemon cough syrup
work on installing insulation in roof
start fall cleaning of container
clean out wood stove
purchase hunting licenses

We really want to be ready for the Winter and the results of the upcoming "election", so we are increasing our workload in the needed areas.

Well, time for bed.  I have a canning class to teach in the morning, as well as, a hand sewing class. 

Heritage Skills Fair 2012

Today was the Heritage Skills Fair in the small town where I work.  I just realized that I did not take any pictures! I could smack myself!

It wasn't as big as I had planned, as the carnival was cancelled two days before it was to open (long story, and I was not happy). Due to that, and another larger festival happening in a neighboring town about half of my vendors/demonstrators bailed out.  I was so disappointed, but the one's who showed up were wonderful.  We had a petting zoo with a Wallaby, Alpacas, python, ducks, a porcupine and something called a ? Mundi?  Didn't get the entire name.  It was a big hit.  We had several craft vendors, a spinning wheel demonstration (I learned how to work the wheel), wheat grinding, canning display, a book sale (the vendor is a friend and she pulled all her "old timey" books on pioneers, history, Texas cookbooks and more) and PD#1 made $40 selling her crochet items.  She was thrilled!

A friend and Chaplain for the county came with his Pastor and they sang Southern Gospel songs for an hour.  It was wonderful!  Our own praise and worship time.  They were dressed "old timey" so it fit right in.  My boss was sad for me that it was so scaled back,  but she came out to support me and was pleased with what she saw, and wants us to participate at the city's annual festival in April.  She wants me to have a section of heritage/old time demonstrations.  She thinks the people would eat it up, and since the city's festival draws a larger crowd it would be good exposure.  Maybe, I should just join them, instead of having our own festival.  Save money and get more of an audience.

Mariama (milk goat) delivered twins a week ago.  One boy and one girl.  The girls is mostly black with white hooves.  This is our second almost all black kid this year.  Very odd outcome.  The other doe, Artemis, delivered a singleton last Sunday, but her doeling was killed by coyotes a couple of days ago.  Pretty sad, poor little thing.

Mariama and her twins

Artemis and her little one

The chickens continue to run amuck.  We are working on the enlarged chicken yard and coop to house them in, as I just cannot stand them all over the place, and leaving their droppings on everything, especially the front porch.  One rooster LOVES to sneak into the house and perch on the table, leaving me "presents".  He may end up in the freezer soon.

PH is working on the round pen for PD#1 to start working/exercising the horses.  He was given enough cattle panels (he had to take them down at a friend's ranch) to make a 50 foot round pen.  This saved us over $1,000, though it has taken considerable time and effort on PHs part.  PD#1 is excited, and is "supervising" his work :)

Also, on the schedule is securing the pig pen, and working on winter housing for them.  Fern (our Hampshire sow) is an escape artist.  Wilbur, our Yorkshire boar, prefers to stay in the pen or back by the pond.  Won't often even come out with the gate wide open.  He's pretty laid back and lazy.  We have lots of clean up to do, and are excited about the cooler days we have been having.  We will wait for much of the clean up, for when it cools down more, but before Winter really hits.  It will be a fine balance of having everything ready.

Fern - after being scratched to sleep

Still haven't planted the Fall garden.  I am getting frustrated over the lack of time that I have to get it completed.

PH is about finished with the wiring, and installation of lighting.  We purchased the channels that hold the insulation to the roof, so we are onto the insulation installation next.  Doing the roof first, since hot air rises.  That way if we have to use the wood stove before we finish all the insulation, at least it won't all escape out the roof.

PS#2 and his Blue Hand

We started our new school year this week, and it was a good week.  Starting in our second Latin book, Algebra, Physics, 4th grade Saxon Math (PD#2 is very pleased with her new math book - crazy girl!) plus co op starts on September 10th.  I will be teaching hand sewing and water bath canning.  Working furiously on my lesson plans (last minute).  We have my friend's twin teen girls schooling with us this year.  I really like teaching a one room school house :)

PD#2 will be baptised the last Sunday of this month up in the Hill Country in the Medina River.  Very proud that she made the decision to follow her decision of faith in baptism, though it's been over a year.  We will have our church fellowship meal there also, and have a great day of rejoicing and fellowship.

Making lists fast and furious, as we come into the downward spiral of another year and winter preparations, not to mention the stress of an election year.  Hope I won't have to worry about voting too much longer, at least in a United States election. 

Don't forget that this month is National Emergency Awareness Month - are you ready?

TEXAS Sunset