The Bees are B-U-Z-Z-I-N-G!

The weather has been beautiful lately, allowing us to get a lot of work done around the homestead.  We have been cleaning up trash, burning debris, splitting wood, and re-working the pig pen.  Since warmer weather is looming, we desperately needed some sort of shade for the pigs.  If Fern (female) does not have any piglets by May, we plan on butchering her.  She is already 14 months old, and should have had some by now.  It's not because Wilbur is not trying, she just does not appear cooperative.

PS#1 and #2 recently celebrated their birthdays.  #1 is 24 and #2 turned 4.  We had a birthday party for #2 and many friends, church family and family attended.  It was so much fun.  We had water guns, water balloons, a moon bounce, and we played kick ball (even the adults).  I was very sore the next day, after sliding into first base, and tripping over the person guarding the base.  We both ended up rolling in the stickers.

Seed sorting and garden planning continues.  I am trying to be smart and wait until the end of February when the threat of freeze will be gone.  It is hard though, I want to get out there and PLANT!

The Huisache trees are in bloom, and the loud of drone of honeybees can be heard while we work outside.  I am praying that PH use of the table saw, and other tools does not spark any Africanized variety to attack.  I am always happy to see the honeybees, but do worry about the danger of the Africanized ones, because you do not know until it is too late, which ones they are.  With the activity going on, there is sure to be a swarm again this year.  That many, and out so early on the flowers, they are hungry, and there are probably a lot of them needing a home.

PH has been adding the cedar 1 X 6 boards inside the house for the wall paneling.  Looks nice!

We will be hosting a First Aid class in February that will focus on field dressing, caring for snake bite, gun shot wounds, breaks and other serious trauma.  My wonderful nephew (who was an Army medic) will be teaching the class.  He has turned out to be a good boy (man) :)

Have a good week, and keep on going.  Never give up.

A Cold Spell

I think we have used more wood this year to heat the house, than in the five years combined.  Normally, we do not use the wood stove day in/day out, but this year...wow!  We are flying through the wood, and we were getting worried about not having enough.  Thankfully, my FIL gave us two large oak trees, and I mean trees.  The trunks are HUGE.  They were loaded on the trailer with the front end loader, and PH will have to cut and split them on the trailer, because we have no other way to get them off the trailer.

We like to have a two year supply, but we will be lucky to have enough to finish this season, which is shocking to me. Living on the prairie, trees are not in abundance.  We have rather spindly trees out here, and we aren't one of the lucky ones to have Live Oak on our property.  We have a few Mesquite and some Huisache.

The high for today is 45, and before I left the property, I made sure to put a large oak block in the stove (hoping to keep the house above 60 at least).  It will be burned out by now, but there should still be some embers left for PH to get the fire going pretty fast once he gets home with the kids.

The pantry is TOTALLY finished.  All walls insulated, hardi plank paneling in place AND painted, with trim. I am so excited! I moved in a large shelving unit that the library was throwing away, and with my other two metal shelving units, it looks like a mini grocery store.  I now have shelving for my medical supplies, and odds and ends (twine, candles, wicks, etc.) Next will be to get my wheat grinder from the library (still hear since Heritage Skills Day) and put it in it's place in the pantry.  Can't wait to be able to use it again.

PH started paneling the living room wall.  He has finished the small wall by the stairway, and the walls leading into the master bedroom (our room is completely enclosed now), plus the south wall of the living room.  Half of the wall is 1 X 6 tongue and groove planks, and the other half cement board for the future rock wall behind the wood stove.  PH actually hung my two prized pictures on the wall.  I say prized, because I do not have any others.  I normally subscribe to the Shaker theory of home decoration.  It has to be plain and useful :)

We are on our last ground venison, and I am praying that PH will get out there soon and harvest another deer before the season is over, or is it already? I'll have to check...

Have a good night and keep warm!

January Happenings

We are into our second week of January, and have warmed up a tad.  It has been in the 40s at night instead of the high 20s and 30s.  Yesterday, we received about 3 inches of much-needed rain.  The pond is filled to the tippy top again, and my garden is going good still.  Cabbage sure takes a long time to grow. The plans are healthy and green, but aren't growing very fast.  We will be having some warm days (in the 70s) this weekend, so hopefully that will spur some growth around here.  The grass needs to grow, the trees need to leaf out, and the garden needs to start producing some veggies!

We started back into schoolwork this week, after a two week Christmas break.  The girls are less than excited.  Our home school co-op will be starting up in about a month, and I need to get my class planning complete.  I would love to stay home this semester and not attend, but I will grit my teeth and endure the 8 weeks of classes.

The pantry is done! Insulation, wall boards and trim up, and PAINTED! Yeah!  I can now get another shelving unit in there, organize and inventory my supplies, and really SEE where I need to work.  The long term storage items (#10 cans of dried goods from the LDS cannery) will be stacked in the now empty, container bedroom.  The container, now shaded by the house, is cooler inside (even in Summer).  I hope by having my food storage on the North Wall, in the shade, things will be kept in good shape. The bedroom will be our bulk storage location, as well as, my sewing room.  Once I have finished cleaning and organizing the pantry, I'll move back to the container to get things sorted, remove the loft bed, and get the sewing table, fabric and notions set up.  Cannot wait!  I haven't been able to sit and sew in over four years since moving to the "cabin-tainer".

Items to store in the container:

Cases of canning jars
Buckets
Rubber Maid totes with clothing store (according to size) - I don't throw out all the clothes, I might need them someday.  I keep the best, and get rid of the rest.
LDS food storage

Also, making plans for a root cellar type of set up for between the house and the container.  It is shaded ALL the time, and gets quite cold in there..We just need to fence off the bottom, and put gates on either end (to keep the goats and pigs out), and we can store root vegetables in the area.  A shed roof will be nice, but I won't push my luck right now :) PH is getting stressed out with the housing construction, and is fixing the well pipes today.  We stacked hay bales around the well head/pump to keep pipes from freezing.  It works! But....the livestock likes the hay, which is covered by a tarp, but they managed to stomp all through there and keep breaking the pipes.  A well house is on the list now.  Poor PH, he was M-A-D last night, and muttering expletives on what he wanted to do to goats.  So, we didn't have water last night.  Why is it, that you never drink water, but when the water isn't working, you feel like you are going to die from dehydration?

Happy New Year!

It's the third already, so I am a little late with the well wishes, but I've been off of work, and I do not have a computer at home, so cut me a little slack please.

The weather here has been decidedly chilly lately, primarily overnight.  Since we heat with wood it has been a chore to get up every 2 hours or so to keep the fire going.  Fortunately, we have started using large oak  blocks, which can mean I only have to get up every 3 1/2 to 4 hours, which is a plus.  PH RARELY gets up and stokes the fire during the night.  For some unknown reason he believe it is my job to do so.  I have no idea why??

Christmas Eve we spent the time with my mom and family at my sister's.  It was nice, though a long, squished drive.  Six of us squeezed into a pickup cab (front and back) along with gifts, doesn't make for a comfortable hour or so ride home.  Plus, we picked up two motorbikes from her.  Her boys (now young men) were too big for them, and my kids just love zooming all over the land.  PH was able to spend a couple of hours tuning them up and getting them running, though this chilly weather isn't exactly conducive to keep them running great.

Along with the fellowship and gift giving, we exchanged a rather nasty cold.  I came down sick the day after Christmas, and was in bed for two days.  On the third day I had to drag myself out of bed because people had to eat and such.  I feel recovered now, though I have a nagging cough, especially in the evening when I lay down to sleep (sigh).  So far, PD#1 and PS#2 have fallen ill.  PH and PD#2 have managed to escape (so far).  PD#2 is diligently taking the Watkins Rezist Immune Booster herbal caplets.  She has to break them in four pieces to get it down (it's a horse pill for sure!)  PD#1 is not recovering well, though I am beginning to suspect she is milking it.  In my opinion, if you are well enough to argue with your siblings, then you are good enough to get out of the bed and get your own food/drink.  So, to her sad dismay, she is up and dressed today.

The house, barn, and land is in sad shape.  This cold weather forces me to stay inside more than I'd like, which means maintenance suffers.  Laundry needs to be done, as well as, dishes.  Oh boy! do the dishes need to be done.  PH has been hunting an adapter for our kitchen faucet, to try and connect the dishwasher we were given.  We have about figured out, we will be washing dishes by hand forever.  Which is fine, I've only had a dishwasher once for a year, so am used to manual washing.  I just had these hopes you know??

PH has been s-l-o-w-l-y working on the house.  A few boards here, some insulation there.  We have a bad case of the blahs lately.  I am stuck on where to continue to stock up.  It is overwhelming.  So much to be done, so little time and money to get it accomplished.  Some days I feel like throwing in the towel, though I know it isn't the thing to do.

We didn't go over board on the gifts this year, trying to keep the focus of the day where it belongs.  We did receive a few really good useful gifts.  $100.00 gift card to Home Depot, a LARGE cast iron dutch oven (w/legs), candles, socks, coins, tools, new jeans and such.  I think next year, we will strive for an entire homemade holiday.  We didn't spend a lot, but all that we did could have gone towards more preparations.

A few areas to concentrate this next year are:

completing pantry
purchasing canning jar lids
water filter(s)
ammunition
gardening
canning more - 600 quart goal
organizing storage container
setting up sewing area
clean up land
increase wood pile

The Weeks in Pictures

Chamomile delivering twins in the creek bed (Sage and Thyme)

Cookies!

Processing Venison

Chamomile with her babies

Sage

Christmas Tree and new railings for the loft

PS#2 in the King William District

Light and fluffy

I don't know if it is post-election depression, SADD (you know that disorder when you do not get enough sunlight) or what.. but I am DEPRESSED and unmotivated.  You would think the results of the election would have spurred me onward, and seriously motivated me to prep more.  In my head I do, in my heart I don't.  I am so tired, and do not know which way to go.  I need some focus.

Larry (our big buck) was screaming when I went outside this morning to feed the chickens.  He loves to jump up on his hind legs and bring the branches of the Huisache trees down for all the does to eat.  Well, the Nimrod, apparently wedged his front, right, hoof into the "V" of the tree branch and got it stuck.  The branch snapped up, and he was left dangling in the air screaming.  This happened a few times to some of the bigger does, and babies, but never the bucks.  Normally, I can lift the little ones up and un-wedge their foot.  But Larry, is probably 250 lbs with these LONG, pointy horns.  He would be still while I tried to free his foot, but then something would cause him to thrash around kicking his other three feet, and flinging his head.  PD#1 came out to try and help, and ran back for the hand saw, chain saw, and hammer.  (Three different trips, she wasn't happy).  I tried to saw the branch off but the hand saw was taking too long, the chain saw wouldn't start, so finally I used the hammer, and banged his food out of the V.  It was stuck TIGHT!  I am not sure if his leg is broken, but if it isn't, the bottom of his hoof is going to be really sore from that hammer.  I wish I had a camera, the image of him hanging from a tree is PRICELESS.

I was able to plant some Amish pie pumpkins, broccoli, cilantro and lettuce in the garden.  Still planting more, and the Garlic Chives plant that I put in the garden in March is thriving!  I need more of those, apparently, I can't kill that one. :)

PH was able to bring the glass-fronted, wood stove from the barn to the house this week.  I dusted it all off, and we have decided (thanks to my suggestion) to place it in the center of the house, rather then against the South wall.  The chimney will go straight out the roof, instead of the side wall, which is apparently cheaper to do too! I think by having it in the center of the house it will more efficiently heat the place, and it is really a much better location, as I have limited walls in the living room to place furniture, and it would have been awkward in the initial location.

I was able to pick up quite a few pumpkins to can (one did get soft, and the chickens appreciated the treat), at the local, grocery store's after Halloween sale.  PS#2 did end up with a strange looking pumpkin.  It is a Cinderella pumpkin, and was a bright, reddish-orange with green splotches.  He really liked that one.  If it survives Thanksgiving, I will can it too.

So far 1/2 of the downstairs has been insulated (1/2 west, south and east walls). Still have 1/2 the west, and all of the North to complete.  The North wall will be the last done though, as PH still needs to run the 220 to the kitchen area.  I am still pushing for a gas range, though he isn't cooperating :) I'd really like PH to insulate and finish the west wall in the pantry, so I could move my shelving in there.  I really want everything up off the floor and organized before my mother visits (next week maybe), but I don't believe I will make it.  In addition, I really need to keep cleaning the container.  I thought I was cleaning the past four years, but not good enough.  I am disgusted about how much dirt is in the container, and how sooty the walls are inside.  Things are stacked everywhere.  I'd love to get organized, but I feel overwhelmed.  I'd love help, but don't know who to ask.  It's so cluttered, that I do not know where to start first, plus I have that "sad" thing going on :)

*I feel compelled to add a footnote here.  Please do not take my blog as "Light and Fluffy" because I do not show pictures of weapons, or talk about the Usurper in Chief all the time.  I am deadly serious about making sure my family is provided for, and constantly work in all areas of preparation.  Yes, I worry about being labeled a terrorist by those in control, but those that know me, will scoff at that charge.  I was born an American, and have been a long time Patriot, working diligently to do what I can to help this once great country.  I cannot say I will die an American, because while I still have some glimmer of hope for America, I am pinning all my hopes on TEXAS secession.  I will be heartbroken yet again, if it doesn't happen, but I still ready my family.  Self-sufficiency is not a bad thing.  The government and the liberal media tout that it is, but they are the "bad thing".  If our ancestors were not self-sufficient, they would have not been able to survive those first years at Jamestown (yes the natives did help, but they were also were relying solely on themselves and not the government they left).  George Washington would not have helped survey the land west, thus encouraging additional settlers to make the trek over the Appalachian mountains.  The pioneers heading west on the Oregon Trail would have not been able to survive (though some didn't make it).  Even the legendary Ingalls family wouldn't have been able to survive the Long, Harsh Winter on the Minnesota prairie without being self-sufficient.

Do I need my government?  Not in the state it is now.  I need them to fulfill ONLY their responsibilities under the law, the true law, the Constitution.  I don't need them to take away my land, my provisions, my freedom of speech, or any other of my freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights.  I don't need them to micro-manage my life, because frankly, they can't even run the government.  I need to be left alone to purse my sense of happiness without their interference.

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!