It's Fall again!

Life sure gets away from you.  I cannot believe it has been so long since I have posted.  Trying to get life accomplished, stay offline, work, raise kids, home school and raise your own food is so time consuming.

We have had a lot go on this year farm-wise.  A good garden, butchering 4 pigs, and 25 chickens to ago along with the two cows in the freezer from last fall.  Still plenty to eat, though I did give quite a bit away, as well as, sell some.

We had a good spring garden though we didn't preserve any, just ate everything fresh.  PD#2 is working on the Fall/Winter garden now, and we were able to buy quite a few seed packets from Baker Creek Seed when we traveled to Missouri recently.  She is ready for Spring Planting now.

We have done quite a bit of  decluttering, cleaning, and renovations this year.  I am down to re-doing the pantry, and PH is working on clean up outside, and the wood pile for the Winter.  Thankfully, it is getting a little cooler, so he can work outside in the evenings, when he gets home from work.

We didn't even get 1/2 inch of rain from Hurricane Harvey, which is very sad, as our pond is dry.  I feel for the rest of TEXAS, but we sure could have used some rain after our prolonged drought.

My bees swarmed and left, so I have an empty hive, but I was able to find a local man/beekeeper who has placed 8 hives on my property.  He maintains the, shares the honey, and I get the agricultural exemption for our land.  It's a win-win!

Recently returned from a week long trip to Missouri.  I had a lot of fun, though PH and PD#2 did not enjoy the trip and living "off grid" again.  They are weenies.  We stayed in my BIL half finished cabin (no water, toilet or shower) but we did have electricity and a place to stay.  We hauled in water, used the solar shower, and a composting toilet.  They were not happy campers.  PS#2 enjoyed using 68 acres of trees to pee on, though he did balk a few times on the composting toilet.  At least I know when the world ends, there will be enough food for me, because those three won't make it.

We made it within 1/2 mile of our new property.  Our rental car would not make it up the hill, so we walked the last 1/2 mile through some very beautiful property covered in trees.  I would move today, but will have to wait until PH croaks or come around :)

It will be my vacation spot/BOL, etc.  Already making plans for a Spring (May/June) vacation.  Probably alone......LOL

Here are a few pics from our year.

PD#2 and her first buck (Dec 2016)

Decorating the house

Floor finished and new carpet

New flooring

Canklefritz and Casey - future meat
(dairy culls)

Me and one of the babies I helped to deliver this year
(Doula and Midwifery Student)

PD#2 Bay fishing 

PD#1 wedding last November

My antique violin - FOR SALE

Homegrown pork

Land I inherited in Missouri - visited September 2017

PS#2 - fishing in a Missouri Stream

So excited! I was finally able to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead/museum

Happy 2017!

Autumn Happenings

We have been scheduling purposeful down time, as wellas, working on projects we have not had time or energy for during the heat of the Summer. Cleaning up the land seems never ending, in addition to chores that need to be done for Winter and lists of what to prepare for Spring.

Winter - split firewood, pick up additional dead trees from sister, winterize animal pens especially coop, move out ACs, clean heaters, new filter for kerosene heater, additional kerosene for heater and lamps, pay taxes, more hay, trim horses hooves, worm all animals, breed pigs, meet with USDA on what best to do for property

Spring - what to plant? how much? look for and purchase tractor, shredder, disc, plow, small baler, clean incubators, purchase cattle panels to replace fencing

*We attended the local Pumpkin Palooza where the kids picked a pumpkin to decorate the table at home, rode the hay ride, made S'mores, played games and had fun. We do not celebrate Halloween, but rejoicing at the harvest God provides each year, which sustains us through until Spring. The farmer even gave us a pickup truck load of pumpkins, which we have been feeding to the pigs. PH mentioned he plans to plant our own pumpkins next year for animal feed. We will see what happens.

It is coming to that time of year where we gather the wild melons, which grow along the roadsides near our home. We fill up a wagon, and atack in the barn, for pig/goat feed duringthe Winter. I have seen a few that are ready, but it is normally Thanksgiving time when they ripen.

I have two piglets sold, which leaves me four to butcher for us, unless I sell any more, but we still plan to keep two for ourselves.

Tonight is the Fall Festival at the local Baptist Church. PD#2 and her best friend is helping to set up and run booths. We do not attend there, but PD#2 attends Bible Drill and Bible Study on Wednesdays with her friend. Her friend is 14, a year older, but her parents purchased a fully restored, beautiful 1951 Ford Pickup truck in a shiny teal blue.  It is a gorgeous truck. She will be getting her permit in April, and then a hardship license.  PD#2 has been learning to drive the car and the small tractor this year. I think she will end up getting her license earlier than PD #1 did at 18, as she seems to have a greater interest.

Four weeks until the wedding, we are winding down with last minute preps and activities. PD#1 is sorting through her belongings, throwing out a lot of trash, donating stuff to the local thrift store, and then packing the rest in Rubber Maid Totes. They still need to clean and organize their apartment, which is at the family business. They will live there for now, until they decide what is next. My advice was to live FREE, as long as, they could to get situated and figure things out budget wise. They both are working, and do not have any bills. They both have paid off vehicles, and money in the bank, so are in good shape starting out.  Our requirements for them to marry are/were to attend Christian marriage counseling, to be a believer and be attending church regularly, for him to have a way to support her, a home to take her to, and to agree to chaperones until marriage.

Her part was to continue working to help pay for the wedding, learn what was needed in running or help in running his family business, preparing a home. I believe both sets of parents have done all we can to provide them a good start in life through developing a relationship with God, modesty, chastity, obeidence, a good work ethic, financial management and more.  It has been a learning experience that is for sure.

Please keep us in prayer this next month, especially this new family that God is creating.

What does the future hold?

I really am trying to trust in God. I have lapses sometimes, but I do realize I am not in control.

Election day is coming up, and I will be voting for Darrell Castle- Constitution Party. I pray each and every person has found peace with their choice. For me I had to decide if I lived to support sin, or my Savior. The choice was easy for me then.

In addition, I do my best in supporting Texas secession. Many may not agree with this, but it is not an easy choice I have come to, believe me.

Things are heating up globally, and while I struggle to maintain a calm head it is clear to me that we are heading for disaster. Less anyone think I am spreading conspiracy theories, I did want to take time to pass on some info. A reliable source who works for the military has warned close friends that papers have come across her desk regarding upcoming tensions with Russia. There are extraction orders that have been recently updated. These orders remove key personnel from major cities, and state that citizens will have to fend for themselves in the coming months IF everything happens as projected (i.e. nuclear activity) was suggested.

I wanted to pass this info on for preparation sake. We can only pray that it does not come to fruition.

Pumpkin Spice and Weddings!

Happy Fall everyone!

Our Pyr that had gone missing, returned, but then went missing again. We found out that a neighbor has stolen him and put a shock collar on him. His ranch is big, and the gate always locked, so we cannot get up to the house. We have talked to other neighbors hoping to reach him.

We butchered both of our cows, and the meat is in the freezer. We also have two Jersey bull calves to raise for next year's meat. One is five months old, the other is 2 months old, and suffers from contracted tendons to the front legs. He also has open wounds on his front legs, due to the dairy owner not dealing with him right away. These are improving slightly, but we still have a long way to go. The older is Canklefritz, the younger one is Scooby. We plan to butcher one in the Spring, and the other in the Fall. Purchasing calves from the local dairy is proving easier for us, then breeding them ourselves.

We have six piglets that are six months old, and are being fattened for butchering. Plans for that in December, maybe.

We also have eight hives on the property. This helps us keep our agricultural exemption after selling our goat herd. We have one goat left, and recently traded her buckling for three large, round bales of hay.  These we placed in the barn for the horses this Winter. We have plenty of grass still this year due to the abundance of rain. Praise God for his blessings this year.

The big news is that PD#1 is getting married in November. We are very excited, and love the young man she is marrying. Great family, strong believers, preppers, a family business where PD#1 works full time,  he is a recent graduate from college and is a bench jewler. He was going to work in the family business, but was offered a job in the major town near us, so will gain some experience there first. They have been in CAP - Civil Air Patrol together for four years, and friends until last Christmas.

She was also promoted to Captain and made Cadet Commander of her squadron this year, which will end once she marries.

We are also gearing up for the Winter by cleaning the chimney, adding more insulation to the roof, splitting more wood, and weatherizing the barn from drafts.

Sorry it has taken me so long to update, but it has been buzy working two jobs and preparing for the wedding. Thanks for everyones interest!

Hard Times Ahead

Hard times are ahead. I knew they were coming, but they have hit us here first.  PH's new job, while paying more, has added costs.  Primarily, being very far from our home, it has cost us more money than his pay increase for him to get to work.

We are going back to the living even more simply. Growing more of our food this year, with the help of our eldest son.  Ordering 50 chickens to raise to butcher this year.

Also putting every extra thing of value we have, and that isn't needed as part of our lifestyle up for sale.  This is to help us stock up on additional pantry items.  Reorganizing, and cleaning up the land.  PH has a trailer load of wood coming from his dad's house.  So, we will have wood for next Winter.  We have diminished our stockpile surprisingly fast this year, even though we didn't have much cold weather this year.

Not sure about the bees.  They seem to have survived the cold, but I am worried they will swarm. Continuing to feed them.  I'd love to buy another package of bees and another hive to add to what I have, but there is really a lot of clean up and organization to get us close to off grid again.  Taking it day by day, cutting expenses and making plans.

Happy New Year!

We are experiencing our first "official" freezing temps this weekend.  The days have been beautiful, and allowed PH to split wood, something which we desperately needed to finish.  PD#2 is our little work horse.  She selflessly pitches in, and I depend on her a lot.  Ever since PD#1 graduated, her participation in Civil Air Patrol has increased, plus she now has a job that she works about 33 hours a week.  Add to that entering into a courtship, she is quite busy, and not helping, as much as, she used to...

PD#2 was very active yesterday stuffing hay into animal cages, covering them with a tarp and plugging in the heat lamp.  Our front porch is basically the barn.  Most of the animals use the porch during bad weather.  We had dogs, cats, chickens, a pet rat, goats, ducks and one guinea fowl huddled around the heat lamp last night.  No fussing, just sleeping and keeping each other warm.

Our Pyr, Bo, disappeared last week.  He was a constant roamer, despite our best efforts to keep him contained.  Anyone with a Pyr understands how hard this is, their nature is to roam and chase coyotes.  He was 7 years old.  I am assuming since it has been a week and he has not returned, he was either hit by a car or shot by a rancher.  Most ranchers around here know that Pyrs generally don't attack anything, but I really cannot explain why he has not come home.  He always has before.  PD#2 is sad, and keeps looking and calling for him.

PS#1 and #2 will have their birthdays here soon.  #1 will be 27 and #2 will be 7.  I will be 47 soon, and if it weren't for my "advanced maternal age" I'd be wondering where the next baby was.....

The bees have been "winterized".  I covered their hive with a blanket, reduced the entrance, and have been feeding them.  I need to go replenish their food tomorrow.

We have been cleaning up the land lately, and decluttering even more.  I have been taking stock of food and other preparations, making lists and adding to the stock.

We have had more people move into the area, and more break ins.  Praying for God's increased protection over our property.  We don't have anything valuable, so what little I do have, I would love to keep.

Molly

Thankfully, we have not been very ill.  So far, PD#1 is the only one who had a mild virus last week.  Not sure if it was allergies, a virus or a combination.  Cedar has been high around 30,000 ppm.  Even those who are not sensitive or having issues with the Cedar.  My face is itchy, and so are my eyes, but that is about it.

We have not had health insurance the past couple of years due to the high cost.  Have not been able to afford it at all.  This has increased my studies of herbal medicine, and increased our usage of herbs, essential oils and other home remedies.  I am enrolled in a Naturopath course (herbal/natural doctor type of thing).  It has been very beneficial to us.  We have not had to go to the doctor once in six years.  That is pretty good I think.