Winter is here...or is it?

If you are familiar with living in TEXAS, you know that we can be freezing one day, with temps in the 90s the next.  The past week or so, we have had temps as low as 34 in the evening.  It has been great to have a fire in the wood stove again.  Thankfully, the cold spell is ending, because we really need to clean out the chimney from last year.

This past weekend was a heavy baking weekend.  I normally bake more when it is colder, and not 100 degrees out side.  We made a huge pan of corn bread and ate that with some honey from our recent harvest.  Baked an apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin shaped sugar cookie to celebrate Autumn.  Also, made gingerbread at our homeschool co-op where I teach home economics.  We used the Laura Ingalls Wilder Gingerbread recipe.  Came out awesome!

Our cows are getting woolly and putting on their winter coats, the horses too.  We really have a lot of farm chores to catch up with, and that we continue to put off.  This year has been a totally unmotivated, lazy year with regards to farm maintenance and improvements.

First fire 2017

Canklefritz

Canklefritz

Casey

Lil' Miss Squirrelly aka Bella

Casey

Apple Pie using a friend's canned pie filling

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Laura Ingalls Wilder Gingerbread Recipe

2017 Honey Harvest

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.