Spring 2014

I don't get to write here like I used to..life on the farm keeps us pretty busy.  We have had a good crop of babies born this year - goats,  chicks, ducklings though no piglets :(

We butchered our broilers last weekend.  A local friend lent us their EZ Plucker, and it was so much faster and nicer than doing so by hand.  I have another batch of Freedom Ranger chicks in the chicken tractor.  It will be a couple of more months until they are ready to butcher.  The Franken Chicken (Cornish Cross) grows faster.  I have always been put off by them, but we were given a bunch for free from the SA Rodeo this year.  They are freaky to look at, but PH said the taste is much better than the other two types we have raised before (Black Broilers and Freedom Rangers).  I guess after this batch of Freedom Rangers we will determine if we will stick with the Cornish Cross from now on.  I made fried chicken last night from one of them, and it was wonderful.  PH was very pleased.  Back to the plucking....I do like learning how to do things without power, just in case I am ever in a situation where I will need to do so.  But once I learn a "powered down" skill, I am okay with using electricity.  I'd borrow the plucker again, though we are considering getting our own.  We'll see.

It costs me a total of $250 in feed, though I am subtracting half of that amount, because I was feeding the Freedom Rangers at the same time.  So, that is $125 dollars divided by 15 chickens for a total cost of $8.33 per chicken (not counting labor-I don't include that, because, well I am at home anyway).  I used to pay $15.00 plus for an organic chicken bought either at Whole Foods or from a local provider.  So, If I had bought 15 chickens at $15 each that would be $225 dollars, so I saved myself $100.  PH is all about the cost savings, but I am about the cleaner food for my family.  I don't raise animals to be cost effective.  I do try to have most of my animals free range, but raising Cornish Cross meat chickens isn't really conducive to free ranging.  Maybe in a time of necessity, I'd have to do something different.  The Freedom Rangers are great at foraging, but allowing to free-range causes them to build up muscle, which makes their meat TOUGH.  The plan this time around is to keep them in the large coop, to see if it makes a difference in the meat.  If not, we'll do something different next time.

A friend and I go back and forth about grid electricity and what it means to be "off grid".  It means different things to different people.  For me, it means no electricity at all, not even solar panels or batteries.  I gear my homestead to run without power during an emergency.  We have lots of those lately.  From wild fires, to tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, having the ability to cook, heat our house and to SEE when the power is out is very beneficial.  Now my friend wants to have all her electrical conveniences that grid power provides, so she and her husband concentrate on battery packs, solar power, wind turbines, etc.  I don't have the funds for that, so my money goes into food production/storage.

The chicken coop has been completed, and while it wasn't my original plan, it keeps my chickens/ducks safe from being eaten by the pigs.  To date I have lost over one hundred chickens/ducks to the pigs.  Once we butcher these last few, we are out of the pig business.  I really like pigs, and they provide a lot of meat for the cost of raising, but my chickens are more important to me.

The quail are in their own cages, hung on the wall in the chicken coop.  I have seven quail (5 females, 2 males).  I rotate the males from cage to cage.  I'll try and get PD#1 to take a picture for me to post.

We have seven ducks left.  Four males and three females.  One of the females is currently sitting on a nest, so hopefully we will have a couple of ducklings waddling around soon.

The weather has been warming up, though the evenings are nice.  This greatly helps with cooling the place down.  We are trying to not turn on the AC yet until it reaches at least 100.  We have only had one day of that so far.  We did receive a good amount of rain about a month ago.  A total of three inches.  Our pond was totally dry, and was then full.  Praise God! I was so excited to have a full pond again.  It is going down again, what with the animals drinking out of it and evaporation, but I am thankful for every little blessing.

Our well went dry, or too low for the pump to suck up water.  We were without water for almost 2 weeks until we had the county water supply line installed.  A great lesson in learning where to get water, how to haul it, and how much you really need to use in a day.  PH is now in the process of pulling out the pipe and pump from the well to see if the side walls have collapsed, or what is going on with it. The pump itself is good, but only sucking up sandy bits of water. This is really a stressful situation for us.  I loved having an independent water source, but this drought is taking it's toll.  We are in the process of gathering the materials to install water catchment on the house.  Not 55 barrels but a large 1500 tank.  We need to head into town to pick up the tank.  PH thinks it is silly to put water catchment on a house in South TX when it rarely rains.  I have insisted, telling him that it makes even more sense to be able to catch whatever rain we do receive.  I really try not to insist on having my way, but when it comes to having water, it is important.  So, the topic has been a "pit bull" issue (meaning I have my teeth in it and won't give up).  By not having something in place NOW, we are wasting and losing a wonderful opportunity to store drinking water for ourselves.  We already have a system on the barn to help water the animals when the pond has gone dry.  It is supposed to rain the next couple of days, and I am frustrated that it isn't in place already, but I am on PH time schedule.

Due to the drought and a shortage of water, we are not planting a garden this year.  I am depending on friends and family who are better gardeners, and know how to get the most with less water.  I am a horrible gardener, and have resorted to gifts, purchasing from the produce dept in the nearest Metro area, and harvesting wild edibles (melons, grapes, blackberries, nopales, prickly pear fruit, Algerita berries, Mesquite beans, grape leaves, wild-crafted herbs for tea and medicinals).  There are also several abandoned homesteads with orange and pear trees that we have been able to pick from.  Also, a few trees on State and water company's property that we have been given permission to pick.

Work has ground to a halt on the house.  It is a busy time outside, and with work.  I am still working at the library part-time.  PH and I are also in the process of starting out own business, which will hopefully be productive in a year or so, when his job moves to Ohio.  The plan is to work part time on the business, and then to slowly transition full time into the business.  Praying it provides enough security for us to live off.  Thankfully, we have greatly down-sized our needs, and have little debt.  We aren't looking to get rich, but to provide a reasonable income for our family.  I am in the process of completing all the start up paperwork, meeting with a CPA, and registering to be able for us to bid on projects for county, city and state projects.  I am attending training and networking seminars, and finding out what there is out there for a majority, Woman-owned business.  I will be doing the office work (along with PD#1) and leave the technical, complex aspects of the business to PH's expertise and experience.  I really wanted it to be our business, but there are more bid opportunities for a Woman-owned business it seems, or a minority-owned business.  PH doesn't have a tribal, registration number and has never been interested in applying, so this is the best route at this time.  I am very happy that PH has decided he is ready to branch out on his own, business-wise.  This is another step in being more self-sufficient/reliant.  (Yes, you depend on customers, but not worrying about getting fired.)

PH finished the bathroom.  We are very happy.  We also have begun the work of clearing out the shipping container that we lived in for four years.  We have been so busy, and did not have the time to devote to it, but it has been our focus lately.  PH was given several large, metal, shelving units.  These are about 6 feet tall and total 21 feet in length, so almost half of the container's length.  PH is taking over the front half of the container for his tools/work area (thought leaving the galley kitchen for me to use as my canning kitchen/emergency food prep area.  The container is also our storm shelter.) The bathroom is still in place, and I will be using the shelves in there to house my toiletry storage (soap, t.p., etc). The back bedroom is now the family storage room.  I have my food storage area, clothing storage in rubber totes (I try to keep a few articles in each size/gender, plus shoes for each family member), plus Christmas decorations, a sewing area set up with my treadle sewing machine, the bookcase with homeschooling curriculum.  The loft will be cleaned up and a mattress placed up there to be a sleeping space for guests (in the event of an emergency).

Hope everyone is doing well.  Keeping plugging away caring for your families.  Keep your eyes open, and be ready for whatever lies ahead.

Paratus Familia!

February Update

The weather has been beautiful the last few days, though I do not believe Winter is over yet for us.  The past week the weather has been in the 70s and 80s, and we have been able to accomplish a lot around the property.

The primary chore being LAUNDRY.  I've been washing only what was needed for so long, it was nice to be able to wash and have the lines full of snapping, drying clothes.

We have been doing our Spring Cleaning.  I am taking down curtains to wash, and looking for the sheers we use in nicer weather.  Also dusting, washing blankets and other bedding, cleaning the stove and beating rugs are next on the list.

Our goats appear to be done having babies.  We had a total of 12 born, but only five still with us.  Coyotes have been plentiful this year, and no manner of bringing the goats up to the house or to the barn, has prevented the thieving of the kids.  Beginning Mariama's training for milking.  PH finished the milking stand, and we are working with Mariama.  So far, we have her jumping up on the stand for her treats.  Can't wait to be milking full time :)  Cheese here we come! (I hope and pray).

Mariama with last year's kid

The ducks are beginning to nest, so I expect a yard full of ducklings soon.  More food for us! Yeah!
We also filled the incubator with chicken eggs and four stray duck eggs that no one claimed.  Fern (sow) is due to deliver on April 5th, so along with selling off the goat babies, we will have piglets to sell.  We may be using this money to purchase our beef for the year.

The house is coming along at a slow clip, but progress is being made.  The toilet was installed a month or so ago, and now the tub is in the bathroom.  PH just needs to plumb it all in.  Next after that is setting up the solar hot water system that PH has agreed to try this year.  Baby steps :)

We will be working in the garden a little, though we do not plan to have a huge one this year.  No time with the job, and being in a drought makes it hard.  Only growing a couple of staples (potatoes, onions, peppers, tomatoes), plus medicinal herbs.

Cold Weather Update

The icy rain started, as soon as, I left work (around 6 pm).  I had a couple of stops to make (for a few grocery items and a brooder lamp for the quail).

The porch started icing over around 11 pm.  When I would step out for more wood, I had to be careful not to slip.  The heat lamp was doing great for the quail.  They had stopped shivering and were hopping around their cages.  All the animals (except for Sophie) were rushing the door and begging for a few moments of stove time.  **Sophie was a stray that came with our property.  She must have been abused, because it took us over a year to be able to pet her.  Five years later, she is happy to see us when we get home.  She lets us pet her, but she always turns over, closes her eyes and hunches over.  It is like she is remembering being hurt, but figures we probably won't hurt her.  Sometimes she even comes up to us first.  I tried to get her to come inside last night to lay by the fire, but she preferred to lay on a pile of hay by the front door.   I covered her completely with a fleece blanket and she stayed there all night.  This morning the blanket was frozen solid on top of her, but she was warm and toasty underneath and very happy she could move.

Around 4 a.m. the power went out, and along with it, the big diesel heater.  It looks something like this:

We had a fire going in the wood stove, and try to take turns getting up to add more wood, but on really cold nights, we have this plugged in, and it comes on when it gets to a certain temperature.  We keep it on low, so it has to get cold before it comes on.  It is LOUD!  But we are used to it, and it doesn't wake us up anymore, and it keeps the house really toasty.  Well, when the power was out, the silence from the heater was deafening.  PH got up and added more wood to the fire, and came back to bed.  I could hear the sleet hitting the metal roof, but we were warm and cozy.  Praise God for allowing us to build the house, because on nights like these, the container is almost unbearable.  Praise God for also giving me a husband that is capable of building us a snug, little house.  It may not be complete, but it does the job of keeping us safe and warm.  I am also thankful for the indoor toilet!  Who would want to make the dash to the container on a night/morning like this!?  We were a little concerned for our neighbors.  One with an all electric, brand-new, double-wide (no fireplace even), and the other lives in a little, un-insulated, cabin-shed.  I am sure he and his wife were a TAD chilly. We do not get much cold weather in TEXAS, but sufficient enough to require an alternate form of heat (other than electric).  Last year, we used our wood stove from the end of October until late April.  That is six months of temps in the 30s and 40s (nights primarily), definitely worth installing a wood stove, or purchasing a kerosene heater.  Something!  I strongly encourage people to think about this...

PH and I were up at 6:00 am.  I lit the kerosene lamps so he could get dressed and out of the house safely.  He had to use a flashlight to get down the front steps.  They were ICY! PH left for work around 6:30 a.m. but before he did, he dragged the quail cage into the house.  They had lost their heat lamp when the power went out.  I was worried about them, but PH doesn't like them inside, because they STINK.  I was so thankful and appreciative that he brought them inside to join the menagerie of guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs and cats.  Unfortunately, he set the brooder lamp BULB side down onto the porch, and at 9:00 am this morning when the power came on, unbeknownst to me, it started burning a hole in the porch.  By the time I noticed it, had a nice bulb-sized, round hole on the very end of one board on the porch (sigh).  Thankful it wasn't the entire house.

Coturnix Quail

It was 27 degrees when I started the car to warm it up.  I was about 5 minutes late to work due to a frozen padlock on the gate, but I arrived here to realize that the power was off here too last night, which means the heaters I left on were OFF.  The temps inside the library was 43 at 10 am, and now they are 55.  I am sitting in front of a heater, and feel mostly warm (one leg feels like I am getting burned, and my toes are frozen, but otherwise, I am good).  Cannot wait for this day to end, so that I can sit by the fire at home.  4 pm cannot come too soon for me!

I like the cold weather, but prefer to stay home on days like today.

Coturnix Quail

We were up bright and early to get everything battened down in preparation for the cold weather that hit us this afternoon.

I left the library at 6:00 pm and the temp was 38 (down from 60 this morning).  I drove 3 miles and the temps had dropped to 34.  I had to stop at the hardware store to get a brooder lamp for the quail (I have eight).  It is in the 20s now, raining and VERY windy.  I thought it would be good to have the animals on the front porch, but the wind is blowing from the NE directly onto the porch.

When I arrived home the kids had brought the rabbits and guinea pigs inside, and one dog.  The mama dog and two puppies are in the kennel behind the house (out of the wind) with another heat lamp and a ton of hay.  Hope they keep warm.  Oh! my chickens I forgot to put them up!

I went out just now, as my stupid chickens, refuse to stay in their coop area.  The were perched outside the back door in the cold and rain.  I picked them up and put them in the shelter out of the weather, and they promptly ran out.  (sigh).  This batch of chickens is the dumbest I have ever seen. I had ONE smart one that was snuggled down in the hay before I put the rest inside.  She is my favorite :)

Man! it sure is cold out there.

On the way home I stopped at the grocery store and meat market to get my groceries.  Made sloppy joes for dinner on Whole Grain buns.  Very tasty!

Back to the quail...a friend gave me 12 quail eggs.  Mine are not laying regularly yet. I hope that changes with the warm weather.  Reading up on them their breeding season begins in March, so that's good. My goal is to be able to raise enough to butcher for us.

I cleaned the incubator tonight and have it plugged in to warm up.  Tomorrow I will place the eggs inside, and in 17 days, maybe, we will have some baby quail :)

I can't wait!  I get so happy when I am able to (successfully) establish a food source for my family.

Keep warm everyone!

Winter Will Be Here Tomorrow

We are expecting really cold weather tomorrow.  Half of the country seems to be gripped in some kind of new Ice Age, and TEXAS is not immune.  We normally have our coldest times in February, but tomorrow we are expecting sleet and SNOW!  Amazing.

Tomorrow the Prairie Kids and I will be preparing for the cold weather.  We will be filling the wood rack on the front porch, stuffing hay in all the animal shelters, putting a heat lamp on the quail, guinea pigs, cats, dogs.  They will all have to share.  Putting out the heating pad under some burlap sacks for the cats to pile onto.  Most of the little critters like to stack themselves in piles on the front porch.  It is SO funny to see.

Had another great bartering this month.  I LOVE our Barter Days.  So much fun!
I look forward to it every month, just for the fellowship with like minded folks.

PH put in our new toilet last weekend.  So excited!  We now have a flushing toilet in the house. I feel so fancy!  There is even a door! (gasp).  Privacy, what a novel idea.

See the sink? A couple of years back we had a new "neighbor".  They put a small cabin on their land, then promptly never came back.  During a storm, their cabin blew to pieces.  Called the land agent to see if we cleaned up the property if we could keep any items (we had scoped it out beforehand).  He said yes!  We came away with two bathroom sinks (one is above), a roll of barbed wire, a large plastic trash can on wheels, a gas can, an igloo cooler and assorted tools.  Pretty cool! A brand new sink we have been saving for just this time!

PS#2 turns five in two weeks.  It sure went by fast.  PS#1 turns 25 too!  I feel too young to have a kid that old!

Learning lots, cleaning up the property, splitting wood, baking and learning to eat REAL FOOD.  (See 100 Days of Real Food Blog - very cool!)

A New Baby!

Meet Pearl!  She was born on Tuesday, December 3rd in the evening.  She is a purebred Charolais heifer :) I was sorta hoping for a boy, so we could butcher him in a year or so, but I am okay with a girl.  We can breed her as well, and have the potential for more beef :)

So excited!

The weather has turned cold (in the low 30s last night and for the next few days).  Her mama Molly is a smart one, and has brought her baby to the barn out of the cold and wind.  Pearl is FEISTY! Loves to run, jump, twist and is constantly trying to get the goats to play with her.

We are hunkering down trying to keep warm.  Wood is stacked on the porch, chicken soup bubbling on the stove.  I am washing blankets and warm clothing FAST.

I know it probably sounds like a lot, but in south Texas extreme cold is not the norm, so while I am prepared, for the most part, there are still those last minutes chores (hay for the animals, wood for the house, water pipes, and fuel for the generator) to complete.

Thanksgiving 2013

November here on the farm has been busy.  We are awaiting the birth of our first calf, as well as, several of our goats to kid.  We recently butchered 37 black broilers.  We did miss catching two hens and a rooster, but they can fatten up some more.  The pigs, Wilbur and Fern, have been penned back up to fatten up for Winter, and hopefully another round of breeding.  The two babies from this year, are being fattened in a separate pen, in preparation of butchering time.  Hopefully soon!?

The weather has been very cold lately.  The past four days, temperatures topped out around 43 degrees, with a low in the mid 30s.  We are going through plenty of fire wood to keep the house warm, but the kitchen stays cool, hovering around 60 degrees.  The living room and bedrooms are plenty warm.  We even manage to set off the smoke detector when opening the door to add more wood.  That's always an eye-opener!

PH has spent a lot of time lately hugging the wood stove, scared to go out in the cold.  He REALLY does not like cold weather.  Can you tell he was born in Florida, and grew up in TEXAS? He can't handle the cold spells without complaint.  I get cold, but he is a big ole BABY!

PD#1 is excelling in Civil Air Patrol.  She is already up to SrA (Senior Airmen) rank, and is working hard towards becoming an officer in the next couple of years.  She recently attended a leadership weekend, and is registered for a week long training camp the end of this year.  She has her heart set on a major training program next Summer, OUT-OF-STATE.  This mama is thinking HARD about that one.

PD#2 is doing wonderfully with her piano lessons.  She is learning a few Christmas pieces, as well as, Church Music.  I am very excited for her.  She really loves playing.  She is also learning to sew on the sewing machine, and is whipping out presents left and right.

PS#1 recently found a position with a MAJOR company in town.  We are thankful and in prayer that he will be a star employee.

PS#2 is becoming more and more ornery, and need of correction.  He sits in time out a lot, and gets lots of chores carrying in fire wood.  Being almost five means he is very sure of what he wants and DOES NOT want to do.  Many "discussions" have been taken place between father and son.  I am convinced one good whipping might help, but PH is more of a "talker".  Talking won't help this one though.  Definitely a "strong willed child" in the works. On a positive note, he is a cutie.  He is very helpful to me, and especially loving.  He wants to sit beside me all the time, and show me his LEGO creations.  He loves building things.  I think he should be an Engineer!

Canning is about over for the season, unless I stumble across some find at the monthly Farmer's Market.  The kids and I are preparing items to sell at December's gathering, hoping to make a little Christmas money.

Praying you all stay warm, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!