Dec 29, 2007

Aren't you glad??

Snow gently falling outside the window.  It has blanketed the ground and is about a foot and a half deep.  It keeps on falling and may end up like the winters I remember as a child.  The snow always seemed so much higher then.  The banks were about two stories high and the forts had turrets and walkways, bedrooms and cellars.  King of the Hill could send you plummeting 15 feet.  Now we use the snowblower and we don't get banks anymore.  It does make for some hard crust that can  be cut and made into igloos of sorts.  There are squirrel tracks and mouse tracks that I can see out the window.  Everything looks so soft out there.



Our lives here have been going through some changes.  Our business isn't making it.  Each month sends us farther behind.  My husband was injured after falling 8 feet onto cement and landing on his head.  He's been laid up about a week.  Praise the Lord, he didn't have a concussion.  He did require 14 stitches and his neck and back are messed up, but it could have been much worse.  This means that he won't be able to haul a flatbed for quite a while.  So much for our business.  I guess sometimes things get decided for you.  Only God knows how this will turn out, but it helps to know that nothing happens that He's not aware of and in control of.  It is teaching me not to obsess over bills.  I can't do a thing about them, now.  We will be downsizing and selling some of our equipment.  This will simplify things greatly.  I feel a kind of relief.



 Back to the gently falling snow.  The warm temps.  My loving husband.  My healthy, happy children.  We are blessed beyond measure. 


From Glory Farm.



Dec 10, 2007

Seven Random Things

I was tagged.  I'm not too good at this, but here goes.  Angela at Within the Lines tagged me. 


Here are the rules as posted at her blog:


    * Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.


     * Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.


     * Tag 7 random people at the end of your post; include their links.


     * Let each "tagee" know that they've been tagged by leaving comment on their blog.


I think a lot of you have been tagged already, so if I retag you, you get to do it again?


Seven random things about me:


1. I love NASCAR.


2.  I'm turning out a lot more like my mom than I thought I would.


3.  I avoid conflict, even when conflict is necessary.


4.  I have a daughter I never see and a son who went to be with the Lord.


5.  Cool Ranch Doritoes and Diet Mountain Dew are my indulgences.


6.  Jesus is my saviour and I want everything in my life to be for His glory.  (I need much help in this area.)


7.  I complain about too much to do and then waste precious time.


I guess those are pretty random, eh? 


I'm just gonna leave those tags out there.  If anyone hasn't been tagged yet-now you are. 


Keep warm,


Rhonda

Dec 5, 2007

Parental Rights???

There are things that get my dander up.  I think the Lord allows them in my life to help me grow in love.  Dealing with certain people on the phone can have me acting non Christ like.  People telling me what I can and can't do with my children is another thing that angers me. It's the second one that has me up in arms tonight.


I received a letter from the school where our older two attend.  It was informing me of their truancy policy and the consequences of non-compliance.  Example:


"Excused absences include illness, medical and dental appointments, religious release, college visits, funerals, family vacations, and school functions."  Okay so...


Illnesses with a doctor's note will be excused, but without a doctor's note may or may not be. Yadda, yadda, and so on.  Children will not be excused to chase cows, take care of siblings, visit grandma, etc.  "If a student receives an unexcused absence, a warning letter is mailed to the parents to alert them to the attendance situation."


"If a student receives three unexcused absences on three or more days, the student is considered "continuing truant".  At this point, the school  notifies the appropriate social services department that deals with truancy and /or the county attorney's office."


"If a student receives seven unexcused absences on three or more days, the student is considered "habitual truant".  At this point, the school again notifies the appropriate social services department that deals with truancy and/or the county attorney's office."


"The following consequences may occur when the student is referred to county truancy services.  Face-to-face meeting with parents, juvenile court, student may lose or be denied driving privileges, parents may be found guilty of a misdemeanor and/or be charged with educational neglect if they are found to be contributing to the student's absences."


Okay, is it just because I don't like being told what to do?  Why does it bother me so much?  I encourage my children to learn, but I don't stress out about them going to school.  If they have something else to do, I usually let them.  There are other ways to get an education.  My oldest came home and said this whole policy stinks.  Well, not quite like that, but close.  How can a school take parents to court if their children miss school?  How can a school take away drivers' licenses? 


I feel better now.  Thanks for letting me vent.  God is in control and not the school district.  (But boy, they sure think they are.)


Good evening.


 

The House, The Lice, The Blessings and The Visit

The house building is at a standstill right now, but that was actually part of the plan.  My honey put a window in the kitchen last Saturday.  I love windows and I found some that were returned and clearanced.  They're beautiful and only 1/3 of their original price.  I think it'a a God thing.  They were exactly what I was looking for.


 


Our horses came down with lice.  Uck!  We've been using eucalyptus oil and vinegar.  Also, putting garlic and seasalt in their grain.  I've been dusting with diatematious earth and praying.    I broke down and bought some dusting powder and I'm still praying.  At least they're not getting any worse.  I think they came in with the Angora goats I picked up about 3 months ago.


 


God is giving my honey work.  He's out in Pennsylvania right now and trying to find a load out of there tomorrow.  Praying some more.  He  missed yesterday's snowstorm here and slightly frigid temps this morning, -12.  We owe and owe, but I think God is trying to teach me -"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known."


 


More good news!!!  We're getting company.  My brother-the one from Florida-is coming up next Wednesday.  He gets to stay for a week.  Merry Christmas to me.  Thank you Lord.  God knew I needed something to look forward to so He's sending Doug.


 


Well, that's the update here at Glory Farm.  Thanks for taking time to read my ramblings.  I'll try to get something more Christmasey on my blog.  This just won't do.


Rhonda

Nov 23, 2007

Of Four-Wheelers and Christmas Wreaths

I like surprises.  Wednesday, my honey cut apart our traxcavator (front end loader with tracks) and we loaded it on the flat bed and took it to  the scrapyard.  Metal is bringing top prices right now and with our work situation lately, we hoped we could get a good price.   We did.  Praise God. While there, my honey was offered two four wheelers in lieu of payment.  Of course, we don't need a four wheeler.  Honey says, we'll just take one and we'd like the rest in cash.  So Merry Christmas!  It's our family Christmas present.  It's small, a 110, but it works for us, and will come in handy checking fencelines and such.  See, I can rationalize.


What a nice surprise.  Totally frivolous and unecessary. 


Today I'd like to finish making Christmas wreaths.  I got two made yesterday.  I need to make at least one more, but I ran out of materials so I get to go traipsing (spelling) about in the woods again today.  I cut balsam mostly and a bit of cedar, red pine, red pine cones, scotch pine and when I can find it, princess pine.  Princess pine makes the best wreaths, but we don't  have a whole lot of it here.  I also cut red twig and alderbrush with the cones still on.  I use wire clothes hangers bent into circles and I buy thin wire at the craft store to wind around the boughs to hold them on.  I cut the boughs quite small and add the red twig and other branches for variety.  They're all natural except for the ribbon I need to pick up to make the bows.   They make nice gifts for neighbors and nice thank you gifts.  I'm teaching the children to make them and they hope to get a couple done today, too.


Perhaps I'll even get some lights up outside after I clean the yard.


God is so good, isn't He?  Thanksgiving is over, but a thankful heart isn't seasonal.


From Glory Farm

Nov 15, 2007

Help Me Have That Grateful Heart

The ground has traces of snowflakes.  They're not melting anymore.  I'm sitting here with my cup of hot chocolate trying to warm up my hands.  I hear the cows bellering.  Maybe they're hungry.  Its after 8 and the two youngest are still in bed.  I should get them up, but I kinda like the quiet right now.


Its a very cool day with gusty north winds.  I'd like to stay in but I think it's a "go to town day".  Barn chores, paperwork, bills, groceries, finding my honey some work (a load for the flatbed, I can officially be called dispatcher now.), reinforcing rafters, support beams, fixing a broken sewer line and banking the new basement, these are the items on my list today.  Then a 4-H meeting tonight.  I'd rather, spin some, finish up the mittens  I started, make some Christmas wreaths, finish the sewing projects I started, grind some wheat and make some bread, and make the granola that my oldest requested this morning.  I need more organization.  Instead I'm on here.  I guess I need some recreation, too.


I pray, God bless this day and use it to your glory.  Help me not to detract from that glory, but to point people to it.


From Glory Farm

Nov 10, 2007

Pictures! (I hope)

I've been trying to post these pics from photobucket and i don't know how to do it.  They won't post.  Just the little x's in the boxes.



This is a picture of the side of the house that we tore the kitchen and bedroom off of.  Our girls are standing in the doorway that used to lead to our son's room.


 



Here is what it looks like now.  My honey insulated last night and is wiring today.  I'm going to help him get the house wrap on later. 


Could someone please tell me how to get pics off of photobucket and onto my blog?


Thanks.


From Glory Farm

Nov 6, 2007

House update-day #19

The scaffolding is going back today and we're going to rent a lift.  An all-terrain lift.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  We could BAHA up in the air all over the hayfields!  We probably won't do that.  We were out there today trying to get the felting on the roof and it was just too dangerous.  Twenty feet up in the air with a slippery oxboard under foot and a 3/4" diameter rope to hang onto.  This wasn't me, but my honey.  He doesn't like heights.  He was able to cover 3/4 of one side, but can't get to the rest without risking life and limb.  We HAVE to get this done.  He hasn't been to work because we HAVE to get this done. 


 


Enough about the house.  It'll get done.  And we'll get more organized.  And I'll be able to start Christmas gifts and do some baking.  Did you check out the pumpkin cinnamon rolls recipe on the Front Porch?  They sound really good.  I'll make them and eat them and let you know.


 


I need to get moving.  It's cold in here and I'm chilled.  Incentive to get things done.


 


From Glory Farm

Nov 5, 2007

Up on the Housetop...

Just thought I'd drop in and let you know we're still trying to get the addition done.  We have 1-2 inches of snow predicted today.  God has held off the bad weather for quite a while now.  I'm downing a pot of coffee and trying to get myself motivated to get outside and bury the septic line.  My honey has gone to town to get some scaffolding so we can finish putting on the roof sheeting and get the tar paper on.  We have the kitchen enclosed and the front door on.  We also have the second floor enclosed, just no roof.


 


Also, today I have a friend coming over to help me get my payroll started.  I don't know how to do it and since we incorporated, I've been very anxious about getting all of this paper work right.  If anyone else has experience with this, I'd love advice.  Even just keep on me so I keep praying.  I forget that God knows all about incorporating.  I believe He brought this friend so I could have some support.  She used to do this for a living.


 


Well off I go.  ....Maybe just one more cup of coffee....The snow is blowing past the livingroom window....My house and I aren't ready for this.


 


From Glory Farm

Nov 3, 2007

Titus 2 Christian Homekeeper

I suppose everybody already has visited this site, but I just found it and I really like it.  So, I'm posting this address www.t2chk.org  for anyone who hasn't heard of it.  There is a bunch of good information on being a Godly homemaker and wife.


Have a blessed evening.


From Glory Farm

Oct 29, 2007

Wait 'till you see the pics, and wait...and wait...

Boy did I pull a smart one.  I was busy getting pics of the demolition of the house and then the basement being put in, the first floor going up, the side roof put on, pics of my new goats, old donkeys, etc.  I stopped at Wal-Mart last night to bring in the film.  Opened my camera and voila!  No Film!  Oh boy.  I'm not going through this all over again just to get pics, so i guess you're going to have to take my word for it.  I will put film IN my camera and take pics of what's up so far and new ones of my goats.  I don't know about you, but I like reading the blogs with pictures.  (You should see the books I read.)



We have beautiful weather today.  Should be good tomorrow, too.  After that they say it might not get any warmer than 40 degrees.  Our new kitchen isn't all enclosed yet.  But I've found that I can live with that.  My honey hooked up my stove yesterday so no more excuses about not baking.  Today it's his favorite, chocolate chip cookies.


Hope you all have a blessed day. 


From Glory Farm

Oct 23, 2007

Day 5

The continuing saga of the House That We Built.  Today we didn't get much of a chance to work on the house itself.  Things always seem to take longer than you planned.  We were to get the septic repaired this morning, but we ended up working on it almost all day.  Hey- it works!  Now I can wash clothes to my heart's content and boy do I need to.  I can also take a nice, long, hot shower.  Oh the things that you take for granted.  We went down and picked up some kitchen cabinets that I found on Freecycle.  We also got two very nice and heavy maple chairs.  These will come in handy.  Freecycle is so cool.  The people are so nice.


Tomorrow we have a DOT Safety Audit for our business.  This is something I've never had to do before, by my honey says it's no big deal.  After that it's off to the lumberyard to pick up more floor joises for the second story. 


On a different note, I got our garlic planted today.  I've tried garlic before, but never done very well with it.  I hope if I really baby it, it will grow well.  I love garlic.  I put it in everything.  Well, maybe not everything.  Sometimes I use horseradish instead.  :)


Hope your evening is warm, cozy and relaxed.


From Glory Farm

Oct 22, 2007

Onward and Upward

The basement is in, kinda.  The kitchen floor is on, kinda.  Two kitchen walls are framed and honey had to take a run to town for supplies.  I am a bit overwhelmed by it all 



We missed church yesterday because we are working with a deadline, but boy I can sure feel the need for fellowship.  My husband is my rock, but i love the worship and teaching at church.  Maybe we can get there Wednesday night.  Our church is 55 miles away so we don't go to the different activities that they have going on during the week.  This week I might.



Things on the house are progressing, but not quite as well as we'd hoped.  Living without a kitchen isn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I thought I'd be a bit batty by now, but...who can tell?



Boy, my writing is fragmented.  Hope you can follow my train of thought.  I'm still going to get some pictures of all of the fun we're having.  Maybe next time.



From Glory Farm

Oct 20, 2007

Putting in a Wooden Basement

The kitchen came down, the bedroom, too and the basement was dug yesterday. Two and a half walls were constructed and we dropped into bed.  At 3 am my honey got up and finished the walls.  We were to get them into the hole and set up before the cement came.  Didn't happen.  7:30 this morning the redi-mix truck came in.  This guy was great.  He waited for over an hour as my husband and a friend made forms.  Now the basement floor is poured and finished and we have two walls in the hole.  One is still waiting on the flatbed to go in.  The man who owns the excavator we hired has left it here for us to use until tomorrow.  Between him, the redi-mix driver and our friend Luke, God has truly blessed this endeavor.  Luke was here at 4 am to help with walls and the cement.  He is a rare friend.  Always volunteering to help.  He's painting our daughter's Camaro just because.


Only one hitch in the plans so far, that I can tell, I went to wash a load of clothes a bit ago and heard the rushing of water.  Running into our existing basement, I watched a river of wash water pour into it.  I'd better go and check if the toilet still has a drain.  Uck!  I think the extra PVC pipe we pulled out wasn't so extra after all.


Pictures are coming. 


God bless,


From Glory Farm

Oct 18, 2007

So, are we crazy?

When we moved here last year, we had all kinds of plans for fixing the barn, house, yard, fields, etc.  Well,we were off to a good start and then time and money seemed to run out.  We had wanted to take off our kitchen and a bedroom last summer, but we couldn't afford it.  My honey has been trying to work full time for almost five months.  God is good and we're not too far behind on our bills, but....he still has more time than money and decided now is the time to get rid of this kitchen and bedroom.  My parents offered to help out with the money part, and we got a Lowe's card (shame, shame). So as of yesterday, it was official and we started packing.  We need to reroute the electric, cut off water lines, move appliances and pack up the kithchen and bedroom.----by tomorrow morning.  I think we can do it.  My honey is one motivated guy.  The excavator comes tomorrow to tear down the house and dig the basement.  Dh wants to have the walls for the basement put up tomorrow and the cement poured on Saturday for the floor.  Then put up the first floor and the second will have to wait a bit.  We'll have no windows or flooring or cupboards for awhile, but we will have a much warmer house.  So are we crazy?  October in northern Minnesota is not a great time to start building. 


I'll take before and after and even after that pics.  So next time I write, we should have a new addition to our house well on the way.  Lord willing.


From Glory Farm

Oct 9, 2007

How High's the Water Momma?...Three feet high and rising.

okay, maybe not three feet, but everythng is water-logged here.  I know this is good for us.  The ground is happy and saturated.  But now the water table is coming up and we have water in the basement.  I took out the sump pump just in case.  Don't want our new furnace to have to learn to swim.  It's been raining for forever.  I exagerate again.  The north pasture is under water.  The south pasture is just very wet.  I think tomorrow it's supposed to stop raining.  When I went out at 6:00 a. m. this morning it was snowing.


We don't have a dryer, so I have an abudance of wet clothes hanging outside, and in the basement.  My kids have been drying their jeans over the heat ducts. 


 Just think how nice the soil will be for growing things next spring.  (Trying to be a glass half full kind of person.)


My wonderful husband has told me that I can get some angora goats.  The price is something that we can afford and it seems like the right time.  (except for the flooded pasture, of course.)  I'm excited and I hope that I can care for them the way they should be cared for.  I've had milk goats, but not angoras.  I'm getting a couple of doelings.  I'll post pics when they come.


Well, I guess I'd better go and do something productive.  I have pumpkin bread and regular bread on my list to make, and books for our business to update before Thursday when I meet with our accountant.  Book work is something I just dread and now that we've incorporated, we have a lot more of it.   If I come to mind and you picture me bent over a pile of papers, please pray for me.  This is an area of anxiety for me.  This and finances.  God's teaching me to rest in Him.   I'm just a slow learner.

Oct 2, 2007

Knitting Machine

Do any of you out there use a knitting machine?  I picked one up through Freecycle and I'd like to use it, but I'm not sure how much work it'll be.  Just looking at it is intimidating.  My dd who is 8 has dreams of starting her own knitting business and doing custom knitting.  Boy, looking at this thing, I sure don't know.  It's an old model from about 1970, a Studio brand.  It has all of the books and hundreds of patterns with it.  I'd post a picture, but with this new computer, I can't run my digital camera on it. 


 


And that's another thing....I have Windows Vista on this new computer and it's about to drive me...I don't know, somewhere.  Not that I wasn't warned, but I didn't think it would be this bad.  Seems none of my programs and none of my periphials work with this machine.  Brand new printer, won't communicate, (I think it can get counseling for that), Adobe, Kodak Digital Camera, help!  My Husqvarna Embroidery reader/writer doesn't even get a port!  I guess Windows '98 really wasn't so bad.  I can't afford to upgrade all of this stuff.  Guess you'll just have to stay tuned for this continuing saga.


 


"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits."  Psalm 68:19


I love this verse.  I think it fits in good with our trucking business. 


From Glory Farm

Sep 15, 2007

Fall Color Festival

It was Fall Color Festival time at the little town just down the road from us.  My honey was home so he was able to come with this year.  What a treat.  We went in early for the pancake breakfast.  The pancakes were the size of the plates.  For real!  After pancakes, we took in the car show.  I didn't think that they could fit that many cars in a town this size.  We went to look at a sharp Corvette and were welcomed by my cousin, who owned it.  Surprise!  Then off to the farmer's swap at the feed store.  We brought Little Red, our bantam rooster.  The other roosters won't let him in the barn and he'll freeze all alone this winter.  No takers, but we did meet a nice man who has many milkgoats and is willing to part with some of them before the snow flies.  I need to set up a better pasture.  We'll see.  Then is was over to the kid's tractor pull.  This is what my little ones have been waiting for all year.  They didn't place last year and vowed revenge this year.  Dd pedaled her heart out, only to come in third.  And ds pushed it hard and came in second, which is good enough to get a trophy.  He's one happy camper.  Last of all was the flea market.  My son collects everything.  He was able to buy another license plate to add to his collection and our daughter purchased a small, decorative wall cupboard.  I don't know what she's going to do with it yet, but...Honey found an antique monkey wrench to add to his collection.  (I wonder where our boy gets it?)  I found some Doritoes and hamburger buns at the grocery store and called it quits.  (I collect calories. )


I have pics on my digital, which I'll get to maybe tomorrow.  I'd better go and freeze some broccoli, can some beets and make horseradish sauce.  My dad loves horseradish, so I make him  a quart to keep him all winter.


God bless your day. 


From Glory Farm

Sep 13, 2007

The Harvest is Plentiful, but the workers are few....help

 


Tomatoes...Also peppersWe spent most of the day in the garden yesterday, harvesting what the frost didn't kill.  God has surely blessed us.  I picked five wheelbarrow loads of tomatoes.  And I have enough squash and pumpkins to share with the whole neighborhood.  Look...


pumpkins and squash...



I put up some applesauce today, have apples in the dehydrator, yogurt warming, and sunflower seeds roasting.  I'm going to go and gather those tomatoes and start some more salsa.  I'm starting to feel like I need a break from all of this blessing.


Thank you Lord.


From Glory Farm

Sep 12, 2007

The Big Freeze

I know what I'm doing today. 


 Weather is always such a "hot" topic here.  Last week we had 90 degrees.  Last night it hit 20.  Brrr.....I did get the furnace fired up yesterday.   So we had heat. PTL  But, of course, my pumpkins didn't have a furnace.  My garden is so large that I couldn't cover even 1/4 of the freezable stuff.  I covered most of the tomatoes and peppers, but even then the frost was so hard that I don't know if it helped.  I'm not going out there until about 10:00 to survey the damage.  The poor sunflowers wrapped their leaves around themselves tight, but alas, they just froze that way.


So today it's pick and pull time.  Tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins and watermelons.  We're having an abbreviated school day and heading out.  I have some pickle relish started this morning and I need to put up some applesauce today.  I think, if the tomotoes survived, I probably have to put up some salsa.  I think the peppers might be toast.  They were so far off of the ground,  and the plastic cover blew off some of them.  Thus ends my garden.  I still have fall broccoli and lettuce coming.  Lots of carrots and beets and a couple of cabbage lefr.  Time to till, mulch and fertilize. 


May I do all to the glory of God.


From Glory Farm

Sep 10, 2007

Mosh Pit

Here I go again.  The lock-in I wrote about last week or so, happened.  Our girls went and I still don't think it was something edifying.  Saturday night, I took them to a "Christian concert".  This was a rock band.  I don't mind more modern worship, but there seemed to be nothing worshipful about this band.  They dressed modestly, and did nothing objectionable.  But no one could understand the words to their songs and their mention of Jesus was so brief that I barely noticed it.  This was supposed to be a Christian outreach concert.  I know many Christians who thought it was great.  But where was the difference between this and a worldly concert?  There didn't seem to be any.  The teenagers all formed a mosh pit down in front.  Body surfing wasn't allowed, but they were so packed, girl, boy that they couldn't move.  Then some of the boys took off their shirts, too hot, ya know.  Not a good siutation, in my opinion.  I'm glad I was there.  Now I know just what is involved.  This time I'm going to be a party pooper and not allow the girls to be a part of that.  Just thought I'd voice my opinion.  If people gave their lives to Christ at the concert, I guess it has it's place.  I'm just not comfortable with it.


From Glory Farm

Harvest

In the spring, the thought of planting and weeding seems like so much work.  But then you think about the harvest and the thought is thrilling.  Why is it, we forget the work part of that?  At least I do.  God has blessed us above and beyond what I thought He would.  True, I planted for a farmer's market, so I have a large garden.  I've been giving and giving it away (especially the zuchinni :)  )  Today our trip to the garden produced strawberries, zuchinni, buttercup squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, habeneros, green peppers and sunflower seeds.  Now I get to make more spaghetti sauce, salsa, relish, and sunbutter.  The sunbutter I haven't tried yet, but I hope it works.  I'm taking a load of vegetables up North on Friday, Lord willing and another down to the cities in a couple of weeks.  How good is our God!  I hope it doesn't sound like bragging, because I could never have grown a garden like this myself.  Maybe there's a parralel there in the spiritual sense.  God provides the seed, the water, the soil, and the increase.  We just have to be willing to do some work.  The harvest is great. 


Praise God.


From Glory Farm

Sep 4, 2007

Dying Yarn

Well, I'm finally posting the results of my experiment.  I dyed one skein with black cherry Kool-Aid and one with beets from my garden.  The Kool-Aid gives nice, vivid color, the beets gave a surprise.  I think using different mordants will produce different colors.  I used vinegar and ended up with an orange/rust  color.  I think I'll try alum next time and see if I  get a different color.  I simmered the wool in vinegar and water for an hour and at the same time simmered the beets for an hour.  Then I strained the beet liquid and returned it to the stove.  Added the wet yarn and simmered for another hour.  Then I let it set in the dye bath for another three hours.  I rinsed it in lukewarm water and airdried on the clothes line. 



The yarn on the left is the beet dye and on the right is the Kool-Aid.  Not sure what to make with it now.


I'll keep you posted on my experiments.


From Glory Farm

Aug 28, 2007

A "Christian" Lock In?

This is another one of those "am I the only one?", moments.  The local church, where our girls go to youth group, is having a "lock in".  This involves games, snacks, a movie, I think, but I don't know if it involves much in the way of spiritual lessons or encouragement.  It will be chaperoned, but it's a boy/girl thing where they stay up all night.  Does this seem like an edifying thing?  Am I just a stick in the mud, who doesn't let my kids have any fun?  No one else seems to give it a second thought.  There are sincere Christian youth in this youth group and born again Christian leaders who plan this.  I just thought I'd get a second opinion.  If I'm being too strict or too???I'd like to know.  I haven't said no and my girls want to go so badly.  All of their Christian friends will be there.  How hard is it to say no?  Very. 


Any ideas or scripture to guide me?


From Glory Farm

Aug 23, 2007

Washing Soda-It's not just for laundry soap

I like picking up old oak chairs at rummage sales and such.  I can usually get them for about $5.  I just finished stripping my last purchase and realized the chair has cost me $15 already.  Five for the chair and $10 for the stripper.  Is this a good deal?  I found some more natural and less costly solutions, but remember I haven't tried them and so don't know how well they work.


1.Make a thick paste of washing soda and leave on for a number of hours, keeping it damp.


2.Oven cleaner.  Spray on and leave for 30 minutes.  Scrape with steel scourers.


3. Hot vinegar.


Other things I didn't know:


Borax is a disinfectant when mixed with water.


Mixing washing soda and water works for a pre-wash.


Washing soda is such a good grease cutter, it's a must for mechanics.


Thought I'd share my latest discoveries.


From Glory Farm

Aug 21, 2007

Harvey Ferdinand DaBul

Here he is.  He's an orphan.  His momma died a day after giving birth.  We're bottle feeding this guy and boy can he eat.  What a blessing for us.  We have two other steers, but they're holsteins.  This little guy is healthy and getting strong fast.


Have a wonderful evening.


From Glory Farm

Aug 14, 2007

Making Nut Butter and Pie Filling

Food preservation is getting to be a full time job around here.  Praise God.  We are giving our bounty away and we still can't out give God.  I want to be a good steward and so was looking for ideas on how to use up all of this zuchinni.  I've froze some, I've made bread and froze that, zuchinni jam is an option.  I decided to try to can apple pie filling, substituting zuchinni for apple.  I haven't tasted it yet and the jars had some trouble sealing for some reason, but here's the recipe:


Peel and slice zuchinni (apples).  Fill quart jars.  (This made six quarts for me.)  Fill tightly. 


Make syrup:


4 1/2 cups sugar


1 cup cornstarch


2 tsp. cinnamon


1/4 tsp. nutmeg


1 tsp. salt


10 cups water


Cook syrup until thick and bubbly, add 3 Tbl. lemon juice.  Pour over zuchinni in jars.  Put on lids.  Process 20 minutes in hot water bath.  (I think a pressure canner might work better?)


I'm also looking at a mess of sunflower seeds.  I save some for the birds, roast some and this year I thought I'd try and make sunblower butter.  I love the stuff that I buy in the health food store.  I found this recipe on the internet:


Using raw seeds, shell them by putting them in a cloth bag and punding them gently with the flat side of a hammer.  Don't smash them, just crush them.  When mostly crushed, pour them into cold water and stir a time or two to let the loosened hulls rise to the top.  Skim these off and stir again, as many times as it takes.


When nothing but kernels are left, spread to dry.


Grind seeds in a food processor,(easiest) or a blender.  If seeds seem dry and clumpy, add a little oil, about a quarter teaspoon at a time until you get the right consistency.  Keep mixing until the butter is as smooth as you want it.  You can add salt, salt will keep it better.  Store in the refrigerator.


My seeds aren't quite done yet, but I'm anxious to try this. 


Also, does anyone know how to roast ranch flavored sunflower seeds?  Do you think it would work to soak them in Hidden Valley Mix before roasting?


Have a blessed day,


From Glory Farm

Aug 9, 2007

Tips and Tidbits

We have a 16 year old who tells us constantly "I'm not a morning person" and then lives up to this.  She is GRUMPY.  Here's a solution?  Tea from wild violet flowers.  I haven't tried it yet, but I may insist she try it. 


If you have to sew or mend heavy tarps, tents, canvas or leather and you don't have a thimble, tape a coin to your finger to push the needle through.


Have a pleasant and prosperous day.


From Glory Farm

Aug 7, 2007

Attack of the Killer Zuchinni

In the shadowy depths of my garden lurcks the "mutant zuchinni".  It grows larger and larger, unseen by the locals until at last, unable to conceal itself any longer,  it bursts forth to confront the gardener. (That's me.) The scene isn't pretty and you may want to make sure your children don't read this.  With hatchet and wheelbarrow I go out to battle.  Well, maybe that's a bit of a stretch.  You get the idea. 


These squash were found in my garden.  The one on the left is some kind of zuchinni, I think.  I didn't plant it and there wasn't a garden here last year, so I don't know where it came from.  The one on the right is two squash grown together.  I think it's some kind of summer squash, but I don't which type.  And how would you prepare it?


Here are a couple of pics of my garden.  It's hard to tell what everything is.  I was going to wait to show you until all of the weeds were pulled, but that is so not going to happen.



Also, is it possible to can pesto?  I don't have a canner so it would be open kettle.  And what is the best way to preserve green peppers?  Canning, freezing?


Thanks so much. 


All for His glory.


 

Aug 6, 2007

Why we decided to homeschool

We have two children, 10 and 8, that we homeschool.  We have two others, 16 and 14, that we do not.  We have a blended family and that is why the older two go to public school, their dad refuses to let them be homeschooled, and now that they're older, they say they don't want it either. 


I have always wanted to homeschool.  Initially, it was because I had such bad experiences when I went to school.  Now that I love the Lord, I see so many more reasons.  My husband was homeschooled during highschool and loved the freedom and the experiences he had.  He never doubted that his children would be homeschooled. 


Our homeschooled children see the world much differently than their public schooled peers.  They love fixing tractors and learning the history of things.  They like frequent field trips, stamp, rock, and coin collecting.  They see how things relate to the bible more clearly than a lot of children that we know.  We emphasize making do and being able to utilize what you have to do what you want.  Kind of a MacGuyver type of mentality.


I think I could go on and on about why we homeschool, the opportunity to study what you're interested in, to spend time in prayer and bible study, to get everything done and have no "homework", to do community service as part of school, interacting with people of all ages instead of just your age, the abscence of teasing and the building of God confidence, etc.  After all, we, as parents, are responsible for our children's education.  Not the schools or the teachers.  No matter where your children are educated, the buck stops at you, the parent.


All for His glory.


From Glory Farm

Tips and Tidbits

We never stop learning.  Trouble is, we sometimes stop retaining. I hope by blogging things I'm learning, maybe I'll help to retain them.  At least they'll be there in black and white for me to access, unless my computer crashes.


Did you know that a good way to tell what plug may be fouled out on your tractor is to run it for a little bit, turn it off and feel to see which plug feels coolest?  We've pulled plugs, one by one before to find the culprit.  This is cool.


Also, a poltice of cobwebs will stop the flow of blood.  I've read it works on cows that have just been dehorned.  Considering the amount of cobwebs in our barn, I think we should try this next time.  We cautorized them instead and I know it was quite painful. 


Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Jul 31, 2007

Blueberry Ice Cream

The wild blueberry season is coming to an end.  I've been out picking and I think I'll go one more time.  Maybe tonight.  I can most, I freeze some.  I make a lot of blueberry mufins and blueberry cobbler.  The other night we made blueberry ice cream.  I found a simple recipe.


Blueberry Ice Cream


2 cups cleaned blueberries


3/4 cup sugar


1/8 teaspoon salt


1 1/2 cups heavy cream


1 cup milk


Bring blueberries, salt and sugar to a boil.  Mash berries and simmer for 5  minutes.  Cool slightly and put in blender with milk.  Puree until smooth.  Stir in cream.  Cool mixture, covered, for at least two hours.  Freeze in your ice cream maker. 


I discovered that if I just open a pint of blueberry sauce and mix with milk and cream I can freeze that.  How easy.  The recipe calls for puttting the mixture through a sieve before you cool it.  I didn't.  I like berries, whole and in part in my ice cream.


Well it's off to the garden.


God bless your day as you bless Him.


From Glory Farm

Jul 30, 2007

Gardening and Free Plants

The children were all gone for the week end, so my dh and I took a ride down to the Twin Cities.  We picked up a loader for our Int'l 560.  Once we get it on the tractor, I'll be able to drive into the barn and scoop up the manure (excurse me, fertilizer) and haul it on the garden.  This wheelbarrow thing I've been doing is far too labor intensive.

We also stopped to see my brother, who works at a greenhouse down there.  They were in the process of throwing out all of the last of their plants!  They gave us shrubs, yarrow, lilies, and a couple other perennials.  We could have had a truck full!  They threw out lilacs, junipers, hydrangeas, etc.  just cuz they couldn't find anyone to take them.  So maybe there's an idea.  Leave your phone number with the greenhouse you do business with and have them call you when they need to get rid of inventory.

I'd like you to see my garden.  Next entry I'll try to post more pics.  The weather has been great for growing things.  Problem is the weeds like it too.  Today is officially garden day here at the farm.  No housework or baking.  Just weeding, freezing, canning and harvesting.

Our two youngest are at their mom's all week.  They've never been away like this before and I'm a case.  Worry is something that doesn't help and doesn't need to be done.  I do it anyways.  Praying that God's supernatural peace blankets us. 

From Glory Farm

 

 

Jul 20, 2007

Natural Dyes

I have been spinning and now I think I'll try dying the yarn.  All of the roving that I have is white and I'd like to experiment with plant dyes. 


First I need to soak the yarn in a fixative and simmer for an hour.  I'm going to try rasberry dye.  It's supposed to make a red dye.  To use rasberries I need to use salt for a fixative.  Other plants I might try are onion skins for orange, coffee grounds for brown, strawberries for pink, blueberries for blue, beets for a deep red, spinach or nettles for green.  These are all plants that I have around here.  There are a lot of plants that can be used for dyes and  a lot of information out there on dying.


I saw some of you have dyed yarn with kool-aid.  The colors are so beautiful.  How do you set the colors?  Do you have to do anything special?


Have a great week-end.


From Glory Farm

Jul 16, 2007

A picture of my garden

I thought I'd post a picture of our garden.  I guess it's a bit like bragging, but it's growing so well.  We've had great growing conditions this summer.  God is good.  This is the biggest garden I've ever had and I think we'll go even bigger next year, even if we don't bring it to the farmer's market.  There are so many people who don't have gardens and really like the fresh produce.



It's a bit hard to tell what's what.  Sunflowers, onions, spinach, herbs, tomatoes, etc.


Now in the category of using time wisely, I've placed my spinning wheel next to my computer.  I have dial-up and spend a lot of time playing solitaire waitning for pages to load.  Now I spin waiting for pages to load.  This way I'll finally finish this old roving and be able to start on the new stuff.  I can also spin when I talk on the phone.  It's great.


Hope you enjoy your day.  Bring glory to God.


From Glory Farm

Jul 11, 2007

Berries and Broccoli and Peas-Oh My!

Our garden is such a blessing.  It's producing much better than I thought a first year garden would.  I planted much more than we needed, thinking that I would be selling at a farmer's market, but it hasn't happened yet.  I put in my application at the nearest one, but they said that they really didn't want me or my produce.  Oh well.  Now I have vegetables to share with everyone.  Neighbors, parents, I even bring a cooler full to church.  I froze snow peas today and we've been using the broccoli as it's been getting done.  When I go to the grocery store, I don't have to buy vegies or much for fruits because my family is satisfied with fresh peas.  They eat them all day long.  God is so good.  I'm still not sure what to do with the abundance.  I may try a farmer's market 50 miles from here, but to tell you the truth, I'm a bit leary because of my experience with that last farmer's market.  I'm not sure where God is leading. 


Also, the blueberries and the rasberries are getting done.  We have a bunch back in the woods to the east of the house.  I love to put up blueberry sauce.  We have it on pancakes, yogurt , ice cream and in smoothies all winter long.  I don't put up blueberry jam anymore.  Everyone likes the sauce more.


This has been a fine day.  How does the song go?..This good day, it is a gift from You.  The world is turning in it's place because You made it to.  I will sing, sing a song of praise for this good day.


Thank you.


From Glory Farm

Jul 4, 2007

Hello...

This day is gorgeous.  We picked up a few fireworks for tonight.  I know the kids want to go somewhere and do something today, being the fourth and all, but we have so much hay to cut yet.  The weather is cooperating and we need to get it done.  My honey has unexpectedly gotten some time off.  He's a big help when it comes to making hay.  Maybe we'll be able to do something later this afternoon. 


My garden here is doing great.  Weeds and all.  This soil is so much better than when we lived up North.  I'll post pictures when I beat the weeds down a bit. 


Hope you all have a blessed Fourth.


From Glory Farm

Jun 27, 2007

When you give a woman a tractor...

Making hay shouldn't be so complicated.  My honey has to work long days so daughter #1 has a job making hay for us this summer.  Field #2 needed to be cut this morning.  We wanted to get off to an early start.  Here's how it goes.


1.  Check oil and gas in tractor.  Start tractor, can't get it out of second gear.  MOM.......


2.  Tractor now out of second gear.  Mom drives it to the hayfield.  Hook up to the haybine.  Can't get the PTO shaft to line up right.  Run it and turn it off, run it and turn it off, etc.  Finally lines up.  Grease haybine.  One broken grease fitting, one fitting is put where the sun don't shine, (excuse me), grease gun fitting much too tight.  Gets stuck on haybine.  Go home.  Change out end of grease gun.  Finish greasing haybine. 


3.  Haybine won't lower like it should.  Check hydraulic hoses.  Change.  Still doesn't work.  Change again.  Call dear husband for the third time.  Did we take out the safety pin?  Oops.  Hey it works great.


4.  It is now two hours and 15 minutes since this ordeal began, but PTL she's heading for the hayfield.  Why is she standing out there and not on the tractor? Drive out to find out.  Can't get the haybine to shift to the side of the tractor to mow.  Call dear patient husband again.  Did we back up and pull pin at the same time?  If that doesn't work-just use a big hammer.  (Is he getting as tired as we are?)  Take his advice and hey-it works great.


5.  Two hours and forty minutes later....Look at her go.  PTL! 


I guess we'll save the baling tomorrow.  I may have a whole new story to tell tomorrow.


God is good.


Rhonda

Jun 25, 2007

Horse Spray and New Roving

Our horses are suffering out there.  The flies are so bad.  They could go in the woods, but they just stand out there in the sun and get eaten up.  We've bought many brands of flyspray.  None seem to work for very long.  The wipes work about the best, but are very expensive.  I'd like to try fly predators, but they're expensive  also.  We make our own spray now.  It works as well, if not better, than the sprays we've tried.


1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, 1 cup baby oil, 1/4 cup real pinesol, 1 Tablespoon dish soap, 1 tablespoon eucalyptus, 1 tablespoon citronella


Mix and spray.


Now about the three pounds of roving that came in the mail today.  My wonderful brother did his research and ordered three pounds of Corriedale roving for my birthday.  That ought to keep me busy for awhile.  Brother, if you're reading this, thanks so much.  I can spin to my heart's content.


Have a great afternoon. 


In His Service,


Rhonda

How to set up a website

In a weekly homeschool newsletter that I receive, they listed a site that has lessons on setting up a website.  It's all free.  I haven't started the lessons yet, but the site looks very informative.  I used to be able to do HTML, but it's been years and I've forgotten it all.  The site is www.w3schools.com

Jun 23, 2007

The Wonderful Nettle

We have an abundance of forage plants here.  I mean wild plants that can be utilized for a gazillion things.  Nettles everywhere.  Stinging nettles and dead nettles.  Did you know that jewel weed takes the sting out if you should happen to bump one of these nettles?  I've found that tea tree oil does also.  Nettles are supposed to be good in stews and other dishes.  I haven't tried this, yet.  If you cook them to eat, do not boil them.  I guess it makes them taste awful.  You're supposed to simmer them or steam them.  Mix them with rice, make creamed nettles.  I guess I'd try the tea.  Dry them and steep them.  This isn't supposed to taste like a tea, but more like a green plant essence.  Nettles contain-calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, silica, iodine, silicon, sodium and sulfur-chlorophyll, tannin, vitamin c, beta carotene, and b complex vitamins.  Nettle tea compresses are good for woulnds, cuts, stings and burns.


Here's a recipe for the adventerous.


2 cups thinly sliced wild or commercial carrots, 2 cups nettles, 1 cup yogurt, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup milk, 2 cloves garlic-minced, 1/4 teaspoon dried mustard, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, dash cayenne and nutmeg.


Simmer carrots for 10 minutes in one-half inch of water.  Add the nettles and simmer for another 5 minutes.  Reserve the cooking water.  Mince the vegetables in the blender of by hand, and mix in the remaining ingredients.  Put in an oiled baking dish and bake at 275 for 15-20 minutes.


All information contained in this blog is from the book-Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and not so wild) Places by "Wildman" Steve Brill.


Next time maybe we'll try a salad of purslane, lamb's quarterand amaranth.

Jun 14, 2007

It's a Jungle out there-

It's so quiet in the morning before everyone gets up.  The clock is ticking and the computer humming, but that's all I hear.  The temps are warm here now and everything is growing so well.  The weeds included, but I had my two litttle ones (8 & 10) out weeding with me last night.  They do very well now that the vegetables are recognizable.  The bugs are growing, too.  We had sandflies inhaled and ingested.  They were everywhere.  I finally caved and let them put on bug spray.  I just don't like the stuff.


Our two older girls came back from their missions trip on Monday.  They were changed, PTL!  A good and Godly change.  They have a deeper relationship with the Lord now and were actually able, with God's help, to pray for salvation with some people.  Our oldest girl stood up and gave her testimony.  Her life hasn't been a "Father Knows Best" kinda life, but thankfully our "Heavenly Father Knows Best".  I have mixed feelings about having our trials broadcast for everyone, but I think that's a pride problem that I need to deal with.


I would like to accomplish a long list of tasks today.  Lord willing.  The lawn needs to be mowed-again.  Like I said things are growing well and I am thankful.  I have some old fencelines to pull and a new one to put up.  Company coming tomorrow, so I should straighten and clean a little bit.  Lord give me energy, I can't seem to find mine.


Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Jun 9, 2007

Late Breaking News From Glory Farm

It's one of those times...I typed out the whole post and lost it because I was trying to edit my blog.  So... what did I say?


Seems redundant to say it again.


The garden is growing great.  Everything is up except the corn.  Weeds are growing great.  On my list of to dos.


My honey has a gift for finding good deals in machinery.  See that threshing machine at the top of the page.  He picked that up yesterday.  Today he's off to pick up four antique (very old) snowmobiles.  The price is right.  Free.  Tomorrow its a Case tractor that we need for parts.  Free.  He's good, eh?


Our two oldest are on a missions trip.  They are serving in many capacities.  Doing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, helping in the nursery, nursing home, homeless ministry, soup kitchen.  It'll be exciting to get the report, when they get home, of what God has done this week in their lives.


My honey is starting a new job on Tuesday.  The old one kinda ran out of work for him.  It was hard on him to work there.  Praying that this is the direction God has for his life.


I bought a new book yesterday, The Everything Soap Book.  It has recipes for cold-processed, hot-processed, clear, cream and liquid soaps.  Recipes like Coffee Kitchen Soap, Peppermint Bath Soap, Soap for Acne, etc.  I'm going to try the hot-processed soaps.


Today its lawn mowing, garden weeding, barn cleaning and hopefull off to the stock car races tonight.  I haven't mentioned this to my honey, but I'm hoping to talk him into it.  I love the races.  (We all have those vices?) (Maybe not.)


Have a Glory filled day.


Rhonda

May 30, 2007

Ugh!!! Cows!!!

Calves to be exact.  Right now I think they're about the dumbest creatures on the planet.  We've raised Holstein calves for meat before, but these two we have now make me crazy.  They don't get the electric fence concept.  They know that something hurts when they cross that wire, but don't seem to understand it's the wire itself.  I think we'll end up putting up barbed wire just for these two.  So...let's put the calf halters on them and tie them out so they can trim the yard.  That works for about 15 minutes and then the calf halter is on the ground and the calf has gone back INTO the pasture.  How????  Okay so after reading this you're probably asking just who the dumb one really is?  I've been asking that for the last two weeks.  Pray for me.


 

May 28, 2007

Have you read Brother Juniper's Bread Book?

A hot cup of fresh ground coffee, a piece of just out of the oven Cajun Three Pepper Bread, a soft rain hitting the livingroom picture window and my computer.  Hi, how's your afternoon?  My house is quiet.  Just me and my Bassett Hound.  It's time for a coffee break.  The rain forced me inside.


I hand-milled some soap this morning.  Some Aloe Vera, and some French Clay.  Yesterday I put some Skeeter-Be-Gone and some Oatmeal Cinnamon up to age.  Getting ready for the Farmers' Market.  I've made feed sack aprons and I'm experimenting with new kinds of breads to sell.  I've been using recipes out of Brother Juniper's Bread Book.  These have been great.  I've tried the Scottish Struan Bread, Wild Rice and Onion and now today the Cajun Three Pepper Bread.  I want to take all three to the Market.  Maybe I should take Musketman's Cinnamon Rolls?  I think that's the label I'd put on them, too.


I put in another five rows in my garden this morning.  The frost took out three rows last night.  I took a gamble and I lost.  Tomorrow it's to the greenhouse to replace tomatoes and peppers.  I met some fellow farmer's market sellers yesterday.  I thought having 1/2 acre in garden was big, they have 13 acres in vegetables.  They do alot of corn and potatoes.  I don't think I'm going to do that.  I've put in alot of herbs, beans, melons and many varieties of greens.  They own the farmer's market in a town about 50 miles from here.  They said that we'd be welcome there if we wanted to sell.  Very nice. 


Coffee break is over.  Time to clean.  Have a blessed Memorial Day. 


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda


 

May 20, 2007

What's This White Stuff?

Just a quick post before chores and church.  You know how I love to post on the weather..well just wanted to share-we have snow this morning.


"I'm dreaming of a white Memorial Day..."  Take it away Musketman.


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda

May 17, 2007

What do you learn in the garden?

Working in the garden, weeding and planting is such a pleasant escape.  It's a time of prayer and meditation, also.  The bible mentions planting, sowing, weeds, soils, reaping and harvest, quite a bit.  Every time I go out to garden, I can learn a biblical lesson.  Like now when the seedlings are coming up along with the quackgrass.  I need to let the weeds and the seedliings grow until the seedlings are strong enough and then I can pull the weeds.  In the word, Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus talks about the tares growing with the wheat.  He says to let them grow together until the harvest when the tares shall be thrown into the fire.  The tares being sown in by the enemy.


I thought that maybe it would be interesting to hear what kind of biblical truths others discover in the garden..."and you shall eat the herb of the field.  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread..."Gen.3:19    I thought maybe a contest, but I know that I'm not qualified to judge this. So...I have notecards that I make from homemade paper I'd like to send to anyone who'd like to post or comment.  Thanks.


From Glory Farm 

May 17th

It's been some time since I've posted.  I'm in one of those times when I don't feel that I have much to contribute, but enjoy reading what everyone else is doing. 


My garden is half in and we had a killing frost last night.  Shouldn't have hurt it too much though.  I'm going to be daring and put out my tomatoes today.  They've gotten too big for their pots and if I don't get them out, they'll die anyways. 


I have horse spray, deoderant, bread and soap to make today, also.  I'm using a new soap recipe where I have to render my own tallow.  I've never done this before, I always just bought the oils I needed.  Anyone have much experience with this?


Guess I'd better get at it. 


Hoping to bring glory to God.


From Glory Farm

May 5, 2007

Homemade flea collar

Here's a recipe I found for a flea collar.  I haven't tried it yet, but I mean to.


Mix:


1/2 t. alcohol


1 drop cedarwood essential oil


1 drop lavender essential oil


1 drop citronella essential oil


1 drop thyme essential oil


Mix with the contents of four garlic capsules-  Soak a soft dog collar in this until it has absorbed as much as possible, then dry.  This last about a month.  You can use this for cats and dogs.


More hints:


1.Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of corn oil

In your cat’s ear, massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball.  Repeat daily for three days.

2. To kill fleas, Dawn dishwashing soap does the trick.  Add a few drops to your dog’s bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly.  Rinse well to avoid skin irritations..

3. Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with a dryer sheet.  Makes him smell springtime fresh.

4. Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

5. For relief of achy muscles, mix 1 tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil.  Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil.

6.  For a sore throat just mix ¼ cup of vinegar with ¼ cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day.  The vinegar kills the bacteria.

7. Cover skin blemishes with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it.  Honey kills the bacteria and keeps the skin sterile. 

8. Listerine therapy for toenail fungus.  Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash.

9. Pour a drop of Elmer’s glue over a splinter, let dry and peel the dried glue off the skin.  The splinter sticks to the dried glue. 

10. Mix 2 cups of rolled oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute.  Cool slightly and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

 

 


From Glory Farm 

May 3, 2007

The "List"

We had the party for my parents 50th anniversary this weekend.  It went very well.  God blessed our time.  My parents truly enjoyed themselves.  So after weeks of planning, it's time to get back into the routine of things around here.


The UPS truck pulled in this morning with my strawberries.  Oh no.  My garden is tilled, and I even put some of it in yesterday, but my strawberry patch is in no way ready.  It wasn't on my list today.  I guess, now it is. 


The collection of horses and donkeys out there are eating the bark off of the red pines in the pasture.  Have to get a new pasture up today and tomorrow.  Wasn't on my list.  Also need a small pasture for our calves, that was on my list.


The dog jumped up into my seed starts and killed my watermelon, canteloupes and herbs.  Made a mess.  Have to start more now,  wasn't on my list.  Ds vacuumed up the potting soil from this and the vacuum quit working.  Now no vacuum.  I think that this whole day-wsn't on my list.


So when the list gets too long---it's time to blog.  Just another thing that wasn't on my list.


There's an auction I really want to go to this Saturday.  They have a bunch of stuff I need for my list.  Anyone want to go?


God bless your day.  Be flexible.  Have a blank page so you're always ready to make a "new list".


From Glory Farm

Apr 24, 2007

Natural and Organic Animal Care

Awhile back, I posted looking for information on a more natural way to keep our livestock healthy.  I know that there are books out there, but I haven't bought any.  I did come across some information that I'm going to use.  I thought I'd pass it on and if anyone knows if this works or doesn't, please post. 


First, Shaklee's Basic H is supposed to work as a wormer.  (Shaklee doesn't endorse it as such. ) One cup to 100 gallons of water.  (This is for cattle.)  Another cure, and one I've tried, is Diatomaceous Earth.  I've used this for lice.  Just sprinkle on the back of the animal.  I use food grade, because I've added it to goat food to get rid of internal parasites.  Some people say this works, some say it doesn't.


I also found a website www.farmsteadhealth.com.  This has natural wormers and supplements for just about any animal.  Rotating pastures often, keeping the barns clean and giving high quality foods all help to keep animals healthy.  There's also a kelp supplement that is supposed to help.  Lisa over at Lighthouse Farm uses this and says it works wonders.


Off to another day of housecleaning, yardcleaning, animal feeding , homeschooling, garden prep and praising my Lord!


From Glory Farm

Apr 21, 2007

Such Contentment

A quiet morning.  We awoke to thunder and rain.  Wonderful.  You can almost see the grass growing.  My dh went on one of his expeditions to retrieve priceless treasure.  This one being a traxcavator.  We do need one.  It comes in handy doing dirt work around here and moving things.  He sold the one we had at Christmas so we could buy presents.  That's the kind of guy he is.


There are three girls still asleep upstairs and it's almost 9:00.  Perhaps it's time to sound the alarm.  We have some hungry calves in the barn that need their attention.


I think it'll be a quiet day.  The rain is still falling softly.  There's sewing and spinning to do.  The fun stuff.  Bake some bread.  Sounds like a very nice day.  Hope your's is as well.


In all things bring Him glory.


From Glory Farm

Apr 19, 2007

Crocus and compost

It's not much, but it brings hope.  This lonely little crocus I found in my flower bed.


Still too cold to put in anything in the garden, but I have tulips up and I'll post pictures when they bloom.  I love flowers, don't you?


I put together my new compost bin today.  I think it'll work well.  It looks a lot better than the sheep wire I had around the old one.  I just put four pallets together and left the shorter one able to swing open.



I'd better get some supper on.  Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Apr 11, 2007

Turn, turn, turn, turn

I went and got a spinning wheel today.  Now I'm committed.  I have to learn to spin.  I did a bit this afternoon and I know one thing, 20 minutes on the wheel turned out better yarn than four hours on the drop spindle. 


This is the wheel.  It needs to be finished.  A fella in a town about 40 miles from here makes these. 



It's made of oak.  I'm kinda excited to get going on it. 


Best get going to bed.


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda

Apr 5, 2007

Yes We Can-Can

After months (two) of searching, I've found the prefect garbage can for my kithchen. Two months ago we broke our kitchen garbage can and I wanted something different.  Something functional that looked nice.  I was going to make a wooden bin, but I haven't got around to it yet.  I found a book at the grocery store called "Painted Whimsies".  And voila!  The perfect can. In my excitement, I ran to the computer to tell you all about it and here it is.....


We can all sleep sounder now, knowing that problem has been solved.


The Lord bless,


From Glory Farm

Apr 3, 2007

Equine Vaccinations

I am not a person who is big on vaccines.  I know that they have done much good, but I think they may be getting a little out of hand.  They have vaccines for chicken pox, now required to be able to go to school, and I read about a vaccine for diarhea for children.  I know these may be good in some instances, but I chose not to immunize any more than the minimum required. 


When it comes to animals, I'm not sure which is the best policy.  As a child, we never immunized our dogs, cats, cows, anything.  Now, in order to bring your critters out in public, you have to have proof of immunizations.  We immunize every spring.  The horses get the four-way and the West Nile Virus.  Talking to a horse trainer and she said she won't give her horses the West Nile shot.  I don't know much about this, but I figured there must be a natural alternative, or at least another side to the equine immunization thing.  Vets encourage you to immunize against everything.  I guess I'm looking for some information along the lines of why not to immunize.  Is there something else you can do to help your animals stay healthy?  We bring in critters from other farms during the year and when you do that, you don't always know what you might be bringing in.  And what about worming?  We worm four times a year, but my mom says it makes her cringe, and that she thinks it's not a good policy to always worm your animals.


I suppose  I could buy a book.  I know that there are books about natural animal care.  I'd like to hear from someone who actually does it.


Thanks,


From Glory Farm

Cruel Joke

Is it a Minnesota thing, or do people in other parts of the country let the weather become an obsession?  My tulips are up, and dreams of working the warm soil with my hands seemed close to becoming a reality.  When what to my wondering eyes should appear?....No, not St. Nick, but he'd have no trouble getting through today.  Winter storm warning out with 9" of snow possible.  We need the moisture.  I'd prefer rain.  I had planned an exciting day of going to the land fill and to the Chrysler garage to get the truck fixed.  I guess all that fun will have to wait and I'll just have to make a cup of hot chocolate, send the kids out to feed the chickens and cows, and hunker down.  What a shame. 


Have a warm and cozy day.


From Glory Farm

Mar 27, 2007

Ketchup

As in catch up. 


It's been raking the yard, starting the seeds,  cleaning the barn, washing the blankets and rugs, getting ready for the farmer's market, planning my parents 50th anniversary party, and taking care of a couple of new born calves.


We're still remodeling the house.  I STILL have to finish mudding the livingroom and then pick a color scheme.  Anyone want to help?  My kithchen is done in light blue and yellow.  I don't know if I want a warm color scheme, an accent wall, something to match the kitchen?  Then I'm going to varnish the hardwood floors.  Paint my bedroom in mint and peach?


How about ideas for the anniversary party?  We have polka music and just some sandwiches, fruit and vegies and dip.  It's an open house at a nearby school.  Any frugal???  ideas.  I made up the invites on the computer.  Planning on doing up vegie trays myself.  Have you seen what they want for them, even at Wal-Mart?


It's a gorgeous day, again.  Cool and sunny.  After lunch it's back to cleaning the barn and the yard.


That's it from Glory Farm.


May you bring Glory to the Father this day.


Rhonda

Mar 11, 2007

Homestead Business Opportunities

Here at Glory Farm we are always looking for ways to make our farm more self supporting.  I came across an article in Small Farm magazine and thought maybe we'd give this a try.  Picking wild botanicals for resale.  There are a number of wild herbs that grow here, some bring better prices than others.  Things like dandelion roots and leaves, rasberry leaves, strawberry leaves, red clover blossoms, burdock, yellow dock are in demand.  The recommeded book, "Directory of Flower and Herb Buyers 2007", is available at Prairie Oak Publishing for $12.  I haven't ordered it yet, but I might.  Their website is www.herb-buyers.com.  Has anyone else given this a try?  I realize it takes quite a bit of some herbs to make a pound.  I don't think that this is a get rich quick program, but it might work for spending money for the children. 


Have a blessed Sunday.


From Glory Farm

Mar 9, 2007

A Day of Hope and Promise

This is so cool.  45 degrees and it's supposed to stay warm for at least the next five days.  Spring!  Melting snow revealing all of the dogs' doings for a whole winter.  Spring!  The chickadees have changed their song.  The back porch is full of water instead of ice.  We can wear mud boots instead of snow boots.  Though we still have a couple feet of snow out there.  I don't think it'll last long with these temps.


 


My honey has some time off and it's so good to have him home for awhile.  I sure appreciate him.  He cares so much and asks for so little.  He took the youngest two ice fishing yesterday.  They caught a lot of ice. (bad joke)  They also caught one little crappie.  Dd3's first fish.  Not enough to eat, but they all had fun. 


 


I took the oldest two to an awards banquet at the Elks Club.  We met a family that was just great.  Kept us laughing all night.


 


Well, I started some broccoli, tomatoes and peppers two weeks ago.  I know it's early, but I just have to do something.  My peppers haven't come up.  I don't know why.  New seed, kept moist, maybe it wasn't warm enough?  I'm still waiting.


 


I've been trying to spin with a drop spindle and I think I'm ready for a wheel.  Not that I've gotten that good, I just can't spin with a spindle.  The yarn is all different thicknesses.  I think I want to learn to do this, though.  I don't need another pastime, but I think it could be a lot of fun.


 


I need to get off of here and do something constructive.  I have some sewing to finish and taxes to finish.  Also, I need to get our farmer's market plans organized and figure what else I still need to get.  These are, for the most part, enjoyable things.  I am blessed to be able to persue the things that God has given me an interest in.  (The goats are coming.)


Thanks for stopping to read.  Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Mar 6, 2007

Sew What? Without a dongle?

I was over at ZooNana's looking at all of her great pictures of the things she's made on her new embroidery machine.  That got me thinking that there are a lot of people here that know a lot of things.  I have a Husqvarna Iris machine that has the computerized embroidery.  I have the customizing program 5.0.  An older one.  I lost the little adaptor that I need for my computer to save my designs.  They call it a dongle.  I lost it when we moved last August.  I've emailed Husqvarna and my emails won't go through.  I've looked on ebay and haven't found any.  I don't want to buy a whole new program.  Does anyone have any suggestions?


Thanks.


From Glory Farm

Mar 1, 2007

It can Stop Now-

We aren't going anywhere.  I don't mind, especially when I don't have anywhere to go.  This blizzard, the one that started today, is supposed to bring 15 inches.  The wind is whipping and the driveway is all drifted in again.  I'm not snowblowing until tomorrow when it's all over. 


This latest bit of weather means no school today or tomorrow so my older ones are home with the young ones.  Didn't get much done with homeschool today. 


 


One of our geldings cut his foot right above the fetlock.  It looks like it's going to be okay, but it sure scared us with all of the bleeding.  We've had it wrapped, but are letting it air out today.


 


Yesterday, the youth group leader called for a fast.  The youth are supposed to  go without any TV, books (except school books and the bible), no computer.  This is to give them more time with God.  Uninterupted.  The fast along with the snow days has made for some pretty interesting entertainment.  How I wish they could all watch a movie!  We have a trumpet going, a trombone, a keyboard, and a guitar.  They just don't all go together.  Then we had the GI Joe marathon.  Even the 15 year old was GI Frogman.  My dd2 got pictures for future blackmail material. 


 


My dh is stuck down in southern Minnesota.  They've closed I-35 down into Iowa.  He's parked waiting and praying.  Not sure which way to take.


I'm going to go and warm my hands in some dishwater.  Have a blessed night.


From Glory Farm

Feb 27, 2007

Kitchen -before and after


This is our kitchen before the paint and stuff.


Here's our kitchen a couple coats of paint and some border and new curtains, etc.



 


The dates on the pics aren't right.  I'm just too lazy to reset my camera.  The tablecloth and curtains are from Wal-Mart clearance.  I bought a couple of big tablecloths on sale for $4 a piece and made enough curtains for all three window and am reupholstering 4 chairs.  Not bad.  But, alas, this is the kitchen that we are tearing down in 4 months.  This is also the window that filled with snow during the last blizzard.  I now get to do floor plans and interior design.  Fun.


Have a blessed Tuesday.


From Glory Farm

Feb 25, 2007

Repeat after me- No goats, no goats

Yes!  Winds howling, snow blowing, drifts forming, this is a blizzard.  We finally got some snow.  Our OLD farmhouse isn't really snug.  Sitting in the kitchen yesterday, the wind coming out of the east at 35 mph, snow was actually coming through the window by the table and building up inside the screen.  I have a window full of snow this morning!


 


I'm on my own for most of the day today.  Honey is working, driving.  All of the children are gone, so I have this time.  I'm wishing I was going to church, but with the blizzard, I think I'll stay put.  So what to do?  Seems like when the children are gone I don't do much of anything.  I always think that I'll get so much done, but here I am at the computer and making plans to do....I could mud the livingroom walls.  Put the border up around the kitchen.(brrr)  Try spinning some more of the roving I have.  Start some long overdue sewing projects.  Whew!  I'm tired already.  Time for a cup of coffee and a break. 


 


Well, it is out to feed the horses, donkeys and chickens.  Also, a couple of dogs and cats and some poor little finches that keep getting blown out of the feeder.


 


Can I share something with you?  I have this terrible urge to get some more goats.  I had to get rid of the last ones because they liked my neighbor more than they liked me.  He wasn't too fond of them, though.  But the urge is so great and unless I get some serious prayer, I may give into it.  I would love to make cheese again and goats' milk soap.  It must be spring fever.  Cuz a few new chickens sounds really good too.  How about an Angora goat or two?  Okay, I'd better stop.  My dh better get home before the barn is full.


 


Have a blessed sabbath.  Spend it with Him.


From Glory Farm


 


 

Feb 23, 2007

Nothing of Importance.

Finally!  We are so lacking in moisture here.  This weekend we're supposed to get about 12" of snow.  As I look out the window, I can see that it's already started.


Just a follow-up on a few things.  I've been taking an herbal concoction for my hypothyroid.  I don't know that I feel much different, but I guess it takes a couple weeks to make a difference.


I'd been looking for garbage can ideas and I guess I'll just make a wooden one myself.  I found one at www.hgtv.com I don't remember the exact page, but they have plans for the type I was looking for. 


Well, best go and get my bread in the oven.  It'll warm up the kitchen.  I am SO ready for spring.


From Glory Farm

Feb 13, 2007

Hallelujah! (I never spell that right.)

Last week I was down for most of the week.  My dh finally talked me into going to the doctor.  Found out that there isn't much they can do, I'll have to live with the malady for awhile, but when I was there, she tested my thyroid.  Hypothyroid.  That's me.  Tired? It's hypothyroid.  Joint aches-hypothyroid.  Cold-hypothyroid.  Weight gain-hypothyroid.  Stressed, depressed-hypothyroid.  Can't play piano-hypothyroid.  Or maybe not.  How wonderful is that!  To have a name for it and a treatment.  She wants to put me on synthroid, which is fine, but first I'm trying some suppliments.  I've been doing some research and people get relief without being on meds the rest of their lives.  So I'll try the natural way first and then if I don't feel any improvement I'll get meds.  Reason to rejoice.  I don't have to be tired and cold all the time anymore.  And these 15 pounds I've put on could have an answer too.   God is good.


On another note, my dh is trucking through Illinois, Indiana and all points south today.  I've heard it's horrid.  If he comes to mind, would you pray?  I think it's pretty nasty down there and though he's the best truck driver in the world, there are times to pull over and wait it out.


Blessing to you and yours.


From Glory Farm

Feb 10, 2007

Cold Weather and Drop Spindles

The days have warmed to above zero temps, but we'll be below zero at night until July 4th.  Okay, I exagerate, but there's no relief in sight. 


Imagine-waking in the morning, pouring a hot bath with baby oil and patchouli, grabbing a fresh cup of coffee and two giant chocolate chip cookies and soaking until you're good and ready to face the day.  This morning I feel spoiled and oh so blessed. 


Trying to spin wool with a drop spindle and I was warned that it takes awhile before you get the knack.  This is a lesson in patience and I'm sure I'm doing something wrong.  But we'll keep trying.  We have a pound of roving to spin and I don't want to waste it.  Any pointers?


Since I'm feeling so much better,(been in bed all week), I think I'll venture outside now and check the livestock.  It's a balmy -10 and the sun is shining. 


May God bless  your day.


From Glory Farm

Feb 6, 2007

Out with the old, In with the new

Here's the deal.  While bringing the trash to the dump, we broke our kitchen garbage can.  It was just one of those cheap plastic things.  Well, I've been looking around trying to find one to replace it, but I want something different.  Our kitchen trash doesn't go into a cupboard, so it sits out for all to see.  I want something asthetically pleasing.   I'm looking for ideas.  This isn't a contest or a challenge, but what kind of container could I use?  I tried an old milk can.  Not a good idea.  My kitchen is very old, farmhouse in blue and yellow.  Now I know this isn't the most urgent need, but light-hearted.  Got ideas?  I'd love to hear them.  Maybe I'll even come up with some kind of prize....(Watch out)


From Glory Farm

Jan 29, 2007

Passing on Frugality

Everyone has been passing on frugal tips.  Most of the ones I use have already been posted.  My dd3 showed me just how much she's learning from me the other day.  She goes to visit her mom every other weekend.  They go to the laudromat to wash clothes.  She came home with a pocketful of used dryer sheets last weekend.  I asked her why, when we don't have a dryer.  She said that they still had alot of smell in them and so she was going to use them in her dresser drawers and to put with her clothes when she dries them over the heat ducts.  A regular chip off the....


Also, I use plates and those plastic bags you put vegetables in in the grocery store to put away leftovers in the fridge.  That way I don't have to buy plastic wrap.


Have a blessed night.


From Glory Farm

Jan 23, 2007

Organics and Herbs

There are so many interesting things in this world that I have a desire to learn.  I always end up spreading my resources ( brains, strength, faith) too thin.  Our family is starting a truck garden this spring to help pay for our farm.  It's a bit overwhelming, but I'm not planting two acres the first year.  Maybe 1/2 acre.  There's so much I still need to learn about marketing.  The growing part should be fine, but how do I price, bag, display?  I've been reading some good books on this, but I think finding someone who is doing it would be very valuable.


Now I'm looking for information on Christian Natural Healing.  I have many books on using herbs, but I want something more in depth.  I grow alot of herbs and I really enjoy it, but most go to waste, because I don't use them like I should.  Maybe somehow this could go along with our truck garden enterprise.  Maybe I should sit back and listen to God instead of going in all directions?  Maybe the desires of my heart were put there by God? 


Well, better get back to school.  If anyone has any recommendations for courses or books to study, I would really appreciate it.


From Glory Farm

Jan 21, 2007

About me......

1.First name:  Rhonda


2. Were you named after anyone?  My dad named me after Rhonda Fleming the movie star.


3. When did you last cry?  Sometime last week.


4.What is your favorite lunch meat?  Leftover chicken.


5.Kids?  Four girls and one boy


6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?  I don't know......


7. Do you have a journal?  A prayer journal.


8. Do you use sarcasm alot?  I hope not.  I've been working on that one for years.


9. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.


10. Would you bungee jump?  I really doubt it.


11. What is your favorite cereal.  Don't do cereal.


12.Do you untie your shoes when you take them off.  In the winter, I do.


13. Do you think you are strong?  Physically I can hold my own.  Otherwise it's a God thing.


14. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Don't do ice cream, either.


15. Shoe size? 10


16. Red or pink? Red


17. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?  I'm anxious.  I let things get to me.


18. Who do you miss the most?  My son.


19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?  Jeans and my honey's sheepskin slippers.


20. What are you listening to right now?  The only sound is our funace running.


21.If you were a crayon, what color would you be?  Yellow


22. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?  My brother.


23. Favorite smell?  Patchouli


24. The first thing  you notice about people that you are attracted to.  Their openess and ability to be real.


25. Do you like the person who sent this to you?  I stole it off of Trina's blog.  Shhh.


26. Favorite drink.  I like coffee.  In the evening, a cappaciuno.  I can't spell.


27. Favorite sport?  Not into sports.


28. Hat size?  Really big. I can't find women's hats that fit.  Have to go to the men's section.  Wonder why they get bigger hats?


29. Do you where contacts? No


30. Favorite food?  Love fish.


31. Scary movies or happy endings?  Happy endings


32. What color shirt are you wearing?  My honey's orange Fleet Farm shirt.


33. Last movie you watched at the movies?  Don't remember.  Ice Age II?


34. Summer or winter?  Summer, but I'm actually an autumn type.


35. Hugs or kisses?  Hugs


36. Favorite dessert?  Hmmm..caramel rolls.


37. Who is the least likely to respond? ????


38. Who is the most likely to respond??????


39. What books are you reading?  The bible and Praying the Word by Beth Moore.


40. What is on your mouse pad?  Clifford the Big Red Dog


41. The furthest you've been from home?  California


42. What's your special talent?  My ability to make a mountain out of a mole hill.  Or else the way I can inhale and make my nose stick together.  (ugh)


43. When and where were you born?  June 20. Duluth, MN


44. What did you watch on TV last night?  We don't get TV.


Well,  That was fun.  Have a blessed day.


From Glory Farm


 


29.

Dec 29, 2007

Aren't you glad??

Snow gently falling outside the window.  It has blanketed the ground and is about a foot and a half deep.  It keeps on falling and may end up like the winters I remember as a child.  The snow always seemed so much higher then.  The banks were about two stories high and the forts had turrets and walkways, bedrooms and cellars.  King of the Hill could send you plummeting 15 feet.  Now we use the snowblower and we don't get banks anymore.  It does make for some hard crust that can  be cut and made into igloos of sorts.  There are squirrel tracks and mouse tracks that I can see out the window.  Everything looks so soft out there.



Our lives here have been going through some changes.  Our business isn't making it.  Each month sends us farther behind.  My husband was injured after falling 8 feet onto cement and landing on his head.  He's been laid up about a week.  Praise the Lord, he didn't have a concussion.  He did require 14 stitches and his neck and back are messed up, but it could have been much worse.  This means that he won't be able to haul a flatbed for quite a while.  So much for our business.  I guess sometimes things get decided for you.  Only God knows how this will turn out, but it helps to know that nothing happens that He's not aware of and in control of.  It is teaching me not to obsess over bills.  I can't do a thing about them, now.  We will be downsizing and selling some of our equipment.  This will simplify things greatly.  I feel a kind of relief.



 Back to the gently falling snow.  The warm temps.  My loving husband.  My healthy, happy children.  We are blessed beyond measure. 


From Glory Farm.



Dec 10, 2007

Seven Random Things

I was tagged.  I'm not too good at this, but here goes.  Angela at Within the Lines tagged me. 


Here are the rules as posted at her blog:


    * Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.


     * Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.


     * Tag 7 random people at the end of your post; include their links.


     * Let each "tagee" know that they've been tagged by leaving comment on their blog.


I think a lot of you have been tagged already, so if I retag you, you get to do it again?


Seven random things about me:


1. I love NASCAR.


2.  I'm turning out a lot more like my mom than I thought I would.


3.  I avoid conflict, even when conflict is necessary.


4.  I have a daughter I never see and a son who went to be with the Lord.


5.  Cool Ranch Doritoes and Diet Mountain Dew are my indulgences.


6.  Jesus is my saviour and I want everything in my life to be for His glory.  (I need much help in this area.)


7.  I complain about too much to do and then waste precious time.


I guess those are pretty random, eh? 


I'm just gonna leave those tags out there.  If anyone hasn't been tagged yet-now you are. 


Keep warm,


Rhonda

Dec 5, 2007

Parental Rights???

There are things that get my dander up.  I think the Lord allows them in my life to help me grow in love.  Dealing with certain people on the phone can have me acting non Christ like.  People telling me what I can and can't do with my children is another thing that angers me. It's the second one that has me up in arms tonight.


I received a letter from the school where our older two attend.  It was informing me of their truancy policy and the consequences of non-compliance.  Example:


"Excused absences include illness, medical and dental appointments, religious release, college visits, funerals, family vacations, and school functions."  Okay so...


Illnesses with a doctor's note will be excused, but without a doctor's note may or may not be. Yadda, yadda, and so on.  Children will not be excused to chase cows, take care of siblings, visit grandma, etc.  "If a student receives an unexcused absence, a warning letter is mailed to the parents to alert them to the attendance situation."


"If a student receives three unexcused absences on three or more days, the student is considered "continuing truant".  At this point, the school  notifies the appropriate social services department that deals with truancy and /or the county attorney's office."


"If a student receives seven unexcused absences on three or more days, the student is considered "habitual truant".  At this point, the school again notifies the appropriate social services department that deals with truancy and/or the county attorney's office."


"The following consequences may occur when the student is referred to county truancy services.  Face-to-face meeting with parents, juvenile court, student may lose or be denied driving privileges, parents may be found guilty of a misdemeanor and/or be charged with educational neglect if they are found to be contributing to the student's absences."


Okay, is it just because I don't like being told what to do?  Why does it bother me so much?  I encourage my children to learn, but I don't stress out about them going to school.  If they have something else to do, I usually let them.  There are other ways to get an education.  My oldest came home and said this whole policy stinks.  Well, not quite like that, but close.  How can a school take parents to court if their children miss school?  How can a school take away drivers' licenses? 


I feel better now.  Thanks for letting me vent.  God is in control and not the school district.  (But boy, they sure think they are.)


Good evening.


 

The House, The Lice, The Blessings and The Visit

The house building is at a standstill right now, but that was actually part of the plan.  My honey put a window in the kitchen last Saturday.  I love windows and I found some that were returned and clearanced.  They're beautiful and only 1/3 of their original price.  I think it'a a God thing.  They were exactly what I was looking for.


 


Our horses came down with lice.  Uck!  We've been using eucalyptus oil and vinegar.  Also, putting garlic and seasalt in their grain.  I've been dusting with diatematious earth and praying.    I broke down and bought some dusting powder and I'm still praying.  At least they're not getting any worse.  I think they came in with the Angora goats I picked up about 3 months ago.


 


God is giving my honey work.  He's out in Pennsylvania right now and trying to find a load out of there tomorrow.  Praying some more.  He  missed yesterday's snowstorm here and slightly frigid temps this morning, -12.  We owe and owe, but I think God is trying to teach me -"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known."


 


More good news!!!  We're getting company.  My brother-the one from Florida-is coming up next Wednesday.  He gets to stay for a week.  Merry Christmas to me.  Thank you Lord.  God knew I needed something to look forward to so He's sending Doug.


 


Well, that's the update here at Glory Farm.  Thanks for taking time to read my ramblings.  I'll try to get something more Christmasey on my blog.  This just won't do.


Rhonda

Nov 23, 2007

Of Four-Wheelers and Christmas Wreaths

I like surprises.  Wednesday, my honey cut apart our traxcavator (front end loader with tracks) and we loaded it on the flat bed and took it to  the scrapyard.  Metal is bringing top prices right now and with our work situation lately, we hoped we could get a good price.   We did.  Praise God. While there, my honey was offered two four wheelers in lieu of payment.  Of course, we don't need a four wheeler.  Honey says, we'll just take one and we'd like the rest in cash.  So Merry Christmas!  It's our family Christmas present.  It's small, a 110, but it works for us, and will come in handy checking fencelines and such.  See, I can rationalize.


What a nice surprise.  Totally frivolous and unecessary. 


Today I'd like to finish making Christmas wreaths.  I got two made yesterday.  I need to make at least one more, but I ran out of materials so I get to go traipsing (spelling) about in the woods again today.  I cut balsam mostly and a bit of cedar, red pine, red pine cones, scotch pine and when I can find it, princess pine.  Princess pine makes the best wreaths, but we don't  have a whole lot of it here.  I also cut red twig and alderbrush with the cones still on.  I use wire clothes hangers bent into circles and I buy thin wire at the craft store to wind around the boughs to hold them on.  I cut the boughs quite small and add the red twig and other branches for variety.  They're all natural except for the ribbon I need to pick up to make the bows.   They make nice gifts for neighbors and nice thank you gifts.  I'm teaching the children to make them and they hope to get a couple done today, too.


Perhaps I'll even get some lights up outside after I clean the yard.


God is so good, isn't He?  Thanksgiving is over, but a thankful heart isn't seasonal.


From Glory Farm

Nov 15, 2007

Help Me Have That Grateful Heart

The ground has traces of snowflakes.  They're not melting anymore.  I'm sitting here with my cup of hot chocolate trying to warm up my hands.  I hear the cows bellering.  Maybe they're hungry.  Its after 8 and the two youngest are still in bed.  I should get them up, but I kinda like the quiet right now.


Its a very cool day with gusty north winds.  I'd like to stay in but I think it's a "go to town day".  Barn chores, paperwork, bills, groceries, finding my honey some work (a load for the flatbed, I can officially be called dispatcher now.), reinforcing rafters, support beams, fixing a broken sewer line and banking the new basement, these are the items on my list today.  Then a 4-H meeting tonight.  I'd rather, spin some, finish up the mittens  I started, make some Christmas wreaths, finish the sewing projects I started, grind some wheat and make some bread, and make the granola that my oldest requested this morning.  I need more organization.  Instead I'm on here.  I guess I need some recreation, too.


I pray, God bless this day and use it to your glory.  Help me not to detract from that glory, but to point people to it.


From Glory Farm

Nov 10, 2007

Pictures! (I hope)

I've been trying to post these pics from photobucket and i don't know how to do it.  They won't post.  Just the little x's in the boxes.



This is a picture of the side of the house that we tore the kitchen and bedroom off of.  Our girls are standing in the doorway that used to lead to our son's room.


 



Here is what it looks like now.  My honey insulated last night and is wiring today.  I'm going to help him get the house wrap on later. 


Could someone please tell me how to get pics off of photobucket and onto my blog?


Thanks.


From Glory Farm

Nov 6, 2007

House update-day #19

The scaffolding is going back today and we're going to rent a lift.  An all-terrain lift.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  We could BAHA up in the air all over the hayfields!  We probably won't do that.  We were out there today trying to get the felting on the roof and it was just too dangerous.  Twenty feet up in the air with a slippery oxboard under foot and a 3/4" diameter rope to hang onto.  This wasn't me, but my honey.  He doesn't like heights.  He was able to cover 3/4 of one side, but can't get to the rest without risking life and limb.  We HAVE to get this done.  He hasn't been to work because we HAVE to get this done. 


 


Enough about the house.  It'll get done.  And we'll get more organized.  And I'll be able to start Christmas gifts and do some baking.  Did you check out the pumpkin cinnamon rolls recipe on the Front Porch?  They sound really good.  I'll make them and eat them and let you know.


 


I need to get moving.  It's cold in here and I'm chilled.  Incentive to get things done.


 


From Glory Farm

Nov 5, 2007

Up on the Housetop...

Just thought I'd drop in and let you know we're still trying to get the addition done.  We have 1-2 inches of snow predicted today.  God has held off the bad weather for quite a while now.  I'm downing a pot of coffee and trying to get myself motivated to get outside and bury the septic line.  My honey has gone to town to get some scaffolding so we can finish putting on the roof sheeting and get the tar paper on.  We have the kitchen enclosed and the front door on.  We also have the second floor enclosed, just no roof.


 


Also, today I have a friend coming over to help me get my payroll started.  I don't know how to do it and since we incorporated, I've been very anxious about getting all of this paper work right.  If anyone else has experience with this, I'd love advice.  Even just keep on me so I keep praying.  I forget that God knows all about incorporating.  I believe He brought this friend so I could have some support.  She used to do this for a living.


 


Well off I go.  ....Maybe just one more cup of coffee....The snow is blowing past the livingroom window....My house and I aren't ready for this.


 


From Glory Farm

Nov 3, 2007

Titus 2 Christian Homekeeper

I suppose everybody already has visited this site, but I just found it and I really like it.  So, I'm posting this address www.t2chk.org  for anyone who hasn't heard of it.  There is a bunch of good information on being a Godly homemaker and wife.


Have a blessed evening.


From Glory Farm

Oct 29, 2007

Wait 'till you see the pics, and wait...and wait...

Boy did I pull a smart one.  I was busy getting pics of the demolition of the house and then the basement being put in, the first floor going up, the side roof put on, pics of my new goats, old donkeys, etc.  I stopped at Wal-Mart last night to bring in the film.  Opened my camera and voila!  No Film!  Oh boy.  I'm not going through this all over again just to get pics, so i guess you're going to have to take my word for it.  I will put film IN my camera and take pics of what's up so far and new ones of my goats.  I don't know about you, but I like reading the blogs with pictures.  (You should see the books I read.)



We have beautiful weather today.  Should be good tomorrow, too.  After that they say it might not get any warmer than 40 degrees.  Our new kitchen isn't all enclosed yet.  But I've found that I can live with that.  My honey hooked up my stove yesterday so no more excuses about not baking.  Today it's his favorite, chocolate chip cookies.


Hope you all have a blessed day. 


From Glory Farm

Oct 23, 2007

Day 5

The continuing saga of the House That We Built.  Today we didn't get much of a chance to work on the house itself.  Things always seem to take longer than you planned.  We were to get the septic repaired this morning, but we ended up working on it almost all day.  Hey- it works!  Now I can wash clothes to my heart's content and boy do I need to.  I can also take a nice, long, hot shower.  Oh the things that you take for granted.  We went down and picked up some kitchen cabinets that I found on Freecycle.  We also got two very nice and heavy maple chairs.  These will come in handy.  Freecycle is so cool.  The people are so nice.


Tomorrow we have a DOT Safety Audit for our business.  This is something I've never had to do before, by my honey says it's no big deal.  After that it's off to the lumberyard to pick up more floor joises for the second story. 


On a different note, I got our garlic planted today.  I've tried garlic before, but never done very well with it.  I hope if I really baby it, it will grow well.  I love garlic.  I put it in everything.  Well, maybe not everything.  Sometimes I use horseradish instead.  :)


Hope your evening is warm, cozy and relaxed.


From Glory Farm

Oct 22, 2007

Onward and Upward

The basement is in, kinda.  The kitchen floor is on, kinda.  Two kitchen walls are framed and honey had to take a run to town for supplies.  I am a bit overwhelmed by it all 



We missed church yesterday because we are working with a deadline, but boy I can sure feel the need for fellowship.  My husband is my rock, but i love the worship and teaching at church.  Maybe we can get there Wednesday night.  Our church is 55 miles away so we don't go to the different activities that they have going on during the week.  This week I might.



Things on the house are progressing, but not quite as well as we'd hoped.  Living without a kitchen isn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I thought I'd be a bit batty by now, but...who can tell?



Boy, my writing is fragmented.  Hope you can follow my train of thought.  I'm still going to get some pictures of all of the fun we're having.  Maybe next time.



From Glory Farm

Oct 20, 2007

Putting in a Wooden Basement

The kitchen came down, the bedroom, too and the basement was dug yesterday. Two and a half walls were constructed and we dropped into bed.  At 3 am my honey got up and finished the walls.  We were to get them into the hole and set up before the cement came.  Didn't happen.  7:30 this morning the redi-mix truck came in.  This guy was great.  He waited for over an hour as my husband and a friend made forms.  Now the basement floor is poured and finished and we have two walls in the hole.  One is still waiting on the flatbed to go in.  The man who owns the excavator we hired has left it here for us to use until tomorrow.  Between him, the redi-mix driver and our friend Luke, God has truly blessed this endeavor.  Luke was here at 4 am to help with walls and the cement.  He is a rare friend.  Always volunteering to help.  He's painting our daughter's Camaro just because.


Only one hitch in the plans so far, that I can tell, I went to wash a load of clothes a bit ago and heard the rushing of water.  Running into our existing basement, I watched a river of wash water pour into it.  I'd better go and check if the toilet still has a drain.  Uck!  I think the extra PVC pipe we pulled out wasn't so extra after all.


Pictures are coming. 


God bless,


From Glory Farm

Oct 18, 2007

So, are we crazy?

When we moved here last year, we had all kinds of plans for fixing the barn, house, yard, fields, etc.  Well,we were off to a good start and then time and money seemed to run out.  We had wanted to take off our kitchen and a bedroom last summer, but we couldn't afford it.  My honey has been trying to work full time for almost five months.  God is good and we're not too far behind on our bills, but....he still has more time than money and decided now is the time to get rid of this kitchen and bedroom.  My parents offered to help out with the money part, and we got a Lowe's card (shame, shame). So as of yesterday, it was official and we started packing.  We need to reroute the electric, cut off water lines, move appliances and pack up the kithchen and bedroom.----by tomorrow morning.  I think we can do it.  My honey is one motivated guy.  The excavator comes tomorrow to tear down the house and dig the basement.  Dh wants to have the walls for the basement put up tomorrow and the cement poured on Saturday for the floor.  Then put up the first floor and the second will have to wait a bit.  We'll have no windows or flooring or cupboards for awhile, but we will have a much warmer house.  So are we crazy?  October in northern Minnesota is not a great time to start building. 


I'll take before and after and even after that pics.  So next time I write, we should have a new addition to our house well on the way.  Lord willing.


From Glory Farm

Oct 9, 2007

How High's the Water Momma?...Three feet high and rising.

okay, maybe not three feet, but everythng is water-logged here.  I know this is good for us.  The ground is happy and saturated.  But now the water table is coming up and we have water in the basement.  I took out the sump pump just in case.  Don't want our new furnace to have to learn to swim.  It's been raining for forever.  I exagerate again.  The north pasture is under water.  The south pasture is just very wet.  I think tomorrow it's supposed to stop raining.  When I went out at 6:00 a. m. this morning it was snowing.


We don't have a dryer, so I have an abudance of wet clothes hanging outside, and in the basement.  My kids have been drying their jeans over the heat ducts. 


 Just think how nice the soil will be for growing things next spring.  (Trying to be a glass half full kind of person.)


My wonderful husband has told me that I can get some angora goats.  The price is something that we can afford and it seems like the right time.  (except for the flooded pasture, of course.)  I'm excited and I hope that I can care for them the way they should be cared for.  I've had milk goats, but not angoras.  I'm getting a couple of doelings.  I'll post pics when they come.


Well, I guess I'd better go and do something productive.  I have pumpkin bread and regular bread on my list to make, and books for our business to update before Thursday when I meet with our accountant.  Book work is something I just dread and now that we've incorporated, we have a lot more of it.   If I come to mind and you picture me bent over a pile of papers, please pray for me.  This is an area of anxiety for me.  This and finances.  God's teaching me to rest in Him.   I'm just a slow learner.

Oct 2, 2007

Knitting Machine

Do any of you out there use a knitting machine?  I picked one up through Freecycle and I'd like to use it, but I'm not sure how much work it'll be.  Just looking at it is intimidating.  My dd who is 8 has dreams of starting her own knitting business and doing custom knitting.  Boy, looking at this thing, I sure don't know.  It's an old model from about 1970, a Studio brand.  It has all of the books and hundreds of patterns with it.  I'd post a picture, but with this new computer, I can't run my digital camera on it. 


 


And that's another thing....I have Windows Vista on this new computer and it's about to drive me...I don't know, somewhere.  Not that I wasn't warned, but I didn't think it would be this bad.  Seems none of my programs and none of my periphials work with this machine.  Brand new printer, won't communicate, (I think it can get counseling for that), Adobe, Kodak Digital Camera, help!  My Husqvarna Embroidery reader/writer doesn't even get a port!  I guess Windows '98 really wasn't so bad.  I can't afford to upgrade all of this stuff.  Guess you'll just have to stay tuned for this continuing saga.


 


"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits."  Psalm 68:19


I love this verse.  I think it fits in good with our trucking business. 


From Glory Farm

Sep 15, 2007

Fall Color Festival

It was Fall Color Festival time at the little town just down the road from us.  My honey was home so he was able to come with this year.  What a treat.  We went in early for the pancake breakfast.  The pancakes were the size of the plates.  For real!  After pancakes, we took in the car show.  I didn't think that they could fit that many cars in a town this size.  We went to look at a sharp Corvette and were welcomed by my cousin, who owned it.  Surprise!  Then off to the farmer's swap at the feed store.  We brought Little Red, our bantam rooster.  The other roosters won't let him in the barn and he'll freeze all alone this winter.  No takers, but we did meet a nice man who has many milkgoats and is willing to part with some of them before the snow flies.  I need to set up a better pasture.  We'll see.  Then is was over to the kid's tractor pull.  This is what my little ones have been waiting for all year.  They didn't place last year and vowed revenge this year.  Dd pedaled her heart out, only to come in third.  And ds pushed it hard and came in second, which is good enough to get a trophy.  He's one happy camper.  Last of all was the flea market.  My son collects everything.  He was able to buy another license plate to add to his collection and our daughter purchased a small, decorative wall cupboard.  I don't know what she's going to do with it yet, but...Honey found an antique monkey wrench to add to his collection.  (I wonder where our boy gets it?)  I found some Doritoes and hamburger buns at the grocery store and called it quits.  (I collect calories. )


I have pics on my digital, which I'll get to maybe tomorrow.  I'd better go and freeze some broccoli, can some beets and make horseradish sauce.  My dad loves horseradish, so I make him  a quart to keep him all winter.


God bless your day. 


From Glory Farm

Sep 13, 2007

The Harvest is Plentiful, but the workers are few....help

 


Tomatoes...Also peppersWe spent most of the day in the garden yesterday, harvesting what the frost didn't kill.  God has surely blessed us.  I picked five wheelbarrow loads of tomatoes.  And I have enough squash and pumpkins to share with the whole neighborhood.  Look...


pumpkins and squash...



I put up some applesauce today, have apples in the dehydrator, yogurt warming, and sunflower seeds roasting.  I'm going to go and gather those tomatoes and start some more salsa.  I'm starting to feel like I need a break from all of this blessing.


Thank you Lord.


From Glory Farm

Sep 12, 2007

The Big Freeze

I know what I'm doing today. 


 Weather is always such a "hot" topic here.  Last week we had 90 degrees.  Last night it hit 20.  Brrr.....I did get the furnace fired up yesterday.   So we had heat. PTL  But, of course, my pumpkins didn't have a furnace.  My garden is so large that I couldn't cover even 1/4 of the freezable stuff.  I covered most of the tomatoes and peppers, but even then the frost was so hard that I don't know if it helped.  I'm not going out there until about 10:00 to survey the damage.  The poor sunflowers wrapped their leaves around themselves tight, but alas, they just froze that way.


So today it's pick and pull time.  Tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins and watermelons.  We're having an abbreviated school day and heading out.  I have some pickle relish started this morning and I need to put up some applesauce today.  I think, if the tomotoes survived, I probably have to put up some salsa.  I think the peppers might be toast.  They were so far off of the ground,  and the plastic cover blew off some of them.  Thus ends my garden.  I still have fall broccoli and lettuce coming.  Lots of carrots and beets and a couple of cabbage lefr.  Time to till, mulch and fertilize. 


May I do all to the glory of God.


From Glory Farm

Sep 10, 2007

Mosh Pit

Here I go again.  The lock-in I wrote about last week or so, happened.  Our girls went and I still don't think it was something edifying.  Saturday night, I took them to a "Christian concert".  This was a rock band.  I don't mind more modern worship, but there seemed to be nothing worshipful about this band.  They dressed modestly, and did nothing objectionable.  But no one could understand the words to their songs and their mention of Jesus was so brief that I barely noticed it.  This was supposed to be a Christian outreach concert.  I know many Christians who thought it was great.  But where was the difference between this and a worldly concert?  There didn't seem to be any.  The teenagers all formed a mosh pit down in front.  Body surfing wasn't allowed, but they were so packed, girl, boy that they couldn't move.  Then some of the boys took off their shirts, too hot, ya know.  Not a good siutation, in my opinion.  I'm glad I was there.  Now I know just what is involved.  This time I'm going to be a party pooper and not allow the girls to be a part of that.  Just thought I'd voice my opinion.  If people gave their lives to Christ at the concert, I guess it has it's place.  I'm just not comfortable with it.


From Glory Farm

Harvest

In the spring, the thought of planting and weeding seems like so much work.  But then you think about the harvest and the thought is thrilling.  Why is it, we forget the work part of that?  At least I do.  God has blessed us above and beyond what I thought He would.  True, I planted for a farmer's market, so I have a large garden.  I've been giving and giving it away (especially the zuchinni :)  )  Today our trip to the garden produced strawberries, zuchinni, buttercup squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, habeneros, green peppers and sunflower seeds.  Now I get to make more spaghetti sauce, salsa, relish, and sunbutter.  The sunbutter I haven't tried yet, but I hope it works.  I'm taking a load of vegetables up North on Friday, Lord willing and another down to the cities in a couple of weeks.  How good is our God!  I hope it doesn't sound like bragging, because I could never have grown a garden like this myself.  Maybe there's a parralel there in the spiritual sense.  God provides the seed, the water, the soil, and the increase.  We just have to be willing to do some work.  The harvest is great. 


Praise God.


From Glory Farm

Sep 4, 2007

Dying Yarn

Well, I'm finally posting the results of my experiment.  I dyed one skein with black cherry Kool-Aid and one with beets from my garden.  The Kool-Aid gives nice, vivid color, the beets gave a surprise.  I think using different mordants will produce different colors.  I used vinegar and ended up with an orange/rust  color.  I think I'll try alum next time and see if I  get a different color.  I simmered the wool in vinegar and water for an hour and at the same time simmered the beets for an hour.  Then I strained the beet liquid and returned it to the stove.  Added the wet yarn and simmered for another hour.  Then I let it set in the dye bath for another three hours.  I rinsed it in lukewarm water and airdried on the clothes line. 



The yarn on the left is the beet dye and on the right is the Kool-Aid.  Not sure what to make with it now.


I'll keep you posted on my experiments.


From Glory Farm

Aug 28, 2007

A "Christian" Lock In?

This is another one of those "am I the only one?", moments.  The local church, where our girls go to youth group, is having a "lock in".  This involves games, snacks, a movie, I think, but I don't know if it involves much in the way of spiritual lessons or encouragement.  It will be chaperoned, but it's a boy/girl thing where they stay up all night.  Does this seem like an edifying thing?  Am I just a stick in the mud, who doesn't let my kids have any fun?  No one else seems to give it a second thought.  There are sincere Christian youth in this youth group and born again Christian leaders who plan this.  I just thought I'd get a second opinion.  If I'm being too strict or too???I'd like to know.  I haven't said no and my girls want to go so badly.  All of their Christian friends will be there.  How hard is it to say no?  Very. 


Any ideas or scripture to guide me?


From Glory Farm

Aug 23, 2007

Washing Soda-It's not just for laundry soap

I like picking up old oak chairs at rummage sales and such.  I can usually get them for about $5.  I just finished stripping my last purchase and realized the chair has cost me $15 already.  Five for the chair and $10 for the stripper.  Is this a good deal?  I found some more natural and less costly solutions, but remember I haven't tried them and so don't know how well they work.


1.Make a thick paste of washing soda and leave on for a number of hours, keeping it damp.


2.Oven cleaner.  Spray on and leave for 30 minutes.  Scrape with steel scourers.


3. Hot vinegar.


Other things I didn't know:


Borax is a disinfectant when mixed with water.


Mixing washing soda and water works for a pre-wash.


Washing soda is such a good grease cutter, it's a must for mechanics.


Thought I'd share my latest discoveries.


From Glory Farm

Aug 21, 2007

Harvey Ferdinand DaBul

Here he is.  He's an orphan.  His momma died a day after giving birth.  We're bottle feeding this guy and boy can he eat.  What a blessing for us.  We have two other steers, but they're holsteins.  This little guy is healthy and getting strong fast.


Have a wonderful evening.


From Glory Farm

Aug 14, 2007

Making Nut Butter and Pie Filling

Food preservation is getting to be a full time job around here.  Praise God.  We are giving our bounty away and we still can't out give God.  I want to be a good steward and so was looking for ideas on how to use up all of this zuchinni.  I've froze some, I've made bread and froze that, zuchinni jam is an option.  I decided to try to can apple pie filling, substituting zuchinni for apple.  I haven't tasted it yet and the jars had some trouble sealing for some reason, but here's the recipe:


Peel and slice zuchinni (apples).  Fill quart jars.  (This made six quarts for me.)  Fill tightly. 


Make syrup:


4 1/2 cups sugar


1 cup cornstarch


2 tsp. cinnamon


1/4 tsp. nutmeg


1 tsp. salt


10 cups water


Cook syrup until thick and bubbly, add 3 Tbl. lemon juice.  Pour over zuchinni in jars.  Put on lids.  Process 20 minutes in hot water bath.  (I think a pressure canner might work better?)


I'm also looking at a mess of sunflower seeds.  I save some for the birds, roast some and this year I thought I'd try and make sunblower butter.  I love the stuff that I buy in the health food store.  I found this recipe on the internet:


Using raw seeds, shell them by putting them in a cloth bag and punding them gently with the flat side of a hammer.  Don't smash them, just crush them.  When mostly crushed, pour them into cold water and stir a time or two to let the loosened hulls rise to the top.  Skim these off and stir again, as many times as it takes.


When nothing but kernels are left, spread to dry.


Grind seeds in a food processor,(easiest) or a blender.  If seeds seem dry and clumpy, add a little oil, about a quarter teaspoon at a time until you get the right consistency.  Keep mixing until the butter is as smooth as you want it.  You can add salt, salt will keep it better.  Store in the refrigerator.


My seeds aren't quite done yet, but I'm anxious to try this. 


Also, does anyone know how to roast ranch flavored sunflower seeds?  Do you think it would work to soak them in Hidden Valley Mix before roasting?


Have a blessed day,


From Glory Farm

Aug 9, 2007

Tips and Tidbits

We have a 16 year old who tells us constantly "I'm not a morning person" and then lives up to this.  She is GRUMPY.  Here's a solution?  Tea from wild violet flowers.  I haven't tried it yet, but I may insist she try it. 


If you have to sew or mend heavy tarps, tents, canvas or leather and you don't have a thimble, tape a coin to your finger to push the needle through.


Have a pleasant and prosperous day.


From Glory Farm

Aug 7, 2007

Attack of the Killer Zuchinni

In the shadowy depths of my garden lurcks the "mutant zuchinni".  It grows larger and larger, unseen by the locals until at last, unable to conceal itself any longer,  it bursts forth to confront the gardener. (That's me.) The scene isn't pretty and you may want to make sure your children don't read this.  With hatchet and wheelbarrow I go out to battle.  Well, maybe that's a bit of a stretch.  You get the idea. 


These squash were found in my garden.  The one on the left is some kind of zuchinni, I think.  I didn't plant it and there wasn't a garden here last year, so I don't know where it came from.  The one on the right is two squash grown together.  I think it's some kind of summer squash, but I don't which type.  And how would you prepare it?


Here are a couple of pics of my garden.  It's hard to tell what everything is.  I was going to wait to show you until all of the weeds were pulled, but that is so not going to happen.



Also, is it possible to can pesto?  I don't have a canner so it would be open kettle.  And what is the best way to preserve green peppers?  Canning, freezing?


Thanks so much. 


All for His glory.


 

Aug 6, 2007

Why we decided to homeschool

We have two children, 10 and 8, that we homeschool.  We have two others, 16 and 14, that we do not.  We have a blended family and that is why the older two go to public school, their dad refuses to let them be homeschooled, and now that they're older, they say they don't want it either. 


I have always wanted to homeschool.  Initially, it was because I had such bad experiences when I went to school.  Now that I love the Lord, I see so many more reasons.  My husband was homeschooled during highschool and loved the freedom and the experiences he had.  He never doubted that his children would be homeschooled. 


Our homeschooled children see the world much differently than their public schooled peers.  They love fixing tractors and learning the history of things.  They like frequent field trips, stamp, rock, and coin collecting.  They see how things relate to the bible more clearly than a lot of children that we know.  We emphasize making do and being able to utilize what you have to do what you want.  Kind of a MacGuyver type of mentality.


I think I could go on and on about why we homeschool, the opportunity to study what you're interested in, to spend time in prayer and bible study, to get everything done and have no "homework", to do community service as part of school, interacting with people of all ages instead of just your age, the abscence of teasing and the building of God confidence, etc.  After all, we, as parents, are responsible for our children's education.  Not the schools or the teachers.  No matter where your children are educated, the buck stops at you, the parent.


All for His glory.


From Glory Farm

Tips and Tidbits

We never stop learning.  Trouble is, we sometimes stop retaining. I hope by blogging things I'm learning, maybe I'll help to retain them.  At least they'll be there in black and white for me to access, unless my computer crashes.


Did you know that a good way to tell what plug may be fouled out on your tractor is to run it for a little bit, turn it off and feel to see which plug feels coolest?  We've pulled plugs, one by one before to find the culprit.  This is cool.


Also, a poltice of cobwebs will stop the flow of blood.  I've read it works on cows that have just been dehorned.  Considering the amount of cobwebs in our barn, I think we should try this next time.  We cautorized them instead and I know it was quite painful. 


Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Jul 31, 2007

Blueberry Ice Cream

The wild blueberry season is coming to an end.  I've been out picking and I think I'll go one more time.  Maybe tonight.  I can most, I freeze some.  I make a lot of blueberry mufins and blueberry cobbler.  The other night we made blueberry ice cream.  I found a simple recipe.


Blueberry Ice Cream


2 cups cleaned blueberries


3/4 cup sugar


1/8 teaspoon salt


1 1/2 cups heavy cream


1 cup milk


Bring blueberries, salt and sugar to a boil.  Mash berries and simmer for 5  minutes.  Cool slightly and put in blender with milk.  Puree until smooth.  Stir in cream.  Cool mixture, covered, for at least two hours.  Freeze in your ice cream maker. 


I discovered that if I just open a pint of blueberry sauce and mix with milk and cream I can freeze that.  How easy.  The recipe calls for puttting the mixture through a sieve before you cool it.  I didn't.  I like berries, whole and in part in my ice cream.


Well it's off to the garden.


God bless your day as you bless Him.


From Glory Farm

Jul 30, 2007

Gardening and Free Plants

The children were all gone for the week end, so my dh and I took a ride down to the Twin Cities.  We picked up a loader for our Int'l 560.  Once we get it on the tractor, I'll be able to drive into the barn and scoop up the manure (excurse me, fertilizer) and haul it on the garden.  This wheelbarrow thing I've been doing is far too labor intensive.

We also stopped to see my brother, who works at a greenhouse down there.  They were in the process of throwing out all of the last of their plants!  They gave us shrubs, yarrow, lilies, and a couple other perennials.  We could have had a truck full!  They threw out lilacs, junipers, hydrangeas, etc.  just cuz they couldn't find anyone to take them.  So maybe there's an idea.  Leave your phone number with the greenhouse you do business with and have them call you when they need to get rid of inventory.

I'd like you to see my garden.  Next entry I'll try to post more pics.  The weather has been great for growing things.  Problem is the weeds like it too.  Today is officially garden day here at the farm.  No housework or baking.  Just weeding, freezing, canning and harvesting.

Our two youngest are at their mom's all week.  They've never been away like this before and I'm a case.  Worry is something that doesn't help and doesn't need to be done.  I do it anyways.  Praying that God's supernatural peace blankets us. 

From Glory Farm

 

 

Jul 20, 2007

Natural Dyes

I have been spinning and now I think I'll try dying the yarn.  All of the roving that I have is white and I'd like to experiment with plant dyes. 


First I need to soak the yarn in a fixative and simmer for an hour.  I'm going to try rasberry dye.  It's supposed to make a red dye.  To use rasberries I need to use salt for a fixative.  Other plants I might try are onion skins for orange, coffee grounds for brown, strawberries for pink, blueberries for blue, beets for a deep red, spinach or nettles for green.  These are all plants that I have around here.  There are a lot of plants that can be used for dyes and  a lot of information out there on dying.


I saw some of you have dyed yarn with kool-aid.  The colors are so beautiful.  How do you set the colors?  Do you have to do anything special?


Have a great week-end.


From Glory Farm

Jul 16, 2007

A picture of my garden

I thought I'd post a picture of our garden.  I guess it's a bit like bragging, but it's growing so well.  We've had great growing conditions this summer.  God is good.  This is the biggest garden I've ever had and I think we'll go even bigger next year, even if we don't bring it to the farmer's market.  There are so many people who don't have gardens and really like the fresh produce.



It's a bit hard to tell what's what.  Sunflowers, onions, spinach, herbs, tomatoes, etc.


Now in the category of using time wisely, I've placed my spinning wheel next to my computer.  I have dial-up and spend a lot of time playing solitaire waitning for pages to load.  Now I spin waiting for pages to load.  This way I'll finally finish this old roving and be able to start on the new stuff.  I can also spin when I talk on the phone.  It's great.


Hope you enjoy your day.  Bring glory to God.


From Glory Farm

Jul 11, 2007

Berries and Broccoli and Peas-Oh My!

Our garden is such a blessing.  It's producing much better than I thought a first year garden would.  I planted much more than we needed, thinking that I would be selling at a farmer's market, but it hasn't happened yet.  I put in my application at the nearest one, but they said that they really didn't want me or my produce.  Oh well.  Now I have vegetables to share with everyone.  Neighbors, parents, I even bring a cooler full to church.  I froze snow peas today and we've been using the broccoli as it's been getting done.  When I go to the grocery store, I don't have to buy vegies or much for fruits because my family is satisfied with fresh peas.  They eat them all day long.  God is so good.  I'm still not sure what to do with the abundance.  I may try a farmer's market 50 miles from here, but to tell you the truth, I'm a bit leary because of my experience with that last farmer's market.  I'm not sure where God is leading. 


Also, the blueberries and the rasberries are getting done.  We have a bunch back in the woods to the east of the house.  I love to put up blueberry sauce.  We have it on pancakes, yogurt , ice cream and in smoothies all winter long.  I don't put up blueberry jam anymore.  Everyone likes the sauce more.


This has been a fine day.  How does the song go?..This good day, it is a gift from You.  The world is turning in it's place because You made it to.  I will sing, sing a song of praise for this good day.


Thank you.


From Glory Farm

Jul 4, 2007

Hello...

This day is gorgeous.  We picked up a few fireworks for tonight.  I know the kids want to go somewhere and do something today, being the fourth and all, but we have so much hay to cut yet.  The weather is cooperating and we need to get it done.  My honey has unexpectedly gotten some time off.  He's a big help when it comes to making hay.  Maybe we'll be able to do something later this afternoon. 


My garden here is doing great.  Weeds and all.  This soil is so much better than when we lived up North.  I'll post pictures when I beat the weeds down a bit. 


Hope you all have a blessed Fourth.


From Glory Farm

Jun 27, 2007

When you give a woman a tractor...

Making hay shouldn't be so complicated.  My honey has to work long days so daughter #1 has a job making hay for us this summer.  Field #2 needed to be cut this morning.  We wanted to get off to an early start.  Here's how it goes.


1.  Check oil and gas in tractor.  Start tractor, can't get it out of second gear.  MOM.......


2.  Tractor now out of second gear.  Mom drives it to the hayfield.  Hook up to the haybine.  Can't get the PTO shaft to line up right.  Run it and turn it off, run it and turn it off, etc.  Finally lines up.  Grease haybine.  One broken grease fitting, one fitting is put where the sun don't shine, (excuse me), grease gun fitting much too tight.  Gets stuck on haybine.  Go home.  Change out end of grease gun.  Finish greasing haybine. 


3.  Haybine won't lower like it should.  Check hydraulic hoses.  Change.  Still doesn't work.  Change again.  Call dear husband for the third time.  Did we take out the safety pin?  Oops.  Hey it works great.


4.  It is now two hours and 15 minutes since this ordeal began, but PTL she's heading for the hayfield.  Why is she standing out there and not on the tractor? Drive out to find out.  Can't get the haybine to shift to the side of the tractor to mow.  Call dear patient husband again.  Did we back up and pull pin at the same time?  If that doesn't work-just use a big hammer.  (Is he getting as tired as we are?)  Take his advice and hey-it works great.


5.  Two hours and forty minutes later....Look at her go.  PTL! 


I guess we'll save the baling tomorrow.  I may have a whole new story to tell tomorrow.


God is good.


Rhonda

Jun 25, 2007

Horse Spray and New Roving

Our horses are suffering out there.  The flies are so bad.  They could go in the woods, but they just stand out there in the sun and get eaten up.  We've bought many brands of flyspray.  None seem to work for very long.  The wipes work about the best, but are very expensive.  I'd like to try fly predators, but they're expensive  also.  We make our own spray now.  It works as well, if not better, than the sprays we've tried.


1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, 1 cup baby oil, 1/4 cup real pinesol, 1 Tablespoon dish soap, 1 tablespoon eucalyptus, 1 tablespoon citronella


Mix and spray.


Now about the three pounds of roving that came in the mail today.  My wonderful brother did his research and ordered three pounds of Corriedale roving for my birthday.  That ought to keep me busy for awhile.  Brother, if you're reading this, thanks so much.  I can spin to my heart's content.


Have a great afternoon. 


In His Service,


Rhonda

How to set up a website

In a weekly homeschool newsletter that I receive, they listed a site that has lessons on setting up a website.  It's all free.  I haven't started the lessons yet, but the site looks very informative.  I used to be able to do HTML, but it's been years and I've forgotten it all.  The site is www.w3schools.com

Jun 23, 2007

The Wonderful Nettle

We have an abundance of forage plants here.  I mean wild plants that can be utilized for a gazillion things.  Nettles everywhere.  Stinging nettles and dead nettles.  Did you know that jewel weed takes the sting out if you should happen to bump one of these nettles?  I've found that tea tree oil does also.  Nettles are supposed to be good in stews and other dishes.  I haven't tried this, yet.  If you cook them to eat, do not boil them.  I guess it makes them taste awful.  You're supposed to simmer them or steam them.  Mix them with rice, make creamed nettles.  I guess I'd try the tea.  Dry them and steep them.  This isn't supposed to taste like a tea, but more like a green plant essence.  Nettles contain-calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, silica, iodine, silicon, sodium and sulfur-chlorophyll, tannin, vitamin c, beta carotene, and b complex vitamins.  Nettle tea compresses are good for woulnds, cuts, stings and burns.


Here's a recipe for the adventerous.


2 cups thinly sliced wild or commercial carrots, 2 cups nettles, 1 cup yogurt, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup milk, 2 cloves garlic-minced, 1/4 teaspoon dried mustard, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, dash cayenne and nutmeg.


Simmer carrots for 10 minutes in one-half inch of water.  Add the nettles and simmer for another 5 minutes.  Reserve the cooking water.  Mince the vegetables in the blender of by hand, and mix in the remaining ingredients.  Put in an oiled baking dish and bake at 275 for 15-20 minutes.


All information contained in this blog is from the book-Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and not so wild) Places by "Wildman" Steve Brill.


Next time maybe we'll try a salad of purslane, lamb's quarterand amaranth.

Jun 14, 2007

It's a Jungle out there-

It's so quiet in the morning before everyone gets up.  The clock is ticking and the computer humming, but that's all I hear.  The temps are warm here now and everything is growing so well.  The weeds included, but I had my two litttle ones (8 & 10) out weeding with me last night.  They do very well now that the vegetables are recognizable.  The bugs are growing, too.  We had sandflies inhaled and ingested.  They were everywhere.  I finally caved and let them put on bug spray.  I just don't like the stuff.


Our two older girls came back from their missions trip on Monday.  They were changed, PTL!  A good and Godly change.  They have a deeper relationship with the Lord now and were actually able, with God's help, to pray for salvation with some people.  Our oldest girl stood up and gave her testimony.  Her life hasn't been a "Father Knows Best" kinda life, but thankfully our "Heavenly Father Knows Best".  I have mixed feelings about having our trials broadcast for everyone, but I think that's a pride problem that I need to deal with.


I would like to accomplish a long list of tasks today.  Lord willing.  The lawn needs to be mowed-again.  Like I said things are growing well and I am thankful.  I have some old fencelines to pull and a new one to put up.  Company coming tomorrow, so I should straighten and clean a little bit.  Lord give me energy, I can't seem to find mine.


Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Jun 9, 2007

Late Breaking News From Glory Farm

It's one of those times...I typed out the whole post and lost it because I was trying to edit my blog.  So... what did I say?


Seems redundant to say it again.


The garden is growing great.  Everything is up except the corn.  Weeds are growing great.  On my list of to dos.


My honey has a gift for finding good deals in machinery.  See that threshing machine at the top of the page.  He picked that up yesterday.  Today he's off to pick up four antique (very old) snowmobiles.  The price is right.  Free.  Tomorrow its a Case tractor that we need for parts.  Free.  He's good, eh?


Our two oldest are on a missions trip.  They are serving in many capacities.  Doing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, helping in the nursery, nursing home, homeless ministry, soup kitchen.  It'll be exciting to get the report, when they get home, of what God has done this week in their lives.


My honey is starting a new job on Tuesday.  The old one kinda ran out of work for him.  It was hard on him to work there.  Praying that this is the direction God has for his life.


I bought a new book yesterday, The Everything Soap Book.  It has recipes for cold-processed, hot-processed, clear, cream and liquid soaps.  Recipes like Coffee Kitchen Soap, Peppermint Bath Soap, Soap for Acne, etc.  I'm going to try the hot-processed soaps.


Today its lawn mowing, garden weeding, barn cleaning and hopefull off to the stock car races tonight.  I haven't mentioned this to my honey, but I'm hoping to talk him into it.  I love the races.  (We all have those vices?) (Maybe not.)


Have a Glory filled day.


Rhonda

May 30, 2007

Ugh!!! Cows!!!

Calves to be exact.  Right now I think they're about the dumbest creatures on the planet.  We've raised Holstein calves for meat before, but these two we have now make me crazy.  They don't get the electric fence concept.  They know that something hurts when they cross that wire, but don't seem to understand it's the wire itself.  I think we'll end up putting up barbed wire just for these two.  So...let's put the calf halters on them and tie them out so they can trim the yard.  That works for about 15 minutes and then the calf halter is on the ground and the calf has gone back INTO the pasture.  How????  Okay so after reading this you're probably asking just who the dumb one really is?  I've been asking that for the last two weeks.  Pray for me.


 

May 28, 2007

Have you read Brother Juniper's Bread Book?

A hot cup of fresh ground coffee, a piece of just out of the oven Cajun Three Pepper Bread, a soft rain hitting the livingroom picture window and my computer.  Hi, how's your afternoon?  My house is quiet.  Just me and my Bassett Hound.  It's time for a coffee break.  The rain forced me inside.


I hand-milled some soap this morning.  Some Aloe Vera, and some French Clay.  Yesterday I put some Skeeter-Be-Gone and some Oatmeal Cinnamon up to age.  Getting ready for the Farmers' Market.  I've made feed sack aprons and I'm experimenting with new kinds of breads to sell.  I've been using recipes out of Brother Juniper's Bread Book.  These have been great.  I've tried the Scottish Struan Bread, Wild Rice and Onion and now today the Cajun Three Pepper Bread.  I want to take all three to the Market.  Maybe I should take Musketman's Cinnamon Rolls?  I think that's the label I'd put on them, too.


I put in another five rows in my garden this morning.  The frost took out three rows last night.  I took a gamble and I lost.  Tomorrow it's to the greenhouse to replace tomatoes and peppers.  I met some fellow farmer's market sellers yesterday.  I thought having 1/2 acre in garden was big, they have 13 acres in vegetables.  They do alot of corn and potatoes.  I don't think I'm going to do that.  I've put in alot of herbs, beans, melons and many varieties of greens.  They own the farmer's market in a town about 50 miles from here.  They said that we'd be welcome there if we wanted to sell.  Very nice. 


Coffee break is over.  Time to clean.  Have a blessed Memorial Day. 


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda


 

May 20, 2007

What's This White Stuff?

Just a quick post before chores and church.  You know how I love to post on the weather..well just wanted to share-we have snow this morning.


"I'm dreaming of a white Memorial Day..."  Take it away Musketman.


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda

May 17, 2007

What do you learn in the garden?

Working in the garden, weeding and planting is such a pleasant escape.  It's a time of prayer and meditation, also.  The bible mentions planting, sowing, weeds, soils, reaping and harvest, quite a bit.  Every time I go out to garden, I can learn a biblical lesson.  Like now when the seedlings are coming up along with the quackgrass.  I need to let the weeds and the seedliings grow until the seedlings are strong enough and then I can pull the weeds.  In the word, Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus talks about the tares growing with the wheat.  He says to let them grow together until the harvest when the tares shall be thrown into the fire.  The tares being sown in by the enemy.


I thought that maybe it would be interesting to hear what kind of biblical truths others discover in the garden..."and you shall eat the herb of the field.  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread..."Gen.3:19    I thought maybe a contest, but I know that I'm not qualified to judge this. So...I have notecards that I make from homemade paper I'd like to send to anyone who'd like to post or comment.  Thanks.


From Glory Farm 

May 17th

It's been some time since I've posted.  I'm in one of those times when I don't feel that I have much to contribute, but enjoy reading what everyone else is doing. 


My garden is half in and we had a killing frost last night.  Shouldn't have hurt it too much though.  I'm going to be daring and put out my tomatoes today.  They've gotten too big for their pots and if I don't get them out, they'll die anyways. 


I have horse spray, deoderant, bread and soap to make today, also.  I'm using a new soap recipe where I have to render my own tallow.  I've never done this before, I always just bought the oils I needed.  Anyone have much experience with this?


Guess I'd better get at it. 


Hoping to bring glory to God.


From Glory Farm

May 5, 2007

Homemade flea collar

Here's a recipe I found for a flea collar.  I haven't tried it yet, but I mean to.


Mix:


1/2 t. alcohol


1 drop cedarwood essential oil


1 drop lavender essential oil


1 drop citronella essential oil


1 drop thyme essential oil


Mix with the contents of four garlic capsules-  Soak a soft dog collar in this until it has absorbed as much as possible, then dry.  This last about a month.  You can use this for cats and dogs.


More hints:


1.Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of corn oil

In your cat’s ear, massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball.  Repeat daily for three days.

2. To kill fleas, Dawn dishwashing soap does the trick.  Add a few drops to your dog’s bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly.  Rinse well to avoid skin irritations..

3. Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with a dryer sheet.  Makes him smell springtime fresh.

4. Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

5. For relief of achy muscles, mix 1 tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil.  Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil.

6.  For a sore throat just mix ¼ cup of vinegar with ¼ cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day.  The vinegar kills the bacteria.

7. Cover skin blemishes with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it.  Honey kills the bacteria and keeps the skin sterile. 

8. Listerine therapy for toenail fungus.  Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash.

9. Pour a drop of Elmer’s glue over a splinter, let dry and peel the dried glue off the skin.  The splinter sticks to the dried glue. 

10. Mix 2 cups of rolled oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute.  Cool slightly and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

 

 


From Glory Farm 

May 3, 2007

The "List"

We had the party for my parents 50th anniversary this weekend.  It went very well.  God blessed our time.  My parents truly enjoyed themselves.  So after weeks of planning, it's time to get back into the routine of things around here.


The UPS truck pulled in this morning with my strawberries.  Oh no.  My garden is tilled, and I even put some of it in yesterday, but my strawberry patch is in no way ready.  It wasn't on my list today.  I guess, now it is. 


The collection of horses and donkeys out there are eating the bark off of the red pines in the pasture.  Have to get a new pasture up today and tomorrow.  Wasn't on my list.  Also need a small pasture for our calves, that was on my list.


The dog jumped up into my seed starts and killed my watermelon, canteloupes and herbs.  Made a mess.  Have to start more now,  wasn't on my list.  Ds vacuumed up the potting soil from this and the vacuum quit working.  Now no vacuum.  I think that this whole day-wsn't on my list.


So when the list gets too long---it's time to blog.  Just another thing that wasn't on my list.


There's an auction I really want to go to this Saturday.  They have a bunch of stuff I need for my list.  Anyone want to go?


God bless your day.  Be flexible.  Have a blank page so you're always ready to make a "new list".


From Glory Farm

Apr 24, 2007

Natural and Organic Animal Care

Awhile back, I posted looking for information on a more natural way to keep our livestock healthy.  I know that there are books out there, but I haven't bought any.  I did come across some information that I'm going to use.  I thought I'd pass it on and if anyone knows if this works or doesn't, please post. 


First, Shaklee's Basic H is supposed to work as a wormer.  (Shaklee doesn't endorse it as such. ) One cup to 100 gallons of water.  (This is for cattle.)  Another cure, and one I've tried, is Diatomaceous Earth.  I've used this for lice.  Just sprinkle on the back of the animal.  I use food grade, because I've added it to goat food to get rid of internal parasites.  Some people say this works, some say it doesn't.


I also found a website www.farmsteadhealth.com.  This has natural wormers and supplements for just about any animal.  Rotating pastures often, keeping the barns clean and giving high quality foods all help to keep animals healthy.  There's also a kelp supplement that is supposed to help.  Lisa over at Lighthouse Farm uses this and says it works wonders.


Off to another day of housecleaning, yardcleaning, animal feeding , homeschooling, garden prep and praising my Lord!


From Glory Farm

Apr 21, 2007

Such Contentment

A quiet morning.  We awoke to thunder and rain.  Wonderful.  You can almost see the grass growing.  My dh went on one of his expeditions to retrieve priceless treasure.  This one being a traxcavator.  We do need one.  It comes in handy doing dirt work around here and moving things.  He sold the one we had at Christmas so we could buy presents.  That's the kind of guy he is.


There are three girls still asleep upstairs and it's almost 9:00.  Perhaps it's time to sound the alarm.  We have some hungry calves in the barn that need their attention.


I think it'll be a quiet day.  The rain is still falling softly.  There's sewing and spinning to do.  The fun stuff.  Bake some bread.  Sounds like a very nice day.  Hope your's is as well.


In all things bring Him glory.


From Glory Farm

Apr 19, 2007

Crocus and compost

It's not much, but it brings hope.  This lonely little crocus I found in my flower bed.


Still too cold to put in anything in the garden, but I have tulips up and I'll post pictures when they bloom.  I love flowers, don't you?


I put together my new compost bin today.  I think it'll work well.  It looks a lot better than the sheep wire I had around the old one.  I just put four pallets together and left the shorter one able to swing open.



I'd better get some supper on.  Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Apr 11, 2007

Turn, turn, turn, turn

I went and got a spinning wheel today.  Now I'm committed.  I have to learn to spin.  I did a bit this afternoon and I know one thing, 20 minutes on the wheel turned out better yarn than four hours on the drop spindle. 


This is the wheel.  It needs to be finished.  A fella in a town about 40 miles from here makes these. 



It's made of oak.  I'm kinda excited to get going on it. 


Best get going to bed.


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda

Apr 5, 2007

Yes We Can-Can

After months (two) of searching, I've found the prefect garbage can for my kithchen. Two months ago we broke our kitchen garbage can and I wanted something different.  Something functional that looked nice.  I was going to make a wooden bin, but I haven't got around to it yet.  I found a book at the grocery store called "Painted Whimsies".  And voila!  The perfect can. In my excitement, I ran to the computer to tell you all about it and here it is.....


We can all sleep sounder now, knowing that problem has been solved.


The Lord bless,


From Glory Farm

Apr 3, 2007

Equine Vaccinations

I am not a person who is big on vaccines.  I know that they have done much good, but I think they may be getting a little out of hand.  They have vaccines for chicken pox, now required to be able to go to school, and I read about a vaccine for diarhea for children.  I know these may be good in some instances, but I chose not to immunize any more than the minimum required. 


When it comes to animals, I'm not sure which is the best policy.  As a child, we never immunized our dogs, cats, cows, anything.  Now, in order to bring your critters out in public, you have to have proof of immunizations.  We immunize every spring.  The horses get the four-way and the West Nile Virus.  Talking to a horse trainer and she said she won't give her horses the West Nile shot.  I don't know much about this, but I figured there must be a natural alternative, or at least another side to the equine immunization thing.  Vets encourage you to immunize against everything.  I guess I'm looking for some information along the lines of why not to immunize.  Is there something else you can do to help your animals stay healthy?  We bring in critters from other farms during the year and when you do that, you don't always know what you might be bringing in.  And what about worming?  We worm four times a year, but my mom says it makes her cringe, and that she thinks it's not a good policy to always worm your animals.


I suppose  I could buy a book.  I know that there are books about natural animal care.  I'd like to hear from someone who actually does it.


Thanks,


From Glory Farm

Cruel Joke

Is it a Minnesota thing, or do people in other parts of the country let the weather become an obsession?  My tulips are up, and dreams of working the warm soil with my hands seemed close to becoming a reality.  When what to my wondering eyes should appear?....No, not St. Nick, but he'd have no trouble getting through today.  Winter storm warning out with 9" of snow possible.  We need the moisture.  I'd prefer rain.  I had planned an exciting day of going to the land fill and to the Chrysler garage to get the truck fixed.  I guess all that fun will have to wait and I'll just have to make a cup of hot chocolate, send the kids out to feed the chickens and cows, and hunker down.  What a shame. 


Have a warm and cozy day.


From Glory Farm

Mar 27, 2007

Ketchup

As in catch up. 


It's been raking the yard, starting the seeds,  cleaning the barn, washing the blankets and rugs, getting ready for the farmer's market, planning my parents 50th anniversary party, and taking care of a couple of new born calves.


We're still remodeling the house.  I STILL have to finish mudding the livingroom and then pick a color scheme.  Anyone want to help?  My kithchen is done in light blue and yellow.  I don't know if I want a warm color scheme, an accent wall, something to match the kitchen?  Then I'm going to varnish the hardwood floors.  Paint my bedroom in mint and peach?


How about ideas for the anniversary party?  We have polka music and just some sandwiches, fruit and vegies and dip.  It's an open house at a nearby school.  Any frugal???  ideas.  I made up the invites on the computer.  Planning on doing up vegie trays myself.  Have you seen what they want for them, even at Wal-Mart?


It's a gorgeous day, again.  Cool and sunny.  After lunch it's back to cleaning the barn and the yard.


That's it from Glory Farm.


May you bring Glory to the Father this day.


Rhonda

Mar 11, 2007

Homestead Business Opportunities

Here at Glory Farm we are always looking for ways to make our farm more self supporting.  I came across an article in Small Farm magazine and thought maybe we'd give this a try.  Picking wild botanicals for resale.  There are a number of wild herbs that grow here, some bring better prices than others.  Things like dandelion roots and leaves, rasberry leaves, strawberry leaves, red clover blossoms, burdock, yellow dock are in demand.  The recommeded book, "Directory of Flower and Herb Buyers 2007", is available at Prairie Oak Publishing for $12.  I haven't ordered it yet, but I might.  Their website is www.herb-buyers.com.  Has anyone else given this a try?  I realize it takes quite a bit of some herbs to make a pound.  I don't think that this is a get rich quick program, but it might work for spending money for the children. 


Have a blessed Sunday.


From Glory Farm

Mar 9, 2007

A Day of Hope and Promise

This is so cool.  45 degrees and it's supposed to stay warm for at least the next five days.  Spring!  Melting snow revealing all of the dogs' doings for a whole winter.  Spring!  The chickadees have changed their song.  The back porch is full of water instead of ice.  We can wear mud boots instead of snow boots.  Though we still have a couple feet of snow out there.  I don't think it'll last long with these temps.


 


My honey has some time off and it's so good to have him home for awhile.  I sure appreciate him.  He cares so much and asks for so little.  He took the youngest two ice fishing yesterday.  They caught a lot of ice. (bad joke)  They also caught one little crappie.  Dd3's first fish.  Not enough to eat, but they all had fun. 


 


I took the oldest two to an awards banquet at the Elks Club.  We met a family that was just great.  Kept us laughing all night.


 


Well, I started some broccoli, tomatoes and peppers two weeks ago.  I know it's early, but I just have to do something.  My peppers haven't come up.  I don't know why.  New seed, kept moist, maybe it wasn't warm enough?  I'm still waiting.


 


I've been trying to spin with a drop spindle and I think I'm ready for a wheel.  Not that I've gotten that good, I just can't spin with a spindle.  The yarn is all different thicknesses.  I think I want to learn to do this, though.  I don't need another pastime, but I think it could be a lot of fun.


 


I need to get off of here and do something constructive.  I have some sewing to finish and taxes to finish.  Also, I need to get our farmer's market plans organized and figure what else I still need to get.  These are, for the most part, enjoyable things.  I am blessed to be able to persue the things that God has given me an interest in.  (The goats are coming.)


Thanks for stopping to read.  Have a glorious day.


From Glory Farm

Mar 6, 2007

Sew What? Without a dongle?

I was over at ZooNana's looking at all of her great pictures of the things she's made on her new embroidery machine.  That got me thinking that there are a lot of people here that know a lot of things.  I have a Husqvarna Iris machine that has the computerized embroidery.  I have the customizing program 5.0.  An older one.  I lost the little adaptor that I need for my computer to save my designs.  They call it a dongle.  I lost it when we moved last August.  I've emailed Husqvarna and my emails won't go through.  I've looked on ebay and haven't found any.  I don't want to buy a whole new program.  Does anyone have any suggestions?


Thanks.


From Glory Farm

Mar 1, 2007

It can Stop Now-

We aren't going anywhere.  I don't mind, especially when I don't have anywhere to go.  This blizzard, the one that started today, is supposed to bring 15 inches.  The wind is whipping and the driveway is all drifted in again.  I'm not snowblowing until tomorrow when it's all over. 


This latest bit of weather means no school today or tomorrow so my older ones are home with the young ones.  Didn't get much done with homeschool today. 


 


One of our geldings cut his foot right above the fetlock.  It looks like it's going to be okay, but it sure scared us with all of the bleeding.  We've had it wrapped, but are letting it air out today.


 


Yesterday, the youth group leader called for a fast.  The youth are supposed to  go without any TV, books (except school books and the bible), no computer.  This is to give them more time with God.  Uninterupted.  The fast along with the snow days has made for some pretty interesting entertainment.  How I wish they could all watch a movie!  We have a trumpet going, a trombone, a keyboard, and a guitar.  They just don't all go together.  Then we had the GI Joe marathon.  Even the 15 year old was GI Frogman.  My dd2 got pictures for future blackmail material. 


 


My dh is stuck down in southern Minnesota.  They've closed I-35 down into Iowa.  He's parked waiting and praying.  Not sure which way to take.


I'm going to go and warm my hands in some dishwater.  Have a blessed night.


From Glory Farm

Feb 27, 2007

Kitchen -before and after


This is our kitchen before the paint and stuff.


Here's our kitchen a couple coats of paint and some border and new curtains, etc.



 


The dates on the pics aren't right.  I'm just too lazy to reset my camera.  The tablecloth and curtains are from Wal-Mart clearance.  I bought a couple of big tablecloths on sale for $4 a piece and made enough curtains for all three window and am reupholstering 4 chairs.  Not bad.  But, alas, this is the kitchen that we are tearing down in 4 months.  This is also the window that filled with snow during the last blizzard.  I now get to do floor plans and interior design.  Fun.


Have a blessed Tuesday.


From Glory Farm

Feb 25, 2007

Repeat after me- No goats, no goats

Yes!  Winds howling, snow blowing, drifts forming, this is a blizzard.  We finally got some snow.  Our OLD farmhouse isn't really snug.  Sitting in the kitchen yesterday, the wind coming out of the east at 35 mph, snow was actually coming through the window by the table and building up inside the screen.  I have a window full of snow this morning!


 


I'm on my own for most of the day today.  Honey is working, driving.  All of the children are gone, so I have this time.  I'm wishing I was going to church, but with the blizzard, I think I'll stay put.  So what to do?  Seems like when the children are gone I don't do much of anything.  I always think that I'll get so much done, but here I am at the computer and making plans to do....I could mud the livingroom walls.  Put the border up around the kitchen.(brrr)  Try spinning some more of the roving I have.  Start some long overdue sewing projects.  Whew!  I'm tired already.  Time for a cup of coffee and a break. 


 


Well, it is out to feed the horses, donkeys and chickens.  Also, a couple of dogs and cats and some poor little finches that keep getting blown out of the feeder.


 


Can I share something with you?  I have this terrible urge to get some more goats.  I had to get rid of the last ones because they liked my neighbor more than they liked me.  He wasn't too fond of them, though.  But the urge is so great and unless I get some serious prayer, I may give into it.  I would love to make cheese again and goats' milk soap.  It must be spring fever.  Cuz a few new chickens sounds really good too.  How about an Angora goat or two?  Okay, I'd better stop.  My dh better get home before the barn is full.


 


Have a blessed sabbath.  Spend it with Him.


From Glory Farm


 


 

Feb 23, 2007

Nothing of Importance.

Finally!  We are so lacking in moisture here.  This weekend we're supposed to get about 12" of snow.  As I look out the window, I can see that it's already started.


Just a follow-up on a few things.  I've been taking an herbal concoction for my hypothyroid.  I don't know that I feel much different, but I guess it takes a couple weeks to make a difference.


I'd been looking for garbage can ideas and I guess I'll just make a wooden one myself.  I found one at www.hgtv.com I don't remember the exact page, but they have plans for the type I was looking for. 


Well, best go and get my bread in the oven.  It'll warm up the kitchen.  I am SO ready for spring.


From Glory Farm

Feb 13, 2007

Hallelujah! (I never spell that right.)

Last week I was down for most of the week.  My dh finally talked me into going to the doctor.  Found out that there isn't much they can do, I'll have to live with the malady for awhile, but when I was there, she tested my thyroid.  Hypothyroid.  That's me.  Tired? It's hypothyroid.  Joint aches-hypothyroid.  Cold-hypothyroid.  Weight gain-hypothyroid.  Stressed, depressed-hypothyroid.  Can't play piano-hypothyroid.  Or maybe not.  How wonderful is that!  To have a name for it and a treatment.  She wants to put me on synthroid, which is fine, but first I'm trying some suppliments.  I've been doing some research and people get relief without being on meds the rest of their lives.  So I'll try the natural way first and then if I don't feel any improvement I'll get meds.  Reason to rejoice.  I don't have to be tired and cold all the time anymore.  And these 15 pounds I've put on could have an answer too.   God is good.


On another note, my dh is trucking through Illinois, Indiana and all points south today.  I've heard it's horrid.  If he comes to mind, would you pray?  I think it's pretty nasty down there and though he's the best truck driver in the world, there are times to pull over and wait it out.


Blessing to you and yours.


From Glory Farm

Feb 10, 2007

Cold Weather and Drop Spindles

The days have warmed to above zero temps, but we'll be below zero at night until July 4th.  Okay, I exagerate, but there's no relief in sight. 


Imagine-waking in the morning, pouring a hot bath with baby oil and patchouli, grabbing a fresh cup of coffee and two giant chocolate chip cookies and soaking until you're good and ready to face the day.  This morning I feel spoiled and oh so blessed. 


Trying to spin wool with a drop spindle and I was warned that it takes awhile before you get the knack.  This is a lesson in patience and I'm sure I'm doing something wrong.  But we'll keep trying.  We have a pound of roving to spin and I don't want to waste it.  Any pointers?


Since I'm feeling so much better,(been in bed all week), I think I'll venture outside now and check the livestock.  It's a balmy -10 and the sun is shining. 


May God bless  your day.


From Glory Farm

Feb 6, 2007

Out with the old, In with the new

Here's the deal.  While bringing the trash to the dump, we broke our kitchen garbage can.  It was just one of those cheap plastic things.  Well, I've been looking around trying to find one to replace it, but I want something different.  Our kitchen trash doesn't go into a cupboard, so it sits out for all to see.  I want something asthetically pleasing.   I'm looking for ideas.  This isn't a contest or a challenge, but what kind of container could I use?  I tried an old milk can.  Not a good idea.  My kitchen is very old, farmhouse in blue and yellow.  Now I know this isn't the most urgent need, but light-hearted.  Got ideas?  I'd love to hear them.  Maybe I'll even come up with some kind of prize....(Watch out)


From Glory Farm

Jan 29, 2007

Passing on Frugality

Everyone has been passing on frugal tips.  Most of the ones I use have already been posted.  My dd3 showed me just how much she's learning from me the other day.  She goes to visit her mom every other weekend.  They go to the laudromat to wash clothes.  She came home with a pocketful of used dryer sheets last weekend.  I asked her why, when we don't have a dryer.  She said that they still had alot of smell in them and so she was going to use them in her dresser drawers and to put with her clothes when she dries them over the heat ducts.  A regular chip off the....


Also, I use plates and those plastic bags you put vegetables in in the grocery store to put away leftovers in the fridge.  That way I don't have to buy plastic wrap.


Have a blessed night.


From Glory Farm

Jan 23, 2007

Organics and Herbs

There are so many interesting things in this world that I have a desire to learn.  I always end up spreading my resources ( brains, strength, faith) too thin.  Our family is starting a truck garden this spring to help pay for our farm.  It's a bit overwhelming, but I'm not planting two acres the first year.  Maybe 1/2 acre.  There's so much I still need to learn about marketing.  The growing part should be fine, but how do I price, bag, display?  I've been reading some good books on this, but I think finding someone who is doing it would be very valuable.


Now I'm looking for information on Christian Natural Healing.  I have many books on using herbs, but I want something more in depth.  I grow alot of herbs and I really enjoy it, but most go to waste, because I don't use them like I should.  Maybe somehow this could go along with our truck garden enterprise.  Maybe I should sit back and listen to God instead of going in all directions?  Maybe the desires of my heart were put there by God? 


Well, better get back to school.  If anyone has any recommendations for courses or books to study, I would really appreciate it.


From Glory Farm

Jan 21, 2007

About me......

1.First name:  Rhonda


2. Were you named after anyone?  My dad named me after Rhonda Fleming the movie star.


3. When did you last cry?  Sometime last week.


4.What is your favorite lunch meat?  Leftover chicken.


5.Kids?  Four girls and one boy


6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?  I don't know......


7. Do you have a journal?  A prayer journal.


8. Do you use sarcasm alot?  I hope not.  I've been working on that one for years.


9. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.


10. Would you bungee jump?  I really doubt it.


11. What is your favorite cereal.  Don't do cereal.


12.Do you untie your shoes when you take them off.  In the winter, I do.


13. Do you think you are strong?  Physically I can hold my own.  Otherwise it's a God thing.


14. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Don't do ice cream, either.


15. Shoe size? 10


16. Red or pink? Red


17. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?  I'm anxious.  I let things get to me.


18. Who do you miss the most?  My son.


19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?  Jeans and my honey's sheepskin slippers.


20. What are you listening to right now?  The only sound is our funace running.


21.If you were a crayon, what color would you be?  Yellow


22. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?  My brother.


23. Favorite smell?  Patchouli


24. The first thing  you notice about people that you are attracted to.  Their openess and ability to be real.


25. Do you like the person who sent this to you?  I stole it off of Trina's blog.  Shhh.


26. Favorite drink.  I like coffee.  In the evening, a cappaciuno.  I can't spell.


27. Favorite sport?  Not into sports.


28. Hat size?  Really big. I can't find women's hats that fit.  Have to go to the men's section.  Wonder why they get bigger hats?


29. Do you where contacts? No


30. Favorite food?  Love fish.


31. Scary movies or happy endings?  Happy endings


32. What color shirt are you wearing?  My honey's orange Fleet Farm shirt.


33. Last movie you watched at the movies?  Don't remember.  Ice Age II?


34. Summer or winter?  Summer, but I'm actually an autumn type.


35. Hugs or kisses?  Hugs


36. Favorite dessert?  Hmmm..caramel rolls.


37. Who is the least likely to respond? ????


38. Who is the most likely to respond??????


39. What books are you reading?  The bible and Praying the Word by Beth Moore.


40. What is on your mouse pad?  Clifford the Big Red Dog


41. The furthest you've been from home?  California


42. What's your special talent?  My ability to make a mountain out of a mole hill.  Or else the way I can inhale and make my nose stick together.  (ugh)


43. When and where were you born?  June 20. Duluth, MN


44. What did you watch on TV last night?  We don't get TV.


Well,  That was fun.  Have a blessed day.


From Glory Farm


 


29.