Dec 30, 2008

Ode to a "Joker"

My dad has told stories of when he was a boy.                                                                                  


he talks of a "Joker", a favorite toy.



It wasn't a tractor. it wasn't a truck.


But a lttle of each, a strange looking duck.



Part Dodge and part Chevy, part Case and part Deere,


Pieces hobbled together.  What was what, wasn't clear.



It could plow a field, and cut down the hay.


Bring the boys swimming and plow snow from the drive-way.



My dad came to visit, imagine my pride,


When I took him outside to show off my new "ride".



His eyes opened wide, I thought he was pleased.


"What is that!" were his words, I thought "Oh Dad, you're a tease."



"Why, a joker, of course", a big grin on my face,


"It's a real beauty." (Perhaps not in this case.)



She plows and she cuts, she loads and she rakes,


The joker on my farm is all that it takes.


Stupid Sock Creatures

My daughter received a Stupid Sock Creature Kit for Christmas.  The past two days, her and her brother have been busy creating-



What they're good for, I don't know, but my children are sure having fun, with visions of a new business on the horizon.

Dec 20, 2008

Homesteader News Needs Articles

There's a new web publication coming out in January called Homesteader News.  www.homesteadernews.com .  The publisher is looking for articles on homesteads, with pictures.  Also, he'd like articles on homesteading skills and cooking, etc.  You can e-mail him at homesteadernews@yahoo.com  with your suggestions and  your articles.  So many here have so much knowledge, here's a chance to share some more.


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda

Dec 13, 2008

Carhardts aren't made to come apart...

My honey needs his Carhardts.  They are made tough, but zippers seem to give out long before the things need patches.  I've replaced the zipper on his overalls and today it was the zipper on his old coat.  That thing had four rows of stitching on each side of the zipper!  Taking it out was a major production, putting it back in wasn't as hard.  I have to sing the praises of my old Husqvarna Constitution 200.  It went through three layers of duck cloth and the zipper.



See the stained old coat?  You can't really make out the new zipper.  Honey was very happy. 


If you're thinking about buying a sewing machine, I'm a big advocate for the Husqvarna.


God bless your evening.

You Know You're a Redneck When.....

You know you're a redneck when decorating for Christmas means  you put the Allis Chalmers tractor lights on the potted plant in the livingroom?


The girls are gonna have a cow when they get home.

Dec 9, 2008

Making Mittens (Cheating)

Hey, I made two pairs of mittens in just a day!  Last fall I picked up some 100% wool sweaters at Goodwill (1/2 off).  Washed them in the hottest water we have-lukewarm. Threw them in the dryer and viola!  felted sweaters.  Made a pattern for mittens, cut them out of the sweaters, a little decorating and I have this:



I made them for Christmas gifts, but I kinda like the blue ones........


Now how easy was that?


Happy Christmas present making.

Dec 5, 2008

Adding to the Farm

Good Morning.  It's a chilly one at 4 above with a windchill of -7.  It's going to warm up, though, to 19, which  is a decent temp for Dec. 


Well, we've added to the farm, again.  We picked up four more Icelandic sheep, three ewes and a ram.  The ram has to go back to his home in the spring, but the ewes are mine in trade for hay.  What a blessing.  They're from a wonderful friend who has decided to go into llamas instead of sheep.  So critter count is now:


40 chickens


2 horses


2 donkeys


4 Angora goats


4 Dairy goats


6 Icelandic ewes


1 dairy heifer


3 beef heifers


7 more beef heifers on the way.


And 1 very spoiled cat.


My son took out an FSA youth loan and is buying the seven beef heifers.  He already owns 2 beef heifers and the dairy heifer.  The beef heifers he has are a black Angus cross.  His new ones are a red angus crossed with Simmental and Gelveih.    Nice looking girls.  They should be here next week.  So this weekend, I think we're going to reinforce our fenceline. 



Have a wonderful day.  Recognize the opportunities that God puts in your path.


From Glory Farm



 

Nov 29, 2008

Frosty the Apple Tree

I went and got a few pictures of the beauty.  I can never seem to do it justice with a camera, but it doesn't stop me from trying.


 




God is so talented. 

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Woke up to a winter wonderland this morning.  All of the trees are covered in white and are just beautiful.  It promises to be a warm day, 30 degrees later on. 


Farm update:  My honey and my son went early this morning to look at a batch of Angus heifers.  We're thinking of buying about six to go with the others we have.  We picked up an Alpine buck, just to borrow, to breed our Alpine does.  We'll have milk this spring!  I'm going to try to clean out more of the barn today and put up a new feeder for the goats.  Dh put in a frost free waterer so now I'll just make a few fence repairs and bring the animals around to it so we don't have to water cattle or horses anymore.


Crafting:  I'm almost done with a pair of mittens, then I have socks to knit and dresses to sew.  I have quite a list of homemade presents to get done.  I really like this kind of "work" though.


House:  My honey put in a new window on Thanksgiving.  It faces south in the new kitchen and brings the sun right to me as I'm doing dishes.  I really like it.  We have three more windows to put in the new addtition before we can side it.  No hurry.


Our Thanksgiving was truly blessed.  I hope yours was too.  A grateful heart is the secret to joy with God.


Nov 21, 2008

Anyone heard from Glenda?

Just wondering if anyone had heard from Glenda lately?  You can PM me, if you would, and let me know how she is?


Thanks,


Rhonda

Do you have your seed catalogs yet?

Sitting here at my computer, my toes turning blue, I hear the sweet peeps of baby chicks.  It's a wonderful springtime sound.  But I know it's not spring.  It's not even Christmas.  And the only reason they're down in the basement  is because it got so cold in the coop,, Mama couldn't keep them warm anymore.  We only have 4 of 14 left.


Last Monday, guess what came in the mail?   Yep, my first seed catalog.  Nope, it's not too early.  My Johnny's catalog came and I've already made out my order.  Then yesterday, my Nichol's catalog came, so I'm comparing prices, etc. Looks to me like the prices have gone up again.  I saved some seeds from last year's plants, but cabbage, carrots, beets, these are hard to save seeds from.  Need to give them two years and I have a hard time  doing that.


I suppose I should keep my mind on finishing Christmas gifts.  But the sun is shining, the chicks are peeping, my seed catalogs are sitting on the table.  Ahh...hope springs eternal.  If it weren't for all of the frost on the windows and my blue toes, I could just about think it's spring!

Nov 17, 2008

We are the "cute" farm-pictures

In honor of our new snowfall, I ventured outside, camera in hand.  I have finally taken pictures of Bear.  He's our newest, smallest Angora buck.


Here's another because he's just sooooo cute.



Ready for more?  These are our two week old chicks.  They are starting to feather out.  Let's hope so.  They say the thermometer may dip to 0 tonight.



Now for the snow pictures.  Here's some of our hay for the winter.



And herrrrrrrrre's Sadie.  She had to get in on the action.  She thinks she's very photogenic.



(just tell her she looks good.  Please don't mention the few extra pounds she's packing.)


I'm hoping the sheep are smart enough to go in the shed tonight.  They seem to think that they have to stay outside.  Maybe some fresh hay in there will lure them in.  I don't like the thought of them being out on such a cold night.


Stay warm.

Nov 15, 2008

How to disguise deer

I do not llike venison.  I have never liked venison.  It's funny what a tight budget  can do to you.  I'll eat it, but I won't like it! 


 A couple of years ago, we used to turn down venison that was offered to us.  My husband and I had a hard time with the taste.  Now, we feel so blessed to have been given, not one, but two, whole deer.  The deer, plus the turkeys and chickens we butchered, almost fill the freezer.  It feels good to know that we are eating such healthy meat. (I still don't like the taste.)  There'll be a lot of slow cooked venison with beef broth.  I'm canning up a bunch of small pieces today.  I like it that way.  So if you want to get rid of any gamey taste, canning does it.  I'm also going to put a few trays of jerky to dry in the dehydrator.  I like the jerky.  I may try to make some sausage out of the venison burger we have.  Anyone have a good recipe?


Totally  different note- One of my Angora goats came into heat today and I put her in with the buck.  I can't wait for babies.  We're bringing our Alpines and our Icelandics to get them bred also.


And lastly, my honey just got home from town and brought me a bag of Doritoes, which I am consuming as I write.  Now if that doesn't just top off a perfect day....


God is Good-You know-all the time.


Love,


From Glory Farm.


Rhonda

Nov 6, 2008

Blog on...

This is one of those "I don't  have anything to write about" entries.  The weather is warm-54 and raining.  The clothes on the line are going through their third rinse.  All of this warm weather is supposed to end tomorrow when they say SNOW!  and a high temp of 35.


Need to-haul in firewood


            empty pick up of  firewood


          set up new pens in the barn


          clean the barn


           start sewing Christmas gifts


           bake, bake, bake


That should do it for today and then some.  I don't think that I'll get those pens put up until my honey can give me some advice on the best way to do it.  You know, my husband is a genious.  Seriously.  And handsome...wow.  Anyways...


The goats and the sheep are making a racket out there.  They seem to think that they never get enough to eat.  The horses have been put back in with the cows for the winter, so feeding time is total chaos.  Need to put the pen back up so they can eat in peace. 


God is good, isn't He?  When you accept what He's given you or taken from you, His blessings seem so much easier to see.  Does that make sense?


Well, this has been a strange entry and not one that flows smoothly.  Thanks for reading.  The Lord bless you and fill you.


Nov 3, 2008

We did it, We did it, we did it, did it, did it...

Okay.  I've lived in the country all of my life.  (Except those three years in Minneapolis, temporary insanity.) I have always had a garden, usually quite a few animals and my parents were into sustainability, when sustainability wasn't cool.  In all of my years of experience (that's a lot), I've never butchered anything!  I've helped, but never done it.  A dear friend, who can do just about anything homestead like, came over on Friday with her two children and we proceeded to butcher our turkeys and chickens.  Now this may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but it was hurdle I needed to get over if I really wanted to wisely use all of the resources God has given us.  No more senior center for chickens.  My son and I can now take care of this.  We had fresh turkey, home grown mashed potatoes and tomatoes,  and peas for dinner yesterday.  The turkey was great!  Now if our cow was milking, I could have claimed fresh milk for the meal.


We had a Buff hatch out 14 chicks on Friday.  I told her it was a little late, but she paid me no never mind and did it anyways.  We have one more hen that's not listening to reason, and should hatch hers out in a week or so.


Today-I carted up 1/2 bushel of ripe tomatoes from the basement and I think I'll do ketchup with them this time.  We're out.


I find so much help on this site.  I found a recipe for apple cider vinegar using just the peels and cores http://www.solarfamilyfarm.com/  I made this and it worked! I made two gallons to use as hair rinse, mostly.


Another thing I found on homestead blogger, how to make yeast , or make it last longer. 


1 cup flour


1 cup water


1/16 t. yeast


Put together, let set for five hours and you have enough starter to make a loaf of bread.  Decrease the amount of liquid and flour in your recipe by the amount in your starter.


This saves big time on yeast. 


Well, this has been a long post.  Best stop now, I must be in a talkative mood.


Blessings.


Oct 27, 2008

Welcome to My Kitchen-Me too

 

"WELCOME TO MY KITCHEN"


1. Do you have magnets on your fridge? 


Yes, holding up the childrens' school projects.
   
2. Do you have a calendar in your kitchen, if so, what's the 
    theme of it? 
   


Nope.


3. What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool? 
    My flour grinder.  It's a heavy duty monster and I think it could grind bricks.


4. Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind? 


Yes.  We're in the process of building our new kitchen and my honey put a pantry in.  It's not done yet, but when it is , y'all will be green with envy.



5. What is your favorite appliance? 
     Maybe I should have put my flour grinder here.

   


6. Do you have an eat in kitchen (table in it)? 
     Yes.  We don't have a dining room.


7. Do you have a bread box? 
    Nope.  We don't have cupboards or counters in our kitchen yet, so I store our bread on a shelf next to the sink.


8. Do you have a picture of your kids on the fridge? 
     Pictures of other peoples' kids. Pictures of ours are hanging in the livingroom.


9. Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJs? 
    Occasionally on Saturday mornings when everyone is so hungry that they can't wait. 


10. Do you have a favorite cookbook that you use?
     I have a cookbook that I made that has all of my favorite recipes in it. 


11. Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed
     down from your mom or grandma? 
      Yep.  About five years ago, my aunt made cookbooks for some of us.  She put in recipes from my grandma, and a couple of aunts that have now gone on to glory.  It's a treasure.


12. Whats your favorite food? 
      I love fresh vegies and home made dip.  Also, a good pizza with lots of garlic and cheese. 
 
13. Whats your favorite thing to cook?
      Anything that my family enjoys. They love marinated chicken breasts on salad, anything Italian, pasties, and my son loves any soup that I make.   


14. Is your coffee pot electric or stove top? 
      It's electric.


15. Do you ever make your own bread? 
    Yep.  It's all my children will eat.  We ran out of bread yesterday and my dd bought yeast and said she'd have to make it, because I was busy.  I think she forgot, so guess what else I get to do today?


16. Name one thing that you have hanging on your wall  in
     your kitchen. 
      Well, it's not sheetrock.  We have insulation and plastic.


17. Is there a clock in your kitchen? 
      Yes.  One that was given to me by our old 4-H club for being a leader.  They were so nice.


18. Do you have a bowl of fruit sitting on your table or
     counter?
      Usually. Whatever fruit is in season, is what it holds.


19. What type of canisters do you have? 
      No counter, no canisters.


20. Does your kitchen have a theme? 
     Themed "Under Construction".
  
21. What's for supper tonight? 
      Fried summer squash w/onions and garlic, applesauce, leftover hash, and maybe pumpkin cake


22. Do you have enough cabinet space?
    No.   But someday we will have cabinets.


23. Does your family use paper plates? 
      No.


24. Do you have a good set of china picked up? 
      No.  But I've been collecting antique dishes with floral designs.  I really like them and they are a bit fancy.  I have a tendency to use our good china and good silverware for everyday.  I also like candles for every meal and a nice tablecloth.                  


25. Do you wear an apron to work in your kitchen? 
      Only when I haven't changed out of my church clothes.


26. Name one thing, if anything, that you would like to
     change about your kitchen. 
     I would have it all finished.  Walls up, cupboards in, windows in, counters in, floors in, OH YES!




Oct 22, 2008

A New Homestead Newspaper and other things

Yesterday the kitchen was warm and the smells great.  Don't you love when the kids come in and say "What smells so good?"  I canned applesauce, rose hip syrup, V-8 juice, cooked a couple of pumpkins, froze some and made 4 dozen muffins, made cabbage rolls from the V-8 juice.   Thank you Lord.  I didn't get the salsa done, but that can happen today, Lord willing.


The wood furnace is up and running!  I put the first fire in there last night.  The chemicals from the paint and from the new stove pipe had to burn off, a smell that wasn't so great, but it was warm.  I'm so thankful for this new stove.


Today it's out to the barn to clean some more and try to get the new goat pens done, haul some wood into the house and violin lessons in town.  Maybe some house cleaning and, of course, schooling.


There's a new homestead newspaper on line.  It's free and  if you'd like to check it out, the site is- http://www.freewebs.com/homesteadernews


Have a good and Godly day.


 


 P.S.  We picked up not one but two Angora bucks on  Saturday.  We'll have some nice kids come next spring, Lord willing.  Pictures later.

Oct 21, 2008

Oh yes we can, can

Can that is.  I just finished up two batches of rose hip syrup, that was supposed to be rose hip jelly.  Happens everytime I make it.  I think I need a new recipe.


I have V-8 juice simmering on the stove, soon to be sieved and put into jars and canned.  Then to finish off the apples and put some applesauce up.  Next up is the rest of the ripe tomatoes which will make about 8 quarts of salsa.  I have a couple of pumpkins in the oven and would like to get some pumpkin muffins made and some pumpkin pancakes.  When the V-8 juice is done, I'll use some to make some cabbage rolls to put in the slow cooker.  By that time my honey should be home and I get to drive tractor and bring hay bales home.  Someone please help my house! 


I love going down to the canning pantry and looking at the fruits of my labors.  I know you enjoy it too.  All the lovely colors and jars.  Canning is addicting, but it sure helps the grocery bill.


With all of that said, time to get off my duff and get that V-8 juice finished.


From Glory Farm

Oct 17, 2008

Rose Hip Jelly and An Angora Buck

Today we're going visiting.  We're going to pick rosehips at a friend's house.  I used to make rosehip jelly and tea and I'd pretty much forgotten that they even existed.  Very  high in vitamin C.


Rose Hip Jelly


4 cups rosehip juice


7 1/2 cups sugar


1 bottle liquid pectin


Remove blossom remnants and stems from rose hips.  Prepare rose hip juice by  placing crushed rose hips in a pan, cover with water and cook for 15 minutes or until soft, strain through cheesecloth.


Measure juice, stir in sugar.  Place on high heat, stirring constantly.  Bring to a full rolling boil.  Add the liquid pectin and heat to a full rolling boil.  Boil hard for 1 minute.  Remove from heat, skim off foam, pour jelly into hot containers and seal.  Rose hips should be picked after the first killing frost for the best flavor and jelling.  This jelly is a good source of vitamin C.



Tomorrow we're taking a road trip down south, near the cities, to  pick up an Angora buck.  We don't go this far very often.  To church is about as far as we usually travel these days.  This is a treat for us and I pray the Lord blesses our day and helps us to bless those that He puts in our path.  Lord willing we'll have Angora kids in the spring and have some to sell, fiber to sell, and a way to help our farm pay for itself.


Our two oldest girls are on a camping trip this weekend.  CCCCCold.  They went  up to the Boundary Waters.  It'll be a trip they remember, one way or another.


Have a marvelous weekend, all.

Oct 14, 2008

Treating livestock herbally

I found a wonderful site for treating livestock with herbal supplements.  At this farm, they deal mostly with sheep, but have info and links for other things as well.  There's an herbal deworming spreadsheet that helps put information in a more readable form.   http://www.reedbird.com/index.html


I hope you find this useful.


From Glory Farm

Oct 7, 2008

Pics-Harvest Festival and Plowing

These pics are from a couple of weeks ago.  Our town has a Fall Color Festival.  I only took a couple of pictures.  There are three rivers that converge in our town.  This is a shot from the bridge right downtown.  It was beautiful.



Our son also took part in the tractor pull.  He placed third (out of three ), but he did his best:



My honey plowed up a few acres on our north 20.  I think we're putting in oats and alfalfa next spring, and somehow want to get some wheat in. 



Here's a picture of the plowed field.  Isn't it lovely? 



I guess I sound like I'm boasting.  I just love this land and all that the Lord has blessed us with.  I want to be a good steward and use it for His glory.


From Glory Farm

Using the Harvest

 What are you getting from your garden?  We have harvested cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions,sunflowers, kale, pumpkins, apples and plums this fall.  With this harvest there are a number of things I make.


*


Homemade spaghetti sauce-tomatoes, garlic, onions, basil, thyme, sage, oregano, majarom, cayenne, savory from the garden


Homemade salsa-tomatoes, onions, cayenne from the garden


Cream of carrot soup


Tomato soup


Kale soup


Meatball stew-using carrots, potatoes, onions and beans from the garden


Scalloped hotdish-carrots, onions, potatoes


Speedy boiled dinner-cabbage, potatoes and carrots


Cabbage rolls-cabbage, tomatoes


Runzas-Ask for the recipe on this one.  These are delicious,  cabbage and onions


French Fries


Onion Rings-love these


Coleslaw


Applesauce, apple pie, baked apples, fresh plums, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes


These are just a few ideas.  What do you make with your fresh harvest?


You know, even with stretching our grocery money, I'm still spending about $100 a week on groceries.  There are six of us, and I can't think of how to save any more than I am.  Any suggestions?




 


Oct 2, 2008

Garlic Works Wonders

Fixed the fence yesterday, got all of the critters back in their respective pastures and what do you think I see out the kitchen window this morning??????Cows in the horse pasture?  Good guess and you'd be right.  I can't figure out why our fence isn't charging.  Lord give me patience.


*


It may be time to start up the furnace.  We're having freezing temps at night and the house gets down to 60 at night.  No wonder everyone heads for a hot shower first thing in the morning.


*


Well, the headcold is still in the house.  Ds and I both ate a bunch of garlic yesterday and I believe that's why we both feel so much better today.  (and why no one gets close to us.)It usually works very well.  Dd is still feeling poorly and is next for the bathtub.  She doesn't want the garlic unless I mix it in with chicken noodle soup.  That's doable.


*


Time to get my wool socks on and get the chores done. 


Have a good and Godly day.


From Glory Farm

Oct 1, 2008

Being Flexible-It's Just Not Me

It's  starting to be one of those days.  The two yougers are sick with a decent headcold and I think I feel their pain.  Or at least I'm starting to.  This means I get to do chores alone and I was just informed that we have donkeys and cows in the horse pasture.  This doesn't look good.  Morning plans out the window and walking fenceline, repairing and herding the animals back to their respective paddocks is on my list. 


Sun is out, birds are singing, it's a nice day for a walk!


Write more later.

Sep 24, 2008

Bartering, Borrowing and Blessings

  Most of our neighbors are farmers and they seem to be open to bartering for things.  My honey can fix about anything with a motor or engine and there aren't any farm mechanics around here, especially ones that make house calls.  See how God works?  My honey is trading labor for use of an excavator and some gravel to do our septic mound.  A neighbor's brother just gave DH a small blacksmith's forge.  My cousin tore down his cabin on the lake and let us scavenge tongue and groove, windows and doors, and firewood.  I have a friend with whom I traded hay for use of her ram to breed my ewes, now she's looking into getting me some free llamas, (blessing or not?)  We borrow equipment and lend equipment.  We help each other.  Lately, I have been stressing over finances.  I do this a lot.  (God is still working on me.)  So this morning I'm counting just a few of my blessings. 


*


Today I get to...clean the barn, pick tomatoes, teach my children, perhaps trim goat and sheep hooves, find a buck for my dairy goats, check fenceline, stack firewood, this and maybe more.  How blessed to have sheep and goats, tomatoes and firewood and especially children.  A grateful heart is fertile soil for the Lord to work with.  Lord, I want You to harvest a bumper crop.

Sep 23, 2008

Homemade Blueberry Soda

Yesterday's list on my blog did help me to get more done.  I didn't want anyone to see all of those items still there.  I had an additional blessing yesterday.  My honey came home from work, sharpened my shears and said "Let's go and try them out."  So I got one sheep sheared.  Two to go. He also showed me how to run the splitter, so I can go and finish splitting the firewood!


It's raining today so it's a get stuff done in the house day.  I like this down time.


There is a site called Learning Herbs, which I discovered from one of you nice gals here at homesteadblogger.  They send out herbal recipes to my e-mail every once in awhile and I thought I'd try the last one.  It's instructions on making fermented berry soda.  Here is the site-  http://www.learningherbs.com/news_issue_20.html If you go there, you should be able to find this newest recipe.  It's also a great site for anyone who likes to forage, like we do.


Have a blessed day.  Don't forget to include God.

Sep 22, 2008

Lists

Thought I would post my list on here.  Maybe give me more incentive to get it done?



  • Bake-bread and sweets

  • Make huckleberry jam

  • Pull carrots pull 3/4 of the carrots

  • pick corn

  • Take care of animals

  • Clean goat room

  • Unload two one truck of firewood

  • Clean out cubby and rearrange

  • Homeschool, of course

  • Pick up dd from piano

  • Make and can applesauce once honey comes home with more sugar

  • Clean bathroom

  • Do Laundry


Do I think I'll get it all done?  I never get everything off my list in one day.  Usually two or three.  The garden needs to be pulled and manure spread and then disked.  Garlic needs to go in for next year.  Barnyard and barn need to be cleaned with a friend's skidsteer, fenceline moved, big rounds stored in the yard.  My honey is overwhelmed, which I've never seen happen before.  He's had a couple of logs fall on his toes and his boots were so old that the steel toe became unattached.  Now it hurts to walk.  He has a problem finding boots that fit.  His feet are very wide and it's hard to find him boots.  This is causing his back to hurt again and I think he's just miserable with everything happening at once.  Join me in praying for him, if he comes to mind. Thank you.


*


I'll come back tonight and see how many of those things I can cross off my list. 


On my mark-


Get set-


Go!

Sep 17, 2008

Let Winter Begin?????

I wanted to share some good news. 


Long story-Our home is 100 years old and has a couple different additions on it.  Not very air tight and when we had it tested, we had the equivalent of 200 softball size holes in it.  Needless to say, we didn't have to worry  about carbon monoxide  poisoning.  It was COLD.  Last winter we went through enough propane to run a small town.  Well, for the last two weeks we've had work done on it.  Winterizing.  They finished yesterday and ran the test again.  They cut the amount of airflow down to about 20% of what it was before!  Better than they even thought it would be.  I was told that we should go through less than half the amount of fuel we went through last winter.  And when I woke up this morning, I was warm!  We don't have any furnace hooked up yet, and it was about 38 degrees outside!  How cool is that?  Or, I should say, how warm is that?


Thank you Lord!  You are so good to us.

Another Tutorial-Horseradish Sauce

This is a post from a couple of years ago, but I thought I'd run it again, as this is what I'll be doing today.


It's one of those days when the list is longer than the amount of hours.  I HAVE to get to shearing today and no matter how nice it is out, we have to have school.  No more playing hookie.  Carrots need to be pulled and homes found for a few cabbages. 


I was up early and made some horseradish sauce, so you guys get another tutorial!  How blessed are you?


Warning-This stuff is strong and you may want to wear safety glasses.  No joke.


I dug up the horseradish yesterday and ended up with some nice straight roots this year-


Next peel these, either with a knife or a peeler.  I like a knife better-



Now chop these into smaller pieces.  You can process them in a blender or in a food processor.  I used my food processor because it goes faster and chops finer.



I added a teaspoon of vinegar for each batch that I chopped.  If you're using a blender, you may need more.  This is the horseradish all chopped-



I ended up with about four cups of ground horseradish. If  you're using a blender, you can just keep the ground horseradish in there as  you add the rest of the ingredients.  Next, I ground up a bulb of garlic and added it along with about 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1 cup of cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/3 cup honey.  If you'd like your sauce to be more saucey, add more vinegar.


The finished product-


I don't can horseradish.  Just stick it in the fridge and it'll keep for months.  It does lose it's bite the longer you keep it. 


I use horseradish on all types of meat and on some sandwiches.  My dad loves it and I usually give him at least half of my harvest.


Enjoy!

Sep 16, 2008

This Fine Day-It Is a Gift

In honor of the great weather we're having today-school has been canceled.  It has been replaced with gardening, barn cleaning and hopefully shearing some form of livestock.


I got a pic of dd3's new kids-These are Boer, Nubian, Oberhaasli cross doelings, born June 2.




I thought I'd post a pic of some Icelandics that really need a shave:




These are my furry girlsI guess wooly would be the correct term.


Well I'd better get going. 


Enjoy your day, whatever the weather.


From Glory Farm

Sep 15, 2008

Of goats and pumpkins

Sunshine this morning.  But, boy is it cold.  We had another 20 something degree morning.  We covered the tomatoes last night, but I didn't have enough plastic to cover the pumpkins,too.  I hope they survived.  Whatever is still out there has to be picked today.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Dd3 bought two goats yesterday.  They're Nubian, Oberhaasli, Boer cross.  She hopes to have them bred and milk them.  I don't think they'll be big enough to breed this fall.  They were born June 2.  I'll try and post some pics of our ever increasing herd.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 


Today we need to start shearing.  Angoras and Icelandics.  I may post pics of us fighting with sheep, also.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Lots of jobs today.  Our new furnace isn't in yet, but we got the old wood burner out of the basement.  This involved a couple of chains, a big tractor, a come-along, thick planking and abundant prayer.  God was so good and up the steps and out the front door it was winched.  I didn't think to take pictures.  I did discover that I pray more when I'm scared.  That furnace had to go at least 800 pounds.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Off to make good use of my time....I hope to be back later with pictures.


Bless the Lord.

Sep 9, 2008

Dehydrated Soup

My dehydrator is running constantly this harvest season.  I'm putting together soup mixes. 


Onions


Squash


Beans


Peas


Carrots


Lovage


Basil


Bay


Garlic


Dehydrating these, mixing them, and putting them in plastic bags.  For soup in the winter, just add meat and stock of your choice, or even just meat and water. 


I hope to dehydrate some tomatoes, also.  We had a killing frost last night.  My garden is too big to cover everything, so we lost the squash, pumpkins,  corn, and sunflowers.  I covered the cukes and tomatoes and have yet to check to see if they made it.  Corn, tomatoes and squash weren't even done yet.  Such is life.  We do have a fantastic cabbage crop.


Well, off to school we go.


From Glory Farm


Sep 8, 2008

Homeschoolfreebieoftheday.com

Every Monday, I receive a list of five free homeschool resources.  One available each day of the week.  I find something I can use almost every week.  We especially enjoy the history lessons.  I've also downloaded great organizing helpers.  This week there's a  resource that has bath and body recipes.  Lotions, creams, etc.  I'm posting this because it's a great resource and they would like more people aware of it.  You don't need to buy a thing, but they do have great deals on stuff from time to time.  Actually, I first found out about it through someone's blog here at hmesteadblogger. 


So check it out.

Sep 6, 2008

Drying Onions and Garlic

I love garlic and I grew a great crop this year.  I've decided to put up a lot of it as garlic powder.  This isn't hard to do, but I thought I'd post on it.


First the onions and garlic-



(the out of focus onions and garlic)


Peel skins off of garlic bulbs and then off of cloves.-



I slice the garlic in my ancient food processor.  It goes much faster.-



Then I peel and slice the onions.  I do this by hand as my food processor doesn't like onions.


Next, place onions-



and garlic-



On the drying trays for your dehydrator.  I think you can also dry them on screens or in your oven on low.


I dry them until they are brittle and crisp and then back to the food processor to grind them into powder.-



Yes, I should have washed this off before taking a picture.


And-VOILA! 



Out of focus onion and garlic powder!


I think I just wanted to take pictures today.  I'm making beet pickles now, but I promise, no more tutorials.


Have a blessed night.

Making Sauerkraut

We've been blessed with wonderful, large cabbage.  We grew 40 of them and now I get to make sauerkraut.  I've never made it before and I don't really like it, but I've been told that homemade tastes better than storebought.  So here goes...


Get approximately 20 lbs. of cabbage-


(pay no mind to the date on these pictures)


Next you chop it up five pounds at a time and add three tablespoons of salt to each five.



You could use a kraut cutter-



But as you can see, mine is old and needs sharpening so I just used a knife-



After you have salted five pounds and stirred it, let it set several minutes.  It should get wilty.  While it was setting, I cut another bowl full of cabbage.  After it gets wilty, put into crock-



Pack it down with a wooden spoon or your fist-



Continue to fill the crock with the salt and cabbage mixture until it is about 3-4 inches from the top-



If the liquid isn't at the top and going over the cabbage, make some more.  One quart of water to 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt.  Bring to a boil and then let it cool.  Pour over cabbage so there is brine up to the top of the cabbage.  I ended up making about 2 more quarts of brine.  Next cover the cabbage with cheesecloth.-



Then it will need to be weighted down.  I used a plastic bag filled with water.  This will keep air out and form itself to the top of the cabbage.-



Store in a cool place.  Remove and discard scum from the top every day.  It takes 3-6 weeks for fermentation to be complete.  To can it after it's done-bring it to a simmer-not a boil- and put into hot jars.  Put on lids that have been heated.  Put in hot water bath for 30 minutes.  This is for quarts.


I'll let you know how it turns out.  I've never done this before.

Dec 30, 2008

Ode to a "Joker"

My dad has told stories of when he was a boy.                                                                                  


he talks of a "Joker", a favorite toy.



It wasn't a tractor. it wasn't a truck.


But a lttle of each, a strange looking duck.



Part Dodge and part Chevy, part Case and part Deere,


Pieces hobbled together.  What was what, wasn't clear.



It could plow a field, and cut down the hay.


Bring the boys swimming and plow snow from the drive-way.



My dad came to visit, imagine my pride,


When I took him outside to show off my new "ride".



His eyes opened wide, I thought he was pleased.


"What is that!" were his words, I thought "Oh Dad, you're a tease."



"Why, a joker, of course", a big grin on my face,


"It's a real beauty." (Perhaps not in this case.)



She plows and she cuts, she loads and she rakes,


The joker on my farm is all that it takes.


Stupid Sock Creatures

My daughter received a Stupid Sock Creature Kit for Christmas.  The past two days, her and her brother have been busy creating-



What they're good for, I don't know, but my children are sure having fun, with visions of a new business on the horizon.

Dec 20, 2008

Homesteader News Needs Articles

There's a new web publication coming out in January called Homesteader News.  www.homesteadernews.com .  The publisher is looking for articles on homesteads, with pictures.  Also, he'd like articles on homesteading skills and cooking, etc.  You can e-mail him at homesteadernews@yahoo.com  with your suggestions and  your articles.  So many here have so much knowledge, here's a chance to share some more.


From Glory Farm,


Rhonda

Dec 13, 2008

Carhardts aren't made to come apart...

My honey needs his Carhardts.  They are made tough, but zippers seem to give out long before the things need patches.  I've replaced the zipper on his overalls and today it was the zipper on his old coat.  That thing had four rows of stitching on each side of the zipper!  Taking it out was a major production, putting it back in wasn't as hard.  I have to sing the praises of my old Husqvarna Constitution 200.  It went through three layers of duck cloth and the zipper.



See the stained old coat?  You can't really make out the new zipper.  Honey was very happy. 


If you're thinking about buying a sewing machine, I'm a big advocate for the Husqvarna.


God bless your evening.

You Know You're a Redneck When.....

You know you're a redneck when decorating for Christmas means  you put the Allis Chalmers tractor lights on the potted plant in the livingroom?


The girls are gonna have a cow when they get home.

Dec 9, 2008

Making Mittens (Cheating)

Hey, I made two pairs of mittens in just a day!  Last fall I picked up some 100% wool sweaters at Goodwill (1/2 off).  Washed them in the hottest water we have-lukewarm. Threw them in the dryer and viola!  felted sweaters.  Made a pattern for mittens, cut them out of the sweaters, a little decorating and I have this:



I made them for Christmas gifts, but I kinda like the blue ones........


Now how easy was that?


Happy Christmas present making.

Dec 5, 2008

Adding to the Farm

Good Morning.  It's a chilly one at 4 above with a windchill of -7.  It's going to warm up, though, to 19, which  is a decent temp for Dec. 


Well, we've added to the farm, again.  We picked up four more Icelandic sheep, three ewes and a ram.  The ram has to go back to his home in the spring, but the ewes are mine in trade for hay.  What a blessing.  They're from a wonderful friend who has decided to go into llamas instead of sheep.  So critter count is now:


40 chickens


2 horses


2 donkeys


4 Angora goats


4 Dairy goats


6 Icelandic ewes


1 dairy heifer


3 beef heifers


7 more beef heifers on the way.


And 1 very spoiled cat.


My son took out an FSA youth loan and is buying the seven beef heifers.  He already owns 2 beef heifers and the dairy heifer.  The beef heifers he has are a black Angus cross.  His new ones are a red angus crossed with Simmental and Gelveih.    Nice looking girls.  They should be here next week.  So this weekend, I think we're going to reinforce our fenceline. 



Have a wonderful day.  Recognize the opportunities that God puts in your path.


From Glory Farm



 

Nov 29, 2008

Frosty the Apple Tree

I went and got a few pictures of the beauty.  I can never seem to do it justice with a camera, but it doesn't stop me from trying.


 




God is so talented. 

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Woke up to a winter wonderland this morning.  All of the trees are covered in white and are just beautiful.  It promises to be a warm day, 30 degrees later on. 


Farm update:  My honey and my son went early this morning to look at a batch of Angus heifers.  We're thinking of buying about six to go with the others we have.  We picked up an Alpine buck, just to borrow, to breed our Alpine does.  We'll have milk this spring!  I'm going to try to clean out more of the barn today and put up a new feeder for the goats.  Dh put in a frost free waterer so now I'll just make a few fence repairs and bring the animals around to it so we don't have to water cattle or horses anymore.


Crafting:  I'm almost done with a pair of mittens, then I have socks to knit and dresses to sew.  I have quite a list of homemade presents to get done.  I really like this kind of "work" though.


House:  My honey put in a new window on Thanksgiving.  It faces south in the new kitchen and brings the sun right to me as I'm doing dishes.  I really like it.  We have three more windows to put in the new addtition before we can side it.  No hurry.


Our Thanksgiving was truly blessed.  I hope yours was too.  A grateful heart is the secret to joy with God.


Nov 21, 2008

Anyone heard from Glenda?

Just wondering if anyone had heard from Glenda lately?  You can PM me, if you would, and let me know how she is?


Thanks,


Rhonda

Do you have your seed catalogs yet?

Sitting here at my computer, my toes turning blue, I hear the sweet peeps of baby chicks.  It's a wonderful springtime sound.  But I know it's not spring.  It's not even Christmas.  And the only reason they're down in the basement  is because it got so cold in the coop,, Mama couldn't keep them warm anymore.  We only have 4 of 14 left.


Last Monday, guess what came in the mail?   Yep, my first seed catalog.  Nope, it's not too early.  My Johnny's catalog came and I've already made out my order.  Then yesterday, my Nichol's catalog came, so I'm comparing prices, etc. Looks to me like the prices have gone up again.  I saved some seeds from last year's plants, but cabbage, carrots, beets, these are hard to save seeds from.  Need to give them two years and I have a hard time  doing that.


I suppose I should keep my mind on finishing Christmas gifts.  But the sun is shining, the chicks are peeping, my seed catalogs are sitting on the table.  Ahh...hope springs eternal.  If it weren't for all of the frost on the windows and my blue toes, I could just about think it's spring!

Nov 17, 2008

We are the "cute" farm-pictures

In honor of our new snowfall, I ventured outside, camera in hand.  I have finally taken pictures of Bear.  He's our newest, smallest Angora buck.


Here's another because he's just sooooo cute.



Ready for more?  These are our two week old chicks.  They are starting to feather out.  Let's hope so.  They say the thermometer may dip to 0 tonight.



Now for the snow pictures.  Here's some of our hay for the winter.



And herrrrrrrrre's Sadie.  She had to get in on the action.  She thinks she's very photogenic.



(just tell her she looks good.  Please don't mention the few extra pounds she's packing.)


I'm hoping the sheep are smart enough to go in the shed tonight.  They seem to think that they have to stay outside.  Maybe some fresh hay in there will lure them in.  I don't like the thought of them being out on such a cold night.


Stay warm.

Nov 15, 2008

How to disguise deer

I do not llike venison.  I have never liked venison.  It's funny what a tight budget  can do to you.  I'll eat it, but I won't like it! 


 A couple of years ago, we used to turn down venison that was offered to us.  My husband and I had a hard time with the taste.  Now, we feel so blessed to have been given, not one, but two, whole deer.  The deer, plus the turkeys and chickens we butchered, almost fill the freezer.  It feels good to know that we are eating such healthy meat. (I still don't like the taste.)  There'll be a lot of slow cooked venison with beef broth.  I'm canning up a bunch of small pieces today.  I like it that way.  So if you want to get rid of any gamey taste, canning does it.  I'm also going to put a few trays of jerky to dry in the dehydrator.  I like the jerky.  I may try to make some sausage out of the venison burger we have.  Anyone have a good recipe?


Totally  different note- One of my Angora goats came into heat today and I put her in with the buck.  I can't wait for babies.  We're bringing our Alpines and our Icelandics to get them bred also.


And lastly, my honey just got home from town and brought me a bag of Doritoes, which I am consuming as I write.  Now if that doesn't just top off a perfect day....


God is Good-You know-all the time.


Love,


From Glory Farm.


Rhonda

Nov 6, 2008

Blog on...

This is one of those "I don't  have anything to write about" entries.  The weather is warm-54 and raining.  The clothes on the line are going through their third rinse.  All of this warm weather is supposed to end tomorrow when they say SNOW!  and a high temp of 35.


Need to-haul in firewood


            empty pick up of  firewood


          set up new pens in the barn


          clean the barn


           start sewing Christmas gifts


           bake, bake, bake


That should do it for today and then some.  I don't think that I'll get those pens put up until my honey can give me some advice on the best way to do it.  You know, my husband is a genious.  Seriously.  And handsome...wow.  Anyways...


The goats and the sheep are making a racket out there.  They seem to think that they never get enough to eat.  The horses have been put back in with the cows for the winter, so feeding time is total chaos.  Need to put the pen back up so they can eat in peace. 


God is good, isn't He?  When you accept what He's given you or taken from you, His blessings seem so much easier to see.  Does that make sense?


Well, this has been a strange entry and not one that flows smoothly.  Thanks for reading.  The Lord bless you and fill you.


Nov 3, 2008

We did it, We did it, we did it, did it, did it...

Okay.  I've lived in the country all of my life.  (Except those three years in Minneapolis, temporary insanity.) I have always had a garden, usually quite a few animals and my parents were into sustainability, when sustainability wasn't cool.  In all of my years of experience (that's a lot), I've never butchered anything!  I've helped, but never done it.  A dear friend, who can do just about anything homestead like, came over on Friday with her two children and we proceeded to butcher our turkeys and chickens.  Now this may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but it was hurdle I needed to get over if I really wanted to wisely use all of the resources God has given us.  No more senior center for chickens.  My son and I can now take care of this.  We had fresh turkey, home grown mashed potatoes and tomatoes,  and peas for dinner yesterday.  The turkey was great!  Now if our cow was milking, I could have claimed fresh milk for the meal.


We had a Buff hatch out 14 chicks on Friday.  I told her it was a little late, but she paid me no never mind and did it anyways.  We have one more hen that's not listening to reason, and should hatch hers out in a week or so.


Today-I carted up 1/2 bushel of ripe tomatoes from the basement and I think I'll do ketchup with them this time.  We're out.


I find so much help on this site.  I found a recipe for apple cider vinegar using just the peels and cores http://www.solarfamilyfarm.com/  I made this and it worked! I made two gallons to use as hair rinse, mostly.


Another thing I found on homestead blogger, how to make yeast , or make it last longer. 


1 cup flour


1 cup water


1/16 t. yeast


Put together, let set for five hours and you have enough starter to make a loaf of bread.  Decrease the amount of liquid and flour in your recipe by the amount in your starter.


This saves big time on yeast. 


Well, this has been a long post.  Best stop now, I must be in a talkative mood.


Blessings.


Oct 27, 2008

Welcome to My Kitchen-Me too

 

"WELCOME TO MY KITCHEN"


1. Do you have magnets on your fridge? 


Yes, holding up the childrens' school projects.
   
2. Do you have a calendar in your kitchen, if so, what's the 
    theme of it? 
   


Nope.


3. What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool? 
    My flour grinder.  It's a heavy duty monster and I think it could grind bricks.


4. Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind? 


Yes.  We're in the process of building our new kitchen and my honey put a pantry in.  It's not done yet, but when it is , y'all will be green with envy.



5. What is your favorite appliance? 
     Maybe I should have put my flour grinder here.

   


6. Do you have an eat in kitchen (table in it)? 
     Yes.  We don't have a dining room.


7. Do you have a bread box? 
    Nope.  We don't have cupboards or counters in our kitchen yet, so I store our bread on a shelf next to the sink.


8. Do you have a picture of your kids on the fridge? 
     Pictures of other peoples' kids. Pictures of ours are hanging in the livingroom.


9. Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJs? 
    Occasionally on Saturday mornings when everyone is so hungry that they can't wait. 


10. Do you have a favorite cookbook that you use?
     I have a cookbook that I made that has all of my favorite recipes in it. 


11. Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed
     down from your mom or grandma? 
      Yep.  About five years ago, my aunt made cookbooks for some of us.  She put in recipes from my grandma, and a couple of aunts that have now gone on to glory.  It's a treasure.


12. Whats your favorite food? 
      I love fresh vegies and home made dip.  Also, a good pizza with lots of garlic and cheese. 
 
13. Whats your favorite thing to cook?
      Anything that my family enjoys. They love marinated chicken breasts on salad, anything Italian, pasties, and my son loves any soup that I make.   


14. Is your coffee pot electric or stove top? 
      It's electric.


15. Do you ever make your own bread? 
    Yep.  It's all my children will eat.  We ran out of bread yesterday and my dd bought yeast and said she'd have to make it, because I was busy.  I think she forgot, so guess what else I get to do today?


16. Name one thing that you have hanging on your wall  in
     your kitchen. 
      Well, it's not sheetrock.  We have insulation and plastic.


17. Is there a clock in your kitchen? 
      Yes.  One that was given to me by our old 4-H club for being a leader.  They were so nice.


18. Do you have a bowl of fruit sitting on your table or
     counter?
      Usually. Whatever fruit is in season, is what it holds.


19. What type of canisters do you have? 
      No counter, no canisters.


20. Does your kitchen have a theme? 
     Themed "Under Construction".
  
21. What's for supper tonight? 
      Fried summer squash w/onions and garlic, applesauce, leftover hash, and maybe pumpkin cake


22. Do you have enough cabinet space?
    No.   But someday we will have cabinets.


23. Does your family use paper plates? 
      No.


24. Do you have a good set of china picked up? 
      No.  But I've been collecting antique dishes with floral designs.  I really like them and they are a bit fancy.  I have a tendency to use our good china and good silverware for everyday.  I also like candles for every meal and a nice tablecloth.                  


25. Do you wear an apron to work in your kitchen? 
      Only when I haven't changed out of my church clothes.


26. Name one thing, if anything, that you would like to
     change about your kitchen. 
     I would have it all finished.  Walls up, cupboards in, windows in, counters in, floors in, OH YES!




Oct 22, 2008

A New Homestead Newspaper and other things

Yesterday the kitchen was warm and the smells great.  Don't you love when the kids come in and say "What smells so good?"  I canned applesauce, rose hip syrup, V-8 juice, cooked a couple of pumpkins, froze some and made 4 dozen muffins, made cabbage rolls from the V-8 juice.   Thank you Lord.  I didn't get the salsa done, but that can happen today, Lord willing.


The wood furnace is up and running!  I put the first fire in there last night.  The chemicals from the paint and from the new stove pipe had to burn off, a smell that wasn't so great, but it was warm.  I'm so thankful for this new stove.


Today it's out to the barn to clean some more and try to get the new goat pens done, haul some wood into the house and violin lessons in town.  Maybe some house cleaning and, of course, schooling.


There's a new homestead newspaper on line.  It's free and  if you'd like to check it out, the site is- http://www.freewebs.com/homesteadernews


Have a good and Godly day.


 


 P.S.  We picked up not one but two Angora bucks on  Saturday.  We'll have some nice kids come next spring, Lord willing.  Pictures later.

Oct 21, 2008

Oh yes we can, can

Can that is.  I just finished up two batches of rose hip syrup, that was supposed to be rose hip jelly.  Happens everytime I make it.  I think I need a new recipe.


I have V-8 juice simmering on the stove, soon to be sieved and put into jars and canned.  Then to finish off the apples and put some applesauce up.  Next up is the rest of the ripe tomatoes which will make about 8 quarts of salsa.  I have a couple of pumpkins in the oven and would like to get some pumpkin muffins made and some pumpkin pancakes.  When the V-8 juice is done, I'll use some to make some cabbage rolls to put in the slow cooker.  By that time my honey should be home and I get to drive tractor and bring hay bales home.  Someone please help my house! 


I love going down to the canning pantry and looking at the fruits of my labors.  I know you enjoy it too.  All the lovely colors and jars.  Canning is addicting, but it sure helps the grocery bill.


With all of that said, time to get off my duff and get that V-8 juice finished.


From Glory Farm

Oct 17, 2008

Rose Hip Jelly and An Angora Buck

Today we're going visiting.  We're going to pick rosehips at a friend's house.  I used to make rosehip jelly and tea and I'd pretty much forgotten that they even existed.  Very  high in vitamin C.


Rose Hip Jelly


4 cups rosehip juice


7 1/2 cups sugar


1 bottle liquid pectin


Remove blossom remnants and stems from rose hips.  Prepare rose hip juice by  placing crushed rose hips in a pan, cover with water and cook for 15 minutes or until soft, strain through cheesecloth.


Measure juice, stir in sugar.  Place on high heat, stirring constantly.  Bring to a full rolling boil.  Add the liquid pectin and heat to a full rolling boil.  Boil hard for 1 minute.  Remove from heat, skim off foam, pour jelly into hot containers and seal.  Rose hips should be picked after the first killing frost for the best flavor and jelling.  This jelly is a good source of vitamin C.



Tomorrow we're taking a road trip down south, near the cities, to  pick up an Angora buck.  We don't go this far very often.  To church is about as far as we usually travel these days.  This is a treat for us and I pray the Lord blesses our day and helps us to bless those that He puts in our path.  Lord willing we'll have Angora kids in the spring and have some to sell, fiber to sell, and a way to help our farm pay for itself.


Our two oldest girls are on a camping trip this weekend.  CCCCCold.  They went  up to the Boundary Waters.  It'll be a trip they remember, one way or another.


Have a marvelous weekend, all.

Oct 14, 2008

Treating livestock herbally

I found a wonderful site for treating livestock with herbal supplements.  At this farm, they deal mostly with sheep, but have info and links for other things as well.  There's an herbal deworming spreadsheet that helps put information in a more readable form.   http://www.reedbird.com/index.html


I hope you find this useful.


From Glory Farm

Oct 7, 2008

Pics-Harvest Festival and Plowing

These pics are from a couple of weeks ago.  Our town has a Fall Color Festival.  I only took a couple of pictures.  There are three rivers that converge in our town.  This is a shot from the bridge right downtown.  It was beautiful.



Our son also took part in the tractor pull.  He placed third (out of three ), but he did his best:



My honey plowed up a few acres on our north 20.  I think we're putting in oats and alfalfa next spring, and somehow want to get some wheat in. 



Here's a picture of the plowed field.  Isn't it lovely? 



I guess I sound like I'm boasting.  I just love this land and all that the Lord has blessed us with.  I want to be a good steward and use it for His glory.


From Glory Farm

Using the Harvest

 What are you getting from your garden?  We have harvested cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions,sunflowers, kale, pumpkins, apples and plums this fall.  With this harvest there are a number of things I make.


*


Homemade spaghetti sauce-tomatoes, garlic, onions, basil, thyme, sage, oregano, majarom, cayenne, savory from the garden


Homemade salsa-tomatoes, onions, cayenne from the garden


Cream of carrot soup


Tomato soup


Kale soup


Meatball stew-using carrots, potatoes, onions and beans from the garden


Scalloped hotdish-carrots, onions, potatoes


Speedy boiled dinner-cabbage, potatoes and carrots


Cabbage rolls-cabbage, tomatoes


Runzas-Ask for the recipe on this one.  These are delicious,  cabbage and onions


French Fries


Onion Rings-love these


Coleslaw


Applesauce, apple pie, baked apples, fresh plums, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes


These are just a few ideas.  What do you make with your fresh harvest?


You know, even with stretching our grocery money, I'm still spending about $100 a week on groceries.  There are six of us, and I can't think of how to save any more than I am.  Any suggestions?




 


Oct 2, 2008

Garlic Works Wonders

Fixed the fence yesterday, got all of the critters back in their respective pastures and what do you think I see out the kitchen window this morning??????Cows in the horse pasture?  Good guess and you'd be right.  I can't figure out why our fence isn't charging.  Lord give me patience.


*


It may be time to start up the furnace.  We're having freezing temps at night and the house gets down to 60 at night.  No wonder everyone heads for a hot shower first thing in the morning.


*


Well, the headcold is still in the house.  Ds and I both ate a bunch of garlic yesterday and I believe that's why we both feel so much better today.  (and why no one gets close to us.)It usually works very well.  Dd is still feeling poorly and is next for the bathtub.  She doesn't want the garlic unless I mix it in with chicken noodle soup.  That's doable.


*


Time to get my wool socks on and get the chores done. 


Have a good and Godly day.


From Glory Farm

Oct 1, 2008

Being Flexible-It's Just Not Me

It's  starting to be one of those days.  The two yougers are sick with a decent headcold and I think I feel their pain.  Or at least I'm starting to.  This means I get to do chores alone and I was just informed that we have donkeys and cows in the horse pasture.  This doesn't look good.  Morning plans out the window and walking fenceline, repairing and herding the animals back to their respective paddocks is on my list. 


Sun is out, birds are singing, it's a nice day for a walk!


Write more later.

Sep 24, 2008

Bartering, Borrowing and Blessings

  Most of our neighbors are farmers and they seem to be open to bartering for things.  My honey can fix about anything with a motor or engine and there aren't any farm mechanics around here, especially ones that make house calls.  See how God works?  My honey is trading labor for use of an excavator and some gravel to do our septic mound.  A neighbor's brother just gave DH a small blacksmith's forge.  My cousin tore down his cabin on the lake and let us scavenge tongue and groove, windows and doors, and firewood.  I have a friend with whom I traded hay for use of her ram to breed my ewes, now she's looking into getting me some free llamas, (blessing or not?)  We borrow equipment and lend equipment.  We help each other.  Lately, I have been stressing over finances.  I do this a lot.  (God is still working on me.)  So this morning I'm counting just a few of my blessings. 


*


Today I get to...clean the barn, pick tomatoes, teach my children, perhaps trim goat and sheep hooves, find a buck for my dairy goats, check fenceline, stack firewood, this and maybe more.  How blessed to have sheep and goats, tomatoes and firewood and especially children.  A grateful heart is fertile soil for the Lord to work with.  Lord, I want You to harvest a bumper crop.

Sep 23, 2008

Homemade Blueberry Soda

Yesterday's list on my blog did help me to get more done.  I didn't want anyone to see all of those items still there.  I had an additional blessing yesterday.  My honey came home from work, sharpened my shears and said "Let's go and try them out."  So I got one sheep sheared.  Two to go. He also showed me how to run the splitter, so I can go and finish splitting the firewood!


It's raining today so it's a get stuff done in the house day.  I like this down time.


There is a site called Learning Herbs, which I discovered from one of you nice gals here at homesteadblogger.  They send out herbal recipes to my e-mail every once in awhile and I thought I'd try the last one.  It's instructions on making fermented berry soda.  Here is the site-  http://www.learningherbs.com/news_issue_20.html If you go there, you should be able to find this newest recipe.  It's also a great site for anyone who likes to forage, like we do.


Have a blessed day.  Don't forget to include God.

Sep 22, 2008

Lists

Thought I would post my list on here.  Maybe give me more incentive to get it done?



  • Bake-bread and sweets

  • Make huckleberry jam

  • Pull carrots pull 3/4 of the carrots

  • pick corn

  • Take care of animals

  • Clean goat room

  • Unload two one truck of firewood

  • Clean out cubby and rearrange

  • Homeschool, of course

  • Pick up dd from piano

  • Make and can applesauce once honey comes home with more sugar

  • Clean bathroom

  • Do Laundry


Do I think I'll get it all done?  I never get everything off my list in one day.  Usually two or three.  The garden needs to be pulled and manure spread and then disked.  Garlic needs to go in for next year.  Barnyard and barn need to be cleaned with a friend's skidsteer, fenceline moved, big rounds stored in the yard.  My honey is overwhelmed, which I've never seen happen before.  He's had a couple of logs fall on his toes and his boots were so old that the steel toe became unattached.  Now it hurts to walk.  He has a problem finding boots that fit.  His feet are very wide and it's hard to find him boots.  This is causing his back to hurt again and I think he's just miserable with everything happening at once.  Join me in praying for him, if he comes to mind. Thank you.


*


I'll come back tonight and see how many of those things I can cross off my list. 


On my mark-


Get set-


Go!

Sep 17, 2008

Let Winter Begin?????

I wanted to share some good news. 


Long story-Our home is 100 years old and has a couple different additions on it.  Not very air tight and when we had it tested, we had the equivalent of 200 softball size holes in it.  Needless to say, we didn't have to worry  about carbon monoxide  poisoning.  It was COLD.  Last winter we went through enough propane to run a small town.  Well, for the last two weeks we've had work done on it.  Winterizing.  They finished yesterday and ran the test again.  They cut the amount of airflow down to about 20% of what it was before!  Better than they even thought it would be.  I was told that we should go through less than half the amount of fuel we went through last winter.  And when I woke up this morning, I was warm!  We don't have any furnace hooked up yet, and it was about 38 degrees outside!  How cool is that?  Or, I should say, how warm is that?


Thank you Lord!  You are so good to us.

Another Tutorial-Horseradish Sauce

This is a post from a couple of years ago, but I thought I'd run it again, as this is what I'll be doing today.


It's one of those days when the list is longer than the amount of hours.  I HAVE to get to shearing today and no matter how nice it is out, we have to have school.  No more playing hookie.  Carrots need to be pulled and homes found for a few cabbages. 


I was up early and made some horseradish sauce, so you guys get another tutorial!  How blessed are you?


Warning-This stuff is strong and you may want to wear safety glasses.  No joke.


I dug up the horseradish yesterday and ended up with some nice straight roots this year-


Next peel these, either with a knife or a peeler.  I like a knife better-



Now chop these into smaller pieces.  You can process them in a blender or in a food processor.  I used my food processor because it goes faster and chops finer.



I added a teaspoon of vinegar for each batch that I chopped.  If you're using a blender, you may need more.  This is the horseradish all chopped-



I ended up with about four cups of ground horseradish. If  you're using a blender, you can just keep the ground horseradish in there as  you add the rest of the ingredients.  Next, I ground up a bulb of garlic and added it along with about 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1 cup of cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/3 cup honey.  If you'd like your sauce to be more saucey, add more vinegar.


The finished product-


I don't can horseradish.  Just stick it in the fridge and it'll keep for months.  It does lose it's bite the longer you keep it. 


I use horseradish on all types of meat and on some sandwiches.  My dad loves it and I usually give him at least half of my harvest.


Enjoy!

Sep 16, 2008

This Fine Day-It Is a Gift

In honor of the great weather we're having today-school has been canceled.  It has been replaced with gardening, barn cleaning and hopefully shearing some form of livestock.


I got a pic of dd3's new kids-These are Boer, Nubian, Oberhaasli cross doelings, born June 2.




I thought I'd post a pic of some Icelandics that really need a shave:




These are my furry girlsI guess wooly would be the correct term.


Well I'd better get going. 


Enjoy your day, whatever the weather.


From Glory Farm

Sep 15, 2008

Of goats and pumpkins

Sunshine this morning.  But, boy is it cold.  We had another 20 something degree morning.  We covered the tomatoes last night, but I didn't have enough plastic to cover the pumpkins,too.  I hope they survived.  Whatever is still out there has to be picked today.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Dd3 bought two goats yesterday.  They're Nubian, Oberhaasli, Boer cross.  She hopes to have them bred and milk them.  I don't think they'll be big enough to breed this fall.  They were born June 2.  I'll try and post some pics of our ever increasing herd.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 


Today we need to start shearing.  Angoras and Icelandics.  I may post pics of us fighting with sheep, also.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Lots of jobs today.  Our new furnace isn't in yet, but we got the old wood burner out of the basement.  This involved a couple of chains, a big tractor, a come-along, thick planking and abundant prayer.  God was so good and up the steps and out the front door it was winched.  I didn't think to take pictures.  I did discover that I pray more when I'm scared.  That furnace had to go at least 800 pounds.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Off to make good use of my time....I hope to be back later with pictures.


Bless the Lord.

Sep 9, 2008

Dehydrated Soup

My dehydrator is running constantly this harvest season.  I'm putting together soup mixes. 


Onions


Squash


Beans


Peas


Carrots


Lovage


Basil


Bay


Garlic


Dehydrating these, mixing them, and putting them in plastic bags.  For soup in the winter, just add meat and stock of your choice, or even just meat and water. 


I hope to dehydrate some tomatoes, also.  We had a killing frost last night.  My garden is too big to cover everything, so we lost the squash, pumpkins,  corn, and sunflowers.  I covered the cukes and tomatoes and have yet to check to see if they made it.  Corn, tomatoes and squash weren't even done yet.  Such is life.  We do have a fantastic cabbage crop.


Well, off to school we go.


From Glory Farm


Sep 8, 2008

Homeschoolfreebieoftheday.com

Every Monday, I receive a list of five free homeschool resources.  One available each day of the week.  I find something I can use almost every week.  We especially enjoy the history lessons.  I've also downloaded great organizing helpers.  This week there's a  resource that has bath and body recipes.  Lotions, creams, etc.  I'm posting this because it's a great resource and they would like more people aware of it.  You don't need to buy a thing, but they do have great deals on stuff from time to time.  Actually, I first found out about it through someone's blog here at hmesteadblogger. 


So check it out.

Sep 6, 2008

Drying Onions and Garlic

I love garlic and I grew a great crop this year.  I've decided to put up a lot of it as garlic powder.  This isn't hard to do, but I thought I'd post on it.


First the onions and garlic-



(the out of focus onions and garlic)


Peel skins off of garlic bulbs and then off of cloves.-



I slice the garlic in my ancient food processor.  It goes much faster.-



Then I peel and slice the onions.  I do this by hand as my food processor doesn't like onions.


Next, place onions-



and garlic-



On the drying trays for your dehydrator.  I think you can also dry them on screens or in your oven on low.


I dry them until they are brittle and crisp and then back to the food processor to grind them into powder.-



Yes, I should have washed this off before taking a picture.


And-VOILA! 



Out of focus onion and garlic powder!


I think I just wanted to take pictures today.  I'm making beet pickles now, but I promise, no more tutorials.


Have a blessed night.

Making Sauerkraut

We've been blessed with wonderful, large cabbage.  We grew 40 of them and now I get to make sauerkraut.  I've never made it before and I don't really like it, but I've been told that homemade tastes better than storebought.  So here goes...


Get approximately 20 lbs. of cabbage-


(pay no mind to the date on these pictures)


Next you chop it up five pounds at a time and add three tablespoons of salt to each five.



You could use a kraut cutter-



But as you can see, mine is old and needs sharpening so I just used a knife-



After you have salted five pounds and stirred it, let it set several minutes.  It should get wilty.  While it was setting, I cut another bowl full of cabbage.  After it gets wilty, put into crock-



Pack it down with a wooden spoon or your fist-



Continue to fill the crock with the salt and cabbage mixture until it is about 3-4 inches from the top-



If the liquid isn't at the top and going over the cabbage, make some more.  One quart of water to 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt.  Bring to a boil and then let it cool.  Pour over cabbage so there is brine up to the top of the cabbage.  I ended up making about 2 more quarts of brine.  Next cover the cabbage with cheesecloth.-



Then it will need to be weighted down.  I used a plastic bag filled with water.  This will keep air out and form itself to the top of the cabbage.-



Store in a cool place.  Remove and discard scum from the top every day.  It takes 3-6 weeks for fermentation to be complete.  To can it after it's done-bring it to a simmer-not a boil- and put into hot jars.  Put on lids that have been heated.  Put in hot water bath for 30 minutes.  This is for quarts.


I'll let you know how it turns out.  I've never done this before.