Dec 26, 2009

Christmas Blizzard

Just wanted to share a picture of the front yard as the snow is still coming down.  We have accumulated about 15 inches of the stuff and it's warm enough to build a snowfort. 


Finally some snow! 

Dec 15, 2009

It's the Little Things....

The little things like... going to the root cellar and finding the cabbages are still edible and making coleslaw.


                           like....watching the kids bring in ducks and warm them up with the blowdryer before school starts


                         like...enjoying the patterns of frost on the livingroom windows as the sun hits them and makes them sparkle 


                          like...being nuzzled by a llama and having him set his head on your shoulder


                         like....getting next year's seed order sent in and dreaming....


This has been my day so far.  Who could ask for more?

Dec 14, 2009

Do you ever get used to it?

Not sure of the temps this morning, but it doesn't seem as cold as yesterday.  We had a high of -1F.


News??


Well, we participated in a live Nativity.  My two youngers stood outside as angels, wise men and shepherds for a total of an hour, but the Lord blessed us with 23 above on Saturday night.  It was a night I hope they always remember.


We had a potluck after church yesteday.  Had a wonderful time of fellowship, but came home to a sad sight.     When I went to check up on the critters, I found our little Angora doeling dead in her pen.  It hurts my heart.  She was the sweetest thing.  I think between the cold and a number of other factors, it was too much for her.  A very painful lesson for the children and me.  It's one of those times when I wonder if I should be farming.  Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me question what I'm doing, and why???  So today I will put down new bedding, do more repairs on the barn, check on everyone to make sure they are looking and acting okay, over feed them all.  It's warm water for everyone!


The Lord bless your endeavors.


From Glory Farm



Dec 2, 2009

Homesteading Field Trip

Yesterday was a day spent up North.  We took the dog to get spayed and then went to the feed store.  Stopped to visit  a dear sister in Christ and then went on a field trip.  The field trip was to a fellow homesteader's.  I was excited to meet this woman.  She lives at the end of a mile long driveway.  She's off grid and has built a log home.  We met her goats, donkeys, horses, and a mule.  She took us to her garden, now sleeping, and her orchard.  Showed us her projects under construction and led us inside to warm up in front of a crackling fire.  Don't you love meeting fellow homesteaders?  It's like you have an understanding right off.  No need to explain things, they get it.  No need to apologize for the way you live, they totally understand.  She extended an open invitation to stop by whenever I'm back up that way.  I think I'll take her up on it.


Back to our homestead.  Lord bless your day and your endeavors.


From Glory Farm

Nov 18, 2009

First Hunt

It's deer hunting season here in Minnesota. Since my honey is out in Wyoming,(and since he doesn't hunt), a fella from church showed up this morning to take my son on his first hunting "excursion". It's not a "trip" because they'll stay on our property. I'm praying that my son has a fine time, but more than that I'd like to see this fella bag a deer. He's been hunting most of the season and still nothing.


 I never used to care for venison, and honestly, it's still not my favorite meat, but I can fix it so it's tolerable, even tasty if I can it. I'm not going to refuse fresh venison anymore, it's now a blessing.
So I pray for safety, and two or three nice sized deer for these guys.
Oh BTW, I don't hunt either. :)
From Glory Farm

Nov 14, 2009

Rain, Goats, Sheep, and a Mountain

Drizzle and snow, cold and wind, a perfect day to stay inside and bake.  I'm blessed that I can be so picky and not have to work outside today if I don't feel like it.  Tomorrow they say, the sun will be out and I can enjoy being outside. 



This is just a random picture I stuck in here, because I thought it was pretty.  My daughter took it up on Beauty Mountain which is a few miles from our house.


I just pulled the brownies from the oven and put the granola I made in the fridge.  I have this cup of coffee to drink and the Saturday paper to read.  So much to do....


I discovered that I have a dairy doe that's expecting in a couple of months.  Not a good time to have kids up here.  I thought I had been diligent enough to prevent this from happening,but....


I have a Saanen buck coming to breed my other dairy does and the Angora does should be bred already.  I have three sheep that won't come home.  I'm thinking of organizing a sheep round up with some friends and see if we can't get them into their paddock.  They are a wild bunch.


Washing and carding fiber, that's what I want to get done on these drizzly days.  Cleaning for Thanksgiving.  I'm going to use Kim Wolf's idea for furniture polish- some olive oil with a little lemon or orange oil in it.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Don't we all?


This is kind of a hodge podge of thoughts, hope you followed okay.  My son wants to get on here and play some Indiana Jones.  He likes to read over my shoulder to get me to speed up.  It works.


Love to you Ladies-


From Glory Farm

Nov 3, 2009

Back 40 books



One of many  books available at Back 40.


I don't know how many of you have a weakness for books, especially homesteading ones, but it's a major problem of mine.  There are sites out there full of these books and I just visited the Back 40 Books site.  I ordered a homeschooling math book for my son called "Arithmetic in Agriculture".  It comes with a teachers' book and is for 8th grade and up.  I'm so excited.  This is the kind of practical knowledge that we need here on the farm and it's an old book, kept in print by the Amish. 


Be sure to check out the November issue of Homesteading News.  You can find the link on my side bar.


Have a blessed day.


From Glory Farm

Oct 24, 2009

The Blue Bowl

Reading an entry about bowls earlier today and then reading about the wooden bowl, it's been on my heart to post my "bowl" story.


I love the old mixing bowls.  I love the look and I actually use them for mixing.  Last summer Grandma, my children and I all spent a day rummage saling.  About the third stop, we discovered a treasure of antiques.  They weren't going cheap, but they were in good shape and not priced too bad.  I found a beautiful antique, blue, mixing bowl, with an ornate rim.  A little steep at $10, but I really liked it and bought it.  We wrapped it in old sweaters and put it in a bag, careful not to chip and to warn everyone to be careful when unwrapping it.  Once home and all the packages in the house, you guessed it, the bowl was pulled out by the sweater and my son completely forgot there was a bowl in it.  It hit the floor and broke into about 20 pieces.  I admit I didn't handle it very well. I took up the pieces, placed them in the garbage and told my son it was okay.  It was just a "thing", but please try to remember to be more careful.  He knew I was sad and wanted to fix the bowl for me.  I told him even if it was fixed I couldn't use it anymore, not to bother.  Walking into the kitchen about half an hour later, there was my bowl.  The pieces carefully put back together and glued in place.  I started to cry.  That bowl means more to me now than it ever could have otherwise.  My son was so sorry for what he'd done, and I was so sorry for making him feel bad.  He fixed it because he loves me.  That bowl is sitting for all to see, in my kitchen. 

Gone

Somewhere out in cyberspace is the entry I just wrote, 5 minutes ago.  Funny how when that happens, I don't feel inspired to write it all over again.


So my entry for today is just to say, I hope you enjoy your weekend.  Sleep in a little later, play a little more, read a little bit and have one more cup of coffee.


The bluejays and timberjays are playing in the spuce trees outside my livingroom window.  I haven't seen them since early last summer.  The timberjays are so cute.  I call them teddy bear birds.  I just want to hug them. 


The cattle are complaining, so I'd better go and see about hauling in some hay bales.


From Glory Farm



 

Oct 20, 2009

No News is....No News!

Colds and Flu-It's time for homemade chicken noodle soup, eucalyptus oil in hot water and a good video.  My son is sick with cold like symptoms.  I just got over the fever, flu thing, (or almost over), and so did Honey.  I think I saw a runny nose on one of my llamas this morning, but it's so hard to tell with them.


Winter prep-One more goat to shear, and a ton of fiber to wash and card.  The garden still needs to be put to bed before a permanent snow, and I still have firewood to stack and split for this winter's fire.  Things have a way of getting done, even when the list looks endless.  Winter will come and I'll be ready enough to get through it.  That's the way it always works.


Bees and Honey-I went out and stole a couple of frames out of my beehive and took the honey.  It is so good.  I need to finish harvesting the honey.  I'm not sure if I"ll continue with the bees next year, maybe.  We'll see if I can get a class or two in on beekeeping in this frozen northland.


That's it from Glory Farm.  Hope you're all doing well.


Blessings.

Oct 6, 2009

Jumper Cables????

Anyone have a leg long enough to give me a kick start?  So quiet this morning.  My two youngers are gone to their freinds' house, and dd2 is at school.  This means I have to do chores alone this morning and I need to get the house clean today because my honey will be coming home tomorrow for a few days.  Here I sit looking out at the drizzle and gray skies.  The temp is a balmy 43 and the fields are brown.  I just can't seem to get moving.  No children to prod and set an example to this morning.


One more cup of coffee..........

Oct 3, 2009

Foraging

Sitting here on the computer when I should be doing something more constructive, I was directed to an awesome site.  For anyone who likes to forage, or even just berry pick , this site offers recipes, how tos for tea, tinctures, ect.  http://www.prodigalgardens.info/index.htm is the site.    This site is put out by people who live up here in the north central part of the States.  It has a month by month listing of wild foods to look for.    Looks like a resource I'll be  using.  Hope you enjoy it too.

Oct 2, 2009

October 2, 2009

Well, I just spilled coffee all over my desk.  Good thing, too, cuz it sure needed dusting.  Don't worry, I went and got more coffee. 


Seated in front of the picture window I can see the spruce trees dancing like crazy.  That wind is strong, I've been listening to it all night.  Both my youngest daughter and I have been down with some kind of bug.  She feels 100% this morning, which means I should be coming out of this by tomorrow. 


I got the furnace going, now I just have to get DD2 up on the roof to clean the chimney so that we can have a wood fire.  She also is responsible for stacking up the firewood, but that's not going too well either.  Would be nice to have a wood fire, this propane doesn't make a lasting heat.


I would like to get the potatoes out of the ground today, before we get the monsoons.  Carrots would be nice, also, but I don't know how long these aspirin will keep me going.  We have been blessed with pumpkins and potatoes this year.  Carrots, beets, rutabagas, all of the root crops did real well.   We made our first sale last Monday at  a market in a senior center.  We're sending more produce down next Monday.  This could be the start of someting big!


Time to stop talking and start doing.


Have a blessed day.


From Glory Farm,


Sep 30, 2009

Finally!

The October issue of Homesteader News is up.  Check it out at www.homesteadernews.com .  There are a lot of good articles in it and I think they're always looking for more.


From Glory Farm

Sep 28, 2009

Did Grandma Do This?

Putting up enough food for a year takes all of my waking hours, well, not quite.  But I never knew.  I  used to put up what I had time to put up, now I don't want to waste a thing.  I have frozen broccoli and dehydrated it.  Corn is canned and dried and some still on the stalks waiting to be ground into cornmeal.  Potatoes are slowly coming out of the ground and headed for the root cellar and the dehydrator.  Picked two wheel barrows full of green tomatoes to use for sauces.  Beans and peas are drying to be used for next year's seed.  I'm drying apples, making apple jelly, apple juice, apple sauce, apple pie filling and saving some for the root cellar.  Put up the plums yesterday.  Tomorrow I hope to get the tomatoes in the cellar, pick squash and pumpkins.  I may have to start some sauerkraut, but I still have some left from last year.  I never remember to use it.  God has blessed us with abundance and I want to be a good steward. 


It's a good feeling being so tired at the end of the day.  Getting into my sweats and reading a good Louis Lamour.  How did Grandma find time to quilt, knit, spin, butcher, milk, etc.  I've heard the stories and Grandma did all of this.  I have a new respect for her.  Maybe she didn't have a computer?


From Glory Farm

Sep 26, 2009

Just Ducky

Just wanted to post this picture of the ducklings that my children have living in the house.  They thought the mama duck didn't do a very good job caring for them, as we lost three, so they took the last three inside until they're big enough to look out for themselves.  (How long is that anyways.)


Sep 1, 2009

The Dehydrator's Bible

My mom bought me this book.  At first, I wasn't all that excited, but then I opened it. 



It tells you how to dehydrate everything!!  Well, not everything.  But since I discovered dehydrating last year, and everything tasted so good, I'm doing even more of it this year.  This book tells you how to put your dehydrated foods together to  make meals.  It even  has camping menus so you can bring with some pretty fancy dehydrated feasts.  Anyways, just thought I'd give the heads up if anyone wanted to do some serious dehydrating.  I might have to get me a bigger dehydrator now!

Aug 30, 2009

Frost.....and more frost

Okay, so it's not snowing, but we did have a good frost last night.  Tonight we get to have another one.


I don't think there's enough plastic in the township to cover my garden.  I did get some of the beans covered, half of the tomatoes, some of the cukes.  The rest got hit with the frost, though I think the corn is going to make it.  I'll check it out tomorrow morning.  Pumpkins and squash might be goners.  This has been one of the shortest growing seasons I can ever remember.  I did put in an abundance of cold weather crops-cabbage, broccoli, kale, rutabagas, beets.  We should get a lot of potatoes, too, but I was really looking forward to canning tomatoes and eating as much sweet corn as I wanted. 


Our 4-H club put on our fall animal swap today.  I'll have pictures soon.  It was a wonderful day for my son.  He crated up about 20 roosters and brought them in.  He sold 16 of them for $2 a piece (he got to keep half of the money)  and traded the last four for a mallard.  My son is crazy about ducks and he couldn't have been more blessed.  He is so happy.  I'm happy we got rid of so many roosters.  We have had some very busy hens this summer who have hatched us out somewhere around 60 chicks.  We should still have plenty of roosters to butcher this fall.  We've had 12 new chicks born this week and another hen started setting last week.  God is good.


Sitting here shivering at the computer, I think it's time to go hunker down under the covers and get to sleep.


Good night to all.


From Glory Farm

Aug 25, 2009

Tuesday, August 25

Two girls off to college this week.  One is down in the Twin Cities, one is staying home and going to a two year college instead of high school.  They are best friends and they're seperated.  My younger one, the one at home, sure misses her sister. 


Today promises to be a pleasant day, the sun, a few clouds and near perfect temperatures.  Beans to can, fenceposts to pull, a barn to continue to clean, and I'd like to start scraping the house to repaint. 


I have found a home for one of my llamas, and I still need to shear the two alpacas.  I've just spent my time with them getting to know them and giving them treats.  I also have a ram, born this spring, who is completely black with the most fantastic fiber.  He's just a doll.  I'm keeping him to breed back my ewes and selling the other two at the animal swap next Sunday.  I have two Angora goats for sale, also.  We still have to put up some hay, but it's awfully late this year, as my honey is working out of state and my neighbor is going to help me after he finishes his hay.  Thank you Lord for neighbors.


That's it for a quick update.


Hope all is well and Lord bless.

Aug 17, 2009

Whoa!!! Slow down.

The geese fly in every morning now.  About 30 of them.  They send the cattle scattering all over the pasture.  I think  they do it on purpose.  A couple of the maples have turned to a soft maroon.  It's early for fall and our woodpile is in a shambles.  Tomatoes on the vine are small and so are my cukes.  Others have their's in the refrigerator already, but mine are taking their time.


So today, I think I'll can as much as possible.  Some beets, swiss chard, maybe some beans.  I'll send the kids out to weed the weed patch.  The wild rasberries are red and ripe and ready to drop.  We'll try to get some more before they do.  The blueberries are so late.  They're at their peak right now, though we don't have too many of them this year.  Enough to get a pie or two.


My two oldest start college next week.  My two youngest won't have to start school for a couple of weeks yet.  I don't like to start too early.  We learn plenty just farming. 


That's about it from Glory Farm.  Have a good and Godly day.

Aug 3, 2009

Real Life Learning Opportunities

As homeschoolers we're always using life experiences to enhance our children's education.  So imagine how happy I was to stumble upon a new opportunity.  It was completely unplanned and allowed my children to use not only their problem solving skills, but also a bit of physical science and geometry.     I locked my keys in the van!  Leaving the back two windows opened just a crack allowed for some hope of unlocking it without calling the garage.  They tried broom handles, sticks, clothes hangers and even a dog leash, while trying to figure angles and force.  But, alas, we were not meant to be car theives and had to call the garage.  God sent over a wonderful man who was willing to do it for free.  We paid him, but it was much less than I thought it would be.  I really don't want that learning opportunity again.

Jul 29, 2009

Today the Llama, Tomorrow.....the Alpaca

How I decided to get some llamas, I don't really know.  It all happened so fast!  I know just about nothing when it comes to llamas.  These guys are cute and gentle, but the bigger one is two and needs to be gelded.  The younger one can wait until next spring.  The bigger one has wonderful fiber, but I'm not sure how easy it'll be to seperate the guard hairs from the fiber underneath.  It's all a learning experience, right?  Open to advice and suggestions!!!!


This is Astro.  He's the two year old and a standard sized llama.



This is Ziggy.  He's a year old and camera shy.  He's going to be a bit smaller than the standard sized, but a bit too big to be a miniature.  He's awfully cute.


Tomorrow, I'm supposed to go and pick up an alpaca.  He's old-14 years!  I'm thinking  he'll probably expire here.  Let  you know how it goes.


Have a good and Godly day.

Wyoming and some Pictures!

Yea!! I don't know what happened, but now I can post pictures again.  So here's the world's largest fiberglass buffalo and the world's most loved kids-mine!



Hers' a picture of Devil's Tower.



And a picture of the Big Horns where we went hiking.



So read the next entry to see pictures of my new llamas.


Have a blessed day.

Jul 22, 2009

Wyoming and no pictures

We took a trip out to see my Honey last week.  Driving out there really doesn't take all that long.  We made it in 14 hours which included a stop at the world's largest fiberglass buffalo.  Can't beat that!


We did some hiking in the Big Horns, took a trip to Devil's Tower, visited a cave, spent a day in the Black Hills, swam, saw Skillet and Kutless in concert, went out to dinner.  Whew!  And they call it a vacation!  I sure can't climb up those mountains like I used to.  One thing this trip showed me is that i need to get more aerobic excercise. 


Here are a couple of pictures from our trip:


Or not.  I can't load pictures,something is wrong with my computer.  I get a java script error-'window.frames.frmMain.document'is null or not an object-whenever I click on the mountain icon on the entry page.  Help!  I've tried everything I know how to do and then some.  Any computer whizzes, please send me your ideas.

Jul 11, 2009

Catfish Days Part 2

Well we didn't stay too long.  We hit a couple of rummage sales and I got some material and a bunch of goofy socks for my daughter to make sock creatures out of.  I picked up a bunch of baby things for my friend's daughter who is due any day now.


DD2 ran the 5 K and had a lot of fun.  I thought the camera was on picture, but it was on video so here's a short video of ther and her friends getting ready.


I guess I don't know how to  upload a video, because that didn't work.  Anyone have any suggestions?


Here's a picture of main street as the runners were coming in.



And here's a cool picture from under the town water tower.



I don't know why but I like this picture.  The sky was sure blue at 8:00 this morning.


So I didn't get very good pictures, and we didn't stay very long.  I need to get out into the garden.  Those will be the next pictures I post.


From Glory Farm


P.S. Don't pay any attention to the date on the photos.  I guess I should check that before I take the pictures.

Catfish Days

This morning it's off to Catfish Days.  DD2 is running the 5K and there's a flea market and animal swap I want to get to.  Pictures coming up.


From Glory Farm

Jun 24, 2009

T-Yarn

I have a site bookmarked on my computer that uses recycled materials to make bags and purses.  While I've seen a lot of wal-mart bags used in crochet, I never knew about T-yarn.  This is taking t-shirts and cutting then to make a yarn to crochet or knit with.  What a good way to reycle old t-shirts.  We get a lot of them. The site is  http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2009/06/05/making-t-yarn-from-recycled-tee-shirts/  .


Here is a picture of the T-yarn taken from that site.A new project!

Update on the UN Children's Rights Treaty








Dear Friend of Parental Rights,

Monday in a Harlem middle school, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told a group of 120 students that administration officials are actively discussing “when and how it might be possible to join”  (that is, ratify) the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).  As before, she also communicated what a disgrace it is that the U.S. would stand with only Somalia against such a widely-accepted treaty.

This is the first direct public statement by the Obama administration that it will seek ratification of the UN CRC.

In my 30 years of political involvement, I have learned to recognize this as what is called a “trial balloon.” Like in World War I trench warfare, our opponents have “sent up a balloon” to see if it will draw fire. If things remain quiet, they will proceed with their plans to push for ratification of the CRC in the U.S. Senate.

To discourage them from doing so, we need to make sure that our voices are heard with unmistakable clarity.  We must let the Obama administration know that we oppose this anti-family, anti-American treaty.

Here’s what we need you all to do:

1.      Call the White House comments line at 202-456-1111. Tell them you heard the administration wants to ratify the CRC, and you strongly oppose this giving away of U.S. sovereignty to the UN. Also keep in mind that this treaty gives the government jurisdiction to override any decision made by any parent if the government thinks that a better decision can be made—even if there is no proof of any harm.

2.      Call Ambassador Susan Rice’s office at the United Nations. Tell her that you want her to represent the United States to the world rather than trying to get the United States to go along with international law initiated by the UN.  Her office number is 212-415-4000.

3.      Contact your Senators and urge them to oppose ratification of this treaty. (Find your Senators’ contact information by typing your zip code into the box here.) Ask them also to defeat it once and for all by cosponsoring SJRes 16 – the Parental Rights Amendment.

It is very important that we speak up right now.  Please call before you close this email!

Sincerely,

Michael Farris

Find this letter online.



Forward this newsletter to a friend

Jun 19, 2009

Chucken

This will be a short story as Chucken is only five days old. 


We have a Muskovey hen setting on her eggs.  She also had one chicken egg in there.  How it got there, I don't know.  As the ducks take 31 days to hatch and the chickens only 21, that egg cracked and out came Chucken.  So the duck is still settting on her eggs, which should hatch this week and Chucken sleeps with his "Mama" every night.  No matter how he tries to get her to go out of the chicken coop with him to find food and water, she won't go.  So he's out there on his own (we let them free range).  It'll be interesting to see what he does once his sisters and brothers hatch.


Have a blessed Friday.


From Glory Farm


 

Jun 12, 2009

What is Normal?

Good morning.  The sun is finally shining again.  I'm having a blogger's block and so this entry is to just let anyone who reads this know I'm still coming on here and commenting, but have nothing of significance to contribute.


Our oldest daughter graduated and then decided that meant she's an adult.  This has brought with it all of the complications you can imagine.  It has left me emotionally drained and leaning ever harder on my Heavenly Father.


Our garden is in.  Some of it is even coming up. 


I picked up a Hoosier cabinet for the kitchen.  We don't have regular cupboards yet, our kitchen is totally unfinished.


It's not as old as some, but I really like it.


Well, I'll just keep lurking around and pop in once in awhile until my life gets some normalcy to it.


God bless and hold you tight.


From Glory Farm

May 19, 2009

Another New Lamb

Went out this morning and I saw---



This is the smallest lamb we've had born.  Looks just like her mom.


I had to show you where our little Angora doe likes to snuggle in the sun--


And a picture of our new LGD.  Her name is Jenny and she's a honey.



Doesn't she look vicious?  She's four months old.


Well it looks like the sun has decided to come out.  I should go out and make good use of it.


From Glory Farm.


Rhonda

May 16, 2009

LGD

We have another new additiong to the farm.  Her name is Jenny and she's a puppy.  I think! She's less than four months old and her back hits me mid thigh.  She is totally lovable.


We have been looking for a dog since last fall, when our daughter's dog was hit on the road.  We wanted one that was mellow, didn't chase cars, kept deer out of my garden, left the chickens alone, protected the sheep and goats.  I think we found one.  She's Newfie and Great Pyrenes.  Everyone just loves her. 


If I have time this afternoon, I'll post a picture of her.  She's completely black and so it's hard to get a good picture.  She's also completely cute.


From Glory Farm

Fun, fun, fun

I woke up early this morning, for a Saturday, that is.  The skies were overcast and the wind was blowing at  40mph.  We had and still have a balmy 32 degrees.  Stepping out onto the deck, my feet slid.  Ice and snow! Then the electricity went out.  Trees down on the power line.    I lit a fire in the fire pit, put on the bacon and eggs, and a pot of coffee.  Believe it or not, I really like this.  This is usually the only kind of weather I go camping in.  Cooking outside this morning, I felt like I was at the lake.  The smell of woodsmoke lingers in my hair.  The coffee tastes like real coffee and stays hot forever.  The bacon just slightly burnt and the eggs swimming in bacon grease. 


Yep, it really is fun, fun, fun.


The power is back on now and it's back to the real world, and farm work.


From Glory Farm

May 14, 2009

Honey bees

Outside my window, falling ever so gently, snow!  Hey, hasn't anyone told the weatherman it's the middle of May?  I'm zipping up winter jackets and putting stocking caps on the kids as they go outside to start chores.  I know enough, not to put the winter clothes away until the middle of June.  Brrrr...





So, want to know the latest addition to the farm?  Bees.  That's right.  We went and picked some bees up on Tuesday.  Poor things are probably wondering what happened to spring.  This is a learn as I go project, so I would sure welcome your advice.  I have one hive and some supers, a veil, hive tool, and smoker.  What else should I have on hand?  I'm feeding them now, as we hardly even have dandelions blooming yet.  I did start mowing the lawn, yesterday, but I hit a piece of baler twine and I may have toasted the mower.


My tiller is in need of a new air filter and gas line.  I'm having a hard time finding parts, but I hope to get them ordered today.  I really NEED to get my garden tilled even though we only have 32 degrees right now.  It's filling up with grass and parts of it look like my lawn.





May 9, 2009

Could you give it all up?

Sometimes I wonder if my "Homesteading" is becoming more important than my Lord.  I get totally preoccupied with goats, sheep, gardens, etc.  We call our place "Glory Farm", wanting to bring Glory to God in all we do.  Just about the time I think I have my priorities all messed up, God takes care of it.  Our goats and sheep are having their little ones, just like they are all over right now.  My two Alpines, the ones that were so healthy, so promising , have had a horrible time of kidding.  One poor doe died and her kid with her.  The other lost her kid and we're trying everything to save her.  We had to pull both kids, and the second doe, the one still alive, was in very poor shape going into labor.  She started going downhill fast after her sister died.  We have her on two types of antibiotics, oxytosin, and a pain killer.  She's been down for two days, now, but she's not getting any worse.  Now I say, Lord, I could give it all up for you.  Help me to learn from experience, to use this knowledge and to be a better caretaker of my animals. Amen.


I think the two Alpines had too much feed for the last month of their pregnancy.  I've never had this problem before.  A terrible way to learn.


I am thankful for the lambs and kids that are healthy.  I am hopeful that the goats and sheep left to have babies will be fine.  I am thankful that my Jesus is in control.


From Glory Farm

Apr 28, 2009

From Seeds to Harvest

I've decided to join the challenge at



http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/from-seeds-to-harvest/ 


I read about it over at


http://www.homesteadblogger.com/youwantmetomovewhere/133719


This looks like fun and should help keep us working in the garden.  It should also be a learning experience.  Want to join us?


Here's a start or  a few of my starts.  Tomatoes, broccoli,cabbage and peppers.  Some of the peppers haven't come up yet.  I'm not sure why.  I thinned the broccoli, cabbage and peppers.





The second picture has some of the herbs we planted, too.  There's thyme, lovage, sweet annie, parsley, and comfrey.  The next two  pictures are lavender and rosemary.  I bring them in during the winter because they can't handle the cold up here.  Then they go back out every spring.  I get fresh herbs all winter that way. 


These are the plants going into my garden next month.  My tomatoes should be monsters by then.  My son is starting some flowers.  He wants black violets and larkspur.


Feeling like joining the fun?  Let everyone know how your gardening is growing.


From Glory Farm


Apr 17, 2009

Dutch Oven Cooking

Well, maple tapping is over and I have left in my yard a firepit that I made for boiling down the sap.  With summer coming on and with the rising price of electricity, I thought I'd utilize this new piece of equipment.  I've been looking at sites with recipes for cooking in a Dutch Oven. Two of the sites I've found are  http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/dutch-oven-recipes.htm  and http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-DORecipes.html  .


  I know some of you out there are seasoned Dutch Oven users so any favorite recipes or words of advice would be great.  I think this means that I'll also have to redo my menu to include cooking outside at least three times a week.  Sound like fun??

Apr 13, 2009

Maple Syrple

I think today is the day I pull the taps.  The sap has slowed down and it didn't freeze out last night!  Time to start thinking about working the garden up and spreading manure and disking the field, planting the field, oh I"m getting overwhelmed just thinking about it.  Thought I'd post some pics my daughter took of making syrup.  She did the batch yesterday, by herself.  Now she has something more to enter into the county fair next summer.


One of our taps-



Cooking it over the fire.



When it boils down to about a gallon, we bring it in and finish it on the stove.



Then we strain it and bottle it.  She didn 't get pics of the finished product, but she was so happy-it tasted just like maple syrup!

Good Morning Farm

That's what I say


Every morning of every day.


Good morning rooster


How doodle you do?


Nobody's wider awake than  you.


This is from a book my mom used to read to me until she couldn't take it anymore.  I have more memorized, but I won't go on.  Thinking back, this is probably how it all started.  The farming, gardening, animals, etc.  My mom has big shoulders and consented to take the blame.


I wanted to introduce you to......Esther.  OUr brand new Angora doeling.


Apr 11, 2009

Syrup is done.

I think  our sap collecting is coming to an end.  I've put up a gallon and a half so far.  This isn't as hard as I originally thought.  Even I can do it. 


I started shearing this week.  I have seven left to go.  Three goats and four sheep.  I still have a lot of hoof trimming left, also.  Today I have the children home, so I think I'll see if I can round up some help.  I'm still learning to shear.  This will be an ongoing education for quite some time.


There's the van to wash, bathroom to clean, floors to sweep, hay to move, sap to boil, yard to clean, paperwork to do, birthday cake to bake, hotdish to cook , get ready for Easter dinner,  "Get Everything Done" day.  I'll check back this evening and let you know how it went.


Life is busy, but life is good.  When we go to "Simplify" our lives, is this what happens?  We, as in I, take on more and more learning experiences and create a life that is so full its ready to burst.  Teach me to work hard and rest in You, oh Lord.  Help me to hear your voice in the din I've created.


So off I go.


From Glory Farm 


We did---wash the van, bake the cake, make the hotdish, sweep the floors, get the sap, move the hay... we didn't clean the bathroom, vacuum the livingroom, do the paperwork, or clean the yard, but.....we peeled some fenceposts and trimmed the hooves on three goats and got one more goat sheared.


Easter dawned this morning with new life in the barn. We have a new kid, a doeling, an Angora.  She is the cutest.  Pictures coming soon.

Mar 30, 2009

Sap, sewing and the soup kitchen

The sap is running.  We're getting measurable amounts now and we can start boiling it down tomorrow.  We are also under a winter storm warning until Wednesday morning.  My children threaten to cry when they hear the weather report, but then so does my mother.  Spring will come.  It always does.


I'm also going to start shearing as soon as the snow lets up.  I still have mohair from the last shearing to card and spin.  I'm carding up a bunch of white right now and dyeing it blue.  I told dd2 that I would ply it and knit her a mohair sweater.  This might be done by Christmas.


I have a dress cut out to sew and a purse in the works.  I'm in a crafting mood, to be sure.


Today its off to town to get ds's stitches out.  He had 14 in his leg.  Then groceries, then to work at the soup kitchen.  Home and then sap collecting.  I'm not trying to sound busy.  I really don't feel that way right now.  I'm feeling totally blessed.


Praying that the Lord makes opportunities for you and I to minister to others today and shine forth His glory.


From Glory Farm

Mar 26, 2009

Fargo Flood 2009

Have you been keeping up on the flooding along the Red River here in Minnesota and North Dakota?  We received an e-mail on Tuesday asking us to come and help sandbagging and making dikes.  We lefrt Wednesday morning and got back today at noon.  What an awesome experience.  Hard work, I'm sore all over, but the girls want to go back again tomorrow. The people were so kind and so thankful.  These people are doing a wonderful job, all pulling together and getting things done. Just regular citizens volunteering time, money, equipment. There are people out there right now from all over the U.S.  We helped to make 500,000 sandbags yesterday!  More help is needed.  They're not giving up the fight.  The predictied cresting level was 41 feet when we left there this morning and now they're saying maybe 42.  People are being evacuated. 


It makes you stop and remember who is in charge.  We tend to get lulled into a false sense of security.  The government will take care of it, technology will take care of it, we'll all be fine, but truth is there is only One that you can count on.  This flood is a good reminder of that. 


If you'd like to help, call 701-476-4000.  They will tell you where the volunteers are needed most and what you can do.  Log on to www.kfgo.com for updates and continual information.


Please keep everyone involved in your prayers.  Thank you.


Mar 24, 2009

Muscovy Ducks

We (I) decided on Muscovy ducks this year.  We were given two hens and two drakes by some friends of ours.  After reading, the Muscovy sounds like the perfect duck.  They are known for their ability to make a noticable difference in the amount of flies and mosquitoes.  This was the big selling point for me.  We fight with flies every summer.  The drakes can get 10-12 pounds.  Our drakes are much larger than our hens.  The hens are also good setters.  They are quite prolific as our friends can attest to.  They are up to somewhere between 30 and 40 Muscoveys.  I guess they are also very good tasting without all of the fat of most ducks.  I don't plan on butchering, but still, it's good to know.  They don't have to have water to play in, but I'll get them some when it warms up, anyways.  My son read that they are roosting ducks, so I shouldn't be surprised to see them sleeping in the trees.  I go out to the barn looking for duck eggs, now.  So far, I haven't found any.  Let you know when they start to set.


From Glory Farm

Mar 17, 2009

Fat Cat Patterns

I need to make some new potholders for my kitchen and wanted something quilted.  Looking around on the internet I found a site- www.fatcatpatterns.com  .  This site has some very cute applique patterns.  I found some chickens to make for my mom, a llama for my friend, and sheep for me.  I also wanted to make a messenger bag for my daughter as part of her graduation present and found a nice one at- http://pinoyinoz.blogspot.com/2008/07/tutorial-messenger-bag-with-zip-top.html   I hope that link works.  I also found a really cute gingham handbag pattern at- http://kayray.org/crafts/red_tutorial/  


Can you tell I've been spending way too much time on the internet and not enough time actually doing these projects?  I'm off to sew an apron.


Have a wonderful evening.

Mar 12, 2009

What to do with a frozen chicken?

Go to fullsize image




We had a storm blow in last Tuesday.  It went from 34 above zero to a windchill of -30 in a day.  Went out to do chores in this cold  and hunkered down under the flatbed truck was one of our laying hens.  She must have been looking for shelter when the storm hit and thought it looked like a good place to try.  Not!  The ground was still thawed when she plopped her hiney down there and quickly froze up, as she found out when she tried to move.  Taking the blowdryer to her iced in hind end, I thawed the ice and slowly plucked her feathers out of the ground.  She did end up losing a couple, but she didn't squawk.  She soon realized that the machine making all of the noise was also making all of the heat and she just stood there like a primadonna at a beauty salon enjoying every moment.  I finally told her she was done and hauled her back to the coop.


We're going to start tapping maples tomorrow or Saturday.  I'll post pictures.  It's something you have probably all looked at before, but it's a new venture for us.  My grandfather used to do it, but I don't remember it.


Bring glory to God this day.


From Glory Farm

Mar 3, 2009

Wanted to let you know about another contest

 


I found this on http://www.homesteadblogger.com/TwoLittleBlessings/129078 .


Go to http://www.homemaking911.com/2009/03/02/homemaking-911-march-madness-giveaway/#usermessage3a .  She's offering a bunch of wonderful prizes. 

Anyone tapping maples?

I thihk...shhhh..just in case I say this too loud,  I think spring may be around the corner.  Quiet, I don't want to scare it away.  Temps getting above freezing by the end of this week.  Sap running in the maples?  This is the first year we're going to try tapping a couple of trees.  Small scale to start, but if we do well, more next year, Lord willing.  Our pastor makes the best maple syrup.  I usually get stuck buying my maple syrup at the grocery.  It's so expensive that I 've been making homemade syrup instead.  Not as healthy, but not as bad as the corn syrup based ones at the grocery.  We've run out of blueberries and rasberries for our pancakes.  I also love the buttermilk syrup recipe that I got from soneone on this blog. 


Today, it's to the dump we go.  I guess they don't call it a dump anymore.  It's a transfer station.  I really don't like making this run, but it saves us a lot of money.  The garbage man charges $1 a bag for taking it away.  I can load up the back of the pick up for $5.  And I only have to go about 4 times a year.


We have no babies yet.  No calves, lambs or kids.  I'm going to move the Angora does to their own pen today.  They have been giving the other does a hard time and I don't want them to cause a miscarriage.  We keep the horns on the Angoras so they can be pretty hard on the milk does.


Hope to have something more interesting to write about next time. 


Go with God and God go with you.

Feb 16, 2009

Felted Boots #2

Wow.  Thank you so much for your kind comments on the boots in the last post.  They really aren't hard to make and anyone can do it.  So I thought I'd do my best to tell you how to do the pattern, and the rest you might want to look up on line.


I bought the book, "Felting by Hand" by Anne Einset Vickrey.  This book has how to felt mittens, slippers, hats, purses, boots, etc.  It starts from the very beginning.  What type of wool, how to layer it, how to make the patterns, how to do the actual felting and the shaping when you're done. 


The pattern for the boots is made by drawing around your foot, a symetrical oval.  Then off of that, draw upwards where your ankle would go and make as tall as you want your boots.  Cut this from a bright colored piece of colorfast cloth.  Layer the wool and place pattern in the middle.  The actual felting would take a while for me to  explain and I probably wouldn't do a very good job, but there are websites that have instructions. 


http://www.squidoo.com/Wool-felting


http://www.gfwsheep.com/flatfelt/flatfelt2.html


 


Thank you again for your kind comments.  Wow.

Feb 14, 2009

Felted Boots

Finally.  After several attempts.  I made a pair of felted boots/slippers that can actually be worn.  I hope to improve the style and looks as I get more experience, but these are very soft and very warm.  This is felt from one of my Icelandic ewes.  I think I'll try a pair of mittens, next.  They should be easier to make.


Have a glorious day.

Feb 10, 2009

Storm? What storm?

People north of us, people south of us, east and west, too, all had worse roads, school closings,  etc.  For some reason, we only got showers.  It has stayed so warm, still 36 this morning, that nothing is freezing.  No power outages or real treacherous driving.  Does it sound strange that I'm a bit disappointed?  There's something about gathering in the livingroom, using the kerosene lamps, playing games.  I was almost looking forward to a good storm.  They still say the rain we're getting will turn to snow this afternoon.  That will only cause bad driving conditions, not the part of a good storm that I like.  I need to make a couple of trips to town today.



So that's the weather update.


 

Feb 9, 2009

By the Light...of the Silvery Moon

It was a picture perfect night last night.  Warm temps and a beautiful moon....


Today it's an ice storm warning.  Thunderstorms tonight!  Wow.  This is so wierd.  They're predicting power outages, also.  Praise God it's going to be in the thirties for highs.  We won't freeze.  I've got water stored and kerosene lamps set to go.  Gonna go and bring a big round to the animals, put in some dry bedding, haul some extra firewood and hunker down. 


Let ya know how it goes.


From Glory Farm

Feb 2, 2009

A day in the life......

I thought I would post a "Day in the Life of" for my blog today.  It started out well.  I went and took pictures as we went about our day.  Around noon I was trying to upload my photos and my program went phooey.  So I spent the rest of the day, until supper that is, troubleshooting the computer.  But...I WON!  and here I am, so without further ado, may I present, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...ME-


After a cup of coffee and devotions, here I sit, my view from the computer-



Looking out my kitchen window this morning, there was a beautiful sundog-



Downstairs to do laundry.  Don't you think the longjohns are a nice touch?



Then we go outside to take care of the animals.  The "herd" is waiting.



Next the chickens....



Yes, the coop needs a good cleaning, but everything is very frozen.  Now to check on the sheep.



That's not a sheep.  It's my eight month old Angora buck, Blackie.  How original?  He loves to have his picture taken. Now the sheep-



Erna, the matriarch of my flock.  She's built like a brick.  The does are next, unfortunately they were so busy fighting over grain, they wouldn't take time to look up.



There are two Angoras, two alpines and two boer/oberhasi crosses.  The crosses are teh white ones.


After chores, it's school . We started a unit on nutrition and had a spelling test.  Some math, and working on journal entries.  While the children were busy studying, I mixed up a batch of soap.



This is the soap that goes into my laundry soap and floor cleaner. 


I spent a lot of time fighting with the computer and while I was waiting for things to install and uninstall I cleaned out my bedroom closet.  Then I got some fleece ready for felting another boot.



After a couple of hours, the soap traced and I  got  it in the mold.



So we just finished homemade potato sausage, homemade sauerkraut and a tossed salad for supper.  I finally got this up on the blog.  I think it's time for some tea and some Walton's.


Thanks for taking time to stop by. 


 

Dec 26, 2009

Christmas Blizzard

Just wanted to share a picture of the front yard as the snow is still coming down.  We have accumulated about 15 inches of the stuff and it's warm enough to build a snowfort. 


Finally some snow! 

Dec 15, 2009

It's the Little Things....

The little things like... going to the root cellar and finding the cabbages are still edible and making coleslaw.


                           like....watching the kids bring in ducks and warm them up with the blowdryer before school starts


                         like...enjoying the patterns of frost on the livingroom windows as the sun hits them and makes them sparkle 


                          like...being nuzzled by a llama and having him set his head on your shoulder


                         like....getting next year's seed order sent in and dreaming....


This has been my day so far.  Who could ask for more?

Dec 14, 2009

Do you ever get used to it?

Not sure of the temps this morning, but it doesn't seem as cold as yesterday.  We had a high of -1F.


News??


Well, we participated in a live Nativity.  My two youngers stood outside as angels, wise men and shepherds for a total of an hour, but the Lord blessed us with 23 above on Saturday night.  It was a night I hope they always remember.


We had a potluck after church yesteday.  Had a wonderful time of fellowship, but came home to a sad sight.     When I went to check up on the critters, I found our little Angora doeling dead in her pen.  It hurts my heart.  She was the sweetest thing.  I think between the cold and a number of other factors, it was too much for her.  A very painful lesson for the children and me.  It's one of those times when I wonder if I should be farming.  Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me question what I'm doing, and why???  So today I will put down new bedding, do more repairs on the barn, check on everyone to make sure they are looking and acting okay, over feed them all.  It's warm water for everyone!


The Lord bless your endeavors.


From Glory Farm



Dec 2, 2009

Homesteading Field Trip

Yesterday was a day spent up North.  We took the dog to get spayed and then went to the feed store.  Stopped to visit  a dear sister in Christ and then went on a field trip.  The field trip was to a fellow homesteader's.  I was excited to meet this woman.  She lives at the end of a mile long driveway.  She's off grid and has built a log home.  We met her goats, donkeys, horses, and a mule.  She took us to her garden, now sleeping, and her orchard.  Showed us her projects under construction and led us inside to warm up in front of a crackling fire.  Don't you love meeting fellow homesteaders?  It's like you have an understanding right off.  No need to explain things, they get it.  No need to apologize for the way you live, they totally understand.  She extended an open invitation to stop by whenever I'm back up that way.  I think I'll take her up on it.


Back to our homestead.  Lord bless your day and your endeavors.


From Glory Farm

Nov 18, 2009

First Hunt

It's deer hunting season here in Minnesota. Since my honey is out in Wyoming,(and since he doesn't hunt), a fella from church showed up this morning to take my son on his first hunting "excursion". It's not a "trip" because they'll stay on our property. I'm praying that my son has a fine time, but more than that I'd like to see this fella bag a deer. He's been hunting most of the season and still nothing.


 I never used to care for venison, and honestly, it's still not my favorite meat, but I can fix it so it's tolerable, even tasty if I can it. I'm not going to refuse fresh venison anymore, it's now a blessing.
So I pray for safety, and two or three nice sized deer for these guys.
Oh BTW, I don't hunt either. :)
From Glory Farm

Nov 14, 2009

Rain, Goats, Sheep, and a Mountain

Drizzle and snow, cold and wind, a perfect day to stay inside and bake.  I'm blessed that I can be so picky and not have to work outside today if I don't feel like it.  Tomorrow they say, the sun will be out and I can enjoy being outside. 



This is just a random picture I stuck in here, because I thought it was pretty.  My daughter took it up on Beauty Mountain which is a few miles from our house.


I just pulled the brownies from the oven and put the granola I made in the fridge.  I have this cup of coffee to drink and the Saturday paper to read.  So much to do....


I discovered that I have a dairy doe that's expecting in a couple of months.  Not a good time to have kids up here.  I thought I had been diligent enough to prevent this from happening,but....


I have a Saanen buck coming to breed my other dairy does and the Angora does should be bred already.  I have three sheep that won't come home.  I'm thinking of organizing a sheep round up with some friends and see if we can't get them into their paddock.  They are a wild bunch.


Washing and carding fiber, that's what I want to get done on these drizzly days.  Cleaning for Thanksgiving.  I'm going to use Kim Wolf's idea for furniture polish- some olive oil with a little lemon or orange oil in it.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Don't we all?


This is kind of a hodge podge of thoughts, hope you followed okay.  My son wants to get on here and play some Indiana Jones.  He likes to read over my shoulder to get me to speed up.  It works.


Love to you Ladies-


From Glory Farm

Nov 3, 2009

Back 40 books



One of many  books available at Back 40.


I don't know how many of you have a weakness for books, especially homesteading ones, but it's a major problem of mine.  There are sites out there full of these books and I just visited the Back 40 Books site.  I ordered a homeschooling math book for my son called "Arithmetic in Agriculture".  It comes with a teachers' book and is for 8th grade and up.  I'm so excited.  This is the kind of practical knowledge that we need here on the farm and it's an old book, kept in print by the Amish. 


Be sure to check out the November issue of Homesteading News.  You can find the link on my side bar.


Have a blessed day.


From Glory Farm

Oct 24, 2009

The Blue Bowl

Reading an entry about bowls earlier today and then reading about the wooden bowl, it's been on my heart to post my "bowl" story.


I love the old mixing bowls.  I love the look and I actually use them for mixing.  Last summer Grandma, my children and I all spent a day rummage saling.  About the third stop, we discovered a treasure of antiques.  They weren't going cheap, but they were in good shape and not priced too bad.  I found a beautiful antique, blue, mixing bowl, with an ornate rim.  A little steep at $10, but I really liked it and bought it.  We wrapped it in old sweaters and put it in a bag, careful not to chip and to warn everyone to be careful when unwrapping it.  Once home and all the packages in the house, you guessed it, the bowl was pulled out by the sweater and my son completely forgot there was a bowl in it.  It hit the floor and broke into about 20 pieces.  I admit I didn't handle it very well. I took up the pieces, placed them in the garbage and told my son it was okay.  It was just a "thing", but please try to remember to be more careful.  He knew I was sad and wanted to fix the bowl for me.  I told him even if it was fixed I couldn't use it anymore, not to bother.  Walking into the kitchen about half an hour later, there was my bowl.  The pieces carefully put back together and glued in place.  I started to cry.  That bowl means more to me now than it ever could have otherwise.  My son was so sorry for what he'd done, and I was so sorry for making him feel bad.  He fixed it because he loves me.  That bowl is sitting for all to see, in my kitchen. 

Gone

Somewhere out in cyberspace is the entry I just wrote, 5 minutes ago.  Funny how when that happens, I don't feel inspired to write it all over again.


So my entry for today is just to say, I hope you enjoy your weekend.  Sleep in a little later, play a little more, read a little bit and have one more cup of coffee.


The bluejays and timberjays are playing in the spuce trees outside my livingroom window.  I haven't seen them since early last summer.  The timberjays are so cute.  I call them teddy bear birds.  I just want to hug them. 


The cattle are complaining, so I'd better go and see about hauling in some hay bales.


From Glory Farm



 

Oct 20, 2009

No News is....No News!

Colds and Flu-It's time for homemade chicken noodle soup, eucalyptus oil in hot water and a good video.  My son is sick with cold like symptoms.  I just got over the fever, flu thing, (or almost over), and so did Honey.  I think I saw a runny nose on one of my llamas this morning, but it's so hard to tell with them.


Winter prep-One more goat to shear, and a ton of fiber to wash and card.  The garden still needs to be put to bed before a permanent snow, and I still have firewood to stack and split for this winter's fire.  Things have a way of getting done, even when the list looks endless.  Winter will come and I'll be ready enough to get through it.  That's the way it always works.


Bees and Honey-I went out and stole a couple of frames out of my beehive and took the honey.  It is so good.  I need to finish harvesting the honey.  I'm not sure if I"ll continue with the bees next year, maybe.  We'll see if I can get a class or two in on beekeeping in this frozen northland.


That's it from Glory Farm.  Hope you're all doing well.


Blessings.

Oct 6, 2009

Jumper Cables????

Anyone have a leg long enough to give me a kick start?  So quiet this morning.  My two youngers are gone to their freinds' house, and dd2 is at school.  This means I have to do chores alone this morning and I need to get the house clean today because my honey will be coming home tomorrow for a few days.  Here I sit looking out at the drizzle and gray skies.  The temp is a balmy 43 and the fields are brown.  I just can't seem to get moving.  No children to prod and set an example to this morning.


One more cup of coffee..........

Oct 3, 2009

Foraging

Sitting here on the computer when I should be doing something more constructive, I was directed to an awesome site.  For anyone who likes to forage, or even just berry pick , this site offers recipes, how tos for tea, tinctures, ect.  http://www.prodigalgardens.info/index.htm is the site.    This site is put out by people who live up here in the north central part of the States.  It has a month by month listing of wild foods to look for.    Looks like a resource I'll be  using.  Hope you enjoy it too.

Oct 2, 2009

October 2, 2009

Well, I just spilled coffee all over my desk.  Good thing, too, cuz it sure needed dusting.  Don't worry, I went and got more coffee. 


Seated in front of the picture window I can see the spruce trees dancing like crazy.  That wind is strong, I've been listening to it all night.  Both my youngest daughter and I have been down with some kind of bug.  She feels 100% this morning, which means I should be coming out of this by tomorrow. 


I got the furnace going, now I just have to get DD2 up on the roof to clean the chimney so that we can have a wood fire.  She also is responsible for stacking up the firewood, but that's not going too well either.  Would be nice to have a wood fire, this propane doesn't make a lasting heat.


I would like to get the potatoes out of the ground today, before we get the monsoons.  Carrots would be nice, also, but I don't know how long these aspirin will keep me going.  We have been blessed with pumpkins and potatoes this year.  Carrots, beets, rutabagas, all of the root crops did real well.   We made our first sale last Monday at  a market in a senior center.  We're sending more produce down next Monday.  This could be the start of someting big!


Time to stop talking and start doing.


Have a blessed day.


From Glory Farm,


Sep 30, 2009

Finally!

The October issue of Homesteader News is up.  Check it out at www.homesteadernews.com .  There are a lot of good articles in it and I think they're always looking for more.


From Glory Farm

Sep 28, 2009

Did Grandma Do This?

Putting up enough food for a year takes all of my waking hours, well, not quite.  But I never knew.  I  used to put up what I had time to put up, now I don't want to waste a thing.  I have frozen broccoli and dehydrated it.  Corn is canned and dried and some still on the stalks waiting to be ground into cornmeal.  Potatoes are slowly coming out of the ground and headed for the root cellar and the dehydrator.  Picked two wheel barrows full of green tomatoes to use for sauces.  Beans and peas are drying to be used for next year's seed.  I'm drying apples, making apple jelly, apple juice, apple sauce, apple pie filling and saving some for the root cellar.  Put up the plums yesterday.  Tomorrow I hope to get the tomatoes in the cellar, pick squash and pumpkins.  I may have to start some sauerkraut, but I still have some left from last year.  I never remember to use it.  God has blessed us with abundance and I want to be a good steward. 


It's a good feeling being so tired at the end of the day.  Getting into my sweats and reading a good Louis Lamour.  How did Grandma find time to quilt, knit, spin, butcher, milk, etc.  I've heard the stories and Grandma did all of this.  I have a new respect for her.  Maybe she didn't have a computer?


From Glory Farm

Sep 26, 2009

Just Ducky

Just wanted to post this picture of the ducklings that my children have living in the house.  They thought the mama duck didn't do a very good job caring for them, as we lost three, so they took the last three inside until they're big enough to look out for themselves.  (How long is that anyways.)


Sep 1, 2009

The Dehydrator's Bible

My mom bought me this book.  At first, I wasn't all that excited, but then I opened it. 



It tells you how to dehydrate everything!!  Well, not everything.  But since I discovered dehydrating last year, and everything tasted so good, I'm doing even more of it this year.  This book tells you how to put your dehydrated foods together to  make meals.  It even  has camping menus so you can bring with some pretty fancy dehydrated feasts.  Anyways, just thought I'd give the heads up if anyone wanted to do some serious dehydrating.  I might have to get me a bigger dehydrator now!

Aug 30, 2009

Frost.....and more frost

Okay, so it's not snowing, but we did have a good frost last night.  Tonight we get to have another one.


I don't think there's enough plastic in the township to cover my garden.  I did get some of the beans covered, half of the tomatoes, some of the cukes.  The rest got hit with the frost, though I think the corn is going to make it.  I'll check it out tomorrow morning.  Pumpkins and squash might be goners.  This has been one of the shortest growing seasons I can ever remember.  I did put in an abundance of cold weather crops-cabbage, broccoli, kale, rutabagas, beets.  We should get a lot of potatoes, too, but I was really looking forward to canning tomatoes and eating as much sweet corn as I wanted. 


Our 4-H club put on our fall animal swap today.  I'll have pictures soon.  It was a wonderful day for my son.  He crated up about 20 roosters and brought them in.  He sold 16 of them for $2 a piece (he got to keep half of the money)  and traded the last four for a mallard.  My son is crazy about ducks and he couldn't have been more blessed.  He is so happy.  I'm happy we got rid of so many roosters.  We have had some very busy hens this summer who have hatched us out somewhere around 60 chicks.  We should still have plenty of roosters to butcher this fall.  We've had 12 new chicks born this week and another hen started setting last week.  God is good.


Sitting here shivering at the computer, I think it's time to go hunker down under the covers and get to sleep.


Good night to all.


From Glory Farm

Aug 25, 2009

Tuesday, August 25

Two girls off to college this week.  One is down in the Twin Cities, one is staying home and going to a two year college instead of high school.  They are best friends and they're seperated.  My younger one, the one at home, sure misses her sister. 


Today promises to be a pleasant day, the sun, a few clouds and near perfect temperatures.  Beans to can, fenceposts to pull, a barn to continue to clean, and I'd like to start scraping the house to repaint. 


I have found a home for one of my llamas, and I still need to shear the two alpacas.  I've just spent my time with them getting to know them and giving them treats.  I also have a ram, born this spring, who is completely black with the most fantastic fiber.  He's just a doll.  I'm keeping him to breed back my ewes and selling the other two at the animal swap next Sunday.  I have two Angora goats for sale, also.  We still have to put up some hay, but it's awfully late this year, as my honey is working out of state and my neighbor is going to help me after he finishes his hay.  Thank you Lord for neighbors.


That's it for a quick update.


Hope all is well and Lord bless.

Aug 17, 2009

Whoa!!! Slow down.

The geese fly in every morning now.  About 30 of them.  They send the cattle scattering all over the pasture.  I think  they do it on purpose.  A couple of the maples have turned to a soft maroon.  It's early for fall and our woodpile is in a shambles.  Tomatoes on the vine are small and so are my cukes.  Others have their's in the refrigerator already, but mine are taking their time.


So today, I think I'll can as much as possible.  Some beets, swiss chard, maybe some beans.  I'll send the kids out to weed the weed patch.  The wild rasberries are red and ripe and ready to drop.  We'll try to get some more before they do.  The blueberries are so late.  They're at their peak right now, though we don't have too many of them this year.  Enough to get a pie or two.


My two oldest start college next week.  My two youngest won't have to start school for a couple of weeks yet.  I don't like to start too early.  We learn plenty just farming. 


That's about it from Glory Farm.  Have a good and Godly day.

Aug 3, 2009

Real Life Learning Opportunities

As homeschoolers we're always using life experiences to enhance our children's education.  So imagine how happy I was to stumble upon a new opportunity.  It was completely unplanned and allowed my children to use not only their problem solving skills, but also a bit of physical science and geometry.     I locked my keys in the van!  Leaving the back two windows opened just a crack allowed for some hope of unlocking it without calling the garage.  They tried broom handles, sticks, clothes hangers and even a dog leash, while trying to figure angles and force.  But, alas, we were not meant to be car theives and had to call the garage.  God sent over a wonderful man who was willing to do it for free.  We paid him, but it was much less than I thought it would be.  I really don't want that learning opportunity again.

Jul 29, 2009

Today the Llama, Tomorrow.....the Alpaca

How I decided to get some llamas, I don't really know.  It all happened so fast!  I know just about nothing when it comes to llamas.  These guys are cute and gentle, but the bigger one is two and needs to be gelded.  The younger one can wait until next spring.  The bigger one has wonderful fiber, but I'm not sure how easy it'll be to seperate the guard hairs from the fiber underneath.  It's all a learning experience, right?  Open to advice and suggestions!!!!


This is Astro.  He's the two year old and a standard sized llama.



This is Ziggy.  He's a year old and camera shy.  He's going to be a bit smaller than the standard sized, but a bit too big to be a miniature.  He's awfully cute.


Tomorrow, I'm supposed to go and pick up an alpaca.  He's old-14 years!  I'm thinking  he'll probably expire here.  Let  you know how it goes.


Have a good and Godly day.

Wyoming and some Pictures!

Yea!! I don't know what happened, but now I can post pictures again.  So here's the world's largest fiberglass buffalo and the world's most loved kids-mine!



Hers' a picture of Devil's Tower.



And a picture of the Big Horns where we went hiking.



So read the next entry to see pictures of my new llamas.


Have a blessed day.

Jul 22, 2009

Wyoming and no pictures

We took a trip out to see my Honey last week.  Driving out there really doesn't take all that long.  We made it in 14 hours which included a stop at the world's largest fiberglass buffalo.  Can't beat that!


We did some hiking in the Big Horns, took a trip to Devil's Tower, visited a cave, spent a day in the Black Hills, swam, saw Skillet and Kutless in concert, went out to dinner.  Whew!  And they call it a vacation!  I sure can't climb up those mountains like I used to.  One thing this trip showed me is that i need to get more aerobic excercise. 


Here are a couple of pictures from our trip:


Or not.  I can't load pictures,something is wrong with my computer.  I get a java script error-'window.frames.frmMain.document'is null or not an object-whenever I click on the mountain icon on the entry page.  Help!  I've tried everything I know how to do and then some.  Any computer whizzes, please send me your ideas.

Jul 11, 2009

Catfish Days Part 2

Well we didn't stay too long.  We hit a couple of rummage sales and I got some material and a bunch of goofy socks for my daughter to make sock creatures out of.  I picked up a bunch of baby things for my friend's daughter who is due any day now.


DD2 ran the 5 K and had a lot of fun.  I thought the camera was on picture, but it was on video so here's a short video of ther and her friends getting ready.


I guess I don't know how to  upload a video, because that didn't work.  Anyone have any suggestions?


Here's a picture of main street as the runners were coming in.



And here's a cool picture from under the town water tower.



I don't know why but I like this picture.  The sky was sure blue at 8:00 this morning.


So I didn't get very good pictures, and we didn't stay very long.  I need to get out into the garden.  Those will be the next pictures I post.


From Glory Farm


P.S. Don't pay any attention to the date on the photos.  I guess I should check that before I take the pictures.

Catfish Days

This morning it's off to Catfish Days.  DD2 is running the 5K and there's a flea market and animal swap I want to get to.  Pictures coming up.


From Glory Farm

Jun 24, 2009

T-Yarn

I have a site bookmarked on my computer that uses recycled materials to make bags and purses.  While I've seen a lot of wal-mart bags used in crochet, I never knew about T-yarn.  This is taking t-shirts and cutting then to make a yarn to crochet or knit with.  What a good way to reycle old t-shirts.  We get a lot of them. The site is  http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2009/06/05/making-t-yarn-from-recycled-tee-shirts/  .


Here is a picture of the T-yarn taken from that site.A new project!

Update on the UN Children's Rights Treaty








Dear Friend of Parental Rights,

Monday in a Harlem middle school, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told a group of 120 students that administration officials are actively discussing “when and how it might be possible to join”  (that is, ratify) the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).  As before, she also communicated what a disgrace it is that the U.S. would stand with only Somalia against such a widely-accepted treaty.

This is the first direct public statement by the Obama administration that it will seek ratification of the UN CRC.

In my 30 years of political involvement, I have learned to recognize this as what is called a “trial balloon.” Like in World War I trench warfare, our opponents have “sent up a balloon” to see if it will draw fire. If things remain quiet, they will proceed with their plans to push for ratification of the CRC in the U.S. Senate.

To discourage them from doing so, we need to make sure that our voices are heard with unmistakable clarity.  We must let the Obama administration know that we oppose this anti-family, anti-American treaty.

Here’s what we need you all to do:

1.      Call the White House comments line at 202-456-1111. Tell them you heard the administration wants to ratify the CRC, and you strongly oppose this giving away of U.S. sovereignty to the UN. Also keep in mind that this treaty gives the government jurisdiction to override any decision made by any parent if the government thinks that a better decision can be made—even if there is no proof of any harm.

2.      Call Ambassador Susan Rice’s office at the United Nations. Tell her that you want her to represent the United States to the world rather than trying to get the United States to go along with international law initiated by the UN.  Her office number is 212-415-4000.

3.      Contact your Senators and urge them to oppose ratification of this treaty. (Find your Senators’ contact information by typing your zip code into the box here.) Ask them also to defeat it once and for all by cosponsoring SJRes 16 – the Parental Rights Amendment.

It is very important that we speak up right now.  Please call before you close this email!

Sincerely,

Michael Farris

Find this letter online.



Forward this newsletter to a friend

Jun 19, 2009

Chucken

This will be a short story as Chucken is only five days old. 


We have a Muskovey hen setting on her eggs.  She also had one chicken egg in there.  How it got there, I don't know.  As the ducks take 31 days to hatch and the chickens only 21, that egg cracked and out came Chucken.  So the duck is still settting on her eggs, which should hatch this week and Chucken sleeps with his "Mama" every night.  No matter how he tries to get her to go out of the chicken coop with him to find food and water, she won't go.  So he's out there on his own (we let them free range).  It'll be interesting to see what he does once his sisters and brothers hatch.


Have a blessed Friday.


From Glory Farm


 

Jun 12, 2009

What is Normal?

Good morning.  The sun is finally shining again.  I'm having a blogger's block and so this entry is to just let anyone who reads this know I'm still coming on here and commenting, but have nothing of significance to contribute.


Our oldest daughter graduated and then decided that meant she's an adult.  This has brought with it all of the complications you can imagine.  It has left me emotionally drained and leaning ever harder on my Heavenly Father.


Our garden is in.  Some of it is even coming up. 


I picked up a Hoosier cabinet for the kitchen.  We don't have regular cupboards yet, our kitchen is totally unfinished.


It's not as old as some, but I really like it.


Well, I'll just keep lurking around and pop in once in awhile until my life gets some normalcy to it.


God bless and hold you tight.


From Glory Farm

May 19, 2009

Another New Lamb

Went out this morning and I saw---



This is the smallest lamb we've had born.  Looks just like her mom.


I had to show you where our little Angora doe likes to snuggle in the sun--


And a picture of our new LGD.  Her name is Jenny and she's a honey.



Doesn't she look vicious?  She's four months old.


Well it looks like the sun has decided to come out.  I should go out and make good use of it.


From Glory Farm.


Rhonda

May 16, 2009

LGD

We have another new additiong to the farm.  Her name is Jenny and she's a puppy.  I think! She's less than four months old and her back hits me mid thigh.  She is totally lovable.


We have been looking for a dog since last fall, when our daughter's dog was hit on the road.  We wanted one that was mellow, didn't chase cars, kept deer out of my garden, left the chickens alone, protected the sheep and goats.  I think we found one.  She's Newfie and Great Pyrenes.  Everyone just loves her. 


If I have time this afternoon, I'll post a picture of her.  She's completely black and so it's hard to get a good picture.  She's also completely cute.


From Glory Farm

Fun, fun, fun

I woke up early this morning, for a Saturday, that is.  The skies were overcast and the wind was blowing at  40mph.  We had and still have a balmy 32 degrees.  Stepping out onto the deck, my feet slid.  Ice and snow! Then the electricity went out.  Trees down on the power line.    I lit a fire in the fire pit, put on the bacon and eggs, and a pot of coffee.  Believe it or not, I really like this.  This is usually the only kind of weather I go camping in.  Cooking outside this morning, I felt like I was at the lake.  The smell of woodsmoke lingers in my hair.  The coffee tastes like real coffee and stays hot forever.  The bacon just slightly burnt and the eggs swimming in bacon grease. 


Yep, it really is fun, fun, fun.


The power is back on now and it's back to the real world, and farm work.


From Glory Farm

May 14, 2009

Honey bees

Outside my window, falling ever so gently, snow!  Hey, hasn't anyone told the weatherman it's the middle of May?  I'm zipping up winter jackets and putting stocking caps on the kids as they go outside to start chores.  I know enough, not to put the winter clothes away until the middle of June.  Brrrr...





So, want to know the latest addition to the farm?  Bees.  That's right.  We went and picked some bees up on Tuesday.  Poor things are probably wondering what happened to spring.  This is a learn as I go project, so I would sure welcome your advice.  I have one hive and some supers, a veil, hive tool, and smoker.  What else should I have on hand?  I'm feeding them now, as we hardly even have dandelions blooming yet.  I did start mowing the lawn, yesterday, but I hit a piece of baler twine and I may have toasted the mower.


My tiller is in need of a new air filter and gas line.  I'm having a hard time finding parts, but I hope to get them ordered today.  I really NEED to get my garden tilled even though we only have 32 degrees right now.  It's filling up with grass and parts of it look like my lawn.





May 9, 2009

Could you give it all up?

Sometimes I wonder if my "Homesteading" is becoming more important than my Lord.  I get totally preoccupied with goats, sheep, gardens, etc.  We call our place "Glory Farm", wanting to bring Glory to God in all we do.  Just about the time I think I have my priorities all messed up, God takes care of it.  Our goats and sheep are having their little ones, just like they are all over right now.  My two Alpines, the ones that were so healthy, so promising , have had a horrible time of kidding.  One poor doe died and her kid with her.  The other lost her kid and we're trying everything to save her.  We had to pull both kids, and the second doe, the one still alive, was in very poor shape going into labor.  She started going downhill fast after her sister died.  We have her on two types of antibiotics, oxytosin, and a pain killer.  She's been down for two days, now, but she's not getting any worse.  Now I say, Lord, I could give it all up for you.  Help me to learn from experience, to use this knowledge and to be a better caretaker of my animals. Amen.


I think the two Alpines had too much feed for the last month of their pregnancy.  I've never had this problem before.  A terrible way to learn.


I am thankful for the lambs and kids that are healthy.  I am hopeful that the goats and sheep left to have babies will be fine.  I am thankful that my Jesus is in control.


From Glory Farm

Apr 28, 2009

From Seeds to Harvest

I've decided to join the challenge at



http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/from-seeds-to-harvest/ 


I read about it over at


http://www.homesteadblogger.com/youwantmetomovewhere/133719


This looks like fun and should help keep us working in the garden.  It should also be a learning experience.  Want to join us?


Here's a start or  a few of my starts.  Tomatoes, broccoli,cabbage and peppers.  Some of the peppers haven't come up yet.  I'm not sure why.  I thinned the broccoli, cabbage and peppers.





The second picture has some of the herbs we planted, too.  There's thyme, lovage, sweet annie, parsley, and comfrey.  The next two  pictures are lavender and rosemary.  I bring them in during the winter because they can't handle the cold up here.  Then they go back out every spring.  I get fresh herbs all winter that way. 


These are the plants going into my garden next month.  My tomatoes should be monsters by then.  My son is starting some flowers.  He wants black violets and larkspur.


Feeling like joining the fun?  Let everyone know how your gardening is growing.


From Glory Farm


Apr 17, 2009

Dutch Oven Cooking

Well, maple tapping is over and I have left in my yard a firepit that I made for boiling down the sap.  With summer coming on and with the rising price of electricity, I thought I'd utilize this new piece of equipment.  I've been looking at sites with recipes for cooking in a Dutch Oven. Two of the sites I've found are  http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/dutch-oven-recipes.htm  and http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-DORecipes.html  .


  I know some of you out there are seasoned Dutch Oven users so any favorite recipes or words of advice would be great.  I think this means that I'll also have to redo my menu to include cooking outside at least three times a week.  Sound like fun??

Apr 13, 2009

Maple Syrple

I think today is the day I pull the taps.  The sap has slowed down and it didn't freeze out last night!  Time to start thinking about working the garden up and spreading manure and disking the field, planting the field, oh I"m getting overwhelmed just thinking about it.  Thought I'd post some pics my daughter took of making syrup.  She did the batch yesterday, by herself.  Now she has something more to enter into the county fair next summer.


One of our taps-



Cooking it over the fire.



When it boils down to about a gallon, we bring it in and finish it on the stove.



Then we strain it and bottle it.  She didn 't get pics of the finished product, but she was so happy-it tasted just like maple syrup!

Good Morning Farm

That's what I say


Every morning of every day.


Good morning rooster


How doodle you do?


Nobody's wider awake than  you.


This is from a book my mom used to read to me until she couldn't take it anymore.  I have more memorized, but I won't go on.  Thinking back, this is probably how it all started.  The farming, gardening, animals, etc.  My mom has big shoulders and consented to take the blame.


I wanted to introduce you to......Esther.  OUr brand new Angora doeling.


Apr 11, 2009

Syrup is done.

I think  our sap collecting is coming to an end.  I've put up a gallon and a half so far.  This isn't as hard as I originally thought.  Even I can do it. 


I started shearing this week.  I have seven left to go.  Three goats and four sheep.  I still have a lot of hoof trimming left, also.  Today I have the children home, so I think I'll see if I can round up some help.  I'm still learning to shear.  This will be an ongoing education for quite some time.


There's the van to wash, bathroom to clean, floors to sweep, hay to move, sap to boil, yard to clean, paperwork to do, birthday cake to bake, hotdish to cook , get ready for Easter dinner,  "Get Everything Done" day.  I'll check back this evening and let you know how it went.


Life is busy, but life is good.  When we go to "Simplify" our lives, is this what happens?  We, as in I, take on more and more learning experiences and create a life that is so full its ready to burst.  Teach me to work hard and rest in You, oh Lord.  Help me to hear your voice in the din I've created.


So off I go.


From Glory Farm 


We did---wash the van, bake the cake, make the hotdish, sweep the floors, get the sap, move the hay... we didn't clean the bathroom, vacuum the livingroom, do the paperwork, or clean the yard, but.....we peeled some fenceposts and trimmed the hooves on three goats and got one more goat sheared.


Easter dawned this morning with new life in the barn. We have a new kid, a doeling, an Angora.  She is the cutest.  Pictures coming soon.

Mar 30, 2009

Sap, sewing and the soup kitchen

The sap is running.  We're getting measurable amounts now and we can start boiling it down tomorrow.  We are also under a winter storm warning until Wednesday morning.  My children threaten to cry when they hear the weather report, but then so does my mother.  Spring will come.  It always does.


I'm also going to start shearing as soon as the snow lets up.  I still have mohair from the last shearing to card and spin.  I'm carding up a bunch of white right now and dyeing it blue.  I told dd2 that I would ply it and knit her a mohair sweater.  This might be done by Christmas.


I have a dress cut out to sew and a purse in the works.  I'm in a crafting mood, to be sure.


Today its off to town to get ds's stitches out.  He had 14 in his leg.  Then groceries, then to work at the soup kitchen.  Home and then sap collecting.  I'm not trying to sound busy.  I really don't feel that way right now.  I'm feeling totally blessed.


Praying that the Lord makes opportunities for you and I to minister to others today and shine forth His glory.


From Glory Farm

Mar 26, 2009

Fargo Flood 2009

Have you been keeping up on the flooding along the Red River here in Minnesota and North Dakota?  We received an e-mail on Tuesday asking us to come and help sandbagging and making dikes.  We lefrt Wednesday morning and got back today at noon.  What an awesome experience.  Hard work, I'm sore all over, but the girls want to go back again tomorrow. The people were so kind and so thankful.  These people are doing a wonderful job, all pulling together and getting things done. Just regular citizens volunteering time, money, equipment. There are people out there right now from all over the U.S.  We helped to make 500,000 sandbags yesterday!  More help is needed.  They're not giving up the fight.  The predictied cresting level was 41 feet when we left there this morning and now they're saying maybe 42.  People are being evacuated. 


It makes you stop and remember who is in charge.  We tend to get lulled into a false sense of security.  The government will take care of it, technology will take care of it, we'll all be fine, but truth is there is only One that you can count on.  This flood is a good reminder of that. 


If you'd like to help, call 701-476-4000.  They will tell you where the volunteers are needed most and what you can do.  Log on to www.kfgo.com for updates and continual information.


Please keep everyone involved in your prayers.  Thank you.


Mar 24, 2009

Muscovy Ducks

We (I) decided on Muscovy ducks this year.  We were given two hens and two drakes by some friends of ours.  After reading, the Muscovy sounds like the perfect duck.  They are known for their ability to make a noticable difference in the amount of flies and mosquitoes.  This was the big selling point for me.  We fight with flies every summer.  The drakes can get 10-12 pounds.  Our drakes are much larger than our hens.  The hens are also good setters.  They are quite prolific as our friends can attest to.  They are up to somewhere between 30 and 40 Muscoveys.  I guess they are also very good tasting without all of the fat of most ducks.  I don't plan on butchering, but still, it's good to know.  They don't have to have water to play in, but I'll get them some when it warms up, anyways.  My son read that they are roosting ducks, so I shouldn't be surprised to see them sleeping in the trees.  I go out to the barn looking for duck eggs, now.  So far, I haven't found any.  Let you know when they start to set.


From Glory Farm

Mar 17, 2009

Fat Cat Patterns

I need to make some new potholders for my kitchen and wanted something quilted.  Looking around on the internet I found a site- www.fatcatpatterns.com  .  This site has some very cute applique patterns.  I found some chickens to make for my mom, a llama for my friend, and sheep for me.  I also wanted to make a messenger bag for my daughter as part of her graduation present and found a nice one at- http://pinoyinoz.blogspot.com/2008/07/tutorial-messenger-bag-with-zip-top.html   I hope that link works.  I also found a really cute gingham handbag pattern at- http://kayray.org/crafts/red_tutorial/  


Can you tell I've been spending way too much time on the internet and not enough time actually doing these projects?  I'm off to sew an apron.


Have a wonderful evening.

Mar 12, 2009

What to do with a frozen chicken?

Go to fullsize image




We had a storm blow in last Tuesday.  It went from 34 above zero to a windchill of -30 in a day.  Went out to do chores in this cold  and hunkered down under the flatbed truck was one of our laying hens.  She must have been looking for shelter when the storm hit and thought it looked like a good place to try.  Not!  The ground was still thawed when she plopped her hiney down there and quickly froze up, as she found out when she tried to move.  Taking the blowdryer to her iced in hind end, I thawed the ice and slowly plucked her feathers out of the ground.  She did end up losing a couple, but she didn't squawk.  She soon realized that the machine making all of the noise was also making all of the heat and she just stood there like a primadonna at a beauty salon enjoying every moment.  I finally told her she was done and hauled her back to the coop.


We're going to start tapping maples tomorrow or Saturday.  I'll post pictures.  It's something you have probably all looked at before, but it's a new venture for us.  My grandfather used to do it, but I don't remember it.


Bring glory to God this day.


From Glory Farm

Mar 3, 2009

Wanted to let you know about another contest

 


I found this on http://www.homesteadblogger.com/TwoLittleBlessings/129078 .


Go to http://www.homemaking911.com/2009/03/02/homemaking-911-march-madness-giveaway/#usermessage3a .  She's offering a bunch of wonderful prizes. 

Anyone tapping maples?

I thihk...shhhh..just in case I say this too loud,  I think spring may be around the corner.  Quiet, I don't want to scare it away.  Temps getting above freezing by the end of this week.  Sap running in the maples?  This is the first year we're going to try tapping a couple of trees.  Small scale to start, but if we do well, more next year, Lord willing.  Our pastor makes the best maple syrup.  I usually get stuck buying my maple syrup at the grocery.  It's so expensive that I 've been making homemade syrup instead.  Not as healthy, but not as bad as the corn syrup based ones at the grocery.  We've run out of blueberries and rasberries for our pancakes.  I also love the buttermilk syrup recipe that I got from soneone on this blog. 


Today, it's to the dump we go.  I guess they don't call it a dump anymore.  It's a transfer station.  I really don't like making this run, but it saves us a lot of money.  The garbage man charges $1 a bag for taking it away.  I can load up the back of the pick up for $5.  And I only have to go about 4 times a year.


We have no babies yet.  No calves, lambs or kids.  I'm going to move the Angora does to their own pen today.  They have been giving the other does a hard time and I don't want them to cause a miscarriage.  We keep the horns on the Angoras so they can be pretty hard on the milk does.


Hope to have something more interesting to write about next time. 


Go with God and God go with you.

Feb 16, 2009

Felted Boots #2

Wow.  Thank you so much for your kind comments on the boots in the last post.  They really aren't hard to make and anyone can do it.  So I thought I'd do my best to tell you how to do the pattern, and the rest you might want to look up on line.


I bought the book, "Felting by Hand" by Anne Einset Vickrey.  This book has how to felt mittens, slippers, hats, purses, boots, etc.  It starts from the very beginning.  What type of wool, how to layer it, how to make the patterns, how to do the actual felting and the shaping when you're done. 


The pattern for the boots is made by drawing around your foot, a symetrical oval.  Then off of that, draw upwards where your ankle would go and make as tall as you want your boots.  Cut this from a bright colored piece of colorfast cloth.  Layer the wool and place pattern in the middle.  The actual felting would take a while for me to  explain and I probably wouldn't do a very good job, but there are websites that have instructions. 


http://www.squidoo.com/Wool-felting


http://www.gfwsheep.com/flatfelt/flatfelt2.html


 


Thank you again for your kind comments.  Wow.

Feb 14, 2009

Felted Boots

Finally.  After several attempts.  I made a pair of felted boots/slippers that can actually be worn.  I hope to improve the style and looks as I get more experience, but these are very soft and very warm.  This is felt from one of my Icelandic ewes.  I think I'll try a pair of mittens, next.  They should be easier to make.


Have a glorious day.

Feb 10, 2009

Storm? What storm?

People north of us, people south of us, east and west, too, all had worse roads, school closings,  etc.  For some reason, we only got showers.  It has stayed so warm, still 36 this morning, that nothing is freezing.  No power outages or real treacherous driving.  Does it sound strange that I'm a bit disappointed?  There's something about gathering in the livingroom, using the kerosene lamps, playing games.  I was almost looking forward to a good storm.  They still say the rain we're getting will turn to snow this afternoon.  That will only cause bad driving conditions, not the part of a good storm that I like.  I need to make a couple of trips to town today.



So that's the weather update.


 

Feb 9, 2009

By the Light...of the Silvery Moon

It was a picture perfect night last night.  Warm temps and a beautiful moon....


Today it's an ice storm warning.  Thunderstorms tonight!  Wow.  This is so wierd.  They're predicting power outages, also.  Praise God it's going to be in the thirties for highs.  We won't freeze.  I've got water stored and kerosene lamps set to go.  Gonna go and bring a big round to the animals, put in some dry bedding, haul some extra firewood and hunker down. 


Let ya know how it goes.


From Glory Farm

Feb 2, 2009

A day in the life......

I thought I would post a "Day in the Life of" for my blog today.  It started out well.  I went and took pictures as we went about our day.  Around noon I was trying to upload my photos and my program went phooey.  So I spent the rest of the day, until supper that is, troubleshooting the computer.  But...I WON!  and here I am, so without further ado, may I present, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...ME-


After a cup of coffee and devotions, here I sit, my view from the computer-



Looking out my kitchen window this morning, there was a beautiful sundog-



Downstairs to do laundry.  Don't you think the longjohns are a nice touch?



Then we go outside to take care of the animals.  The "herd" is waiting.



Next the chickens....



Yes, the coop needs a good cleaning, but everything is very frozen.  Now to check on the sheep.



That's not a sheep.  It's my eight month old Angora buck, Blackie.  How original?  He loves to have his picture taken. Now the sheep-



Erna, the matriarch of my flock.  She's built like a brick.  The does are next, unfortunately they were so busy fighting over grain, they wouldn't take time to look up.



There are two Angoras, two alpines and two boer/oberhasi crosses.  The crosses are teh white ones.


After chores, it's school . We started a unit on nutrition and had a spelling test.  Some math, and working on journal entries.  While the children were busy studying, I mixed up a batch of soap.



This is the soap that goes into my laundry soap and floor cleaner. 


I spent a lot of time fighting with the computer and while I was waiting for things to install and uninstall I cleaned out my bedroom closet.  Then I got some fleece ready for felting another boot.



After a couple of hours, the soap traced and I  got  it in the mold.



So we just finished homemade potato sausage, homemade sauerkraut and a tossed salad for supper.  I finally got this up on the blog.  I think it's time for some tea and some Walton's.


Thanks for taking time to stop by.