Ode to a "Joker"

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

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

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

But a lttle of each, a strange looking duck.

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

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

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

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

My dad came to visit, imagine my pride,

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

His eyes opened wide, I thought he was pleased.

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

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

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

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

The joker on my farm is all that it takes.

Stupid Sock Creatures

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

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

Homesteader News Needs Articles

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

From Glory Farm,

Rhonda

Carhardts aren't made to come apart...

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

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

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

God bless your evening.

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

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

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

Making Mittens (Cheating)

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

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

Now how easy was that?

Happy Christmas present making.

Adding to the Farm

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

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

40 chickens

2 horses

2 donkeys

4 Angora goats

4 Dairy goats

6 Icelandic ewes

1 dairy heifer

3 beef heifers

7 more beef heifers on the way.

And 1 very spoiled cat.

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

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

From Glory Farm