Category: Around the Homestead

 

We had an extremely busy weekend and are feeling the effects of it today.  Friday I spent the morning in the garden weeding and picking tomatoes.  I had to run into town to deliver tomatoes to Mom’s store, do some Avon deliveries, and run a few errands.  I stopped by the second-hand store in town and found a few fun things:

Knitting needles, a fun mason jar with an old-fashioned lid, and some fabric.  Here’s a close-up of the fabric.  I just LOVE it!  Dh said it looks old-fashioned, and I don’t think he meant it as a compliment.  Oh well, I think it’s pretty!

I also stopped in at the herb shop in town:

You can’t read the labels in the photo, too much flash.  On the left is an all natural deoderant stone.  I used this over the weekend and was really please with it.  In the middle is lemongrass essential oil.  I’m using this as a bug repellant.  So far, so good!  On the right is peach extract for making peach tea.  Yum!

When I got home from town I did some work in the yard and in the house, laundry, watering, and dinner.  I also managed to get some onions dehydrated.

I forgot a picture of the finished product, sorry.

I also managed to bake a couple different kinds of bread, whole wheat and cheesy onion bread and got my sourdough starter going.

Saturday morning we wormed, vaccinated, tagged, and separated our baby lambs from their mamas.  Dad came down to help since we weren’t sure how to tag them.  It actually went really well, and we got done before it got too hot out.  Once we were done we ran into town to look at a tractor for sale and some Nubian goats.  When we got home we rand to the dairy for milk, did some chores around the house, and then made our first batch of rotel for the season.  Dh helped me cut peppers and tomatoes and made the whole process go so much faster than when I do it all myself.  (Thank you!)

Sunday dh and my brother, Craig, went to help Dad roof his building for his sheep.  While they were gone I weeded the entire garden.  It needed it really bad.  Then dh and Craig came back to side the front of our shop/garage.  It looks sooo much better, and they aren’t even finished yet.  I vacuumed the pool and did some watering while they were hard at it.  A family came to look at and buy one of our rams.  Yea!  They were a really nice family.  Their son is actually the one who bought a ram from us.  He hopes to breed it to his Suffolk ewes (for the sheep people out their) and begin to work his way from black-faced sheep into white-faced sheep.  We were excited about the whole experience, for him and for us. 

I made laundry soap from a new recipe.  I haven’t used it yet, but if it works okay I will pass along the recipe.  I used Zote instead of Fels Naptha.  It has a very strong perfume smell (I think I would recommend sticking to the Fels Naptha).

And dehydrated some basil.

I hope to dehdrate my pineapple sage, spearmint, lemon balm, and oregano next.  The rosemary and peppermint will be awhile yet, and our chives may not produce this year.  The sheep mowed them down on one of their expeditions out.  Smile

Sunday evening we mulched some of the vegetable beds around the house.  The heat index was in the 100s, and we were runninng out of steam.  We are “drying off” our mama ewes, meaning we have pulled their food and water to get them to stop producing milk.  This also means we get to milk out the mamas who fill up with milk to ensure they don’t get mastitis.  We milked 4-5 ewes, luckily using Dad’s handheld milker which makes the process go a lot faster.  We try to save as much milk as possible to use if we have bottle lambs the following year.

Dh did chores while I put dinner together.  Thank goodness for crockpots and our grill as it was entirely to warm to cook inside.

This morning our conversation took the usual turn to, “if you didn’t work” our lives would be a lot simpler.  We are getting there.  We just have to make sure we are prepared to take that leap, and we just aren’t quite there yet. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

 

We had a nice long weekend!  It was REALLY hot here, so we tried to take it easy around our homestead.  Friday my dh was off, so we helped my Dad worm his sheep.  Four hours later we headed off to a small Amish community not far from where we live.  I was in search of a bread box, a wood cook stove, and anything else I found interesting.  The only thing we ended up purchasing was a little sheep bib and blanket set for my cousin’s new baby girl.  We did get to spend the day together, eat out, and had a really great time.  We needed some time away together for sure.  On our way home we stopped in at the County Fair.  This weekend was the 4-H Fair, so we went to see the animals.  Chickens, rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle were all in attendance.  It was fun to look at the different breeds.  We think we may have even located a Nubian breeder in our area.  I fell in love with a little Nubian goat there, so my mom is hunting down the owners today.  The price of lamb milk replacer just jumped $13 a bag here, so even if we can’t aquire a taste for goat’s milk we can use it to supplement bottle lambs.  We are also trying to get our pastures under control without the use of a lot of chemicals, so a few goats will help with that problem also.  Friday evening we even got to sit down and watch a movie, Fried Green Tomatoes.

Saturday morning was spent helping my dad vaccinate his lambs (are you seeing a pattern here?).  Four hours later we went home to shower and cool off.  We were too tired and it was too hot to do much around our farm by then.  So, we ran to town real quick to buy honey from a little stand that sets up at the fair every year.  They were out of the gallon containers, so I bought a small one to get me buy.  In the afternoon our neighbors came down for a swim and invited us to dinner that evening.  They made us a fabulous dinner, lamb chops and sweet corn on the grill and baked potatoes along with some veggie salads.  It was really, really good!  We have great neighbors.

Sunday we were up around 6:00 to get as much done as possible before it got too hot.  My dh rehung all of our gates with new hinges so the problem of our sheep getting out into our front yard, herb garden, and garden would be resolved.  Not sure my blue berrybush is going to recover from their last excursion out.  Every potted plant was ripped out of it’s pot when we got home yesterday.  I finally convinced my dh to let our sheep (and llama) into the backyard to graze instead of trying to keep up with the mowing back there.  It is great grass and our pastures are getting a little bare due to lack of rain.  He has also been trying to work with our blue heeler to be of some use when rounding up sheep.  She’s a far cry from a natural, but hopefully with some training she will be of some help.  As of right now, all she wants to do is give them kisses and lick their ears.  Fuzzy didn’t mind the kisses!

She would also just kind of prefer they stay out of her way so she can play ball with her Dad.

We have a baby pool set up for the dogs to cool off in.  Well, the sheep decided it was a stock tank and started drinking out of it.  Ash ran over there as fast as she could and practically did a cannonball into it to get them to stop drinking all of her “pool water.”  She panicked!  What would she swim in if they drank it all? 

We swam a little Sunday afternoon than retired indoors.  I read (Better Off:  Flipping the Switch on Techonology)and worked around the kitchen dehydrating some tomatoes and grapes while my dh watched tv.  Do you see a confict of interest here?  Ha! Ha!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

 

When I got home dh was watering all the animals.  I tended to the chicks, a job he isn’t overly thrilled about.  I started dinner, Navy Bean Casserole and sweet corn on the cob.  Our absolutely wonderful neighbor had gone to pick some from a friends garden and dropped some off with us.  I love sweet corn so I was thrilled.  A friend of Randy’s stopped in with his son for a swim so after we cooled off in the pool we headed to Grandma’s to unload some alfalfa.  We were fortunate enough to have the help of a neighbor and a friend to unload the alfalfa bales.  Not sure how dh and I would have handled it otherwise.  Those bales are just too heavy for me to be of any use.

When we got home from unloading the hay our cat, Cooter, had a bunny as big as he is.  A full grown rabbit!  Dh thinks it must have gotten hit on the road and he drug it home.  Not real sure, but I can’t imagine the little gimpy guy took down a full-grown rabbit.  He would be so offended if he knew I had told you all this. LOL

It’s my last day of work for the week, so I am very thankful to have the next three days off.  We will hopefully get our house in order in the next couple of days.  I plan to steam clean our carpets, so hopefully it really gets done this time.

Dh did flip out and turn the a/c on.  Like I said, we tend to get cranky if it’s too hot and apparently last night it was too hot.  LOL

Have a great Thursday!

 

We had a great weekend!  We had family in from the Carolinas (two aunts and two cousins).  My aunt and cousin from SC made a huge Mexican dinner Saturday night.  We had spent the day swimming at our house then headed to Grandma’s where the girls had dinner waiting.  It was fabulous!  Sunday, we all attended church and met at Grandma’s again for dinner.  My cousin and uncle grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, and brats.  Yum!  Dh and I had to leave early to get back home.  The President of the Texel Sheep Breeders Society was on his way out to interview us for the website and newsletter.  The sheep and Hank (the llama) were on their best behavior.  My aunt also gave me a knitting lesson on Sunday.  I have already been taught to knit by my MIL, however, I needed a refresher course.  I think I might just have the hang of it now.

Last night was pizza at my uncles in town.  It’s everyone’s last night here, so we had a good time relaxing on their back deck.  It was a beautiful evening outside.  I just love being with my family!  I’ll try to post some pics soon.  I used my film camera, so hopefully the girls email me some I can post.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

 

If anyone has an Australian Cattle dog (Blue Heeler) out there you will probably agree that from puppy stage until they are about 5 years old you will go through, “the worst of times and the worst of times.”  Our blue heeler, Ash, (bless her little heart) has some seriously bad habits.  Digging in and eating trash, barking (more of a high-pitched yip), and pawing at you if you are sitting somewhere and fail to devote your full attention to her, just to name a few.  This morning it was thundering and lightening a lot.  So, when I let the dogs out I kept an eye on them to make sure they hurried.  Ash (since she was a puppy) chases her tail when it thunders and barks like crazy running in little circles.  This morning was no different.  It thundered and off she went, round and round in the middle of the yard.  When I called her to hurry her up and get her back inside she stopped spinning only to stumble around and nearly fall over.  She looked like a little kid when they hold their arms out and spin and then try to walk; stumbling and falling until the dizziness goes away.  My goal in life is to catch her on video.  Not sure why she insists on chasing her tail when it thunders, but of all her quirks this has to be the funniest.

 Also, I was tagged by Finding Contentment, mc2rwe, and Sweetheart.  So, here it goes.

 

Here are the rules:

 

Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

 

**I’m going to cheat and not pass it on.  Sorry girls, I’m at work and have to have some control over my blogging time. LOL

 

1.  My husband and I have been married for 4 years and have no children.

 2.  We lived like gypsies for the first few years of our relationship moving all along the coast of South Carolina (Myrtle Beach area), then on to Alabama where we moved from city to city before settling on a farm in Kansas. 

3.  I’m a computer geek and feel very unfulfilled in my career.  Working in a new direction these days : )

 

4.  Hope to leave this world better than found it.  Not sure how yet, but I know I want to make a difference not just go through the motions.

 

5.  We raise Texel sheep, Broilers, and Bantam chickens.  We have a llama (Hank), a cat (Cooter), and two dogs (Ash and Koal).

 

6.  Tennessee is my favorite place.   

 

7.  I am environmentally conscience and hope to gradually convert our house and our lifestyle to be less reliant on fossil fuels.  “Leave a smaller footprint!”

 

8.  I love spending time with my husband.  He is my best friend and my soul mate.  It’s amazing to me how we have grown and changed together.  Every time we take a new path, no matter what the change, we both feel compelled to change together and follow the same path.

 

Hope you all have enjoyed!  Sorry I’m not passing this along to anyone, but duty calls. 

 

Also, Chas thank you so much for the Blogger Reflection Award.

 

 

I hope to get this passed on soon, but wanted you to know it didn’t go unnoticed, and I appreciate it soooo much!

 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I will be spending it with my family.  My aunt is planning to teach me how to read knitting patterns.  I can’t wait!  My first project will be a washcloth.  Baby steps!

 

Okay, apparently I was the last to know about Eyes of Wonder.  I will try to be more on top of things next time. LOL

Not an exceptional harvest, but we were excited to have fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet onions, and eggs.  **Not picturered-3 strawberries and 1 blackberry, ha!  ha!  I have bowls in the freezer, so I just fix them as I pick them and toss them in the freezer.  Maybe someday I’ll have enough to actually make something.

I found this the other day while I was doing chores.  How perfect it is!  I felt bad for the little bird who worked so hard to build it, but apperently forgot to attach it to the tree.  ~Smile

This is our miniature peach tree.  Due to weather it has yet to be very productive, but at least it’s pretty.  My herb garden consists of:

Pineapple Sage (this smells absolutely amazing, I want to make an ice drink out of it as soon as I figure out how), Oregano, Chives, Lemon Balm, Rosemary (in a pot nearby), Rhubarb (not an herb, but needed to get it in the ground somewhere), Thyme, Peppermint (in a pot nearby), and Basil.  I also have chamomile, echinacea, and parsley planted in a different area.I also ordered a miniature lemon tree, lime tree, two grape vines, and a blueberry bush from Gurney’s this spring.  Everything is doing great so far.  Winter will be the true test.  The lemon and lime trees  will have to be moved inside.  A friend of Randy’s has offered to give us a large green house structure.  We will just have to purchase the plastic.  I am so excited!  Now to find a spot, hmmm.

 

I just received an email from the President of the Texel Sheep Breeders Society.  He would like to come to our farm for a tour and an interview for the website and newsletter.  Whoa!  I’m excited and nervous all at the same time.  Our sheep lots and pasture area are no where near where we would like them to be.  However, we are thrilled about the opportunity, are going to do what we can to make everything presentable, and hope for the best.  Let’s just hope the boys and girls are on their best behavior while he is here. LOL

We (verbally) have one sold for butchering, so we have him separated and eating “the good stuff.”  She’s excited to find lamb, and we are excited at the opportunity to provide someone with quality meat.  It’s more than just a little sad, but we are trying to block it out and do what has to be done.  “We take care of them, so they can take care of us.”  Right? 

We have family flying in from the Carolinas Thursday, so we are excited to see everyone and have the whole family together again.  Another busy weekend ahead of us, but looking forward to it.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

 

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted.  Didn’t want you all to think I forgot about you.  We have been so very busy around our little homestead.  We have new sheep that must be quarantined in separate pens for two weeks to avoid any sickness spreading throughout the flock.  So far they are doing absolutely wonderful.  We have a ewe, Minnie, a ram lamb, Cash, and a yearling ram, Merle to go with our other ram, Toby.  A few country singers were our inspiration for the names.  LOL

 

Friday, Dad and I took a ram lamb to the vet for doctoring.  When I returned home a friend, her daughter, and little cousin came over to spend the afternoon and go swimming.  The girls were wonderful, and my friend and I had a great time chatting, swimming, and enjoying the sunshine.

 

Saturday morning was spent building new pens in our lot to start drying off our ewes.  We have Texel sheep who are heavy milkers, so we will be separating one or two off at a time, milking them out, and keeping them off food and water or minimal roughage and water to ensure their milk supply dries up and they remain mastitis free.

 

Saturday afternoon we baled and hauled in barley straw from the field before more rain moved in.  Sunday morning we wormed sheep and milked out our first victim of weaning and drying off.  The first two ewes are our favorite little girls, so hopefully everything goes well for them and us.  Sunday afternoon we took our llama, Hank, over to a wonderful couple from our church to have his hooves trimmed.  They even offered to shear him while we were there, so Hank got the spa treatment.  They show llamas, so Hank got to chat a little with llamas for the afternoon instead of just sheep.  If you’ve never heard a llama talk/cry you must visit a llama farm someday.  It’s the sweetest thing I have ever heard.  LOL 

 

Once we dropped Hank off at home we headed to the field to pick up the remainder of the barley straw.  232 are safely tucked away in the hay shed at Grandma’s until we need it this winter. 

 

Dh and I rushed home that evening for a quick swim before starting our evening chores.  By the end of the evening we were exhausted and not ready to start another week.  However, at 4:15 sharp the alarm was buzzing and I was up and beginning my Monday.  It was raining, thundering, and lightening this morning.  All the windows in the house were open; a cool breeze was blowing through the house, oh how I wanted to curl back up in bed with my husband and sleep. 

 

The garden is producing tomatoes, cucumbers, and turnips.  Life is good!  I lost both my squash plants and my zucchini (was able to harvest one zucchini that was delicious).  I suspect squash bugs, but am worried about grub worms below ground.  The only time in my gardening life I would pray for squash bugs : )    The chickens are praying ‘grub worms.’  They know they will be released on the garden if this is in fact the case. 

 

We did have corned been and zucchini along with fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers for dinner last night.  It was nice to have something other than ham sandwiches : )

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful week.