Lessons Worth Teaching

I our quest to be self-sufficient, we woke up to 2 flat tires yesterday.  It was a good time to teach our 17 year-old daughter how to change a flat tire.  Today’s driver’s education courses do not teach this anymore. Next on the list is to teach her to change to the oil.

When driver’s education courses were taught in public schools, the course director took the class outside to change an actual tire.  Today, schools do not teach this, and parents often forget what teenage kids should learn.

It’s been difficult to stay off my foot, and complete chores.  I spent a few hours taking photos from the front porch.  This, so far, has been the best photo of any bird.  My goal is to get a clear shot of a cardinal, a deer, and a hawk (just not taking off with one of my chickens). 

In my quest to make a good batch of dandelion jelly, I took the advice of one of my followers.  I simply reboiled it, added more pectin, and our syrup is now 3 pints of jelly.

 

Content Kid Goat

Misty is very content after being fed.  I snapped this photo when my 8^th grade daughter was relaxing in the wicker rocker on the front porch.

Misty’s brother doesn’t like to be left alone, but it’s so hard to not give this little girl attention.  Every day after school, she is in the house running around, and up on totes we leave in the kitchen for her.  One day I had to laugh, as I had turned around, she had hopped up on a kitchen chair and was looking over the table.

It’s so much fun to watch out the window and see the goats play.  When a car or school bus pulls in the driveway, Misty will jump, run, buck, and even do a sideways bounce.  She’s hilarious. 

Tree in Bloom

Here is our ornamental apple tree in bloom.  The tree was planted by previous owners, and is very pretty in the spring.  However, in the late fall it draws in flocks of birds to eat the tiny fruit it bears.  We hope to add apple and pear trees to our farm this spring.   Then we can feed ourselves the fruit.

Aprons, Aprons and More Aprons ~ CJ's Creations

If you love to cook, you have to check these aprons out.  I have had so many compliments in regards to the aprons I have purchased from here.   These would make wonderful gifts for anyone, or for yourself.  Buy some for your hope chests or for camping. Buy one for Dad for Father's Day.  Buy one for harvest time in your garden, for canning, or for housework.  It may not be to late to buy one for a mother on Mother's Day also.

CJ's Creations (click here to go directing to her site)

HeliumInexpensive ways to wrap gifts without gift wrap

Dandelion Jelly

My first batch of dandelion jelly, and it turned out syrup.  Ugh.  We picked the flower petals free from the dandelion tops,

I carefully simmered them, and strained them,

and boiled the final ingredients just as the recipe stated.  However, in the past, I’ve added the sugar after it’s been brought to a boil.  This recipe boiled everything together.  

Newest Chickens Get Freedom

At first they just stayed next to the barn, just like last time.  However, after the day passed, we found them wandering all over the area.  They will need to be trained to go back in at night, as we had a fun time chasing and catching them. The one if the very front may very well be a rooster.  Notice the colors are lighter?

 

The red hens did not bother them either.  They kind of stuck together in their own little clan with Mazda (rooster) and went their own way.  I love this photo, but I can see how having a tripod would help me keep the camera still.