Back Porch ~ The other place we hang out

Hubby said, "Now that the front porch is all done, let's deck out the back porch."

So far it's pretty with pinks, but I'll be adding more color.  This is just the beginning I think.  That little shade flower bed to the left needs weeded out and flowers planted as well.

Library Run

I borrowed a copy of Fresh Eggs Daily, by Lisa Steele. Whether you are new at raising layers or not, I found this book to contain useful information.

Simply put. . . ending the day with Cherry Lemonade

Hubby and I spent one day, over the weekend, shopping for specific needs.  I can't remember how many stores we went to, but we ended up at the hardware store too.  We bought a 4 x 4 x 8 post for $7.49 and cut it in half ourselves.  We simply put them in the ground with post mounts, and attached flower pot hangers and added solar lights on top.  

Memorial Day Weekend

We wanted to take time to do something as a family and get away from the noise at our homestead.  We needed a bit of "normalcy."   We needed to have a good day.  We were all stressed, arguing all the time, and on "edge."  Hubby and I drove the kids to a drive thru animal park.  Here are more photos of some the animals.

Oodles of "Noodles" and Dandelion Flower Tea

I'm learning a lot this summer.  Did you know that my homestead is growing oodles of noodles?

"Honey?  Did you know that dandelion stems can be cooked as "noodles" in a recipe?" I asked with excitement.

"Honey, I love you," replied Hubby grinning from ear to ear, and shaking his head side to side.  

I know what he was really thinking - that woman is crazy!

I had no idea you could eat the stems.

The Front Porch ~ Our Simple Pleasure

Last night was quiet around here.  We thanked God for that.  Things are in action, and people are working on our situation as well as us.  The Deputy Sheriff called us last night while we were at a school choir concert, and of course I went into panic mode, thinking something happened at the homestead.  However, it was good news.  He caught located the 4-wheeler guy who ran off and charged him with a few violations.

Crock Pot Corn Pudding ~ Homemade "Jiffy" Corn Muffin Mix

(Corn Pudding, made with healthier ingredients, and with eggs)

Let me start off explaining that there are many variations of what creamed corn is.  I can simply prepare it with corn off the cob, prepared by cutting 1/2 the kernels, and then the remaining, to get more "milk" off the cob (then freezing it each summer).  

Weekend Tidbits ~ Baked Beans with Bulgur

The weekend brought more rain and more cold weather.  We brought the tomato and pepper plants inside Saturday night (still in their flats).   And because the news forecaster mentioned temperatures as low as "freezing" we brought in my few porch pots.

Our Non-GMO mission ~ Potato Chips

You get two blog posts today.  I bought some of these for the kids to take to their "spring fling" at school today.  They wanted chips in their "picnic" lunches and I was not going to buy the nasty stuff.

Kettle brand chips are non-gmo chips.  Most of their flavors anyway.  Be sure to check the label, because I noticed some do to not have the non-gmo label, and are in the organic section at our one store.  The kids like the Maple-Bacon ones.

Homemade Angel Food Cake

It felt good to have time to de-stress yesterday.  Even the animals looked so relaxed.  Here is Jasper, sleeping in my kitchen window, hanging his head over the computer printer.

Handiwork Update ~ Southwestern Egg Burritos

My youngest daughter emailed me this photo.  I thought it was so funny I just had to share.  This morning I certainly feel like that dog in the photo - still in my jammies, holding coffee, but with an ice pack instead of a towel.

Sleep Deprived . . .

Hubby and I are so sleep deprived, and stressed out, we can't imagine what our daughter is feeling right now.  Although this post has nothing to do with self-sufficiency, it does have to do with Parenthood.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

I thought these blog posts were fun, so today (although it's Tuesday and not Monday), I'm joining Happy Homemaker's Monday, hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and many others.

As I look outside my window ~

Dandelion Poultice ~ Homesteading Tidbits

We are blessed with an abundance of dandelions this spring.  As I was looking out at the grass that needs mowed, I got a text from my older brother.

A Homemade Mother's Day

I gifted Mom with this hand crocheted bath mitt, and a bar of daughter's handmade grapefruit goat's milk soap.

Party Damage ~ Happy Birthday. . .

Only a person living off the land would understand me right now.  See what's in my hand?  It's a torn off new growth, that I took dedicated time and care of, and belonged to my one elderberry bushes - damage from the party guests.

Party's Over

I have two flags out, and every day I look at them, I think of my son at Parris Island, and my daughter who is leaving very soon.

Raising Meat Chickens ~ "Send Off" Party

As of today, we've lost 5 meat chickens.  We've raised white rocks before, and had a lower mortality rate than these Jumbo Cornish Rocks.

I can't tell if they are breaking their legs or having heart attacks, but from my research, it's common.  Next year, I will have to order more, and expect to lose a few.  Just sharing that tip for those considering raising chickens for meat.

Pets, Goats and Vets

A trip to the "island" is so overdue for Hubby and I.   In fact, I think we are planning one soon.  

Last night he worked until 11:30pm, and didn't get home until 12:30am.   The only time I got to see him, was when Alias (pitbull mix) got super scared of the surprise thunderstorm we got, and practically smothered us during the night.

Neither of us got much sleep.  I plan on buying that poor guy a thunder jacket.  I'm guessing his previous owner left him outside during storms.

Steel Cut Oat Patties

When I my oldest daughter asked me for the recipe to make my steel cut oat patties, I had to think about when I last made them.  I also had to remember where my recipe was.

Then, certain that I had posted it on my blog, I spent the day searching for it.  

Nope.  I did not blog about it.

So, today you are graced with yet another steel cut out recipe.  To make these, you will need to prepare the oats one day prior to frying them into patties.

Gettin' Dirty ~ Hubby's Birthday

Sunday was a race against the weather.  Sporadic rain was expected, so we worked fast.  The garden looks small in the photo, but in the way, way back you can see Hubby is tilling up more space for more garden.  It's big.  We will be putting up another fence for the pinto beans and cucumbers this year.  Hubby's co-worker tried a fence for his cucumbers, and said it saves a ton of garden space to plant more of other garden goodies.

Mexican Chicken

Years ago, we discovered a recipe that was a family favorite.  However, it contains three cans of condensed cream of chicken soup and one of celery soup.  Needless to day, I have not made it in many, many years.

Yesterday I made the recipe, and used homemade soups, organic chicken, and organic tortilla chips (which were made with non-gmo oils, believe it or not).  It took a few days to make my soups ahead of time, but it was worth it. 

Here is the recipe.  

"A Roll of the Dice"

I finally got my sugar snap peas planted.   The strawberries are weeded too.

Like a man said to me yesterday at the store, "It's like a roll of the dice," referring to planting in our state.  You just never know what the weather will bring.

Mud Brings Joy

May is the month that Hubby and I both celebrate our birthdays - "the Good."  I have no idea what I will do for Hubby yet.  

It's the month I get to start planting flowers and the vegetable garden. Although I can start planting peas (which are already late), I cannot plant my flowers until after Mother's Day.  Even so, I may wait just a bit later.  Last year we got a second frost, and lost much from garden(s).

Homesteading ~ Healing the Injured

....it's 10:00am, and I know I'm forgetting to do something  - watered the goats and chickens, cleaned the coop, planted the apple tree, watered the newly planted stuff, put laundry on the line.....there has to be something....

Anyway,