Happy Homemaker Monday

 I'm joining Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.

Random Stuff

Everyone needs a "watch cat" right?  Ha ha!  I guess Sapphire thought the top of Hubby's truck was the perfect spot for watching.

Good kitty.

New Sign ~ Chickens, Herbs and Rodents

Hubby bought a new sign for the front porch.  I thought you could use a short post to read today, since a wrote such a long one yesterday.  Ha ha!  

After weeding the herb garden (or rather part of it), I tossed some lemon balm  I thinned out, into the chicken's nesting boxes.  I read that some herbs are great pest controls in the coop (Backyard Poultry Magazine, 2011, June/July issue).  

By the way, the author of that article, Susan Burek (Herbalist), also has an article you can read online. It's for making a natural  citrus disinfectant.  And it's for the chicken coop of course.  I found her article very interesting, because we do have a natural branch ladder in the coop, and I never thought once about the cracks and the possibility for mites to live and breed.  We don't have an infestation, but this is a nice preventative.  And it's natural.  

I have also found that my chickens don't eat my herbs.  They would rather have grass and bugs.  So for now, it will just make their nesting box smell good, and keep the rodents out.

If you don't like to see dead animals, don't click on the "read more" today.  

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.

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,

Farmgirls Ain't Afraid to Get Dirty ~ New Blackberry Bushes

Although I have just begun, you can see that this herb garden is cleaning up nicely already.  I have much more to do, but it's starting to look much better since the goat somewhat destroyed it.  I am taking advantage of any good weeding weather day here.

Want to see what Hubby bought me?

Signs of Spring

Yesterday I had a very nice laundry day.  Every line was completely full.  I did not get all the rugs washed as planned, but got all the barn cat bedding washed and put back.  It was nice to see Timmy in one of the boxes this morning, sleeping peacefully.

The baby goats had outside playtime.  They love to run and play.  By the time I got out there to film them, they were pretty tired.

Cleaning for Camping ~ Painting ~ Timmy (again)

I'm still deep cleaning.  I came across cloth napkins, that at one time, I had planned to embroider for gifting.  Not sure what I had intentionally planned, but I did tackle this unfinished project.

Now, at this point, I could have just given them away or even donated them, but I tossed them all into the washing machine instead.

Snow Storm ~ Allergies

Well, the weatherman was correct.  We woke up to snowing and blowing, but that was after the rain came.  School was closed.  It is to snow all day today also.

Sunrise ~ Back to the Vet ~ The Melt

The start of this morning's sunrise was beautiful.  After taking this photo it clouded over and was completely gray outside.  I was thankful to capture the moment to share.

Timmy Goes to the Vet

This morning's sunrise (view from the front porch) was very warming to watch. It was incredibly peaceful, and a pleasant

way to start the day.

Finished! ~ Randomness ~ Weather Woes

A few sunflower cup/mug coasters.  Small accomplishment, but finished.  I just may have to make more later if I have time.  Still crocheting the Bavarian stitch baby blanket and knitted dishcloths (depending on my mood).

Snowed In and Loving It!

We did get snow on Friday night, but most of it came down all day Saturday.  Thank goodness there was no wind, so drifting was not a problem.  We are getting more snow today too. 

I took advantage of the snowfall, and stayed in and cleaned my bedroom.  I was just getting a table ready for Hubby and I to have a candlelight dinner in there, but work called him away. 

Stray?

(he's much bigger than he appears here in the cat carrier)

School was canceled yesterday, and the roads thawed out.  In fact, we put bedding out on the line. And if you are wondering, it dried. 

After a successful "all-out" cleaning day (with some blessed help), we ran out for chicken feed and wood pellets. After we arrived home, one of my daughters saw the stray cat run from barn to barn.  She went out there, and he came to her. Here's the story. . . .

Gotcha!

"Yikes! She caught me!"

Jasper has been more skittish than before, ever since the propane "boom" we had.  He walks around looking startled by any little movement or noise.  I have such a hard time getting a photo of him.

The other day, before the school bus arrived, I was able to snap this photograph.  He was actually playing until he saw me get down to his level and snap a few shots. Ha ha!

As for today's weather here. . . . .

Homestead Tidbits

Even though it's November, we are still seeing some color in our flower beds.  

"Huh, I haven't heard you say, I'm going out to the garden today, in a long time.  I think I could get used to that," said my 11 year-old early this morning.

Speaking of garden, my fitbit is reading 3,000 less steps per day, now that I'm not outside doing any outdoor work.  However, we haven't figured out our heating situation yet, so  that may change with splitting wood.  I'm going to have to do something to continue to get more exercise.  This may mean heading back to the gym, with a 5am workout.  Hubby needs it anyway.  They are warning employees about weight.  They are at a point now where they will not hire anyone that is over a specific weight, and will start looking for ways to fire employees, that weigh over a specific weight.  More and more employers are taking this route.

Recycling Tiny Plastic Hangers

These plastic hangers are typically found on packages of socks, kitchen towels, and other linens.  

I've been saving them in a recycled glass jar, and keeping them with my craft supplies.  I finally found a way to reuse them.

From the Gratitude Journal. . .

Today, I am thankful for:

~for the wonderful lilac aroma wafting throughout the outdoors (and which I brought indoors too).

~for God's guidance, and giving me the knowledge to know how to cut back on my stress with gardening by doing a little every day vs. all of it in one long day, and leaving the dirty dishes for the kids and looking the other way....giving me the strength to get up extra early to avoid the heat...giving me a bountiful garden...

~for the colors that are reappearing on the front porch.  

~for the spearmint in my garden and iced tea made with it.

~for the pounds I'll lose this summer with all this garden/yard work to do.

~for our dogs, who alerted us of a group of people on the highway (at 2:30am), who had some sort of driving mishap.  

~for Timmy, the barn cat who showed up on our porch a year or so ago.  And who always makes me smile.  He plops wherever he wants, as if he has had the most grusome work day and is needing a nap.

~for the water in our well.  I've drained the rain barrel, and have been watering the garden, due to the lack of rain here.  Thankful for that rain barrel too.

~for my hubby being home today, and giving me a hand with garden work/yard work today, and for getting my breakfast. 

 

Random Writing

5 Random Things

1. I Got "Notered" 

My 11 year-old often leaves me notes that are special.   We call it getting "notered." She left me this one recently, in my inbox:

"i love you mommy. anyway, you should take the day off and go return your shirt,wear it with your new skirt  and wear some new mother's day jewelry, the ones i bought you. by the way... I Love You!

and just so you dont forget about me... i throw it on thee grownd!!!"

It made me laugh.  You see, when she went to camp, she told me how the "mailman" came to visit them and deliver letters we wrote.  Prior to camp, the teachers allowed us to write our kids letters, and they would be delivered.  Anyway, the mailman would come in and do a funny act while delivering the mail.  He'd throw it on the ground and say "I throw it on theeee groouuunnnnd!" enunciating it in a hilarious fashion.  When she got home from camp, she re-enacted it for days.  She'd run to the mailbox, and re-enact the "mailman" from camp each time.  And of course, it was funny.

2. With my new fitbit, I joined a community group, and pledged to try to loose 16 pounds by July 4th.

3.  My 13-year old is at an all weekend sleep over.  However, she's my "chick" keeper, so I now have "chick" duty (watering, feeding, and cleaning their boxes).  My goal is to get them outside next week.

4.  My allergies are in an uproar, due to farmer's out in their fields.  The dirt is flying, and my nose is finding it.  Thankfully, I stocked up on nettle tea.

5.  Sapphire has been sleeping in my herb garden.  The other day, when I leaned over to cut some chives, she stood up and scared the livin' poo out of me.  After my run-in with the raccoon, I am on edge every time I am outside.  She blended in with the dirt so well, I didn't even see her.  She was all cozied up between the chives and green onions.

Linking up with Nancy at:  A Rural Journal

Here Kitty Kitty!

I printed this pattern from the internet.  It's a cat bookmark.  I gave the pattern a whirl.  What do you think?  I did not have fingering yarn, so I used #3 cotton (coffee).  The ears still show holes, unlike the photo, where the ears appear solid, but the kids liked it.  I do need to sew in the ends and and block it.  

I actually made that a few nights ago.  My hands hurt too much to do any crocheting last night.  Yesterday I spent the day doing laundry, and weeding flower beds (with a lot more to weed yet).

I woke up today to rain and the temperature a bit chilly.  It should warm up, and I will be heading out to plant in the vegetable garden.  The peas are up about 3-4 inches now.  I bought Nasturtium seeds, to plant along the squash.  I'll let you all know if it really does repel the nasty, pain in the rump, squash bugs.

Only in our home, will you see a crazy woman, jumping for joy, because her rain barrel is full again.

Here's another kitty photo.  It's Sapphire, getting a drink from the doggie pool.  From a distance, she looks like a raccoon.

Well, it's off to work again.  Raising my coffee cup - Cheers to a prosperous day, or whatever you need (or want) to accomplish today!