Puttin' Up Corn

I've been busy here at the homestead.  Laundry was put out again yesterday and today.  The weather is still very nice.

Yesterday I took a quick road trip to buy sweet corn (we only planted black popcorn this year).  When I arrived, the nice gentleman tells me, "if you buy two burlap bag fulls, you get one free."

Well, of course I was okay with that.   A burlap bag is not quite, but close enough, to a bushel.

Squash Patties ~ Talking to the Cucumbers

Last season, due to storms and wind, and rain, we lost our garden.  This year, we are blessed with yellow squash.  YAY!  One of the family's favorites, is a recipe we make using yellow squash - Squash Patties.  By the way, we top these with sour cream.  Absolutely delicious!  We do follow the recipe, but add the sour cream on top.  

You can jazz them up any way you'd like.  Hubby chopped up a jalapeno and added it to a few for himself.

Windy Weekend ~ Layered Dip ~ Goat Gone Wild

Saturday the weather was so nice, but a bit windy.  In reality, the wind was a good thing - drying up the wet ground.  Sunday was windy and in the upper 70's.  Tuesday we will dip down to a high of 40°F.  Today is is raining and everything is wet again.  The weather is playing games with my allergies, but I am dealing with it.

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.

142 Recycled Post Marked Postage Stamps ~ Saturday Rambles

In the midst of a mad-woman cleaning day, I ran across a box of printed cardstock that was storing an unfinished project.

Clothesline Shoveled

Although I am still coughing a bit, I donned my winter coat and boots, and finally shoveled out the clothesline.  As most folks driving by will turn their head, I had a nice time getting fresh air, listening to the birds sing, and enjoying the sunshine.  However, I probably should have stayed inside.

No Schedule ~ Hubby Funny

The sunrise was beautiful for the kid's first day back to school.  Gorgeous pinks and blues everywhere.  

Yesterday was an easy dinner.  I simply cooked up pinto beans with onions, then mashed them.  We enjoyed bean burritos with all the toppings.  Some ate it in a bowl, taco salad style.  I do try to serve some sort of bean once a week, and now I am on the hunt for salmon recipes that my kids will eat.  We need more fish in our diet. 

Homestead and Family Tidbits

The kids took advantage of the snowfall, and did some indoor creative artwork.  And, as you can see, I shoveled out my clothesline.  It was actually nice in the sun that particular day.  We've had 2 days of school delays, but no closings.  Last night my son's car went off the road on his way to work (3rd shift), but thanks to extended family, we got him safely back on the road (without injuries).

Reclaiming some "Z's"

Even Tiger was giving me the "eye to turn the lights out early, and I did.  Hubby was surprised.  "It's like six o'clock?" he exclaimed.  Really it wasn't.  It was about 7:30pm.  Still a shocker for everyone.  Me in bed early?  Ha.

Although Hubby and I made it to the gym yesterday morning, we both had upset stomachs, and I with a headache.  I did get my "all-out house cleaning" finished, and even brought in a jug of rain barrel water (to water house plants).  However, after getting Leftover Turkey soup in the crocky (which I spiked with some ground super chili pepper for health reasons), I was starting to run out of fuel.  

The Pro's . . .

The pro's of not having a working clothes dryer?  Getting to watch the sunrise every time I do laundry. The con's?

From the Family Journal . . .

. . . my brothers surprised us.  One gave us a truckload of wood, and the other picked up some writing books at a recent book sale for me.  Woot!

. . . our 16 year-old daughter was featured in a school newspaper that is mailed out in our area.  She was featured for her artwork (a hand drawn piece).  She is also being inducted into the National Honor Society this month.

Fall Camping Trip

I'm excited to say, that we got another fall camping trip in this year.  Hubby and I decided to camp the first night by ourselves.  Woot!  Oh, we needed the time alone.  It was a relaxing, romantic, camping date night.  And surprisingly, I did not take my camera this time.

The second night we picked up a few stragglers - 2 kiddos. 

Although it had rained a bit, we relaxed in the camper, reading, knitting, drawing, one kiddo doing school homework, and chatting.  After the rain stopped we started up the fire, and had more fun with s'mores and such.

Preparing for Winter

Alias is enjoying the outdoors, and I think he has more energy than the other two dogs.

The house is a mess today (go figure), and the chimney sweep is coming this week.  I'm about a month late in getting it taken care of.  The kids will be working overtime to get this place "ship shape" today.  I like my kitchen "company ready" when I get up in the morning, and I have not been successful at getting the kids on board with this.  Where there's a will, there is a way, so I'm not giving up yet.

Bottle Cap Jewelry ~ Military Mom

I've been playing around with recycling more bottle caps here.   This was the first one I made.  The center is hand  crafted with embroidery work. 

When I first talked to the girls about this idea, and they saw me painting at the kitchen table (I don't have a "craft room"), they cringed at what it would look like.  I guess wearing bottle caps did not appeal to them at the time.

However, when I finished it, my 11 year-old was begging to wear it to school.  

How did I make it? 

Clothes Dryer

Here is a photo of the clothes dryer (drying rack, whatever you want to call it), that my Mom and cousin picked up for me.  They happened to be in the right place and the right time.

 The price tag reads $58.95.

They paid $30.00.  You can tell it's handmade (most likely by Amish), and is about 6 feet tall when put up to it's highest setting.

I love the fact they put these rods at the very bottom for support.  All of my smaller ones (metal and wood) start to wobble side to side after months of use.

Garden Goodness & Homestead Updates

 

 . . . picked broccoli, radishes, and strawberries.  Sugar snap peas will soon be ready.  Picked some lettuce too.

I made a pint jar of Refrigerator Radish Pickles, using a jalapeno pepper.  I've never made these before, and I see there are many variations.  I found my recipe in a library book.

. . . potatoes are doing great!

. . . spent hours weeding, and found that half the carrots and beets did not come up, so we replanted.  Some of the heirloom green beans didn't come up, and replanted those too.

. . . got down to weeding the cauliflower and broccoli, and stopped due to a predicted storm.

. . . still need to till between the peas and then weed the lettuce.  Half of the lettuce didn't come up either.  That second frost really did affect the garden this year.

. . . all the peppers are weeded, but look at my cucumber mounds! Yikes!  That's next.

. . .zucchini is doing pretty well, and the onions need weeded.

. . .cabbage is looking good, but the arugula is bug eaten.

. . . the celery looks great.  We have never grown lettuce before.

. . .put in more tomato stakes.  

. . . goat fencing is starting - bit by bit.  My 16 year-old has been putting these t-post in by herself.  

. . . and yes, the laundry is still drying outside, despite my allergies.

. . . I still need to finish weeding the strawberry beds, but the garlic and rhubarb look pretty good.  I planted the last of the onions in the strawberry beds.  They help fight off certain bugs.

Note:  All of these photos were taken prior to the storms that came through.  I'll try to update new photos later.  Today, I woke up to find that the kids have done something to the family computer and I cannot even sign in.  Grrrr!  Luckily, I had already loaded these photos to my blog, and can access it from my laptop.  I'll try to get the recipe for the radishes too.  It's on the other computer (Hmpf!).  Kids!  I'm going to need a full pot of coffee today.  All I can say is, that someone better get out of bed and get it fixed.

Weekend Road Trip ~ More Snow?!

Now this is how you get your laundry dried!  Wowzers!  Check out that clothesline!  Hubby and I laughed!  I need one that big! 

Hubby and I took another road trip, but this one was for heirloom seeds, seed potatoes, and onion sets.   

We decided to do some relaxing, scenic driving before we returned home.

Speaking of home.  This is what we woke to this Monday morning.  

There is about a three foot drift in the center of our horseshoe drive.  I am so glad we got the goats moved out of the big barn.  I never expected more snow.  Snow is expected all day today, and school is closed. 
 

Pampering Myself ~ More Snow

Hubby had to work late, so I decided to do foot soaks and pedicures with the girls.  Well, some of them.  With 5 kiddos still in the house, I plan to do more self-pampering for stress reducing reasons.

I failed to get housework finished, but did get the bedding on the clothesline yesterday.  I'm not stressing over it, but will write down what I do get done vs. a "to-do" list.  Then tackle what I haven't completed.

Also, with the older two (19, and almost 21) not being employed yet, I have a list of chores for them too - chicken coop cleaning, taking donations to the thrift store, taking recycling to the recycling center, taking returns to the library, picking up jugs of water, and a few other jobs.  

The snow is still falling, and is making laundry day havoc.  

 
We had some strong winds prior to this snow arriving, and have tree branches to pick up now.

As you can see the days have been cloudy, and the sunrises have been hidden most mornings.

Hubby and I started discussing our spring plan for ordering more layers and meat chickens, however, I lost my copy of Backwood's Home Magazine (detailing the types to buy for meat).  I hope to find it this week.

Yesterday I baked banana muffins that were absolutely wonderful.  I've been baking banana bread for a long time, but never got the rave reviews I got over this recipe:  Banana Muffins II

I still have one rotten banana to deal with, and may make our zucchini-banana brownies.  

 





A year of quotes:
"There is nothing we cannot live down, rise above, and overcome."
   ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Restful Weekend

We woke up today with all of the snow melted.  The weather was still chilly over the past weekend, but today it said to be as warm as 43°F. 

Here is my oldest daughter's birthday "cake."  She wanted cupcakes, so she frosted them so you can see the number 19 (white).  She topped them with candy canes, and crushed peppermints and blue sprinkles.  She was originally due on Valentine's day the year she was born, hence the hearts made with candy canes.

I'm reading yet another home remedy book, and have been surprised at a few things I have learned (if they are indeed true).

~if you take too much zinc (more than 30 mg a day, according to the book) you can actually ruin your immune system.  I found this interesting and plan to do more research.

~you can soak your feet in a warm tub of water and dry mustard to help your circulation.  It is said to help remove head congestion, by causing the blood to go to your feet.  I actually tried this once last night, so I'll let you now how I feel in a few days.  Not sure if this is hokey, but I have also read where these types of soaks, help remove toxins in the body.

~Red Zinger tea was said to be excellent for when you feel sinus issues coming on.  Can't hurt to try this one either.  Red Zinger (Celestial Tea) contains rose hips, which are loaded with vitamin A and C.

I feel sort of like a guinea pig in trying all these, but I will never know if I don't try them.   We really don't have the extra cash to buy a cool-mist humidifier, so I am filling a pot with vapo-rub and boiling water and inhaling with a towel over my head.  I do need to invest in eucalyptus oil for this reason, and for soap making.

We had a restful weekend, aside from van trouble.  That van is bad news.  However, at the very end of the day, hubby was back home with a brand new battery for it.  We found out that it was under warranty and now have a new one.  Now...if we can just get it started so we can put the "for sale" sign on it. 

I plan on taking it easy today - a bit of laundry, and some handiwork. 

Wacky Weather

We went from this on January 26th, to ....

...this a few days ago - warm and muddy mess.  I had to wear mucking boots out to put my laundry on the line.

  Today it's snowing again. 

All in a days work.

We now have three of us down with the crud.  I may have to make homemade cough syrup yet.  Looks like one of the kids will be cooking dinner again.  

My oldest daughter, although started getting sick later last night, stepped up to make dinner.  She was creative and scrambled eggs with my home canned salsa, and made egg sandwiches on English muffins.  For the side she cut up potatoes and fried them with cumin.  I regret not getting a photo.