Goats ~ Recipes ~ Talking Walls

There is a beautiful sunrise this morning, but I am too lazy to go put on the right slippers to trudge out onto the porch and snap a photo to share.  There is a fresh layer of snow to walk through, but it is beautiful.
 
Although it was almost noon, when I started my deep cleaning yesterday, I was successful again for a day.  My day first started with emptying the ash pan in the wood stove, restocking the wood inside, fetching eggs and watering the animals.  

When I arrived to the barn, and pushed the door open, I was greated by Misty (our white female Lamancha goat).  She was happily walking about, and not in her pen.  The others stayed put, even though the gate was wide open.  The wheel barrow was tipped over, shovels scattered, hay a mess, and goat poo all over the barn floor.  Daughter forgot to put the latch in when she did the evening barn duties. Ha ha!  What a mess that girl made in there too.  As soon as I approached her, she ran into her goat pen.  I'm sure she knew she wasn't supposed to be trapeze-ing all over the barn.

Writing Mojo Needs Fueled

The wind always makes the house feel colder, but the wood stove was going good and strong when I got up this morning.

I abandoned all chores (aside from animals) and retreated to my room to write yesterday.  I started out pretty well, but found myself wandering to the kitchen desk, and fiddling around on the internet.

"Mom?! What are you doing?  Get back in your room and write something," said Oldest Daughter.

"I will, I just have to find something."

Crazy Weather ~ Scaling Back the Holidays

How cold is it?

Cold enough to freeze eggs in the coop overnight.  Not just one, but three.

Rain, Tea and Me

It rained all day yesterday, but thanks to my multitasking mania mode, I got the dogs walked, all of the remaining pepper plants pulled from the garden, stove ashes dumped, eggs collected, goat's water checked....all before it started raining.  A good warm breakfast was much enjoyed after that.

Nothing new right?  I was very satisfied with the morning progress, but rain makes me lazy.  I tend to gravitate towards a sofa, blanket and a book (or some sort of handiwork).  

Reading, Writing and Chicken Chasing

Are you ready to talk over coffee today?  Mom gifted me this recent mug in a bag of odds and ends she sent home with our 17 year-old last week.

Newspapers ~ Pretzels ~ Seeking Balance

(this morning's sunrise)

We got buckets and buckets of rain yesterday.  Just when a shower would end, another one started.  It was the perfect day to ignore housework, sit on the porch and write.  Just don't tell Hubby. 

Cro Tatting ~ Writing ~ Numbers Crunching

This morning's sunrise was nice and bright.  No fog today.  I woke up with no energy.  How is that possible?  A good night's sleep, and I just want to go back to bed.  But I can't. Work must be done. 

Weekend Fun ~ Back to the Grind

We earned two free nights at the campground.  Not knowing how the weather will be in October, we decided to go.  We still came home during the daytime (some of it anyway) to get work completed.

We enjoyed the campfire again, on quiet cool evenings.

Fried Cabbage and Squash Cornbread

Although very tired from preserving all day, I managed to get photos of my "Southern Fried Cabbage" and Squash cornbread.   Although the recipe calls for "mashed squash" I do make it with grated zucchini too.

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.

Almanac Update ~ Goats ~ Writing Updates

The Farmer's Almanac was right on target yesterday.  It snowed most of the day, but melted away by dinner time.

It's a good thing I was home too.  I went outside for something and heard Misty (another lamancha goat) crying out in the goat fence.  I was confused, because the barn door had not been opened for them to be out yet.

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.

Good Literature

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!  I'm not laughing at John Steinbeck, but at the oh, so appropriate title to describe this winter here.

I made a trip to the library yesterday, and stocked up on some good literature to read.  I decided to delve into some great authors, and hope to improve my writing.  Not to mention I may have lots of time if we do get snowed in this weekend.

Winter Camping?

My oldest brother sent me this.  Camping in winter?  He asked "Who's in?"

I would try it.  As long as it wasn't -38°F wind chill.  We could have all kinds of fun - cook over the fire, sip hot chocolate, build a snowman, and hike.   We could ice fish!  Ha!

Speaking of snow and winter,  we got more of it last night.  School is closed today.  It's a wet snow, and it rained during the snowfall. 

I'm starting to feel better, and spent the entire day yesterday reading writer magazines that have piled up.  It was fun to just sit and read, and sip hot tea.  I actually did some writing too.

Head's up on the eucalyptus oil - it can reduce the effects of many medications because it detoxifies.  Once I stopped steaming, my medications worked much better.  Duh moment, and a learning experience.  Once I am healed, I will steam for preventative reasons.  However, the 3 times I did steam, really did help my sinuses. 

I lost my . . . .

I have lost my blogging mojo.  

In fact, I've lost my writing mojo altogether.  

When I find it, I'll be back.

Getting By and Making Do

I finally broke out a new journal.  I thought I better jot down what's been going on here, with our record breaking temperatures.  I have been watching the news every night, in hopes to see that we are out of the worst now.

My daughter's work stayed open in a level 3, and she could have not only gotten in an accident, but gotten fined or jail time (here a level 3, by law, states you cannot be out driving).  Why do "non" essential businesses require employees to show up in dangerous weather?  Money?  

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.  

Pen in Hand ~ Letter Writing

Although I have tried, and I am trying, I simply get side-winded and do everything but write.  Today I spent more time in my e-mail than anything else.   And I (gulp) am guilty of handcrafting this necklace for myself.  Cute right? It's the keyboard of an old-fashioned typewriter.

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.

Unplugged

I unplugged for the weekend.  We've undergone some stress here at the farm, and well, I would just not be a pleasant person to be around. We are undecided about how to heat this place.  I will really miss my wood stove.  Although it was work, I will still miss it.  I also feel stripped of my self-sufficiency, which I do enjoy.  It's a freeing feeling to have less bills and debt.  Now, Hubby's  co-workers have convinced him that we need to install a furnace and not replace the wood stove.   I'll update as he figures it out.  My vote is for a new (or used) wood stove.