Making Jelly

I've started making more jellies earlier this season.  I'll be ready for when the wild black raspberries and Queen Anne's Lace are in season now.

The organic section at my store had organic juice on sale for buy one-get one free.  I got a few and got busy canning.

Apricot Nectar and Tart Cherry Jelly

 

More Dandelion Jelly

 

 Grape Jelly

 

 Orange-Mango Jelly

 

....and this is only the beginning.

The Porch ~ My Favorite Place

A metal sign on my front porch.

Before and After ~ Water Jug Alley

Before

After

This is the entrance to the kitchen from the hallway I just cleaned up.  Everyone trips over empty water jugs and sends them flying across the kitchen.

Now, the jugs are nicely stacked on a wooden (eco-friendly) stand.  We have a well, and the water doesn't taste good.  We stock up on water jugs, and have it on hand for coffee, tea etc.  It's also nice to have extra on hand for power outages when our water pump isn't working.  We can then water the animals too.

It's nice not to hear water jugs getting kicked around.  Or people huffing and puffing from almost falling down from tripping on them too.

 . . . . on to the next organizing project.

First Season to Bloom

Two years ago, I planted our first lilac bush.  This year it is finally blooming.  

....bringing new life to the farm.

Before and After ~ Changing of the Seasons

Before

After

This is the door we use the most.  It's on the side of the house and in a portion of the house that the last owner added on.  The original farm house is very small.  There are no closets in the house, nor a window or fan in the original bathroom.

From where I took the photo, was the original back door. It is now the entrance to the kitchen.  There is very little space for a "mud" room, so I desperately searched for a solution to our pile up of mucking boots etc .

The homesteading wish list contains the adding on of a porch just outside the door in the photo.  We'd screen it in for boots and coats and rags to wipe down the dogs.

I found a nice shoe rack to stack boots on top, and garden shoes underneath.  Now...if the kids can only keep it this nice.

The snow boots are all put away for the season and the gardening gear has been brought out.  Bed covers are also getting a good washing this spring.

Dog (and Human) Tick Repellant ~

Yesterday I pulled a tick off of one of my daughter's necks.  I first used the dawn soap and cotton ball method, but it didn't release the tick.  Later in the day we found another tick on the couch.  The dogs will be getting a good shampoo scrub, then will be rubbed with this oil we make.  Ticks are very bad this year already.

I found this recipe in a copy of The Herb Quarterly several years ago. I lost it, then ordered a back issue of the magazine.

Tick-Repelling Oil

(for adults, dogs, and children older than 5 - otherwise they recommend using a gentle rose geranium hydrosol)

2 oz. jojoba oil
20 drops geranium essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients, place in small bottle and label. To use: Before going outdoors, apply this oil to any exposed skin. For dogs, place a few drops on your hands and then gently smooth the oil over the coat. If you prefer spray, substitute 2 oz. of distilled water for the jojoba oil, and place all ingredients in a small spray bottle. Spritz over your hair, clothing and skin. Repeat as necessary. (From The Herb Quarterly Magazine, Summer 2009).

I do recommend organic oils. So far, this is working for us and for the dogs. I'm not sure if you can use it on other animals, but wanted to share. There is a concern for using it on young children, but you could research it for other animals. 

My son is constantly picking up ticks on his legs when he walks the dogs around the 6 acres here. He just rubs some on his legs and arms to prevent them from attaching.  It's a nice way to repel ticks naturally. 

Note:  It was recommended by my Herbalist to never store your oils in the refrigerator.  She recommended storing them in a cool/dry place.  There is too much moisture in the refrigerator.

Vintage Pearls

  (an antique store "find")

Whether these are real or not, I bought them.  They were only $.50 each, including the earrings.  Although I bought them for wearing, the girls are already fighting over who gets to wear them first, for play jewelry.  A girl has to have her pearls.