A Barn Discovery

Our largest barn is set for destruction next year.    We have used this barn, and even updated parts on it over the last 5 years, but it's too much for us to invest in.  The loft has caved in from one of the storms as well.   The roof, on both sides, have been ripped off over the years from storms as well. If we had the money, we would save it, but we can't.

However, we are using parts of it to repair the other two barns.  Yesterday, I was walking Alias, and looked up at the barn.  For some odd reason, I discovered something I had never seen before.  It made me smile.

 Do you see anything yet?  Look to the upper right of the window.

Ha ha!  Now to you see it?  This made me laugh.  There are four license plates, from 1971, used to patch the barn.  When the barn comes down, I want to recycle those plates one more time.  Even after being used on this barn for 42 years.  I don't have a ladder tall enough to reach them either.  Phooey.  Anyway, I thought it was neat discovery.

Oh, and one araucana laid an egg the other day.  Yay!  Egg production is back on track.   

Just a note: we did put this barn up on craigslist for the free wood, and we got one response, who never got back with us.  I even contacted two places that take barn wood, and they too, did not want it.  Everyone else wanted us to pay them to take it.  We simply wanted someone to use the wood too, but it's not as easy as you think.  Not in our area anyway.

Notice: Would the person who inquired about the barn, via Google, please contact me via the email address provided under "About Me" on this blog?

Puffed Pear Pancake ~ Cast Iron Baking

(right out of the oven)

In the midst of waiting for my pear liqueur to finish, I decided to tackle the 5 large bowls of pears that awaited me. Okay, so I tackled two whole pears (of the 5 large bowls). Ha ha!

I decided to make a Puffed Pear Pancake (Real Simple Recipes).  It's baked right in a cast iron pan.  Simple right?

Not only simple, but delicious. I took the advice of other reviews, and added a second pear, and extra spices.  It was a nice after school snack for the kids.  The batter bakes into a crust that has a somewhat "egg" flavor.  It was really good topped with maple syrup too.

One Last Porch Visit

It was the most beautiful morning.  Crisp air, and absolutely not one vehicle (or noise) on the highway.

Homemade Pear Liqueur

When I had a difficult time locating pear liqueur in our area, I decided to make it myself.  With all the pears from our trees this year, I was excited to experiment with new recipes.  I'm not even sure what type of pear we have.  These trees were here prior to moving here.

I searched books and the internet and found this one: Pear Liqueur

I filled my quart jar with pears, cardamom and a lemon peel.  I could not find cardamom pods, so I used ground (I know the flavor would be much better with the pods).  I gently shook my jar, and placed it in a dark, cool closet for a week.

My plan is to use it to make a pear liqueur frosting to go over homemade Pear Berry bread.  I will have that recipe to share soon as well, if it indeed rates high with the family.

Other than using the liqueur for baking, you can also simply drink it.  There are many mixer recipes it could be used with, including a pear martini.

Pears have so many possibilities. . . check back to see what we make next with them.

Knitting Needles in My Cupboards ~ Self Defense

Have you heard of the "ALICE" program yet?  If you have kids in public school, chances are, you may have.

A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for,  Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Escape - Active Shooter Response Team.

For weeks now, two of our girls have been chatting about it, day after day.  It's beginning to become ingrained in our brains here at Rooster's Crow Farm. 

It's a program that teaches "young people" to fight back and not sit and "take it" if a shooter would come into the school.  They have been, as a class (and most of the school from what I am listening too), discussing what they could use as weapons, or do to fight back.  Quite honestly,  I can't wonder if this was created to keep school's from putting guns in our teachers hands.  Anyway....

You know it has been ingrained into your brain, when you go to bed in your camper, and prior to that, you look around and say to yourself "what can I use for a weapon if needed?"  Why lots of stuff, of course.

I can rip out the metal rod that holds the fold-out bed roofs up, and use that as a weapon.  

The same goes for my home.  What can I creatively use in a shooter attack situation?  In my bedroom I can use my knitting needles.

However, my 11 year-old asked me, "but are your knitting needles in a place where you can get them in an emergency?"

Ugh...probably not.  So, I asked her, "do I have to hide some in my kitchen cupboards now?"

....I'd rather stash a shotgun or two in my cupboards. This day and age anyway. 

Either way, I am glad they are teaching the kids to fight back, and fight for their life (I think), if it were to ever happen. In fact, this is one of the reasons I want Hubby to train me to box again.  I want to be in very good shape, in case there was a reason to quickly defend myself, or my family, in any situation.  

Have you been taught self defense?

Maple-Walnut Butter

A few months ago, Hubby and I were gifted with a few bags of homegrown, local, English Walnuts.  We cracked them all, and froze them.  I decided to make a butter spread with them.

Although I still have a bit of congestion and cough, I got up early and made the family French Toast for breakfast.  The butter is now "kid" tested, and approved.  I'm looking for more ways to sneak the nutrition of walnuts into our diet.  

A few years ago, I gifted my family Cinnamon Honey Butter, and it won over well.  This butter is another healthy, homemade gift idea. Here is the recipe:

Egg Production Halted ~ Gratitude ~ The Pioneer Lady's Country Christmas

What you see in this basket is not from our hens.  They are from the pullets we bought this past spring.  They are shooting out eggs like there is no tomorrow, however our 1 year-old, and 2 year-old hens are not laying.

They stopped laying about 2 months ago, when I saw that they were molting.  I did some research and read that chickens will stop laying while they molt, and need the energy to produce new feathers.  And from what I read, it takes the hens about 2 months to start laying again.

Sickness ~ Alias Update and Other News

It happened.  

I caught the plague that the kids have been toting around. Ugh.  I blame it on forgetting to take my vitamins with me while camping.

I am just plain miserable.  My head hurts, the bridge of my nose feels like it's being squeezed by vise-grips, and my eyes are watering uncontrollably.  I already used a box of kleenex (which I insisted on buying the kind with lotion in them).  Thank goodness I have one jar of homemade vapo-rub made.

And I know I look as bad as I feel.  Hubby took one look at me and said, "you look like h*#!!"

He told me, "go back to bed" and that wasn't happening.

I had to prepare a birthday dinner (chicken alfredo and steamed broccoli) along with an apple and peach pie, get ice cream, and so forth.

Ha....go back to bed?  

Not happening. 

However, thankfully my son was off work Monday, and was able to help me by taking Alias to the vet.  He came home and said Alias got a clean bill of health.  Yay!  He is healthy and now current on his shots.

As for an update on the second inspection of the stove piping....didn't happen.  The second company we called, never called as they stated they would, nor came out.  Hubby said, "don't call them again."

I have now called the third company, who is scheduled to come out next week.  They would be here sooner, but are swamped with calls, as it is getting colder in our area.   I'll have an update on the inspection late next week.

Today, I am paying for not "going back to bed."  I am more miserable today than yesterday, and promised my 11 year-old I would do all of the dishes (she was getting a migraine last night and the other kids went to the movies).  

I did spend some "sitting time" working on some Christmas gifts, but I can't post photos until after I gift them.  

I will be going back to bed, after the kids get on the school bus.  I'm hoping that I have a few more glasses of homemade ginger ale in the fridge too.

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.

Camper's Mug Cozy

Remember when I was telling you all about how I stopped to crochet, right in the middle of cleaning up my messes?  Well this is the result.  One completed "project" anyway.  

I ended up not using a pattern (not all mugs are the same size as all the printed patterns are for), and made my own for these camping mugs.  I did not want to mess with sewing buttons on, so I simply single crocheted 12, double crocheted into the 3rd chain, counting that as the first chain in each row, and dc across.  I measured about 10 inches, before finishing off, then simply sewed ends together (just enough to secure a hole for the handle of the mug).  

Caramel Apple Jam

I made a batch of caramel apple jam yesterday.  The grocery store finally got in some organic granny smith apples.  I used organic ingredients, and my homemade vanilla.  Yum.  

I apologize for the poor photo.  As fall rolls in, the lighting in the house gets worse.  Here is the recipe:

Projects

Projects?  Pieces of work?  Tasks?  They all sound like "work" right? Ugh.  I got myself into a tizzy this week, and had to get crackin' on doing some actual completions.  Otherwise, Hubby was going to call "hoarders" and turn me in. Seriously.  I had so many "projects" going on at the same time, I literally lost track of what needed completed first.  

Prosperous Weekend

(garden before we tilled it)

 
The garden is getting back into shape.  We secured the pea fence again, dug out the plastic and stakes, and mowed down weeds.  We started to till it, and get it ready for next year.  We battled tons of mutant lady bugs though.  Just standing to take the photo, I ended up covered in them.  I moved back pretty far to take the photo, and even then, you can't see all of it.

Hand Therapy

In desperation to give my hands some relief, I bought a paraffin wax hand therapy machine.  My 16 year-old is also battling sore hands from hand milking goats, so I felt it was a good investment.

We immediately opened the box, read the directions, and heated the wax.  The other girls were so enthused, that they too joined in with dipping a hand.  

I had to laugh, as we all wanted to take photos, but we all had one wax covered hand in a plastic bag.  

Wood Stove Repairs ~ Spiders ~ Surprise Flowers

I stitched up a few more cards and have them up for sale now.  I hope to get more stitched before the holidays arrive.

So it was bound to happen.  Stove pipe repairs (or not).  The chimney sweep was finished, and handed me a paper with a quote for new piping.  Wanna know how much?

Are you getting what you paid for?

Back in the spring, I ordered meat chickens.  I specifically ordered pullets.  One particular chick was picked on by the rest, and we brought her back inside with the layer chicks.  They layer chicks mothered her, and she slowly recovered.

We decided to keep her for a layer, as this breed was a dual breed of chicken.  We thought we could use the extra eggs.

Homemade "Lime-Away"

I wanted to share, that I have made and used the homemade "lime-away" recipe that Nancy shared over at A Rural Farm.  Thank you Candy for telling me about it.  It's awesome.  There are three simple ingredients - vinegar, lemon juice and dish detergent.  We have well-water, and even though we have a salt softener tank, we get build up.

The kids are responsible for one bathroom, and I the other.  My shower is tile, and my homemade tile/grout cleaner does the job very well.  However, over in the other bathroom, the shower is a stand-up version, and a cheap one at that.

I sprayed it down, and cleared a spot clean.  I waited for the kids to come home and showed them.  The response?

"That really comes off?" 

Sigh...

"Yes kids, that really comes off." 

Now they have no excuses.

Recipe:
Fill a spray bottle half-full with white vinegar; add 1/4 cup lemon juice, then fill the bottle the rest of the way with dish detergent.  Shake well then spray on and leave for about 30 minutes, then wipe off.

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.

Family Fun Weekend

Hubby had the entire weekend off.  Yay!  However, the rain kept us from going camping.  Our 11 year-old was very energetic, and in between bouts of rain, had fun with backyard archery. She worked her dad hard with a game of basketball too.  Sunday we took the family bowling.  We were geared up for some old fashioned family fun.

Alias ~ Life on the Homestead

This is Alias's favorite spot to sleep and relax.  You can find him here most of the day and night.

He's less anxious now, and starting to get the commands for "potty" walks.  He's developing a way to signal us when he needs to go out too.

Homemade Mexican Taco Seasoning Mix

I've been busy in my kitchen these past few days.  The rainy days here, have simply motivated me to bake, mix, and shake it up a little. 

I am finally at a point in our self-sufficiency stride, where all of my homemade goods (and home grown) are coming together in all of my recipes.

Homemade Mexican Taco Mix is made using home grown oregano, onions, and garlic.  I can then use the seasoning mix for all sorts of recipes, such as my salsa dip (using home canned salsa too).

Dream It ~ Embrace It ~ Do It

While sipping hot coffee, in my island coffee mug, I sat and looked through the photos we took from our weekend getaway.  Oh, I miss the gorgeous sunrises, the relaxing sounds of the waves, and the unique place(s) we sat and enjoying time with each other (and nature).  

I'm wondering if I can squeeze another camping trip in this fall.  Hubby is back to working every day with major over time, so we hardly see each other already.  We are having what I call a "voice mail" week.  I leave him a voice mail, he leaves me one.  Sometimes we actually get to talk to each other.  On the phone that is.  Okay, I'm getting a bit off track with this post, but let me get to the point.

Mollie Dorsey Sanford ~ Random Updates

I used our library's free interloan program to borrow this book from another library.  It's wonderful!  If you liked Letters from a Woman Homesteader, then you most likely will enjoy this book.

It is not full of letters, but journal entries from Mollie Dorsey Sanford, from 1857-1866, while she and her family moved from Indiana to Nebraska and Colorado Territories.

Baked Egg Puffs ~ Using Baby Food

A blog follower told me about a recipe where baby food was used for the pureed squash, in a recipe.  So, curious for more recipes, I borrowed the book from the local library - Deceptively Delicious, by Jessica Seinfeld.

If you freeze your squash, pumpkin, beets, carrots, cauliflower, or any other vegetable, you may like this cookbook.  Almost every recipe includes some type of pureed vegetable (or fruit) in it.  Not specifically baby food, just pureed.

However, I did take up the challenge to try out a recipe using baby food - pureed squash.  I needed the jars anyway, so why not? 

Fall has Arrived

The leaves on our maple trees have started to turn a beautiful orange.  This coming weekend would be a opportune time to go hiking, collect leaves, and enjoy nature (in our area).  I'm betting the canoes will be out (for the last time) at the state park too.  Laundry dried on the line, this time of year, smells so good.

Island Yurt Getaway

Guess where I've been? He he!  This was where we had lunch one day.  By late afternoon, the marina was packed with boats.  Just a warning, this post may be long, as you know I like to talk.

Hubby and I have been working on spending more nights together, we call "date nights."  They vary from a dinner out, to a candlelight dinner at home, to an outing of some sort.  Sometimes, it's a long bike ride, a trip to the orchard, or even renting a DVD to watch at home (with some yummy "snackages").  With 5 kiddos still living at home, we both feel it's so important to not let our time together wash by in our lives.  The younger girls moan and groan, but they'll get over it.  Besides, they get their "trips" and special times too.

Newest Addition to the Farm

Meet Alias.  He's a 12/13 year-old pit bull mix.  His owner, according to the shelter, lost his job and could not take care of him properly.  He was up for adoption at a "kill" shelter. 

My son and I walked all the cages, and we asked to visit with Alias.  It's been about 9 months since we lost our dear friend Gus, and I know we will never be able to replace him.  However, we felt there was an empty spot here on Rooster's Crow Farm, and we thought we'd take some time to go look for a new member.  The shelter said, that if there was a problem, we could return Alias within 10 days of adoption.

Most of the dogs at the shelter were of a hound breed.  In fact, one was in there because it was caught going after chickens.  There were a variety of dogs of all ages and sizes.

Homemade Vapo-Rub

Remember those baby food jars I needed?  Well, I finally got around to making one jar of homemade vapo-rub.  I think I will be trying several recipes.


A farmgirl shared the recipe with me.  This recipe is for adults (over the age of 12 I believe, but you could always swap out the peppermint for a safe oil for children).  Always do your research on what oils are safe, if you have young children, infants or if you are pregnant.

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.

Reclaiming the Garden

I'm reclaiming my vegetable garden . . .

. . . cleaning  it up

Granny Squares Everywhere ~ Reclaiming Home and Garden

It was bound to happen.  I got bit by the "granny square bug."  I made several bottle cap keychains with round granny squares for garden.  These can be made into magnets also.

I made several bottle cap necklaces (and more keychains) as well.

Frugal Tip ~ Dehydrating Cottage Cheese

I am learning to be much smarter with my dehydrator, and saving money at the grocery store.  They had 16 oz. tubs of organic cottage cheese marked down for clearance.  I paid $1.49 each, for two tubs.  They are normally $4.89 each.  They fit nicely on the 4 trays in my dehydrator. 

I Got Notered

(sharing another awe-inspiring sunrise)

My 11 year-old is writing notes again.
 
"Hi mommy I love you.....he he he"

I received it in my inbox.

Goat Fencing ~ Homemade Parmesan Cheese

I'm still hacking away at the garden weeds, and it's been a long week.  Orion (aka Big Boy), has his "stink" on.  You can smell him everywhere now.  And guess who gets to babysit him, and water him?  Ugh.  Yep.  Me.  I need to call him "stinky la' pew."

Garden Surprise ~ A "Get'er Done" Project

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

Garlic was planted this weekend.  It will be harvested next spring. The heat wave we had is over, and they are calling for much cooler weather. 


I also made homemade seasoned salt. I used my homemade garlic and onion powder to make it.  It's the first time making it, so I am comparing it to the smell and taste of Lawry's from the store.

Recipe I used:

A Felt/Glue Experiment

While working on making our bottle cap-embroidered necklaces, I found that E6000 glue gives off an odor.  I went in search of advice, but decided to do my own experiment with types of glue, using felt. 

I used, from left to right, regular tacky glue, clear gel tacky glue, crafter's adhesive (Locitite, odorless and dries clear), and felt glue.  As you can see, I glued them to a scrap piece of cardboard.

Ironically, the felt glue left a white residue on the felt.  The same thing with regular tacky glue (it's difficult to see in my photo).  The crafter's adhesive left the felt hard where the glue dried, and a somewhat darker color.   The winner is the clear gel tacky glue.

I'm now another step closer to posting the bottle cap necklace tutorial.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Peppers, Bats and Rats

I just had to share this.  We got three habanero peppers from the garden this year.  That's all.  I think we planted 4 habanero pepper plants among our 50-some pepper plants this season.

Check out how small they are too.  Hubby had to laugh when he saw them.  I'm not sure what I will make with them yet. Possibly a second trial run on a hot pepper jelly.

I got three cayenne peppers too.  Those went in the salsa I recently canned.  I think we got one very small green pepper and some super chili peppers.

I'm praying that next year's investments will be producing more bounty overall. 

Only in our house.....will you watch the sunrise, sip coffee, and chat with your kids about what bat and rat poop looks like.  

We have a rat and a bat living in the upper loft of our goat/chicken barn and rat traps are being set.  However, my 16 year-old was attacked early morning by a bat, while tending to her goats.  She laughed, and said she used her goat's mineral feeder to cover her head and run.  Bats are great, but not when then they take over the barn.  I am thinking we really do need to build a bat house.

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? 

Tomatoes ~ Baby Food Carrot Cake

I finally got some salsa canned, and it was with my very own tomatoes.  I was so excited to see Hubby bring in more tomatoes, we ended up with 10 pints of salsa.  A huge blessing, considering it's been the worst garden year (rain).

I even had more tomatoes leftover, but not enough for salsa, so I blanched and froze them (another huge blessing I didn't think we'd get this season).

I have been looking around for inexpensive jars for making homemade vapo-rub (cheapest I can find in stores is $2.99/each for a 4 oz. jar).  

Well, another farmgirl gave me the idea to just buy baby food, to get the jars. Duh!  I guess with no babies in the house, that simple idea never occurred to me.

It's a great bargain if you ask me.  I paid $.59/each for them, and bought sweet carrots.  I used the baby food to make a carrot cake.  I linked the recipe I used, and used my home canned applesauce in place of the oil.  I got my jars, and the family got carrot cake.  What a deal.   And, the frosting was made with my homemade vanilla extract.  Can't beat that.

I'm thinking I need a few more jars - he he he!

Homemade Mosquito Repellent ~ Summer is Not Over

I know it's a bit late in the season, but I have been wanting to try a recipe using basil and vodka.  The temperatures soared up to the 90's this week.  It definitely feels like summer is still here.  

I spent the early part of the week deep cleaning my kitchen.  That was a relief, and it kept me out of the heat.

I also took some time to file recipes, pitch the ones that didn't make the cut, and recycle most of the paper.  

The kids are still sick, and I am feeling better.  There is nothing worse than to have severe congestion when it's 95°F outside.

Days to Myself, Projects, and Sickness

I have had the wonderful pleasure of more days to myself.  In a way it's saving me gas too.  I tend to get so involved with my projects and work, that I leave little time for running errands. 

We've had some very relaxing, and cool nights here, but a camping trip with Hubby and I may not be the picture. Sigh....he's being asked to work over a lot lately.  It's good for the pocket book, but bad for our dedicated time to each other. The other night, I was in town (finally) buying jeans for 2 girls, when he called and said he'd love to have a date night with me.  Shortly after, he called again.  Work called him back. Double sigh.....

Spinach Sausage Pizza ~ Hunting for Tomatoes

It's that time of year again, where I weed out the garden, and get it tilled for next year.  The weeds, due to neglect (I guess I was a bit depressed to even care for it after the weather flooded it out), have grown to 4-5 feet out there.  What a mess.

More Spiced Pickled Beets ~ Candy Apple Jelly

Despite waking up aching, worn out,  the starting-to-feel-sick overall heaviness, I decided not to sleep in.  Maybe I should have, but I saw another beautiful start to a beautiful sunrise this morning.

Sunshine is always good for the soul.  Right?  Maybe it can zap some energy into me today.

I've been catching up on things around here, since our 3 night camping trip - laundry, housework, fun mail, bills, floors, bathrooms, etc.  Then Hubby springs one on me....

One of Hubby's co-workers found fall beets, and picked us up 15 pounds.  Or so he thought.  After I weighed out the 6 pounds I needed for canning 7 pints, I was left with about 3 pounds.  Hm?  Either way, I am very thankful he brought them home, and we now have more put up for winter/spring.