• Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures
Nothing special about the pictures...just things around the homestead lately :o) Enjoy!
Some of the property over the weekend. This is the back clearing where we want to build. If we don't build here, I want to put our schoolhouse up back here anyway (just to the right of that center pine tree...that's where the trail heads back to the pond.
The next is the logging road they used a few years back to get to the neighbors property...and where they come up with the 4-wheelers. The bottom of that range there is the end of our property.
Next two are of the pond, coming in from that logging road, through the trees. It's just seasonal and lately, that has meant no real water to speak of. The first year it had maybe 2 foot of water. This year, maybe the same. The 2 years in the middle, it was just about bone dry and useless with the drought. We'd like to dig it out more and shore it up to try to keep water in it. We know there's a decent aquifer running through this part of the mountain, down about 150 here at the house end of the property. Would be nice to have some water for the animals if nothing else.
 
Thanksgiving weekend work on the homestead...Finally getting the holes dug out for the posts for the back porch area. Most likely, it will never make it as a porch and will be enclosed for living space...maybe that outdoor kitchen ;o) I tried to get the holes started but it's all clay...and really thick nasty stuff at that. I just can't do it. I'm a wimp. I admit it. So, as Drew was over for dinner, we put him to work with Dewey :o)
The goofy pup there is the beagles basset mutt mix we have...brains of a stuffed animal, but lovable. He chases rabbits and such all night. Pinned a coyote down in the timber last year so we could shoot it. He's a good dog...just goofy. Notice Miss Abigail's bare feet...this was the day after Thanksgiving. Sure wouldn't be out running the countryside like that back North this time of year!
Thanksgiving fixins' on the homestead...We spent all day Wednesday baking...2 pecan pies, 2 apple, 2 chocolate (that's the empty crust with the tin foil in it) and 2 9x13 pumpkin cobblers. And the yummiest yeast rolls :o) It's a mix we do up and keep in the pantry --delicious. And, yes, I'll add the recipe soon!
The full menu ended up looking like this...deep-fried turkey, a huge (h-u-g-e) smoked ham from the butcher (stupid me didn't ask about size, just got the one that looked so good...it didn't fit inside the 18qt Nesco roaster we have...had to sit cockeyed until it cooked down some and slide into the pan the right way!). Dressing, green bean casserole, baked corn, potatoes/gravy, sweet potatoes, then the list of desserts. We made honey nut crunch and ranch/dill crackers for snacking all weekend.
This was the first year our eldest wasn't at the table. He rode up with Dewey to pick up Hope's car and drive it back. He wanted it to be their first Thanksgiving, and he was frying his first turkey solo...
The 20 quart mixer...yes, that's a make-do kitchen sink set up there. We pulled out the cupboard a while back. I have a very nice, new countertop sitting out in the building, but until I know for sure what we are doing (building or simply remodelling) I don't want to use it yet ;o) And, yes, those are cinder blocks under the mixer -- it sits too low to the floor for comfortable use. I know it looks rather hillbilly-ish, but it works ;o)
 
The meat, part 1/Day 1...still partially frozen, even after 2 days of thawing in the cooler bag. Guess that cooler bag works far better than I thought it did! We cut up most of the chunks to more suitable pieces and readied them for the canning jars.
 
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• Monday, December 1, 2008 - Back Online again....several updates here
First off -- Ron & Jo...if you visit and read this, do email me! We've been worried about how you both are doing!
The computer went down again. Apparently, the first computer geek didn't do any sort of system diagnostics and simply wasted 3 days or so re0installing my modem driver.
Well, it went down on me again, 2 weeks ago now. Not that it didn't make for a quiet and peaceful Thanksgiving, and we did get many things accomplished, but still....
This time, I went to the original geek I had planned on using last time. They did a full system whatever and ran several diagnostics. They think the main issue I was having is that my BIOS system was rather outdated. There were 5 newer updates than I had, and they don't simply install with the regular system update stuff this thing does on it's own every so often. He updated me that way, installed another antivirus program then downloaded a new modem driver and viola...we have internet again.
And life picks up with hectic busy-ness, of course.
Just to note: If you sent me an email over the past couple of weeks and haven't heard from me...don't expect to. Just email me again. I had a million emails in my inbox and they are all being deleted as I write here. Please, email again if you need me!
I have all 300# of meat in the freezer...well, minus the 50# of stewing chunks sitting in the kitchen waiting its turn in the canner. My pressure seems a bit off today -- it's taking forever to get up to pressure for some reason. But, it's all cut up, the packing juice blend prepared and jars scalded and waiting.
I am going to get very tired of looking at meat, I can tell that already, and it's just Day 1 of a long line of days to come! We may well turn vegetarian for a couple months once it's all said and done!
We have, aside from meat meat and more meat in the works here, fencing outside we are dealing with. Seems we are being over-run with wayward hunters. We knew they had been around the property, but they have found several signs of them running 4-wheelers clear up to the back of my barn! They are using our deer stands, running their dogs all over and apparently using our private property as their own personal hunting grounds.
That will come to a stop this week. We are getting the signs up so we are more properly POSTED everywhere, and I am setting up some wire along the back access where we know for a fact they are coming and going. If they damage a 4-wheeler with a slightly hidden barb wire fence, serves them right. It will be well inside the perimeter of my property line, where they don't belong. That and some bird shot peppering their hunting expedition should do the trick.
Before anyone takes issue to our methods here, we have a very good idea as to who the culprits are, and they know we don't want hunters here. They know we have young children who enjoy our property, and as they hunt with high powered rifles, they are definitely not welcome here. My own dogs stay on our property, and they are being annoyed with the constant traffic as well. I don't need the aggravation, or the worry of my children being shot while playing on their own land.
To give you some idea of the genius we are dealing with out here, this group was shooting targets last year in their own cleared plot just down from our line. It's their property, I have no concern there whatsoever. It's a free country.
However, they use high powered, long range shot guns/rifles whatever you call them. Where they were shooting from/at, in virtually every direction on the compas, they had nothing but timber land. Literally hundreds upon hundreds of acres going out in every direction. Nothing in line for miles and then some.
Every direction, that is, but they one they chose to shoot in. They set up just the other side of the creek and were shooting directly toward my house. Literally peppering my roof with their shot. Branches and leaves were falling after every shot. Genius, pure genius. In any other direction, they would have had nothing but trees for miles and miles, yet they picked the direction that went through my property straight to my house and animals....and children.
Running a 4-wheeler across a low-lying wire fence is going to be the least of their concerns if we actually catch them on the property hunting, instead of their leftovers and signs.
We also have a lengthy sewing list, as usual. And school work to catch back up on. We are having reading issues it seems. I need to determine where my cut-off needs to be. There is a point where not reading well is a problem, and I think we might be there. I know we took more time with our first reader learning, but I've 3 in the works now and they simply aren't coming along very quicky. I know, homeschooling certainly affords my time in that respect, no hard-lined schedules to adhere to and all, but still...we have been at this enough now there should be a bit more progress I think. Time to re-evaluate The Plan here.
As to the olders, Jennifer finished a decent amount while gone with Dewey the past couple weeks. And Johanna, well, she has her own agenda. She is set on graduating when she turns 15 years old...about 2 years or so from now. She blew right through one grade level already and is just about finished with the next set of math, language and science I bought a couple weeks ago. She definitely needs some more indepth work to keep her coccupied. She easily completes 4 or more lessons a day. Like I said, a girl with her own agenda.
I have a Christmas gift...yes, I know what I said about Christmas and all, but this is different, sort of. I came across a bargain and couldn't pass it up. Dewey said birthday and Christmas gift and I jumped on it! (my birthday is Christmas Eve...I tend to get those 'combined' gifts quite often!). I have a 20 quart Welbilt Varimixer sitting in my kitchen :o) It's huge. It's sitting on the floor right now -- there's no way my counters, besides being far too tall, would accommodate this machine. I'll have to build some sort of stand for it, but for now, it's just sitting there, waiting to be used. We will start selling bread and such soon, and much easier.
The man we bought it from buys out various businesses and such and resells the equipment. He thinks he knows of a commercial oven and stove and is checking on that for me. Dewey wasn't really in the mood to drag along with me to pick it up, but he wanted to check it out first. Well, he has found his new dream shopping warehouse now. This man has virtually everything. If he doesn't have it and doesn't know where to find it, you simply don't need it. He has all sorts of building materials and so on. Dewey enjoyed his trip more than I did I think!
I will get some pictures up this week, but today, the meat is calling! |
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• Sunday, November 30, 2008 - Prayers for Jeanine Taylor and Family
Could you all pray for Jeanine and her family, they were so kind to us when we were expecting Daniel and they are experiencing a miscarriage. This is so hard on the children as well they were so excited as they had lost one baby stillborn in 2007. Their excitedness when we were expecting daniel was shown in pictures drawen and the gifts sent to us. I can only imagine how hard this is on the whole family. Please pray for her to be able to pass everything on her own and that all will be well physically and that the Lord would heal their hearts.
Jeanine, I am here praying if you read this know that I am so sorry and yet I am so thankful to you Sis.
Your loved and cared for....
Linda, Mark, Faith, Hope, Daniel Josiah... |
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• Saturday, November 29, 2008 - Thanksgiving
Posted By Brenda
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Well all of my family made it here safe and sound. I am so blessed.
What a wonderful Thanksgiving this has been. My whole family was here and we were together. My dad and mom, both my brothers and their wives and their families (one has 3 kids the other 8), my sister and her family (she has 6 kids), and me and my family (I have 14 kids). We also had my brother-in-law and his family (they have 3 kids), and our friend Patty with her 5 kids. In total we had 51 people over for Thanksgiving dinner. We had 2 turkeys, 2 hams, 20 pounds of mashed potatoes, 3 pounds of carrots, green beans with bacon, homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls and gravy. For dessert we had cherry pie, blueberry pie, chocolate pudding/brownie trifle, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, snicker doodle cookies, peanut butter balls, fudge, ice cream, and whipped cream for on top of everything. Needless to say we had more than enough to eat and with all of this great company and beautiful weather on top of it I can not imagine a better Thanksgiving! My dad said what a wonderful time for Jesus to return with all of us together worshipping Him. After dinner we sat around talking and looking at the countless ads in the newspaper. We weren’t going shopping, but it is fun to look to see what was on sale where.
My dad and mom and one of my brothers and his family left for home today (Friday). I am very sad to have them leave. My other brother and his family is here until Wednesday morning. Today (Friday)I spent the day at my sister’s house visiting with my sister and my brother (he is staying at her house until Sunday and then mine until Wednesday). We had such a great visit. I can’t believe how similar we still are. You can sure tell we are all brothers and sisters.
I haven’t really been doing anything else except visit and keep up the house while they are here visiting. I remember the Mary and Martha story. We are all exhausted, but a good exhausted. I hope your Thanksgiving has been great and you are enjoying the blessings God has giving you and yours.
Blessings, Brenda
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• Thursday, November 27, 2008 - Happy Thanksgiving !
I wanted to stop in this mornin and tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving !!!!
We have alot to be thankful for today, I hope that everyone has a blessed day filled with love and the company of family and friends. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Blessings
Linda |
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• Nov. 27, 2008 - Happy Thanksgiving!
• Nov. 26, 2008 - Our Thankful Trees
We wanted to make a craft for school to help count our blessings. I love the whole Thankful tree idea... but I am ready for Christmas around here.
So instead of a Autumnal tree, we made Christmas trees and on the ornaments we wrote what we were thankful for.
 I know what *I* am thankful for... :)
From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger
Heritage Acres Farm
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• Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - For Sale or Trade: Faithful Acres Benjamin (purebred reg. MDGA)
Posted By FaithfulAcres
Faithful Acres Benjamin : 6th gen . reg. MDGA as one of the first Purebred Mini Nubians in the US. Born 9/23/08. He is eating grain and hay , drinking water so he is ready for his new home. He has excellent breed character , long pendulous ears and is not disbudded. Asking 250.00 with papers
Would trade him for the following :
LGDs, Fencing or stock panels, Reg. Nubian Does
All serious offers considered
Linda
931-589-3823 |
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• Nov. 25, 2008 - Frugal Wrapping Ideas
Recently, I was speaking about handmade Christmas gifts that really make the grade so to speak. I know there are times when we get and give those gifts and think, Ok that was nice, but they just don’t have that extra pizzazz, ya know? However, one of the things I brought up was that it isn’t just the gift. If you are including handmade gifts this year, that may not themselves be personal, such as pot holders, gifts in a jar, flavored oils & vinegars, and other gifts you may make multiples of, you can make each of those gifts intimately personal for each recipient with little time and money!
Consider the wrapping or packaging. There are so many ways to personalize a gift that is truly from the heart and lets the recipient know that you are thinking specifically of him/her. For some FANTASTIC ideas for frugal wrapping Check Out This Link. It is filled with creative and fresh ideas that will get your creative juices flowing as to how you can personalize every gift this year for pennies!
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
 Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas. With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. She is a writer, speaker, and vintage seamstress. For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!
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• Monday, November 24, 2008 - Praying for the Lord's Perfect Will
Well after 2 weeks our landlord came and told us her son and daughter in law are seperated and getting divorced. One will get the land the trailer we are renting is on , so she wanted us to know , so if we wanted to we could look for another place to live or we could wait it out as she put it.... So here we are wondering why we feel that we should move soon , when we just got here. I can say that I have sorted through alot of stuff and gotten rid of much. Still going through thngs more today.
I am asking for prayers from all of you , that the Lord would show us where to go and what to do and I am asking that if any of you know of a place for rent that would allow us to keep my goats, well let us know ok...
We would like to stay in TN but that isnt manditory if the Lord shows us to go elsewhere to live.
My girls live in AL with my 4 grandchildren now being 4 hours from me finally, so I would like to stay in driving distance from them if I can.
We will the money to move, so just let us know if you know of a place and if you have contact info on it that we can call or go look if it is in TN, let us know.
Not stressed, just blessed to be His
Linda |
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My Cup Runneth Over...
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