Heartily Homesteading

Gone Until Projects Are Finished

 I have been so busy I have lost sight of my priorities.  God and family.  I'm taking a break until I get lots of unfinished things taken care of.  Hopefully it won't take but a couple of weeks.  I love the Homestead Blogger.  You have helped me so much with lots of different issues.

Thanks

River And Memories of Old

My husband took me and the boys to the river this past weekend.  It was the river where he grew up in and learned to swim in.  It was a great time.  We stayed and swam for most of the afternoon and early evening.  It's just an amazing experience.  We loved it but what made it so special was of course it was where my hubby grew up.  The boys want to go back.  I would encourage everyone to take your kids/grandkids places you went growing up and tell them experiences and memories about them.  I  am in a different state from where I grew up so I'm not able to take my kids there, but I do talk about them.  There are lots of nights that the kids don't want me to read, they want me to tell them a story about a childhood place of mine, or a childhood memory of mine.  They are so fascinated by what I considered old memories, especially funny ones.  I thought I had the worst childhood possible, but as I've grown in the Lord, He has brought to my memory times when I was happy.  It's so natural for me to dwell on and remember only the bad memories, but there are so so many fun times that I had all but forgotten about.    I think there is alot to be enjoyed from the "old" memories.  

Jeremiah 6:16

Interesting Statistics About Success

I found these statistics on Cindy Downes blog (homeschoolblogger.emptynestmom).  It was so interesting I just wanted to post them to see if anyone else knew this.

Jul. 6, 2008 - Some Interesting Statistics!

I am reading the book, Talent is Never Enough by John Maxwell, and came across some statistics that will interest those of you who are homeschooling teenagers. On page 2, Maxwell states: More than 50 percent of all CEO's of Fortune 500 companies had C or C- averages in college. Sixty-five percent of all U.S. senators came from the bottom half of their school class. Seventy-five percent of U.S. presidents were in the Lower-Half Club in school. More than 50 percent of millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college! So, next time you think your average child is never going to amount to anything, remember these statistics! And read this book!

Ewe Update & Blackberry Jam Picture

I am so glad to report that our ewe "Willimina" is up and eating.  We aren't sure what it was but we think it was either "bloat" or "colic"  I just know she was soooooo sick.  The old saying "a sick sheep is a dead sheep" wasn't so this time.  I'm up very very late trying to get the kitchen cleaned from an evening of blackberry jam making.  I hope these pictures load right.   I'm still practicing my blogging skills.  We will have enough for us and there's still a ton of blackberries for me to pick.  I feel very blessed but it's a lot of work.  My dh helped alot.  Well, hope all is well with everyone.  Good Night

Sad, Farm Life Can Be So Sad

Living on our little hobby farm has been very exciting and rewarding.  But there is a side to it that I would rather do without....  Today our dog "Rex" got out of our yard and chased several of our prize rabbits that were out for their morning meal (they do not go far from their barn, but they do like to explore a little and normally it's not a problem.   Rex never gets out of the yard and the few times he's out with us we never let him near the rabbits, but the timing was just not on the rabbits side.  Now I know of one at least that will have to be put down because of Rex getting a hold of it's backside.   I almost wish he had just killed her completely instead of just leaving her to suffer.  It's just an awful sight.  Rex was a dog we adopted from the local pound last summer.  He has been nothing but trouble.  I'm dealing with this while also trying to nurse a sick ewe, clear up pink eye (me!), organize our home and office, plan a quick getaway to CO to see my brother who is coming in from Iraq for 2 weeks, and there's umpteen other undone projects that need my attention. Just feeling very overwhelmed.  I'm going to go now and start counting my blessings if I say dwelling on all the negative I am never going to get anything done!!!!!

Blackberries Anyone?

My soul, I have never seen so many blackberries growing hog wild in my life!!!  That's right, on our back 5 acres, blackberries are overtaking the pasture and we have been picking like madmen trying to get them off the vine and into something.  There is a very short window of opportunity for these perfect little gems.  I am so excited and very inspired that God would bless us so.  I am going to put up as many jars of blackberry buckle and blackberry jam and I'm going to try freezing some whole and I just can't wait to share the goodness with friends and loved ones.  I t hink they will be very impressed with our harvest.  BUT the only downside is they  have THORNS, lots of prickly sticky things all up and down the leaves and plants and you have to be so careful, each one is precious.  So, I need some custom gloves or does anyone know of a special tool for picking blackberries without getting poked and scratched all up and down the arms....  Anyway, just wanted to share our neat surprise find, mind you, we have never planted blackberries nor harvested them.  There's a first time for everything.  The kids are loving it.  They hardly notice the pokes, I have them work the outer bushes, and I go in for the inner ones.  I will definitely put up some pictures soon.  I took pictures of the boys picking them, and my dh and I and also of the kids making blackberry cobbler.    Nothing like nature to make you appreciate all the things of God.

Neat Bumper Sticker!!

I saw the NEATEST bumper sticker the other day.  I just want to share it with you.

It was on a little car with a feisty looking teenaged girl driving.  We were at a 4-way stop, she got there a few seconds before I did and she was driving west and I was driving north.  So when she took off to continue through the stop sign I saw the bumper sticker because it was actually on the car right by her gas tank.  And it was big and it said "CAUTION; FORMER FETUS DRIVING"  Love it........

Nice Valentine's Day

Flu

Homestead Kind of Quiet

There's not much going on today at our homestead.  I baked a fantastic Banana Bread and some Banana Muffins.  I got the recipes from www.hillbillyhousewife.com.  The kids scarfed them down.  I thought I'd have some left over to freeze for another day.  I was wrong.  It's windy today.  2 of our ewes are at another farm so we don't have them to feed.  And all the cows are at my in-laws wheat pasture (40 miles away) for the next few months.  Now that settles this little place down fast.  We had 3 cows 1 yearling heifer, 4 calves.  They are all gone for a while because we just don't have the pasture for them.  It's been so quiet.  Just the 2 dogs, 2 cats and some rabbits.  I am happily on schedule for my Bible reading, but my weight loss is just not happening like I wanted.  I'm not giving up.  It has to come off.  Well, I have absolutely got to get to bed.  That was another issue I wanted to conquer for 2008.  BED BY 10 NO MATTER WHAT.  Just drop everything and GO TO BED. So, I'm 2 hours late but at least I'm going.

New Habits 2008

Contest - Cowboy Wife is having a contest- Read All About It

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

The Prize:

The winner will receive a brand new
Hamilton Beach 4.5-qt. Eclectrics Stand Mixer, Pineapple Yellow!!

About the mixer:

From Hamilton Beach’s “Eclectrics” line, this all-metal stand mixer comes with a host of accessories - a Flat Beater for cakes and cookies, a Dough Hook for bread and a Wire Whisk for whipped cream or pudding. The 4.5-qt. stainless steel bowl comes with a Pouring Shield that helps prevent splattering while in operation. The pouring shield has a built-in chute for adding ingredients. Powered by 400 watts, the stand mixer has a two-way mixing action to ensure all ingredients are incorporated into the mix. The quick-release, tilt-up head assists when removing the bowl. 9 x 14 x 14-in. When you’re ready for a kitchen re-do, don’t call in the carpenters! Instead, “counterscape” your kitchen with Hamilton Beach’s retro-designed, affordably priced electrics in happy, sun-saturated colors. Their “Eclectrics” line includes updates to those classic appliances from the 1950s. All of their “Eclectrics” are available in six colors: Apple Green, Moroccan Red, Pineapple Yellow, Intrigue Blue, Sugar White and Licorice Black.

Christmas Traditions I Treasure

Today the boys and I had a conversation about what some of the traditions we had when I was a kid like them......

This really got my ole brain churning.  I remembered things that I thought I'd forgotten.  I was pleasantly reminded of all the great ways my mom and dad celebrated Christmas.  All the wonderful surprises and oh the anticipation.  I am so grateful that I was raised in a Christian home where there was caring from both my parents.  My mom just went all out on decorations.  We would turn on some traditional Christmas music and decorate the tree together.  She'd bake I don't know how many dozens of cookies for us to decorate and take to school for parties.  And she'd make vats of hot cocoa mix from scratch and we'd drink it morning noon and night.   We even hung mistletoe over my mom and dad's bedroom door.  We would just laugh and laugh that they had to "kiss"  I don't know how they put up with us.  We were raised in South Texas so it was always about 75 degrees on Christmas day.   Always sunny and never any signs of wintry landscapes.  I remember plain as day the first time we ever saw snow...... I can still smell it and feel it  as if I were there now.  Such an amazing thing.  It was a "miracle" I said.  We tried to stuff it in our pockets and bowls to keep "forever"...........  It's been too long since I've allowed my thoughts to drift to those days.  I think I will do it more often...............

Sweet Christmas Link

www.redboots.org 

Online story about Christmas.

Very sweet and meaningful

Another Icy Day -

We haven't had any icy rain today but there was enough yesterday to keep everything iced over.  Tomorrow the forecast looks clear (no more rain or snow) but Friday there's some snow expected.  We are hoping for snow.  I know we are crazy but the children love it......