Holcomb Happenings

Eggs

{ 02:31, Friday, November 21, 2008 } { Link }

My new layers are 5 1/2 months old. They are Black Stars or Black Sex links. We usually get the Red sex links, but this year decided to go with the Blacks. Next year I will go back to the Reds, and then alternate them. On Wednesday we got the first egg from them. Yesterday we got one, and then today we got two. I can't wait to stop buying eggs from the store. We only have 8 layers, but that will be enough for our family and then some. Our old layers were butchered in August, so we haven't had farm fresh eggs since then.

Today has been beautiful. There wasn't any fog in the sky today. We have seen the sun all day! We worked on school, mailed a couple of packages (things we sold on ebay), and did some housework.

Power Outage

{ 06:43, Thursday, November 20, 2008 } { Link }

I was just thinking about supper when our power went out. I had cooked an old laying hen in the crock pot today for Chicken and Noodles. The chicken was done. The wind came up very strong and knocked the power out. Josh and RaeAnne lost the school work they were working on on the computers.

I decided I better fire up the cook stove and make the chicken and noodles. It just takes longer, but it did fine. The power was back on before I finished preparing the meal, but I finished cooking on the cook stove. I was about ready to have Harold light some lanterns for in the kitchen. We finished the meal with garlic bread and canned peaches.

Fog, fog, and more fog

{ 03:12, Thursday, November 20, 2008 } { Link }

We have had fog all week. On Monday and Tuesday it burned off around noon. Yesterday, we saw a hazy sun for a little bit, and then more fog. Today we had fog again when we woke up. It finally managed to burn off before noon. We actually got to see the sun!

We had to run into town for Josh to get another shot. He has 2 more to go in April and then he is caught up to go off to college or whatever he wants to do. RaeAnne took some pictures in town for her digital photography class. She had to do a panoramic view. She took one of the creek that runs through town.

While in town, I filled up with gas. I actually got it for $1.96 today. The first time we have seen it below $2.00. The girls finished their birthday shopping for Joshua It is hard to believe he will be 18 the end of the month. Harold and I will do our shopping tomorrow night. The 3 older kids have a youth activity at church. Josie will go grocery shopping with us, then she is going to a friends house for the weekend.

Yesterday I cooked all our meals on the wood cook stove. I still have to fiddle around with the oven thermometer. I think the oven is a little hotter than what the thermometer says. We had chili and cornbread last night. Tonight we are having a salad, veggies, and chicken and noodles.

Baking Bread in Cook Stove

{ 12:41, Tuesday, November 18, 2008 } { Link }

Today I decided to bake bread in the cook stove. It was delicious. I just made my white bread recipe.

November 17th

{ 07:22, Monday, November 17, 2008 } { Link }

Today started out foggy. I thought we would have the fog all day. It finally burned off around noon. We had fires going in both stoves this morning. I made a coffee cake in the cookstove for breakfast.

I spent extra time with RaeAnne in school. We got her caught up in history and math. We have a little more to do for science. I seemed to spend more time in school than cleaning and doing things around the house today. I guess that is fine. My kids come first. I did do one load of laundry and hung them up inside. I folded a couple of baskets that didn't get folded and put away this weekend.

RaeAnne had piano lessons today. She needs to bring a Christmas book next week. We did find one that Grandma had given us. RaeAnne is starting them now.

Supper tonight was leftover barbecued sandwiches, homemade potato wedges, and peas. Josie made the potato wedges tonight. She did a great job. I enjoy having my girls learn to cook.

Our Weekend

{ 06:40, Monday, November 17, 2008 } { Link }

Saturday morning Harold looked at both the cars. The clutch was stuck to the flywheel on the Red Aerostar, and he was able to fix that. He found something minor on his Honda, and so far that runs fine. Josh changed the oil on the Honda and the Green Aerostar. We like these types of repairs, when you don't have to spend any money.

Josh and Josie started raking leaves on Saturday. They kept at it all day in between other things. Then all the kids picked up the leaves and put them in the trailer. Harold then took them out to the garden and put them in a big pile. I think they did 5 or 6 loads. It is nice to see the leaves gone from the yard. The girls and I cleaned the house and did some things outside. Supper was cabbage stew. It sure hit the spot.

On Sunday Harold had to work. The kids and I went to church and then came home. Josh had a math lesson to finish and then we relaxed. Harold got home and we had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and milk gravy.

We went to church for the evening service. Our Pastor doesn't very often show DVDs or videos, but he did last night. It was "From Vengeance to Forgiveness: Jake DeShazer's Extraordinary Journey". That was a very good DVD. Jake DeShazer was in WWII and was captured during the Doolittle Raid. He became a believer during his time as a POW. Before going into the war he was full of hate for the Japanese. God was able to bring about a true forgiveness in his heart for the Japanese during his time as a POW. He then went back to Japan to be a missionary after the war.

Cars

{ 08:07, Friday, November 14, 2008 } { Link }

Harold's car died on the way home from work last night. He called me to bring the suburban and tow strap. Before I could leave, he got his car running again and called me to just stand by. He made it home and parked his car. He will check it out this weekend.

This morning he was going to take the Red Aerostar to work. He gets it defrosted, the windows scraped, and then gets in. The clutch doesn't work. We haven't had any problems with this car. So he took the suburban to work. I guess it is a good thing we have some extra cars around here. The Red Aerostar can pull a trailer when we cut wood, but it can't pull the stock trailer, so we use the suburban for hauling animals.

I guess he has two cars to look at tomorrow. He has to work the next two Sundays, so it makes for a shorter weekend. It is worse when he has to spend time working on cars. Hopefully both cars will have minor repairs.

It is clear out this morning. We got down right around freezing last night. Most of the leaves are off the trees. I guess we can start raking them up tomorrow. Today we need to go into town for a few things. We have company coming for supper. I have a roast cooking right now that I will make into shredded beef sandwiches. We will also have squash, some type of potatoes, and a green salad.

Rainy morning, Sunshine Afternoon

{ 06:14, Thursday, November 13, 2008 } { Link }

We got more rain this morning. We sure do need the rain. It does make it a little soupy when we go out to feed the critters, but it isn't to bad. The sun came out late this morning. It was nice to have the solar panels working and making hot water.

Harold brought home another barrel from work. I got about 2 1/2 gallons of vanilla that was left in the barrel. I guess I won't need to buy vanilla for a long time.

Emily made supper tonight. She made spaghetti sauce from scratch, a cabbage salad, green beans, and garlic bread. Her sauce turned out great!

Beautiful Sunrise

{ 07:32, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 } { Link }

I love to see beautiful sunrise and sunsets. This is what we saw when Harold went off to work this morning. It is a great reminder from God that He is in control of all things and that He gives us beautiful things to see in His creation.

Rainy, Gray Weekend

{ 07:28, Sunday, November 9, 2008 } { Link }

We had a gray weekend. We did get some rain last night and today. On Friday Harold and I dropped Josie off at church for an outing. We then went out to eat and did grocery shopping.

On Saturday we did things around the house. The girls and I got the house cleaned. I fixed breakfast on the cook stove. We had sausage, fried eggs, and apple sauce muffins. Supper was taco soup and corn bread.

After Church, we had Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, and cabbage salad. We rested in the afternoon and Harold fooled around with his truck. He then took it for a drive. Supper tonight was leftovers.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

{ 07:00, Thursday, November 6, 2008 } { Link }

Today was cold again. I think it was in the upper 40s. We had the wood stove going in the living room. After school was done, we ran into town to mail a letter and run to the dollar store. I picked up some racks from an old oven. We thought they might work for the cook stove, but they won't work. I guess we will just keep using what I have in it.

Josie and Emily made some tortillas for supper. Once they had the burritos made, they put them in the oven of the cook stove. I had started that to heat up some water for dishes and to warm up the house. We let the fire die out this afternoon and the temperature had dropped below 67º. We cooked the corn on the stove top. I am enjoying using the stove.

I got my menu done for the rest of November earlier this week. Today I spent time making my grocery list for tomorrow. Josie has a girl's only party at church tomorrow for the AWANA group. Harold and I will drop her off and then go out on a date night. We will also do our grocery shopping.

Having fun with the cook stove

{ 10:52, Wednesday, November 5, 2008 } { Link }

This morning was cold. We had had a fire in the living room wood stove overnight. I decided to fire up the cook stove this morning. The kids had eggs and bacon cooked on the cook stove this morning. It does take a little longer to cook the bacon, but it still works. I decided to try out the oven again. This time I made pumpkin bread. The oven started out closer to 350º. By the time it was done, it was down closer to 300º. It turned out great.

I had a little bit stick to the bottom, but it wasn't because it was burnt. I added chocolate chips to the batter and those stuck some. Maybe I will try some yeast bread in it soon.

We are suppose to be at a high of 45º today. I do have to say our window is open in the dining area right now as the cook stove did make it hot in here. The sun is shinning, so the solar panels are heating the hot water for the house.

Cooking Pumpkin

{ 03:15, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 } { Link }

This morning has been cold and windy. I had fires going in the living room and the kitchen. I wanted to cook a pumpkin up today so that I could make pumpkin bread. I decided to try and use the cook stove. Harold hasn't made a rack for the bottom, so I took a wire rack and put it on the bottom of the oven. I then put the pumpkin in on a cookie sheet. I don't know how long it took, but it turned out really good.

We have the living room wood stove going to heat up out water. I have also kept tea kettles on the stoves to heat up water for dishes.

Supper tonight is going to be a pork casserole with leftover squash. I will have RaeAnne make some ranch dressing and a salad also.

Pictures and Wood Cook Stove

{ 08:35, Sunday, November 2, 2008 } { Link }

Here are some pictures that RaeAnne took. They show the leaves and the trees.

These are the Poplar trees that are south of the driveway.

Poplar trees, and what was suppose to be a pear tree north of the driveway. This is also part of the wood pile.

Yesterday Harold fired up the wood cook stove. I cooked him some tomato soup and a couple of fried eggs on it. Today for lunch the kids and I did some grilled cheese on it. We will have fun experimenting with it and the oven.

Harold had to work today. We had our main meal for supper. We had pork roast, mashed potatoes, and corn. We went to evening service tonight.

Canning and Preserving for 2008

{ 02:50, Thursday, October 30, 2008 } { Link }

I know my list isn't completely accurate, but it is close. This is what the girls and I did this year.

corn - 169 bags in the freezer
peas - about 15 bags or so
spinach - about 20 bags or so
The rest is canned goods done in quarts or 2 quart jars.
apricots - 60
beans - 142
carrots - 40
peaches - 200 + 3 pints
dilly beans - 17 pints
salsa - 20 pints
raspberries - 30
blackberries - 13
tomato juice - 20 (I still have plenty left from last year)
sweet pickles - 14 (I didn't do dill as I have plenty from last year)
tomatoes - 40
nectarines - 38
applesauce - 65
apple juice 6
pears - 4 + 1 pint
plums - 10 + 1 pint
grape juice - at least 100 (lost track after that)
grapes - 21 pints
apple butter 13 + 1 pint

I made several batches of jam, at least 60 pints or more. I am very thankful for all that the Lord has allowed us to grow on our 2 acres.

The steers and goat are able to roam in the garden area now. They seem to like the strawberry bed the most. They are getting full bellies in the garden. The leaves are yellow on the poplar trees. They are starting to fall. I will probably start raking them soon. The kids think we should wait until they are all off the trees.

Harold got the pipe up on the cook stove yesterday. Now he needs to make a heat shield for the pipe. I am not sure when that will get done. He has to work this coming Sunday. Tomorrow night we have a Foundations in Genesis meeting to go to and on Saturday afternoon we have a chili feed and hay ride for the AWANA kids and families. I hope the parents come as well as the kids. We hope to have a good turnout. After the hay ride, there will be a bonfire and home made doughnuts and hot chocolate. They are making no fry doughnuts. I tried the recipe today, and they are good.

Flower Garden is weeded

{ 06:07, Tuesday, October 28, 2008 } { Link }

Today after school the girls and I weeded the flower garden out front. It is nice to have that done. The flowers got nipped really good by the frost, so the plants were not looking to great.

RaeAnne helped make supper tonight. We had Pad Thai with a cabbage salad. Since Grandpa and Grandma were up here in September, the kids have requested it several times. It was very good.

Harold is taking tomorrow off of work. He hasn't been sleeping well. I hope he can sleep in tomorrow. He got the short wall put in by the cupboard and the cook stove. He is now working on connecting the pipe from the stove to the chimney.

Busy Weekend

{ 09:33, Monday, October 27, 2008 } { Link }

Friday was my grocery shopping day. I also had a dentist appointment. I didn't get home until after 2:00. The girls helped with supper that night. We had swiss steak and mashed potatoes.

On Saturday, Josh and I put a fence around the asparagus patch. Harold had put some twigs in the ground last spring around them to see if the twigs would grow. They did pretty good. Not all of them survived, but enough that we didn't want the goat and steers to chew them off to the ground. We will transplant them this spring. The chicken house is closed up with plastic over the windows and the vent closed. Harold and Josie ground feed. They got almost 40 buckets of ground feed. It depleted the grain in the silo, so we do need to buy more.

At least grain has come down in price. This should last us for a long time. Harold mixes it with some malt, water, and other things for the pig. The steers get it dry. Sometimes we will put some malt in it for the steers. We let the critters go over to the garden and alfalfa field. So far Xerxes and Goliath are the only ones that go over. Red hasn't quite figured out how to get there. Josh and Josie got the sticks picked up from the pasture and got those burned up.

Emily and RaeAnne worked in the house. They finished up the apples except for some that we will eat fresh. They made applesauce, apple juice, and then RaeAnne made 2 apple pies.

Supper was soup and bread. We were tired that night.

Sunday we went to church. When we got home, we barbecued pork chops for lunch. They were very good. After the girls finished dishes, we went to visit one of Harold's aunts. When we got there, one of his cousin's was also there, so it was great to visit with her also. We brought her some potatoes and butternut squash. We were getting ready to leave when she suggested going out to dinner, her treat. We met another of Harold's aunt at the restaurant. We had a great time and a great visit. It was a special treat for us. We haven't been out to eat as a family in ages.

Before we left the restaurant, I finally remembered to give his other aunt the potatoes and squash that I was suppose to give her a couple of weeks ago. We got home a little after 7:30. By the time we all had our showers, we had time to watch the Last Modern Marvels, Engineering Disasters. This episode was on Hurricane Katrina. Josh had requested this 5 disk set from the Library. They have been very interesting to watch. One of the ones we watched was about a lake in Louisiana. This entire lake and the surrounding land were sucked into a Louisiana salt mine.

Busy, Busy

{ 07:59, Thursday, October 23, 2008 } { Link }

We have been busy. My grapes are done, and I thought I was done canning for the year. A friend gave us about 2 bushels of apples. I have been making apple butter right now. I will make more applesauce today. I have the electric roaster going will apples in it to make into more apple butter. I got 7 1/2 quarts out of the first roaster batch.

Harold had to go to the eye doctor Monday. He was having problems with flashes of light and floaters. They checked him out thoroughly and said everything looked okay. He will follow up with them in a month. He is back to normal now.

Yesterday our steer, Red, got his head stuck between the back wheel of the corn planter and the frame. We tried to get him out, but we couldn't do anything. RaeAnne went to call a neighbor. Just as he said he would come, Red finally got himself loose. I am very thankful for helpful neighbors. Red is okay, a little bruised up on the neck and leg, but doing great now.

Harold is busy making a firewall for the cupboard beside the wood cook stove. He hopes to be able to spray it this weekend. I am anxious to try out the stove. We have had a couple of frosts this week. The leaves are starting to change color and drop. My Autumn Blaze Maple tree is real pretty.

Sunday, October 19th

{ 07:30, Sunday, October 19, 2008 } { Link }

Today we had a beautiful day. We went to Church this morning. We had a good sermon on II Corinthians 6:14-7:1. When we got home, we finished preparing lunch. We had Harold's aunt and uncle out for lunch. We had roasted chicken, carrots, onions, and green beans. Harold's aunt brought out Chocolate cake for dessert. We had a great visit with them.

Harold and Josh had fun blowing up a pumpkin today. The pieces were then fed to the animals. Supper tonight was leftovers. It is nice to have enough leftovers for a meal. Emily and Josie have been working on knitting scarves. Josie got a pattern from the AWANA store last week with some yarn to make a scarf. She is almost done. Emily decided to get the yarn out that Auntie Erin gave her in March. They are both doing a good job.

A day for outside chores

{ 06:00, Saturday, October 18, 2008 } { Link }

Today was a day for working outside. We got the supports up for the raspberries. After that was done, we put in fence posts for a temporary fence around the raspberries, orchard, and the trees at the top of the alfalfa field. After some more good, hard frosts, we will turn the steers and goat into the garden and alfalfa field. The kids moved the sprinkler pipes and removed the tomato cages. They rolled up some soaker hoses and cleaned out the turkey yard.

Supper tonight is a hamburger casserole, broccoli, and corn on the cob. We had some friends give us a couple dozen ears of corn from their garden last weekend. Harold put the chimney back up for the wood cook stove. Now when it rains, the rain won't come down the pipe.

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