Hello all,
Well i just had a few things to share, and wanted to let you all know of the goings on here. Its a chilly evening here. Got the little woodburner going for the first time with a real fire. All seems well, way to much heat. Too much is better than not enough i figure. I was able to locate a decent deal on some forewood, $30 a ton for cut offs from the mill. Its a bit of a drive took bout $10 in gas round trip. Got 1/2 ton in the van no problem. I aquired an older homelite chainsaw, it wont fire
Have to work on that one, maybe just a new plug. Should be able to get the old girl going soon.
The garden is doing very well the cabbage are making heads. The broccoli is looking great as well as the cauliflower. The sweet peas are just forming flower buds. I was told by my plant man (where i bought my seed and starts) that these were peas that didnt need to be trellised or supported. Well they are falling over and are growing wildly. I have them in a 3 foot wide bed bout 15 feet or so long. I broadcast seeded them and ended up with a full bed of plants, no weeds
I cannot wait for those succulent peas. We got some nice elephant garlic bulbs, 20 in all. We are going to plant bout 10-12 of the bulbs i think maybe a bit more. I have a few zuccini plan ts in a tiny greenhouse like deal. The plants are vigourus and produce only male flowers it seems. I open it up in the morning anf close it before dark. I thought maybe that there wasnt sufficient pollination? Im not sure on that. I have had a few small squash start and get about pinky size then after 3-4 days turn soft and wither? Did i do something wrong? Is it the cool weather and short days? They are in a raised bed, i think 5-6 plants in all. I have been drying hungarian wax peppers and sweet bannana peppers like mad. There is a glut of them. I just cut the stem end off and spit down one side, remove the seeds and the main rib/veins and then i put them into the dehydrator. Just a day and they are good and dry. I want to make some hot pepper mustard relish/condiment stuff, but havent yet. It is on our to do list
Found a good source of some free chestnuts. They are on the other side of the county. Im going to the doctors anyhow and will add it to our to do list while we are over that way. I think we have more than enough black walnuts gathered. Fishing has been fair,although havent been much since last post. I look forward to remedy that soon. I havent been out much with ol Rebecca(my 16 gauage shotgun)
My hip has been bothering me and i feel that i may wander too far, or get myself into a bad prediciment all alone. I stay closer to the homeplace nowadyas it seems. Having the oldest along gives me some vigour as well i know he could go for help if need be. Speaking of #1 he is learning fast and is eager in everything we do. Its really fantastic to watch him learn, and to crave more. He is a flurry of unending questions as well as some of his own conclusions. Anyone thats been around an 8 year old knows i tell no lie. He is great tho, and a real inspiration to me. His studies are going well and im glad of that. He has always been a smart boy.
#2 PJ is talking so much more now, it is amazing. We can hardly get him to be quiet
but in all actuallity it is a real blessing. I have waited so long to talk to him and actually get a response. A response from his own mouth, his own thoughts. Not a line coached to him just a few momments before, but a real conversation . It is fantastic. Oh, and one last thing on #2 he is completely potty trained now!!! A couple pee-pee accidents during the day, but none at night. He perfers to pee on the trees and go to the toilet for the other. HAha! Thats fine by me, whatever works for him
#3 The baby is fat and sassy. He is doing great in his cloth diapers. It was a bit of a struggle at first, but we overcame that. Its great not buying disposables. Save loads of money, especially with #2 off of them completely. #3 is walking well, when hes not too lazy. It seems crawling is still the safest, quickest mode of transportation for him. This boy is a giant of a baby! I cant beleve his size, not just his weight but his height as well. Im going to have my hands reall full in a couple of years
We have been doing some serious clean up around here. Little at a time and it all is starting to come together at last. The chickens are laying well. I had the oppurtunity to buy a young 6 month old nubian/boer goat. $25. We went to get her toady, but the fellow couldnt catch her. They are in a very larege woods/pasture and are sorta non-human friendly it seems. What i could see of her she is very health and a bit high spireted. Seemed fat and happy. She will be a large goat i beleve. Some of the bucks in there were huge., as well as some of the does. I do have a question on this one. I have a small goat pen/shed already, but it is inhabited by 3 very grumpy geese. Would the goat be ok with the geese? Or would the goat be better of with the chickens? Or would the geese be better off with the chickens? This would be just for a little while untill i can scavange some more fenceing and such,. I will proably in the end give the goat pen to the goat and build something new for the geese. What is the best way to go about this. I want the goat for milk production. I also figured with the small amount of money invested, and young nannys going a bit higher than io paid i could turn a fast buck as well?? I dont know i really dont want to just get her and sell her. I ultimately kinda feel ass tho the goat is not giving milk yet, that in a way she is a sort of prep or insurance for my family. If worse came to worse we could always eat her
Have been considering getting som californian rabbits as well. I can get a nice looking trio for $15. I have scrap lumber and wire for hutches we think this might be a good idea as well.
Well i dont know bout the rest of you but the state of economy and world, to put it bluntly is scarring the crap out of me. I just keep telling myself to prepare the best we can, and i actually think although we have little we will be prepared more than most. Only time will tell what will happen. Just hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. Maybe its just me, got a birthday next week and im feeling old. Be the big 35 next tuesday.
Well you all have a good one. Post again soon.
Keep your powder dry.
