Dehydrating Squash

Welcome back! Life on the homestead is zipping along as usual.
Tonight, as we prepare for another backyard camp-out, I am trying to keep the dehydrator running full-time.
My shelves are full of zucinni and summer squash. A yummy winter feast in the making!!!

My Latest Knitted Hat

Good evening! Check out the hat I just finished. I went all out with the stocking cap concept. Sure hope the recipient likes it!

Bug-Out Bag

Hi! Welcome back! Tonight I am contemplating the repacking of my bug-out bag. Yes, I am finally getting back to this project, mostly because I am deep cleaning and re-arranging my room which is causing me to deal with things I had tabled.
The first Bag was a red transplant bag~ easy to spot from a distance! Now I am using a dark blue backpack. We'll be way less noticable and blend in with the others.
For my initial content list for my primary bag I have chosen only the most critical items I would need if we were forced to walk out:
1. Personal documents
2. Prescriptions
3. Basic first aide kit
4. Bible
5. Emergency blankets
6. Addresses/ phone #'s
7. Maps
8. Books on wild edibles, etc.
This isn't everything I would like to take, but these are the contents that we absolutely must have.

Another Hat is Finished!

I am finally finished with the one on the right. The needles have the band color for the next one. The stripes will be those bright pinky colors and the maroons of the right hat.

Hats & More Hats

I am still knitting... Of course! Not that any of us believed I could stop!!
This is a small batch I dropped off at Will County Community Youth Mental Health For the coat and hat drive. I broke down and bought 5 more skeens of yarn at Walmart... I was so sick of the colors I had already and the new pretty colors were calling my name.
I am having so much fun making more hats with new color combinations. And, now, I am also trying to make more small hats so all the childrenms needs will be met.
It's good to have a hobby that helps others, relaxes me and is in His will!

Today's Breakfast

Hello! Today I whipped up a special breakfast to honor 2 days off in a row.
First I melted butter in a fry pan and stirred in pieces of fresh tomato (1/4 lb) and zucinni (1 lb). While that simmered on low I added 1/2 tube of pork chorizo, some Adobo, 1 1/2 packets Sazon (with cilantro and tomato) and a teaspoon of home canned sofrito.
I let it simmer until the zucinni was tender and stirred in 6 eggs.
Cooked until done, it was wonderful~ and full of veggies!

We went shopping!

Yes, we hit Menards! This weekend we will begin the chicken coop!
I am so excited I could pop! Imagine~ fresh eggs just outside our back door!

Matthew Helps, Too!

It's so nice when a family works together! As times get tougher and we spiral towards 12.21.12, it becomes more and more critical that every member of a household does their part to keep things running and get ahead.
At 8 years old, Matt is able to sort, wash, hang out and fold his own laundry. This takes a weight off my shoulders and frees up time to do other things.
If a family is to survive, they must all work together!

Kudos to Silver Cross Pediatrics!

Good morning! Happy Monday to you! As I sit here at Silver Cross Hospital with my son, I must tell you what exceptional service we are receiving from everyone on the Pediatric Unit!
Kudos to the entire Pediatric Unit for such TLC!!!

Laundry on the Homestead

Time to hang yet another load of laundry.

I overheard a neighbor talking about us the other day.

His friend asked when he was going to hang out his laundry?

He replied, "I'm not a robot. They're robots! All they do is work!"

I was so flattered!

Then back to mowing the grass we still have.

As time passes there will only be grass in the play are.

Vegetables will be growing everwhere else!

Life on a homestead is always busy and never boring!

Multimedia message

As I look out over my farm I am aware of how far I've come since we bought this place. But I am also very aware how far I have to go to catch up with the homestead I'm modeling. Little Homestead In The City is the homestead I am modeling mine after with exceptions to allow for the codes in this area.
It is good to see how far I've come and good to have direction for my life!

View from my Bathroom Wiindow

This is the view through my bathroom screen. It's the wonder that greets me every time I get into the tub. I gaze out at clean laundry on the line, corn as high as my head and tomatoes ripe and waiting for me.
Truly, can you tell me what better view I could find than this?

A Feast in My Backyard

Hi! This is Broadleaf Plantain. It's a wild edible that we've found quite yummy!
The leaves cook up nicely as a spinach substitute. The seeds are good seasoned and roasted or cooked into a casserole as a protien.
Now, you absolutely must not eat any wild edibles from areas you are unsure of. Are pesticides, herbicides or inorganic fertilzers in use? Any run-off from farms or roadways? It is far better to go without than risk your health!
Go pick some plantain today! Happy, healthy eating!

Stock Up on Firewood!

Hey! Notice how October the weather is? Well, that's because the snow is coming in October, so typical October weather is Now!
If you haven't started to stock-up on all the winter necessities, now is a good time to start.
Why wait till the first week of October, when all your neighbors are in a panic?

Foraging Bounty!

Hi! We went foraging in the woods for a bit tonight and came home with a lot of free protien! Due to the bizarre weather, the nuts are falling early. So are the pinecones.
With all the food recalls and prices going so high, it is critical that we all know of all options available.
Today is a good day to take a nature walk with you kids. You'll be amazed how much food you'll find!

New Research Project

Well, I finally decided to take my research to a different place. Rather than just reading and applying all I can, I thought I'd share with you.
The first book I am reading (rereading) is "The Book of the New Alchemists". I read through this book a couple times last year and went back to sections several times because I just couldn't get it off my mind.
Today I am starting over fresh. I am going to reread it, check the internet to see how their designs worked, then apply all I can to my lot.
It will be interesting to see how I fare on these projects compared to them!

Organizing Pantry... Finally

It's so good to finally get the shelves in! I decided to put away the groceries now and pull out shelves and finish adding the cedar when we have time.
This way we can gauge what we are stocked up on and go back to rotating stock properly!
All those boxes we kept tripping over held way less food than we thought, but now we know where we stand. That is a very good feeling!!

Laundry Soap Results

Hey! Sorry I didn't get back to you about the soap and how it turned out.
I stirred it tonight to start a new load and it is great! Thicker than before, but not separated.
We are officially good to go!

Front of the House Harvest

Hey! I moved the car out on the street and look what I found! I do believe this is a squash bonanza. And right outside my front door, too.

So Pretty!

I couldn't resist taking one more picture of the new section! Please, pardon my giddiness!!!