Two more hats finished!

Knitting for Youth Mental Health

Good Evening! How are you?
I am watching 'Deadliest Catch' and knitting another hat for the coat drive at Will County Community Health Center Youth Mental Health. A receptionist blessed me with 3 bags of yarn! It was like Christmas!!
They need stocking caps for 3-4 year olds, so I am focusing on the smaller hats. Picked up a pack of bells and a couple packs of large bright buttons at Walmart to knit into the hats for a little extra fun!
These kids go through so much, a happy hat can only be a good thing. I am thinking I should call my hats 'Heavenly Hats' as God directed me to this and I pray about each hat I knit. Almost as though each hat is being heavenly directed for a specific child.

Updates & Property Elevations

Well, Good Morning, all!

Thought I would stop in and catch you up on our crazy world. Sorry I haven't been posting much lately, but, with the new baby in the house, things have been hectic to say the least!

I do have a couple blogs started and saved as 'drafts' in my phone, but the battery died, so I am forced to log on and blog with out pics.

I've been thinking a lot about the current economic and political situation and trying to decide if my family is okay where we live currently. I was unable to find a reasonably priced map of local elevations, so I am getting ready to map elevations of landmarks around me. I found a link that shows elevations of public places such as schools and parks( www.topozone.com/states/Illinois.asp?county=Will&feature=school). Using this tool I can make note of surrounding elevations. It will not be as accurate and user-friendly as a map with all the elevations drawn on in nice little loops, but it will be better than nothing. I think I will be able to establish my home's elevation and decide if we are truly high enough. Also, I can establish what would be our best routes out of town in the event of a national disaster. I am basically surrounded by flood plains, so this thinking is critical. I am thinking that my only roads off of my hill will be under water.

After I post all possible/ pertinent elevations to my map, I will begin to investigate any potential escape routes. Of course I will have to investigate during heavy rains. I'll post pics of how much/ little hope there is. I may end up having to just buy a boat! LOL!

Stay tuned to see what I find out!!!

Our New Sweetheart

Aiden, at 2 days old, is doing well and working hard at training his Mom.
We are so blessed to be able to hold him every day!

Stocking Food

We have some food and a rudimentary storage system, but are totally unprepared for a true emergency. I guess I thought we were getting close to being ready, but I was only fooling myself.
When I took this picture, it really hit home that we need a real storage system immediately. First, I need to pull it all out onto the kitchen floor and resort everything. Then, I have to get a shelving system that will work with our food preservation methods. After all, food in ziploc bags needs different storage than canning jars or metal cans!
I also need to be able, somehow, to store enough food for four (4) people for 2-3 years. That will take some creativity as our pantry is about 4'x5'. And, of course, whatever I do must be done for free.
I'll let you know what I finally figure out!

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!