Snack Time!

Don't you just love it when someone throws a big bunch of fresh worms on your snack tray? And the fun of grabbing the juiciest worm and running as fast as you can while your friends chase you trying to pry it out of your beak?!
Then there is that inevitable moment when you look across the yard and see a friend pinned down and being plucked by a 'friend' while another 'friend' pecks at his feet? Ok, so not all of the worm-munching scenario is fun.
But worms sure are yummy!

'Toxic Rain Garden'

Isn't it filling in nicely with violets?
This area is a slight depression to hold the water from the driveway.
Thus it is toxic and we don't eat anything from this garden.
Where does the run-off from your drive go?

Chilly Spring

With this Spring being so chilly, windy and wet, it's a wonder anything is blooming!
As the weather runs out of control across the country, I can't help but wonder what impact there will be on food prices.
Will farmers have succeessful harvests?
What about all the families relying on home gardens?
Knowing the weather will get crazier every year, what should we be doing to prepare?
This homesteader is thinking it's time to revisit growing veggies indoors. That was only a semi-fruitful project last year, but greater experience and necessity may improve my success rate!

Two Week Old Chicks in the Run

Putting Up Chicken Wire

This started out as quite a chore, but got so much easier as we went along!
And it was a project we all helped with.
After all, how can the kids say it's theirs too if they haven't helped build it?
Family projects build such a great bond!!!

Green Onions & Mesclun

Another garden patch is planted.
Thus we plant hope of feeding our families.
With food shortages around the world and so many going to bed hungry in the USA, a garden is a comfort.

Lily Pads Reaching for the Surface!

It is so nice to see our water lillies growing this year! We bought fresh bulbs and have eliminated bleach, Clorox 2 and Oxiclean from our laundry regimen.
Just goes to show what eliminating toxins can do!
Now if it will just warm up!

Matt putting up Chicken wire!

Coop Construction a la Dave & Steve

As the evening progresses, the coop takes shape and we feel more hopeful that we'll eventually be able to house our chicks outside!

New Chicken Coop Going Up!

Well, we had a rethink on the coop~ Vandi wanted a bigger one she saw in a magazine!

New Compost Bin

Good afternoon! Glad to see you! Come around back and see our latest project.
What do you think of our compost bin? We thought it would be nice to have our compost contained this year and I heard about using pallets from a yahoo group I'm on and thought we'd try it.
We placed the compost bin in a far corner of the garden. Close enough to toss clippings and table scraps into, but far enough away as to not offend guests.
It's constructed primarily of wood pallets we'd been accumulting and wired together with fencing wire.
As soon as I harvest the onions and dwarf blue kale on the other side of the compost bin, I will build a second bin for next years' compost. That way I have one being emptied while the other is being filled.
Tell me about your compost bin...

What Are You Doing?

Well, I came home to find this child acting as escape scout for the troops! I think it's time to put them out in the coop!!!

Garlic Mustard Crop

Hi! Welcome!
Would you look at all this Garlic Mustard! We are truly blessed.
This plant was originally brought over from Europe as a salad green. With no natural 'predators' here it has become invasive and is choking the wildflowers out of many parks. Most parks encourage visitors to pull these plants out by the roots.
If you happen across some garlic mustard, the leaves are delicious as a salad green or cooked like spinach! When harvested in a park, it is virtually pesticide/ fertilizer- free!
Take a hike in your park today and munch a healthy free meal tonight!

Turnip & Garlic Mustard Greens

Hello! Come on inside! Remember all those turnip and garlic mustard greens? We threw them into the dehydrator!
I set the temperature at 145 degrees and the timer for 8 hours and go about my day.
Soon we will have an ample supply of greens in storage.
What's your favorite way to store your garden's bounty?

The Planter

Well, this is what's left of the plants I put in at 377 Western Ave., Joliet, IL 60435! I am So Pissed!
I don't mean to rant, but I took my time to choose exceptional plants to really accent our property. I took time to plant and water carefully.
I am so amazed that anyone would be so cold-hearted as to destroy flowers this way.

Hanging of the Hammock Chair!

Started digging dandelions in parkway!

Brunson Gravesite

Messenger Woods Hike!

'Fishing for Trash' at Monee Reservoir

Hey! Right now we are on patrol for trash. Hope to see you around the next bend!

Peas Have Sprouted!

Hi! Come around back quickly and see what's sprouted!
Would you Look at those peas! I barely planted them 2 weeks ago and look how they're growing. It's so gratifying to see all the work pay off. Soon my family will have plump, ripe peas to munch.
What's coming up in your garden?

Arthur & Martha Brunson

Oakwood Cemetery 4.29.10

Overgrown Turnip Greens!

Hello! Somehow my turnip greens did it again! Last year this happened several time also.
Every time, I would cut them back and they'd shoot right back up!
Rather than thick and leafy, I'm getting tall and spindly!

Chicks~ Day 3

Got up this morning to find one more dead chick. Very sad, but a hazard of farm life, I suppose.
We still have about 20 lively chicks bopping around in their make-shift home.

Rain Garden is Starting to Bloom

Good evening! So nice to see you!
This is my rain garden to catch the run-off from the drive.

Video of Baby Chicks! (turn off music player and click play on video feed!)

Day Old Chicks!

Well, Hello!
Today is a big day at Whispering Hills Homestead. Today the day old chicks we ordered from Murray McMurray's arrived! I picked them up from the post office this morning.
In all the confusion I forgot to buy a waterer for chicks and had to pick that up. Also, I did not realize they have to be kept at an even 95 degrees for a week. Well, I had left them locked in my pantry and allowed for plenty of ventilation!
So, tonight Matt and I made a run to Big R in Morris for antibiotics and a thermometer.
We've got a lightbulb over them for now, but the temp in the box is only 70 degrees! I've got a fire going in the stove. We mmay be overheated thos week, but we have to keep these babies alive!

Amazing Service!

Hi! Just wanted to tell you about truly amazing service I received at Tyson Motors in Shorewwod.
I took my Jeep in for service at 8:15am and was in line behind everyone who had brought their cars in at 7:45am. It was a long line and I needed an oil change, tune-up and a new ball bearing for a tire!
when I explained to Anthony that I needed to pick my son up at school at 2:10pm, he was willing to move me up in the line. My Jeep was ready for pick-p at 12:30pm!
It runs beautifully now and I was able to run some errands for work before I picked up Matt at school.
Kudos Anthony Lawler for Awesome Service!

Farm Help

Howdy! Nice of you to drop by! Come around back and see what we're up to.
Today Matt is helping me to turn over the sod. Once turned over, we are removing any dandelions to the garbage toter and composting the grass. My compost pile is almost knee high already and it's only about a month old!
After the sod and weeds are removed, we retill the ground, then we are planting dwarf blue kale and transplanting onions and garlic.
Hopefully the onions and garlic will deter the groundhogs!

When You Give Unselfishly...

Welcome back. Today Matt is dropping food off at MorningStar Mission.
I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to see my 9-year-old son care enough about the wellbeing of others to take the time to do this. It's just beyond description.
He has set up a collection point at work and educated others as to the need.
It is a blessing to our entire family to give this way!

Help Pilcher Park!

Why be a Cub Scout?

Have you ever wondered about Cub Scouts? What do they do? What do they stand for?
My son is Bear Cub Scout getting ready to bridge up to Webelo Cub Scouts in May. He has gained an amazing amount of self-confidence and skill just from being in Scouting since the fall of 2009.
Matt has built a wooden tool box, learned the joy of hiling with a group, studied astronomy and tried to get a few friends to join.
Scouting bases a lot on character, honesty and truthfulness.
Webelos stands for "we'll be loyal scouts."

Chicken Coop Going Up...

Well, hello! Welcome. Some around back and let's look at the new chicken coop. It's slowly coming together.
Candi cut the closet doors in half crosswise using our circular saw. She's getting to be quite precise about her carpentry skills!
Next we predrilled holes in the wall panels and the posts and screwed the sides to the posts.
Our next step will be to attach the 4th side with hinges. Then we still need to add the floor, ceiling and roof. The plan is to have the coop and run finished by this weekend and add chickens and a rooster.
I'd like it all done for Candi's birthday on Monday.

The New Pond

Good evening!
Have you ever noticed how therapeutic it is to sit beside a crick?
Have you ever thought about all the water running down the drain from your washer or shower?
Our pond is a grey-water pond/ crick. Right now it is fed by our washing machine drain and we will add the tub drain soon. Ass the washer hits the spin cycle water rushes out the pipe in the foundation into the upper pond.
As each pond refills, it overflows into the pond below and, eventually, through my garden.
This seriously cuts down on watering and I've never seen vegetables grow the way grey water makes them grow!
What is your grey water conservation technique?

Recycling What We Have...

Welcome back! Come around back and see our new project.
Lately we've been constructing a chicken coop and a run. The run is an old dog run we bought off someone for $50.
The wood for the walls, floor and roof are made from old closet doors.
We are repurposing everything possible. Not only does it save money, it also is a very 'green' way to live.
What have you repurposed at your house?

No-Till Garden

Hi! Welcome back! A lot going on here as usual. Check out what I'm doing out back.
This is a fresh attempt at no-till gardening. First I layed down cardboad. Then I spread year old compost over it. This compost was so beautiful! It was the richest I've ever seen.
In my little no-till area I planted peas. My first patch of peas this season. We love peas, so I will be planting many more.
What is your favorite veggie?

Starting to Stack Firewood!

Good Afternoon! Welcome to our humble homestead. Always glad when friends stop by!
This is, actually the spot where our tent was last year. Too slanted to put the tent there again, but perfect for firewood.
We laid out black plastic tarp first as a weed barrier, the pallets to keep the wood off the ground. We are trying to not just know where things are and how much we have, but look more organized too.
I am dedicating one pallet to kindling alone as we really ran short of that item this last winter. The other pallets will be firewood stacked neatly as high as possible, but so we can easily maneuver it ourselves.
Handy to the door and easily accessable are the keys to this project!

Leveling a New Spot for the Tent

Hi! So happy you're here! Come out back and see what we're up to now.
Last year our tent was on an incline closer to the house. We literally rolled into eachother all night. Although hillarious, it was uncomfortable.
This year we've decided to move the tent to the back of the lot. There's an incline there also, so we're using extra dirt to level it out a bit. We dump a bucket or two, then rake and repeat.
Soon we can put up our tent and have "The Great American Backyard Camp-out" all summer!
Camping Rocks!

Last Year's Garden...

Hi! Glad you stopped by! This is what remains of last years garden. As you can see, I fenced more than I could till alone. LOL my eyes were bigger than my shovel, I guess! Even so, I plan to plant as large an area this year.
If I don't reach for the clouds, I must happily trudge along with nothing!

It's Blooming Beautiful!

Good afternoon! It's so nice that you wandered by today.
Would you look at the front parkway? Isn't it lovely with all the daffodills blooming? I'm so glad they finally came up. It's so hard to wait for things to bloom in the spring!
Now to wait for the lillies and iris to bloom~ and I still have many flowers to transplant into our parkway.
What is the prettiest flower in your parkway? Do you plant edibles in yours?

Adding Roses

Good Morning! Glad you could come to visit with me today! What a treat this is.
Today we are setting out more rose bushes to add a little zip to the front garden bed. We are putting in five total~ 1 red, 1 magenta and 2 light pink.
A little manure and compost patted around and a good rain tonight. We should have beautiful roses in no time!

Starting the Alley Parkay!

Welcome back! So nice to see you this evening. As you can see I've been playing in the alley~ working a bit at cleaning it up.
My goal is to have the perimiter so nice the city leaves me alone when they inspect the neighborhood on foot this summer. I am concentrating on the front and back parkways as well as putting in the crops and getting chickens up and running!
My plan along the alley is to stack the old railroad ties that came with the property. Then I want a neat row of logs (preferrably pine) standing up out side the railroad ties. Inside the railroad ties is a deep bed for roses.
I'm hoping this will be very beautiful, woodsy and thorny when finished.

More Mulch!

Hi! Yes, I bought more mulch! Another seven bags on the front parkway.
I am only mulching the parts that I won't be changing this year. The area nearest the street is finished until the city comes through and finishes the curb. Wondering if they'll leave me with a curb across half of my front parkway?

The Pond as it Was

Hi! Welcome back to our humble homestead! Shall we grab an iced tea and wander around back?
This was our second attempt at a grey water pond. Although it was an improvement over the first, it was still a rough design with flaws (like the sides collapsing).
It did, however, attract a lot of birds and butterflies and our garden grew out of control.
Watch for coming updates on the new pond!

Oakwood Cemetery

We stopped by to spruce-up since we can't be here for the clean-up day!

Knowing Your Area

Hello. Glad to see you. Have a seat and lets chat.
I was just going over my map. Trying a new plan for exploring our area with my family this year. Let me know what you think, please.
I took out a map of our area and drew circles with a one mile radius from:
home
work
favorite parks
Grandma's farm
then I drew a two mile circles around each.
My theory is that we absolutely MUST KNOW the area one mile form home at minimum. Then one mile from work and our favorite hang-outs. The two mile circles are important, too, but down the road a bit.
I found it interesting how some of the one mile circles intersected!
What do your circles look like?

Matt's Stay at Silver Cross Hospital

Morning! So nice to see you. Guess you were wondering where I was this month~ I'm afraid I sort of disappeared and left all of you hanging. I do apologize.
Actually I had a family emergency with my son, Matthew. His appendix burst and he was hospitalized for six days!
Initially the visit went well. He had an excellent surgeon, Dr. Vera. A surgery that should have lasted 1- 1 1/2 hours took 3 because "it was the worst I've ever seen", as Dr. Vera put it!
Matt came through it well, but with a lot of pain and is almost fully recovered.
I do not want to discuss the care provided by the hospital.
We are very greatful to Dr. Vera for his expertise and caring!

Spread 7 Bags of Mulch!

Hi! Nice of you to stop by! I've been cleaning up the front parkway. I spread seven bags of mulch and planted 49 bulbs! Neither seemed to go nearly as far as it should have. The bulbs barely planted the small area north of the drive~ roughly 2x3 ft. It's basically a rock garden with mulch, but I hope the flowers spred fast!
As I'm planning to relandscape closer to the fence, I'm only mulching near the streeT. The mulch gives the lot such a finished look, helps to cut watering and adds to the cabin atmosphere we're going for!

A Great Waitress

A week ago we ate at Anthony's in Lockport, IL. The food, of course, was good. It always is.
What was exceptional was the service from our waitress, Kelly! It was so nice to have my coffee kept full and the table kept clear of empty dishes. Kelly didn't even mind the high chair which partially blocked the aisle or the baby spoon waving.
Today I am wishing all waitresses were as conscientious as Kelly!

Excellent Service

Last week we went to The Old Fashioned Pancake House on Jefferson Street in Joliet for dinner. We know we always get great service at this restaurant and this particular night was no exception!

We were promptly seated in a booth as we requested and greeted by Margaret, our server. She immediately brought waters for each of us with out us having to ask and my coffee was served quickly after!

Margaret was exceptionally friendly, remembering us even though we had not been in in over a month! She even noticed how much my grandson had grown and sat and chatted with us for a bit.

The service of the food was, of course, excellent and my coffee cup was kept full. More importantly, was Margaret's personality and that she honestly cares for her customers.

When you stop into The Old Fashioned Pancake House ask for Margaret's section for warm service with a smile!

Shampoo Buffet

Hi! I wanted to share how over-run we've become with shampoo! Well, okay, with the future so uncertain we know we can't turn down any decent products offered. So, when my boss offers all the mini bottles he gets at hotels, we say 'thank you' and sort out our favorites!
Then there are the shampoos that are tried and trusted and the news ones we just had to try. All total you can see we have an abundance.
Yes, I could leave a few out and stash the rest in a closet~ ultimately to be forgotten. And we'd end up buying more.
Instead I put all of it in this clean basket. A veritable 'Shampoo Buffet' for friends and family!

A Typical Weekday...

Well, hello there! Sorry I've been away for a while, but Matt had an emergency appendectomy and has kept me very busy. Come around back and we can chat while I hang more laundry!
Today was a busy day at work with books to balance and messages from prospective employees to retrieve from the answering machine. Of course there were also tenants and employees who needed attention.
Around 2:00pm Matt and I headed home. I set him up out back at the table to study. Then I threw a load of laundry in the washer and joined him. I worked on sorting job applications and set 2 interviews in between hanging out 3 loads of laundry. Matt got a lot of school work done.
After we picked Candi & Aiden up at work, I gave Matt a shower, treated Matt's staples (where the surgery was) and we all ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Aiden was quite impressed with the bites of sandwich I gave him. Then it was back to laundry. Seven loads hung and three ready to be hung tomorrow!
For a little extra fun I made a new batch of laundry soap and started knitting another hat.
Whatever your day brings you, make it happy and don't forget to speak kindly without criticism and to do something nice for yourself.