My New Feed Scoop

Good evening all! Isn't the weather beautiful?

What do you think of my new feed scoop? It was on sale at Farm and Fleet in Aurora and I couldn't resist! At $2.50, it was a small price to pay for happiness. It sure makes me smile every time I refill feed!!!

What small measures have you taken to make your daily chores more enjoyable?

Where was I Going Again?

Isn't it truly amazing how off track a person can get in the course of just living their life? 

I recently noticed how far from my goal I was. What the heck happened? How could I have allowed myself to let this happen? 

My original intent for my homestead was to be self-sufficient~ as in not require my paycheck to live. I wanted my homestead to pay it's own bills. I wanted it to cover all basic necessities based on my personal criteria. 

Although I've gotten a lot done in improvements toward my goal, I can safely say that I am still way off the mark. The chickens are in and a huge blessing every day. Yes, even during the Snowpocalypse! They are not, however, making me any profit. 

Last year I allowed personal circumstances to prevent me from fully planting and harvesting my garden. What little planting did get done was soon overtaken by weeds and weeding just didn't get done often enough. With the weeds overtaking the garden, harvest time was a disaster. I had very little to dehydrate.

This year I did no canning from my garden for the 3rd year in a row. I did make a few jars of jam from our own fruit. The last one is open in the fridge. 

This was not my plan. Not my plan to look into the pantry and contemplate eating beans every day WTSHTF. Not my plan to not be self-sufficient by now. 

I am re-assessing my game plan and mode of operation. I am formulating a plan to get my humble little homestead back on track. By December I intend to be at the point where my job is not a necessity. Not that I intend to quit! On the contrary~ I just want showing up to work to be because I enjoy being here. 

My Special Project

Hey! Nice of you to stop by. Come on in and sit down. Take your boots off and put your feet by the fire! I'll pour us some coffee while you warm your toes a bit.

I know the weather doesn't seem conducive to it, but I am planning to put a garden in at MorningStar Mission in the spring. 

Yes, this is a tall order. It is what God is requiring of me at this point in my walk. I went in and got permission last year, then felt overwhelmed and backed out. I am embarrassed to say it, but I wimped out! In order to do this, I must be willing to teach an hour long class on gardening, composting, rearing chickens, etc each week. I was at a loss. 

This year I am following God's will for my life more closely. More obedience and less rebellion. His way is always the best. 

Think of the possibilities! Teaching those who have less than I how to put in a garden and raise their own food. Giving them that sense of independence. But, more importantly, sharing food, Christian music, fun, fellowship and learning! Isn't this the basis of what we are supposed to be doing every day? 

I have mentioned the project to a friend at church and she loved the idea. She heads the outreach and wants to talk more about it. She even knows others who may want to help! 

Maybe we could get some local Boy Scouts to come help too? And don't forget Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts!

We are going to have so much fun! 

Preparedness vs Snowpocalypse 2011

Well, Dear Friends, Snowpocalypse 2011 seems to be over...

or is it? 

The weather will tell us over time!

How did your family fare during the storm? 

Did you have enough firewood and groceries stocked up? 

What did you learn from the experience?

As for my household? 

Well, we were okay.

That is definitely Not a reassuring statement! 

Here we sat with no firewood on hand. 

Well, there is wood out back, but I can't find the little chisel I used to split wood last winter.

Huge logs and no splitter is the same as no firewood on hand! 

Just plain dumb and unprepared.

Plain and simple.

Yes, the furnace still works. 

It rumbles incessantly putting out some heat. 

But...

I was not prepared.

No excuse in the world will keep us warm.

What would we have done if the gas or electric had gone out?!

We would have been beyond cold. 

And so, come summer Matt and I will be stocking up on firewood.

This will be a major priority. 

Scout Sunday?

Good afternoon all! 

I'm glad to see you today. 

Happy Scout Sunday to you!!!

How was your church service this morning? 

Yes, I'm sincerely hoping you attended your worship service this morning. 

Matt and I attended service at a local Baptist church. 

I was amazed the Matt was the only boy there in full class A uniform.

He was the only boy I saw in uniform at all. 

How sad that was.

How sad that there was no mention of scouting during service.

I would not want scouting to be more important than worshiping our Lord, but I would like to see scouting encouraged more in churches. 

So, as we drove home, Matt and I chatted about the similarities between the contents of his Bible, his Sunday school Bible study book and his Webelos scout book. 

The 12 points of the Boy Scout Law are:

Trustworthy

Loyal

Helpful

Friendly

Courteous

Kind

Obedient

Cheerful

Thrifty

Brave

Clean

Reverent

Maybe I'm a bit confused, but aren't these things we are teaching and encouraging in church?

How wonderful it would be if all the boys could have the scouting opportunity! 

Death by Snow? 2.2.11

Hi!
Glad to see you!
You just missed all the shoveling fun.
Matt and I finished for today (hopefully).
Now, take a look down this hill...
Would you believe people are voluntarily driving down it?!?!
And honking at people who are in the road at the bottom of the hill!
How would you explain that accident to your insurance provider?

Shovel Out? 2.2.11

Well, the drive is done, but the streets are not plowed!
No sign of the plow yet!
Does Will County still plow side streets?
Matt and I are digging out the street at the end of our drive while Mr McDoodle romps in the snow.

Driveway, 2.2.11

Well, I found the drive.
Or, part of it!
It really wasn't much of a snowfall.
But, where is the street?
Haven't seen a snow plow yet.

Inside the Chicken Run, 2.2.11

I am so very glad I took the time to stand out in the cold last month and finally tarp the run!
And think, it was so cold and my fingers were so numb that I almost quit half way through.
This is so much less snow than on the rest of the lot, but I don't think my feathered children will be venturing out as they are not fond of snow on their toes.

Shoveled Out Back Patio, 2.2.11

Well, I shoveled enough to feed Farmer Fred and his harem!
Obviously it's a little deep.
Nothing to cry about, though!
The chickens appreciated the visit as they turned their water over again.
Mr McDoodle tried the bunny hop through the drifts, but only hopped 5 feet before he hopped on back!!!
How is your puppy enjoying the snow?

Snow Apocalypse, 2.2.11

Back door!!!

Snow Apocalypse, 2.2.11

Remember when I said to use the front door?
Well, this is a view of the front yard,
and,
after a second Long look,
I noticed the street appears to be
3-4 feet deep!

Snow Apocalypse, 2.2.11

Snow Apocalypse!

Okay, this is the view this morning! Note the drifts around and beyond the neighbor's garbage tote.

2.1.11 A Little Drifting

It's a good thing the feathered children have plenty of food, munchies and a lamp on a timer for heat!
The snow has drifted over the bottom edge of the door. It will still be easy to open it, though. That's good as we have a platter of oranges and onion and potato peals for their breakfast tomorrow!
Thinking I may have to go out the front door on my house and wade around back to the coop.
Sure glad I thought ahead to drape the run with tarps on two sides. They should have a fairly clear run to play in despite the storm. And sun beaming in on the south side of the run.
But... I am rambling a bit... I'll try to post more pics as things develop.

2.1.11 'Blizzard'

Well, friends, it is best you not come to the back door! This is all the further it would open! LOL
It is the west side of the house... not so deep out front! The fire is roaring so you can come in and warm up.

Snow Apocalypse?

Well, dear friends, I am still waiting for the blizzard to hit... Maybe my perspective is due to the years I lived in Bradford, PA...? I'm thinking that is probably the case... I look out the door and think, "Finally, a decent amount of snow!" well, I have been saying, "We either need three feet at once or none at all!" This messing around with an inch here and there just doesn't seem right~ or logical...
Yes, there is the remnant of a large TV in my driveway... it belongs to Matt who brought it home to strip it of copper for his recycling business... he started to take it apart when cute little Destiny wandered over and he lost interest in the copper and spent the last day warm enough to do anything worthwhile outside trying to impress a girl with his abilities to pummel a TV with brute strength! As it is frozen to the drove, I have decided to ignore it until the spring thaw!
Are you getting any decent amounts of fluffy white stuff?
'Snow Day' tomorrow?
Any special plans?

2.1.11 @ 8pm

So, this may be a better photo of how far my storm door was opening..?

Snow Apocalypse 2.1.11

Happy Blizzard!
This is the amount of snow blown up against my back door.
This is all the further it will open!

Sometimes it Really is All About Attitude!

Well, Hello! Happy Blizzard to you!! 

As you look at the impending storm, or the storm hitting you as we speak, are you focusing on how beautiful God makes the snow and ice? 

Have you noticed the reflection of the sun on the snow and ice is almost enough to light up the inside of your house? 

Are you prayerfully grateful for the snow as your town is running out of water? 

Maybe you are planning a Blizzard Party?!

Here, at work, I have set our 

1st Annual Blizzard Party

in motion. 

At 3:00pm there will be a potluck in our tenant library. 

Between now and the party our tenants should be cooking up a storm to show off their culinary skills to all their neighbors! They'll be way too busy to fret over the pending blizzard.

From 3:00pm till 10:00pm they will be so busy munching and chatting happily with their neighbors they won't have time to worry. 

Take a blizzard and make it a party!!! 

Maybe the snow is God's way of saying "Slow down, enjoy and take care of each other!"

Just Enough for Breakfast

Good morning! Welcome to my snowy world!!
Have you ever thought about how much 'enough' is?
Is a dozen back-up eggs from the store enough? Could you be okay with whatever your hens lay each day? What if you were really hungry for French toast and it was so cold out your hens weren't laying? Could you be grateful for a bowl of cereal?
What about that man on the highway on ramp? How many mornings does he wake up craving French toast? Is he grateful for whatever the local shelter is serving?

Seeds for the Future

Okay, folks, Spring is just around the corner so it's time to drag out all the seeds you harvested/ had left over from last year. 

Thinking back, was your garden successful last year? The year before? Was the difference due to the planting method or the seeds you used? If you're like me, you are always reading up on the old, time tested methods of planting and trying those 'new' concepts out! 

Okay, so we're sorting our seed packets~ good vs compost. What's left? 

I know my corn (both varieties I planted) came up and produced well for a change. I know I have a few kernels left of each, but not enough to plant the next few years. Not really even enough for this year. I wonder if the unopened packets I have are the same varieties/ manufacturer? 

Sad to say, but I'm pretty sure all my seeds are hybrid and GMO. That means that I really absolutely have to replace all my seeds with heirloom non-hybrid non-GMO seeds in order to protect my future and the future of my family. 

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hello there! Have you ever noticed how wrapped up in our own lives and troubles we can become? As the world as we know it collapses faster and faster, it seems to me we should each execute a plan to 'pay it forward'. 

What I'm thinking is that, if we each provide serious assistance to someone else, we can change the path we are on. 

What can you do to 'pay it forward'? 

Soon I will share my plan.

A Snack for the Chickens

Good afternoon! Glad you stopped by. Did you bring any left-overs to feed to my feathered children? I try to keep one of their platters clean and ready to fill with scraps, peels and left-overs. It is so neat to watch them when they realize I have a platter of fresh munchies!

Sunday Breakfast

Good Morning!
Happy Sunday!
How are you this sunny morning? You're just in time for a country breakfast. This morning we're having fresh scrambled eggs with veggies, toast and coffee.
For today's veggies I included diced red bell pepper, onion cilantro and potato. I seasoned it with a little Sazon and Adobo.
Yummy!

Simple Things

It's so easy to let our lives get caught up in daily activities and the need to keep up with our neighbor's shopping habits, but is this really healthy?
When you look at your stress level compared to that of your grandparents, what so you see?
Yes, I realize my grandparents had some stress, but not like what I sometimes add to my own life.
This fact really hit home as I watched Mr McDoodle with his ham bone. He was so delighted over something so meaningless most.
In my life I must simplify. I must remove the overly dramatic people.
I have placed a stack of empty boxes by my front door. As I sort, deep clean and rearrange each room, I am removing anything that complicates my life.
It is truly amazing how little is left after this process is barely started in each room! Yes, for now all the rooms ate torn apart. So what?! I am deep cleaning and purging my life of stress and drama.
Refreshing!

Just Knowing My Bill Will be Low!

Hi! Welcome back. Come in and warm your feet by the fire.
Today was my lucky day! I was able to pick up a Jeep load of wood from a nice family on Joliet_Area_Freedom ( yahoo group). All this beautiful wood was piled in the back of my Jeep, along with some kindling.
We will be warm for quite a few days without the furnace kicking on very often. That means that Nicor gas will, once again, be getting very little of my hard warned money!
My gas bill for November, on a 1200 sq ft house, was $36.00!
How much was your November 2010 heating bill?

Grey Water Garden in Winter

Good evening!
Merry Christmas!
Isn't the grey water garden lively in all this fluffy snow?! Today I'm on my 5th load of laundry, so the garden is thawed. It's nice to have a water source for all the wildlife... and my neighbor's little herd of stray cats! It's also nice to have a source of water fir my fruit trees and vegetable garden all year.
How pleasant to look out my kitchen window and see a bird hopping around by one of the ponds.
Imagine if every one of your neighbors put in a grey eater garden?! How much less usable water would go onto the sewer lines! How much greener their landscaping would be!!!

Pre-Storm Morning

Good morning! Are you ready for the snow and ice? Apparently my chickens were unconcerned about the coming storm as they were in a hurry to get out of the coop and vie for optimum space on the one remaining perch in their run!

Hat for Kelsey

My latest creation... For a little girl at Matt's school who doesn't have a hat. She asked for blue and purple... hope she likes it!

Finished for Today

Well, friends, I finished for today. Not because I am happy with the results, but because it is getting too cold for my feathered children to be out in their run... they spent most of the time I was insulating in their run bracing the cold and high winds. All except for one young lady who insisted on supervising me while rebuilding the neat I tire apart. why does she insist on laying her eggs next to the main coop Dior (human door) instead of in the nesting box?
Here's hoping my feathered children are warm enough tonight as temps drop and the wind picks up!

Beginning Insulating as the Wind Picks Up

Okay, so the staple gin jammed and I can't get it unstuck, so I tried the red tape which did not stick well and moved on to liquid nails which is working well so far. Still 30F in here.

Before Insulating

This is what the walls of the coop look like as I prepare to insulate. It is currently 30 F in here.

Sunday at Home

Good morning, dear friend! How is your morning going so far? Come on in, if you dare! Today Matt and I stayed home to rest and try to catch up on chores and family time... planning to be back in church next Sunday as my cold seems to have run it's course! This, of course, is my little wood stove... I'm afraid to admit the wood rack is indeed empty except for one small log I'm saving for tonight when the temps drop to a minus 35 wind chill... right now I'm burning scrap wood from a clean-up at work, including wood shingles... So far today we are toasty... Matt and I are watching "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" while doing laundry and brushing a freshly bathed Me McDoodle... Hope your day is blessed!

A Good Morning!

Well, hi there! How are you? We're all doing splendidly.
How have your temps been? It's been averaging about 10 F degrees in the coop overnight. Just too cold!

Thoughts While Waiting

Well, good afternoon! 

Glad you could stop by to chat a minute... 

here I sit waiting for Matt's school to let out... 

I'm not very good with just sitting, so I tend to knit and/or make lists... 

Today my thoughts are on the cold weather... 

Too cold to be out doing chores...

 But up to 22 F degrees

As soon as I pick up Matt, we have to stop by a house that offered us free firewood (subsistence living)... 

Then pick up something fairly healthy to eat and head back to work... 

 Tonight I have for to get tarps strung up around the chicken run ...

 I am thinking I van use a length of rope run through the loops on the shower curtains and tarp and run in and out of the chicken wire and frame of the run... 

Has to be done to protect the feathered children from the frigid winds... 

Then I also absolutely must begin stapling leftover floor padding in between the wall studs in the coop... 

A quick attempt at insulating...

 I'll staple clear plastic over it... 

Think that will be a lot easier to clean that drywall or durarock...

 Last few times I was out in the coop it was 10- 20 F out there!

 Way too cold for my poor chickens...

 I'd like them as comfortable as possible...

What are your coop strategies?

Thoughts While I Wait

As I sit and wait for Matt to get out of school, I must admit my thoughts have been turning toward how unprepared I really am for any real emergency.
I survive week to week on what firewood I can scrounge/ barter.
We barely have a weeks worth of groceries in the house.
I am almost completely dependent on the utility companies.
I do not have a support system in my neighborhood. In fact, I may actually have the opposite of it!
What can I do to stabilize our future?
Attempt to stock back up on groceries.
Look further for a like-minded individual as a potential room mate.
Start hooking up solar and wind power a little each pay day.
Pray.

Farmer Fred is Watching

Hello! So nice of you to stop by our snowy homestead. Come on in for a cup of hot coffee and a chat. I just put on a fresh pot. Hope you don't mind, but I'm using a drip coffee maker at home.
Take a peek out the kitchen window...

3 Eggs!

Hello! Welcome back. So glad you could stop by on this cold, cold day! Come around back an take a look at my fluffy little egg layers.
Last night there were actually three eggs waiting for me!

The Perfect Tree

>

> I think I've found the perfect Christmas tree! It's a little short, too
>

Johnny Cakes a la Matthew!

Well, good afternoon! You're just in time for lunch. Matt's making johnny cakes. Today's his first lesson on johnny cakes. For today's recipe he mixed a can of corn, 2 fresh eggs, a box of Jiffy corn bread mix and some milk. One recipe at a time Matt is learning to be a self-sufficient adult. The goal is to be able to completely care for himself by the time he is 18-years-old. We're off to a great start!

A Quiet Sunday at Home

Hi! Glad to see you! I'm still coughing, but you can come in if you dare. Today I'm primarily resting. No church :( and only really supervising cleaning. Matt made eggs and toast with apple butter for breakfast. Then he let the chickens out and got them clean, warm water. After that Matt and Mr McDoodle went for a jog around the block, a recent excercise he added on his own that completely exhausts Mr McDoodle! Then Matt hauled in a bit of firewood and kindling, stripped his bed and collapsed on the family room floor next to Mr McDoodle! Me? I'm knitting and trying to decide which 2-4 loads of laundry we should wash tomorrow and keeping the fire going. Happy Sunday and talk to you later!

New Beginnings

Hi, all! Welcome back. As you can tell, I am making a new beginning. Sometimes one just has to start over... rethink their direction on this planet... and begin again. 

My new slogan for my life is 'back to basics', something my boss says a lot! Don't tell him I'm using his slogan~ we just don't want him that happy, now do we?! 

All joking aside, I am thinking about a more real-life touch to our relationship... keeping you more up to date on our daily lives... are you ready for reality? 

Okay, so today being my one day off and Sunday, there should have been prescribed activities... but, as it turns out, I am dealing with a cold and didn't feel like sharing it with everyone at church... I know, I'm selfish not to share, but what can I say? 

Instead Matt and I slept in... ah the luxury... Matt cooked a breakfast of scrambled eggs with bits of beef stick and cheese... then we watched a Christmas movie on the Hallmark Movie Channel, lost a few rounds of Super Mario on Wii to Matt then washed 3 loads of laundry (not making a dent in the laundry still needing washing!). Now we are home... Matt hauled in firewood, played in the ashes of the grill (guy thing?), took a full bath and is playing Wii again... 

I have a dinner of dehydrated ham, mustard greens and squash in the crock pot... hopefully done soon! 

Life is good... sometimes a day that doesn't go according to plan is the best kind of day!  

This is Fresh and We are Blessed!

Breakfast Treat!

Good morning! Such a beautiful crisp fall morning for company. Come on around back and see my feathered children. This morning I gave them a snack of popcorn with a bit of leftover spaghetti. Of course someone always has to jump up into the middle of the platter and kick food everywhere! Why do feathered children do this? I have to tell you that they were so sweet last night. When I went out to check their dishes and put them to bed, they let me pet them. They were even purring softly~ or making whatever soft pleasure noise feathered children make when they are happy! Regardless, it was nice to have the opportunity to pet each one and tame them a little! How are your feathered children today?!

My Chickens are Happy!

Hi! I came home to find my feathered children had turned their water tub over. That's their way of saying, "Fill it now, please!" So I scrubbed it out with dish soap (Ajax) and bleach (Clorox) and filled it with fresh water and vitamins. Look how happy those children are to have fresh, cool water to drink!

21 Hats for Food Pantry!

Good evening! So glad to see you! Come on in and put up your feet. Would you like a soda? What do you think of the hats I've knitted for food pantry at our church? I'm so excited! I was planning to have 40 completed and dropped off by Christmas. By having 21 ready to drop off now, I am over half done! This is so exciting as I will easily be able to make more than 40 in time. More than 40 people will have warm heads this winter. A warm head can keep someone alive when they're sleeping outside. I have 2 more half knitted and need to get back to work. Do mind if I knit while we chat?

My Hungry Children!

Hey! Come around back and watch my hungry children eat! Let's put out a fresh platter of leftovers and watch them wrestle over each morsel!

5 Minute Break to Knit

Hi! Glad to see you! Would you like to sit a spell out front with me? Did you bring you knitting? I love to take five minute breaks to sit in the hammock chair and knit.

Sabrina Guards the Back Door!

Leaves are Falling!

Hello! How are you this lovely afternoon? Such a beautiful day! Have you noticed the leaves falling yet? Some of my Mulberry leaves, out front, turned brown a few weeks ago and fell. Now I am noticing my Peach leaves are turning a bright golden-yellow and falling. It's fun to watch the colors unfold, and, although I'll miss all the outdoor summer activities, it just feels right for the seasons to change. Time for home canning, stacking firewwod, halloween costumes and Christmas surprises!

What is it?

FW: My Doorman~ dare to knock?

This fellow seems to be part of an overall omen of an early winter. He and his mates have decided to take over my home with oversized webs.

Matt put it up himself!

Our First Slaughter!

Hi all! Well, I thought this was gonna be tough to do, even though I'd seen my Dad do it as a child, but it was remarkably easy! I have to admit I am bad at cutting heads off. Have to learn to swing harder. And, don't behead near the coop as they run under it afterward! So glad he came out the other side before he died!! Otherwise I'd have been fishing him out with a broom handle. So now we have a rooster hanging upside down in a tree out back. Not the noisiest, but the one who was attacking hens when Candi put the leftovers in. Candi, Matt and Aiden all watched. No tears, but there was some cheering!

Not Enough Wood?!

Hi! Are you enjoying this beautiful warm weather? 

Have you thought ahead about winter winds to come? 

 I'm afraid I spent my summer on many things that did not prepare me for winter. 

Now, as I look at my pitiful wood pile, I wonder where I can gather more wood?

 It is definitely time to restack for hauling efficiency, then load the Jeep anywhere we see wood piled at the curb!

Damage from Neighbor Kids

Hello! Glad you came by!
 Sorry to say, but I'm stuck at the end of my drive amazed at the deliberate damage to my landscaping by the neighbor's children. 
Funny how people can watch you spend hours improving your property then allow their children to destroy it! 
 I was so upset to arrive home from work to find my landscaping rocks were missing! Then the kids told me they took them and refused to return them.
 I've now planted several Prickly Pear plants between the remaining rocks.

My Feathered Children!

Morning! How are you this lovely day? 

 I popped out to check the food and water for my feathered children and found the water was empty! After cleaning and filling it, with much coaching from the recipients, they flocked around to wet their collective whistles! This is the waterer I bought at 'Big R' in Morris when I first got them as chicks. It is, sadly, rusting already and will be replaced soon.

 Clean rust-free water is essential.

Hanging laundry... 0:)

Our campsite @ Silver Cross Field

Tonight is Rainbow Council Jackhammers Overnight! 

Candace, Matthew, Aiden and I watched the game against Kansas City. 

It was the slowest, longest game ever (or so it seemed), but we won! 

 After the game Matt and I gathered our camping stuff from the Jeep and set up our camp. 

He and I decided to sleep under the stars like a Webelo as we can always use more practice, but we did bring the 2-man tent in case of rain. 

 Well, no stars in the sky, but no hint of rain either. 

The movie, "The Sandlot", is starting. 

I need to relax with the best son in the world in the outfield. 

Have a blessed night all!

Great Service at Old Fashioned Pancake House!

Thank you so much to Stephanie at Old Fashioned pancake House on Jefferson St. for the great service on Monday morning! We had company here from Toledo and so had a big group. She was on top of everything and kept my coffee cup full. 

The baby spilled my daughter's water all over the table and Stephanie was thrilled to help clean up! She was quick with more napkins and a smile. 

We all had such a good meal and excellent service. 

Thank you again Stephanie!