Some of you know my mother, Given55. She guest blogged here for me when I was without a computer. This was posted on her blog today
Last night at my community meeting I had to go to the Emergency room. My chest went into so much pain that I could not endure it any longer. I did not think I was having a heart attack but, did think that I may have fluid on my heart.
She called me last night to ask if I could take her to the doctor today, I said I would. Then this morning when I called her she told me that her husband took her to the hospital last night. Today she saw her regular doctor and she won't know anything until Monday. If you have a moment, could you please stop by her blog and say hi, or say a prayer for her.
Thank you.
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Friday, February 15, 2008
That Bites
I left here yesterday, jacket in hand, around 2 pm. Short sleeved shirts were all the rage. I went to help out with my 6 year olds kindergarten V-Day party. Yes, I am THE room parent. (that statement shocks and causes a fit of giggles for those that know me well) Once we left the party, 3:30pm, is was below freezing. And I had to go out and work in it.
As I think back on yesterdays events, I find the process rather fascinating. I watch as our past lives get junked, either to the scrap metal pile, or the trash can, or the burn barrel, or to be repurposed. Our past lives have no more room in our current one. It is hard to watch some things go, but we don't have the room to keep these things are on pure sentimental value.
The wind was biting right through my leather. It was painful. My shoulders ached and cursed at me, my knees wanted to call it a day. Yet things are to be done in this kind of weather if we want to be homesteaders. A room mom asked me what I did yesterday. I easily said homesteader, and she gave me a look of worry. And it suddenly hit me, most people don't see the difference between a homesteader and a survivalist. That could explain some of the government agencies that like to hang out on my blog, besides the USDA. I quickly said to the mom that we were not survivalists. We do not feel that the government is out to get us, or that we need to protect ourselves at any cost from them. We do feel that they have too much say in our lives, but the point of homesteading is to be self reliant. To do things for ourselves, and not depend on everyone around us for handouts, for food, for clothing. She still had an uneasy look on her face, but nodded politely. One would think that my children would not be in a public school system if I was a survivalist. But I don't know what goes on in the minds of people that are not accustom to homesteading. After the look I received from that mother, I need to think of a better explanation about what homesteading is. But I guess I just veered from what I was saying.
The wind bites. We moved our fridge feed storage into the pen with the goats and sheep. We have some hog panel that my brother-in-law gave us, and that was placed to use as a holding pen for when they first get here (still talking cows). I was using a magnet on a stick to gather any loose metal, I came up with a lot of staples. Today we work on the two gates.
Killi, if you are reading, your book on homemade farm devices rocks! It has been very useful these past couple of days. There are a few things in it that we will be doing (photos to come) two of the gates listed in there will be made today. Thank you again!
I don't want to go back out there. Last night my husband asked, while I was complaining, Are you a pioneer woman. I screamed into the wind, NO! I AM A SUBURBAN GIRL!
As I think back on yesterdays events, I find the process rather fascinating. I watch as our past lives get junked, either to the scrap metal pile, or the trash can, or the burn barrel, or to be repurposed. Our past lives have no more room in our current one. It is hard to watch some things go, but we don't have the room to keep these things are on pure sentimental value.
The wind was biting right through my leather. It was painful. My shoulders ached and cursed at me, my knees wanted to call it a day. Yet things are to be done in this kind of weather if we want to be homesteaders. A room mom asked me what I did yesterday. I easily said homesteader, and she gave me a look of worry. And it suddenly hit me, most people don't see the difference between a homesteader and a survivalist. That could explain some of the government agencies that like to hang out on my blog, besides the USDA. I quickly said to the mom that we were not survivalists. We do not feel that the government is out to get us, or that we need to protect ourselves at any cost from them. We do feel that they have too much say in our lives, but the point of homesteading is to be self reliant. To do things for ourselves, and not depend on everyone around us for handouts, for food, for clothing. She still had an uneasy look on her face, but nodded politely. One would think that my children would not be in a public school system if I was a survivalist. But I don't know what goes on in the minds of people that are not accustom to homesteading. After the look I received from that mother, I need to think of a better explanation about what homesteading is. But I guess I just veered from what I was saying.
The wind bites. We moved our fridge feed storage into the pen with the goats and sheep. We have some hog panel that my brother-in-law gave us, and that was placed to use as a holding pen for when they first get here (still talking cows). I was using a magnet on a stick to gather any loose metal, I came up with a lot of staples. Today we work on the two gates.
Killi, if you are reading, your book on homemade farm devices rocks! It has been very useful these past couple of days. There are a few things in it that we will be doing (photos to come) two of the gates listed in there will be made today. Thank you again!
I don't want to go back out there. Last night my husband asked, while I was complaining, Are you a pioneer woman. I screamed into the wind, NO! I AM A SUBURBAN GIRL!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Help Wanted
We are expecting an ice storm this afternoon/ early evening. Not something I look forward to working in. But there is so much to get done. We weren't expecting to get cows this soon. We knew that one day, like before Feb. 2009, that we would get cows, but not to have all this fall into our laps so soon. The barn is full of motorcycles, and engines as well as a little of this and that stuff for our future house, if we can ever get that thing built. We went and bought a salt lick, and have a line on some prairie hay. My brother-in-law pays $50 a ton for it, we will be getting it for $25 a ton. My brother-in-law told his sister that he has a $1,500 a month feed bill. Our feed bill currently is $30 a month, and will be going up slightly, but not that much.
Last night my husband figured up that the cows will pay for themselves, with just butter and milk, in 10 months. That is not including other things, like beef, cheese, lawn mowing and manure.
Are you tired of hearing about the cows yet?
The dams are horned, but were bred to a polled bull. (polled means hornless in case you didn't know. I didn't learn that term until last year when I started seriously looking into Dexters) The calf is polled and the pregnant one's calf should be as well. The dams are slightly older then what they suggest you buy, but because they still have several (between 4 to 10 years on just one) and they have both calved, we decided to go a head with it. The 4 of them are costing us less then 1 Dexter. They are registered, but not with NAIS. But if the government is really interested in their movement it looks like they can always check in with me here.
The Dams were raised as beef cows (well breeders for beef) so it will take a little longer for them to allow us to actually milk them. But we will be starting on the heifer (she is 3 weeks old) and depending what the other dam throws, right away. SO that by the time they are ready to breed and calf, they will be more accepting of us milking them.
We have 1,600 feet of fencing to put up. Anyone interested in coming out to help? We'll bbq.
Last night my husband figured up that the cows will pay for themselves, with just butter and milk, in 10 months. That is not including other things, like beef, cheese, lawn mowing and manure.
Are you tired of hearing about the cows yet?
The dams are horned, but were bred to a polled bull. (polled means hornless in case you didn't know. I didn't learn that term until last year when I started seriously looking into Dexters) The calf is polled and the pregnant one's calf should be as well. The dams are slightly older then what they suggest you buy, but because they still have several (between 4 to 10 years on just one) and they have both calved, we decided to go a head with it. The 4 of them are costing us less then 1 Dexter. They are registered, but not with NAIS. But if the government is really interested in their movement it looks like they can always check in with me here.
The Dams were raised as beef cows (well breeders for beef) so it will take a little longer for them to allow us to actually milk them. But we will be starting on the heifer (she is 3 weeks old) and depending what the other dam throws, right away. SO that by the time they are ready to breed and calf, they will be more accepting of us milking them.
We have 1,600 feet of fencing to put up. Anyone interested in coming out to help? We'll bbq.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Meeting the House Cows
I stupidly left my camera behind.
Yesterday my husband, my youngest boy and I headed out 1 ½ hours north of our homestead to meet our cows. They stand on the tall side of the Dexter measurements, but real beauties. The Dam has a 3 week old heifer, and another Dam in pregnant. Looks like we will get the honors of this calving shortly after she is here.
Needless to say that we are very excited and busy around here.
Yesterday my husband, my youngest boy and I headed out 1 ½ hours north of our homestead to meet our cows. They stand on the tall side of the Dexter measurements, but real beauties. The Dam has a 3 week old heifer, and another Dam in pregnant. Looks like we will get the honors of this calving shortly after she is here.
Needless to say that we are very excited and busy around here.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
We Need to Talk
I have a few thing I want to discuss this morning, no worries, I'm not breaking up with you.
First, the Farm Bill. They still have yet to come to an agreement. Why? Oh various reasons, one person wants this, another that and no one wants to compromise. You know the story. The deadline is looming however, and if they do not pass something by March 18th the farm bill will revert back to the 1949 bill. Not necessarily a bad thing as that bill adjust for inflation. However it might be a better idea to extend the 2002 bill, as farmers have already lived with that one for awhile. Change can be scarey when it comes to farming. Why should any of this matter to us? Where do you get your food? The general public has seemed to forgotten about where it is that all that food you see sitting around the grocery stores have come from farms, and what effects the farmers will effect you, not just in prices but in quality and quantity. Which brings us to the next topic corn.
I use to not see the big deal when it came to ethanol. The corn they were using is feed corn. How would that effect us. Well, now that the US government is hading out huge subsidies to encourage farmers to grow corn, our wheat supply has gone down. The price of wheat is now 50% more then it was at the beginning of the year, and we are only in the 2nd month. This isn't good. I also discovered last night that it takes 1.29 gallons of gasoline to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. That ratio will never get us off foreign oil. When I heard about the wheat prices, I called my mother last night. Her reply to me was "it will cast a day's wages to by a loaf of bread." Farmers are choosing to raise corn because if the profit that is to be made. We can't blame them for that, but we can change the situation, don't buy ethanol. Our wheat supply is very low this year, hasn't been this low in a very long time, and it is worrisome.
But there is some good news coming out of South Dakota, from the Rapid City Journal;
Usually it is time to transplant outside. Check back in a few days to see what happens to them next.
Yesterday was busy when it comes to the prep for the House Cow Quest. Lots of barn clean up.
Because of the new quest, the choose you homesteaders adventure will be placed on hold, however it was suggested the I spin wool. I would love to do that, and it is in the list of things to do this year. Check back in for the mistake, I mean adventure.
Also is anyone interested in learning how to make bread? I have one person, and thought I would extend the invite to everyone. We will do the class live on yahoo, not video, but IM. If you're interested please email me with your yahoo IM address and I will add you to the list.
First, the Farm Bill. They still have yet to come to an agreement. Why? Oh various reasons, one person wants this, another that and no one wants to compromise. You know the story. The deadline is looming however, and if they do not pass something by March 18th the farm bill will revert back to the 1949 bill. Not necessarily a bad thing as that bill adjust for inflation. However it might be a better idea to extend the 2002 bill, as farmers have already lived with that one for awhile. Change can be scarey when it comes to farming. Why should any of this matter to us? Where do you get your food? The general public has seemed to forgotten about where it is that all that food you see sitting around the grocery stores have come from farms, and what effects the farmers will effect you, not just in prices but in quality and quantity. Which brings us to the next topic corn.
I use to not see the big deal when it came to ethanol. The corn they were using is feed corn. How would that effect us. Well, now that the US government is hading out huge subsidies to encourage farmers to grow corn, our wheat supply has gone down. The price of wheat is now 50% more then it was at the beginning of the year, and we are only in the 2nd month. This isn't good. I also discovered last night that it takes 1.29 gallons of gasoline to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. That ratio will never get us off foreign oil. When I heard about the wheat prices, I called my mother last night. Her reply to me was "it will cast a day's wages to by a loaf of bread." Farmers are choosing to raise corn because if the profit that is to be made. We can't blame them for that, but we can change the situation, don't buy ethanol. Our wheat supply is very low this year, hasn't been this low in a very long time, and it is worrisome.
But there is some good news coming out of South Dakota, from the Rapid City Journal;
House will debate bill opposing animal ID plan
A bill that would prevent the state of South Dakota from participating in the National Animal Identification System was approved 8-5 by the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee last week in Pierre. It is expected to be taken up by the full House this week. Continues>>>Garden week 6
Usually it is time to transplant outside. Check back in a few days to see what happens to them next.
Yesterday was busy when it comes to the prep for the House Cow Quest. Lots of barn clean up.
Because of the new quest, the choose you homesteaders adventure will be placed on hold, however it was suggested the I spin wool. I would love to do that, and it is in the list of things to do this year. Check back in for the mistake, I mean adventure.
Also is anyone interested in learning how to make bread? I have one person, and thought I would extend the invite to everyone. We will do the class live on yahoo, not video, but IM. If you're interested please email me with your yahoo IM address and I will add you to the list.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Preparing For a New Quest
It has been a busy weekend. We have a lot to do in the week before going to get our Dexter cows. We didn't think we would get them this soon, but an opportunity presented itself that was too good to pass up. I know that some our concerned with our money situation, but this should cause no hardship on us, and we should have milk as soon as she allows us. (she has calved)
Saturday we cut out 6 cedar trees that had grown in the fence line. Fun for me because I am allergic to evergreens. Of course my husband broke the bottom strand of the horse fencing, but Sunday we bought field fencing for the entire property. We also retrieved the same trailer we used on the Quest for the Demon Donkey.
There is much to be done today.
Saturday we cut out 6 cedar trees that had grown in the fence line. Fun for me because I am allergic to evergreens. Of course my husband broke the bottom strand of the horse fencing, but Sunday we bought field fencing for the entire property. We also retrieved the same trailer we used on the Quest for the Demon Donkey.
There is much to be done today.
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