~shakes head~

I warned you guys that there would be tests, and I worry about your scores. Some of you get credit for creativity, some get credit for sarcasm, and some of you need a tutor. ha! The answer to yesterday's pop quiz was C: Going to milk a cow.

Now those of you that said going for a motorcycle ride, this could have been true, but there was a single clue that could have tipped you off if you had been paying attention. I was wearing a red fluffy coat. If I was going on a bike ride, I would have been in leather. (just givin' a hard time)

The mask is great, not only for cold and/or wet bike rides, but a wonderful aid for working out in the elements. I use to wear those do-rags, hop along cassidy, whatever the cool kids call them now a days, we have always and still call them skull caps, like a cowboy. But we bought this mask when we went to the Sparks America bike rally a year ago, because of all the rain we encountered. (if you haven't read that story yet, I highly suggest it, it's a good one) The mask is warm and waterproof, and it is something that I consider a homesteading aid.

So run out to your nearest mom and pop bike shop and buy one this winter. No one is paying me to say any of this, if they were I would have posted a brand name, but I will give a shout out to one of our own local shops. Those of you in the Wichita area can get them in Haysville, Broadway Street Bike. Go! GO NOW! I am feeling rather ornery this morning.

I would have to guess that the point to all of that is, you can find many tools for the winter homestead in unconventional places. It isn't like there is a store dedicated to the homesteading life. Ok, you got me, there are a few online, but not all of us go online for supplies. I shop as local as possible, and sometimes you can stumble upon things that's main purpose has nothing to do with this life.

What unconventional homesteading tool do you use to make this life easier?

Pop Quiz!

What am I doing in this photo?




A: Making me laugh

B: Robbing a Bank

C: Going to milk a cow

D: Scarring young children

E: Going for a motorcycle ride

F: Other

A Series of Very Mundane Events

The car broke, yet again. It keeps throwing the alternator belts. My husband has looked it over several times, not finding why it would be doing that. So something must be happening for only that brief moment. Because of this, I was stranded on the homestead all weekend, unable to do any of my errands.

Saturday that couple with the Dexters came out. I actually called them, because I happened to see a dexter calf for sale on Craigslist (I just like looking), and panicked slightly. It was their calf, but not the bull. We chatted a bit, and she informed me that she would like to come see the milking stanchion. She is ready to start milking, and wanted to see how I did it. I told her it wasn't anything special, it was just some old bunk bed parts. This interested her more. I told her anytime. An hour later, she calls me back, they were wanting to come out now. They arrived with all six of their kids. We were quite the parade, with my kids and their's, marching out to the barn. They really liked it, and mentioned seeing a metal bunk bed free on cragslist.

Good neighbor decided it was too windy to start a fire, and we didn't roast the goat. Also he had to have his truck towed home. Lucky for us, our Chevy still runs (67 pick-up) it has no tail lights, and no tags, so we can't leave the dirt roads, but we really needed green wheat. Good Neighbor and my husband hooked the small wood trailer to the truck and left. On their way home, the tire came off the trailer, they dragged it home. There was still 1 bale left to pick up, so they cleaned out the back of the truck and returned to the farmers field. I then receive a phone call from the field. Turns out the truck died, they needed farmer's phone number so he could head out and jump them. umm. . . the number was last seen going into my husband's pocket. Great! They had to hoof it.

My 4 year old cut his own hair, and after I fixed that, my 7 year old come in with bangs. He had cut his own hair as well! Come on boys, all you had to do was ask.

Mama some how managed to break her ear tag. This is one of the reasons we don't use those plastic tags. Eddie had ripped out both of them before we bought her, and Mama had one of them missing. I know better than attempting to hold Mama down and try to remove the tag, luckily her ear hasn't been hurt because of it.

Sunberries: I want to talk about sunberries. I spent a large amount of time, attempting to find info on these guys. I discovered that there are a number of plants with this name, the one I am talking about it the Solanum Burbankii.

I found out that they are grown like peppers and tomatoes, but are finicky about germination. What I wanted to know was how long germination took. Yesterday I got my answer. 2 of the 12 popped up. It takes at least 1 week to germinate. I will let you know when the last one pops up. No one probably cares but me, but that has never stopped me for posting about something before.

Winter Project #2

I have some rooms to paint. ~gasp~ But it is winter Phelan! You have to open windows so you don't die from the fumes! And you have migraines, how on earth. . .

Well, we are not going to go out and buy the paint. Nope, winter project #2 is making your own natural paint. I have 3 different recipes that we can use.

#1
1 Quart skim milk (room temperature)
1 Once of hydrated lime by weight ( Do not use quick lime)
1 to 2 1/2 pounds of chalk may also be added as a filler.

Stir together milk and lime to form a smooth paste. Add color pigment of your choice and apply with bristle brush. Allow first coat to dry before applying another.

#2
One Gallon Skim Milk
Two Cups Builders Lime (Do NOT use Quick Lime)
One Quart Linseed Oil (the boiled type)
1/2 Cup of Salt
Dye (Color) add in as needed

Mix all ingredients together and strain through a cheesecloth. Use within a day or two.

#3
Powdered Skim Milk
Water
Food Coloring

Mix just enough powder and water to create the consistency of paint. Add food coloring of your choice or make it various herbs and vegetables. Strain through a cheesecloth.

I will be doing #3, because all I have to purchase is the powdered milk. I think I will be doing a sage green for the living room, it should go well with the mobile home fake wood panels.

Pictures to follow.

Happy New Year!

2008 was an interesting year on the Neophyte Homestead, to say the least. We have been through floods, livestock loses, almost a foreclosure, and learned some wonderful lessons, gained friends, got a horse, and learned to butcher something else. 2009 should be just as interesting.

Traditionally, our homesteading friends post their upcoming goals, you can see the tittles in the side bar, of the up coming year. Of course I do the same. It is a reminder of what needs to be done, and what our wants for a new year are.

For 2009 the Neophyte Homestead's goals are as follows;

Butcher a hog
Birthing goats
make rennet
Rabbits
Begin work on the farmstead
Acquire a milking shorthorn (supplemental income)
Make goat cheese
Expand my business (state law prohibits me to tell you what it is publicly, you have to email me)
Butcher geese

For 2009 we will have organically raised heritage transplants available for sale. We have already begun growing them, using the Phelan Box.

Teach a canning class

Have a homestead foods cookbook available

Survive the up coming recession. (it almost feels like many of us are preparing for war)

Those are some of the things you can look forward to here. Of course things will pop up, wonderful things, devastating things and of course the mundane. I do hope that many of you will join me in these adventures this year. I a hope that your New Year will be fulfilling!