The State of the Homestead.

It has been brought to my attention that I need to explain my finances to you all.

We were going to sell of our livestock to save our homestead, but others interfered with those plans.

All the money that was donate was used for the back pay of the homestead.

My husband got a motorcycle in that paid for the propane.

2 of my cows began to make us money. They are paying for their and the other cows feed.

State income tax came and we paid off 1 bill. 1 less bill coming out of our money now.

Warmer weather came, and we got 4 bikes in the garage. Now down to 3 but another one is coming in shortly.

State income tax came. Bought an engine for our truck. Then my husband and I discussed what we should do. Should we invest in the homestead's future or something else with it. We talked for days, I agonized over it wondering what you would think. What if my decision was wrong and I was attacked and hated? We worked on the math, and budgeting. Once we got caught up, we are able to pay all our bills in a timely manner. Could we afford to risk this? We have another 3 maybe four months of feed coming out of our pockets until summer came, and the farmstead would be ready for them, and the feed money would no longer come out of pocket. We want to raise Dexters for meat, but we need something that would come in quicker and cost us little but make us enough money that our mortgage could be paid every month, we went ahead and bought Murrial. I expected backlash for this, but none came. And we thought we had made the correct decision.

The bike shop my husband works at is now getting more work. I said we just need to hold on until spring. With more bikes means flag rat. Flag rate = 2 1/2x more money an hour than flat time rate. We are able to pay for everything and put money in savings for winter. We will have an entire riding season of pay under our belts so that what happened last winter won't happen again.

Half the money I make on my articles is being put aside. The other half is being used in such a manner that I feel is appropriate to pay everyone back.

We had some very bad luck, but we are in a better place, and I can pay for everything as well as help others as I use to.

Sammy, I did not pay for Sammy, she was given to me by my neighbor. I also have 2 months worth of feed for her. I would not have taken her if I didn't have the farmstead. I plan on working her.

Oh, the farmstead. As many of my readers know, this is not my property. We are not working it, but care taking it. This was a wonderful deal for us. we will be able to expand our business with very little out of pocket. The down side of it all is that I will not see my husband except on the weekends. The plus side is that one day, hopefully soon, he will be able to stop working for someone else, and be with us all the time or as often as he can put up with us.

I apologize if I made anyone upset. I will not apologize for things turning around for us. That with others help we were able to continue with our dream. I stole a pack of Hubba Bubba grape flavored bubble gum once when I was 9. Got away with it. I have never stolen since then.

A Veteran's Thursday

Yesterday the Vet and his brood of 6 came out to spend the day. And I am exhausted.

J (the vet) is 38 years old. He has been in the military for 16 years. Was part of Desert Storm, and Shock and Awe, as well as spending 2 full years at Camp Slaughter in Iraq. He is now completely deaf in one ear due to 2 different fire fights. One of which something blew up less than 100 yards from him. He is on several types of meds for pain and sleep. Which I don't blame him for the fact he has 6 kids.

I was able to get morning chores done before the herd arrived, and then nothing else was done. I showed them around, we talked about the property, the kids chased a calf, chased the chickens, played with the goats, and scratch Sammy. I found myself counting children often to make sure they were all there.

We grilled up some burgers and dogs for dinner.

During all this something strange happened, I had other visitors. Normally it is very quiet here and I can go days without seeing anyone. But no, not yesterday. One of my husband's clients showed up with a bunch of mulch and logs. Then a neighbor that I don't know very well shows up asking if I wanted two of her horse bales. They have a little mold on them, but they are ok for cows. They brought the two bales by. I looked at them, just need to strip the top layer, the inside is still green. Next the horse neighbor showed up. They came to look at Sammy. The horse husband is a reservist, so him a J had a lot to talk about before heading out into the field to look over Sammy. The horse wife, with a pout asked how I kept getting free horses. Sammy was well cared for, unlike Sunny, but still, she is a horse no one wanted. And she is in heat, and the entire neighborhood is in a ruckus over that one. All the boys are trying to get her attention.

Today will be slower, at least I hope.

Is that spring I smell?

I have potatoes and onions in the ground. Loose leaf veggies and cabbage family items in, and let us not forget the peas. Now if we can only stay away from a hard frost in April, I will be happy.

Urth is no longer nursing on Eddie. Milking is twice a day on her now. And all the green grass that is coming in has increased the Dams milk supply.

Sammy comes when called. She seems a little weary, but pushes through that. Good neighbor told me horror stories about her. So I am confused on why he wants me to have her. Talk about a horse neophyte. But he tried to reassure me yesterday that everything would be fine, then proceeded to tell me a story about her throwing him. I haven't tried to ride her yet. We are just getting to know each other right now. I will wait to ride until I have a buddy to call the ambulance when I fall off of her, or am thrown off of her.

Are you getting your spring gardens ready, those in the Midwest? I realize there is still time for you northerners.

Sammy I am

Introductions are always required when a new creature arrives at the Neophyte Homestead.

Meet Sammy


Here she is greeting the Neighbors Paint. Hope they get along, because that is who she will be riding with.

Sammy is Good Neighbor's first horse. She is 11 years old. She use to live at Good Neighbor's. He decided he couldn't take care of her anymore, so Sammy went to live with good neighbor's brother on a cattle ranch. Good Neighbor's brother wasn't able to give her the attention she deserved, and I was asked if I would like to have her. Of Course I did! Boys are silly.

My taking Sammy was discussed before Sunny died, just felt the need to throw that out there.

And if you couldn't tell by the way this post was written, I am a giddy little school girl.

I know it's my blood, because it hurts

Yesterday was a busy day here on the neophyte homestead. As soon as I opened my eyes, we were off working.

Now is the time for potatoes, onions, leafy greens and cabbages. I set trellises for our peas as well.

On my husband's birthday, he tilled up a whole lots of land.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Today is much more of the same, only in green.

Update on Murrial, She is now allowing me to scratch her head and down her neck while she is eating her treats. However, if my foot moves at all, she leaves.

There is a new homesteading/prepping site that just started to day. It sounds like it will be a good one. They don't have a lot of content up yet, but they promise it will come quickly.

It's called The Agrarian Times. go check it out.