The garden is looking well. Just about everything that I have planted has sprouted. Although there is an entire row of cucumber that hasn't sprouted. Maybe it has just been too cool for them to get going. Soil temperature for cucumbers to sprout is 70F, I think the ground is cooler than that. I am going to go a head and create another row, and plant more. Small got a hold of the vinegar spray bottle I use to control weeds, and I am not sure if he sprayed the row or not. You can never have too many cucumbers.
Husband brought home some fuel line for his bike. He was up until 3am working on it. He is getting itchy to get his bike on the road again. I don't blame him, I am a little itchy as well. He does spend his entire day working on and test riding motorcycles, but it just isn't the same as taking off on your own.
I love sheepskin boots! No, really, I love them. And I just got an email from someone at Whooga. And have they got a deal for you guys. For my readers, you guys can get a $30 gift certificate no strings attached to be used at their store. All you have to do is enter the code AHOMESTEAD into the box in the cart. And they ship to all countries. How cool is that?
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Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I don't care if I come off as a whinny little dog
Disclaimer, my blog, my gritch, my view of my world.
We once had the American Dream, or the makings of one. We played happily in our 20's preparing for our life together, a life that would include success and opportunity.
I found a home. I was no longer abused and I was no longer homeless. I pulled myself up, dusted myself off and made myself into somebody. Not a somebody that gets constant attention, but I made myself into someone I was proud of, and that made me somebody. I spent years as a nobody. That person you stared at because she was some goth creep, or skater bum, or pot head. I was that person you would throw some change at so I could eat, but you thought it was for dope. I was that person that got stepped on, that people would avoid contact with. I was that teen that people would cross the street to avoid. But then I found self worth. Some where in all that haze, I found a reason to wake up and to pull up my own boot straps and make money to live instead of asking others for money. I found happiness without a fear that it would be suddenly taken away from me.
My husband grew up in it. Living on the streets, in cars and hotel rooms. His parents always worked but it took them a very long time to get out of their situation. He did well in school, picking up scholarships that would have secured him in life. Then he fell down, and lost everything. He was a junkie. He too was the person people avoided, that were scared to talk, look or even breath in his direction. Then he too found his self worth. He found something to live for, and together we began building that American dream we had heard so many rumors about.
We made money. We could have bought a nice and tidy suburban home, instead we decided to buy 5 acres and a run down trailer. We had 2 children then, and things were a little tight. But I stretched the food budget by gardening, and feel in love with it. From there homesteading sprouted and opportunities came knocking. We had a plan, one that would take time, but it was there. We would have our own business.
I got pregnant again. We decided that I should quite working as my husband had earned and incredible rep for what he does. We were set. We had everything we ever really truly wanted, and didn't live beyond our means.
But my husband couldn't play politics of the company. He wanted to do what was right and got in trouble for it. He was laid off. We thought we had enough money saved to survive, we thought husband could get a job because of his rep. How wrong we were. We decided not to give up our American dream, we decided to fight harder, to live stronger. To do what we needed to do to keep all we hold dear.
I can't play this game anymore. I am angry that I have to do somethings that I don't want to do. I am racked with tears listening to the things that I have to hear. This is not what I fought so hard to get out of a gutter for. I never wanted their pennies, I wanted a chance. I wanted to be somebody, and I wanted my American dream! Damn it! I will not fall into a woe is me mind set. I can not! But it grows harder every day. What was the point of pulling ourselves out if we fall right back in? What was the point of having 12 wonderful years if it all crumbles around us? How will this make me a better stronger person? What lesson am I suppose to be learning? The one that says that I am not good enough? That I was a fool to ever believe that I had worth? The one that says that good guys all ways end last? The bad things happen to good people? What lesson!?!
How many more times do I have to hear that it is for the best, or that everything happens for a reason? I have heard that for so many things in my life. Rape, death of a child, homelessness, drug use oh and list goes on and on. I don't care if it happens for a reason. I am tired of this reason. I want to live a good life, I want to be a good person, I want to be left alone and allowed to fulfill the dream that we started on this homestead 7 years ago! I am not ready to give up everything just to make other's happy, nor am I ready to give everything up on the off chance I will lose anyway. How can I move things when people aren't buying? How can I make a living if people are on welfare? The only reward I want from life is happiness. And now a woe is me moment. . . .
I am angry, I am tired. I want things back the way they were. But I know that isn't going to happen. I know things will get worse before they get better. I want to fast forward through the bad, put it through like a dream, and wake up in a pleasant mood. How many drugs do I need to take to have that?
I no longer want to merely try. I want to be successful in life again.
So what do I do to get back there. Change. I need a change that was promised but not deliverable. I have to make that for myself. No more promises, no hand outs. Just me, my mind and my body. I have to bring myself to the point of breaking. I have to look at all of this like I did back before I found my self worth, when all I had was a pinhole of hope. I have to do this myself, no one can do it for me. No one can tell me how to do any of it. I don't need any one to tell me what that change is, only I can find what it is. And right now I am finding my way back toward that path. I can only hope that there is light at the end of it, and that there is fresh air for me to be able to breath again. But I won't know until I get there. And if I fail in the process may it be a glorious bang.
We once had the American Dream, or the makings of one. We played happily in our 20's preparing for our life together, a life that would include success and opportunity.
I found a home. I was no longer abused and I was no longer homeless. I pulled myself up, dusted myself off and made myself into somebody. Not a somebody that gets constant attention, but I made myself into someone I was proud of, and that made me somebody. I spent years as a nobody. That person you stared at because she was some goth creep, or skater bum, or pot head. I was that person you would throw some change at so I could eat, but you thought it was for dope. I was that person that got stepped on, that people would avoid contact with. I was that teen that people would cross the street to avoid. But then I found self worth. Some where in all that haze, I found a reason to wake up and to pull up my own boot straps and make money to live instead of asking others for money. I found happiness without a fear that it would be suddenly taken away from me.
My husband grew up in it. Living on the streets, in cars and hotel rooms. His parents always worked but it took them a very long time to get out of their situation. He did well in school, picking up scholarships that would have secured him in life. Then he fell down, and lost everything. He was a junkie. He too was the person people avoided, that were scared to talk, look or even breath in his direction. Then he too found his self worth. He found something to live for, and together we began building that American dream we had heard so many rumors about.
We made money. We could have bought a nice and tidy suburban home, instead we decided to buy 5 acres and a run down trailer. We had 2 children then, and things were a little tight. But I stretched the food budget by gardening, and feel in love with it. From there homesteading sprouted and opportunities came knocking. We had a plan, one that would take time, but it was there. We would have our own business.
I got pregnant again. We decided that I should quite working as my husband had earned and incredible rep for what he does. We were set. We had everything we ever really truly wanted, and didn't live beyond our means.
But my husband couldn't play politics of the company. He wanted to do what was right and got in trouble for it. He was laid off. We thought we had enough money saved to survive, we thought husband could get a job because of his rep. How wrong we were. We decided not to give up our American dream, we decided to fight harder, to live stronger. To do what we needed to do to keep all we hold dear.
I can't play this game anymore. I am angry that I have to do somethings that I don't want to do. I am racked with tears listening to the things that I have to hear. This is not what I fought so hard to get out of a gutter for. I never wanted their pennies, I wanted a chance. I wanted to be somebody, and I wanted my American dream! Damn it! I will not fall into a woe is me mind set. I can not! But it grows harder every day. What was the point of pulling ourselves out if we fall right back in? What was the point of having 12 wonderful years if it all crumbles around us? How will this make me a better stronger person? What lesson am I suppose to be learning? The one that says that I am not good enough? That I was a fool to ever believe that I had worth? The one that says that good guys all ways end last? The bad things happen to good people? What lesson!?!
How many more times do I have to hear that it is for the best, or that everything happens for a reason? I have heard that for so many things in my life. Rape, death of a child, homelessness, drug use oh and list goes on and on. I don't care if it happens for a reason. I am tired of this reason. I want to live a good life, I want to be a good person, I want to be left alone and allowed to fulfill the dream that we started on this homestead 7 years ago! I am not ready to give up everything just to make other's happy, nor am I ready to give everything up on the off chance I will lose anyway. How can I move things when people aren't buying? How can I make a living if people are on welfare? The only reward I want from life is happiness. And now a woe is me moment. . . .
I am angry, I am tired. I want things back the way they were. But I know that isn't going to happen. I know things will get worse before they get better. I want to fast forward through the bad, put it through like a dream, and wake up in a pleasant mood. How many drugs do I need to take to have that?
I no longer want to merely try. I want to be successful in life again.
So what do I do to get back there. Change. I need a change that was promised but not deliverable. I have to make that for myself. No more promises, no hand outs. Just me, my mind and my body. I have to bring myself to the point of breaking. I have to look at all of this like I did back before I found my self worth, when all I had was a pinhole of hope. I have to do this myself, no one can do it for me. No one can tell me how to do any of it. I don't need any one to tell me what that change is, only I can find what it is. And right now I am finding my way back toward that path. I can only hope that there is light at the end of it, and that there is fresh air for me to be able to breath again. But I won't know until I get there. And if I fail in the process may it be a glorious bang.
Blowing Away the Competition
Husband was told yesterday by his boss that he blew passed base time. That means he gets flag time, and several hours of flag time. WHOOHOO! Bring in more bikes, please. We have been stressing on money because he hadn't made flag time, and base pay barely covers the bills. Now we can add a little more to the savings.
I am a tad concerned about the weather. Last year we were only able to pull in 350lbs of produce due to the flooding and the cool temps. We aren't having the rain, though we have been threatened by the weather people that we will, but the cooler temps could be a problem with the tomatoes. The beans don't seem to be having a problem with it. We will see. But we are running very low on supplies from last harvest.
American Prepper's are giving stuff away, click to enter.
I have been feeling rather lonely lately. It comes and goes. There is that part of me that wants to take off and hit a bar, and another part of me that asks why? Phelan, you don't like to be around people very much, why put yourself in the situation. Because sometimes it is nice to pretend that I am not a country hick. And maybe I won't smell like cattle that one day. Of course if I was to break out the psycho babel, one reason is reclaiming a youth that I missed by having children and doing this homestead things so young. I was 17. But then again, it would just be nice to have an evening out, away from kids and livestock. Nothing mental about it, just a good time with close friends that I can go 6 months without seeing or talking to.
I am having issues with Murrial not standing correctly, that and her kicking me. Uma, our oldest calf, looks to be indeed pregnant. She is a fat little thing, as tall as my 5 year old and very very wide. Eddie's udder is starting to fill, but she shouldn't be due for 2 more months. I am thinking that my math might have been off and we will be calving in July. I am so excited about it. Babies are always exciting.
Waste not want not
Split Pea soup
16 ounces dried split peas
2 cups sliced sausage/ham hock
1 1/2 diced carrots
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
5 cups chicken stock
1 cup hot milk
Using a crockpot, layer the first 9 ingredients in order, no stirring. Cover and allow to slowly cook for 5 hours. Pour in the hot milk and stir. Pour into your hot sterile jars (discard any large leaves) and process in a pressure canner for 40 minutes.
Pea Hull Jelly
4 cups juice from cooked hulls
5 cups sugar
1 package pectin
Wash pea hulls well, use as many as you wish. Cover with water. Boil until tender. Drain juice through several thicknesses of cheesecloth, reserving the liquid. Add pectin to measured liquid. Bring this to a boil. Add sugar and return to a hard boil (can't be stirred down). Hard boil for 10 minutes. Pour into hot sterile jars and seal. Water bath for 5 minutes.
I am a tad concerned about the weather. Last year we were only able to pull in 350lbs of produce due to the flooding and the cool temps. We aren't having the rain, though we have been threatened by the weather people that we will, but the cooler temps could be a problem with the tomatoes. The beans don't seem to be having a problem with it. We will see. But we are running very low on supplies from last harvest.
American Prepper's are giving stuff away, click to enter.
I have been feeling rather lonely lately. It comes and goes. There is that part of me that wants to take off and hit a bar, and another part of me that asks why? Phelan, you don't like to be around people very much, why put yourself in the situation. Because sometimes it is nice to pretend that I am not a country hick. And maybe I won't smell like cattle that one day. Of course if I was to break out the psycho babel, one reason is reclaiming a youth that I missed by having children and doing this homestead things so young. I was 17. But then again, it would just be nice to have an evening out, away from kids and livestock. Nothing mental about it, just a good time with close friends that I can go 6 months without seeing or talking to.
I am having issues with Murrial not standing correctly, that and her kicking me. Uma, our oldest calf, looks to be indeed pregnant. She is a fat little thing, as tall as my 5 year old and very very wide. Eddie's udder is starting to fill, but she shouldn't be due for 2 more months. I am thinking that my math might have been off and we will be calving in July. I am so excited about it. Babies are always exciting.
Waste not want not
Split Pea soup
16 ounces dried split peas
2 cups sliced sausage/ham hock
1 1/2 diced carrots
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
5 cups chicken stock
1 cup hot milk
Using a crockpot, layer the first 9 ingredients in order, no stirring. Cover and allow to slowly cook for 5 hours. Pour in the hot milk and stir. Pour into your hot sterile jars (discard any large leaves) and process in a pressure canner for 40 minutes.
Pea Hull Jelly
4 cups juice from cooked hulls
5 cups sugar
1 package pectin
Wash pea hulls well, use as many as you wish. Cover with water. Boil until tender. Drain juice through several thicknesses of cheesecloth, reserving the liquid. Add pectin to measured liquid. Bring this to a boil. Add sugar and return to a hard boil (can't be stirred down). Hard boil for 10 minutes. Pour into hot sterile jars and seal. Water bath for 5 minutes.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Misty's Day
It's misting outside. It's actually very pleasant. So far it has been a cooler summer than normal. I know, you Kansans are wondering what I am talking about since we have been in the 90's. but it is June, and we haven't hit 100 F yet, we are averaging more days in the high 70's and low 80's, it's been cool.
A meteorologist came out yesterday and said that some part of the US will not see a summer. Part of Kansas is in the group. It isn't anything devastating, nor anything we haven't been through before, but I wouldn't put any sweet potatoes in just yet. Same thing happened last year, and it never stayed warm enough, long enough to grow sweet potatoes. If you have a nice shade tree, I would put in cool weather veggies under it, just saying.
I have radish, peas, and peppers harvested, need to update my side bar. Have to weigh everything, and that means find my scale. I think I remember where I put it.
Sometime this week I need to go out to the farmstead and take my magnet on a stick. Drag it around the corrals. Cows don't purposely eat metal, like some goats I know (and even most goats don't eat it), but cows, especially Dexters, aren't too picky when they eat, so they just graze and if a bolt just happens to be laying in the grass they will eat it. When that happens your cow can get sick and die (hardware disease). But if the metal is small enough, you can force feed them an oval shaped magnet. They will never pass this or the metal, but it keeps them from getting sick. Oh the joys of cow ownership. (hahaha, ok so I sometime write like I speak and had written magnic instead of magnet. but at least I don't say warsher like my mom!)
Right now I am scolding a goat that is wanting to come into the house. Back door is wide open and she thinks she runs the place. OUT PATCH! GRRR....... GET!
We watched Life After People last night, it was about war machines and dairy cows. They talked about how dairy cows would die out because they wouldn't be able to reproduce due to not having a bull around, not being able to rear their young, because of human intervention, not being able to feed themselves because of their dependency on people and that those of them that managed to survive would, in their description, become like the heritage cattle, smaller, more fleet, and less picky about their food source. Dairy cows are so much like dogs. The thing is, cattle are super smart animals and can be resourceful when they are properly motivated. Calves are slippery little devils.
PATCH OUT!
It is all rather interesting. My boys love that program. Personally my History Channel Favorite is Ice Road Truckers.
Garden is completely in, oh but wait that isn't true. Good neighbor wants to trade some Lumina pumpkin seeds for some Bloody Butcher corn seeds. So I have some more things to get into the ground, and then everything will be in, hopefully. Just some weeding and patience is all that is lacking right now.
So what do you ant to know. I realize that many of you have come here looking how to do things, some of you found me because you wanted to hot water bath your green beans, some wanted to braid onions, and others wanted to butcher an animal. Things are getting scary and some places seem to be tense. Is there a skill you are interested in learning more about? You need to ask, or tell me these things, or you can continue to allow me to prattle on about my day and my musings. It is really up to you.
A meteorologist came out yesterday and said that some part of the US will not see a summer. Part of Kansas is in the group. It isn't anything devastating, nor anything we haven't been through before, but I wouldn't put any sweet potatoes in just yet. Same thing happened last year, and it never stayed warm enough, long enough to grow sweet potatoes. If you have a nice shade tree, I would put in cool weather veggies under it, just saying.
I have radish, peas, and peppers harvested, need to update my side bar. Have to weigh everything, and that means find my scale. I think I remember where I put it.
Sometime this week I need to go out to the farmstead and take my magnet on a stick. Drag it around the corrals. Cows don't purposely eat metal, like some goats I know (and even most goats don't eat it), but cows, especially Dexters, aren't too picky when they eat, so they just graze and if a bolt just happens to be laying in the grass they will eat it. When that happens your cow can get sick and die (hardware disease). But if the metal is small enough, you can force feed them an oval shaped magnet. They will never pass this or the metal, but it keeps them from getting sick. Oh the joys of cow ownership. (hahaha, ok so I sometime write like I speak and had written magnic instead of magnet. but at least I don't say warsher like my mom!)
Right now I am scolding a goat that is wanting to come into the house. Back door is wide open and she thinks she runs the place. OUT PATCH! GRRR....... GET!
We watched Life After People last night, it was about war machines and dairy cows. They talked about how dairy cows would die out because they wouldn't be able to reproduce due to not having a bull around, not being able to rear their young, because of human intervention, not being able to feed themselves because of their dependency on people and that those of them that managed to survive would, in their description, become like the heritage cattle, smaller, more fleet, and less picky about their food source. Dairy cows are so much like dogs. The thing is, cattle are super smart animals and can be resourceful when they are properly motivated. Calves are slippery little devils.
PATCH OUT!
It is all rather interesting. My boys love that program. Personally my History Channel Favorite is Ice Road Truckers.
Garden is completely in, oh but wait that isn't true. Good neighbor wants to trade some Lumina pumpkin seeds for some Bloody Butcher corn seeds. So I have some more things to get into the ground, and then everything will be in, hopefully. Just some weeding and patience is all that is lacking right now.
So what do you ant to know. I realize that many of you have come here looking how to do things, some of you found me because you wanted to hot water bath your green beans, some wanted to braid onions, and others wanted to butcher an animal. Things are getting scary and some places seem to be tense. Is there a skill you are interested in learning more about? You need to ask, or tell me these things, or you can continue to allow me to prattle on about my day and my musings. It is really up to you.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Feelin' Tall Today
I am suffering from Plumbers Butt Burn. Ugh
We worked hard and long outside yesterday. Dealing with the garden and the cattle. Nothing too dramatically new. We had some discussions on the direction we wanted to take with the business, and fretted over a possible taxation of cattle because they fart. With NAIS, the restructuring of the USDA to save us from ourselves, and now this possible new tax, I am starting to feel defeated. I realize that this proposed tax has been around for a few years, but I just heard of it. They have backed down, or so I hear. I am just not trusting it...now go into a political rant that I won't quote here.
Northwest Herald
The New York Times
Of course we have many people that want it. Because we are to blame for the climate changes. Sure, whatever. I am feeling a little cynical this morning, pardon me. I just read a bunch of comments about this tax, and am feeling like too many people get wrapped up in the wrong sort of things. I am more than likely guilty of it myself. I am not however super crazy about destroying American agriculture. Cattle have been passing gas for a very long time. I think we should blame the taurus longifrons for the Ice Age. I mean, what else could have caused the dramatic shift in the climate, except for an ox fart?
oops, that was a tangent.
oh, and FYI, not every single person with a cow gets subsidies, nor does everyone that farms for that matter. So that argument just doesn't cut it.
Shoot, there was something I actually wanted to talk about. I guess I got a little distracted. And of course there was a bunch more items to touch on about the above subject, ya know how many cows today verses yester year. But that is a numbers game for another day.
I need to get back into the good mood I awoke with.
We went over to the farmer we buy are green wheat from yesterday. Turns out that his wife thinks I am a bit of a freak. Oh well. She doesn't seem to get the tats and piercings coinciding with farming and from scratch cooking. But the thing is she doesn't want to be a farmer's wife. She seems to hate it. I don't get it, because she would do the same thing she is doing in the city, only her husband would be doing something different. I feel bad that she can't be happy. That she isn't able to find something that gives her pleasure out here. But to each there own. I have a feeling she wouldn't be happy anywhere.
We worked hard and long outside yesterday. Dealing with the garden and the cattle. Nothing too dramatically new. We had some discussions on the direction we wanted to take with the business, and fretted over a possible taxation of cattle because they fart. With NAIS, the restructuring of the USDA to save us from ourselves, and now this possible new tax, I am starting to feel defeated. I realize that this proposed tax has been around for a few years, but I just heard of it. They have backed down, or so I hear. I am just not trusting it...now go into a political rant that I won't quote here.
Northwest Herald
The New York Times
Of course we have many people that want it. Because we are to blame for the climate changes. Sure, whatever. I am feeling a little cynical this morning, pardon me. I just read a bunch of comments about this tax, and am feeling like too many people get wrapped up in the wrong sort of things. I am more than likely guilty of it myself. I am not however super crazy about destroying American agriculture. Cattle have been passing gas for a very long time. I think we should blame the taurus longifrons for the Ice Age. I mean, what else could have caused the dramatic shift in the climate, except for an ox fart?
oops, that was a tangent.
oh, and FYI, not every single person with a cow gets subsidies, nor does everyone that farms for that matter. So that argument just doesn't cut it.
Shoot, there was something I actually wanted to talk about. I guess I got a little distracted. And of course there was a bunch more items to touch on about the above subject, ya know how many cows today verses yester year. But that is a numbers game for another day.
I need to get back into the good mood I awoke with.
We went over to the farmer we buy are green wheat from yesterday. Turns out that his wife thinks I am a bit of a freak. Oh well. She doesn't seem to get the tats and piercings coinciding with farming and from scratch cooking. But the thing is she doesn't want to be a farmer's wife. She seems to hate it. I don't get it, because she would do the same thing she is doing in the city, only her husband would be doing something different. I feel bad that she can't be happy. That she isn't able to find something that gives her pleasure out here. But to each there own. I have a feeling she wouldn't be happy anywhere.
Monday, June 08, 2009
I have no bananas today
It was an interesting party weekend. Started off at mom's and ended at Melissa's ramblings. She has a great Suburban homestead setup.
The revamping of the business has left me with an issue, I have nothing for my customers today. If you are reading, come by tomorrow. I will be a day off this week, but should settle back in by next.
It seems to e official. By the fall the Neophyte homestead will be sold to the horse neighbor. Not how I wanted things to be, but we have little choice in the matter at this point. We can't reduce rent like other's are doing, and so many people are being laid off that selling is our only option now. It's sad for us, but we know it will be in good hands.
We went to the farm yesterday. There is so much work to be done. I just need my truck running so I can take things out there and start getting things set up. Once the truck is ready, it shouldn't take long to get things into the basic stage.
Hope you all had a good weekend.
The revamping of the business has left me with an issue, I have nothing for my customers today. If you are reading, come by tomorrow. I will be a day off this week, but should settle back in by next.
It seems to e official. By the fall the Neophyte homestead will be sold to the horse neighbor. Not how I wanted things to be, but we have little choice in the matter at this point. We can't reduce rent like other's are doing, and so many people are being laid off that selling is our only option now. It's sad for us, but we know it will be in good hands.
We went to the farm yesterday. There is so much work to be done. I just need my truck running so I can take things out there and start getting things set up. Once the truck is ready, it shouldn't take long to get things into the basic stage.
Hope you all had a good weekend.
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