Like a Spark Dropped From the Sun

Crawling around on hands and knees, I counted as I pulled their heads off. 1. . .2 . . 3. . I quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching as I did this. I figured in the middle of the day, no one would be around to see me. And I was correct. 4. . 5. . .6. . .

Zombie came running, he want attention, but I was too focused at the distasteful task at hand that I ignored him. He sniffed around as I popped off their heads, and with a snort of disapproval, he ran off to herd the turkeys. That is Zombie's new pass time, at least he is somewhat useful. 7. .8. .9. . .
My finger were becoming stained, but this had to be done. each head had to come off. 10. . 11. . . 12. . Once I had 400 heads in my pail I stood up stretching my back. Looking around I saw no one outside, I had accomplished it with out being spied.

Once I was back in the house I tore the dandelion petals off the greens, until I had a pints worth. then for the quick boil, cover and refrigerate until the next morning. And then promptly rubbed my bottom lip. Everything tasted like ear wax the rest of the day. And you know that I know that you know what ear wax tastes like, don't give me that look.

I made Dandelion Jelly

Dandelion Jelly
1 quart tightly packed ripe yellow Dandelion flowers
6 cups water
6 cups sugar
juice of one lemon
8 tablespoons Pectin

make sure your flowers have not been sprayed, pick and wash. remove the ends, and as much green as possible.

Place petals, water and lemon juice large heavy bottom pot, bring to a boil, then transfer to a bowl. Place a piece of waxed paper over top and refrigerate until morning.

Return to pot, and sugar and bring to a hard boil. Stirring occasionally. Boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool until hand able. Strain through a sieve, discarding petals.

Add pectin to the liquid and return to a boil for 5-10 minutes, until it begins to set.

Pour into hot sterile jars, and process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.

It tastes a bit like honey

shhh. . . all my canning supplies are packed and ready to be moved to the farm. Had to reuse a fruit jar.



To keep the foam down, add 1/2 tablespoon of butter when you add pectin. It could take up to 2 weeks for jelly to set properly. If it doesn't set, makes a great syrup.

Make it from Scratch Carnival #163

Cuz I'm Cool like that

Everything tastes like ear wax this morning. You will have to wait until tomorrow to learn why I say such a thing. More than likely it isn't what you are thinking.

Husband asked for an advance at work. Tomorrow Atwoods is having a no sale tax day, and we really need to purchase fencing for the farmstead. He told the boss, and now the boss is thinking about going shopping as well. We also have a rebate form for the fencing we want.

An older gentleman lives behind the motorcycle shop. Husband and him got to talking, and I have a few more tomato plants, 3 aloe plants and a spider plant. Makes me happy.

Remember the Preacher biker that husband was going to ask about teaching me to make soap? He is all for it, and is willing to help me out in a week or so. He even brought some soap for me. Smells great, looks pretty. I am very excited about it. This guy also makes furniture. I guess when you retire early, you have time to learn all kinds of new tricks.

One last thing, and I will let you get back to your Friday. On the left hand side of the page is a widget for facebook. If you are so inclined you can read this blog through there.

Cuz I've always been cool like that.
I so loved those boots.

Another reason I love Kansas

Nothing blocks your view

Don't hate me because I'm Quotable

This is a cute idea.

Click on the badge to go to the site

Deadline; 3 weeks

We have 3 weeks to get the first pen up and fully functioning. At that time we will be moving 1/2 our herd out to the farmstead.

I realize that 3 weeks seems to be plenty of time. But we are not talking weeks, but days. We can only work on the farmstead 2x a week. Meaning that we only have 6 days to have the pen ready for cattle.

The 3 weeks is how much hay we have left. They currently go through 1 bale a week. With half the herd grazing on overgrown pasture, this will reduce our payout here on the homestead.

And now the worrying about all this actually working starts setting in.

Subject change. (so I don't harp)

I have been thinking about the blogathon (already) for this year. I usually do Farm aid. I like them, I really do, otherwise I wouldn't have raised money for them the past 4 years. However after watching what our friend Brian has gone through I am thinking about blogging for either the Rescue Riders, Bikers for Bikers or Downed Bikers Association. What do you think? It is a hard decision.

For those of you that don't know, Blogathon is a yearly event where hundreds of bloggers raise money for their charity, blogging for 24 hours straight posting every 30 minutes.

Could I test some poison on your children?

Now this is just wonderful. I feel so much safer now that Islam Siddiqui was able to bypass the Senate confirmation vote, and placed into the office of chief agricultural negotiator in the office of the U.S. trade representative.

Yet another reason you should really try to grow your own food, not be fooled by the organic labels, and buy from local growers where you can see what they are doing to your food.

This is the man that helped create the organics standards. you know the poop food, 5% non natural ingredients, and all that jazz. So many people did not want this man in an office. But of course, we are only people, and that seems not to matter much.

Siddiqui is a former pesticide lobbyist and is currently vice president of science and regulatory affairs at CropLife America, a biotech and pesticide trade group .

CropLife America, formerly known as the National Agricultural Chemicals Association, lobbies to weaken the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act, claiming that pesticides are not pollutants because of their intended beneficial effect and that pesticides positively impact endangered species. The group has lobbied to allow pesticides to be tested on children and to allow the continued use of persistent organic pollutants and ozone-depleting chemicals. It also launched a petition asking Michelle Obama to use pesticides in the organic White House garden and fought county initiatives in California banning genetically modified foods.

Read more here on OCA

No Rest for the Wicked (Easter)

You use different muscles to work a farmstead than you do a homestead.

530 am, Easter Sunday. I woke, made coffee, then stood in the middle of the living room and screamed

BUNNY'S BEEN HERE!

Small was the first one up. Easter Bunny brought them little Coleman headlamps.

I made an apple strudel while husband packed the car. And we were off to the farmstead. Once there, eggs were hidden with the utmost care.




And they were off!



My morning was spent on firewood.

No bubble bursting this morning please. I did this all by myself.



Husband did some tilling, then climbed the windmill.





Large followed.




Then it was lunch time, picnic style of course. Then back to work. Clearing trees and putting up fence posts. And let's not forget the massive amount of hemlock I worked on getting out.



Before posts


After posts


We put 9 of these bad boys in. Had to drag them behind us with chains they were so heavy.

Small is still on the fence about all this


Too sore to type, to tired to think.