Small and I walked out to other end of the driveway. We were waiting for the afternoon school bus. The breeze was pleasant and the air was warm and humid. Rumbling could be heard off to the south west. I looked up and said to Small, I think it might rain on us. Just then I noticed that Good Neighbors goats were walking to the barn, and then a fat white rain drop fell hard to the earth.
Small, RUN HAIL!
He looked at me for a moment because hail was not falling, but everyone has learned here, that if mama says hail is about to fall, then hail is about to fall.
I opened the gate and Small started running to the house. Dogs ran, Zombie ran, and the turkeys scrambled under the truck. Half way to the house, hail began to fall from the sky. It ended within a few moments of us getting inside.
Small made it onto the bus with no damage.
I checked the weather reports, and of course, once again, nothing was mentioned. I kept an eye on the sky and an ear to the radio and went about my business.
Just like on Monday, the tornado warnings erupted at the same time the Small and Medium were on the school bus headed home. Large gets home an hour and a half earlier than them. Tornadoes don't worry me too much, as long as my boys are at home.
I snagged my phone off the counter and ran outside to tell the neighbor across the way that there were tornadoes spotted to the south and west of us, headed in our direction. The neighbor across the way, doesn't actually live there, and I knew that he didn't have a radio or tv going. He was merely feeding the sheep. We chatted a bit while I watched the sky and the Sheriffs that were at the neighbor with the bad dogs house. My phone rang, it was good neighbor wanting to know why the Sheriff was in front of his house. I really didn't feel a need to go ask them why they were here. I have my guesses of course, but nothing I shared with anyone else.
The bus finally arrived with the storm still looming in the distance. It moved just north of us, the tornado was too far to affect us.
The house moved, and thunder shook the ground. A micro burst had hit us. I went out to check on the animals, everyone was fine. Then I called Husband at work. He took the motorcycle and I wanted him to stay down south rather than getting caught in yet another tornado while on a bike. He said he was leaving work. If he hurried he might just miss it. I waited for him on the porch. I figured I would hear him as he approached and could run and open the gate before he arrived.
However once I heard him, I saw him. He had cut though the neighbor across the way's fields and yard, trying to outpace the impending storm. I couldn't help but laugh as I ran to the gate.
Then it only sprinkled.
Horse neighbor saw the boys and I taking a wagon load of hay to the cows. Our truck wouldn't start and they needed to be fed. Horse neighbors were good enough to help us out and came over with their truck. As I went to get the field gate, I spotted something at the far end of the field, black and white, laying against the fence. "Betty." I shook my head.
The goat had managed to tangle herself up in two layers of fencing. And as husband and the horse neighbors brought the hay out to the field, I was wrestling with a goat. She was not very cooperative about it. And of course, the downpour came, and I fought with a goat, getting angry that she could get her head in there but not out. She gets stuck daily! I was very soaked when I marched back into the house.
"The drama" was my husband's reply to my nasty look.
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Thursday, May 13, 2010
Another Raffle Donation!
RoadRunner Magazine has graciously donated a terrific raffle item.
"We'd be happy to donate a RoadRUNNER goodie bag with a FREE One year subscription, a current issue of RoadRUNNER and some RoadRUNNER stickers and T-shirt. The retail value of this price is about $50.00. Good luck with your Blogathan. It's great to hear you're raising money for such an important cause."
Go check out their site!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Like anyone wants to talk to me
It looks like the powers that be over one APN have decided to give us (meaning me and you guys, obviously) our own forum.
A Homesteading Neophyte Forum
I have a few categories there already. If you would like something added, please let me know.
You do have to be a member of the site to post.
It isn't like I talk to myself too much already.
A Homesteading Neophyte Forum
I have a few categories there already. If you would like something added, please let me know.
You do have to be a member of the site to post.
It isn't like I talk to myself too much already.
His and hers soap
Last Saturday I left early in the morning with my husband to the motorcycle shop. I was there to meet up with one of husband's customers, Pastor Mike.
Pastor Mike not only makes his own soap, but he cans, and makes beer and makes the most gorgeous furniture I have ever seen. He is a retired Marine, biker and Minister. A well rounded individual.
Pastor Mike arrived at the shop, and Large, Small and myself followed him out to his place. Medium stayed at the shop to help husband. Once there I met his dog and his wife. A wonderfully cheerful woman. I brought some dandelion syrup as a gift to her. You should always take a gift to your hostess. I realize that it is outdated to do so, but you are in a way, putting them out, even if you were invited over. And a gift of something simple and homemade is not only welcome but can be an icebreaker as well. They had never had dandelion syrup, and it seemed to be much appreciated.
I digress, we started to work immediately. He showed me how to figure out how much lye was needed for what we wanted to do. He mixed his with lye and water, I mixed mine with lye and goats milk. Pastor Mike also like to use lots of different oils, and palm and coconut oil was added along with the deer tallow. He is a hunter as well, and renders his own deer fat.
At first, my goat milk lye mix didn't want to cool down, but after a bit, it was finally cool enough mix with the oils. Pastor Mike and I stood in the garage for awhile, stirring the concoction as he talked about himself and his life. Husband says he talks a lot when he is nervous. I didn't mind it one bit, as it kept us from complaining about the amount of stirring we had to do. After a bit he asked his wife to show me all the lovely furniture he had made, and put Large and Small to work stirring as he supervised.
He made is own dinning table, hope chest, 2 huge desks, a complete bedroom set including the mirror frame. She then showed me the china hutch he just finished. Gorgeous! She complained that she had no where to put it, but he was insistent about making it. A shame it is hidden away in the basement.
After the tour it was time to pour the soap into the mold. He used a cut up cardboard box as the mold. Spraying it with oil and lining it with wax paper. It was poured in and allowed to sit. He said to leave it there with him, after 24 hours he will cut it up and bring it to the shop. It took a total of 2 hours to do everything.
Yesterday husband arrived with the soap. Pastor Mike had forgotten about it, and cut it after 48 hours. So it looks broken into chunks rather than cut. But that is fine. It is my first batch, and I don't plan on selling it.
His is on the left, mine on the rightPastor Mike not only makes his own soap, but he cans, and makes beer and makes the most gorgeous furniture I have ever seen. He is a retired Marine, biker and Minister. A well rounded individual.
Pastor Mike arrived at the shop, and Large, Small and myself followed him out to his place. Medium stayed at the shop to help husband. Once there I met his dog and his wife. A wonderfully cheerful woman. I brought some dandelion syrup as a gift to her. You should always take a gift to your hostess. I realize that it is outdated to do so, but you are in a way, putting them out, even if you were invited over. And a gift of something simple and homemade is not only welcome but can be an icebreaker as well. They had never had dandelion syrup, and it seemed to be much appreciated.
I digress, we started to work immediately. He showed me how to figure out how much lye was needed for what we wanted to do. He mixed his with lye and water, I mixed mine with lye and goats milk. Pastor Mike also like to use lots of different oils, and palm and coconut oil was added along with the deer tallow. He is a hunter as well, and renders his own deer fat.
At first, my goat milk lye mix didn't want to cool down, but after a bit, it was finally cool enough mix with the oils. Pastor Mike and I stood in the garage for awhile, stirring the concoction as he talked about himself and his life. Husband says he talks a lot when he is nervous. I didn't mind it one bit, as it kept us from complaining about the amount of stirring we had to do. After a bit he asked his wife to show me all the lovely furniture he had made, and put Large and Small to work stirring as he supervised.
He made is own dinning table, hope chest, 2 huge desks, a complete bedroom set including the mirror frame. She then showed me the china hutch he just finished. Gorgeous! She complained that she had no where to put it, but he was insistent about making it. A shame it is hidden away in the basement.
After the tour it was time to pour the soap into the mold. He used a cut up cardboard box as the mold. Spraying it with oil and lining it with wax paper. It was poured in and allowed to sit. He said to leave it there with him, after 24 hours he will cut it up and bring it to the shop. It took a total of 2 hours to do everything.
Yesterday husband arrived with the soap. Pastor Mike had forgotten about it, and cut it after 48 hours. So it looks broken into chunks rather than cut. But that is fine. It is my first batch, and I don't plan on selling it.
I am looking forward to doing it again, and soon.
Raffle Items
CrazyDog t-shirts has agreed to donate a shirt to be raffled off during the blogathon.
CrazyDog T-shirts has a great selection of shirts, pretty funny, silly and stupid stuff. The site is easy to navigate, and the customer service out right rocks. It wasn't 5 minutes between my sending a solicitation letter to their reply mail.
They have also decided to give away one shirt from their sister site Nacho mama tees.
Go check out the shirts at these places, you know you have been dying to replace that Garbage Pail Kids shirt you use to wear.
Be sure to check out the facebook page or sign up for their emails.
For those that are new, on July 31st I will be blogging 24 hours to raise money for The Downed Bikers Association.
CrazyDog T-shirts has a great selection of shirts, pretty funny, silly and stupid stuff. The site is easy to navigate, and the customer service out right rocks. It wasn't 5 minutes between my sending a solicitation letter to their reply mail.
They have also decided to give away one shirt from their sister site Nacho mama tees.
Go check out the shirts at these places, you know you have been dying to replace that Garbage Pail Kids shirt you use to wear.
Be sure to check out the facebook page or sign up for their emails.
For those that are new, on July 31st I will be blogging 24 hours to raise money for The Downed Bikers Association.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The FDA Says You have no natural right to food (edit)
The FTCLDF highlighted a few of the key phrases from the FDA's response document in a recent email to its supporters. They include the following two statements from the FDA:
"There is no 'deeply rooted' historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds." [p. 26]
"Plaintiffs' assertion of a 'fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families' is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish." [p.26]
There's a lot more in the document, which primarily addresses the raw milk issue, but these statements alone clearly reveal how the FDA views the concept of health freedom. Essentially, the FDA does not believe in health freedom at all. It believes that it is the only entity granted the authority to decide for you what you are able to eat and drink.
The State, in other words, may override your food decisions and deny you free access to the foods and beverages you wish to consume. And the State may do this for completely unscientific reasons -- even just political reasons -- all at their whim.
******
But it gets even worse. On page 27 of the dismissal, the FDA also states that Americans do not have a fundamental right to enter into private contractual agreements with one another, either.
Read entire article here>>>>
I found some more tidbits
Here>>>
There is No Right to Consume or Feed Children Any Particular Food (pg25)
There is No Generalized Right to Bodily and Physical Health. (pg26)
There is No Fundamental Right to Freedom of Contract (pg 27)
"There is no 'deeply rooted' historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds." [p. 26]
"Plaintiffs' assertion of a 'fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families' is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish." [p.26]
There's a lot more in the document, which primarily addresses the raw milk issue, but these statements alone clearly reveal how the FDA views the concept of health freedom. Essentially, the FDA does not believe in health freedom at all. It believes that it is the only entity granted the authority to decide for you what you are able to eat and drink.
The State, in other words, may override your food decisions and deny you free access to the foods and beverages you wish to consume. And the State may do this for completely unscientific reasons -- even just political reasons -- all at their whim.
******
But it gets even worse. On page 27 of the dismissal, the FDA also states that Americans do not have a fundamental right to enter into private contractual agreements with one another, either.
Read entire article here>>>>
I found some more tidbits
Here>>>
There is No Right to Consume or Feed Children Any Particular Food (pg25)
There is No Generalized Right to Bodily and Physical Health. (pg26)
There is No Fundamental Right to Freedom of Contract (pg 27)
Monday, May 10, 2010
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