Win it Before You Can Buy it! The Beekeeping Handbook by Vivian Head

Fox Chapel Publishing has graciously offered to give away Vivian Head's soon to be released book, The Beekeeping Handbook to one of my readers. You can find my review of it here>>>;

What do I want from you? Good question. How about you tell me how great I am. No? Well you're no fun! Fine than, just leave me a comment, anything you want to say. And I will put you in the drawing for The Beekeeping Handbook.

This will stay open until my next post, Monday morning.

and don't forget to check out my review of The Chicken Handbook by Vivian Head below this post.

Here we go

We spent all day Sunday preparing for this winter storm. We are on the boundary of the 1-3" and 3-6". It is enough to shut down our roads here. 

We have fire wood aplenty, food enough 'til spring, but not for the livestock, we have a week on hand, and I readied for the toilet flushing. Oh yes, I learned my lesson from earlier this year.  They say that there will be no ice with it, however 40 mph winds that are coming could cause us to lose power. We are ready for it.

To my US  (Sub)Urban Homesteaders, Rogue Wild Farm is giving away the book, The Urban Homestead. 

We also wrote letters to Santa. Large is too cool for it, but I'm not.

Small's

Medium's 

Mine

*Know Your* series review and Giveaway

Fox Chapel Publishing sent me a birthday present! Well, not exactly, but it did show up unexpectedly in my mail yesterday. And what a delight it was!

It was the *Know Your* series by Jack Byard

It includes *Know Your* Pigs

*Know Your* Chickens

*Know Your* Donkeys & Mules

and *Know Your* Cows.

These are pocket books that are sold separately.

Monday is library day here at the homestead, as the  boys and I pulled off, grabbing the mail in transit, I was super curious what was in the package. I had no idea that they were sending me anything. Medium ripped it open for me. He was thrilled. Medium is 10 yrs old. He devoured the *Know Your* Cows pocket book. He found our Kerries, but was confused on not being able to find Murrial. I had to explain that the shorthorns that Mr. Byard had in the book was the closest he would get to her (Murrial is an American Milking Shorthorn). In the foreword of the book, Mr.Byard does say that there are a lot of cows out there, and he hopes he can give you a glimpse into the diversity of them.

Large had a grand time with the *Know Your* Pig. I think he has picked out a pet, a very wooly pig.

The *Know Your* series is a great reference for not only children (Mr. Byard is a retired teacher and wrote these books because he discovered that most children didn't know that there are more than 2 kinds of sheep, black or white), but anyone interested in heritage, endangered or just plain barnyard animals.

The pictures are gorgeous, highlighting the best of the animals. And it includes tidbits and trivia about the animals. I highly recommend this series. So much so that I contacted Fox Chapel Publishing to see if I could host a giveaway for you all.

To win your very own set of *Know Your* series (I think it will make a grand Christmas present to your 4-H'er) Leave a comment telling me what your favorite barnyard animal is. Pig is ok, but Kune Kune is much better. I will leave this contest open until Friday. Good Luck!

Scrapbook Software Give-a-way

I know that there are a few of you that scrapbook, so when Liz of My Memories emailed me and asked if I wanted to review and then give-a-way a scrapbook program ($40 value) I said righton. Well I actually said that it is promising to look like a long winter and I have never scrapbooked before, so why not.

Back in my day scrapbooks contained our favorite Garbage Pail Kids, airplane tickets, TMNT stickers, and various this and that, that we found cool or ended up doing (like all the plays I was in or the letters to the editors I wrote). Scrapbooking with photos and pretty things was never something I had done. Last night I played with it, so now I present you with my first ever attempt at digital photo scrapbooking!! (you can also print and bind your creations)

Sorry Blogger doesn't seem to like my movie. It shortens it to 1 second. I will figure it out and repost it. I am new to this ya know. So here are some of the pages.

 You can put movies into the digital scrapbook, links, music, narratives. All kinds of different templates and make your own. Those were make my owns, just to add an element of various things into it. 

I did have fun. I am lousy at it, but I have time to improve.

First I will give you a very special code. This code gives you $10 off your purchase.

STMMMS83055

Now to the give-a-way!!!!

To win your own My Memories Suit scrapbooking software, ($40 value) we have a few rules.

First I want you to head over to My Memories and have a look. Tell me what you like in comments.

Second I will give you one extra entry for each person that uses your name (don't get smart, birth name or screen name not just writing the phrase, your name)  in comments.

You don't have to link to me nor do you actually have to like me to enter.

I will leave this open until Friday. Then randomly draw a name. Good luck!

And the only survivor from the zombie invasion will be. . .

Jennifer, from Goats in the Garden

Please email me with your shipping address.

In case you missed it Jennifer won her own copy of Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs.

Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs ~book review and give-a-way~

Our wonderful fellow blogger Wendy Brown at Happily Home got published. A big HUZZAH to her! She wrote a thrivalist's guide to life without oil, "Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs."

She graciously sent me a copy for review.

I read it quickly, as I tend to read. The book is full of great tips, trials and successes. She gives you scenarios to think about, what if. . . what if the teotwawki was only 21 days away?

Surviving the Apocalypse helps guide suburban and urban preppers and steaders in their first and continuing steps at being as self sufficient as possible in a limited arena. If you are just starting out I highly recommend this book as a guide. If you are an old hat, it will help to serve as a reminder.

The chapters are broken down to help digest the what-nots of suburban survival. From Fire to Livestock. From Health care to Networking.

It is limited in information, however that is true for most homesteading and preparedness books, and should be incorporated into your private library. It is well written and witty, and although I don't agree on all the philosophy and opinions stated in the book, I still believe that is was well thought out.

I do recommend this book.

Now to win your very own copy, tell me, will you survive the zombie invasion?

Extra points for details that make me cringe ~insert evil laugh here~

Contest opened to all for 1 week.

Your Chance to Win a new car!!!!

You really didn't fall for that did you? It is April Fools after all.

Lucky you however for at least checking it out, even if you knew it was a hoax. Why? Because I am really truly having a give-a-way. Seriously.

But I am not going to tell you what it is. It could be just about anything at all. It could be a zonk. It could be a book, or food. Or I am just a serial killer waiting for the right person. You just don't know. And that my friends is part of the fun.

So if you would like a chance to find out what the prize is, leave a comment and tell me;

Would you be a fool to enter?

Or would you be foolish not to?

~insert evil laugh here~

Prik-E-gnu Winners!

Would the following people please email me with a shipping address (can be found on profile page, left side)

Skippymom

Annette

Red-Beard

Colenic

Kyddryn

TwinkieR*

Small Farm Girl

lafngirl

I know I said 3 winners. But as only 8 of you entered the drawing I decided to let all of you win.

Happy Spring! Give it a way

Good morning all. Spring break has begun here for the boys and I slept until 6am. Course that meant I had to do chores before I posted this morning.

And now I am in the mood to propagate my seeds through out the US. Now that didn't seem right.

I have prik-e-gnu's seeds to give away to 3 lucky people. But what is prick-e-gnu you ask. Good thing for you I have have an entire post about it here: Prik-E-Gnu

It is very compact and good to grow in a container. So my Urban Homesteaders should love it. It's pretty too.

Just leave me a comment for today until Tuesday evening and I will randomly draw 3 names to win a pod or two of seeds. Organically grown here on the Neophyte Homestead.

While you are waiting, here's some pictures from yesterday, enjoy.

As you can see we did bunny maintenance yesterday.

And the winner is. . .

I use a program called Top hat. I write your names into it, click shuffle and then pick. So much easier than actually writing them all on little pieces of paper and sticking them in Husband's dirty hat.

oh, you want to know who won the book. . .

Bombdigity come on down! You are the winner. email me with your mailing addy (email is in my profile page)

Thanks for playing. And remember, more give-a-ways are coming.

Urban Homestead action day plus a BOOK GIVE-A-WAY

Today the Denver Based group that's Facebook page was shut down because of the new trademark is hosting a Take back Urban Homesteading action day.

Video's, story's and photo links can be found here> > > Action Day Videos.

To show my support I am giving away a copy of Urban Homestead By Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne. Google received a complaint and a Legal form letter stating that the title of this book is trademark infringement. Their Blog can be found here at Root Simple.

Just leave me a comment telling me why your are a homesteading Junkie (and just cuz does qualify, but I wouldn't mind hearing more) and your name will be placed in a hat.

The winner will be announced Wednesday morning.

Wow, that's a heck of a lot of mistakes!

In May I will have been blogging here for 5 years. And in October we will have been at the Neophyte homestead for 10 years. That's a lot of thing to record and talk about.

I have decided to have random give-a-ways. To thank my readers and just cuz. But you will have to be on your toes, and pay attention.

Ashley in Nebraska won my Jelly and Jams recipe book in yesterday's contest. "Jam on the Range" Congrats! What? there was a contest? Yes there was, it was listed in the comments section. Told ya, you got to pay attention ~insert evil laugh here~

The Year of the Y (now with photo)

Uma had a bull calf yesterday. All black except for the very tip of his shaft. Sorry about the lack of photo but I am having a hard time locating the cord for the camera. He's a quiet little thing, doesn't bawl all the time. Husband found him sprawled out in the middle of the field, no other cows around him. Husband thought he was trampled after birth and was dead, until he touched the calf. They both jumped in surprise.

This is the year of the Y name. Suggestions?

Also found a lamb yesterday, a little girl. We are not naming the lambs.

The starter seedlings are doing well, and here in two weeks we will begin planting our cool veggie garden. Our lost ranch hand showed up the other day and is finishing up my truck, getting it running again. So much I need to do with a truck, will be great to have one again.

Hope everyone faired the nasty weather last night.

And the Winner is. . .

Hermit Jim from Coffee with the Hermit.

Huzzah!

I will drop you an email with your code.

Need to get an entire trailer park and move my whole world around!

Husband has me packing up the entire house, or so it seems. He is on this kick to remodel before spring. He didn't go into work yesterday, so he started building me shelves in the living room, and a set up to light the room. The living room didn't come equipped with a central lighting system, unlike the rest of the rooms in house.

The packing is going interestingly. I am well aware now, that I lack the appropriate dusting skills when it comes to our decorative sentimental junk. Guess I just found my New Years resolution. We found all kinds of niffty things squirreled away and hiding under a foot of dust. Luckily I haven't found anything to creepy like dead animals or luggage from city mouse's visit.

Speaking of luggage, I have a $125 gift certificate from CSN (and it isn't just for their luggage stores) burning a hole in my pocket. What to do with it? I could keep it, or I could try and buy your love and give it away. hhmmm. . . what to do. . . CSN does have over 200 stores to pick from.

Give it away of course!

Now then, what kind of hoops should I make you jump through to get it.

tell me how much you love me, Leave a comment.

For extra chances to win,

link to me from you social media page (blog, facebook, etc.) for 1 extra entry. (more than one? then you get more than 1 entry)

and for every person that claims you sent them here to enter, you get your name dropped in the hat again.

Or you can post a picture of yourself dressed like city mouse doing a country mouse activity and I will give you 5 entries. Pick your poison.

(US and Canada only, sorry guys. Will work on getting the rest of you some sort of contest)

I will draw a name this Saturday. Good Luck!

HotHouse Flower by Margot Berwin

HotHouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is one woman’s journey from the modeling and advertising world of New York City to the rain forests of the Yucatan Peninsula. From the hot and steamy plant dealers in the Union Square Green Market, to the curanderos, herbalists and shamans of Southern Mexico



Now this is a book I probably would have never picked up. I am a title person, if the title doesn't call me, then the book tends to get bypassed unless someone recommends it or I have read everything else that appeals to me. So when I was sent this book, I tried to set aside my it's gonna be a chick lit book.

I sat down and read the entire book in a couple of hours.

Surprise surprise! The book is well written and should appeal to many Fantasy genre geeks. A modern day fantasy and self exploration novel. It keeps your interest and goes into detail about the exotics that it covers without the words blurring into boringness.

I loathe critiquing other people's babies. I know how it can feel, but there is little negative to be said about the book. The lead Lila is annoying as can be. Many times you want to slap her and inform her she is behaving like a child. However if she didn't behave this way, she would not have the adventure she has. By the end of the book, she still needs to be slapped.

I even read a passage out loud to Husband, he smiled. And he is not a reader.

If you would like to win a copy of this book, leave me a comment. in 2 days time I will hold a drawing for a winner.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for the book. To see more reviews, go here.

Xippy's Xylophone? Vote Now

Because of the amount of suggestions, we are going to narrow it down a bit. You can vote once on each poll.



Here is our newest little girl. Now you get to decide what her name shall be. The person that suggested the winning name will receive Survival Seeds from Hometown Seeds.

This is part of my blogathon. The winner will be announced on Augst1st 2010. Make sure you link to this page to get your friends to vote!

This poll will be open until July 30th. The two winning names will then have a face off for the final winner on July 31st.

And remember I still have other give-a-ways going on from now until August 1st!

There are 2 polls here. You can vote once on each poll. Not once total. once on the first poll AND once on the second poll.

What should her name be?

• 
  
  Xandra's Xanthippe


• 
  
  Xavia (means new house)


• 
  
  Xanadu


• 
  
  Xiavierre Xuxa


• 
  
  Xuan (means Spring)


• 
  
  Xena


• 
  
  Xstead's Xtra


• 
  
  Xola Xolani (means Stay in Peace & Please Forgive)


• 
  
  Xuxu's Petals


• 
  
  Xanthe

view results
Free vote poll

Second part

• 
  
  Xanto (means Golden)


• 
  
  Xylia (means wood dweller)


• 
  
  Xixian Xi


• 
  
  Xhosa


• 
  
  Xalina (means Moon, light, shine)


• 
  
  Xanthe Xira (means Blonde Messenger)


• 
  
  Xia (glow of sunshine)


• 
  
  Xiu Xiu (heaven Bath)


• 
  
  XIA XING (glow of the sunrise star)


• 
  
  Xanadu Gelfing

view results
Free vote poll

Think I will turn this post into a contest for Survival Seeds

I was on the computer late last night, when Husband came in. Cows are making an odd noise out there, he informed me. Sounds like bigfoot.

This of course got me to go out into the oh so dark night. It was Winston making the noise (our year old bull). He was staring over to the other corral. There I found Mama mooing quietly and turning circles. She was in labor.

I ran to get Husband and a flashlight. I have yet to see a calf born. The flashlight I found was just about worthless, so by the light of the crescent moon, Husband and I watched the calf come into the world. We could see the silvery colored sack as she slide forth, and then plop. On the ground. And in 5 minutes the calf was up and nursing. From water break to calf walking took 30 minutes.

This morning we went out, and IT'S A GIRL! (my camera has gone missing, will get pics asap)

Now how to turn this joyous occasion into a contest for the blogathon. Simple, you are going to name her.

This will be a 2 part contest.

First, suggest a name in comments. Two rules, name must begin with the letter X and you get one name. (it can be a first and middle like Urth's Umbra)

Second, I will leave this open for 2 days. After that I will close the suggestions and voting will commence. The winner of the voting will win The Survival Seeds from Hometown Seeds. The voting will be open until midnight July 31st. And the winner announced after that.


We have 10 pledges for the blogathon, think we can get more? Thank you to those that have pledges. Your names will be entered in to the drawing for the goody bag from RoadRUNNER magazine.

Survival Seeds Give-a-way

Hometown seeds has offered to donate a package of their Survival Seeds for the blogathon.

Yet another reason to come hang out with me on the 31st of July.

Plus, because you guys rock, if you order with Hometown Seeds (before July 31st), type in the promo code thanks to get 20% off your order.

Thank you!

I just wanted to thank you for being so great to my boys. They were thrilled with the comments. And Medium loves that he has 8 followers already. He has been bragging to his father about it.

It is hard to dictate a 6 year old's words. I so want to fix it, and then make it longer, but it is their blog, their words, and no matter how much it makes me cringe, I will let it stand.

One good thing about children, they feel no need to make posts too long or complicated. However as they get use to this blogging and become comfortable with it (not to mention as they age) you will see a change in the demeanor of the blog.

Also, you have a chance to win a Berkey water system, go here to see the details.