Merry Christmas from the Homestead

Here's hoping yours is Healthy and Happy!

Our Christmas eve was quiet.  Man's business is very busy so we spent the day working.  I've started helping out in the woodshop as well.  So all three of us were working like Santa's elves to get everyone's Christmas wishes completed for pick up.

A local family had a terrible fire night before last and lost absolutely everything, so I've been sorting clothes for the mama.  She is about the same size as I am.  Scott took a gift to the bank and we are looking at what else we can do.  Luckily, a neighbor saw the blaze and was able to pull the two of the family to safety.  They didn't have an alarm and they almost slept through it!  Thank God everyone is alright!! 

And it is a reminder to us to test the smoke alarms and burn a cresote 'log' to clean out the inside of the chimney again.  Since we heat only with wood, this is so important.

Boy's favorite friend and her family were to spend Christmas Eve with us, but they had unexpected visitors....in the form of little hair bugs...so they are having a "Lousey" Christmas.  Keep your chin up, K...it's almost over!!

Tomorrow, my sister will be over to have Christmas dinner with us!  We're on "puppy watch" as there is a 10% chance that Iona, the pyrenees might have puppies.  At this point, I don't think so as she doesn't seem to be "showing", but we'll see...she would be due between Christmas day and New Year's Day.  So right now she is living on the back porch.  We tried to bring her into the house, but she totally freaked out!

Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!  Remember why we celebrate it!!

Early Hard Winter

The cold came in fast!!  It went from 40* to 5* in a day....unfortunately, the animals did not take well to the quick temperature change.  We have lost all the Californian Rabbits except Robbie.  And we also lost Sweetie (the lop).  So far, we have lost 3 guineas (both the white ones) and 14 hens (mostly the newish Americaunas) and Gibby Gabby.  Most all we lost the same night...the first really cold one.  It's disappointing because we did have the coop winterized.  It's continued to be frigid and we have not lost any more in the past 4 nights, so hopefully the worst is over.

Here it is the beginning of Christmas week.  I can't believe I haven't posted since Thanksgiving.  Sorry about that!  2011 will be better!  I promise.  I will be posting regularly for a few different topics.  I've been coming up with my plans for the blog and the new year.  As I posted before, I will be blogging for an online "newpaper." and the articles will also be posted here.  I am mainly a homeschooling examiner, but will be posting on some other topics as well...so watch for homeschooling articles.  I've also come up with some "themes" to keep me posting on a regular basis.  I will also be doing some reviews of products and will be able to do giveaways as well!  WOOT!  So start commenting.  The more comments I have, the more products I'm given to review and give away!

Here are some things to look forward to:
Made from Scratch Mondays
"Wordless Wednesday" (This is from another blog carnival)
Field Trip Friday
Homesteading Homeschool

Let me know what you would like to see....