My boy is UNIQUE!

Most teenagers I know won't go out unless they look "just right".  

My kid definitely is so secure in himself that he can laugh at himself and do very brave things (braver than I was at that age!!)

The teen group had a Christmas party with an ugly sweater contest....He went all out for it!

Yes, those are lit up lights on the hat!

Don't miss the blue snoopy snow socks!!

For the same party, we decided the morning of that we would participate in the cookie exchange too.

Only 10 dozen cookies needed in a few hours!  Luckily I always have ingredients on hand for my Mama's Buckaroons (Secret Recipe) which are kinda like Macaroons but with oatmeal instead of coconut.  So like a sugar cookie with oatmeal. (that's the most info I will give!)

Spring! Spring! Spring has Sprung!

Horray!  The long winter is over...well mostly (it's going to get cold later this week "they" say)  but it was a gloriously warm Resurrection Sunday yesterday and I'm hopeful!

You know it's spring when there are buds on the trees, you need to do the taxes (ug), can't stay off Craigslist looking at fencing (and animals, and...and...) Your boots start sticking in the mud again....There are baby chicks in the pump house, and baby pepper plants in the homeschool room.  So many things to look forward to! 

Ok. Not a great picture

Spring is a wonderful time to reevaluate hopes and goals.  I love making lists and setting goals and making charts...the follow up I'm not as great with.  I have some new folks that have been checking out the blog (waving to A) and it reminds me that I need to do better at posting all the stuff going on here.  My "everyday" tends to be quite a bit different than most peoples, so...

In anticipation of spring, here are some of the upcoming goals, plans

We did a month-of-nothin in January, that went pretty well for a few weeks and then we had some "stuff" happen that derailed the effort. So trying that again in April!

Fencing.  This is a priority in my mind right now as we have calves coming in May and we want to add pigs in the next month so keeping them actually on the farm is important.

Updating the herdshare paperwork.  With the new calves, we will have new shares coming available and I need to get the information updated and sent out.

Hershey needs to be tested very soon to confirm that she is indeed pregnant.  She is not as big as I would think (but then again, last time there were twins in there!)  If she isn't we can just keep milking her until the twins calve, but if she is, then we need to stop milking pretty quick here. 

I've had at least 4 requests to restart the CSA for this year.  After talking it over with Man, I think I am going to do it again as well as the U-Pick Fall Pumpkin patch (more info on that soon).  We have decided that we will do the big market garden, but also utilize some of our other local growers (the Amish) around us to supplement the baskets when we have a low week.  Last year was a very odd growing season, so I'm hoping by reaching out to others that also have market gardens, we wont have the stress of feeling like we are shortchanging anyone!

You may know that before we started farming, we came very (VERY) close to realizing my dream of opening a scrapbooking bed & breakfast.  I thought that I had squashed that dream, but not really.  I may not be to the point to make that dream a reality, BUT I can start offering classes and crops again on a small scale. Especially faithbooking classes.  So I'm going to wiggle a few of those in (at least once a month) with the "farmy" classes. 

Oh, and BLOGGING!  That needs to be more of a priority.  So more pictures and more writing.

Help keep me accountable!!

Love, Rea

Classes on the Homestead

After some bumpy starts and stops, I think I'm FINALLY ready to teach some classes here on the homestead.  I've been asked so many times, but it never seemed like the right time, but now it is!

So below is the first set of classes we are offering...there are more in the works and if there is something you don't see but know we do on the farm, let me know.  We can come up with something for you.

I am uncomfortable with asking for payment for things that I love to do and don't mind sharing. However, that doesn't pay the feed bill or pay for the giveaways that will be with each class.  I have, however, tried to make the fee as low as possible!

Class sizes are limited because my kitchen is small, and I'm anticipating that they will fill up.  I am asking for a small deposit to hold your spot in the class.

Without further ado...

Say Cheese!

Come join us on the homestead to find out how we take our yummy raw milk from Hershey and turn it into farmer’ cheese and mozzarella.  Class fee includes a complete cheese making kit to take home. ($20 value) Class size limited to 6.  $30

Saturday, May 16^th 1:30-3:30

Thursday, May 28^th 6:30-8:30

 In A Jam

Come and learn how to make fresh jam.   We will learn to make and preserve jam and enjoy taste testing.  We will provide all the seasonal ingredients, fresh made bread and samples. You will also go home with a jar of freshly made jam. $30 Class size limited to 6

Saturday, April 25 1:30-3:30

Tuesday, April 28^th 6:30-8:30

Thursday, April 30^th 6:30-8:30

Are you Chicken?

Backyard Chickens are now the “hip” thing to do.  Want to learn about chickens and what you need to get started?  Come on out to the farm and meet our flock. Ask questions and learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping.  Have fresh eggs right in your own yard! You’ll go home armed with knowledge and a book to help you on your way   $15

Rabbit, the new trendy white meat

Rabbit for dinner is becoming more and more popular.  Come explore our rabbitry and learn how easy it is to raise rabbit (even in an urban setting) for your own family.  We will learn the basics and  also some great recipes for “the other-other white meat” .

 Homegrown rabbit meat will be available for purchase.

OTHER Upcoming Classes:

• Yogurt, Butter, and Ice Cream, OH My!
• Soap making
• Candle Making
• Pizza Class (3 sessions:Making homemade, from scratch dough, making homemade pizza sauce, and finally making cheese)

Creation Museum

We took a road trip down to Cincinnati to take Grandma Arizona to the
 Creation Museum.  What a wonderful day.  We enjoyed all the exhibits and shows.  We saw the new planetarium show about ISON.

 

 

 

 

My favorite room is all the models of Noah's Ark.

 

Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

Hey everyone!

I joined up with the Homesteading Blog Hop again.  There is so much great information over there!  There is a link in the sidebar.

In 20 days, I will be having my 6 year "Blog-versary" and I will be doing a giveaway.(I'm not sure what yet....possibly some homemade jelly!)

Lots of Homesteading posts coming up.  (I will be posting again today, too) So tune in and come back August 7th.

Fun Day!

We had a fun out-of-the-ordinary day on Thursday!  It counts towards the 101 too!

I took Boy and his friend to the greatest roller coaster park in the country-Cedar Point.

 

It was a L O N G  day, but a very, very fun one! 

Independence Day!

This year we didn't plan on doing much for Independence Day.  Last year, I walked a cow home is 98* heat, milked for the very first time, and then threw a party for 30 people.  The party was fun...but way too hot.

The big gun range/campground that is about 1 mile down the road puts on a great show that we can see perfectly from our pasture.  I had a really hard time, just letting that go.  Plus...it was only 75*...I know how to milk now....etc., etc.

My Boy's Best Friend's family is also our closest friends.  They called yesterday and asked if we wanted to come over for some "redneck" fireworks.  They were great, as was the company, and the vanilla coated popcorn...out of this world.  We took Boy's friend back home with us, and then they came over tonight to enjoy a picnic, the campground fireworks, and then the firework show ala Nana.  (Nana and I drove WAY out of town to go get some fireworks today.)

We had such a blast.  It's the second night in a row I haven't been in bed by 9:30-10.  YAWN!!  It is worth it though!  AND we saw two shooting stars, too.  God's Fireworks!!

Happy Independence Day (OK, a day late!)

By the pond, that I don't have....

.....will be this shed / cabin (that I don't have!)

(I don't know the picture source or I would put it here!)

Man calls this my "Granny Clampett" cabin. I think it would make a nice little guest cottage by the pond (which is on my 101 list to dig...Boy and another 12 year old have offered to dig it for me!!)

So it's not MY picture...however it is my picture of the day!

Have a great one!

Updates, sans doctor

So, with my split second timing...I couldn't get it all done.  Surprised?  I didn't think so.

So I actually will be going to my Doctor on Monday.  The soonest she could get me in.  I've been approved off of work until April 15th, currently and they will re-check with my counselor on the 13th to confirm how nuts I am. :)  Before I write the next section...please know that I am resting...believe it or not.  I am still having 2-3 attacks a day, but I am able to manage because I can almost always lay down when they are occuring.  I haven't been able to establish if it is true, but I seem to have one when I am stressed or tired, which seems logical, but I haven't been able to confirm that there is a correlation because I also have them when I'm doing absolutely nothing....not even thinking...so

Boy had a really fun day yesterday.  His best buddy, N, invited him to play lazer tag for N's birthday.  Along with Boy, his other set of favorite freinds (the V Boys) were also invited.  The 5 boys had a BLAST!!  Then off to Wendy's for lunch...then more running around at gymtime.  Audition.  And Pizza for dinner.  Followed by watching The Muppet Show on YouTube!!

Going backwards, He also had a great day this past Monday while it was still warm.  We were invited by the V Boys to the zoo.  It became an impromptu field trip as two other families ended up inviting themselves along.  I think at one point there was 11-12 kids.  Then after the zoo, just us and the V family went for ice cream where the boys had "Oreo Volcanos!"

Last Friday was a surprise fun day for Boy that we decided counted for one of my 101 goals.  Here's a picture:

Doesn't he look SO grown up??  This is "Upper Falls" in Logan, Ohio.

Do you see "him" over our left shoulder?  Yup, the "old man" of Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills.  Luckily it's not really a "hike".  It's more a walk with big paths, so not to worry, I am not straining myself.  But I took Boy "hiking" for the first time.  Some nice folks on the trail took the picture for us.

Smuckers Fieldtrip

Ready for Camp!

Boy went to "sleep away" camp for the first time this summer!

It's a Christian Camp that is so close that we could hear the kids singing during chapel from the farm.

Off to camp....

Here he is at his cabin, by his bunk.

After camp, we learned that one of his cabin mates didn't have a rail on his bed and fell out during the night. Fell onto the concrete floor and the fire department had to come.  Firemen, EMT, ambulance, and his friend left camp to get stitches.  Boy slept through it all...just a few beds away.

He made some new friends and is already looking forward to going back to camp next summer.

Beach!

So I told you in the middle of making Raspberry Jelly, you have to take a break.  Our choice, being in the middle of the midwest...of course...the beach.

OK, so it's a man made beach on one of our local reservoirs, but it does the trick on a hot day.

We met a few other homeschool families from our group. 

The boys made some impressive sand castles, and roadways.

Then after a few hours....back home to the Raspberries!

Destructo-Danny

We love Danny. 

 But he has an issue....he is a chewer. 

It takes 3 seconds flat for him to find the most important item in the room, and destroy it. 

I woke up from my nap to see that he had a snack of my badge...I thought about bringing him to work to swipe on the card reader...but I was pretty sure that wouldn't work.  I did feel silly saying, "my dog ate my badge"..but at least I had proof.

Danny has eaten:

• 
  
  a roll of electrical tape
• 
  
  2 of Kristl's stuffed toys (her cow and her baby)
• 
  
  
  Boy's New shoes
• 
  
  My Badge
• 
  
  Man's sandpaper
• 
  
  Ugly Bunny (stuffed toy)
• 
  
  Corner of my angel picture
• 
  
  Jewler's box
• 
  
  Corner of a pad of watercolor paper
• 
  
  7 pens/pencils

It takes about 14.2 seconds from the time you leave him inside, until he has found SOMETHING he shouldn't have to eat.

So....this week....I was able to get him a cage from someone on freecycle.

He does NOT like it.  Boy is trying to convince him it's OK.  Think he is convinced?

Please don't call CPS on me...I didn't keep the kid in the cage!!

I promise!!

Storms & Rainbows

We had a fun day on the farm today.  Friends of the Boy came over and the three of them spent all day making a secret club in one of the horse stalls in the barn.  (You can see the all 3 boys in the bottom of the picture)

Then, I had to go to work....I went in one of the most wicked storms I have ever been in.  Only to get to work and be faced with Tornado sirens.  Meanwhile at the farm...the storm seperated and went both to the north and south and left them with a gorgeous double rainbow over the barn....

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010! 

We started out the year by going to "game night" at the local church that we have attended a few times, fun for all!  We played games or talked to new acquantainces.  Man hit it off with the Pastor, and I hung out with the Pastor's wife.  Boy played with his new older friend, and his new friend that is a girl.  Sadly, we found out that they will be leaving the church as her dad was just selected to pastor a new church about an hour away.

We came home an hour into the new year.  So our traditional sparklers had to wait until later.  We did them the evening of the 1st.

Over on the scrapping board, I am attempting to do the project 365, which is a picture a day, so be sure to check it out from time to time.  You are to take some non traditional pictures to capture the day to day of your 'real life'.

But as a sneak peek...for the 1st....we are heating our home exclusively with wood...it's been a challenge figuring out how to keep the house warm through the night....it's getting better.  Last night it got down to 0, and still we were warm.

On top you can see the steamer I received for Christmas...my favorite color and it helps with the moisture in the house.  We've been getting the fire cooking so we have a nice bed of coals...we've only "restarted" restarted the fire once since the beginning of December...the rest of the time, we just keep it going.

Happy 4th of July

With the way our government is right now, I don't feel like this is much of an Independence Day, but it's a great day for parades, picnics and fireworks!

The BOY and I rode our bikes from home over the dam to downtown...6 miles. Yes, cudos all around...and then after the parade, rode the 6 miles back home...hot...and mostly uphill. There's where the kudos should be! We did it!





















Then Mom and Dad came over for an indoor picnic (it was raining!). Followed by fun on the driveway including sparklers, pop-its, and watermelon.

Then off to my work to sit in the parking lot for front row seats to the local fireworks! It was a great spot!!! Until the 45 mins to 1 hour to get OUT of the parking lot.

Happy 4th of July to YOU!

Fun at the OX Roast

Boy, Man, Nana and I walked down to the Grandview Ox Roast. Everyone ate roast beef and rode rides!
Boy on the swings! I went with him, but look decidedly GREEN in all the pictures.
Nana rode the ferris wheel.
Boy did the slides on his own.
And Boy and Man rode this box thing that you throw your weight around to try to get it to go up and over.



They got very close but didn't quite make it.

Update to the Strawberry Post....

So back in June I put up Strawberry Jam...I did both traditional canning and freezer jam. Well, when I made the traditional, I was told to put the jars upside down to help with the vaccum seal. I did so...not realizing that it needs to be turned right side up within about an hour....or this happens.....yeah, gravity has NOTHING on me!