Suzie's Craft Show #TBT 5/9/15

This past spring we participated in our first craft show outside of the farm! 

A friend we met at the Farmer's Market was holding her 3rd annual craft fair and we went with all of the pens the Guys have been working on.

It was a long day, but it was a lot of fun!

Firewood from Friends 5/2/15

Some friends down the road have about 7 acres of land, and a lot of trees down. (We started looking for firewood for the winter very early this year after last year's harsh winter).  Our friends invited us over to cut wood to add to our woodpile.  

After working with his birthday chainsaw that he got last year, Boy was beyond frustrated because it wouldn't stay going.  Dad to the rescue!  Since Man wasn't allowed to do any really heavy labor, he went to Rural King and got Boy a chainsaw!  He loves his machinery!!

Our friends also have this awesome John Deere tractor.  Boy asked lots and lots of questions about it~  Our friends let both of us drive it around their farm.  It is NICE!!

We are truly blessed to have friends that are neighbors who blessed us with firewood and help!

Tilling the Spring Garden #TBT 5/1/15

Here I am looking at my poor garden all dying and finished and waiting on winter....however here are the promising pictures from spring!  I am so blessed to have my big Boy who LOVES machinery and likes to do things like till up my garden!

You can see the big Tom Turkey in the background 

watching what is going on..his name is Stuffing

Turning the tiller is hard work!

Sadly, we did not do the CSA this year. Our garden ended up not doing very well due to the excessive spring rains and cool temperatures.  The tomatoes all drowned, and the later ones we put in just started turning red as the leave started changing. I missed doing my CSA and having a bigger reason to garden.  I'm hopeful that next year will be better!

Spring #TBT 4/29/15

Ah, Spring!  The warm sunny days of spring are so wonderful!

Here my Man took a picture of me gathering our first "crop" Violets for  Violet jelly!

We noticed an abundance of honeybees on our pear tree.  Having "lost" our bees last year, we moved the hive under the tree hoping that a scout bee would see it and bring his swarm over.  I even slathered it up with essential oil:Lemon Grass (101 list) because it says on the internet that Lemon Grass is one on the favorite scents of honey bees.

We ended up not catching any :(

Making Pens

Man and Boy have always enjoyed their time in the woodshop.  

Back when Boy was six, he turned his first pen at an event at a woodworking store where Man was the manager.

Since then, they go in cycles of working on the wood lathe and not.  Since Man's surgery, he's been trying to find more "little" things to work on.  

The guys had a father / son weekend and now all the lathes and equipment is out and they've been going to town making some beautiful stuff.

SteamPunk Pen

Sometimes the night...is just beautiful #TBT 4/9/15

View out our front door after the rain.

Rich Mullins: Beautiful by Step

Take a Bite out of Lymes #TBT 3/24/15

I have been blessed with a "Friend of a friend" that has become so dear to me! My friend, Erin, has Lyme's disease, but is one of the most uplifting people I've "met".  She has such a love for the Lord and sweet disposition, that everytime we "talk" I am immensely blessed.  March  was Lyme's disease awareness month, and to raise awareness, you needed to take a "bite out of Lyme's" and then post a picture.....here's ours:

And my Man turned a pen out of the Lyme's color for me to send to Erin:

Isn't it gorgeous.

Here's some facts about Lyme's Disease:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-quickfacts.php

1. Lyme disease is a world-wide infectious disease and has been reported in all 50 states, 25% of the reported cases are children. Lyme disease had been found on every continent but Antarctica.
2. Typically Lyme disease is transmitted through a bite from an infected deer tick. These ticks, often the size of a poppy seed, can leave an undetectable bite.
3. Fewer than 50% of people infected get the bull’s eye rash. Some develop flu-like symptoms a week or so after becoming infected, however, many people are asymptomatic but can develop Lyme symptoms months, years or decades later.
4. Common Symptoms include: fatigue, neck stiffness or pain, jaw discomfort, muscle pain, joint aches like arthritis- typically in the knees, swollen glands, memory loss, cognitive confusion, vision problems, digestive issues, headaches and fainting.
5. The Lyme spirochete bacteria is hard to detect and hard to kill. Lyme disease is growing at epidemic proportions in the United States.
6. It is called the great imitator; looking like many other health problems (Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Bells Palsy, ADD, MS and Lupus).
7. The medical community is divided over the diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Health insurance often doesn’t cover the treatment for Chronic Lyme disease.
8. The standard and most commonly prescribed for diagnosing Lyme test is the ELISA test. This test, often not sensitive enough to detect Lyme, can produce a false negative. The more sensitive test is called the IgG and IgM Western Blots test. The preferred testing lab is IGeneX Lab in Palo Alto. www.igenex.com.

I'm back....REPOST!

Hello my beautiful bloggy readers....

I've been long absent, for that I am sorry.
I don't have a good excuse (oh, I have a zillion excuses, just not a good one!)

I've been overwhelmed with trying to get all the posts "caught up" and doing them in past order so you didn't have to scroll backwards.  But life goes on and I am just getting further and further behind.  Add to that, the mild midlife crisis ("Why am I doing ANY of this anyway?"), an unexpected epic trip, and the mundane of keeping animals feed and watered in extreme temperatures,
 and well, you get the idea.

It's been an adjustment figuring out "what next" for man since his health issues and surgery.  And now that it seems he's come up with something, I've been trying to figure out if this is the path I want for my "what next"  Don't get me wrong, I love the farm.  I love my critters.  But I also have a debilitating disease that is progressing, as well...and I'm not as young as I think I am!  

Until I come up with another plan, though,
 I'm going to keep on doing what I am doing...and doing my best. 

I also need to kick my 101 into gear.  And that means...consistent blogging.  Including new theme days!  New classes for friends (and strangers) at the farm.  4H and animal adventures.

Thanks for sticking around!
Oh, and if you would do me a favor? Could you comment so I actually know that there is more than one of you out there.  If no one is reading, then it might make my decision about the blogging easier!

So be sure to check back often!
 I have 6 months of posts to get caught up and am determined to do it in record time!

Originally posted 3/24/15

Smokey

9 days old

This is Smokey (AKA Quarter Pounder)  She was the only kit born from Mopsy on July 4th.  Because she is a "Lonely Only" she has been gaining weight at a quick rate (hence the AKA name) She has a wonderful demeanor and will become one of our breeders. (And likely Boy's "Showmanship" Bunny for Fair next year.)

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)

Our routine...bread day!

Just a quick peek into the ordinary of our life...

At least once a week...but usually twice (Monday and Thursday) I make bread.  

We don't buy bread from the store except for the occasional hot dog buns 

or pumpernickel rye-haven't figured that one out yet!)

Because we don't buy from the store, there are no preservatives (which is good) 

but it is ready for the chickens after day 3....it just doesn't last.

That makes me think of the bread that DOES last.
The bread that we must ALL have to have eternal life

It is fitting that today is called Maunday Thursday (or the Holy Thursday) and is considered the night that Jesus had His last supper with the disciples.  (Nissan 14).

John 6:48-51 NKJV  Emphasis mine

" I am the bread of life. 49/Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50/ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51/ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

I am not an eloquent writer, nor am I a very good "preacher/teacher".  I wish I had the words that are in my heart that I want to convey here.

What does this say to you?  What it says to me is also in the words of Jesus.  The words I rely on and am so humbly thankful for..everyone, it seems, knows John 3:16

16/ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

But it's verses 17 and 18 that give me the blessed assurance..

17/ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved  18/He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only 

begotten Son of God."

How awesome is that?!?

And so as I can smell the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread, 

I am reminded of the "Living Bread" 

  

MooSteer T-Bone, The Second!!

About 1 week ago, I decided to try the baby bull thing again.  (Have you seen the price of beef?!)

I picked up a two week old calf from a different farm that was only about 27 minutes away from the Homestead.

He was sassy right from the start!  Look at him sticking out his itty bitty tongue!

He is already heavier than MooSteer #1.

And has already been through a small episode of scours.

And is doing fine!

He's being both bottle fed and a limited time with Hershey each evening.

He is a RUNNER!! 

I'm ready to put him with Hershey all day, but am reluctant because I'm not sure how I'm going to catch him in the evening.  He doesn't yet know the lure of "Sweet Feed"

It's not the greatest of videos and the wind is making it all crackly.  I'll try to get a better one, but in the meantime, there he goes with the twins in pursuit.

The twins now live in the back pasture with their own "big girl" run-in.  The first few days were very noisy as they protested the separation from the milk bar!

The story of the Moo-Steer T-Bone *TBT**

One of the things I need to do is get some posts caught up, so the current plan (we'll see how this goes) is that I'll do a "Throw Back Thursday" and get some of these old posts done and then after awhile, I'll put them where they belong chronologically...

So at the beginning of the year when I did my 101 list, I put "Go to Arizona" on the list never thinking it would become a reality so soon.  Things developed and it became apparent that we needed to go out and visit with Man's Mom sooner rather than later.

So, what to do about the farm??  Luckily, I have a friend down the road a piece that is also "homesteading" and she was willing to come over and take care of the critters while we were gone, but what to do so I wouldn't lose my milk production.  Then, despite the fact that it is very difficult to find bull calves right now, I had the opportunity to get a week old calf for a very reasonable cost (or so I thought...)The idea was that since the twins were mostly weaned, we needed a calf that would be nursing frequently so we wouldn't lose our production. 

On 1/20 I drove an hour north to pick up the calf.  After debate, and hitch hiking one name after another, he was named "MooSteer T-Bone" (Mr.T)

Why yes, I do often travel with a cow in the back of my car!

Mama & MooSteer!

Hershey is a wonderful foster / nurse cow.  She immediately took him and was protective of him from the dogs.  He nursed great...too great and overate.

Unfortunately, within about 24 hours, MooSteer developed scours (cow diarrhea).  When they have scours, they can dehydrate quickly and die.  I brought him inside to get him warmed up and gave him a bath.  Once he was warmed and clean...back out to the barn. 

Three hours later, he couldn't stand up and was scouring much worse, so back into the house and the bath tub.  Another shower.  Started feeding him with a bottle and give "cow Gatorade".

Then started the feedings every few hours. 

And multiple showers a day.

And keeping the baby warm (1/26/15)

The vet was called and more medicines were given.

I got the calf to make things easier for the trip, but at this point, I didn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time for about 4 days. Thus the haggard pictures!

Just keepin' it real, people.

My bathroom has never been so clean.  Every few hours he got a shower and the tub was bleached out.  Family laundry went by the wayside and only cow laundry seemed to be getting done.

He seemed to be getting a bit stronger, so I took him outside for a walk.  A good friend of mine gave us an outgrown coat for him to wear.

1/27/15

Another night of feeding him via syringe every two hours, and medicines and electrolytes.  I knew that if he didn't turn soon, I was going to need to intubate him (Feed via tube straight into the stomach-not easy and very scary)

The next morning was gorgeous (cold, but sunny)

He seemed to be eating better, and so I took him outside.  He actually walked half way to the barn with me, so we decided to let him have a few hours of fresh air.

And then I did 'tube him to get some food into him.  Scary or not. 

 By chore time, he was laying in a really small stall made of hay bales with a heater on him.  It was not looking any better.

It was youth group night, so I left him for a few hours.  When I returned, no sign of a messy bum.  So according to the vets instructions, I needed to tube again.  

Shortly thereafter, (like within 20 minutes) he was groaning.  I held him in my arms and was patting his tummy.  He gave a little moo and was gone. 8 days of nursing him, and he was no longer.

And I was left wondering, did I do it?  Did I tube wrong?  

What more could I have done?  I still don't know.