A Time for Reflection by Nancy Carter, Senior Editor
Our first Christmas on our homestead was simply magical for us. It
signaled the beginning of how drastically our lives had changed since
moving to the country. As I looked at my Christmas list, I realized
that I really didn't need to go to the mall. I needed to spend my time
shopping at the local farm stores or browsing websites for the best
deals on coveralls, work gloves, and things for the barn. I also found
myself wanting to give handmade gifts--gowns for my nieces, a robe for
my mom, and a fleece blanket for my nephew. Yep, the times had
definitely changed.
And I don't know about you, but when I look out at our barn in
the winter, feel the cold, smell the hay and horses, and look at the
stars shining brightly overhead, I can't help but think of our Savior's
humble birth. For us, moving to the country has been as much of a
spiritual journey as anything. It's been about getting back in touch
with things as God intended them. Raising animals with plenty of grass
and sunshine with no chemicals. Growing our own garden so we can pick
the veggies at the perfect ripeness. Hunting to fill our freezer with
meat. Baking homemade bread with freshly ground organic wheat.
Discovering salves and herbal remedies made from locally grown plants.
Learning how to deal with horses, chickens, dogs, and cats. And
dreaming of so much more.
It's been quite a journey. And it hasn't always been easy.
This year a tornado hit our property and destroyed one barn. Our
beloved old horse died, and we lost a bunch of our chickens to the
heat. But through it all, we've been so thankful for where God has led
us. We are blessed with plenty of room for the boys to explore and
plenty of work to keep them busy. We treasure the peace and quiet that
we never experienced in town. And most of all, we're thankful for the
chance to get back to our roots--to learn new things and to teach our
children as well.
May your 2007 be blessed whether your homestead is in the country, in the middle of town,
or just in your hearts.
Blessings!
Nancy Carter
Senior Editor of HomesteadBlogger
Garden-Style Gifts by Catherine Love
Although the Christmas gift-giving season has already passed, I
thought I'd share some gift ideas sure to please the gardener on your
list. Now is a great time to find some great clearance items!
- Books - Whatever your gardener's interest, there
is sure to be a great book on the subject. Check out the bookstore or
an online source for a book they'll love.
A few of my favorite titles are:
Backyard Market Gardening by Andrew W. Lee
Pay Dirt by Mimi Luebbermann
Southern Herb Growing by Madalene Hill & Gwen Barclay with Jean Hardy
The New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses by Deni Bown
Herbal Treasures and The Pleasure of Herbs by Phyllis V. Shaudys
Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces by Patricia Lanza
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
- Journals, scrapbooks or photo albums - Every gardener needs a place to document his or her gardening successes, experiments, and dreams.
- Calendars - Pick one with room to jot down planting dates and other garden notes.
- Seeds and Plants - A packet of seeds or small pot of a new or heirloom variety of a favorite plant is always a welcome gift.
- Tools - Peruse garden catalogs for a handy-dandy helper for your gardener. Good quality tools are a gardener's friend.
- Gloves or other garden gear - How about a nice straw hat, basket, or harvest apron, too?
- Art for the garden - Choose something fun like a
terracotta toad or a bee skep; or perhaps something functional such as
a sundial, bird bath, or fountain. No pink flamingos or plastic elves
for me, please!
- Pots and containers - Find a unique or otherwise beautiful flowerpot or planter.
Garden-style gift ideas abound. With just a bit of shopping, you will
find garden signs, wind chimes, lanterns, flags, and more to choose
from. Try the flea market or yard sales for vintage glassware, antique
tools, and beautiful old pottery. Also consider things like vases,
flower frogs, floral tape, and ribbons for the flower enthusiast.
Skin-care items, such as gardener's soap, lotions, or sunscreen, are a
nice gift or stocking stuffer. For more practical no-nonsense types,
how about a basket filled with plant markers, twine, coin envelopes for
storing seeds, peat pots, seed-starting medium, and a bottle of organic
fertilizer? Gift certificates from nurseries or seed companies are a
great gift. Give the gift of time--Any gardener would appreciate a
coupon for an hour of weeding the garden or for help with planting or
harvesting. How about a coupon for a back rub for that special gardener
in your life? Use your imagination and you will surely come up with
some fabulous gifts for the gardener!
Catherine Love lives and gardens in Central Texas with her husband, Carl, and three daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana. Stop by her blog to read about their Urban Homestead Adventures and upcoming move to a new homestead.
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M&M Cookie Mix in a Jar by Lisa Barthuly
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups M&M candies
2 cups flour mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. baking powder.
Layer ingredients in order given in 1-quart wide-mouth canning jar.
Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.
Attach this to the jar on a card:
M&M Cookies
Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies
- Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly blend mix.
- Add: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter--very soft; 1 egg, slightly beaten; and 1 tsp. vanilla (opt.)
- Mix until completely blended. You will need to finish mixing with your hands.
- Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Place 2 inches apart on sprayed baking sheets.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
ENJOY!
Lisa Barthuly, her husband Marc, and daughters
Mercy and Cassandra live in Washington State on their little
homestead... with Cooter the Dog, Beauty the Kitten, and lots of wild
critters. They pray for more critters and more children (they have a
blessing on the way, joining the family in January!) and love the quiet
country life amongst God's creation. Check out their website, Homestead Originals, where they specialize in all-natural Soy Wax Candles, books, and gifts.
Winter Wear to Get the Job Done by Harriette K. Jacobs
Winter is upon us and regardless of the weather, there is much to do on
a daily basis outside around the old farm and homestead. Livestock,
winter crops, farm maintenance, and even spring planning cannot wait
for ideal weather conditions. These responsibilities must be tended to
daily, even in the winter elements.
Here are some suggestions for dressing to protect yourself from winter's harshness while working outside to get it all done:
- Head: Keep a good assortment of knit and fleece
caps readily available. On windy and below-zero days, a good ski mask
or balaclava is a must. Also consider having a hooded jacket; a hood
acts as a wind breaker for your head. Earmuffs and scarves are options
as well, but I prefer to limit potentially loose items while I am
outside working.
- Body: Layer, layer and layer. This cannot be
stressed enough, especially if you'll be outside for an extended period
of time. Begin with good thermal layers underneath, or even silkies if
you prefer. Next put on your regular work clothing; consider work pants
that are quilted or lined with flannel or fleece. You might want to
wear some of the athletic leggings that are made for winter running and
jogging as well. Layer your upper body with flannel shirts,
turtlenecks, sweaters or hooded sweatshirts, and fleece jackets. My
favorite outerwear is fully quilted coveralls. They have many large
pockets (some zippered), and the legs have zippers on the outside to
allow for ease of putting on and pulling off of my boots. Depending on
the extremes in your region of the country, you may need to have yet
another coat over your coveralls. On extremely cold days, I'll toss our
big overcoats into the dryer for 20-30 minutes before we have to go
outside to work. Consider having designated winter outdoor wear just
for working out in the winter elements; and it's probably best to buy
outerwear one size larger than normal to accommodate layers underneath.
When shopping for winter work coats and coveralls, I recommend that you
steer away from "ski style" outerwear as these will easily tear around
barbed wire, farm implements, and heavy brush. Denim and heavy canvas
are more durable.
- Hands: We have to work with our hands regardless
of the winter weather, and you do not want to risk frostbite. Shop
smart for your gloves; make sure they fit well. And keep extra pairs of
gloves with you in the event your gloves become wet.
- Feet: Layer your socks, beginning with a
comfortable thin pair of cotton socks. Then add wool socks over those.
Those who live in snowy regions will need snow boots. Here in Georgia
where I live, we have little, if any, snow; but we have lots of winter
rain. I wear my rubber muck boots year-round. On extremely cold days in
January and February, I'll add a "Hot Hands" pack to each boot to keep
my toes cozy and warm.
- Rain: This remains my personal winter nemeses, and
I am always searching for a better way to work outside in the winter
rains. There are many rain gear components available, including
ponchos, long raincoats, rain suits (pants/jacket combo), and rain
overalls with coats. The price range varies depending on brand and
quality of the apparel. These too may need to be purchased in a size
larger to fit over all your other winter apparel.
Watch for end-of-season sales to stock up on gloves, hats,
and socks; these items seem to suffer the most wear. This is also a
good time to acquire insulated coveralls and heavier coats at
substantial markdowns. Check your local farm supply stores, mail order
companies, and online farming suppliers as well. Don't rule out
checking the hunting and outdoor departments of sporting goods stores
for great deals. Ladies, don't hesitate to check the menswear
department. Those coveralls I mentioned were originally my husband's.
Safety during the winter months is of utmost priority. Make
sure someone knows where you'll be working. Have a start time as well
as a designated stopping time, and keep a cell phone with you for
emergencies. Stay warm, stay dry, and cherish the freedom of this
precious lifestyle we share as a common bond.
You can visit Harriette all year long at her blogs: South of the Gnat Line, Jacobs Academy: A Dirt Road Education, or her newest endeavor, Beekeeper Dreams.
We hope you've enjoyed this issue of The Homestead e-Newsletter.
We'd love to hear what you think about it. Did you try the recipes,
craft suggestions, or any of the other tips? We want to hear about it!
And we also want to hear your suggestions for future newsletters. Is
there a topic you'd like to see covered that we haven't yet? Would you
like to contribute a column? Just let me know! You can email me at SeniorEditor@HomesteadBlogger.com. Or just stop by The Front Porch and say "Hello" when you're visiting us at HomesteadBlogger!
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