AmazinglyBlessed

Busy days!

01:57 PM, Tuesday, February 26, 2008 .. Posted in The new homestead .. 6 comments .. Link

The winter is almost over and I wonder how a season can go by so swiftly! It has been a very busy time. Seeds were ordered and received, lessons were taught and learned, decisions had to be made, sewing/sewing/sewing, house cleaning, and keeping track of the two youngest children. Four of us suffered from the flu but are recovered.

For those who wonder, not one thing has been done on the house for months. It's been too cold and wet. Two weeks ago hubby planted about 60 Granny Smiths and Jonagold trees and 18 peach trees on our land, trees that are community owned. It's a relief to know that we won't have to deal with so many apples by ourselves.

We're ready to move the few pear, apricot, apple and almond trees that were planted here a few years ago but first the 15 passenger van has to be repaired. While picking up two wringer washers yesterday, something started making a loud noise. Hubby will tell you that I'm not mechanically inclined so I can't even say what the problem is. Another setback. Hopefully it will be repaired soon.

It's a small update but I felt guilty not writing for so long. I go through periods of being very busy on the computer and not caring at all for the sewing machine, and then I can't stand the computer and am found daily sewing. Guess what period I've been in all winter?

Christina

Tracing master sewing patterns

04:33 PM, Wednesday, January 9, 2008 .. Posted in Home Keeping .. 4 comments .. Link

Over the years I've traced patterns using parchment paper, wax paper

and sections of commercial patterns that I didn't need anymore. It was okay but not that great. What worked better was to use landscaping cloth or wallpaper and cut the largest size of the master pattern, then the smaller one, down to the smallest size. That worked well but I didn't have a master pattern left if a piece was lost or a child accidentally cut too much fabric.

I found the greatest solution: Carriff sewing fabric. It's funny to say that a land drainage filter company makes this cloth. It's advantages are that it's see-through enough to trace with, sturdy enough to sew with, it clings to most fabric and can be used to interface a garment. At 25.99 for a roll of 36" x 300' it's well worth the price if you modify or trace multi-size patterns. Narrower widths are less expensive. I've heard that it's available at Lowes but locally I can only find the 4" sleeve width. I think that some have found it at Home Depo.

To purchase online: http://www.carriff.com/Products/sewing-fabric.htm

Christina

Computer failed! Lajuan where are you?

10:14 AM, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 .. 2 comments .. Link

A week ago our computer failed which means that I lost my email address book, bookmarks and documents

. I'm desperately looking for one sister, Lajuan of Colorado. Please email me Lajuan, I lost your email and physical address!

Christina

Good fellowship!

06:56 PM, Tuesday, January 1, 2008 .. Posted in The new homestead .. 3 comments .. Link

Did we have good fellowship this week! Deanna and her family came over on Sunday for a little visit. My husband and hers got along just fine, our children played together and Deanna and I chatted and chatted

. As they were leaving, the older girls convinced everyone that one of their daughter should stay for a few days so we had the pleasure of having with us Miss. 12 year old Smith for two nights. Today Deanna and family came back for another day of visiting. The girls prepared a good meal, the husbands "played" with the sawmill, we ate in a hurry and drove over to our new home (really still an unfinished basement). More good fellowship with a third family, lots of activity with children all around and by 4:30 it was time to leave because it was too cold to stay outdoors and talk!

We hope to do this again soon Deanna. But hopefully it will be a tad warmer.

Isn't it heart warming to have good fellowship with brothers and sisters? So important...

Christina

Patterns anyone?

06:59 PM, Friday, November 30, 2007 .. Posted in Plain modesty for girls .. 4 comments .. Link

I've been busy cleaning my sewing area. How did I ever accumulate so much in only 9 years?! What I won't ever use or need is being boxed up and given to a local food and clothing bank, but I have some sewing patterns that I want to sell for a dollar or two to purchase some needed education material.

If anyone needs little girl's dress patterns, prairie style mostly, some women's too, please take a look at:
http://along-the-plain-path.tripod.com/time_to_pare_down

Christina

Building update

12:14 PM, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 .. Posted in The new homestead .. 2 comments .. Link

We are halfway up with the basement. It's going so slowwwww but it's about to pick up in speed. We just have to do the last sealing coat and then on Monday two bricklayers are coming over to help finish the basement walls.

Meanwhile we have to build the outbuildings: big shed, chicken and guinea house, pigeon coop, solar power shed, goat shed and outhouse.

Christina

Up before the sun...

12:02 PM, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 .. Posted in Good Habits .. 1 comments .. Link

I was asked by Maa's Mom at what time I went to bed to be up by 5:00. I replied in the comment section but I wanted to include a post about early rising.

I don't have a fixed time really. 9:30 or 10:00 is about right for me, but sometimes when hubby is tired we are in bed by 9:00 or 9:15. And then it will happen that I can't sleep til 11:00, so I just turn off the alarm!

The children are in bed, lights out by 8:00 or 8:30. I just love to be up way before the sun! Summer time is difficult though because the sun is up so early. Ideally we should be up at 4:30 or 5:00 to be in the garden by 6:30. Then gardening chores are done before the heat of the day.

When we are all dressed with hair done and the bedrooms are clean, we meet in the kitchen for breakfast and reading. We read one Bible chapter together and I read out loud one section of their geography / social sciences CLE book. If I don't do those two readings before chore time I may not find the time later. But our days are so much smoother if we start with Bible reading.

Anyone else how enjoy early rising?

Christina

Cleaning Challenge is too Challenging at the moment!!

11:56 AM, Wednesday, November 7, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

Well that's it. I've deleted my Cleaning Challenge list. Really, what was I thinking that i could follow such a structured list?!

All's well here, building is going slowly but surely. The children are at the end of a little cold and it's a little difficult for them to get back in the routine, but I'm standing firm. We've implemented a great schedule: up at 5:00, Barn chores at 6:00 and school at 9:00. We get so much more done in the day by being up earlier. We also take the time to read a Bible chapter before barn chores.

I've been thinking of you ladies and meant to write sooner, but life's busy now.

Blessings,
Christina

470+ tomato plants staked in a whole new way for us!

01:39 PM, Tuesday, August 28, 2007 .. Posted in Gardening .. 1 comments .. Link

In late spring we started 475 tomato plants with the help of two other families. For about a month and a half I had to water and carefully tend all the young plants. Sometime in July we all went to the homestead and planted the tomatoes. Here I am working on those tomatoes, purning the suckers, and carfully observing for worms.

Everyone is helping in their own ways

Being the water carrier is quite an important job when it's 101 degrees!!

This tomato venture has been a great learning experience for us all. When we first dug the holes 18" apart, I thought that it was way to close. But by cutting all the suckers and letting only the main branch climb up, the plants are not crowded. A metal wire is strung between the posts at the bottom of the raised beds and at the top. Then, plastic string is cut 6 foof long, one string for each plants and is tied to the top metal wire. As the plants grow, we use black tomato clips to tie the plants to the strings. As the plants become taller we just add more clips.

Tomatoes are beginning to turn red. We already have buyers so we hope that this venture will be a profitable one for us all.

Christina

PS: the best part of this is diving in the river after a hot day's work!

which is also part of the farm we are moving too.

Christina.

Photos and info of our new homestead

10:38 AM, Tuesday, August 28, 2007 .. Posted in The new homestead .. 5 comments .. Link

I'm finally taking the time to post about our new homestead. It's an unextected blessing for sure! We didn't think / hope to own land, but in spring good friends invited us to purchase 10 acres right on their land. It's a bleautiful spot! At the end of the county, down the ridge in a secluded valley, fronting a small and clear river and best of all no city power or telephone lines. We love the clean, fresh air, the farm is strictly organic, and no hybrids allowed. A big plus too is the fact that the owners are a plain conservative Christian family and our best friends have also been invited to purchase a 10 acre homestead that will be next to us. This is the start of a small like-minded community where neighbors help each other.

Here are a few pictures for those interested in seeing this land:The lower land facing South, our garden spot at the bottom.

The pasture facing South East. There is a spring around the lower trees.

Our youngest children with myself and he marks the spot of the house

And here's the style of house we're building:
It's not fancy but there is plenty of room for everyone. Our goal is to finish the basement by mid-fall and to live in it until spring. This is the home of our friends who currently live on the land and they are helping us build ours.

Christina

New homestead, we're moving!!

12:59 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2007 .. Posted in The new homestead .. 1 comments .. Link

Well it's been a while, about 4 months since I last posted an entry. It was a mixture of business, the heat, lack of rain (it gets to me since I prefer cloudy and rainy days) and laziness.

I have great news: We're building a home on a wonderful land!! Later on I'll be posting more info and pictures, and I will try real hard to diligently add as the home and out buildings are being built. We hope to be moved by the end of October. It will be so nice because we'll be living with a few like-minded families.

Yah bless,
Christina

Photo of the Regency dress and apron I made...

08:39 AM, Saturday, March 31, 2007 .. 8 comments .. Link

Some have shown interest in seeing a picture of the dress and apron I made from the Regency dress pattern by Sensibility.com. Here it is. I made the dress for a friend and then an apron to go over the dress. For the apron I didn't have a pattern, just a picture taken from a movie. The apron also had to be adjustable to allow for nursing and pregnancy.

It was pleasant to sew this dress, and I hope to make another one soon. I'm thinking the high neckline for myself...

Christina

A lovely morning exploring the woods...

03:45 PM, Wednesday, March 14, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link

This morning husband, children, our Chihuahua "Brownie", and I did a little exploring in the woods and fields on the farm. Dh drove the tractor and we settled in the trailor, baby and I sitting on a cedar board. I found our that it's best to not sit in the middle or it gets quite bouncy!

He took us to a lovely spot, a light wood with creek where the children could wet their feet and explore. Behind there was a pasture with a bamboo grove. This gave me some food for thought... I can see us building a modest size wood frame house that's surrounded with trees, with a little creek or spring not far away. Although the home we live in now is very pleasant and comfortable, the serene beauty of the area we explored gave me a longing for something more secluded and quiet. And wouldn't you believe it, husband expressed the same thought ! Now could it be that Father Yahweh has something in store for us? Wouldn't that be interesting...

Christina

Canning No-No part 2

08:40 PM, Monday, March 12, 2007 .. Posted in Stocking the Pantry .. 2 comments .. Link

This is painful to admit, but I did it again. We were canning some meat and bean / meat in quart jars. And if I didn't forget to add water in the canner again?!! When I realized my mistake the canner was already very hot and when I added water, it made such a sizzling noise. When the canning was done, I found one of the jars cracked.

That should be the last time it happens. Or do they say it comes in three?

Forgetful in Tennessee,
Christina

Focusing on priorities

07:43 AM, Thursday, March 8, 2007 .. 7 comments .. Link

I haven't been posting entries as often these days, but for very good reasons. There is only a block of time in the day to be busy and getting things done, and I've been working on getting my priorities straight.

I've also been trying to analyze my reasons for having website and blog, hoping that it's not a result of pride. I've decided that pride is part of the equation and I must work on changing that. Wanting a big and beautiful blog because others have one is not for me. Others may have the time and a meek heart about it, but I have to be careful.

Managing time is a skill that I still haven't mastered, and what a blessing it will be to my family when I have mastered it! A friend wrote about getting all the family sewing done: Maybe you are of the few fortunate ones who has been taught how to manage time! Most important though, is to walk in the Spirit of God, but even this helps us to not waste time in "making provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof". A lot of time can be wasted in stress due to pride, lust, anger, jealousy, fear and distrust."

Whew, where to start? First, I haven't mastered managing time. I still waste too many hours in the day. Second, is there some stress worrying in anyway about what others think? Worrying that I have my place on the net? Do I have any envy of others having the type of home business I would like to have? Do I trust that Yahweh God is the one that leads me and does it give me the rest in knowing that He is in controle? A small yes and no to all of these questions, sadly. So I've decided to work on those areas. Finding contentment with just being a wife and mother, providing for my family, and not being driven to make my mark out there on the net is what I want. That doesn't mean that I won't be online or have a sewing website, but it won't be with a prideful heart and it will not come before my family's needs; it may be often one week or not at all an other week.

It feels good to write all of this down. Sort of confessing my sins?

Blessings,
Christina

Canning No-No

08:15 AM, Tuesday, March 6, 2007 .. Posted in Stocking the Pantry .. 5 comments .. Link

My husband and the older children harvested most of the carrots in the garden, in preparation to disc the dirt under. We were surprised to find that we still had a few 5 gallon bucket worth of carrots to harvest. Yesterday the girls washed and cut some carrots and with my help we were going to can 7 quarts, for a start.

I had been waiting quite a while for the steam to start coming out of the vent, but there was nothing, not even the boiling sound of water. No, I didn't forget to turn on the heat

, but I finally figured out that I hadn't added any water to the canner! Silly, absent-minded me.

I tried to add the hottest water from the tap, hoping that nothing would crack or explode, but even so, the noise coming from the water touching the hot canner was awful. My little boy got really excited and concerned, and the rest of the family in the living room were asking questions, but I just reassured them that it was nothing. I wasn't about to admit that I had done such a silly thing! And now that it's on the blog, my dh will read it and find out the truth.

The carrots turned out nicely and for the rest of the carrot canning, you can be sure that I'll double check that water was added to the canner.

Christina

Photos of our new kids

04:40 PM, Wednesday, February 28, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

This is going to be a lazy entry

.

I've been meaning to post photos of our little kids (goats) but my dear husband, Duncanfarm, wrote such a nice entry with many photos, so.... here's his blog entry: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/DuncanFarm/Everything+Goats/

Thank you dear,
Blessedmama

Back to blogging... what's new

11:32 AM, Wednesday, February 28, 2007 .. 3 comments .. Link

Oh, how I've been lazy! It's been too long since I've last posted an entry... I'll blame it on sewing and my dear husband's (Duncanfarm at Our Place on the Land) new interest in blogging. I figure that he's telling all the new happenings here so what's left for me? I guess I still have some news to give since he doesn't sew!

So let's see... I've been trying to keep the children on their daily chores; keeping the home from becoming a war zone; purgng stuff, and sewing. We killed 2 bucks this month, one just two days ago. It wasn't too terribly tiring for me, I have to confess. The older girls (10 1/2 and almost 8) cheerfully took over carving the meat off the bones and then, under my supervision, they packed the jars and canned the meat. Good thing I was watching though because the pressure was allowed to go over 15# a few times

.

Sewing. I had the opportunity to make two Regency dresses using the Regency pattern from Sensibility.com. It's a beautiful dress with many bodice options, from the very low cut to the high modest neckline. The skirt can be made A-line shape or with the full gathered train option. When I get a photo of my friend wearing the dress, I'll see if I can have permission to post it on the blog.

I've also been sewing girls dresses with full gathered skirts and gathered sleeves, and long gathered skirt pinafores. I feel bad that I haven't been able to finish building the website yet, but I have to remember that if I'm too busy because I have enough sewing orders, than I've achieved my goal and a website or brochure is not so necessary at this time. Right? It sounds so sensible and yet I still want the website. Pride? Could be.

We've been working on memorizating 1 John 3 and the oldest (10) has finally mastered it. In order to not forget the chapter I have her recite it every other day or so. It took me a while but I typed the whole chapter with only the first letter of each words as a prompt, and it's a great help for them. If they haven't really committed the verses to memory, first letter prompt will not be of great help. Once the assigned memorization is mastered, they have a reward of 1/2 an hour of computer time; either an educational game or reading an old book I've downloaded.

Yah bless,
Christina

One less kid :-(

09:35 AM, Wednesday, February 7, 2007 .. 5 comments .. Link

We found a dead buckling yesterday morning. Apparently they all piled inside a manger and he was at the bottom and suffocated. What a shame

, he was such a nice light blue color.

Yesterday my husband worked on the manger, adding sides and a roof to prevent this to happen again. But what else will they come up with? We've been keeping goats for 7 years and it never happened.

Live and learn...

Christina

Goats galore!

07:38 PM, Sunday, February 4, 2007 .. 4 comments .. Link

I've been terribly lazy these days, really working on survival mode here. Five of our goats have kidded so far, giving us an increase of 8 females and 6 males. Two more will kid next month.

I'm very please with the colors this year. Our Nubian buck is blue / gray and white in color and a portion of the kids have his colors in dark and light variations. One doeling is strickling pale and will be beauful, another is spotted black and white all over. I know that this will please our local customers and I may keep a doe or two...

We will also be able to sell a few "blue" bucks this year.

Other than that it's been sewing, sewing... nurturing and admonishing the children, and trying to get everything done in one day; something I fail at quite often.

Blessings,
Christina

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