Fun around the homestead

...But not hardly that pretty. :)
Ours is quite interesting though...
The colors are not coming through, it was almost a lime green and yellow.  Just beautiful.
And then the top was pretty shape.
(Cameo was afraid to touch it and I was taking the picture.)
After Shannon was finished helping his brother, he and the kids went down to the root cellar to waterproof the inside. 
Here is what the outside looks like now.  This picture is taken looking from the deck.
Here is how looks when you walk down and go to the entrance.
Once we finish sealing the inside and building shelves I will post some more pictures. 
Out in the garden my luffa vines have taken over, completely.  I am blown away by how these things have grown!  Next year, they will get a VERY large area of their own with a nice trellis.  Look at this one that I spied.
When we all came in of the evening, we had a lovely pot of Whole Wheat Alphabet Soup for supper with a simple salad and some crusty bread, it was really nice on a dreary day like today.... and for a special treat, I made some Applesauce Puffs.
Mmmm...
We had such a nice day... hope yours was too! Blessings, xoxo.
My Cup Runneth Over...

12:00 - Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment

Luffa's

Hello dear friends!
I tell you, the weather has been rough around here... our garden has suffered. It hasn't helped that Shannon and I have not been ourselves either.  We are thankful for what we have been able to get out of the garden, what we have been able to preserve for the winter. One thing that is doing quite beautifully though is my Luffa's.  Dear Rhonda Jean sent me a package of seeds when we had a swap and I am so excited to harvest these once they have dried.
Silly as it may sound, I always thought luffas were a type of sponge from the sea. I had NO idea it was something to grow in the garden.
Her site has some great info on how to prepare these for use.
You let these dry on the vine and then once dried you can harvest the seed and peel the skin.  Then you soak them in a bit of bleach water and let them dry... after dried they are ready for use or for gift giving.
I would love to get my own soap made so I could give a gift of soap and luffa. 
But I am having a terrible time trying to find lye.  Any ideas where I can buy this.  I have tried Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart... I can't find it. 
Thanks for your visit.  May God bless you and your Homestead.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:37 - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - comments {11} - post comment

A Great Tip for Tuesday

Good Morning!
I have a clever little tip for you today.
Isn't it frustrating when you come in from the garden with your clogs or other garden shoes and track in clumps of grass or dirt? Well, I have a solution for that...
I took two wooden dowels and cut them in half.  I hammered them in the ground beside my back door steps, when I go out to the garden or the laundry line, I just slip on my shoes, when I am done, I leave them on the dowels.  Saves a lot of tracking in mud, grass and dirt on my part.
I did the same for the children.
And it looks cute too... think of it as yard art!
I hope you  have a great day and may God richly bless you and your homestead.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

06:47 - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - comments {10} - post comment

June

"It's beautiful the Summer month of June
When all of God's own wildflowers are in bloom
And sun shines brightly most part of the day
And butterflies o'er lush green meadows play.Light hearted skylark songster of the wing
High o'er the quiet and lonely moorland sing
Above her nest cloaked by the tangled heath
Her charming song so exquisitely sweet.So mellow the gentle breath of June day breeze
The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees
And dappled trout in pool bed of the stream
Bask in the sun their spotted skins agleam."
-   Francis Duggan, June

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

03:02 - Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

You learn something new every day...

I am sure you have all heard that right?  You learn something new every day... I find it quite true.  Some of the things I learn, I learn the hard way.  You know last week I was building the base of my earth oven... It was going beautifully, I loved the feel of mixing the mortar, getting it to the right consistency, smearing it between the rocks for a good fit... and then a little later it began to get painful.  I didn't know I should be wearing gloves, call me a goofball or a meathead, I have already been called that by some... but I honestly did not think!!!!!  I liked the feel of it, it was very cool and artsy and then it was very, very painful... and still is in some areas. 
So anyways, if you are going to attempt this project, WEAR GLOVES!!!!!  I beseech you! Wear them.... without them is AGONY!!!!
Ok, enough of that.  Also I want to give you the ratio of mix, now this is NOT exact, but it works.
You want 1 scoop, whether it be shovel, or pail or whatever
1 scoop of cement
3 scoops of mortar
5-7 scoops of sand
water
That is your mixture for your mortar... You mix the dry up first and then you add your water, you want it to a good soft mixture, but not mortar soup, you want to be able to hold it in your hand. Play around with it a bit, you will get the idea. 
So here is my area before...
I dug out a ring for my first layer... if I were doing this again, I would have dug out the center as well... learn from me! But if you have this form you will keep your base the size you want, mine is a 5' diameter each way, so it is a beautiful circle!
Now here is mine after... Note, I wanted mine taller and may still make it taller but I ran out of mortar and only had a few rocks left... so for now this is how it looks.
I am VERY happy with it, thus far.  Abram has broken a few of the top rocks off, that is because I laid them with minimal mortar, I had a little bit left as I was scraping the wheelbarrow clean,  I thought they might adhere, but you need a goodly amount of mortar between the rocks... a little dab will NOT do you... NOT in this case... slather it on, you can always brush away the excess!  And again, WEAR GLOVES... here I am 5 days later with hands that are still very tender.
Cameo is turning 11 this week and we are having a party.  I am going to use my base as a fire pit.  We have laid a layer of sand and gravel on the bottom so we will can build us a fire in it... I have even thought I might just use it to cook on until I am able to finish.  You know get an iron hanger and hang a cast iron dutch oven in there with some stew or beans? YUM! Or even get a grill to lay on the top and cook up some grilled veggies or chicken... Mmmm... Sounds like good times to me!!!
 Have a GREAT day!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

06:57 - Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - comments {12} - post comment

One of my many hats...

Hello my friends... here we are already at the end of another work week... and what a great one this has been.  As you know around here I wear many hats.  Wife, Mom, Teacher, Baker, Chef, Bus Driver, Accountant, Lawyer, Doctor, Seamstress, Gardener, Ornithologist, and many, many more... Today I am adding to my list of duties, I am going to attempt to learn to lay rock today and that will be the base for my Earth Oven.

I am COMPLETELY excited, and nervous.  I believe I told you we went and picked up rocks at my Dad's earlier this week.  And now they lay out there in wait of their destiny... that being a beautiful brick oven... hopefully!
Do I know how to do this? Nope... never laid rock or brick or anything else.  Do I believe I can do it? Yep!
I have always been one who if there is something out there that I want to try, I go for it, and try it... I don't let inexperience stop me!
So here I go... I am off to the hardware to get my mortar, cement, and sand and then I will get these rocks laid for the base.  I will let you know how it goes of course!!!
Here is a great book that I am using as my guide, Kiko Denzer's book Build your own Earth Oven.
Have a great day friends!!!!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:34 - Friday, May 23, 2008 - comments {8} - post comment

A day at home...

Good Morning!  I love my home so much.  I love being a keeper of the home.  Yesterday was just glorious all the way around.  We worked out in the yard, we baked and worked in the house, we learned and loved and just enjoyed all of God's goodness. 
We plowed up another garden spot, it still needs some more work to be done on it, because it has a LOT of grass.
I want to put some more corn out but I don't know if I will be able to get it ready for this years planting.
Here Eli is working on weeding the cucumber and squash row.
We have finally found our baby kittens and my son loves to bring them to me while I am working in the garden.  He likes for me to put them in my apron...
The rest of this week will be fun, I am going to post a homemade mayo recipe, I have A Day in My Life post tomorrow, I will update about my worms and taters...  so stay tuned...
Have a great day!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:33 - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Vermicomposting

I have been promising pictures of my worms for a while now, this is a new adventure for us.  I can't say as I know all about it, but if you ask any questions, I will try my best to get an answer for you. 
First off vermicomposting is
Composting + Worms = Vermicomposting
Many of us have a compost pile already.  Compost is a wonderful way to recycle your leftovers and enrich soil for your garden.  With Vermicomposting you are doing it even more so.  The worms multiply they shed and they create a worm tea, which is a beautiful organic fertilizer... but that comes later.
First off, let's talk about how to set up your worm farm... small scale.  We are going to be moving our worms to a bathtub soonly, but for now we are using just a plain ole rubbermaid tote box.
Then once you get your tote, drill or cut some small air holes.
Then you want to take shredded paper, newspaper, cardboard and get it moist.
Next, fill with some good soil.  Now you want this place moist but not soggy, you don't want to drown your little fellas. Sorry, I don't have a picture of adding soil.
Then your worms...
You know that you have really started to change when you go online to buy worms rather than shoes or clothing... Here is what my worms looked like when they arrived.
"You mean to tell me you BOUGHT  worms???" A question from my sister Yes, I did buy these worms.  You can't use just any ole worm for this, you want a composting worm, and red wrigglers are just right for the job.  You can't just dig up worms in your backyard for this one.
Here is a close up shot, just for your enjoyment.
Nice, eh?  That is 1000 of those little guys.  
Now what do you feed them???
Anything that was once alive... fruit scraps, veggies, dead plants, paper, hair, the lone sock you find in your dryer, eggs and so on.  Be sure to limit citrus peels and onions, they are quite strong.
Our little guys are getting an old sock and some dead flowers, oh and an apple core...
It is better to cut up the food that you are giving them, it helps them to break it down faster... but I am just eager to see that sock go from a full sock to no sock... so that is why I left it in one piece!
Bon appetit
You want to dig the food down in there with them a bit, and stir them up when you feed them.
Also be sure to keep the farm humid and moist.  Don't let them dry out, a spritzer bottle would be a good thing to have on hand.
Finally take some sheets of newspaper and lay them across the top and moisten them, it helps to keep them down in the bin, so they can do their job. 
Then you can add your lid, and voile you have your worm farm!!!
When I transfer them over to the bathtub, I will make a new post with pictures on that too. 
And that is when I will be able to share with you about worm tea!!!
Have a great day friends!!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:31 - Friday, May 9, 2008 - comments {14} - post comment

Growing your own food...

Good Morning! 
One of my favorite things is growing our own food.  I love going out and planting, watering, tending to it and then finally seeing the beauty of the harvest.  It is a joy to go out and gather food from your own garden.  We started small many years ago, we planted a couple of tomato plants and the gardening bug bit me hard.  Since then we have added much to our garden.  I enjoy my time out there.  I know my food is not tampered with, it is not 'genetically enhanced' it is clean and good, if my children were to go and eat the strawberries off the vine, they might get a little dirt in their mouth along with the strawberry, but nothing more.
 So if you are a beginning homesteader or just a gardener wanna be, try something small and plant something this year.  Be it one tomato plant, strawberries in a pot, your own herbs, whatever. Just try something and see what happens, it is a wonderful thing to eat the food that has grown in your own back yard...
 We also need to be careful of this mass produced food, so if you don't grow your own at least you can buy locally from someone who does. 
Well, I am off to play in the dirt we have rain coming in this afternoon.  Have a wonderful day!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:07 - Thursday, May 8, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

Po-ta-toes, boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew?

Hi there! How are you this morning?  I hope everyone is doing well... I am pretty good... I had an early morning wake up call from my youngest and I dealt with that and laid back down. When I did, I didn't fall fast asleep, but my mind was spinning with ideas and ways that I can help our home financially.  We live on one income and things are getting quite tight with the rising costs.  But I have to hold fast to believe that the Lord will provide and I just need to do what I can to keep a budget and be sensible with what God has already blessed us with...
One thing you can do is, you can check out the compiled list of helpful frugal hints on The Front Porch, it turned out to be a good amount of great information so swing by and check that out!
I have mentioned to you before how wonderful Shannon's grandparents are.  They have taught us SO much about gardening and we just keep learning.  This year they taught us about growing our potatoes in a tire!
What you do is find a sunny spot of land and fill in a little good dirt in the tire.  I know it is truly glamorous looking right?  Don't knock it till you tried it!
When you do, you add about 5 pieces of potato with good eyes and press them in the dirt, eyes up. (sorry I didn't get pictures of this step by step).  Cover the potatoes up with just a little bit of good soil. Water daily and watch for growth... before long you will have this!
Now what you do is add another tire on top and more soil to cover the leaves...

07:37 - Thursday, May 1, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment