Critterhaven Farm

Oh What a Beautiful Morning...ouch....

09:23, Monday, June 16, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

Woke up this morning and wondered what in the world? I don't remember being hit by a train last night. I think I slept crooked, because from right between my shoulder blades up my neck is killing me. Hurts to lean my head back or to bend my head down. I really need to get on some antioxidents other than just my pomegranate tea which I'm enjoying right now.   As the day progresses as I have lots to do around here hopefully it will ease up.
Stopped by the Swiss Pantry in Belvidere this weekend (www.swisspantry.com) as I went to pick up another four legged foster child in Winchester. Bought some wonderful whole wheat bread, banana nut bread, scuppernong jelly (had to look this one up after the fact, wanted something different, and I was NOT disappointed!) , yeast, and a couple of bags of flour...some whole wheat pastry flour, and some occident bread flour. Now to decide what to make. I'd like to make some homemade shortcakes tonight, since I have a batch of strawberries in the fridge cut up. The kids ate some on their cereal this morning. Speaking of which, I had oatmeal and some wonderful cream butter I got at the Belvidere store too. It is delicious. I absolutely loved it and the scuppernong jelly on the whole wheat bread the other night. I am going to have to make some jellies and jams this harvest season. We have purple leaf plums that are getting big right now. In the past I mixed them with some peach jam I made and it was delicious. I called it 3P Jam. Purple Plum and Peach. Will put it up again this harvest season, along with apple jelly and Grandma's Apple Sauce. I call it 3 day applesauce because it takes 3 days to make it right, but it is worth it. I have all of Grandma's recipes, I got her books, but she didn't write down the recipe for the applesauce she made. When she passed away she had a few jars left in the pantry, and they were like gold. We cherished the last jar and I decided then to figure out how she made it. I found out by lazy trial and error to cook it for 3 days, refrigerating it overnight in between, and then canning on the 3rd day. It worked! Exactly the same taste and texture. I have not made any in a few years, but this is the year to do so as I have a 2 and 4 year old who LOVE the sauce!

I have to look up recipes to use with my new flours. I'm so excited to be doing this! Tired of paying nearly $2 a loaf for bread as we can go through about 2-3 loaves a week.

Hired a guy to put up the chain link for the new rescue pen and he's here today working on it. Hubby hasn't had time between working OT and cutting hay. Hopefully around the 4th we can start on the new goat holding pens. We are waiting on our government stimulus check to buy the lumber, and I have a friend down in AL who is giving us some building materials also.   It is work, but to know it is all going for our farm makes it feel rewarding. I'm hoping the kidding season in Sept. will pay for the barn I want to build. I have it in my mind, just need to get it on paper. Already have a man lined up to help build it. I'll post pics of our progress of everything.

Took our Aussie to be bred last week and she is home with us now. Seemed so lonely without her! We going to let her have one registered litter then spay her and keep a pup. I already have folks asking for one of her pups. She is a great farm dog with no cares to chase the poultry at all. Thank goodness!   These should be black and red tris. I hope all goes well. Course she picked a poor time to come in heat. We should be birthing pups AND kidding during Sept. Can you say busy!?!

So many plans, so little time. We're still cutting up and hauling off the tree that fell in the back yard a month ago.

Does anyone know how to manage their time on the farm better than I appear to be doing? I have a list started, but does it help to put one on the fridge for DH and all to see? Seems like washing clothes one load at a time is taking forever to do today, course might help if I didn't let it pile up. I hope to get the clothesline moved to the backyard this summer. It is over in the far side yard and I just don't like it there. Read on one blog about how nice it was to have clean aired sheets....so want to do that too.

Do any of you grow veggies in containers? Mine are growing but not as fast as the ones I see in the ground already. They are in fertilized pre miracle grow soil. Not enough sun maybe? Didn't really want alot. I always visit the farmers markets to keep the money local, but would like enough to put on our table anyway. A friend is selling us her tiller so next year I hope to have the fenced in garden.

I think I'm going to get up with the chickens, and go to bed with them too, so in the coolness of the day I can get stuff done outside, and get it done in here during the hottest part of the day.

The herbs, minerals, and vitamins must have helped. I'm doing B12 3x daily, cascara sagrada once daily, green tea twice daily, and chromium picolinate once daily, as well as the pomegranate tea and green tea drink daily.

Til next time....happy farming!

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About Me

I am a stay at home wife to a wonderful man and mom to two energetic young children. I grew up on a farm and have wonderful memories of my childhood. My wish is for the same for my children.

Raising Kids and Goats in Southern Middle TN

Links

Critterhaven Farm
Blessed Assurance Farm
Olson Acres
A Year of CrockPotting
Bensch Mountain Farms Blog
Sage Hill Farms Blog

Sayings Worth Remembering

"Children..Hold their hands for a little while, but hold their hearts forever"

Job 12:7 Ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. For the life of every living thing is in God's hand, and the breath of all humanity.