Dailey Bred Farm

The Cake

{ 10:35, Tuesday, May 6, 2008 } { 1 comments } { Link }

I am not much of a sweet eater, but this little cake is so good, not too sweet and doesn't make any left overs. It's just right for our family of six to have a little desert. It was originally out of a magazine I got to look through while SisterLori drove to an event, but of course I tweaked it to be what I like.

Lemon Poppyseed Bundt

Grease a small bundt or bread pan. Heat oven to 350.

Cream together:
    1/4 c butter
    3/4 c sugar

Add:
    2 lightly frothed egg whites
    1 t lemon extract
    1 t poppy seeds
Mix on high for one minute

In sifter put:
    1 c + 2 T flour
    1 1/2 t baking powder
    1/4 t salt

Alternately add sifter mixture and
    1/2 c milk

Beat until well mixed. Makes a thick batter. Spoon into bundt and bake for 15-20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in pan, then turn onto plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Spring?

{ 10:12, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Is it really the last day of April? This year seems to be a test of our mental fortitude...or possibly I am just over sensitive to most things right now. The last year was (actually last two have been) long and sad for our family and so I think I am anxious to get planting and working outside. Perhaps this rainy/snowy/windy spring will help me to get my house in order so that when I can spend more time outside, it won't get quite so ever whelming inside. Perhaps. In any case, I am definitely in a funk and want to get past it.

Yesterday we had an unplanned day off school, so I drew a new chicken house. We have access to lots of kiln dried 2x2s and we just got a new batch, so I want to try my hand at framing something rather than cobbling something together. I also want to make it very movable so that when we go on our merry way, it can come too. And also cute. I want to put a window box on the front with flowers or herbs in it. It is to be a little larger than 6x6 (enough room for about a dozen chickens) and about 7 1/2 tall. I will try to take pictures as I go along. A new project also helps my state of mind.

Our meat chicken experiment seems to be going fairly well. They eat about 50 lbs a week. Thankfully we aren't paying for the feed because it is $21 a bag! Ouch. The man who is paying for them wants all organic. I am just glad to have them off the porch. The broody hen only hatched out one chick that she kicked out of the nest and it died. She tried to set a new batch but I told her "NO!" and so she's just sitting on two probably rotten eggs.

The little goats are growing like crazy. The mommas are skinny little girls, though, so we need to get the babies off of them for at least part of the time. They are so fun to watch. My Nubian doe isn't due to kid until July, but she's looking really good now. I'm hoping for a couple little girls out of her....one to keep and one to sell. It will be a good time to sell, because they'll be cute for county fair.

It looks like this post turned out to be mostly a whiny update of the farm. I'm suppose I'm just not philosophical today, just hanging on to the Promises and looking for the sun (or is it Son?)

Snow, snow, go away!

{ 10:38, Sunday, April 20, 2008 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Today we woke up to snow...again. I'm sure that is nothing for those of you back east or in the real mountains, but for us, who sometimes have no snow for a whole year, this is a surprise. Especially two days in a row. Yesterday it was all gone by 10am and we had sun, snow, rain and hail off and on the rest of the day. We saw the remains of at least three accidents. Over all, though, we had a good day. We went to lunch and then a movie with SisterLori and her mister and girls, then wandered the mall a little. We all like to cruise the Christian Bookstore, so we did that, but only made minimal purchases-just enough to have a treasure to bring home, really. Mine is a new tea cup with a sheep sitting at a bistro table, reading. It has a good reminder printed around the rim, "This is the day the Lord has made." It's cute and big enough to hold a real cup of coffee, not like a typical tea cup.

Today is a normal Sunday for us. Didaskalos (husband) teaches Junior High Sunday school and I usually sit in. Then we have a singing, praying, communion, teaching service. I know many churches don't serve communion every week, but ours always has. Our Sunday worship time was originally set up as close to the early church's Lord's day celebration as possible, with breaking of bread/remembrance being in the form of unleavened bread and grape juice. I look forward to this time for many reasons. Different men in our church give a short thought or meditation, and the different styles and perspectives are inspiring. Then it is a quiet time while the men serve all the congregation and there are many weeks that this is the longest quiet prayer time I have. I also like to think of all the churches around the world doing the same thing, not at the exact same time, but with the same thoughts....thankfulness for what Jesus accomplished with His sacrifice.

I am not exclusive. By that I mean I do not believe every Christian has to worship in the same denomination or type of service, but I am so thankful for this place of safety and renewal for my family, and I would want all to have the same wherever that takes them. I have been in a church where there was so much strife and such lack of unity, true worship was exceedingly difficult. That is not what God intends our set aside time to be. It is supposed to be a time of edification and strengthening for living in this dark and fallen world. If you don't have that, I pray you are able to find it. Happy Lord's Day.

Bad Homesteader

{ 10:46, Sunday, April 13, 2008 } { 2 comments } { Link }

I was a terrible homesteader today. It's a sad fact, but I must admit it. I have raised goats for quite a few years, but haven't ever had Nigerian babies born on our farm. They are just so tiny! The time came to disbud them, which is my least favorite chore of the whole year, and I just couldn't do it. I only have a full sized iron and while it would do the job with multiple burns, I just couldn't bring myself to do it to those little bitty heads. Last weekend a very nice man who raises LOTS of Nigerians offered to do it for us with his smaller iron and I jumped on the chance. The trouble is that put it off another week and the poor little bucklings horns were really, really big and it took a very long time to do the job. I vow here and now to never do that to another baby animal.

It's kind of like disciplining my children.....I do not enjoy having to punish them, but I know that if I don't it now, it will be more painful later on. Because as a child I felt my father was a little heavy handed in his punishment, I was often too light, but now as I have been at this parenting thing a little longer, I see that we have to do what we think is best at the time. What is different about Daddy and I is that I have a huge, helpful resource that he didn't use....prayer. Remembering to utilize that resource is sometimes tough in the heat of the moment, but that's what I'd like to be able to do consistantly!

Lord, please help me to be a better steward of the animals I have chosen to care for, but so much more to be the best parent I can be to the four small arrow-gifts you gave.

Chicks

{ 10:43, Saturday, April 5, 2008 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Like so many of us who frequent the feed stores, I'm a sucker for chicks. Early in the season we made a deal to raise meat birds for our landlord on shares. He is paying for everything and we are doing the work, and with a tight budget and prices the way they are, we decided we couldn't pass it up. I also thought that it would help with the chick cravings. Except that I already had myself set on a few Cochins or feather footed Bantams. That's all. Just a few. But again, I was trying to be good and NOT give in to it and just be happy with the babies that will be at freezer camp in two months. But as usual, I justified and we now have banties. Our eldest brought home four but the cat leaned on the plug (as best I as I can figure) and unplugged the heat lamp so we now have two. And a broody hen sitting on nine eggs, of which half SHOULD be roos which will be freezer campers as well, leaving us with just the right amount of replacement hens...see how tidily I justified! Happy spring!

New Babies at Dailey Bred

{ 10:12, Wednesday, February 27, 2008 } { 5 comments } { Link }

This was how our afternoon was spent yesterday. My daughters Nigerian Dwarf doe had triplets, two does and a buck. I am amazed at how something so tiny can be an entire goat! If they weigh two pounds I's be surprised, and all very healthy and eating well. They already have names, but the only one I can remember is the all white, first born is Selena. The little boy my mother calls Cap'n Crunch, but their names are all Elvish sounding so Ellesmira will have to put them on her blog.

At Home Goals

{ 10:21, Thursday, February 21, 2008 } { 3 comments } { Link }

In my quest for more contentment at home, I have rearranged our week. Piano lessons and library day have been switched to Wednesday. We lead the first through fifth grade kids group at church on Wednesday, so because that day is already an out of the house day, it's become the all around busy day. That leaves Monday and Tuesday as at home all day, days.

We also want to be more consistent in visiting both sets of grandparents. Thursday we already have dinner with all of my mom's side at her mom's, so I hope to put something in the crockpot for the potluck and go see my dad's parents. I realize what a blessing it is to have three out of four of my grands still alive....and want to spend all the time I can with them.

Another goal (that will be very hard for all of us) is to make one day a week completely computer free. We all enjoy the internet and also some games, but it really can start to be an idol, at least out here on Dailey Bred Farm. Getting husband on board with this may be very tough, but after his school work is done, I'm sure he'll see the logic and the spiritual implications.

We are planning to do a meat chicken project this spring as well. We want to grow as much as possible, and our landlord has offered to pay for all of the birds and feed and housing if we will do all the work. It seems a God sent with the price of food these days, so even though I have some reservations with doing any kind of project with him as a non-believer, we may take the chance. This once.

It seems I have been on a ramble this morning, but I know how much I enjoy hearing what all of you are doing in your lives and on your homesteads.

Eating well

{ 11:04, Sunday, February 17, 2008 } { 3 comments } { Link }

I have a question for all of you homemakers. How do we go about feeding our families best with husbands who work outside the home? The best is good sized breakfast, main meal at mid day and lighter supper. This is the way humans had always eaten until the industrial revolution and now we have a huge rise in obesity and intake related disease. Can we get back to this part of healthier eating? Does anyone have any practical ideas? My husband takes left overs for lunch, but it is usually the previous night's dinner, then he is seldom home before 6pm. How do I feed him his main meal (the one most likely to contain meat) at noon? Is it just not possible and we'll just have to be content with eating healthy food, and not be concerned about what, when?

What's for Dinner

{ 10:12, Monday, January 28, 2008 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Today after school the children and I went to help Sister Lori work on finishing her big move. I wanted to come home to dinner nearly ready so I tried a new recipe. Here it is for you to try...we all loved it.

Hawiian Chicken

3 large chicken breast halves, in 1" cubes
1 can pineapple
1/2 cup chopped ham
1 cup ketchup
1T soy sauce

Mixed in the crockpot on high for 6 hours. Serve over rice.

Simple

{ 06:11, Friday, January 25, 2008 } { 3 comments } { Link }

It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.
~Bilbo Baggins

Is it bad to quote fictional characters? I hope not, because I like this one.

The Morning

{ 10:35, Wednesday, January 23, 2008 } { 2 comments } { Link }

Why is it that extreme cold makes the prettiest mornings? It is 22 degrees this morn and the view from my chair is just beautiful. I face due west and the frost is thick and the sky is pink fading to the palest blue. The light fog is hovering right on the edges of the hills and field. I can see a few of the neighbors sheep all fluffed up and looking for breakfast. The road is a bit icy, so the few cars that are traveling are going very slow, keeping the noise down. Lovely.

Yesterday was another cold one, but the blessing of the clear sky is the afternoon sun. We spent a good while working on the garden. It's a mental pick me up to "get some sun on my bones", as well as do some needed preparation for spring. I set up all the cold frames to start the little broccolis and such and put up an extra fence to keep out the naughty chickens who would love to try my seedlings. If today goes as well, I will get half of the hoophouse prepared for planting the heat loving plants in a couple weeks. My rabbit is living in there now, dropping her extra special fertilizer in my summer pepper bed.

Spring is coming. Thank you, God for the changing seasons!

A Thought

{ 11:14, Monday, December 31, 2007 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Earlier in the week, while making my plan for the day, I had a thought. What if Proverbs 31 was written "tongue in cheek"? What if Solomon, with God's leading, knew what we women would think we should do? What if he knew we would have huge amounts of improper guilt over the things we didn't do?

I am a logical thinker, not that I don't struggle with the emotional moodiness that plagues the weaker vessel, but overall my mind works logically. And logically, the instructions in this passage of scripture are contradictory for the time they were written, and completely inapplicable for American Women in our age. How does one woman both be a keeper at home and minding her spot in the marketplace and added onto that, dabble in real estate? We do not have servant girls, and even if we are the most "homesteady" woman of all, we would not be growing, harvesting, pounding, spinning, and weaving linen for our family's clothing. So because of the impossibility of the directions to the Perfect Wife, I can only come to the conclusion that it was written for us to think on and come to realize that there isn't one.

This is not to say that our striving for more Christ-likeness in ourselves stops while we breathe, but that we should be realistic and accepting of the God-given limits that we have. We are called the weaker vessel, not because we are worth less, or even accomplish less than our fathers and husbands, but because we are to be guarded and protected by them. We are different from them in purpose and strength, and part of Godliness is having a proper view of ourselves. This is true humility.

Bad Blogger!

{ 08:37, Thursday, December 27, 2007 } { 4 comments } { Link }

I am a very bad blogger. My last posted blog was in September and I started an October post, but it was still in draft form. I have never kept up on any type of journaling. I usually write when I have something bothering me or when I can't turn my brain off or when I am embarrassed in the middle of someone else's talking. I always intend to be better and make it a point to write consistently, but I "fall off the wagon." So I will not say I will write more regularly, I will only say I will try.

I am not one who usually makes New Year's Resolutions. However, this year, I have made one. I want to remember my immediate family's birthdays before they need "belated" type card. My friend, SisterLori and her girls and my daughter, who has her own blog now, will have to help me.

Fall is Coming

{ 11:41, Monday, September 3, 2007 } { 2 comments } { Link }

It's September. I love September. It's more of a fresh start then any other time of year for me, and this year more then any other. It feels like my life has been a whirlwind for all of 2007, and I am very ready for normal things. So we will start anew tomorrow. New school books and fresh subjects. New volleyball with the high school team and a new child taking piano lessons. For me a change in days of work and focus once again off of other people's needs onto my own family and home. That means using the "N" word more and doing not only what must be done, but also what our little gang is interested in doing. Darrin has a new schedule. No more teaching at two schools, but sticking to the junior high that he enjoys so much. I am hoping for a renewed love of this life I've been given! Have a blessed new start.

The Best Job in the World

{ 03:25, Thursday, June 28, 2007 } { 0 comments } { Link }

This is Camanna's Comet. He has every goat's dream job....he's our herd sire. We bought him as a wee little feller to come and be the man of the goat house. He's in the process of growing into his job.

We have a busy couple of weeks coming up. Saturday is our second daughter's 10th birthday. When our children turn 10 we have a big tea party. Not for our son of course, he went on an over night fishing trip with his dad and grandad. This is the second 10th Tea for our family and I had forgotten how much work it is! I still had my dress from our eldest's so only had one to build, but it's been an all week yard and house cleaning around here. Today is hemming and baking day....scones, petit fours and some kind of mini turnovers as well as a new hem in my skirt and the second in the new one. Tomorrow will be the last of the cleaning and tiny sandwich making. My longest friend is an excellent photographer and she does black and whites for us. I'll post some when it's done, and maybe a few from the First 10th Tea.

After the excitement of the tea, we will have four days to prepare for a long trip to the LA area for a memorial service for Darrin's grandma. She died two weeks ago, and the family is getting together on the 7th to remember. We are also taking the children to visit the mouse. It will probably be the only time we are ever down there, so are going somewhere we would not ever plan to go.

When we get home from there, myself and the two older children will have three days to prepare ourselves and our home to be without us for a week of camp. Daddy and the little two will be here holding down the fort so we won't be worrying about the farm, but it is always a long time to be apart. The week after that, Darrin will be gone for a week of camp, too. None of our's will be there but he will be leading the singing and generally running herd on the high schoolers.

Sounds exhausting all written out like that, but the Month of August only has swimming lessons and VBS close to home, so it should be much more restful. Who said "Summer Vacation" was a vacation? If we were real farmers we would be busy from sunrise to sunset with chores, now we're just busy with life in this time.

Cuteness Update

{ 09:45, Monday, June 25, 2007 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Here is yesterday's picture of the buns. I just can't get over how cute they are!

The BIg Catalog Panic

{ 11:28, Thursday, June 21, 2007 } { 6 comments } { Link }

These are my pearls. They are on loan to me, and I want to do the best I can for them. That's why the BIG CATALOG causes a panic, and that's also why it's sitting on my desk unopened. It came on Tuesday and it's still sitting there. I have planned next school year and I do not need anything else. If I open it, I will second guess all my planning and think I need to do something different for some subject. I know this about myself....that may be all I've learned in my 10 years of home teaching but I know that well. Some day soon I will feel strong enough to look through it just for fun. But not today.

Testing, testing, 1,2,3

{ 10:12, Friday, June 15, 2007 } { 1 comments } { Link }

I am going to attempt to pull a rabbit out....no, no, wait. I'm going to attempt to put some pictures on my page. Please be patient with any technical difficulties we may experience.

These are the surviving buns. They are noisy, wigglers now, but in a week or so they'll be very cute!

SisterLori, thanks for the help on the pics!

Some Bunny Can't Do Math

{ 12:14, Wednesday, June 13, 2007 } { 2 comments } { Link }

Today was my day in the garden. I've been looking forward to a nice springy day with nothing else to do for such a long time. The kids were happily playing with friends and I was free to putter. I installed the new bottle buckling in with the big does and started the work in the greenhouse. When I went to put the load of used up broccoli plants and withered allysium in the compost bin, I noticed that my doe rabbit had pulled quite a lot of fiber out and was mixing it with hay in her cage. And I thought to myself, "Could it be that I miscalculated?" So I had a passing child bring her some more hay to build and fuss with, and went about my business. At 2pm she hadn't done anything and was resting mostly comfortably....panting a bit but she's wearing a sweater at 70 degrees. We left. Maddie had piano, we needed chicken feed and it was a nice day to go have dinner with my folks. We got home about 8 and I went to put everyone to bed and found........BUNNIES! Everywhere. On little piles of hay scattered around the cage floor. NINE OF THEM! I had no idea they would have so many. I started carefully gathering them up into a neat little mom made nest in the corner. Now I only hope I didn't disturb her so much she loses them all. I read that you usually lose some, so I'm trying to not feel like a bunny mom failure and know they aren't going to all make it. when I came in, I recounted....yep, 30 days today. Ugh. And I'm teaching my children math?

I Ain't got no Bunny.

{ 10:08, Wednesday, June 6, 2007 } { 1 comments } { Link }

It seems that even though our male Angora, Basil, was up to the job, RoseMary was not. So we have no bunnies and won't until fall. Our weather would be too hot for babies if we re-bred now. I'll have to be content with the kittens that are playing right outside the window in front of my very messy desk. They are very cute, but do not add anything but chuckles to the homestead economy. We do have two NIgerian bucklings coming to join our herd later this week, and they will at least double our work load, as they are bottle babies. My fascination, however is much more with pregnancy and birth than baby animals, so babies born elsewhere aren't quite the same. I enjoy them and take good care, but I eagerly await any imminent birth.

Yesterday, SisterLori and I went to pick strawberries and peas. My children and I picked 26 pounds of strawberries, weighed and paid for them, then headed for the pea field. In the sun. However, by the time we arrived at the field, which by the way was in plain sight from the strawberries, it was clouded over and the wind was picking up. Within five minutes of arriving, we were loading back in the cars because we could see the wall of rain coming. And did it ever rain! We had to wipe windshields on high to keep up. That's Oregon spring....if you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes, it'll change

We got half the peas processed and two boxes of strawberries have been eaten, but today I need to freeze the rest of everything so that nothing goes to waste. This weekend will be very full, as we have a goat show to help with, not show at, and Maddie has testing because she is in the eighth grade. In Oregon we have to have homeschooled children tested at 3rd, 5th and 8th grade. That is the only regulation to comply with, so I gladly take them as needed.

All of the busy-ness does make me think about my attitude. I so often am looking forward to something-a day "off" or a week away. It seems I don't live enough NOW. Being where I am is pretty blessed and wonderful, so why do I almost long for another time or place? Being content here and now....once again my focus for the day.

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