Posted By Chas in Notions for Sewing
Some new things have been added to my shop as of this morning...
Positively Patriotic Quilted Tote  Simply Beachy And I am working on one now with a vintage flour sack. I think it is going to be adorable! :) Just added! Vintage Flour Sack Bag of Thistles  Thanks for looking and may you have a Fabulous Fourth of July! |
Posted By Laurie
Good Morning! The heat! Oh, my goodness! The interesting thing this year is that usually by this time of year "hot and hazy" is the description most often used. The last three days, however, have reminded me of October days. Not the coolness, of course, but the clarity of the sky. Bright and sunny without much haze at all. This has made the sun itself seem that much stronger, without the humidity playing a very big part in the heat. It also makes it seems cooler in the shade with a wind blowing, making being outside during the middle of the day that much more tolerable. It is also continuing to be dry. What was luscious and green is now beginning to get that gray/brown tinge it gets when it's crying out for water. The temperatures are forecasted to remain in the high 80's to mid 90's, but there is no more than a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms in the next ten days. Most days have only a 0 - 10% chance of any precipitation. Watering is in full force. My herbs are watered morning and evening, especially my mint. The fruit trees/bushes are watered in the evening, the tomatoes will be flooded once/week, and the blueberries will be drip irrigated overnight 1 - 2 times per week until some appreciable rain falls. This is early for our dry season and is bringing back bad memories of the previous drought years. However, last year this time we ended up with 11 inches in two weeks, which killed our tomatoes, so I guess I won't be complaining.
Yesterday was busy with me in the car most of it. After morning chores were finished and I had finished canning the corn from yesterday, we headed over to a friend's house for Michaela and her son to work the dogs in flyball. Unfortunately, the dogs considered it way too hot to actually do anything other than pant, so they spent most of their time indoors. My friend is very much into spinning and, in fact, owns her own cashmere goats. She also purchases all kinds of fiber from all over. Kelsey and I were looking at what she had. The most fascinating was the silk worm cocoons she had. Mrs. M told us the process of getting the silk into a spinnable state and showed us some she was spinning with alpaca. She also showed us some yarn she had spun and that is available in her shop, Yarn of a Tail, on Artfire.com. It is so beautiful. She is so good at it. She uses both drop spindles and a spinning wheel. I had just recently used some gift money to purchase the double drop spindle kit offered by Maine Woods Yarns on Etsy. She let me use her drop spindle and showed me how to start so that I would be ready when it arrived. It was so much fun. I'm really looking forward to getting it and getting started. Looking at her yarns made me realize how much better knitted and crocheted items look with real quality yarn. So much for Wal-mart yarns. After we left, we went for a picnic lunch at a local Revolutionary War Battlefield. It was really too hot for much besides eating in the shade, so our visit there was short. It was also later than planned so we headed home to get the youngers down for naps. This heat really takes it out of them and they seem to need more rest than during the winter. While we were at home, Michaela checked on the beagle she wanted to rescue from the animal shelter in a "somewhat" neighboring county. Yes, it was still available, so back into the car we go for the hour ride down there. It closes at 4PM and we pull up at 3:57PM. As we are getting out of the car, someone walks out with a beagle on a leash. No, it couldn't be. After we go inside we are first told that they were closed, 3 minutes early. OK, the day was catching up with me, and I'm trying to remember that this lady could have had a really bad day. I made a comment under my breath about having driven an hour, arriving 3 minutes before 4PM, only to be told they were closed. Another woman spoke up to ask if we had wanted to adopt a dog and we said yes, one named Poker. And yes, that was Poker (who comes up with these names?) who was now going home with a new family, but not ours. The drive down there had been long, but the drive back was much longer, as I now had a very disappointed 15-year-old. It did give us time to really discuss the importance of following Yahweh's lead and letting him set the course without us trying to "make something happen". By the time we arrived home, some of the sting was gone, but the disappointment was still there. I think she is going to try to get on with the state Aussie Rescue and possibly the local German Shepherd rescue to either foster or adopt. We'll see where Yahweh leads. By this time it was supper and chores. Then bedtime. It seems as if lately these two have run together too often. Ashley made a wonderful pasta dish that wasn't too heavy for a warm night. I only wish my lettuce was still coming in. I would have loved to have a fresh salad to accompany it. Some friends had mentioned an indoor salad garden contraption that sounds like just the ticket. I think I'll research it and see what it'll do. Another busy day today. Blueberries that were too soft to sell need to be made into sauce, tomatoes are ready to also be put into sauce (I've never done this before so it should be an experience), more blueberries to be picked, etc. I guess I had better get cracking. May Yahweh bless you in this new day! Laurie |
Posted By Chimicole
I'm in a bit of a quandry here.... our 25 year old son wants to bring him and his pregnant girlfriend to this city, and stay with us until he finds work.
Here's my delimma... He has virtually ignored me the past 10 years of his life, choosing to bad mouth me and talk horrid things behind my back, never once giving a second thought to a phone call or acknowledgement of a birthday, Mothers day or Christmas... even with a card. He had moved in with us a few years ago, was fed, clothes were kept clean, we took him back and forth to work without a problem, and right before Thanksgiving, he left. Didn't even tell me he was leaving, actually. He just called his dad, who came and picked him up, and he left. It would have been my first holiday with him in 7 years. Now, he called me the other night to tell me that I am going to be a Grandma again, sometime in January. He tells me that he cannot find work where he is, and he needs to work to support his family. He tells me that he has done alot of growing up the past few years, and he knows he has done many things wrong and hurt many people. Then of course, pops off with the question..... can we stay with you til we get on our feet there? What I'm seeing is 2 more mouths to feed, more laundry to do, an unmarried couple living in my house, and tension as we ask him NOT to have the video games set up all night and them staying up all night. Who will help with the housework? I do not know this girl from Adam, been told she's quite the know-it-all, (but I don't know her, so I shouldn't say that). And if he cannot find a job, then we're supporting them. What if no job is found after the baby is born? Who's buying diapers? Who's buying clothes? and Formula? I feel guilty because my Mom let me move back home several times until I got my mess together, and I'm sure I was never a joy to have around... but my Mom, being a Mom.. allowed me, and I was always welcome. I'm not sure I want to. I am back in school again, need to study. Need to have quiet time with my children I still have at home. Need to keep bills down. I need my homelife. Do tell....... what would you do in a situation like this? |
Posted By Old-Fashioned Homemaker in Family Life
We are leaving tomorrow to go to Ohio with a stop in horse country. My in-laws live in Northern Ohio so we go to see them only twice a year (Thanksgiving week and 4th of July week). We leave tomorrow morning and will stop in Lexington where my sister and her family are meeting us. The kids love to stay in a hotel so they are anticipating that! Then Saturday morning we will head up to Buckeye state. I hope to have pictures and details of our travels after we return on the 11th. Y'all take care! Happy Independence Day!!!! ***If you are on Facebook, feel free to join me on my travels because I have it loaded onto my phone. If you're not my friend on there let me know and I'll add you. You can find me under Farrah Cook Ginter. |
Posted By Donna
"The Homesteading Mindset Anywhere" is my guest Blog for 'The Dollar Stretcher'. Today's topic is a pictorial tutorial about reusing what might look like 'trash'....I think y'all will like it for your homesteading ideas. You can follow my blog here: http://community.stretcher.com/blogs/homesteadmindset/default.aspx If you are not familiar with The Dollar Stretcher - I'd suggest you go check it out. The tips range from directly fiscal repair all the way to saving on weekly menu items. It's wonderful! They even have a newsletter with helpful articles, Just click on the Dollar Strecher's Logo when you go to my blog, for direct links to whata ll else they have to offer. Happy Homesteading! Donna |
Posted By Tiredmamaof5
Wow, it's been some time since I've posted. I've creeped around though and tried to keep up with everyone. Life has been so busy lately. I've started to work. It feels good to get a pay check. It has been 12 yrs since I've last recieved a pay check... wow. DH got a promotion which means more money, YIPEE!! The bad thing is he has to work over night. Getting used to the new schedule is harder than we all thought. It feels as though we never spend time together. We are managing though. We've had some birthdays in the last month and a half and the twins will be turning 4 August 3. I'll be starting preschool with them in September. We are packing away our money and still trying to save in order to move to Michigan. Now that DH got a promotion, his company will pay more money for the move. I can hire a moving company and not have to worry about packing anything away. That will be so nice. Other than the usually bust stuff, i have been trying to stock the freezer for winter. Today I hva estarted baking quick breads and storing them away for winter mornings breakfast or snacks. Next week I'll probably make some soups and chili's and maybe a stew base. I've learned to hold off on adding the taters until I thaw out the stews and soup. The taters get too mushy if you freeze them. I just hard boil them or roast them and then add to the soup or stew once it is heated through. Well, I hope you all are enjoying the summer. I'm not sure when I'll find time to post again but I will check in and read. Bye Y'all! |
Posted By amanda in On the Homestead
Good Thursday Morning Fellow Homesteaders! What a beautiful day it is today. Not too humid but still pretty hot. We will be in the lower 90's again today. Such is the season here in southeastern NC. The harvest here at Piney Woods Homestead is in. The corn is all picked and put up. We ended up with about 200 ears. I left it all on the cob because the ears were so small. It is a far cry from the 500 we were expecting. It is on the other hand the most corn that has come out of our garden in at least 5 years. I am most thankful indeed. I am praying that the guy down the road from us will have a good supply of corn up for sale soon. I got about 3 bushels from him last year and it was really good corn. I will be thankful for whatever comes my way. A little or a lot. The beans are also gone now. I ended up with about 10-12 gallon sized freezer bags. That is also the most our beans have produced in years. Again, I say," Thank you LORD!" for meeting our needs. The tomatoes we planted have just started getting ripe enough to pick. I chose Romas this year because I wanted to learn to make my own spagetti sauce with them. Well, they seem to be getting black spot on them just as they are ripened. We have managed to pick a few, but not many. What we are getting will be used just to eat with dinners.Again, we have learned A LOT from this garden. The taters are great! I picked some over a month ago and they are still on my cabinet with none rotting or sprouting. I am seeing how long they will last in my house without having to can them. Once I get a good idea of how long they wil last, we will dig the rest of them up and store them in our *tater box*. Here is what didn't do so well at all; Peanuts (A few plants came up, not enough though.) Our field corn that we wanted to use for chicken feed turned into squirrel feed! All in all I can say that this is the best garden that we have had in years. It has also taught us A LOT in the way of farming for a small family. Oh well, its now time to start thinking about the Fall garden. Thank you LORD for meeting our needs and thank you LORD for all that YOU have taught us this summer season! Blessings,
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The little buggers dug up the kernels and ate them as the stalks were first coming up. We thought it was the birds at first. I found out it was the squirrels when I went down there after hearing crows in that area.( I thought they were the problem.) When I got there, I saw the little buggers feasting on the small stalks (seeds.) THAT little experience has also taught us a lot. Live and learn has become the motto for this Homestead. Experience really is the best teacher.
Posted By Chas in Being a Moma
Snagglepuss is a term of endearment that I use to anyone that I love who has lost baby teeth...
Yesterday afternoon. I had two first time snagglepusses  By the end of the evening... these two (Carlie Jean and Eli) had lost TWO of their front two bottom teeth and Cameo lost one of her eye teeth. :) What a fun evening. |
Posted By Chimicole
Gotta get up and ready for class this AM. I'm not staying through the entire day though, just don't feel good. Had a wicked cold the past few days that's pretty much knocked the wind out of my sails.
DH came home from work last night, and snuggled in next to me, and I felt him touch my head to see if I was feverish. (Sweet man!) I think I am on the downhill slide of it though, but another day of rest couldn't hurt....( at least before I go into work this evening.) |
Posted By Laurie
Good Morning! Another fairly warm but not extremely hot day in SE NC. The wind blew a good bit which kept you cooler, but also dried out everything. Beginning today, I'll have to get back onto my watering program until more rain comes our way. According to the forecasts, there is no appreciable chance of rain until next Thursday. The hot, dry days of summer.
I FINISHED THE BEANS!!! I was able to pressure can the last three loads of green beans yesterday. I have 2 12qt. canners, which hold about 7 qt jars a piece. A couple of years ago I was looking at getting a new canner and almost bought one of the large double rack ones. On thinking more about it, though, I decided to just get another one the same size and use the two for a double batch. The main reason for this was that I have a hard time lifting the one I have now, and I'm only getting older. I was afraid that the bigger one would be too much for me to handle. The system works fairly well. I load one canner and get it processing. When it has 15-20 minutes left on the timer, I load the second canner so that it is ready to begin as soon as the first one comes off. By the time the second canner is almost ready to come off, the first is ready to open and be unloaded. When I have nothing else going on I can get a lot canned in a day. I don't usually have nothing else going on, so sometimes there is more lag time between batches than the ideal would suggest. We were also able to get the corn given to us shucked and silked. Because this corn was somewhat wormy, I decided to can it off the cob. So we cut it off and canned it in pint jars. This corn will be used mainly in soups and recipes. I got one batch of 10 canned and will finish it up this morning. Ray is planning on purchasing some corn from a friend of his and trying to resell it at the Farmer's Market on Saturday. Whatever doesn't get sold, we'll put up. While everything was canning, I was able to try out a new pattern for a crocheted washcloth. Boy, was that a lot easier and much quicker. I completed the cloth in less than an hour. I'm much slower at knitting and can only get one cloth done in a day. This will make a nice alternative during the hectic summer days. I'm trying to get 3 done for Saturday's market. I ended up with 22 pints of berries. Boy, it sure looks like more in the bucket. Ray had 12 presold and then we partially filled an order for another 36 pints. I have everything I can pick on Friday sold as well. We just started to put our tomatoes on the market and they are going fairly well. We were a little concerned about shifting our focus to selling from the house as a man just recently opened a produce stand a little over a mile from us. But evidently he is charging exorbitant prices and is not known for his honesty in dealing. I think, also, that people prefer to buy from the actual farm where things are grown so that they can see it. It makes them feel more involved. Yesterday was jean-washing day also. I am continuing in my journey to convert all of my washing to hand. The jeans are by far the hardest to do so far, mainly because of the bulkiness and difficulty in hand wringing. I am still searching for a good hand wringer and have also enlisted the help of a friend in my search. Maybe between the two of us we can find a good used one for not too much. Right now, I put them in the washer for the 9 minute spin cycle. I have noticed (and so has at least one of my children) in the last couple of weeks that the jeans are cleaner from the hand washing than when I washed them in the machine. They are also much softer, even when dried outside. No more cardboard. My "No dryer" project is also going well, helped along by the long span of sunny weather. The rain we have gotten has come in the late afternoon, so that my clothes have dried. I want to get my wash during the week converted before tackling the Saturday loads. I already know that this will have to be split into two days once I go completely to all hand. The "Little AC" project is not going as well. I usually forget to turn it off and open the windows at night. I may have to assign that job since I can't seem to remember to do it. My electric bill had decreased somewhat last month, but I'm not looking forward to seeing it this month. We really need to stay focused on this, but it sure is hard to go out and sweat and come in to a warm house. Well, it's time to get busy. There's the canning to do, we are visiting with another family today so that the dogs can train in flyball afterwhich we are picnicing at the local battlefield, and finally, Michaela wants to try to visit a neighboring counties animal shelter and rescue a dog about to be put down. With the 4th coming up, there's plenty to do. May Yahweh bless you in this new day! Laurie |