The Cole Homestead

Fall projects

I have started my fall projects since the weather has improved.  By improved I mean that you can work long hours outside and not worry about the sweat dripping into your eyes.  We plan to clean the chicken coop this week and spread fresh lime and bedding and make minor improvements.  I made a mention to my Uncle that there was nothing worse than cleaning a chicken coop on a humid 80 degree day.  He said yes there is, a rainy 90 degree day.  He had a point!

I am starting to make candles also.  I have saved all of my scrap wax, grease, used oil and am ready to start.  It didn't take as much stearic acid as previous years so that was good news.  I am using a new mold this year.  It is same as the old ones just longer.  I am hoping to be done by this weekend.

This weekend is our Spoon River Since Drive.  Folks come from all over to drive along the Spoon River (Same river gave its name to the book Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters) and stop at the local craft booths.  Also a few museums a great photo op's.  Every town has a Walleye Wagon and plenty of crafts.  My mother in law plans to spend the night on Friday so we can get a early start.  The Amish store is going to be our last stop.  The first Sat of every month is a "Doughnut Sat".  That means hot fresh doughnuts and cinnamon rolls.  Can't beat that.  Also want to stock up on flour, barley, baking soda, and honey.  I am not sure what the prices might be by Jan so I want to get enough to hold me through April at least. 

I will post some pics of the trip when we return.

All Alone

Well not really but I am starting to think that I am.  My husband is working so much over time these past few months I feel as though I am trying to run things on my own.  Normally I could handle it fine but I have goats on the loose.  My husband was in the process of upgrading their fence and has not been able to complete the job due to his schedule.  I would try to attempt the fence but he likes things done his way and I would hate to mess up his hard work.  There is also the problem of my little boy. 

Have any of you seen the movie "Please Don't Eat the Daisies"?  My youngest is just like her youngest.  He can get into anything.  He can unlock doors, undue knots and loves to climb.  We have had to put sticks in the screen windows to keep him from climbing out windows, we have to block our main door with the couch to keep him from opening the large door and escaping.  I have more child safety locks than anyone I know and this little one can get through them.  Most days I have him anchored to me through a child harness to my apron.  Needless to say, this slows my chores done quite a bit.  He is only 2  and 1/2. 

Anyway for today I am processing some of the apple that we got from the orchard today.  I bought 4 bushels of Gala apples and plan on getting a few more in late October for a few other varieties.  I started a apple crisps last night and plan on canning a few jars of apple pie filling.  So far the goats are loving the apple peels! 

I also want to start my candle making while it is so cool but not cold out.  I have a new, longer candle mould that I am looking forward to trying out.  I normally make soap at the same time but I feel I have enough on my plate for a moment or two.

Not much accomplished over the weekend

We were not able to accomplish much this weekend do to the rain.  It seems that most of Illinois is flooding right now.  Everywhere I walk there is a "squish" noise behind me.  Rain even blew in the chicken coop window so now the bedding needs to be replaced for our ladies.  They are laying so well right now I would hate to interrupt that.  Right now we are getting about 8 a day.  So that means it is time for baking day again.

I have a bit of dough ready for bread this morning. (about 4 loaves) and plan to do some cookies and muffins.  The canners and supplies have been put away for the season and the kitchen has had its fall scrub down and is ready for the cook stove to get going but I hear that we are to have temps back up to 80.  I am so looking forward to Fall!

Tomorrow the kids, my grandmother, and I are going to an apple orchard.  My grandmother has been wanting to make a few apple crisps for our Sunday dessert.  Every Sunday my whole family comes to grandma's for a good chat and dessert.  It all started in 94 after my grandfather died.  We all worried about Grandma and how she was handling it all.  My Uncle started coming out on Sunday afternoon to check on her and help keep her company.  My father farmed for her and lived a very short distance away so he would come over and spend time with her and his brother also.  Next thing you know the other brother came with his family and then the cousins that had moved out and away from home started to come.  My father died a few years ago and we still all visit together.  Most Sundays all 14 of us show up and on occasion even Grandma's brother.  With that many people it takes a lot of apple crisp!

Now the next item on my list is clothes.  My daughter needs a few more chemises for night gown and layering uses.   I also got her some really great material for a few dresses and I need and dress and a few warmer skirts.  Plus there are diapers and pads to make.  I am hoping to design a chemise for a plus size gal ( being me)  I found a interesting pattern here: http://www.tstitches.com/store/patternspagepg3.htm#Underpinnings:

If anyone has any ideas let me know.  I think that it for now. 

An unexpected windfall

I am the beneficiary of a few different trusts from my family.  Just our families way of preserving our farms.  One farm has been our family since 1835.  Triple great grandfather and family bought this farm from a soldier in 1835 that had received the farm as payment for serving his country during the War of 1812.  The signed sheep skin is still in the family and is signed by President Monroe.

Well one of these farm trusts paid when there was no expectation of payment.  Now we have to decide what to do with this unexpected windfall.  Do we invest?  Do we by food?  A better hot water heater?  Or just stick it under the mattress?  We are pretty well stocked on food and seeds but we can always use extra.  I am ordering some more diaper material.  It would be nice to wash every other day instead of everyday. 

I think a tank less water heater for summer use would benefits us.  Right now our old one runs on LP and we are trying to get away from that.  Our furnace and dry also run on LP and we no longer use either of these.  The cost of LP is getting so high.  I just got a few more gallons the other day and found the price was up to 2.45 a gallon.  6 years ago it was .82.  I am shocked!  I am so grateful for our wood cook stove.  Our wood stove is tied into our hot water line but that only works for when it is cool out. 

So, what to do?  Put it away and save.  There will be a need in the future but I can't help but make one frivolous purchase.  Last year a local farm store advertised Oliver pedal tractors.  My husband is a big Oliver tractor fan since his great grandfather owned a Oliver dealership.  He wanted so bad to get his children one to past to their children.  My husband received his when he was a child and my grandmother still has my fathers and the grandchildrens.  Well, when we went to buy these pedal tractors they were all sold out.  I figured " no worries' there is always the Internet."  I was able to find a few on the Internet but was complete unwilling to pay those prices.  Well today I was able to find them at a price I am willing to pay.  We are going to save these as Christmas presents.  I know they will really enjoy these and will pass them to their own children. 

I figured this money came to me from those who worked hard to give to their future generation and now it is my turn.  Here is a picture of the tractors.

New year update

I know that it is a little late for a New Year update but things have really been moving around here.  The wood cook stove has been working great.  It was another of those purchases that we wished we made years ago.  We thought the same thing when we bought the six foot tiller.  How did we manage without?  We have been cutting wood to fill the stove and hired a bit brought in.  That is still cheaper than LP or electricity.   They are talking of rasing our electric rates again.  I wonder how others in my area are managing.  My folks in our area are complaining of 800 dollar light bills.  That is about what my husband brings home in two weeks! 

If the electric bills being high aren't enough, ad to it the fact that our little town tried building an ethanol plant.  It was almost up and running when the shut down.  They had not been paying their bills and now claim the need 25 more million.  So many folks there left good jobs to come work closer to home.  People that put money into the plant have lost all of that money.  Farmers that brought corn will only get 85% back.  What a mess.

On a brighter note we are having a party tomorrow.  My little boy turned 2 on Wed. so we are going to have a little family get together. 

We also finished our once a year shopping trip.  Wed. I went to Wal mart and Krogers.  Today I went to Aldi and the Cattle drive.  I only ordered our meat today at the Cattle Drive.  That is a lot of meat to prepare besides there would have been no room in my car.  When I was loading all of that food I was wishing I had brought my mother in laws car.  She has a Surberban where we are drive a Explorer.  Anyway we made it home.  I have it all put away and we are ready for the party.