Heritage Hill Homestead

It has been a long time............

Hello, I am still hanging around, haven't taken time to write, but I have kept up checking in with my friends to see what you all are doing the past month.  Thanks to those that have checked in to see if I was ok.

Hard to believe that July 4th was a month ago already, times goes so fast it really is scary isn't it!  Since right before the 4th things have been crazy around here, just not enough time it seems.

I will try to briefly catch you up..............Our little town has a big 4th of July celebration which is fun!  We didn't enter the parade this year, so that was a lot less stressful.  Last year we did a float for our homestead, and it was a lot of fun.  I did enter the cookie contest, didn't place, and the dog contest.  The fireworks were really nice and enjoyable.  On Saturday there is a car show and we had our regular Farmers Market downtown, it was the best sales we had ever had, so that was exciting.

Saturday afternoon Nick came to stay and get ready for the fair.  We had such a good time with him.  The neighbor baled the hay he had mowed for us and so we had some help to haul it in.  That hay deal was quite a story, but we did get 1/2 of the 20 acres baled. 

On the 13th one of our County fairs began.  (We have 3 county fairs, some think that is crazy, but I love it!! Fairs are the highlight of the year for me.)  I am the superintendent of the sheep, so I take entries, weigh in, organize the show schedule and take care of the show.  Nick was showing his goats for the first time also this year.  The weather was great and we all had a wonderful time!  Nick showed 2 market goats, a doeling, and in showmanship, also 2 foods enteries and got all blue ribbons!  Not bad for his first fair.  He sold one of the market goats, Curly.  Hubby and I had 10 garden entries, 2 jams and muffins.

The fair was over on the 16th,  I woke up the next morning and it took me an hour or so to come back to everyday life and realize that it was Hubby's birthday!  Fair days are kind of another world with no thought of dates or anything else that is going on around you. 

During the month we sold all of the puppies Sadie had in May.  We wormed the goats and got them moved to a new weedy spot.  Several are looking pretty bad, so I started to feed them and give them liquid molasses to get them ready for breeding season.  The corral they had been in during the summer had too many worms.  I am treating one with iron shots also, may have to treat some others too, will see how they look in a week or so after the worming.  We lost one doe last week, she had her head stuck in the fence.  We had never lost one that way before, but I know it does happen.  She was behind the shed and kind of behind a tree so that it was hard to see her.  I noticed she was not with the group and went looking for her, but when I found her it was too late.  I felt so bad, as it was hot and I hate to think of her suffering.  These are things that happen with livestock sometimes.

Our garden is doing great yet.  We have had nice rains through the summer, and not the storms that have gone all around us.  We are very thankful for that.  Tomatoes are coming on strong.  Cucumbers have slowed down right now, squash too.  I will have tomatoes to can tomorrow and have sweet pickles soaking right now. We have dug most of the potatoes, we sold most of them and only have a couple of buckets left for us to eat.  The last 2 plantings of green beans are doing pretty well, I am sure there are some out there needing picked right now.........but it is just too hot.  I spent Friday morning picking for Market and almost got sick with the heat.  Last week we had 3 days of cool, cloudy weather and then the real heat set in.  For 4 days now it has been unbearable, the humidity is so bad.  Yesterday I saw on the weather that a town north of us had a heat index of 120.  Can you imagine that??  

Farmers Market has been going great for us this year and we are so thankful!  This past Saturday hubby went with me here and we had the best market ever here.  We had quite a few tomatoes and they add up pretty quick, however I only had 2 pies made.  We did sell quite a bit of meat, more than usual for this market.  The Lord has truly blessed our little garden and our efforts this summer.

We just found out that our Pastor is moving the end of August, so that will mean a transition time for our little church.  Last Sunday we hosted a Christian Motorcyle Association Sunday.  It was such a wonderful day, folks of all ages enjoyed it.  We rented a tent and had the service outdoors, which of course was right up my alley.  After the service we served pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and brownies.

 We have a new addition to our critter family, a bucket calf named Blossom.  We got her on Friday at the auction.  Not sure of her breed, but she was 3 days old and seems very healthy so far at least.  She was very easy to start on the bottle and is so cute!  I can't believe I have not gotten a picture of her yet.......but I will.  Kaylan will have such a fun time with her, she spent the first of last week with us, but went home the day before Blossom arrived.

Also in July we had another 100 broilers processed.  Will have 200 more done the end of August.  This week we roasted one with fresh herbs from my little herb garden, that was fun and it sure tasted good.  I am not very good about using fresh herbs or knowing how to use them, so I was very proud of myself.

Wednesday through Saturday this week is our final county fair.  So this will be a busy week for sure.  I will go to Market on Saturday, but will not be home on Friday to bake, so will only have what garden produce I have time to gather up to sell.

Well, that somewhat brings us up to date at Heritage Hill Homestead.  I will leave you with a picture I took early one morning a couple of weeks ago while out doing chores.  Isn't it wonderful to live out where we can soak up the beautiful world God has given us!

 Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

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{ 08:19, Monday, August 11, 2008 } { Posted by borderling }

Nice to read what you've been doing. Stay in touch, okay?
Rhonda

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{ 05:11, Wednesday, August 13, 2008 } { Posted by Schatzi }

Sounds like you are having a wonderful but busy summer also...will check back with your soon.

Blessings,
Connie

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{ 11:21, Wednesday, August 13, 2008 } { Posted by GypsyFarmGirl }

I know its been a while, since I have been able to say hi to my fellow HSB buddies, but I too have been busy so I understand. Anyhow I wanted to say HI and Hope all is well for you.

Jeannie