Jordan's Farm

This and That on the Farm - 9/24

This comment was left on " I have a Friend" and it's great and I wanted everyone to see it. Thank you Linda J.

“…if all things are in His hand, if the very hairs of our head are numbered; if every event, great and small, is under the direction of His Providence and purpose; and if He has a wise, holy and gracious end in view, to which everything that happens is subordinate and subservient;–then we have nothing to do, but with patience and humility to follow as He leads, and cheerfully to expect a happy issue….How happy are they who can resign all to Him, see His hand in every dispensation, and believe that He chooses better for them than they possibly could for themselves!” ~John Newton, who wrote the hymn, “Amazing Grace”

A friend of ours let us borrow his living weed eater, goat. We are trying to clear out an area, so the cows can have a little more room. This area used to be the goat pen,  then was a pig pen. Well, at about dusk the goat was running around the yard.  Our friend had always keep him on a chain and just moved him around as needed. So the goat does not really like people, he runs from them. Yet, all my animals run to me, which makes catching them so easy, except it gets a little hairy when you have a 900 lb.+ cow coming at you. OK, back to this goat on the run. He had broke his collar, no fixing it. We got him , and used a rope to hold him. While
I tried to find another collar. Ok, I live on a farm and have animal bottles of all sizes and shapes, and I thought every thing needed to run a farm.

But there was no collar on the farm. I had think of something as the goat would go through the fence with the cows in it, and it's getting dark. Here is what I did, and goat was not to happy. I found a calf halter and put in on him. And yes it was big on him, Tommy had to cut another hole in it to get it as tight as we could. And let me tell you that goats can dance. He tried for over an hour to get it off.

Now for gas here. A friend called yesterday and said that our area was very low, or out of gas. One gas tanker was splitting the gas between 4 stations. For about 40 miles around us there is no gas. They are not sure when it'll come in. When Tommy came home Monday, he said the gas station , less than a mile from home was out of gas, and the next station 6 miles up the road had a 10 gallon limit. So he filled up the truck. Which now I am thankful he did. With the new little truck, we can go to town 3 1/2 times in gas for what we only got 1 trip with the other truck. Thank you Lord. And thank you Lord the worry and fear bug had no hold this time, I had Your peace! And last nights News was not much better, but I got my peace.

I am having to get more creative. Here are some more of my new ways of saving money:

1. I use freezer bags, but have not been washing them out and reusing them. ( don't reuse the ones that have held meat in them. I use freezer paper for my meats.) But now I'm washing them out. I have seen those little bag drier stands, costing about $20+. I will not pay that. So at the thrift store I found a small set of Tinker toys for a $.25, and got them. And made my own bag drier and it sits on top of the drier. I'll post a photo in a day or two.
2. The AC was turned off in the food barn. And the windows were opened and a fan turned on. This will really drop the bill.
3. I willing be making my own clothes soap this week.( will post photos later).
4. Will start back making our own bread as a store loaf here is over $2.50.
5. Even my 11 yr old daughter is getting creative, she has 3-4 new grilled cheese ways.
6. Tommy is getting up some fire wood. Not knowing what this winter will bring, we are preparing for the worse and praying for the best. We do not have a wood heater but I will be able to cook. The cooking/heating gas has already gone way up and winter is not here yet.
7. I am making everyone wool house socks. Our floors are so cold in the winter. And the heat this year will be keep on low. I guess I will not be able to wear shorts in the house this winter. And I'm looking into getting my daughter sweat suits to wear to bed this winter, as she does not like to cover up or likes to kick them off.
8. Water- We have a 425 gallon tank in our back yard. ( I need to change the water below winter) You can save any bottles you have and fill with water. The bottles that had soaps of some kind in it, fill with water, they can be used to wash dishes, hands, etc. Other bottles for drinking/ cooking water. And the bottles can be stuck anywhere it does not freeze. Fill bottles almost full and let freeze, to put in coolers for when power out.

We were blessed this week, when a family up the road was moving out. Tommy trade a few ladders, transit, air compressor for a 12' X 16' building. They could not move it on the highway, but can be moved to our house. It is dried in, has a roof, a small loft in it, cedar siding almost done on the outside. It is so nice, looks like a little cabin. Well Tommy said I could have it. He had a  trailer frame  here in which to make me one, but this one is so close to done and the trade was good for both of us. The family could not take it, but needed the tools. The Lord is so good. It will be a sewing/ guest house. I can't wait to get it here so as I can fix it up the way I want. You see, we rent so I can't fix up much here. But the new little house is mine, oh what fun I am going to have. We'll put the bunk bed set we just got ( twin on top and full on bottom, which slides up to make like a couch.) The loft will be great for all the kids to sleep. They are pulling it down here this coming Saturday.

I have to go to town today to get food and feed. Boy, I sure hate going to town. I don't need much, but I really need the animal feed. So I'll get the few other things I can't make. Like bath paper, sugar, oil, goat collar. I have been reading others post about the prices of everything going up, so I'm glad my list is short. Anyone know how to make bath paper? I'm willing to try it.

Well I better get going and see what great deals can be found in town today.

May you all have a blessed day,

Becky

Untitled Comment

11:07 AM, Wednesday, September 24, 2008 .. Posted by Sweetmama2

Becky
Have you ever saw a recipe for automatic dish washer soap?
Peg

You are so right!!

02:34 PM, Wednesday, September 24, 2008 .. Posted by HopefulHeart77

Everything is going up higher and higher. A few months ago I was paying 13dollars and some change for 3 liters of olive oil. That same bottle has gone up to 20 dollars. Also maple syrup that I bought for 12 dollars and some change is 19 or 20 dollars. I was so shocked I can't remember. Does anyone have a healthy idea for cheaper pancake syrup? As for the dishwasher detergent I have used half borax and baking soda. It works pretty good but not as well as the store bought stuff. I use it in lightly soiled loads. I have been making laundry detergent for quite some time since I read it on your blog. It is working great and has saved me tons of money. I added borax to mine though and it seems to work better that way. God is in control and has known everything from the beginning. I trust Him. It also sounds as if Tommy is doing better. I am so happy about that and I will continue to pray. I have not danced for the past couple of weeks. I sure am looking forward to getting back to it. I will check gas prices when I go out. I have already gone to the dentist this morning in one city and now I have to go back to the orthodontist in another city. I was just at the orthodontist yesterday. Tommorrow I have an doctors appt in; the same city as the dentist but could not get appointments on the same day. :( I have ordered the cookbook by Vicki Tate that you recommended and I am impatiently waiting for it to get here. Blessings Cammy!

Laundry Soap

09:05 AM, Thursday, September 25, 2008 .. Posted by HopefulHeart77

Good morning Becky,
About the laundry soap. I saved all my containers for awhile and used them in my homemade laundry soap. Then, I just started leaving it in the five gallon bucket that I mixed it in. I leave an old ladle in there that measures 1/2 cup. That way I can use the ladle to stir the soap a little before I use it each time. This way has worked out better for me because sometimes it will get clogged in bottles. You can shake it awhile and of course it comes loose but this way of leaving it in the bucket seems to have worked much better. I used one of the kind with a pop on lid instead of the gasket so it comes off easy. I hope Tommy has a good day today!! They are limiting gas at the gas station closest to me but I was able to buy it yesterday for 3.82 a gallon. 15 miles away in the little town my homestead is in the gas is 4.19. The prices will come down temporarily but the overall problem is that oil has peaked. We have to learn to live without it eventually. I will send you a CD about that if you want. It sure did teach me alot and I have a whole new understanding of the oil crises and what is to come. This CD is not from a religious or nonreligious standpoint. It just gives the facts of the situation. I hope you all have a great day!
Love and Blessings, Cammy

Edited by HopefulHeart77 on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 08:06 AM