Jordan's Farm

Economic Situation - Recession- Life ahead

It's time to take this serious. This is not going away any time soon. Those of you who thought this would blow over, well it hasn't, it's blown up. And now it's effecting the whole world.  I'm not telling you to start worrying but if you have not started preparing, you had better start now. This will take years, yes years, to get worked out. Take a really good look around you, this is touching everyone you know.  Some of you might think that I'm just over reacting and that I'm trying to start a panic, well I'm not. I just want people to open their eyes before it's to late for them to do anything.  And I'm sorry to say, I don't think our government can fix it now, only the good Lord can. This is effecting more and more people, day by day, and around the world.  We should start helping each other, bring bartering back from the old days, start growing more of our food in the USA and in our yards, trade things, learn from each other, stop living outside our means, stop waiting for the government to help us as they can't help themselves. Am I downing the USA and our government, no, I'm saying we all are human and even they make mistakes. And some mistakes are not made right over night.

What can you do now?

1. pray
2. get knowledge on every thing you can
3. stock a little of something every time you can
4. start reading up on growing a garden next year, look into a few chickens
5. find ways to make do with what you have
6. read , talk to people, learn something new

I am searching the Internet as often as I can, and I am saving the  information to my computer and printing it off. There will come a time when we will no longer be able to pay the Internet bill, which will mean I will really need the information I looked up. Yes, ink and paper cost money, but if you change the font to small, you can it a lot on one page and print on both sides. I have a new folder called "Making do in hard times", when I print it off, it goes right into this folder.

Here are a few of the things I looking up: healing herbs, how to cook over a camp fire and in the ground with coals, homemade reusable pads and napkins and bath paper,other uses for things you already have, what wild plants are eatable, ways to store water and ways to make it safe to drink, homemade solar ovens from things around your home, washing clothes by hand, making clothes soap,  storing meat without a canner/freezer/cooking it,  make candles from candle ends and leftovers, what wild plants can my farm animals eat safely or what can I grow for them: if I can no longer buy feed for them,ways to keep food good without canning/freezing/ ice boxes, homemade tooth paste, the list goes on and on.

Will I ever need to use all these things? I hope not, but I can if I need too. ( and with them in the folder, my great grand kids might need the information). I don't do all this now, but I do have the how to's when I need them. Some of these, I have already started doing just to save money. 

Get the knowledge now, for when it's needed later. Prepare for the very worse and pray hard for the best.

 In God We Trust,

Becky

Lessons Learned

With our potato crop not doing well this year, we did not get enough potatoes to last us until next year, first time in ten years, I bought instant potatoes and the dried sliced potatoes in boxes. First lesson, when trying something new with your family, only buy 1 box, (I bought 10). The sliced potatoes(with cheese, seasonings, etc.) I fixed twice, the dogs would not even eat them. And I even doctored them up, adding more seasonings. They tasted awful to us. I know some of you really like these kinds of potatoes, but after you have lived on real potatoes for years, these are really awful, and that's being nice. As for the instant mash potatoes, well we can eat them if I add enough butter and cream to them. I know you are supports to add milk, but I have a lot of cream, and the cream helps them taste better.  Store bought food is not looking good, we may not eat our usual  amount of potatoes this winter. Tommy says it's my fault they will not eat these things as I have spoiled them with fresh home grown foods. Now it's my fault, what am I to do?

Having to stay in the house to watch and listen for Tommy, I have knitted 2 pairs of house socks and working on my third. I cut a set of queen flannel sheets into 10" squares to use as tissues and napkins. Second lesson, that's a lot of hemming to do. And don't think you can get it done in one day at the kitchen table. This is not possible, the sack is very tall, and took me a whole day just to cut them out.

Third lesson , the harder you try to be quiet, the more noise you make. This goes for old and young alike.

Fourth lesson, don't try and feed your family store bought cakes or cookies, even if they are given to you. They make funny faces and weird sounds and want to know what they did wrong.

Last lesson, don't spoil your family as this makes it really hard on you. An easy night in the kitchen is 1 hour instead of 3 hours. So much for store bought. Please don't get me wrong, I love my family and love cooking for them, and will keep doing so. And at times I think twice about making something new from scratch as I know I will then always have to make it from scratch. But I keep doing it, just to see the smiles on their faces, and their big belly's.

I really enjoy the way we live. To me it's the best for all, a little work, a little good food, a little fresh air, a little fun, a lot of smile, a few tears, lots and lots of prayer, a little rain, a little sun, a lot of great friends. Boy, life is good, and God has blessed us all.

Well I better get this day started and see what I have to get into.

Becky

P.S. As an award to my family for having to eat store bought goods, I have to make a pineapple upside down cake today. Oh what a hard life I have.

Farm Life & A Wonderful Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

I woke up this morning to 36 degrees and our first frost. It was cold. Winter is coming to fast, I still have a lot to do. And I'm going as fast as I can. Any one else in this boat with me?

Yesterday, I put all the house fans in storage. Tommy closed off the ceiling vents in the house. Looks like when did it just in time. Last night we started our normal winter snack, homemade hot chocolate after dinner (the recipe for this is in the recipe tab at top of page). And boy, was it good.

This morning I'm making cookies, to help warm the house up. Now there is a story with these cookies. Tommy does not like oatmeal, period. So some boys I know, Stevens Brothers, let me try one of their cookies. And it was great, wonderful cookie. So I asked them for the recipe so as I could make them at home for me.  Thinking I could keep some cookies I like around the house more than 3 days. While I made a batch, Tommy asked what they were, I told him oatmeal cookies. He said said let me try one, I said there is oatmeal in them, he said I want to try one. I thought oh no Lord, just let me have one thing.

Well, he loved them. But these are great cookies that are good for you, too. So in away I am happy Tommy likes them, he needs the fiber. And at times we all have had them for breakfast.

Wonderful Oatmeal Cookies By: the Steven's Brothers

1 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups plain flour (all purpose)

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp water

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups oatmeal old fashion

1/2 - 1 cup walnuts (can add)

Cream shortening and sugars: add eggs, then dry ingredients, water, and flavoring. Do this with a electric mixer. Stir in oatmeal by hand, plus add walnut. Drop in small balls on ungreased cookie sheet, then press down with the backside of a spoon. Bake at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes.

They freeze well if you can make enough. Enjoy.

I just pulled first batch out , and for some reason  they have already been eaten. These are really good. (shhh, I just had two, warm ones are so much better.)

Have a wonderful day.

Becky

Low Cost Gift Giving Ideas

That time of year again, but these ideas will work for any gift giving time.

At thrift stores, dollar stores, etc. get baskets, big bowl, plastic boxes with lids, etc. and fill them with little things the person would like.

You can make family baskets( put things in for everyone in family), kids baskets, guest baskets(you didn't know they were coming), etc.

Fill with:

1. homemade clothes, dish cloths, hats, mittens, pot holders, placemats,etc. (what ever you can make)
2. little bags of baked goods, candies, drink mixes (packets of hot cocoa, or tea bags)etc. You don't bake, buy a bag of cookies, bag of candy, box of hot choc. mix packets and put in those fold top sandwich bags and tie with a ribbon.
3. candles
4. for kids: a small toy, book, puzzle, colored pencils, markers, etc.
5. adult: small book, pens ( we can never find one when we need it)
6. buy a pack of socks and split it up, one pair per basket
7. the bath cubes that come in packs of 4-6, put one in each basket
8. get a bar of homemade soap from someone and cut it in 4ths and put in 4 baskets
9. for the men: socks, small tool set or tools, crossword books, small books, a quart of oil
10. a box of tissues or the travel tissues (always needed)
11. for those of you who have had gardens: add a few potatoes, carrots, apples, jar of canned food, etc
12. for those who didn't garden, get a bag of potatoes, carrots, etc and split between baskets
13. a pack of those garden tools, usually 3 tools per bag, and out one tool per basket, and usually at the dollar stores for a dollar
14. those little debbie cakes boxes, and out one in each basket
15. If you know someone is really having a hard time, add things like: a roll of bath paper, bar of soap, small bottle of dish soap, small box/bottle of clothes soap, to the baskets.
16. a can of beef stew, soups, etc.
17. box of crackers, with one of the 4 packs in each basket
18. for someone who sews: a pack of needles, thread
19. box of band-aids: put a few in each basket. for kids get a box of the cute kid band-aids.
20. cake mixes, muffin mixes
21. roll of duct tape ( always needed a round a house)
22. get new looking coffee cups at thrift store ( usually only cost .10-.25)
23. get a 12 pack of dishcloths or wash rags and put 1-2 in each basket, same with hand towels
24. books are great, even when lightly used.
25. for those of you who used yarn, put your small balls of left over yarn in kid baskets for them to do crafts with, or to another person who uses yarn. same with your leftover materials from your sewing .

There are so many different things to put in the baskets. And this year is going to be hard on every one. Think about the little things you'd want. I would rather give things I know will be used, than give something that will just sit on a table. Most kids would like a lot of different things they can use and play with than one really costly toy. Think of the long hard winter ahead, what would your person used/ need to make it a little easier.

The kids baskets/plastic boxes with lids, you could wrap all the small things, as kids really like to open this.

For the person that is in the kitchen a lot use a big bowl instead of a basket.

Other adults and teenagers use the plastic boxes with lids as they can be reused later.

Instead of buying boxes to wrap things in, save your boxes food comes in( cereal boxes, cake boxes, etc). We do this and it's fun. The kids will say,"I got cereal,cake mix etc."And we all laugh.

And I don't wrap the baskets/bowls/plastic boxes, I just tie a ribbon around them. This save on wrapping paper and tape.

What are your ideas? What would you put in your baskets/ bowls/boxes?

Have fun filling your baskets.

Becky

Farm Life - 9/29- photos

Farm Life - 9/29 - Photos  Click  and you'll go to my other blog to see the photos.

My son is coming over today to cover the roof vents up for the winter.  This is a blessing as Tommy can't get up on the roof anymore and I really don't like heights. My son will help do a few other things around here, to help us get ready for winter. But I think he just wants some of my cooking, you know he is still a growing boy.  

We here, are still out of gas (GA,TN,NC). And no one is sure when we will get some more.  We have a half a tank of gas, which should get us to town about 5-6 times. But I do not need to go to town for about a week. I really feel for those here, trying just to get to work. Tommy and I feel some place might close down for a while here, because of the gas. According to the News, it is just the southeast, USA. Ok, winter is not even here yet.  Lord, help us all.

 This truck gets 25+ miles to the gallon, while only on a good day did this truck get 10.

 My strawberry  patch/ raised beds garden is almost ready for winter. There are still a few more tomatoes, and the birds are almost done with the sunflowers. I covered the beds in straw for the winter. Strawberry plants will get covered after the first frost.

  My garlic is drying and I'm going to try braiding it this year.

 Our T-Bone steaks come out to about $.50 a pound. All the beef cuts and hamburger is about $.50 a pound. This prices includes all the feed we give them and the butchers prices to cut, wrap and freeze. Is it worth having a beef cow? YES. I know what my cows eat, and who they are bred to. We have had our own meat so long that when we eat out/ someone else house, their meat taste so bland and tough and no flavor. This is most likely why they come here to eat. Would you like to come to dinner, too?

We are not getting the building, a long story. But I thanked the Lord with tears in my eyes, for He knows what's best for us.  1 Thess. 5:18 says "In everything give thanks...". This is sometimes hard to do without tears. But I know He knows what's best and does everything for our good.  I will not lean on my own understanding, but lean on Him.

One day at a time. One prayer at a time.

Becky

chicken tips & saving money

Hint on Chickens:

If you want them to lay in the (all) winter, put a 40-60 watt light bulb in their house, and it needs to be on 14 hrs a day, or the chicken will stop laying as daylight lessen. I know this works because I have done it for years, and I'm one of the few in my area that has eggs in the winter. We put our chicken light on a timer, the ones you can hook to lamps in your house, and it works great. With the amount of power the light uses is still cheaper than buying yucky store eggs.

Saving Money:

Hot water heaters: we flip the braker off at bed time, so as it does not heat water all night, when no one is using it. And at times I flip it off during the day. In the morning, the water is still warm just not hot. They make a heavy duty timer (like above for the hot water heater), which we hope to some day get. But flipping the braker did make a difference in our power bill.

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

I have a friend

When all these things started happening this year, my faith got weak. Why? because I was trying to change things I had no control over.( Tommy's cancer back, no work, food and gas prices going up, etc.) I took my eyes off my Father and put them on what was going on around me.

Earlier this year, our family faith was well like on the back burner. There seem to be so much that had to be done, now. We had stopped going to church, we said because of gas prices, and just being tired. The Lord still looked out for us, but there were few blessing.  I really missed having Him close to me and feeling Him near. We stilled prayed and honor Him in our home, but our fellowship with Him was gone. This pasted weekend, we went to a singing on Saturday night, and church Sunday morning.  I felt like I was going home after a long trip. And the Lord was waiting for me there, Sunday, with His arms wide open. Oh, It felt so good to be back in His arms.  Tommy did the same thing. We left church with a renewed faith, a brighter smile, and a overall peace. We still have our problems, and our fires to go through, but now we are walking hand and hand with our Father. ( I e-mailed this, this morning to a friend, and He told me to add it here, too.)

Then I remembered: When you have done all you can do , take your eyes off your self and help someone else with their problems and their needs. The Lord did not give us the ability to help ourselves but to help others. The Lord made us to help one another: to carry one others burdens, to pray for each other,to love one another.

In hard times, which all of us are in, sometimes it takes someone to remind us, that we need to take our eyes off ourselves. Someone reminded me.

I look daily for the Lord blessing, all around me. He's still in control. When the worry or fear bug tries to bite me, I remember what the Lord has done all around me. I'm so glad the Lord never gives up on us.

The Lord is always amazing me: the ways He chooses to bless everyone, the people He uses to bless others( some of which do not belong to Him , yet.) Thank you Lord for looking after Your children and loving us so much.

I'm human and at times my faith grows weak. But then here comes Jesus right on time. I have grown in Him so much this year, through all the hard times and all the fires. I am thankful He has walked me through them all. As there was only one set of foot prints in the sand.

Do I have all the answers ? No, but my friend does. And no, I'm not asking for anything but your prayers for our family.

And thank you to all who have left comments and are praying for us. You all have blessed me so much. Thank you again.  

Do you know my friend?

He is looking for you and waiting for you to come home and His arms are wide open.

Becky

Making homemade ice cream and mozzarella cheese

I made 2 batches of homemade ice cream yesterday. Which will last less than two weeks here. It has really cooled off here. I had to put a qulit on the bed last night.

Here is a post from my other blog, as I still can't post photos here easily. ( click on the name): Homemade Mozzarella Cheese with Photos.

Well hope you all have a great weekend. I'm off to start washing clothes.

Becky 

Is it worth it to have a milk cow? YES

But this is just milk prices. From this milk I have made: all the butter, whip cream, cheeses, sour cream, fed the cats and dogs and more, that we use.

So really our savings is more than above. But I use the number as a guide to make sure I am not losing money by feeding the cow.

Some people have wanted to know this as they are thinking of getting a milk cow.

Hope this helps.

Becky

God and i

Last week was a bad week. Tommy's health was not good. I really had a hard time just making it from hour to hour. But I made it, and Tommy is doing better. A friend called this past Saturday and said that the Lord had laid me on her heart all week and that she sent prayers up for me. I just started crying. I told her about the week and that I know I made it because of her prayers. I felt alone last week, but God had some one filling in the gap. God was there watching out for me.

Then for the last two weeks or so, everyone including my hubby, keep saying how strong I was. Well I felt anything but strong, and honestly I have never felt so weak. I want to be truthful with everyone and no pretending.  I started praying, "Lord, why are they saying these things when they are not true.  Lord, I am no where near strong, I am at my weakest times. "  I keep praying about this, as it really troubled me.

Well the Lord answered loud and clear this morning while I was milking. And all I could do was cry and thank Him.

Here is what he brought to my mind, loud and clear:

"And  he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strenght is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. 12: 9 - 10

What an eye opener. They are not seeing my strenght but God's. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

I posted this for a few reasons.

1. When the Lord lays someone on your heart to pray for, please do it, and let that person know. It makes a big difference when you know someone is praying for you, and God is calling someone in to fill in the gaps.
2. I want others to see how God works, and that He never leaves His children.
3. Someone out there some where needs to read this. Is it you? He is sending it to you too.
4. And so I will never forget: For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God loves each one of you.

Becky 

Farm Life - 9/15

We received a big box of apples, oh what a blessing, thank you Carol.  I did get all the onion sets planted.  Pulled up my garlic to dry. And the Lord sent a light rain last night. We have built a new chicken pen for the young chickens to go into.

We pulled up the hallway carpet (to many dog messes), and I scrubbed the tile that was under carpet. Now I looking for washable rugs to put down in the hallway. If I can't find what I want then I guess I'll start sewing them.

Our daughter came by yesterday and brought us lunch. This was a treat, thank you Sissy. Hamburgers and milk shakes, mmmmm.

I have also been weeding out the house. Throwing things away I no longer need or use. Tommy wants to take photos, as he says I never throw away any thing. But I'm tired of all this stuff getting in my way. We have an old school bus, that we use for storage. I have gone through things in there too. I already feel lighter. Some called it fall cleaning, I call it weeding the house.

I have frozen more eggs, canned more potatoes and milk.  I'm not sure how much longer the chicken will lay and the cow give milk??? And winter seem to be coming a lot faster this year.

I am working on knitted socks for this winter. And making gifts too. I think this would be a great year to start a nothing but homemade Christmas. With money so tight with everyone, maybe this will happen. And it's so much fun, even my 11 yr. old is thinking up things to make. But my job is to find her what she needs or come up with something else to use.

I have started cutting down on how much meat I put on the table for dinners. And this hit my 11yr. old hardest last night. As we had what she loves most, fried chicken. She usually eats 2-3 pieces, she really likes fried chicken. But I had to tell her it's 2 nights of chicken not 1 night.  I told her she could have more vegs.  She was not to happy, but she handled it pretty well.  Her dad and I tried again to tell her about hard times coming and making things stretch so they would last longer.  Our frozen chicken is very low and the chickens in the yard are not big enough yet to kill.  This is our first time of stretching food, as I use to put 3-5 lbs of meat on the table. We ate a lot of meat when the other 2 kids were home too. We always had enough, and even left overs.  We have always lived pay check to pay check.  But I have never before had to watch/cut back on meals.  All this mess with high prices and no jobs, how do you get your kids to understand??? She never gotten everything she wanted, but even a trip to the park in town cost more with gas prices up. She is use to the simple things in life, but now the simple things cost more too.  Yesterday, her little friend came over for the day. Do you know what they came up with, and had a blast doing? They filled up two 55 gallon steel drums with water, and played in them for hours. You could hear them laughing in the house.  I really love the simple life.

Becky

Just called - here there's a 10 gallons max on gas

 I just called around here GA/NC gas prices are now $4.99 a gallon with a limit of 10 gallons. This is only for the high grade as they can no longer get the 87 and 89.  What's gas prices where your at? You better call and see.

Becky

Another week on the Farm - Winter is coming fast

I have stayed busy. Tommy has had a bad week but thank God, I think he’s getting better.  I have canned more potatoes, froze more milk and cream and eggs, and made a big batch of mozzarella cheese for the freezer. The mozzarella cheese photos and recipe, I will post in a few days.

I have 3 lbs. of  onion sets that need to be planted. I could not get any this past spring. So hopefully they will have enough time to grow this fall. I have never grown onions in  the fall, so this is my something new this year. We eat a lot of them. And two weeks ago at the store they were $2.?? for 3 lbs., used to be less than a dollar.

I am at the point were I hate, hate going to the store (any store). The prices on everything are up to unbelievable. Enough to make all sick. Thank God for my food barn, milk cow and chickens. I know a lot of you don’t have these things, and I am racking my brain on tips and hints for you. For right now, my tips are buy very wisely and learn to cook from scratch. I’ll be posting some easy from scratch recipes soon.

The chicken are slowly slowing down on their eggs. But I’m freezing a lot too.  The  milk cow is down to 3 gallons a day, and should keep going down now.  We have a cow in the freezer. Chickens to kill this fall when it cools off more.

Winter is on the way. And I’m almost ready, or should I say as ready as I can get. This summer has flown by. There are leaves all over the ground here. At times, I would love to put a hold on the winter coming, Saying I need a little more time to get ready. But the good Lord knows what’s He’s going, so I pray I’m putting up enough for the winter. And if not, He’ll find a way to supply what we need, not want.  I have felt like the ants in the Bible, more this year than ever before. And we have lived like this for years.  Does anyone else feel like the ants this year??  I feel we all are in for the longest, hardest winter world wide.

I would like to thank everyone for all your comments and your prayers. These blogs have been such a blessing to me in more than one way. To be honest, I didn’t think I would be able to help any one. But the overwhelming numbers are unbelievable. The canning potatoes post has reached  497 hits.  Are there any potatoes left out there?  Thank you all again.  I am just here to help you all any way I can.  There are so many people looking for ways to make it through all this mess. And my heart goes out to you all. I wish I could give you all a big hug.

Well it’s time to start another day. May God bless you all to overflowing today.

Becky

Has to be the HARDEST job in the world!!!!

I have the hardest job in the world, as only a few of you out there can do it. And you few, know who you are.

My hardest job: is the changing of the empty bath paper roll, every where I go, both at home and away.

I have done this for years, but it dawned on me,  that you have to be born with this talent as it can't be taught even to the young.

This has to be the hardest job in the world as only the few that are called can do it.

And it seems only mothers are blessed with this job.

Add the hardest job to your list, moms. We have earned it.

I feel so blessed to be able to do something so hard.

Any one else blessed here, or do I need to start traveling ?

Becky

It's been busy here -- Blessings

I have been canning more potatoes, and milk, freezing cream. It really needs to cool off some here so as I can make butter. It's still in the 90's at 5pm here.  My freezer is almost full of cream. The garden is almost done for this year, I have two rows of potatoes left to dug up. But it's been really hot and we do not have a cellar, and I wanted to have some uncanned potatoes for the winter.  So I'll leave them in the ground just a little longer. I'd say we are well stocked for the winter.

Our friends had to move out of state to find work. So they blessed us with a new looking couch( Tommy lays here to take his breathing treatments, and our old one had him just about laying on the floor. We really needed a new one), a bunk bed set( twin on top and full on bottom. which I put in our other room, for when family comes), an outside glass top table with four chairs, a gliding rocker, and a few other things. All these things were a wonderful blessing. It felt like Christmas. Our friends will be greatly missed, but they said they'd be back.

Well I had better get this day started. Praying you all have a blessed day.

Becky

I'm having a give away

Fall is coming - getting ready for winter

Yesterday while I was doing chores, I notice dried leaves on the ground. Fall is coming, I just love the fall time of the year. I'm not sure when it start here, as I have not stopped to look. I really need to stop more often and look around and smell the roses. I have been trying to get ready for winter and now I'm stopping for a few moments to enjoy the fall. The trees are starting to show they too are getting ready for winter.  And I saw our first wooly worm, and he was as black as coal. Which here means a long cold winter. I am so thankful the Lord allows seasons. Even thou the seasons of life are hard at times, I know He knows what's best. And no one season last forever.

Things I still have to do to get ready for winter:

1. need to fill all my heater gas tanks( we use 100lb's, and 30lb's tanks so we can fill them as money allows. We use about 200lb a month for the heater and 30 lb a month for the stove)
2. pull out and sort, winter clothes and see what's needed new this year
3. working on homemade Christmas gifts ( this I really enjoy)
4. getting the gardens clean out, strawberries mulched for winter
5. do a final check on food supply's and goods
6. keep an eye out for candles at the thrift store. I usually get them for .05-.10 each. these are good when power goes out, or just because. I love candles,to me they are relaxing.
7. get all quilts and blankets washed
8. close up holes in the house's under pinning and cover the end of the house vent holes.
9. get chicken house ready for winter
10. get up and clean all stock tank heaters (we put these in the animals water tubs to keep the water from freezing.)
11. check all oil lamps and change the wicks
12. blow out the gas heaters, they get dust in them during the summer.
13. reinstall the hood over the out side water, the hood has a light in it the keep the outside water line from freezing. ( I'll post a photo when it's up. Tommy made it out of scrap wood. And it was my biggest blessing last winter.) 
14. make strawberry jam ( 8 - 10 gallon freezer bags full of strawberries)
15. make butter (over 10 gallons of cream in the freezer).
16. make and canned homemade veg. beef soup for winter use.

I know there is more I just can't think of what else right now. 

What are you doing at your house to prepare for winter? I'd like to know because I might be forgetting to do something or not thought if it.

Take time to day to have a look around out side, see all God's wonderful work. And enjoy what He has sent you today.

Becky

Garlic braiding , big box of seeds, saying good bye to friends

I have not harvested my garlic yet, but soon. I found Michelle's Garden blog. She does a post about how to braid garlic with photos, which is great. Here's the link: Braiding garlic with photos. I have always wanted to do this, but well I'm a show me person ( that's why I post so many photos, photos just help). I can't wait to braid my garlic.

Super friends of ours, Scott and Ann, came over last night. They bought me a really big box full of seeds. Seeds: vegs , herbs , and flowers. What a blessing, thank you Scott and Ann.  I'll have the prettiest yard next year and loads of vegs. Getting that box made me want to plant them now but well I'll have to wait till next year now. Oh what a great blessing.

Scott and Ann told us they will be moving for a while. You see this area has very,very little work. So they are going where there is work, about 5 hours away. They will come back, when they can. I wish them God speed, but boy they will be missed. Since Tommy has been sick they have been a blessing to us. They are good friends.

This was just a cute photo. Not often do you see cats and chickens getting a long or even sharing food.

Hope you all have a great day.

Becky

Low Income - Disability Check - Recession

This year is hard on everyone with the recession : high gas prices - high food prices - job cut backs - no jobs - etc.  I wanted to share how we are making it on just a disability check of $996 a month for 3 people. This is our second month living off of it, and it was a little hairy last month but better this month.

With this check, we first pay the rent, power and phone bills. And we are left with $ 211. The $211 is used for: food, gas for the truck, truck ins., soaps and etc., and animal food. And this can be tricky and overwhelming, but so far we are doing it.

The rent bill, we can not lower.

The power bill: is high in the summer due to having to run a AC in the food barn (which holds a years supply of food) , in the winter: we use gas to heat with so power bill will drop but then we have to add back the gas bill. Everything is turned off when not in use.

The phone bill: is a little high but it includes- free long distant and a toll free number ( for family and friends to call), and our Internet which is used for school and to find new ways to save money.   

Some ways we are saving money, not spending money, doing without wants, new ways of doing things:

1. We started last year storing and stocking up on food and other house hold goods. Which I am so thankful we did because we would be having a hard time now if I had not. And we put a beef cow in the freezer a few weeks ago. So our meat is good and will last 1  1/2 to 2 years.
2. Our milk cow is giving us 21+ gallons of milk a week, chicken give us eggs ( 80+ a week) and meat, and vegs from the garden. You can do a lot with milk and eggs including feeding cats and dogs.
3. We only go to town twice a month. I'd like to get it down to once a month but I'm not there yet.  A trip to town cost us $30 in gas round trip.
4.  Bought power strips to plug in the TV, VCR,  etc., so as they can be turned off all the way when not in use.
5. Lower watt light bulbs
6. Home school books left over from older kids, another 4 years worth left before I need to buy more.
7. We do not eat out, and our sweets are homemade. I do buy cereal as I have not learned yet to make it.  The good, low sugar kind- the good for you kind.
8. I make a lot of my cleaners, clothes soap, monthly pads, dish clothes, cloth napkins, socks ( I buy wool sweaters from the thrift store, and take them apart for the wool.)
9. I do use my dishwasher but I don't use my clothes dryer. I chose to give up using the dryer so I could use the dish washer. And it is only ran once or twice a day.
10. I chose to have Internet over dish/cable TV. We have air TV and get 3 channels (ABC, NBC, CBS),  we think that is enough for us.
11. We fix things when they break not buy new. I love DUCT tape, but hubby does not. Oh, well I still sneak it in once in a while.
12. We save for things that are needed. We don't rent to own, where you end up paying twice. Now there is nothing wrong with people who choose this, as I know it's their only way. But we chose not to.
13. When I go to the store, I only buy things on sale. I plan my menu on what I have on hand.   And at times it's been hard, as you ladies know sometimes you just want something you don't have on hand.
14.  You really have to learn to give some things up but not everything.  We have all of our needs meet and still have a few of our wants. It's hardest on the kids. But I have been giving mine a choose of things. I just don't say no. I ask her, "Would you like this or that? or Do you want to do this or have that?" Recently she wanted to go to the pool, well we did not have the gas money. Which I told her, she said ok and went out side to play. She came back in a while later and asked," Mom, can I use that big roll of plastic to make a water slide?" I said sure. She found a way to have fun with out spending a penny. I am so proud of her.
15.  Read a lot. There are so many ways to learn something new.
16. Pray a lot. Count your every blessing both big and small.
17. Remember this earth is not our home. I say, Earth and living here is our boot camp for heaven.

I know it's going to be a long hard winter for everyone. And we might have to give up some things for a while. But the sun will come out again, this I know. I know some of you are working with a income lower than ours. Some of you may not be able to pay your rent or buy food. And I'm really sorry, I wish I could be of more help to you, but I'll pray for you. Maybe some of my ideas will help you, at least I pray they do.

I will list more things as they come to mind on saving money, etc. And I'll let you know when I find great web sites, too.

Well I better go for now, work to do. Hope you all have a blessed day.

Becky