Garden update

Here are some recent garden pics.


The beans are doing OK.  Wish I had planted more.  According to the Mother Earth News site I can still plant beans.  I plan to plant them next week.  A lot!


Here is my solution to our sprinkler problem.  You see my garden was a yard and I need to control the water flow to control the weed and grass growth.  So I dug down, removed the pop- up sprinkler and replaced it with a riser that I topped with a hose splitter.  eventually I will buy soaker hoses but for now I am using old hoses with small holes drilled in them.


I got the hose from our local freecycle group.  The end was mangled so I cut it cleanly and tied it off with a hose clamp.  So when the sprinklers come on the water will go to my plants and the grass will die off.  At least that is the plan.


A friend was thinning her strawberry bed and blessed as with several plants.  This is 1 of 2 barrels.  The plants are pouting now but they will perk up.


This is my herb barrel that is recovering from sprinklers that quit working long before I found out.


A gerber daisy given to me that I put in the garden just because.


One of the two kittens that we need to find homes for.  Any takers?

Bye for now!

Our new-ish chicken coop

I must apologize to my Handsome Hubby for taking so long to brag about the newest addition to the Colestead which he built.  Better late than never, I guess.  Here is the story:

After a lot of waiting and looking I finally found the material to build our chicken coop!  We were passing Lowes and I had made a habit of driving through the parking lot looking for such a deal as I found that day. There it was; a complete kit for a cedar shed on clearance for $200!  I had let a shed just like it slip through my fingers once before and had been looking for something like it for a long time.  There is was!  I hopped out of the car, dragging already tired children (plus 2 friends along for the day) with me and I practically RAN into the store to complete the purchase.

Once Handsome Hubby found the time the shed was up after a few days of work.   It is lovely! 


We attached the old run to it with plans to build a bigger run as time and money allow. 


We are hoping to use a large chain link dog kennel.  We need something secure as we have had 3 predator attacks this year.  Two of those were stray dogs.  People like to dump things "out in the country".  Ugh.


All this years chicks were in here when this picture was taken.  Since then the meat birds (white) were moved to a bigger pen.  The egg layers (Buff Orpingtons) and Jellybean (the black one that is the children's pet) will stay in here.  Once they are a bit bigger we will start letting them out for a few hours a day.

Building movable chicken pens is on my to do list.  You know, that list that grows when I am sleeping? Double ugh!  My plan is to build the pens so that they sit inside my garden beds.  I will move the chickens on the beds as I need them turned over and fertilized.   To make them predator proof will require they be made out of metal pipe and a mesh that it tighter (and more expensive) than chicken wire.

Pictures of the garden (such as it is) will be up soon.  Thanks for reading!

A special announcement!

We interrupt this homestead blog for the following special announcement:

After a long time of thinking and wondering if we should...we did it.  We have started selling our own herbal products.

Introducing the Colestead Herbal Line. 



From our site:

Here on the Colestead our family has been using our home made herbal remedies for years.  The Colestead is where the Coles raise children, chickens, goats, plus a few fruits & vegetables. It is also where we make our line of herbal products.

All of our tinctures are made with a vegetable glycerin base.  You can swallow them straight, chase it down with a glass of water, or drop it into your favorite hot or cold tea.

Our salve has a base of olive oil and beeswax.  It feels good going on and often can take away the pain of whatever boo-boo it is being used on.  A very useful salve to keep on hand.  We take a jar with us just about every time we leave the house.

We hope you will give at least one of our products a try.

Please visit our new store: www.thecolestead.etsy.com

We now return you to our regular homestead blog.

Swagbucks ~ earn just for searching the web

Can you solve this puzzle?

An interesting puzzle has been presented to our family.


Miniman did this.  This baseball needed just a bit of a shove (which he happily provided) to fit into one of my wide mouth mason jars.  However I have no way to shove it out.  So far we have tried:  Holding the jar by the end and flinging it in hope the ball would fly out, oiling the rim of the jar and trying flinging.  I do not want to break my jar!  We have thought about doing the menthos and coke thing to create force to shoot the ball out.  If we do we will take video.

Suggestons?    Anyone?     Buehler?

Disneyland

Hello Readers.  Do I have readers?  I know I have a few and I must apologize to you.  It has been a long time since I have posted.  A lot has been going on and I have lots to blog about.  I will not try to do it all in order.  I'll just start with the pics I have and go from there.

Not too long ago we took a trip to Disneyland and California Adventure. 

Money is tight for us right now, as it is for many, so you may be wondering how we could spend so much for something such as this.  Well that is a bit of a story.

Back in 2007 we spent the day at the American Girl place.  Almost 2 years earlier out oldest two girls told me they really wanted an American Girl doll.  At $100 each I told them "no way" but after talking to Handsome Hubby we decided if they could save up the money they could not only buy the doll but spend the day and the AG Place.  If you don't know about AG look it up.  And yes, you can spend the WHOLE DAY at the AG Place. 

Anyway, as we were leaving we were discussing how well the girls did saving their money and how they did not spend on silly little things since they were saving for something bigger.

So we decided right then that when each child saved up enough to buy their own ticket we would take a family trip to Disneyland.  They saved their money, we saved some money, we took the trip.

To save money we slept in our trailer each night, packed our own food, and only purchase one meal each day in the parks.  While they search all incoming bags they do allow food and drinks to be brought in. 

We brought trail mix, crackers, cookies, bottled water, and packets of drink mix that are portioned for bottled water.  The $20 -$25 I spent on these items would have cost triple inside the park!

It was a lot of work packing, driving the long distance, etc.  I am glad we did!

Disgusting!!! Judge denies parental rights

AP – This photo taken on May 8, 2009 shows Daniel Hauser, 13, in New Ulm, Minn. His family, who wants to treat …

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota judge has ruled that a 13-year-old boy with a highly treatable form of cancer must seek conventional medical treatment over his parents' objections.

In a 58-page ruling Friday, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg found that Daniel Hauser has been "medically neglected" and is in need of child protection services.

Rodenberg said Daniel will stay in the custody of his parents, but Colleen and Anthony Hauser have until May 19 to get an updated chest X-ray for their son and select an oncologist

The judge wrote that Daniel has only a "rudimentary understanding at best of the risks and benefits of chemotherapy. ... he does not believe he is ill currently. The fact is that he is very ill currently."

Daniel's court-appointed attorney, Philip Elbert, called the decision unfortunate.

"I feel it's a blow to families," he said. "It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children's medical care. It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us."

Elbert said he hadn't spoken to his client yet. The phone line at the Hauser home in Sleepy Eye in southwestern Minnesota had a busy signal Friday. The parents' attorney had no immediate comment but planned to issue a statement.

Daniel was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and stopped chemotherapy in February after a single treatment. He and his parents opted instead for "alternative medicines" based on their religious beliefs.

Child protection workers accused Daniel's parents of medical neglect; but in court, his mother insisted the boy wouldn't submit to chemotherapy for religious reasons and she said she wouldn't comply if the court orders it.

Doctors have said Daniel's cancer had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation. Without those treatments, doctors said his chances of survival are 5 percent.

Daniel's parents have been supporting what they say is their son's decision to treat the disease with nutritional supplements and other alternative treatments favored by the Nemenhah Band.

The Missouri-based religious group believes in natural healing methods advocated by some American Indians.

After the first chemotherapy treatment, the family said they wanted a second opinion, said Dr. Bruce Bostrom, a pediatric oncologist who recommended Daniel undergo chemotherapy and radiation.

They later informed him that Daniel would not undergo any more chemotherapy. Bostrom said Daniel's tumor shrunk after the first chemotherapy session, but X-rays show it has grown since he stopped the chemotherapy.

"My son is not in any medical danger at this point," Colleen Hauser testified at a court hearing last week. She also testified that Daniel is a medicine man and elder in the Nemenhah Band.

The family's attorney, Calvin Johnson, said Daniel made the decision himself to refuse chemotherapy, but Brown County said he did not have an understanding of what it meant to be a medicine man or an elder.

Court filings also indicated Daniel has a learning disability and can't read.

The Hausers have eight children. Colleen Hauser told the New Ulm Journal newspaper that the family's Catholicism and adherence to the Nemenhah Band are not in conflict, and that she has used natural remedies to treat illness.

Nemenhah was founded in the 1990s by Philip Cloudpiler Landis, who said Thursday he once served four months in prison in Idaho for fraud related to advocating natural remedies.

Landis said he founded the faith after facing his diagnosis of a cancer similar to Daniel Hauser. He said he treated it with diet choices, visits to a sweat lodge and other natural remedies.

___

Ron Paul speaks about the Swine Flu scare

Don't panic!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB5-Y08qbjo

Our newest addition!!!

Introducing Violet!
She was born yesterday.  Daisy, her mother, had been showing for a few weeks.  Since I let my buck run with my doe I had only a rough idea of when she was bred.  Contrary to what I have been told this does not make her milk taste funny.  I digress......

We had friends over and as I was showing them my goats I notices Daisy had "bagged up" meaning to say her bag (utter) was full of milk.  Daisy was not acting like she was in labor and had no mucus or any dripping but I knew it would be withing 24 hours.  After my friends left we were outside until 3pm working in the garden.  We went into the house to clean up.  When we came out at 6pm Violet was born and completely dry.  I can't believe I missed it...again.  We have had 5 births on out place now and I have missed every one of them!  Oh well, I am glad she is a doe and was born safely.


As you can see mama and baby are doing well.  Violet is colored just like her daddy buy did  not get his blue eyes.  She has brown ones like her mama.  Daisy id Nubian and Errigone (the daddy) and 3/4 Nubian and 1/4 Nigerian Dwarf.


So now, counting Violet, we have 4 does.  Hopefully they will all be in milk next year, Lord willing.

Sad news

This is where Clyde, our little pygmy goat, spent his last days.  One minute he was fine the nest he was lying on the ground twitching.  It looks like he got worms and showed no signs until it was too late.  I am now looking up goat wormer recipes.    A hard lesson learned.

Quote of the day

Book Giveaway!

Oh hi, I was supposed to give away a book and I forgot.  In celebration of us finally planting our tomatoes Kim’s favorite book and one that I am very fond of. (ooh, dangling participle.  Does that bother anyone?  Good.) I am giving away

Right To Life fundraiser

Our children recently participated in Right To Life fundraiser.  Most towns have a Right To Life chapter.  If this is a cause you support you may want to contact your local chapter to see how you can help.

Each of our four oldest children worked as a team to collected pledges from people to sponsor them for this walk.  When the pledges were divided each of girl raised the $150 needed to get a free Right To Life t-shirt. 

Here you see a some of the walkers.



They were glad to get the shirts but even more glad that the money they raised would go to fight against the abortion (murder) of the unborn.

After the 2.5 mile walk we enjoyed a small gathering put on by Right To Life to thank all of the walkers.  The children enjoyed balloon sculptures, face painting, and climbing the rock wall.   I enjoyed watching them.  No rock wall climbing for me, thank you.



We all enjoyed the day and are looking forward to doing it again next year. 

Our first 'no-till' garden bed is done

Here is the other end of the bed.  This is where I made a "test bed" last fall.


 I laid down a thick layer of straw and grass clippings to see if it really would smother all the grass beneath it.  It really did!  Wish I would have laid down all the beds last fall.  It would have been much better.  The ground is softer from all the composted material too.  Live and learn!


Here is a (sideways) picture of how we measure the blocks as they were laid down to make sure the bed was fair straight.  Handsome Hubby, being a military man, would prefer PERFECTLY straight.  But since he had to go to work he settled for my version.


Our first blocked bed!  We chose block since wood boarder wrap quickly.  Having a boarder keep feet out of the growing area.  Compost and seedlings coming soon.  The children were a great help.  They rotated between helping me outside and tending to the littles and laundry.

Here what we will be planting:


Spring had sprung!

Common Sense

Look maw! I can drive a lawn mower!

I put it off for over a year.  Learning to drive the lawn mower looked scary.  Compared to our hand mower it looked huge.  Then one day Handsome Hubby taught the two oldest girls to drive it.  I could not allow myself to be outdone but my own daughters!  So I asked Handsome Hubby to teach me.  As I was sitting on the big green beast he pointed to each lever and explained what it did.  My children were actually laughing at the sight of it!  Guess it's funny to see your teacher being taught something.  So here is the result....


Yep, that's me. Driving the thing was really not such a big deal.  It is actually kind of fun.  Here I am mowing down my new garden spot.  But (as Alton Brown would say) that is a different show post. 

First lost tooth!

KittyGirl lost her first tooth!  I am not sure how long it will take for the adult tooth to grow in behind it since the tooth did not fall out on its own but was knocked out due to rough-housing.  I thought I would not be having anything like this until the boys were older.  Ha!  No prissy girls around here! 


Wonder why the tooth fairy will bring?  Does she pay extra for knocked out teeth?  In case your wondering....the rough play was not done in anger.  No children were punished as a result.

A new addition to our barnyard

Meet Ginger~


Ginger is a 1 month old Alpine-Nubian cross.  She  has a future as a milking doe here on the homestead.  It will be a while but buying a doeling is a lot less expensive than buying a milking doe.  We have purchased another doeling that will be here soon.  Plus we are fairly certain Daisy is bred.   As long as she has at least one doeling than we should be able to be completely off store milk next year.  Any bucklings she has will probably end up in the freezer.  I am still praying for a great deal on a milking doe for this year.  However, sometimes we must wait for what we want or need.  That can be hard to do in our "gotta have it now" culture.  I am so glad we moved out here.  We are learning good lessons.  It is not always easy but it is good. 

Two years ago..

LIttle Brother is 2 months old.

2 months old!  It has gone by fast.  Any parent knows exactly what I am talking about.  I am doing my best to enjoy every minute of it.  Here is a great picture of Little Brother, taken by Kit.


Total cuteness, I know.  How can anyone look at a sweet baby and call them anything but a blessings?  This little one is the 7th blessing from the Lord and I am still humbled by it.  The scriptures tell us children are a blessing.  Why do so many, even Christians, look at them as a burden?  I can not tell you how many times someone (even complete strangers) had told me I have too many children or that I should not have any more.  This thinking is completely backward.  Most will use money as the first reason for not trusting to plan their family.  Next is "time for yourself" and then there is the "overpopulation" lie. 

What world are we to be living for?  Not this earthly one.  My husband and I trust in the Lord to supply all we need.  We (especially here in American) do not need as much as we think we do.  Times are tight right now.  Handsome Hubby's job is tied to the housing market so we have felt the crunch.  Still we have more than we really need and know that the Lord will take care of us.

I am thankful for each one if my children.  If the Lord should bless us again I would be thankful again.  Will I grumble about the discomforts of pregnancy, labor, and the trying newborn days?  Sadly, the answer is yes.  It is a weekness of mine.  Yet I will still be grateful.  I tell my children: "I am so glad the Lord let me be your mother.".   It is true.  I am glad.  I have been given the blessing of carrying a growing baby, delivering that baby and holding him/her in my arms.  If you think babies are not a blessing just ask someone who can't conceive, has lost a child, or has waited years to adopt and they will tell you differently.

Wake up church!  Step away from the world and raise quiverfulls of children for the Lord!