The Damm Ranch

Coming full circle

We have had a lot of loss of livestock and pets on our farm in the past 3 years.  We were finally able to see one of them come full circle to fulfill their purpose to us. We bought a young steer 2 1/2 years ago, and raised him up. Named him Brutus and he was a gentle hereford steer.

1250 lbs after  we raised him up on hay, corn and grass. He produced 660 lbs of beef for our family. Our upright freezer is stuffed full and our chest freezer has a lot in it as well.

Seems strange to name your cows, but we really don't feel sad as he did what he was suppossed to do. He was a nice cow, but we are carnivores and let me tell you.. he has provided well. We are truly blessed.

Melanie

Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer - gotta try this!

I had to make this post for my reference so I don't forget where I found it.  I have got to try this recipe, sounds so yummy!!

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/HSBFrontPorch/118303/

Thanks Crystal!!

Country Blessings,
Jamie

A Warm Fire :) ~ Self Reliance & Security

It finally got chilly enough here in my area of Oklahoma that we had to keep the fire going in our new woodstove all night.  I slept in the living room on the couch because my husband was a little nervous about it as we've never had a woodstove.  I woke up at 3:10 am and it was out, just coals.  But it was so toasty warm, 68 degrees.  I put another log on and soon it was burning again.  It's a brand new woodstove, and the booklet that came with it said that it will have an odor from the paint for awhile.  I'll be glad when that smell wears off.  It's kind of stinky.

With the economy getting so bad, this woodstove gives me a somewhat a sense of security.  We have used propane for the last 12 years, the cost rising more each year.  Last year alone, we paid over $2,000 to the propane company.  We still have propane as our water heater is fueled by it, and we keep our home heater set at about 55 so that if the fire does go out in the middle of the night and it gets too cold, the heater will kick on and we won't freeze to death.  Work for my husband is slowing down.  He is paid commission on what he does (he's an auto technician), and there's just not as much work as there used to be, so we're noticing some effects of the economy.  His employer just implemented a new insurance policy in which the employees insurance is no longer paid by the employer.  So, needless to say, our monthly insurance for my husband and son is going up about $160 per month.  If I were on the policy, it would be $700 a month total for the worst option they give.

Just having this woodstove helps me to feel more secure in this time of trouble in the economy.  I know that if we don't have the money to pay our electricity or propane, we will still be warm!  Not just the economy though, there have been times that we had no heat during ice storms, or power outages due to bad weather, downed lines, etc.  Now, we will be able to stay warm even during those times.  It's kind of neat how a thing as simple as a woodstove adds such a feeling of security.

While I'm thinking about it, I'm going to get a metal pan, put some water and a few cloves in it and put it on the stove top.  Hope you all have a lovely day!

Country Blessings,
Jamie

My first try at ZIPPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am in a swap online, and my swap partner has specifically requested throw pillows for her living room couch.  We made a deal that if I make the pillow covers, she will buy the inserts for them if I make them a standard size.  That way the shipping won't be so costly.  I hope she loves them!!!  The fabric was on her wish list, so I think she will. 

And the bonus is, zippers are not that hard!!  I am thinking of  buying some smaller zippers and making some wristlets and makeup bags sometime soon!!

Here is a pic:

And here is a close up of the fabric:

I finally made myself an apron!! IT"S MINE!! ALL MINE!!!

I have been sewing and crafting for others so much lately (and I honeslty do enjoy it), but decided the other day to take 15 minutes to spend on my own apron.  I have had this apron laying in a stack on my sewing table 1/2 way done for 2 months or so now.  LMSO  Sad isn't it???  But alas, it is done, and I love it!!!!

Here is a pic:

Plans for the day

I've been sick since last Thursday with some kind of crud.  I think I'm feeling good now.  So much has been neglected around here so I've got a busy day.

Do the dishes

Pay bills

Do a load of laundry

Make a batch of soap

Make some milk bath teas

Make some lotions

(got a large order from our Vo-Tech School - they're having a Holiday Open House in the horticulture dept and wanted Made in Oklahoma stuff to be in the shop!!!!, that'll be money for Christmas gifts!!)

Thanksgiving With the Inlaws! UGH!

If you know me, then you know we have had problems with hubby's parents since we have been married.  It started a few years ago, the day I told them I was pregnant.  LOL  Probably not that exact day, but pretty close to it.  To make a long story short, we didn't get together with any of this family last year over the holidays because we believed it was better for our sanity and health to not have them near us.  My MIL is overbearing, manipulative and likes to lie about me to my hubby behind my back.  My SIL takes pics of our son and broadcasts them all over the internet without our knowledge or permission, and she is a certified crazy person.  (NO, I really am not exaggerating....she is on more psychotic meds than I can count!)  My MIL's house is filthy, cluttered to the casings above the doors in several rooms, dirty dishes piled sky high, and a bathroom where the floor is actually "swishie"  (Seriously someone is going to fal in someday to the concrete cluttered basement floor), and asbestos is falling from the ceiling in her pantry and kitchen.  And this is all with a housekeeper that comes every 3-4 weeks.  She figures she doesn't have to pick up, wash a dish (EWWWWW), or vacuum in between times, and the housekeeper is not allowed in the rooms that are stacked to the upper door casings.  (Why hire and housekeeper and then say, you can't clean those 3 rooms????)  I only know these things, because I used to be her housekeeper, and after cleaning her house 2 times, I quit!!!

So, now you undrerstand why, with the holidays coming up, and us actually talking to hubby's family this year, why we are a little on edge about going to their house, and, well, eating there.  (I usually take my own food.  Honestly....sad isn't it??? Last time we were there for Thanksgiving, I took turkey and noodles in a crockpot, some veggies, some hotrolls and a dessert and this way I know I have food that was made correctly and in clean dishes, etc.  I also insist on eating off of styrofoam plates and disposable silverware, and will only eat other items that are prepackaged, like chips and won't drink anything she has mixed up.  I will only drink something I bring with me, or something from a bottle like pop or apple juice)

So when my brother and his wife invited us to Thanksgiving at their house on Thanksgiving Day, we accepted and decided if Matthew's mother was mad about it, oh well.  LOL  So Matthew's mother calls tonight and asks us what our plans are and he told her.  She told him they are going to Matthew's aunts house, and would still like all of us to get together maybe on Friday or Saturday.  Matthew is working those days for some extra Christmas money, so he suggested Sunday.    Then he asked her to wait one moment, covered the phone receiver and said, are you interested in hosting Thanksgiving on Sunday???  I said SURE!!!!!!!  But I don't want to start a big family stink over it (they just don't understand our views of cleanliness and etc.  It isn't only the clean thing, we are talking they brought lice into my home....no we didn't get it....but they knewingly walked into my house with it on their LONG hair, all 3 of them!!!  Oh, and the fleas I found on Noah at their house when he was only 4 months old.  I could go on, but you get the icky ideas right?)  So he said, would you like to have it at your house or ours mom??  She said, oh I would love to come to your house, that way I don't have to cook.

That just made my day!!!  LMSO  Thank you for answered prayers Lord.  We are trying our best to get along with Matthew's family with their differences in religions (they think God decides before you were ever born whether you will go to heaven or not......yeah, that makes for some interesting conversations, to say the least), morals, as well as the things I have already mentioned.  His mother threw a FIT last year when we said we didnt' think their front porch was safe to stand on,  (It had a whole the size of a lazyboy chair on it and we had to step over it) and then she made a comment to her daughter, and then it was canceled.  It is not that we are better than them.  We just have common sense!!! 

So, I will be GLADLY hosting Thanksgiving dinner for hubby's family this year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.   I am really looking forward to is because I love to host get togethers, and although hubby's family is a little (ok, alot) odd, and backwards, most of the time they mean well.  We are trying to give them every benefit of the doubt and praying about our relationship with them, and his controlling mother, "letting me" have Thanksgiving at our house and liking it is truly a miracle. 

So, now, what about the menu??? Should I decorate before they come over, or make it a family even for them to join in on???  Should I make traditional turkey day foods, or change it up a little?  Should I use disposable silverware and plates, or use the good china???  All those decisions to make, but I am happy to plan it all out!!!

I do know one thing.  This year I will be using mom's large Peacock Platter to serve with. It doesn't match any other piece of serving dish I own, and it didn't mom's either.  LOL  But she used it every Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as I can remember, and now that she is gone, and I have the platter in my collection, of course I have to use it.  I will try to take pics of it later and post.  It really is a gorgeous serving piece!!

MY CHRISTMAS APRON IS FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually this one is not really mine.  I made it for someone in an Apron swap.  She is hosting a large Christmas party and wanted a "nice" apron to wear for company, etc.  I hope she likes this one.  The good part??? I have enough extra fabric to make me one just like it!  *Excited*

You can't tell in these pictures because of the black fabric, but it is pleated down about 5 inches and then a full skirt.  I got the pattern from a Christmas family who runs a business out of their home.  Here is a link to their company, which sells patterns and the most beautiful fabrics ever!  ( I bought my fabric elsewhere because I was looking for something specific, but they seriously have some gorgeous fabric!)

www.mariemadelinestudio.com

Don't you love the fabrics????   Here is another:

And here is a close up on the fabric:

Another Tshirt Dress....This Time For Winter

I finished up on another tshirt dress several days ago for my neice, Mindi for her 5th birthday.  This thing is going to be so warm.  It is a red long sleeve tshirt with heavey plaid flannel on the bottom.  I made the skirting extra full because she likes to twirl.  LOL

Here is a picture of the whole dress:

And here is a close up picture of the skirt fabric:

Monday's Homemaking Events

It is another Monday, which means another week closer to Christmas.  I can't believe how time has been flying by this year!!!! I am not ready for the snow and ice that will haunt us this winter here in Missouri.  Our weather man threatened snow this weekend, but we didn't get any.  I am just not ready for it!! LMSO

Anyway, here are the things on my list today:

1.  Make bed and tidy bedroom

2.  Start laundry

3.  Unload clean dishes from dishwasher and tidy kitchen

4.  Dust and Windex DR and LR

5.  Vacuum DR and LR

6.  Finish laundry and put away

7.  Finish Christmas Apron for swap, and Princess pillowcase (pictures to follow later!)

8.  Balance all checking accounts, and pay bills

9.  Tidy up LR and DR (toys will be everywhere by this time of day! LOL) before daddy arrives home at 5:30

10.  Prepare supper  and set dining room table