Monday 5.14.18

Hello Monday!
Did you have a good weekend?  Hope all the Mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day.
This weekend I pretty much took off the best that a happy homesteading wife can.  After the 1 o'clock milking, feeding and watering, Hubby and I took a little trip on the lake.  It was a nice time, but it was sooo hot!!  I got a few good pictures.  I was too excited when I saw two bald eagles and didn't get a good steady shot of either one-can I blame the rocky boat?  It was a nice 4 hours off the farm but still in nature.

Thought it was a bird until I got close

Lots of gar in one cove

Majestic

Smallest of Hubby's four catches

Deer were thirsty too

Just released catch of the day

Catch of the day-tee hee hee

She's watching me...

Still watching me...little creepy

For Mother's Day, we took Mamaw to the Artisphere in the Ville.  This is her caliber of art, not my painting on the feed barrel art, but true professional artists with prices to match.  We tried to convince her to prepare for her scratch art exhibit next year.  I think she would do quite well.  Once home, hubby and daughter helped put up some strawberries we picked Saturday.  (Not good form in leaving them overnight, but they did not go to waste.)

What's on the agenda today? You might see a certain routine starting to develop.

 I will do some basic "after the weekend cleanup."  I also will be going to town to pick up a few some flowers before the rain tomorrow to get those in the ground, some groceries for this week's menu and to drop off a library book.  When I get home and get all the animals well-watered, fed and somewhat comfortable, I will do some canning and baking after lunch. Luckily it is a crockpot day so supper should be fairly easy.  In fact, this week is a little heavy on the crockpot, but we are supposed to get rain for several days so that will be nice.

Hope you have a productive and blessed day!

Thursday 5.10.18

Yesterday I spent most of the day hitting some important neglected areas in my home.  The refrigerator and the pantry.  They were both in a bad way, four trash bags full bad way.  I got rid of anything that I hadn't used in the past couple of months, of course any science experiments and anything that screamed "REALLY??"  All of those special spices and sauces that we buy for that one recipe that never came to fruition-finally gone. Am I going to use hoisin sauce on my biscuits and gravy?  No, not really.  Any stir-fry or oriental type food that I make is pretty basic so...

I had hoped to bake some bread yesterday but my mission took more time than I thought-not that I am complaining, I brought it upon myself by not taking the time to do things right.  

I got an e-mail that my chickens were shipped yesterday.  So I expect them either today or tomorrow at the latest.  Their new home is all ready with straw and pine shreds and lights and clean feeders and waterers.  I have the left over Gro-gel packet for them and the electrolytes for their first couple of days water.  BUT...one of the reasons that I dislike new chicks in the spring, particularly late, warm-day spring is snakes.  I always lose a baby chick or more to snakes in the spring.  And of course, yesterday, I found the first snake in the chicken coop, right next door to the new baby coop. 

Finished off at least two eggs! 

Had to decapitate the little fella since he knew where the eggs were and 

would hear the baby chicks that arrive soon

What is on the agenda today?  Hopefully a more balanced indoor/outdoor schedule.  Most important is hauling off yesterday's trash before critters come and decide to rearrange the bags. 

What are your plans for the day?  Or do you have any? 
Hope your day is productive and blessed! 

Tuesday 5.8.18

My time management is horrible!!  
Obviously, yesterday was not as productive as I had hoped.  Let's go over the list.  I started out well.  I listened to audiobible while I cooked breakfast.  The impact of bible study was insufficient.  God deserves sitting down and focusing on his Word that I hold in my hand, not listen to someone else's voice while I fry eggs. 
I did just fine until daughter and I tried to bottle feed the babies...yes, the wheels fell off at about 8 am.  It may have been too early and they weren't hungry.  It did not improve when we went to pick berries.  I did not account for the time it would take to get to the acres (25 minutes) and the actual picking time (30 minutes for just over 2 baskets-which, by the way, yielded 2- 1/2 gallon bags in the freezer and about 4 cups fresh for eating) and we stopped at a local grocery to complete my grocery list for the week.  I didn't get home until close to 11.  Yep, way off my timeline. I would like to interject here that we did have to follow two yearling deer running down the middle of the road for over a mile.  One turned off after probably 1/2 mile and ran off into the woods.  The other...poor thing was going back and forth between lanes and did not veer off until it came to a dirt road that opened into a field.  I have never had such an experience before.  He will be on someone's table this fall most likely, if he makes it that long! 

Being a negative Nelly, I will tell you what I didn't accomplish...
1. Power hour cleaning ended up being only about 30 minutes. And I REALLY needed to finish.
2.  Didn't get to the chicks' barn or equipment, which is a must-they might even be here today and I will not be ready!! This was trumped by the shortness of strawberry-picking season.  Will this be a huge mistake?? 
3. I didn't get to go through my receipts and do the checkbook.  Another MUST.
4. Hubby got the mail for me on the way home because I did not make the walk to the mailbox.  Remember it is over a half-mile one way so don't judge me too harshly. 
5.  I didn't make barn freshener .
6.  I didn't deposit the check.  
7.  I didn't get the Sam's cheese divided and in the freezer. 

Now, on the other hand, I got the colors and towels caught up, which was 5 loads that I hung on the clothesline and got all put away.  So I am caught up and back on schedule with the laundry.

It was a beautiful day.  I really enjoyed the animals.  Milking two new Nigerians was a bit of an adventure, but all in all Tulip and Maggie were good. The babies did not care for the bottle at first feeding.  Millie did awesome the rest of the day.  Minnie choked a bit and would just hold it in her mouth.  Poppy was too hoppy but got a little.  Cinnamon got the leftovers even though she should be just about weaned!  

Last night there was a thunderstorm that passed through about 10:30 or 11:00 or so.  I don't quite remember.  It was a toad strangler!  Sounded like hail on the roof. 

I slept really well before that and after that.  In fact, this morning's cell phone alarm went off for about 4 minutes before I was cognizant enough to know what it was.  EEK!  Might have to change that gentle little chiming.  

So what is on the Agenda today?
Lots of leftovers undoubtedly...
I wanted to work outside most of the day, of course, this was planned before it rained.  I am hoping most things won't be too wet in the garden.  I may not be able to use the cultivator to plant some of my potted plants and herbs I need to get in the ground, thai basil, pineapple sage and I still have tomatoes and jalapenos too. Cleaning out the barn and gathering/ washing equipment is critical status.   Here is the rest of the list.  I have not been quite as ambitious with this list...

I hope your day is blessed and productive! 

Monday 5.7.18

We survived the weekend!  We had tried our hand at an underutilized local Farmer's Market. (I have only seen one vehicle/vendor there one time in seven years.)  We had a few lovely customers, but was it worth the 2 and 3 days of cooking, and all of the work that Mamaw put into it.  No.  I do believe that with consistent showing up it would grow, but when you have goats to milk, babies to feed, gardens to tend to, housework, cooking for the family, you know, a life not dependent on that income, it makes it a stressful chore.  We shall see what happens.  

What is on the agenda for today? 

I really have to get the house at least straightened up.  Having spent Thursday and Friday cooking and preparing for the market and going to the market, I got behind.  I am putting in a concerted effort to make breakfast for Hubby every morning.  Fingers crossed.  It will actually make things easier for me as far as having to prepare bulk sausage, egg and cheese biscuits and keeping them in the freezer.  I will do this occasionally either if we have an abundance of eggs, breakfast meat goes on sale, I have leftovers to use up or the mood strikes. It will be nice to have the backup if I am sick, tired or just plain stubborn.  

I am going back to pick some more berries.  I have a couple more weeks to do this and I intend to load up the freezer and jam shelf.  I did get 5 pints of jam and 6 pints of strawberry lemonade concentrate done last week.  

I have 50 Cornish cross chicks coming this week so it is imperative that I get the barn ready and make sure all of the equipment (waterers, feeders, heat lamps) are washed and ready for them.  I also need to make sure I have some cookies (I think mom's leftover market cookies might come in handy) to give to the post office for receiving the baby chicks.  

I have this week's menu planned and I did go to Sam's and Aldi yesterday in preparation, but I did not get everything (lemons were sold out!  What!?) and still need to make a trip today to finish up the shopping so there are no "glitches" the rest of the week.  Is this the most healthy menu...no...but I am trying to find balance between what is on the homestead, what is in the pantry/freezer and what is affordable and what is healthy-oh, and if it tastes good too.  I am packing everyone's lunch, including mine and daughter's so that we don't scrounge around at 12:30 and just eat chips...unless it has specified chips, and they are in the brown lunch bag! 

It is finally normal "southern spring" weather-in the 80's.  Finally time to get those sweatshirts, jackets and camouflage hunting outfits out of the closet and under the bed.  I always leave at least two sweatshirts out for those 2 am possum attacks that require running out in the cooler night air. 

It is dawn and I hear the roosters crowing.  That is my cue to get out there and feed, water, prepare to milk and feed and get the day going.  I hope you have a blessed and productive Monday! 

Tuesday To Do

It has been raining and cloudy for the past two days which has seemed to put me in slow motion.  Luckily, it is still early in the week and I can catch up.  

As you can tell by my half-finished planner, this week's chores so far are: 

The daily chores:  milk, feed, laundry, clean house, cook.  All that normal housewife stuff. 

Since I have put a halt on my personal training sessions due to spring time on the farm, I do need to workout every day.  I have options for that, DVD's, internet videos, routines the trainer made for me.  I would like to make sure that I do my daily walk to the mailbox, which is 1.2 miles. I need to prep some of the hamburger meat that I got from Zaycon last Saturday.  Cooking and freezing it a couple of different ways, as well as can at least 12 pints canned.  I am going to put the young bred Nubian, Mocha on Craigslist.  I am still trying to get used to the large goats and with so many (4) baby Nigerians running around, I am constantly worried there will be an issue.  I am still trying to find the best way to keep the peace among them; who goes in the main yard, who goes in the new yard, etc. 

Ginger, Mocha and baby Cinnamon

In town I have to go to the library for a book that I have on hold, pick up packages at the post office since UPS sucks and will not deliver down here.  Sorry, it is a sore subject and has been for YEARS! I have a raised bed to put soil in and plant.  Once the rain stops I have to get our goat feed barrel from a semi-local mill, about an hour drive one-way.   This week I am also separating babies from their mamas so I will be bottle feeding five baby goats of different ages and milking four goats.  My morning routine will triple in time.  We have an appointment at the local vet on Wednesday...just a get to know you visit to see what they do there-cats and dogs only or rabbits, goats, ducks and chickens too.  Saturday we have to make a trip about an hour away to get mom's two packages of bees.  Demi, one of our rabbits is also due to have her babies on Sunday.  If weather holds out, this weekend I really want to get the house pressure washed and wash and wax the car and hubby's bass boat.  Really I have left a lot of open times for things that come up, as they always do.  I am sure there is much more that I cannot think of.  That is why I HAVE to have my planner.  Stickers just make it fun :)
What's on your to-do list this week?  

THIS WEEKEND'S TO DO LIST 4.6.18

Happy Friday!  or to the younger generations, it's Friyay!  When you stay at home, have a husband who works four 10-hour shifts a week, a daughter who works a second-shift schedule that includes every other weekend, and a 7-day newspaper subscription, days of the week are almost irrelevant.  Nonetheless, the weekend is upon us at Lost Arrow Acres.  

Today is supposed to be sunny and in the low 70's while the rest of the weekend is rainy and cooler, even down into the 30's at night.  

Knowing this, I have created our weekend to do list-can't wait to show hubby.  I am sure he will be super excited.  

Today's list:

1.  Cull a rooster that we don't like or need.  I don't like him because to me he is not a good provider for the girls.  Rusty (our 5-year old Rhode Island Red that is a flogger) will call his hens to the food and we have even seen him take food to his girls. He always comes out first and watches the hens and does his little one-wing circle to let them know he is there for them.  Our other rooster does the same thing for his three girls.  Granger won't eat until he has called his hens with his dinner clucking.  And if one of the hens are stuck in a fenced area, he won't even eat until they are with him.  The one who is going to heaven's coop...he is a selfish teenager, only one thing on his mind.  Make that two, he loves to fight as well. 

2. We have to cull a rabbit with a cancerous growth on it.  My mom was a bit taken by a "preacher man" selling off his rabbits.  She has brought 90% of them back to good health with a lot of care and attention.  There have been two that have not improved and declined and have had to be destroyed. 

3.  Barnyard chores.  We must clean the chicken coop, the hanging rabbit shelter (which is going to be the new goat shelter) and the goat barn.  Unfortunately, there is no straw other than what is triple priced and bagged in the chain feed stores.  I will be using pine flakes in the chicken coop.  We are moving the baby chicks and ducks to a brooder and a coop outside.  No more puppy pads to change! Yes! 

Tomorrow: 

1. I will be canning chicken broth made from a certain young selfish rooster in my new American canner that I haven't used yet.  I will probably add a can of black beans or two in there as well. 

2. Okay, caulk the bathroom...this has been on my list for at least a month.  It shall be done!! This weekend!! 

3. Cleaning out the pantry, fridge and restocking them with items for a special elimination diet that I want to try.  If there are any "illegal" items available I will eat them.  

Sunday:  

1.  Church, or course.

2.  I will be catching up my Rewind Planner, planning a bit for next week, going over the bills and budget.  Boring paperwork stuff that will be perfect on a lazy, rainy Sunday.  

What do you have in store for the upcoming weekend? 

Maternity Leave

I know, I know.  As soon as I try to get my stuff together...BOOM!  The devil gets me somehow.  This time the excuse is we had two goats have babies the same day.  Since then the homestead has been quite the busy place.  We have had baby rabbits.  We have baby chickens and baby ducks.  We are keeping an eye on our raised beds and the temperatures have been fluctuating.  Please excuse our absence for the past couple of weeks and know that there will be much more to come.