Spring Fever

Feb 6, 2013

This past week we had a case of spring fever........Temps got into the 70's, lots of sunshine.  The only cure for this fever is to get my hands gloved up, rake and shovel in hand and get started breaking ground, and weed pulling.

We made a new bed and transplanted some thornless blackberries that were getting to much shade in the far back of our property.  Hopefully this site will spruce them up with lots of sunshine and produce more berries for us.

Some of you are wondering why we do the small individual beds??? I use to do the big plot garden in the back of our property, but the tree line has grown and started to shade alot of our back yard.  This site, if you have been a follower of our blog, use to be a in ground pool site that we filled in.  It gets alot of sun, and its near the back patio.  This makes it convenient, and easier for me to keep up.  I think viewing it every day encourages me to be in it everyday, pulling weeds and keeping it looking nice and orderly.  I love to incorporate beneficial flowers into my beds and I like companion planting as well.  Dreaming of a french type garden you see in magazines, Lots of mixing of vegetables,  flowers and herbs...Hmmmmmmm I will get there someday.

We ordered some heirloom seeds this year from Seed Savers Exchange, a seed company with a pledge to sell non GMO seeds, and open pollinated and heirloom varieties.  With these seeds, and carefull planting, you can grow and save your own seeds and become a steward for our food heritage.  I love this company's mission and their  efforts to preserve our gardening heritage for future generations.

I stared some tomato seeds the other day, and I'm so excited to see these heirloom spouts pop out the soil.  I'm hallucinating and  dreaming of tasting these juicy homegrown tomatoes.......I think my fever is spiking!!!!!!!!!! quick......get me a cold rag.........

Thank you!!! my sweet hubby......for getting all my beds tilled up and amended.

We are ready for planing now.......
What are you doing to get ready for spring planting???


Linking up to:
Backyard Farming Connection
The Home Acre Hop


                                Sheryl

Digging up the "Black Gold"

January 23, 2013

The past few days we have had some pretty sunny days, with temps in the 60's.  After the weeks of rain and cold temperatures, i could not help myself today................I brought out the shovel and wagon, and went digging for the "Black Gold". 

No........it's not the gold stuff the westerners got rich on, but it's the black material that makes my garden beds rich in organic matter.  It's the dark organic material buried under a layer of leaves in my compost pile. 

Composting doesn't have to be all fancy or complicated.  Most gardeners make compost by simply combining their kitchen waste, such as veggie scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruit scraps, along with leaves, and other garden waste.  Hmmmmmmm  I think i see something green growing in the pile......Looks like a few potatoes!!!!!!!  We also have access to manures, which contributes greatly and gets things heated up to start the decaying process.  I usually clean out the chicken tractor, and the horse stall and dump to one side of the compost pile.   I add scoops of the manure to the pile throughout the year, when I'm flipping the pile periodically.  No need to buy special activators or inoculants to get the process started, there are plenty of natural microbes in the waste to promote decomposition on it's own.

 I usually contribute to this pile all year, and in late winter or early spring i dig to the bottom layers to gather my "black gold". 

My chickens also help with this process, when i let them free range, they love getting into the compost pile, scratching and aerating the pile for me.  They also love the tasty veggie scraps they get to nibble on and help break those down.

So today i got started getting those beds enriched and ready for spring planting.  I ordered some heirloom seeds this week from Seed Savers, looking forward to giving them a try. 

Hope this encourages you to try your hand at composting.  It's not difficult, all you need to start  this project is a small spot in your backyard and start stockpiling scraps, and before you know it..............You will be digging your own "Black Gold"

Shared this with The Backyard Farming Connection


 awaiting spring.................................Sheryl

Our new "CRACKER"

January 15, 2013

Do you buy lots of snack crackers to keep on hand for your family?  That was always one  item i would buy regularly. They would come in handy to fill the diaper bag for road trips, or tote bag for the park or other outing, and eventually to throw in my purse for my own snackage.... I confess i became obsessed with crackers. my kids are all grown and i still can't leave home without my crackers.
This year I'm attempting to buy less packaged foods with all it's preservatives and additives and replace it with something more wholesome.  During the holidays the girls and I were doing some baking and i pulled out my Wilton Cookie Pro Ultra II cookie press.
I was excited to find a cracker recipe in the booklet that came with the press.  So we gave it a try..........................

 

 

Cute lil Christmas tree crackers for grand baby.... and meme....(thats me!!)
 

 

So now I'm into another batch of crackers.......Thought i would share this easy recipe with those of you who are wanting to ditch those store bought crackers

 

 

Cheese Crackers

1lb sharp cheddar cheese or aged Swiss or any other non processed cheese, grated

1/2 cup butter softened

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

dash of pepper sauce (optional) or can use red pepper flakes,

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1tsp paprika

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  In a med bowl, cream the cheese, butter, worcestershire sauce and pepper until smooth.  In separate bowl, toss flour and seasonings with fork.  Gradually add to cheese mixture.  Mix until dough holds together and shape into small logs to fit into cookie press tube. Or you can form into one ball to roll out thin if you are cutting with knife, or other source.

 

If using a cookie press, press them out onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 10-12 min or until lightly brown, watch closely, then burn fast. Makes about 4 dozen.

 

 

 

 

This is what the dough should look like, I did the mixing by hand it was easier to work it and knead it until it was smooth.

 

 

 

 

I used fresh parsley, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and rosemary instead of the hot pepper in these.  They were fun to make and much better for you.  Give it a try and use your imagination, let me know how they turned out and what ingredients you tried, to give it your own twist.

 

In my opinion, some of the foods on the market are loaded with so many fillers, im striving to change a few items in my pantry for better choices of wholesome foods.  Less additives and preservatives is this family's choice.

 

                                                                Sheryl

 

                    

 

 

 

 

"Cow" girl STRONG!!!!

December 17, 2012

These wonderful young ladies are my daughters.......

 Lindsey & Bailey celebrating cinco de mayo

 



They are both beautiful, loving, compassionate young ladies and true "cowgirls" at heart.  They both possess such inner strength, courage and bravery.  I'm so proud and blessed to call them my own.
Two days ago as the evening was setting in, i noticed one of our cows was showing early signs of labor. I kept a watchful eye on her until dark, getting excited that a new baby calf would be hitting the ground by morning.

  I was babysitting my grandbaby that night and she loves looking at the cows.  So before we retired to bed we thought we would ride out and take a look at momma cow from the vehicle on the roadside.  She was laying out in the field secluded from the others like a good momma cow does entering labor.  After returning to the garage and getting grandbaby out of the car, i felt something grab hold of my back.....I was stuck in a slouched over position....Not good!!!!! i thought.....needless to say, with the help of my youngest daughter we retired to bed, since that was the only position to relieve the pain.  Morning came and grandbaby was stirring around in her bed ,and it then came to mind i need to get up and check on this cow.  Well, getting up and out the bed was not an easy task, but i managed to get grandbaby and walk to the kitchen to get coffee on.  It was a foggy morning, but as i looked out my kitchen window i noticed something i did not want to see............ A momma cow down, and it looked very grim. Through the night she must of moved several places and ended up at the right spot for me to find her by just looking out the window.  I yelled out to my youngest daughter to come downstairs right away.....She ran out the door and to the front fence, she yelled back to me " mom, shes alive and the calf looks stuck".  I put a call in to the vet and he said it might be awhile till he can get to us. I called my oldest daughter and she was  already on her way to come pick up the grandbaby.  We have had calves born here with no problems thus far.  But go figure!!!!!!!!!! These things happen when the Hubby is out working away from home.  I tryed not to panic, and dug through the cabinet to locate an OB chain for calf pulling that i knew hubby had purchased for "just in case" measures. My daughters reassured me "Mom we can do this"....................

AND THEY DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My "cow" girls in action.....priceless.......determined, strong and brave....

The calf was already dead when they got to her.  One of the calf's legs were not in correct position. And we had no idea how long she had been trying to push him out.  By looking at the momma, she was exhausted.  As i stood on the front porch slouched over with grandbaby standing at my side, i coached the girls to reach in and find that other leg. Without hesitation, they eagerly worked at getting that calf out.  Shortly after, the vet arrived and he gave her antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.  The girls assisted the vet at attempting to get her up, but she was wobbly and would not stand.  We were instructed to try to keep her siting up and roll her to switch sides from time to time, to keep her blood circulating. He said it may take a few days for her to get up, could be a pinched nerve from trauma during birth. Or it can be permanent, only time will tell. I thought to myself......how am i gonna manage this!!!! hurt back, hubby away......hmmmmmmmmm

Yesterday she was scooting around and switching sides on her own.  I thought YES!!!  thank you Jesus.....We don't have to manhandle her on our own..

Momma cow laying down

By last night she was able to stand.  Thank you Jesus again!!!!!! no permanent paralysis.

This morning she is up and eating on her own.....

It would have been a bull calf.......... while it's so heartbreaking to loose a calf, i feel blessed we still have the momma.  Cows are strong animals, I'm reminded by hubby, and mother nature is an awesome thing to witness.  Watching my girls run out there and do what they could to try to help this mom was also amazing. 

I too........Have such strong amazing daughters......Thank you girls, for being there for mom and not being scared to "COWGIRL UP"               Love you both....


                    Sheryl

Fall harvesting

December 4, 2012

The fall garden is looking pretty good. We have had several pickings on our mustard greens in spite of the lack of rain and warmer than usual temperatures.

Haven't picked any turnips yet, but i don't think they will be much longer.  The leaves are beautiful but taking a little longer to make a bulb.

A few scenes from the lettuce patch.  Looking pretty good............

mesclun blend variety

We also have some kale, parsley and shallots along with buttercrunch lettuce growing in this raised bed.

buttercrunch lettuce

Cabbage is also looking good, starting to form a head. Hmmmm hope they are ready for New Year's Dinner.......

cabbage

I wanted to give brussel sprouts a try, my hubby loves them, and that's one thing i have never grew before.  I was curious as to how they grow, and couldn't wait to watch the little sprouts grow and produce these little babies.

brussel sprouts

Not many of the plants survived the drought,t but it's been neat to watch these grow.


The pok choi was growing beautiful also, but the warmer than normal temps have forced it to bolt, it has gone to seed now.

Chopped up and stir fried with onions and smoked sausage. 

Reminds me of smothered cabbage.........for you Cajun gals who have never tried this cruciferous vegetable.


Linking up to Backyard Farming Connection , click over to read some interesting stories from other homesteading enthusiast.



                 Shery

Missing blogland

November 5, 2012

Wow!!!! it has been awhile since i had time to do any posting or catch up on all my fellow bloggers.   Now that daylight savings time is here, we will be indoors earlier, i may be able to catch up with all of you.

October has been a busy month.  We sold the small herd of cows we had here to make room for a few better quality cattle.  I guess you can say we started with what we can afford at the time, to be able to purchase better and grow from there.  We purchased three Brangus cows already bred, they expected to calve starting sometime in December.  Sorry no pictures at this time.

It was also time for our male lamb to serve his purpose for our family.  He was a cross breed so his purpose for us was to put meat in the freezer.  We did this process ourselves.  Sorry i didn't think you would want pics of this event.  But that's what homesteading and farming is all about.  For those of you that think raising and butchering our own animals is inhumane,  raising our own food is our goal.

We had the opportunity to entertain my baby sister and her family in the month of October as well.  Here in our community we have a week long fair with animals, crafts, music, exhibits, and a midway.  We all got to spend a few days at the fair and the kids had a ball......

Bailey was a sport and rode the coaster with her little cousin Trey....He was looking brave on this ride.........Hands in the air.......

Not sure about this one.......... he insisted he had rode the ferriswheel before, i don't think he did by the look on his face.

They got to help Bailey with chores. 

 

"LADY" loved all the attention

Enjoyed this visit with my sister ......

 

I also lost my dear Grandmother in the month of October.  She was 91 yrs old, and was loved by many.

 She wasn't ill long, she had a very good long life.  I'm blessed to have had her in my life.  She has taught us all the love of cooking, which she took great pride in.  This snapshot is taken of her signing her cook books, she had published late in life.  She also loved to sew and make her own clothes.  She was a wonderful homemaker.  She was an inspiration to us all.  We will miss you Maw Maw.


We finished the bathroom remodeling, got all that wallpaper off, got it painted and new flooring.  To save some money i tryed revamping the old light fixtures by spray painting them with that textured paint. 

It turned out pretty nice....plus a $avings......gotta love that....

This is a before pic after wallpaper was removed, mirror was taken down, and those ugly brown cabinets.......

This is a after shot, all we have left is to change out the faucets on the sink.

It was hard to get some good shots of this bathroom, but you get the idea.....It was long overdue for a face lift.

Now we have started on the stairway railing and spindles.  This has always bugged me from the day i bought this house....This staircase was not safe for little ones, I taught every child that came to my house to walk up them stairs holding the wall all the way up and around.  Now that my grandbaby is getting around and climbing, we decided that this cannot be put off any longer.

Before pics...

 

Work in progress:

Notice the difference in the height of the railing, and the width of the spindles.....Makes a grandmother feel a little more at ease.......

I hope November doesn't go by so fast....Trying to get these projects done before the holidays........
Promise to not stay away so long.....I can't wait to read your stories......


Live Simple.......................Sheryl

Good-bye summer, Hello september!!!!!

September 5, 2012

WOW!!!! where did time go.........The last i was here was in July.....gosh!! i didn't think i got that busy.  Well let's see........The end of July was getting ready for school to start and get supplies and uniforms ready. The first of August we took a trip to Oklahoma with my youngest daughter, where she competed in an AQHYA world horse show for her FFA judging team.  Our trip there was nice but while there Oklahoma experienced record heat of 112 degrees, and fires broke out everywhere.  Got back and the school year started, and then a hurricane came knocking on our door. 

 

Jessie 17 mos. & Bishop

 

 

We all hunkered down here on the farm to weather out the sporadic, unpredictable track of hurricane Isaac.  The winds were not that bad here on the farm, but we did get lots and lots of rain. 14 + inches.

 

 

We Lost power for four days.......Hot and humid, everything sticky......

 

 

Lot's of cleaning up to do afterwards......

 

 

But.........everything checked out fine.......the family was safe....the animals were safe....the farm was spared.........We thank the good Lord!!!!!!!!!

 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who lost homes to flooding and to all who still are without power. 

 

Gonna get busy with a fall garden soon......just wanted to let you all know we are still here.  More later...........

 

 

 

        Live Simple.....................................................Sheryl