Wood and Water

Sometimes the weather just does what you want it to do around here. It rained Monday night most of the night and stayed nice and cool all day Tuesday. We propped the gutters up to drain into the buckets and they all got filled. Yeah! Our city well water (which we haul out to the homestead) is so hard, the plants eventually seem to stop responding to it. So having that rainwater really is a boost to the garden.

Mrs. D has her wood permit now, so we'll start bringing in our fuelwood tomorrow. Mrs. D, being the delicate female that she is (tongue in cheek), can only handle a couple hours of cutting at a time, so this project will take until the forest closes to woodcutting in December. This will make for many hours of romping through the woods with L'il Homesteader, as well as numerous Teddy Bear Picnics. Such a good life it is!

A Time For Planting

A blustery day, as Winnie the Pooh would say. This one is supposed to bring us some rain. The baby garden sure needs it. Mrs. D and L'il Homesteader have planted broccoli, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, garlic, carrots, lettuce, and tons more. What with the way the wind's been blowin' since the end of March, it's hard to keep 'em watered. Then there's the compost heaps, and not to even mention how much the critters drink. Speaking of rain, haven't started on the gutters yet. Ah well.

The milking machine broke down a few days ago, just when we were really getting to like it. Pulsaters gummed up or something. Grandpa D says that always was a problem with those machines. He is glad he isn't the one milking cows! Mrs. D will have to wait for mechanically minded male personage to get around to looking at it, dousing it with WD40 hasn't helped. It is faster to milk by hand anyway, with just 3 ladies.

Chick, Chick, Chickeee!

And now it's May. More improvements this month. "Around the Homestead", Mrs. D's blog, will be updated more frequently; aiming for once a week. "The Homestead" will still be (the goal is) monthly, followed by the monthly newsletter of the same name.

Some new homestead artists will be joining the store with their own "Homestead Treats". Look for their info in the blog as we get their fine crafts added to the store.

So much has happened since March, it may take all month for me to get it up on the blog. L'il Homesteader finished his Pre-K work and is continuing with review and enrichment activities while we wait for his Kindergarten books to arrive. With 2 cows and 1 goat in milk we are trying out a milking machine, weighing the pros and cons.

Today's big news: Maryruth got the day-old baby chicks last Saturday, we picked up our 25 from her on the 3rd. So here are our week old babies. We are still having some chilly nights, so they are in an old water tub in Mrs. D's bathroom. No broody hen this year, so they've got a heat lamp to keep them warm. L'il Homesteader spends every waking moment inspecting his babies and playing with them. Ah, spring!

March Already?

It's March already! Where did January go? February? The Homestead has soaked up a good deal of rain and snow this season and we've collected as much of the water as humanly possible with a 5 gallon bucket system. Guttering all flat surfaces has suddenly moved way up on the priority list. We'll post pictures and updates on our progress.

Spring lambing/kidding has officially started with the arrival of 2 doe kids, courtesy of Big Red (toggenberg/nubian mix). Big Red's momma Jenny was a great milker, but Big Red is too wild. Hope is that one or both of these girls will inherit Jenny and Big Red's milk capacity, and with regular handling will become prolific milkers in their own right. Daddy's Alpine strain mixed in should help. Hope springs eternal.

The Homestead goes back to the schoolroom this month, to discuss how we're handling reading readiness in our homeschool.

Spring is bursting with new fragrances for our Homespun Treats like Jasmine Rose, Lemongrass and our NEW BUG FORMULA. Votive candles are now available scented. We're working on a line of costumes for re-enactors which we will post in the store as we get them going. Starting with the colonial era and civil war/fur trade era, we hope to also add in some renaissance and other styles as we go.

Homestead Christmas

December is here and Christmas excitement is building around the Homestead. Cookie baking, decorating, present smuggling, wrapping and shipping are in high gear. Like many other families preparing for this holiday, Mrs. D's finds it almost unthinkable to keep up with everyday housework, ranch chores, homeschooling (good time for winter break!) and running a business, while trying to create a peaceful, joyful holiday experience. Maybe your family is celebrating a different holiday. For some great helpful hints on getting ready for the holidays 15 minutes at a time, check out http://www.flylady.net/ for Holiday Cruising Missions. She's also got awesome free tips for getting and keeping your life and home in order year round.

Another important detail to remember is "why do we have this holiday?" For those of us celebrating Christmas, it's a good time to crack open that dusty ole Book and reread the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew or Luke (New Testament in case you've forgotten). Getting the proper perspective on the holiday can totally change the way you prepare for it. For Mrs. D, turning her priorities inward, and letting go of that outward perfectionism is a great relief. The trappings of Christmas - tree, presents, feast - all help to make it special. But if the Homestead is not joyful place because of the stress of getting ready for the holiday, then why bother?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's!