We homeschool year round but we say June is our official start month. One year down another creeps up!
Kids always say their official start date is in August when public school starts because thats when we start going back to the parks, library... so its not so busy!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Fall Planting
I've been looking for a simple guideline for planting date for out fall garden. This one looks good. AND you can print it off.
I'm waist deep in zucchini and am thinking that I would be glad to have a break from gardening but in the same moment know winter is just a breath a away and will have a break then!
What are you planting in your fall gardens???
I'm waist deep in zucchini and am thinking that I would be glad to have a break from gardening but in the same moment know winter is just a breath a away and will have a break then!
What are you planting in your fall gardens???
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Being thankful for what you have
~Looking out my back door~
Its hard to be thankful every day. Its just how (most) of us are - Always wanting a better job, bigger house, more money, more farm land or what have you.
Taking time to sit back and realize most of us have what we need - Roof over our heads, food, clothes our health-
Some days we eat veggie pizza or rice or beans and a lot of homemade bread - It gets old but we have it. We have deer when its in season and chicken when I go butcher some. I cannot tell you the last time we bought meat at the store or had beef.
99% of our clothes are hand me downs, thrift store finds or something of that nature.
We have 7 kids in 2 bedrooms. They are still little so it works - but I don't seeing us getting anything bigger ever so it will always work.
Why shouldn't this all be enough? Back in the day a woman could raise 10 children in a 2 room shanty with out air conditioning. There was no stores or restaurants to grab something quick.
I am thankful I choose to be a stay at home mom. I know it isn't something everyone can do or wants to do but its what I wanted and it took some talking into with my husband before the birth first daughter.
It has taken me 10 years to be at peace and thankful for what we have - Sure it would be nice to have cars that are not 26 and 15 years old - But you know what, they both run like a dream, are nice and clean and do what we need them to - get us from point A to point B safely.
Point is there are some things beyond our control but make the most of it and live each day to the fullest :)
Where am I going?
Sorry Im been MIA the last couple (4) months. Ive been overwhelmed. Planning homeschool, working on the garden, decided to sell our milk cow, farmers market, Mr Homesteads car kicked the bucket and had to get a new one, trying to make a real go of my soap business, about to break out my sewing stuff, potty training, teething, blah, blah, blah....
And Ive been wondering what direction to take the blog - recipes & cooking - off grid - prepping -- DIY- Craft tutorials-
Truth is Im all over the place. I do a little of this and a little of that.
I am making the commitment to post at LEAST 3 times a week. Don't know which 3 days but it will happen.
So here is where I am at - We are raising rabbits again for food. We have breeding quality Californians. 4 does and a buck and 3 Californian cross does. Still have a couple of our dairy goats but they are dry. Have several Buff laying hens and white Brahmas for replacements.
Have about half my stuff together for the kids school this year. Hoping this year will be hugely productive. I only have 2 in diapers so YAY me! I have figured it up. In the last 9 years I have changed APPROXIMATLY 35,000 diapers. I know it sounds like a lot but I have 7 kids and they have all but one been in diapers for 2.5 years.... That's the conservative # I think its closer to 45,000.
So in essence I have taken about 61 days of my life changing dirty diapers...
I have taken 2 months off from working out. Plan to start back Monday. I think I had posted about it before but I lost 106 pounds in 10 months last year after having my last baby. She just turned 1 year in June.
I have a horribly wonderful addiction to making soap, hair bows and clothes. I rarely sleep more than 3 hours and my brain dosent shut off till I am so tired that I cant hardly function. As soon as the alarm goes off (if I stay asleep that long) I jump up immediately and get to breakfast & chores.
The garden is doing ok - we are getting monsoon like rains here in mid Mo so you sink 3" every time you step off the porch.
Ok now that you have a little window as to what is going on, I need to get new batteries for my camera and get my next blog posts ready!
And Ive been wondering what direction to take the blog - recipes & cooking - off grid - prepping -- DIY- Craft tutorials-
Truth is Im all over the place. I do a little of this and a little of that.
I am making the commitment to post at LEAST 3 times a week. Don't know which 3 days but it will happen.
So here is where I am at - We are raising rabbits again for food. We have breeding quality Californians. 4 does and a buck and 3 Californian cross does. Still have a couple of our dairy goats but they are dry. Have several Buff laying hens and white Brahmas for replacements.
Have about half my stuff together for the kids school this year. Hoping this year will be hugely productive. I only have 2 in diapers so YAY me! I have figured it up. In the last 9 years I have changed APPROXIMATLY 35,000 diapers. I know it sounds like a lot but I have 7 kids and they have all but one been in diapers for 2.5 years.... That's the conservative # I think its closer to 45,000.
So in essence I have taken about 61 days of my life changing dirty diapers...
I have taken 2 months off from working out. Plan to start back Monday. I think I had posted about it before but I lost 106 pounds in 10 months last year after having my last baby. She just turned 1 year in June.
I have a horribly wonderful addiction to making soap, hair bows and clothes. I rarely sleep more than 3 hours and my brain dosent shut off till I am so tired that I cant hardly function. As soon as the alarm goes off (if I stay asleep that long) I jump up immediately and get to breakfast & chores.
The garden is doing ok - we are getting monsoon like rains here in mid Mo so you sink 3" every time you step off the porch.
Ok now that you have a little window as to what is going on, I need to get new batteries for my camera and get my next blog posts ready!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Possiable Newsletter -
I have always LOVED getting newsletters in the mail. Something other than a bill just puts a smile on my face.
Yes I know its wonderful to have all the new devices with kindle, nook and so on. I don't have any of those. I have bought e books but there is something about holding a book in your hands that just feels good to me.
I would rather have 1000 books than a mini computer that houses them all. Call me old fashioned.
We used to get a dairy news newsletter years ago. We usually got one every other month. It was a highlight for me. To be able to sit down when I felt like it and read up on recipes, tips, different ways of doing things, toss it on the table and pick it back up again when I wanted. Or keep it on the shelf and be able to reference something later on.
We are wanting to take a step back and get away from the hustle and bustle (more so than we already are, if that's possible) I am still going to write on my blog and facebook page! This will just be more in depth, be a place to help each other connect and have a more personal feel.
What I am thinking is either a monthly or simi-monthly publication. We are still looking into pricing but it would be very reasonable. All articles would pertain to the season or time of year. We would have a small classifieds section and a Q&A section for your questions. Recipes and a DIY....Articles on various farm and homestead subjects....
Whats your thoughts or ideas? I really want to know!
Yes I know its wonderful to have all the new devices with kindle, nook and so on. I don't have any of those. I have bought e books but there is something about holding a book in your hands that just feels good to me.
I would rather have 1000 books than a mini computer that houses them all. Call me old fashioned.
We used to get a dairy news newsletter years ago. We usually got one every other month. It was a highlight for me. To be able to sit down when I felt like it and read up on recipes, tips, different ways of doing things, toss it on the table and pick it back up again when I wanted. Or keep it on the shelf and be able to reference something later on.
We are wanting to take a step back and get away from the hustle and bustle (more so than we already are, if that's possible) I am still going to write on my blog and facebook page! This will just be more in depth, be a place to help each other connect and have a more personal feel.
What I am thinking is either a monthly or simi-monthly publication. We are still looking into pricing but it would be very reasonable. All articles would pertain to the season or time of year. We would have a small classifieds section and a Q&A section for your questions. Recipes and a DIY....Articles on various farm and homestead subjects....
Whats your thoughts or ideas? I really want to know!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Homestead Sunday Dinner Rolls
I cannot tell you where I found the base to this recipe. I wish I could remember. I have tweaked it some over this year or so and LOVE the way this turns out! This is my Sunday bread recipe.
MAKE SURE you let it rise the full 2 hours the first time around.
Add in water, yeast & honey. Mix till blended and let stand 5-7 minutes till foamed
Add in eggs, oil and salt - again beat till well blended
Add in flour a cup at a time. Each till well blended. Stop adding flour when the dough is still a tad sticky and just starts coming off the sides of the bowl.
I use my Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook but I have totally done this by hand also. If you are using your KA or other stand mixer turn it on low/med for 7-8 minutes or if you are kneeding by hand about 12-15 minutes. Should be soft and stretchy.
Put dough in greased bowl and cover with wax paper or plastic wrap. LET RISE 2 FULL HOURS! (trust me its worth it!)
Punch down and let rest about 5 minutes
Divide out into 24 pieces and form into rolls. This will fill 2- 9x13 greased pans (12 in each pan)
Cover again and allow to rise 30-40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pop in rolls and immediately reduce oven to 350 degrees
Cook for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
ENJOY!!
MAKE SURE you let it rise the full 2 hours the first time around.
2 cups super warm tap water
1/3 cup honey (1/2 cup if you like it a lil' sweeter)
2 tablespoons yeast
2 large eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp salt
7 (+/-) cups bread flour
Add in eggs, oil and salt - again beat till well blended
Add in flour a cup at a time. Each till well blended. Stop adding flour when the dough is still a tad sticky and just starts coming off the sides of the bowl.
I use my Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook but I have totally done this by hand also. If you are using your KA or other stand mixer turn it on low/med for 7-8 minutes or if you are kneeding by hand about 12-15 minutes. Should be soft and stretchy.
Put dough in greased bowl and cover with wax paper or plastic wrap. LET RISE 2 FULL HOURS! (trust me its worth it!)
Punch down and let rest about 5 minutes
Divide out into 24 pieces and form into rolls. This will fill 2- 9x13 greased pans (12 in each pan)
Cover again and allow to rise 30-40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pop in rolls and immediately reduce oven to 350 degrees
Cook for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
ENJOY!!
White Bread Recipe!
I wrote this a week or so ago but was having issues with Blogger vs my laptop!!
So I had some time today. Hubster is off pushing snow (again) and Im here holding down the fort. I actually have 5 minutes to myself and in my goal to post more, here I am.
House Wife Homesteads Simple White bread~
2 Cups very warm water
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup oil ( Canola, or Olive Oil)
5-6 cups flour
In large bowl pour in water, yeast, & sugar and let proof for 5 minutes.
Add in salt, & oil into the yeast along with 1 cup of flour at a time until no longer sticky.
Kneed dough by hand till smooth and has slight stretch about 12-15 minutes. (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer for 7-10 minutes)
Oil a bowl and roll dough in it to cover all side with oil. Cover bowl and let rise 1 hour or till doubled.
Punch down and let rest 5 minutes.
Divide in half and shape into loaves.
Place in well greased loaf pans and let rise again 30-45 minutes till around 1" or so above pan.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
Use this for a base for just about anything.....pizza, rolls, calzones, cinnamon rolls, garlic bread.....
So I had some time today. Hubster is off pushing snow (again) and Im here holding down the fort. I actually have 5 minutes to myself and in my goal to post more, here I am.
House Wife Homesteads Simple White bread~
2 Cups very warm water
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup oil ( Canola, or Olive Oil)
5-6 cups flour
In large bowl pour in water, yeast, & sugar and let proof for 5 minutes.
Add in salt, & oil into the yeast along with 1 cup of flour at a time until no longer sticky.
Kneed dough by hand till smooth and has slight stretch about 12-15 minutes. (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer for 7-10 minutes)
Oil a bowl and roll dough in it to cover all side with oil. Cover bowl and let rise 1 hour or till doubled.
Punch down and let rest 5 minutes.
Divide in half and shape into loaves.
Place in well greased loaf pans and let rise again 30-45 minutes till around 1" or so above pan.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
Use this for a base for just about anything.....pizza, rolls, calzones, cinnamon rolls, garlic bread.....
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