Can’t seem to keep myself on the right track to come on here and blog like I should. I guess it’s safe to say my life is pretty boring.

  I’ve been trying to add some things to our pantry. And learning some new skills in the process. I have been making candles, laundry soap and I made what is called a tonic. Yeah it’s supposed to help with chest colds.  The candle I made was  poured into a mold. But I want to learn to make dipped candles.  I have a frame ready I just haven’t had the gumption to do it yet.

  Mike is laid off for a little while so we are hoping to get some things done around the farm and ready for spring before he goes back to work. Chances are he will be gone during the week and only home on weekends.

 Today is January 19th. Tomorow is the swearing in of our new President. I keep praying that things will transition smoothly and that this turns into a good thing.

 We recieved our real first snow fall of the winter last night. And my children have been out ice skating on the pond, because although we have had no snow we’ve had plenty of cold temps!

 Tonight I have a chicken and rice casserole cooking in the oven. Last night we had split pea soup and cornbread.

  Lately I seem to be tired. I think it’s probably cabin fever, the winter blahs. whatever you want to call it. Just find that I have no energy.

 I hope you all had a great Christmas. Take care for now.

          Dawn

Since I posted last. And now winter is approaching fast. Soon Halloween will be over and we will be looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas! How crazy is that?

  Not a whole lot has happened since the last time I was on here. We are trying to get some wood cut and have even purchased a load. I suppose it’s time to start thinking about plastic on the windows and doing what we can to winterize. I started the fireplace for the first time yesterday.  Here’s what it looks like today.

And I am thinking about cleaning.  Yesterday I ordered trash service. We haven’t had garbage pick up for a very long time. Probably 5 years or so. Sometime this week they are bringing me a dumpster! So I am going to clean house! Years and years of crud. Old clothes, papers, etc. All of it is going! I can’t wait.

       I want to get things organized so I can start baking and doing crafts. It’s time to start school. There’s just so much I want to do and I can’t do it in an unorganized mess!

     It’s also time to start thinking about cutting wood again. So we are going to have to clean out the furnace room to be able to get back to the furnace.

    I have to admit fall is my most favorite time of year. I love the smells of the first fire in the fireplace. I love to camp during this time too. Sleeping is much more bearable now.  Mind you I don’t like the thought of snow and ice and the leaves being all gone again. But I do like the colors of the leaves on the trees.

   I seem to be rambling on this morning about nothing. My mind is all scattered on this and that.

  Hey I went to an auction last night (small animal) I picked up some silkies and some other banty chickens. My Josie came home with a puppy. Crazy kid. Told her she could but it had to be a male. I no longer want females here unless they are fixed.  Ok I am going now. Hope you all are having a great day and are enjoying this wonderful weather we are having! Take care, Till next time.

My grandson spent all last week with us.. He’s quite the sweetie! Last night my daughter and her husband came over and we grilled out porkchops and had baked potatoes and corn.  And she showed me this….

 

 See that baby girl with her tongue sticking out? LOL what the heck? I thought it was adorable!

Look what we got this weekend!!!!!!

 

 

Our first litter of pigs born here on our homestead! Our sow Mabel delivered 12 piglets. 2 were stillborn and the runt died yesterday. But we have 9 living. These are the days that make living here all worth while. If we can get them all raised up it will sure help fill the freezer and pantry this winter!

Today we are getting lots of it! It started last evening about 7pm. Mike and I were out in the barn doing the evening chores! We tethered the horse inside the barn and put the goats in a pen inside the barn as well. Yeah I felt sorry for them. I sitll have one of the small goats out in the hog lot getting all muddy.. But I am not going in there to get her!

  Mike’s new job is going well! Except for the fact that our car broke down and now is in need of a fuel pump! If it’s not one thing it’s another around here. Putting gas in my old truck to get back and forth to Springfield is killing us! I guess you have to do what you gotta do……..

 The twins are now 18.. And I’ll be 37 a week from today… I have been in Bible school this week with 4-6 year olds… What was I thinking? Really they have been a great group of kids! Jojo has been at camp this week, so things around the homestead have been very quiet! Speaking of Bible School it’s time to go..

  Have a great day!

 My twin brother is in town for a surprise visit! We were expecting him next month but he showed up Sunday night at my sisters house. Today he is coming out to pick me up on his new Harley.. And bringing me back to town. Now mind you I have not been on a motorcycle in probably 20 years! And let’s face it I am a big girl.. By big I mean I am Fluffy……… lol……. So I am a little nervous.. It’s not a big bike.. I won’t even get up on our pony/horse!

  I lost my big mama rabbit during the heat this week. Such a shame she was very nice size wise.. There’s a break in the weather for the next day or two.. I shut off the air conditioners. Maybe that will give the animals a break and time to cool off a bit before the next heatwave hits! So I am off to check on the critters now and make sure all have water! My kids are already in town so I’ll stop at the feed store and grocery before I come home with them this afternoon.. Then we will check all the critters again.

  We had some rain last night. Not sure how much.  Anyway here is a picture of my twin brother. I am hoping to get one of the three of us later on today.

    Have a great day!

   CJ will be 18 on Friday. So today he was registered online for the selective service. He informed me today that he is probably going to move out by or around August 1st. Not sure how I feel about all of it. Not sure it really matters how I feel. Ready or not this is life….. I must deal with it..

 

   I failed to mention Kayla will turn 18 on Friday as well……… Happy Birthday to them both!

 

 

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket

2. Your significant other? working
3. Your hair? straight
4. Your mother? missed

5. Your father? distance
6. Your favorite thing? farm
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? dew

9. Your dream/goal? self-suffceint
10. The room you’re in? fireplace

11. Your church? Christian
12. Your fear? grief
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? debt-free
14. Where were you last night? bed
15. What you’re not? organized
16. Muffins? cornbread
17. One of your wish list items? addition
18. Where you grew up? Lakewood
19. The last thing you did? typed
20. What are you wearing? clothes
21. Your TV? hated
22. Your pets? hungry
23. Your computer? new

24. Your life? full
25. Your mood? so-so
26. Missing someone? daily
27. Your car? Springfield
28. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
29. Favorite store? “chinamart”
30. Your summer? hot

31. Like(love) someone? wholey
32. Your favorite color? green
33. Last time you laughed? yesterday

34. Last time you cried? Wednesday (sobbed)

35. Who will re post this? anybody?

Apparently time just flies by some days. It’s been awhile since I have been here. First problem of course was our power outage.  Then not long after that was taken care of our computer died! How fun is that. Then when I was able to purchase a new computer I sorta had forgotten about my blog.

   Days on the farm have been kind of long and hot lately. We still aren’t getting much produce out of our garden. Tomatoes are still blooming not too many tomatoes on them yet. The beans we have replanted again and they aren’t doing well this time either. Cucumbers are slowly coming on. Even the zuchini are doing poorly… But hey I am growing the best crop of weeds I have ever seen!

 Animals, we are now up to 22 rabbits.. My two bucks are running around like escaped convicts! I’ll need to round up a fishing net to get them back! The ducks and the chickens are doing well.. Not getting too many eggs yet. That’s the price I get for buying older hens! We now have 6 goats out in the pasture! Oh and recently we bought a horse! He’s a beauty. We hope to find a cart for him to pull soon. We are finally down to just our two pigs out in the lot. One of our sows is ready to farrow. If we don’t get her out to the barn soon she’s going to give birth right out there in the mud and the muck!

 

   Kids…….. Josie’s been to camp one week this summer, she spent one week at my neice’s house and next week she goes for another week at camp! She is thrilled with the new horse.. I think maybe she’ll join 4-H this fall.  Charlie is now working at Menards part time.. The gas prices are killing us all. He’s now seeing a girl from the next town over. He and Kayla will be 18 next week on the 25th.

  Kayla: Did I mention she had the baby? She’s a beauty.. Not that I am biased or anything! Dalanie Kay took her sweet time getting here! 36 hours of labor! She’s now a month and a half old! Koty just got his first short haircut! James just got a new job here in town.. I hope things start looking up for them.

 Mike and I…….. We are doing great. Mike just joined the plumber and pipefitters union. He started his new job today. Things are going to be awesome around here now.. No more wondering how the bills are going to be getting paid and if they will be paid on time! He and I will celebrate our 19th anniversary in September! We might finally be able to take that honeymoon!

  Wishing you all the best from our house to yours!