Update on Cows and Goats….

Unfortunately and very sadly we did have to say goodbye to Tinker. We will miss you girl!! She hurt her leg trying to get under the fence and while healing she snapped a leg ligament. We tried to nurse her and Jim built her a sling but to no avail she could still not use the back leg.

All others are doing very well and getting fat!! Now that it is snowing I swear they are cold and need coats…Jim keep assuring me they are fine and that is why God gave them fur. But I am not too conviced.

You can see Bell on the far left…just her face…then Loverboy, T-bone, Rib-eye and far right…the booty belongs to Rosemary (Rosy). Not sure where Mars bar was at the time…

Hey…there is Mars bar on the left…He is such a little stinker. He keeps teaching the girl goats how to escape. Goat soup anyone?? NOT TODAY!!

When we got the two red and whites…they were so tiny compared to Loverboy…but they are fatting up real good now. They wouldn’t come near us at first but when they figured out about the grain…they now come running when we go out there.

I will have more updates as the winter progresses…we may be getting more cows this winter…OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH MYYYYYYYY!!

Making our own sauerkraut Soooo Fun!

We didn’t grow any cabbage this year, although a really nice person from our church had some extra to give and offered us some. Every Sunday after the harvest season people would bring their extra veggies and fruit to church and share with everyone. It is so nice to see that happening in this day and age. One thing I have to say about where we are living are how kind people are…and giving. It is contagious!!! This is one thing I do not mind contracting LOL.

So here are some beginning pics of the sauerkraut process…kinda fun. Of course you know Jim did most of the real work…we (Stanley & I) were just posing ….

It was a messy job initially. But once you get it shredded you just have to keep it in a dark place with a weight on it until it is ready.

This blade was lent to us by the same gentleman who gave us cabbage. He said to be careful…the blade was VERY sharp!! Have you ever tasted the core of a cabbage? It is very spicy…kinda burns your mouth. It was really yummy. We all took turns eating the cores.

About my clothes...just felt a little hippie today...I liked it until I looked at the pictures..Yikes!! LOL

This last one is Dad & Stanley…slicing together. It was a little hard to hold the slicer and push the cabbage at the same time.

I counted all the fingers when he was finished…whew!! Still has 10 total!!

Now we wait, and wait, and wait….pretty long process. I am so looking forward to the end where we get to eat it. If I post after that…you will know…WE LIVED…Whahahahha

Oh and check out Joe-E…this is what he was doing the whole time….

Snow Already?? We are making the best of it…

We are already outside playing in the white, fluffy, winter canvas!! Stony (his new nickname) put on his Dad’s boots and went outside to make a snowman. We went out and dug up a carrot for his nose and Stony put acorns for eyes. Very cute!!

AWWWWW!!!

Joe watched patiently…I think he was waiting to steal the carrot…lol

God gave us a fun day on the farm today…

We have really busy over the last few months. Jim was able to go ricing in September. He and a friend went out on a canoe  for a couple of days and hit the rice plants with wooden sticks which released the rice in the canoe. It filled about 4 bags by time they were finished. The bags were full of rice but it really didn’t look like rice. More like wheat. There were also little green worms crawling in the bag…sick!! He then sent it to a place where they processed/ harvested 240 lbs this turned into 109 lbs…you loose quite a bit. I wanted to get more pictures but it all happened so fast…I will get more next time. I am going to help more next year.

We sold about 8 lbs so far. Fun, Fun!!

CANNING TIME

Well it sure has been a busy couple of months. I know it has been quite a while since I have posted. Jim, Stanley & I planted a pretty good sized garden and have been blessed for all our hard work. Of course Jim worked so much harder then Stanley & I, us being city folk and all … LOL.

First to be ready were our peas. I was told these were not really worth doing…but I love a challenge. Turned out to be great!! We were able to can a lot of peas!!

These were our pint jars. Were were able to get two cases of these and 4 quart jars. I made two of the quart jars into peas & carrots…I had always wanted to do that.

Next we canned green beans & spaghetti sauce. The spaghetti sauce I canned from a good friends recipe. It is the easiest and most cost effective I have ever found. It is on May Farm Cottage under the side tag  preserving.

This is what it looks like finished. I am getting ready to make another batch as I gave too many away as gifts already..oops!!

My case before I gave some away. I just love giving to people/friends something I made…It just seems to mean more.

Next we did the green beans…and boy did we have beans!! Good grief!!I only did two jars of dilly beans this year. It was so hard to find the time for extra things while working outside the home and home schooling. Maybe I can do more next year.

I have purchased my first pressure caner this year. I am getting a lot of use out of it so far. It sure takes a long time…but what a neat process.

We made about three cases of beans. Jim also bought me a french cutter so we could make string beans. This is my favorite way to eat them!!

We snapped and picked and picked and snapped  before and after work and play for almost three weeks…yikes!! I did have some help from friends while canning…that was really nice.

Now we are on to pickles and maybe relish if I have time. During all this I am teaching an art class and co-teaching a toddler Sunday school class. What is wrong with me?? LOL

These are the spices along with dill which I put in my jars for the best pickles. The two cucumbers in the picture were the smallest ones in the two big boxes and three five gallon buckets Jim & Stanley picked for me…cute eh??..

We had to spear most of them or I would only get four pickles in a jar. They were all so big!!

Tomorrow I will show you all of what we have been up to this summer. We have done so much and had such a blessed time. Our family has truly been blessed with some great memories to keep in our hearts.

Take care & God bless!!

Can You Believe it is almost September??

Things are so busy around here. I am not able to post like I should. We are gearing up for the big winter that I am sure is upon us (as I live in “BRRR” Minnesota) .

God has been very good to us this year (not that we didn’t have our struggles)!! Lets see….Jim found a job which was supposed to be a temp three week job…praise God it has worked into longer!! I am working for a new store which I feel is going to be a great fit. We have paid off our other two cows and have the whole animal family here….fianlly!! Our garden is doing pretty well considering the weird summer we have had here. I bought a pressure canner and have canned my first rounds of peas!! Some said it was not worth doing but if you know me I love doing the “pain in the neck stuff.” I used my sweet friend in Oregons recipe and made my winters spaghetti sauce…TY, Janice!!

Our little guy was able to go to camp this year. Oak Hill Christian Camp. This was so much fun!! I of course was very nervous about him being gone for a whole week, but he did great and wants to go again next year.

Look!! He caught the big one…!!

This is the first day…very exciting!!

One of the camp leaders…he was amazing!

He had top bunk!! Way cool!

Last day…family dinner and show after. This camp was very well put together!! Our guy had sooo much fun!!

Well I have lots more to show everyone but I have to get going…lots to do on the farm…Blog ya soon!!

Junk Mail ~ Home Schooler Families Are So Creative…

I borrowed this information from another home school site. When I read it I had to share. Take a look at her site though….it has a lot of great information.

http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/

Finally: a use for junk mail

We get tons of it every week. Finally, something to do with all that stuff!

photo courtesy Wooties!

Younger kids:

• play post office and use it for the mail.
• cut out words, pictures, numbers for learning and review as flash cards
• use the grocery ads to create a pretend shopping list. Cut out the pictures of the items and glue to index cards. Tape a piece of bent index card to the back like a picture frame so it will stand upright. Set up a little store and practice shopping.
• Use the same cards to sort items by color, shape, food group, etc.
• Cut up junk mail for collage.
• Cut out words for creating new sentences or poetry.
• Play “I spy.”
• Use the mail to learn your address.
• Create a mailbox for them and fill it with junk mail they can open.
• When you get mail with stickers or stamps, let them play with them.
• Catalogs are great for clipping pictures for picture books and flash cards.
• Cut pictures from catalogs and give them as pretend gifts to each other.

For older kids

• Open up those credit card offers and analyze them. Calculate fees and interest and compare them against one another. Practice filling out the forms. Use it as a teaching tool.
• Compare grocery store ads and find the better bargain.
• Create a menu from the ingredients in grocery ads.
• Use sales letters as a template and write one of your own. Dissect it–grammar, word choice, use of punctuation and even the layout.
• Practice sticking to a budget with grocery ads and catalogs.
• Research unfamiliar foods and where they come from.
• Count how many different countries the grocery items come from.
• Use catalog pictures as writing prompts.
• Catalog item descriptions are great examples of concise, descriptive writing. Try to write your own.

So, have fun with all that junk mail and remember…use what you have to teach!!

We Made Memorial Day Stars For Grandpa Fisher

Stanley wanted to make something special to remember Grandpa Fisher this year since we are close enough now to do something for him. He passed away in 2005 we made stars to honor him. He was also a veteran. He is dearly missed!!

You may not be able to tell but they say…Miss you & We love you.

This was a good day….

We miss you Grandpa!!

God Made Dads – Poem

God took the strength of a mountain
The majesty of a tree
The warmth of a summer sun
The calm of a quiet sea
The generous soul of nature
The comforting arm of night
The wisdom of the ages
The power of the eagle’s flight
The joy of a morning in spring
The faith of a mustard seed
The patience of eternity
The depth of a family need
Then God combined these qualities
When there was nothing more to add
He knew His masterpiece was complete
And so
He called it … Dad!!

Dad I miss you!

Stanley M. Perry 11/13/2003 May he never be forgotten~~

Catching Up…

It has been a while since a post was made…thought I would play catch up with everyone who reads about us….LOL

Let’s see, Jim is working hard at making heads or tails of the farm. We have planted lots of stuff in the garden ( Corn, Peas, Beans, Lettuce, Squash, Garlic, Pumpkins, Celery, Onions, Tomatos~YUMMY) We had a bit of a bummer on the tomatos….we planted two flats the day before our last frost IN JUNE !!! Grrrr…

Our friend’s Mom gave us some new ones…so sweet. We are trying again. Should be finished with the frost now….I hope.

We have one of our cow’s (YEP…it is Loverboy!!) and the other two should be coming in about three or four weeks. As of now we have three goats and one more on the way. We all worked very hard and got something called a lean too put up (not sure if I spelled it correctly). It was hard work but lot’s of fun doing it together.

We have it almost finished now but enough that the animals are kept nice & cozy at night. They seem to like it.

Have to go pick up Stanley from VBS…so More tomorrow…God Bless

~Planting a Garden~

How To Plant Your Garden
First, you Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses….
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.