homestead happenings

It has been a while since I posted, things have been busy around here lately. We are beginning to see a glimps of spring around here. As I write this now I have bouquets of buttercups in mason jars sitting everywhere and we had our first storm of the season tonight. Thankfully we didn't loose power and I am praying that we won't later on either.

My mom is in the hospital right now and I am terribly worried about her and feel very helpless to help her. So I ask your prayers for her and for me also.

Poor little Jc has been very sick this week with an upper respritory infection and a terrible ear infection. He has not been this sick in a very long time. He had to get shots the infection in his ear was so bad, but he was a brave little boy and didn't even cry. I was one proud momma!

I am not feeling very well my self tonight and I have been just totally exhausted lately. I hope to be feeling better tomorrow and Saturday because we are planting in the garden Saturday evening. We are going to plant 100lbs of red seed potatoes, 72 broccoli plants, 36 cauliflower plants, onions, carrots, turnip greens and lettuces and cabbage.

We had a special surprise the other evening. DH was disking up the garden spot and where the potatoes were last year he disked up some. They were still good. We got a bucket full. Needless to say we had some for supper that night with deer steak and corn. It was soooo gooood. I don't know how they didn't rot. I guess because it has been so dry here this winter. I will try and take picks of the garden planting and the buttercups.

On another sad note, I am afraid one of our horses is trying to founder. She has always had trouble with her feet.

Untill next time God Bless,
Tara

Marriage and Valentines day

I hope everyone has had a good valentines day today. I am sorta a scrooge when it comes to valentines day. It just bothers me that we have so many failed marriages in our country right now. Men and women seem to get married at a drop of a hat without even seeing what it is really all about, they think oh well if it doesn't work then we can just get a divorce. We have made it too hard to stay married and too easy to get divorced in this country. The concept of Valentines day is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but why do we need a special day to tell our spouse that we love him or her. We need to be telling them that everyday. Not just telling, but showing them. It is the little things that really show someone that you care.



My husband and I have been through some storms let me tell you now, and I know we will have some yet to come, but the sun always shines afterwards. The best thing I ever did for us was to read the "Created to be his helpmeet" by Debbi Pearl. It changed our marriage and our home. Love is not the butterflies that are in the bottom of your stomach when you are first married. Love is 1% feeling and 99% commitment. Feelings seem to fade away as quick as they come, When there is no money, bills are piling up, babies are crying, someone is sick, these seem to be the times that we want to throw our hands up. Yes we need to throw our hands up, throw them around each other, hold on to one another and lift one another up. Throw our hands up to the Lord and ask Him for His guidance, mercy and strength. Marriage is made in heaven and the one person that we seem to leave out of our marriage is the Lord. He is the author of all things, to Him we have made a covenant to love our spouse like Christ loves the church.

My husband and I have been married for 17 years. No, it has not been easy, but yes it has been worth every bit of it. I love him more than he will ever know, he is my best friend and with out him I would be lost. I pray for the Lord to give us another 17 years if not more. Who needs one day of the year to show we love each other when you have a whole year to do it.

God bless ya,
Tara

The kids found a new hobby yesterday and that was sliding down the backside of the pond levy on plastic tub lids and trashcan lids. I don't know how they didn't break a neck! They had a blast though!

homemade chicken noodle soup

Homemade soups are very easy to make. I usually make this once a week. When I buy chicken I buy split breast that are on the bone and still have the skin on them. For one meal I will cut the meat off the bone and make chicken strips then the next day I will boil the breast bones and skin to make a stock.

To make soup:
Remove bones from stock and then remove any meat that is left on bones, You will get a lot more than you think you will get.
Add to the stock: 1 onion chopped
3 large carrots chopped
2 bay leaves
parsley, basil to your taste
1tsp onion and 1sp garlic powder or fresh garlic which ever you have
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups uncooked elbow noodles
chopped up chicken

Stir together and let simmer for 20 minutes or untill noodles are done. Serve on a cold day and enjoy!

popcorn the old fashion way

I remember when I was little how my grandparents made popcorn for me, we would have popcorn and popcorn balls, in fact my pappaw made it in this very same pot that is in the picture below. It occured to me the other day that I had never made it that way before for the kids. So when we got supplies for the snow storm I thought this would be a good time to show them. All you need is popcorn, oil, and a little melted butter and salt.

Add enough oil and popcorn to cover bottom of pan, cover with lid
and begin to move the pan back and forth across the buner. ( I got this pics loaded backwards):)

Shake till you hear the kernals popping and when it begins to push the lid up off

of the pan pour into bowl and add salt and butter, yum yum!

snow snow go away!

This is the little pond

We are supposed to get 6-8 inches of the white stuff starting sometime in the morning and lasting all day. We really need the moisture, but I just don't care for the snow that much.



We have had a pretty good day, got a lot of school work done, most of the clothes wahed up and I am about as ready as I can be for tomorrow.



I need to start my tomatoe and pepper seeds, but I just haven't been in the mood. Can I say CABIN FEVER!



We almost got us a milk cow this week, I got a call yesterday about one that had a calf born dead and needed someone to take her and milk her, EXCEPT that she was not broke to milk yet! I got my hopes up but the wiser husband that Jeff is said NO! He didn't want me or Josh to get kicked in the head. Then I got a message later on that the calf was born over 3days ago and so the cow hadn't milked at all and so therefore no need to bother! THere is a season for everything and this is not it for a milk cow right now.





The pigs are ready to go to the butcher , but weather is not cooperating, maybe just maybe we can take them next week.
God Bless, Tara

Homestead Happenings

There has not been a whole lot going on thses days lately just the same ole same ole thing. Old man winter has been to see us southern folks quiet a lot lately, We have had several batches of snow already and are supposed to get another round Wed. I made a run to town today to get some groceires and it was the first time I have been to town since Friday before last. We were about to be down to the nitty gritty. The kids have been busy taking pics so I thought I would share a few.

The big pond.

My little man.

My little girl is growing up!

Josh is tuning into a handsome young man.

What fun an old deer stand can be!