Cleaning the coop and making cards today.

The day begin sunny , windy and muddy. 

I decided to clean the hen house out first thing. 

Someone kept trying to help but I had to chase him out.  He was hindering the situations more than helping. 

We did have to stop and run off a hawk that tried to make off with one of the chickens!

The hens all came running inside after the guineas gave a good scream. 

I had a few wheelbarrows full of manure that I took off to cure in the gardens-to-be. 

This little girl - Irene- has hung out with me since she was a chick.  She stuck around as long as the dog wasn't there. 

Half -way finished. 

Norman came in for inspection. 

Then stood guard. 

We found we needed more feed before the storm and got ready to hit the road. 

I did have time to craft when we got home. 

So we came in and made a few sets of cards. 

Time to light the stove.  Snow is due tonight. 

peace 

Homestead update April 18

Today was warm but extremely windy.

The garden was green and very happy looking.  It is amazing how little you need for your family. Keep it trimmed and it will continue to give you food. 

Spinach

Red Lettuce

Butter lettuce

We filled a basket to make our lunch and dinner side. 

We picked a couple of radishes to go with our salad.

I trimmed the parsley... again.  I like it as a salad, in recipes, a garnish and dried for winter dishes. 

We made a big salad.

I headed to the store while Dude moved big rocks with the tractor and got the chicken house ready for new meat hens.  I took pictures so you could see some birds are more expensive than others.  Meat hens are $2 each.

I picked up 30 chicks to raise for the next 6-8 weeks for our fall and winter meals. 

They cozied themselves under the heat lamp. 

Dude continued outside while I got the table and dinner ready for Holy Thursday. 

Lamb shanks are going in the oven for our Seder meal for Holy Thursday.

We raised this lamb.  I am not sure we could butcher another lamb. We are raising two and Dude says he is not sure he can eat these two tender friends. 

When it comes out of the oven we will have it with apple salad, regular salad, matzo , hard boiled eggs and cheesecake for dessert. 

May you have a very blessed Holy Thursday. 

peace 

Monday homestead chores

We began the day figuring out which money challenge we were going to do this year. I found all these on Decluttering your life .com .   Really, you can get creative and make your own, such as doubling some of the numbers or doing the challenges backwards. 

We will attempt the monthly and 52 week money challenge. 

Next it was out to clean the chicken coop and greenhouse. The weatherman told us there would be hurricane force winds . When we went outside and found a warm blue sky day with only mild winds we decided to quickly get work done. 

I cleaned out the beds. We has one very cold night (below zero) when the greenhouse door blew open and everything froze.  Sadly, the cabbage that was left rotted. 

Dude cleaned out the coop and I  laid all the new bedding and straw down. 

Yep, look up and at the end … we had music blaring. 

The chicken manure and rotting greens were put in the compost.  The rest of the morning was spent chasing the dog from the compost pile.  He rather fancies a snack of chicken turds. ohNorman. 

We finished just in time for the winds to kick up and swirl around. I could tell if the wind was angry or simply having fun.

I am finishing reading a  book I got from the library call Survival Mom.   I rather like it.  Living on a homestead you are usually far from a city, grocery store and any quick facility for things you might normally be able to pick up quickly. 

I like her thinking , pretty much the same way we do and prioritize things. I like the lay out of the book with tidbits on the side of the pages and lists at the end of chapters to check off. 

Anywhooo… I recommend, 

peace 

Peeps, greenhouse, bird house update

It's that time when we don't eat Peeps ...those nasty sugary marshmallow creatures.  But rather we create and compete with them making Peep-o-ramas.  Here are some of our past creations and from friends. 

So grab a package or two or three of Peeps and get creative.  We reveal ours on Easter. 

Our geese are doing well after one of ours tried to take off last night and join a flock of traveling Canadian Geese . He only got over the fence and then wondered how to get back. 

Worked in the greenhouse this morning.  Picked spinach and carrots. Winter veggies. 

Dude got the cap on the pump house. 

The guineas are not happy the roof was finished yesterday. They roost on it at night. 

Here is before. 

Now. 

We still have a ways to go but it's getting there. 

We have a couple of birthdays this weekend. I got these done before heading to work. 

I am excited for the weekend. I am potting strawberry plants and the trees I rooted are going into potting soil. 

I must study for an exam... my final one before getting another degree. But I also want to save  some time to card and spin some wool. 

A reminder... since this is Lent . I will only be posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

peace