Can you believe summer is almost over?--I know theres a few weeks left, but it has flown by--I must admit as with every year I am looking forward to the cooler temps of fall--We have had excessive heat warnings this year and I can't remember that happening in several years--
God has been good to meet all of our needs this year, the garden has done well for it being the first time a garden was ever planted in this soil--We have made great strides in the past 17 months we have lived here--we bought this place and it was nothing but dirt and trees, we have made it a home and homestead--I guess I like to think of it as a "heart stead"--Our heart is in this place--we have worked very hard making it what it is and while there still a ways to go--we are on the right path--This place has been transformed from nothing to a working, viable homestead--While the work has not been easy it has been rewarding and we are truly blessed--
Until next time
~Kris
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Garden Happenings
I walked out to our garden this morning and found our first produce of the year–3 cucumbers and a banana pepper–much more will be ready this weekend–It’s the best feeling in the world to walk out into your backyard or frontyard and find food–food you worked hard to have–all that labor pays off–I know where that food has been how it was grown and tended to–What a wonderful feeling–Our garden is doing very well, so much better than I had expected–I thank the Lord daily for his provision here–we have had good rains at good intervals and our soil is better than we originally thought–the garden was slow taking off, but when it did–WOW!–We have loads of tomatoes on each plant, the squash is producing wonderfully–the egg plant has lots of blooms and one little egg plant–the okra is doing good and so are the gr.beans and cabbage–Peppers are also doing amazing–Its going be a great year for our garden and we are ever so grateful!
~Kris
~Kris
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Enjoying your Life
My father in law is forever telling my husband he needs to enjoy his life--Well, that got my mind to thnking--"What does that really mean"--To my father in law it means doing as you please, when you please, with whom you please--He just doesn't get why we have animals or grow a garden or like being home--He thinks if you wanna go fishing, or hunting or take a vacation one needs to be "Free" to do so and critters and gardening tie ya down--To him that is enjoying life--And I suppose if thats your thing, then ok--but there are many other ways to enjoy your life--
I decided to look up what the definiton of "Enjoy" was and here it is--
ENJOY
1. To receive pleasure or satisfaction from.
2. To have the use or benefit of: enjoys good health.
3.To have a pleasurable or satisfactory time.
Now I can see how that fits what my FIL feels is enjoyable and I can accept that--But hubby and I enjoy our life as well--We derive satisfaction from living our simple life, taking care of our critters, gardening and just staying home sitting outside of an evening and enjoying a tall glass of sweet tea. Once in awhile life will throw us a curve ball and life gets complicated, but that happens to everyone--doesn't mean you still can't enjoy life right where you are!
We benefit from our life--we enjoy growing our own food, knowing whats in it, where it was raised and how it was handled--thats a huge blessing and enjoyment in life. I tend to smile each and everytime I walk through our garden and see a little blooms on my 'maters, squash, peppers and green beans!--I love seeing my fruit trees produce fruit!--It is so wonderful to know you are tending to you own food!
It is pleasurable to us to walk our land and see all the wonderful things God has made and provided for us--It's pleasurable to sit down to a meal that you raised with your own hands--knowing where it came from and you learn to appreciate the work that goes into having that food on your table.
To take it a bit further I want to add that when one is content with where life has placed them there is satisfaction in that--We are where we are suppost to be--If one is not content with life of course it is difficult to find pleasure,satisfaction, or enjoyment in life--My FIL and others in our life just don't get how we are so content with all the trials we have been through in the past 14 months--It's because we are where we are suppost to be and trials are most of the time short lived--To many, 14 months of hardship is not short lived--but in the big scheme of life it is--Things for us are getting ready to turn around in a major way--I am grateful for these past 14 months--many lessons have been learned and I will appreciate so much more--We have grown as a family, as individuals and in Christ--how can one feel that all the hardship has been in vain when so much has been learned?--
In todays world contentment eludes so many--Mainly because they are to busy trying to keep with the neighbors, worrying about what tomorrow holds, fretting over the small stuff and many are laden with trying to avoid real life and have themselves wrapped up in drugs/alcohol, people are getting divorces at alarming rates, adultry is on the rise all because people just are not content with where they are--It is hard to find contentment--I have been there--trying to be what society says we are to be and I was totally miserable and never content --the bottom line is, is that being true to who you are, what you want out of life and where you are going is where contentment is found--at the end of the day who you are as a person is what is important--we cannot expect anyone else to make us happy or things to make us happy--If you look to people and things to bring you enjoyment you will be miserable--Doing what you love, loving what you do is what brings enjoyment to life and that is different for everyone! So, today go out and enjoy life in your own way, be true to who you are and at the end of the day you will be content!
~Kris
I decided to look up what the definiton of "Enjoy" was and here it is--
ENJOY
1. To receive pleasure or satisfaction from.
2. To have the use or benefit of: enjoys good health.
3.To have a pleasurable or satisfactory time.
Now I can see how that fits what my FIL feels is enjoyable and I can accept that--But hubby and I enjoy our life as well--We derive satisfaction from living our simple life, taking care of our critters, gardening and just staying home sitting outside of an evening and enjoying a tall glass of sweet tea. Once in awhile life will throw us a curve ball and life gets complicated, but that happens to everyone--doesn't mean you still can't enjoy life right where you are!
We benefit from our life--we enjoy growing our own food, knowing whats in it, where it was raised and how it was handled--thats a huge blessing and enjoyment in life. I tend to smile each and everytime I walk through our garden and see a little blooms on my 'maters, squash, peppers and green beans!--I love seeing my fruit trees produce fruit!--It is so wonderful to know you are tending to you own food!
It is pleasurable to us to walk our land and see all the wonderful things God has made and provided for us--It's pleasurable to sit down to a meal that you raised with your own hands--knowing where it came from and you learn to appreciate the work that goes into having that food on your table.
To take it a bit further I want to add that when one is content with where life has placed them there is satisfaction in that--We are where we are suppost to be--If one is not content with life of course it is difficult to find pleasure,satisfaction, or enjoyment in life--My FIL and others in our life just don't get how we are so content with all the trials we have been through in the past 14 months--It's because we are where we are suppost to be and trials are most of the time short lived--To many, 14 months of hardship is not short lived--but in the big scheme of life it is--Things for us are getting ready to turn around in a major way--I am grateful for these past 14 months--many lessons have been learned and I will appreciate so much more--We have grown as a family, as individuals and in Christ--how can one feel that all the hardship has been in vain when so much has been learned?--
In todays world contentment eludes so many--Mainly because they are to busy trying to keep with the neighbors, worrying about what tomorrow holds, fretting over the small stuff and many are laden with trying to avoid real life and have themselves wrapped up in drugs/alcohol, people are getting divorces at alarming rates, adultry is on the rise all because people just are not content with where they are--It is hard to find contentment--I have been there--trying to be what society says we are to be and I was totally miserable and never content --the bottom line is, is that being true to who you are, what you want out of life and where you are going is where contentment is found--at the end of the day who you are as a person is what is important--we cannot expect anyone else to make us happy or things to make us happy--If you look to people and things to bring you enjoyment you will be miserable--Doing what you love, loving what you do is what brings enjoyment to life and that is different for everyone! So, today go out and enjoy life in your own way, be true to who you are and at the end of the day you will be content!
~Kris
Goat Milk Soap Recipe
Several of you have ask for the recipe I use to make goat milk soap--Here it is--This does not make a a large amount of soap--this next time I am going to try and double it--
12 ounces partially frozen goats' milk--NOTE: I have also used just cold goats milk from the fridge not partially frozen and it worked just fine.
3 ounces lye
4 1/4 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces coconut oil--Or other oil
12 ounces soy or vegetable shortening
1. Place milk into large bowl and slowly add lye-- Stir until the mixture is smooth and without lumps-- The lye will interact with the fat molecules in the milk and should bring the mixture to between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.--It will turn a golden color this is normal.
2. Melt the olive oil, coconut/other oil, and shortening together in one pot and bring to 115 degrees.--NOTE: In place of coconut oil I have used olive oil or Canola Oil--I tend to like the Canola oil best.
3. Add the oil mixture to the milk and lye and use a mixer to combine until the mixture demonstrates "tracing" (drips from the mixer and leaves a noticeable path in the mixture). This will take 2 to 5 minutes.
4. Using a spatula, fold the mixture to remove bubbles--Transfer to a pitcher and pour the mixture into soap molds.
5. After 24 hours, turn the soaps out of the molds onto cookie racks-- Allow to cure for 2 weeks.
12 ounces partially frozen goats' milk--NOTE: I have also used just cold goats milk from the fridge not partially frozen and it worked just fine.
3 ounces lye
4 1/4 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces coconut oil--Or other oil
12 ounces soy or vegetable shortening
1. Place milk into large bowl and slowly add lye-- Stir until the mixture is smooth and without lumps-- The lye will interact with the fat molecules in the milk and should bring the mixture to between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.--It will turn a golden color this is normal.
2. Melt the olive oil, coconut/other oil, and shortening together in one pot and bring to 115 degrees.--NOTE: In place of coconut oil I have used olive oil or Canola Oil--I tend to like the Canola oil best.
3. Add the oil mixture to the milk and lye and use a mixer to combine until the mixture demonstrates "tracing" (drips from the mixer and leaves a noticeable path in the mixture). This will take 2 to 5 minutes.
4. Using a spatula, fold the mixture to remove bubbles--Transfer to a pitcher and pour the mixture into soap molds.
5. After 24 hours, turn the soaps out of the molds onto cookie racks-- Allow to cure for 2 weeks.
Around the Homestead
Here are a few more pictures I took this morning and thought I would share them--our garden is doing well inspite of the fact we got it in later than normal--
NOTE--For some reason the pictures look spaced really far apart--I apologize for that--I can only assume it a gliche--
Enjoy!
~Kris
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Below--crook neck yellow squash
Below--Zuchinni Squash
Below--The Cucumbers
Below--My favorite--"Maters--Can't wait till this little one is ripe--but then again "Fried Green Maters' sounds awfully good! :-)
Below-- The Peach tree--not to bad for a young tree--we just planted it last fall
Below--The chicks are finally old enough to be put in the pen with the hens--they are doing well
Below--Guinea Fowl and the Golden Laced Wyandottes
Below--Just wanted to include this one--This is what I be overlooking from my front porch--this picture does not do it justice at all
As you can see!
As you can see I have been working over here trying to figure all of this out--It is far from finished, but duty calls so I can only work on this inmy 'spare time'--which I have little of--I hope you like the changes I have made--there are more to come!
Enjoy!
Kris
Enjoy!
Kris
Friday, May 21, 2010
Homestead Happenings
Things are really doing well around here--the maters have blooms as do the peppers, squash and okra--we are still working on getting rocks picked up so we are able to mow and not have to use the weed-eater on the entire yard--The abundance of rain we have had has put a damper on getting the mobile home delivered, but we are still hopeful for next week--time will tell--the critters are doing well and we are enjoying milking the goat daily--we are trying to develop a good solid chore routine so we are managing our time a bit better--hopefully by next week we can have one that will work for us--
Update on car wreck--I got my first offer from the other insurance yesterday--my attorney advised me against me--while it was not a bad offer it was not 'in the ball' park of where he thought it should be--so we are waiting for the next offer--this morning I stood up from my chair and the back of my thigh went numb--sigh--I am gonna wait a bit and see if the nerve comes unpinched--if not I will have to go to the neurologist and see what needs to be done--maybe I need to hold off on settling just yet--this is rather scarey--
I suppose thats it for now--If anyone finds this blog have a great day!
~Kris
Update on car wreck--I got my first offer from the other insurance yesterday--my attorney advised me against me--while it was not a bad offer it was not 'in the ball' park of where he thought it should be--so we are waiting for the next offer--this morning I stood up from my chair and the back of my thigh went numb--sigh--I am gonna wait a bit and see if the nerve comes unpinched--if not I will have to go to the neurologist and see what needs to be done--maybe I need to hold off on settling just yet--this is rather scarey--
I suppose thats it for now--If anyone finds this blog have a great day!
~Kris
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