Rain Rain Go AWAY!

Well I woke up at 4am this morning and it was absolutly pouring down rain.  (The weatherman said last night that it would not start until after 10am...he was wrong!) It is still raining and it is 10pm!  We DO NOT NEED ANYMORE RAIN!  This is ridiculous!  My yard is like a lake, the ground is completly saturated with water.  AND it is supposed to rain tomorrow! AHHH.  But the ducks love this weather. :)

I had planned on going to Springfield today, but since it was raining I decided I didn't want to drag the kids out in 40 degree wind blowing rain.  So we stayed home.  It was bad enough having to go out to do chores today and it was time to clean the rabbit cages...not fun in the blowing rain. blah.

This afternoon I made an awesome chocolate cake.  I got the recipe here and it was divine!  I think it was the best chocolate cake I have ever made and tasted! Here are some pics:

I love this pic!

My FAVORITE measuring spoons! They are collapsable!



Voila! The Finished Product!

Last night for supper I made polish sausage (lite), fried potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and corn...don't know what the name of the dish actually is but we call it Silver Dollar City Sausage and Potatoes.  I boiled my potatoes first and then fried them in the cast iron, once they start to brown add everything else and cook until peppers are done.  Salt and pepper to taste.

In the summer I will add zuchinni, fresh green beans, or okra.  But those things really aren't in season and I didn't have any of them on hand.  The kids LOVE this!  We ate the rest of it for lunch today and Cooper wanted more!  Tonight I just made steaks and hominy. 

My kids absolutly love hominy and so does Chris.  I really like too.  I am thinking about trying to make hominy.  All I need is corn, lye, water, and salt.  I was reading earlier and 2 gallons of dried corn will make approximatly 5 gallons of hominy.  4 quarts to a gallon so 20 quart jars or 40 pint jars.  A 50lb bag of corn is only about $8 at the feed store and that would make approx. 50 gallons!  But I can share some corn with the chickens and the ducks :)  I was thinking about making 10 gallons to last the next year.  Hominy is expensive to buy and we eat a family size can each time.  I think I may try it sometime soon.  I could grow my own corn for it, but they say field corn is better than sweet corn for hominy and then you have to let it dry and shell it.  You can dry hominy out and grind it up to make corn flour and make your own tortillas...something to try!  I am always up for a challenge. lol

Today Chris spent over $150 on wire to make rabbit cages.  He thinks he can make about 10 cages with what he bought. A lot cheaper than buying the cages. TSC wants $30.00 for rabbit cages and you still have to assembly them.  We can make them for half the cost.  We need to buy more bunnies though.  He is wanting to get about 10 more New Zealand Does so we can have lots of babies.  Funny thing I learned about rabbits- you can breed pretty closely related rabbits- like a mother/son or father/daughter just don't do brother/sister if you can help it.  With dogs you have to keep at least 3 generations apart.  Kinda weird it doesn't matter with rabbits. 

My ducks haven't laid any eggs yet.  I think they are still getting settled.  Today and yesterday was the first days I'd seen them get very far from the coop and the swimming pool.  They don't quack which I think is weird-Chris says that it is good.  I kinda want some more ducks, maybe some ducklings but I think I will wait until after we raise our chicks-which by the way we are getting in 15 days!! (not that I am counting lol)

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Homesteading

So I have discovered that some would call me a Homesteader.

"Homesteading has more than one meaning. It used to mean qualifying for free government land because you lived on it, built a house on it, and so on. Now it means living on the land and trying for at least some degree of home production of your needs, especially food. When people who were raised in cities try to accomplish that, I believe it can be every bit as much of a challenge for them as crossing the plains was for our pioneer ancestors. People go to all kinds of places to do their homesteading: the suburbs of their city, the mountains of Appalachia or the western United States, the northeastern United States, the Midwest, northern California, Alaska, Canada, Mexico. No matter where you are or go -- if you can grow a garden and raise some animals, you're a homesteader. And a fortunate human being!" --- Carla Emery, The Encyclopedia of Country Living

I think I may really like that term.  Homesteader.  Makes me think of Laura Ingalls Wilder-whom I love!

Chris and I stayed up pretty late last night researching and discussing if we wanted to move forward in the rabbit business.  I know I have only had rabbits for a couple weeks now, but I really enjoy them.  I have found a processor in Rogers, Arkansas that will pay up to $1.45 a pound for rabbits that weigh 4.75 to 5.75 pounds.  They have to be white rabbits though and you have to maintain at least 25 does for them to buy.  Plus we would have to build a rabitry.  (new word in my vocabulary...rabitry)  Basically we need a building with insulation and ventilation, varment proof and with lots of cages.  I can buy the feed pretty cheap at MFA ($7.00 a 50# bag) and I would like to have some sort of automatic water bottles of some sort.  So it would take some money to get it all started...but if we had say 100 does we could make around $14,000 a year...roughly.  It would be a full time job though and that would mean me not finishing school.  BUT I could stay at home and that is really what I want to do.  I would like to teach also, but I think I could fulfill my teaching wants and needs by teaching my kids.  AND I would consider homeschooling and possibly substitute teaching. 

These may just be dreams, but I would like to achieve them someday.  When I was little I always said that I wanted to live away from people and just farm.  Funny how right that little 5 year old was.  My parents and teachers said that I would want to move away from here and see the world. Nope, not really.  I think it would be neat to see other parts of the world, but I am happy right where I am.  There are days I would like to move away and start a whole new life, but I know I could never leave my family and my friends- I depend on them way too much. 

I am truly blessed and happy with my life as it is. 

oh and a pic of my bacon wrapped pork roast that I cooked yesterday for Sunday Dinner. It was so good!

 oh and gotta share this too!

I went to Walgreens a bit earlier and bought a few things:

Not pictured:  1 Gallon 2% Hiland Milk

The total: $26.09!!!

thinking...

I think I need to come up with a name for my backyard.  Chris is referring to it as the Zoo...

I would like to think of something cute and make a sign, but am having trouble with ideas.  The best thing I have is My Backyard Haven...but I don't like it.  Doesn't have the right ring to it. hmmmm.

Also been trying to name the bunnies so far we have: Smokey, Trixie, Speckles, Hershey, Q-Tip, and Ace.  Thinking about Hermie and Sunny for the other two.  Need to name the kitty---or just call her kitty. I don't know if I am going to name her or not.  I probably won't name the ducks or any of the chickens-there are just too many of them. lol.

I can't explain my need/want for animals.  I just love them to pieces.  I love the expressions on my kids' faces when they see them and I can just imagine what is going through their little heads.  When I was growing up we always had cows and dogs.  When I was really little mom and dad had pigs but they sold out in the mid-90's when the market bottomed out.  I would like to have some fresh pork, but I don't have a pen right now and the market is really good for hogs.  I would also like to have a goat or two...and a llama-just because lol.  Today they sold a 1 year old pony at the salebarn and he only brought $75!  Oh man I wish the kids were a bit older...they could have had a pony!  Every little kid wants a pony--we would have been the most awesome parents in the world, well maybe kinda cool at least. lol.  Every family has a dog or a cat-and don't get me wrong I love dogs and cats, but my kids will know what a responsibilty is and will know how to take care of animals.  I think raising chickens, rabbits, (and now ducks) will teach my kids something that I alone can't teach them.  It is good to know things. 

I think if the economy keeps going the way it is going people will start looking for local things even more than they do now.  I would love if I was able to provide people of our community with food and supplies.

oooh maybe Highway H Critters... or DeHart Critters or Backyard Critters.... or Erin's Backyard Critters...I think I like that- Erin's Backyard Critters  but who knows I may change it!

 I don't really think this blog post is making much sense though...probably has something to do with the pain killer I took earlier for my tooth.  Guess I will go to bed and let the meds do their thing. lol

DUCKS!!

I need to stay away from the sale barn!  We went again today and came home with 10 muscovy ducks and 2 more rabbits.  I took a bunch of pictures so enjoy!

Can't sleep- Long post!!

Well I have a busy few days.

Tuesday I was supposed to get 2 teeth pulled.  I went to the dentist and he gave me all the local anthesthia that he was authorized to give me and my back molar still wasn't numb.  He tried to pull the other one and worked on it for 45 minutes and couldn't get it out.  They finally called my oral surgeon and got me an appt for the next day.  Chris took off work to stay home with the kids and my dad took me to the oral surgeon (Dad doesn't do diapers and mom wasn't going to be home!)  So I went on Wednesday and had my 2 back lower left teeth cut out.  Today the area doesn't feel that bad, but the doctor said the 3rd day is the worst day for swelling and pain.  He got me some good pain killers, anti-biotic, and some medicated mouth rinse that tastes horribly. 

Today I ordered 125 chicks from Cackle Hatchery and will go pick them up on March 24th.  At the end of the month I am going to be going crazy I have a feeling.  I didn't plan this all very well I guess.  My bunnies should be having babies in the end of March/first part of April and I will have 125 chicks to look after. AHHH. lol. But I think I can handle it. :)  I ordered 25 Jumbo Cornish X meaties, 25 Brown Leghorns (wanted some white eggs), 25 New Hampshire Reds, 25 Red Star sex links, and 25 Black Sex links.  I can't wait to see all the different colored chicks.  I was going to order some baby ducks, but I already spent $273 and I decided that I could probably find some ducks at the sale barn or something one of these days. 

I have 2 more gallons of fresh milk in the fridge, trying to figure out what to do with it.  I think I want to make cream cheese and yogurt.  I really like yogurt and I think homemade would be wonderful.  The options are endless.  I will definetly be making butter out of the cream- I made some last Friday with my new mixer and it was the easiest thing I had ever done!  I need to make bread and rolls tomorrow so I think I will use fresh butter on the cinnamon rolls. YUM! 

Today I had to kill 1 of my roosters.  He flogged Sophia and Cooper and I won't have any animal messing with my kids!  Sophia was bent down petting our kitten when the rooster came up behind her and fluffed his wings at her.  Knocked her down and scared the crap out of her.  As he was attempting to peck her my foot landed in his butt and he flew across the yard and rolled a couple of times.  He got up and ran off.  We then went to the post office to deliver some eggs to one of the mail-ladies there and came home.  That damn rooster then attacked Cooper and wouldn't let Cooper walk anywhere.  He was screaming and crying so I kicked the rooster again.  This time the rooster came at me with his feathers all fluffed and well there was a steel post lying against the fence so I swung it at him.  Needless to say he didn't get back up.  I thought about plucking him and putting him in the crock pot, but with my mouth being sore I decided not to. 

I gave another rooster away today, to a lady that lives in town, Carmen.  Her rooster was being really agressive with her hens and she was wanting a different one.  I really didn't need 2 roosters (didn't need 3 roosters!) So now I only have 1 rooster.  I wonder when he will figure out that he is the only man? lol.

The past 2 days I had only been getting 12-13 eggs a day and today I discovered a stash of eggs in the hen house.  I will have to wait until morning to see if they are any good when I make the kids their eggs.  I found 7 eggs so I don't know how many days they have been there.  The eggs were both a dark brown and a pink color, so I think it may have been more than one hen laying.  Most of the eggs are smaller so I think it may be one of the pullets that just started laying and maybe another hen being wierd.  The pullet will figure it out soon enough.  I imagine a chicken that starts laying eggs is as about as scared as a young girl getting her peiod.  They probably think they are going to die... or at least I thought that when I was little.

The weather here has been really nice the past few days.  Right now it is 4:19 am (I may just stay up for the day since I can't sleep!) and it is only 50 degrees outside.  Yesterday it was in the 70's and I think it is suppossed to get in the mid 60's today.  The farmer's alamanac suggests that we will get 30 inches of snow at the end of March (I hope it is wrong!)  I have ordered all my seeds for my garden and hope to be able to plant soon.  We should be planting our potatoes on March 17th - St. Patty's Day but who knows if the garden will be ready by then?

Chris has been working on the camper the past few weeks and I can't wait until this spring and we can go camping!  He is working on putting the gooseneck hitch on it.  It did have a 5th wheel hookup.  We have to seal the roof to keep it from leaking anymore and fix the ceiling in the inside.  I would like to get the plumbing done, but we can camp with out plumbing.  It would be nice to have hot water to cook with, but I can heat up water on the stove I guess. :)  My brother in law and sister have a little spot not too far from here that they have their camper on.  It has a big fishing pond/swimming hole with dock and not too far from there is the river.  It is a great little escape from  the real world.

I think my mom and dad think Chris and I are crazy for buying so many chickens, rabbits, and etc.  I want to get some pigs and some goats...but maybe another day. lol.  I talked to dad tonight about it- he agreed with me though that is all is a gamble and it is better to think you have invested your money rather than just bought something to look at.  (like we desperatly need a new TV, but oh well it is still working slightly so we will wait lol) 

Everything is going up in price,  The economy is sucking like crazy.  We should all be trying to save money or make money to save.  Diesel went up today to $3.59 a gallon!  Unleaded is $3.49!  We can barely afford to drive anywhere.  Chris has been driving the escape and leaving me the truck since I don't go many places.

I think we need to be focusing on food.  If the prices of fuel and corn keep going up, we will have a harder time buying food at the grocery store.  This is one reason that I am planning a HUGE garden, raising meat rabbits, raising meat chickens, and so on.  I have my milk in supply and really hope that soon I can make where I really don't need to go grocery shopping.  That will be the day! (I know I am talking like a crazy woman)  and I know I will still want to get a few groceries at the store like rice and beans (although I guess I could grow beans...)  And I know I will have to buy supplies.  But it is nice to just buy 2 sacks of  flour, yeast and sugar and know that really that is like 4 loaves of bread...I don't need eggs or milk really.  The three main food items people buy I don't need to.  To me that is awesome.  I guess I am going to go take a shower and get ready for the day.  Maybe I will even make Chris breakfast and freak him out. :)  Love it! Later!

Well that was a CRAZY night!

I hate hate hate night storms, especially when they include tornado warnings!   It hailed, blew, rained, lighteninged, thundered, and did it all night long! Not to mention the 4.7 earthquake that happened in Arkansas.  We didn't feel it, but there are reports of tremow being felt as far north as Ava which is just about 50 miles away.  It is so scary to think about. 
Remember the learning about the dust bowl? Well last night we had the mud bowl- So I guess this storm picked up dust from Arizona and Texas (where apparantly it is dry) and dumped it on the Ozarks last night-in the form of mud.

Everything is COVERED.  You don't expect to wake up to that after a thunderstorm. crazy huh?  Not to mention Chris left the passenger window down on the truck...

My poor purse is ruined!

Now it looks tye dyed!

This was the only purse that I ever just LOVED!



Guess I need to go to the mall and see if I can find another one like it!



Some new pics of the kids-

I decided to edit some pictures I took of the kids the other day, instead of trying to get professional pics done.  I think they turned out okay.

This is my favorite.