Mrs. D's Homestead - The Homestead

Mrs. D's Homestead

lovingly handmade soaps and lotions, folkarts and handcrafted gifts and useful items from a couple of gals just tryin' to live more simply and sustainably...

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The Homestead

Simple Living

The Simple Kitchen

It's the dog days of summer and it's too hot to cook. Our summer has actually been quite pleasant until now. The rainy season is here and the humidity is taking its toll. It's difficult to avoid the kitchen when you make everything from scratch, but Mrs. D is finding ways...here are two of her most recent concoctions with recipes for you to try;)

Cool Cucumber Soup

Mrs. D has an abundance of cucumbers and a hankerin' for a COLD soup. Vaguely remembering seeing a recipe somewhere, she looked it up, found it and modified it according to what she had on hand. The results were most satisfactory!

3 cucumbers

1 onion

1 clove garlic from the garden

2 cups homemade yogurt, unsweetened

1 teaspoon oil

1 teaspoon sea salt

dash pepper

Chop veggies in food processor, put remaining ingredients in blender, add chopped veggies to top of blender jar. Put lid on and blend till somewhat smooth. Pour off about half, add more veggies, repeat until all ingredients are blended. Stir together in large bowl to combine. Chill until ready to eat. Ladel into chilled bowls or mugs, top with a dollop of yogurt, sour cream or creme frais (or other garnish of your choice). Enjoy with a spoon or just drink it!

Makes about 6-8 cups.

Lentil Chili

When the house heats up the crock pot moves outside. Mrs. D enjoys this chili any time of year. It is filling, full of fiber, and you can easily substitute vegetable stock to make it vegetarian.

2 quarts homemade chicken stock from a backyard chicken

2 pounds lentils

1 onion, sauteed

6 cloves homegrown garlic, sauteed

8 tablespoons oil

2 quarts tomatoes from dad's garden, chopped in food processor

2 cups red bell peppers, chopped in food processor

3 tablespoons chili powder

dash hot pepper sauce

1 teaspoon black pepper

salt to taste

Put all ingredients in crock pot, add water to top. Cook 10 hours on high. Serve with Corn Bread (below)

Makes about 5 or 6 quarts.

Mrs. D's Favorite Corn Bread

2 cups cornmeal

1/2 cup freshly ground whole wheat flour or wheat germ

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 farm fresh eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons oil

2-1/2 cups fresh, raw milk, soured with 2 tablespoons vinegar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In large bowl stir together dry ingredients. In another large bowl, stir together wet ingredients. Combine just until well mixed. Pour into well greased 8x8 baking pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until bread pulls away from sides of pan and toothpick stuck in middle comes out clean.

Happy, healthy eating!

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Simple Budget

Seems like everywhere we turn these days, money is an issue. Unemployment, downsizing, bank failures...but we're already depressed enough without rehashing the news. Homesteaders are used to dealing with budget choices. By our very choice of lifestyle we find ourselves faced with decisions that the rest of the country rarely has to deal with. In choosing to live off the land as much as possible, we need to be with the land as much as possible, so we try to work at home. We have learned and continuously learn that age old adage - "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". Many times we dissolve in tears, trying to trim a budget that's down to bare bones as it is.

So what advice might Mrs. D give a friend facing a tough budget? Assuming a person has already paid off or is paying off all debt, has eliminated all non-essential expenses, and has some kind of income - job, self-employment/odd jobs, unemployment, social security, etc., let's start at the beginning.

Food - we need to eat to survive. Garden? Good. You can even grow some things in flower pots in the house - garlic, herbs, greens; check your local library for ideas on indoor gardening. Food bank - swallow your pride. The hard times aren't going to last forever, and it's not going on food stamps. Many food banks offer groceries from a box or two to a cartload for less than $20, or $30 including meats. If you're really in need you can get it for free. Frequently they offer free bread to everyone. Much of this is donations from local grocery stores and is good stuff. Cook from scratch - even a crock pot of soup with bread doesn't have to take long (the crock pot cooks it slowly all day). A pot of oatmeal or grits in the morning is quick and filling. Take a sandwich and a thermos of soup for lunch instead of take-out. MAKE YOUR OWN COFFEE!!

Shelter - mortgage stifling? Try renegotiating, or downsizing, but try to make sure you have some kind of home. It's nice to sleep indoors on a regular basis.

Clothing - c'mon, do you really need a whole closet full? Thrift stores frequently have super inexpensive, nice clothes. Yard sales are good for some items, especially children's - they frequently grow out of them before they wear them out. Sew your own. Learn how to use that machine you've got sitting around and go get some $2 a yard fabric from Wal-mart or like discount store. Also good for sprucing up or repurposing thrift store/yard sale finds.

So with the basic 3 out of the way, what others do we tackle?

Auto - how many cars do you need? Can you take public transportation sometimes? How about walking? Ride a bike? Think out of the box - how about an electric golf cart or scooter? Carpool. Take one day to do all your errands, save gas. Cut out extra trips. Keep your vehicle maintained. Deferred maintenance is more costly than regular upkeep.

Pets - many people are giving up their pets. Maybe you don't have to. What did pets eat before commercial feeds? Make your own pet foods for pennies. The homestead dogs and cats eat cooked rice and beans with veggies and meat scraps thrown in. Be careful here - highly seasoned foods can upset animal tummies. Vets will frequently take payments if you're in a spot and your pet really needs treatment.

Medical - instead of fretting over the ongoing health care debate, start taking care of yourself! Boost your immune system with essential oils, fruits, veggies and whole grains. Get plenty of rest and regular, strenuous exercise.

Utilities - turn off lights, turn off tv's and entertainment centers at a power strip, or unplug when not in use. Computers really don't need to run all day. Get done and turn it off. Or use it til the battery's in need of charge then turn off and let it charge. Turn the heat down and put on a sweater. Extra blankets on the bed. Cook once a day, then just reheat. Hang clothes on a line to dry. Heat a big pot of water on the stove, then just dip it out with a pitcher, instead of letting the water run until it heats up. Fix all water leaks. Only do full loads of dishes and laundry. Change clothes less often - are they really dirty? Airing out clothes that have only been worn a couple of hours saves on extra laundry or dry cleaning expense.

These are just some ideas to get you thinking. See if you can come up with more of your own, suitable to your particular situation. Hang in there, you're in good company. Hard times never last.

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Simple Christmas

What makes more sense in today's tough economy than keeping Christmas simple? Mrs. D typically gives homemade gifts supplemented with small items that can be picked up throughout the year. It seems that her soaps and lotions are mostly enjoyed by their recipients. However, to keep it from becoming blase, she tries to vary the presentation a bit. This year it's with the addition of drink and soup mixes.

Start with a dollar store drink or soup mug. Package one of the following mixes in a sandwich bag with a twist tie, add instructions and place in mug. Place mug in a gift box, basket, or just by itself and that's it. The mixes are healthy, homemade "convenience" foods, and Mrs. D even keeps a few for herself.

Hot Chocolate Mix

1 cup powdered milk

1/4 cup cocoa

1/4 cup sugar

Mix well. Place 1/2-1 cup mix in baggie, add mini marshmallows, close. Place in mug with a cinnamon stick.

Directions: Place 4T. mix in mug, add 6 oz. boiling water, add mini marshmallows, stir with cinnamon stick, enjoy.

Chicken Noodle Soup Mix

1 cup egg noodles, macaroni, or crushed spaghetti or ramen noodles

2t. MSG free chicken bullion (Herbox, etc.)

dash garlic powder

dash onion powder

Place all ingredients in baggie. Include a baggie of crackers if desired. Place in soup mug.

Directions: Empty soup mix into mug, cover with water. Microwave 2-3 minutes. Cover and let set 2-3 minutes until noodles are tender. Or cook on stove until noodles are tender. Enjoy with crackers.

Chocolate Mug Cake

4T flour

4T sugar

2T cocoa

3T chocolate chips

dash vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients, add vanilla last and stir quickly so it doesn't clump. Place in baggie, place baggie in drink mug with directions.

Directions: Empty mix into mug. Add 1 egg and mix well. Add 3T milk and 3T oil and mix well. Microwave 3 minutes, cool and enjoy.

And that's it, back to packing presents...

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Simplifying the Clothes Closet

Here on the homestead, the goats and chickens don't much care what we look like. So we're not really worried about making a fashion statement. We expect our work clothes to get ripped and dirty, and we wear them until they stand up on their own and put themselves in the washer. That doesn't mean we don't suffer from clutter in the clothes closet. After all, how many pairs of worn out blue jeans and old work shirts does one really need? Mrs. D has a basic policy of not buying new (except underwear and socks of course!). Why? We're just going to trash them anyway. But this also extends to our "Sunday clothes" and "goin' to town clothes". Thrift stores now tend to carry loads of clothes that are practically brand new, and it helps if you're handy with a needle and thread. Why pay $12 for a pair of jeans for a 5 year old boy, who is likely to grow out of them before he wears them out? Okay, well maybe not, but still, when you can get the same or better for $.50-$3 at your local thrift store? Not all thrift stores are equal and not all "chain" thrift stores are equal. I have stood at the door of a "big name" thrift store and smelled the b.o., and I have wandered through another of the same name for an hour without detecting any offensive odors.

So what is this clutter in the closet? Mrs. D likes clothes, and colors and patterns. She loves the different textures and smells of wool, silk, rayon, cotton, linen, and all the wonderful fabrics. She grew up trailing behind her mother in the fabric store and browsing through pattern books. And she develops an attachment to certain articles that she finds difficult to let go of, however worn out they may be. However, clothes and shoes take up space and demand maintenance. Stored away in boxes, they are not convenient to be enjoyed. Why keep that special outfit if you can't find it when you want to wear it? One of Mrs. D's favorite ideas for letting go of a worn out favorite is to keep a small square of it to put into a quilt, or scrapbook project. This is a very old-fashioned concept, which probably explains Mrs. D's attraction to it. So once we clear out the worn-outs, what's next? Here on the homestead it's work clothes. We work and play in the dirt and the sun and the rain. Mrs. D's "uniform" is a jeans skirt, long sleeved shirt (rolled up in the summer), scarf or hat to keep most of the dirt and hay out of her hair, and boots in winter, sandals in summer. How many of these uniforms does she need? Mrs. D limits it to 3. Except the boots and sandals, that's just one pair each. For casual or dressier situations, she has 3 dresses, 3 jumpers, 3 skirts and several shirts. Nylons are ancient history, and shoes are limited to 2 sandals, 2 flip flops (can't take the beach out of the girl) and 1 dress/hiking boots. Also 1 pair of snow boots. Of course there's the barn coat, the good coat, several sweaters and winter hats. This may be more than Mrs. D strictly needs, but it is much less than she used to hoard.

What about children's clothes? They grow out of them so fast, we don't want to stockpile them, that's for sure. Li'l Homesteader's wardrobe consists of 3 pairs play jeans, 2 pairs good jeans, 1 pair trousers, 3 t-shirts, 3 long sleeved play shirts, 3 button down short sleeved shirts, 3 button down long sleeved shirts, a couple sweaters, a light jacket and a good winter coat. Mrs. D started out buying his shoes new, but has been lucky enough to find him near new shoes at thrift stores. He gets 1 pair play shoes, 1 pair good shoes, cowboy boots, sandals, flip flops and slippers. This, too, may seem excessive, but who hasn't dressed up their little boy or girl nice and pretty, only too have them run outside and jump in a mud-puddle as you're loading up the car to go to church (or wherever)?

There are many other tricks to simplifying your closet and freeing up dresser drawers. It seems that even though Mrs. D goes through her clothes several times a year, she is always able to clear out some more each time, without suffering from not having enough to wear. The more she clears out, the more she seems to end up with all her favorites to wear.

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Simple living at the Gas Pump

Let's face it, the price of gas has all of us in a bind these days. The homestead is no exception. We are 50 miles from the nearest city, so a trip to the bank or grocery store has to be well thought out. The price of gas here in town is usually $.50 per gallon higher than in the city, as well. We haul water several times a week, have no street delivery of mail, so we have to check the post office box, etc., etc.

Mrs. D does not complain about these seeming inconveniences, as she thrives on the rural life and plans and consolidates her errands well. In the past it was more to conserve time - a trip into town and back takes up at least an hour or more, a trip to the city takes all day. Now that a trip to the city also costs more than what Mrs. D makes in a day, planning is even more important. So Mrs. D thought she would like to share some of the things that work for her, which are mostly things she's picked up from other people and tweaked to fit her particular situation.

If you caught that comment that "a trip to the city costs more than what Mrs. D makes in a day" you may be thinking "huh"? And with good cause. At this time Mrs. D only has the all-purpose, 4 wheel drive, gas hog, tons of hauling room pick-up truck. It gets about 10 miles to the gallon. Gulp. The plan is to retire it to the homestead for brawny homestead tasks such as hauling water, feed, animals and firewood. But at the moment there is no economy car.

So the first step we try to take is limiting our driving. Water has to be hauled in at least 3 or 4 times a week. The goal is to combine this with other activities so that no additional trips are needed. On cleaning day, we clean our elderly friends homes, check the mail, go to the library, the play park and bring home a load of water. If there is a weekday service at church we go to that, check the mail, go to the library, the play park and bring home a load of water. Two days a week we make soap, sew and work at Maryruth's workshop, replenish soap baskets at shops in town, check the mail and bring home a load of water.

Next are the trips to the city. Because this usually takes all day it has to be carefully pre-planned. The bank, grocery store, and gas station are regular stops. Depending on need, Home Depot, the craft store, fabric store and thrift store could be included. Normally there is not going to be time for all of these, so needs have to be prioritized, other options have to be considered (mail order, local supply, etc.) and excess stops are cut out. The goal is to limit these trips to once a month, but with dentist, doctor and other appointments, this is not always possible. Sometimes these errands can be combined with the medical appointments, but not if there are alot of them, or if the appointment involves pain and discomfort.

In the planning stages, we try for the optimum time when all the checks are in for the bank deposit. We also have to plan our menus for the month and include extra for visitors or special events so that we can get all the needed groceries and supplies. Mrs. D keeps a running grocery list to help with this, then consults the calendar for an idea of any extras needed. She tops off the gas tank on the way home and fills up a 5 gallon can to boot.

Another option that is helpful when possible is to combine errands with another family. This is okay when you have pretty much the same stops and plenty of hauling room and can agree on the same day to do it. Adults can spell each other so that children do not have to come into every stop, and the gas expense can be shared.

At the Homestead, we have switched over from a gas powered water pump to an electric one - takes longer but costs so much less. We also use an old fashioned push mower on our weeds/grass (mostly weeds). A little electric golf cart has taken over assissting with many chores - feeding, manure transfer, workshop errands. Lasts about a week per charge.

Mrs. D's Thanksgiving trek to the Big City also inspired some gas saving ideas for urban homesteaders. Mass transportation may not be for everyone, but it is an option, especially if you just have a couple light errands. Many city bus lines are converting to clean burning fuels that don't suffocate you, and a bus fare usually includes one free transfer. Mrs. D and Li'l Homesteader do alot of bike riding in the city. It's amazing what you can carry with a rack, panniers, a basket and a backpack. Then there's the old two legs. Most stores, libraries, parks and banks are within a 2 mile range in the city, providing they're the ones you want. A well fitting backpack can carry alot and now there are a variety of lightweight roll along carts available.

For most city dwellers the solution is going to be the economy car. Suggestions are pretty much as above as far as combining and planning errands. The fewer trips you make the less gas you use, simple as that. Carpooling with a like-minded friend can also help. Check your electric bill. It may be cheaper to switch over to electric lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc.

We may not be able to change the world, but Mrs. D believes that if we make little changes here and there in our own little world, life will be better for us.

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Urban Homesteading

Mrs. D recently took a trip to the Big City to visit her parents and older children. Though she grew up there, the difference between her Homestead life and Big City life always astounds her.

JDBelanger, founder and long time editor of Countryside Magazine, www.countrysidemag.com, frequently spoke of homesteading as "a mindset, a desire for self reliance, and a preference for the plain and functional". When Mrs. D read this a few years ago, it clicked with her own idea of homesteading. Mrs. D's life has been a pendulum of trying to simplify and then getting all materialistic again. Her indicator has been the level of satisfaction in each situation. Material gain never satisfies, there is always more to be had. Simplicity can frustrate but when it frees up time for friends and family, the satisfaction makes it all worthwhile. So in the fast paced, money driven world of the big city, what are some things that can be simplified?

Water - so much is wasted when you can just turn on a faucet and have as much as you want on demand. On the homestead we haul water and keep it in a 2500 gallon storage tank. We can just climb up and check the water level. Because we can actually visualize how much water we are going through, water conservation takes on a whole new meaning. Install low flush toilets (not the kind that take 3 flushes to get the yuckies out of the bowl either) and if you're very brave - if it's yellow, let it mellow. Shorten your shower, or take fewer showers. Wash your hair or shave in the sink. Use a cup of water when brushing teeth instead of letting the faucet run.

How about a garden - do you have even a small back yard? Some fruits and vegetables are also ornamental, like strawberries or onions, and could be used in front yards. No yard? Tomatoes and many other veggies do well in containers on a sunny balcony. Growing and preserving your own food will save a chunk of your grocery bill, not to mention the health benefits.

Cook from scratch - this is a biggie. Convenience foods and eating out "eat" up a big portion of a paycheck. Start by comparing what it would cost to make it at home to what it costs to buy it. For example, a $3 loaf of bread costs 50 cents to make, even with organic, whole wheat flour. A spaghetti dinner with salad and breadsticks for $9 at a restaurant, costs about $1.50 per person at home. And like most things, if you start off taking a long time to cook, as you keep at it, it won't take so long. And you can precook many items and freeze them for busy weeknight dinners.

Electricity - turn it off! Computers, televisions, lights, heaters, air conditioners, etc, etc. Get into the habit of turning things off when not in use. Limit computer and TV time - get out and play, read or get crafty instead. Switch to smaller, more energy efficient room air conditioners. Turn off when leaving, back up with a small fan if more air circulation is needed.

Gas - turn the heat down, put on sweaters, long johns, blankets. Walk or ride a bike instead of driving. Check out the bus routes or think about taking the train. Look into hybrids if you're ready for a new car. Try to group errands into one trip instead of constantly driving back and forth.

Learn to read all your meters, and read them weekly. This way you can track your usage and find what is working in saving energy and money.

This list is just a beginning. Start off with a few new habits and when you start seeing the results you can add in what works for you. Some great resources for ideas are the classic "Living More with Less" by Doris Jantzen-Longacre, "Miserly Moms" and "Frugal Families" by Jonni McCoy, and of course, Countryside Magazine.

And just in case you're wondering whether Mrs. D is tempted to move back to the Big City, know that she kneels and kisses the Homestead soil every time she returns from one of these trips.

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Conquering Mount Clutterest

Mrs. D likes visiting with other homesteaders and she has noticed that we seem to have one thing in common with everybody else. We collect stuff. What we collect may be different, but the resulting massive clutter is the same. As Mrs. D tackle her own mountain of clutter, she figures it's appropriate to share some of her own trials, observations and solutions.

The problem with homestead clutter is that you really might need those empty jugs for something and that salvaged building material most likely will come in handy someday. So what to save and what to toss? Mrs. D struggles with this one.

Paper clutter is just as big a problem on the homestead as in town. It seems that ninety percent or so of our mail nowadays is just junk. And then there is the excessive packaging in anything you buy or mail order. Mrs. D's routine with paper clutter is to go through the mail as soon as she gets home with it. All junk is immediately put into the shredder pox. As she shreds, she saves another box of used envelopes and blank scraps for notepads - why pay for something you can reuse? Any 8 1/2 x 11 paper that is blank on one side is saved for use in the copier to save on the "good" paper. Blank envelopes that come with those greeting cards you get in hopes you'll send in a donation are saved, as well as those name labels organizations send out. Another box saves newspapers for starting the woodstove and soaking up messes that "city folk" use paper towels for. Shredded paper is used for bedding in the chicken coop and pig pen or for packing material.

Containers get reused. Glass ones are washed out and if they pile up, they are boxed and stored for juicing, canning and drying time. Some plastic containers are saved but if they pile up unused for months, they are discarded. Same goes for tin cans, boxes, etc.

Building materials have their designated area of the yard. They can pile up and sit there until needed, bartered, or considered not useful anymore.

As far as clothes, books, appliances, etc., if it hasn't been used for over a year and is not likely to be used in the coming year it is given away. Broken appliances such as a crock pot that can be used for animal feed and water or some such are saved. Clothing in disrepair is recycled as rags or discarded. Toys are gone through periodically and kept to a minimum, discarding broken ones. Outdoor play is emphasized.

Now lest you think Mrs. D came up with this system overnight or even *gasp* on her own, read on. A couple of Mrs. D's favorite resources for tips and support for decluttering follow.

www.flylady.com - Awesome, awesome. Did I say awesome? Somehow Flylady is able to penetrate Mrs. D's wall of "I can't" and help her to take "baby steps" to a more manageable household. Flylady's routines and journals are easily adaptable to Mrs. D's lifestyle - in fact they are a lifesaver. Mrs. D was experimenting with her own systems for years before she found this site, but Flylady's routines just seem to, well, fly. Free downloads, free tips, no need to purchase anything;) Addresses home, work, travel, menu planning, etc.

A priceless and timeless volume about real people, Mennonites from all over the world, living happier, more satisfying lives with less of everything - money, stuff, stress. Each chapter can be read in "snippets", short sections packed with practical suggestions for living more simply whatever your current income, occupation or lifestyle.

And by the way, don't get discouraged. It seems that around here, as in many other places, fighting clutter is a lifelong proposition. Dig in!

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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Simple? Living

The title for this month's article is a bit tongue-in-cheek because, I mean come on, we're on the Internet talking about simple living? Ha! But seriously, I find that simplifying portions of my life, at least, is gratifying. Last summer I wrote about how we haul water here in Northern Arizona, and how wise use of that water directly affects our daily life. Here on the homestead, all the dish, laundry and bath water is carted out to the garden. Not only does the garden really like this, but it saves a trip to the well once a week. Now figuring in the gas savings (gotta haul the water trailer with the pick-up gas hog), and adding it to the savings on the water bill, then throw in the savings on the electric bill (the water pump doesn't have to work while the sprinkler's running on the garden), and looks like Mrs. D can afford to throw a steak on the barbie now and then!

All that and we're being ecologically responsible too. I really don't mind carting the water out (usually) because it gets me outside into the fresh air and into the garden. Then I'm usually inspired to do a little more planting and mulching and without even thinking about it, excercising. And with all the wonderful, fresh, organic food that is just bound to be my reward for all this labor, my family is going to eat well and be so very healthy! Talk about one thing leading to another.

Okay, daydreaming aside, I can tell you that Mrs. D is really a black thumb. I am the only person I know that has killed at least 2 aloe vera plants and a thriving patch of mint. I am happy to report that my second try with mint has been successful for 2 years now. My point is that Arizona is a tricky place to garden even for a seasoned yankee gardener like my neighbor. Thanks to his nearly four score years of wisdom and Mrs. D's bullish determination we do actually get some things to grow around here. So here are some tips, at least if you're gardening in a high desert area like we are (5,000-6,500 feet elevation).

1 - if it says "full sun", don't believe it. The person writing those directions does not live anywhere in Arizona.

2 - if it says "water 2 to 3 times a week", you probably need to water 1 or 2 times a day, unless it's "monsoon" season.

3 - do not mix clay soil with sand and hay. You will get, yup that's right, cement.

4 - use lots and lots of compost. Better yet build raised beds or use containers with lots and lots of compost.

5 - shade it from the sun; shield it from the wind; divert the flood waters away from it; divert the rain and gray water to it.

6 - fence it off from the goats and bunnies who love those tender green shoots; the cats who think it's a litter box; the dogs who think it's a digging box; and those Arizona "free range" cattle who trample everything.

7 - mulch, mulch, mulch.

If you can manage all the above, then you just might get to harvest it, preserve it, share it and ENJOY IT!

Oh, and by the way, remember that the above "tips" come to you from a self proclaimed black thumb (ha, ha).

Thanks,

Mrs. D

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The weather has finally cooled off in Northern Arizona, and now we have to take preventative measures to keep our water pipes from freezing. Mrs. D has to haul water from the town well, as the water table is very low, so we rely on a pump and pressure tank to get water from the storage tank into the house. The pump is located in a tin shed right outside the house. This is not ideal, as the shed does freeze. This year we are going to use volcanic cinders, which are plentiful in this area, to build a better pump house. Mr. D has a unique way of building with cinders that produces a fireproof and well insulated building. With a finishing coat of stucco and some timbers, it is the classic southwest adobe look, without the problems usually associated with adobe, such as erosion from wind and water. Anyway, the plan is that this will keep the pump from freezing, with maybe a heat lamp added, so we can avoid the expense of running an electric heater on it during the freezing nights, and later when the days are freezing as well.

The compost/manure pile is steadily growing in the garden. Now if the chickens would just stay out of it, we could water it down real good so it could turn into nice, rich soil. Then again, maybe they’re just saving us the work of having to spread it around. If only they would keep it inside the garden plot. As always this time of year, in spite of repeated gardening failures, Mrs. D is having visions of bountiful vegetables and profuse flowers for next year. And so buckets of kitchen trimmings and wheelbarrowfuls of horse, rabbit, goat and sheep manure are making the daily trek to the garden plot.

Speaking of sheep, the Homestead sheep went to the breeder, to ensure that there will be Easter lambs. The only problem is catching them to bring them back to the Homestead. They were turned loose with the ram up in the high pasture and seem quite content to stay there, roaming free and eating crunchy crackly dried weeds instead of coming home to their nice cozy pen with plenty of fresh water and tasty alfalfa. Mrs. D and company are currently at the table working out a strategy to round them up and get them back home. Right now a shepherd’s hook is sounding like a good idea. Suggestions from the Homestead teenagers include "night ops" and bows and arrows. The Homestead baby doesn’t care, as long as someone’s holding him.

With Thanksgiving nearly upon us, and Christmas right around the corner, Mrs. D’s Homestead is operating at full steam. Cleaning, decorating, cooking, sewing, and hiding of presents are the order of the day. October pumpkins are being cut up and cooked to make pies, pumpkin breads, cookies, pancakes and more. Apples are being ground into sauce, sliced for pies, dried, and juiced. Plums are made into jams, and holiday baking and candy making is getting started. More batches of soap, lotion bars and lip butters are in process to fill gift baskets available from the homestead store. Rice bags are coming hot off the sewing machine to add to gift baskets, or make a thoughtful gift by themselves. We now have many different colors of covers, too. Watch for new additions to the store: cloth napkins, hats, rugs and more on the way.

So browse the store for homespun treats, and come on back soon, for more homesteading adventures.

Thanks,

Mrs. D

Disclaimer: All information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Copyright 2003-2012 by Robyn Dolan. Mrs. D's Homestead and Robyn Dolan are not liable for any misuse or consequenses resulting from use of this information.

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