Cackleberry Farm

Our blog has moved!

2010-10-28T04:40:00.001-07:00

Looking for the Cackleberry Farm blog? Follow this link:

http://cackleberryfarm1.wordpress.com/

Over due post!

2010-05-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

My All Blue potatoes happily growing in the 24-inch pipe Chris salvaged from his job site.

Below the cute puppy picture, my raised bed. I have peppers and tomatoes with a grid of French Breakfast Radishes. I love the grid effect a la square foot gardening.

Homestead stuff

2010-03-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Chris set up a shelving unit with shop lights for our seed starting station. It is perfect and used an item we already had. Cool!

This sifter has served a variety of purposes. It was originally built as a floor to a cage for "mobile" bunnies (I used to take them to visit at the nursing home). However, it has also been used as a compost sifter and, in this photo, a weed sifter. This bed was full of weeds already, so Chris shoveled it up and we sifted out the weeds. Much easier than pulling and got the weed roots, too

The organic potting soil we got from our friends Henry and Lita. Thanks to them for ordering in bulk! That is the kind of sharing and sense of community we are working toward.

Here's to a productive growing season!

Please comment!

2010-03-07T08:30:00.001-08:00

Just a request to those who visit to leave a comment for me! I would love to read what you think or see any requests for new projects! Thanks!

Chicken Tractor and the Indiana Brew Pub Tour continues!

2010-03-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

Off we went to Nashville, Indiana, yesterday to visit the Big Woods Brewery. I married into a family of beer snobs, who appreciate craft beers. No Bud or Miller in these houses! Chris's brother and sister-in-law, Sean and Michelle, take their beer seriously. Chris and Michelle ordered a sampler to decide which one to order. I guess sampler beers don't count! Anyway, the brew pub was nice, but very small and difficult to find. It is in an alley called Molly's Lane. We drove in circles until we found it. After lunch, we strolled through Nashville and checked out some shops. After that, off to Bloomington to the Sahara Mart (olive oil, goat cheese, olives, and beer), Butler Winery (wine tasting and, wait for it---beer brewing supplies!), and Worm's Way for coconut shell mulch. The weather was lovely, so we had an enjoyable day!

Chris has finished our first chicken tractor and it is a beauty! It is a working prototype. He has already decided on modifications for the next two he is going to make for our friend Henry. We put our two Auracana hens inside and they are so happy! I love to go out at night to close them in to find them nestled in a corner, ready to snooze. I can just see a whole fleet of these things around the property! No tilling around here, let the chickens do their thing!

Planting seeds today outside on the porch. Spinach, romaine, and a lettuce mix. I've got seeds sprouting on the kitchen table and will start the next batch this weekend. Still trying to decide which chicks to order, but they won't ship until April so we have a little time. Come on spring!

Cold, snowy day off

2010-02-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

We've been so lucky with the weather this year. It hasn't been pleasant, but other areas of the country have been slammed with snow and ice. I will not complain-it could have been much worse here!

We are working on some projects, most in the planning stages. Chris has a great design for a chicken tractor. I have been deciding what to plant this spring and where to plant it. My pet project will be my container garden on the front porch. I want herbs, lettuces, and some vegetables that make good patio plants.

Chickens, gotta love 'em. Top is Penny one of our Auracana hens. She and her friend Coco have not given us an egg in about 9 months. They are not that old and we don't understand why they stopped laying. They are both quite docile and tame and like to be carried around and pet.

My friend Helen brought me some squash she was storing that got hit by the cold. No longer fit for human consumption, the chickies sure enjoyed the treat.

I love all those brown eggs! Different shades of brown, some even look a little pink. White eggs just look funny to me now.

We've got a lot coming up. Chris is doing a presentation on February 15 about easy garden construction projects. On February 22, I am doing a presentation on Urban Sustainable Living. Can't wait!

Natural Gardeners Club

2010-01-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

I have added a button to the blog to make it easy for folks to join the Natural Gardeners Club group. We use the group to keep each other notified of upcoming meetings and events. We would love to grow our membership, so contact me or join the group for more info!

Knit, knit, knit!

2010-01-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

My knitted dishcloths. Fun and easy, good practice!

My knitting basket with my current and upcoming projects. I keep it conveniently on the couch.

Jasper taking a snooze on the small blanket I knitted for him.

Welcome Gus!

2009-12-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

Here is the new family member at Cackleberry Farm. Gus is a Holland Lop. He is friendly, but currently rather frightened at the change in his environment. After I set up his cage and put him in it, he immediately began eating hay, alfalfa pellets, and drinking from his water bottle. I think he will settle in and be just fine. Now Little Bun has a friend! I'll wait a few days before I introduce them.

2009-12-15T18:55:00.000-08:00

It is cold here on the homestead, but bunny snuggles keep us warm! All the critters are doing well. We no longer have Randy the Rooster; he killed one hen and injured another, so he has gone to meet his maker. I hate that, but it was necessary.

We have a radiant space heater in the coop next to the waterer to keep the water thawed. The chickies are doing well and the cold does not seem to bother them. When I let them out to range, they happily peck and scratch, finding grass and the occasional mouse.

I am ready to work on seed selection for the spring garden. My Seed Savers catalog came and I am drooling over all the beautiful vegetables!

Heather's wedding

2009-10-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

These are candid shots from Heather and B.J.'s wedding. They are an adorable couple. The bride is amazingly lovely and the ceremony was sweet. Heather and B.J. were married on October 10, 2009.

The reception was at the American Legion in Sullivan. My mother-in-law made the beautiful cake.

First Dance!

Dancing

with Papaw.

Casey danced with

her sister for the

dollar dance!

The bride and

her attendants.

Beautiful

Heather.

With her

proud Daddy.

A smooch

from Daddy!

Heather with

her proud Papaw.

Her grandfather

gave her away.

Mr. and Mrs.

B.J. Everett

The groom and

groomsmen wait

patiently for the

ceremony.

Heather and B.J. honeymooned in Gatlinburg. Love and blessings for a happy life together!

Rededication of the George Rogers Clark Memorial

2009-10-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

Shots from the rededication
ceremony for the George Rogers
Clark Memorial.
It was a nice ceremony,
although there was a chilly
breeze from the river.

The Sons of the American Revolution presented a flag and certificates for the flag of George Rogers Clark that was flown over Afghanistan.

The Junior Rangers led the Pledge of
Allegiance.

They were absolutely adorable.

Sons of the
American
Revolution.

My husband, Chris, looking
professional in his capacity as
a tour guide. He is a VIP, or
national park volunteer.

The statue of Francis Vigo on the Wabash River.

It was overcast and cool, but the memorial is magnificent, as always.

Today at Cackleberry Farm...

2009-09-08T12:23:00.001-07:00

Here is my newest raised bed. I've got the straw in it and will be adding top soil, compost, vermiculite, and worm castings. This is for my winter garden.

This is Scout. She is my baby. Scout is such a docile, friendly chicken. She lets me hold and cuddle her and will make happy chicken noises when I scratch under her feathers. She is also the most curious chicken I have ever seen. She is always first out, loves to examine anything new, and usually is the first to snatch at any treat I toss in the run.

Randy, ready for his close-up. Chris just tolerates Randy. I think he is pretty and I even like to hear him crow. I thought it would irritate me, but it just adds to the farm atmosphere.

Roxie, one of our Barred Plymouth Rocks. Actually, all four Rocks are named Roxie because we can't tell them apart.

Roxie checking out today's lovely eggs. The new girls are still laying mostly small eggs, but they are so pretty. The Rocks lay the darkest brown eggs, they look like chocolate.

Seven eggs so far! I love how the girls share the nesting box.

The gang in the run this afternoon. They gather everytime we come out, hoping for treats. Spoiled chickens! Anyone who talks to me on the phone when I am out back can hear the chickies "talking" to me, begging for treats.

There is always so much to do. I have homework to finish, a dinner to attend, bunnies to care for. I love it!

Watermelon on a trellis!

2009-09-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have this cute moon and stars watermelon happily hanging from a trellis in a raised garden bed. I am thrilled that this actually works. My tomatoes are still looking good and I have been making heirloom tomato salad using a variety of tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and a splash of white balsalmic vinegar. A dash of salt and pepper and I am in tomato heaven!

Vincennes Farmer's Market

2009-08-21T11:11:00.001-07:00

We have been enjoying the Farmer's Market this year. I have been pleasantly surprise to find a few heirloom varieties of veggies. The new pavilion is amazing, providing shelter yet remaining open. Definitely an asset to the community. Here are a few of the wonders we have found there:

Chocolate cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, low-acid yellow cherry tomatoes, cherry tomatoes.

Beautiful eggplant.

Summer squash, oriental melons, honeydew. Yum!

And our absolute favorite: Local honey, absolutely delicious, from Brad's Berry and Peach in Monroe City, Indiana. Obviously, we have been enjoying this treat as often as possible. I'll be heading to the market tomorrow morning to find more local produce.

New Spinning Wheel!

2009-08-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hub and I took a trip to Bloomington today. We were really going to pick up some basmati rice at the Sahara Mart. We like to buy it in bulk, it is far tastier than plain white rice. Anyway, we went in a few stores in downtown Bloomington, including a lovely yarn shop. Hub talked to the owner and just happened to ask if they sold spinning wheels. Well, she said that they were getting ready to sell their old wheels and purchase new ones. She showed us her beautiful, well-cared for used wheels. The price? An amazing $150! Quite an excellent deal. It came with four bobbins. I have been practicing with the treadle tonight and will try it for real tomorrow.

Natural Gardener's Club

2009-08-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

We had our meeting of the Vincennes Natural Gardener’s Club tonight at the Fortnightly Club. As usual, we had a carry-in dinner. As usual, I ate too much of the amazing food! Below is a sampling of the culinary delights we enjoyed.

Sustainable Living Fair

2009-08-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

Now, why didn't I know about this last year? The second annual Sustainable Living Fair in Columbus, Indiana, will be on September 26, 2009. I can't wait to go and check it out! The website:

http://slf.helpmotherearth.com/

Expanding the chicken run and I've got new wheels!

2009-08-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

My new wheels! It is a Schwinn Point Beach Cruiser! I am so excited and can't wait to take it out on the road.

In the foreground, the old run, which was bent PVC pipe covered in chicken wire. That's Hub in the background working on the deluxe new runs. Each side of the coop has its own run. This should help keep the chickies from pecking the snot out of each other.

As usual, Sophie is supervising the activitiy.

The girls are curious about the hole Chris cut for the vent. They tried, but are too big to get out that way!

Finally, a ripe tomato! This is one of my Mr. Stripey tomatoes, just about ready to eat!

It is stinking hot here today and very humid. I need to clean out the coop and put in new bedding, but I don't think I could stand to be "cooped" up in this heat. I'll try to get an early start tomorrow while it is cool.

Supper harvest

2009-08-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

Chris pulled some of our beautiful Oxheart carrots for supper tonight. We are having ribeyes, fried potatoes with onion and bell pepper, and glazed carrots. Yum! The bunnies enjoy the carrot tops and we enjoy the bottoms!

Rain

2009-07-30T06:34:00.001-07:00

So, no solar clothes dryer today. It is rainy and seems to have settle in for the day. So, I'll keep decluttering inside the house. I can make a run to Good Will and the library to unload books and clothes we don't need. I also plan to make bread today. I think breadmaking is a learned skill. My first loaf, 17 years ago, could have been used as a brick. I doubt there has ever been a bread so dense. I hope I have better luck today!

Today on the homestead...

2009-07-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Busted! I caught the youngsters peering at me through the French doors! This is the first time I have seen them on the deck, the little stinkers. They have been out enjoying bugs all morning. They should be close to needing nesting boxes. I'll have to look around to see if I can throw something together for them to lay in. I did warn Chris that I would be using his power tools! Run, chickies, run! Scout looks like she is about to take off as she flees to "safety!"

Randy the Magnificent. This bird is so full of himself. My friend Jeanna begged for his life. That and my soft heart are the only reasons he has been spared the stew pot. He was not attractive as a chick, but he has become much prettier the last few weeks.

Marigolds, Dragon carrots, heirloom tomatoes. So pretty! This raised bed has done so well this year!

My Black-eyed Susans have gone crazy again this year. It is so amazing to look out and see this lovely yellow field every day. The pollinators have been buzzing like crazy around these gorgeous flowers.

My acorn squash has made an appearance. I can't wait to cook with these! I love winter squash and it is so good for you, too!

On a stroll around the woodsrow, I found the sumac looking good. I have never tried to pick any. I am told it can make an excellent drink, rather like lemonade. I have never tested that theory. There isn't very much of it and I know the wildlife enjoys it in the winter. So, I'll leave it be.

Hidden treasure! I found more blackberries that look lucious. There aren't very many, but I think I could make a vinaigrette dressing with these.

Just peachy! These pretty peaches are just starting to ripen. Not very many, but it is the first fruiting for this tree. I want to order some bare root dwarf variety fruit trees this fall to expand our orchard. If you can call three fruit trees an "orchard!"

On my own...

2009-07-26T10:32:00.001-07:00

I am now unemployed, for the most part. I will be home for the next two weeks, working on improving the homestead. It is my intention to make a living from out land, getting out of the stress and rat race of a "job." I am scared to death but excited by the possibility of supporting us with our homestead. So, I have started with the basics. I am cleaning and decluttering, weeding and planning. It is good to be home...

I have issues

2009-07-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

I don't have any photos to post this time, but I do have a lot to say. Although I have been busy the last many months with school and work, I still have causes and issues that are near and dear to my heart.

I truly believe that our corporate system and our farming system is in need of serious change. These large-scale industrial systems undermine our diversity, our healthy eco-system, and our healthy people.

I believe in a sustainable model for living. This doesn't mean you have to do without, it means you must make mindful choices. I know that the processed food in our supermarkets makes a negative impact on our planet and our health. People have lost the connection to their food. Food-borne illness seems more common and our food all tastes the same.

I am trying to make a small difference by growing some of my own food and raising chickens for eggs and rabbits for wool and fertilizer. I intend to add goats in the next year, to increase the fertilizer production, perhaps even to use for weed control.

I recently purchased a more fuel-efficient car. It isn't the hybrid I have been dreaming about, but I recently got 50 mpg on a short trip to Oklahoma. I would like to start using a bike to get around town on the weekends. This would also make a small difference. It would certainly save gas and reduce wear on my car, which has to last me ten years.

I want to increase my community connections with others who are interested in sustainable and organic living. These human connections are what it is all about. We need to help each other achieve the healthy lifestyle that will benefit our community.

I want the food that is in the grocery store to be labeled so the consumer will know exactly what they are getting. That means everything. There shouldn't be anything hidden in our food.

So, I will keep joining campaigns to let my government officials know how I feel. I will pay close attention to what I buy at the store. And I will keep my little homestead going to give me the most wonderful heirloom produce.

I will also try to educate anyone who will listen. So, thanks for listening.

Tour of Cackle Berry Farm

2009-05-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

Here is my raised bed with carrots, radishes and heirloom tomatoes.

Here is my porch garden. I have two kinds of lettuce, herbs, and yellow tomatoes growing here. You can see our rain barrel and rain chain in the back ground.

Sophie would like to come out to play!

Rascal is curious about the camera!

Binky is in need of a good grooming!

Here is our mini-orchard. That's our peach tree in the foreground. We already have little peaches! There are two apple trees behind the peach, but they are hard to see in this photo.

Angel is so sweet! Hub groomed her this week and got some wonderful wool to spin.

Here is my front flower garden. It is part of my wildlife habitat. I have had hummingbirds and bees already. I can't wait for the butterflies!

My strawberries are going strong. Another week or two...

Bush beans and cucumber.

The girls sometimes prefer this corner instead of their nesting boxes.

Here is Penny, one of my Auracana hens.

The girls are pigging out on clover I pulled for them.

Here are my Smart Pots where I planted my potatoes.

Potatoes coming up!

Roma tomato.

My tomato and pepper seedings. I'll be repotting them this week and getting them hardened off.

So, that's today on Cackle Berry Farm. Next time, I'll show off our new chickens and expanded garden.

Basil!

2009-04-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

I planted my basil seeds today. I am really looking forward to making pesto! I love it tossed with pasta with tomatoes on the side.

I watched a Garden Girl video today where Patti Moreno made a cucmber salad. It looked so good. I can't wait to give that a try. My radishes and carrots are looking good. I can't wait to harvest. My peppers seem about ready to harden off, maybe in about a week when it warms up again.

The new little chickies are growing like weeds. The look a little different each day. The Barred Rocks are in that 'so ugly they're cute' stage. The red sex-links are still fluffy and adorable.

Chris got Rascal out for a snuggle this evening. He is still nervous and hard to catch but does OK when being held.

I need to finish filling my latest raised bed this week, as well as building the third. I have at least four more to go to accomodate all my plantings. I have been thinking about ordering some more Smart Pots to give me more growing room.

It is storming right now. It rained this morning, but was calm most of the afternoon. I was able to do a little work outside, like pulling weeds for the chickens and changing the bunny pans. I took the opportunity during that lull to get the basil seeds planted.

I am looking forward to this growing season!

Still planting...

2009-04-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

I got the bush beans planted today. The carrots and radishes are springing up, but the peas look amazing! I can't wait to have a spare day to really get cracking on my raised beds and get more stuff in the ground. I have more peppers to get started and I hope to get them going tonight.

My heirloom tomatoes have been disappointing. They haven't had a very good germination rate. I should still have enough plants to be worthwhile, but it is a let down.

Hub is wanting to till a plot behind the chicken coop. I think that would be helpful for my pumpkins, gourds, watermelon, and corn.

I got a surprise on Monday. I came home and went to check on the four Barred Rock chicks. I thought, "They are so cute. Even the yellow ones are cute." I did a double take--there were six more chickies in the brooder. Chris couldn't help himself, he just had to get six more red sex-link pulllets! So now we have 22 chickens. I guess we will be expanding the coop!

Rascal!

2009-04-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

I finally have new pictures of our newest critters! Rascal arrived yesterday and he is the sweetest little scrap of bunny goodness! He is a mini Rex, black with tan accents. He is so quick, but doesn't mind being handled.

We went to Newburgh today to the herb festival. On our way down, we stopped at Rural King to pick up supplies for Rascal's cage. They had chicks, so of course I had to look. They had Barred Rock pullets, four of them left. We went ahead and bought them. So, we have more chickens here at Cackle Berry Farm. The more the merrier!

I can't believe...

2009-04-04T14:27:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it is supposed to snow on Monday. This is a lovely Saturday. We have been outside a lot. Hub mowed the front yard. I planted radishes beside the carrots. The peas are up. It is so mild, it is hard to think we may get snow. I am ready to be done with snow!

I am hoping we can construct two more raised beds tomorrow. I can get them filled and ready to plant this week. I plan on getting more of my seeds started indoors this weekend. More peppers and leeks.

Dad is having surgery on his carotid artery on Monday. I am quite worried, but I'm sure he'll be fine. He goes in at 6 AM and his surgery is scheduled for 8 AM. It is supposed to take a couple of hours, but I know it might go longer. I have Monday and Tuesday off work to be with him.

I am working on my homework assignment and hope to complete it this evening. This is my team project, so I have a little more research to do.

I am determined to finish this degree although my heart really isn't in nursing anymore. Maybe it is just the management side of it. I am hoping that with getting our consumer debt paid off, I can semi-retire in about five years. Then I could stay home and grow potatoes, just working when I want. Very cool thought!

For Crystal

2009-04-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the small pen we made for our chickies when they were small. The bin in the background is the brooder. We put it beside the pen to block the sun and wind a bit.

2009-03-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

Our cats, Duchess and Jasper. Duchess is the grand white lady, Jasper is our clown prince.

Angel Bunny loves to snuggle. Isn't she the sweetest fuzzball?

I love this fuzzy face. She is absolutely precious.

2009-03-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Chickens hanging out in the yard-Red and Rocket, and my head chicken in charge, Lily.

Here are the girls in the run.

We have the world's most spoiled chickens!

2009-03-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Sophie frolicking and close up! Our first raised bed, in process and ready to plant.

Binky

Homestead update

2009-03-31T17:58:00.000-07:00

I finally have photos to post of the homestead and critters. We have had such nasty weather for the last couple of days, rainy and cold. I am ready for spring to return. My peas and carrots have not sprouted yet, but I am sure I am being premature.

One garden box done!

2009-03-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

We finally finished one of our raised garden beds. Three more to go, at least. We have had to purchase soil. We covered the bottom with newspaper to squelch weeds, then added straw to fill the bottom part of the bed. It took about 24 bags of soil then compost to top it off before it was full. It looks beautiful and ready for planting. Too bad I don't have anything ready to go in!

The beds from last year need some work. The soil has settled, so I'll need to buy more soil to top them off, then add some compost. For those beds, which are not as tall, I want to plant strawberries, lettuce, peas, and herbs.

I want to plant a lot of basil. I am dreaming of pesto! I did buy a rosemary plant today, but I need to decide where to put it.

Still lots to do!

Hurry spring!

2009-03-18T15:58:00.001-07:00

I have made some progress getting this growing season started. I have planted my tomato and pepper seeds in their starter cells. I planted some lettuce seeds in containers on the porch. I found red leaf lettuce at Wal-mart yesterday, already growing. I put those in other containers on the porch. Angel Bunny loves lettuce, especially red leaf lettuce. Growing my own should save me some money.
The compost is looking good. My “youngest” bin is filling, but I know it will be a while until it is ready. The “oldest” bin is awesome. I sifted it yesterday to use in planting my lettuce.
I ordered a worm composting system yesterday, so I’ll be getting that going soon. I could have made my own, but I needed a system that worked as easily as possible. I can’t wait to have those worm castings!
I am hoping to start filling the raised bed that is done and build one more this weekend. Slowly but surely, the homestead is coming alive!

Still having spring fever!

2009-02-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

We had our last organic gardening class this week. There was a seed swap at the end of class. Although we did not have seeds to share, there were so many offerings we were able to get many types of seeds for our gardens. Chris finally had to tell me to stop!

I think I will try to build my first raised bed this Sunday. I would like to have six of them. I may need a few more, with everything I have to grow. Actually, the gourds will probably do better in our sandy soil, rather than the raised beds. I think I should save our "good" soil in the beds for our vegetables. The gourds can make themselves at home in the ground.

I will have to construct some kind of barrier to keep the chickens out of the garden. I love to let them out and free range. They get to play, run, flap and do all things chicken. I also love that they will gorge themselves on grasshoppers and crickets. Last year, Chris would hunt for tomato hornworms to feed to the chickens. He gets some sort of sadistic pleasure out of it and will at times sing "Circle of Life" as he sacrifices some ravenous, tomato devouring worm to the hens. Silly man. I just love him.

The seeds I ordered from Seed Savers shipped today, so I expect them to arrive soon. I have some worries about starting from seed, but will give it my best effort. It is so exciting, to grow food for yourself. I suppose it is easy for me to say that. If my crops fail, I can still go to the grocery store for food. Centuries ago, that certainly was not an option!

I am looking forward to this Saturday. I will be scrapbooking with Angie and the girls. I am ready for a marathon scrap session. I do need to get some photos developed, but always have plenty of projects to work on. Hanging out with my friends is the best part; doing my favorite hobby while chatting is the icing on the cake.

I am anxiously watching the fruit trees we planted last fall. We planted semi-dwarf apple, pear, and peach trees, one of each. I know they probably won't fruit this year, but I just want to know they survived the winter. It got so cold this year.

So, I'll keep dreaming of the wonderful food I'll grow here on our little homestead, Cackle Berry Farm.

Dream: A road trip to the Angry Trout Cafe

2009-02-25T03:51:00.000-08:00

I was browsing on one of my favorite sites this morning, www.localharvest.org. I love to see all the cool eco-stuff and dream big. I ran across an item called the Angry Trout Cafe Notebook. This cool book with a pretty trout on the cover is part cookbook, part inspiration on how a small business can thrive sustainably.

I googled the title and sure enough, I found the cafe on the north shore of Lake Superior, in Grand Marais, Minnesota. It sits right on the lake, surrounded by water and boats. No Coke or Pepsi advertising, use of local products and resources, use of wind power--this place is right up my alley!

I checked on MapQuest. A 14 hour drive could have us there for a tasty meal. I think it sounds like a fine adventure and it hasn't taken much to talk Chris into it. So, if we can find someone to critter-sit, we may be able to have a bit of a getaway! Now, I'll have to see if Grand Marais has a nice bed and breakfast.

Almost spring!

2009-02-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

Sooo, we are again planning our garden. Hub is psyched about making terraced beds and I am excited about building raised beds. I hope to get to work on my beds this week. I'd like at least six. Check out the Garden Girl, Patti Moreno, for the technique I will be using. Her site is:

www.gardengirltv.com

We have been attending a local organic gardening class. The best part has been making connections with people from our community who are also interested in organic gardening. I hope to encourage them to join us on a yahoo group to keep in touch and share resources and produce.

The chickens are thriving. We still have our ten original hens, plus two Auracana hens we got at Dinky's auction house last July. We actually got ten Auracana chicks, but only two are still with us. I'll spare everyone the story of what happened to the others.

We have been getting 6-12 eggs a day, even in the winter. This winter has been so bitter, we put a portable radiator space heater in the coop. They girls were nice and toasty and their water didn't freeze.

Esther Bunny died last year, just a couple of month after we got her. I was heartbroken. She was a sweetie. Binky continues to thrive and he is quite a rotten little rodent. He has such personality!

Last fall, at the Fiber Arts Festival in Corydon, Indiana, I purchased another Angora rabbit. She is a satin Angora. Her color is lovely, almost apricot. I named her Angel even before I bought her. We have had to work with her to prevent wool block. She eats better than we do, lots of lettuce, kale, turnip greens, beets and carrots. She will eat broccoli, but definitely prefers leafy things. She is so gentle and sweet.

I don't plan on any more rabbits. I love these Angoras, but they are work! When these bunnies finally go (may that be many years), I would love to get another rabbit or two. But I think I'll choose something with a lot less fur! The rabbit poop is great for the garden and will be awesome in the worm bin we will be making soon.

On the work front, we just completed our annual State survey and did well. My Alzheimer's unit passed with flying colors and no tags. I am so relieved.

I am also busy working on my bachelor's degree in nursing. It has been a challenge, but I am thrilled that I have taken this step in my professional life.

Speaking of school, time to get busy on homework!

RIP Esther Bunny

2008-09-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to report that Esther Bunny has passed away. I am crushed and heartbroken. I missed the early signs of wool block and got her treatment too late.

I am very distressed by this. I know as a novice rabbit owner, this is a hard lesson. I have had the occasional hard lesson with the chickens, too. I know I get attached to my critters, but I can't help it.

I have accepted the position of Director of Alzheimer's Care at my facility. I am looking forward to this new challenge. I love working with Alzheimer's patients and think I will find this position rewarding.

Putting the garden to bed

2008-08-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

As this year's garden effort, admittedly my first true garden attempt, was a bit of a bust, I have started putting most of the garden to bed. I am still getting some Roma tomatoes, which I share with the chickens, but most everything else has petered out.

I have learned a lot this year. I like the square foot gardening method, put forth by Mel Bartholomew, but find that only six inches of soil does not allow for enough root growth to maintain healthy plants. I really like the method used by Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, with standard sized beds that can hold her chicken and rabbit tractors. Her beds are deeper. I think a hybrid of both methods is ideal.

This year taught me a lot about the pests in this area. I can spend some time in the off season learning about organic methods to control these pests.

I have a lot of good substance in my compost bin. I need to have Hub help me put together another bin to start the next pile.

I have a plan for next years garden, twelve raised beds. Ambitious, I know, but I am hopeful I can grow a bunch of our favorite fruits and veggies.

Bunnies

2008-08-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have firgured out how to upload photos! These are shots of Esther Bunny on the day I brought her home. She is huge! Think I will need to shear her in the next week or two. I want Hub to be home to help me as I am nervous about the process. I don't want to hurt the bunny!

Photos

2008-08-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

I am going to try to add some photos to my blog. Hub is out of town and I have some new pics of Bean he might like to see.

My online friends also want to see pics of Binky and Esther Bunny. I hope I can figure out how to do this. If not, I'll have to try again later.

The chickies have been laying the occasional egg. They are so funny. They aren't nesting, they just seem to drop eggs where ever. I have to laugh--every night, they gang up on me to get scratched before they settle in for the night.

I made an awesome salad today. My homegrown Roma tomatoes, a homegrown cucumber from a friend, a sweet onion and one of my homegrown red bell peppers. Chopped it all up and added some of that new bountiful dressing. Very tasty.

First Egg!

2008-07-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

I just happened to find it tonight when I was feeding and watering the chickies. A perfect brown egg. I have no idea which chicken is responsible--could have been any of them. We searched, but there was just the one.

Hub is leaving on a trip Friday, so we won't get around to building the nesting boxes until he gets back. Guess I'd better buy some layer feed for my girls!

The garden has not been a successful venture. I got exactly two zucchini before squash vine borers got to them. The tomatoes have been rather pitiful and we are fighting those tomato hook worms. We feed them to the chickens when we find them, which is a lot of fun. They must be tasty worms because the girls go nuts!

My new Angora rabbits are doing great. I need to fix up an outdoor play area for them so they can get some exercise. I have totally loved having these sweet, furry critters!

We rebuilt our compost bin yesterday. We picked up some free pallets from INDOT and built a sturdier structure. I can't wait to have some excellent compost.

Chickens rock!

2008-07-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well, our little sick chick didn't make it through the first night. The rest are lively and bright-eyed, peeping a lot and eating like pigs. These chicks have such interesting coloring, stripes and spots. They should be beautiful birds.

We ate cabbage from the garden tonight. I am so glad Hub can cook! Cabbage, Amish noodles, and bratwurst with cheddar. Good eats!

Ten More Chicks!

2008-06-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

Yep, you read that correctly. Hub and I went to a local farm auction tonight. Our running joke (we ALWAYS have a running joke) was that I would probably buy a baby goat. Of course, we aren't prepared for a goat, baby or otherwise. Imagine my surprise when Hub bought day-old chicks.

Araucana chicks, ten of them. These are the "Easter Egg" chickens. These lay light green eggs. They are adorable.

There is one that may not make it, it seems quite frail. We'll see how it does. I say "it" because we have no idea--since they were billed as laying green eggs, I assume some of them are female. No guarantees--there could be one or more roos in the bunch.

We drove home in a storm, awful, it poured so hard we could barely see the road. At home, we had to go out in the rain to bring in the brooder, bedding, feeder and waterer.

They are now nice and toasty in the master bathroom, heat lamp in place. I hope, hope, hope the little frail one survives. The rest are quite lively. Some are a brown/yellow stripe, two are yellow, some are a rich brown.

So, surprise! More chickies! I'll post pics soon.

Things have been quiet

2008-06-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

The garden looks good-mostly. I have had a problem with caterpillars eating my cabbage. I just received a shipment of diamotaceous earth and I hope that will help with my pest problem.

The chickens are thriving. Work on the coop has stalled. The temporary run is working fine and the girls seem quite happy. I love to pull up clover and feed them through the chicken wire. They love clover. We have also been feeding them the occasional garden pest, like the above mentioned caterpillars.

Hub has been working on fixing up and apartment for our younger daughter to live in while she attends the local community college. Its an expense we hadn't anticipated and I am not sure how we are going to pull it off. One day at a time, I suppose.

I have just received the book, "Worms Eat My Garbage." It looks very thorough and even entertaining. Hopefully I can start composting with worms soon, although Hub wants me to slow down a bit on revving up the homestead.

I suppose I have been rushing things a bit. Or trying to, anyway. I want worms, rabbits, goats---but I know I can't get them all at the same time.

We are going to a nearby livestock and farm auction this Friday. I don't intend to buy, I just want to get the lay of the land. I am pretty excited about going--I've never been to this type of auction before.

I must remember to enjoy the process.

Casey digs archaeology!

2008-06-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

I went to Historic New Harmoney today to see Casey working on the dig. I was very impressed with my petite daughter lugging five gallon buckets full of dirt two at a time. She showed me around the site, which is small, and explained what they had found so far. They have located an area that held a barn long ago. Today, they were working on the area that may have been a summer kitchen.

I watched her dig for a bit as she explained the process and what she might find. We spent the rest of the morning at the screen area. I was so impressed as she worked the dirt through the screen. She found some sizeable shards of red ware, a local glazed pottery. There were bones, not human. Casey said they were most likely from pigs as that was primarily the type of animal bone they had been finding.

We also talked about personal things, her boyfriend, school, and how she was trying to be self-sufficient. How she has matured in this last year. I am so very proud of her.

She thinks she will finish her psychology degree at USI, then do her graduate work in anthropology. As she was working at the screen, covered in dirt and sweat, she said one thing I will remember forever: "Doing this makes me happy."

Then, my darling, this is what you should do.

Wildlife Habitat!

2008-05-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

My land is now certified with the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat. I am thrilled! This has been a goal of mine for years.

There are a few more things I want to do, as money allows.

I would like to put in a small wetland
I want a habitat for amphibians
I'd like a water feature
I definitely want a bat house
I want a house for mason bees (love those pollinators!)

I think all these things are compatible with my homesteading activities. I find great pleasure in nurturing the wild creatures that share my home.

Last year, I hung up a bird house gourd. I was so disappointed that no birds used it. This morning, Hub told me to go look. There's a nest inside, and a wren flew out as I approached! I am delighted!

The garden is doing well. Except, only a few corn plants have sprouted. I may plant a few more tomorrow and see what happens. The zucchini looks good. Can't wait for fried zucchini and zucchini bread. MMMMM!

Our solar clothes dryer (clothesline) has continued to bring me pleasure. It may sound funny to some, but I love being outside, hanging clothes and folding them as they come off the line. It's soothing. There has been a stiff wind today, so it hasn't taken things long to dry!

Hub is working on the chicken coop. He has installed the door for the chickens and only needs to rig up a pulley system to open and close it. Now he is finishing off the side of the coop where the lttle door is so we can get it sided, painted and the run put up. The chickies are getting too big for their little pen!

I have checking into what kind of goats I'd like to get next year. I am leaning towards the Dwarf Nigerian goats. They have milk with a high butterfat content, good for making cheese. I need to eventually pick a spot for a shelter for the larger livestock. I worry about coyotes getting the goats, so I may look into a guard lama.

I also definitely want Angora rabbits. I am going to learn to spin this year if it kills me! Drop spindle and on the wheel. I'd like to be able to spin right off the rabbit. Besides, they are adorable!!

Salad in progress

2008-05-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I planted swiss chard, arugula, and romaine. My garden is so pretty! I just wish it would warm up here. I think the garden will really take off with some good sunshine!

I bought crickets for the chickens yesterday. I love to watch them go nuts and chase around the coop. Of course, whoever gets the last cricket gets chased around by the others until the cricket is eaten! So funny! They make more "chicken" noises now, instead of peep, peep, peep. They look so surprised when a full blown cluck emerges.

I almost ended up with a bunny yesterday. I was at the pet store (small pets only, no cats or dogs) to get the crickets when I noticed an enclosure full of bunnies. One little lop hopped up to the glass, sat up and wiggled its nose at me. Instant love! For only $25. Of course, then I would have to buy bedding, a feeder, a waterer, food and a cage. But, oh, I wanted that little rabbit. It was all I could do to take my crickets and leave.

I have filled all the space in my garden. I now wish I had more room. I was walking in our back acreage this morning, looking at all the space, planning projects to make use of that area. We have 3.3 acres and it seems a shame not to utilize it.

I have it in wildflowers and prairie grasses, but I am still fighting Johnson grass. I am trying to conquer that by hand weeding as I don't want to mow down the beneficial plants. We have planted trees out back, but our lovely deer think we are putting out snacks. I don't want to be rid of the deer (I love to watch them), but need to protect and future tree plantings. Deer fencing, I guess.

In the next week, I am hoping to finish everything I need to get certified by NWF as a Backyard Habitat. That is so awesome to me! I love watching all the wildlife around my house.

So far, my garden rocks!

2008-05-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

My garden looks awesome! Bean got me Italian parsley for Mother's Day, so I planted it today. My cabbage is beautiful. And I had my first harvest! Two lovely strawberries, just ripe! They were tasty and I hope I have more soon!

I planted beets today, much to Hub's excitement. I have never had fresh beets, only canned or pickled. Hub doesn't like pickled beets. He says that beets with butter and some salt are heavenly. I can't wait to try!

I have everything I need to fill my last garden bed, except good enough weather. It has been the rainiest spring ever, I think. I am hoping to have time and good weather this Sunday.

The chickens continue to thrive. We have been busy, so no further progress on the coop. I put them in their pen as often as I can, weather permitting. I got them a large feeder and waterer as the small ones didn't hold them a day. Hub hung them from the coop ceiling and they stay much cleaner.Hub also built a three tier roost. It is so cute to see the chickies on it. Some on it, some under it. It's a process!

I now have a compost area, made with supplies we had on hand. I am delighted to have a place for my kitchen scraps and the shavings from the coop.

I am pleased with my progress with my little homestead so far. I am being patient, enjoying the process. It is a journey and an adventure.

Slow Going

2008-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

I have been fighting bronchitis this week. I've had three days off and couldn't enjoy it for being sick. Ick. I haven't even felt like scrapping. It has been pouring rain for three days here and I couldn't do anything outside, either.

I did gather the bills and it is depressing. I am going to have to work more to make ends meet. I love my job, but it is physically and mentally draining to me. Right now, I work 64 hours a pay, that's 8 shifts in two weeks. That is really my limit. Up until now, it was OK, although Hub is a bit weird about me not working "full time." The work exhausts me and doesn't leave me much to give at home. I don't think he understands how hard it is to be a nurse.

But money is more than tight right now and we need more. One of the new nurses is resigning and I know I could pick up a couple more shifts to make me 80 hours. Since I work evening shift, I'll never get to see Hub, except on the weekends that I am off and two days in that two weeks. I just wish I was back on day shift, but I kind of burned that bridge. I guess we will see what happens. Maybe I could work more just through the summer, until we get the Subaru paid off. That will free up almost $400 a month.

The chickens are growing like weeds. They are so funny. Hub built them a roost. When he put it in the coop, they immediately jumped on it. Since then, they have spent more time huddling beneath it. I guess they will figure it out.

My garden looks amazing. I now have cabbage, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli, basil, and thyme. Dad gave me $100 for my birthday and I am going to spend it preparing my last raised bed and buying veggies for it. I can't wait to actually harvest something, even just one strawberry.

I received a catalog from Gaiam/Real Goods that has a lot of cool, low eco-impact products in it. Some are more money than I would spend, but others may be possible next year. It is nice to dream...

Movin' sloooowly and loving' it!

2008-04-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

Things have been moving slowly here on the homestead. I am pleased with our progress and I am in no hurry. The chicken coop is still progressing. We will be roofing tomorrow before I go to work, then Hub will work on the window and door. I prefer that he and I do the roofing as opposed to him roofing alone. If he falls, I will be here to render first aid or call 911! I know, I am a worry wart, but better safe than sorry.

So, we should be able to move the chickies into their new home next week. The coop won't be totally complete, but liveable. Hub has christened the coop "The Eggplant." He is delighted with this play on words. I think it is cute!

My garden looks good. I was worried that my plants would be flattened by last night's storm, but everything seems to have come through it OK.

Since things have been slower, I have had a lot of time to consider what I want to do with my little homestead. I have decided to create The List.

Lists are wonderful things. You can use them to brainstorm, inspire, remember, dream--lists are awesome. They are dynamic, as they can be altered as the need arises. Here is my list of things I want to accomplish on the homestead:

Bat house
Bee habitat
honey bee hives
goats
Certify as a Wildlife Habitat with NWF
Vermicomposting
compost piles
solar oven

The list will gow--I could actually add to it now, but I think I'll go take a nap!

Progress on the chicken coop!

2008-04-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hub and I made a lot of progress on the coop yesterday. The walls are up, the door and windows are framed in. We put up the external part of the walls on the back before the weather turned on us. I am hoping we can move the chicks in about two weeks.

I was able to put down the landscaping fabric for the garden. We bought the vermiculite, compost and peat yesterday. I was actually able to find coarse vermiculite--at a place that had originally told me they didn't have it. Now I know to be more persistent in my inquiries. My soil mix won't be exact, but it will have to do for this year. I need to buy about three or four bags of garden soil and some mulch to complete the prep for my garden.

The chickies enjoyed crickets again yesterday. I also picked up some meal worms, which caused a frenzy. On chick had a meal worm and everyone else chased her around the brooder trying to take it away. She finally tipped her head up and down it went. They are so funny.

Another project we did yesterday was a corner garden at the end of the driveway. Hub had some split rail fence left over from a job he did last year. We put it up in a corner pattern.

Some friends of ours are relocating to Maine in a couple of months and they offered us anything we wanted from their garden. So more FREE stuff!! Teasel, globe thistle, Russian sage, California poppies, and a hollyhock. We put it all with the split rail fence to create a corner butterfly garden.

They also gave us two kinds of mint, but I am thnking of planting that somewhere else. Maybe as a ground cover near the front walk.

The weather doesn't seem to be cooperating today for many of our outdoor projects, so I'll most likely work indoors the rest of the day. Spring in Indiana, gotta love it!

The chickies have left the buidling!

2008-04-17T11:25:00.001-07:00

Today is my chicks first outing. We have a small pen we made as a "cat containment system", to corral the kitties when we were showing the house. It has chicken wire walls and a hinged lid. It is a warm, albeit very windy, day, but I decided they chicks needed some outside time. The brooder is getting a bit cramped. We are starting work on the coop tonight, hopefully we can have it liveable within a week if we get cracking on it.

Anyway, I took them out in the brooder and lifted each one into the little pen. They are so funny. They looked so puzzled. They each just stood there until everyone was together again and huddled against each other. I have a barrier on one side to keep most of the wind off and their food and water in the corner.

It took a while, but they finally started to explore and scratch. I can see them from the window and everyone seems fine. It was hard for mama to give them this freedom--I am surprise by how attached I have gotten to them. Of course, I have been an animal nut my whole life.
I know there is a big chance I'll lose some to predators no matter how careful I am. But, I have really been enjoying these birds.

This is one of the little things in the adventure that is my life!

Ready to garden--sorta!

2008-04-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I am ready to start gardening, but I am having issues finding coarse vermiculite for my soil mix. I am creating a garden based on the Square Foot Gardening technique. You make the soil for the garden beds with 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 coarse vermiculite, 1/3 peat. I can find the blended compost and the peat, but the vermiculite has proved to be a problem. I am still on the hunt for a local source (I try to shop local whenever I can), but I may have to purchase on line. Dang it, I hate shipping charges.

The garden boxes are ready. I have the landscaping fabric to put down to squelch weeds. I am so ready--no vermiculite. I'll keep looking, but I may have to come up with something else.

On a cool note, a co-worker gave me two cabbage plants for free. Wahoo, I love free! I have three strawberry plants, so I am feeling the pinch to get these cold hardy plants in the garden.

The chickies are still doing great. Hub created a top for the bin with the bin lid cut out in the middle and covered with chicken wire. The little darlings are flapping like crazy. I brought them more crickets today and had a ball watching the free-for-all. They are so entertaining.

I am off now to hang my first load of laundry on my new clothesline. No dryer today, I'll let nature do it for me!

Chickens and crickets!

2008-04-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am having a ball raising my chickens. I ended up with ten because when Hub went to pick them up, he used "Hub logic". OK, the wife wants six chickens. Some of them might not survive. So, I'll get TEN chickens, and if some of them don't make it, she will still have close to the amount she wants.

I love that man.

I have ten lovely, healthy chicks, growing at an alarming rate.

They are so funny!Today, I bought 24 crickets for them. It was hilarious. I put the crickets in the brooder and the little darlings were scared to death of them! They huddled in a corner and peeped like crazy. My bet was on our little Warrior Chicken to figure it out first--sure enough, she was the bravest to venture out of the huddle and peck at a cricket. When she swallowed it, it was like she was saying, "Hey, guys, they're EDIBLE!" Soon, it was a free-for-all, with chicks going everywhere to snatch a cricket. They sure didn't last long!

So far, I love being a "chicken rancher"!!

Creating our urban homestead!

2008-04-06T11:49:00.001-07:00

Well, we now have chickens. Ten adorable chicks, living in a rubbermaid bin in my master bathroom. I had a spare bin, so I took the easy route and made it into a brooder for my babies. Much easier than building one. We still have to build a coop, so a simple brooder was just the thing.

I am getting ready to set up my garden, using the square foot gardening technique. I think it will work for me and provide my with all my favorite veggies. Nothing better that growing your own so you know there aren't any pesticides used on them. Tomatoes, zucchini, a large variety of peppers, sweet corn, spinach, lettuce--I can't wait!

More info here: www.squarefootgardening.com/

For chicken support, I have found: http://www.backyardchickens.com/

For photos of my babies: http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/28459/view/1383385/-1/0/1.html

I am looking forward to finding ways to reduce my impact on the earth, and be more self-sufficient. Homesteading should be challenging, rewarding and a wonderful path for personal growth.

Gettin' eco-freaky!

2008-03-31T09:23:00.001-07:00

I have plans to get back on my eco-path. I have been consuming much more mindfully. I'm probably driving Hub nuts keeping lights off. Just wait until I get power strips to reduce our phantom load! I think he'll be happy about the money savings, though.

I want him to put up a clothesline this week. Even if I use it only a few times a week, it will reduce the amount of energy we use to dry clothes. I will also be ordering a garden bed from Square Foot Gardening. I have been deciding what veggies to grow. Peppers, definitely. Zuchinni, eggplant, tomatoes, lettuce. Herbs--rosemary, parsely, basil, oregano. I may try to grow some sweet corn. Very cool.

What's going on?

2008-02-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

This has been such an unsettling day. Hub and I have been spatting off and on. I don't know if it's because I'm hormonal (a new experience for me) or if we are both just stressed about money and finances. We really had a yelling match today and Bean walked in on it. Heck of a thing to come home from college to your parents fighting.

So, I put in a pork roast (Hub's suggestion), took it out and the veggies aren't done. I'll let it go another 20 minutes and check again. Of course, now Hub is napping. He didn't tell me he was going to nap and for some reason that pisses me off. I am never this easily upset, so I don't know what to think. I am really just trying to keep my mouth shut to keep the peace.

I haven't accomplished anything, really. I guess I cleaned up a bit, did some dishes and laundry. We took the dogs to the park, which they totally loved.

I have an appointment Feb 26 to see Dr. Huse again. I know this bothers Hub because of our money situation, but I need to try. I have been picking up extra hours at work and will continue to do so.

I have to admit--I made a purchase last week at the scrapbook store. I really didn't mean to spend $50. So, I am staying out of stores. I would prefer to do the household shopping along with Hub, to keep us both honest. It really is easier to save money that it is to earn it.

I have been using interlibrary loan and am waiting for my books to come in. So much cheaper than buying, but I still get to browse on Amazon!

Hub has talked about getting another job, at least for a while. I hate that. It would limit our time together. It would limit our time to work on the house.

Somehow, I feel our financial situation is all my fault. I know it took both of us, but I still feel pressure to be the one to fix it.

Such a bad girl

2007-10-30T17:33:00.001-07:00

I had a stressful work week and often found myself at the convenience store or McDonald's. I truly need to work to be more prepared. My major consumption issues tend to relate to food products. It is so hard to find the energy to cook from scratch. Not time, energy. And I really enjoy cooking.

I applied for a new job week before last, but I haven't heard back yet. I know it would pay less, but the hours would be a dream. I hope I at least get called for an interview. I have a friend who works there, she told me it can take them a while to respond to applications. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

eco-stuff

2007-10-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

OK, trying to get back on my more eco-friendly path. I do pretty well most of the time, but often convenience is tempting. When I take my lunch to work, I do a "trash in, trash out" kind of thing. I use re-usable containers and bring any cans home to recycle.

I have become interested in this whole "phantom load" thing. I know electronics use power, even when you turn them off. I would like to try power strips so the whole shebang can be turned off, the TV, computer, dvd player, microwave, etc. I wonder how much the dollar savings would be? My house is total electric, so it would be easy to track.

I am also looking into having chickens. How much fun would that be?? About four would be nice, I think. We use a lot of eggs, making frittatas, stratas, quiche. They cut down on pests, clear the ground, use up kitchen scraps, make fertilizer--sounds good.

I just wish I could do better with my transporation. I have to drive 22 miles to work. Walking to shop and to social/community events isn't feasible because we live just too far out. It's something I'll have to think about, maybe I can come up with something better.

Bean's mom

2006-08-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

She is driving us nuts! She can't seem to get it through her head that Bean is 17 years old, four months shy of 18, and isn't going to take any more of her crap. She is making demands and threats, which isn't unusual. But she has not paid a penny to us for the child's upkeep. I gladly do that. She may as well be my daughter, I have always treated her thus. She has never gotten over Hub getting primary custody. It has been stuck in her craw for years.

Bean handles it pretty well. Better than I would. I just worry when Bean is a young adult, out in the working world. I'm just betting that she will be pestered by her mom and that side of the family for money. I've told her that she needs to put her foot down from the start, that she is not going to give them money. It would be so much better to not have to even start that kind of nonsense.

Bean deserves a good life. A life free of chaos and drama. Her mom lives on drama. If there isn't some tragedy going on, she thinks she's not living.

I wish she would back off on the religion thing, too. Bean doesn't think she wants to be Mormon. If she decides that's what she wants, fine. But Hub and I think she should be free to choose. Of course, being raised by a pagan step-mom makes you open your eyes to all the truths in the world. I'm glad Bean has an open mind.

I am so proud of her. I think she has a wonderful life ahead.

Cease and desist order

2006-08-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

I suppose if I wanted peace and quiet in my household, Hub and I should not have adopted Kya and Sophie. The cats had just become accustomed to life without a dog, then we bring not just one, but two canines in the house. Kya only bothers the cats if they get near her food. Sophie thinks they are her personal toys. Jasper isn't afraid of her, he will smack the snot out of her muzzle if she gets too close.

Of course, I brought this chaos on myself. I only have a twinge of regret when I am trying to quietly read, then Sophie will dash into the room and across the couch, knocking me and the cats everywhere. Duchess has taken to staying upstairs in Bean's room a lot. It is safer there. And quieter. Heck, I might start hanging out there when the fur is flying.

Having Kya has been good for my activity level. She insists on going for walks a couple of times a day. Won't let me back out of it, either. She can give me the look-you know, the one dogs give when they are guilt tripping you. So, out the door we go. For a more peaceful walk for both of us, I have been leaving Sophie behind. That gives my time to bond with my dog.