Homemaking on the Homestead

Well today started off on the busy side.   I am working my way through several loads of laundry.   I sat with Isaac as he began his new set of Paces.   He started learning to tell time today and was so thrilled with this.. Which I thought was cute.   Now he wants a watch with analog time so he can practice.   I will do that since analog clocks are becoming an ancient relic of the past!   Last night my oldest son who is in the Army and has been at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba for the last 2 months sent me some pics.   It looked sunny and warm there a nice comparison to my wet, gray and cold weather.   I may have to use the pic from the beach as my screen saver just to remind myself that warmer, sunny days will be here soon!!!!     He took a pic of himself and I thought I would share that..   just having a “proud mama” moment!     I am proud of him and his service to our country.       Late Saturday night my...

Well today I decided it was time to start blogging again!!   So to begin with I will give you a few updates.   The first one is that we now have sold both puppies!!   It was hard to let the last one go.   He (we called him Pudgy) was soooo cute and had the sweetest personality.   I would have loved to keep him but Tobin has a certain Pom tolerance level and that is ONE Pom in the house!!   LOL..     Sierra took this picture of him.. She took it outside a few days ago and it almost looks like a professional type picture!   In any case we will be keeping this one as a great keepsake and memory of our little guy..     This week Tobin also helped make a screened in area inside the chicken coop for the 49 baby chick that we have been raising inside since February.   I had to have a way to get them into the chicken house, but yet keep them away from the bigger hens.   The big ones would most likely peck them to death.   Hen...

I will be taking a little time off from blogging.   I will be back soon but right now I need time to focus on my family more!     Crystal  

I am looking out the window this morning and seeing snow on the hills of Oregon .. a beautiful site!!   Today is going to be a day of sewing.   My sweet hubby bought me a new sewing machine!   He also bought one of our daughters a new machine.   Sew Â…   today I will be deciding if I want to work on the jumper pattern for myself or keep making diapers.   I found some more cute baby flannel at Walmart yesterday and canÂ’t wait to turn it into diapers!   Plus I found a few remnant pieces so Sierra and I can continue to make doll clothes.   “Sew much to sew.. sew little time!”   haa.. haaÂ…     Plus I still have a home to keep up onÂ…   I need to work my way through laundry, clean the bathroom this morning, vacuum and then think about getting ready for IsaacÂ’s birthday tomorrow.   He will be 8 years old!   He is so excited about his big day.   Emily is going to make him and ice cream cake. ...

I realized today that it has been a whole week since posting!   Between not feeling well (had a flu bug go through the house) and dealing with puppies (yes we still have them, but are working diligently on selling them!), getting a new milking goat (I will tell about that soonÂ…) and sewing (been working on diapers and Sierra and I have been sewing doll clothes..), and working to spring clean my kitchen in small steps..   well,   I have just not had time to update my blog.   We can skip the details of the flu bug (it is over now and we are feeling better)!   The puppies are so cute, but other than a few calls, so far no one has come to look at them.   Next week I put an ad in the big city  paper!   I am ready for them to find new homes.   On the diapers sewing..   well between a pattern I bought from CyndiGran http://www.geocities.com/cyndiegran/index.html    (you can purchase her patterns on Ebay http://search.ebay.com/_W0...

  Looking out at the gray, rain and clouds is not my idea of a great way to start the day!   LOL..   Sunshine.. I love it and donÂ’t see enough of it in this part of the country!!     But enough whiningÂ…   on to Tuesday..     I have a question for other goat ownersÂ….   Have you ever used herbal wormers for your goats, what did you think of them?   I just purchased herbal goat wormer from Hoeggers and have just started it.   I am looking for anyone with experience on this one, would love to know what you think.     I work to get my familyÂ’s life more whole and natural, now I am moving on to my animals as well.     I posted my MILÂ’s chocolate chip cookie recipe on Friday and we (my daughters and I) actually made them that day and I have to tell you they were delicious!!   So if you are looking for a good cookie recipe.. give it a try..    We did add more flour because ours was fr...

  In honor of Friday being the Homestead Kitchen Day on The Front Porch .   I thought I would share a couple of recipes with you all today.   This first one comes from my very sweet Mother-in-Love, Nadine..    She is an amazing lady.. at 70 she and hubby have a little homestead where they raise Icelandic sheep, Dexter cows, Nubian goats, chickens and each year she as a garden to help provide for them.   Here is the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe she sent me:   Chocolate Chip Cookies   Evap. Cane juice crystals       1 c Sucanat                      1 c Butter                                 2/3 c Palm or coconut oil          ...