Plans in making this place a homestead...

Plans are in the works for our property and it's Homestead makeover. Since we have determined this will be home for the next couple of years, I will no longer hold out on my heart's desire. If I had known 5 years ago we would still be here, I would have fruit tree's producing by now. So no more waiting. May the work begin!

I have checked out Mary Jane's life book, cook book, idea book once again. I have it on my wish list of books i would like to own and hope to acquire it soon. But in the mean time, borrowing the library edition will suffice. In this book she has listed a nursery who sells old fashioned fruit saplings. This is the Burnt ridge nursery and the prices are very agreeable. The shipping is inexpensive, too.They come as 5 foot trees and will produce in just 1-2 years if not immediately. I desire a few "Italian" plum trees and a few "Reliance" peach trees. I would like to add more grape vines to our hill such as the ones I already have. Remember the ones from the generous freecycler?
We plan to build a wood "pergola/arbor" on the house front, where we will grow some Cascade hops .Grown mostly for the collecting of hops, but also to hide the brick facing on the house which is cracking in some spots. Nugget and Crystal will also be bought and placed elsewhere for Obstructing neighbor views from the road.

Now I do desire a proper "Hen house" for our batch of laying hens to be ordered in January. (plans are still being drawn up and materials priced). So far, Panda and I have our eyes on some Barred Rock's and Americauna's. I would like to add 2 polish hens to our barnyard just for the unusual look of them. I would like to put our ladies atop the hill surrounding the garden. Kinda like a U shapedmoat which opens on one end into a small pen with their coop. Of course a gate for me to get in the garden will be worked into it.

We are purchasing 16 ft. long cattle panels for Chia's enclosure and will do the same for our hens exercise yard area. Chia will have the goat cabin to share with Bonnie and Clyde- our Muscovy pair. The remaining offspring will be going to the auction house along with all the turkens and that white silkie. I discovered it was he that is crowing with the others. Glad to find it was not our treasured Frizzle Cochin..

The Muscovy meat amount and taste is not worth the price of butchering. I have made 4 various dishes from brine soaked roasted duck to Duck noodle soup. Each one leaves me not happy with the taste. I love chicken and it is less cost to raise and process. So that is where we will continue for our backyard meat raising. I am going to see if I can do a "milk share" with a farmer on a cow, nearby. Not sure how to work that one out, but the brainstorm will soon show itself. Our Farmer Friend has been raising a few pigs (they do not eat pork) due to the excess milk and crop waste they have. Speaking with his son, we hope to have it before January. We pay him his price for the pig and he drives it to our local livestock (no poultry) butcher. Then we pay the butcher their fee for doing the work. Then we have an all natural organic pig to fill the freezer and helped support a local farmer. Out of all the main meats, I love pork and chicken....
The animal pen has been moved closer to our home side and all animals combined for the winter. Looks rather shabby (not much of an improvement really..LOL) but the Spring time plans & cattle panels will improve the over all neatness of appearance.(I still have the Bonfire bench to bring indoors along with the other seating seen in the picture). The orange and purple disc's (inexpensive children sleds) are used in winter for Chicken/Duck waterer's. They are wide yet shallow. The frozen water slides right out when tipped and being built for cold play, they never crack. We refill with warm water 2-3 times a day depending on temperatures.This will be their 3rd winter of use. They are also great for carrying the food from the house when we stored the hay in the garage.
We are in the hopes to acquire more willow branches in the Spring.I wish to line the side property with them to obstruct more neighbor views of our property. Having the property run along the road leaves us with very little privacy. I will do the asking around to see if anyone is pruning or mind if I saw 4~ 3"thick diameter & 6 feet long branches. Push into the ground during Spring and they take root.

So those are all the big plans as of now. I have not even begun the bigger garden plans and seed charting. Tractor boy will have more work come Spring. I want to expand the garden 5 more feet towards that other neighbor and add in a small mustard seed crop. I want to try my hand at home grown and made mustard. I am working on my organizational skills and hope to stay focused on the plans. I am still working on my May herb and Craft fair items, but it is slow getting all of my sewing done for the holidays and trying to finish everything else. I still have plenty time, but more personal time & organization is desired.
Promises to be a real adventure around here soon.

The planning is such great fun, but the work will bring the true happiness.

Sweet dreams,
~Tammie

Read More

Sale Offer For the Holidays on In Stock Furniture!

Wholesale Furniture Brokers now have the Cicero dining table set from Rizzon Furniture, the platform cappuccino Retro Bedroom, Zurich Bedroom, Wilshire Bedroom, and Domain Bedroom sets from Lifestyle Solutions, and the Worth platform bed by Modloft In Stock!

For a limited time, customers shopping at GoWFB can save up to an additional $200 and ensure delivery in time for Christmas on our In Stock dining room and platform bedroom sets. We recommend ordering by November 30th to ensure holiday ship times. Our In Stock items usually ship within 5 - 10 days!

How does one get this deal? - Visit our Furniture Specials page for details, order directly online or over the phone at (866) 595-8930.
Note - coupon code applies only to the Cicero by Rizzon Furniture, Retro, Zurich, Wilshire, and Domain cappuccino by Lifestyle Solutions, and Worth by Modloft merchandise.

Read More

November 22, 2007

Read More

Easy homemade Graham cracker recipe & turkey brine

I experimented with a graham cracker recipe out of Mary Jane Butter's book with success. I substituted 3 items in it for what I had on hand which made it even better in our opinion. I used Whole wheat Graham flour from Hodgson mills instead of plain wheat,Vanilla in place of coconut extract and plain cow milk for the coconut milk. Next batch I will need to add cinnamon to the mix . You could tell it was missing. But this by far tastes better then any store bought graham!
The recipe is so simple that Panda can do it all by herself with me chatting away as she mixes it all up. (Snowflake cookie cutter looking like stars)
A round of Yuppy S'mores were had along with a tall cold glass of milk for the big taste test.
(** yuppy smores is when you use the electric burner range -on high- instead of an open flame such as a fireplace or bonfire. A fondue skewer is used to hold the marshmallow over the burner and slowly rotating to prevent scorching or flame burst. I came up with that name while teaching at the after school programs in the YMCA. I would hold a cocoa day for the kids during winter and once a month we would make S'mores over the range. I was asked by a fellow young counselor what I was making and being the smart mouth I can be, replied "Yuppy S'mores".
She was an aspiring yuppy..... And so the name has stuck.**)
I have the turkey in the brine, the Muscovy brine is boiling as I write this and the sugar cookie dough is about to come out for pumpkin shaped name card cookies. We will be spending our holiday as always, visiting my In laws. We eat at my Sister in law/brother in law's home- and I bring the turkey every year. This year they will be treated with a new taste. Home grown fresh Muscovy. I hope I do not mess this up. I do not want their first taste of it to be undesirable. I would like for it to be an experience, especially since most of them have never had duck of any kind and others did not like the duck they have had before.
So here is to a wonderful day full of Thanks, Love, and new experiences **cheers**.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie

Read More

surgery canceled, sewing a storm, & what are these?!

As many of you have read, my hand surgery was scheduled for this last Monday. At the last minute I had to cancel due to people we were relying on to pick up the children from school for a few days, had other plans and did not bother to tell us. Actually, they mentioned it to the children who told me 2 days before the surgery. They knew a month in advance of the surgery and since they normally have the older 2 on one of the days, I had no reason to think it would be a problem.
So at 6:30 in the morning on cut day. I had to call and make the cancellations. No one was happy about it, but I had no alternative. How was i suppose to drive to pick up the kids if I have to shift gears with my right hand? The cut starts in the upper palm/wrist area and goes into the wrist just a bit. Can't shift with my elbow. Besides, the muscles will be sore from being cut the day before.
Anyway, to put my perturbed energy to good use, I have been sewing like crazy. I made a pair of PJ pants for Lil' man and Frog. The fabric for Lil' Man matches the bed comforter I made for him a few months back. I trimmed it in dark blue and khaki. For Frog I used a fun snuggle flannel with "chick chicks" or rather hens and eggs. The trim is a calico remnant I had on hand which gave a nice contrast for leg cuffs and waistband. I have 3 more pairs cut out and on the to do pile next to my machine.
While shopping for fabric, I noticed the simplicity patterns on sale for $1.99 and fell with the temptation into a chair at the book table. I found a fun "design your own" pattern and quickly snatched it from the file cabinets. This is from their Jr. & Jr. plus designs-Simplicity pattern # 3807.I love the finished look with a long sleeve shirt under it. The back is black since I did not have enough fabric to complete this. I LOVED the plaid, which was on clearance for $2 a yard (normally $12.99). Which only 1 yard was left on the bolt. I knew I had some black at home just in case. As you can see, I am not very good at pleating/gathering. I plan to make another of these in a different fabric to go with another of my long sleeve thin shirts.
This was a fun pattern and despite the few "looks like a maternity shirt" comments, I will continue to wear it. Of course many people seem to think since I am thin I should be prancing around half naked. I would rather not-Thank you very much. Just because i am thin does not mean I should dress like Brittney Spears or some other slutty pop star. I dress in what I like and going into public I do not like to wear strappy tanks and daisy dukes. In the garden while its 94 F degrees is one thing, but thats where the line is drawn (and I do not wear daisy dukes- it's more like Khaki cargos).
And these little buggers seem to have taken over the yard and our house!
They are every where! I noticed them close to mid/late Summer.They were all around the Goat Cabin. Now they have migrated into our home and in the corners outside. What are they? They have never been here before or I would have noticed.
Anyone know how to kill these buggers? Gets nasty when you seem them crawling across the kitchen floor. Really gross! I do not understand why in the 6 years we have been here, these have suddenly popped up and taken over. I am fine with the lady bugs. But these are just nasty.
Today we are making homemade graham crackers from the recipe in Mary Jane Butters book. It is the experiment batch to see if others outside our home like them. I plan to give S'mores theme gift baskets for the winter holiday but do not want to give something that would not be enjoyed. These would be for those with a fireplace and children which will include some fresh green sticks for the open fire roasting of marshmallows.
Chia is enjoying all the falling leaves which is nice for us- less raking! So i am off to let her snack 'em up.
Sweet Dreams,
~Tammie

Read More

Curbside find, free trees, plus the Dad & daughter dance

The hardwood floors in our living room need attention soon. A sanding and refinish need to be done, but their are lots of other things before it. The floor is also very cold and uncomfortable for the children to play on. I have priced rugs large enough to cover the space for the winter and protect the floor while it awaits a new preserving finish. What I liked was way out of the price range and the ones that were close to affordable were, well, ugly. Money that could be spent for that new wood burner for the basement.
So just this week as I was taking Lil' Man to preschool, I spotted a huge 9x20 rug rolled up on the curbside. I always stop and ask the home resident before taking and to inquire of any faults that may affect my decision. Needless to say, there were a few baby blue paint spot on the outside corner portion and a grey spot in the other. Nothing a good shampooing and goof- off could not handle, but I was not going to share that tidbit with them. No pets in the home so no "accident spots". Total SCORE! So I loaded this massive rolled up rug into My Vue and continued our way to drop Lil' man off.
(you can see the spots I mentioned in this pic before its shampooing- and the need to paint a finish coat over the white primer. get in line...) I got the rug inside and did notice a small corner was cut out which fit the fish tank table area. This rug fit perfectly in the space I needed. A powerful "shop vac" cleaning and Lysol spraying were applied and set to dry. It is so thick and springy to our feet- maybe due to hard wood floors under our feet, but it quickly became a favorite play spot for the children. Cars and dolls were brought out, followed by book reading the latest acquired American girls book (Josephina) with a blanket wrapped around shoulders. One woman's junk is another woman's treasure.
I desire more trees along our roadside to block view of our open side of land. The 1 acre that sits to our house side. I need a fast growing tree, with low branches but beautiful to look at and enticing to watch on a breezy summer day. While at my cousins home ( use to be my grandmother's house), I asked for permission to trim off a few thick branches. I read online that by cutting the branches of a willow tree and placing in water, they will root on their own. Of course their tree has few real thick branches, so I am experimenting with ones of a 3/4 inch diameter. These trees can grow 5 feet in one season! I am in love with willow trees. I could go on and on about why, but I will save that for a post about why the cuttings from that tree mean more to me then just any other.( I am experimenting with the apple side shoot branch in the willow water. Would like to see if it would take root or not.) I will keep you informed of any success.The annual Father Daughter dance at Panda's school took place last evening. She looks forward to going every year and hopefully will continue to go untill its end in the 6th grade. Their theme each year is Cinderella's Ball, and this year they added "carriage rides" for the girls and their escorts. I was excited for her, then the captain informed me when they returned it was nothing more then a wagon ride with 15-20 people. For $10 a couple! I understand time frames. I understand a need to make money for the PTO. But come' on! That was chintzy and wrong to have advertised it as a "carriage ride for the you and your escort". Obviously, I was rather perturbed about the whole portrayal of an actual carriage- and at that price I would not have thought otherwise. Maybe a short 5 minute jaunt to accomadate everyone befitting the price. But I certainly would not have thought it would be a hay wagon!
She enjoyed herself very much and danced the night away with her friends and her 2 escorts- grandpa and daddy. The escorts enjoyed themselves more so that they had each other to talk to while the girls ran around the gym together. The Ball was over by 9 (or as their clock struck midnight), so the 3 of them went to dinner before heading home.The princess fell fast asleep as soon as her precious head fell upon her pillow, forgetting to remove her crown....
sweet dreams, ~Tammie

Read More

SM Divani 100% Leather Sofa Bed Sleepers

Wholesale Furniture Brokers is currently in talks with SM Divani regarding their unique styles of 100% leather sofas and sofa beds.

Would manufacturer images like these aid you in your search for furniture online? Few furniture listings have interior images and construction details. Please see the images below of their "Chester" model, covered here in 100% white leather.

Read More

Aruba Sofa Bed - Price Reduced!

Price change in effect immediately on one of our most popular sofa bed convertibles at Wholesale Furniture Brokers!



We have just reduced the price on Lifestyle Solutions Aruba Sofa Beds to $449! These popular sofa bed convertibles are available in the following color options:
- Black Aruba Sofa Bed
- Khaki / Brown Aruba Sofa Bed

Shipping to your home anywhere in the U.S. is just $100, you own this sofa bed for just $599! Ship 2 or more for just $150! We ship directly from the manufacturer so you know your set is brand new. Visit our site today to view these and many other sofa bed options.

Read More

Winding down the 'stead...

I am still pondering the name deal and appreciate the suggestions I have received. They have really had my brain pondering what is best. I am hoping to have enough items accomplished to do a craft show in late November/early December. On the 12th is my hand surgery so I have to do the bumble bee and get what I can done now. At least the ducks will be processed and I have less animals to care for during the winter. I am so excited to have Muscovy for dinner at least one time this week. I found a duck recipe in one of my old Victoria magazines- October 1996 to be exact. The Captain is not fond of fruity meat dishes so this one will be the tester of our Muscovy meat. It is Roasted duck breast with Spaetzle and fall vegetables. If it turns out to be worthy, I will share the recipe and a photo later on.
I have been so busy with the children lately, I have not gone more then 10 minutes with out a child at my side- even in sleep. I have had no time to clearly think and Saturday afternoon I took my moment. The Captain was finishing up the laundry for me and I drove off to the Reservoir. I walked a quiet trail for an hour and then found a splendid dock area with all these little fisherman boats. The trees were in their colorful fall splendor and I just sat on the shore, staring out across the water.
It was pure ecstasy. No people around except the few small boats floating on the water.
While there I did find a downed branch and sawed it into portions fitting the truck bed. Yes- sawed.... What? You dont carry a saw every where with you? I guess the cloth bag, blanket, boots, & bottled water in the back plus deodorant and toothbrush/paste in the glove compartment is not normal either Ay? Well it's about time you realize- I am not Normal...
So the wood pieces are being cut into portions for the seed saver "jars" and the other fat trunk is being cut into legs for a smaller bench- with a quilted top cushion. Gotta get it all pounded together and glued TODAY!After all, my hammer hand is the right and it may be awhile before I get to pound again.
We are putting a wood burner in the basement this month. After the whole insulation factor was discovered, we thought it best to take what we would spend for a month of gas into the purchase of a burner. You may be thinking "Tammie, thats not enough to buy a decent size burner.". Ummm wrong. You see, i have been leaving out the fact that last winter we had gas bills anywhere from $500- $800 US dollars A MONTH! That is insane! The home is only 1179 square feet LIVING space. The home is coming off the market since it is at a terrible low which means we would not get at least the minimum of what we need for it. So I can share that bit with you now.
I have been a little sad lately which is another reason I have not been posting. I am missing someone that I have loved and lost long ago. Fall always brings the sentimental side of me out. So please bear with me and soon i will be back to my usual self.
May the heat of the day bring long walks amongst the crunch of fallen leaves, and the chilly nights find you on the front porch, wrapped in a blanket with the one you love.
Sweet dreams,
Tammie

Read More