Monday, September 26, 2011

Things I Haven't Done In A Long Time

Ok, I did it. I HAD to go to the grocery store. I haven't been to the grocery store in a VERY long time, other than just to get lunch meat and things for Hubby's lunch for work. But, I was running out of my staples. I was down to my last bag of flour! I don't ever like my pantry to be that low.

Anyway, I went to the grocery store. I was shocked! The prices were up soooooo much! Some things I thought that I was going to get wasn't put in my shopping cart because of price.  I'm soooo glad I had a garden this year. And, I'm glad I have my own beef and chickens. WOW! I started all of this self sufficiency stuff just for fun. Now, it's more like a necessity. I sure would hate to live where I couldn't have my garden and animals. I feel blessed.

Another thing that I did this weekend that I haven't done in years is, ride a motorcycle. Yep, I got up the nerve to ride a motorcycle with Hubby. At first, I was trying to come up with excuses for me to never ride with him again. But, by the end of the ride I was more relaxed and kind of enjoying it.  I could possible do it again. hehehehe. (And don't worry Mom, we wore helmets.)

So until next time,

Small Farm Girl, motorcycle momma

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Clueless in Medicine

With the weather starting to cool down, people usually start thinking about winter. And, with winter comes winter colds and flues. That's when I start thinking about the medicinal herb garden that I didn't get to start. Darn it! I say it every year. I have good intentions but,..... well, you know.

So this winter, I've decided to plan my herb garden. Figure out which herbs I want to get and plant in this all important garden. Now, the problem...I have no idea! I am natural medicine illiterate! I know nothing! I don't know the difference between a salve and a rub. (Is there a difference?) How do I make a medicinal tea?  What if I mistake one plant for something else?  I'm soooo confused! 

Sure I could look on the Internet. But, I would rather have something that I could hold in my hand. I would prefer a book that actually has pictures and not just drawings. Any suggestions?

So until next time,

Small Farm Girl, clueless.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Question of the Day

We are selling our hay for $12.00 a round bale. Now, it's not the BEST of hay, but it's very good hay for cattle and our goats.  So, the question of the day is........How much is hay where YOU live?

SFG, question asker.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Back to Prepping

In my line of work, I have to make casual conversation with people. And me, being me, sometimes direct the conversation to the economy, the state of the country, and what could happen in the future. More and more people are starting to get a little antsy. They are thinking that it's going to get worse before it gets better.  So me, being a prepper and liking to talk about things like that, egg them on a little bit. I ask them what they think.

So far some of the answers are interesting. They range from," I don't think we have anything to worry about." to " I'm getting ready for Armageddon."  Either way that you look at it, you can tell that the US isn't in the best of shape right now. Prices of gas is going up. Prices of food is going up. Extreme weather all over the place. Plus, government parties are fighting  more than WWE wrestlers. (I'm just getting ready for them to start putting up the ring. Now THAT will make the debates a little more interesting.)

Anyway, over the last few months I have kind of lost my focus on prepping for whatever comes our way. I haven't been buying extras and putting them in my pantry. I haven't been making sure that I get the most of our garden. (Yes folks, I actually let some beans rot. I know, the SHAME!!!!!!head hangs low) I haven't been learning new skills on how to survive in case of an emergency.  I think I have been drawn into thinking that everything is just fine.

So as of right now, I'm back on track. I'm going to start buying extras when I go to the store. I'm going to start canning dried goods like flour. (Yes, it can be done folks. Look it up!) And, I'm going to start looking into alternative and natural medicines.

But some people ask me why I prep. My answer, "Why not?"  If I'm wrong and nothing changes in the world, we don't end up being snowed in for weeks, or we will always have jobs, I just have a bunch of extra things. lol.

But if I'm right, I'll be ready. Or at least more ready than some people. And, when I say I'm going to be prepping. I don't necessarily mean for WW3. I'm talking for things like ice storms, electric going out, loss of jobs. But, if something big does happen, I'm going to try and be ready for it too. 

So, what do you think? And, what are you doing about it?

So until next time,

Small Farm Girl, back on track.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Confused.

These cool days are WONDERFUL!!!!!! I want to get outside and do everything! I want to work in the garden.(Too bad it's all done.) I want to milk the goat 5 times a day. (Too bad I'm drying her up.) I want to gather the eggs.(Too bad we moved our chickens down to Hubby's dad's house.) I want to play with baby goats.(Too bad we won't have any for a few more months.) I want to pick blackberries. (Too bad they are all gone.) I want to plant flowers. (Too bad it's too late.)

Why is it that I want to do summer things in the fall? I guess I'll just go and make some soup.

So until next time,

Small Farm Girl, confused yet energized.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Times they are a Changin

Do you remember the old saying," If you don't like the weather, just stick around, it will change."? Well, that's the way our weather has been this year. Cold, hot, muggy, dry, and sometimes, windy.  Well, to be honest, I'm glad. I like the change of the weather. By the time that I'm tired of winter, Spring arrives. When I'm tired of Summer, Fall arrives. I just don't think I could live where there is no change of seasons. So what does that mean? I'm ready for Fall!

I'm ready for the cool nights where we can sit around a camp fire. I'm ready for the leaves to change their colors. I'm ready for the smell of smoke from the  fire in our wood stove. Yes, I'm ready for Fall. I'm having dreams of warm, wool sweaters. Hopefully, when I learn to knit, ones that I make from wool that I have spun myself. (I know, dream big. :))

Speaking of wool, I just got word from my friend who sells meat goats, that she will have a load of sheep going to the butcher around Thanksgiving. That means 25 bags of fleece for free! Yea!!!!! I don't know what color or how good they will be, but, who cares!!!!! I just love the opportunity to go through the wool and see if it's any good to process. This could be interesting.  Hopefully, I'll remember to take pictures of it when it comes in.

So until next time,

Small Farm Girl, season lover.