A Week Of Firsts

Just like the title says, this is a week of firsts. It's the first time I canned pickles. I wasn't actually planning on canning pickles, but, our 6 small cucumber plants kept producing pickles and more pickles. I figured we would just eat them in a salad. But, there was too many of them to just eat. I can go out once a week and come back with a 5 gallon bucket full, I mean REALLY full. So I got a few packets of Mrs Wages pickle seasonings and went at it. One packet said it would do 7 quarts. It actually did 4 1/2. And at 2.98 a packet, that is too expensive! So I am looking for a recipe that I can mix myself. But as I said earlier, I wasn't planning on canning pickles this year.

Another first this week, I canned green beans. They are actually easy. A lot easier than I thought. I only did 5 quarts though, so far. I expect more to come. Now the problem is I want to eat them as soon as I can them.

I also made peach butter this week. I had a few VERY ripe peaches left after we bought some from a local orchard. I removed the pits and the skins, added sugar and cinnamon, and boiled them down until they got thick. Hubby doesn't like peaches, but he LOVED the peach butter. I only had enough for one pint. But, the yellow peaches will be ready in about one week. So, I plan on buying a lot to make some more.

Last but now least, I picked the first ripe tomato!!!!!! It was a cherry tomato, but that still counts. It tasted soooooooooooo good. I took a knife and cut it in half and me and Hubby shared it. It was the smallest bite I have ever taken of a tomato, but probably the the best tasting. Although, the first tomato of the summer always tastes the best.

Since this is Wednesday, I wonder what other first I can pack into this week. Skydiving? Bungee jumping? Driving a race car? Naaa, I'll just stick to vegetables.

Until next time.....

Small Farm Girl, first time canner.

P.S. Why do they call it canning when you are using jars not cans?

After The Storm

We had a pretty bad storm around here yesterday. A few miles north of here, a tornado was reported. We got a lot of rain, about 3 inches. That would have been good if it had come over a few days instead of 45 minutes. Anyway, the wind was pretty bad around here too. Our corn got tipped a bit, but I think it will pull out of it.



Hubby's dad's corn did not fair well.





They said they are going to try and plant some more corn. They hope they still have time. I guess we'll see.


Anyway after the storm, the temperature dropped quite a bit, so me and Hubby decided to go a pick some blackberries. We picked for about 20 minutes when Hubby said he had to get some pruning shears at the house and he would be back in a little while. No problem. I picked and picked for about another 20 minutes. I got about a gallon of blackberries. They weren't at their peak of ripeness yet. I was picking away, minding my own business enjoying listening to the cattle munch on the grass a few yards away from me. Out of the corner of my eye I notice the stray black cat that runs around our farm. It was about 15 feet away from me rummaging around in the berries. I didn't pay it much attention. I kept picking and picking. I ran out of berries that I could reach at the spot where I was standing, so I glanced around for more berries. The black cat caught my eye again. Still 15 feet away, still rummaging in the berries. "Oh," I thought, "That cat has a bit of white on it. Right down its back!" SKUNK!!!!!! Back away from the berries! Back away quietly! Once I got a berry bush between me and the skunk, I sprinted up the hill(Yes, this fat body did sprint.)to get away. When I got to the top of the hill, I could look down and still see the skunk. It was acting like nothing ever happened. It was still eating the berries. After I finally caught my breath, Hubby came back with the pruners. I was officially done picking berries that day. lol I had my adrenaline rush for the day. But, we did end up with a gallon of berries. I hope they are worth it.

Until later....

Small Farm Girl, sprinter.

Just work

Not really much to report here right now. All I've done is work off farm. It's funny, doing nails is not really a physical job. But, why does it make me sooooo tired? I could work all day around the farm and still have energy. A few hours sitting at a desk talking to people and I'm worn out. Maybe I'll have more to blog about this weekend. I know I'll have more energy.

Until later....

Small Farm Girl, tired.

Busy Day

We had a very productive day today. I got up early today(which is a feat in itself). I went out and picked a gallon of green beans, a 5 gallon bucket full of zucchini, and a 3 gallon bucket full of cucumbers. Our garden is doing really good right now. I know that any day it will hit full speed, and I'm going to cry. Yes, I know that this is what it's all about, having a lot of good produce, but I can see me getting over whelmed with the canning this year. This is my first year of actual canning. Sure, sure I've helped Mom can a few times growing up, and last year I did put up 12 quarts of tomato juice.(ooooooooohhhhh applause here please.) But, this is the first time that I have actually canned a good amount. I guess I'll just jump in with both feet. Why not huh?

Well after the garden, I fixed Hubby and me breakfast(yes, he was just getting up) bacon and home grown eggs. yum, yum. Then after cleaning up after breakfast a did a few loads of laundry and hung them on my new clothes line. I just love hanging my clothes outside. It's very therapeutic. I would suggest that if any thing is bothering you, hang laundry. If you don't have a clothes line, you can wash and hang some of mine.

After the clothes were hung, me and Hubby went to pick black berries. The berries weren't real ripe. We just picked a few. But, we did notice we have gigantic black berry bushes in the cattle pasture. The bushes have to be at least 10 feet tall! The berries are huge too. We held one up and it was as big as Hubby's thumb! It won't take many of those to make a pie. lol. When they do start to ripen real good, I know what we will be doing. Picking and picking and picking and picking. Oh, did I say picking? One of the best things about these berries is, they are in the cattle pasture. There is no weeds around them. It's like walking in your yard and picking berries. There is the thorns though. I guess if you want big berries, you have to have big thorns. At least on the wild berries. Hey, maybe I'll get some thornless berries. Are they as good? But then again, these berries are free. Can't beat that.

After picking berries we went to my Mom and Dad's to wash a load of clothes. I wash our good clothes at my Mom's. Our water causes stains on them. It's either rust or red clay, either way it's not good. It doesn't do it all the time, but sometimes it does. Why take the chance. Anyway we got to play with their baby goats that they just got. A billy and a nanny. We think the billy has angora blood in him. His coat is sooooo soft and has a little curl to it. I'll post pictures later when I get some good pictures of them. Now I might be able to get some goat milk. yahoooo! I want a milk goat and milk cow soooooo bad. But, I know, right now, we really don't have a place for them. Plus, with me working, I don't know if I would have time to milk them twice a day. Maybe later. I can dream for now.

So for now I'm going to get ready for bed. I have to work tomorrow. Yea! (dripping with sarcasm)

Blog ya later.

Small Farm Girl, dreamer.

Celebrating the 4th

Every 4th of July our little community of South Shore has a parade. For a town of 2100 it's a big deal. People come from surrounding towns and cities to see, and be in, this parade.

Do me a favor, DON'T bring your dogs to things like parades. This parade is known for a cannon that is let off during the parades route. This poor dog was going CRAZY! Not just because of the cannon, there were police crusers and fire trucks blaring their horns and sirens. The lady just laughed and tried to keep the dog quite. I know some people love their dogs, but for the dogs best interest, please, keep it home. Okay I'm done preaching.

We had to have things like this in the parade. I mean, we ARE in the Appalations.

People will do anything to be in a parade. Notice the deer antlers on the front?

I've never seen anything like this saddle add on. What a great idea!

Oh, don't forget this little feller. How cute! I wanted to go get me one right there. Good thing we only drove the car. I would have stole it.

Well I hope everyone had a great 4th. We sure did.

So for now,

Small Farm Girl, parade watcher.

Okay, those of you that know me know that I am a manicurist. Yes, I have the meaningful job of putting fake fingernails on people. If it wasn't for me ladies wouldn't be able to go out in public. Oh the shame of having short, chipped nails! Anyway, I'm writing this because I am having thoughts about quiting. Not right now, but maybe a year or two down the road. Right now we need the money too bad.

A year ago me and Hubby weren't in the same mind set that we are now. We were the people that had to have the best car, the best four wheeler, the best tractor, etc. We didn't save money. We live pay check to pay check. We ate out at least 5 times a week sometime more. Then like many people in this great nation, Hubby lost his job. He has been out of a job since December. Sure he gets unemployment benefits, but they will run out soon. This part of the country is a depressed area to begin with. There really wasn't any jobs before the economy went bad. Now there are just less jobs.

Anyway, we started talking and trying to figure out how to make more money. We thought and thought until, we decided we didn't need more money, we needed less bills.lol If we would get rid of all of the unnecessary bills, we wouldn't need to get more money. We don't need the new car. Sure it gets good gas mileage, but so wouldn't an older, cheaper car.

We also started our garden. Not just to save money, but it's soooooo much healthier. Have you seen what they put in food these days? If I can't pronounce it, I'm not going to eat it. My family and Hubby's family both have a history of cancer. Why not eat as natural as we can? It's got to be healthier.

Another reason we have decided to do the homesteading thing, is this area is so full of crime. Drugs are more prevalent here than they are in Columbus Oh. Columbus is at least 25 times the size of the small city that is closest to us. Scary huh? If the economy gets worse will the crime? It usually happens that way. If it gets where people can't get their drugs that they think they need, what happens then? More crime. If we don't have to go to town as often, then we won't be as close to the crime.

So now you know the reason that we have decided to homestead. What's your reason?

So for now.......

Small Farm Girl, homesteader/manicurist.

What's in a Name?

Okay, see that bull in the back? We need a name for him. He's 18 months. We bought him a couple of months ago and still haven't named him. We have to come up with something to put on his papers. Any suggestions? ( Nobody would let me call him Fluffy, Snookums, or Cuddle Bug. I don't know why.)

The bull in front is one that was raised on the farm from a baby. We have already sold him to our neighbor. We took him over to the neighbor's farm and then the next morning, he was back. He jumped the neighbor's fence, and then he jumped back into our pasture. He didn't want to leave! We took him back the next day. This time neighbor put him in the barn for a week. So far, no extra bull in our field.

We are dealing with coyotes. Lot's and lot's of coyotes. Just last night we heard them in our front yard! My small house dog is in heat. I'm wondering if that's why they came so close. Our neighbor had a 300 lbs calf killed just last weekend. He found it down in the holler. Half of it was eaten. Two days later he found his beagle dead down in the holler. Same thing, half eaten.We think it's coyotes. (I suggested aliens, but that just got me some eye rolls. No imagination.)

Oh I almost forgot. My fantastic Hubby built me a clothes line yesterday. It's wonderful. I'll post pictures of it later. Now I can hang clothes to dry instead of heating up the whole house while using the dryer. This summer we haven't used our air conditioning. That may not be that big of a deal where you live, but here it's been in the 90's with the humidity as thick as pea soup. We do have a small window unit in our bedroom. (I'm a wimp when it comes to my sleep. I need it to be cool.)

So until later....

Small Farm Girl, hot sleeper.