My Dead Goat

I have ignored this site for long enough. I have been upset and did not want to face the truth. My daughters dogs killed my pregnant goat.

It was horrible. The dogs killed eight animals in all. They went on a rampage. Total chaos.

It has been difficult for me. I went over to the farm and helped to clean up, but afterwards just wanted to have my goat back.

So, I suppose, I will be looking to replace her. We are all looking around but, no luck yet.

Our fruit tress are doing well, but rabbits have eaten my blueberries and grapes.

I'll be doing very little canning this year.

A friend gave me her jars and caner. That was wonderful. So, together my daughter and I have three caners now.

This next weekend, my daughter, daughter in law and myself are having an open house. I will be selling my crochet, my daughter in law, her die dye baby blankets and my daughter her, from scratch bake goods. I hope we have a good sale.

Wool

One of the things that I need to learn is to spin. With having an Angora goat, I need to do something with all that wool. I am a crocheter and always need yarn. So, my daughter and I went to the opening of a new fiber store in Wamego Kansas.

It took two and a half hours to get there, but it was worth it. The fibers were all natural and the shop was awesome.

I learned to spin on a spindle. The owner told me this was what I needed to learn first. Not an easy thing to do. I continue to practice, but not doing very well.

She showed us various types of spinning wheels, which was real interesting. Especially, the one made out of PVC pipe.

I, of, course bought some wool to use and just really enjoyed the trip. Now to making or spinning wool. What a task. I will just keep on keeping on, till I figure it out.

Green House

I have been so busy with every thing that I have neglected this blog. Time to get going.

My husband has been building a greenhouse. He wants to be able to have food growing all year round. So, he has started building one out of PVC pipe.

The doors were designed an added by my brother, Only In His Service. They have worked hard and made several designs, but at last, it is on its way to completion.

The greenhouse will be heated in the winter with alternative fuels. My husband is working on that now as well. More on that later.

Our trees are doing well. Lots of fruit. I will be canning soon. A friend is giving me her cans and another pressure cooker. Can not have to many cans nor pressure cookers.

More about Trees

These tress have been a real problem.

The one pear tree started to turn black. I was afraid it had fire blight. We called the nursery that sold them to us and the fellow said to put a screw driver down inside of the pots and see if they come out wet. He thought they may have to much water.

The screw driver came out drive. Then he says, it needs water.

Confused. He thought it was getting to much water, now not enough. So, we dug a small drench around the tops of the pots and bought a moisture gage.

Yea!! The trees are beginning to look healthy again.

We are buying the tiller this weekend. I will be planting potatoes for the fall. Our backyard is getting a bit crowded.

Lot's of Trees

This weekend we went out and bought trees. We decided to buy them now because the price will only be going up with the price of gas.

So, we bought them and put them in the ground at our house in town. But, we left them in their buckets so we could move them in the fall. If we were to put them on the farm now, there would be no one there to take care of them, so they are now on the property line between my house and my son's house.

We now have plum, two apples, two pears, pecan and a walnut tree. Besides the trees we bought grapes, raspberry, gooseberry, blueberry and kiwi plants. All doing well and all planted between the houses.

We also bought heirloom seeds. These will keep for a while, but I must put potatoes in the ground now. So, I have picked out a spot in my backyard and now we have to go and buy that tiller.

My backyard is shared with my husbands inventions. He is, now, trying to find alternative fuels to run a greenhouse. So, I believe I will be planting my potatoes under the shell of his greenhouse.

I have tomatoes growing, and several varieties of peppers. Can't wait till it is harvested and I begin to can. I love to can just can't stand the heat.

Well, we are on our way. Much, much more to do. But, it is happening.

A few months back, on my Supernatural Christian blog, I asked folks to suggest names for my Angora goat. I chose Delilah, thank you Donna, and she is pregnant. Yea!!! Not Donna, the goat is pregnant.

Plans

Have not been able to do much with the farm as of yet. To busy in town. Hopefully this weekend we will be able to go out and mow.

We are looking at buying a Troy rotor tiller. That will be very nice. So much easier than the old tillers we have had. We had thought about just using the tractor, but decided that we may need the smaller tiller to get into some of those small places on the farm.

We had planted several fruit trees a few years back. While we were out there the other day, we found that one had survived. Not really sure what it is. But, my son-in-law thinks it is a cherry tree. That would be great. The price for cherries at the market is outrageous. Cherries are also good for inflammation. Something I'm up for.

We are, also, still in the planning stages and are waiting for my daughters business plan for the farm. From there we will all look at our future good or bad for the farm.

Things Will Never Be The Same

This is like the third time I have tried to post on this new blog. I don't know if it is me or blogger. Probably me. Sometimes, I just don't have what it takes.

This is my first in many blogs on mine and my families journey back to the farm. We moved from the farm to the city in 2002 and the farm has been abandoned every since. We moved because I was very ill and needed to be closer to the hospitals. The farm is very, very isolated and to get any kind of help takes way to long.

The farm is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas. An incredible place of beauty and peace. We have 120 acres there with ponds, rolling hills and chiggers.

I am well now... through the prayers of others. But, I really do not want to move back to the farm. I love my house in town and enjoy the company and comforts around me. But, I can see the signs of the times and I know that God's time is short for us. I can see that we need to leave the city and become self sufficient. The price of gas, shortages of food to come, political uncertainty, and the beginnings of religious persecution are all signs that society is falling apart. I believe that :

Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

I want my family safe from the uncertainty and I, personally, am tired of the violence, negativity and cruelty of society and have had enough. So, back to the farm we go.

We have homesteaded before, but not on the level that is needed this time. My daughter, A Homesteading Neophyte, has been homesteading for a few years now and has learned a lot. She and her family are on this journey with us.

We took the trip to the farm this weekend and found a mess. Animals and people have made a mess of the house. People have stolen the water heater, washer and dryer, lawn mower, parts off the tractor and other equipment and they have also, begun to use the land as a dump.

So, much work. But, I am up for the challenge. I love to be with my daughter and her family and our goals are the same. We will be self sufficient and make our money off the land.

Life will never be the same.