My Simple Country Living

Small Blessings

2013-06-17T15:07:00.003-07:00

If you follow my blog, you may have noticed that I have been struggling to maintain my usual weekly schedule of blog hops and posts in recent months. I am sorry friends. I have been experiencing some difficulty lately with my thyroid and endocrine system. I am preparing for treatment to shrink tumors in my thyroid, and if that fails, surgery to remove it.

I hope to be on the mend soon. Until then however, please accept my apologies as I do not have my usual stamina and will not be blogging as much as I like to do until I feel better. I do plan to keep sharing Farmgirl Friday with Deb, Dolly and the rest of the farmgirls in the blogiverse. It's one of my favorite pick me ups. I will try to keep everyone posted about my farm babies, how much they're growing, and life on our little farm. I cherish the farmgirl and homesteading online community. I am inspired by so many of you. Thank you.

Today I put fingers to keyboard to share how thankful I am for some small blessings.

My family is well. Our kids even came for a visit for Father's Day and we got to spend some time with our grandson too. That's always nice. Together the boys moved a few rocks in our little river trying to widen a small pool area for a swimming hole.

Joyful Hearts LilyoftheValley and my terrifying guard dogs in the background...

My new little milk goat Lily, a nigerian dwarf first freshener, gave me 3 cups of wonderful milk and cream this morning. Her milk tastes divine. She's now giving me more than enough milk for my two nigie kids and enough for me to enjoy in coffee and cereal too. Woohoo!

My garden keeps plugging along in spite of a few really smart and tricky gophers that have been evading my traps and stealing whole plants down their holes. I am harvesting lots of yummy zucchini and cucumbers daily now, and my tomatoes are starting to ripen a few more each day working toward a big harvest and canning time.

I am also very thankful for the friendship and comraderie of many great friends both near and far. Some of whom bless me with good conversation and comedy relief whenever I need it.

I hope this post finds you in good health, and in the company of those you love. It's always a good time to count your blessings.

Heidi

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #113

2013-06-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop now it it's 113th week!

Heidi, Dolly and I are so excited to announce the winner of a 50 dollar gift card from Shabby Apple Vintage Clothing and Accessories.

By random drawing our lucky winner is... Blog author,

Nadya of Simple Life~ Made for Love blog

Nadya is a brand new blogger so pop over to say hello and give her a big congratulations blog hug!

Congratulations Nadya! And, a BIG thank you to all who entered this amazing giveaway and our hop!

Let's get right to another week of learning, sharing and inspiring each-other shall we? I can't wait!

As for this farmgirl, I've got some serious catching up to do in the garden...After all the rain we've had the slugs are having a munchathon on my newly sprouted zinnias... I've to get out there and show em whose' boss so we can have zinnias to cut this summer! In your blog travels this weekend, be sure to check out Heidi and Dolly's' blogs this week. They both participated in a Craft Swap hosted by Michelle of Little Piece of Heaven Blog and received some beautiful handmade and heartfelt items you won't want to miss!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Heidi of My Simple Country Living
and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog
Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!
Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!
DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!

As always, thank you for your continued participation! New friends and followers are ALWAYS welcome!

The Country Homemaker Hop #65

2013-06-13T14:24:00.002-07:00

We've been keeping busy as I am sure you are too. Here's an update on our progress this month.

Our bottle baby nigerian dwarf kids are growing like weeds. My little guy was wethered a few weeks back and is doing well. My little doeling is putting on the weight now with the daily supply of real fresh goat's milk, so I am reading up in preparation of weaning them at twelve weeks.

It's been a week since I brought home my first ever freshened yearling nigerian dwarf, Lily. She is providing a steady 4.5-5 cups of wonderful milk every day which my bottle babies are happily consuming, but in another month or so that milk will be all mine for wonderful cheese, soap, and who knows what else...

Me and Lily at the show on the day I got her. She placed 2nd in all three shows.

I am keeping the goat kids housed separately from my yearling, though I do give them supervised visits daily. She's just so strong and they're still too small to play together unsupervised I think. They're housed in adjacent yards.

Our plans for the barn were set back when my father-in-law took ill two weeks ago and ultimately passed away. Understandably, my hubby went to stay with his parents for a time, and I needed immediate safe housing for my milker before she arrived so I converted one of my ever growing population of chain link kennels into a safe house for warm nights. I wired the top and bottom with no climb horse wire so nothing can dig or claw into the pen. (This is a temporary fix) Ultimately, Jerry should have my goat barn done before the worst of Summer weather I hope.

Bedtime

At night, I place the kids into a 4x3 open wire kennel inside the 12x6 kennel and leave Lily free inside it. That has been working out pretty good so far.

Lily says Hello!

I have no livestock guardian dogs yet since Jerry has not completed the goat fencing, but eventually I will have. For now though I have something equally intimidating to small predators. Please don't laugh when you read this next bit. I admit I did re-reading it.

Meet Chocolate. My baby boy. He's 7 yrs old now.

I have two male shih tzu that think they're great pyrs. They sleep in another horse wire lined kennel adjacent to the goats and provide loads of barking, which seems to scare off the wildlife. It's been working out great so far. So well in fact that for the past 5 mornings, like clockwork, at 7:30 a.m., I hear the boys barking and spy a wild turkey hen and her baby strolling from our yard under the cattle fence and out to graze. I hear foxes screaming all night long and see them some nights next door at a vacant home, but they have yet to cross my fence since my dogs have been sleeping outside in the fresh air. That turkey hen choosing to bed down behind m dogs and goats at night tells me she finds their barking helpful too.

My dogs are groomed monthly, vaccinated, well fed and pampered. Please don't worry about them. It's been plenty warm enough for these little guys to sleep outdoors.

tiny mini chicken with her brood last month

In fact, it's been unusually HOT lately. So hot last Saturday (109deg) that I lost my best broody hen. I called her the Tiny Mini Chicken. She was a salmon faverolle. She hatched 10 babies a few months back. Unfortunately, she went broody again in this horrible heat last week. Though I kept removing her from nest boxes during the day and tried to collect every egg I could to keep her from setting, I missed one and she sat til she was overcome by the heat that evening. I found her dead just inches from the door to the run. That was an awful night.

The night before that, I was locking everybody up as usual and got another surprise. I have to get down on my hands and knees and reach into the small run for my silkie roosters to lock their coop door. I did that and stood back up only to spy another rattlesnake looking at me less than 3 feet away. This guy was number four for the season already! Yikes! I had no time to be queezy. I had no shovel. What a dummy. I carefully extricated myself from his gaze and ran to the closest shovel, nearly stepping on a great basin gopher snake as I stopped. Ugh. I ran back in time to separate him from his head and call it a day. There's NEVER a dull moment at the new homestead. Lol.

I could go on and on forever with more crazy stories like these, but I'd rather read about your adventures. Please link up and share if you can, below. Thanks!

Have a GREAT week

Heidi

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #112

2013-06-11T18:48:00.002-07:00

Welcome to a very special Farmgirl Friday # 112!

In appreciation of all of the inspiring and useful links shared here each week, Deb, Dolly and I are hosting a very generous giveaway sponsored by the Shabby Apple.

Who wouldn't want a 50.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to indulge yourself in vintage clothing and accessories?

The Shabby Apple offers some of the prettiest dresses, blouses, pants and accessories none of which you'll see the likes of in your local department store. Her vintage clothing line is a refreshing blend of the simple lines of the past with the look and feel of modern romance for today's retro loving gal.

TO ENTER:

Simply leave a comment on this post saying YES you want a chance to win and please go

" like " Shabby Apple on Facebook.

You may enter to win on any one of our three blogs.

We'll announce the winner next Friday!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Now, that should get you ready for this weeks hop!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Deb of Dandelion House

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking

Heidi of My Simple Country Living

and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop! 1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!
2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.
3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!
DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!

As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #111

2013-05-31T20:35:00.002-07:00

I hope you have had a week full of exciting new adventures, and that this post finds you safe and well.

This was my view from the front door yesterday

To all of our friends living in areas hit this week by devastating storms, know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

I am preparing to pick up my new yearling milker this weekend. We will finally have fresh goat's milk for my baby goats and eventually for moi. Three cheers for dairy goats! I sure do love em.

That's her in the ring last year at 2 months old. I got to show her back then.

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House and founder of our little Farmgirl Friday blog hop.

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking, and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

The Country Homemaker Hop #64

2013-05-29T12:15:00.002-07:00

Happy Wednesday!

I hope you've been keeping BUSY on your homestead. We continue to make a little progress here on ours. I planted several plants this week including hot peppers, squash, and more tomatoes and cucumbers. I am addicted to them all.

My garden bed so far...

I am even beginning to see progress in my first real flower bed. This flower is for you DEB. You're my inspiration to get into the dahlias, and heck flowers in general. I am not a horticulturist. My schooling was mostly forage and crop sciences based. Lol. My first dahlia of the season. I hope there are many more.

My first dahlia

I washed and clipped my baby dairy goats for another show next weekend.

Clean and sporting new haircuts. Addy is even smiling for the camera!

I am really excited because I will pick up my yearling milker and show her too AT the show. She'll be my first dairy goat in milk. Woohoo! Fresh milk on the horizon.

Now, let's get HOPPING!

Please LINK UP and share what's going on in your neck of the woods.

The Country Homemaker Hop #63

2013-05-22T12:27:00.001-07:00

Happy Wednesday!

It's time to share what's going on at your homestead friends. Link up and let's get hopping.

Spring Has Sprung!

2013-05-18T23:02:00.002-07:00

Our little homestead is growing.

constructing the new chicken tractor

Little by little, day by day, we are making progress and things are starting to take shape.

Here it is filled with chicks! They LOVE it.

The farmbabies are all growing.

Joyful Hearts CB Adelaide is my little diva. She just came back from the Chino Goat Show.

It won't be long before the young chickens go off to their new homes

Eight week old hens are in the kennel above

Though my garden this year is small, it is steadily growing; in spite of lots of furry predators.

I am still picking strawberries and green beans. Tomatoes will be ripening soon, and then the dahlias and peonies too.

Jerry and I are both working hard to shore up a few indoor projects and keep on target for a few big outdoor ones too. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, though I'm not sure how long this journey will take. I feel blessed to have been granted the privilege to work the land and learn how to run my small farm. I have big plans for the future, I just hope my back holds out long enough to see them through. Lol.

I hope you have a blessed week ahead.

Heidi

The Country Homemaker Hop #62

2013-05-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday! I hope your Mother's Day was full of hugs and time spent with loved ones. My day was great. While traveling back home from the Chino Goat Show I managed to sneak in a few short visits with my Mom-in-law and my own Mother and sisters. Everyone is well and my entire family fell in love with my baby goats.

California, like much of the country, has been experiencing strange weather again this year. Our temperatures have been hovering near twenty degrees above average every day, near the century mark. Gasp.

Around the homestead lately, things have been buzzing. My NWC honeybees threw off a swarm that appear to have killed/taken over the small hive of feral italian bees that I pulled from the house wall a few weeks ago. I am sad about the loss of the feral bees especially since they were so gentle compared to my carniolans, but I do now have a thriving second hive.

My baby dairy goats are thriving. I recently cut them back to two milk bottles per day since they've been eating alfalfa and minerals really well for a while now. I introduced a grain mix (just a bit) to expand their palette.

My shih tzu dogs think they're little lords. They'd run wild up and down the mountainside if I did not kennel them. Unfortunately, they are on the menu of some of our large predators so until the main front yard fence is finished, they're imprisoned.

My garden is growing well in spite of the countless gophers and even moles. Ick! I have lost count of how many I have killed this month, but I know it's now more than 15. These last few are pretty smart though. I am going to have to figure out how to outfox them soon.

Yesterday, we found a bird nest full of chicks under a wall mounted air conditioner unit. I am not sure what kind of bird they are yet, but the mother bird is nearly as tiny as they are. Amazing. Just a hair larger than hummingbirds.

We had to move them gently and thankfully Mama has been tending them still. I just saw her bring back another flying insect critter to feed her hungry brood.

Well, I am off to weed whack. I have 5 acres of pasture to knock down this week. My hubby got me a neat contraption. It's like a weed whacker built onto the wheels of a lawn mower. It really speeds things up for me and it seems to find all the downed, long lost barbed wire... it sure is a blessing.

Have a great week on the homestead!

Please link up and share!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #108

2013-05-10T13:51:00.006-07:00

This week has been a whirlwind of activity in preparation for the ADGA/AGS dairy goat show in Chino, California tomorrow.

I will be showing my little Adelaide for the first time tomorrow. I am very excited, and a bit nervous too. It's a long drive to take with bottle babies... but the show must go on and things will all work out.

Jerry completed the new chicken coop/tractor for the baby chicks and we set it up and moved in the three week old chicks. It's a hit! They are really enjoying.

The six week old chicks will move into the coop later in the week. Two days ago my suspicions were confirmed when I heard the first attempts to crow from a baby rooster among this group. I suspect I have three roos among the younger group. Time will tell.

The carniolan beehive that I brought from Tehachapi has been flourishing, even among so many California buckeye trees. Thankfully. The queen threw off her first 2013 swarm this week, and they took up residence in a spare hivebox. Hooray! That was a miracle.

Mother Nature has been keeping us guessing lately. We had torrential downpours over a few days that washed out the center of my veggie garden, though today the sun is shining again and it's HOT!

I am heading out now to check on the chicks in their new home, then I will be off to shear my little Adelaide for her sow tomorrow. I will post about the show on Monday.

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House and founder of our little Farmgirl Friday blog hop.

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking, and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

Have a GREAT weekend and to all you Moms out there... Happy Mother's Day!

Lily of the Valley

2013-05-03T13:07:00.001-07:00

This is Joyful Hearts Lily of The Valley. She's a nigerian dwarf dairy goat.

We met Lily last year when she was just a few months old.

I got to show her for her owner/breeder Fern at the Chino Dairy Goat Show. (Picture above)

Jerry and I both fell in love with her. I never thought we'd be able to get a girl as pretty and sweet as her, but her breeder Fern surprised me last week and we will be bringing her home in about a month. Woohoo!

Here she is this week pictured with her baby buckling.

http://www.joyfulheartsfarm.com/

She is a very gentle doe and a great mommy. We are excited to bring her home and begin milking her.

Thank you to Fern and Jeff of Joyful Hearts Farm.

The Country Homemaker Hop #61

2013-05-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

What's Up?

Things have been humming right along over here in our lil neck of the woods. I am up to my elbows with farm babies this spring and loving every minute of it.

What have YOU been doing this week??? Please do share. The Country Homemaker Blog Hop is a great place to share anything homemaking related. We all enjoy sharing and collecting favorite recipes, learning about you by following your homesteading dreams/lifestyle, and I for one like to relax at night and read links about your favorite crafts and hobbies. I get inspired by them all. Please don't be afraid to ask a question either, there are so many talented men and women in the blogosphere ready and willing to help solve your homemaking dilemmas. You won't know just how welcoming and helpful this online community is though unless you delve in and participate. I encourage you to do so today.

I am wishing you a happy and productive week on your homestead.

Let's get Hopping!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #106

2013-04-26T13:19:00.003-07:00

Happy Friday

Welcome back for another week loaded with great ideas. Simply follow the links below to learn how to do just about anything farmgirl related. It would be even better if YOU link up and share your knowledge and adventures here as well. There's always room for more.

I am mid way through week number two with my new baby dairy goats Adelaide and Moonbeam. They're four and five week old bottle babies and taking care of them has been a great blessing to me. I love to nurture and mother things. Thankfully, these two enjoy it. So far so good. No signs of distress or illness, but there's much more to learn I know.

My shih tzu are loving the new babies too. My two boys Chocolate and Coco are convinced that the goats need protection and they seem to think they're their guardians...

Here Coco is taking his job seriously. Hiding under the hay bale watching the goats from outside their fence...

It's comical to think since they're on the menu for wildlife here too. We generally must keep everyone indoors or confined to kennels with roofs around here, unless we're outside with them. Here's a shot of the whole brood playing yesterday under my supervison.

Our homegrown chicks and growing FAST. The first batch of five girls were moved into a 5x10 dog kennel inside the chicken run to get acclimated to the other birds before they're eventually added to the flock. They go into a portable kennel inside the coop at night.

The little gal above is so pretty I think. The others all resemble their daddy. He's a plymouth barred rock rooster. She looks a little more unique. Can you see her Easter Egger legs? They're green like her Mama. I hope she lays the green eggs too eventually.

This batch (three weeks old) are much harder to take pictures of. Their mama does not like anyone getting near them...

I'll try to get a few better shots before next week's hop.

I have been working in the garden some. It's been in the 90s this week every day. I am NOT used to this kind of heat. My body has been fighting me every step of the way. I did manage to transplant bush beans and peas, a few hundred onion starts, potatoes, more strawberries, japanese and pickling cucumbers, basil, and some summer squash this week.

I also completed the last of two cutting flower raised beds. They're full of giant dahlias in all sorts of bright colors. (You can thank Deborah Jean for that one, she got me addicted to dahlias via her own garden images last summer. Thank you Deb!)

That's what I've been working on this week. What about YOU?

Wishing you all a great weekend doin' what you love,what needs doin' or BOTH!

Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chicken's, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of " fun things to do too! Our resident "FARM-BOYS ' ( Clint the Redeemed Gardner and Rob of Bepa's Garden ) bring wheelbarrow's full of good organic gardening tips to this hop and we are honored to have them join in the fun each week!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House, she's also the founder of our little blog party. Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking, and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!
Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!
DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #105

2013-04-19T18:16:00.002-07:00

Got Goats???

After more than a year of waiting, we finally brought home our first two baby nigerian dwarf dairy goats last weekend. They are very young, bottle babies in fact. I am enjoying them and learning so much every day.

Their names are Moonbeam and Adelaide. Adelaide (chocolate brown and white colored) will someday be my little milker. I will be taking her to her first dairy goat show next month in Chino. Moonbeam (black, white, and fawn colored) is my little wether/companion for Addy. He is such a sweet little guy.

I am over the moon with joy. It has been a long wait with a few heartbreaks along the way, but I can see a bright future ahead. Jerry is building a larger compound for them, but for now (since they're so young) they spend their days in the sunshine in this lucky dog kennel with a chain link roof, and their morning and nights indoors with us.

What's been going on at your farm lately???

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses are-

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House, she's also the founder of our little blog party. Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking, and me of course!

Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chicken's, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of " fun things to do too! Our resident "FARM-BOYS" ( Clint the Redeemed Gardener and Rob of Bepa's Garden ) bring wheelbarrow's full of good organic gardening tips to this hop and we are honored to have them join in the fun each week!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop! 1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!
2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.
3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!
4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~ Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!

As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

Let's get HOPPING!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #104

2013-04-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

Howdy Friends!

It's that time again... time to brag about that list of chores you got done this week, to share your great new recipes and creative endeavors, or to celebrate life on the farm... Whatever you've been working on this week, we'd all love to read about to please do link up below and share.

Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chickens, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of "fun things" to do too! Our resident "FARM-BOYS" (Clint the Redeemed Gardner and Rob of Bepa's Garden) bring wheelbarrows full of good organic gardening tips to this hop and we are honored to have them join in the fun each week!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking

Farmgirl Friday founder and MJF Beach Farmgirl blogger Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House blog, and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!
Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

The Country Homemaker Hop #60

2013-04-10T01:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I last hosted this hop (my apologies) and I am happy to be getting back on track again. It's been hectic over here lately. I have been struggling to keep up.

Garden soil tests indicated that we had pH issues. I've had to treat with elemental sulphur twice now to bring it down. As a result, my transplants are just now making their way into the ground. Because I knew my soil needed work, I planted my dinner plate dahlia tubers (about 50 of them) into 1/2 gallon pots about 6 weeks ago. This week I have been busy transferring them into my raised garden beds. They're looking good so far.

Excitement abounds since our two broody little salmon faverolle hens hatched a total of 15 happy, healthy babies. Most of whom look just like Daddy, our gorgeous Plymouth Barred Rock rooster. These are the first babies born on our new little farm. They've been a blessing and a inspiration. Meanwhile the front yard fence is slowly coming together so I can allow all of my animals to free range on about an acre of our property when I am outside with them. Though we live in the foothills, neighborhood dogs have been our biggest challenge so far, not the wildlife. I am sure that will change after we get the fence up and we will focus on them next.

My hubby finished laying the hardwood floor in the kitchen and dining room. Last week his BFF Roy came for a visit and the two of them completed so many tasks around here. They cleaned up much of our overgrown yard, moved some of my heaviest dining room furniture into the house, and organized the garage/workshop so Jerry can fix and build things without tripping over boxes. They also cleaned the little pool that came with this house and have been slowly working on getting it filled.

This is my Addy

I am happy to announce that I will finally be bringing home my first two baby dairy goats this weekend. I am overjoyed. I admit, I have been in prayer over this since the weekend. These babies are very young and will need to be bottle fed for a while. I am a little nervous. I sure don't want to do anything that injures these precious little ones. I hope that this is the beginning of my eventual milk supply.

I've been enjoying so many little projects indoors too. I've made cheese and butter from fresh cream and milk given to me by a really kind neighbor. I have made a few pies and cookies too. It's been so much fun baking with the old stove.

Well, that's what we've been working on lately, what have YOU been doing?

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #103

2013-04-07T16:35:00.005-07:00

Howdy Farmgirls and Farmguys!

It's been an exciting week here on the farm. We've added another ten hatchlings to the hen house. We have two broody hens taking care of a total of 15 baby chicks. Eight were hatched just yesterday. I love Spring babies! This is our first homegrown brood so we're real proud of them, and we hope they all make it to maturity.

My hubby's best friend has been visiting this week and he's been helping my husband complete some really important tasks. They're taken down the last remnants of the tall, icky fence that the previous owners had constructed to hide their illegal plants from sight (marijuana). The lumber is all neatly stacked and almost new dog eared cedar fence posts. Jerry plans to use it all to cover a few outbuildings with.

Yesterday, they strung some fencing for me to keep neighborhood dogs out of my front yard. My hens have been miserable cooped up in a run since we moved. They were used to having free reign of our entire property before that. Soon they'll be out and about again safely. They also moved my small dog run into a nice level spot in the shade.

I managed to complete one more soil test to satisfy my curiosity, and be sure that the elemental sulphur did it's job and brought down the pH enough to begin planting tomatoes. Thankfully, I am satisfied and began planting directly into the ground.

This is my first year in the new place so I expect there to be bumps in the road until I get this new climate, soil, and wildlife figured out. It's enough for me just to be rooting around in the soil, getting dirt under my nails and being outside enjoying this beautiful foothill wilderness.

In the kitchen this week I am again making homemade butter and cheese from fresh jersey milk given to me by my awesome neighbor. Her cow is the prettiest jersey around and her milk is divine!

I will be bringing home my first two nigerian dwarf dairy goats next weekend. A doeling and her brother, a wether. I am expecting atleast two more does within the next few months too. I am still working on Jerry. If I can convince him to drink and eat goat milk products I can avoid a dairy cow and opt instead for beef cows alone on the back 5 acres of pasture. After watching how much milk my friend is collecting each day from one cow, I am certain I will be overwhelmed without calves to take most of the milk each day. Wish me luck, though I doubt it will work. Either way, it will be loads of fun and work.

That's all from Fifteen chick farm for now. Lol. Now, it's YOUR turn to link up and share what YOU'VE been doing around your homestead. Thanks!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House and founder of our little Farmgirl Friday blog hop.
Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking, and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!
Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #102 & Easter!

2013-03-29T14:04:00.003-07:00

Guest Post by Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House and MaryJanesFarm Beach Farmgirl blog.

Welcome friends to Farmgirl Friday # 102! Happy Easter!

Thanks so much for all of the inspiring posts everyone shared last week! Cream of the crop as always!

This week, Gladys and I are looking for signs of spring and I'm sharing our family Easter traditions over at the

MJF Beach farmgirl Blog!

Come on by and say howdy!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

Don't Toss It, Re-Purpose It- Store Display Bags

2013-03-23T21:54:00.002-07:00

If you're like me you probably enjoy finding new ways to get organized and recycle useful things. With our recent move, we've come across lots of opportunities to do just that.

One of my favorite new discoveries has been re-purposing the store display bags that curtains and valances come in. These bags make perfect storage containers for small craft and sewing projects. See a few examples below.

I use them to keep my embroidery floss organized and clean

I use them to store complete kits

and everything is located in one safe place

I save the giant zippered storage bags that comforters and blankets come in too. I use those bags to store unfinished quilt kits in.

Do you have a favorite recycling/storage solution???

Please link up and share.

I am sharing this little craft idea on my favorite blog hop for crafters at Dolly's Designs.
The Creative Blog Hop
And my FAVORITE blog hop for FARMGIRLS AND GUYS...

The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #103

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #101

2013-03-22T10:31:00.002-07:00

Thank you for sharing in all the fun for the FARMGIRL FRIDAY blog hop- 100th Anniversary Celebration.

Deb, Dolly, and I simply cannot express just how thankful we are for your continued support and participation.

This hop led me on the path to my new home and my farmgirl lifestyle in the mountains, and has inspired me to grow beyond myself in so many ways; taking risks, jumping in feet first and never looking back. AND- it led me to make so many wonderful new friends that share the same interests!

That all happened because of YOU, the kind men and women that take the time to write and share your farmgirl/boy activities and dreams. You never know who you may inspire. I am truly blessed to call this little blog hop home!

Okay, now let's get to the really important stuff... announcing the winners of the 100th Anniversary Farmgirl Friday Birthday Apron Giveaway!

And the WINNERS are...

1. The winner of the apron from MaryJane Butters own collection of vintage aprons at Deborah Jean's Dandelion House blog is...

Bonnie of Bee's, Birds, Berries, and Blooms!

Congratulations Bonnie!

2. The winner of the gorgeous handmade apron by Dolly of the blog Hibiscus House and a lovely set of three knitted washcloths from Me Maws...

is Erin of Dancing Aspen Farms Blog.

Congratulations Erin!

3. The winner of my giveaway and the MaryJane's Home Collection apron that began my own farmgirl apron collection is...

Sandra of Clearwater Farm Journal.

Congratulations Sandra!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses are-

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House, she's also the founder of our little blog party. Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking, and me of course!

We thank you all for your entries and welcome everyone to continue sharing each week as Farmgirl Friday continues into what is sure to be an amazing spring filled with new growth and opportunities on your homesteads!

Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chicken's, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of " fun things to do too! Our resident "FARM-BOYS" ( Clint the Redeemed Gardener and Rob of Bepa's Garden ) bring wheelbarrow's full of good organic gardening tips to this hop and we are honored to have them join in the fun each week!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

Let's get HOPPING!

The Country Homemaker Hop #59

2013-03-20T01:52:00.000-07:00

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ”
― C.S. Lewis

We have peeps! Five baby chicks hatched over the weekend and are looking pretty healthy and energetic. These are our first hatchlings here on the farm. I am one proud grandma.

My friend is visiting this week and we are keeping plenty busy running around. On Sunday we went to a swap meet and found some nice vegetable seedlings and we even found some nice looking bare root fruit trees on clearance that we just had to bring home with us.

Yesterday, my little dog Sugarplum had to go to the vet for what I thought was a puncture wound and mites. As it turns out, her injury was the result of her own teeth; it was a hot spot. Poor girl. She bit a hole in her own hip trying to get at a chigger. We didn't even know that chiggers existed here in California, but the vet insisted that it was not mites, ticks, or fleas, but a chigger. She's all patched up, medicated, and on the mend now.

Today we set about to see the sights and catch a buffet lunch with my kids. We had a nice visit and ate til our tummies were sore. I came home to find the seeds for my honey bee garden in the mailbox. It was a nice day.

Tomorrow we hope to dig in the dirt if Mother Nature cooperates.

What have YOU been working on around your homestead???

100th FARMGIRL FRIDAY Birthday Bash GIVEAWAY

2013-03-15T00:44:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the 100th Farmgirl Friday Birthday Bash GIVEAWAY!

Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chickens, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of "fun things" to do too! Our resident "FARM-BOYS" (Clint the Redeemed Gardner and Rob of Bepa's Garden) bring wheelbarrows full of good organic gardening tips to this hop and we are honored to have them join in the fun each week!

Let's get right to our giveaway items.

What does every farmgirl need on her suburban homestead, city garden scape, or backyard farm yard besides a small patch of dirt? What makes her day go smoother and keeps her cleaner as she goes about her daily rounds?

Why, an APRON of course! Deb, Dolly and I are giving away one apron each as our way of saying thank you for all of your wonderful posts and your continued participation in our weekly hop!

Each of these aprons comes with a story.

Here's mine.
The apron's body is made from a muted sky blue and white floral print with large cabbage roses and tree blossoms on it. It's a full length apron featuring a lovely contrasting red and white polka dot ruffle around the waist, skirt, ties, and front left pocket. This design/print was the first MaryJane's Farm apron I ever bought. I still have my original one. It's very special to me. It reminds me of my Grandma Pearl. I was so excited to find this apron again that I got two- one for my "stash" and one for the Original Farmgirl Friday blog hop's 100th Birthday Bash Giveaway!!!

Now take a gander at Deb's wonderful apron.

"The vintage apron I'm giving away came from the Queen Bee herself, sister # 1 Mary Jane Butters!
Being the generous farmgirl she is she donated a big box of vintage aprons to me to sell in my booth and I kept one very special apron out for this occasion.

This vintage apron is made with a delicate crisp blue and red cotton flower print edged in white rick-rack. It's in perfect wearable condition with two pockets for collecting eggs, or garden gloves. Ready to wear or add to your apron collection!"

Wow! Dolly is giving away an apron designed after one her Grandmother Me Maw used to wear. This one is called Daisy and she comes with a set of three Me Maws knitted dish cloths. If you don't already know, Dolly is an amazing fabric artist. I have two of her handmade aprons in my own collection and I LOVE them!

To enter each giveaway simply leave a comment on each of our 100th Farmgirl Friday Birthday Bash Posts! SIMPLE!

If you're reading this line you've already found my post. Deb's post can be found HERE and Dolly's post can be found HERE! Happy Hunting!

Deb, Dolly and I wish you the best of luck.

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking

Farmgirl Friday founder and MJF Beach Farmgirl blogger Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House blog, and me of course!

Here's what our loyal blog hop participants have to say about the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!

Bonnie K - I love the blog hop! I have gathered so many ideas and recipes. I wish I had kept better track of the things I have learned from the hop. Most of the blogs I follow are through the hop. I haven't met anyone in person, but it has been fun following people that live pretty close to me. I appreciate that you host the hop. It is a great resource and much more fun than watching tv!

Junebug -The blog hop has turn into my Friday night comfort reading. It allows me to take off into dreamland! I have a statement currently on my chalkboard that states, "Don't Stop Dreaming, Start doing"! I read it every morning as I sit and drink my coffee. I may not be able to have the dream farm but I am turning my little backyard into my mini dream! I have met several gals from blogging and feel so lucky and blessed to call them friends now! As far as new hobbies, it's more renewed my interest in hand work like embroidery. I've always had a garden and my "girls", hens!!!

Deb, I feel so blessed to have found your blog!!! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yours in farmgirl spirit and a HUGE thank you to all who participate in the Original Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop each week!

Deb, Heidi, and Dolly!

The Country Homemaker Hop #58

2013-03-13T09:38:00.003-07:00

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ”
― C.S. Lewis

What have YOU been working on this week around your homestead???

Please join us Wednesdays to share your pictures, recipes, household wisdom, garden and farm, barn and butcher, homemaking tips, crafts, homemaking ideas and stories with the country homemaking community. It's a new year full of exciting new opportunities. Life is what we make it. Let's dig in and discover just what's been going on- on the Country Homestead this week?

Have a great week.

Heidi

The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #99

2013-03-08T09:57:00.002-08:00

A note from Farmgirl Friday creator Deb-

How can this be? Where did the last 99 Fridays go? All over the blogishpere that's where!

Frankly, Heidi, Dolly and I are honored and humbled by how long The Farmgirl Friday Blog hop has continued to thrive and grow!

You have yourselves to thank for so many wonderful posts shared over the last 99 weeks! It's you who keep'um coming back for more and we thank you from the bottom of our farmgirl hearts!

We want to show you how much we appreciate you for sharing your talents and know-how so come back next week for a chance to enter three separate giveaways sure to get your farmgirl hearts all a flutter!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~

Heidi of My Simple Country Living and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking and me of course!

It's still snowing in some parts ( like here ) and folks are still working on inside projects to pass the time in a fun and frugal way!

My Farmgirl Update-

Our farm is slowly taking shape...

The kitchen...
The kitchen is almost complete. Our hardwood floors finally came in this week. Yippee!!! They're now sitting in a bedroom waiting to be installed by my dear worn hubby. I am loving the new giant farmhouse sink. It sure came in handy when I set out to cook down some bees wax this week. What a mess.

In my garden...
Rain has been beating on the roof all night long and it shows no signs of stopping now. However, we did manage to till under some more green manure (cover crop of clovers) into our new garden bed yesterday before the rain began. I also finally took the plunge to remediate my high soil pH. I broadcast elemental sulpher, which was scary to me somehow. I have never had soil with a pH of 8.0+ before so this is a new challenge. I did not even trust my own tests so I had them redone by a professional, and it turns out I was right, it is that high. If I followed the instructions correctly I will have lowered the pH by one whole point within a short time. Whew! I sure hope this works. Time will tell.

Projects...
Jerry and I began digging post holes for a new more animal friendly fence for goats, dogs and chickens. Most of our 7 acres are fenced for cattle, so atleast when the cow comes she'll be happy, but barbed wire does not keep shih tzu and chickens in or neighbor dogs out.

Our grown son Jon is driving up today to help speed up the digging and maybe get started on some fencing this weekend, if the weather cooperates that is. Otherwise, we will get to enjoy some long overdue time with our boy indoors.

Last week I completed several important transplants, and this week I made time to start a few seeds indoors ie; squashes, herbs, and perennial flowers for my honey bee garden.

In the coop...
My little broody salmon faverolle is still sitting on those eggs, though a few of my girls have been demonstrating poor manners. They are smarter than people realize. Once they figured out that I was not removing the eggs from the nest box that she is in, they began to crowd her and are laying new eggs right on top of her. Ugh! Silly girls. I marked the eggs she's incubating with permanent markers so now I just sneak out the unmarked eggs. Soon they'll adapt again I am sure.

Though I have more nest boxes than I have read I need ie: I have a 3:1 bird to nestbox ratio, I have recently observed that I am having an occasional egg layed on the ground outside the boxes. That's not good. At our old place they had 6 boxes and I never saw this happen. Lately though, they're all laying at about the same time and when all boxes are full, somebody is left out of luck. Jerry is going to have to make me another row of nest boxes. Until then, I added a simple nest box curtain as described by The Chicken Chick in her post HERE. I am hopeful they'll enjoy the extra privacy and maybe move those eggs along quicker so the other girls can get into boxes to lay too.

Now, for our FEATURED FARMGIRLS... You can see Deb's decor inspired picks HERE, Dolly's selections HERE, and here's my pick below, it's a FEATURED FARMBOY...

Image from Bepa's Garden blog

I was intrigued by the post Starting Seeds in Soil Blocks by Rob of Bepa's Garden blog. I have long been curious to try this method. As Rob notes, it's inexpensive, and you can even make your own seed starting medium as he does, that's FREE. I just need to get me one of those soil block makers and I can try this method. Maybe this fall? Thanks Rob for sharing such a helpful tutorial full of images and resources for more information too.

Now it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!
Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Don't forget to grab your FEATURED FARMGIRL BUTTON if you've been featured!

Now let's get HOPPING!!!

The Country Homemaker Hop #57

2013-03-05T23:43:00.003-08:00

Welcome back

I hope the last week has been good for you and your homestead. Things are moving right along. Here's what we've been up to.

In the yard-
This week we brought home our first trailer load of fencing material and were blessed by a friend with the use of her two man auger to dig post holes with. Thanks Gina!

We began removing some of the mismatched "fencing" that came with our house. It was pipe holding up 2x8 boards,but they were spaced so far apart they weren't keeping anything in or out. We removed everything in the picture above and have dug/cemented in posts for about half of it thus far. This will be a long term project, we have about 7 acres to fence eventually. For now, we are just focusing on keeping neighborhood animals out and our own pets inside the property safely. That's what we can afford right now.

Today, my husband fell a large eucalyptus tree that was blocking the sunshine for my soon-to-be garden. We got a bit of firewood out of it and wood chips for a walk path to the river. This week I also learned how to use the tractor and managed to move dirt and sand from one garden spot to another. Yesterday, after digging post holes I cut back some overgrown laurel trees and chipped the branches for the garden while Jerry carved up some of the seasoned leftover logs of oak that came with the house. We're ready for the next storm that is supposed to hit tomorrow.

I completed a long overdue hive inspection and am very happy with this hive. This NWC queen already has 6 frames full of brood back and front in one deep hive box, and is starting to full up two more frames in the lower box with brood. I saw healthy brood, capped and uncapped and watched as several brand new bees chewed their way out of their cells. There is atleast 75 pounds of honey in that hive now, maybe more. I snuck one frame out and am straining it now to save and add to my next batch of sugar water should I need to provide more food this spring. I also confirmed that I was not just seeing things during the last inspection. I have a new queen, she's not my marked carniolan, it's her progeny. She's big, healthy, beautiful, and very busy.

In the kitchen-
We are trying to convert all of our meals and snacks into healthier GMO free, organic choices. This has been difficult for us when things are not in season in our own garden, but we are making progress. I made my first food co-op purchase in the new place last week and I made sure to include a few new snack food choices for my hubby. The local co-op ladies went together on a Mtn. Rose Herb order and I got a few good deals there too. I also noticed that our favorite warehouse store is now selling some GMO free organic foods. Things like dried apples, multigrain snack chips, quinoa and brown rice.

Since we are on a fixed budget (retired), with a fixer-upper home that is eating up most of our spare change, I am happy when I can sock away even just one extra item each trip to the store or co-op. We are stocking up a little at a time. Every bit counts and it all adds up.

In the sewing room-
This week I plan to carve out a small space inside the house to set up my sewing machine and get to work on something special for the upcoming Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop- 100th hop. Wow! Stay tuned. March and April are going to be so much FUN!

What have YOU been doing this week???

Please link up below and SHARE!