Where does the time go ??

It seems like years since I have been able to just sit down and blog a little...it has been quite some time I guess. Just so much work to do and then that living thing takes up a lot of time too. Between the farm and the kids the hours fly by, daylight then moonlight, all in the matter of a few minutes it seems. I am so sorry to have let all of my dear friends and faithful readers down these last several months. I feel as if I have let myself down too. I started this blog so I could have a place to bring my thoughts, hopes, dreams and experiences to share with others, good or bad as they may be.

I must report that there have been many failures in these past months here on the farm, garden is as bad as bad can be I think. Just too much rain. Maters and Cukes are doing good, what corn that did manage to grow some was consumed by the goats the other day. When had to go out of town for a few days and when we pulled back in at the house the goats where making their way thru the garden eating the corn as they went. LOL !! Might as well laugh it off, nothing else is going to help it anyway. LOL !! Tater bugs got the best of me yet again this year, trying to have an organic garden is pure hell sometimes. I use NO sprays of any kind and it's hard to fight off all the enemies of a garden without them. But, we get by I guess, at least we know what little we do get is not full of poison, thank God.

Well, got to get back on the run, life calls and I must answer. I hope to be able to get around to reading all of your blogs over the next few days, I miss that more than anything else. Ya'll take care now, ya hear.

Chris

Just too much for one man

This place is working me to death. Really!! From daylight til after dark each and every day, it never ends. hahaha!! You all know that I love every minute of it too. From the goats to the chickens to the ducks and the garden, I love it all. I am a little overwhelmed at times with all that needs to be done but I just do what I can and pray there will be a tomorrow. Like so many of you I never seem to have enough time to get it all done no matter how well I plan.

Spent the better part of the morning cutting firewood. Me and my friend are cutting and piling it up in a big pile at his farm. This fall we will take the wood splitter down to the field and spit it all. This way when we haul it home it is seasoned and split and ready to stack and burn this winter. Hard work but he and I both love it. Good hard honest work that pays true benefits, warmth for our families during the winter to come. He's a good friend and we share so many of the same beliefs about the way life should be. I value our time together.

Back home to more work. We bought a Wagner Paint Sprayer from Lowes the other day and it has been a blessing. I wasn't really sold on the idea of getting it but glad that we did. I have always been a roller and brush kinda guy, old habits are hard for me to break. But I love it. We painted our 12X24 out building with it and then painted 6 doors from inside the house. Just take them off the hinge and take them outside and spray away. Does a great job. I highly recommend it to anyone.

Tomorrow will be spent in the garden, again. I need to run the tiller for a few hours and weed some more. Also still have seeds that need to get planted. If time would only stand still for a day I MAY be able to get caught up on my work. It's 10:30 and I am just now getting settled down from the days work. Ate about 9:00 and then hit the shower to try to get some of the daily grime off of me. LOL I think I got most of it. If not it will blend in tomorrow and no one will know any different. lol

For those of you that enjoyed my last post about Little House on the Prairie and left such nice comments, I thank you. I have also found a Amazon link to the first season dvd collection for those that may be interested in getting a copy of your own.

Little House

We a storm roll in yesterday, nothing really bad. Just enough to block our satellite signal. Well, me and Katie have been here by ourselves since Wednesday and the tv kinda keeps us company. Liv has been in WV, some of our friends and family had damage due to the flooding there. Here dad's Law office had 4 foot of water in it and some of our friends had a lot of damage around their homes too. She went to see if there was anything she could do to help them out a bit. She came home today. OK, now, where was I ?? Oh yeah, the tv. After sitting there for a few minutes I though we would maybe watch a movie until the signal came back. After looking thru some of the dvd's I found Season 1 of Little House on the Prairie. Not really sure if Katie would go for I put it in anyway to give it a try. She love it !! We watched the first 2 dvd's yesterday and never even tried the satellite again that day.

I forgot just how much I enjoy that show. The love of Charles and Caroline warms my heart like you will never know. The simple look or touch they give each other sends chills all over me. If people only loved like that the world would be some place to live in today. The genuine goodness of the neighbors from Walnut Grove and their love for each other should be a model for us all. Only to watch as the community would come together when any of the others were in need gives me hope that one day we will live like that once again. With REAL peace and REAL love for our family and friends we would know a joy like the world has never known, one we could never explain to others. I know it's just a television program but I means so much more to me than just actors on a set. I can almost feel the love they have for one another and many times I caught myself getting a little choked up at their simple acts of kindness and love. I guess I'm a softy and some things can just turn my heart to mush. But I am not ashamed that I long for a life with the kind of love and peace that I see portrayed on that prairie and between that couple. If you say that you don't or wouldn't give anything for that kind of love you are either a liar or a fool. I know that not everyone is lovey dovey but we all need to feel loved and to be able to freely love others. I have a lot of love to give, and I do give it. But I could give so much more if I would only allow myself to do so.

I am just happy for my children to know REAL love from their parents. I am happy to have a family that I love and know that they love me too. A refresher course in love can be found in these simple old programs and I am so glad that we decided to watch them.

Chris

Anyone know what these are ???

Olivia has a set of cookware that belonged to her great grandmother and we are just not really sure what they are. We would like to find out because she needs a handle and a lid for one. They are made of enamel and have no markings on them anywhere. If you have any ideas or know where I may go to find out please let me know. This is a beautiful set and we would like to find the pieces needed. Here's a few pics.

This littel guy here is the one that needs and lid and handle.

These have been in storage for quite some time and we would love to get them cleaned up and put them in use once again. If anyone has any ideas we would love to hear them.

Super Nice Weather !!

We have had some GREAT weather the last two days. Along with the warm Sun comes a lot of work too, and that's fine by me. I love to be out working in the yard and garden, getting ready for planting once again. I can hardly wait for the smell of freshly turned dirt and wild onions to fill the air. This weather gets me so excited I can hardly stand myself, I know others have a hard time standing me too..lol The chickens have celebrated the first of spring with a bounty of eggs, gathered 11 eggs from my 7 layers in the last two days. I'm so proud of them girls and glad to have them back in action. Eggs have been scarce through the long winter months. Still not recovered the greenhouse, it's on the short list now, but will be starting some tomato's inside in our little mini greenhouse tray tomorrow. Would love to do it today but we have all played ourselves out for the day. Should sleep good tonight, with thoughts of seeds,bulbs and plants filling my dreams. There seems to be nothing that feels more at home in my hand than the well worn handle of a hoe or shovel, we become one if only for a short while. It's like shaking hands with and old friend, it's hard not to smile.

The goats and the girls had a nice day in the goat lot playing. Here's a few picks of my animals..LOL

Warm weather and time with the Goats

Been really nice here today, around 60 degrees and partly cloudy. This morning I could hear the birds singing their songs of spring and it really got me excited all over. I hauled several loads of sawdust to add to the garden today trying to build up the garden beds some. Most of the rest of the day has been spent with the goats. Katie just can't get enough of the goats and neither can I. I am looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt soon. I need to get some onions started and I also need to work on the greenhouse some too. The plastic that I used to cover it is pretty well gone now. Also have some ginseng roots and seeds on order and can't wait til they get here so I can get started on that project too. Just been trying to stay busy and do the things that will make my spring work a little easier. There is always something to be done here on the farm it's just trying to figure out which one to do next. Me and Katie have had a good day and we are going back outside to play. Sorry I have been so long posting but there has just not been a lot going on to post about, at least not anything anyone would want to read about. LOL

Picture of me and Katie in the goat lot. Liv took it with her phone and it's not very big. But anyway here we are enjoying the goats.

Birthday Girl

Friday, February 13th, my baby girl turned 3 years old. We had Katie a birthday party at a restaurant in town and all the kids attended a cooking class. Each child made their own pizza from scratch and had a really good time.

Here is Katie making her very own Pizza.

All the kids got their hands dirty in the process. We must have made 100 trips to the sink for them to wash their hands. If nothing else, they did learn that you must have clean hands if you're gonna cook.

Here is Olivia, Katie and Me too, lol. Katie was getting pretty tired by the time this picture was taken. Boy, I tell ya, I'm looking way too old to have a 3 year old. I guess that's what I get for having a woman that is 10 years younger than me. I'm too damn old for either one them . LOL

"Stylin" New Kids on the Block

Well, Liv thought it was just too cold for these new kids to be unclothed tonight so she decided to get them some snazzy new matching hooded sweatshirts. Ain't they cool??

Storm is Stylin.

And of course little Miss Prissy had to have one too. She also wants the matching handbag to go along with her Stylin new sweatshirt. Man I hope Liv don't buy it for her.....

She almost looks like an opossum in this picture. Come to think of it so do I. LOL

Look mommy, it's like a little baby doll.

Finally, New Baby Goats !!!!

Finally Daisy our Boer Doe had 2 kids this morning. She was bred to our Pygmy Buck Chief so these are Boer/Pygmy cross. These are the first to be bred and birthed here on the farm. I am more than a little proud as I'm sure you can tell. 1 boy and 1 girl, and she could have another. She is still pretty big and looks as if she may have another kid in there somewhere. Have to wait and see. Well, gotta get back down to the kids. Just wanted to post the GREAT NEWS and a few pictures, there will be many, many more to come.

Gifts for the boys in my family

This is the gift that I have chosen for 2 of my nephews. They are at that age were they are impressionable, and I want that impression to be a good one. The American Boy's Handy Book is the ideal gift in my opinion for any boy that falls into the 9 - 12 age group. Hey, I'm 41 and I think it's the greatest thing ever. A lot of good useful information in this book for people of all ages I think. Below is a product description of the book and you can click here to learn more.

Product Description
Originally published in 1890, The American Boy’s Handy Book is the ultimate collection of timeless boyhood activities. Written and illustrated by America's founding father of scouting, this book shows how to have fun while being constructive, creative and daring. The American Boy’s Handy Book is packed with tips, instructions, and illustrations for things boys don't learn while playing video games and surfing the Internet. From making fireworks, shooting arrows, and fighting war kites, to building a raft, riding a sled and training a dog, the author encourages boys to be boys, be active, enjoy some innocent mischief, and develop their self confidence and character (although they probably won't realize these last two are happening).

Now does that sound pretty cool or what?? I would have loved a book like this when I was their age. I have read some of it, don't tell, and man it's full of great stuff that they can use for the rest of their life. This is a wonderful addition to any young (or old) boys collection. I added a little hand written message for each boy on the inside flap of each book also. Maybe some day they will pull that book from it's shelf and remember the great times it provided them over the years and maybe, just maybe they will remember ol' Uncle Chris too.

Now with a book like that you gotta have a good knife to go along with you on the journey, right? OK, so I added to each a inexpensive 7 function swiss army (type) knife. I have carried one on my key chain for years and it has been a life saver for me.

She was the Greatest Lake of all !!

There is a time in my life that I hold onto more than any other. This time was spent with my Great Grandmother on my Mother's side. She was destined to be great from the start of her life. She was born, Lake Erie Blankenship, on March 20th, 1893. In 1911 she met and married Francis Mathers Harless and they were married on September the 3rd of that year. Francis and Lake lived a happy life together for the next 59 years until Francis "went to be with the Lord". For some reason when we speak of them that is what is said, they"went to be with the Lord". I think it is because we just can't stand the thought of them dieing or being dead and out of the great respect that we all have for them both. All the great grandchildren called them Big Mawmaw and Big Pawpaw although we don't know where those names came from nor did we ever question it. The names fit and stuck. I can hardly remember Big Pawpaw, only a few images in my mind of how he looked. Those memories are of him sitting in his rocking chair in front of the ever present fire place.

The time that I remember most is when my mother and I lived with Big Mawmaw while my father was away on a cruise in the Navy. This was only about 6 or 8 months and I was just a small boy, but the memories are were burned into my mind by that old coal fireplace. I was probably between 4 and 5 years old at the time. We had electricity but no cable tv, there was a tv in the room where my mother and I slept and sometimes you could even get a little bit of a picture on it but never any sound. That was fine though, there were many good stories to heard, much better than anything I have seen on tv since that time.

Big Mawmaw and Big Pawpaw had live in the old house since they were first married, no one knows for sure who built it or how old it was. Big Mawmaw said it had always been there and I say she's right. Little more than a tar paper shack, there was more love shared in that old house than any other I have been in. I can remember when my mother and I were staying there, I would lie on the feather bed at night and listen to mom and Big Mawmaw talk about everything from chickens to the Vietnam War. When they had something to say that they didn't want me to know, they would spell it, knowing that I would not have any idea what they were talking about. One night that we all remember even now, I was hungry and wanting to get in on this spelling thing, I ask my mom if she would fix me a 'G O P T'. They had no clue what I was talking about so after a few laughs I told them that I had spelled grilled cheese sandwich. At my moms house we still call 'em that, fix me a GOPT. To this day I still can't spell. I can also remember mom waiting outside the outhouse door for me during those cold nights of winter. No bathroom in the house, besides that's nasty, poop right inside your house where you eat. LOL How times have changed. Now we use the bathroom in the house and go outside to eat, crazy folk we are. Staying warm was never a problem in that old house. Big Mawmaw could get that old fireplace so hot it would burn the front of your pants off. Peoples faces would glow red after just a few minutes in there. We all gathered in what was really Mawmaw's bedroom, it was in the front of the house and the room had 2 old wood rockers in there. People would sit in the floor or on her old feather bed and there was a stool for the electric organ that she would play. Oh, that organ. She loved to play and loved it even more when someone ask her to. She would wobble over and pull the stool out and take a seat, turn the switch on and that thing would hum so loud where she had it turned up all the way. It was such a funny site. She would then play the prettiest and loudest music you ever heard. On Sunday after church, many times people would stop by Aunt Lake's house and many of the old timers called her. They would have church (round 2 for the day) right there in Mawmaw's bedroom, organ music and all. Many a preacher had dinner at that house. For years, Sundays were spent there, family and friends from all around would come.

This is a picture of me and my Big Mawmaw. I was maybe 10 at the time. I'm sure it was around Christmas because you can see present on the bed. If you look close you can see a picture of the Last Supper hanging on the wall to the right.

This is the old house where so many good memories where made. As you can see there are 2 chimneys to keep the house good and warm and another that you can't see for the old wood cookstove. There was only a walk bridge to the house across the creek. This photo was taken on the side where you parked your car. To get a car or truck on that side you had to drive through the creek at a spot just left of the picture. Me and my cousins would have the time of our life around this old place. Located in Logan County West Virginia in an old coal mining community called Emmett. The creek that flow by Big Mawmaw's house is Elk Creek, and that is what eveyone calls the area, no one ever calls it Emmett.

Here is a picture taken from the same location only different season. The old house is gone now. A flower garden takes it's place as a tribute to the woman that held the whole family together. The last year or two of her life she bought a small mobile home and placed it behind the house. It was much easier for her to take care of during those last few months. My uncle lives in the mobile home now with his wife and they take good care of the place. Visiting with them always brings me back to the old house where Big Mawmaw lived and the good times we all shared there. Big Mawmaw went be with the Lord on February 3rd, 1990. Named after one of the great lakes, Lake Erie Harless was surely The Greatest Lake of all.

Cold Farm Pictures

As promised, here are some pictures of the pallet barn. Remember that I said it's not the prettiest thing you ever laid your eyes on. As of now I have $3.18 invested in this project, that's for nails. I reused a lot of the nails that I pulled out of some of the other lumber but still had to have some new ones to get this far. As of now I am using a weather proof tarp for the roof, not gonna add this to the cost because it is temporary (hehe!!). I will no doubt have to buy some tin for the roof in the future but this will do fine for now. I had the old door, just had to cut it off a little. It really won't look too bad after a coat of paint, probably a sorta light green (we use this color for other small projects and we have given it the name 'ugly green')Plan on adding to the barn in the very near future so I used the few pallets that I had left to extend the back wall a little. Later, I will put the wall on the right and wall in the front with the roof. Once I get this part done, I will build another one just like it in front of it spacing it out about 10 ft. The 2 structures will then be facing each other. Then I will set posts and join the two with a roof that will be higher than the two. I plan to floor this section, in the middle, and be able to store hay up there.Feeding tray thingy, I just used a top to an old gas grill. Turn it upside down and nail to the wall. If I put it up any higher they seem to want to jump up in it and lay there, so I keep it at ground level.Water bucket placed in old tires. The tires are packed with old hay on the sides and bottom to keep the water from freezing and it keeps the goats from turning it over too.Daisy's T & A pictures. LOL As you can see she's getting a pretty nice milk sack.The ducks always come running to see if there is any feed that may have spilled on the ground. I always try to spill some for them. hehe!!

It's 21 degrees this morning as I take these pictures. Pond is froze over pretty good.

OK, now stop laughing at my pityful little barn project and enjoy the rest of your day.

Brrrrrr.....It's cold in here.

That's a line from one of the cheerleader movies that Savannah watches all the time. I think it's a cheer. Well, either way it fit's, because it's cold in here. Been wet and cold since I got back from the folks house for T-Day. We had a great time, all the family was there. Katie and I took the van to WV on Wednesday and Liv and Savannah brought the car. Liv has a new 2009 HHR that we bought about 2 months ago and she and Ban love it. We took separate vehicles because I just couldn't be away from the animals that long, me and Katie came home on Friday, Liv and Ban on Sunday. Katie travels fine with me in the van though, it's a Dodge Grand Caravan with the DVD player and all the stuff. We stopped on the way there and back and had a picnic in the back of the van, that's the great thing about the van, it has what's called stow and go seating. The two seats in the middle and the bench seat in the back can be stowed / folded down and you never know they were there. Makes it like a cargo van once the seats are down. We sat and had sandwiches and watched one of her movies somewhere just outside of Pikeville Ky. There is a new section of road that just opened and there are a few places that you can pull off the road onto large area's of land that overlook the valleys. We got out and threw rocks and enjoyed the view and had a lot of fun.

Once back at the farm we just knew that Daisy, one of our goats had had her kids while we were gone. Not a chance, she's getting bigger by the day and now has a large milk sack. Still no kids. I have worried myself silly about her birthing and now I have just decided that babies of any kind are like apples....when they get ripe....they'll fall.

I had been working on a new barn for the goats just before we left and hope to pick back up on that project once it warms up a little. Cold, Rain and Arthritis just don't mix I tell ya. In the spirit on being a Homesteader, I have gathered up some shipping pallets and am using them to build the barn. I will try to post some pictures in a day or two. Need a little time to do some cosmetic work first, it's not the prettiest thing you ever saw if ya know what I mean. But it's free, so it's me.

On the subject of being a Homesteader, I am also working on a project to have renewable energy down at the Clubhouse. Yes I still have dreams for the Clubhouse just never enough time to pursue them as I'd like. I'll update on that too as time allows. I have an old electric scooter that the kids have pushed to the side so to speak that has a Permanent Magnet motor in it. This motor, if I can find a way to keep it turning, wind or water mill, will produce DC voltage to charge batteries that can then be used with an inverter to make AC -110 power.

And let's not forget the puppies. We had ( I thought ) decided that we would find a good home for all three of them. Looks like we have......right here.

Rub A Dub Dub, Three Pups In A Tub.

Don't worry pup's, Katie still don't like bath time either. You'll get used to it.

Ducks, Cakes and The Ice Age

We have 6 ducks now on the farm, lost a few to predators. These are the funniest little things, they are always hungry. They are free range and we feed them plenty too. They are always eating bugs in the yard and the garden along with whatever they find in the pond. But it seems that the food they like best is cracked corn. They could and would eat a 50 lb. bag if given the freedom to do so. Every time they see me they come running as if they hadn't eaten in weeks, pecking at my legs and boots like I'm a giant bug. LOL I get so tickled at them and I always get them some more corn. It seems that I have spoiled everything around here. hehe!! The ducks gather around me like I'm their mother.

There was an old farmer with a big green shoe,

When the ducks see him coming they don't know what to do,


So they peck and they peck 'til the farmer gives in,

And gives them a big scoop of corn once again.




As some of you my know, Olivia has a bakery business that she runs out of our home. The name is "KOST KREATIONS", KOST is the first letter in each of the girls names, Katherine, Olivia, Savannah and Traci, so it only seemed fitting to spell creations with a K also. Here is a picture of one of the many wedding cakes that she has made. She stays very busy. You can take a look at more of her work here.

Me and Katie have been watching the movie Ice Age, the first one I think. She likes to watch them until she is sure that Daddy knows every line in the movie until we move onto the next. I don't mind too much though, I like the kids movies anyhow. This one is pretty funny too. My favorite part is when the mammoth is trying to find something to eat for the baby that he has rescued and finds a melon. The Dodo birds inform him that he can't have one because they are saving them for the coming Ice Age that they say will last for millions of years. The Dodo birds are there guarding their three melons they have stored up for the event. The mammoth then says " So ya got three melons?" hahahaha!!!!! Now that's food storage Dodo bird style. Man I hope I have better food storage than a Dodo bird!!

With the way things have been going latley in the world, I catch myself often singing this song.

By the great

Charlie Daniels Band

I ain't nothin' but a simple man
They call me a redneck I reckon that I am
But there's things going on That make me mad down to the core.

I have to work like a dog to make ends meet
There's crooked politicians and crime in the street
And I'm madder'n hell and I ain't gonna take it no more.

We tell our kids to just say no
Then some panty waist judge lets a drug dealer go
Slaps him on the wrist and then he turns him back out on the town.

Now if I had my way with people sellin' dope
I'd take a big tall tree and a short piece of rope
I'd hang 'em up high and let 'em swing 'til the sun goes down

Well, you know what's wrong with the world today
People done gone and put their Bible's away
They're living by the law of the jungle not the law of the land
The good book says it so I know it's the truth
An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth
You better watch where you go and remember where you been
That's the way I see it I'm a Simple Man.

Now I'm the kinda man that'd not harm a mouse
But if I catch somebody breakin in my house
I've got twelve guage shotgun waiting on the other side
So don't go pushing me against my will
I don't want to have to fight you but I dern sure will
So if you don't want trouble then you'd better just pass me on by

As far as I'm concerned there ain't no excuse
For the raping and the killing and the child abuse
And I've got a way to put an end to all that mess
Just take them rascals out in the swamp
Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump
Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest

You know what's wrong with the world today
People done gone and put their Bible's away
They're living by the law of the jungle not the law of the land
The Good Book says it so I know it's the truth
An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth
You better watch where you go and remember where you been
That's the way I see it I'm a Simple Man

Pumpkin Puree and Family Visit

My mother and father came to visit from West Virginia. We are always glad to have them, just wish they could come more often and stay longer. Katie kept them very busy while they were here. Mawmaw was worn out by the time bedtime rolled around. Katie and Mawmaw wearing silly hats.

Come on down here Pawpaw and play with us, oh, I'm getting sleepy.

Before they arrived, Katie and I made some pumpkin puree for pumpkin chocolate cupcakes. I read about them over at my buddy Warren's blog. Be sure to check it out, they were great.

Before you start any project of this manner you must first find a good helper which I am lucky to always have on hand. After cutting a fresh pumpkin in half Katie removed all the seeds.

Once the seeds are removed they look a little something like this.

Place the pieces in a bowl with a little water and microwave for 15 mins. to cook the pumpkin.

Once cooked remove the meat from the skin. I use a knife and fork in this manner and it works fine for me.




We then place the pieces in a mixing bowl like so.


Got out our handy dandy immersion blender.


The blades on the end just destroy the soft cooked pumpkin.

After about 60 seconds the deed is done.

Once you have done all the above you can simply put it into a freezer bag and then into the freezer for later use. We got 3 cups from this one small pie pumpkin, used 2 cups for the cupcakes, be sure to read about those here.