I just hate red tape and paperwork. Sure hope things get better for you soon. You are due.
Calling all experienced homesteaders - input needed!
Quick update; loan package cleared the lender and is now with the USDA underwriters. I still haven't been given a closing date, so I don't know if it is premature to be excited or not....8/
But hope is still alive at least..............
Good luck!
Hineni, first let me offer condolences for the loss of your Grandmother and your DH.
The blessing of a new grandchild is a true gift.
I just recently found the homestead thread, although I have subscribed to Daves Garden for a couple of years. What wonderful information and suggestions are found in this thread. I have read every entry, and have to offer a big pat on the back to this whole community of caring folks.
I hope the USDA gets their tail in gear so you can get started on your new adventure. Paris Tennessee is a wonderful place to be! I am a genealogist and DH's family are from the Big Sandy area, just SE of there. I used the Paris library when researching in that area. There will be many neighbors who will happily help you out. I am also a rather private person, who almost never joins any organized activities. I am very independent also, and try to do everything I can by myself.
I bet you can do way more than you ever dreamed!
One suggestion, that may have been raised already. Goats work better for most small folks to handle. When we were feeding a large family, and DH off fighting some war or another, we decided on dairy goats instead of a cow, as they were much easier for me and the kids to handle. Our kids helped with all the milking, feeding, etc.
I am short...5'2" and although I am very strong for my 76 years I have my limitations. I can do hoof trimming easily on Nubian goats, but a Jersey cow is a whole other matter. Also we had a stanchion about a foot off the ground, and the goats readily got in milking position, as they were eagerly looking for their oats.
Its easy to sit and milk, and no cows tail switching in our faces. If you will stagger your Nubians freshening dates, you will have year round wonderful sweet milk. Properly cared for, the milk is as good as any that old Jersey had to offer.
Although I was born and raised in a farming community in SE Colorado, we have lived in Texas for over 40 years. DH was stationed at Ft. Hood, and we fell in love with Central Texas, and bought a 15 acre hillside of rock and caliche. We raised 5 husky, healthy kids, a daughter and four sons. DH is disabled and tethered to an oxygen line 24-7 so I am his go-fer and legs for us both. Since in his military career, he was often gone for extended periods of a year or more, I am used to doing things alone.
I agree about the goats. I have 3 Pygmy goats, all nannies. They will be ready to breed soon for Spring babies. I will breed them each a month apart to extend my milking. I am looking forward to making cheese. We will eat some of the kids and sell others. A friend has a billy so we don't have to keep one of the stinkers. LOL
Here is my oldest nannie. I call her Marble because her coat looks like a marble counter top.
Thanks porkpal. Nice to meet you Caliche, thank you for your condolences and as always, good to see ya Cajun :) I love Marble, she's cute! Maybe I can sneak up to you for some goats milk from time to time eh?
Yes, if this deal EVER goes through, goats will be my first choice along with chickens for entering the livestock and poultry world. I do love those mini versions of cattle though; they are just cute as buttons. But butter cannot be made from goats milk asI understand it, due to the naturally homogenized product as it comes out. I do know that there are some semi-organic cows run down in Dresden (across, down...not sure), so perhaps I can find a cow share somewhere along the line and make my butter in that manner. No matter what, I doubt I will tackle livestock my first year on the property, unless things go extremely well in garden prep and moving in. I think I'll have my hands full just unloading, unpacking, fixing, puttering and gardening. But you never know....
I am poised to go to closing on Monday, although the 'official' word has not come down to me. I still have to run out to Paris anyway, and get the electric set up and on as well as the internet. That way, when I DO get there, at least all of that will be taken care of. It has been nearly two months since the official offer was signed, so a word of warning...only the patient need apply for USDA assistance :D
I have weathered the passing of DH's birthday, he would have been 41 yesterday. Thanksgiving looms, but my landlord and her husband have invited me up the hill for an early dinner, as I have to work that night. I suspect the shift will be slow and I can get a good bit of packing done that night. My kids and family are all scattered doing other things, and I had to save my remaining time off for the closing and the move, so no travel down there this year.
I apologize for the spotty postings; most days I'm just not very communicative and heck, waiting for papers to move from someone's desk here XX to someone's desk over there ----------------------> doesn't leave much for chatting about.
Once the deal seals, THEN I will try to be consistent and regular in my postings like I was when I was at the farm in VA.
Thank you to all who have thought about me, prayed for me, and dropped me a note here and there; it's greatly appreciated.
~H
Hineni,
I sure hope things get going for you. You've had a rough few years. You'd sure be welcome to some goats milk. I may even be able to gift you with a couple of goats when you get ready for them. It's all in the timing. LOL My girls are not related and I will be using different billies for each one so the kids won't be related either. That way I can match up the kids as breeding pairs. I'm lucky I have several friends with billies.
I know what you mean about unpacking. We are still in the process. Have to empty the box trailer in the front yard to get it back to the friend who loaned it to us. Need to clean and organize in the cellar so I can put some boxes down there. Some of it will go into the front of the horse trailer.
Tay
We've done that after every move. Usually because we don't have room for it all. We still have some things in boxes from 7 years ago. You'd think we could do without it after all that time. I did go through the boxes before we moved here and got rid of some of it. It was like Christmas seeing all my things again. Like long lost friends. LOL
Yep, I'm "shopping" at home while packing; I didn't remember I had some of this cool stuff :) Great on the milk and the goats, that would be awesome! I appreciate it, and will look you up and haunt you over it Cajun...haha!!
Of course I'll have to spend the night when I come up there; I was closer to you when I was in VA than I will be then...teehee. Maybe I'll drag MsRobin with me too, so she can catch up on her goat appreciation. She had to get rid of hers when they went on the road a while back and she misses them.
Closing has been moved to Dec 7th. It HAS to close by then or the sellers payoff isn't any good and we all know what that means. I really wanted to go out there anyway this weekend, but good sense says stay home, keep packing and save the miles on the truck, the cash for gas and hotel, and avoid the holiday weekend road warriors. It wasn't an easy choice, but it is the more practical one 8/
Happy Turkey Day all!!
You guys would be so welcome. It ain't the Hilton but I'll feed you and treat you right!
Good idea to saty off the road this weekend. Too much traffic and too little common sense out there.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. We do have so much to be thankful for.
Yeah! A road trip with Henani AND get to meet Cajun! Not to worry about it not being the Hilton...we're tough "old broads"...lol!
That would be great. It's really pretty around here. I'll let you know when I get the goats bred and when they are due.
Who you callin' old Robin? Pffft. LOL! If this darn closing doesn't happen I may be in a padded cell somewhere, rocking in a corner and talking to myself. Wait...I already do all of that, sans the padding (unless my hips count...)
Arghhhhhhhhhh. Please, please let this closing happen on Monday!!!
That would be a great Chritmas gift!
Keeping fingers and toes crossed for you, Hi!
Please, please, please let the closing happen... {squinting real hard}
Keeping my fingers crossed for you too! good luck!!!!!
Hineni, I keep checking this thread, hoping to see that your property closed. I know that you are so anxious to get started.
We have been here for over 35 years, but I can still remember handing over the earnest money as quick as they would take it. We bought it on a GI loan, and they take forever to get the paperwork done.
I'm adding my good wishes for your closing, too, Hineni.
When my late husband & I bought our "homestead", it was bare land, quick cash deal, and we trusted the seller. Don't know why, since we didn't know him at all, but we did! Luckily we didn't get burned.
DH & I put the first small double-wide on the property and my kids built a deck to sit on while admiring the view -- it was his last summer on earth so I am so thankful we got it done. Since then my sons & I have built it up such that it seems like a small paradise. We have learned alot along the way about solar electricity, water, winter weather, and growing things. In fact when DH & I bought the land, it was nearly impossible to think of living out here because solar electricity was in its infancy. How surprised and delighted he would be if he could see it now!
I do hope your deal goes through quickly! Living in the country is wonderful.
Best wishes for your dreams to be realized while spending a day hauling wood and freezing our fannies off in the country. Never got above forty today, was mostly at or below freezing and we worked outside all day. Life is all about mixed blessings. Country life is that for sure. I know you'll be successful at whatever you choose to do.
Laurel
And today....
SUNFLOWER SOLACE FARM WAS BORN!
Closed today even though up to the last minute there were challenges and surprises. Keys in hand, I return to the rental house to finish up packing. Move-in date: 12/29/09.
Thank you ALL for thinking of me, encouraging me and praying along with me:) I promise to keep up on the 'adventures' part,as I am sure there will be a plenty.
Robin, Maypop and so many others here, you give me great hope that I can succeed at this.
So...let the packing and freaking out begin...I own a teensy-tiny farm! (ack, I cannot type this morning!)
~H
This message was edited Dec 8, 2009 1:45 AM
This message was edited Dec 8, 2009 2:28 AM
I would be in love...
Larkie
TA DA! It is yours and now, you will make it truly yours! Best wishes on this endeavor!
What good news to wake up to this morning! Hope you have many happy years there. Can hardly wait to see pictures with the trees leaved out and flowers blooming!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I'm sooo excited and happy for you! can't wait to see how all your projects work out.
WhooHoo! Doing the happy dance!
Congratulations! I am excited for you, and know that you will do well. You have had lots of troubles along the way, and now you can move on with a fresh start, and your dream.
Just think....spring will be here by the time you settle in, and it will be gloriously beautiful there. DH's ancestors come from that area, and I have done genealogy research there....just such a lovely area and nice folks!
Woooo-HOOOOOO.... way to GO Hi!
I love the name, too. Can't wait to read the Sunflower thread!
It's such a great adventure, getting going on one's very own homestead... we'll all learn so much from your trials, successes, and tribulations... It's as useful to know what doesn't work as what does (boy, do I know a lot about what doesn't work! LOL)
Sure wish I could come out with my truck and stock trailer and help you move!
Congrats, congrats, congrats!!!
Well done! Way to go! Welcome to the joys of farm life.
Congratulations -- it is beautiful!
wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo
First rough draft and idea for driveway sign
This message was edited Dec 9, 2009 12:53 PM
Looks great. Maybe the "o"s could be painted like sunflowers too. That would give it a floral look all the way across.
Thanks. I couldn't find my colored markers, so it's just a crayon drawing. I'll see what it looks like on the final draft using sunflowers for the o's. The letters will also be a bit fancier on the finished sign.
The sign I have in mind is three 1"x8"s, maybe 4' long, with 6" capital letters. The 2 posts will be behind those three boards. The sunflower plants will be cut out of plywood and attached to the front.
Anxious to see what Hineni thinks of it....:)
Peers at sign through bleary eyes before hitting the sack...
Love the sunflowers! I trust your good judgement MsRobin; you are the artiste, not me :)
Thanks Sue :)
Shuffles off to bed, yawning.
So looking forward to reading of your adventures. You have to keep us up to speed on all the happenings at your little slice of Heaven. So happy for you!
I like the legibility of the sign as it is... making the 'o's into sunflowers might make it hard to read as someone drives by... not as striking as the bold cutout sunflowers.
My 2¢ worth anyways.
So how's the packing going? Is the weather cooperating with your plans?