Short Days on the December Homesteads

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This message was edited Dec 2, 2011 9:18 AM

Darius, maybe you could put some cup hooks in the wall and string monofilament between them. Then you could hang a few of your favorite ornaments and your Christmas cards on it.

When my kids were little they each made a paper angel in Sunday School. We always put those on top of the tree. But a few years back I gathered up the kids ornaments, the ones we had bought for them over the years and all the ones they made in school, and I gave them to them for their trees. The angel on top of our tree is one I bought from a kids church group raising money for missions. It is made from a water bottle, a white lunch bag, a styrofoam ball and some odds and ends of ribbons. I will try to get a better pic of it for you.

Sue, I have about given up on losing weight. I don't have the willpower to diet and I can't exercise anymore. I hope you can get your school girl figure back.

I only got 1 egg today.

Here is a new ornament DH bought for me.

I sold 46 ducks at the DeGraff auction today. I almost didn't get to go as I rolled a tire right off the rim at 0500 this AM when we were leaving to go. I actually broke tools getting the wheel off. I don't know what the idjits who put that tire on the truck used to torque it down, but it was a killer.

Darius, a lot of your lines could probably be run IN your new duct work. That's what I did with a lot of mine. You're right the grey stuff was recalled and I think there was even a class action lawsuit concerning it all.

I took my drawings in to the bank to see if they were good enough for a loan an Donna (loan administrator) said they were perfect. Now I just have to get them finished and get all the estimates. Hopefully I'll be getting the loan in about 15 months and can get started on building my cabin. I am installing my own septic system and am actually going to start laying the leachbeds this spring. I'm getting kind of excited.

Nik, I never considered running any lines IN the ductwork... have to think on that some but sounds like a good idea, Thanks!

Cool work on the cabin plans!

The yogurt I made last night turned out great. I ate some tonight with persimmon in it. It was delish!!!! I love persimmons. A friend sent me 4 big Japanese persimmons with the family at TG. I put 3 in the freezer.

I don't think I've ever eaten a persimmon. There's been some discussion between the varieties somewhere on the recipes forum, and I saw 4 on the produce shelf when I drove over to Boone today, but all looked beat-up.

Happy December (I guess) more like hectic December here. I love the Christmas tree Cajun. I work in a retail business and do not even put up a tree. If inspired, I will plug in a ceramic tree but that is the extent of my decorating.

I rather like persimmons. The locals have a saying about "someone grinning like a possum eating a green persimmon". It is a bit bitter if not allowed to be exposed to a good frost before eating.

At first thought the water lines in ductwork was an interesting thought. They wouldn't need insulation on freezing nights but then what if the power is out for an extended time (happens here too often) and there isn't heat in the ducts. Or what if it sprung a leak and you found it when it came out the ducts in the house. hmmmm.... I think I'd have to pass.

Still waiting on a good amount of tomatoes to ripen. I may have to pick them this weekend as we are anticipating a drop in temps for a few days.

The big Japanese persimmons are all pulp and no seeds. Great for using in breads. I just love 'em. I'll have to see if they will grow here. The smaller ones do but you don't see a lot of them like you do back home.

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas. I was kinda extra busy with 4 extra kids, then 5 kids, then quickly down to one extra then I got sick and stayed that way for 7 weeks and 2 weeks of that I was like a Zombie and life kinda disappeared during that time but much better now and have tons to catch up on....Million things to do. Spring is around the corner and I have to get started on sowing and germinating seeds. (greenhouse) Love it! So Much to say, so much to read and catch up on. I missed everyone.

Glad to see you back! Things are slow right now on this forum but I'm sure that will change when spring starts approaching...

Had to put some of those little plastic fence things over my pots of garlic and onions to keep the cat out of them. That cat has got to go before Spring. I'll bring him to the barn.

That is a nice tree Cajun. Bright and wintery. burr. Hope you have a wonderful time with you family this Christmas.

We bought two more goats. Both females. One is suppose to be pregnant but I have my doubts.
and the pregnant goat has only one ear. Her name is Butthead......she is head honcho.

The rabbit had babies. Nov 30th 1st day picture

3 days old. Dec 3rd . ...she had 7 babies.

Tom Turkey flarring up at the rooster next door.

My Easter Egger chicks are growing up. Hungry teenagers. (bout 15 to 16 weeks old)

heres a funny.
a Redneck Chia Pet
cow patty with grass growing out of it.

I grew a big fall garden but I was not able to harvest all of it while I was sick. A lot of it went to waste. Yes, family knew I was sick. No they did not help harvest. Everyone was busy doing their own thing.

October 14th= two thirds of what I planted. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower

the other third

I got sick just when much of it needed to be harvested.

yum

November 20th. picture (got sick nov 22)

the plants were huge and healthy and the veggies are delicious.

I started harvesting as soon as I feeling better. Lost a lot.
these are in a giant colander.

I was impressed with the purple cauliflower A+ (confetti, I think)

underneath the purple cauliflower was marbled........very pretty. I don't know if it keeps it's color after cooked. I chopped it up and froze it. Will know soon.

planning to have a simple Christmas dinner= Cauliflower cheese soup using the purple and white cauliflower.


small headed cabbage........ golden cross , I think

Darius ~ I just read your blog on antibiotic spices and enjoyed it very much. It brought to mind a book I have on Herbal Antibiotics. I need to dig that book out and reread it. At the time I got it, I convinced four other people I know to own their own copy also.

We had always assumed the spices used on southern meats was due to the possibility of it being tainted or covering the tainted taste. After reading that book, I learned that was indirectly correct. The seasonings used were antibiotic in form. Thanks for reviving my interest in this topic.

I think wellness will become a big issue in our own future healthcare and this will contribute to it. Excellent article!


CricketsGarden ~ I am sorry you were so ill. You are not the first person that I've talked to this fall that became so sick from the prescribed antibiotics. Now I wonder if it is only one type or is something else going on there...

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year ahead. Kristi



edited to add ~ this is the book I am refering to http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Antibiotics-Stephen-Harrod-Buhner/dp/1965115314

This message was edited Dec 18, 2011 9:44 AM

Thanks, pod... BTW, his book has been on my Wish List for a while now.

I heartily agree about wellness becoming a big issue. It should have been all along, with us taking individual responsibility for it first, rather than solely rely on some "professional" we were taught to believe knew better than we did.

Cricket those bunnies are the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Thanks for making my day. Beautiful garden and sorry that some of it was wasted. Wish I was closer. I would have been glad to help. Sometimes I wish for a transporter so that I could get myself around the country to help my friends when they need it. :)

I was taking Olive Leaf for my sinus infection back in October and it wasn't strong enough to take care of it and the infection spread and worsened. Tis why I had to see a doc. I think I ended up with a sinus infection when I raked out the barn for the new chickens. So did a turkey next door and a Hen.... ekkkk. I did spray the barn for fungus, mold and any diseases that may have been in there before I put the chickens in there. Too bad I couldn't spray my sinus passage.

We knew there was suppose to be a Well on this property when we bought it 6 years ago but we never could find it not even with a metal detector. The boys were out back digging in the side of an embankment and for some reason they decided to dig further up the hill bank and accidentally found the Well. There is a Well project in the future.

I will be sowing seeds Christmas Day. Wave Petunias, Begonias, Peppers, Tomatoes. Anxious.
Years ago , before I had a greenhouse business, I grew my tomato plants in the clear 2 liter coke bottles and I just loved watching their roots grow. After the business started(12 years ago) I grew them in black containers that I ordered in bulk. I miss watching my tomato roots grow so I have been collecting 2 liter bottles and storing them in a storage container==ready and waiting. Excited. LOL. rolling my eyes at self.

All that produce looks great! Shame the family let it watse like that. All your hard work wasted.

Love the goats. How did Butthead lose an ear? I need to borrow my friend's buck again and breed my 2 does. I just want to be sure I am not having to milk when I want to be on vacation.

The bunnies are cute. How many adults do you have and what is your plan for the bunnies?

I baked 3 dozen mini muffins, blueberry and raspberry, and 4 dozen chocolate pecan cookies for the church get together tonight. Now I have to get out and get the feeding done. I was waiting for it to quit raining. So glad it's "warm" out. This time year before last we were snowed in and out of power for 6 days. God has blessed us this year. Can't wait to see the kids at Christmas.

oh me oh my.
Son said he had to bring me my Christmas Gift tonight and it couldnt wait.
He came over with a gift on a dinner plate and sat it in my lap and said open it on the plate. I thought it was going to be some raw meat.
I detached the tape on both ends and the seam was on the top and I pulled the seam open and IT MOVED and I SCREAMED and it was a 6 wk old bunnie. Very friendly. No idea if it is a he or a she..
My plan for the bunnies are to raise a good starter stock and then breed for eating. I like rabbit meat. But I think it's gonna be harder raising them my self and then eating them than it is to eat someone elses.

Butthead was born with no ear. There is no ear passage either. Just skin and fur .

Yep, the jet stream is much better this year. My aunt in DesMoines said they are normally shoveling snow by now but not this year.

Bunnie update..... some eyes didn't open. They seemed puffy and slightly matted so I put polysporin on them 2 days ago and that helped alot.
doctoring a few more eyes for a few days . Brought the mommie and babies in the house so it would be easier for me to clean their eyes a few times a day.

babies are 3 weeks old now. They grow so quickly.

They certainly do. I used to raise rabbits to eat. Treat them well but know from the start they will be for meat and don't get attached to them. Don't cuddle them and talk to them. Handle them like a product rather than a pet. It will get easier over time.

DH is back on antibiotics. They had done a skin graft on his foot a week ago yesterday. Yesterday they changed the dressing and everything looked fine. Last night we had our Christmas get together at church. We had a wonderful time and Steve felt fine. At the end of the party he got cold and before we got home, we live next to the church, he had fever and chills. Took him to the doctor today and they checked his foot. It is red but no soft spots that would indicate pockets of infection. He has swollen lymph glands in his groin so the doctor but him on bactrim until the culture report comes back. May have to switch him when he sees exactly what kind of infection it might be. We are praying it's a cold or something minor giving him the problems. We shall see. At any rate, he is as cross as 2 sticks. It is understandable. It is so frustrating. He was so looking forward to having a great time with the kids and grandsons for Christmas. this will put a bit of a damper on things but we will still have a nice time. We bought him an infared turkey fryer tonight for Christmas and I think that may keep him busy until he feels better.

That's an unpleasant Christmas for Steve; hope it's nothing more serious.

I don't remember ever eating rabbit, but I may have as a kid. I can remember turtle, alligator, wild boar, rattlesnake and even squirrel. My dad ate everything!

We always had a lot of rabbit Darius when I was a kid. Every spring I would get bunnies for Easter. Then somewhere along the line we would have rabbit for dinner. :0) Took me a while to make the connection. I still love a good piece of fried rabbit, but it is really expensive to get here and DH doesn't really like it.

I've only seen it in a grocery store up in Charlottesville; no one carries it at our farmer's markets or stores here. I'd hate to raise some meat rabbits only to find out I didn't like rabbit!