Oh My!

Today I received a package with my pillows I won in the auction. I was so excited I won them as my daughter Maggie has their bedroom done in Asian style and the pillows will be perfect with the comforter I gave them 2 years ago. That was a treat itself from Lisa over at http://handofenchantment.blogspot.com/ as she paid the shipping and donated the pillows. But Lisa then did something that brought tears to my eyes. People this busy lady HANDSTITCHED a small wall hanging just for me! Not only did she handstitch a wallhanging, she took the time to use material that matched my decor and my life! The background is beautiful chickens and even look like some of mine! She handstitched a country angel (she must have read I collect country angels). But not only is this a country angel, the angel has a apron on with hidden haven written across the bottom. Not only does it have hidden haven written across the bottom it has a pocket handstitched on it. And the pocket has a photo of Miss Diva on it!!!! And not only does the pocket have Miss Diva on it ..... it has a tiny little bar of homemade soap in the pocket!! The wallhanging has its own little branch to hang from and is absolutely beautiful! Lisa this will be the first thing I hang in the bathroom when its finished! It will hang beside my mother's antique mirror so I will see my special angel every day. Thank you so much! This gift touched me so much. You took so much time to sew each piece and to pick items that were special just for me. I will treasure my angel forever! Click on photo to enlarge.

This and That

Its Friday! Why is that day any different than any other day here at the homestead? Its not. I just wanted to join the millions of other people that are saying it. I sometimes have to ask what day of the week or month it is as those things don't seem to matter here. Miss Diva could care less if its Monday or Friday as long as she has feed in her bucket and hay in her hay bin. The chickens ignore me when I tell them its Sunday and they can have the day off. Every day is a good day no matter what goes wrong as I am alive to enjoy it, I am not having to fight traffic to drive to work, I get to spend it with animals with their own personalities and I get to visit my blog neighbors. Believe me there are days from hell around here (yesterday was one of those days) and I could just sit down and post about every little thing that went wrong, every little thing that someone did to make me mad or hurt my feelings, every little thing that seemed so overwhelming but why? If I step back and look at the overall picture things aren't that bad. Thru-out what I thought of as a bad day yesterday I was showered with blessings. When things start getting to me I am going to stop and think of 5 blessings for every one thing that is bothering me. Life is too short to worry about what/who isn't the way I think it/they should be.

I got to actually talk to one of my blog neighbors on the phone yesterday!! Mary from fireflies and frogs helped me with my blog template. In the process of helping me she made the mistake of emailing me her phone number! LOL Yesterday I decided to give her a call and put a voice with her posts and photos. She sounds so sweet! She has that wonderful North Carolina accent of our home state. We both were born and raised here in NC and though she is a young very busy mom we do have lots of things in common. Her 2 yr old daughter Kenzie wants to come see my shickens and quack quacks! So, Mary it was wonderful talking to you! Give Kenzie a hug from me and tell her the quack quacks send her hugs and pecks. I enjoyed talking with you and we'll do it again.

Sharon and Ray are coming to visit tomorrow. Ray and his son Wayne are going to visit friends (Ray grew up here) and Sharon and I are going to hit the flea markets and thriftstores! Like I really need anything else. I never thought I would downsize and get rid of things. Since we started remodeling the house I am decluttering like crazy! I plan on having a HUGE yardsale with my neighbor Jane next weekend. Hopefully someone else will love all my vintage collectibles I thought I couldn't live without. Hopefully I will have photos of their visit to post tomorrow evening.

Sunday I have to strip my bathroom. The makeover starts Monday so I have to get all the things off the walls, out of the cabinets, pull up the carpet, take down the curtains, etc. I am so excited! I also found a very talented lady on etsy to make my light switch and plug in covers. She used a photo of my wallpaper border and designed and made these just for me. If you are ever searching for unique or special made covers go to etsy and look for ArtByTR. Here are the ones she made for the bathroom.

Fran, my elderly neighbor will be back Sunday.She has been visiting her son and family in Florida for a couple weeks. I am getting ready to run to the store and pick up some groceries to stock her fridge for her. She emptied out everything before she left so don't want her coming home to empty cupboards or fridge. Her daughter Vicki needs me to help her move her houseplants into the house off her porch. She had a stroke several years ago and doesn't have use of one of her hands. So guess I had better get myself moving. Everyone have a great Friday and no matter what kind of day you have.......COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

Pictures that go with The Post Below

Blogger wouldn't let me post these photos with my post. So here are the photos that go with the post below
Bud's outdoor house and yard covered in plasticBud enjoying his heatlamp and heating pad

Bud

Bud is our iguana. 3 years ago we brought him home from animal rescue. He had been with them over a year after being found up in a tree with a broken tail and hole in his head from birds pecking him. He is very nice and lazy most of the time. He loves to be petted and talked to most of the time. He loves getting his dead skin peeled off most of the time. Yes most of the time you couldn't ask for a better pet. Those few times are the ones I dread. In the spring I take Bud outside to his outdoor house. He has a closed in house to get in from the weather and where he can lay on his heating pad. He can also climb down and walk around in a fenced in area and sunbathe. In the fall I have to bring him back inside to his indoor house. That is one of the few times he pulls the worlds worst temper fit!! He will try to smack you with his tail (and its strong and hurts!), he tries to bite you (his bites can cause a trip to the emergency room if he gets a good grip on you.) He then will go to the upper corner of his indoor house and turn his back on you. If you open his door to feed or water him he smacks his tail at you and will not look at you. Last year he didn't let me touch him for 2 weeks! He was so mad he had to come inside. Well its getting kinda cool at night but the days are still warm and its almost time to bring Bud inside. I came up with a ideal that will let him have a couple more weeks outside and give me a couple weeks before he is mad and pouting at me. I covered his outdoor house and yard in heavy plastic. I put a heat lamp in his house. During the day the heat lamp is turned off and the plastic is opened up on each end so he can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. In the late afternoon I close the ends and turn on the heatlamp for the cool nights. He loves it and gets to stay outside longer and I love him not being mad at me. Stayed tuned though because when he does have to come inside I will have a fight on my hands!

Queen of the Diva's

Miss Diva was very upset with me yesterday! She kept wanting her picture taken and I kept shooing her away so I could take other pictures. Since she was having a attitude this morning while milking her I decided it would be in my best interest to have a photo shoot for Miss Diva. Needless to say she is in a better mood now. She is back to her Queen of the Homestead attitude and not butting heads with the turkey or chasing the hens.

WARNING!!!!!!!!

The photos below may cause you to wet your pants, spit out your coffee or tea, roll on the floor and hurt yourself.

So for your safety please take a quick potty break or grab your depends.

Refrain from having any liquid or food in your mouth

Move any harmful objects from around your chair incase you should need to roll on the floor.

Remember its okay to laugh. We just won't let Miss Diva know, Okay. It will just be our little secret.

So withour futher ado I present to you the Queen of ALL Diva's......

Miss Diva of Hidden Haven










Wait for it



TA DA

















Miss Diva in all her glory!

"Normal" Day at the Homestead

How many can say they have animals with attitudes! Everyday there is a waiting line for the laying house. Doesn't matter that there are lots of other nesting boxes, they all want that one. Its got to the point that they are in there 2 and 3 at a time laying eggs! Its not that big of a laying area so they are sitting on each other. How many hens does it take to hatch 10 eggs? Ask Wilma and she will say one... her! Ask Betty and she will say as many as I can get to help me! She now has 2 other hens sitting with her and they have divided the 10 eggs among theirselves. Then you have to know I have a peacock afraid of heights! Every evening he goes up on the roof of the chicken house to roost with the turkey's. Every morning the turkey's come down. Every day Prince Charles paces on the roof wanting to come down but afraid. He walks to the edge spreads his wings, leans over, looks at the ground, then backs away from the edge and starts pacing again. I have to go and nudge him off the roof! After he gets down he is fine... till the next morning. Sally now has 8 eggs in her nest. Do you think she has decided to stay home and sit on them? NO, she is still partying with the boys. Whiskers has decided the scarecrow is a person. He goes out there and talks to it all the time I just hope the scarecrow doesn't talk back. As you can see Dimples has an attitude. She thinks sitting by a jack o lantern is stupid! The building will be finished this week! Bathroom gets started next week! William decided I needed a log splitter, isn't he a good husband! Every picture I took of the animals I had to push Diva from in front of the camera. She is for sure a Diva! The last picture is what I see everytime I get the camera out.

Answering Your Questions

Everyone seemed to like my answering the questions all in one post last time so decided to do it that way again. I have decided since I like to visit everyone's blogs almost everyday that it would be easier for me if I didn't comment everytime. So if you only see a couple of comments a week don't think I am not visiting, I am. I just don't have time to read all of your posts and leave everyone a comment. Keep blogging and I will keep reading as I love visiting each of you! Now here are the answers I should have gotten to long before now but better late than forget completely.

1. To get music on your blog scroll to the bottom of my blog and click on the words best audio code words below the video. It will take you to audio codes. Click on search videos and then you can either type in the name of a song or artist or scroll all the listings. When you find one click on watch video and you will be able to listen to the music and see if its what you want. If it is then click on get code. The code will come up and you copy the code then paste it in your blog template. Go to the end of your template where you see (body) right above (html) and paste your code above the word (body) . Before you save the template changes go to preview and see if it works and you still like it. If so then save template changes and you have music on your blog!

2. We raised $1,000.00 for Lisa and family. I went ahead and sent her the total amount raised though there are still a couple items I haven't received payment on yet. Lisa and Ed wrote a very nice thank you comment at the end of the auction and also on her blog. Thanks again everyone!

3. Yes, my grandma had snuff! My dads mom did anyways. I don't think my moms mom did but I will ask my Aunt Judy.

4. The photo is of my great grandma Collins. She lived to be 101! She lived her last few years in a garage apartment at her daughters and walked up and down those long steps everyday. I almost fell down them one time and she laughed at me about getting to old to go down steps.

5. Norm is on his way back to the states. He will be visiting Judy for 2 weeks and then on his way to everyone else. Each of you get to keep him 2 weeks unless he becomes a handfull then you can just send him on to his next stop early. I am sure he is happy he is extending his vacation instead of just sitting around a flower pot here doing nothing. I will let you know when he arrives at Judy's so you can go visit her blog to see what he is up to.

6. No, Sally isn't sitting on her eggs in her nest. She has 7 in there but hopefully she will sit on them after she gets a few more.... Hey I can hope can't I! Wilma is still sitting on 10 of Sally's eggs and Betty has enlisted help with her 10. She sits awhile and then lets someone else sit while she stretches her legs and gets a bite to eat. I will post more adventures tomorrow.

7. We expect the ducklings to hatch around Oct 13th. I will be sure and let everyone know.

8. No the cover of my chocolate book isn't real chocolate though it does look like it. Judie did a great job on my chocolate swap package.
9. Mary did my fall template for me. She is so good with html's. I am not. I have already been sending her templates that I like for winter! Thanks again Mary!!

Well hopefully I remembered to answer all the questions. If I left one out ask me again and I will answer. Thanks for stopping by the homestead and thank you for all the comments. Miss Diva and I love visitors!

Winner of Miss Robyn's Drawing

Robyn was kind enough to put all the names of the people who donated something for the auction in a drawing. She put the names in a hat and the lucky winner is Kali!! Kali will be receiving a special gift from Ms. Robyn very soon. Thank you again for donating and for bidding in the auction. Lisa's husband had problems on the new medication so the doctors are trying something different. He has swollen back up and broke out again so please keep him and Lisa in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks again everyone for being such great blog neighbors!!

Update! The new medicine the doctors gave Ed last week are working. The swelling is going down and the rash allover his body is starting to dry up. The medication makes him angry but he is working on that and just happy he is seeing improvement physically.

Grandma's Apron

My Aunt Judy sent me this story and it reminded me of all my grandma's. When I was growing up I can't hardly reminder most of them without an apron. Grandma Messer kept her little can of snuff in her apron pocket along with her hankie. Grandma Collins kept juicy fruit gum in her apron pocket along with her hankie. She always put her finger to her lips and said shhhh when she handed me a stick of gum. It was just our secret but I am sure mother knew where I got the gum. All the things in this story are things my grandma's done with their aprons too.

Grandma's Apron

The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken-coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled it carried out the hulls. In the fall the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes. REMEMBER THIS! "Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughter's set theirs on the window sill to thaw".

Happy Fall Ya'll

Today is the first day of fall! It actually feels like summer as we are having one last heatwave after having several days of cool fall weather. Going to pick up the

windows for the building. As soon as Wayne finishes up there and the last bit of painting on the house we start the bathroom! I am so excited ! It shouldn't take at the longest a week to complete and then I will post pics. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Lets remember to count our blessings no matter how small. For each of us are blessed to be enjoying this day the Lord has given us. Happy Fall!

P.S. Norm is on his way to Judy's. He got a late start from Scotland as he wanted to make sure Wendy's son was okay before leaving. Judy you are going to have your hands fun wth the little scamp.

Happy Birthday Mary!

Mary is celebrating her birthday so please stop by Fireflies and Frogs and wish her a happy one. I don't know of any other person that deserves a very special day as much as Mary.

Mary is one of the most kindest, caring, sweetest, talented ladies I know. She will be the first one to offer help, advice or just a listening ear. You can always count on Mary to be there for you.
I wish I could give you a dishwasher, a maid, a nannie, a vacation for just you but I just couldn't swing it.

What I did do was find a birthday poem that seemed like it was written just for you.

Birthday Blessings
Instead of counting candles,

Or tallying the years,

Contemplate your blessings,

As your birthday nears.
Consider special people

Who love you, and who care,

And others who’ve enriched your life

Just by being there.
Think about the memories

Passing years can never mar,

Experiences great and small

That have made you who you are.
Another year is a happy gift,

So cut your cake, and say,

"Instead of counting birthdays,

I count blessings every day!"

May your birthday be as special as you are!

Where Is Norm?

Updated to add that Norm arrived fine in Scotland and Wendy took him to a couple of places. Her son got very ill and was having to have lots of tests and might have to go in the hospital. She emailed to say she was going to send him on as she didn't have time to enjoy his visit. I haven't heard from her since but have emailed her to see how her son is and if Norm has left yet. I will let everyone know as soon as I hear from her. I think he found a Scottish lass and is having a grand ole time on his own before he comes this way.

Norm has been traveling around the world for a very long time (to me anyways but to him I doubt it). He was in Scotland last we heard. Wendy's son was having some medical problems so her hands were rather busy and she was going to send Norm on to Judy Pattoote. I haven't heard anymore and Judy hasn't had Norm knocking at her door yet. I am going to try to track him down but if he decided to back track to revisit one of you that let him party too much or spoiled him then don't open the door! Tell him to get his little happy self to Judy's as she has some wild and crazy plans of her own for him! Norm....... Where are you????

Run Around Sally

Sally is really getting to be too much of a party animal! If Donald and Daffy won't play with her she goes off on her own to have fun.
Donald and Daffy are even beginning to worry who's going to take care of their ducklings Sally says belongs to them.They are talking about raising them theirselves.


They are worried that she stays out all the time. Only going home to sleep.Or lay her egg then leaving it all alone.






Donald is relieved that Wilma and Betty agreed to hatch and raise their ducklings. Daffy is worried that the ducklings won't recognize him and will think they are chicks. Sally tells Donald and Daffy to relax, have some fun, go swimming. They worry too much and need to play more.Sally needs to be put in a solitary confinement for a few days to see if she grows up and starts being responsible for her own eggs!

Momma Hen Photos

Betty is sitting patiently waiting on her babies to hatch. She doesn't mind the wait or sharing her nest with other hens as long as they lay their egg and get up so she can get back to keeping her eggs warm.
She lets me look under her without a peck or squawk. I marked the duck eggs so I could easily see them when checking for hen eggs. Wilma is pecking and warning me to stay away from her eggs! She is not moving off her nest for anyone or anything.

Chocolate Swap Photos

Finally able to download the swap photos. My chocolate fondue pot and chocolates along with the chocolate book Judy made.
The page Judy made using Miss Diva. I just love it!!!

Chocolate Swap

Blogger doesn't want to let me post photos but I received my chocolate swap package from Judy. Inside was a chocolate fondue set shaped like hersey's kiss! I got a box of "gator" chocolates and a box of coco rhum bites but the biggest and nicest surprise of all was a chocolate book Judy made and decorated. The first few pages have the history of chocolate and then the best page of all has a picture she cut out of Miss Diva and she glued it in front of a stall she drew with grass and flowers and a water bowl with Miss Diva's name on it. Miss Diva has a balloon caption above her head asking for chocolate!!! Isn't that just the sweetest thing!!! Whenever it will let me post photos I will show you my swap package and the Miss Diva page. Thank you Ms Robyn for another great swap! Thank you Judy for being a wonderful swap partner!! This was such a fun swap and I can't wait for the next swap!

Mommy Betty

Betty is so sweet I just know she is going to be a good mommy. I pick her up so I can get the hen eggs out. Some of the other hens like to push her out of the nest to lay their eggs. Betty stands there waiting and then goes back to sit on the nest. I pet her, pick her up, put more straw in the nest and she just patiently waits. The future little ducklings are going to be lucky to have her for a mommy.

The markings on the eggs are so I know the duck eggs from the other eggs and don't pick them up by mistake. Sally is still being wild and crazy so I have 10 duck eggs under Betty and 10 duck eggs under Wilma. I know they all won't hatch but hopefully each of them will have little ducklings running around in a few weeks.

Mother's Love No Matter What

Wilma and Betty just want to be mothers. They don't care about anything else. They steal the other hens eggs, they refuse to get off their nests, they scream at me and peck like crazy when I take the eggs. So I decided to let them be moms.... But to ducks! Sally may like sleeping around with Donald and Daffy but she also likes swimming and running around too much to stay at home on the nest. She had 17 eggs hid in the straw of her nesting box. She would go lay a egg and then move all her eggs around but never sit on them. I finally gathered them up and divided them between Wilma and Betty. Wilma is devoted to staying on her nest! She will scream and peck at any hen that comes near her. Betty on the other hand will sit on her nest very happy till another hen wants to borrow the nest to lay her egg there. (don't know why they like her nesting box so well) Betty will then get up and stand patiently by while the other hen lays her egg and will then go check the eggs and sit back on them. I have to pet Betty a few times then lift her up to get the hen eggs out. She doesn't scream as she happy that she gets to be a mommy. They both hatched baby chickens from other hens a couple months ago but I took them as soon as they were hatched and gave them to my neighbor. This time if the ducklings hatch I am going to let the banties keep them for a few weeks and be a mommy. I have talked to several people that have hatched ducklings with hens and they say it works fine. The only problem is when the ducklings go swimming the mommy hen will run around the water squawking till they get out. I will keep you posted on the adventures of the soon to be mommies.
Wilma is sitting on her nest and giving that don't you dare try to get on my nest look.
Betty has gotten up to let Henny Penny have her nest to lay her egg. I will get a picture of Betty sitting later today. Off to get Princess Di some antibiotics. She is has a respiratory infection which I was told is common when weather goes from really hot to cool and damp. We had several days of rain and cool weather so I will give her antibiotics and baby her. She is letting me hold and pet her but just for a minute or two then she wants down to sit in the sun.

50th Anniversary Picnic for Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy

Had a great time. Kids went tubing all afternoon in that cold cold water. Had lots of food, lots of fun, lots of conversation. Sold lots and lots of soap as some family members wanted it for Christmas gifts for the office. Took some of Miss Diva's cheese and have been told I can only come to family get togethers if I bring more cheese. I made 2 different kinds and didn't bring any back home so think it was a hit. I am so glad I went and am not tired even though I drove over 700 miles. I am so blessed with such a wonderful family!!

Answering Your Questions

I try to answer questions ask in the comments in that person's blog comment section. Alas I am behind. So here are the answers to some of the questions asked.

No, I didn't make the slipcovers for my 2 sofa's and loveseat. I ordered them from Domestications where they were on sale.

Yes, the birdfeeder pattern came from Birds and Bloom but I purchased it from a farmer at the farmers market in Lumberton. I am going to use it as a pattern to make some for gifts.

Miss Diva is fine and healthy. No CAE . Thanks for all the prayers

When it rains Miss Diva stays in her stall as she hates to get her hair wet! Not one drop does she want to fall on her.

Mary from Fireflies and Frogs did my template and made my blog fall beautiful. The slide shows are easy. If you want to put one on your blog just click on the frog on my slideshow. It will take you step by step and its free and easy! It will even post it on your blog for you so you don't have to copy and paste a code.

The carolers are paper mache and the lady made them over 20 years ago. She and her husband are moving into a retirement condo and none of her grown children wanted them so she sold them in a yardsale for $10. I can't believe the children didn't want something their mother had made and the memories they would bring when displayed.

John Denver is the artist singing. Its one of his earlier songs.

I think that got most of the questions and I am sorry I haven't answered them on your blog. It has been crazy around here for a few days. William was home and we rush to get as many things done as we can while he is here. Plus we go over a list of things for me to do while he is out on the road. The rain has put me behind on painting and outside things but I worked outside all day today. It was so nice and cool I didn't mind being outside at all. I will be heading out before daylight tomorrow driving to the mountains for a family picnic. Its 356 miles there where I will stay for a couple of hours then drive 356 miles back. Hopefully I will have someone soon that can feed and milk so I can be gone overnight. The handyman will be here tomorrow working and will keep an eye on the animals. He is going to learn how to milk soon so he can help me out. Anyway I won't be posting till late tomorrow night but will have photos. Have a great weekend, Thank God for all your blessings and say a prayer I have a safe uneventful trip.

Bathroom Redo

Have starting ordering and getting things together so we can start the bathroom make-over as soon as Wayne finishes William's building. Found the perfect wallpaper and border. I collect country angels and display them in the bathroom. I am going to use the washed out panels 3/4 of the way up the wall and wallpaper the rest of the way with border around the top
Here is the vessel sink I am putting on my antique washstand to make my sink.
The photo below is similar to my washstand except mine has a faux marble top. I would take a picture of mine but its out in the toolshed.
I going with old timey plank floor stained to match the sink and the towel cabinet
We are taking out the bathtub and having a corner shower stall
And for lighting over the sink and antique mirror that was my mothers we are using
So that's the plan for my bathroom. It won't be started for a week or so and then I know it will take a couple of weeks. I am just excited. I have everything ordered or bought already so we won't have to wait on any items. So Sharon you will just have to wait till its finished to see a photo!!

A Perfect Rainy Day

It started raining yesterday afternoon and we had a nice steady rain last night and right up till lunch time today. I loved it! I didn't have to feel guilty doing things indoors when there is so much to do outside. I made soaps all morning and got soaps together to take to a family picnic Saturday. I have a messy kitchen and tons of truck business paperwork waiting on me to take care of tonight. I have just enjoyed staying indoors and listening to the rain while I work. Tomorrow will find me back outside painting on the house, raking leaves and cleaning out the chicken lot and Miss Diva's stall. Fall is in the air and I love this cool weather! Here's hoping we have lots and lots of snow and a cold winter!!! Time to get back to work.... Everyone have a great evening and count those blessings!

Corners of the Homestead

Sharon has been bugging me( yes you have) to post a picture of the front of the house. We havien't finished painting yet. We still have to finish painting the foundation green like the door. We are putting in new windows and then that trim and other trim wil be painted white. Our front porch is concrete but will be covered in beige outdoor carpeting with white railings all the way around. Sharon just couldn't wait till the project was finished to see. I will post again when its all done.

Auction Reminder

There are still a few that haven't sent their payment for the items they won. I need your payment and address so that the donors can get your item in the mail to you. They are waiting patiently. Donors if you haven't received a address from me to send your package out please email me just incase I didn't get your winners address to you. In my old age I do make mistakes or forget. LOL Overall the auction was a great success. I went ahead and sent the total amount to Lisa so they could have it and will put the last few payments that come in back into to my paypal. Any extra donations come in will go on to Lisa. Thank you again everyone for being such caring blog neighbors!

These Boots are Made for Working

I bought the cutiest pair of boots off ebay! I have to dress to milk and feed Miss Diva you know. She won't let me wear just anything. I found these and just had to have them and now I wear them everyday to feed and they are perfect! Even Diva seems to like them. Blogger even let me download the Christmas Carolers I paid $10.00 for at a yardsale! The lady made them herself!! Aren't they awesome! I can't wait to set them out for the holidays. I got the wicker set painted today and will post a photo as soon as I get the cushions in them and set them on the porch.

September 11th

Busy Day

William made it home last night at midnight. We got up early this morning so we could milk, feed and take care of the animals before heading to Vass. We left home early but made the mistake of heading to the post office to mail soaps first. There was a community yardsale going on and we just had to stop. Almost every house in the development had a sale in their yard. I got a nice old wicker set for.... $15.00!!!!! I kid you not. Only $15.00! It will be going on the front porch as soon as we get finished painting. William got a set of golf clubs and nice golf bag for $5.00. We got a solid oak exterior door for $10.00 to use on the storage building we are building. We also got a beautiful oak door for the bathroom that will go up when we finish the remodeling in there. And it was only $10.00. We got some books, placemats, tablecloth, baking pans for $4.00. We left there and had to go to the post office and then come home to unload everything before we went to Vass. Well there was another yardsale on the way home. We had to stop! We got a barbie house, barbie car, barbie camper van, barbie furniture, 2 little girl pocketbooks, a going to grandma's suitcase and a polly pocket doll house. All for $10.00! These will be gifts for Christmas as we are doing second hand or homemade gifts again this year. These toys looked brand new! I also picked up 4 caroling dolls that a lady had made. They are beautiful! I will take pictures later and post. We finally left for Vass! We visited Linda at Cedar Breeze Farms. She has the most adorable Nubian does! They will soon be 7 months old. She also has 2 very handsome Nubian bucks. The bucks loved to be petted and so we petted them alot. The does were a little shy but William did get in a few pets. When we got home William went out to see Miss Diva and she is in love! She could smell the bucks on William and was rubbing on him, following everywhere! Since she was so in love with him we decided to trim her hoofs. Needless to say she fell outta love real quick! You think a diva would love a pedicure, but not her! Robyn I tried to tell her she needed nice hoofs to sign your card but she was having a attitude moment. After we finished her hoofs we came in and cleaned up and I fixed potato salad, corn , mac salad and garlic bread while William grilled steaks. We sat down to watch a football game while we ate and this is what happened to William. ( well imagine a photo of William laying on the sofa as blogger isn't letting me download)
And I cleaned up and sat down here at the computer. Time to take a shower and relax a little. Have a great weekend everyone and count those blessings!

Fall Around Hidden Haven

Here's a peek at some of the fall corners of the homestead. The weather is slowly getting cooler.The leaves are starting to change color. A time to put the gardens to bed and enjoy the cozy evening fires. Drinking hot spiced cider, hot tea and hot chocolate. I just love fall cause I know winter is not far behind!

Jeanne Tagged Me

Jeanne tagged me for a meme. Here are the directions:Grab the book closest to you.Open to page 123.Scroll down to the 5th sentence.Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog - name of the book and the author.Then tag 3 people.
Sorry everyone but the book is Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats bu Jerry Belanger and here is what I found on page 123 at the 5th sentence and the text of the next 3 sentences:

So you let it take its course while removing the cause, the excess milk, the cold milk, or unclean utensils. Similarly, a completely worm-free goat is a near impossibility and not a desirable goal under any circumstances.the number and amount of vermifuges required would do more harm thatn good, and some internal parasites are symbiotic- the goat needs them to live.

Now here are the 3 I tag: Mary, Bossy and Ms. Robyn

Thanks Mary!

Do you like my new fall look? Thanks to Mary from fireflies and frogs I am dressed for fall! Mary stayed up till almost 2am giving the homestead a new look. Thank you Mary. I really really love it! Have you got something planned for Christmas?????

Chocolate Swap

Ms. Robyn got another swap together ( sorry you are too late.. its closed) and its a CHOCOLATE swap! My swap partner is Judie at http://littleartroom.blogspot.com/ I know you all are shocked that Robyn gave us our partners on Tuesday and I haven't sent my package yet!! I love to start getting my package together the day the swap is mentioned so I have plenty of time before partners are announced. I didn't this time and I am sorry Judie. I didn't get a thing ready for this swap until last night and today, but its all ready and will be going out in tomorrow's mail! Hope you enjoy Judie and next time you mention a swap Ms. Robyn I bet I have my package ready to go when you assign partners! The Good Housekeeping Book you see really does go with the theme... its a chocolate cookbook. Okay Ms. Robyn whens the next swap???

Fred and Ginger

While the auction was going on things at the homestead were changing. The painting on outside of the house is almost finished. The storage building has its walls up and roof almost on and Fred and Ginger have moved in! Yep, Fred and Ginger have decided they love hidden haven and want to call it home. They are bourbon red turkeys that are huge but so gentle and calm. Its like watching a couple that have been dancing for years together. They even seem to dance when they are eating. Prince Charles (peacock) was raised with turkeys so he thinks his long lost family has come back. He is right there with Fred and even grooms him! Fred is so laid back he almost falls asleep during the grooming. Princess Di now thinks she is a chicken and hangs out with the hens gossiping about the ducks. Its the talk of the town that Sally is sleeping with Donald and Daffy! Sally has laid 7 eggs so far but ducks don't sit on their eggs until they have what they consider enough. 28 days from the day Sally starts sitting on them she should have babies. Miss Diva is happy and healthy after coming in season and wanting the handyman! She was in such a mood she was charging at the chickens so I let her out of the pen to follow me around. The only thing was since there wasn't a buck goat around she decided that Wayne looked pretty good. She rubbed all over him, nudge at him, followed him everywhere. Even tried to follow him up the ladder! That was when I decided she needed to go back in the pen. This weekend I am going to look at some Nubian bucks and another Nubian nanny. Miss Diva is ready to be a mommy again.
Last Saturday Jane and I went to a dwarf goat show. We arrived just when they were judging the dairy goats. These cuties were between 55 and 65 inches tall!

Jane has decided she wants a dwarf goat! Maggie my oldest daughter has a pair of Norwegian dwarfs and has promised her one or two when they have babies.

Well, besides making pear butter and apple butter that all that's going on around the homestead during the auction. I have missed blogging but we raised a lot of money for Lisa and family. Again I say thank you. Ms Robyn will be putting the names of the donors in a hat and drawing a name out for a special gift from her to say thank you. Be sure and scroll down to the auction post to read the winners and don't forget to send your payment in if you have won.