Happy Halloween

Miss Diva and the chickens got chopped up pumpkin for their Halloween treats. Thumper and Bud got shredded pumpkin for their Halloween treat. Lady, Tramp, and Sheba got cooked pumpkin mixed into a can of dogfood for their treat. Whiskers, Dimples, Tiger and a new kitten someone sat out got cooked pumpkin mixed into a can of catfood for their treat. Hopefully since they all got their treat there won't be any tricks from them today. I have a few bags of treats made up for the few neighborhood children that I will drop off later. I am planning on Halloween being a nice quiet evening at home with the telly and a good book. Hope your Halloween is spooktacular! ( will edit to add Miss Diva in her witch hat when blogger decides to let me)

Send a Postcard for GoGo Beans

Please read this request from a mom and send a postcard to her son telling things GoGo Beans did while visiting your area.

Mom's Request:

GoGo Pork n Beans is the name my son gave to his best friend, an angry looking monkey from Target who has been since discontinued. A few weeks ago Go Go Beans (which is his nickname) was left on an airplane.After personally searching the lost and found in both Denver and Phoenix, we've determined that this monkey is kaput. I've contacted Target and they're not helpful in the slightest. I have searched ebay, posted to craigslist and searched through 87 pages of pictures of plush monkeys on froogle.com. No go go beans.Go Go Beans was a birthday present for my son's 1st birthday, so 2 years ago is when they made it. Cuddle Zone made it exclusively for Target.Noah now knows that Go Go Beans stayed on the plane to see the world. Our hope is that we can find Go Go Beans (or a twin) and all will be well with the world. Go Go beans is the central character of all of Noah's bedtime stories. I even mentioned him in a listing, he's that important! So the other night Noah asked if we could write him a letter. I said yes. I now bring to you, that letter that he dictated to me all by his little self (btw, his third birthday is Sept 16th)
:Dear Go Go Beans,We want to give you a birthday. (he had me draw a cake with two candles) I hope you're having fun on the airplane. I miss you and I miss you on the airplane. Plane. And I miss you on the ride of the airplane. And I love you *SO* much.Candles. Birthday Cake. Happy Birthday Go Go Beans. Clock. Email us, please. Trees. Mountains. Milk. Buttermilk and chocolate milk. Regular milk. Frog and Giraffe miss you. I miss Go Go Beans. I want you to come home soon. "Tell him that I miss you." Milk. Frog and Giraffe and now candlesticks.Love,Noah
Here's where all of you come in. We'd like Go Go Beans to write back to him saying what a great time he is having and hey look at this post card from all of these cool places I'm visiting! If anyone wants to help out, that'd be REALLY RAD! Thanks guys!-stacey

Her son's address :
Noah Gordon
2242 E. Harvard St
Phoenix, AZ 85006

Lets all send Noah a postcard full of GoGo Beans adventures!

Saturday

Don't forget about the stocking swap. Have several signed up but room for more! http://hiddenhavenhomestead.blogspot.com/2006/10/christmas-stocking-swap.html

The bathroom is slowly getting back together. The new wiring is in.
Insulation is in
Sheetrock is hung
Shower walls are installed and so is the shower hardware
Still have to tape, mud and sand the drywall. Then I can prime and hang my wallpaper before the beadboard goes up. Then its the lighting, sink, toilet,chair rail, baseboard, trim, ceiling, and door. Think it will be finished next week? I don't.

Friday Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite things:

My favorite blog for today; http://fishcreekhouse.blogspot.com/ I want to go to this BandB one day but right now I love trying their recipes and seeing what they are doing each day.

My favorite etsy shop for today: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=77808 she makes the most lovely things from chenille spreads.

My favorite ebay shop for the day: http://stores.ebay.com/Treasures-from-Nancourt Nan always has something new everyday and I love her vintage items!

My favorite place to shop for handmade items today besides etsy: http://www.purplepinkandorange.com/

My favorite online catalog today (I have way too many but this is top one today): http://www.lehmans.com/index.jsp

My favorite crafty, talented, busy person for today: http://littlemissartypants.blogspot.com/ from baking beautiful designed cakes, painting, cooking, crafting, whatever she is doing comes out perfect and she makes it seem so easy (till you try it yourself)

Its been a very rainy day here but its been a nice one. The house is covered in sawdust and the floors are filthy from the remodeling but I have been painting my mothers mirror that will be going in the bathroom. I have been catching up with everyone by phone. ( Catch you next time Mary) Catching up on my reading and my netflix movies that have been gathering dust. Tomorrow is suppose to be sunny and warm so I will be back outside catching up on chores and cleaning up the animal pens. But today has been a fantastic friday for me... hope yours was too!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful I started Thankful Thursdays. I give thanks each day for my many blessings but it just feels good to have a day just for being thankful.

I am thankful for:

1. This lovely cold weather! Just love cold weather!

2. The beautiful fall colors everywhere

3. Megan passing her test for Medical Tech

4. Melody loving her new job

5. Maggie getting closer to adopting a child from China

6. William having a good report from his physical

7. Jane helping me with the memory blankets I am giving my SIL's for Christmas

8. My new daily devotion book that Jane gave me.

9. Having wood to keep our home warm and snug this winter

10. Having such wonderful blog neighbors posts that always seem to give me such blessings.

11. My faith that always carries me through the highs and lows of each day.

12. For God's love and forgiveness

What are you thankful for?

Home

I have lived in many homes. Big homes, little homes, fancy homes, simple homes, new homes, old homes but always felt something missing in each one. When William and I moved back here I felt I had found what I had been missing. This home wasn't built to be a home. It was built in the 1940's at Ft Bragg to be used however the army needed it. In the 1960's the army sold it and it was moved to the property here. And it was still many things before it was a home. It was a haybarn and a place where rock bands practiced before a man and his wife turned it into a 3 bedroom home and sold it to William. He and his family lived here in between times he wasn't stationed in Alaska, Oklahoma among other army bases. It was rented out and trashed. Then it stood empty for years and had very very bad water damage. When we moved back here I found what I had been missing all my life. A home that seemed to wrap its heart around me and fill my soul with love and contentment. Where William saw water damaged ceilings and walls, I saw tile ceilings, and warm colored walls. Where William saw damaged floors and a trashed house I saw hardwood floors with old fashioned comfortable furniture, braided rugs, and lamps everywhere. The house could see the things I saw and welcomed me home with open arms. Our home seems to smile when its insides are filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread or a big pot of vegetable soup bubbling on the back of the wood stove. I smile when I see the shelves filled with canned vegetables from our gardens and jars of homemade jams and jellies. To me our home seems to give us enjoyment, contentment and love. Our home isn't way out in the country nor is it very big, but it has everything I have been searching for. I can stand on the front porch and watch the woodpeckers, finches, bluejays,robins, cardinals,wrens and many others gathering around the birdfeeders and birdbaths. I can sit on the back porch and listen to the screech owls, whipperwhills and all the other country night sounds while watching the stars. I love the long dirt lane you have to drive down to get to our home. I love the big oak trees that shade our home. I love having woods around us and watching the squirrels, opossums and fox. I love each new season that comes to our home. Its not just a place to repair and decorate. Its a home where every day brings a sense of peace in your heart. There is always repairs and decorating to do but this home has given us the desire to do these. It has given us that dream we both seemed to be searching for all these years.. Cutting, splitting and stacking wood is backbreaking but important in keeping us warm through the winter. Gardening and taking care of the animals that provide us with eggs, milk and cheese is sometimes tiring work but important too. Most days are filled with hard work but when the winter winds start to blow and we are snug in our home by the cozy fire, we are content. We are so blessed to have a home embrace us with love and fulfill our dreams. William and I both agree, its a good home and we love it!

Bathroom, What Bathroom ?

Don't forget about the Christmas stocking swap for details click : http://hiddenhavenhomestead.blogspot.com/2006/10/christmas-stocking-swap.html
Now about the bathroom, my dream bathroom. Want to see my beautiful dream bathroom?
This is my beautiful corner shower with the beautiful etched doors.
This is my beautiful linen closet in the hall outside the bathroom. This is where all my linens, towels, etc were nicely stacked on the beautiful rose scented shelf papers rosa sent me in a swap package. Had to tear the shelves out so Wayne could get to the shower plumbing in the bathroom wall.
This is my beautiful bathroom floor.
And this is my beautiful beadboard walls. Now you know why I haven't mentioned my dream bathroom lately. Hoepfully by the end of the week I will have real beautiful photos to show.

Tramp

This is Tramp. He is a basset/beagle that was found by my daughter in law. He, his mom and sister were walking down the middle of a highway. They had been abused and set out. Tramp's mom and sister were very friendly and found good homes. Tramp was abused more than they were I think and was very scared of people. He has been my dog for almost 4 yrs now and is still very scared of people. He gets excited when he sees the leashes come out as he loves to go for walks. I still have to walk him down to put his leash on after getting the other dogs ready. He loves when you go in the dog lot and barks and wags his tail while you pet the other dogs. He will come up close enough to let you touch his nose then run away. Every morning at 7 am for the past week he goes to the corner of the dog lot that I feed them their dog treat and barks until I come outside. Lady and Sheba take their treat from my hand and Tramp backs up and waits for me to toss his to him. I can walk him down and pet him but he shakes the whole time. He will not walk in front of a man when going on a walk. He is attached to Lady, our husky. If he can't be near her he howls, very loudly till he is back by her side. He has gained weight since being with us and is calmer but will never be totally trusting with humans. I didn't plan on keeping him but no one wanted him and I didn't want him going to the dog pound. He has become my dog. He barks if anything or anyone steps on the property so makes a great watch dog. He makes me feel good on the days he lets me actually pet him. He has been through more than any dog should have to go through but still tries to be normal and loving. One day Lady was on the runner and Tramp was running around the yard. (he won't go far away from her) When he found some biscuits on the ground. Lady couldn't reach them from the runner so Tramp picked up a biscuit and carried it to Lady before going to get one for himself. He is so loving and thoughtful to her. We had talked about finding homes for the dogs but knew Lady and Tramp would have to stay together or he would go crazy. So we are going to let them grow old with us. As long as Tramp lives he will have a home with his Lady and with me. Please love and take care of your pets. If you want to add a pet to your family go to the animal shelters first to look. The animals there don't have long to live unless they get adopted. If you see or know of a animal being abused pick up the phone. Have your pets spayed or neutered. We have to stop people from abusing their pets and letting them have unwanted litters. Starting at home, then the community we all can make a difference.

Christmas Stocking Swap

As everyone knows I am crazy about swaps! I am already signed up to do a couple of Christmas swaps but I wanted to do a stocking one. I took part in one of these last year with Ms Robyn and had such fun. Ms. Robyn isn't doing a stocking swap this year so I decided to take it on. The rules are very easy so please let me know if you want to be a part of this fun swap!

Rules:

1. You can make , buy or use a stocking you already have.

2. Fill it with items that you think your swap partner will like. ( it would be nice to wrap each little gift to make it even more special.)

3. The price limit is $20.00. Try not to spend over that. You can make candy, cookies, crafts, soaps etc to put in the stocking too.

4. This is open to all countries so keep weight in mind when filling your stocking.

5. Read your swap partners blog and get to know their likes and dislikes.

6. The last date to sign up for swap is November 15th and all stockings have to be mailed by Dec. 6th so they will be mailed before we get busy with Christmas for our home and families.

Leave me a comment if you are interested . Don't forget Kathleen is having a Ornament Swap if you are interested .

Ginger The Weather Turkey

Who needs the weatherman when you are lucky enough to have a weather turkey! Our weatherman was calling for rain today but last evening I noticed that Ginger roosted with the hens inside the henhouse instead of going up on the roof with Fred. She does this everytime its going to rain during the night. Sure enough about 10pm last night it started to rain that rain the weatherman said would reach us this morning. Last week the weatherman didn't say anything about rain but Ginger wasn't on the roof. I told the handyman not to leave anything outside as it was going to rain. He told me they weren't calling for it and laughed when I told him Ginger says its going to rain tonight. He put all the tools and wood inside the shed before going home. About 3 hours later it started raining. It has rained all day but now Ginger is up on the roof with Fred so I know tonight is going to be nice and dry. Yes, its nice having my own little way of knowing when its going to rain. Ginger doesn't even want a big salary or lots of new clothes. I just have to feed her twice a day with a few treats of sunflower seeds and dry catfood to make her happy.

A Nice Saturday

A nice fire going on this breezy day making the house nice and warm this evening. Got more brush piled up from cutting wood. I cleaned out the goat stall and the chicken lot. I let all of them run free today and they loved it. Miss Diva kept running and kicking up her heels like a kid. The hens enjoyed scratching in the dirt and leaves on the outside of their pen while keeping close to the door incase they wanted to run back in. I got all the straw, hay, leaves, poo and sticks raked and cleaned out all the water troughs. I scrubbed the roosting poles and the chicken ladder. Cleaned and refilled the feeders. that brought all the animals running back in! they know the sound of their feeders being filled so I had no trouble putting the chickens back in the pen. Everyone seems happy and tired as they are already going up on their roosts for the night.

My antique washstand now has holes drilled in it for the vessel sink and plumbing. Wayne kept asking if I was sure I wanted to drill holes in that "old thing". One more step toward getting the bathroom finished. Hopefully next week will have it complete.

Have lots of movies I want to watch tonight. Have a book I finished reading but can't make myself do the book review. Have tons of paperwork but a warm fire, a cup of tea and a good movie sounds like my kinda night!

Thumper

The votes have been counted and the winning name for bunny is "Thumper". The winner that came up with this name is Wendy A. So congratulations Wendy! Email your mailing address to me so I can get your prise headed your way. Thanks everyone for coming up with such great names and for voting. I am sure Thumper will be happy with his new name.

Thankful Thursday

Though yesterday was a bad day I have so much to be thankful for. Today is going to be the beginning of my Thankful Thursdays. I am going to list some of the many things I have to be thankful.

1. I am thankful I have a husband who likes to work hard to provide for us and help others in need.
2. I am thankful my daughters are blessed with loving husbands, good children and their own homes.
3. I am thankful for Miss Diva and the joy she brings into my life
4. I am thankful for my soap shop and my customers.
5. I am thankful for the swap Pea had where I met a new friend Kathleen.
6. I am thankful for my blog family. You are always here for me good or bad
7. I am thankful the subfloor is down in the bathroom.
8. I am thankful we found out we needed to move the vanity before we had the plumbing in the wrong spot.
9. I am thankful for our handyman.
10. I am thankful for each day I can wake up and count my blessings
11. I am thankful I am free to say what I am thankful for.
12. I am thankful there is a God to give thanks to.

Bad Day On The Homestead

Things aren't coming up roses around here today! Took most of the morning to get a 300 pound cast iron bathtub out of the bathroom. Then we made a trip to Lowes which turned into a trip to h*ll. William and I had picked out our corner shower weeks ago so all I needed to do today was tell the employee which one it was and let him get it off the shelf that was way way up at top. First I had to spend 20 minutes finding someone and end up having one paged. A older gentleman showed up with a attitude. He came around the corner snapping "what do you want". Of course I had to answer I wanted a corner shower and a better attitude from a Lowe's employee. He didn't seem to like my comment at all and tried to tell me they were out of the shower I wanted. Luckily I took my handyman with me and he found the shower and so the old guy had to get a ladder and get the pieces down off the shelf. Before I could tell him what else we needed he ran off. We tried paging and looking for help and after 20 minutes went to the check out where I told the cashier I knew it wasn't her fault but explained what happened. She wanted to find someone to help us finish our shopping but I told her we were on our way to Home Depot to finish. There was another man there looking for help when we were and he was at the service desk complaining when we left. We ran into him at Home Depot where he told us they wouldn't even call a manager to speak with him. We have spent thousands of dollars at Lowes the past few months and over $700 there today. I would have left my shower when I walked out of Lowes but they are the only ones that have the right size corner shower that fits in our bathroom. I came home and fired off a email to Lowes home office. I got a reply from customer care that the store manager would contact me tomorrow. We shall see but as of right now I am doing the rest of my home repair shopping at Home Depot. After dealing with that had some issues with another project William and I are into in Lexington that cost more money. ALL I seemed to do today was drain our checking account. Everything is out of the bathroom and tomorrow Wayne will start putting things in the bathroom. The floor , then the shower, then the special drywall that cost a fortune because its made for bathrooms, then the beadboard and everything else. Hopefully by next week I will have my dream bathroom. That is if I haven't moved into a padded room before then. William purchased a wifi card for his laptop that was suppose to be delivered yesterday and it hasn't showed up yet. I am trying to track it down as cingular shipped it. The duck eggs the hens were sitting on didn't completely form so I had to toss those eggs. They are sitting on more but I don't know if they are going to make it. I think the hens get off and the eggs get cold so stop developing. And the topper of all this mess... Prince Charles commented hary cary. He flew off the chicken house right into the dog lot and of course the dogs got to him before we did. William and I both cried and buried him. Poor Fred (the turkey) just stood on the roof of the hen house and cried and cried all evening. He and Charles were buddies and hung out together. So now you know that things aren't always happy here on the homestead. Blogger won't let me show bathroom photos of todays work but thats just how my day is going. Some days just stink but I am blessed that they are far and few between. I am blessed I am alive to have stinky days. I am blessed I have friends I can tell about my stinky day. I am blessed that this day is over and tomorrow is a new day!

Don't Forget To Vote

Bunny needs a name so pick your favorite from list below. So far Thumper and Peanut Butter are in the lead. Leave your vote in the comments.

1. Peanut Butter
2. Brown Sugar
3. O'Hara
4. Peter
5. Thumper
6. Buster
7.Bunny Boop
8. Tequila
9. Bugs
10. Jax
11.What's Up
12. Benjamin Bunny
13. Penny
14. Godiva
15. Honey Buney
17. Beatrix Potter
18. Velveteen

Bathroom

Today was demolition. I stayed out in the soap shop out of the way. Tomorrow morning we go purchase insulation, wallboard, beadboard, plywood and other things to rebuild the bathroom. Can you imagine soldiers in this 1940's army building with no insulation? The wood inside the walls is still in great shape but its going to be a lot warmer with insulation! Tomorrow Wayne starts building my dream bathroom. I am sooooooo happy even with the dust on everything in the house... cause I am getting my dream bathroom!!!

Christmas Ornament Swap

Kathleen, (my halloween swap partner) is getting a Christmas ornament swap together. Its going to be lots of fun and easy to do so why not join us! Go over to Kathleen's and read all about it. While there check out her "Stranded in the Mountains" blog. She has some great posts.

Bunny Names

Here are the names suggested for the bunny. Now all you need to do is vote for your favorite in the comments. The name with the most votes will be his new name!

1. Peanut Butter
2. Brown Sugar
3. O'Hara
4. Peter
5. Thumper
6. Buster
7.Bunny Boop
8. Tequila
9. Bugs
10. Jax
11.What's Up
12. Benjamin Bunny
13. Penny
14. Godiva
15. Honey Buney
17. Beatrix Potter
18. Velveteen

Now go vote! Bunny needs a new name!

North Carolina State Fair

William and I spent the day cutting trees and trimming limbs before heading to the state fair Saturday evening. Miss Diva enjoyed snacking on the trimmings after we trimmed her hoofs! We finally got home at 2am but we had a blast. We didn't get to see but about half of the fair. Lots to see and do so we will have to plan on going earlier next year.
http://img169.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img169/3687/116096870535w.smil

Happy Bunny Mad Iguana

Today I brought Bud inside. Its suppose to get into the 30's here tonight. He loves being in his outside house but just can't take the cold. I had to put a heavy towel over him to carry him in the house. He tries to bite, scratch and smack you with his tail. He is now pouting in his house. When I opened the door to put his food and water in he smacked his tail at me and stayed in the corner. He has since turned around and looking out but if I walk by he smacks his tail letting me know he hasn't gotten over being mad. Last year it took 2 weeks before I could pet him after bringing him inside.
Meanwhile the bunny is so happy to have room to run and play! He is in Bud's outside house having moved from a small rabbit cage. He even came over to the fence to let me pet him! Well at least one of them is happy!
Don't forget the name the bunny contest!

Darn!

I had a nice post all typed out and hit publish only to see that I published on a different blog. I am a member of a pet blog and it went there. So I deleted it and going to do the short verison here.
Soap Shop is done except for a little touch up painting and taking off the painters tape.

I spent the afternoon catching up on all my soap orders and they are now in the mail. It was so nice to have everything all together in one place. It made my work go so fast and easy. I just love the little soap shop!

The rabbits name is Snoopy but he doesn't seem to respond to that name. I have decided to hold a contest. If you think you have a good name for the rabbit leave it in the comments. I will post a list of all the names and let everyone vote on the best one. The winner will receive a gift basket of soaps so put your thinking caps on and name that rabbit!

Don't You Just Love Fall!

A perfect autumn day to get lots of things done! I raked out the animal stalls and lots. Raked the path between the homestead and Fran's house. She likes to walk thru the woods when she visits so I made a path and try to keep it clear so she won't stumble and fall. I brought all my houseplants in from off the back porch. Swept all the leaves and acorns off the back porch and cleaned it up. Straightened up the soap shop so I can work in there all day tomorrow since its suppose to rain. I cleaned out Bud's inside house so I can bring him inside tomorrow before the cold weather hits Friday. Someone ask how big his indoor house is. Its about 4 ft high and 5 ft long and 3 ft wide with plexa glass on 3 sides. He has a tree that he climbs to get to the second level where he sleeps and eats. The first level has his bathroom area and where he walks around. He has a ultra ray light that turns on at 6am and off at 6pm. He has a heat rock and a heating pad. After a few weeks he starts to enjoy his inside house and smiles when you pet him. He just hates coming in from outside. The rabbit is starting to grow on me. I am going to clean Bud's outside house and fix it for the rabbit. His cage is small and he doesn't have room to run around. In Bud's outside house he will have the upstairs to sleep and eat and the bottom is the ground where he has lots of room to run and play safely. I will move them around tomorrow. I cleaned the dining room and even had time to sweep and mop the floor! I took all the muck from the animals and spread it in the flower beds so hopefully next spring it will have helped the flowers grow big and beautiful. I have a pot of stew cooking and have apples peeled and diced to make apple bread. I didn't get the pumpkin bread made last night so want to do that tonight. Killer is still guarding the nesting box and I have bites on my hands to prove it. I could hear faint pecks in a couple of the duck eggs that I checked today so hopefully we will have ducklings Friday. Maggie called to let me know Kristine made straight A's on her report card (she is in 6th grade) and Raigun made all S's(she is in kindergarten). Needless to say grandma is very proud! Made a few calls for William about truck insurance and still have more to make tomorrow. Got books to work on tonight and laundry to put away. A perfect day to hang laundry outside. Tomorrow is suppose to rain and then Friday we are suppose to get into the 30's at night. I can't wait! I love having a fire going, the tea kettle singing, a good book and a nice blanket to snuggle under! Hurry up cold weather! If you have a crock pot here is a easy Chai Tea recipe you can fix and drink on all day or share with family or friends.

Chai Tea

8 cups of water

8 bags of black tea

3/4 cup sugar

16whole cloves

16 whole cardamom seeds

5 cinnamon sticks

8 slices of fresh ginger

1 cup milk

Combine all ingredients except milk and put in crock pot. Cover and cook on high 2 hours. Strain mixture and discard solids. You can cover the Chia Tea and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Stir in milk right before serving. Serve warm or chilled. Makes 8 to 10 servings

Oh What A Night!

I came home from a women's circle meeting to find this critter on the back porch. He had been helping himself to the cat food in the automatic feeder. When I came up the steps he jumped up on the railing and just sat there. I came in and got my camera and he still sat there. I got 2 pictures and he still sat there. I came in the house and he decided to take a nice slow stroll down the steps and off into the woods.

On a brighter note, I received my Halloween swap package today! My partner was Kathleen at: http://strandedinthemountains.blogspot.com/ She outdid herself with this package! I received a tee shirt from their camp in SD, a lovely pair of earrings, some sweet smelling bath products that I will try out tonight. I got the cutest little outfit that is really dish cloths and came with its own special poem. Its too adorable to use! I also got a cute little wooden farmgirl for my kitchen, a nice box of hot chocolate packets, a box of chocolate and a ceramic jack o lantern. Thank you so much Kathleen for such a delightful package! Yours is going to be pale in comparison. Thank you Pea ( http://peascorner.blogspot.com/ ) for getting this swap together!

Today Should Really Be a Monday!

With everything going wrong today I could have swore its a Monday! When William came home and saw how much weight Miss Diva had gained he told me to put her on a diet. Well needless to say Miss Diva IS NOT happy AT ALL with this diet thing! The window in the soap shop where I work most of the time faces the chickens and Miss Diva. She stands at the fence and looks in the window at me and cries, and cries, and cries, and cries some more. My neighbor called to see what was wrong as she had never heard her cry so much. I give her a cup of goat pellets, cup of sweet feed, mixed with a cup of whole oats while I am milking her. I even take what she hasn't eaten when I am finished and put it in her feeder for later. I give her fresh hay or alfalfa after milking to snack on. She loves the chickens feed! I was putting their feed in feeders and a chicken trough but Miss Diva would stick her tongue down and lap up their feed. I have to scattered their feed on the ground now as everyone knows a diva will not eat off the ground! Miss Diva gets so mad at me when I am scattering the chicken feed on the ground she tries to eat out of the bucket in my hand. She grabs my shirt sleeve with her mouth to try to keep me from scattering the feed. She butts me and cries because I won't give her chicken feed. When I told her it was Williams fault she could no longer eat chicken feed she turned and gave him a go to you know where look. It had Ray, William and I all laughing because she seemed to understand what I said and who's fault it was. While I have her crying from what she deems starvation I have Killer (a hen) causing problems. Killer wants to sit in the laying box that most of the hens like to lay in. Killer doesn't want to lay eggs just sit there all day. The hens get upset because she won't come out and let them in. They usually end up just going in and sitting on her and laying their eggs. I get about 16 eggs a day out of that one laying box. Everytime I go to get the eggs Killer attacks me. She doesn't just peck me. She bites! She grabs hold of me and won't let go. I took her and put her in another nesting box with duck eggs to sit on. She sat there for 2 days then went back to the other nesting box. I put her in the ducks lot and before the end of the day she had escaped and was back in the chicken lot sitting in the laying box. I took her out and let her run free on the property and all she did was go up and down the outside of the fence wanting back in the chicken lot. William let her back in at dark so she could roost and she went back in the laying box. I can't put eggs under her to sit on in that laying box as the hens keep laying in that box so I would be disturb them trying to get the other eggs out. I just have to fight with killer every evening to get the eggs and listen to the other hens fussing because killer stays in the nesting box all the time. I took Sally's last 12 eggs and have Red sitting on them and Sally decided to make a nest behind her duck house thinking I wouldn't find them. She has 9 eggs there and I am just going to leave them. If she decides to sit on them fine. If they rot I will toss them but I am not gathering anymore duck eggs for chickens to sit on. I have 20 duck eggs that should hatch the 13th and 12 duck eggs that should hatch November 3rd. I know they all won't hatch but there should be more than enough ducklings running around this place! Williams daughter has moved into an apartment and couldn't take her sons rabbit. We now have a rabbit on the homestead. He is 5 years old (how long do rabbits live anyways) and is a nice reddish brown color. He is slowly getting use to me. He knows I am the one that brings him food and treats and doesn't hid in his house when I walk up anymore. It has rained for several days so Wayne is behind on painting the soap shop and finishing the trim on the house. He ran out of paint today and I had to run pick that up. Hopefully he will finish all the outside things and will start on my bathroom Monday. If I don't get this bathroom done soon I am going to start on it myself!! Thanksgiving dinner is here this year and I don't want a mess in the house. I want a beautiful bathroom finished! With William being home I got behind on doing my daily routine things and am playing catch-up. He will be back home Thursday for a few days and we will work on some more projects that takes two of us. I am going to try to get ahead of the things I need to do so I won't get behind again. This is the month I usually enjoy Halloween decorating and baking but I have been so busy I haven't gotten to enjoy it as much. I do have my fall decorations up inside and out but I haven't done a lot of baking yet. I am going to bake pumpkin bread tonight and wholewheat honey bread. I am also going to try to get around to everyone's blogs tonight and see what's new. Hope you are having a wonderful week. And remember even when things don't go exactly the way we want them to its still a blessing!

Enjoyed My Weekend

PopPop just had to pinch Wayne just at the right time. My stepson Ray, his wife Sharon,and Ray's son Wayne came for the day Saturday. My daughter Maggie, her husband Brannon and their 2 girls Kristine and Raigun came for the weekend. It was so nice having family here. I miss the grandkids running around. William was home too so it was a very nice weekend!
Kristine picked up her early Christmas present from her parents. They bought her a puppy. She named it Morticia. I think they are both happy with each other.
We all had fun at the flea market and at a couple of new antique, collectible shops we found. Raigun is in love with the color orange right now much to her moms dismay. Raigun has red hair but likes to make her own fashion statements. I think she looks cool in orange! She has a new baby do;; that poops! She loves to feed it and when it grunts and poops she lets her Kristine help her clean it up. Now that is one way to share your new toy. The kids have all got home safely and William leaves today after he wires my soap shop. I will be back on my regular blogging schedule tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great week filled with blessings!

A Look Around The Homestead

http://img172.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img172/8467/11600871450ef.smil

New Blog and eBay Friend

Nan has a great blog and a fantastic ebay shop. She loves to go to tag sales, flea markets, yardsales, etc and has decorated her home beautifully with these items and some she has for sale in her shop on ebay. I am happy she is willing to share some of her treasures and the prices are sooooo affordable! Go check out her shop:
http://stores.ebay.com/Treasures-from-Nancourt and her blog: http://nancourtsheart.blogspot.com/ I think you will be happy you did!

Forget the trick or trick just give me carrots!


Only 7 days to go before we have ducklings!
The hens are being very good about sitting on their duck eggs. I can tell a difference in the weight of the eggs and am going to try to go out after dark and candle a few. At least I am going to try to. My daughter Maggie and family will be down from Tennessee tomorrow around noon for the weekend so I am trying to get things ready for their visit and cook their favorite foods and still get things done in the soap building and get all the animal beds cleaned and fresh straw put down as its suppose to turn cold... YES!!! Blogger is being picky tonight about letting me download photos. Some will and some won't..... shucks. Ms. Robyn after thinking about the apron and your note last night I have decided to carry on the apron memory. I am going to wear the apron whenever any of the grandchildren are around and will keep sticks of juicey fruit in the pockets to sneak to them when their parents aren't watching. Maybe it will be as good a memory for them when they are adults as it is for me! I will do the rest of the photos later as blogger is getting on my last nerve!

I Am So Blessed!

I have been blessed throughout my life with good friends. These friends I had met at school, in the neighborhood, work, etc. I had actually met them in person. When I started blogging I never thought I would be blessed with friends though I haven't met them in person are more like family members than friends. My blog family is always there when I am sick, sad, tired, excited, etc. I can always count on them to understand whatever I am going through at the moment and offer just the right words. I have enjoyed some wonderful swaps with different blog family members and have been touched by how they sent just the right things in my swap package. It meant they had taken the time to read my posts and get to know my likes and dislikes. I treasure every one of the items and try to think of different and special ways to display them. I have also received surprise packages from some of my blog family and each one brought me to tears. To know someone would just do something so special for no reason really touches me. I think of Nicole everytime I wear my apron making soaps. Gail's beautiful handpainted birds on tiles make me smile every morning. I am so excited for the bathroom to be finished so I can hang Lisa's wallhanging. Then today I find a package in my mailbox from Ms. Robyn! I cried and when I read the note to William and told him about what was in the package he got teary eyed too! Robyn read my post about grandma's apron and sent me a lovely apron and in the pocket of that apron was a package of juicy fruit gum! Just like my great grandma use to have in hers and sneak me a piece when I visited. It brought a flood of memories back and touched me so much! What wonderful, caring and loving blog family members God has brought into my life. Ms. Robyn a million dollars couldn't mean more to me than the lovely apron and package of gum! When my kitchen is remodeled this apron will have a special place where I can see it everyday and think of you and remember my "granny Collins". Thank you doesn't even begin to express how appreciative I am of this special gift. But thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

If You Want To Help

The Amish Community does not have health insurance so these families are facing large hospital and doctor bills. My heart goes out to the families that lost their daughters and prayers go up for the daughters still in the hospital. It is hard to understand why things happen especially terrible things like this. The Amish are there for each other no matter what. They will all reach into their pockets and give the families what they can. They will also join together in faith. That will be whats makes them strong. That will be what carries them through the road ahead. We could all use some of their faith and strength.


THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE STAFF OF CSBANK WISHES TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST REGRETS TO THE COMMUNITY OF BART TOWNSHIP IN THE WAKE OF THE TRAGIC DEATHS OF OUR NEIGHBORS' CHILDREN TODAY. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED TWO FUNDS FOR ALL NECESSARY HELP AND SOLACE FOR THE BEREAVED.

Funds have been established for those who would like to donate funds to assist those who are effected by the tragedy at Nickel Mines School.

There is the Nickel Mines Children's Fund and the Roberts Family Fund.

Donations can be mailed to:

Nickel Mines Children's Fund
Coatesville Savings Bank
1082 Georgetown Road
Paradise, PA 17562

Roberts Family Fund
Coatesville Savings Bank
1082 Georgetown Road
Paradise, PA 17562

http://www.coatesvillesavings.com/
Donations can be made in person at any Coatesville Savings Bank branch locations.

Busy Day

Tomorrow I will post photos because I am too tired tonight. I finally have a place for all my soap supplies! Until today the soaps were on shelves in the hallway, the oils were in a cabinet in the diningroom, shipping supplies were in a picnic basket under the breakfast bar. Tags, etc were either on the diningroom table or on the desk. I went from one room to the other getting my orders together. I am getting half of the building we built for my soaps! So today I have been moving shelves, cabinets, supplies and soaps. I have everything set up and its all in the same area! At the moment I have 53 different scents of soaps made. And a lady that stopped by as my first customer in my "shop" wanted one I didn't have made so I will be making more soaps later this week. I have been checking the duck eggs to make sure the hens are staying on them. Betty has given up sitting and the meany chicken Priscilla won't sit on them but Red has moved from her one egg to 12. Hopefully the 13th we will have some ducklings. Miss Diva is being a Diva. She wants you to scratch her back and if you don't she butts you and if that doesn't work you get a nice bite on the butt!! Got lots of cleaning to get done before Maggie and family come for the weekend. Have bread to bake too so guess I had better get back to work for a few more hours.

Then There Was 32!

I had thought Sally had decided to be a good mom and sit on the eggs she has in her nest now. She did for 2 days and then she never went back so I took them and put them under Priscilla. Priscilla is mean! She would sit on the eggs the other hens were laying and when I went to gather them she wouldn't just peck me she would bite! She meant business when she came after you! Since she wanted to sit on eggs she is now sitting on 12 duck eggs. That brings the total to 32! Wilma has been faithfully sitting on her ten from the beginning. Betty on the other hand let other hens help her then decided she didn't want to do it at all. She waited till Henny Penny came to give her a break and never went back! Henny Penny is sitting on 9 eggs and Red is sitting on 1 right beside Henny Penny. Red is a bantam so one is plenty for her and makes her feel like she is helping. I know all these eggs won't hatch but even if half of them do I am going to have lots of little ducklings running around the homestead. The bathroom project didn't get started today. Wayne had a doctors appointment and still has some painting to finish up on the outside of the house. Since I am having company next weekend we decided to wait till next Monday to start the bathroom. It would be a big mess with company here. I am trying so hard to be patient but I can't wait to get the bathroom done! I stayed up till 2am making soaps last night and have been making soap all day today. I was blessed with 2 huge orders and have been asked to put some in a online shop so making some for them. I also have lots of new scents that I want to get in my shop on etsy before the holidays. I just posted a tangerine scented one there today. It reminds me of Christmas and getting a tangerine in my stocking. It smells just like a peeled tangerine. I have about 10 more new scents that will be ready within a week. Our fall is going to turn back into summer. The weatherman is calling for 90 degree F weather this week. We have been having 69 and 70 degree F and it has been so nice. Now we are going to have a heatwave. Hopefully that will be it for this year and we can get on to the cold weather! It just has to be cool for Halloween! Hope everyone has a fantastic week and enjoy all your blessings!

Oh What A Night

Last night I was minding my own business. I was sitting on the sofa watching my favorite shows on PBS while I polished the brass on my lamps (they were black!) when I saw a little mouse run across the floor! Well with 3 cats around here I knew how to get rid of the little feller. I first called Whiskers inside as he is the great hunter. He always brings me snakes, squirrels, frogs, and lizards as gifts. Well he was too busy crying in front of the cabinet that has the canned cat food. Couldn't get him to hunt the mouse even when I sat him right where the mouse had been. He cries to go back outside so I call Dimples in and she starts sniffing around and goes right where I saw the mouse and then starts going under the sofa. Yes! She is going to get my mouse! I finish up the lamps and decide to go to bed though I have tons of soap to make. I am in a nice sleep when Dimples jumps up on the bed. I figure she has done her job and now coming for a good sleep... Wrong! She has brought her mouse to me but its still alive! She is chasing this little thing all across the bed! I get up and move to the sofa to finish my nights sleep and leave the bed to Dimples. Again I am in a nice sleep when Dimples jumps up on me and wants to give me her mouse. Its dead this time thank goodness. I thank her, throw the mouse away and lay back down to sleep a couple more hours before I have to milk. I forgot Dimples doesn't like to sleep beside you but on you. She had to knead my stomach before she could settle down for a sleep and then she snored! I finally fell asleep for the 3rd time and in my sleep I turn over on my side. This made dimples wake up and she had to knead my side for several minutes before she laid back down. We both start to doze when we hear a cricket. Dimples jumps up and starts hunting the cricket! She is running all over the house trying to catch this thing so I finally get up put Dimples back outside, lay back down to see its already 6 am and Whiskers is sitting at the back door crying because its his breakfast time and you know he is starving to death as he hasn't eaten in the 5 hours! So up I get to feed and milk. I have soap to make and some errands I have to run then I am taking a nap! Hoping the mice and crickets stay outdoors and the cats go take a nap in the sunshine and the phone doesn't ring off the hook! Happy October everyone! Time to start with my Halloween recipes and stories!!! Have a blessed day and count those blessings. Even the mouse ones!