Be My Valentine

Pea is taking part in sharing your HeARTS and got me wanting to do the same. So all you have to do is leave a comment and I will put those names in a pot and draw the lucky winner. Here is what I am giving away. Handmade goat milk soap made by me. The scent is French Market and the winner of the drawing will receive a 4.5 oz bar and a little surprise to go with it. So come on and leave a comment so you can be my valentine!

Weather is Suppose to get Frightful

But inside its so warm and delightful! LOL The temp has dropped 10 degrees in the last hour and we are suppose to get ice and freezing rain tonight and tomorrow. The animals all have extra bedding. I made Diva a blanket wrap to wear instead of one of her sweatshirts. Nitro is loving the cold weather and wanting to play. I played a few minutes but got tired and a little chilly so came in. Left him standing at the fence crying for me to come back and play some more. The baby bunnies are all snug and warm in their nest. They are growing so fast! They still don't have their eyes open yet but their ears are floppy and they have the cutest little buck teeth! I have a pot of cabbage that I cooked on low all night and have added carrots, potatoes, celery, onions and sausage to. That will keep my tummy full and my body warm. A friend told me that during the winter animals don't drink as much water and she had been making warm mash for them to eat in evening feeding. One it gives them more water and two it warms their bodies. She made the goat mash from beet pulp, goat feed and sweet feed. She made the chicken mash from chicken feed and beet pulp. The beet pulp retains and gives the animals the extra water they need. I am going to feed mash for this evenings feeding. Will see how they like it. We aren't having extreme cold like other areas but for us its cold and I love it! I have several projects I am going to work on tonight and tomorrow that will keep me inside and close to the fire. I also am going to be lazy and read and even take a nap if I feel like it which doesn't happen often around here! I hope everyone is snug and warm and able to have a relaxing day.

Thought For The Day

It doesn't matter what your intentions are or how high you set your goals; What you;ll be remembered for is what you accomplish.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Chatty Cathy has decided not to escape the goat pen anymore. I think she got tired of being chased with a net. She has even stopped being so chatty! She and the other 2 guineas are doing well in their new home. I really must name the other 2 but until now all I ever heard or saw was Chatty Cathy.

Ms. Diva was able to go without her sweatshirt today but have a feeling it will be back on her tomorrow as we are suppose to be getting some bad weather tomorrow night. Nitro wanted his cookies this morning but was in such a hurry to eat them he dropped them on the ground and wouldn't eat them after I picked them up. I put them in his feed bucket and noticed he was eating them before I walked away. This afternoon he wasn't even taking time to chew one before trying to grab another. Diva even ate one this afternoon. She does that now and then but doesn't seem to care for them.

Jackie O and Mrs. Mighty Chicken are still in Hidden Haven Hospital but are getting better every day. Jackie O found a way out yesterday and was scratching around right next to where she got out so was easy to put her back. Both of them are laying eggs so hopefully will be well enough to get back to the chicken pen soon.

Unfortunately Gertrude is a rooster so have changed his name to Gert. He let me pick him up this afternoon for a snuggle but is always starving to death I put him back down to eat. He and the others are truly teenagers as they are never full! I will be moving 5 more this weekend from the teen dorm to join Gert and the big chickens. Moving them after they go to roost works so well.

Sister and Sister Sister are each sitting on 2 brown eggs. They are bantams so when the hatch their chicks they will be surprised at the size. I am hoping my little hospital will be empty and I can put them with the chicks in there. It would be nice for them to keep their babies instead of having them took away. I am going to let Diva keep her babies. She had triplets her first time and twins her second but her owner at the time takes the babies before they have a chance to bond. She bottle feeds the kids. I believe a mom should be able to stay with her babies. She can give them the love and nurturing they need.

I have 30 strawberry plants I am going to set out after this bad weather passes. Last year I had lots of strawberries from my tiered bed but dear sweet Ms. Diva ate them all one day while I was chasing the chickens that had gotten out. I have maybe 3 plants left out of 50. This time I am going to put a wire fence around to protect the plants from all animals. I hope to plant my onions and cabbage in Feb. and am sure I will have to watch Diva and Nitro if they go for a walk. I still have several seed catalogs to go through to finish up my order for spring. Have to enjoy sitting by the fire while I can because it won't be long till it will be working outside till dark.

Sold 5 dozen eggs today to one lady! She has alot of family visiting from overseas. She also wants to buy Daffy or Donald. She bought a bunch of chickens from my neighbor and her dad is going to build her a pen. It would solve the problem of the 2 of them fighting over Sally come springtime. I will have to think about it.

Carrying in the wood today I saw a beautiful woodpecker. I always think of mother and feel like its her way of letting me know she is still with me.

A soap customer didn't get their package and when we tracked it it was in IL and was only going a few towns over from here! The post office said it got put on the wrong truck... duh, you think? But all in all it has been a good day at the homestead. Hope your day has been a happy one.

Thought For The Day: A sense of humor bridges the distance between sadness and joy.

New Blogger

I have finally switched to new blogger so lets see how much trouble it causes. If you have trouble commenting or with anything else blog related I am so sorry and hopefully things will iron themselves out.
Had to break the ice off the water buckets this morning. Put Diva's sweatshirt in the dryer before putting it on her and she seemed very happy. Went out and gave all the animals a midday snack to keep their body heat up till feeding time. Windchill is at 15 now and was 9 this morning. I have had a nice fire going all day and am sloshing I have drank so much hot tea. Love the cold just wish we had snow to go with it.
Here is my recipe for Homestead Stew. I usually cook it in a big pot on the back of the wood stove but it does real well in a Crockpot.
Start with a 1 lb bag of dried 15 beans. Rinse them off and cook in enough water to cover them. Add the contents from the little spice packet included. When they are about half done add 2 beef bouillon cubes, tsp oregano, 2 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, 1 bunch green onions chopped, 2 celery stalks chopped, and either a 1lb bag of frozen mixed veggies or leftover veggies from the fridge along with a kielbasa sausage sliced. Finish cooking till beans are done. This is even better the second day. You can add water as you need but you want it thick and not like a soup.

I Love Sunday's

Raining this morning when I fed and milked but all the animals were out waiting for me. The teen chicks are still eating like there is no tomorrow. I have been going out and giving them a midday snack to tide them over between feeding times. Jackie O and Mrs. Mighty Chicken are doing better. I sprayed Mrs. wounds and they are healing nicely. She has gotten so use to me checking her wounds she stands still while I do what I have to do. Jackie O is still limping but not as much. I think her injury came from having her foot stepped on. Wormed the dogs today and they didn't mind a bit. The teen chicks in with the big chickens are doing just fine. Thanks to Caroline who suggested placing them on the roosts after dark. The other chickens don't pay them any attention. Sally is still making Donald and Daffy tow the line and follow her around. The baby bunnies are a week old today. I have been petting and hand feeding Flower all week so she would get use to my scent and not stress out when I handle the babies. Mom rabbits don't want anyone handling their young ones but I read if one person becomes the caregiver and the mom gets use to their scent the mom won't stress. I handled one baby the first day and Flower was a nervous wreck. The second time I handled 2 babies and she was right there watching. Today I picked up all the babies and put in fresh bedding and she just stuck her head in and I petted her then she went back to eating. The babies are growing and I got a nice surprise. There are 7 babies not 6! The runt was in the bottom of the nest buried under the others so I didn't see him till today. They are either gray or black. None of them have Thumpers colors. Ms. Diva spent the night and day without her shirt. I debated about putting it on tonight since its suppose to be very cold but she was sleeping with Nitro which should give each of them body heat to stay warm. All of the animals seem to be doing really well so I went out and sold some eggs and ran some errands. Came home and watched a awesome movie called Camilla starring Jessica Tandy. Went out and did the evening feeding and milking. Came in and watched Barnyard. Loved it! My grandkids had been telling me to watch this movie, that I would love the goat. They were right. Have a nice fire going and have receipts allover the living room so I can get everything ready for taxes. Just another quiet Sunday. My favorite day!
Thought For The Day
Achieving a short term goal is like winning a game, but achieving a long-term goal is like winning the tournament.

Share the Love Blog Awards

Wow, I don't know who nominated me but thank you. I am glad you find my blog inspiring. I have never been nominated for anything like this before (that I know of) and it feels great! You still have time to nominate your favorite blogs. Go on now what are you waiting on? Click on the photo to see the categories,

Veggie Soup

No its not a recipe for baby bunnies! I just had to show you how they are growing. Aren't they cute?


Vegetable Soup
The secret to my vegetable soup is V8 juice. I pour a quart in the soup pot and go from there. I peel and dice a couple of turnips. peel and dice a sweet potato (yes sweet). Peel and dice 2 white potatoes. Dice up a small bunch of green onions. Peel and slice a couple of carrots. dice up a couple of celery stalks. Toss in a small handful of dried beans (I use navy) Toss in a handful of lentils. Any veggie leftovers I have in the fridge like beans, corn, peas, etc I toss them in. Add desired amount of water for soup thickness. I add 2 chicken bouillon cubes, sea salt and fresh ground black pepper along with a couple cloves of garlic. Simmer this on the back of your stove all day or cook on low in your crock pot. The last hour I toss in a handful of noodles. If you want you can add some cooked ground beef or any leftover meat from the fridge diced up at that time too. This makes a big pot and I share with my neighbors so we can all enjoy a nice big bowl full on a cold winters day. Will post more recipes later.

Friday Already?

This week has gone by fast. Making headway on the paperwork and the hall is finally finished! Wayne got the floor down today and I had decorating which means I have more items that I won't be using I can sell in a yard sale or on ebay! Trying to downsize and declutter as we do each room. Must say it looks alot better to me decluttered and alot easier to stay clean! After Wayne builds another bunny condo he will start on the kitchen. The kitchen keeps getting pushed back for other projects but I am really going to let him start after the bunny house for the baby bunnies. They will soon be too big to stay with momma and we need more condos anyway. 3 of the babies are already spoken for when they are old enough to leave mom. I have found 2 lion head bunnies that I want to purchase to raise babies and will need a condo for them. Starting to feel like Noah's Ark around here. The rug in the hall was made by my neighbor Jane. She tore sheets into strips and crocheted 2 rugs for me for Christmas. They are so heavy and so nice! Forgot to move Wayne's power cord for the photo. He had to drill a new hole for one of the bedrooms doorknobs.
You can see the bumps and boo boos on the walls. Wayne sanded and fixed some but I told him to just paint over the rest as they were part of the house's history. Wayne is a perfectionist and would have loved to smoothed every wall but then I would still be waiting for the hall to be finished. LOL The oil lamp was my step dad's mothers lamp. The antique table is one of a set that William and I got at a auction. The antique tin photo I bought off ebay and the antique locks and keys William picked up somewhere. The framed poster is of the Golden Knights Army parachute team. I was autographed for William while he was still in the military. The door to the bathroom is center and the linen closet is on the right. If you look real close you will see I need about 2 feet of border having enough to finish the hall. Hopefully I can find more tomorrow as I purchased it on sale.
The animals all seemed to have did well with the cold weather last night. Their water was froze this morning so had to bring rabbit water bottles inside to thaw and refill. Broke the ice on the chickens and goats water and gave the 2 sick hens warm water with antibiotics in it. Diva seems to be happy in her fleece shirt so I left it on. Tomorrow is suppose to be warmer so I will take it off and let her enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. All in all it was a nice quiet day and hope tomorrow is the same! I have been asked if I would post some of my recipes that I have been simmering on the stove all day. I will try to post them tomorrow or Sunday.

Old Man Winter is in Town

button up your overcoat cause the weather IS breezy and freezy! The coldest weather of the season is here and I am enjoying it! And Ms. Diva doesn't mind now that she is styling in her red fleece shirt. Enjoyed burning scrap wood after feeding this morning. Filled the bird feeders so the birds could eat and stay warm. Put more bedding in the rabbit houses. Moved my kindling box and filled my log holder so I can stay toasty tonight. Put away my soaps that had been drying on the dining room table and have a nice big pot of homemade soup simmering on the wood stove. Took my neighbor Fran to haul her garbage off and then I stopped at post office to mail off some soaps. We stopped at the grocery store where she bought a few groceries and I needed carrots and lettuce for Diva, Bud and Flower. The guineas stayed in the pen last night and today. Felt good not to have to chase them. Granted they still like to run up and down the fence but at least are quiet today.
The baby bunnies are growing so fast! They are making noises like a baby kitten. I took out a different one today for a quick snapshot. It didn't like being out of the nest and wouldn't hold still.
I found a cute little sign to hang over Diva's stall at the dollar tree. Just had to get it for her!
What do you think? Think it was made for her???? LOL

Thrift Store Finds

Here is a set of paintings I bought for 50 cents at a local thriftstore.
Here is a set of vintage flower pictures I picked up at a thriftstore for only 99 cents each. Sorry about the reflexion in the pictures glass
Here is a sample of the border I am putting up in the hallway. Walls are a dark cranberry with white beadboard ceiling, white trim and doors except the one into the bathroom. The floor is being put down tomorrow and then I will take photos of the finished hallway.
And here is one of the reasons I am not stretched out relaxing.

Is It Tomorrow Yet?

This day has to end! It has been one where everything has gone wrong. The guineas we moved yesterday, well Chatty Cathy was back in with the chickens this morning. Only she was running the fence crying to get back to the other guineas! My neighbor brought her net and we caught her AGAIN and put her back. Tried to talk with William about paperwork but its hard to do over the phone. Heard the dogs barking like crazy and find out the neighbors little dog had decided to get in the goat lot and chase the guineas. They got scared and 2 of them got out and ran to the chicken lot. Called my neighbor and we caught Chatty Cathy AGAIN along with the other guinea and put them back in with the guinea that was screaming cause she was alone. Mad at neighbor for their dog and what happens? My dogs get out! Sabrina (lady that works for us) and her daughter go catch them as they were the ones that opened the gate. The dogs get put back in their lot before they had a chance to chase chickens or guineas. Went out to feed and found my youngest teen chick dead. The other teens had pecked it to death. I had moved 8 teens last night to the big lot and guess the others were mad and took it out on the little one. There is a cold front coming in so all the animals have nice fresh warm straw beds and have their tummy full so I am going to shower and get a cup of cocoa and stretch out on the sofa and dare the outside world to bother me! Hope your day has been a good one!
Thought For The Day
Maturity is the willingness to take on an unpleasant task and have the determination to stick with it until it's done.

Musical Pens

Moved Jackie O and Mrs Mighty Chicken to Bud's summer home so they can recoup without any other chickens or chicks bothering them. My neighbor came down and we caught the guineas, clipped their wings and put them in with Diva and Nitro. They are letting it be known they are unhappy with the move. They have been so mean to the chickens that I had to do something. In the spring I will let them have free range of the property but for now they have to stay penned. Tonight when the teens go to roost I will take the bigger ones and put them in with the big chickens. Thanks for the ideal Caroline! Hopefully when all the chickens wake up in the morning they will be busy eating breakfast they won't notice the teens too much. I checked on the baby bunnies and there are 6 babies! Flower wasn't happy I picked up one so I hurried and snapped a photo and put it back. I felt around and there are 6 babies. They all felt nice and warm and Flower was checking them over when I left to make sure I didn't take or hurt one. She is being a super mom.Thought for the day:

If you want a brighter view of life, help someone else find the solution to their problem.

Monday Monday

So far I have seen 4 baby bunnies. I am not touching them so know there are more deeper in the nest. Flower is eating like crazy and even stands still for a couple of scratches behind her ears. Thumper doesn't understand why Flower isn't talking to him through the screen anymore but seems to be OK with everything. Jackie O is still hobbling but putting more weight on her foot each day. Mrs Mighty Chicken has come to live with the teens. I had let my neighbor borrow her to breed with Mighty Chicken (rooster I had given her). Well Mighty Chicken has spurs. Big spurs. He ripped Mrs Mighty Chickens sides really deep. He also gave her a raw spot on her back where he was grabbing her with his beak. I have been putting neosporin on her wounds and then covering that with petroleum jelly to keep the teen chicks from pecking her. They are slowly healing and she is eating and doing fine otherwise. My neighbor is coming over tomorrow and we are going to trim the guineas wings and put them in with the goats. That way I can move the teen chickens in with the bigger chickens. The guineas are so mean and try to bite them and pull their feathers out. Always something going on around here. Nitro and Diva have decided its warmer to sleep together. Went out last night to close them in and they were in the same stall sleeping so left them together. Diva hasn't come back in season so I am happy to say she is pregnant. Betty Boop only has one egg left to hatch and she will hopefully take a much needed break from sitting on eggs. Sister has decided she wants to sit on a nest so I am letting her keep a few eggs. Sister Sister waits patiently for Sister to get up to eat or drink and she moves over to sit on the eggs till Sister comes back. They are sisters so thats why the name Sister and Sister Sister. Still looking for more female ducks before spring. There are a few in the ads I am going to call about. Today has been a cold windy busy day. We had lots of rain but no ice or snow. Calling for a really cold front coming in Thursday so i am hoping it will bring snow with it. Have a nice fire going and a cup of green tea so will relax for a few and then call it a night. Have a great week. Here is my thought for the day:
Making a difference is as close as the hand. Just as each of us has a unique fingerprint, we also have unique talents that can leave a mark where it is needed.

We Have Babies!

Thumper and Flower are the proud parents of ? babies. The question mark is I am not sure how many as I didn't want to touch or move them around. Flower had her nest made for several days and this morning I noticed her pulling some of her fur for the nest. This afternoon while feeding she was really thirsty and hungry so I opened the door on her house and saw 1 baby moving around. I did feel it to make sure it was warm and it was. That way I know the babies on down in the nest are warm too. In a couple of days I will take pictures where you can actually see the babies and how many but right now they are sleeping, Mom is well and hungry and Dad is getting a list together on who to pass carrots out to. Look real close and you will see a pink spot among the fur and that is one of the babies!

Have You Seen My Time?

Where does my Sunday time go? Whiskers wakes me up crying to go outside and the minute my feet hit the floor something or someone starts stealing time from me. Others seem to accomplish so much with their Sundays why can't I? After telling the cats good morning and letting the cats outside and feeding them, I check the fire in the stove and add wood so we can stay nice and toasty. I turn on the TV to catch the local and world news while I check my emails for soap orders. I head out the door to care for the animals. Lady, Tramp and Sheba are waiting at the corner of the dog lot for their morning biscuit and their good morning wish. The teen chicks are crying for me to open their door so they can go in the chick yard and then start fussing at me to feed them. While feeding the teens and talking with them the bigger chickens have started their own noisy musical for attention. I get their bucket, the ducks bucket, goat buckets and fill them with their own special feeds. Grab a loaf of bread and toss in a few pieces for the dogs as it seems their dog biscuits aren't the only treats they like in the morning then go in to face the gathering crowd of feathered friends. They start pecking at my boots, trying to peck the fed out of my hands as I scattered a little on the ground and tell them good morning so I can make my way to fill the feeders. While they are eating I crumble and scatter some of the bread for them to eat later and then head to feed the ducks who have been quacking their impatience. I put their corn and oats in their pan and scatter a little bread crumbs for later while talking to them and head on to the rabbit condo. Thumper and Flower are very nicely waiting for their breakfast. I fill their feeders and break up a carrot to divide between them. Give them a few good rubs and a good morning. Check to see if there are any baby bunnies while in the background I can hear the momaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa cry of Diva. Nitro is standing at the gate waiting for his breakfast. I put away the chicken buckets grab the goat buckets and milker and head for the goat pen. Have to say good morning to Diva first or she pouts and then tell Nitro good morning and please move so I can open the gate. Nitro tries to beat me to his stall so he can try to eat the grain as I pour it from the bucket. Diva waits for me to feed Nitro then walks with me to her stall. She waits outside till I pour her feed in her feeder then comes in and starts to eat while I sit on her upside down bucket and get her ready to milk. When she is ready and the milker is on that is my time to rub her back, scratch behind her ears and talk to her. Sometimes she will stop eating and turn to look at me but most of the time she continues to eat while I rub and milk. Its about the only time I get alone with her without Nitro butting in for a rub or scratch. After milking I gather the buckets and put them away, get a couple of Nitros cookies and some alfalfa or hay and head back to the goat pen. Nitro comes for his cookies and Diva eats on the hay as she isn't a cookie eater. I then take a little alfalfa in the chicken pen so the chickens can peck and scatter it for the seeds. I put some alfalfa in the rabbits hay racks and scatter some for the ducks. Time to give the teen chicks some crumbled bread as they have finished their feed long ago! Grab the water hose, the bleach and scrub brush as its time to do the weekly water bucket cleanings. Scrub the dogs buckets, rinse good then fill with fresh water. While in their pen check their automatic feeder and make sure its full and clean. Move on to the teen chicks water . Bleach, scrub and rinse those while watching them and checking for anything that might be wrong or need attention. Move on to the big chicken lot. Empty, bleach, scrub and rinse all their water dishes. While filling them I watch the chickens, turkey's and guineas to see if any of them need attention. I then bleach and scrub the roosting poles and move on to the ducks water dish. Theirs is always a mess and takes a little more scrubbing while they play in the mud puddle from emptying their dish. They seem to be in good health and don't need anything. I had wormed all the animals last week and they all seem to be doing good. I go empty and clean the bunny water bottles and check them out... still no sign of babies. Take the hose and move on to the goat pen. Empty their bucket and clean it while trying to keep Nitro out of my way. Goats usually don't like water but he loves drinking from the hose. I let him drink from the hose, finish filling the bucket, check his hoofs. Give Diva a little loving and check her hoofs while keeping Nitro from knocking me over while he rubs against my leg. Put the hose up and head to the house to strain the milk and for my own breakfast. Try eating while 3 cats who should have full bellies are crying for bites. After we all finish my breakfast I straighten up the kitchen and clean and fill Buds water and food dishes. Put down fresh paper in the bottom of his house and then clean the litterbox and water dish for the cats. Check the fire again and bring in wood from the woodpile. Sweep the floor and start making cheese. While the milk is cooking I put on a pot of pintos on the wood stove to cook. I have soaps drying on the dining room table so I turn all them over then go back to the cheese making. Have the cheese hanging in cheese cloth to drain and wash up the items from making cheese. Sit down for a few minutes to read my daily devotion and pet a cat while reading. Try reading in a book I got at the thrift store yesterday but Groucho keeps walking on my book. I put it away and play with him for a few minutes then check the fire and put another log on. My neighbor Fran calls and I talk with her for a little while as she is feeling lonely. Go out and make a list of what I need to get from the feed store in the morning and come in for a bowl of soup for lunch. Had 3 cats watching every bite and finally put a little soup in their dishes for them and laugh as they try to eat it before it cools. It finally cools and they clean their bowls and I finish mine. Wash up the few dishes from that and decide to sit at the computer for a few minutes and catch up on my friends blogs and forums. After posting this it will be time to gather eggs and start the afternoon feeding and milking. This evening has a desk full of paperwork waiting on me. I will work on that while trying to watch a couple shows on TV and finish up my seed orders and keeping the fire going. Will shower, eat supper, clean up the kitchen, close up the teen chicks and goats for the night and talk with William on the phone about my day and hear about his. Will try to read while drinking a cup of hot chocolate and then move the cats over so I can have a little bit of room to sleep.......... where does time go? I have crafts I didn't get to, new soap scents I didn't try to make, phone calls I didn't get to, the rest of the kitchen needs pack away before the remodeling can start. The guest bedroom I was going to start on today didn't even get touched. Does anyone know who took my time or did it get lost on its own? If you find it let me know as I really really need time!

Friday at the Homestead

A quiet day here at the homestead. Got my order together from one of my seed catalogs, now only 8 more to go. I have been trying to get all my soap paperwork together and in order for taxes and that is a headache in alone. Betty Boop hatched out another baby. This little one is all black with white tipped wings. She has 2 more eggs under her and then hopefully she will take a much needed break from sitting. The first chicks she hatched are already big enough to join the big chickens. Which brings another problem. I took Gertrude to the big chicken lot and the guineas were mean! Chasing and trying to bite her so I brought her back to the teen pen. Will try again in a few days and maybe take the guineas out. Flower has her "nest" all ready in the bunny condo so hopefully she will be having baby bunnies any day now. Did you know that mother bunnies only feed their babies once every 24 hours? The mom bunny stays away from the nest after having the babies and only goes back to feed them and only ONCE a day! I was shocked when I read that. There is a book on how to raise and care for every animal I have on the homestead. I have been reading raising and caring for rabbits so I will be sure Flower and babies get the best care and everything they need. I have been reading the one on ducks and it seems I am going to have to find another female duck to hang out with Sally. In the spring it seems that Donald and Daffy will start fighting over Sally as to which one gets to claim her. Drakes need 1 to 5 females each to keep them happy. To keep peace in the duck neighborhood I am going to try to find a female before spring. Springtime should put Fred and Ginger in the mood too. That will mean we can have baby turkey's running around this summer. Wayne has been working on our hallway. Have a new bead board ceiling, new flooring, new baseboards and trim, and new light fixture. Tomorrow hopefully the new paint will be on the walls and I can hang my border tomorrow night. I have been putting off the kitchen but next week I will have everything packed away for sure so he can rip the cabinets out. Oh how I dread that project as it will be a big mess for a long while I am afraid. Well that is whats going on or will be going on around Hidden Haven. Hope you have a wonderful relaxing weekend! Will leave you with my thought for the day.
To set a goal, even a small one, and complete it, reaps a double bonus: dreaming and doing something not thought possible.

Winter Has Finally Arrived

Early early this morning old man winter finally made his appearance. We had a few snow flurries and lots of ice hanging on the trees. We had sleet and freezing rain most of the day and its now turned to just rain. I just love winter! We are suppose to get another winter blast this weekend and Monday which is suppose to be a better chance of snow.... I HOPE SO! I have enjoyed being inside most of the day doing paperwork, reading blogs, sending emails, and watching season 2 of the Waltons on DVD. I just love that show. Been a nice day to have a fire and a pot of soup simmering on the stove alongside the tea kettle. I have been drinking teas and hot chocolate all day. I took Diva's sweatshirt off today since it was raining and she would leave her stall to walk around in the rain several times. I didn't want her going around in a wet shirt and getting sick. I added more straw and hay to her stall and Nitro's. They are all settled in for the night nice and warm. I even dried Diva off with my coat before closing her gate. Everyone has ask if she is pregnant and we think so. She hasn't come back in season and I know this will get lots of laughs in the blog neighborhood but I did a pregnancy test on her and it was positive! I don't know if it actually works on goats but it did say she was pregnant. Its hard to tell for sure on a goat right away. Goats have 4 stomachs and after they eat their stomachs bloat. That means they are healthy and the good bacteria is helping digest their food. If they don't bloat there is a problem and you have a unhealthy goat. Diva had eaten a little while before I put her sweatshirt on so was bloated in the photo that makes her look pregnant. Goats usually don't start showing till the last month or so and sometimes you can't even tell by looking that they are pregnant. Guess it pays to be a goat as its healthy to be bloated. Goats don't get measured around their waist to tell if they are overweight. A goat gets measured around their body right behind their "elbows". (Don't I wish!) You can be pregnant and not even show and if you are lucky you will have a crazy lady putting sweatshirts on you and drying you off with her coat if you get wet.

Baby Its Cold Outside

Mommaaaaaaaaaaa, Its cold out here!

Here you go Diva. This should keep you warm.

Make Your Own Lavender Candle

Scented candles are expensive to buy but very easy to make. I like lavender as its a delightful scent that seems to fragrance the whole house.

Here is what you need:
2 lbs of paraffin wax
2 colored crayons or a candle colorant (if you want color)
2 cups of dried lavender or 4 cups of fresh flowers
candle molds or any old cans( cleaned of course )
Petroleum jelly
candle wicking

Here is all you have to do:
Break up the wax into small pieces and melt in a double boiler or in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Keep heat very low and watch carefully as paraffin is flammable. Stir in your crayons or coloring if using. Remove from heat and then add lavender. Coat your molds or cans with petroleum jelly and drop a length of wick into each mold so that it touches the bottom. Hold the other end around a pencil resting across the mold or can's rim to keep the wick centered as you pour the wax. When the wax cools to a gel, pour it into the molds or cans. Allow the candles to set overnight. The next day remove from molds or cans and you have your own lavender scented candles! You can leave the lavender out and use fragrance oils to scent your candles any scent you wish. Now go make some candles!

Chicks These Days Have It Made

My name is Jackie O and since I have a injured foot I have been staying in the teen chicks pen. These chicks think they have it rough! They don't know what rough is! I listened to their silly chatter as long as I could then gathered them around to hear my story. I wasn't fortunate to be born here at Hidden Haven. I don't know who my mother is. When I was born I was put into a box with a bunch of chicks I didn't even know without a chance to see my mom , have a drink of water or any food to eat.
Someone closed us up in that box and carried us to a post office where we sat in a corner. It was dark and crowded. We all were crying for our mommies and a nice warm nest. We finally arrived at a lady's house that had bought chicks but not us. She gave us food and water and put us in a bigger box with a nice warm light. We got to stretch our legs and get to know each other. We were getting warm and getting use to the place when a lady that would become our new mom came to pick us up. It was very very cold outside so she turned her heater on in her van and when it was nice and toasty then put us and our box in. We rode forever or so it seemed till we got to what would be our new home. Mom had a nice huge box waiting for us. She had 2 nice warm lights to keep us from getting chilled. She also had a wire over the top to keep Whiskers and Dimples from having us for a snack! We had plenty of food and water and Mom made sure to love on each one of us and she even wiped our bottoms! We were loving our new home and being around mom all the time when she decides we are big enough to go outside. She said we were leaving dust on everything in the house! We stayed in Bud's (iguana) summer home but mom had covered it with plastic and put in 2 heat lamps. We had a nice big closed in yard to run around in and a nice warm house to sleep in. We got to love the new place and were just getting into a routine when mom comes and moves us again! This time we are in a HUGE fenced in yard with a chicken house that has roosting poles. We thought we had died and gone to heaven it was so nice and big. Dad came home and built us a nice big house with our own ladder to climb to our roosting poles and then mom brings this big 4 legged animal named Diva to live with us. We were afraid at first and all Diva did was cry everytime mom went inside. After a few days Diva settled down and even started being nice to us. She would even let us ride on her back. The only problem with her was she liked to eat our chicken feed. We had to hurry and eat what we wanted while she was being milked cause she would clean the bowls when she came back! Life was really nice and then mom takes Diva out and puts her in a new house with another 4 legged animal that's like her only bigger. She doesn't get to come in and eat our food anymore but she does come visit us through the fence. We were all settled down and enjoying life till Killer, Betty Boop and Blondie decided they wanted to hatch some babies. That's where you chicks come in. You have never had to travel in a box, go without food or water and you know your mom and dad. So stop complaining and start counting your blessings! Well that is the story of my life that I told the chicks. They are like any other teenager. They don't listen either! One day they will look back and see what a nice chickhood they had and how lucky they are they were born and got to live at Hidden Haven!

Talk To The Animals

Meowwwwwer. Just a minute I will be right there. After opening the door to let Whiskers out to potty as he refuses to use litterbox no matter what the weather I go back to making a pot of chili only to hear grrrrrrrwow and I stop and go make Grouchio leave Dimples alone. She hates for anyone to bother her while she is napping. Waaaaaaow. Ok Grouchio I will play mouse with you for a minute then you are going outside. Later as I am over at Frans visiting I hear Diva. Mamaaaaaaa Mamaaaaaaaaa is all she says if I dare to leave the yard without her. I call to her and she comes down to the fence to wait for me to come back into our yard. Once I am back she goes off to lay in the sun. Baaaaaaaa, Baaaaaaaaaaa. Nitro has woke up from his nap and saw me. He is wanting his apple molasses cookies. I walk over with his treat and talk with him and Diva. Tramp sees me and starts whining which brings Lady and Sheba over to look at me and whine too. They are wanting their doggie biscuits since I seem to be giving out treats. The ducks and chickens are fussing. They aren't hungry, they are mad because I won't open the door and let them out. I go in and give them some beet pulp and check on the rabbits. Thumper wants a little pet but Flower says feed me! I sometimes wondered why people that were at home all day complained because they were lonely and had no one to talk to. I wondered why I never felt that way. Now I understand why I don't get lonely. I talk to the animals! The scary thing is they talk back!

Bonnie Marie Weatherman

November 28,1923 January 14,2005

Can't believe its been 2 years since we said goodbye to you. I can still feel your hand against my cheek and see your eyes as you are looking at the angels that came to take you home. I can still feel the hurt and emptyness that I didn't think I would feel as I watched you take your last breath. I can still feel the love you gave me each day no matter what I did or said. I still feel blessed that you were my mother and helped shape me into the person I am today. I still thank God each night for letting me share every day of the last month of your life with you. I still remember the last talk you and I had. I still feel your presence because you promised you would be watching over me. I am so blessed to have all these feelings and memories but I would give anything to hear you say "I love you" one last time. I love and miss you Mother, always and forever.

New Gates

Finally getting to post photos! Blogger hasn't let me do this for 3 days.

Nitro had a bad habit of climbing on our old gate so he could beg for treats. The gate kept getting harder and harder to latch so I ask our every ready handyman Wayne to build a bigger, better gate. This one is perfect as the boards are in the direction where Nitro can't climb them. I can reach through and latch/unlatch from the inside with no problem. Its also a lot taller than the last gate. I thought Nitro would be unhappy but since he was a show goat he is use to gates. He even likes going into his stall and being shut in.

Diva doesn't seem to care one way or the other about the gates as long as she gets food!
We have the gates on the stalls so we can close off a goat to trim hoofs, check them, etc. The divider is tall enough where they can't get to each other nor reach thru the slates but where they can still see each other. Nitro seems to think he needs to keep an eye on Ms. Diva but she thinks since she has gotten what she needs from him he needs to stay in his own room! Of course Nitro being the king of the pen had to have a close up. Diva is very happy I have someone else to take pictures of and will let her have a break from the lime light.

TGIF

It has been another springlike day. After milking Ms. Diva this morning I headed to the soap shop and worked for awhile. Started raking and cleaning out some of the flower beds and stopped to take the goats on a short walk. My neighbor at the end of the road was on his property behind ours doing some clean up. He has a civilian job on the army base and lucked up and got a huge hoop frame the army was getting rid of. It was for a huge tent but he is putting it up and going to cover it with tin to make a storage barn. The goats and I had to walk back and check things out. Poor Diva and Nitro had to spend a little while locked in their stalls as Wayne hung a new gate on the pen. The first one wasn't very strong and Nito liked climbing on it. The new one has the boards going up and down so he can't climb. He will be unhappy about that plus he is out of cookies and I forgot to go get more! Think a trip to tractor supply will be made in the morning. Burnt some dead limbs and leaves while cleaning up. Trimmed some bushes and cut back my dead mums. Won't be long till its time to fertilize and mulch. This weather is nice but I hate to see the flowers coming up and even noticed my dogwoods are getting buds on them. Hopefully the cold weather that's suppose to come Tuesday will stay around long enough to put the plants and trees back to a winter sleep. Jackie O is doing better today. She is standing on her foot for a few seconds. Hopefully in a few days she will be well enough to go back with the other hens. Gertrude (one of the teen chicks) is getting big enough to join the big chickens. I will be moving her and few of the other bigger teens Sunday. That will give the smaller teens a chance to eat more and grow. I got a few more of my spring and summer scented soaps made. Have several new scents already listed. At least this weather is making me want to keep busy instead of curl up under a blanket. William just got back to Washington state after being in Canada. He says it is VERY cold there and headed this way. I can't wait. We really really need a winter or we will not have a good growing season. Diva gave us 2 quarts of milk today and the hens gave us 17 eggs. They seem to think its springtime too. Bet they will change their mind next week! Have a wonderful weekend everyone and give thanks for all your many blessings. No matter how small they may be.

Norm

Norm is having a great visit at Autums. If you get a chance go over and say hi,
http://www.creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/

National Delurking Day

Okay people its national delurking day. The day to not be just a reader, but a commenter too! From my stat counter I see I have regular readers from everywhere. So come on leave me a comment. Tell me something about you or at least tell me what you like about this blog or don't like... thats okay too. Come out, Come out, Wherever you are!

Nitro

This morning as I was getting ready to go to the feedstore Wayne (handyman) told me Nitro wouldn't let him in the pen. Now the first day Nitro arrived at Hidden Haven he followed Wayne everywhere and I mean everywhere. If Wayne got out of his sight he would stand on the gate and cry. Now that he has been here for a while he is king of the pen. Nitro will guard the gate and when anyone but me( so far) try to go in he pushes them out with his head. And if that doesn't work he turns sideways and pushes you with his body. We are getting Wayne to build gates on both stalls so we will have the means to close a goat up if needed. Nitro doesn't mind the gates. In fact he goes in his side and nudges the gate closed or open. He just doesn't want other people around him or Diva. So far he hasn't minded me around. I took him and Diva on a walk so Wayne could work on the gates. He walks fine with me. The only time I have a problem is when I run out of treats. Nitro loves the apple/molasses cookies for horses and hasn't learned what no more means. I have to make him slow down and taste them or he would swallow them whole. He will nudge me for more when I run out but other than that he doesn't mind me being around. He doesn't pay any attention to me when I milk Diva but when I finish I have to scratch his head. I think he knows Diva is pregnant and is taking care of her or he may just be selfish. On another note, Jackie O has a hurt leg and is in Hidden Haven Chicken hospital. Some how her leg got injured and she can't stand on it so she is in one of the old rabbit cages till it mends and she can stand on it. She is eating good and drinking water and there are no open wounds so will wait and see how quickly it mends. She doesn't seem to be in any pain So hopefully it will be soon. Maybe she heard me say she needed to go on a diet and is getting my sympathy so I will keep feeding her a lot. I have been reworking the photos in my etsy soap shop and adding new scents. Still have quite a few new scents to add but the paperwork on my desk keeps getting bigger and bigger. Have a couple of doe goats I am going to go look at next week. Need to find one to milk while Diva is dry. Going to stick with registered Nubians as we are very pleased with the ones we have and they are so lovable! Other than that its been a quiet day here. Have a nice fire going and season one of the Waltons on DVD calling my name. Paperwork????? shhhhhhhh it will be there tomorrow!

The Journal of Jacob Bowman

The author, Ronald Bowman is the great, great, great, great, nephew of Jacob Bowman. The journal of Jacob Bowman was found in an old walnut washstand, a family heirloom, in 1979.
Mr. Bowman has done an excellent job in putting this book together from his uncle's journal. Being very interested in the simple hard way of life during the 1800's is the reason I wanted to review this book. Getting so wrapped up in Jacob Bowman's adventures was the reason I couldn't put it down!
After enduring a childhood nobody would trade a handful of hot coals for, Jacob Bowman sets out to explore the Rocky Mountains. Through numerous seasons and adventures, he confronts both the virtuous and depraved. Rescuing a young Ute girl forces Jacob into a confrontation with the Yampa tribe, and the forging of a legendary bond with these beautiful people. He barters for the freedom of a black man named John, then travels with him as a friend the excitement of the yearly rendezvous, Jacob becomes smitten with Sarah, one of the ladies delivered for mending and cooking a decent meal. Jacob wishes to return to St. Louis to marry Sarah and hopes John will travel with him. Now, all must venture into the unknown, testing friendships along their final destinations. (TAKEN FROM BOOK COVER)
The journal tells of the many hardships and adventures of Jacob Bowman. Of being traded at the age of 14 by his family for a few bags of goods after his blood brother Fast Water dies. Having to work pounding steel into springs while 2/3's of his wages went to his family. Having to bury his daughter and many many more exciting, funny and sad adventures of his life this is a must read. If the ending of this book doesn't touch your heart, nothing will! Rating this book on a scale of 1 to 5 I would give it 5. History, romance, adventure, Indians, and true stories being what this book is made of then it will appeal to just about everyone.

I have reviewed this book for Active Christian Media voluntarily and received nothing in exchange except a copy of the book.

Oh To Be A Cat

I have been sorting receipts and working on taxes this morning. Its not my favorite thing to do and was wishing I could snuggle under a warm quilt and take a nap when I see this:

It must be wonderful to sleep all day, have someone serve your food to you, clean your potty box, rub your belly and scratch your head on demand. I think since its getting colder outside I am going to put another log on the fire, grab a quilt and take a nap. Think one of these sleepy cats will scratch my head till I fall asleep?

Spriwinter???

We have been having 75 degree weather for the past few days. Finally today a cold front is coming in and its suppose to only be in the 40's with 20's tonight. think this new season should be called spriwinter. Now if I could just have snow! The daffodils are blooming and the iris and tulips are starting to come up. I still want a few weeks of sitting by the fire with my seeds catalogs. Still have a few more cabinets to empty in the kitchen. I have a little kitchen set up in the diningroom with my microwave, 2 crockpots, toaster oven, griddle, and hotplate. Think I will be able to survive and I will have the woodstove keeping the kettle hot for cocoa and tea. It will be so worth it to have a nice new kitchen. Time to get back to working on tax paperwork and I have some new soaps in the soapshop ready to be wrapped and listed on etsy. Everyone have a great day and think SNOW!

Sunday Morning (part 4)

Thumper seems a little disappointed that Flower had rather eat a carrot instead of talking to him.
Chatty Cathy never shuts up and I mean never! she makes this loud annoying noise right up till she falls asleep. Even the other guineas seem to get tired of it.
Fred and Ginger seem to be in love as much as they always were.
Fred does get alittle ruffled whenever you get too close to his sweetheart.
And dear Sally is still run around Sally. She always makes the boys cry. She likes to love em and leave em and Donald and Daffy just keep trying to win her heart.
I am so proud of my teenagers. They are all roosting now! My little chicks are growing
Do you think Mr. Frizzie knows he is a daddy? Thank you for tagging along with me this morning. Hope you have enjoyed catching up on the critters with me. Have a wonderful day and don't forget to count those blessings!