Happy Halloween

From Hidden Haven to each of you a big BOOutiful and Spooktacular Halloween. May all your ghost and goblins be  cute and sweet.

Off To Their Georgia Plantation

Today Rhett and Scarlet left Hidden Haven. We had been caring for them for a friend in the military that is now ready for them at their new home. Rhett and Scarlet came here as piglets and are leaving with Rhett over 600lbs and Scarlet almost 500. They are going to beautiful southern GA where they will pass the days away under the sweet magnolia trees and skinny dipping in the pond. I hope Ms. Scarlet finds someone that knows something about birthing babies come January. I know I really enjoyed her letting me help deliver her last litter. They are very loving, gentle creatures that will be missed around here. I will miss feeding them a Little Debbie snack cake from my hand each afternoon and I know they will miss William's head scratches and back rubs. It was a sad day for us saying goodbye but frankly I don't think Rhett gave a d***. One last look goodbye from Scarlet and then they were gone with the wind.

Craigs List Find

Saturday night I came across a ad in Craigs List for a outdoor concert at Lake Rim Park on Sunday afternoon. Didn't say what kind of concert but the park is less than 5 minutes from our house and it was free! Not only that but they were serving free hotdogs and sodas. We did the afternoon feeding a little early so we could clean up and head to the park. What a wonderful concert! Turns out this concert was put on by the young people of Bridge Community Church. It's a new church right just a couple miles from our house in the other direction. We thought we could  sneak over by the trees and just listen before sneaking away. While we were enjoying the music (and it was fantastic) people would stop by and introduce themselves. No one was pushy, just very friendly and making us feel welcome. We met the pastor Brian Woodall who told us about the church and location. We have been looking for a church to attend that was close home because of our morning chores. We love Victory Baptist but its in Hope Mills and we never seem to get through chores in time to go. It just goes to prove you never know what you will find on Craigs List. We found a church!

Homemade Ginger Ale

Thank you Tracy at Peaceful Acres for sharing your recipe and step by step directions on making ginger ale. I made 2 bottles and it is so good! I am going to be making more and sharing it with friends and family. It is delicious! So easy and so quick that I will be keeping some on hand all the time.

Thanks to my friend Gerda I had enough produce to can 3 quarts and 10 pints of dill pickles, 16 quarts of collard greens, 8 pints of pickled hot peppers, a quart jar of dehydrated mushrooms, a quart of dehydrated green onions, and a quart of dehydrated zucchini. I will be making and canning ketchup tomorrow along with canning a half bushel of green beans. Will be sharing some of the canned goods with the family when they come down to visit. What produce I don't use along with peelings, etc go to the animals so they are very happy too. Thank you Gerda! I am also enjoying the pumpkins, winter squash, mums, and gourds she passed on to me.

Buttons, our milk goat is in season. The only buck we have is Little Man who is a dwarf goat. He has been following Buttons around all day. She isn't happy. She keeps trying to let him know she wants him to leave her alone. She finally gave him a headache and he went off to rest.

Last night it was 38F and we had a nice fire. Tonight and all next week its suppose to be in the 80's during the day and 50's at night. Guess summer has decided to come back for another visit before hibernating for the winter. One day its long sleeves and a jacket to feed the animals and the next day its tee shirt time.

Grandson Q it was great talking to you last night! Glad you are starting to feel better. Prayers and love heading your way best bud.
Hope each of you have a wonderful weekend a very blessed evening!

Will be back later today with a post and pics. Just wanted to pop on for Grandson Q.

Q I love you and hope you get to feeling better soon. Looking forward to you and the family coming down for our family Christmas weekend. PopPop is working on the treasure hunt so take care and know you are in my prayers. Love you my best bud!

It is finally starting to rain just a little. The most important thing is the temps are dropping. It has been in the 80's for a while and not feeling like fall at all. Thanks to my produce friend I have been busy canning 12  more quarts of green beans, 6 quarts of collard greens, 6 more pints of plum jelly, and had all 3 dehydrators running drying apple slices. I am going to make and can applesauce today. Whatever old man winter brings our way( if he shows up at all) at least we will have plenty to eat.

The goat dog Tinker is getting into trouble lately. She is trying to be the guard dog she was born to be but the puppy keeps popping out. She will make sure the goats are eating, safe and all together, lay down and watch them for about 3 minutes. Up she jumps, running and chasing them across the pen till they hide behind something or get up on something she can't reach.

We hook her to a chain when she does this and she knows she was wrong. She lays down all sad. The goats start running and playing king of the mountain. Chasing each other having a wonderful time. Tinker just lays there. After their game is over and they are resting we unhook Tinker. She goes and checks each goat out to make sure they are okay then goes and lays down. For about 3 minutes and then she starts chasing them wanting them to play. They run hide or get back on something. We go back to the chain. We have tried every approach on correcting her but she just can't seem to understand the goats don't want to play chase with her. We finally got her trained with the chickens and ducks. She doesn't try to herd them or bother them anymore. She does try to get in Dotty's pen and herd the piglets but Dottie puts a stop to that.

So Tinker lays at the door to the pen and just watches the piglets hoping they will come out so she can play with them. I know its the puppy in her and its slowly going away but its so frustrating. I want the goats to be able to play and do what they want without Tinker controlling every move. Tinker and I both need a dose of patience.
I have been going through sewing projects and planning items I want to make for Christmas. I also want to do some crochet and knitting projects. I love sitting by the fire working on projects so am hoping it will be cool enough soon and I can get started. I have a book review I need to do. Read the book and it was really good. Just need to find time to write about it. Have several books and magazines by my chair waiting on me. Seems like time just gets away from me and I haven't gotten anything done. Hope you are having a wonderful week and have a very blessed evening!

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Weekly Words To Live By

Time for Cottage Industry's Weekly Words to Live By. Feel free to join in.

Being a cheerful person doesn't mean that life does not share its occasional discontent; it just means you refuse to let it overwhelm you.

New Additions

Day before yesterday I was looking at Craigs List when I found a lady wanting to find a good home for her goats and bunnies. I emailed her and yesterday she called, we went to visit her farm planning on bringing 3 bunnies home and ended up with 3 bunnies and 4 goats. Because of personal problems she wasn't able to keep them and really wanted to find a good home so they could all stay together. They are the cutest dwarf goats and are so sweet.

This is Jolly. He is a weather (a buck that has been fixed) and was raised on a bottle and spent a lot of time in the house. He loves having his head scratched and eating treats from my fingers.

Little Man is in front of Blackie (a doeling) and Haley (another doeling) None of them are related and all are almost 7 months old. We hope to breed Precious with Little Man in a couple months. The first night was hard on Tinker as she wanted to herd the little goats and they didn't want anything to do with her.

But now the little goats are all settled in and feel at home. Precious and Buttons don't have a problem with them except at meal time and they try to steal their feed. The little ones stand their ground though and back Buttons off.

Tinker still doesn't understand why the little ones won't let her herd them so goes and hangs out with Buttons. Precious spends most of her time up on the spools looking down on everything.

The bunnies are a couple months old. One is a dutch dwarf and the other 2 are part lionheads. They are sweet and lovable. They love eating slices of apple right out of my hand.

We are very happy with the new additions to our 4 legged family and I think they are happy here. Thank you so much to the sweet lady for picking us to be the new home for her animals. She really loved and cared for them. They are very, healthy, beautiful, and gentle. I know it broke your heart to have to part with them but please know they are loved and will be here anytime you want to visit. I am sure there are lots of adventures waiting to be written from the goat pen! Have a very blessed night.

Happy Birthday Pea!!!

My "adopted" Sis is having a birthday today and throwing herself a huge sock hop party. Click HERE  and join the fun. Hope you know how to jitterbug!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS.... LOVE YA!

Happy Birthday Dear Granddaughter "H"

H is full of life and always has a smile on her face. She is the first to want to try something new. Never afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Never afraid to stand up for someone she thinks is being treated wrong no matter what others think of her for doing it. She is surrounded by friends or being texted by them. She never meets a stranger and loves talking and listening. She jumps in to give a helping hand without being asked. She takes the blonde kidding really well and even laughs at herself for her sometime silly thinking. She loves sports, cheering, playing the flute, hanging out at the fun factory with friends, texting, and yes, even spending time with her family. She is my beautiful, happy, wonderful granddaughter #2 that I love and am so very proud. Happy Birthday Hoppy!!!!!

Weekly Words To Live By

Time to join in Notes From Cottage Industry's weekly words to live by.If you would like to take part just click on her site and join in!
My words this week:

A whisper of encouragement gains greater attention and pffers stronger possibilities for change than a shout of criticism.

Sunday Morning On The Homestead With Buttons

Good Morning to you all! It's a nice warm day here and now that I have a full tummy and a empty udder I will show you around. Come on now and be sure and have some treats in your pockets as we can be extra friendly if you do.

This is Rhett Butler and Pork Chop. Rhett weighs over 500lbs and Pork Chop weighs 160lb. Rhett thinks he is the boss around here but everyone knows I am the Queen.

Rhett is in love with Scarlet but frankly my dear she couldn't give a dang about him.

Bonnie and Clyde are in trouble again. They are mean geese. They wouldn't let the ducks swim in any of the pools and would bite them if they came anywhere near them. The ducks are now in their own pen with their own pool. Bonnie and Clyde aren't very happy. They don't have anyone to be mean to now.

This is Dotty and her 5 babies. They are 5 weeks old and very fat.

Dotty is such a good mommy and she is even nice to me and Precious.

Henny Penny is a good mom to her chicks but she is mean to me if I come near.

Here is the baby bunny mom thinks is so adorable. I think I am much more adorable though.

Don't know why everyone wants to hold that little thing when they could scratch my head.

Sister's baby chicks have moved outside. They are now enjoying a nice house where they can enjoy the sunlight during the day and still have their heat light at night. I think they are afraid of the dark cause I don't get a night light.

It's hard to get one on one time around here. Every time I get some one to pet or scratch me Tinkerbell comes and pushes herself in the way. She is getting too big in my opinion and mom says she is still a puppy with lots more growing to do.

Since you don't seem to have anymore treats left in your pockets I am going to follow Rhett's lead and take a nap. Come back again anytime and don't forget I love oatmeal raisin cookies.

Lost in a Sea of Produce

I just thought canning and freezing was done. My wonderful friend sent William home with 9 boxes of produce from the produce stand. I have been cutting corn off the cob for cream corn (12 quarts). Canning tomatoes (6 quarts). Mashing grapes for jelly (6 pints) Cutting and dipping squash to make fried squash to freeze (3 quarts). Stringing and breaking beans (5 quarts). I still have cucumbers to make into pickles, bananas into bread, bell peppers to roast and freeze, and several cantaloupes to cut up to munch on. I never know what she is going to give us so its always fun when the boxes arrive. Don't mind the work now that the weather is cooler and its just that much more to enjoy this winter and to share with the family. The animals are loving the tomato peelings, corn husks and cobs, mashed grapes, and other peelings and scrapes. They think its Christmas. She also sent a box of lettuce leaves for the rabbits. A wonderful blessing and friend.

Still trying to get things cleaned up from pigs getting out. Also getting things together for another yardsale before cold weather. Looking forward to getting rid of more clutter.Melody and family are coming to visit for a 3 day weekend after Thanksgiving. I am getting lots of things together for her to take home. Love seeing things I enjoyed for so long being passed on to the next generation.

JoyceAnn, the baby bunnies are so fat! Smokey only had two and they are so adorable. The one I think you would like is spotted. It likes to cuddle while the other one likes to wiggle around.

Excuse William's greasy hands. He was working on his truck when I ask him to hold the bunnies for me. They are 10 days old today.
Well, I am off to bed so I can make pickles in the morning before feeding the animals. Hope each of you have a blessed night!

Just Another Crazy Day

A busy but wonderfully cool weekend. Since it was so cool I worked in the kitchen a lot. Made fresh pear bread, pumpkin bread, and made some yummy ketchup. I only made a quart just to see how it turned out and it was so easy and so tasty I am going to make more and can it.

Smokey the Rex rabbit had 2 adorable babies. One is the cutest one we have had on the homestead. Joyce you should get this one for the grands when its old enough. Thought Porky the New Zeland rabbit was bred and due the same day as Smokey but guess she didn't let Rocky do his deed. Sandra is due the 10th. Have rabbits, quail, and roosters ready to butcher and put in the freezer. This is our first year on meat rabbits and quail so will see how it goes.

Today was crazy day on the homestead. Went out to do evening feed and as I was trying to feed the goats I almost got knocked down. Out of the corner of my eye I thought it was a horse. As I turned and looked it was Rhett the pig. He now weighs over 500lbs. The electric fence was turned off for minor repair and no one remembered to plug it back in. Rhett and Scarlett had gotten out of their pen and had a high ole time. Pork Chop was nice and stayed where he belonged. Dotty did too but the 5 babies got out. They rooted everywhere! Tore up the duck nest. Ate Tinkers food, knocked down a fence to the duck and geese pen. Trashed Tinkers water bucket. Really hurt her feelings by finding where she had buried her dog treats and ate them. Ate the goats food and trashed their sleeping stall. The whole goat pen looked like a tornado hit. William fixed the fence where they got out and led them back in with food. I closed the gate, plugged the fence in and tried to calm the goats and Tinker down so they could eat in peace. Then went to feed the chickens and found baby chicks out of their pen and mom hen going crazy. Caught and put them back where they belong. Caught the rooster that had gotten in there and put him back where he belongs only to have him fly back in. Clipped his wings and took him back to his pen. The pigs had upset the chickens so much that almost every pen had turned their water containers over and thats a hard thing to do. Cleaned and refilled them. Caught 2 bunnies that had gotten out and put them in a new cage. It was just a crazy animal day around here. After feeding I walked around to make sure all the animals were okay and found Rhett and Scarlett sleeping soundly. They must have had a very exhausting afternoon. Wonder how hard it would be getting them to clean up their mess?

Sister's chicks are doing wonderful. They are growing so fast! Have had all kinds of suggestions for names but haven't named them yet. Waiting until I can tell the sex of each. Tonight is going to be the first night for a fire in the woodstove. Since I worked in the kitchen all weekend it wasn't cool enough in the house to build a fire. Tonight is the night. Have my tea, book, and rocking chair all ready and waiting for me. Lets just hope the critters around here stay outta trouble tonight so I can enjoy it! 

Weekly Words To Live By

Notes From A Cottage Industry has weekly words to live by each week and has invited blog neighbors and friends to join in. When you have time check out her blog as she is one very talented and busy lady! You may also go there and check out other weekly words to live by.
My words for the week:

Friendship, like an heirloom pewter teapot or vintage walnut table, grows more lovely and valuable in the hands of daily use.
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