ChipIn

Cold mornings....warm friends.

This morning my alarm clock wakes me with a song....I throw back the covers and shiver....brrrr, cool in here....I so want to just climb back under the warm covers and stay in bed. As I wipe the sleep from my eyes....and walk to the kitchen for that first hot cup of black gold....I can smell the coffee..it draws me to it. I glanced at the outside thermometer...21 degrees. I shivered again...knowing I need to get outside soon and start my morning chores. After taking care of the inside critters, and settling in with my coffee....I plan the day.  Well, I thought I planned the day. We all know best laid plans are due to fail. The plan was....to tear into the kitchen and clean out all the cabinets....throw out the "stuff" I don't need...and re-organize. Just a heads up, that didn't happen.
After my morning coffee, I dressed warmly....pulled on my boots, grabbed the pig slop bucket and my milk pail...and headed out. Stepping out the front door I am slapped in the face with COLD!

Walking to the barn...hearing the grass crunch under my feet....I smile...and stop to take this picture of frost covered grass.  Just beautiful.
Once I get to the barn I am greeted by the "starving" animals. The sheep are bawling at me...the pig is running the fence...the goats are screaming...Awww, come on everyone! I am just one person! :)
Feed the pig, fill the other feeders, and settle in to start milking....with at least ONE cat on my lap. Ever try to milk a goat with a cat on your lap..who is trying to bat at the teets of the goats?? I can tell you...it makes the morning interesting for sure.

Tomorrow we will be taking in 2 more sheep. Baby Doll sheep. Both boys, one is castrated, the other is not...yet. He will have to be fixed if he want;s to stay here...I have female Shetland ewes, and do NOT want babies from them. NOR do I want these boys tearing down my fences to get to them. So tomorrow will be an interesting day....for sure....shuffling around animals....settling in new furry babies....and praying we get more hay!
I will try to get pictures after we get them settled in....since they are coming from a petting zoo...I am hoping they are friendly boys...and don't give me much grief.

So today...I made this little candle lamp, out of an old mason jar. It is NOT a good canning jar, It has a chip in the top, therefore it will not seal. So, I found this project...and thought..." i can do that" I really like it...however, I need to get better ribbon and better greenery. But here is the first one....

I think they will make cute gifts. Handy too! :)

I also put together a small box for a dear friend and her family...in Ohio. Really, it isn't much...but I hope they all like what I am sending...I just want them all to know how dear they are to me.

Tomorrow I will be driving to my father in laws....in Ohio...and spending the night up there. My father in law asked me to be the one to cook the turkey, since his wife passed...and he wants me to make the pies...all home made from scratch, of course.One pumpkin and one apple. My husband has to work, but he will come up Sunday afternoon. Sunday morning I will get up and put the turkey in the oven. We are celebrating Thanksgiving with him and my husbands siblings. This will be our third Thanksgiving! We had one in Kentucky...one here in Indiana...and now one in Ohio! Christmas..we will be having HAM! I am just about over Turkey!
Since I will not be here Saturday night, or Sunday morning...I have had to make plans for the animal chores. Luckily I have great friends...one in particular, who will come over and do the milking for me. I am truely blessed with great friends.

Wow, Christmas is almost upon us....Where did this year go!? Christmas....Ahhh, fond memories of children waking up, squealing with delight...ripping the wrapping paper off , ribbons and bows so delicately put on each gift, lying in a pile on the floor. Yes, those memories are running through our minds..
Now, back to reality!
I need to run through my list of gifts bought, gifts needed, and..get to making more!
I saw the greatest idea for a home made oil lamp...I am going to try to make one, so I can post a picture of it on here. Basically you use a quart mason jar. Now, don't get all upset....only use the jars with chips on the top edges, you know, the ones you can not use for canning. Fill it with a variety of things....Pine cones, greenery...etc. Then fill the jar with smokeless lamp oil. Now, in the lid, you will need to go buy a wick holder...glass or plastic....they are fairly inexpensive. Also, get yourself some "forever wicks"  Use the mason lid and ring...( again, use the old lids, and older rings....the rusty ones, you can repaint.) Add a piece of ribbon, and there ya go! Instant gift...that keeps on giving.

I can see these going out the door this year, to family and friends this year. A gift made from home...something everyone will love.

Fall....winter....holidays.

Wow, has it really been 2 months since I last posted? I am going to try to get more serious here...and post more often....notice I said "try"  So, over the last few months...we have been busy getting this farm ready for a "long winters nap" Putting the gardens to bed...winterizing the animal shelters...canning...getting firewood.
Back in October, we had our second annual Farm Festival. Mother Nature decided to throw us a curve ball...the weather was cold, windy...and just a little bit miserable.

 We had a great turnout in spite of the weather...and everyone seemed to have a good time. The kids all played on the HUGH mounds of dirt we had brought in...200 tons...while the adults hovered around the BBQ for warmth. Maybe we should have just ran and played like the kids. They didn't seem to mind the cold one bit.
On the day of the Festival, we got a new "family member" Her name is Nikki. She is a Severe Macaw.

She is such a clown. She talks, sings, and hangs from her cage and swings and laughs! I just love this little bird.
I was able to get another load of free pumpkins this year. The animals love them, and it helps in the winter time with the poultry to stave off the winter blues..on days that they are cooped up.

The goats and pot belly pig..and the sheep all love them as well..and the seeds are a good natural dewormer!
I have my own pumpkins that grew voluntarily here this year... they are pie pumpkins. I can't wait to make  FRESH pumpkin pie for the holidays.
Today the weather is going to be keeping us inside for the most part of the day. Rain and cool....51 degrees this morning and that is going to be our high. The temps are going to steadily drop and by 3 pm they are saying 32 degrees. Brrr. I plan to work inside cleaning the laundry room and maybe starting on a few holiday crafts. Hope your fall is going as planned...

Brrrrr, woke this morning to fall temps?

I promptly got the wood stove fired up...and it is warming up nicely in here. Whew!
We had left over mashed taters and gravy from supper last night, so I warmed it up for our little pig. He thinks I am spoiling him....I of course have an ulterior motive! HA! He dove into that mess and made a pig of himself! LOL
Today I will work on getting more kindling put up for the winter....time to clean the woods out a little. Tomorrow I start my 6 day job, 12 hour shifts. More money for winter feed...Whoot!
Tonight's supper, potato soup...just sounds like it will hit "the spot" I better get busy on a loaf of bread too....yep, sounds like a good meal.

Fall....a season...not something I want to do!

So, it has been way too long since I have posted. It is fall already! Fall, as in the SEASON.....NOT waht I want to do....altho I seem to be pretty good at it lately.
We are gearing up for our second annual Fall Farm Festival here at Heavens Door Acres. Food, fun, family and friends! ( seems like I like words beginning with F? ) LOL Anyways.......the garden was a fairly good success. I was able to put by enough veggies to probably get us through winter...

(since this picture was taken, I have completely FILLED this pantry)


including spaghetti sauce, chili starter, canned tomato's, green beans, corn, pickled beets, canned potato's. A few meats are done, meatloaf, meatballs, chicken. I am waiting for the weather to cool down to finish canning meats. We are still trying to get to the firewood for the season. Not really getting to it.....makes me nervous. Anyone else out there think we are in for a nasty winter?
Over the summer I worked at MUTC, a military installation, doing role playing. Displaced citizens after a"disaster" waiting for the military to respond, recover, and re-home us. It was fun...a LOT of fun...and I made enough money to get a new roof on one of the chicken coops, get Hay for the winter, and a few months of feed. I will be working this again next week...planning to get winter feed with most of this check.
We have a little pig we are fattening up for the freezer...

.I will feel better when that is done as well.Fresh ham, bacon, sausage, bacon, and pork chops, and...yes, BACON!  He is small, but fattening up pretty quick!
It is almost time for that heavy fall cleaning of the house....carpets, curtains, furniture. Have to get it all ready for the upcoming Holidays...when we will have a houseful of guests streaming in and out every weekend for a few months. I really enjoy this time of year. :)