Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[Denim Deb]

I don't think there are any critters in the pic.... just pots and garden beds.

Maybe it is a pot.

Years ago, when I was working on a fruit farm, I managed to put a big staple thru my thumb while making boxes. Of course, they took me to the ER. But, until we left, I think I was the calmest one there. In fact, I was ready to laugh at some of the guys.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ouch Deb - that doesn't sound like fun at all...

There are officially three less mouths to feed at my house - got three roos processed. They're hanging out in the fridge and will make it to the freezer in a day or so. I started making broth from the wings and carcasses, but it smelled so good that I'm turning it into a big ol pot of soup. I intended to can it - but I couldn't help myself - so soup it is for dinner tonight!

We had pig for dinner yesterday. Besides sausage and bacon it was the first meat I had cooked from the pigs. We had a tenderloin that I cooked with lots of garlic and veggies all around ... it's official... it's GREAT! I can't imagine ever having anything but home-grown now.

It brings me back to my question.... buy feeders or raise my own???? I really don't want huge hogs running around my place, so I'm thinking of Guineas or Kunekunes. I've been tossing this question around for awhile now. It would mean feeding breeders year round, but they would have the run of the place and could do a lot of grazing. I could sell excess babies, and the small size of these type of hogs would make procesing easier. By the same token, the small size of these type of hogs would mean processing more often. ARGH - decisions, decisions. I've got some time to figure it all out, cuz I'm probably not gonna worry about it until the pork in the freezer starts getting scarce.

I transplanted some tomatoes out into the garden today and got them all tucked in. We're supposed to get rain tomorrow - heavy rain. Hopefully they won't get beat down... but they NEEDED to get transplanted... they were started in little peat pellets and it was time...past time to get them in the ground.

I have soooo enjoyed my time off lately. It's so hard doing everything I do with a full-time job... but lots of folks do it so I guess I shouldn't whine. It keeps me busy and, for the most part, out of trouble - lol. But it's back to work tomorrow.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I Love These Kind Of Days!

Started with roos this morning. Got a soup from roo wingettes simmering for dinner.

I transplanted some tomatoes and basil, weeded, raked up new beds where I had tilled a day or so ago AND did a lot of mulching.

Half the garden was already mulched and I got about 1/2 of the other half mulched...lol..did that make sense? I planted a few hills of squash, and watered everything even though we're 'sposed' to get rain tomorrow and Wednesday.

DH called a minute ago and he's on his way home. He wants to know if we both really need to work... I said "nope" let's just live off the land, lol. He musta had a bad day at work, while I was off today.... Guess I better go make something special to go with the roo soup. Maybe a sugarfree cheesecake???? Sounds gooooood to me!

 

[Denim Deb]

 

[Wannabefree]

Fem we've been having days like that lately too sis! Sometimes I think I need to get a conventional job...it'd be like a vacation for me!! Then again, conventional jobs suck, so I'll just stay where I'm at and smash my phone and see if that helps

 

[frustratedearthmother]

For someone who has to have a conventional job, I'm pretty lucky to have a great one, but.....

Geeze when it rains it pours lately. Sold that buck a few days ago, got an email yesterday from someone who wants Sussex chicks, and today had folks at my door wanting a milk goat! I told them to come back next month after my does kid and I'd try to fix'em up.

And, a miracle happened today!! I picked up my taxes from he CPA.....drum roll please..... We're getting a refund! Total shocker, but darn sure not gonna complain about it. Not a ton of money or nuttin- heck I spent more on groceries today than the refund....but anytime we don't have to pay is a good thing.

We've got major weather warnings going on right now. Lots and lots of lightening and golf ball sized hail just west of us. Hope it by-passes us, but looks like we're gonna get hit. Just what my poor little tomato plants need...and my green beans, and my peas, and my squash seedlings that just popped up.....grrrrrrr

Oh well, gonna just keep my fingers crossed and pray really hard that we get some good rain but not the bad stuff.

 

[Denim Deb]

That's one thing about this area. We might get hail on occasion, but it's never been bigger than a pea. Does a lot less damage. Speaking of hail, that reminds me of a blonde joke. I just might have to run over into the joke forum and post it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Whew, busy few days lately.

We had rain!! We had a major storm come through a few nights ago. Luckily we were a few miles south of the really rough stuff. Couple folks just down the road a piece lost trees and there was a tree over the road on the way to work the next morning. But - bottom line is the wet stuff fell from the sky and it was greatly appreciated! My only complaint - it got cold after that.... brrrrr.

The garden is coming along, albeit slowly. All of my bush beans are up and looking good. Potatoes were planted in three different places and only a few potato plants here and there. I dug one up and looked at it...it musta had about a dozen roly poly's noshing away on the under side of it. Sigh.... Squashes are peeking through...cucumbers not so much. I've got fall veggies that are going to seed, and that's ok. I'll be saving seed from them so they're at least following the plan. I've picked peas a couple times now - that is some double yummy stuff right there. I don't think I'll get enough to preserve cuz I just keep eatin' em as soon as I can pick em. We had some collards sauteed in some pig sausage wth dinner last night. I still love them pigs! I've got a few more things coming along - some herbs and peppers still need to be transplanted. It's that time of year when I never get every thing done!

I sold a goat a couple weeks ago, and it was just the beginning. I've been selling some chicks here and there and have some folks who want me to hatch some specific breeds for 'em. I got no problem with that as long as they pick 'em up as day olds. And another guy is coming back for a milk goat next month. Hope I can fill the bill for him.

We had a lock-in for our students last night. Wooooo...it's HARD for me to stay up that long, but it was fun. The kiddos had a blast and most of us chaperones managed to have a good time too. Great team-building opportunity so it was worth some missed sleep.... almost... yawn.

I'm always excited this time of year. There is so much possibility just waiting to happen. Hopefully, I'll sill feel that way in July, lol!

 

[Wannabefree]

I'll check back with ya in July if we're both still alive by then

 

[frustratedearthmother]

lol - Oh we'll still be alive and kickin'! Probably kickin' somebody's behind!