Rebecca's journal-may be time to restart this

[rebecca100]

Well the last two days have been cool 85 degrees and rainy. A nice relief from the 105 temps we saw a couple of days ago. We trimmed goat hooves, dewormed, put up the pool. I didn't want to do that one, but overnight the ground gave way or something in the yard and the whole pool went downhill with one side overrunning and the othe only half full. So we had to drain it and take it down.
We also worked in the garden. I don't think it is going to produce enough to can, so this weekend I'm going to go to the farmers market and see if I can get enough of something to can. I would really like to try tomatoes and greenbeans. We also started milking the goat. I have been separating the baby at night and milking her in the morning. The first time I got about 3/4 of a quart and this morning I got just less than that. She hadn't been being milked before I got her, so I am hoping that by milking her that she will start to give more. Dh refuses for us to drink it raw. He drank raw milk as a kid, but threw a fit when I mentioned it. So I guess pasteurized it will be. Now on to the rant. It finally happened. Ex-sil had her son call dh and ask if we would loan her money! $600 for their rent. She said that if they didn't have it today then they would be thrown out. My first reaction was to let them be thrown out and her kids could stay with us. Dh wouldn't let them be homeless and she knew that. She said she could get 300 of it if we would loan her the other 300. Dh agreed. Not that there is any hope of her ever paying us back. So then he brings ME the money to give her when she came and he hauls rear to go " check on work". Now I am feeling a little less than generous. I'm ticked he is giving her the money, but I am one of those people that can't be mean if someone is being nice. I just can't make myself do it. . She was trying to be nice and even though I know it is just for show I couldn't be as mean especially since she had brought her dad with her. I had no problem being rude though! Her dad came in and gave me a hug and asked if I was going to give him money too. To which I replied heck no I don't willingly have money for her. I also made sure to bring up our stuff that she stole right in front of him. They both were quiet and looked down. They both knew the stuff she had done. Dh got back home before they had left. He talked to nephew, but refused to acknowledge her or her dad. Maybe it was un Christian, but I don't think it was. At least not compared to what I wanted to do!

 

[Farmfresh]

I can't blame you. I would have probably done the same thing. Money is tight everywhere. Maybe she will think twice about taking more from you.

I am always amazed by people. They do horrible things to other people and then it is all supposed to be forgiven when they want a favor. Hubby is the nice one in this house.

 

[justusnak]

Oh, I am with you rebecca. I have a hard time "giving" to people, even family...that has done me wrong. Hubby, on the other hand, thinks we need to be the all forgiving and all giving. Oh, I might be able to "give in" but I do it with gritted teeth. And, I don't think it was "un-christian" of you to mention her faults. If the shoe fits, let her get athletes feet!

 

[rebecca100]

Today I finally got to make some cheese. It was ricotta made with just vinegar and heated milk. But it was still cheese. I haven't made cheese of any sort since I was a kid. I got nearly a full quart from her this morning! Hopefully I can find some rennet preferably locally to make some real cheese. Then this evening the kids and I went to the creek and went swimming. It was really down so there were no parts over our heads(a good thing lol) and the water was so clear that it was almost impossible to tell how deep it was in places unto you got in. Tomorrow the farmers market starts at eight so I will have plenty of time after milking to be there first thing. I am finally going to try pressure canning for real! *Crossing my fingers that I can find plenty to can at a good price and that I can can it without killing anybody either during the process or after with the food lol*

 

[Farmfresh]

After a while pressure canning will become old hat.

Swimming in the creek sounds extra nice.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I can't blame you. I would have probably done the same thing. Money is tight everywhere. Maybe she will think twice about taking more from you.

I am always amazed by people. They do horrible things to other people and then it is all supposed to be forgiven when they want a favor. Hubby is the nice one in this house.

Ditto!

We've been burned so many times helping family, so I am with you, rebecca, I wouldn't want to help either. In fact, we don't help certain family members anymore.

 

[Denim Deb]

There are times to help, and times not to help. And, it is NOT unchristian to not help in certain instances. We're told to give, and to help yes, but we're also called to be good stewards. But, if we pray about it, God will give us peace about what we should do.

 

[rebecca100]

Today was farmers market day. I hurried to milk Astrid. Got the kids ready and tried to be the first there. There were only 3 vendors and between all of them probably less than 15 lbs of tomatoes! There was a little bit of okra and some squash. Not a green bean or pea in sight. I got a few pounds of okra to pickle. Well I decided to go to a farm not far from us that sells produce. They had even less than the farmers market! The guy told me he had sold his last box of tomatoes that morning and that he had been buying them in little rock since theirs hadn't come in yet. It's July! I thought everyones tomatoes were producing by now with the exception of mine. I left disgusted. I guess so much for the canning if I have nothing to can!

 

[Wannabefree]

Sorry about your tomatoes Mine are dwindling as well. We set ours out WAYYYY early or we would have not gotten many either. Lots of folks here are having the same ttroubles.

 

[dragonlaurel]

The tomatoes are suffering from the heat, but when we get a few cool days, they will start setting fruit again. Just keep the plants alive however you can manage, and there will be some. I dont expect it to be the best crop, but something at least.
Mine are flowering but not setting right now.