December homesteading

[flatwater]

Well I know we are a ways into December already but up untill now we had no snow. The forcast is for a couple feet up high and 7 inches hear in the flatlands. My project for today is take the tractor out at about 2200 and get the road ready for my DW to at least get up the drive way. I'm sure glad it's friday.
flatwater

[sbemt456]

Yep not much happening on the home front this month. Got the last of my chickens in the freezer Thanksgiving weekend and then had a good holiday and left town to go to the western part of Kentucky on the west side of Kentucky Lake to visit my aunt for a week. Just got back to Eastern Kentucky ahead of the 3 inches of snow we got last night. Hit the sleet and freezing rain about 30 mile west of Lexington and got dumped on all the way home.
I think I shall hibernate till spring. We had lots of ice before the snow last evening and it made a mess of some areas of our county. Hubby works in the oilfields and they had bunches of stuff torn up. Supposed to be about 25 tonight and up to 50 plus on Sunday. Go figure. Maybe I can mulch the strawberry beds and herbs. And just maybe get the brooding house cleaned out and ready for spring. Or maybe just stay in the house by the fire. That sounds much better.

Have a great day!

stella

[LeatherneckPA]

Haven't been real happy with our freezer chickens so far this year. Seems like 20+ weeks is too long. They may be a tastier than store-bought, but they are also a heck of a lot tougher. But last night was different.

For some reason I was in the mood to cook yesterday and found a recipe on the net for Chicken Chow Mein. No chicken defrosted, so I just boiled the daylights out of the frozen half I got out. Mmmmm, mmm, good.

I think I'm going to plan next year's freezer birds for an early august delivery and a Columbus day processing.

[GoodDaughter]

Nothing going on here except for doing maintenance things like putting the tender plants in the greenhouse, straightening the shed, stuff like that. Winter garden needs no tending except for when I thinned the carrots last week. Hens are only laying a few eggs here and there, some are molting. I think I've got an egg eater out there, one of the old Cornish X's.

Haven't been feeling too good lately, intermittent stomach aches. I'm prolly going to stay home in the morning, I think it's ok to miss one Sunday at church every now and then.

I have already received my seed orders, I just made a couple of small ones because I was pretty well set for most vegetables.

I need to start pruning this month. Plums and pears are dormant, and the apple never really goes completley dormant here, so I just have to prune when I can. I really need to do a lot of thinning this year as well as reducing length. Pruning is one of my least favorite chores because of the pole pruner.

I'm just cranky today, that's the problem.

[flatwater]

GoodDaughter , being cranky isn't a bad thing. It causes one to reflect and scares off every one else for some peace and quiet. ;D ;D
flatwater

[GoodDaughter]

Huh, no one else around for me to scare off, so I guess I did a good job. :-X

We did have a bit of snow the other night. I was going to post a few pictures I made, but had so much trouble getting them from Photobucket and/or ImageShack to here that I just gave up. I got one pic to post of my old pickup, and then gave up. Got some pretty pics, though. Nothing like what y'all call snow, but a dusting that made everything white for several hours.

[flatwater]

We missed the big one to but the temp took a dump to the bottem. It's 1530 and I'm watching the mulies come down the hill to the neihbor's hay stack. They walk past 25 feet from my computer room window.
flatwater

[WileyCoyote]

Well, I have been so busy cooking and baking and working, that I have had very little time out of the house except to go to and fro work.

They predicted a huge blizzard today that was supposed to start last night; seven inches of snow, no visibility, huge drifts, -33 wind chill - everyone was told to stay home. Well, we got the wind alright - but not enough snow to even cover the sidewalk! Apparently it all blew west of us! So it looks like we will probably have school for the kids tomorrow after all. The high is supposed to be 2 deg tomorrow. Then Tuesday we are supposed to get more snow, and Thursday still more, and maybe even Saturday. The kids at the HS are taking their end of semester tests starting tomorrow, which means that the classrooms - always quiet - were even quieter than usual as everyone reviewed this last week. Friday will be a half day and then I am off work til January 5th.

I started to work as soon as I got home Friday because of the blizzard that was expected; filled the wood box, made chicken and dumplings and a pot of homemeade potato soup - stuff that I can heat on the woodstove if necessary. We DID get a lot of wind and cold but the power stayed on... so we ate really really well, lots of hot food available after coming in from the yard.

We won't have much of a Christmas by other peoples' standards - no company and we're not going anywhere either. Sometimes I think that people just don't appreciate that we came here on purpose for the quiet! My friends have expressed sympathy that we are not 'doing anything'. Good grief - why do people have to go and do and see and play and gallop to and fro constantly? We have enough to 'do' right here. I still have to mail my fruitcakes, pickles, and horseradish root / Christmas presents out and then I'm DONE. Whew. Peace at last!

[jen_in_southtexas]

I took some time off from working on my cabin project.

I did however fire up my lawn tractor mower to explore and piddle around in my new one acre lot. The grass is really overgrown so I decided to clear a small area to look at the undergrowth and to get an idea of what I want to do with it as far as outbuildings, garden etc. The grass is really dry, brown and "crunchy" as i like to call it. It is also easier to cut when it is in this condition. Fencing is next on the list. Im always looking for fencing material on craigslist and freecycle. One of the building material places out here put their 4x4x8 treated posts on sale for 4.99 so i may just get a handful of those. Other than that not much going on around here.

Its back to the rat race tomorrow:P. I hope everyone is enjoying their homesteading projects and enjoying their holidays.

Until next time, see ya in the backroads.

-jen
eL Chiquito Ranch
Deep South Texas Brush Country

[LeatherneckPA]

I didn't know that chickens dug tunnels!!

The hens have been digging up dust ponds to bathe in, and one of them was in the front corner of the yard. Well, one of the Wyandottes got out last night. I wondered why my Airedale wouldn't come in when he was called. I found out this morning. Dead hen in the yard. Whether he killed it, which he has never done before, or something else was in the yard I don't know. I suspect the latter.

Boru chases them and nails them to the ground. then he lets them run again so he can play some more. When they are too tired to run he loses interest in the game. Also, whatever killed this hen started to eat her. And Boru has never given any indication of that.

[pcrowder]

It's very cold today - MINUS 18 with windchills up to MINUS 32. Couldn't get the tractor OR the diesel trucks started until it got up to -1...Had a load of cows coming this morning, they made the move okay so far. Had to haul water in buckets to fill their stock tanks as everything had frozen SOLID to the bottom of the tank. Took me almost 2 hrs to fill their tank. So far, haven't lost any of the animals or poultry to the extreme cold. Am praying for a BALMY 33 degrees to come soon - it will make choreing a LOT easier!

[Terri]

Yesterday I fired up the hen house heater, and it did NOT work! With only 5 hens and the temps hovering around zero, I was concerned.

So, I got a new one and set it up, kinda. It was too cold and dark to do a very good job!

I will move them to the Tuff Shed by and by, when it is ready!

[LeatherneckPA]

Yesterday I did not get called to teach. So I finally managed to get the rails up for the board fence surrounding the backyard. Now for some fence boards, a little at a time as cash permits, and it should be finished within a month or so.

[humbug]

We finally got some snow here. Just in time for Christmas..whoooeeee...
We haven't had much of a fall here was way too warm. So I did get some of my summer work finished up.
The woodstove I replaced my old one with last summer is working great and it is nice to sit in front of it and watch it snow.
I have been busy baking. I am working at trying a bunch of recipes that Shamrock has posted for whole wheat baking. They are great!!!!!!
I am headed home to visit family today...5 hours a way.. for a couple of days. My brother gave me an 8 foot utility trailer (Can you say FREEEBIEE) so I am going to pick that up and bring it back. It needs some work done on it but will be great for hauling things.
Plan on filling my winter with indoor fix it things.

[goldengate]

Merry Christmas, All. We are in the middle of a few snowy days here. We got 6-8inches yesterday and are getting about the same today. This time of year is such a delight. We are blessed to live "out" and to enjoy the tranquillity here. The soft, powdery snow falls steadily over the ground and pine trees. The lilac bush branches are bowing under their heavy loads. The living room is decorated for Christmas but the scene out the big window is prettier, by far. The four year old grandaughter says the God does the best decorating.

We looked and looked but couldn't find the heater for the chicken's waterer. Not only their water, but their eggs are freezing. I ordered a new heater. It should arrive in two more days. Until then, we're making three trips to the coop with warm water and to collect the eggs. Even though I'm sick and don't think I want to go out, once I get there, I am happy that I did. Those birds make me laugh and give me a sense of peace and purpose. The homestead in winter... At least this year, the burden is light and the rewards are great. Blessings to each of you. Meary

[LeatherneckPA]

Merry Christmas, All......Those birds make me laugh and give me a sense of peace and purpose.....Meary

And a Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.

I know exactly what you mean about the birds giving you a sense of purpose and peace. My schedule involves going out at 6am to give them morning water and scratch, and to turn on the light in the hen house. Around 330pm they get their afternoon water. Then I go out at 6pm for evening scratch. This is given to them in the hen house so they stir up the bedding. Originally the only one who would meet me at the door was Henrietta (don't look at me, my DW names them) but now almost all of them are waiting at the door when they hear me coming. Most even eat from my hand, except the two roosters. Cocky, but not THAT brave yet. Then at 8pm I go out to collect the day's eggs and turn out the lights. My neighbor thinks I'm nuts because I always tell them "Good night boys and girls. See you in the morning." And then Seymour crows back at me. I know it sounds crazy, but I think he's actually answering me.

[MooseToo]

flatwater - do you have any idea if mulies have non-typical racks more often or not than white-tail ?

[flatwater]

MooseToo--- I don't know for a fact but I have seen more white-tails non typical then I have mulies. I think mulies are sturdier then a white-tail therefore are injured less. Injuries are what causes most deer to be non typical but minerals can play a part with that also.
flatwater

[flatwater]

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg186/offgridbob/DSC00871.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg186/offgridbob/DSC00872.jpg
I could have just put one post for December and just say , here's what I did all of December , plow snow.
We now have 28 inches on the ground with another storm on the way predicted to dump another 8 inches. It is fun to watch the quail waddle through the snow to get to the bird feeder.
flatwater

[Catalpa]

Yesterday was our first big snowstorm. I've certainly seen a lot worse, but to hear the weathermen, it was the end of the world. Snow was blowing sideways, lots of drifts, but I was still able to get uptown pretty easily. The fields were beautiful, freshly clad in white, and the trees were lacy and graceful with snow.

Some sunshine today, and I finally got to a chore that I should have done two months ago: I put plexiglass over the basement windows. I still have to caulk them from the inside, but now there's a six inch airspace between the plexiglass and the ratty old windows. Hopefully this will help keep the basement warmer, and keep out the snow and the mice. Had to refill all the birdfeeders again, too. We've had two kinds of woodpeckers, hundreds of sparrows and finches, blue jays, and cardinals this week.

[flatwater]

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg186/offgridbob/DSC00877.jpg
This is a picture I took through the bathroom window at dusk. Brrrr.
flatwater

[GoodDaughter]

"Man lives in the sunlit world of what he believes to be reality....But there is, unseen by most, an underworld...a place that is just as real, but not as brightly lit..... A Darkside...."

:o

[jen_in_southtexas]

Its been a busy weekend. Yesterday(Sat.) went to buy the exterior siding then Mom and I headed to my property to put it up...finally! She was a big help and i could not have done this task without her. We put up 12 sheets of exterior siding. I am going to need two more but i am not doing those until i put up the door which i already have framed and all in storage. Those two front siding boards are coming down as is the black tarpaper. I was going to wait on those till i got the two front windows but put them up instead of leaving them laying around. There is still alot of tweeking i need to do to the place. Thank goodness for trim boards....lol. There have been times that i was aggravated with something i did or a mistake that i had to figure how to fix. Been alot of those but Ima learnin'. I am starting to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

We were a little sore at the end of the day but thankfully all went well and no one got hurt. Next to do is the roof. I want to go with a shed roof but im gonna study the A frame roof a little more. If i went with A frame roof all i want is the slightest slope i can get. Suggestions welcome.

What we did this weekend
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh112/lillybug71/One%20acre%20homestead/extwalls025.jpg

Today I shopped for my 2 and 4yr old nephews. I love them. Im not one of those people that likes to go shopping and dont do well around crowds. But its done and im glad.

Its back to the rat race tomorrow. I hope everyone is enjoying their homesteading projects, time off, time with family or whatever it may be.

See ya on the backroads and Merry Christmas to all!!!

~Jen
eL Chiquito Ranch
Deep South Texas Brush Country

[LeatherneckPA]

I was going to say that this was not homestead related, that I just wanted to share the moment with friends. But then it occurred to me, isn't this really why we do it? For our families?

Anyway, my DGS was one year old this month. And Saturday was his first time ever playing in snow. Just thought I would share some shots with you folks.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll15/LeatherneckPA/Snow1.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll15/LeatherneckPA/Snow3.jpg

Happy little fella, isn't he?

[Terri]

Yesterday I stayed in and baked cookies!

The hen house heater works FINE!

It is supposed to warm up today, so with luck I can borrow that heater, and get some work done in the potting shed! With my Fathers help, (he visited for a week), all of the ceiling is in excepting for one piece, so I can start on the inner walls! I don't NEED help to get the walls up!

[Catalpa]

What a CUTE little guy! Looks like he approves of snow!

Jen, your cabin is looking good!

Major dig-out today. Yesterday was blowing and drifting snow, zero visibility, took forever to get home from church. Today my Mom came over and promptly got stuck in the driveway. One drift wrapped right around the house, and is three feet high, just two feet away from the door! I'm thankful it didn't go up against the door, or we wouldn't have gotten out.

Still writing out Christmas cards, and later I'll use some of my dried apples to make a pot of applesauce.

[flatwater]

Goodaughter , what a great come back to my icicle picture. It was manipulated a little with the help of my photo shop but loved the reply.

[flatwater]

Jen , darn girl there ain't no snow at your cabin sight. I think My wife and I will come down for a visit and give you a hand with that cabin that way we could get away from this cold and snow for a little while ;D ;D ;D ;D With the shape of your cabin I would go with a trussed roof. It will look better. Granted a little harder to build but I believe you could do it.

[bee_pipes]

12/20
Tonight we attended a holiday get-together across the river, in Parsons. I woke up this morning to the smell of Karen baking cookies in the kitchen. Man, I love being a grown up. Nothing like chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. Eat your heart out kids. There was a pretty good turnout and it was nice to catch up with people before the holidays set in. Tony and Kay, our friends from Pineview, will have some family visiting. We will no doubt cross paths more than once while company is in town.

12/22
Yesterday and today we worked on winterizing the chicken house. When we built the house, we covered the windows with hardware cloth to keep out predators and large bugs. No way to stop smaller bugs. The windows would not stop wind or rain, but the idea was to build frames and cover them with plastic – sort of a storm window arrangement.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/bee_pipes/8-roofonandhardwareclothinwindows.jpg
The storms were simple wooden frames made from stickers, small pieces of wood used to separate boards on the drying pile by the sawmill. These stickers, sawed from our own lumber, are prone to warp when they first dry, but are tough as iron when well cured. The dimensions are roughly 1x1 and they are quite handy for construction of a number of projects – they work well for reinforcing corners and such. Well, the frames were made from these stickers, wrapped with plastic (stapled to the frame) and hung with hinges. Latches were fashioned from bailing wire and screws. A single wire is used to hold the windows open to permit ventilation. The guineas seem to think the open windows are platforms for them to sit on, and between guinea toenails and the effects of sun and weather the plastic lasts about a year. The main door is also primarily hardware cloth. The other morning I was getting food for the turkeys and noticed there was very little difference between “outside” and “inside” – it was quite cold and seemed to indicate it was time to get fresh plastic on the windows and doors. Yesterday was quite cold – I didn’t realize how cold until we had been working for an hour or so. Fingers were numb and toes were getting uncomfortably cold. The door was a simple matter for cutting sheets and stapling them to the frame. Fortunately, only three windows needed to be fixed – the rest seemed to have escaped traffic from the guineas. During the warmer months the windows are generally left open to permit good ventilation.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/bee_pipes/A-stormwindowsandbattensgoingon1.jpg
The eves are covered with poultry wire, to keep possum and raccoon out. They provide good ventilation, but during the winter we stuff old feed sacks in the space to reduce airflow. Ventilation is still adequate, but the feed sacks do much to reduce drafts.

On cold mornings, where the waterers freeze, the ritual is to fill two old milk jugs with hot tap water and pour it into the waterers. The guineas, being from Africa more recently than the rest of the chickens, seem to do fine with less water than the rest of the birds. At the other end of the spectrum, we have ducks, which will drink and play in the waterers. All poultry are in danger of dehydration if they go too long without water. With morning coming later in the day, I am reluctant to turn the poultry loose to graze before 9 AM or so. That’s about the time the sun has gotten high enough to light the entire floor of the hollow, reducing shadows and gloomy areas where predators may be waiting. Our last duck seems to have been lost on a morning where I turned out the poultry too early.

The temperatures the last few days have been so cold that two trips a day have been required to keep the waterers thawed. Once in the morning to hold them until they are turned loose and once in the evening when they are locked up for the night. While out grazing they can drink and the creek, which rarely ices over. Even the guineas seem to be getting used to being locked up. The new pen built for the meat birds seems to be more acceptable to them than the chicken house. We used to chase them into the chicken house, but that was an exercise in frustration – open the door for one to go in and two more come back out. I have said a number of uncharitable things about guineas when rounding them up for the night. Now they hop in the pen all by themselves when we throw out scratch and call them. Apparently the guineas and chickens approve of the winterizing – most of them sleep in the house now. We are on our last bale of bedding straw, the increase in droppings inside the house has required more frequent littering of the floor. Keeping bedding the dog house has also caused us to run through straw more quickly. We should be fine until after the holidays and will restock then. The storage room in the chicken house can hold six bales without much difficulty, and six bales will last us well into summer.

I intensely dislike cold weather. Call me a whiner or a pansy, but I do not like working in the cold and will avoid it whenever possible. Fortunately, Tennessee’s mild climate makes cold days rare. If we can reach 40 degrees and sunshine, the hollow is more than warm enough to work. If temperatures should drop below that point, the wind picks up, or it gets overcast, temperatures quickly get uncomfortable. The decade I lived in northern Indiana was most unpleasant. Winters were more of a hibernation. If there were car problems that required some sort of attention, it had to be important to get out tools and work in the cold. Karen likes winter and always makes the most of the day or two that we have snow. Our weather is milder than the higher elevations to the east, and we even enjoy better temperatures than the counties north of I-40. It can get extremely hot here in the summer, but I don’t have any problems working in the heat and much prefer that to the cold. Karen will take a powder if it gets too hot. Those of you living north of us have my condolences. I would never last in Montana or Wyoming - a shame, because the country is quite beautiful up there.

The last two weeks we have been finding chicken eggs in the nesting boxes. They are small, but not as pointed as guinea eggs. Laying is a bit sporadic right now, but they appear to be small pullet eggs. Some of the new hens hatched last summer are beginning to lay. That’s an encouraging sign. By the end of January we should be seeing regular egg production again. Until then we will get by fine with duck eggs. The two ducks are producing enough that we have an extra carton to sell every other week. Man, if I had known ducks layed through the winter, we would have had ducks long ago. On a good day, both ducks will lay in the house. On a bad day one duck will lay out in the pen. By the time the egg has been collected, it is much soiled with manure and footprints from the poultry. They can be washed, but washing removes the bloom – a transparent film that protects the egg. The bloom adds to the keeping quality of the egg. If the duck egg is badly soiled, the egg is cleaned and scrambled for adding to dog food. The dogs appreciate the addition of the egg, and the extra protein helps them with the cold weather.

Regards,
Pat

[flatwater]

Well today I went out to the shop and started the wood stove then started making some tomato cages. I got the idea from Hunter 63 and I think they will be just what I've been needing , beside I'm getting a little sick and tired of pushing snow around.

[Catalpa]

Yesterday we started with a four ft. deep drift across the driveway. Luckily my Dad let me borrow the snowblower, so I waded in. The snow got heavier as time went on, the temp went up and it started to rain. What a mess!

Then of course the temp dropped and everything iced over; it was a real interesting drive to and from church for the evening service.

Today I made two pumpkin pies and put the last half bushel of apples into applesauce, and then went to the family Christmas. I had to laugh, my family knows me so well - my gifts were ammunition and a gift card for the bookstore!

[Deberosa]

I'll be glad when December is over! We also got slammed with snow on the Olympic Penninsula. A good 18 inches of heavy wet snow here.

I've got most of the 400 ft driveway cleared. We've been hauling water to the animals for weeks. Yesterday it warmed up enough for the snow on the barn roof to slide off and land on the new lean to - snapping the outer support beam. Then the cross beams landed on the four foot tall wall - thank goodness! So my short cows still have a lean to but the snow then kept going onto the ground(at least a good part of it). Found one chicken with only it's head sticking out of the avalanche and rescued her. I won't know if there are more under there for a long time! Next will come a half inch of rain tomorrow making a very soggy mess everywhere!

Today or tomorrow I may need to drive my tractor to the neighbor's 4 miles down the road (BRRRRR!). Snow came off her huge barn roof into the feeding area. It's a concrete floor area and when it melts will totally flood her barn. She only has two wheel drive tractors to get into the spot. First I am thinking we can try the two wheel drive tractor - I think the loader will pull it out of any stuck place and maybe it can be cleared with it instead of driving my 4 wheel drive tractor down there... It's got to soften a bit first anyhow - the slush has turned to blocks of ice overnight.

Otherwise doing lots of research on SouthWest VA since I may have to move there to stay employed. It's the hardest time of the year this far north with hardly any light and nasty weather to add to it.

[flatwater]

Don't worry about any chickens that got caught under the snow , you just have to be there before the thaw ( fresh frozen chickens just waiting to be cleaned)

[jen_in_southtexas]

Flatwater...........!!

Ya'll come on down. We'll have us a big O' shrimp, crawfish and crab boil with all the fixin's such as corn on the cob, red tators, and some sausage, and we cant forget the Margarita's. Ya reckon' we'll get anything done with them Margarita's? ;D :D ;D

-jen ;D ;D

[flatwater]

If I was single and a little younger I could get a lot done with them margarita's :o :-* ;D

[flatwater]

My wife says (as she slapped me on the back of the head)to many Drinks and all you will do is fall asleep. Man I can't win. Anyhow the southern cooking sounds just great. I wish I could visit all my favorite BWH posters :D

[GoodDaughter]

Wonderful pictures everyone! Flatwater, I like your avatar--y'all look like a happy family ;)

I potted all the mountain laurels the other day. I've been working on native persimmon and Texas persimmon today, just finished up. Going to start on fig cuttings probably tomorrow, barring rain. And rose cuttings. I still have quite a bit of seed to sow, will need to get the Alpine strawberries going before mid-January, as well as hawthorns, sabals palms, and a bunch of other stuff.

Trying to locate a source of seed for a few oaks I want to start.

I also need to start pruning the fruit trees. I hate that chore, I put it off as long as I can :-/

The sugar snaps are making pods now, and I think I need to look at them tomorrow to see if I have enough for a meal yet. And pull a carrot or two and see how they're coming along. I'm hoping the variety of sugar snaps I planted in one garden, 'Mega Snap', are done by the end of Jan. so I can pull them and get in another planting of them that should mature late April.

[jen_in_southtexas]

Bee-pipes, your chicken house is so cute.

Flatwater, it was a nice thought anyways. I laughed when you said your wife slapped you on the back of the head. I too sometimes wish I could visit some of my BWH friends.

Good Daughter, you sure are keeping busy but thats a good thing. Sabal palms are plentiful around here. I would eventually like a small greenhouse.

-j

[WileyCoyote]

Well, the day after Christmas (yesterday) we loaded up a bag with ham sammitches, cookies, candy, crackers and cheese, put the sleeping bag in the back of the car, loaded the two dogs, and went to the dam.

It was 30 degrees, nice and warm in comparison to the past two weeks where the temps hit -38. We arrived at the dam (deserted - big surprise) and took the dogs for a LONG walk. They startled a grouse and tracked bunnies, deer, raccoon and turkeys, throwing the snow up in the air with their noses to get a better scent.
Then we sat next to the river and enjoyed our picnic. The few residents that passed by I'm sure thought we were crazy, but everyone waves anyway here. The prettiest sight was the river just above the dam. It was frozen solid on the top, and the 'blowhole' that helps to drain the overflow was frozen too. The falls that the blowhole feeds were frozen, too, although the water at the base of the dam was still flowing freely. What appeared to be whitecaps was actually snow blown into and frozen into the wave patterns.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk312/WileyCoyote_NE/Snow%20Folder/IMG_0464.jpg



http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk312/WileyCoyote_NE/Snow%20Folder/IMG_0466.jpg

Later we went back down the narrow country roads toward home. I pulled over at the bridge over the river, and took pictures again of the frozen beauty. There was no sound... none, not even cracking of the ice as the water still flowed way beneath. *The snow clouds were beginning to gather as we drove back, but passed south of us again, as we got very little last night.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk312/WileyCoyote_NE/Snow%20Folder/IMG_0475.jpg

A neighbor who killed a large deer and only wanted the rack put the rest in our garage last week; it hangs there still, totally frozen. DH says he may have to take the chainsaw to it!!! :o ;D LOL But it is +20 deg today, with a warmup to +40 predicted for tomorrow, so we'll probably get to it then. It isn't going anywhere...

I do love this beautiful, peaceful country. And the snow makes it all worthwhle, even though it does make for a lot slower workpace. We'll order my seeds and flats in January and get started on spring early, and summer will be just around the corner, but this time is our favorite time of year.

[humbug]

Looks like just about everyone has snow. We do here too...woke up Christmas morning to this..


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a271/nvhumbug/Christmas2008001.jpg

I had to shovel off the snow to find the tarped wood pile...But evening sunset was awesome


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a271/nvhumbug/Christmas2008009.jpg


I went home to visit family about a week ago and had to come home through a bad snowstorm. It was chains or snow tires required for 150 miles. I don't worry about my driving but some people just aren't used to driving on those types of roads. AND THEY DON'T SLOW DOWN!!!
I got home to find the power out again! (another reason to be off grid!!) Apparently it had been out all day. Of course everyones water was froze up. It finally came on that night and I assumed as soon as the heater got everything thawed out I would have water. Not so. I ended up having to replace the pressure switch on the tank. But now at least now I can take a shower...I think my friends are thankful for that.. ;D

I am off to go sledding with friends later on today, we will build a bonfire, drink hot drinks and roast hotdogs..now this is one of the reason I love living in the country..good clean fun... ;D

[Catalpa]

Wiley, that sounds like a really nice way to spend the day, and the pictures were great!

Humbug, your picture of the sunset made me sigh. I have always wanted to see mountains, and you have them right there! Too cool. Sledding and hot drinks sounds wonderful, too.

My kid was supposed to go sledding with the church youth group today, however....we woke to 50 degrees and a rip-snorting thunderstorm this morning. The fog is so dense I can't see across the road, and the snow is rapidly disappearing. Now there'll probably be water in my basement tonight. Sigh. At least Michigan weather is never boring!

[Deberosa]

I've had quite enough of winter this year. The snow has now been replaced with heavy rain. It soaked the snow on the lower half of my barn (the top half already crashed off onto the lean to. It snapped the cross beam and collapsed the roof. Only half of it was down - the other half you could hear crack and my tractor was in there!

We got the roll bar down on the tractor and by walking beside it and backing it out we got the tractor out before the rest could crash down. It hasn't crashed yet but with this rain I think it's only a matter of time. Only minor other stuff in that half of the barn - the chicken coop is attached but for the most part intact - that may change and we may be moving chickens soon too!

All of the other buildings seem to be holding for the moment - I am concerned about the wood shed but I don't see any give in it so far.

Jake has been barking - seeming at nothing for the past few days - he may have heard that cracking long before we did. That barn stood for many many years but this storm is so much worse that the beam just couldn't hold it.

[pinetreefarm]

It has been so cold, I cannot go out. Wind chill was -40 2 days ago. It did warm up to about 29 and it was so nice.

Snow falling from large barn roof in large crashes. Dog is nervous. Lettuce in solarium not growing well. I will move them closer too the grow lite. Seed catalogs are arriving farcing us to dream of spring.

Everyone in family will come here Sunday for games and fun and presents. I have set up a new puzzle (1000 pcs.) for everyone to work on. The chess set is ready and I understand some of the kids are bringing their Wii. I have bowled on it and it is really fun There are cross-country skis,snowshoes for tramping through the woods and of course a sled.

Pine

edit for typo

[flatwater]

Plow snow one day Plow snow the next day on & on & on The biggest thing happening in town I hear is snow plow drivers getting assaulted either verbaly or having shovels thrown at them. Glad I'm in the country.

[jen_in_southtexas]

I was not productive at all this weekend. Saturday morning when i woke up around 5am-ish I waited around until Lowe's opened up at 7am and got a few what nots. Came back home and my body was just achy, achy, achy. So i layed down for a nap and did not wake up until around noon! I still felt achy when i woke up but around 3:15pm i got in the truck to go check on things anyway. That is really late for me but i felt like i had to go. I mostly piddled around, made a checklist, and walked the property as i usually do before i leave. I want to know everything there is to know about my property. Get really familiar with it. The sun was starting to set and and things started to look really pretty even in that dry and crunchy grass.

There was something about this old and tired looking Mesquite tree that caught my attention. I know you're probably thinking...what, a tree? But this picture really doesnt do justice to what it looked like in person.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh112/lillybug71/One%20acre%20homestead/random010.jpg

My 2nd acre I just bought. The way the sun was shining its light and the trees in the background looked so pretty to me, very natural. You can see my cabin(in progress) to the very far right on my first acre.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh112/lillybug71/One%20acre%20homestead/random015.jpg

This morning I saw four wild hogs foraging. Two which were piglets. You can barely see the other three but the biggest one is obvious. Then it caught a whiff of me and off they went.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh112/lillybug71/One%20acre%20homestead/random029.jpg

I had an unforseen event happen today. A bolt that holds the tire up close to the suspension(i guess) came off and the truck wobbled to one side. It jerked my steering wheel hard to the left. Thankfully my friends were home and came to help. I have a temporary fix until i can get to a shop tomorrow or Tuesday.

Thats it for now. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Until next time, see you in the backroads!!

-jen
eL Chiquito Ranch
Deep South Texas Brush Country

[kldickinson1]

Haven't been real happy with our freezer chickens so far this year. *Seems like 20+ weeks is too long. *They may be a tastier than store-bought, but they are also a heck of a lot tougher.

Have you tried brining a bird yet?

I had eleven free-range 24-week-old roosters butchered a few years back, and the meat was tasty but tough as nails. I ran out of chickens before I learned about brining.

Soak a whole, thawed chicken in a solution of two quarts water, 1/2 cup salt, and 1/2 cup sugar for 1 hour. If you're interested in the chemistry that makes brining work, you can visit

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/howto/detail.asp?docid=1630

[LeatherneckPA]

kldickinson, no I haven't even heard of brining before today. At least, not for anything but dill pickles and salt cured hams.

How do you prepare the chicken after it's soaked? Same as always? Any recipe you would normally use?

[LeatherneckPA]

The postwoman was just here and delivered one of my four favorite things in the world. Since it wasn't a gun, a motorcycle, or a tool; that means it must have been BOOKS!!

I borrowed John Seymour's book The Self-Sufficient Life And How To Live It from our local library sometime in 2008. I was VERY impressed with it and determined that it must become part of my library. So I wrote my letter to Santa (DW). Last week I got notice that it would not be in my stocking so I went on Amazon and ordered it. A $30 msrp sold for $19 and FREE SHIPPING. And while I was at it I also ordered John's book titled Forgotten Household Crafts, a $22 value for $14 and FREE SHIPPING.

I think I'll probably add Carla Emery's Encyclopedia next month.

I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but you gotta love the values on Amazon.

[kldickinson1]

LeatherneckPA: Proceed as usual. Pat the chicken dry and go.

The article in the link I posted is really interesting if you're into the "why" about stuff.

Please let us know about the effects of brining on a free-range bird.

[gregabob]

I slow cooked an old Silkie rooster in a crock-pot, and it came out quite tender. Purple skin and bones to boot!

[Catalpa]

jen, I hope you got the truck fixed. From your description, I wondered if it was a tie rod end or a ball joint - either of which is very scary to have let go while you're driving. Glad you're alright. Have you ever hunted those wild pigs? 'Round here they're becoming dangerous enough that the state encourages folks to shoot them while they're out deer or turkey hunting. Nice pics of your land, though to my Michigan eyes, it looks rather exotic, like something in Africa.

Never heard of brining a chicken before.

Monday the sump pump quit and the truck wouldn't start. I wasn't so surprised about the pump, but was astonished at my truck. I felt rather silly, sitting there with my jaw hanging open, talking to it, "what do you mean, you're not going to start? But...but....you're always so dependable!" Turns out the high winds (locally 70 mph) had driven the rain up into the engine compartment, and the old spark plug wires were just too wet. Left the hood open to the sun and used to car to go fetch a new pump.

Yesterday was better - we got WOOD! They say it's an ill wind as blows nobody any good, well the high winds took down a few trees at a neighbor's place. They were glad of someone to come cut them up and haul them away, and I was only too happy to oblige. Now there are two huge stacks of wood on the front porch, and a pleasant burning through the muscles of my shoulders. How satisfying.

Went to Barnes and Noble's online to use my gift card from Christmas. Picked out a book about kit homes; I'm very seriously considering a SIP built house to build when I sell this place.

[etxhomesteader]

Hi Jen in texas , That siding , shude had run on down past the subfloor ' ply wood , in a rain storn , the water will run down wall and in to your house on the floor , not good even in that low rain fall area 25 to 35 inch of rain . there is some flashing that can fix it too , but , it has to go on before the siding . sorry ,,,, :-/ mike

[jen_in_southtexas]

Hi Catalpa, I got my truck fixed on Tuesday. It ended up being the cambor bolt.(sp?) They had to replace it because the original fell off and my friend put in a temporary bolt. Had to get it aligned and get two new front tires. It was a scary feeling as it felt that i had no control over the wheel. Thank goodness it happened in 20-30mhp traffic and not while doing 70 on the highway. I probably would have flipped the truck and a tragedy to me or others. I have have hunted wild hogs before. They breed prolificly. There is no daily bag limit on wild/feral hogs and you can hunt them year round. Javalina's(peccary) are prolific breeders too and they have a bag limit of two per year or something like that. Those things are ugly! They will destroy your crops, fields etc. Some large ranch owners will let so many people go on hog/javalina hunts to reduce their populations to prevent them from destroying/uprooting their crops. So my place reminds you of Africa? lol. I will try to imagine that tomorrow when i go back. Things are so dry right now. The burn ban is in effect again. Im glad you got some more wood. I love coming across firewood. I like to cruise the backroads with chainsaw in back of the truck because it never fails, I always find a mesquite tree(my favorite) cut down and dumped. My friend from east texas gave me a cord of wood last time i was there. I havent used it. He's so sweet. He split half the cord so that i can have "some ready to start with". Ive got mesquite wood also that i only like to use it to BBQ. We love our BBQ.

etxhomesteader,
Thanks for pointing that out about the siding. I need to come up with something. I will probably take the siding loose from the bottom and insert something. Dont know what yet but I need to. I would hate to pull all the siding completely off. Any ideas welcome. I am going to be adding on to the cabin in a coupla months to the left of it if you are looking at the cabin from the outside.

-j

[SPIKE]

Jen,

You can slide metal flashing behind the siding from the bottom. You may have to remove a few of your fasteners. If you know what color your paint will be, you may be able to find a metal painted a matching color. Easy recovery. You are doing a great job.

SPIKE

[flatwater]

I know this is late for december but they had to helo in to the main dish on scip mt to repaire a power outage. My service was down almost a week. Got it back today. It's official -- 60 inches of snow here on the east side of Wa. Broke all records

[cubcadet]

I just got the chimney sealed up, temporarily at least, and am able to burn my woodstove. I`m so happy to be off the propane.