This morning, it was snowing lightly and 34 degrees F outside. I went out to do chores and found the chickens singing happily and running outside to drink water that was running off the eaves into their pans. Nice! Then I headed for town to mail some seed packages and go to the dump. By the time I headed home, it was nearly a blizzard, with the roads covered, and I couldn’t see much ahead of me! And the temperature was dropping very fast. By the time I got to our driveway, it was only 17 degrees. Holy cow!
I was sure glad I’d done my chores earlier and the deer and turkeys had a chance to fill up before winter again hit us in the butt. We’ll be working inside again today, for sure. Will’s still cleaning off the old shelves in the basement and bringing box after box upstairs for me to go through and decide what we need to do with the contents.
I’m trying to get the house cleaned up and ready for company on Christmas week plus getting the seed packets in the seed room filled and ready to ship out. We save customers money by not throwing away old seed envelopes and buying “expensive” new ones. On the bottom, the stamped date is Packed for 2025, which I cover with a Packed for 2026 label. The seeds are new but we’re recycling envelopes. I think it makes good sense. Our mission is to not only save rare seeds but to get them into the hands of folks who can easily afford them. I’ve seen seed packets for over $6.99 this year. That’s just wrong.
I’m getting ready to do Christmas baking. You know the cookies, quick breads, and fancy things. Every year I not only do the old-fashioned ones but try to add something new. I’ve got a few ideas that should work. Keep tuned in! — Jackie
My church serves homeless and disadvantaged, so there is an easy place to donate “stuff”. I try to drop it off just before each outreach. Problem is overflow. Although we have a policy of once it’s offered, we don’t pack it back up, I do rescue a few items, like winter clothes and blankets, but that means storing them at my house. It finally got cold enough to take all the winter stuff over and reclaim my garage. I thought. The last trip, I encountered a box of Easter baskets, and Thanksgiving decor.
That’s a wonderful spot to donate your extra stuff! We donate to our local thrift store, which is run by volunteers and the income given to our local hospital for needed equipment. We also take some things to our dump’s free table, where anyone needing an item on it can just load it up and head for home. Merry Christmas! And remember, Easter isn’t so far away. ; )
Hi Jackie! Merry Christmas to you all! Please tell Will that those shelves are beautiful! I bet you can’t wait to restock them!
I’m glad you made it home safely and hope you Holidays are Wonderful! Please let me know your all time favorite Christmas cookies. The kids are so excited to start baking tomorrow!!! Lots of love, Mia and John
Yes, I’ll admit to having ants in my pants, wanting to stock those shelves. But until I get the go-ahead, I’m applying myself otherwise. Our two all-time favorite Christmas cookies are cut-outs I make, using the Sour Cream cookie recipe in my Pantry Cookbook, and just adding enough extra sugar to make them stiff enough to roll out. Then there are Mom’s refrigerator cookies, also in the book. I always eat some of the raw dough, despite what the “experts” warn us about. Our eggs are not laden with bacteria!!
I also love the ones made by making a crunchy peanut butter sandwich with Ritz-type crackers then dipping them in melted chocolate.
Merry Christmas to you, John and the kids!
Jackie, How in the world do you want so much work? I make less and less per year, as far as Christmas goodies. I look at the amount of sugar, and the processed flour, and can’t bring myself to put it in my body. My husband’s health is so compromised, these ingredients are just harmful, and shorten his life. But those goodies taste so good and it’s all so fun. Because of our health, food is pretty boring, and the fun is gone. Do you ever use einkorn flour? I’m glad you’re having fun!!!!
No, I don’t use Einkorn flour as the wheat berries are hard to get the husk off, unless you have special machinery or do it by handful. I try only to use flour from wheat that has not been sprayed with Roundup at ripening or heirloom wheat we are able to raise. Yes, sugar is bad for us, as is much processed flour. But we only do the big blow-out at Christmas, and the goodies go home with everyone, so we don’t end up eating all of them. Yes, we’re “bad” but try to do our best. We don’t drink, do any type of drugs, smoke, vape or eat processed food. We stay away from plastics that might cause micro-plastics to enter our blood stream. Of course, we eat homegrown food, including our meat. We can’t be perfect in our diets. And I’ve found out our “perfect” isn’t someone else’s “perfect” but it’s what we have.
One of the beauties of growing your own food is you can grow the varieties that taste great on their own without having to add sugars etc. to make them taste good. Our food is never really boring and I don’t make much in the way of sweets. Over the years, we’ve figured out which vegetables taste great without having to add anything. Seneca Sunrise corn is an example. We never put salt or butter on that – it would ruin the taste. Merry Christmas to all and happy garden planning.
Well said, hon.
Love your answer: grow your own and then you won’t be afraid about your health. My daughter and husband eat carnivore. They made a typical birthday cake, and everybody had had a piece, threw the rest in the garbage!!! I really enjoy your pictures, Jackie. Especially your snow covered driveway and your “larder”. Thanks for all your knowledge you give us!!!
Thanks for your common sense, Jackie. And for the einkorn advice!!!
Your seed catalog came in the mail today. Thank you bunches.
Wonderful! With the mail today, we can only hope when we send them out.
That should have been “too soon old too late smart”-maybe the brain and fingers are “going”HAH
I have that plaque hanging in my pantry!
Your shelves look great! I too need to organize and toss. Every time I try to get rid of something, I think maybe I’ll need that. I’m some of a book lover and regularly donate some of my books to our local library. Other items not used go to Goodwill. I admit I often double up on tools-one can become none and two is better. We will have all 5 sons, daughters in-laws and grandchildren -26 for one day of pandemonium on Christmas, I tweaked my replacement knee and now hobble. Oh to get old. As my Dad would say”too soon and old, too late smart. Have a wonderful Christmas remembering what the day celebrates.
Yep, I’m a book lover too and had boxes and boxes of books. Some, I donated and some I’m keeping. One thing I learned when living very remote in Montana is that in the winter, when you don’t have power, books sure make time pass pleasantly in the winter. I agree with the tools and equipment repair parts!!
Wow, 26 for Christmas day! That’ll be wild but happy.
It’s funny, as Dad used to say “too soon old, too late smart!”. I thought he’d invented that saying. Evidently others thought so too. Very true though. Merry Christmas/Happy Birthday Jesus!!
Dear Jackie, I love your pictures and especially this snow pic. It reminds me of going to my Mom and Dad’s farm when they were alive. Their road could have easily been a Hallmark card. And yours is beautiful as well. I went for a walk one year in the winter when I was much younger, and a real blizzard hit before I got back to the house. So now, in my old age, I sure keep an eye out for weather forecasts. LOL You live and learn. My pantry is stocked with lots of canned goods, too. My daughter recently visited and commented that she had never seen so much food. She was happy that I sent her back home with canned green beans and some other of her favorite things. I like to recycle all that I can and use everything. When I use my canned vegetables as a meal, I drain most of the liquid off to use as vegetable broth later in the week. I bake a chicken and then put the bones in a crock pot and can the broth later. There are just so many ways to make life better that don’t cost anything. I want to thank you for all that you have taught me too. Thanks!
You’re very welcome! Yep, I try to use everything I can, in any way I can. I always send the kids home with goodies too.
You know, every time I drive down our driveway, I feel like I’m driving in a postcard, whether it is summer or winter. I just love it!
Will can and build me some in his spare time! LOL
Hey, it’s taken him 18 years to do mine. Don’t hold your breath. Ha ha!! Merry Christmas!!
Here the chickens have a heated waterer but no freeze-the torrential rains 4 3/4”! In one day have kept filled., stock troughs are all fill from the roof runoff to overflow and make ditches down through the pens.Stuff— I always hesitate to downsize as surely as I do, I find myself looking for the item within a short time! Re stamping a new year is a great idea. Surprised you find left over envelopes. You are the best place to find Rare,Healthy Germinating seeds !Thanks for the years you spent with the seed business.. love knowing that though you and Will are passing the torch to your friends. You’re still supplying the seeds. Don’t worry about the house being ready for holiday family gatherings. Healthy and all who are able to join is greatest gift for everyone. Merry Christmas! Hope you and Will enjoy with no more equipment issues! God Bless
Our chickens don’t get heated water, as being off grid, nothing electric that heats will work; i.e. stock tank heater, heat lamps, heated chicken waterers. They have to make do with what I bring them plus snow.
As we buy our seed envelopes by the case, we usually end up with extras. And, being tight, we would never just throw them out!
I’m ready to start the Christmas baking as I finally got the dishes and laundry caught up. Hooray!! Merry Christmas to you!!
I always watch for your weather when I’m watching Ryan Hall’ s weather channel. I really enjoy your posts and that you live off your land. Will makes things you need out of parts found or given by someone who doesn’t need them. I admire your lifestyle but I know there is so much more work we are unaware of. Your basement looks a lot like mine, my family calls it
little Krogers. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family. Have a safe and healthy
New Year. From my farm to yours,
Sherrie in Ohio
Yep, my kids call it “Mom’s store” and know they are welcome to hit it anytime they want or need. It’s so rewarding to have everything handy, right here. And know nearly all of it is from the homestead and chemical free.
You have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too.
Yes. We all have too much “stuff”. I vowed after we remodeled our home 10 years ago to stop accumulating stuff. Not so for my farmer sons and husband. But that is for them to manage.
Cold here in central MO, but very warm next week. It won’t seem like Christmas, but it sure does make outdoors chores more enjoyable.
Today I am finished with my cookie baking…4 kinds…triple recipes of each.
Happy Holidays to you all.
Yep, Will certainly gathers more “stuff” than I do, for sure. But a lot of it comes in handy, sooner or later, especially the equipment.
I haven’t started baking yet. I’m still in the cleaning out the kitchen so I have ROOM to bake. But soon! It’s plenty cold here, holding the new snow right in place. We’ll have a white Christmas, for sure.
I laughed to read that I’m not the only one who lets rainwater keep the chicken’s water bowls full. Here in Western Washington that’s a daily chore magically completed every day for months! Good luck with all your plans this cold holiday season (I prefer that term to “winter.”)
Yep, we catch a lot of surplus rainwater, both in the chicken pans and in the old bathtub, set under the western eaves of the goat barn. It’s handy, right there.
The cold season is definitely here. Our high today will struggle to reach -4. That’s okay as there’s plenty to do inside today. Will’s outside, messing with his big Kubota. He finally got it started in the cold. I’m sure whatever he’s up to, it’ll be a plus.
Oh Jackie, I can’t wait for your Christmas cookie recommendations! We have to bake for a cookie exchange on Sunday and I’d love to know your favorites!!!?? The kids are so excited!
Please tell Will that his shelves look absolutely amazing! It will sure be fun to stock them all up. Glad you made it home safely! Stay warm and Happy Holidays to you all!! Lots of hugs and love, Mia and John
We’re safe, warm and oh so thankful for another peaceful Christmas. I already told him his shelves are awesome, but I’ll tell him again for you. (We don’t want him to get too big a head, do we???) Ha ha. Love from way up north!
I saw your area was getting hit (but no blizzard warning yet). We got up to 38 and it rained – what a mess. Temps are dropping fast and the wind is picking up. I am glad we nor anyone in my family has to be on the road tonight. Or first thing tomorrow morning.
Quite the challenge walking through the yard. The small 6 pt buck dined at the feeder box tonight. Upside of the “warmth” and rain is grassy/green is exposed giving the deer more to consume. A bit bittersweet as the leaves of the invasive bush/trees stay green longer but we’ve been hard line on getting rid of them. It will be good long term for our wooded lots and the wildlife.
I’ll tidy up for the holidays – thankfully not much goes on in the dining room between T-Day and Xmas Eve except for present wrapping and preparing Xmas cards (our list never shrinks).
What we see of your basement shelving looks great. “Stuff” – if you are a George Carlin fan, he has a great shtick about “stuff”. I do so miss him.
Yep, love George Carlin. We ended up, not only with our “stuff”, but Mom and Dad’s plus son, Javid’s and David’s too. Slowly, it’s getting donated, thrown out and given to whoever wants it. I get overwhelmed by stuff and always feel glad making a run to the thrift store, free table at the dump or even tossing it out.
We ended up with not so much snow but the roads are glare ice and hardpacked snow. Not fun to drive on, for sure. No complaints though. I just drive slow.