Looking Back & Pushing Onward

2012 was a roller coaster of a year. Some steps were made forward and a few were  made backward. 

I added three Blueberry bushes because the bushes I planted last year did not come back last Spring. Although we had a mild Winter the Grape vines didn't come back either . Daddy and I  made a few raised beds and two of them are planted in Blackberry and Blueberry bushes. 

My little Fig trees came up but didn't do a whole lot with the drought hitting us so hard. I did soak them, and the Peach tree, a few times a week during the driest part of Summer. The Peach tree had a wonderful crop of fruit. The one peach I was able to eat, before they were stolen off the tree, was a perfect peach ... sweet and so juicy. 

Last Fall I added three rhubarb plants and two Currant bushes. I am eager to see how they fare this Spring. I want to make Rhubarb crumbles and Currant jelly, after the bushes mature, maybe Currant wine too.

Late last Fall I added two Dominique pullets and two Welsummer pullets. Unfortunately a raccoon recently raided my hen house and killed my original flock ( Tansy, Rosemary, Frick and Cicely) plus both Dominiques and one of the Welsummers. Losing my original girls was a very bitter pill to swallow. I raised them from chicks and they were like feathery cats. Whatever I was doing they were right there to "help" me. If while I was walking and stopped too quick it was common for Frick to run into me. [sigh]

As soon as the Tractor Supply Co., and Orscheln's, begin their Chick Days I will begin a new flock. I think in addition to the Red Stars I will try some new breeds. We'll just have to see what choices they will be offering.

Looking ahead to a new year of homesteading I've been researching dairy goats. The LaManchas have really caught my attention. LaMancha goats are sturdy animals with very small ears. They originated in the United States and were developed for their delicious flavored milk and sweet disposition. They are suppose to be a quiet breed which is a huge plus since I'm an Urban Homesteader. No one has ever complained about the chickens and I don't want goats to put my neighbors over the edge. [smile]

The new season will also include more raised beds, a few finishing touches on the hen house, more Herbs, Grape vines and Fruit trees.

The greenhouse will be getting a workout this year. I learned quite a bit last season so I'm expecting more plants for my family's use and to sell at Market.

I will leave you with this quote I found buried in my email ... I think it is a good one.

 
Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is, you have a choice everyday regarding the attitude you will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. You are in charge of your attitudes.

-Chuck Swindoll

Tough Summer

Seal in the kitty basket

Indy in the greenhouse

Lenny trying to mess with Sebastian.

I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted until I actually went to the blog to enter this post. Yikes it has been months!

News-wise it was a rough summer. I lost two of my kittens from last September and my Indy cat was a victim of a hit-and-run driver. Losing Seal and Lenny was hard but losing Indy was especially difficult. She was the one who would sit on my lap and begin nursing on my clothes. I wouldn't be paying her any attention and when I would get up from the chair I would have a large soggy spot on my clothes. She was my shadow. (sigh)

The super early spring/summer we experienced messed up my garden plans, as it did most gardeners. Such a crazy season. I learned quite a bit about using my greenhouse. This was first season using one and there is a learning curve. Working full-time makes it hard to keep the temperature regulated. When I work 12-8 it's not too big a deal to check the thermometer and make adjustments. The days I work 8:30-5:00 are a little more tricky. I must come home on my lunch hour to unzip the mesh covered windows, doors and if it is really warm roll up the sides.

My peach tree had an abundance of fruit but I was only able to enjoy one peach (which was fabulous) because someone waited until the peaches were dead ripe then stole every last one of them. Angela and I had planned to make a small batch of peach jam to give as Christmas presents. The loss made me mad then made me sad.

The little fig trees have held their own. They are still pretty small but considering the weather I felt just staying a live was quite a coup for such small starts.

My grape vines and blueberry bushes didn't make it.

I visited Leahy's Greenhouse, a local greenhouse, a few weeks ago to buy a new rhubarb plant. After thinking about it I went back the next day to buy a second rhubarb and three blueberry bushes. The following day I added  2 red current bushes to the mix. Daddy was already planning to pick up my mess of plants. Then I called Mom and told her the number of plants had increased I asked her to let Daddy know the number of plants he was hauling. I didn't want him to be surprised. lol

We were finally able to attend Market today. Between a show, sickness and chances of rain Angela and I had missed the last four Saturdays. I sold a hat, a scarf I had just finished weaving in the ends and one skein of yarn. I have another scarf on the hook and need to dye some more yarn. The skein I sold was dyed using Osage Orange shavings. It made a neat mix of dark and light tones.

My sisters and grandniece and I are having a girls nite at Angela's house this evening. Homemade pizzas, ooey gooey butter cake, a. new Barbie movie for Jaidyn and a little crafting for the sisters ... should be a fun evening. [smile]

Henhouse Update

 The Girls and I got our window box! For now it is only tacked on because it must be primed and painted but I think it definitely adds a "cute" factor to the building. The actual window will be added after it is also primed and painted. Barring rain I should be able to stain the floor tomorrow.

The bucket in the doorway holds Raspberry bushes waiting to be planted. For reasons unknown the Blueberry bushes are not doing very well. They will be removed from their raised bed and potted to give them a second chance to make something of themselves. They have a month to improve or they are history!

A frost hit the Grapes. One of them is coming back quickly but the other one not so much. I'm biding my time deciding their future.

Figs are doing well and the Peach tree has several lil peaches.

With the exception of the Blueberries and the one Grape vine I'm pleased with all last year's new additions.

New seedling are still popping up in the greenhouse. I'm truly loving this bit of plastic over metal tubing. Every day brings something new when I go into it's warm, humid interior. Several seedlings have their first true leaves and are ready to be transplanted into individual pots. I'm recycling yogurt cups and water bottles with the tops cut off for most of the seedlings.

Good News & Bad News

Good News :
I now know how to send photos from my phone to my email. My co-worker Nina taught me how ... a trick she learned from her teenage granddaughter. =)

Bad news :
The first photo I send is of my car after a lady hit me Thursday evening on my way home from work. No one was injured but my poor little car. If I hadn't been paying attention to the traffic it would of been much worse. She would have T-boned me and I most likely would have been injured.

More Good News :
The plants I added near the end of last Summer are putting out leaves! I was concerned about the Grapes and Figs but they are coming right along. The Blackberry bushes kept their leaves all Winter and I was pretty confident they would be fine. Now if the Blueberry bushes perk up my investment of last Summer will be well worth the money spent.

My lil greenhouse-a-box is now set up and waiting for me to start my seeds. Daddy helped me put the cover on it yesterday. That cover requires two people when one of the people involved is "vertically challenged" at five foot and one inch. lol

Daddy and I have the new coop framed up and part of the rafters built. Can't wait to get it finished and move the girls into their new digs. Although it is only 6' x 7.5' x 8', after spending nights in the little Chicken n' Hutch for two years, the new coop will be so much more spacious . With it being eight foot tall we are adding a half loft so I can store straw. This will be sooo much better than keeping the straw on my backporch. The feed barrel will also be going into the coop getting one more thing off the porch. Yay!

Better get a wiggle on there are seeds awaiting me!

Happy Spring!!
~ Penny ~

The Bitter and the Sweet

There are always ups and downs to farming ... recently I experienced one of the downs.

I came home from work three weeks ago to find Marguerite had apparently died from heat exhaustion. She was one of my Buff Orpingtons and a such a goofball. My chickens have been pets from the beginning and I frequently refer them as cats with feathers. They will rub against my legs when I am caring for them. I am constantly shooing them out from underfoot to avoid stepping on them. Rest in Peace my Golden Marguerite.

On the up side I was able to pick up several plants for my orchard at Saturday's Market. Espri from Brambleberry Farm brought me two figs, two Reliance seedless grape vines, two thornless Blackberries, and a Blueberry bush. Brambleberry Farm is currently running a sale on a selection of plants and I saved quite a bit on my purchase.

Please continue to keep Angela in your prayers. She will have her third treatment on Tuesday. She is experiencing wicked headaches and bad nose bleeds. The doctors do not know if the brain tumors are hemorrhaging (bleeding out), if they are caused by her constant high blood pressure or if it is a reaction to the chemo. =( After four treatment she will take a two week hiatus then there is suppose to be four more treatments. She is tough but the tough people still need to be lifted up in prayer.

Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. I go for my first physical therapy appointment for the inflamed tendon in my ankle. I hate PT but I hate the "boot" I'm wearing even more! It has been three months since I injured my ankle and I am so over wearing the "boot"!

I'm off to meet my niece Heather to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I saw it a week ago with the "Library Ladies" but told Sis I wanted to see it again so we made a date. =)

Have a Blessed week and stay cool!
~ Penny ~