Tuesdays Tidbits

Looks like we may be getting another round of snow Thursday--*Argh*--Shouldn't really amount to much though as the temps will be warming back up nicely after that--I can handle the snow as long as it doesn't stay around--


It's been a long while since I really updated things here so I will do that today--


We have pretty much esptablished our goals for this spring and are well underway into getting what we need to accomplish them--we have the lumber for the greenhouse and all we need to buy is the plastic sheeting--


We are making the plans for adding onto our home--again the lumber is bought, all we have to do is build and of course we will have to purchase small things as we go--we just haven't decided if we wanna add the entire lenght of the house or just add a room or 2 on--We are continuing to pray which way to go--We will also be doing some small remodel jobs here in the house this spring--there are a few things I would like to update--we have most of what we need--its just finding the free to time to get it done--


Alans job has been a real blessing and we are doing wonderful--the hours are hard, but we must all make sacrifices--the bills are all paid and money left every month so it makes it all worth while!--Many people in this economy are jobless--we are so truly blest!--God has been very good to us!


The pigs are doing well and growing good--probably around June or so they will be ready for butcher and that will sustain us for a year or longer--


The hens are laying very well now--I am getting anywhere from 10 to 15 eggs daily--many more than we can eat so we trade them to a friend of ours for the round bales of hay--don't ya just love bartering?


I will be ordering meat birds next month or the next depending on the weather and by fall I should have birds ready to butcher--and those should sustain us for a good year or better--


We have looked into buying a half of beef from a local guy, but haven't made the decision to do that yet--if we do that will pretty mcuh take care of our meat needs for a year--I really should say hubbys meat needs--I couldn't care less if I have meat or not--LOL--I could survive on veggies!!


The goats, well what can I say--they are goats--we will be selling off the buck since we do not want to use him again next breeding season--we will probably replace him with 2 more does--We were going to get out goats all together, but Alan decided he really wanted to have a milk source and since we don't have a milk cow--goats the next best thing--Bella our doe is getting very close to kidding--I am excited to have even more new life on the farm--


The cavalier puppy's that were just born are getting fat little tummy's and are growing well--Mama is doing great--We have been so blest by having her--mama is 5 now and will be retired from having puppy's she will simply live out her life and be absolutly spoiled plumb rotten--LOL--she's a great dog--We will be adding a female or 2---or 3--- to the mix this year--I just adore this dogs and cannot imagine having any other kind myself--I don't watch the Ellen show but turned on the television yesterday and she was on and she was interviewing a guy that had a cavalier and talked about how great they were--good advertisment for me--LOL


Fencing is something on the list this year to finish up--most of this 18 acres was already fenced--we only have 2 sides that need fenced and one of those is more than halfway done--we will be fencing off the food yard and the herb yard to keep the chickens out while they free range this year--so much to do!


The berry plants are doing well, I do believe I lost my raspberry plants to the japanese beetles last year, so those will need replacing this spring--and even though I don't like it I will spray to save my plants--everything else is great--I am looking for some white grape plants--I did find a place to order them but they are a bit pricey and a friend of mine was saying Aldi's carries them in the spring--so I will be looking for those--


I saved the best for last--It looks as if DD will be coming home the end of the month or so--she has made great progress and I am looking forward to her being back home--she has been gone over 6 months now--She seems to be stable on her medication and has learned alot--I feel are fortunate and very blest to have found a place that deals with autistic children--she is very high functioning but still not without issues and then of course we have the bipolar issues with her--*sigh*--I will continue to update as I know more--


All in all we are so tremendously blest here--its a quiet, simple and productive life we live--I would not trade it for anything--God is so good to us!


::Until Next Time::

T.D.H
Orignally published Jan. 18,2011